Size of the Temple Area

Dr. Couch, what is the size of the temple area as described in Ezekiel 45:1-6?

ANSWER: I'm rather bad with math figures but using the Jewish Soncino commentary on Ezekiel, and Dr. Merrill Unger's calculations, the temple area seems to be about 8 miles square. It is described by cubits which are still calculated at 18 inches a cubit, or 25,000 x 10,000 cubits. This is the "sacred area" for the temple plus the area for the priests, its personnel. A similar area designated, on the south, a rectangle, for [a large company of] the Levites is 25,000 x 5,000 cubits. Unger says this is for the city of Jerusalem itself. Unger writes: "The apportionment will be an 'oblation unto the Lord' (a lifting up), an offering in which the offerer raises his hand to present the gift [a sacrificial gift] to God."

All of this is for worship in the Kingdom! Unger concludes: "The Lord's temple and the priestly service are to be given top priority" in the Kingdom! And he says, "In the millennial day of the triumph of righteousness, it must be remembered that all blessing and salvation flow from the death of Christ, which makes the Kingdom age possible."

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (5/11)

Songs with Bad Theology or Repetitions

Dr. Couch, do you think the Lord is pleased with Christians singing songs with bad theology or mindless repetitions? ANSWER:  Of course not. But we are all limited in our perceptions and understanding about things. And we all make mistakes. Someone has well said, God will not judge us for our mistakes but He will judge us for our sins. None of us see 20/20 in our spiritual vision. God is an understanding heavenly Father. He knows for better than we what our limitations are.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (6/10)

Christian Music

Dr. Couch, some time ago you gave your opinion about Christian music today. Could you repeat that? ANSWER: I'll try though I'm up to my ears writing books presently that I think need to be done. But I believe Colossians 3:16-17 is an important verse that settles the issue of what kind of music churches should be promoting in their assemblies.    Paul starts off with a general statement that "the word of Christ richly dwell within" us. He then says that the word should be coupled with "all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ..." In other words believers should be aware of what the word of Christ is doing for the believers. We are to "admonish one another with psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs, singing with thanksgiving in your hearts to God."    Songs are to be used "to admonish." This is the Greek word "noutheteo" which means "to establish, place the mind" in a proper position. This is in the Present Tense which means that such admonishing with spiritual songs should be the standard continually practice that needs to be always carried out this way!    The word "mind" ("nous") is in the word. In other words, we are to be in the good sense "brain-washed" by "spiritual" music. "Spiritual songs" means songs that are controlled or influenced by the Holy Spirit. Every time the word "spiritual" is used it has to do with such an influence of God's Spirit.    Therefore you cannot have junk music being sung!    I really don't think it is that difficult to know whether music is influenced by the flesh or by the Spirit of God! The modern, hot-rock music is meant to please the ears of a younger crowd who like and want fleshly songs rather than songs that have to do with something spiritual and that which is solid!    Good spiritual music should also inspire thanksgiving in the "hearts" (emotions) toward God. We are speaking to Him! Paul adds that whatever we do (including singing) we are to be "giving thanks" through Christ "unto God the Father." Twice God is to be considered in what we do, especially in the issue of singing solid spiritual songs.    Here is my little list that I think is important when considering music: 1.Can I understand the words? 2.Do the words conform to the Word of God—are they doctrinally solid? 3.Can I hummm the words and tune in the shower? In other words, do they stick to my soul and allow me to repeat them over and over again?  I personally believe most younger people are in rebellion with the churches and with the Lord. They want to imitate the world, and sound like the culture. They squint their eyes when singing, go up and down like a roller coaster, warble like a bird, and sing tunes that no one can repeat or share with others. The words cannot be understood, and I think that this is a strategy which they carry out in order to be "contemporary"! Garbage either is or it is not. It does not take a rocket scientist to know what is spiritual, right or wrong in music. The Spirit of God is either with the music or He is not!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Egypt and Assyria Blessed by Israel

Dr. Couch, it looks as if Egypt and Assyria are blessed by Israel in the kingdom. Is this correct? ANSWER:  Yes, indeed! Isaiah 19:16-25 tells us that Israel will become a terror to Egypt, and that would only be in the messianic Kingdom. The Egyptians will shrink like women (v. 16), because of the purpose of the Lord against them. Five Egyptian cities will be speaking Hebrew (the Canaan language) and will swear allegiance "to the Lord of Hosts" (v. 17). The Egyptians will build an altar to the Lord in Egypt "and a pillar to the Lord near its border" (v. 19).    The Lord will make Himself known to the Egyptians and they will even make sacrifice and worship God, "and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it" (v. 21). The Lord will heal the Egyptians and He will respond to them and will heal them (v. 22). And, "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria" (v. 23). Finally, the Lord will say: "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands and Israel My inheritance" (v. 25).    This has never happened before so we are waiting for it to take place, and that would only be during the time of the Kingdom reign of Christ! The Lord will also judge the people of present day Jordan but then, He will bless them and they will know Him—again, at the time of the Kingdom. Only dispensationalists can spot the timing of this event, and that would be the one thousand year reign of the Messiah! We sometimes forget that many peoples of earth will come to the Lord at that time. The Kingdom will be a great moment of conversion for many Gentile nations. It will be a blessed time in world history.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Mar., 10)

Worshiping Mythological Figures and Idols

Dr. Couch, what causes people to worship mythological figures and idols? What about secret organizations, do they intentionally deceive the masses, and their followers, on the lower levels? ANSWER:  Secret societies certainly can deceive but far more follow after idols and mythological characters because of the ongoing work of Satan in the culture. Believing in other gods, and idols, was one of the main sins and early responses of the world to the religious work of Satan. He loves to see people fooled and misled by idolatry.     In the NT we find many believers being fooled by idolatry. Many struggled getting out of cultish religious worship, though they were still saved. Idolatry is a sin just like all sin! And since believers can "do" all sins, they can be idol worshippers.    Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "We should not crave evil things, as they also craved (the Jews did in the wilderness). And do not be idolaters, as some of them were" (1 Cor. 10:5b-6). James said he wrote to the Gentile Christians "to abstain from things contaminated by idols ..." (Acts 15:20). John warned the Christians "Little children, guard yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21).     Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Loud Music in Church

Dr. Couch, what about loud music in the worship service at church? There is a difference between "loud music" and "strong music" that is, beautiful music in its composure and presentation. As a teenager, I sang in the choir at church, and each year we presented in concert George Frideric Hendel's Messiah. Now that is strong, forceful, and overpowering music! But it is not "loud" in the discordant sense.    They deny the truth, but younger people like just plain old loud, noisy, ear-splitting music, that in no way can be classified as meaningful. Some argue, "But that is what speaks to us! I say: Garbage! That is what they like but in no way is it edifying.    I have three rules that I believe are right and correct when evaluating music. And to a degree, the same rules, adjusted, can be applied to art.    They are: (1) is the music theologically correct? (2) can you understand the words? (3) can you hum the tune, and repeat the words in the shower? If so, the music is coming up and out of your soul. And it is repeatable! If these three rules are violated, then, in my opinion, it is not good music!    I do not automatically reject contemporary music. Common sense lets us know if it is a good piece of music or not. But unfortunately, most contemporary music does not come up to the standards I have just alluded to. "But Dr. Couch, that is your opinion!" No, it is common sense. Some younger people like the loud, discordant music because, they would argue, it is part of their musical scene, and, it is not accepted by older people, therefore, it is good!    Try to follow what is being sung in most contemporary pieces of music, and then listen to Amazing Grace! End of discussion!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Oct. 2009)

Beginning of the Millennial Reign

Dr. Couch, when does the millennial reign of the Lord begin? ANSWER: The kingdom begins at the end of the tribulation period. We read in Revelation 19:11-16 where John writes, "I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. This fits perfectly with Zechariah 14. The verses add that He is wearing "many diadems" (v. 12). Verse 16 adds, "On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'" The Lord will gather the nations against Jerusalem (Zech. 14:2), "Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations …" (v. 3). "And on that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem …" (v. 4). "Then the Lord, my God (Christ, the Messiah), will come and all the holy ones with Him" (v. 5). "For it will be a unique day …" (v. 7). Then finally we read: "And the Lord will be KING over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the One, and His name One" (v. 9). The Hebrew means that "He will be the solitary One, one only of its kind, incomparable one." This means that in the kingdom age He will be known and worshipped as the one and only Lord, the absolutely unique and incomparable One, the Savior-Redeemer! (Unger) On Revelation 19 you have to read carefully to spot the allegorical and amillennial thinking of Ellicott in his commentary. He says of verses 11-16 that Christ "is King of life, King of human hearts …" By this Ellicott is allegorizing, making His reign some kind of syrupy non-literal rule! Boy, what awful interpretation. Ellicott gets worse on Zechariah 14: He says where it speaks of Jerusalem and of the Messiah's feet touching the Mt. of Olives: "Compelled by the lack of any historical fulfillment and guided by the highly figurative language of the whole chapter we decide to interpret it entirely by a figurative sense." On His feet touching the Mt. of Olives: "The language is, of course, figurative." Where Jerusalem is mentioned, Ellicott says "The language is, of course, figurative, and denotes the religious prominence of Jerusalem." Amil sickness, sickness, sickness! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch