REACHING MUSLIMS

Recently, an evangelist who reaches Muslims for Christ said "Muslims are our mission field, they are not our enemy." With all due respect, I do not fully agree with him. There is a "yes" and a "no" answer that he needs to address.    While we should reach them for Christ when given the opportunity, in light of that, we are commissioned to present to them the gospel. But when we are talking about the social nature and structure of America, this is another matter. With thousands pouring into America, who know nothing about our Christian foundation, we are in danger of losing the historical and social structure of the country. Every month that passes, the people in this nation know nothing about the founding fathers, the Christian roots, the European foundation of America. Thus, we will become simply another nation that has forfeited its great heritage.    To be quite frank, this loss has already begun to take place. Our people some fifty years ago threw away those great facts of history. And because of the evil in the hearts of our educators, we will never recover a knowledge of those beginnings. Our children and young people in our schools and colleges are being stonewalled as to the beginnings of America. So in one sense, we cannot blame the foreigners who are pouring in (including the law breakers crossing our borders).    We have forfeited and thrown to the wind our heritage, and thus, it is not the fault of the Muslims. Yet, I keep asking, if they dislike our nation so much, why don't they go back home? But be prepared for this nation to be another country in just a few years; it will never again be the same! Remember, our freedoms are based on the foundations of the Bible. They do not have the Word of God as their belief system. They will carry us back to the dark ages! This is a judgment of God. Our country is becoming more and more heathenistic and immoral. And that is our fault! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

MR. PRESIDENT, PLEASE LEAVE!

Did you read what our President, Barack Hussein Obama, said to a group of homosexuals at their supposed Human Rights Campaign on October 13? No President has ever voiced these immoral thoughts before publicly! He told the cheering crowd: "I am with you on the homosexual agenda." Further:    "My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians—whether in the office or on the battlefield," he told 3000 people. "You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women." He added, "There can be people who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families [homosexuals] like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted."           Please, Mr. President, do not run again. Go away and retire somewhere! Leave us alone. You have uttered thoughts that no President of the past has ever uttered. Do not continue to spoil this great nation, leading us down such a blatant immoral path. One term is enough, in fact, it has been too much. Let us vote in a new man, a strong moral leader who knows right from wrong, and who believes in all that the Bible says. We have had enough! (Nov., 09)

GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD US, SO WHY ARE WE SURPRISED?

There will always be evil in high places, especially when the culture collapses. We should expect it! America has departed from the Word of God, and from the Lord Himself. "When the righteous triumph, there is great glory. But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves" (Prov. 28:12). "When the wicked perish, the righteous increase" (v. 28). And, "The ruler gives stability to the land by justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it" (29:4). Finally, "When the wicked increase, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall" (v. 16).    Remember, "Foresight is better than hindsight, but insight is Best!" – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

CHRISTIANITY IS GONE!

"Christmas" has been deleted from Social Studies textbooks in the State of Texas. In its place for the sixth-grade reader is the honoring of books about Hinduism. The kids are told about Diwali, a Hindu festival. Jonathan Saenz, a lobbyist for the conservative Free Market Foundation calls this "outrageous." It is a conscious effort to remove Christianity from our culture, misleading students about current society.    The textbooks place Christianity alongside of all religions. While that may seem commendable, it downplays the role of Christianity in the founding of this nation. More and more in our society claim to be atheists or agnostics, and not "religious" at all. We are moving into a dark world that will bring upon our children and grandchildren an unparalleled time of open sin! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 10)

TEXAS FALLING APART!

There is a turmoil going on at the campus of The University of North Texas in Dallas. The student body is voting on whether to allow homosexuals to be both the King and Queen at the Home Coming games. This is not the Texas I was raised up in! The administration is chicken liver and has no power to say "no" to such an abominable situation. The adults are no longer in charge of the school.    This reminds me of what either did happen, or would happen, during the tribulation in Israel as recorded in Isaiah 3.    God said "I will make mere lads (teens) the princes of the nation, and capricious children will rule over them" (v. 4). The people will cave in to sin: "And the people will be oppressed, each one by another and each one by his neighbor; the youth will storm against the elder, and the inferior against the honorable" (v. 5). They will have a smirk on their faces: "The expression of their faces bears witness against them. And they display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceive it [or understand what they are doing]. Woe to them!" (v. 9).    And, "O My people! Their oppressors are children, and WOMEN WILL RULE OVER THEM. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray, and confuse the direction of your paths" (v. 12). Thus, "The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes (rulers) of the people" (v. 14). Unger says this is prophetic about Israel's future, and, it certainly forecasts probably what will happen too in the Gentile nations:    "This shows that Israel's sins and chastisement, here outlined prophetically, prefigure her sins that will bring on her Tribulation trials and testings in 'the time of Jacob's trouble,'" the seven year period of the Wrath of God! This is "identically described (2:6-22), preceding Kingdom blessing."    This reminds me of this saying:    We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.    We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and called it more pluralism.    We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.    We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.    We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.    We have killed our unborn and called it choice.    We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.    We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.    We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.  – Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

A Testimonial Regarding Dispensationalism

Dr. Couch, below is a testimonial of what I went through with Preterism. [Some of what this man wrote, we have condensed for shortening his message.] Thank you for your kind response to what I wrote last. I am fully convinced that Dispensationalism is the truth of Scripture, however, in the past I believed otherwise. I would attribute my acceptance of Preterism to one main factor: My ignorance of the prophetic Scriptures.    I did not have a very good handle on biblical truth at the time (which was between 2005-2006), and so was easily led away by false doctrine. It all started when I began studying the books about covenant theologians who continually spiritualized the Word of God. I read several books on Preterism that greatly influenced me. In my readings I moved farther and farther into Preterism until I began accepting their views as a valid theology. At best, I became a partial Preterist.    I read books by men who said Christ's second coming took place in AD 70, but that His coming was still going on today. As I understand, the Preterist field is in confusion today, with some infighting between full and partial Preterists. I seriously doubt whether many of them are sure of what they believe.    That said, I appreciate the effort you have put into combating this doctrine. I remained a Preterist for about a year and a half and then saw the light! I have your book "Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics" and enjoyed it quite a bit. One of the chapters led me to acquire Dr. Paul Tan's "The Interpretation of Prophecy." This is one of the greatest books I've ever read! I also have "The Endtimes Controversy." I look forward to more resources! Blessings on your work, Brian S.

WE’VE BEEN LIED TO!

We are continually told that women are not mandated to be combat troops in the military. But the government is lying to us. Women are now put on combat ships. The problems this generates, according to sailors I talk with, is incredible! They say that there is to be no hanky panky on ships but the military then turns around and passes out birth control items. And when the little girls get pregnant on the ship they are put ashore and allowed to have abortions.    Watching Veterans Day on TV, I was further shocked. They showed a parade of little girls who were part of a High School Junior ROTC unit. With about 30 kids marching, there were only about four boys in the unit—the rest were High School girls. And, they were all carrying rifles! If they are not being trained for combat, or allowed to go into combat, why would the girls in the ROTC unit be carrying rifles? The answer is clear: they are preparing them to be allowed to take frontline combat roles.    The feminine Nazis in the military are now pushing for women to be allowed to be aboard submarines. There is not one man in the Navy who would be for that! Talking to men in the Army, I asked, "What do they do with the little girls being allowed to work in the motor pool with heavy trucks and trying to lift heavy truck tires?" The answer: "They put them on jobs that they can handle and let the men do the heavy lifting!" In other words, the men are discriminated against. The women receive the same pay but are not required to do the same work!    The military will tell you the physical requirements for women are the same as for men. Another lie! The women run the mile as the men do, but they are allowed to run it slower than the men—this they do not tell you!    Dr. Lacy Couch finally has it right! I've asked her for years why women want to be with the guys in the office and in the military. She thinks she finally has it figured out. The women want the same AUTHORITY as the men, or even over the men! It's an Adam and Eve thing. The apostle Paul addresses this in 1 Timothy 3:12. "I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet."    What happened to the Home Making Courses for girls in High School? Girls were taught to be mothers and wives, and they learned what really being a woman was all about.    Paul says: "Women are to adorn themselves in proper clothing, modestly and discreetly ... rather by means of good works, as being women making a claim to godliness" (1 Tim. 2:9-on). Peter says: "Observing your chaste and respected behavior ... And let not your adornment be merely external ... but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God" (1 Pet. 3:1-6). "Being submissive to your own husbands" (v. 5).    Paul further adds, that the young woman must learn to love their own husbands ... to be sensible, ... workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands" (Titus 2:3-5). Women are being emotionally led astray as Paul suspected they could be because they can be fooled by the culture.    It is all over in America. We are into the apostasy, and there is no way back! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

THEY’RE TEARING UP MY COUNTRY!

I was motoring around SAM'S in that little electric buggy the other day and stopped at the DVD section on documentaries on World War II. An old guy walked up whom I knew had to be a veteran. "Did you fight in the big War?" I asked. "Yes," he answered. "I fought at Okinawa and was almost killed by the Japanese. A hand grenade exploded in front of my face and blew part of my jaw off. That was the end of the war for me." He went on: "I saw some terrible things in frontline combat."    He asked, "Were you in the war?" No, I said, I am just over seventy years of age. "Oh, well I'm 82." he answered. "Fifteen thousand or more of my buddies died on that island, but we had to have it in order to fire bomb Japan in order to end the war."    As we parted, tears came into his eyes. I said, "What terrible things are happening to our nation!" Looking back, he replied, "Yes, and now they're really tearing up my country!"    From east coast to west coast, with those who are older and mature, so many are realizing that this is not the same nation. We are sinking into the abyss. And, we will never turn it back around. The minorities, and the criminal illegals, who have no respect for our laws, and who have sneaked across our borders, along with many in the younger generation, just don't get it! They're socialists and free loaders, and they're now really tearing up our nation! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

WE MUST BE STUPID!

When the Major killed so many at Ft. Hood, the press, and the military, came out and told us we should not make this a "religious" issue. But then, as they continue to check the Major out, they find that this is exactly what it was! How come we the people are so dumb, and the military is so smart, but keeps getting it wrong. I heard one person on a talk show say, "We're all getting tired of the 'politically correct' thing in America." We cannot use common sense. We're told what to think. But what if I want to be 'politically un-correct'? That's my business and no one else's. As a Christian, and an American, I should be able to think the way I please and it's the business of no one else! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

WHILE YOU WERE ASLEEP ...

The Barack Hussein Obama group joined a U.N. effort, along with many Arab nations, in putting into place a restriction against religious speech. Another freedom was just taken away from you while you slept!    This resolution, pushed by the Arabs, means you have to be careful of anything you say against Islam, or you could be arrested! The resolution was passed unanimously by European countries and the so-called developing countries, which means mainly Arab nations. If you point out what Islam teaches this could be considered hate speech or blaspheming their doctrines. The good thing about this resolution is that it may be almost impossible to enforce. But Obama probably went along with it to make the Arabs think that he is on their side. This is supposed to push forward pluralism in America and around the world. But that is not how America was founded. We were meant by the founding fathers to have total freedom of speech no matter what the response from others.    This "law" is being enforced in other nations around the world. In Canada, the human rights commission punished a pastor for speaking out against gays. In Italy, a comedian was under investigation for making jokes about the Pope. In Poland, a Catholic magazine was fined $11,000 for criticizing abortion as being similar to the death chambers of Auschwitz. The Obama administration is joining the world in removing free speech and in crafting a new faith-based speech standard. This is only the beginning. More than likely this law will be given more teeth in order to come against those who hold to the morals of the Bible.    We are moving deeper and deeper into the prophesied time known as the apostasy. There is no turning back. – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

THE WORLDWIDE SCOPE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Only the blind would say the book was about local issues. The book was written after 70 AD and it is worldwide in its scope. Those who oppose this clear fact have not read the book.    The book assumes an exploding mushrooming population, interlinking economy, jet age transportation, and satellite communication. Also, there are so many statements that are universal in nature. For example, a fourth of the world's population is destroyed (6:8), avenging those who dwell on the earth (v. 10); the asteroids [stars, asteros] falling on the earth (v. 12); a third of mankind killed (9:18); the "rest" of mankind did not repent (v. 21); many peoples, nations, tongues (10:11); those of all peoples, tribes, tongues, nations will look on the dead bodies of the two martyrs and prophets (11:9) [satellite television]; "those who dwell on the earth will rejoice ... and they will send gifts to one another, because these two [godly] prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth" (v. 10). The old great scholar Lange writes: "Revelation, in accordance with its ... world-historical character, takes in the entire breadth of the world ..."    How silly to say all of this is simply local! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

NOT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE?

When asked if the shooting at Fort Hood was a "religious" issue, officials and the press all yelled, No! This was not a religious issue!    But they lied loud and clear! The day of the shooting the major who did all the firing was passing out copies of the Koran, and, as he was firing his weapon, he was calling out the Muslim cry, "God is Great! God is Great!" We were lied to again in order to keep things politically correct! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov. 09)

WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY!

In America we call ourselves a democracy but technically, we are not! We are a republic. What is the difference? A republic elects "wise men" who then are supposed to go to congress and use their wisdom to do what is right in government decision making. A democracy is often "mob rule." And if the mob goes bonkers, they start calling for bad decisions.    "Some will respond that big government is what the majority of voters want, and that in a democracy, the majority rules. But America's Founders didn't found a democracy, they founded a republic. The authors of the Federalist Papers, arguing for ratification of the Constitution, showed how pure democracy has led historically to tyranny. Instead, they set up a limited government, with checks and balances, to help ensure that the reason of the people, rather than selfish passions of a majority, would hold sway" (IMPRIMIS, Sept. 2009, by Dr. Walter Williams).    "Unaware of the distinction between a democracy and a republic, many today believe that a majority consensus establishes morality. Nothing could be further from the truth."    Most do not realize it but when we vote for a president and vice-president, we are actually voting for members of the Electoral College, who then select these men for office. There was one case in history when they voted for the president that the majority did not vote for. But usually, they vote for the men that their district voted for by a majority.    Now why did the founding fathers NOT want the decision for a president left in the hands of a majority? Because they did not trust the whims of the majority! The majority can be fickle! Wise men, and Godly men, are to lead the country, not simply those selected by a mob, the majority.    The problem today is that (1) the mob is ignorant and unwise, (2) and those they vote for are equally immoral and dumb! As well, those we send to Congress are misleading the people, and are unwise, selfish, and ungodly. Therefore, the republic is failing! The Constitution is to be the guide of the nation but it is being ignored. It is no longer taught in our universities and in our law schools. Therefore, tyranny is replacing the rule of the Constitution. Barack Hussein Obama had the audacity to say that "what the Constitution did not mention, could be put into place, and guide the nation." In other words, what it did not say, could be the rule. Thus, rules and laws could be made that are not enacted by the Congress, and the president could act unilaterally and do what he wanted without the direction of the Constitution or of the Congress! This means dictatorship and tyranny!    One example of the destruction that is going on in our nation: Barack Hussein Obama says that, yes indeed, criminal foreigners (those who illegally sneak into our country) should not receive health care, therefore, they must be made citizens, THEN they can receive FREE health benefits!    The majority in Congress who are democrats are going along with the president because the minorities who are getting all the free stuff, will vote democratic and keep the communist socialization of our nation going!    The minorities and those under thirty years of age, are not paying attention. The apostasy is here, and there is no turning this ship around! Since every decision made in life is theological, what is now taking place has spiritual implications. Our country is being destroyed spiritually and not simply socially!  We are going to be judged for our homosexuality, abortions, and teaching of evolution to our children! – Dr. Mal Couch

ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

As of this writing, there are forces in Europe now working on a plan for a One World Government. If the U.S. joins, as we understand it, we could not withdraw from its organization. They are buttering up President Barack Hussein Obama to bring America into the plan.    Dispensationalists and premillennialists have been right all along. Such a plot is part of the satanic strategy as described in Scripture.    A committee in Congress is doing research on discrimination to make sure that homosexuals are not left out of social issues in the public arena. This is going to further the agenda for such folks, and we cannot stop it. This is why a judgment from God is certain. Our nation morally is moving so quickly away from biblical morality we cannot keep up with it! –Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

THE COLLAPSE OF AMERICA!

What is happening to us today in America is right on schedule. We are all praying now for God to bail us out, but why should He? Nothing is happening by accident, and, He owes us nothing! Our sins are now coming up before us to roost. We are being judged as one of the many sinful nations of the world. "With great blessing comes great responsibility." But we have forfeited our heritage! Each month thousands of little babies are being butchered by abortionists. Drugs are taking us down into the pit! Without repentance there is no turning back our nation.    Speaking to many officials who work with the illegal and criminal foreigners who illegally sneak into our nation monthly, they tell me there is no hope. Some have been working with interviewing these criminals for years now, and they are quite pessimistic about the future of our great nation. Our Congress and government officials "just don't get it!" After talking with government officials in Washington and with State senators, they tell me they have no confidence that such officials "will ever see the light." Neither are such officials out to protect our Judeo-Christian heritage.    Many do not realize it but the liberal National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is in the dark as to what is happening. That organization supports giving a free ride to the foreign criminals who come to the U.S. illegally. They falsely argue we should support "comprehensive immigration reform" to welcome with open arms such evil people.    The NAE is completely ignorant to the fact that a large portion of the criminals who sneak over our borders are outright hostile to Judeo-Christian ideals, nor do they know (or care about) how our nation was founded. They are simply focusing on getting their own kind here for a free ride, for free health care, and for making money. Does the NAE see that if America collapses, world evangelism efforts will be severely damaged?    There is no mandate in the Scriptures for such support. That is not part of our salvation responsibility. We have an obligation to protect our homes, family and children. The officials working with the foreign illegals are telling me that we are committing national suicide. And they should know! They work daily with these people and realize what danger we are facing.    In early 2010, the Senate and House immigration bills will be introduced. They will open the flood gates to allow these criminals to come in for the free ride.    Biblical principles, proverbial wisdom, and common sense are all being thrown out the window. We are now living in a fantasy world where there is no more rationality governing our decisions. As many who now work with those coming here illegally believe, we are facing tremendous danger as a nation. But no one is listening to them!    For a limited time, we will send you FREE the new book America, the Nations, and Israel and also, This Great Nation that describes what we have lost as a nation, that no other people on earth were blessed with. Send an Email to drcouch@scofieldprophecystudies.org and include your name and address. – Dr. Mal Couch (11-09)

WAR ON OUR STREETS!

Our government is reporting that we soon may have war on our streets from the many Muslims pouring into America. The city of Detroit is becoming a center for such militancy. The mosques are becoming headquarters for jihad training. How come we knew this was coming before our government did? Or, before it became public? Because Christians who know their Bible realize the nature of evil, and too, they know prophecy and understand the nature of how things will be going in terms of the hatred against Israel and against all who support her.    Be prepared to protect your family. Things may collapse before we know it! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

JUDGMENT ON THE U.S. IS COMING!

On a Barack Hussein Obama website used for his political propaganda, Organizing For America, Richard Folk has written: "Comparing the present-day Israel with Nazi Germany we discover that the majority of the Israeli policies are exact copies of the Nazi policies."    That statement is ludicrous! In fact, it is far more, it is an outright propaganda lie that is set on fire from the pit. By my bedside I have three books I am reading on WW II, and nightly I am reviewing five DVDs on the history of Germany during the 1930s. I understand well the sins of that nation and what they did to the Jews, and it does not come close to what is now happening in the Holy Land.    We are indeed rapidly moving into the cultural and spiritual apostasy.     Having spent a total of about one year in Israel all together with twenty-three trips, I concur that this is a straight-on lie! In every situation I observed, the Jews treated the Arabs well, in fact, more than well! Further, they took abuse from the Arabs far more than we would tolerate here in America. If you want the facts as to where we are today, you need the book I edited with many, many outstanding scholars. The book now being reprinted is entitled The Gathering Storm.    Talking to a school teacher recently, I found that the vast majority of the minorities do not get it! They do not know, nor do they care about what is happening politically and socially in this country, and, they want the free giveaways the present administration will be handing out. They bring their cultural thinking from the countries of their origin, and to be sure, these nations do not have the same spiritual background that American Europeans have. They do not understand our Thanksgiving celebration that was inaugurated by our Anglo-Saxon, European, Reformation, English speaking ancestors. Thus, they have no idea what America is all about, except now it is one great big nation that is into the "giveaway"! The judgment from God is certain to fall on this unthankful people! – Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

ARE TONGUES STILL AROUND TODAY?

This questions keeps coming around over and over again. Since tongues was (1) a spiritual gift, and (2) since it would be a part of early church history, we must look at both sources for the answer.

Was tongues a gibberish or an actual language? This is easy to answer. First, the Greek word glossa was a clearly understood idiom for describing a spoken and known language. Thus when the doctrine of linguistics first appeared in Acts 2 we find it describing spoken languages and identifiable dialects. It was defined as a miracle gift also: "... because they were each one hearing them (the disciples) speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, 'Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?'" (vv. 6-7). And the people hearing the miracle added: "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?" (v. 8).

While most charismatics agree that Acts 2 was a miracle and was the speaking in a known language, they say what was happening in 1 Corinthians 12-14 was (1) an angelic utterance, (2) or an esthetic gibberish. The question: why would Acts 2 be considered a language but 1 Corinthians 12-14 would be some form of a mystical utterance or angelic vocabulary? Charismatics do this because that's what they want to do! There is no evidence that there would be a change in meaning and substance but instead, just the opposite. What was in Acts 2 would be the same in 1 Corinthians 12-14!

In Acts 2:4 there is a little idiomatic expression translated "other tongues." In Greek this is heteros glossa. This phrase is used almost identically in 1 Corinthians 12:10. There it is hetero gene glosson or, "other families of tongues (languages)." What happened in Acts 2:4 was the same thing happening in 1 Corinthians 12:10.

The miracle of linguistics will cease! The church at Corinth was apparently boasting about the gifts they possessed. Though these gifts were imparted by the Holy Spirit, still carnality set in. The believers forgot the fact that whatever they did for the Lord, it had to be driven by the principle of love. This is Paul's big point in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Interestingly, Paul tells his readers the three communication gifts would someday cease. These are prophecy, languages, and knowledge. The canon of Scripture had not been completed and so there were some believers who were given special dispensations of understanding spiritual truth in order to clarify doctrine in the growing church. Apparently when the canon of the New Testament was finalized with the book of Revelation, as authored by John the apostle, such helpful gifts would stop.

The gift of prophecy was not the revealing of future things but the gift of what I would call a super teacher! Those who had this gift were used of God to edify, exhort the congregation about spiritual matters (1 Cor. 14:31). Future prophecy was not a part of this gift. If they had the gift of future prophecy, what they said would be absolute about some specific future event(s). But instead, what these men taught, through this gift of prophecy, was not absolute in nature. Their carnality could get in the way. That is why when they spoke, what they said had to pass judgment and be confirmed by two or three other prophets (v. 29). What was coming forth from their spirits had to be checked and balanced, that is, it was subject to approval by the other prophets (v. 32).

The gift of knowledge (13:8) was the imparting of special understanding about spiritual truth. The church dispensation was something brand new. There was a learning curve in place whereby the believers were receiving new information that had to be processed, assimilated, and then carried out in living. This special gift too would pass, be done away with, when the canon of Scripture, the final authority for the New Testament church, would be completed and put into place.

How do we know for certain the above gifts, plus tongues (linguistics) would someday cease? This is exactly what Paul writes in 13:8-13. How do we know such gifts have ceased? By looking what took place in the early church. Do we have testimonies and confirmations that they disappeared in the church? Yes we do!

But first let's exegete 13:8-9.

First Paul writes that "love never fails" (v. 8). "Fails" is pimpo used as a Present Active Indicative. "Love is never in the ongoing process of falling." It is not going away! But the Greek says, "Gifts of prophecy will be in the future made inoperative (set aside, katargeo)." Thayer says of this word, it will it will become inactive, done away with, made of none effect, abolished, annulled.

Of linguistics (tongues) Paul writes, "They will in the future stop (pauo) themselves." Paul uses pauo in the Future Middle Indicative Greek form. Thayer translates this word, to cease, to desist, to be restrained, to be left off. "They will in the future self-destruct themselves!"

The rest of the verses. The verses that follow (13:9-13) seem to verify that these gifts would stop and that there was something better to come. Paul writes, "When the perfect (teleion, the complete, mature) comes, the partial will be done away." Done away is that Greek word katargeo. Many of us believe the "perfect" or the complete, has to do with the completion of the canon of revelation. There seems to be no better explanation given. Maybe even Paul did not fully comprehend what this completion entails.
But on these verses, what do the old grammatical Greek scholars hold who had no ax to grind concerning charismatic issues? Let's take a look:

1. T. Robertson writes about verse 8: "They shall be made idle, inoperative. ... All these special gifts will pass. ... To be made to cease. ... They shall make themselves cease or automatically cease of themselves."
2. The great Greek scholar W. Robertson Nicoll says: "These gifts will cease, drop out of existence. These special gifts were bestowed on the way and served the wayfaring church, they cease each of them at a determined point. ...They will be done away by a completer realization of the objects they seek. ... They will stop. ... A temporary significance, they will lapse and terminate."
3. C. K. Barrett writes: "Prophecies, tongues (linguistics), and knowledge were all at best partial revelations of God. They had their place, yet they were limited and temporary."

Church history. It is appropriate to appeal to church history and the church fathers who spoke on this issue. The most reputable said that tongues was a bona fide language but that in time it had ceased. I had a charismatic friend who said, because the church fathers had some strange doctrines, what they said about tongues was invalid. But my friend was wrong. The fathers were giving evidence of what was happening historically in their day among the churches. This is not an opinion. It was an observation of events taking place at that time. Let's look at some of their statements:

Irenaeus (120-202).
"We do also hear many brethren in the church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages (not gibberish), and bring light for the general benefit, the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God."
Note that Irenaeus spoke of the gift of legitimate languages not some kind of strange mystical babbling.

Montanus (126-180).
Speaking of one church leader Montanus said, "He became beside himself, gave the adversary (Satan) opportunity against him. He being suddenly in a sort of frenzy and ecstasy, he raved, and began to babble and utter strange things, prophesying n a manner contrary to the constant custom of the church handed down by tradition from the beginning. Some of those who heard his spurious utterances at that time were indignant, and they rebuked him as one that was possessed. ... He stirred up besides two women, and filled them with the false spirit, so that they talked wildly and unreasonable and strangely, like the person already mentioned."

What else could one add to this! It sounds just like many charismatic meetings held today!
Chrysostom (345-407).

While Chrysostom lived some 300 years after the apostolic period, he makes an interesting comment on 1 Corinthians 12:1-2. He wrote, "This whole passage is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to and by their cessation, being such as then used to occur but now no longer take place." It is clear that by this time the gift of linguistics had disappeared from the church.
Augustine (354-430).

In the apostolic period, Augustine says, "The Holy Spirit fell upon them that believe and they spoke with tongues, which they had not learned, as the Spirit gave them utterance. These were signs adapted to the time. For there was this betokening of the Holy Spirit in all tongues (languages) to show that the gospel of God was to run through all [languages] over the whole earth. That thing was done for a sign, and it passed away."

Only the stubborn and the argumentative would deny the obvious historical evidence. In fact, I have heard, as others also have heard, charismatics say, "But I don't care what the Scriptures [or church history] says, I know what I have experienced." Experience then becomes the arbitrator of what is true, and not the Bible!

But we do not fly our airplane by what we emotionally feel or experience; we fly the plane by the instruments and by objective fact! Among most charismatics this is not being done today!

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE NATIONS TODAY?

God is! What the OT says about His sovereignty has not changed. The nations are in His hands and He is moving them through the corridors of history. The presidents and rulers today are doing exactly what He wants. They are not operating independently and by themselves.    Jeremiah 27 makes all of this very clear. God says He has made the earth and gives it to the ones who please Him (v. 5). He especially has given it to Nebuchadnezzar—He has given him the wild animals to serve him (v. 6). He said he would punish that nation with the sword and famine, and with pestilence "until I have destroyed it by his hand" (v. 8).    The Lord added in Lamentations that He "has done what He purposed; He has commanded from days of old, He has thrown down [the nations] without sparing" (2:17). Further, "He causes grief, then He will have compassion" (3:32), and "Who is there who speaks and it come to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? It is from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth" (vv. 37-38).    God is now bringing judgment upon the world. He is in charge, and He knows what He is doing with America and all the nations!    --Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)