320 likes | 636 Views
Focus On Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry. Biblical / Christian Zionism. Is the Lord in Zion? Sing us one of the songs of Zion. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion ." (Psalms 137:1). What is Christian Zionism?.
E N D
Focus On Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry Biblical / Christian Zionism
Is the Lord in Zion?Sing us one of the songs of Zion • By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." (Psalms 137:1)
What is Christian Zionism? • Christian Zionism is the fundamental belief of Christians that the return of a remnant of Jews to the Promised Land, and the establishment of the State of Israel (1948) is in accordance with Bible Prophecy and is a necessary and promised phase signaling the soon return of Jesus Christ and His reign in Zion. • Biblical Zionism is the prayer of Christians for the Jewish people to finally realize God’s plan for Israel.
Biblical Zionism • Biblical Zionism - the longing of the Jewish people for their return to their own land of Eretz Israel and their love of the land and the city of Jerusalem - is indeed part and parcel of the Biblical revelation and experience of the Jewish people. • It can be said that God is the greatest of all Zionists! "The Lord has chosen Zion ... " (Psalm 132:13) and, "The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." (Psalm 87:2). The word "Zion" (referring to the land of Israel, Jerusalem, or the people of Israel) in fact occurs 161 times in the Bible
Modern Zionism Has Some ultra Biblical Proponents • Political Zionism – founded in 1897 by Theodore Herzl (der Judestat) Sought a homeland for World Jewry through political machinations. • Religious Zionism – Judaic theocracy – seeks legalistic hierarchy and New Messiah
World Council of Churches • Identifies Christian Zionism as Apartheid in the Name of God • WCC & SABEEL theologians, church leaders and peace activists denounce "Christian Zionism" as "heretical" • WCC - Christian Zionism has become the most powerful and destructive force at work in America, shaping foreign policy on the ME and inciting hatred between Jews and Muslims.
WCC- Armageddon Mentality • The WCC and the liberal theology of Modern Ecumenism labels the literal interpretation of Bible Prophecy as fanatics, and are: • Disillusioned Escapist Visionaries • Possessing an Armageddon Mentality • An obstacle to Tolerance & World Unity
Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue and Harmonic Convergence • Central to Christian Zionism is a “literal” reading of the Book of Revelation (Rome says literal Bible interpretation is in error) • PCIRDHC objects to Christian Zionism and calls upon Christians worldwide to liberate themselves from ideologies of “occupation” and pursue harmony & world peace.
United Nations Equates Zionism with Racism • November 10, 1975 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 3379, which states as its conclusion: • Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination. • The resolution also endorsed an August 1975 statement by the Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Non-Aligned Countries that: • ...severely condemned Zionism as a threat to world peace and security and called upon all countries to oppose this racist and imperialist ideology.
Middle East Peace Process • After Persian Gulf War (1991) as hope rose for a New World Order via peace in the Middle East, UN Resolution 3379 was shelved. Israel preconditioned any confidence in the Process on United Nations voiding 3379. On September 23, 1991, in a speech by President George H.W. Bush at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Bush stated: • ...to equate Zionism with the intolerable sin of racism is to twist history and forget the terrible plight of Jews in World War II and indeed throughout history. • Israel made revocation of the infamous Zionist resolution a condition of Israel's participation in the Madrid Peace Conference. December 16, 1991 the UN General Assembly finally revoked Resolution 3379 -- (Zionism is Racism)
Anti-Zionism • Ecumenism casts Christian support for Israel since World War II (political & theological critics) as a kind of “Christian-self-willed” fulfillment (Zionist plot) of Bible prophecy. (ecumenism promotes Global Religious unity) • Arabs/Muslims, Secular World Powers & Replacement Theologians classify Zionism as a Colonialist Invasion and therefore a movement not worthy of Western support, especially in lieu of threats Islamic Warfare & terrorism.
United Nations Equates Zionism with Racism • Psalms 129:5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. • Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. • Zechariah 8:2-3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. • 3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
ReStorationism: The Root of Old Testament Prophecy Christian Zionism is another name for Restorationism. God promised to “restore” a remnant of Israel in their own land in the Last Days. Restorationism flourished in Great Britain in the 17 & 18 centuries as a result of Judeo-Christian studies, KJV Bible presence, the Puritan Movement, and was a direct byproduct of the anti-Catholic Reformation Period. America was founded with a Restorationist concept, unlike Old Europe, which was enslaved under Roman Catholic anti-Zionist theology. (church is new Israel)
The Balfour Declaration • The Balfour Declaration, issued on November 2 1917 stated: • "His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."
Christian Zionism Recognizes the “God of Israel’s” Divine Plan • The Third International Christian Zionist Congress, held in Jerusalem in 1996 issued a proclamation which said: • God the Father, Almighty, chose the ancient nation and people of Israel, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to reveal His plan of redemption for the world. They remain the elect of God, and without the Jewish nation, His redemptive purposes for the world will not be completed.Jesus Christ is the Messiah and has promised to return to Jerusalem, and save Israel. • 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 realize Scripture teaches that God will undertake to Restore a remnant of the Jewish People in the Latter Days, before the Lord returns.
Biblical Zionism is not Anti-Arab • Christian Zionism is not the sanctioning of the Israeli government, nor that her leaders at any time carry divine authority (Romans chapter 13:1-6) It is not a rejection of the Arab people, for the God of Israel loves ALL people • It is not a belief that the ONLY criterion of Divine judgment on the nations is their attitude and treatment of the Jews.
True Biblical Restorationism • Recognizes that the Bible promises a future restoration of the Jewish people to their land, and restoration as a nation is part of God's end-time plan for the redemption of the whole world. • Only Jesus Christ can bring Peace on earth and establish the Messianic Kingdom
Biblical Zionism • Compels upon Christians to pray for, and be involved in the up-building and wellbeing of the reborn nation, especially in view of the enemies around her who seek her destruction. • Shows that God blessed America (WWII) at the time that He re-gathered Israel
Abrahamic Covenant Still Valid • Recognizes that God is committed to defend Israel, despite her disobedience, and remembers the Abrahamic covenant: Ezekiel 16:59-62 For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. • Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.
Biblical Zionism Teaches • that the full restoration of the nation of Israel will take place when she comes to a place of national repentance, cries out to her God, and recognizes her own Messiah. • This is the completion of the restoration spoken of by Moses and the prophets, and as a result of which the whole world will be blessed. It is also referred to in the New Testament as the "fullness" and "acceptance" of Israel (Romans 11:12,15) (Ezekiel 37)
Shall Israel be Restored / Reborn • Thomas Brightman (1562-1607) the father of the British concept of Restorationism, wrote: • "Shall they return to Jerusalem again?" "There is nothing more certain: the prophets do everywhere confirm it."Isaiah 66:8-10 shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. • Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
Christians Are God’s Soldiers Marching Toward Zion • Christian belief in the restoration of the Jews to the land of Israel, and their restoration as a nation, is a fundamental of Bible prophecy. • A concerted assault is being made on Christian attitudes to Israel, and some Christian people are sadly becoming antagonistic to Israel. This conflict will no doubt intensify, powered as it is by Arab/Islamic forces, and Satanic anti-Zionism forces around the world.
Zion – The City of God • We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion, We’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God. • This is Christian,…Biblical Zionism…
Christians Should Support Israel • God's call today is for Christians to understand the nature of God's covenant with Israel, and His purposes for both his people and his land. Historically, solid support for the Jewish people has been based on the Bible, not on transient world events, or even events within the land of Israel. A grasp of that Biblical basis is more important than ever today because… • Israel’s “Time of Trouble” is about to Begin
The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Mahdi is Coming! Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on Islamic countries to mobilize against Israel and "remove" the "Zionist regime". "The basic problem in the Arab-Islamic world is the existence of the Zionist regime, and the Islamic world must mobilise to remove this problem."
Destroy the Zionists • Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed Hezbollah emerged the winner in Lebanon and vowed… “We will destroy the corrupt criminal Zionists .... • The World is confederated together: DESTROY THE ZIONIST PIGS
Christian Zionists-Servants of Satan • Islamic Sheikh Kamal Hatib says Zionist Christians have 'adopted Satan as God‘, and want a Clash of Civilizations. • Christians who support Israel are distorting their true faith, and obstruct religious harmony. • Christians who support the return of the Jews to Zion and oppose the establishment of an Arab state on Jewish lands are apostates who worship Satan & threaten world peace!
Zion and Zion’s King • Psalms 2:6 • Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. • Zech 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.