THE POOR COVENANT GUYS

Dr. Iain Campbell, writing in TableTalk for November, says that in Revelation 19:11-14, Christ is seen as the Word of God who comes riding out of heaven as a warrior King coming to defeat sin and Satan. While this is true, Dr. Campbell downplays what this passage is all about. It is about Christ coming to fulfill His messianic one thousand year kingdom reign on earth. Campbell gets questions like: "Do we take the Bible literally?" He answers, "We need to find out what their question means." What does he mean by "What does their question mean?" It means just what it says. Do we take the Word of God literally or not? Part of his answer, he says, is against "trying to interpret Revelation woodenly." In other words, no, we should not interpret the Bible literally, especially when it has to do with future prophecy! Campbell goes on: "The book of Revelation is a picture book using vivid imagery to convey who Jesus is and what He has done." While this is right, he goes on and attempts to get rid of all references that we should take as literal language with historic fulfillment in view. The covenant guys will do anything to get rid of Christ as Israel's literal Messiah, coming to a literal earth, to reign literally for one thousand years. To take the Bible that way means that they have to see the Jewish people as the recipients of an actual kingdom with Christ ruling worldwide on a literal earth, from a literal city of Jerusalem. And by avoiding this plain interpretation, their anti-semitism is revealed! They hold to replacement theology. The church has replaced Israel in God's future, kingdom plans. Satan loves this! He can get rid of Christ as returning as Israel's promised king. The second coming is taken allegorically without any real meaning behind it. Campbell finishes by writing: "As our King, He will finally triumph over all His enemies and the enemies of His church." Again, while there is some truth to this, Israel and the Jewish people are then out of the picture! --Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)