Thursday, March 29, 2012

WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING

In the California paper "Orange County Register (p. 8) Rick Warren says he's trying to build bridges to the Muslims. He acknowledges that Christians and Muslims worship the same god.

Tony Campolo says that he is not convinced that Christ lives only in Christians. He calls Muslims our brothers.

Warren says that the five fundamentals that many Christians hold to are just too narrow and legalistic, and that Christian fundamentals are the greatest enemy we have in our nation. (Philadelphia Inquirer, '06).

It is well known in history that Mohammed was a cut-throat leader of a band of Arab tribesmen who robbed, pillaged, and raped without number the caravans and villages of the Middle East. He destroyed Christian churches, many of which are still today Islamic mosques. On the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (the Dome of the Rock) it is written "God has no son."

Winston Churchill said of Islam: "How dreadful are the curses which Mohammed left for us. Islam paralyses the social development of all the cultures in which it invades."

Christians, wake up! --Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

A WOMAN EXPLAINS THE BIRTH PANGS

Jeremiah refers to the terrors of the tribulation, and the wrath of God, as the birth pangs (Jer. 30:6-7). The tribulation is like a "woman in childbirth" and it is also called "Jacob's distress." Jesus refers to it in Matthew 24:8: "The beginning of the birth pangs." As well, Paul calls it "the birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (1 Thess. 5:3).

Dr. Lacy Couch was able to make this expression make sense. Just before the delivery takes place every woman goes through the contractions leading up to the coming forth of the baby. No woman escapes these contractions. The muscles contract, they "let go," and then contract again. This would be a "pre-delivery" that all women feel. Applying this to the tribulation, or the wrath of God, there could be a series of pains that the world may feel before the full-blown tribulation arrives or takes place on the earth. Certain terrors will fall upon the world before the arrival of the seven-year tribulation itself takes place.

Who knows when that terrible day arrives on the world? Those who know their Bible will probably be sure when such events come upon us. And we could not be very far away from their arrivals. Everyone knows the world is just waiting for such happenings to fall upon the globe. --Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

SEMINARY DROPS THE WORD “RAPTURE”

In one of the "big" seminaries in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, their doctrinal statement includes the teaching about the rapture but they no longer use the word "rapture." It is true that the Bible does not use the word but why hide the term from those reading the doctrinal statement?

The Greek word is "arpozo" but traditionally, the word rapture has always been used because this is most understood by the readers. While the seminary still holds to this doctrine it seems apparent that they are attempting to bury the term as if they are ashamed of the word itself! Sometimes such changes are just a few inches away from dropping the teaching about the subject itself. In some of my own personal research, I found that there are at least thirteen rapture passages in the New Testament. The word actually means "to snatch away." Why don't we then call it the doctrine of the "snatching away"? This would be more accurate! But to have no word to explain the concept we are not doing the Bible reader a service to simply take the word away all together! --Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

THE ISSUE OF INERRANCY

I have been told that many of my books published by Scofield Ministries are blessing many pastors and missionaries here in the States and even in Europe, especially in Germany. This is very encouraging. In that country many are fighting the issue of Inerrancy with the German accreditation that schools have to get with the approval of the State. Many of you know that I fought almost alone the State of Texas over the issue of accreditation. I'm sure the subject of Inerrancy was part of the battle as it is now in Germany. It just happens that my masters thesis in graduate school was on this subject.

I may be publishing a book on the subject of Inerrancy and the Bible. If you are interested in receiving a copy please send us your address and we'll fire off a volume when it is finished. This is one of the most important subjects for Evangelicals to get straight in their minds. --Dr. Mal Couch (drcouch@scofieldprophecystudies.org) (3/12)

Monday, March 5, 2012

THEOLOGY OF JOHN MacARTHUR

Speaking with one of the most respected mission workers in Germany, we were told that the theology of MacArthur is wrecking havoc in the churches in that country. You ask what specifically is the problem? The answer would be "all of the above." That is, so much that he teaches leads many astray, especially his book concerning salvation as found in the Gospels.

Many times in the past, MacArthur has had to back-track his views, realizing that what he teaches is not right. Many tell us that confusion reigns in the congregations in California. One can still depend on the great older dispensational teachers of the past. Many of the more recent dispensational teachers cannot be depended on. MacArthur claims to be dispensational but many but many scholars doubt this as true. MacArthur blasts away at Lewis S. Chafer in many of his books. He does not seem to understand what dispensationalism is all about.

Be careful what you read and depend on. I suggest my book Classical Hermeneutics published by Kregel. It will help keep your mind straight and on the biblical narrow path! --Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)

Friday, March 2, 2012

TO WHOM IS THE BOOK OF HEBREWS WRITTEN?

Many commentators think the book of Hebrews is written to believing Jews but I do not think that is true. During the last century there were only about four great respected Greek scholars, including the scholar Kenneth Wuest. He thinks the book was handed over to the Christian community for an apologetic but that the thrust of the book is aimed at unbelieving Jews, who heard the gospel but rejected it and fell into apostasy, refusing to embrace the salvation offered in their Messiah.

I'm in good company! I believe Wuest is correct. By the way, how many teachers do you know who have translated the entire book of Hebrews? I have but there are not many more. The language of the book of Hebrews is very difficult but it is worth the effort of translation if one knows Greek!

There are too many sections in Hebrews that tell me the book is written to unbelieving Jews not believing Jews. Why does the book begin describing the deity of Christ if the book is written to believing Jews? The early church held to the deity of Christ, which is mentioned in almost every New Testament letter? Also, how would we take this "apostasy" section: 3:7-4:7 (the falling away, 3:12). The apostasy is always about those who have fallen away from the faith and the truth and have never held to the gospel.

Using the lack of faith of the OT saints the author speaks of the "disobedient" or "those without faith" (3:18). They were those of "unbelief" (v. 19). What they heard did not profit them because "it was not united by faith in those who heard" (4:2). With lack of faith they could not enter in God's rest (4:3). They failed "to enter into God's rest because of disobedience (to be without faith)" (4:6). Many commentators dance around the bush trying to make the above passages apply to believing Jews but it just will not fly!

The author of Hebrews concludes this section with: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience (being without faith)" (4:11).

Finally from the Greek text: "Be looking brothers (Jewish brothers) that not anyone of you have an unbelieving evil heart in apostatizing (falling away) from the living God" (3:12). (aphistami=to fall away from, to depart, to withdraw from, to become faithless, to keep oneself away from.)

--Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

HAVE THINGS CHANGED!

Just a few years ago there were 24% of black births, 3% of whites born out of wedlock. Now there are 73% of blacks, 53% of Latinos and 29% among whites. In America we have aborted more than 53 million children since the 1970s. The numbers are moving up with those who hold college degrees. Also, no one can deny there is a racial issue at foot here also. And the whites have given up on their spiritual and Christian knowledge of the problem as well.

I do not believe there has been a time in history in which such a large number in illegitimacy has ever taken place as is now happening. These stats will certain bring about a judgment, which I believe we are now experiencing in the West. A price will be paid before it's all over! -- Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)