Saints of the Highest One

Dr. Couch, who are the saints of the Highest One in Daniel 7:22 who "take possession of the kingdom"? ANSWER:  This is made clear in verse 18. The Highest One is the Messiah, and the saints would be the saved Jews who take possession of the fifth Kingdom, which is His Kingdom here on earth. The saints are the saved Jewish remnant that will pass through the Great Tribulation. They take ("receive") the promises made to Israel in connection with it. This would also include the resurrected Israelites (Dan. 12:2), the Jews who are the believing Jews of all generations. Unger adds: "It is significant that the designation of God as the 'Most High, possessor of heaven and earth' (Gen. 14:18-22) is employed of the time that the Messiah will come to make good that title in His Kingdom rule."    The one thousand year temporal reign of Christ will merge into the eternal state when Christ, after His reign on the earth, will deliver up "the kingdom to God, even the Father. ... that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:24-28).    The Jewish Rabbis understand Daniel 7 more than one thinks they do. They write on His "coming with the clouds of heaven": "If Israel is worthy, the Messiah will come riding the clouds; if not, He will come in the guise of a poor man riding an ass." Actually, He came first on the donkey, and His second coming will be in the clouds!    And, the Rabbis write, on "The Son of Man" mentioned in verse 13: "According to verse 27 it refers to the regenerated people of Israel. Rabbinical exegesis applies it to the Messiah." Verse 27 reads: "Then, the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him."    The Rabbis speak of the "regenerated people," and that is exactly what Christ says. He mentions the "regeneration" that takes place "when the Son of Man(kind) will sit on His glorious throne" (Matt. 19:28). Here, Christ is speaking of the "regenerated" nation of Israel when the Kingdom begins and He is ruling over the Jewish people.    In so many places, the theology of the orthodox Jews is the same as our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Feb., 10)

The Tree of Life and Removal of Names in the Book.

Dr. Couch, I am confused on the issue of the Tree of Life and the removal of the names of those who add or take away what is written in the book of Revelation. Can you help me? ANSWER:  I have the most complete answer to this issue of any source in my Handbook to the Book of Revelation (Kregel). I have discovered the secret of what is going on in 22:18-19 for all those who are interested.    The book has a great endorsement from Dr. John F. Walvoord before he passed away in 2002. He said "It is an outstanding contribution to the literature on this important book of the Bible." This is not a commentary per se but it is more of a theology of Revelation. Others joined me in producing the volume, such as Dr. Larry Crutchfield, Dr. Harold Foos, and Dr. Robert Lightner.    I tie together a lot of Scriptures that help us understand the issue of the Tree of Life and those who deny the writing of Revelation. Also, I have a lot of rabbinical quotes that show they studied the book of Revelation and basically saw the premillennial stamp on the book. This will shock our covenant and amillennial friends. Those of us who take Revelation basically literal are in good company with the orthodox Rabbis who also take prophecy literal! For example, by their calculations the orthodox Rabbis saw and agreed with the fact that the tribulation would be a seven year event, by their correct figuring of Daniel's Seventy Weeks in Daniel 7. They also held to the 1000 year millennial Kingdom. Every one reading this needs the Handbook!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch