| Why should Christians support Israel?
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By Alan C. Lazerte, Christian Action for Israel,
2006
http://www.christian-zionism.org/analysis.asp
Christians have good biblical reasons - past, present and future - for supporting modern Israel.
Christianity was birthed by biblical Judaism. Moses prophesied of the disobedience, dispersion, return and ultimate restoration of Israel, due to the faithfulness of the Lord.
Some 80 percent of our Bible (what we call the "Old Testament") was written in Hebrew, by Hebrews, for Hebrews; and although Gentiles could come to God, they had to come through Israel's God-given religion. Jesus himself instructed the disciples to go only "unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel," and reminded the Samaritan woman, and us, that "salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22)
Hellenised Christianity has purposely distanced itself from the Jewishness of our faith, yet paradoxically still strives to attain to the witness of the Jewish church of the Book of Acts.
Paul instructs us as to the immense debt we Gentiles owe Israel for our spiritual inheritance, and reminds us of our duty to help Israel in earthly matters. (Romans 15:27)
Since the call of Abram, every covenant that God has made for the benefit of mankind was made with an Israelite. The New Testament would be incomprehensible without the prior testimony of the Hebrew scriptures.
Paul reminds us Gentiles that we were totally alienated from God, outside Israel's covenants, without hope and without access to God; until brought in by the blood sacrifice of our Jewish Messiah.
Nor did God accomplish this invisibly in heaven, but right here on earth with, and amongst, flesh and blood; in the midst of sin, war, death, depravity, human treachery and injustice.
For those who expect perfection from Israel we are well reminded that all God has done in the salvation of a remnant of mankind has been done against the total opposition thereto of the world, the flesh and the devil.
Because of false teaching, and erroneous Replacement Theology, many Christians do not realise that certain "Old Testament" covenants still remain in effect for Israel, namely: the Abrahamic land covenant (Genesis 12:1-3), the Davidic throne covenant for Messiah (2 Samuel 7:11-16), and the new covenant for the House of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-36), into which the majority have not yet entered.
The new covenant in the blood of Jesus fully atoned for all sins under the Old Testament (Hebrews 9:15), transforming the role of the Law of Moses; but, contrary to belated Christian Replacement Theology, did not end God's dealing with Israel.
Much of Christendom has been in chaos since abandoning literal interpretation, and losing the distinction in scripture between "Israel" and "Church." In fact, most Replacement Theology leaves Israel only curses.
If God were done with Israel because the majority rejected Jesus as Messiah, as prophesied, why did Jesus pray, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do," and why does Paul remind us Gentiles that, "they are beloved for the fathers' sakes"? (Romans 11:28)
Because God does not break covenants! (Psalm 89:30-37)
Paul warns us Gentiles, "not to be ignorant of this mystery (Israel), lest we become wise in our own conceit," because Israel's blindness to the Gospel will only continue "until the fulness of the Gentiles come in." (Romans 11:25)
In our generation Israel is back in the land, against all human odds. But their first entrance as slaves from Egypt, and their second entrance from Babylon were not popular either: "The God of this people Israel … when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to Israel." (Acts 13:17-19)
The problem today is that our thinking is so humanistic and "democratic" that we in effect deny God His duty to fulfil His word. Many believers are more influenced by the media and the world than by the word of God.
Isaiah foretold that in the last days, "the Lord shall set his hand again the second time … and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel … from the four corners of the earth … and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off." (Isaiah 11:11-13)
Amos adds significantly, "and they shall
no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them,
says the Lord your God." (Amos
9:15)[...]
God is not playing favourites, but Israel collectively is a major player in the plan for redeeming humanity; "and through you shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3) That blessing will not be completed until Jesus returns in His glory.
"When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory… To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem; when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord." (Psalm 102:16-22)
Israel is being regathered in the land, to meet the One they earlier rejected: "And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east … and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." (Zechariah 14:4,5)
Micah speaks today: "Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for He shall gather them [the nations] as the sheaves of the floor. Arise and thresh, 0 daughter of Zion." (Micah 4:11-13)
The nations are on a collision course with God.
Joel tells us the outcome: "For behold, in those days and in that time, when I shall bring again [i.e. return] the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and parted my land." (Joel 3:1,2)
The United Nations in 1947 authorised Israel's return; yet entitled the very resolution, "The Resolution For The Partition of Palestine"; and excluded Jerusalem from the Jewish homeland.
But Daniel reveals that Jerusalem is reserved by a higher authority, for higher purposes: "for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name". (Daniel 9:19)
Israel stumbled over Jesus, as prophesied. The nations are stumbling over Jerusalem, also as prophesied. (Zechariah 12:3)
Yet, in the heart of God, the Jewish people, the Promised Land and the Book all belong, and will yet live, together.
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