Here is an encouraging story by Joel C. Rosenberg.
Mal Couch has started a series responding to “the Prewrath Rapture Guys” here. I thought it would be appropriate to respond back!
He writes,
“I thought the PreWrath Rapture guys had been put out to pasture a long time ago! But I guess error has a way of continually re-surfacing again and again.“
Dr. Couch sadly does not understand that not only has the prewrath view not been put out to pasture but there are now prewrathers feeding on a thousand hills. And the more pretribs that are introduced to the prewrath position — from actual prewrath sources! — the more prewrath hills will be feeding believers.
I read his part-one article hoping that there would be some meaningful argumentation from this pretrib teacher but sadly I found strawmen and sophomoric statements such as,
“They need to go to counseling!“
“But the spiritually challenged PreWrath guys ignore or certainly dance around…”
Not to mention his use of CAPITAL LETTERS to try to get his point across as if that lends credibility to his argumentation.
Yes, believe it or not, he is one of the more noted pretrib teachers out there. Of course, these type of statements can only be indicative of desperation. They know that prewrath is gaining much ground on pretribulationism but they realize that they cannot ignore it anymore so when they actually do have to address it, they have to misrepresent it as they have done from day one. That is fine with us actually because thinking believers will (and have) seen right through these smoke and mirrors.
Next week I will address his article point by point demonstrating that Mal Couch is ignorant in his use of Greek (he commits the “aorist is the past tense” fallacy!). Further, he shows no evidence of understanding the prewrath view (or wanting to) and he makes hackneyed assumptions when he argues against the prewrath view which only begs questions.
Incidentally, we can understand why Mal Couch and other pretrib teachers won’t debate us in public moderated debates anymore after Cooper and Best dismantled Couch in a debate in Texas back in 1999.
I recently had an appointment with a Doctor in Murfreesboro Tennessee, who is a specialist, for a problem I was having. As he was going over my information he noted that I was retired. He asked what line of work I had been in and I replied, the ministry. He then asked what denomination? To which I answered Baptist. He sat back in his chair and said, Oh you must be pre-millenial and pretrib? Not knowing what was coming I rather slowly responded, I am pre-millenial but not pretrib. Uh huh so what are you, he asked and of course I quickly answered prewrath. He jumped out of chair and said I must shake your hand, so am I! He had read The Sign and The Rapture Question Answered some years ago and said finally the timing of the rapture makes sense. What a good time we had discussing eschatology, and oh yes he cared for my problem as well.
I have just concluded a prophecy conference at Barfield Baptist Church in Murfreesboro Tennessee. The Sunday through Wednesday conference was well attended and well received as I had opportunity to present the biblical basis for the prewrath rapture. One man, not from the church, attended every session, his interest came because his neighbor had given him a copy of The Rapture Question Answered by Robert VanKampen. Once you discover the truth you want to share it with others. What a joy it is to see people taking notes and digging into the Word of God with eagerness like the Bereans of old (Acts 17:11). Once again I found so many Christians accepting the faulty pretrib position simply because that is what they had been taught. It was a delight as well to work with a pastor who is open to discovering the truth of God’s Word and not tied into simply what he had been taught. Barfield Baptist is a wonderful growing church and it was my privilege to share the Word of God with them.
Roger Best
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