Dr. Couch, how can the Covenant and Reformed guys be so off base in
regard to their “non-literal” view of the rapture of the church, the
tribulation, and the return of Christ?
ANSWER: I think the answers are somewhat simple. (1) They don’t take the Bible
in a normal, literal sense, when it comes to future prophecy. However,
they (strangely) take His first coming literally but deny His second
coming as actual and literal. (2) They really do not study the Old
Testament. When is the last time you heard of a Covenant guy giving a
verse-by-verse exegesis from an OT book? (3) They are to some degree
anti-Semitic. When have you heard of a Covenant or Reformed guy calling
for heart-felt support for the Jewish people in general, and for the
nation of Israel in particular?
Christ did not chide the Jewish people and the
leadership for their literal views of the Kingdom of God, which is
actually the Millennial reign of the Messiah on the throne of David! He
chided them for their legalism and for their hypocrisy, not their
literal and orthodox theology.
Reading the ancient Jewish Rabbis one can see
the normal interpretation and literalness the Jews had for the OT Word
of God! While often they had some mystical views (those writing in the
period of the Middle Ages), they still understood the OT was predicting a
worldwide tribulation, a literal coming of the Messiah, and His
messianic reign in Jerusalem over the entire world. For example in the
Zohar (2:7; 2:172b) we read:
Sufferings will overtake Israel [in the end times], and all the nations and their
kings will consult together against Israel, and many evil decrees will arise and
will bring trouble upon trouble. At that time King Messiah will be stirred up to
come forth. And on that day on which He comes there the whole world will
tremble, and all the children of the world will hide in caves and crevices [the
book of Revelation!]. The Messiah will arise and reveal Himself in the Land.
The Messiah will be revealed, and many nations will gather against Him, and
He will stir up wars in the whole world. And at that time the Holy One, blessed be
He, will manifest His power against all the nations of the world, and King
Messiah will become known in all the world, and all the kings of the world
will rise up to wage war against Him. And many of the wicked among the
Jews will join them and come with them to wage war against King Messiah.
And then the whole world will be darkened, and many of the people of
Israel will die in that darkness.
He will stir up wars in the whole world. And at that time the Holy One, blessed be
He, will manifest His power against all the nations of the world, and King
Messiah will become known in all the world, and all the kings of the world
will rise up to wage war against Him. And many of the wicked among the
Jews will join them and come with them to wage war against King Messiah.
And then the whole world will be darkened, and many of the people of
Israel will die in that darkness.
It is a satanic ploy to attempt to get rid of Israel, in Scripture, or in actuality in history.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
