Literal or Poetic?

Dr. Couch, I understand that some take Matthew 27:51-53 as poetic and not as a literal statement. They say the holy ones who came out of the grave was just a poetic idea and not to be taken literally.

ANSWER: Yes, I heard that this was true. Some of the most respected Bible teachers have gone this way. This is a crack in the wall that shows a sure sign of liberalism. I understand that one of the key professors at Liberty (where Dr. Lacy Couch graduated with her MA) now take that position. And, some teachers at dear old Wheaton (where I received my MA) also now take that view.

Schools are crumbling doctrinally speaking to my amazement! But this is the way liberalism has always won the day, by creeping in to good schools. I do not know how they can take that position since the same thing happened to Lazarus in John 11. Lazarus and the saints in Matthew 27 had clearly died. One of the men who take this "poetic" view had written for me in one of my books but that will never happen again. I will not allow one who changes such an important view to write for me again.

By the way I hear horror stories as to how Liberty has changed. There is no longer a dress code and the school is riding on sports, sports, and more sports in order to attract students and money, money, money! It is now virtually a secular university. It has departed from its Christian stance and even has driven off many good teachers from its staff.

The Bible department is drying up like a prune. Many of the students now attending do not know that it has a Christian base to it, and, it virtually does not!

Satan is winning the war of apostasy. We should not be surprised. Paul says that in the last days apostasy will come up before us and destroy so many Christian institutions.

Thanks for asking.
--Dr. Mal Couch (3/12)

Turning Against Israel

Dr. Couch, I'm convinced that more and more churches are turning against Israel, some even denying that they even existed. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is a sign of the times. I firmly believe we are deep into the apostasy of the church whereby they are turning away from the truth, and the faith, just as the Bible predicted. While I'm not a date setter, I think we're closer to the rapture then we could believe. I think churches have three distinct messages today. (1) the gospel of salvation in Christ, (2) the issue of total depravity and the sinfulness of man, and (3) the doctrine of biblical prophecy. I would also include the fact that the churches should be teaching what is happening in our culture as a warning to our people. This is why elders are also to be called Episcopas, that is we are to be "overseeing" what is coming and giving a warning to the congregation.

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (7/11)

Signs of the Rapture

Dr. Couch, are there any signs that the rapture may happen soon?



ANSWER: The Bible gives no signs for the rapture of the church, though there are some markers that may indicate we're getting closer. In other words, we're getting closer to the coming tribulation because the Jews are back in the land as prophesied. And the rapture takes place just before the tribulation.

The apostle Paul said that he was in a period of apostasy but he also spoke of a future and final apostasy that would come in the last days. "The Spirit says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits ..." (1 Tim. 4:1). "Realize that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of money ..." (2 Tim. 3:1). These days obviously come upon the people before the rapture. I believe we are in these times now, so the rapture is soon.

The order then is: 1. apostasy, 2. rapture, 3. tribulation, 4. return of Christ and the establishment of the kingdom. The key to all of this is that Israel will be back in the land, which it is now!

I believe there are two stages in the end-time apostasy. There is (1) the falling away (the apostasy) of the church, and, (2) the cultural apostasy, when the culture gets worse because the light of the church has gone out.

The cultural apostasy is described in 2 Timothy 3:1-9. "For MEN (the lost, not the church) will be lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, revilers, etc." (v. 2). The church apostasy is described in 2 Timothy 4:3-5. "For the time will come when they will endure sound doctrine, … they will turn away from the truth ..." (v. 4). Church apostasy: "They will fall away from the faith ..." (4:1).

We are now going into the church apostasy AND the cultural apostasy. The culture is getting worse because the churches are no longer influencing the culture. When I was growing up cultural apostasy was held back by the churches. There was prayer before sports events. TV stations opened and closed with pastoral devotionals and prayer. But no more! There was prayer over the PA system at school, along with Bible reading brought by the Student Council. There were musicals for Christmas and for Easter at the public schools. The Gideons could pass out their Bibles at school.

Yesterday, New York state endorsed same-sex marriages, so cultural apostasy is growing rapidly. A sign that we are getting closer to the rapture, though I'm not a date-setter. These are indicators that we're getting closer to the total collapse of the culture, and thus the rapture is nearer than before!

We have some witnessing tracts that can help people with these issues. God bless and thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (7/11)

Apostasy

Dr. Couch, you seem to be right on about the cultural apostasy that is now sweeping our nation, and of course, the entire world. ANSWER: This is setting us up for the tribulation. It will be a horrible time, though the true believers will certainly not be here. However, the church may go through the storm clouds of the tribulation and experience terrible things before the rapture. Remember, the wrath of God will fall on a specific generation that is definitely deserving God's judgment. It is not going to fall simply indiscriminately. It will be a judgment on a specific period of history with the population in massive rebellion against the truth.    In my view a cultural apostasy is mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2: "For MEN (the lost) will be lovers of self, ..." They will "hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power ..." (v. 5). As the church goes, so goes the culture. Or, as the culture goes so goes the church! However you want to say it! Thanks for asking, Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Is the Events of Gog and Magog Soon?

Dr. Couch, I understand that recently the Jewish orthodox Rabbis made a public statement that we are extremely close to the events of Gog and Magog as described in Ezekiel 38-39. Do you believe the same? ANSWER:  Absolutely! I believe we are now going rapidly into the (1) apostasy of the Church, (2) apostasy of the culture, (3) which leaves the rapture of the church coming soon! (4) Next will come the seven year tribulation, followed by (5) the coming reign of Christ on earth!    Gog and Magog could take place before the rapture or just after the rapture and at the beginning of the seven year tribulation. All scholars, both liberal and conservative, admit the events of Gog and Magog have never happened yet in history. They are waiting to come about! Just a few days ago the Rabbinical Council of Judea issued a statement that the Jews could be at what the Bible describes as "the beginning of the Gog and Magog process where the world is against us, but which ends with the third and final redemption."    They went on and said "There is a growing interest in the Ezekiel prophecies and whether they could play out in our lifetime, it may be too early to say." Also, "the passage is clearly speaking of Turkey, and a Russian-Iranian alliance against the Jewish state."    The collapse of the world, economically, socially, and morally, is happening more rapidly than we can think. The world will never be the same. Now is the time for evangelism and for teaching the Word of God to believers and to unbelievers. We should not be discouraged. What we have always taught is now at our doorsteps. "Look up! Our redemption draws near!"    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Couch (6-10)

Who are the Kings of the East?

Dr. Couch, during the tribulation the book of Revelation mentions the invasion of the "kings of the East" into the Middle East. Could this be the Chinese? ANSWER:  It could be the Arabic peoples from the region of Saudi Arabia or beyond, and it could also be the Chinese. Many forget that less than 100 years ago, China was divided up into kingdoms that were fairly independent, with some being extremely large. We read: "When the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east" (Rev. 16:12).    The reason I believe it could be the Chinese is because the Arabs are involved with Gog and Magog in the war against Israel. This would leave the "Far Eastern" people, the Chinese, for this battle that is one of the last ones. Since I wrote my Handbook of Revelation the Chinese have come on the stage of historical events at a rapid rate, far faster than I or anyone else could have imagined. Things are changing so fast that it is difficult to keep up with it!    By the way, the kings of the east could be the Japanese. The Greek text in verse 12 actually reads: "the way of the kings who were from the rising of the sun might be prepared." The full orbed sun is put on the Japanese flag! And through the centuries, they have been the most dominate of peoples in the Far East! Robert Thomas adds: "This bowl looks to the future and the last conflict of world empires against God and His Messianic people (Joel 3:2; Zeph. 3:8)."    I believe we could be closer to the end-time events than we could have possibly thought just a few years ago. We are moving deeper and deeper into the apostasy of the church and of the culture than could have been guessed. The rapture of the church is very near!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)

Apostasy and Signs of the Rapture

Dr. Couch, you have convinced me that we are now in the period of the apostasy of the church, but if so, does this not take away the idea that there are no signs for the rapture of the church? ANSWER:  Not in my opinion because of what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:3-7. He speaks of the apostasy coming before the revelation of the "man of lawlessness" (v. 3). This is of course referring to the antichrist, and remember, he comes at the very beginning of the tribulation, the start of the Day of the Lord, the Wrath of God. But Paul goes on and writes that "the mystery of lawlessness is already here" (v. 7). He does not say that the tribulation is here or that the man of lawlessness has arrived. He gives no thought that the seven year tribulation has begun. In other words, apostasy has been around for some time but even Paul did not know if that apostasy is the final stage of the "rebellion." He did not know if THE prophesied apostasy of the last days had started! I believe we can say it is now here!    If you want the most thorough study of the rapture of the church, you need to read my "Biblical Study of the Rapture" of the church in my award winning volume "Dictionary of Premillennial Theology." That chapter has been so appreciated it has been included, and re-published in national publications, in three other volumes of Bible study. The book, by the way, was given the Silver Medallion Award from the Christian Booksellers Association in 1996.    A key to Paul's argument for the coming of the rapture for the church saints is the fact that in almost every rapture passage he uses the pronouns "You, We, Us." In other words, Paul is telling us that the rapture will come to remove the church saints to glory. It could have happened in Paul's day, and it could have taken place at any time while he was alive! That is why he is including himself (We, Us) in his argument.    We are nearing the time of the End, the time for the rapture. And, we are now entering the period of the apostasy, that takes place before the rapture. All indicators would let us know that. Yet, we cannot be dogmatic about the time frame.    I always wonder why people want to argue over this issue of the rapture, and my conclusion is that they are frightened rabbits. They do not want to be at the end of all things! So they come up with arguments to try to get rid of the rapture for our generation. The Bible is plain on the subject. And the Greek text makes the subject even more understandable, but most objectors are not good scholars!    By the way, Paul is so dogmatic about the fact that the rapture has to do with this dispensation of the church, he uses the technical expression: of those "in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14) and "in Christ" (v. 16). In introducing the idea of the rapture he writes "For this we say to YOU by the word of the Lord, that WE who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, ..." (v. 15). That is as plain as vanilla pudding!    Putting world events together, and looking at the fact that we are moving into the predicted apostasy, I believe I could come up with about 100 arguments that would show how close we are to (1) the advent of the rapture, (2) the seven year tribulation, and (3) the return of Christ to reign over the throne of David from Jerusalem. That would really help folks get it all together as to what is happening even in our day!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Feb., 10)

America's Collapse

Dr. Couch, why have things collapsed so quickly in our country, on every level—political, social, theological, cultural, etc.? ANSWER:  Things were building up more quickly than we could imagine—we just didn't notice the changes coming. Theologically, I believe this is a judgment from God upon an apostate nation, and world. We are moving rapidly toward the end times. America for some time now has walked away from the Lord. But on the human level, there are some things we can observe that I believe are part of God's judgment.    (1) We have for some time now departed morally. Drugs, abortion, homosexuality, etc. has been destroying us from within for decades. (2) The mixing of cultures that did not have the Judeo-Christian morality behind them. And, those who have Christianity as a heritage have apostatized into immorality anyway. The founding of the nation, and our Reformation European heritage has been long ago lost to this culture. (3) Our secular state universities have moved toward liberalism and socialism, and these views have been fed to our young people now for decades. (4) And, our young people have been so brainwashed from grade school to buy into the lies of Satan. And as well, the repudiation in our schools of any form of recognition of Christianity.    In many schools, they have discarded Christianity but have honored Muslim and Hindu holidays in place of Christian traditions. Now I know having a holiday does not make our nation "Christian" but there is still a principle being trashed. And we will pay a price for that.    I know for a fact that many of my school friends came to Christ because Bibles were passed out at school and there were plays and musicals given over to Resurrection Sunday and Christmas. Everyone knew that America's morality had its origins from the Word of God, even though they may not have been born again or went to church on Sunday. Without doubt, we have departed on one level or another, and we are going to pay the price.    Someone recently sent me an article about a paper written by a chaplain in the Army saying that the real enemy in this country is premillennialism. Premillennialists, he said, see things black and white, and this is causing problems with those who are conciliatory on issues. We knew that this argument would be coming—blaming the facts of Scripture for how we are perceived in the world. Pray that this will not bring more havoc on those who are proclaiming the truth in our culture.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Dec., 09)

Social Apostasy

Dr. Couch, I am being persuaded in what you say about a social apostasy coming upon the world. Can you explain a little more? ANSWER:  Yes, what I mean is that the culture, that in some places, to a large degree, has been blessed by biblical Christianity, will turn and be even more evil that previously. And this is exactly what happened in Europe some decades back, and has now happened in America during my lifetime. Christianity held back sin to some extent but now the roof has collapsed and sin is becoming more sinful!    And, the church then is becoming more like the world and the culture! We have some verses that I believe point this out. For example, 2 Timothy 3:1-2.    "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money ..." The verses speak of "in the last days difficult times will come." Paul is not in those verses talking about church apostasy but about cultural apostasy and evil growing worse and worse. The Greek reads "Time of stress, fierce, savage times." Paul uses the Future Tense of the "to be" verb. "It will be this way ..."    Then in verse 2 he does not speak of the church folks, but of "the men" of the world, using the Greek word, with the article, "hoi anthropos." This will happen when "the time" (kairos, chronology) will come, and grow more savage, when the change happens in the culture. Paul connects this thought with 4:3 when he writes: "For that 'time' (kairos, chronological period) will come (Future Tense) when 'they' (supplied by the translator) 'will not endure healthy doctrine ... '" Paul here is not talking about true believers but about those in the culture who apostatize from what little they know of truth.    He is not talking about true"possessing Christians" in 3:13, as some think, but again, he is talking about the lost in the culture, when he writes "But evil men (poneeros anthropos) ... and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." These are the lost men of the society, the culture, not those who are Christians (though the true believers will be deceived.). Indeed, the evil men are "impostors" (goees). This is the only place in the NT where this word is used. It's often translated "seducers." This is a better translation; they will be seducing and leading astray those who are professors, and who are taken down the wrong path, who go into apostasy and join them in their worldly sinfulness! "Goees" can be translated "a juggler, enchanter, one who uses incantations to deceive." This is happening and going on today. The church is getting like the culture.    "They will proceed" (Future Tense) is from the Greek word "prokopos" meaning "they will go forward, go forward hammering (as a smith hammers metal)," "promoting further" their evil agendas. And nothing will stop them; it will get worse and worse, as the apostasy takes over the culture even more!     The Bible Knowledge Commentary seems to agree with my thoughts on the passage. Several times it mentions "the people (the lost), when they the world will see terrible times of societal degeneration."    I believe we are now in religious, spiritual, and social degeneration and this is the sign that we are in "the last days."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Dec., 09)

Jeremiah 18:7-10 and America

Dr. Couch, what is going on in Jeremiah 18:7-10? And, does this sound like what is happening to America today? ANSWER: While not applied directly to America, the principle is certainly applicable to this nation and all nations that turn from the Lord. God will speak to the evil nation and a kingdom to uproot and pull it down, to destroy it, when it defies Him (v. 7). If that country turns from its evil ways, God will relent concerning the calamity "I planned to bring on it" (v. 8). But America, and the other nations of the world, will not repent. Prophecy tells us the nations will apostatize and go deeper into their sin. If the nation goes further into its sin, God will think better "of the good with which I had promised to bless it" (v. 10).    Concerning Judah and Jerusalem, God has said He will speak against its inhabitants, saying: "Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds" (v. 11). But this will not happen. Israel will go through the birth pangs (Jer. 30) of the tribulation, and so will the nations of earth! Unger writes: "The Lord is sovereign in His dealing with His people (Isa. 45:9; 64:8; Matt. 20:15; Rom. 9:21). He is the Potter, they are the clay."    We are drawing nearer to the end, and there is no turning back! We should not be surprised or troubled! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)

Apostasy in the Old Testament

Dr. Couch, is apostasy mentioned in the OT? ANSWER:  Yes it is, especially mentioned in passages dealing with the future kingdom blessing: like Hosea 14:4-7. The difference with the apostasy in the OT and apostasy in the NT, is that apostasy in the OT is particularly dealing with the falling away of Israel as a nation. In the NT it is about individuals who have a form of godliness but are really not saved. And, there is no restoration for those who fall away in the NT context. But God will restore the nation of Israel. The Jews will be regathered for the kingdom, as mentioned in Hosea 14.    Hosea 14:1 begins: "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity." Then Israel, "return to the Lord, receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips" before the Lord (v. 2).    God then says, "I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them" (v. 4). "Love them freely" is a reference to the Freewill Offerings, although the Jewish people have not earned God's love. Yet, He is prepared to let them have His love as a gift!    The Hebrew word "apostasy" is "meshuva" and means "departure, faithlessness, defection." It is related to other Hebrew words that mean "deception, desolate," as referring to a "desolate desert land." Those in apostasy are like the dry desert, spiritually speaking!    In Hosea 14:5, God says He will be like the dew to Israel that waters the dry land. The Rabbis say, when the messianic Davidic kingdom is established, Israel will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. Israel will have beauty like the olive tree (v. 5). With blessing, the Jews will move out of the shadows and "will again raise grain" in the sunlight, and will be prosperous (v. 7).    The Lord urges the Jews to be wise: they must "understand these things" (v. 9). Because "the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous [Jews will] walk in them" (v. 9).    PRAY FOR ISRAEL! God is beginning to work again with the Jewish people; the entire world is moving toward the times prophesied in Scripture! On this Hosea 14 passage, the Rabbis write:    "With a desperate call God is urging Israel to repentance. Israel is pleaded with in this chapter to give up the folly of wandering from the Lord. Let the people learn from their hard experiences to trust in Him; assurance of forgiveness is held out to them. Dew is essential for the growth of vegetation. The Divine Grace will enable Israel to flourish."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Oct. 2009)

A Third Great Awakening

Dr. Couch, With all that is prophesied about the church in the last days, is it possible to have a great revival in the church as a whole? There is great concern for our nation. So is it possible to have a third great awakening as previously happened in the past with Finney, Whitfield, and Edwards? What is needed to achieve this? And if it is impossible, then what should we be doing?

ANSWER:    But also, if indeed we are into the last days, the apostasy, then there will be no turning back. How do we know we are in the end times? Israel is back in the Holy Land, and it is prophesied that she would return in unbelief, and that is just what is happening.

   What should we do? We should keep on keeping on! We can only touch those nearest to us. I find the harder we teach the more people are responding, but of course, I am resonating with believers and they are identifying with my hard and straight-on, tough explanation of Scripture. I would urge pastors to (1) teach their hearts out. (2) stop babying the sheep! (3) quite thinking that you must go easy and placate people. Some will walk, but so what?

   I had some young-ish soft Bible teachers tell me one time that I was too harsh in my presentation. But they failed to notice that this is what people really wanted. Often people want to hear righteous indignation! And many want Bible teachers to be prophets and speak the truth head-on! If we don't tell people the way things are, how will they change? (By the way, those young-ish Bible teachers ruined and destroyed everything they touched. They were not as smart as they thought they were!)

   The apostle Paul, Peter, and the writer of Hebrews often use the Greek word "stereos" when describing that we should use "steroids" and make people strong in the difficult times coming. For example:

   "The foundation of God must stand strong (be tough) not stand in a weak manner" (2 Tim. 2:19). "They were not able to eat strong T-bone steak" (Heb. 5:12). The churches are to be strong, tough in the faith (Acts 16:5). And "You be tough, steadfast in your faith in Christ" (Col. 2:5).

   Thanks for asking.
   Dr. Mal Couch
(September 2009)

The Coming Apostasy

Dr. Couch, it seems as if you have been right on target about the fact of the arrival of the predicted apostasy. What do you see happening next? ANSWER:  As I am writing this response, our President, Barack Hussein Obama, is possibly holding meetings with contrary foreign powers in the U.N. in New York. Israel is of course the target. What happens in the Middle East around Israel, God's earthly people, will determine how far and how fast things will move toward the prophesied end times. But with the church, an apostasy is now at work.    Paul warns the church: "We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; ..." (Eph. 4:14). Notice what will blow the church around—every wind of doctrine, or [false] teaching. We are now moving into the stage of false teaching or no teaching whatsoever! Young Christians are not interested in the teaching of the Word of God—they are interested in musical entertainment, fluff, psychology, light junk given from the "stage" not the pulpit! (One pastor drove a tank on the stage of his church to make a point!)    Young Christians (if truly they are believers) have no patience with depth and with thinking about spiritual things. They want it short, simple, light, and devotional in nature. They are yuppy in their thinking. They are selfish and are conscious about "natural foods," and safety issues for their little darlings. They will go to the doctor's office at the drop of the hat! Some churches are pushing the green movement. The younger set think they are going to save the world. Of course, not all are thinking this way, but most are!    These attitudes are killing us and diverting us from thinking spiritual thoughts! And I believe, there is no turning back!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (September 2009)

Exegetical Teaching

Dr. Couch, thank you for your book Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics. I understand now how so many pastors are not explaining, exegeting, or using good hermeneutics from the pulpit. They just "talk" but do not pull out from the text the meaning of the passages! We are in deep trouble with the death of hermeneutics and exegesis, are we not? ANSWER:  Yes indeed, it is over for the church! We are into the apostasy where the Bible is no longer being explained. And, in my opinion, there is no turning back!    Hermeneutics is a good biblical word, used often by Christ and by Paul. Here are some of the references: Luke 24:27; Acts 9:36, and in reference to explaining the gift of linguistics, 1 Corinthians 12-14. The word is also used in John 1:38, 41, 9:7; and Hebrews 7:2. It is often translated "explained, interpreted, translated."    Sometimes the preposition dia is at the front of the word, thus to be translated "to thoroughly interpret." The base word is hermes that comes from the name of Hermes, the messenger god of the Greeks. Thus, hermeneutics is how one moves or transmits a message. Today, hermeneutics is a lost skill, or forgotten art. Pastors will no longer be able to set forth clearly the message of the Bible. Doctrine will be trashed and lost! And without doctrine, the church will sink deeper into apostasy, error!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (September 2009)

Predicting the End Times

Dr. Couch, have you heard of the gentleman in California who is predicting the coming of the End Times on October 31, 2010? ANSWER;  No, I have not, but I'm not interested! I've lived long enough to hear all kinds of things. I personally believe that we can say we are rapidly moving into the season of the rapture of the church and the beginning of the seven year tribulation period, but we must be careful to set dates because the Scriptures do not! I believe we are into what the Bible speaks about—the apostasy of the church. But how long this period will last before the saints are caught away, no one knows. I believe this apostasy because of the "departure" ("the standing away") we see clearly taking place all around us, both in the world and in our churches. These days fit that description perfectly. But even with this, I prefer to be cautious. I could be wrong!    However, several things make me sense that we are indeed into the apostasy. (1) The fact that the entire world is now so tied together. And: (2) What is happening in one place is happening everywhere! (3) Israel is back in the land! (4) And the idea of a one-world global government is part of the discussion among all the nations on the earth! (5) As well, the clear determination to drive the Jews into the sea. (6) The rampant explosion of immorality that is consuming all nations. This is exacerbated by worldwide communications, that whatever happens in one place, quickly spreads to another. Evil is being compounded and in no way is slowing down!    I will not write anymore on this because I have treated it many times in past articles. By the way, everyone should read 2 Chronicles 36:11-21. Does this not sound like what is happening in America today? (Share these verses at your church or with your Sunday school class!)    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Verses regarding Apostasy and the Nation of Israel

Dr. Couch, we all get the sense that we're there! We are now deep into the apostasy. You mentioned the other day a great verse that speaks to such issues in regard to the failure of the nation of Israel. Could you please refer to that again? Yes, I was referring to 2 Chronicles 36:14-21. The passage tells us that the leadership of Israel, and the people, "were very unfaithful following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the Lord which He had sanctified in Jerusalem" (v. 14). God then "sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people … but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words ands scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy left" (vv. 15-16).    The Lord then sent judgment (by the Chaldeans) who slew the people and destroyed the temple (v. 17).    The Lord then "fulfilled [His word] by the mouth of Jeremiah …" (v. 21).    A Scofield Ministries website reader sent an excellent email that we can all believe, if we are truly alert as to what is happening in our world! I think America as we know it is gone for good. The Constitution is out the window and we have a congress that is totally captured by special interests. Voting no longer makes a difference because the only ones running are those who tow the line and are sponsored by big money. The economy is in dire straits and is not going to turn around anytime soon. The majority of manufacturing jobs are permanently gone. Debt is spiraling out of control. Government is going wild. It is only a matter of time before the dollar is devalued and we move toward a regional or global currency. The swine flu situation has many suspect and troubling aspects. Things seem to be getting set up for martial law. – A Reader    This is really about the apostasy. And it is not just what is happening in America. Things are crumbling worldwide, not simply here in our country. For example, in Australia things are also falling apart. One of the largest denominational groups – the Uniting Church Australia – is rapidly turning liberal. It will soon support gay ministers.    A concerned Christian in that country keeps me informed about what is happening. He says: "This group is turning toward apostasy, and buying into the Emerging Church idea. They don't care about how Scripture is interpreted. And they are destroying any thought of proclaiming sound doctrine."    "We will have to move from the Uniting Church Australia (UCA) quickly. The people in the church who wanted to learn true doctrine are now in harms way spiritually. The days are evil and we are in dangerous times. Apostasy is well within all the areas of the churches these days.  I don't know where to go from here. It's hard to trust any church around here anymore. May the Lord come soon!"    All that the Word of God has prophesied is coming about before our very eyes!    Dr. Mal Couch

The Chosen Angels

Dr. Couch, what is meant by "the chosen angels" in 1 Timothy 5:21? ANSWER: The Greek word for chosen is "eklectos" and is two Greek words put together meaning: "The out called ones." In the NT it is used some 29 times, with 28 times referring to the election of the saved in Christ. God protected and preserved many of the angels and did not allow them to apostatize when Satan fell from the presence of God.    Many believe that when Isaiah said that Satan said in his heart that he wished to "raise his throne above 'the stars of God,'" (14:13) he was referring to the heavenly angelic host. Unger also writes: "The sinless angels of light, are His first creatures—including the greatest of them, who later became Satan—were also called 'morning stars' (Job 38:7), because they were resplendent, unfallen creatures of light."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

A Sign of the Apostasy

Dr. Couch, where I live we have no Bible churches, so my family is attending a SBC! Our pastors all come from SBC seminaries where they have only been taught how to run a church and "preach." The preaching we receive from them is simply oration containing baby-step advice on how to live, some of it biblical and some of it not so biblical! It is certainly not exegetical.    The SS is even worse. Each quarter when I open the new SS book (put out by Lifeway), I shudder to see what lightweight material they are putting out. More often than not it is written by women with no theological training at all—they have for the most part simply been SS teachers. Is this a sign of the apostasy? ANSWER:  Thank you for your email letter: I am amazed how those trained at SBC schools think they are getting solid Bible courses. They are not! They get big doses of pablum with no meat or vegetables. But they brag that they are "Bap…" and have no idea what they are missing in understanding the Bible. Unfortunately, independent seminaries, and seminaries that used to give good teaching, are also moving toward the lightweight stuff. Doctrine and exegesis is out and simple how-to stuff is in! I find it most disturbing that the material is being written by women. Men are to be the theological leaders in Bible studies. Apparently, no men are available to write and lead, or this denomination is going Politically Correct (PC) in assigning women "elders" to write.    Many in the denominational churches are just playing church. But I would agree with you that, putting it all together as to what is happening in our churches, we are moving rapidly toward the apostasy of the church. Looking at all the passages of Scripture, the apostasy, as Paul puts it, is a departure from THE Truth and from THE Faith!    In my opinion, there is no turning back. The course has been set. And what the Word of God says about "the departure" from the truth is coming to pass. I wish I had some suggestions for you. I keep praying that men such as you will attempt to band together with other like-minded folks to begin a home-church that has a strong and virile doctrinal statement, and that calls upon soundly trained men to exegete the Scriptures for those who are spiritually hungry.    By the way, I get letters like this almost on a weekly basis. People are in deep trouble!    Thank you for your email.    Dr. Mal Couch

Does The Church Know its Main Task?

Dr. Couch, with all the confusion going on in the world today, do you think the church knows what its main task is all about? ANSWER: No, absolutely not! I could not help but think of 1 Timothy 3:15 where the apostle Paul says the church is "the household of God, … the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." But two verses down (4:1), Paul then adds these disquieting words, "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from THE FAITH, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines (teachings) of demons." The expression "fall away" is the Greek word "aphistami" which is in the Future Middle Indicative form, meaning, "they will in the future themselves withdraw" from the faith! Paul is clearly speaking about those who are "religious" and could even be those who were born again, but who will apostatize and no longer give credence to the truth. They could be then the Christian Blind! Paul was concerned about those Timothy was ministering to. He warns Timothy to be concerned for the brethren: "In pointing out these things, you are to be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of THE FAITH and of SOUND (healthy) DOCTRINE which you have been following" (v. 6). By using the Middle Voice, Paul seems to be implying that when this departure takes place (in the future) those who do so, are somewhat aware of what they are doing. They will not be innocent! This is the apostasy that I believe we are presently moving into quite rapidly! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

Deception in the Last Days

Dr. Couch, you speak often about deception that will come in the last days. What does the word mean? ANSWER: In Greek the word is "apatee" meaning "to cheat, mislead, entice" with the idea of seduction. In my commentary on Thessalonians I write "It stood as a sign of the end times with all its destructive consequences. When the seven year tribulation begins, with the church gone in the rapture, this seduction will grow worse as the kingdom of the Antichrist becomes darkened and then starts to disintegrate." Paul first used the word in prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and shows that this is what the Antichrist will do ("deceive") with the generation that follows him. I believe verses 10-12 could begin even now, before the rapture of the church. In other words, the departure of the lost, moving deeper into evil, could begin even before the church is taken away. It will grow worse as the Antichrist captures the minds of the lost. Paul goes on and says men will be deceived "because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false." The result: "They will be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." There is the apostasy of the church before the rapture, and also an apostasy of the world, in that men will gallop deeper into sin and deception even just before the seven year tribulation starts. I believe both could be happening right now. Some have asked me, "But is not the rapture imminent, in that it could happen at any time, with nothing taking place before?" Dr. Couch, are you saying that the apostasy must come before the rapture?" There is a little phrase that we often miss when discussing the "difficult times that will come" (2 Tim. 3:1). In these verses (3:1-9) Paul is talking about a kind of departure that will happen with the lost, "in the last days …" (v. 1). His description is about the lost who will morally turn worse and worse in their actions. (Read the verses.) Then the apostle says, "And avoid such men as these." While on one hand, the world will fall deeper into sin and an apostasy, some men were already around in Paul's days, who were living the way he describes before the "last days." Paul did not know God's timetable. Paul was not certain—God had not given him all the information as to the "when" of these events. Then how can we know we're into the final days before the rapture? Because of the (1) universal nature of all that is now happening, that is, the explosion of evil, and because (2) the Jews are back in the land in preparation for the seven year tribulation! I believe we are now rapidly moving into the apostasy of the church, and the deepening immorality of the world! The next event will be the rapture of the church! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch