Dr. Couch, I saw on your website you believe in the doctrine of
election, which is typically a Reformed view. Most of the Reformed and
Covenant teachers, of what I can read, are amillennialists, but you do
not hold to amillennialism. How do you combine [or answer] this issue,
that is, being a millennial dispensationalist and holding to divine
election? I am confused!
ANSWSER:
I appreciate your question because it blows my mind how the general
public can so miss what solid biblical doctrine is all
about—specifically, how we arrive at certain, absolute certain, biblical
truth! The way you put your question it seems as if the Reformed guys
got together and said, “I tell you what, let’s all believe in divine
election, but we’re sure the poor slob dispensationalists will not hold
to this view!”
You clearly do not know how doctrine comes about. It’s what the
Scriptures say that counts. And the Bible is clear about God’s absolute
sovereignty, divine election, total depravity, eternal security, etc.
These views are not held because the Reformed guys say that are true;
they are held because the Bible says they are true. They are defensible
exegetically. However the Bible with equal clarity teaches the coming
literal millennial reign of Christ. The Bible is millennial not
amillennial. And, this doctrine of the coming millennial kingdom of
Christ on earth, with Israel as the core people, is certainly defensible
too!
The Reformed guys say, “But the millennium is a Jewish doctrine and
Christ repudiated Jewish teachings!” WRONG! Christ never chided the Jews
for their belief in the coming reign of the Messiah. He chided them for
their legalism and their hypocrisy, and for denying that He was that
promised earthly King!
Most people do not realize it but all early dispensationalists were
“Calvinistic” but they denied the “manufactured” Reformed Covenants of
Works and of Grace! The Reformer guys even admit they are not in the
Bible! Our strongest Evangelical schools in this country have been
“Calvinistic” and dispensational, though now so many of them are turning
just plain old liberal! I know. I used to teach at these schools which
were the best Bible schools in the nation!
When you bring up the issues of Reformed theology, the sovereignty of
God, and then try to make some kind of comparison between
amillennialism vs. dispensationalism, you are mixing apples and oranges,
and, you have been given a dose of wrong teaching as to how doctrine,
solid biblical doctrine, is developed!
Thanks for asking!
Dr. Mal Couch
