WE ARE GETTING SICKER!

A New Mexico school principle demanded that a team of Christian students stop sending Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the teachers with Christian verses inside. The principle was very angry and is reported as saying "I don't like Christians or these Christian 'acts.'" The Liberty Counsel is making a law case out of this because some of the kids were taken out of class and suspended. It was reported that many noted "the Roswell school officials are mean to these students solely because they are hostile to their Christian faith."    Things are continuing to go downhill against Christianity, the Bible, the Lord, and against anyone who shares the truth and the gospel. There are no signs that things will turn around. We are headed for outright persecution! –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

GET READY FOR ELECTION DAY – TUESDAY NOV. 2

We should not be asking the Lord simply to bail us out when we vote. We need to also ask God to change the hearts of America, and then restore some semblance of sanity to our country. However, we need a change of heart, a restoration spiritually, before we can have a reprieve of sanity. We are being judged as a nation and only Christ, living in the hearts of our people, can save us as a country.    I personally do not believe we deserve God's grace and mercy. Often only a judgment can restore a nation. Sin is tenacious and we are told in Scripture that judgment is certain. Solomon said: "What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted" (Eccl. 1:15), and, "Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other so that man may not discover anything that will be after him" (7:13-14).    On these verses the Rabbis write:    "Solomon sees many things in human society which are 'crooked,' but how they are to be 'made straight' baffles him; similarly he detects so many deficiencies that they cannot be numbered." The most important thing to do is "to reflect upon God's methods, seek to discover how we may rule our lives in accordance with the Divine will. ... Whatever God has ordained is immutable, and it is futile for man to think of 'rectifying' His work." –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

WHY DO CHRISTIANS CHANGE?

The Barna Group reports that Christians usually change habits or directions in their life under pressure or when things get bad, not because they want to personally walk closer with the Lord. That is a simplified answer to an issue that presented recently on the web.    Having taken many courses in Church History, and taught graduate Church History, I find that this is true to our human nature, and to our human Christian nature! We don't "move" unless we are forced to. By pain and problems we end up drawing closer to the Lord. That's just the way it is, though it should not be such. And, the Bible is full of such illustrations also. Unless we see a reason to adjust our ways, and our beliefs, we will stay the same.    David and Solomon would perfect examples of this behavior, and, if we are honest, this is how all of us react and adjust our behavior. Difficulties cause us to draw closer to the Lord. Can we change this? Probably not because that is just the way it is.    --Dr. Mal Couch 9/10)

DR. COUCH HAS IT FIGURED OUT!

Dr. Lacy Couch has the women's movement figured out by observing what she sees on TV. Many, if not most, of the women portrayed are not promoting femininity. They have sold their souls to masculinity. They want to be men! In fact, they want to be like and act like men. In commercials on TV often women are shown working out with weights, building up muscles in order to try to appear as men. Bulging arms and leg muscles is a sign of being like a guy. They turn their arms a certain way in order to flex their biceps.    This is happening with younger women who were brainwashed to be like a guy as they grew up rather than accentuate their feminine side. To many men they are really ugly because they no longer look like women. Unfortunately, many younger men are also stupid and think that this is cool! Young men have become passive. They say little and just stand around and look stupid.    Isaiah predicts that women and children will take charge in the tribulation. "I will make, God says, mere lads their princes and capricious children will rule over them" (Isa. 3:4). And, "women [will] rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you [will] lead you astray, and confuse the direction of your path" (v. 12). We are moving on this road now!

The Christian Alert

With the great, hard won victories the social conservative movement achieved this tumultuous week we must guard against being swept away by the euphoria of the moment. The liberal secular humanists won't stop! They're relentless, so we likewise must be relentless. We must keep full attention around the country on what new attacks are being planned and carried out through the courts as well as local and state governments. We have to keep intense pressure on Congress right now. The closer we get to the 2 November mid-term general election the more desperate Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Harry Reid (D-NV), President Obama, and all their allies will become. And as I've previously written about the "lame duck" session in Congress starting on November 3rd, will be a particularly dangerous time in our Nation's history. In an effort to try to alleviate the rush to push through much heinous legislation during the "lame duck" session, Harry Reid is trying to get as much passed now prior to the mid-term election. The Democrats are trying to pay back those who gave them much support during the last election cycle. The largest of which are the labor unions and the homosexual lobby. The next six weeks leading up to the mid-term elections are going to be fraught with attempts by Harry Reid to force any legislation through that will pay back these special interest groups and transform America. In the next six weeks we must look out for any of the following bills to be filed in the U.S. Senate for a "cloture" vote: •    Ram the "Card Check Forced Unionism Bill" into law, forcing millions of workers under union boss monopoly control by mandating the corruption-crammed "card check" system; •    Pass the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill that could force union monopoly bargaining on state and local police and firefighters; •    Repeal section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, wiping out all state Right to Work laws; •    A second attempt to repeal the law banning open homosexuality in the U.S. Military; •    A third attempt to pass the DISCLOSE Act, which if passed would severely curtail free speech by imposing on corporate and non-profit political campaign donors regulations that limit time spent supporting candidates; •    Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) taking the right away from states to define natural marriage; •    Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), imposing on employers displays of open homosexuality in the workplace; •    Pass the "American Power Act", imposing stifling regulations on the energy sector as well as horrific tax hikes and government subsidies of corporations; •    Repeal of the "Hyde Amendment". Repeal of this law would allow full federal taxpayer funding of abortion. •    Pass the "Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. This bill, if passed into law, will facilitate the largest expansion of online gambling ever.      These are just a few of the legislative items the Democrats are trying push through. We have to keep the pressure on Congress. Keep calling, writing, faxing and e-mailing your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Let them know if they want a political future they'd better do as their employer, the American People, tell them to do.

WE ARE BEING FOOLED BY OUR PRESIDENT

President Barack Hussein Obama is fooling the American public. He recently said he believed we have the right to religious worship. Did you get it: religious worship. That is not what our constitution nor our founding fathers intended. Religious freedom is something different. Worship could be confined to our churches whereas freedom means that we have the full right to express anything we wish religiously wherever we want. We are being set up for being prohibited from speaking out about our faith, or about properly criticizing the beliefs of others if we think it is appropriate. Our rights will soon be gone!    What is the story about religious freedom from history? What did the founders say? And what were they fighting for: religious worship or religious freedom?    Only a few times did they mention religious worship though it was understood that that right was included in religious freedom.    An outstanding textbook entitled "American Idealism" gives us the heads up on this discussion (Yale University Press, 1928). The book has an excellent chapter entitled "The Growth of Religious Freedom." The chapter says "The first American colonies established upon a basis of religious freedom was Maryland." "The Quakers made great contributions to the cause of religious freedom." Many of the signers of the Constitution "declared for religious freedom" in the thirteen colonies. They wanted a "guarantee of complete religious freedom ... as a part of the Constitution. That decision was rendered easier, moreover, by the fact that a strenuous battle for religious freedom had just been fought and won in Virginia by the Presbyterians and Baptists."    James Madison fought for the elimination of the misleading word "toleration" and the substitution thereof of the unequivocal phrase: He said "All men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion according to the dictates of conscience." He also said: "All men are entitled to equal religious freedom, that all religious stand without prejudice before the law of the state."    In 1785, Franklin wrote the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom which passed six years later. "All men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion."    The successive memorials of the Hanover Presbytery, moreover, which were presented before Jefferson drafted his Bill, had stated with remarkable precision and force the principles of religious freedom upon which it was based.    Our President does not know his history, nor does he care what it says in terms of our religious freedoms! –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

BIBLE FOOLISHNESS!

There are those now arguing that the Bible is not meant to be objectively true and accurate. The main point is that one is a seeker, one who is looking how to live a relationship with God, never mind whether the Bible is completely accurate and true. This is the ultimate of foolishness and it smacks of a heretic, Soren Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard said that truth is what one makes it. To be sincere is what counts. Truth does not have to be absolute!    Now, how can that be? Either something is true or it is not. The Bible states over and over that it is true and that it is truth. How could we follow a faith that is false or that is not interested in truth?    Most seminaries today are not teaching the students the truthfulness and historical accuracy of the Bible. The education of the average student is sorry at best. This fact of Scripture comes under the category of Bibliology. The Bible is or is not the Word of God and He does not give us falsehood but truth. Here are but a few (among many) verses that speak of the Bible being truth:    "Speak My word in truth" (Jer. 23:28).    "He will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13).    "Your Word is truth" (John 17:17).    "I shall be speaking the truth" (Paul) (2 Cor. 11:10).    "To come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).    "Handling accurately the Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).    "Turn their ears away from the truth" (2 Tim. 4:4).    "Brought us forth by the Word of truth" (James 1:18).    Do not listen to the fools. They do not know what they are saying! –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

FEAST OF TRUMPETS

Please don't be one of those who think the rapture will take place on the Feast of Trumpets. These folks who hold that are sensationalists who believe they've found something the rest of us idiots just don't know about.    The apostle Paul did not know when the rapture would start. He indicated that it could have begun at any time. And, he thought that possibly he could be included in going up also. Now if that happened then those who think it's going to happen now are really in lulu land. In my opinion such thinking is distracting and is a trivia issue that puts us into the speculation mode that means nothing spiritually. There are those who think they are great mathematicians and have it all figured out. You would need a degree in math in order then to know when the rapture would arrive!    Please don't gravitate to the sensational. It panders to the flesh and to the intellect but it really goes against Scripture. And besides, the Feast of Trumpets is about Israel and not the church! Please don't be fooled. –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I hold to the PreTrib rapture of the church but my elders do not. They think the church has to go through the trib in order to be cleaned up. Could you give the reasons for the PreTrib rapture? ANSWER:  I wrote the most complete chapter on this issue that has ever been written! It is used in three nationally published books. If you want the full facts you need to order my Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, published by Kregel. In this dictionary, the full answer is given. I have the book offered for a discount. Send a donation of $20 to Scofield Ministries, 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634.    You will be completely convinced by reading the chapter in that volume. Your elders are simply quoting someone else. They cannot substantiate what they say from the Bible. They do not understand positional justification and sanctification. They thus are very theologically ignorant and should not be elders!    The rapture of the church is as defensible as the virgin birth or the deity of Christ. I still cannot figure out why some are so adamant about denying the rapture. They just "don't like" the doctrine but have no reason to resist so much. Some folks just cannot read! They do not know how to study Scripture. And they are great quoters. They just say what someone else has said!    It will prove to me that those who do not order my book are showing that they really don't want to know the answers to this doctrine. The issue is over from my chapter! You need to get it!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

OPEN LETTER TO OUR SENATORS: JOHN CORNYN – KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON

This is in protest to the up and coming vote on the Defense Authorization Bill S.3454. As my representative you are not to give this a positive vote when it comes up before the Senate body!    I just got through watching an old World War II Hollywood film in which Kate Smith sung "God Bless America." I wept like a baby but I couldn't help think of our Congress who is allowing the present administration destroy America, and rewrite our Christian heritage. How dare you give in to the evil that is coming from the White House!    You will be voting on Defense Authorization Bill S.3454 in which riders have been attached that (1) will remove the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule from our military. Also, (2) will authorize military medical facilities to perform abortions.    As well, we understand that senator John Cornyn will be speaking to the homosexual wing of the Republican Party, the Log Cabin group, which is supportive of same-sex marriages.    Every Congressman needs to reread our Constitution, and, need to spend a long evening reading about the founding history of this nation. We are not to be an inclusive nation. We are a Christian nation, and those who come here need to understand this, and not rewrite how this country began. People coming to America need to conform to us; we are not to conform to them. If they do not like it, then they should leave.    The majority of citizens are furious with what is happening, and they are furious with Congress for caving in to those who are rewriting the truth. You will be replaced if you replace what we believe is dear to us. We will be watching how all those in the Senate, and the House, vote!     Dr. Mal Couch, 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634

Theology in John 1-3 Part 3 By John Pappas, Th.M, Th.D

Spiritual regeneration results in eternal life. That is the great truth of Scripture in chapter three. Chapter two of John ends with a description that Jesus knows the heart of every man and that He "had no need that anyone should testify concerning man, for He knew what was in man" (John 2:23-24). And what was in man was evil always (cf ). Man needs to be changed; he needs to be spiritually reborn. This regeneration does not come by any means of man by or in himself, but rather by an external agent – God. And although all three persons of the Godhead participate in this regeneration, John concentrates in the early chapters upon one person of the Godhead and defines the means by which one is saved – by believing in His name; by believing in Jesus Christ, the Anointed Savior. The apostle John puts it this way, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13). And it is chapter three that John provides the teaching of being born again – born of God. The New Birth John's gospel presents the doctrine of one who is born again by first presenting the miracle of turning water into wine. A fundamental transformation of pure water into a joyful drink suitable for the wedding occasion illustrating the point that Jesus had both the power and authority to perform the impossible when asked. The purpose for the miracle is said to manifest His glory; and His disciples believed in Him (2:11). From this miracle and after cleansing the Temple, John moves to telling the story of Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a "man of the Pharisees," probably a member of the Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin, a teacher, and the Talmud lists him as being the fourth richest man in Jerusalem. He comes to Jesus by night and although he comes by himself, it is clear that the Jewish leadership sent him as he tells Jesus "Rabbi, we know You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him" (John 3:2). It is at this point that Jesus leads the conversation. Nicodemus does not get a question in before Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Nicodemus responds with the question "how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:4). Next, Jesus defines what it means to be born again. He does this by defining a Spiritual rebirth, meaning a heavenly birth that involves the work of the Holy Spirit. He then turns to an illustration from nature – the wind, ending with an illustration from the Old Testament – the bronze snake. This illustrative teaching style continues throughout the book of John. That is, Jesus will present a theological teaching and do so with an accompanying relevant miracle. But before John moves to the miracles, Jesus has to define what it means to be born again and the reason why He came – to be the suffering servant who had to die on the cross. The need for being born again Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). This statement presents the reader with the ultimate exclusive presentation of the born again or new birth requirement. Notice the statement also speaks of the realm of the kingdom of God. There are two things to define; the new birth and the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is a distinctly Jewish thing. John had just given a presentation of John the Baptist's ministry of baptism and his testimony "this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit" (1:33). John the Baptist's message was "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matt 3:2; cf., Mark 1:14-15). John's message of repentance (Gr. metanoeo "to change one's mind") reflected the fact that the Jews were collectively in a state of apostasy and needed to line up correctly with Scripture instead of tradition. "The concept of a coming kingdom was well known in Old Testament Scriptures. But the idea that repentance was necessary in order to enter this kingdom was something new, or at least it seems new to them, and it became a stumbling block to many Jews. They thought that as children of Abraham they would automatically be granted entrance into Messiah's kingdom." (Louis Barbieri, Bible Knowledge Commentary) This is what confused Nicodemus and to have Jesus reply with a new birth requirement really seemed to confuse him. The kingdom of God has two phases; the first is a literal earthly reign of Christ for 1000 years. The second is the eternal kingdom in the new heavens and earth (Rev. 22:5). This kingdom has Christ present in His glory ruling with a rod of iron, meaning sin will be dealt with severely (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:1-5; Rev. 12:5; 19:5). His reign will be characterized by righteousness (Isa. 11:4-5; 32:1; 33:5). And as a result of Christ's righteous reign there will be peace (Isa. 2:4; 11:6-9; 32:18), a full knowledge of the Lord (Jer. 31:34), universal worship of the Lord (Isa. 2:2-4; 11:9-11; Ezek. 20:40-41; 40:1-46; Zech. 14:16), and fullness of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32). The Jews understanding of who will enter the kingdom is clearly one of universalism, all Israel will be saved. The time of the kingdom will follow the Great Tribulation which will prepare Israel for the kingdom. Most Jews will die in the Tribulation but those who are left are called the remnant and all of them will enter the kingdom. That is why they were confused concerning repentance and the requirement for a new birth in entering the kingdom. Jesus came the first time to be the suffering servant who came to be the Lamb of God who takes the sin of the world. The Old Testament spoke of this in Isaiah 53. He came the first time to die on the cross to take care of the sin issue. The next time He comes will come as King. They had forgotten the fact that all the Jews entering the kingdom were the faithful remnant and the requirement that all who enter the kingdom are born again. In John's terms, all who believe will be saved and conversely, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18). In Old Testament terms believing in the Son of God and God are synonyms. That is one of Jesus' big points The Son and the Father have the same goal, honor is due both the Father and the Son (John 5:16-30). Various views of the new birth There are various views of the new birth. The major views are shown in table 1. Charts from Elmer Towns, 21st Century Biblical Commentary Series: The Gospel of John (AMG Publishers, 2002), pp. 30-31 There are some who believe that this is speaking of water baptism. That water baptism is required in order to be born again. This is an extreme view that misses the point altogether. I am not going to go through all the various points. I will, however, discuss the view I believe Jesus is teaching here. The method of the new birth (John 3:5-13) Jesus starts the explanation of His born again statement by describing the requirement of being born of water and of the Spirit. I take "being born of water" as the natural birth for two reasons. First, the next verse seals the context, that is, "what is born of flesh is flesh" speaks of physical birth. The opening verses of the book describe this contrast between a physical birth and the spiritual estate of all men. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:1-5). The word life here refers to physical life that Christ gives to everyone born, but not everyone has eternal life. All have physical life that Christ gives, but all lack eternal life and it is God who has to intervene in the believer causing a new birth that result in eternal life. Notice the play on words used here: Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:4-6) The Jewish parallelism is shown in table 2. Notice the contrast between that which is physical - the flesh, and that which is spiritual. It is called a Jewish parallelism. That which is physical cannot penetrate the spiritual. They are two different realms. That is why man is made up of two parts the physical and the spiritual. Another major point is drawn from the Greek word "born again" 'anothon' of verse 3. The word means "from above" and has as its root ano meaning "up," "upwards." This is not the common word for again (the common word is the Greek palin). The idea is either "born from above," i.e. born from heaven, or born up there (i.e. up in the womb) which is how Nicodemus seems to take it. But Nicodemus misses the point, Jesus does not mean born "up there," He means "born from heaven," or elsewhere "born of God," a common Johannine expression (cf. John 1:13; 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). Being born of God, or the equivalent born of the Spirit, is the less controversial of all the interpretations. Almost everyone agrees that this refers to the Holy Spirit, and that this is speaking of a regeneration that is independent of man. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, a concept clearly taught in the Old Testament and related to the kingdom of God. For example, Ezekiel writes: For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. (Ezek. 36:24-28) Clearly, regeneration is an Old Testament concept and the indwelling of the Spirit is a New Covenant promise. The Holy Spirit's indwelling in the Old Testament The doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament reached its height in the hope of the kingdom. It pointed forward to Kingdom life (Ezek. 36). But the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was temporary. The Holy Spirit was given to a person in order for that person to carry out a task. It seems to have been temporary. For example, the Spirit of God indwelt Saul but departed (1 Sam. 10:10; 16:14). Another important point is that the Spirit's indwelling was independent of one's spiritual condition. In other words the universality of the depravity of man is well established and God moves in man to accomplish His work independent of whether man wants to do God's work or not (cf., the pagan Cyrus Isa. 45:1). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is related to the New Covenant (Jer. 31). The New Covenant is the blessing portion of the Abrahamic Covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant consists of a land, a seed, and a blessing (Gen. 12:1-15:17). Ultimately, fulfillment of the covenant is found in the Millennial Kingdom which has the land promise as the land of Israel, the seed promise as the nation Israel and the blessing as kingdom living in peace. The New Covenant defines a time when all Israel will worship the Lord in truth and God will give them a new heart and His Spirit. This is clearly given to Israel and clearly has not reached fulfillment yet (New Covenant cf. Ezek. 20:37; 37:26; Isa. 49:8; 55:3; 59:21; Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40-41; Ezek. 16:60; Matt. 26:28; Rom. 11:11-32; 1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 7:22; 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; 13:20. The Holy Spirit's indwelling in the New Testament The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is related to the New Covenant and as such finds its initiation at Pentecost in Acts chapter two as the mystery of the Church, that new organization of believers that is made up of both Jew and Gentile and forms a partial fulfillment of the New Covenant (or as some say initiation of it). For the complete fulfillment of the New Covenant involves the Millennial Kingdom as is clearly described in Ezekiel 36 and elsewhere. The Holy Spirit and regeneration Doctrinally, the Holy Spirit is the means of regeneration. Just as with physical birth you are birthed, that is, you do not participate (Greek passive voice). So, it is also with the Spirit birth or regeneration. The same verb is used for both the born (Aorist passive) of water and of the Spirit. Just as you cannot do anything about how you are born (verse 6 – Greek perfect passive), that is, it is complete and out of your control – you are a passive participant; where you are born, when you are born, what status you are born into and etc. So, it is with the spiritual birth as the same word is used for both in verse 6. The one being saved is a passive participant in the action. He or she is being saved by God. To further highlight the point, Jesus gives an illustration from nature – the wind. Jesus' illustration from nature Jesus gives an illustration of how this works by using a symbol that no one can control – the wind. The Greek word for wind, pneuma is the same word for "spirit" and "breath." Jesus says, "The wind [pneuma] blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (3:8) Not only is this a play on words, but He means to describe the absolute hopelessness of mankind to save him or herself. Salvation is an act of God. Just as man cannot control or know where the wind comes from, so he cannot control his own salvation. God is the one who controls the wind (cf. Gen. 8:1; Ex. 10:13, 19; Ps. 135:7, & etc). Nicodemus should know the great wise saying from Ecclesiastes 11:5, "As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child so you do not know the works of God who makes everything." But this illustration of the wind also serves to point to a very important millennial prophecy concerning all Israel – the prophecy of the dry bones of Ezekiel that God makes alive by the breath of God that comes from the four winds (Ezek. 37:9): 1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." 4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD." 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life." 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezek. 37:1-10) What a profound illustration! Can you imagine Nicodemus' response "How can these things be?" What the teacher of Israel should have been searching is the prophetic Scriptures for the signs and sayings of the coming Messiah. But he missed the teaching. Jesus' illustration from the Old Testament With Nicodemus missing the teaching of the unknowable wind, Jesus moves to another illustration from the Old Testament. The illustration comes from the book of Numbers chapter 21 – the bronze snake. Jesus says to Nicodemus: "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:13-15) This story from Numbers 21:4-9 recounts the Jews who cursed God in their wilderness wanderings. They cursed the one who provided for them in the desert, who cared for their every need. So the story goes…. And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called Hormah. 4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. (Numbers 21:3-9) This was a hard saying. The people repented of their cursing God when He brought the snakes in to bite them and Moses prayed for them. Those who had been bitten by a snake were to look upon the bronze snake on a pole with faith to save them from death and were saved, and those who did not, died there in the desert. This story in the wilderness served as an important prophecy that Jesus will fulfill as He is lifted up on the cross to take the sins of the world upon Himself and anyone who looks upon Him and His death on the cross as a propitiation for their sins will be saved. The word for lifted up (Gr. hypsoo) is carefully chosen. "It denotes not only a literal lifting up in space but also exaltation in glory" (F.F. Bruce, The Gospel & Epistles of John). This reflects the argument sandwiched between the two illustrations (3:11-13) concerning the one from heaven – the Son of Man who was lifted up on a cross, but also served to present exaltation to the One raised from the dead. This is the One who is from heaven and the only One who you can trust will save you, the One who gives you the gift of eternal life. So the saying: "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:15-18) This story has to end here, for the theological discussion that follows possibly the most quoted New Testament verse has to wait for another full article. Truly God so loved the world that He gave Him only begotten Son, a gift to the world. Salvation, what those who believe in Him receive needs to be defined next time.

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is the word "Theology" in the Bible? ANSWER:  No, it is not. But that's okay. It is two Greek words put together. Theos=God, and Logos=word, or study of.  Thus, "The study about God." Ultimately, everything in the Bible relates and points to Him. We cannot have a self-made theology. Theology is about God and we must receive information about Him from the source that is outside of ourselves. The source is the Word of God, not our own mind.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

IT’S ALL OVER FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS

Statistics are telling us the church in America is shrinking. And population wise, we will be under terrible persecution in about ten years from the Muslim population. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. There are now more Muslims than Roman Catholics. By 2035 there will be more Muslims in Britain than Christians. If present trends continue every major city in America in a few years (by 2020) will be predominantly Muslim. That's just ten years away! 80-85 percent of Muslims consider themselves former Christians. We know of course they were not true believers but they thought they were! Our laws will change and so will our social structures. Some form of persecution will follow and fall upon our children and grandchildren. Is your pastor speaking about these issues? –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

A NOTE OF THANKS

From a student: "Dr. Couch, you really mean a lot to my wife and me. It was due to your books that God sent me on the Right path and blessed my heart and Life. With that in mind I send a Big thanks first to God and to you. May He bless you and as you know, He loves you. Thanks for emailing me back—that means a lot to me." FK

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I have some "fundamental" friends who say that Christ at Cana turned the water into grape juice and not into alcoholic wine? What does the Bible say? ANSWER:  I do not know any scholar who knows his salt who would say that. I know of no reference that would speak simply of grape juice, though strong drink is mentioned, which was virtually liquor that was certainly addictive and harmful.    The Bible warns of whiskey in Proverbs 20:1: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise." In biblical days they fermented grapes by putting them in wine-skins. The water in the juice evaporated out through the skin leaving the fermented drink, which we call wine. The wineskin also expanded and that is why that same bag, or skin, could not be used again because it had expanded by fermentation as far as it could be stretched. Christ spoke of this process in Matthew 9:17.    The Bible approves of wine with moderation. The Bible is not advocating total abstinence but it is against excess. "Eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works" (Eccl. 9:7). And, "Men approve a meal for enjoyment and wine makes life merry" (10:19). "Wine makes man's heart glad" (Psa. 104:15).    This is not to say that wine is for everyone. Some Christians in Paul's day felt that the eating of meat and drinking wine was wrong. Therefore, the "stronger" brother, who had no problem with the same, was not to drink in front of the other brother lest he makes that one stumble. "It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles" (Rom. 14:21). "Do not get drunk with wine for that is dissipation" (Eph. 5:18).    The Bible argues for inner spiritual maturity and self-control. Wine in and of itself is not evil but the abuse of it is the problem. Paul says that whatever is sin to you is sin. For "whatever is not from faith is sin" (v. 23). So if you are convicted to not drink wine, then don't do it! But please do not go into the realm of foolishness and misinterpret the Bible because you are a legalist or a "fighting fundy."    I knew a couple who came out of the Funda_____ Baptist church movement. They never smiled, they were rarely happy, they were legalistic and would cut your gizzard out at a drop of the hat. They were self-righteous and wooden headed. They said that Christ could not have made true wine because alcohol in itself was evil. I pointed out to them that all Christians in Europe for two thousand years drank wine, thus I asked, "Were they all sinning?" And they answered "Yes." Can you imagine that every believer for two thousand years was sinning? The wife was a nurse and said there were two kinds of fermentations!!! How silly! They could not face the facts of John 2:1-11. They had a preconception that helped their legalism out!    In John 2:6 Christ called for the water-pots to be filled with water. Some argue that they did not have lids so what happened inside of them could not be fermentation. This will be a miracle. Christ did not have to have the pots closed with lids to do what He was about to do.    Notice when the wine was drawn out it was better than the first vats of wine, and people in those days served the best wine first and the not-so-good wine last. But Christ made wine that was better than at the first. "You have kept the good wine until now" (v. 10). This is not a group of Christians. It is just a wedding in which fermented wine was being served.    Remember the story of the calling of Matthew. He invited tax-gatherers and sinners to a three day banquet. Christ was reclining with them at the meal. The Pharisees came and said to the disciples: "Why is [your teacher] eating and drinking [grape juice] with tax-gatherers and sinners?" (Mark 2:16). No, this was not grape juice, and the Lord was partaking with them, and witnessing to them.    Because the industrial revolution in Europe, and in America, was so devastating on workers who went to the pubs and got drunk, in America Christians pushed for total abstinence. While this is a good practice for those who cannot take their wine, this is not what the Bible argues for.    In the Bible Knowledge Commentary put out by the faculty of "old" Dallas Seminary, there is an interesting statement. God yearly turns water to wine in the agricultural and fermentation processes. Here in John 2 He simply did the process immediately as a gift to the young couple getting married.    The great old Greek scholar Henry Alford gets angry with those who try to say Christ turned the water into grape juice. He says this is a "miserable attempt" made by some in that movement of narrowness to say that this was unfermented grape juice. This is a degradation of the Bible, he adds.    I too get angry when people misinterpret the Bible foolishly because of their legalism and self-righteousness. Get the main point of the Bible! Don't reinterpret it!    Now having written all of this, do what your conscience dictates. Remember, if it's sin to you, it is sin!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS CHANGING COLORS

Our illustrious President is like a little lizard that changes its colors. He is now proposing to give tax breaks to small businesses. This is what Republicans have argued all along. He is using this tactic in order to gain November votes. Do not believe he is "seeing the light." He is not! He is an opportunist who fools people as to what he really believes. He will go back being the socialist and American destroyer he really is after November!    More and more Bible scholars like me are sounding the alarm. We cannot remain silent or speak about Bible issues only. Remember, everything is spiritual and theological. And what is happening in America is spiritual, and it is evil. And if it is evil, then Bible teachers and pastors must speak out.    I feel sorry for our President! He and his family were able to take only eight vacations this summer with the cost around $350,000 for each trip. Maybe we should take up a collection to help him with the cost!    Because of the affluence of Jerusalem during Isaiah's day, God warned of the judgment coming upon it. America has wallowed in prosperity, and danced to the tune of plenty, and now it is time to pay the piper. The reason for their judgment is given in Isaiah 5:13-18.    Isaiah prophesied Israel would go into exile because of "their lack of knowledge" (v. 13). The people were spiritually famished and morally parched with thirst—therefore, the grave (Sheol) was open to receive them (v. 14). Jerusalem would descend into it (v. 14b). The average man would be humbled and the proud would be abased (v. 15). The Lord would bring judgment "and the holy God would show Himself holy in His righteousness" (v. 16). Finally, "Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, and tug sin as if with the ropes used to pull carts" (v. 18). America is dragging sin along behind it.    Part of the problem of America is with its women. They are proud with seductive eyes (3:16). As they walk they tinkle with bangles on their feet (v. 16b). As a judgment the Lord will give them a scalp disease and will make them bald (v. 17). They dress themselves with headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, nose rings, cloaks, money purses, hand mirrors, turbans and veils (vv. 18-23). God will cause them to go bald, remove their hair, and instead of giving them fine clothes, they will wear sackcloth (v. 24). And when the men fall by the sword, the women will be helpless and will sit deserted on the ground (vv. 25-26).    For survival, seven women will take hold of one man and say "protective us," and "take away our approach" (4:1). So much for "strong" women and the woman's liberation movement! –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

HE GOT IT RIGHT!

David Brooks in his newspaper column understands. He pointed out in his latest article that Christians are going down the tubs. They have it all wrong, as I have been saying for years. We build big buildings with the budget larger than the missionary budget. We pack in the temples of worship, raise the hands, shout, and worship ourselves, not God. Stupid pastors thought they were doing right by raising millions for giant edifices. Many men like me were arguing "Don't do it!" But our words fell on deaf ears.    Meanwhile, we are losing the war against evil and sin. Sears is selling pornographic posters online, Home Depot is supporting homosexual events with their employees wearing work aprons advertising those gay happenings. At the same time, they are telling their employees to take off buttons that say "One Nation Under God!"    We have lost the war. The next thing coming will be outright persecution against Christians and churches. A form of prison will be in order. We may be taken off to some kind of brainwashing camps in order to try to make us change our attitudes towards things. This is what Hitler did. His first prisons were meant to brainwash opposition with the prisoners being released in a year or two.    Expect this to happen in America!     Because we have lost the war, with things getting worse, does not mean we stop praying. But God is giving us the answer to our prayers. He is saying "No, I'm going to allow things to get worse as a judgment against you and against the world." We think God is not answering our prayers if He says "No." But this is not true. A "No" is an answer!    Be prepared for Persecution. I am now writing a book on this subject and pointing out what we should do in light of what is coming. If you want the book FREE, please email me your name and address. The book will be on the way in a month or two. –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what do you think of the issue of building the mosque near the fallen trade towers? ANSWER:  While I don't like it, there are far greater issues that we all seem to be afraid of addressing. How did millions of Muslims get into America when we were all not looking? Why did generations of Americans in the past realize that this would not happen to our population? What did they know that we do not understand?    For generations we had immigration quotas in place. The doors were open to northern and western European immigrants but limits were placed on those coming from other nations. You may ask, but is that not prejudicial? No, it was wise because they realized that you cannot mix peoples from extremely different cultures and religions. You will water down our heritage and destroy our cultural base.    Liberals do not get it! They believe that all religions are equal but those who read their Bibles know better. You do not swing open wide the doors and flood your social structure with those who hold extreme views. The country will be destroyed. And of course that is what is happening right now!    The liberals do not calculate religions in the cultural mix. They think it does not matter who comes in to the country because to them there is no difference between one group and another group. But there is and those of the past knew so.    Before President John F. Kennedy there were quotas on those coming from other nations, except for those arriving from northern and western Europe. And there was what I call "Peace in the Valley!" Are not other religions pagan religions? If you are a Christian you know that they are pagan! And if so, then we cannot look upon them as the same as Judeo-Christianity. Because the Jews are God's blessed earthly people we should always make sure they are welcome. And so with those peoples coming from Europe. Now I am not saying that just because they come from Europe they are Christians. But their culture is similar to ours as well as their thought forms and belief systems. This creates a unity in our thinking processes, and that is important when you are building and sustaining a nation!    Concerning the religion of the Egyptians, God warned that the people from Egypt should not come into the Holy Land. God said, in reference to the Egyptians, "You shall purge the evil from among you" (Deut. 13:5). And for the one who thinks the gods of other peoples were okay, the Lord said "You shall not yield to him or listen to him" (v. 8). You shall not even take in the booty from pagan peoples! Thus, "When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them, ... beware that you are not snared to follow them after they are destroyed before you" (12:29-30).    A Christian American Indian was asked if he does the dances that his people were doing. He answered, "Oh, heavens no! Those are pagan dances to their gods and we have put those from us." He was also asked "Should Christian Indians have totem poles in their yards?" And he answered again, "No, those are worshipped because they represented our pagan gods."     Unfortunately, it is too late. We will not turn this issue around. The liberals will continue to push their agenda on us. And even the conservative talk show hosts fail to get this issue. We are doomed to be able to change the patterns and the direction the country is going. The majority of our population just does not "get it."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

LET'S GET THE FACTS RIGHT!

The day the Democrats took over was not January 22, 2009,  it was actually January 3, 2007.  It was the day the Democrats took over the House of Representatives & Senate, the start of the 110th Congress.  The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995. For those of you who are listening to the liberals propagating the fallacy that everything is 'Bush's Fault,' think about this ...  January 3rd, 2007 was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and the Congress. At the time: The DOW Jones closed at 12,621.77 The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5% The Unemployment rate was 4.6% George Bush's Economic policies SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS of JOB CREATION! Remember January 3rd, 2007.  It was the day that Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee. The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the economy?  BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES! THANK YOU DEMOCRATS for taking us from 13,000 DOW, 3.5 GDP and 4.6% unemployment to this CRISIS by (among MANY other things) dumping 5-6 TRILLION dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac FIASCOS!  (BTW: Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie & Freddie - starting in 2001 because it was financially risky for the US economy). And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac? OBAMA! And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie?  OBAMA & the Democratic Congress! So when some idiot tries to blame Bush REMEMBER JANUARY 3rd, 2007 THE DAY THE DEMOCRATS TOOK OVER!  Bush may have been in the car but the Democrats were in charge of the gas pedal and steering wheel they were driving. Set the record straight on Bush!

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, does not Progressive Dispensationalism (PD) put interpretation in dangerous territory? Is it not destroying a clear meaning of the understanding of the Bible? ANSWER:  Yes, indeed, it is. The founders of this view of interpretation said when they revealed their system that they wanted to have a compromise system with covenant theology. They admitted they wanted the covenant guys to like them and not look down on traditional dispensationalism.    I am not a dispensationist as one who simply follows a system. The Bible IS dispensational. That is the nature of Scripture. I do not have to foist a view on the Bible. I just take it at face value and the Word of God "interprets" itself. I read the Bible with a literal approach, and with a historical, grammatical interpretation. This is what the orthodox Godly Jews did with the Old Testament. What they come up with, I come up with. Christ did not chide the Jews for their belief in prophecy or in their literal understanding of Scripture. He chided the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and their legalism. The PD guys, Blaising and Bock, added biblical theology to interpretation, along with their approach to understanding Scripture. They say the interpreter adds theology in his interpretive mix. This is dead wrong. We develop our theology from our observation of what Scripture is saying.    I know for a fact that PD at one of the "big" seminaries in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has blunted an understanding of the Bible. The students come out not fully knowing the prophetic Word. They come out confused as to what the Bible is teaching. I remember some years ago talking to the class president of that school and asking him what he was going to do when he graduated. He said he was going to Westminster Seminary in order to understand what the Bible said. He was tugged by Covenant Theology because of his confusion as a graduate from that big (supposedly) dispensational school. All he had to do was read the theologies of Berkhof and Charles Hodge to find out about Covenant theology. In their books he will find that the Covenant guys admit that Covenant theology is not in the Bible, that the covenants of grace and works are simply "implied" in the Bible, they are not "explicit." They were made with Adam, and Christ, in eternity past but that you can't find them in Scripture. What a dumb system! You need to read my quotes of Berkhof and Hodge in my Classical Evangelical Hermeneutical textbook on pages 158-59. You will be shocked at what they say!    Dispensationalists can "prove" the dispensational nature of the Bible.    PD and Covenant theology are just plain nutty!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

The Birth of the Nation of Israel

Every Christian needs to read this new book by Dr. Couch to understand what God is doing in the Middle East. It is a thorough treatment of the founding of the Jewish State. While the Jews have gone back in unbelief, as prophesied, they are now beginning to turn to Christ as their Savior. The fulfillment of prophecy is coming to pass before our eyes. Don't miss reading this important book! We are asking for a donation of $17, but for a few weeks, it is FREE for those who order it. Please send us your name and address for that copy. Scofield Ministries, 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX. 76634.

THINK OF AMERICA

You cannot help but think of our nation when you read the words of the prophet Jeremiah. He wrote "If that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. ... If it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will repent of the good with which I had promised to bless it" (Jer. 18:8, 10).    The Rabbis write: "God disposes absolutely of the destinies of Israel and every other nation, in the same way that the potter does whatever he pleases with the clay. ... God's blessings are always conditional: the blessings will be forfeited if the people become unworthy of them, while the disaster may be averted if the people repent in time."    The Law was conditional of Israel being obedient, but of course, the nation could not be faithful to what the Lord said. This is why only grace can spare a people from the calamity of judgment. –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch: We understand how we can defile the flesh, but how does one defile his spirit? I find it interesting that we are responsible for external and internal defilement as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:1. ANSWER:  By the way Paul pens this verse, we are capable of defiling "flesh and spirit." It is as if he puts the two together. He does not use an article before each word. We defile both together, not just one, such as just the "flesh." The passage reads: "Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."    The word "defilement" means "pollution, contaminate, stain." It is implying a stain of excrement. It can be seen and cannot be missed! When we make the outer flesh filthy with sin we also do the same to our whole inner being, our spirit. In the human being, both body and spirit work together. They stand in wholeness together, or they are polluted together.    "Perfecting" in the Greek is a Present Participle of "epiteleo" meaning "to bring to a completion, to a maturity." To cleanse ourselves would be to confess our sins and walk away from those that are making us filthy.      Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

WATCH OUT FOR HERESY

Someone put me on a subscription for a newsletter published by a very ignorant writer out of a local town in Texas. What the author writes is heresy. So watch out for stuff that may come in the mail that is just plain error. While the author is correct to flag the abuses of many charismatic leaders, he has some beliefs that we cannot buy into. He says there are six steps on "What You Must Do To Be Saved." (1) Admit you are a sinner, (2) Repent, (3) Believe in Christ, (4) Seek sanctification (5) Obey to be baptized, and (6) Spend time in prayer and reading the King James Bible. He also adds, "Seek God for pure heart, It is the only way to heaven!" He also writes: "The true Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is Holiness"! As with most ignorant Bible teachers, he denies eternal security. In denying the Pre-Tribulational Rapture, he misquotes the Bible all over the place! He denies Paul's doctrine of the imminence of the coming of Christ. He fails to quote 1 Thess. 1:10 where the apostle wrote that the Thessalonians were waiting for God's Son from heaven and He "raised Him from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers US from the wrath to come." Notice that Paul included himself who was right then waiting for His coming. Paul did not know God's timetable for the rapture so we are all still waiting. But the way Paul says this he clearly felt the coming of Christ was imminent. This author adds that we could be deceived (2 Thess. 2:3) by thinking that "the rapture is imminent." He takes "the day of the Lord" in verse 2 as the rapture rather than the Tribulation. A small child would see the connection of the deception and the Thessalonians thinking that the rapture was about to come. This author then references Matthew 24:30 and "the coming in the clouds of the Son of man" as the proof that Christ's coming is not a "secret" rapture. I don't know who started the idea of "a secret rapture." The Bible says nothing about that. The Matthew 24 passage is not about the rapture but about Christ's second coming to reign and rule on earth in His millennial kingdom. This author has a bunch of passages all mixed up and thrown into one pot. The author does not notice that the Son of Man is a messianic passage and is not about Christ coming for the church. It is a reference of Israel's Messiah, i.e., the second coming. I almost wrote to this guy to cancel my subscription but I get too many laughs reading his heresy. So I want to get his little paper so that I can warn you and others as to how bad it's getting out there with error! –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Philippians:THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR SAVIOR

The Lord Jesus is both fully man and fully God. Christ is very God and very Man. He is the God/Man. He is human and yet without sin. He is God the Son, deity, who has always existed. He has always had a relation with God the Father, and with God the Holy Spirit. He never sinned, never would, never could, and never will! His very person is deity, sinless, perfect, and holy. Jesus exists presently in His human natural body and yet He is also omnipresent. His spirit is everywhere. He dwells within believers, and yet He is presently confined to His eternal physical body in glory. The Word of God is consistent with these facts from Genesis to Revelation. There are not three Gods in the Godhead. There is only One God, who exists in three Persons! Jesus came into the world of humanity, was God's only unique born One. Mysteriously, in order to prevent Him from being sinful, He was born of a virgin. Apparently, the human sinful nature was not passed down to Him. He took on all the qualities of humanity, and yet without sin. His deity and humanity were somehow joined or co-mingled. Sometimes His humanity was evident and then at other times His deity dominated what He did and what He said. This is a great mystery that we cannot figure out. It is a paradox, two parallel teachings (parallel doctrines) that do not conflict but in some way operate alongside of each other. Having translated the entire book of Philippians, I saw these great truths in 2:5-11. Paul starts the passage by saying that believers should have the same "attitude" of humility of Christ, though He was very God and could have exalted Himself above His fellow human beings. (2:5) We are to have "this attitude" which was also in Christ Jesus. Better reads: "You are to be thinking this way ..." Christ becomes our example of how we are to think in our Christian walk. (2:6) Christ "existed" in the "morphe" or "form" of God. "Existed" means that He lived this way. It is the "to be" verb. "He is being in this form." He continually is now existing this way. Everything that can be said of God the Father can be said of Christ. He is the reflection of all that God is, and He has always been thus! (2:6b) He "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." Or, "He did not think He needed to take advantage of this equality with God." Since He is God there was no need to prove anything in the heavens. He already is God! (2:7a) But He "emptied Himself." This is an Aorist Tense. It is the doctrine of the Kenoses, "to empty." By this Christ "self-humiliated" Himself by His incarnation and voluntary death on the cross, then, were the way in which He showed that "being equal to God" was for Him not a possession to be exploited for selfish ends, instead, it led Him to deprive Himself and serve others. He took on the form of a slave despite His status of equality with God. He gave up the equality with God to take on the form of a slave! He humbled Himself to serve His people. This included His incarnation and His act of redemption. (2:8) "He was found in an outward appearance (skimatics) as a man." As you looked at Christ, everything conformed to the appearance of humanity, except with sin. He was the perfect Son of God! "He humbled (tapeinoo, Aorist Tense) Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Tapeinoo means to reduce oneself to a lower circumstance. "To afflict the soul," or "assign to a lower rank." That is, as the Son of God now in a human body. He did not throw away His deity. He is still very God! (2:9) Therefore, "God highly exalted Him, and bestowed upon Him the name which is above every name." God granted to Him the extreme name. This is the only way we can be saved. Christ had to become part of the human race in order to save us. Without this new state, He could not represent us before the Father! There never was such a perfect, sinless man, who could substitute for us under the wrath of God! We are blessed by what the Lord did with His Son! – Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

An Australian Christian Speaks Out

Dear Dr. Couch,

Last night I was watching the events that happened during the Sept.11 attack in America with all the video footage of the actual events, interviews with all the people on the scenes including those of former president Bush's staffs and relatives of those who died in the hijacked planes. It was really a terrible event! I think it should be shown over American televisions to remind Americans once again of the horrors of Islam. I came to think that America was like a sitting duck even at this time, nothing much has changed to America . One American pastor recently wrote about the event said that America is in a great slumber and when the alarm sounded she woke up snooze the alarm and went back to sleep. It's a tragedy America doesn't seem to learn much from that event. A Muslim president is even voted into presidency! Long time ago I heard another American pastor noted that America is going to be destroyed from within not from without. I believe this is happening now, interestingly not only in America but almost all nations of the world.

Considering what is happening in America , Israel and the rest of the world, the events are bleak and getting worst. I have considered in particular that many of the American leaders are in denial of what really is Islam. I have heard Bush over television at one time convincing people that Islam is a religion of peace. This is being propagated in the minds of American people until this time. Obama is an ardent supporter of such doctrine. Even here in Australia people in the government wanted to appease the Muslims and Islam by introducing in public schools curriculum about understanding Islam. The Australian government wanted Australians to learn the ways of Islam. It is quite alarming Islam is gaining control of many areas in the world. Because majority of the Muslim nations are holding the oil supply they are holding everyone hijacked. The problem is that the whole world is thirsty for oil.

I believe we cannot expect the world to be better soon. Even the concerted effort of all the nations of the world to achieve peace is going nowhere. All of them are after some compromised peace for some ulterior motives.

Only the intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ is our only hope and may He come soon.

Yours in the Lord,
An Australian Christian

ON WHAT BASIS?

On what basis did the majority of the American people vote for Barrack Hussein Obama? What did they not see that so many others of us were well aware of? Those who voted for him were mainly minorities who had no understanding how democracy works that came from the Reformation framework in Europe. All they knew is that they wanted "change." They were not appreciative of what we were blessed with. They wanted more socialism, the freebies and the give-away from the government. Welfare and more welfare, free food and education—this is what often drives them. Also the younger crowd voted for him because they were brainwashed in the liberal socialistic universities. Those who had no moral compass or conservative thinking, want only what they want! They are governed by self-ism! It is a statistical fact that those who are younger are more liberal and vote Democratic. They see no problem with socialism, abortion, and homosexuality. Many of them despise the confines of Christianity. It is also a known fact that those who are liberal and vote Democratic give but a small amount to charity in comparison to those who vote Republican and who are conservative. Too, Democrats go to church far less than those who are conservative. While President Bush was certainly not perfect, he was not the one who virtually destroyed America, as the liberals would contend. All of the above is not simply about politics. These are spiritual issues. Everything we do, every decision we make, has to do with theology. We do not make decisions in a vacuum. We do not vote from a neutral perspective. Morality governs our every decision. The Word of God reminds us: "A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err in judgment" (Prov. 16:10), and, "It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established on righteousness" (v. 12). "When the righteous increase the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan" (29:2). Also, "When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when [the wicked] perish, the righteous increase" (28:28). –Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)