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Christian
Zionism |
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Definition:
Christian Zionism is favoring the return of the Jewish
people to the land of Israel to reestablish and resettle
the land that God promised the Jews.
You
may or may not have heard this term used either in your
church or somewhere else. In this article I will attempt
to present a brief explanation of the “who”,
“what”, and “why” of Christian
Zionism from my perspective.
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As
with nearly every issue that is addressed in the
Body of Christ I understand and recognize that
there are fellow Christians who hold different
views on this issue. Some Christians are extremely
opposed to Christian Zionism whereas others appear
to base their entire belief system through the
eyes of being Christian Zionists. Unfortunately
Christians on both sides of this issue often appear
to delight in taking pop shots at each other and
that often without Christian love. Although I
view myself as a Christian who advocates Zionism,
I do not buy into every aspect of what I see and
hear being promoted by many, if not the majority
of Christian Zionists.
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Personally
I am turned off by some Christian Zionists who appear
to be more interested in advocating a political agenda
rather than the Biblical Message. Unfortunately some
of these folk want us to accept everything promoted
by the Israeli government hook, line and sinker. I believe
that when the non-biblical Israeli government makes
wrong decisions, promotes violence and hatred towards
Arabs, and blatantly discriminates against non-Jews,
it should be addressed by Christians.
My
purpose in writing this booklet is to share what I
am convinced should be the biblical position regarding
this matter. Please note that it is not my intent
to put down and/or disparage those fellow believers
with whom I may differ with. God’s people are
to be known by their love for each other.
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What
is Christian Zionism?
The bottom line of Christian Zionism can be found
in the definition that is quoted earlier in this
article. Let me state it again: “Christian
Zionism is favoring the return of the Jewish people
to the land of Israel to reestablish and settle
the land that God promised the Jews.”
In other words Christian Zionists believe that
what took place in May 1948 was Biblical prophecy
in action. It was at that point in history that
after nearly two thousand years the Jews of the
world once again had their own land; the State
of Israel.
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The
concept of “Zionism” is not new, however
it is somewhat new when the word “Christian”
precedes it. In other words many Jews have been Zionists
since their dispersion among the nations after the Romans
destroyed their Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. Later
they were driven out of their land as well. As a result
of this dispersion Jews have been found living everywhere
on the planet. This is often referred to as the diaspora.
The two principle aspects of Zionism are: political
and religious. Not all Jewish Zionists are religious.
In fact, the land of Israel today is largely secular
with “religious” or “observant”
Jews making up a minority of its citizens. The Israeli
Government itself is also secular and seldom knowingly
abides by biblical mandates.
Unfortunately many Christian Zionists have become extremely
political. Scores of “fundamentalist” and
“evangelical” Christian leaders are actively
involved in the politics of the State of Israel. It
appears to me that some of them have come to the conclusion
that they must aid God rather than allowing prophecy
to enfold itself as God determines. God’s Will
will be done in his own timing and way. I become uncomfortable
and concerned when Christians mix political action with
their faith. Unfortunately many in the name of Christian
Zionism appear to be guilty in this area.
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Its
Roots:
Christian Zionism did not just happen. It has
deep roots. Ever since the Jews were scattered
there has been a longing among them for their
own homeland and for a return to that which God
had originally promised to them. At the conclusion
of every Seder [Passover meal] those gathered
at Seders all over the world declare:
“Next
year in Jerusalem!”
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For
centuries that “next year” seemed impossible
to foresee. Not so any longer. Since May 1948 Jews are
able to return to Jerusalem and to the land that God
had promised them centuries before. See – Genesis
17:7-8.
Back in 1891 William Eugene Blackstone sought to influence
the then U.S. president Benjamin Harrison to aid in
influencing the United States to take a stand advocating
the return of Jews to the land that was once theirs.
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The
father of modern Zionism was Theodore Herzl who
died in 1904 at age 44. He had a dramatic impact
upon the Jews of the world. As a Jew Herzl gave
himself toward the day when there would be a sovereign
Jewish state. He wrote the following: “The
Maccabeans will rise again. The Jews who wish
for a State will have it. We shall live at last
as free men on our own soil.”
In
1917 the British gained control over the land
from the Muslim Turks who had controlled it for
several centuries. An official declaration favoring
a Jewish homeland was adopted by the British.
This declaration referred to as “The Balfour
Declaration” stated: “His Majesty’s
Government view with favor the establishment in
Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.”
With the adoption of the Balfour Declaration and
the control of the land by the British many Jews
from around the world began returning to their
land. It should be noted that these Jews did not
forcibly take the land from the Arabs who were
living there. The returning Jews purchased large
portions of land from the Arabs living there.
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When
the words that had been spoken by Herzi were uttered there
were few people who really knew just how prophetic they
were. A Zionist Conference was held in Basel, Switzerland
in 1897. People from around the world attended. It was
at this conference that Mr. Herzi declared that in 50
years there would be a Jewish State. Most people thought
that he was a dreamer. However, in November 1947 the United
Nations partitioned the land which had become known as
Palestine from the days of the Romans. The sovereign State
of Israel was officially birthed on May 14, 1948. Christian
Zionists see this as the enfolding of Biblical Prophecy.
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Early
Difficulty:
Early
Zionism had a difficult time in getting its message
across to both Jews and Gentiles alike. The majority
of Jews at that time lived in Europe. Many of their
families had lived in Europe for centuries. They
were settled in. The thought of Zionism was to many
Jews considered unpatriotic to their adopted native
lands, i.e., Germany, France, Poland, Russia, the
Ukraine, etc. However, this all changed with the
rise of the little guy with the mustache Adolf Hitler.
In the early thirties many Jews had supported Hitler
when he first rose to power in Germany.
We
are told that the majority of German Jews denied
their Jewishness as they had become secular in their
world view.
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Through
the centuries many of them had converted to the German
State churches: Lutheran or Roman Catholic. This by
the way was seldom a spiritual conversion but a conversion
of convenience. The state churches in Germany, as with
the greater part of Europe, had long before departed
from their biblical roots. Wherever there has been the
union of Church and State there has been an erosion
of biblical faith. The Anabaptists, during the Protestant
Reformation, were the only protestors who stood for
the complete and total separation of Church and State.
Though I am not an Anabaptist I adhere to many of their
beliefs and positions.
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Biblical
Roots:
The Bible teaches that the Jews are God’s
Chosen People. Christians are divided as to whether
this changed with the rejection by the majority
of the Jews of the Messiah, Yeshua [Jesus of Nazareth].
So, “Are the Jews still God’s Chosen?”
As
a disciple of the Jewish Messiah I believe that
the Jews continue to be a part of the “big”
plan of God for humankind. Hence, I am of the
belief that the Jews remain God’s special
people whom he has chosen. I also believe that
we who are disciples of our Lord are chosen by
God as well.
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“But
you [Jewish and Gentile believers] are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special
possession, that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful
light. Once you [Gentile believers] were not a people,
but now you are the people of God; once you had not
received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
(1 Peter 2:9-10) TNIV.
This passage is simply one of many New Testament passages
indicating how believers under the New Covenant are
viewed in this day in God’s sight. All believers
make up the spiritual Body of Christ, i.e., the believing
church. If you are an authentic believer in Jesus
Christ then you are part of those that the apostle
Peter was referring to in the above passage.
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Two,
or One Way to God?
I believe that there is but one way to God, not
two or more. Some Christian Zionists teach that
God has one way unto salvation for the Jews and
another way for the Gentiles. I do not believe that
this position is Scriptural. The apostle John wrote,
“Jesus
answered [Thomas], ‘I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.’”
(John 14:6)
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In
the Book of Acts we read, “Salvation
is found in no one else, for there is no other name
given under heaven by which we must be saved.”
(Acts 4:12)
Again
in the Gospel of John we are told the following, “He
[Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made
through him, the world did not recognize him. He came
to that which was his own, but his own [the Jews], but
his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive
him [Jews and Gentiles], to those who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God –
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision
or a husband’s will, but of God.” (John
1:10-13)
Those individuals who believe that are many ways or
paths to God as well as those Christian Zionists who
believe that there is a separate way for the Jews, I
believe are in error.
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The
following plea is given to both Jews and Gentiles
to be reconciled unto God. The apostle Paul declared,
“If
anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
the old has gone, the new is here! All this is
from God, who reconciled us to himself through
Christ and gave us [believers] the ministry of
reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world
to himself in Christ, not counting people’s
sins against them. And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation. We are therefore
Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on
Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God
made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for
us, so that in him [Jesus] we [believing Jews
and Gentiles] might become the righteousness of
God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
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Literal,
Symbolic or Fulfilled?
Christians are divided as to whether God is continuing
to work in and through the Jews. When it comes to Bible
Prophecy the majority of Protestantism as well as Roman
Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy view much of the Books
of Daniel, parts of Ezekiel and Revelation as allegory
whereas Christian Zionists take a more literal approach
to these Scriptures. These books describe “the
Apocalypse,” which literally means the “unveiling.”
In other words they are a vision of eschatological events.
The
Bible contains a considerable amount of prophecy. Christians
debate which prophecy has already been fulfilled and
which remains to be fulfilled. For instance Christian
Zionists refer to “The Tribulation” as a
future event whereas other Christians interpret it as
having already taken place with the Roman destruction
of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.
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Why
So Late?
The concepts set
forth by Christian Zionists appear to be comparatively
new in the Church therefore their legitimacy is
in question. Interestingly enough Protestantism
itself is comparatively new as it did not come into
fruition until nearly 1500 years after the founding
of the Christian Faith. The belief of the return
of the Jews to their own land was not envisioned
until the eighteen hundreds although there has always
been a small number of Christians who have held
this view in days of yesteryear. It should be noted
that biblical interpretation is ongoing.
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For
instance, for centuries the majority of Christendom supported
slavery until finally coming to the point of realizing
how inconsistent slavery is with Biblical Faith. The same
holds true for the position of women in the church. Left-handedness
was also considered a curse for centuries by the organized
church. The Church is continually learning, progressing,
and coming a to greater understanding of the Faith. I
believe the understanding of Christian Zionism falls into
this category.
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Not
a Monolith Voice:
From
the news media it would appear that there is one
monolith voice that speaks for all Christians
holding the Zionist position. This is not so.
Unfortunately because of the political involvement
of some Christian Zionist leaders many fellow
Christians have turned their backs on Christian
Zionism. For instance one leading preacher, whom
I agree with in most matters, wrote a book several
years ago that became a hit movie. The brother
in question made predictions that came near to
setting dates. This clearly violates Scripture.
Our Lord declared that no one knows, not even
the Son himself, when the Father will send the
Son back to earth. In this matter I believe that
that brother was in error.
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One
of the most negative results that have happened, in my
opinion, has been the number of Christian Zionist leaders
who come near to marrying the Church with the State. At
times the impression is that one cannot be a Christian
Zionist without being a “right-wing” Republican.
Let me say right here very loudly and clearly that God
is not a Republican. Nor is God a Democrat. God is neither
conservative nor liberal in our understanding and defining
of these terms. Rather, God is God!
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A
Christian Zionist Proclamation:
In February 1996 a gathering of Christian
Zionists in Jerusalem issued an impressive proclamation
which declares:
“God
the Father, Almighty, chose the ancient nation
and people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, to reveal His plan of redemption
for the world. They remain elect of God, and without
the Jewish nation His redemptive purposes for
the world will not be completed. Jesus of Nazareth
is the Messiah and has promised to return to Jerusalem,
to Israel and to the world."
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“It
is reprehensible that generations of Jewish peoples
have been killed and persecuted in the name of our Lord,
and we challenge the Church to repent of any sins of
commission or omission against them."
“The
modern Ingathering of the Jewish People to Eretz Israel
and the rebirth of the nation of Israel are in fulfillment
of biblical prophecies, as written in both Old and New
Testaments."
“Christian
believers are instructed by Scripture to acknowledge
the Hebraic roots of their faith and to actively assist
and participate in the plan of God for the Ingathering
of the Jewish People and the Restoration of the nation
of Israel in our day.”
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What
Christian Zionists Believe |
Commonly
accepted beliefs of Christian Zionists include:
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Christians
Zionists believe that the Covenant that God made
with Abraham remains in force today and is unconditional
and irrevocable. See – Genesis 12:2-3; 17:4-8. |
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Christian
Zionists reject any and all forms of Anti-Semitism.
See – Deut. 30:7; Joel 3:1-8; Micah 5:7-9;
Zechariah 14:1-3. |
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Christian
Zionists reject the teaching that the Church is
the New Israel. Rather, Christian Zionists believe
that Israel always remains Israel, and though temporarily
set aside by God, will one day be brought back into
right standing with God. See – Romans chapter
11. |
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Christian
Zionists believe that the land given the name Palestine
by the Romans rightfully belongs to the Jews. However,
this is not cause to exclude or call for Israelis
to discriminate against its Arab residents. See
– Gen. 15:18-19; Numbers 34:1-12; Deut. 30:3. |
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Christian
Zionists believe that with the establishment of
the State of Israel increasing numbers of Jews scattered
throughout the world will return to their land in
accord with Biblical Prophecy. See – Isaiah
11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:3-8; Ezekiel 37:21-25. |
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Christian
Zionists believe that when the Church is removed
from the earth at the Rapture, a period of Tribulation
will be ushered in. After seven years of great trial
Jesus will return to take his rightful place upon
the presently unoccupied throne of David in Jerusalem.
At that time he will literally reign over the earth
ushering in a thousand year Kingdom, i.e., the Millennium.
The Jews will have come into belief and will once
again take their rightful place. |
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Christian
Zionists believe that the State of Israel and the
Jewish people play prominently into End Times Prophecy. |
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Religious
Zionism:
Religious Zionism
bases its belief on the promises set forth in
the Hebrew Scriptures. As already stated those
of us who align ourselves with Christian Zionism
do not believe that the promises given to the
children of Abraham, the Jews, have been aborted.
The Jews continue to figure into the scheme and
plan of God. See – Gen. 13:14-17; 15:1-21;
17:4-8; 22:15-24; 26:1-5; 28:10-15; Ezek. 37:21;
Amos 9:14-15.
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Two
Views of Christian Zionists:
There are two major views held by two distinct camps of
Christian Zionists:
1.
Support of Israel based on biblical prophecy as Jews
return to the land and as prophecy unfolds for the
return of Christ.
2. Unqualified support for national Israel supporting
its government regardless of what it does and/or how
it acts.
Let me comment on #2 first. Because the present government
of Israel is not godly, nor is it biblical but secular,
an increasing number of Christians are finding it difficult
to give unqualified support to Israel. Unfortunately
because of the secularism of the Israeli government
it merely pays lip service to the faith of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. Christian Zionists cannot and should
not give unequivocal support to a government that is
not obeying biblical mandates. However, as Christians
we are obligated to pray for the Israeli leaders.
It is point #1 that we need to position ourselves with.
We support Israel because of biblical prophecy however
some of us find ourselves unable to support some of
the actions taken by the Israeli government. By the
way this is one of the areas in which I decidedly and
emphatically disagree with many so-called “Religious”
or “Christian Right” leaders.
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True
Biblical Zionists are not anti-Arab nor anti-Muslim!
In fact, there are biblical promises to the children
of Abraham through Ishmael. These will be fulfilled
one day. Christians are to love both the Jews
and the Arabs. However, we must never lose sight
of the fact that the Jews continue to be special
in God’s will and plan for the ages. We
must continually keep in view that God’s
promises to Abraham for the Jews are unconditional.
God promised, “I will bless those who
bless you, and the one who curses you [the Jews]
I will curse; and in you all the families of the
earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)
NRSV
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Ed
McAteer, a prominent Christian Zionist, says: “One
of the reasons America has been blessed over the years
is because we have stood with Israel.”
I am convinced that the above statement by Mr. McAteer
is right on target. Our greatness as a nation is not due
to race or solely the founding fathers and mothers rather
it is how we have related as a nation and treated the
Jews.
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The
roots of Christian Zionism reach back into the
nineteenth century largely to John Nelson Darby,
a leader of the Plymouth [Christian] Brethren.
Mr. Darby, a former Anglican, was a diligent student
of Scripture. He came to the conclusion in his
study that during this dispensation God works
through two different peoples; the Jews and the
Church of God [Believers]. The churches in Darby’s
day believed that the promises of God given to
the Jews had been transferred to the Church in
their entirety. Darby debated this premise believing
that the promises given to the Jews by God remained
in force.
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This
is the position of Christian Zionists. Dr. C.I. Scofield
in his reference Bible was instrumental in spreading
these views throughout evangelical Protestantism especially
in the United States. Christian Zionists continue to
be stronger in the United States than anywhere else
in the world.
Many
of us who are Christians are returning to our spiritual
roots today. We praise God for this exciting move which
I am convinced is of the Holy Spirit. At this point
in history there is Israel [national or biological Jews]
and there is the Body of Christ that is made up of both
believing Jews and Gentiles. When the Body of Christ
is called-up to be with the Lord, many biological/national
Jews will then come into full belief becoming God’s
witnesses throughout the earth. See – Romans 11:25-27;
Revelation 7:4-8; 14:1-5.
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As
Christian Zionists we need to: |
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Pray
for the salvation of the Jews who do not as yet believe
in Yeshua. They have religion, but not in accord with
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. See – Romans chapters
10 and 11. |
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Actively
combat anti-Semitism always remembering that God blesses
those who bless the Jew and withholds blessing from
those who curse the Jew. Among biblical Christians
there must be no hint of anti-Semitism no matter how
subtle it may appear to be. See – Genesis 12:1-3. |
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Pray
regularly for the peace of Jerusalem and all Israel.
Pray that the Israeli government will take biblical
stands and forsake its ungodly secularism. See –
Psalm 122. |
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Pray
earnestly for Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. As
biblical Christians we must love our neighbor whether
we agree with our neighbor or not. Arab Muslims and
nominal Arab Christians are indeed our neighbors.
How will they see the validity of the Gospel until
and unless they are the recipients of authentic Christlike
love? See – Mark 12:28-31. |
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Become
acquainted with our spiritual roots in Judaism. Learn
about the biblical Feasts of the Lord. It is exciting
to learn what these festivals symbolize. Our New Testament
Faith is built upon the foundation laid in the days
of old under God’s Covenant with Israel. The
historic Biblical Faith is built upon the apostles
and prophets with Jesus the Chief Cornerstone. See
– Eph. 2:19-22. |
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1
TNIV stands for “Today’s New International
Version,” The biblical quotes in this booklet
are taken from this version of the Bible unless otherwise
noted.
2 A “believer”
is either a Jew or Gentile who has personally, by faith,
believed in and received Jesus Christ as his or her
Savior and Lord. That person had been “born of
the Spirit.” See – John 3:1-17.
3 By eschatological is meant the events that will take
place during the End Times or Last Days of the Age before
the return of Christ.
4 This movie in the eighties was titled, “The
Late Great Planet Earth.”
5 The Hebrew Scriptures in another way of referring
to what is commonly called the Old Testament by Christians.
6
The body of Christ is known as the church of God, the
ekklesia, the church, etc. in the New Testament. It
is not confined to any one particular segment of the
organized Church, rather it is made up of all believers
in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
7 or Raptured.
8 We offer a free booklet titled, “The Biblical
Feasts of the Lord”.
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