ISRAEL ALERT!

Senator Rand Paul is calling for financial aid to be cut from Israel, about 3 billion dollars worth. When America stops supporting Israel we are in deep trouble. This nation has supported the Jewish people from the beginning, and if we stop, we will be judged by the Lord! Please send him a message that this is not to be! By the way, he has been supported by the Tea Party. What an error of judgment he has! —Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

MILITARY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH OF 134 GIRLS?

By an act of Congress women are not supposed to be put in harms way on the front lines in battle conditions, but the military is skirting around this issue. They use different wording in order to play the Politically Correct (PC) game. They say that the girls are "attached" to combat groups in the Middle East and not "assigned." What a lie they foist on the American public!

It has been reported that 134 mothers and wives (or future mothers and wives) have died in the Middle East in our military over the past ten years. How many potential mothers and wives were permanently injured we will never know because the same is not reported. When the girls are maimed it is rarely reported. When they are captured and raped it is never reported. When the USS Cole, a combat destroyer, was attacked, dozens of sailors died, including many girls, though the number was not given. If they can report that 14% of girls are in the military why can they not report the number that is killed or injured?

Because they know that there would be a reaction from the public. By keeping silent, they can hide their true intent and practice.

A study committee, The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, made up of combat vets, recently voted to allow women to be in combat divisions and be placed in war danger. It is incredible that war vets would go this direction, having experienced the horror of combat themselves.

The argument for girls in combat is compared with the opening of the closed door of the sodomites in the military. However, the sodomite issue is a moral one, where the women in combat is a physical strength and kill-your-women issue. Two different issues! The recent article on the subject was submitted by the Associated Press, and written by a (you guessed it) woman reporter. One can guess on which side she would support in the article!

In the article the reporter used wording like "discrimination in the armed forces," or "to create a level plying field for all qualified service members." And women in combat is "an archaic issue," also the military is "ducking the issue."

What has changed that now will let girls be killed on the front lines? Have they gotten stronger and more capable of doing the tough job of killing in war? No. Biology has remained the same. Girls still have 50% less strength, 50% less stamina, and 50% less upper body strength. They are about 7 inches shorter and can carry about 50% less weight than the men. The only thing that has changed is PC (Political Correctness).

One thing the anti-biblical socialists know, is if they wait long enough they can push through what they want. The American public will back down from holding their standards. The government public schools do a great job in causing the public to change its mind. Wait long enough, work on the new generation coming up, and they can get what they wish! They know that Christians will cave in, they will take on the attitudes of the world in time! And that is exactly what has happened.

Finally, the article closed with this statement: "Keeping women out of combat posts prohibits women from serving in roughly 10 percent of Marine Corps and Army occupational specialties and thus is a barrier to advancement." Notice how position and advancement are the issues, not the killing of mothers and wives (or the potential same). By the way, do they mean that our military is weakened because we have 10% less troops in combat because of the women issue? What a stupid argument! Any rational argument would say that we will be 10% weakened because of putting these girls in front line and dangerous positions! But this is not how the world thinks.

The godly woman is to learn how to love their children and their husbands, be workers at home, kind, subject to their own husbands, so that "the Word of God may not be dishonored" (Titus 2:3-5). Women are to be given honor by their husbands since they are the WEAKER VESSELS (1 Pet. 3:7). They are to adorn themselves with the imperishable "quality of a gentile and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God" (v. 4). Can a girl in combat gear do this? No! As a front line soldier-ette, can a woman concentrate on these spiritual qualities? Of course not!

Christian parents of girls, try to keep them out of the military!
—Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

CHRISTIAN MISS AMERICA

The new Miss America is a Christian. I do not doubt her testimony and her salvation. But she has totally caved in to the culture! She came out in the contest in a skimpy bikini outfit. And she said she wants to be a role model for young women by being a lawyer. She is part of this generation; one wonders how she can do that and keep her testimony.

She wants to go into politics but what about being a role model for young women be setting high standards as a wife and mom? She has been brainwashed by the society and does not even recognize it. She said in so many words that she went into the Miss America Pageant in order to raise money for college. Does she mean there was no other way to raise money except taking her cloths off and putting on a skimpy bikini? She represents the world, the modern generation, and not Christ. I'm sure this little article will be criticized but this is what is happening to the younger Christian generation. They have taken on the standards of the culture without even knowing it! -Dr. Mal Couch(1/11)

TIS THE SEASON OF THE STRANGE PROPHECY VIEWS!

Being in the ministry for fifty years I've noticed that there is a season for the strange prophecy views to make their rounds. The folks who have done mathematical calculations as to when the Lord returns. What is it that causes the truth always to attracts error? These folks do not listen or carefully read sound and solid works. They sit around and calculate with a computer when the Lord returns. Now even the apostles Paul and John could not figure out their reasoning. You can smell their pride that they have found out something that others have missed.

The Lord did not have me in mind when He set forth their dating of the return of Christ. I made bad grades in high school in math, so I'm left out when He revealed the timetable to these great minds who now have it figured out.

Please do not waste your time reading their figuring. It will only strain your brain! Remember, a few weeks back the rapture was going to take place? And others now have a new date figured out as well. While it takes a few minutes to fully understand the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the church, and a few more minutes to get clear the Premillennial return of the Lord, this is really all not that complicated. God is not so interested that we fully understand the timing of His coming, but that we grasp the basic order of His coming! The Bible is clear, just don't listen (or look at their new charts) and waste your time.

Both the OT and the NT are clear and certain as to His return. To help many of you, Dr. Tom McCall and I are working on a complete CD set that will explain all of the basics from the great passages of Scripture. We will let you know when it is completed! —Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

PREPARING FOR THE COMING TRIBULATION

A new book entitled "The Twilight Years" was published that looked at the history of England between the wars. The book tells how England had given up on its Christianity and was moving towards a dark ages from the 1920s to the early 1940s. More and more Englishmen had given up on church and were turning inward and away from the Word of God. Pessimism became part of the fabric of those two decades.

Socialism, communism, and eugenics, were all playing a part in trying to find inner peace and tranquility in the nation. Books and pamphlets were written with the titles: "What Can Britain Do to be Saved?" And, "This Revolting World." Also, "Collapse of Western Democracy," and "The New Dark Age." Other titles read: "The Revolt Against Reason," "The Nightmare of the Future," "Is Britain Moving Towards Catastrophe?," and "The Chief Aspects of Western Civilization's Decline."

The unions, communism, and socialism were becoming more militant. And the people who could afford to, went each weekend to their country retreats and gave up on church attendance. There were no spiritual or Christian answers for the nation that was drifting away from God. During those Depression years, while Britain was in such a spiritual turmoil, America was surviving the Depression. While things were bad, and their had been some union riots, America was more at peace with itself than Great Britain.

America is now where the English people were following the Depression years. Today, no answers are found in the churches nor in Scripture. People in this country have given up on the Lord!

A reading society in Britain concluded "Optimism in any form must hide her head." Pessimism ruled. H.G. Wells wrote "The Shape of Things to Come" that sounded much like the book of Revelation. Others debated not "whether" the end would come but "when." The cry was that "civilization was in danger" of total collapse. Unitarians held discussions on "Religion and the Decay of the 1930s." Oswald Spangler wrote in "Pessimism": "I see no progress, no goal, no path for humanity. Western civilization is on the threshold of an inevitable and all-embracing decline."

Toynbee was the St. Augustine of his day in England. He wrote "Western civilization would perish unless it rediscovers the essence of Christianity, without which human beings cannot exist."

The National Peace Council in 1935 put out 14 million documents trying to get the English population to pledge towards peace. No matter what the people "voted" on, World War II was certain to take place. The nation had given up on God, in fact, they could not find Him in the dead, formal English churches. Church attendance was declining where now it is down to about 3% on any given Sunday. And what the people got in the churches was not worth their effort for attending.

America is moving in the same direction now. Spirituality is either canned, dead in formalism, or putting forth misplaced energy that has no meaning and no answers. Morally and socially, we are a confused nation. Problems are multiplying, and liberalism is dominating the landscape. Our young people want expression but that does not really satisfy or give true biblical answers to our needs. Homosexuality, that is sodomism, and abortion, are part of our culture with no stopping of its influence.
—Dr Mal Couch(1/11)

FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL

Today the population in Israel is 7,645,500 with 75.5% being Jewish and about 20% being Arab, and another 4% being other groups. The population growth rate is 1.8% since 2003. This is about what the "Return" or the Aliya was in the 1980s. During the 1990s the growth rate was roughly 3% a year with more than 1 million immigrants arriving from Russian-speaking nations. In 2009 some 161,045 babies were born in Israel. During the early years of the state only 35% of the Jewish population had been born in Israel, but by the end of 2008 that figure had increased to 70.7%.

When the state was established there were only 806,000 residents. Israel reached its first million in 1949 and its second million in 1958. (News From Israel, Jan. 2011)

With twenty-three trips to Israel and the Middle East, I have watched the Lord continue to flood the Holy Land with His people. We must be getting close to all that is prophesied in regard to the events leading up to the return of Christ! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! - Dr. Mal Couch

A THANK YOU NOTE

We receive a lot of kind notes from people who read our website and who get our books to read. Below is such a letter:


"I ordered several books by Dr. Mal Couch from the program "The King Is Coming" ministry and am so pleased with them. Dr. Couch covered a lot of history and did not stray from the truth of God's Word. I love my country and it makes me so sad that the direction we have gone in the last fifty years. However, I'm not surprised because God has told us what is coming. I pray for our country but also, I say 'Come quickly Lord Jesus.' I am interested in learning about more books Dr. Couch has to offer, and would appreciate any information available."


Take this link to browse our selection of Books.

IS CHRIST TODAY SEATED ON HIS THRONE?

No, He is not, though Covenant theologians try to say that He is. But they do not read carefully. Psalm 110:1-2 make it clear that Christ is presently seated on His Father's throne in glory. The LORD said to David's Lord "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of Your enemies.'"

Both words for Lord are used of God. The first, LORD, is Yahweh, and the second, Lord, is Adonai. Here in this passage Adonai is used to describe the Lord Jesus, Israel's Messiah. To be seated at the right hand of the king was a mark of distinction (1 Kings 2:19). Christ quotes Psalm 110:1-2 to the Pharisees (Matt. 22:41-46). It confounded the Jews because they knew that Adonai referred to David's Son, the Messiah. "And no one was able to answer [Christ] a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question" (v. 46).

Jesus is now seated on His Father's throne in heaven, as Psalm 110 says, and, as Revelation 3:21 indicates. It reads: "He who overcomes, I will grant (give) to him to sit down with Me on My throne, s I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." Christ's throne is the Davidic throne that will be established in Jerusalem during the Millennium. "I will grant" is a Future Tense. We are not seated now on Christ's throne, nor is He sitting on it until the Millennium begins after the seven year tribulation.

In Psalm 110:1 the Hebrew word "until" (Ay'th) is virtually the exclusive meaning. And, it means just what it says. Christ is seated on His Father's throne UNTIL the Lord does something else, and that is, until the Messiah begins His reign in Zion, meaning Jerusalem. Psalm 110:1-2 are the most quoted verses in the NT from the OT.

Paul reminds us that after Christ's resurrection He was "seated at [God's] right hand in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:20). He has been given all rule and authority and power and dominion presently (v. 21). That is, Christ now shares universal authority over all of creation with His heavenly Father, because He is seated by His Father on His Father's throne. However, in terms of literal measurable history, He is not yet seated on His father David's throne, on earth, in Jerusalem. That is coming next. In Providence, Christ is co-reigning over the universe but in terms of His messianic authority over Israel, that is not happening yet because the Jews are not back in the land in faith, as they will be when the Millennium begins.

One cannot make a leap, as the Covenant people do, to say that we are reigning over the universe with Christ. Christ is "head over all things to the church" (v. 22). To make this verse make sense you need to look at it this way: "The Father gave Him … to the church." Or, "He is head over all things that relate now to the church."

John Piper mis-states when he writes:

"Therefore, Ephesians 1:23 would mean: Jesus fills the universe with His own glorious rule through us. We are the fulness of His rule. We rule on His behalf. In that sense, we sit with Him on His throne."

Paul, nor any of the other apostles say this!

Christ's throne has to do with the Jewish messianic kingdom rule. --Dr. Mal Couch

PRE-WRATH RAPTURE: “HERE IT COMES AGAIN!”

It makes its rounds from time to time. The Pre-Wrath Rapture view. If I started advocating that concrete is made out of vanilla ice cream, it would not take long before there would be somebody who would believe it. Put out any false view and there will be takers. The same with this prophetic view. It makes no sense and cannot be defended by anyone who knows the Bible and particularly knows well the Greek language.

My personal friend, Dr. Renald Showers, knew well these men as friends, the advocates of this position, Marvin Rosenthal and Robert Van Kampen. He worked with them in several ministries. He watched as they tumbled into this view. He tried to show them the way of their error but it didn't work. They had an agenda they were trying to sell! Neither were true Bible scholars, but they just would not listen. Shower's story is fascinating as he describes how they came about that view. Showers wrote the definitive answer to their error in his book "The Pre-Wrath Rapture View" (Kregel). It would be a waste of time reviewing Showers' scholarly work; I suggest that those interested would simply purchase this great volume.

But just to put it simply in this article:

The Pre-Wrath view holds that the church will go through part of the tribulation. The Pre-Wrathers argue that it is wrong to use the word "tribulation" for the entire seven-year seventhieth week of Daniel 9. However, they fail to notice Jeremiah 30:7 that makes clear the Hebrew word "tsarah" is used to describe the entire wrath period. In the English it is translated as "distress" but it could, and should, be translated as "tribulation." Showers points this out, but as one who teaches graduate Hebrew, I noticed this fact before Showers wrote his book.

There is more involved in this error so I'm not going to spend time defending the right view—I just suggest you purchase Showers' book.

One question of the Pre-Wrathers is how do we know the restrainer is the Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians? Why not, some say. They argue it could be Michael the archangel, while some say the restrainer is the church. (Wow!)

Note Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 "What restrains" the anti-Christ. This is a Present Active Participle, neuter, singular. But in verse 7 we have "He who now restrains ..." The masculine pronoun is used.

Question: What Force, Power, or Person in the Bible is described with a neuter noun but also with a masculine pronoun as "He"? Only the Holy Spirit. The word Spirit is always neuter in Greek, even when describing the Spirit of God, but the masculine pronoun "He" is always used when speaking of Him. Michael is masculine (not neuter) and the word "church" is feminine. (Michael is not mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2, nor is the church.

Some other verses to take note of: "To wait for His Son from heaven (the rapture), whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who is our Deliverer from the coming wrath."

(Deliverer—Alford; Who Rescues—Pulpit Commentary; Drags us away—Liddell & Scott; Delivers us from the Wrath Coming—Ellicott)

"God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:9).

"The world says to the mountains 'Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the one who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME; and who is able to stand under it?'" (Rev. 6:16-17). (Here the wrath has begun right up front at the beginning of the seven year tribulation period.)

If one wants to follow a minor viewpoint put forth by lightweights, for an agenda, he has the right to do so. But this is not where I, nor real scholars, are coming from!

Again, without laboring this issue, I suggest strongly those who want a solid answer to the Pre-Wrath issue, get Showers' book. -- Dr. Mal Couch

THEY KNEW SOMETHING WE DO NOT KNOW …

What did the Christians of the 16th century know about John Calvin we do not know today? Why did thousands and thousands of Protestants across Europe admire and love him so much, while today, there is such criticism against him? The answer to this is, they knew him, and today most critics have never read anything about him. They simply hear a pastor ranting or raving against him having done no research or reading about this great man of God.    Calvin "made" our Christian understanding of biblical doctrine. We would be ignorant of the Scriptures if it were not for the writing of systematic theology, and commentaries, of Calvin. He wrote a great systematic theology, hundreds of theological letters, and a commentary on almost every book of the Bible. Historians say that Calvin made America—what he said biblically was incorporated in the thinking of the Puritans who established this great nation.    A storm was blowing outside on Saturday, December 19, 1562. Many knew that it was bringing forth bad tidings for Switzerland and all of Europe. Calvin was suffering in his bed with maybe several dozen ailments: indigestion, colic, gout, gall stones, rheumatism, asthma, etc. But he was determined to continue on: writing commentaries, lecturing more than three times weekly, writing letters to kings, queens, duchess, admirals, governors, pastors, city councils, Catholic priests, etc.    Those who met with him said he needed no solace, though he comforted those who came to visit with him. He kept on toiling, writing encouragement to the churches in Poland, writing against anti-Trinitarian errors. He suffered with breathlessness, so he could only speak with clipped voice. He was also translating his "Harmony of Moses" from Latin into French, revising his translation of Genesis and Joshua, along with correcting his annotations on the New Testament. When told he ought to slow down, he replied "What, and have the Lord to find me idle?"    Politically, Europe was growing darker. The Catholic Cardinals were planning to send troops against Geneva. The Catholics were the hosts of new devils threatening France! In February, he gave his last sermon on the books of Kings, and he gave his last lecture in the local College on the book of Ezekiel. On February 6, he gave his last sermon on the harmony of the Gospels. He never entered the pulpit again.    By now, his body was so weak he could only take a few steps at a time. He knew the end was near. He often said, "O Lord, how long?"    On March 6, 1564, his friend Beza wrote "His bodily sufferings increased during the previous month." On March 10, some pastors visited him and found him sitting up but unable to draw a breath. He murmured, "I believe this will be my end, and that God will take me home." He was given 25 gold pieces as a gift but ended up giving most of it away. The very day before his death he preached his last sermon. On the 27th he was carried to the Town Hall and was presented before the Town Council of the Two Hundred. He spoke with great difficulty. He said, "I feel that I am now in this place for the last time."    One Zanchius wrote to Bullinger, "If the Lord takes away Calvin, what can we say but that He is angry with us because of our INGRATITUDE." On Easter, April 2, he was carried to church where, with shortness of breath, he joined in with the singing of the Psalms. His face was alight with joy!    On April 25th, he made out his will. It was full of gratitude to God and confidence in His redeeming grace!    On the same day, he told a group of ministers:    "When I first came to Geneva and this church there was practically nothing here. All was confusion. They set dogs on me which seized me by the coat and legs. I went to the City Council where they were fighting among themselves. They shouted at me, "Withdraw, leave!" I replied, "I shall not go!"    Before the men left he took farewell of all, and shook hands with each. All were melted to tears.    Calvin died on May 27, 1564. A few days later the funeral was held with almost the entire town showing up. He was buried in a common cemetery with no extraordinary pomp, just as he commanded, without any gravestone. He died at the age of fifty-four years of age. The only epitaph he would have wished was this: "To God alone the glory."   --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

TAKING AWAY AMERICA!

I know to a certain degree it does not matter. In the big picture of things it does not matter whether people say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." But there is a principle involved. We are shifting as a nation and going in the wrong direction.

A recent survey shows that 61% of Americans prefer "Merry Christmas" but a whopping 35% want the politically correct and neutral "Happy Holidays." They are the ones who want to get rid of Christmas because they are anti-Christ and anti-God, though they would deny this. Six in ten Americans want to be politically correct because they have been brainwashed by the government schools and the media. Guess which group wants to boot Christ out of Christmas? It is the younger crowd of course, those in the 18 to 29 age bracket.

Now guess how this falls in terms of politics? You probably guessed. 91% of Republicans want to keep "Merry Christmas" while 58% of Democrats would to get rid of the greeting. We have been told all along that Democrats have more who are anti-Christian and who detest the idea of Christmas. There is an amusing side to all of this. When they say "Happy Holidays" they are actually saying "Happy Holy" days. But they are too stupid to know this!

Unfortunately, some of those who wish to keep Christmas in the greeting, are comfortable with the idea of keeping the baby Jesus before us. A baby is not very threatening! But to speak about Him as the Savior of the world is probably still a no-no! Yet, I want to commend Fox News for calling Him the Savior and for keeping the idea of Christmas alive in some of their commercials. They are almost the only news organization that did so.

By the way, what will it be like when those 18-29 age people come into their period of greatest influence? The nation will fall even further into the pit. Most of us will be gone, and we'll let them have it! They can go ahead and further the judgment upon this nation. Good bye America! --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

THOSE WHO OPPOSE CALVINISM

Many who oppose Calvinism do not know Bible doctrine nor are they educated about church history. From the period of the Reformation Calvinism was the standard belief that governed all of church history until Arminianism was opposed at the Synod of Dort in Holland. The Methodist became the most outspoken advocates of Arminianism in opposition to Calvinism. It is a known historical fact that Calvinism was the concrete upon which America was placed! In fact, some go so far as to say that Calvin and his theology established this country, though the Puritans, etc.

All evangelical schools, when I was growing up, were Calvinistic in nature, minus Limited Atonement. Dispensational and independent schools, such as Dallas Seminary, Philadelphia College of the Bible, Moody Bible Institute, Dallas Bible College, etc., were all Calvinistic. I taught at all of these schools, full or part-time. This has changed over the years because of outright ignorance in many of our schools. The greatest teachers were Calvinistic, and I taught the same in a course on salvation at Philadelphia. At one time Moody Press published all of Pink's works, which are definitely Calvinistic.

Now these schools were not Covenant in theology but Dispensational. These institutions, and I myself, held to the Sovereignty of God, the Providence of God, absolute election and predestination, eternal security, and total depravity, minus Limited Atonement. Because these schools were so good in the practice of sound interpretation, Limited Atonement was not taught because it is not biblically provable. (Neither is Covenant theology.)

During Calvin's day war was raging between Catholicism, the Reformers, and others such as those who were anti-Trinitarian. By war I mean that those opposing the Reformation were killing those who were in opposition. Servitus was told not to come to Geneva. He was told that he would die if he came. It was the Geneva city fathers that put him to death. Calvin did not have the authority to do that.

I virtually have a major in history. I know what I'm talking about. I have read the entire Reformation history volume of Schaff (the greatest of the church history theologians), which explains all of this. Those who oppose Calvinism are just plain ignorant and are not in our conservative, premillennial, dispensational camp.

Back in the 50s and 60s, when I was passing through the halls of theology, Calvinism was taught in all of our evangelical dispensation schools. Ignorance put it out to pasture! Chafer, the founder of Dallas Seminary, puts Calvinism forward in his systematic theology. The great Greek professor at DTS, Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, was strong as oats in his Calvinistic in the classes in graduate school. No one could outdo him in his teaching of Calvinism from the Greek text. I can explain all of the major passages from the grammar that show the biblical doctrines on the subject.

By the way, Calvinism is not the issue but biblical doctrine is. The great Calvinistic doctrines I mentioned above is the issue, not the name of Calvin! However, why did the entire family of the Reformers across Europe weep bitterly when Calvin died at the early age of fifty? They must have known something that folks today do not know! He was so appreciated and loved because of his brilliance in the Bible. If you are interested I can give you a reading list of books to reference. (All of the great Bible teachers through the ages were Calvinists.) --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

GOD DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING!

He must have gotten mixed up on biology by making male sex and female sex. He is the Creator of all life and He planned out the entire workings of the sexual pro-creation environment. He not only made biology to work the way it does but He embedded emotions and love in the two genders for each other. There is an attraction based on love between the two sexes that makes for a wonderful plan. But He must have made a terrible mistake and failed the human family in creating the marriage bond.    The Lord just got confused. The Sodomites must plainly know more than He does! If the homosexuals are so right why must they remove out right to speak out against the issue? If we are wrong, then our views will fall apart in the realm of rationality. They should not be offended when we object because we apparently just don't know what we're talking about! They have to silence us for this is the only way they can promote their views—that is, complete silence from any opposition is their only safety!    Genesis has to fly in the face of the homosexuals. The Trinity, "Us" was totally involved in the creation of humanity. "Man" in 1:26 should better be translated "Mankind" or humanity because the verse goes on and says that "He made man(kind) in Our image, according to Our likeness," and "LET THEM" that is (man and woman) as a gender different couple are have dominion. Biologically, they both have a sexual distinction to play—God knew what He was doing. The two are meant to be different, and, they join together in order to create the next pair, the children, that will come forth from their sexual union.    Man and woman are created distinct and different, and they are created in His likeness and image (vv. 26-27). Most believe this is referring to Intellect, Sensibility, and Will. A homosexual couple end up in a dead end. They cannot duplicate themselves in creation. They cannot have the same deep emotional attraction because they come from the same sex! They stop with themselves and cannot leave a posterity on the earth.    When God blessed "them" He was blessing the couple that were gender different, not gender-the-same! A homosexual union cannot be blessed. That is, God did not put His stamp of approval upon a same-sex creation! And it was by His marvelous thinking and planning that He made the sexes distinct, not the same! There is no blessing on same-sex unions.    Christ the God/Man, the Son of God, placed His divine stamp of approval on the Genesis account. He said "Have you not read, that He who created them fro the beginning made them male(sex) and female(sex)" (Matt. 19:4). Biologically, they are different and distinct. Yet, together,they come together, in order to form a perfect union that will make the creation of the human species wholly unique, just the way He planned. Again, it is not just about biology, though it begins with biology. It is about the emotion of love also, the attraction of the different sexes that form a union that goes deep in attraction and relationship.      Because our President, Barack Hussein Obama, and our Government, have acquiesced to the demands of such sinners, a judgment will be hanging over the head of our nation. That judgment will soon break forth and bring upon our nation a terrible price that will have to be paid.    Early humanity that fell into homosexuality were given over to "degrading passions" The women exchanged the natural function "for that which is unnatural." "Men abandoned (Gk. "dismissed") the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts ..." "Receiving the due penalty of their error." "They did not acknowledge God any longer." They had "a depraved mind and did the things which are not proper." Finally, "they are worthy of death." (Rom. 1:26-32)    In the February 1987 issue of "The Gay Community News" it was vowed:    "We will sodomize your sons. Women, go on and live with each other! All laws banning homosexual acts will be revoked. The family unit will be abolished. All churches who condemn us will be closed. Our only gods will be handsome men. We shall rewrite history. We shall be victorious."    By the way, expect approval of marijuana soon across the board in the U.S. They are pushing for it in California, and what happens there generally ends up coming into the nation as a whole. It will probably come about by the Federal Courts imposing approval on our country, never mind what the majority of the people want!     America is changing. It is falling deep into the hole of depravity. Too, another report about TV says that in the last five years profanity on the tube has increased 70%. And there is no way to turn this around. We have no control of what is happening in our own nation. It is doomed! --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CHURCH IS GONE IN THE RAPTURE?

The proclamation of the Truth will be gone! There will be no source of truth for the world to draw upon. Paul writes the church is the household of the Lord, "the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). When the church is gone, the truth disappears! Though the Bible is still around during the tribulation, it will be more difficult to understand without the help of those in the church to explain what truth is all about!    The center of the church is Christ. Paul goes on and writes that by common confession "great is the mystery of godliness" (v. 16). The mystery of godliness is about a Person, the Person of Jesus. The full revelation about Him was not revealed until the New Testament. There are certain principles that circle around Him: (1) He was revealed in the flesh, (2) vindicated by the Holy Spirit, (3) seen by angels, (4) proclaimed among the nations, (5) believed on in the world, and (6) taken up into glory (vv. 15-16).    The church is the depository of the truth if it is proclaiming the Word of God. If not, the church can say all kinds of stupid things. Only the Bible is true; and only the Bible gives forth reliable truth.    By the way, don't listen to the foolish Progressive Dispensationalists who say that "glory" is never used to describe heaven. How crazy! Here Paul says that Christ was "taken up into glory." How clear can you get with such a statement?    "Taken up" is an Aorist Passive of the verb "analambano," "to go up." "Into" or "in" is the preposition "en" in Greek. ("In" as "in glory" is its most common use.) It is almost always translated with the idea to in or up to … The passage means "the place of glory," or heaven. (Nicoll)    --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

HOW TOLERANT ARE WE TO BE IN THE WORLD?

In America, we are to tolerate other people, just as they are to tolerate us. But we do not have to tolerate false ideas or accept as equal to truth that which is a lie. Proverbs 29:27 says: "An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked." In other words when the righteous and the upright speak, the wicked hate what they say. The wicked are intolerable to those who are upright. They can't stand our ideas or the truth we speak from the Scriptures.    Van Leeuwen writes that we are not to be so tolerable that we end up elevating moral ambiguity to the point of making it relative and not absolute. "At that point tolerance is no longer a virtue, nor is it right, but it is morally indifferent in the face of evil. … Tolerance is not an adequate response to evil." The Bible is inspired by God and therefore it is correct in what it teaches. If this was not so, it is not from God!    Inspiration of Scripture gives us the absolutes for life and for eternal issues. The writers are inspired by the Holy Spirit.     --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

THE RETURN OF THE SHECHANIAH GLORY OF CHRIST

The word means "the Presence" as the Presence of the Lord. Actually, the Hebrew Lexicon says the word should be translated "to be intimate with Jehovah" as if dwelling with Him. The word means "to cause to dwell." It is speaking of the Messiah dwelling with His people, and/or, His people dwelling with Him.    The word comes from descriptions especially drawn from the building of the messianic temple in Ezekiel 40-48. This has to be about Christ, His dwelling with the Jewish people at the temple site in the millennial Jerusalem. For example, we read in Ezekiel 43: "The glory of the Lord came into the house ..." (v. 4), and "the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house (the temple)" (v. 5).    The Messiah said to Ezekiel: "This is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name" (v. 7). Also, "I will dwell among them forever" (v. 9b).    Because of the sins of Israel, the Shechaniah (the Divine Presence) of Christ left the temple in Ezekiel's days. "The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood over the mountain which is east of the city" (11:23), that is, over the Mount of Olives. Unger says, "Ezekiel saw the glory returning and heard the all-glorious voice of God; he saw the earth being illuminated with His glory."    "The prophet saw envisioned the glory of the Lord entering the house." "Ezekiel heard the Lord Himself (the preincarnate Christ) declaring to him as the son of man, … the divine glory takes up His residence in the Kingdom Temple, … The Lord's manifested presence there will make it the executive focal point of the whole earth."    We are getting closer to the days of the coming of Christ!   -- Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

CHILDREN TURNING AGAINST PARENTS

Paul reminds us of what the apostasy will be like. That apostasy is now coming upon our generation, and it will only grow worse. He writes: "But realize this that in the last days difficult times will come" (2 Tim. 3:), "for men will be lovers of self … disobedient to parents" (v. 2). In the Greek text it better reads "They will not comply with parents," "They will reject, withhold belief in," "Will not be persuaded about parents."    This is a growing problem even among Christian families, with the younger generation refusing to listen to what the parents say. While it can be happening among children and grandchildren who are younger, Paul starts this section out with saying "For men ("anthropos") will be lovers of self ..." So Paul is not just addressing the issue of teenagers but of those who are older, who are repudiating the wisdom and the words of their older parents. If he were writing about younger people, or teens, he would probably used the Greek word "teknon" (children). But he used the word describing grown men.    By using "anthropos" some believe Paul could be referring to mankind in general not just men ("andros"). In other words this will be the state of humanity in general. It will be the ongoing tendency of culture as a whole! Society is changing rapidly and it will not turn about. This is the state of apostasy that is destroying our world. The judgment is coming—the seven year period of tribulation or wrath. The blessing is that the church will not go through that terrible period that we can now see on the horizon.    The apostle Paul writes "God has not destined us to wrath but for obtaining salvation ('deliverance, rescue') through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:9). The rapture will remove the child of God from this awful judgment that will fall upon the rebellious world! Remember, the tribulation is so bad that if it were not stopped no one would survive, Christ said (Matt. 24:22).    --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

THE TIES THAT DON'T BIND!

It seems to be happening more and more. The ties in families are being broken. There is a separation between grandchildren and grandparents, and even between older children and their older parents. More and more, the grandchildren are not Christians, and, it is breaking the hearts of the grandparents. Thank the Lord that this is not 100% but it is an epidemic, especially between Christian grandparents and those coming up behind them.    It is like a grand canyon of separation. The grandchildren know less about Christ and about salvation. They are influenced by the culture, by liberal churches they may attend, and by the skepticism they are hearing in college. While there may be a multitude of additional factors, one of the most obvious seems to be "separation" of how the grand kids were raised, and the separation they experience from the influence of the grandparents. Too, the children of Christian parents apparently did not receive a strong Christian raising, either at home or in a good church. Older parents seem to have taken for granted the Christian influence their children received. Their Christianity was not something that came along automatically. Christianity has to be lived and nurtured, and if not, many children coming up in a Christian environment were expected to become believers "automatically." And of course, it does not happen that way.    Without a doubt, there is a wall of separation between the older and the younger generation. TV and computer technology are also playing a part. And outright liberalism is impacting the younger generation that the older generation does not understand. Thank the Lord, this is not happening to all families but is happening enough to cause us to grieve and be terribly concerned!    Statistics are proving this point. More and more those claiming to be believers in the younger generation are shrinking in numbers. This is part of the prophesied apostasy—it is here already and it is sweeping away a whole generation of those who are younger! "The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away ("will themselves stand away"--apostatize) from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons ..." (1 Tim. 4:1).   --   Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

FORGIVING UNILATERALLY

I have heard recently someone say, "Well, I just forgave them (even though they said nothing about repenting or asking for forgiveness!) Where did Christians get this idea? God does not forgive us just automatically without confession or repentance.    In our spiritual walk with the Lord, He does not forgive us in our walk with Him unless we repent. We read "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins ..." (1 John 1:9). I'm often asked about the forgiveness of the soldiers who crucified Christ. He forgave them because He said, "They do not know what they are doing!" (Luke 23:34). The soldiers were innocent of a crime when they put Him on the cross. They were just carrying out their orders and had no malice aimed at Him.    But the Lord said in Luke 17:4: "If one sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' [then] you forgive him." We do not simply forgive automatically those who harm us. They need to "repent" before the Lord. And admit to us that they wronged us as well. We then do not hold out our forgiveness and acceptance with those who confess that they have wronged us. We accept their apology and their honesty that they have hurt us. If their repentance is truly genuine, we are required to accept their confession. But we don't do it with nose in the air!     But to go running after people only allows them to say, "Well, that wasn't so bad. I could say and do what I wanted to with no consequences!" People have to learn to be responsible for their sins, and, they have to be given an opportunity to confess their sins, bring them up, and ask forgiveness.  --   Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Hebrew Word Study

Proverbs 12:8 is a powerful verse that tells us of the damage done by sin in the life. It reads "A man will be praised according to his insight, but one of perverse mind (heart) will be despised."

To be smart and wise will bring honor and respect but the one who is continually seen as a gross sinner will pay a price! The Rabbis translate "praised" as "commended." They write: "Ability to form a sound judgment in everyday matters, common sense. The proverb is a tribute to intellectual clearness, without special reference to, but doubtless with inclusion of, the moral and religious sides of life."

The word "perverse" is a word in Hebrew that means "wrecked, rubble, disturbed." The sinner is wrecked and ruined in his sin. He is like a heap of rubble, or, he is like one disturbed in the mind. It is in the Niphil form in the grammar. It could read "He is himself wrecked and disturbed." The word mind is actually the Hebrew word for the heart (L'ev). The persistent sinner is like one who has a destroyed and perverse heart. His heart is like a discarded heap of rubble! It is good for nothing except for sinning! --Dr. Mal Couch

THE GOSPEL ON FOX NEWS

The Italian attorney (I forgot his name) who substituted for Glenn Beck on his Thursday, December 16th show, closed the segment with a complete description of what Christmas was all about including the fact that "Christ came from heaven to die for the sins of the world." I couldn't believe what he said. Fox needs to be congratulated and so does that attorney! There is a little light still burning in the media! --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

AMERICA ON SCHEDULE TO SELF-DESTRUCT

This is not original from me but it is sure appropriate in describing America. A nation goes through three stages: (1) The first generation GENERATES. (2) The second generation SPECULATES. (3) The third generation DEGENERATES. -- Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

EVANGELICAL CHURCHES GOING TO THE LEFT

The Barna Group has reported that evangelical churches are sliding to the left. They are leaving their roots. Below are some of the trends that we see taking place in rapid fashion in church after church. More than likely there is no turnaround seen on the horizon. Churches are becoming less theological. Doctrine is going by the wayside. Churches are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented. More people are less interested in spiritual issues, and are more pragmatic in their Christianity. Churches are more social in their interests. Postmodern tolerance is winning over in the churches. The influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible. PS: On the issue of tolerance, it is one thing to be tolerant of the individual, but something else to be tolerant of doctrine. I do not have to be tolerant to doctrinal departure and beliefs that are not biblical. That is a form of compromise. But I am supposed to accept the individual but not his doctrinal departure! --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)