A Note on Christians and Zionism
Over the past 200+ years a number of Christian writers have presented good Biblical studies concerning the topic of the prophecy and the restoration of Israel. I would like to point out some distinguishing points among these writers.
The return of the Jews to the land is seen as a prelude to a coming period of 7 years in which the 3rd temple will be rebuilt and a Jewish anti-Christ will set himself up as a world leader. This is an inaccurate and dangerous view since it places the Jews among the enemies of Christ again. They will appear to be either direct supporters of the anti-Christ or complicit and deceived by him. They lose both ways. Alternatively we see the rebuilding of the nation as a continual and progressive upbuilding that will challenged from outsiders. Those outsiders include the nations "round about" Zechariah 12 and those further away Zechariah 14, Joel 3 and Ezekiel 38. Israel will defend itself in the power of God when the time is ripe. Micah 5 and Isaiah 41.
Jews are seen as fodder for Christian missionaries in these end times. They have continually been in hot pursuit of converts since that is regarded as how Israel turns of God. Christian missions to the Jews have accompanied every step of support for the modern state of Israel. But the prophets of Israel are very clear. Israel is to turn back to God, but it isn't stated they have to come to Christ in a mass conversion to be delivered in the coming tribulation. The statement is simple "return to me". Hosea 3, Isaiah 62, Leviticus 26. Jesus himself said they would return to their God when they say "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" Matthew 23.
Jews are also seen as needing salvation from the terrors of hell in spite of all the nice things they will say about Israel. We suggest that modern Biblical studies in what is called The New Paul and the historical Jewish Jesus present us with a much broader picture of what salvation is. It extends beyond the typical evangelical protestant conversion field. God is the redeemer of Israel, he has taken care of them in the past and present. In the future he will deliver all those found written in the book of life of Moses and Daniel. Additionally, modern studies in Christian eschatology also suggest that medieval doctrines of eternal torment are perversions of scripture and that Gods love extends beyond this temporal life into the ages to come when all people will have the opportunity to know him without interference. That will happen on this very earth and that Israel will be the center of the educational restitution process. Isaiah 2:2-3 won't happen through the U.N., but it will happen in Jerusalem.
Few Christian writers/teachers have these points accurately presented. A few that do include:
The return of the Jews to the land is seen as a prelude to a coming period of 7 years in which the 3rd temple will be rebuilt and a Jewish anti-Christ will set himself up as a world leader. This is an inaccurate and dangerous view since it places the Jews among the enemies of Christ again. They will appear to be either direct supporters of the anti-Christ or complicit and deceived by him. They lose both ways. Alternatively we see the rebuilding of the nation as a continual and progressive upbuilding that will challenged from outsiders. Those outsiders include the nations "round about" Zechariah 12 and those further away Zechariah 14, Joel 3 and Ezekiel 38. Israel will defend itself in the power of God when the time is ripe. Micah 5 and Isaiah 41.
Jews are seen as fodder for Christian missionaries in these end times. They have continually been in hot pursuit of converts since that is regarded as how Israel turns of God. Christian missions to the Jews have accompanied every step of support for the modern state of Israel. But the prophets of Israel are very clear. Israel is to turn back to God, but it isn't stated they have to come to Christ in a mass conversion to be delivered in the coming tribulation. The statement is simple "return to me". Hosea 3, Isaiah 62, Leviticus 26. Jesus himself said they would return to their God when they say "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" Matthew 23.
Jews are also seen as needing salvation from the terrors of hell in spite of all the nice things they will say about Israel. We suggest that modern Biblical studies in what is called The New Paul and the historical Jewish Jesus present us with a much broader picture of what salvation is. It extends beyond the typical evangelical protestant conversion field. God is the redeemer of Israel, he has taken care of them in the past and present. In the future he will deliver all those found written in the book of life of Moses and Daniel. Additionally, modern studies in Christian eschatology also suggest that medieval doctrines of eternal torment are perversions of scripture and that Gods love extends beyond this temporal life into the ages to come when all people will have the opportunity to know him without interference. That will happen on this very earth and that Israel will be the center of the educational restitution process. Isaiah 2:2-3 won't happen through the U.N., but it will happen in Jerusalem.
Few Christian writers/teachers have these points accurately presented. A few that do include:
- James Bicheno - The Restoration of Israel. 1800. He noted that the Jewish people would return to the land prior to any conversion.
- Dunbar I Heath - The Human Kingdom of Christ. ~1845. An AGE TO COME approach
- Henry Dunn - The Destiny of the Human Race. 1863. An AGE TO COME approach
- Charles T Russell - Thy Kingdom Come 1889, then in 1910 New York Hippodrome meetings with very large Jewish audiences. His magazine Zion's Watchtower had many notes concerning events among the Jewish peoples and early Zionism.
- Kenneth Rawson - Israel Appointment with Destiny program in 1990's to date.
posted by J B at
Friday, October 07, 2005
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home