A Short Word on Fashionable Christian Anti-Zionism & Emergent Neo-Christofascism Part Three

A Short Word on

Fashionable Christian Anti-Zionism & Emergent Neo-Christofascism

based on conversations I have had with ‘professing christians’

Part Three

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days (Genesis49:1).

I was once told that in order to engage more people in an intelligent discourse about Israel, I would have to define Zionism & competently explain what’s meant by the term. After a little thought, I smiled cheekily & responded, saying that defining Zionism was as straightforward as defining idiocy; the clue is in the name. This answer often proves insufficient for those unfamiliar with my unique brand of facetiousness. Forgive me.

Israel’s place in history, biblical or otherwise, cannot be denied. Yet among those with whom I speak at length about this issue, there is a very definite dissention concerning Israel’s validity & viability. This is fashionable Christian anti Zionism. This is emergent neo-christofascism. Of course, as I’ve stated in previous articles, my pro-Israeli stance has less to do with the politics of the region & more to do with what Scripture declares the role of the Jews to be, most particularly in these last days.

Still, the question remains; what do I mean? Rather than thumb through the etymology of the word & attempt to split hairs about it, I’ve formed my own particular working definition. Whenever I use the term Zionism, I mean this;

 The acknowledgement of whatever Divine Plan God has revealed in His Word concerning the Jews, whether by promise or by prophecy, a commitment to support the fulfilment of the same said Divine Plan as God wills & an unequivocal recognition of the present, continuous & active role of the covenant that God cut with His chosen people, Israel, which was enacted for their salvation & consequently ours.

It’s nigh impossible to discuss these things with those whose arguments are socio-political at the best of times. But when [professing] Christians take this line of approach first & then make God’s Word secondary, it’s tragic to me. Whenever I attempt to engage them in a Bible-based exchange, it’s soon side-lined, sabotaged & derailed by unprofitable & imaginary social constructs. That which is misplaced inevitably becomes misapplied.

These folk not only refuse to address the matter biblically, they simply do not believe what God has said in His Word.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts1:6-8).

Those in opposition to Israel & the Jews have harder questions to answers than those who are committed Zionists according to my definition. The evidences stacked against the claims of secularists & christo-fascists alike, have to be addressed & although a biblical argument may be rejected by both camps on the grounds of a blind subjectivism, the independent witnesses of history, anthropology & archaeology speak quite clearly. Even if we approach this topic logically instead of theologically, the place of the Jews in the narrative of the Middle East is without doubt.

Christ does not deny the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. He simply commands the preaching of the Gospel first & foremost. However, it stands to reason that the disciples may very well have asked Jesus this question based on teaching He had given them, their understanding of their own Scriptures, or their beliefs concerning the role of The Messiah as Son of David. This restoration was a future event that would happen in God’s timing. So with a little head scratching, we’d have to say that this event must have taken place in history, right? If God has indeed finished with the Jews He would have fulfilled this aspect of His relationship with them before casting them aside, right? But, if this is a future event that hasn’t yet occurred, God must still have Israel on His calendar and in His timeline, right?

A few of my friends have pointed to the establishment of Israel as a recognised state in 1948. This, they say, is a probable fulfilment of the words of Christ. More head scratching raises more questions if this is the case though.

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children (Isaiah66:8).

Is this a sign that God has honoured His promise concerning Israel & has now washed his hands of her, embracing The Church instead? Or is it rather a sign of the endtimes in which we live? No doubt, 1948 is significant date in history & in prophecy, but not for the logical reasons that some assume. It’s been suggested that the powers that be simply felt sorry for the Jews after WW2 & gave them the land that they now dwell in; the land originally given to them by The Lord.

As such, Israel has no legal, ethical, moral or biblical obligation to share anything with the [so-called] Palestinians; they have their own land. History demonstrates very clearly that nothing was done with the land that Israel now possesses before the Jews returned there. For some strange reason, the occupiers of the region, with all of their massive resources in wealth, found it impossible to cultivate the land. Yet now, Israel has innovations in agriculture that produce bumper crops annually & exports of its goods globally. The argument concerning Palestine is an interesting one, especially considering the fact that the title is a simple Latinisation of the name Philistine. Israel’s historic enemy remains her enemy still, at least in name.

In 1948 there was the Arab-Israeli-war between Israel & her neighbours. What a house-warming event that was. She prevailed. In 1967 there was the six-day-war between Israel & her neighbours. She prevailed. In 1973 there was the Yom-Kippur-War between Israel & her neighbours. She prevailed. With every wave of aggression, every shattered land-for-peace-deal & each broken cease-fire, Israel has continued to prosper against the odds. Has The Lord washed His hands of a people He literally loved to death?

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye (Zachariah2:8).

Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord (Jeremiah31:35-37).

Jeremiah chapter 31 is well worth a read in its entirety, because it adds complete credence to & biblical support of the plain teaching of God’s Word concerning His dealings with & use of Israel.

Scripture provides us with a broad cross section of Israel’s history as a nation before God. There are multiplied prophecies yet to be fulfilled where they’re concerned & yet these important portions of The Word of God are systematically ignored or butchered with eisegesis in order to insinuate The Church’s role as the Israel of God. If The Church wants to replace Israel & usurp her blessings, I trust The Church is prepared to endure her curses for its sins, backsliding & failures. No? I didn’t think so. Israel still has a place before God in history.

Genetic studies being conducted currently, aim to prove that the Philistines were of Aegean origin after a Philistine burial site was discovered on Israel’s southern coast at Ashkelon. Megan Sauter, a biblical archaeologist excavating at the site covered by National Geographic, Bible History Daily, Encyclopaedia Britannica & Haaretz, writes:

‘The Bible records that the Philistines, Israel’s archenemy, came from Caphtor (see, e.g., Amos 9:7). Many correlate Caphtor with the island of Crete. An Aegean heritage for the Philistines lines up well with the archaeological finds from Philistia. Modern excavations at the Philistine sites of Ashdod, Ekron, Ashkelon, and Gath (Tell es-Safi)—four city-states of the Philistine Pentapolis—have demonstrated that the Philistines brought their own distinctive types of pottery, building styles, weapons, jewelry and weaving with them when they settled on the southern coast of Israel around the 12th century B.C.E. Ashkelon’s cemetery supports the Philistines’ distinctness from their neighbours and may be able to connect the Philistines to related populations in the Aegean world. Bone samples of the cemetery’s population are undergoing DNA testing, radiocarbon dating and biological distance studies (the degree of genetic relatedness). The results of these investigations may give us a better picture of the Philistines’ heritage, when Ashkelon’s cemetery was in use, and how the population of the cemetery was related to one another.’

Speaking anthropologically, the former Jordanians who are now magically transformed into Palestinians are no relation whatsoever to the Philistines after whom they’re named. The obvious retort is that those who are called Jews today are also a misrepresentation of their ancient namesake. Because of the generational diaspora of Jewish people, inter-marriage & historic proselyting, it’s claimed that Jews today bear no resemblance to the Jews of biblical Israel, therefore, their claim to the land is seen to be as equally invalid as Palestinian claims. Unfortunately, there have been ongoing genetic studies along these lines since the 1970s & advances in technologies into the 21^st century have revealed that [broadly speaking] Jews have retained around 70% of their characteristic Middle Eastern DNA. It follows then, that the Jews are far more Israeli than their Jordanian counterparts are Palestinian.

(Just out of curiosity, why is the site of the former Jewish Temple now occupied by the Mosque of Omar, called Temple Mount? Surely it should be called Mosque Mount …unless the Jews have rightful claim to it because they were there first.)

Archaeology bears witness to the fact that throughout history [& several layers of strata], Jewish artefacts predate those of Muslims in the region. The Jewish Virtual Library lists a sample of significant discoveries between 2004 & 2016 on its website:

2016

Foot of Ancient Egyptian Statue Discovered in Tel-Hazor (July)

3,300-Year old Egyptian Scarab Amulet Discovered in Galilee (June)

1,600-Year old Roman Haul From Caesarea Harbor (May)

3,700-Year old Egyptian Scarab Seal Discovered (April)

12-Year old Israeli Girl Discovers Ancient Egyptian Amulet (April)

1,600-Year old Kilns (April)

Ancient Incense Holder and Ash Jug Found in Magdala (April)

2,000-year old gold coin found in Northern Galilee (March)

First Temple era twin seals discovered in the City of David (March)

4,200-year old necropolis unearthed near Bethlehem (March)

1,600-year old winery and Roman bathhouse found in Jerusalem (March)

3,000-year old fabric and textiles found in Timna copper mines (February)

3,500-year old scarab amulet found in Galilee (February)

3,400-year old fortress found in Nahariya (January)

2015

Marble slab with Hebrew inscriptions discovered at Lake Kinneret (December)

Impression of Royal Seal of King Hezekiah discovered (December)

1,700-year old mosaic found (November)

2000-year old Maccabean-era fortress unearthed in Jerusalem (November)

1st Century Mikveh With Inscriptions Found (August)

Items Including Silver Jewelery and Coins Minted During the Time of Alexander the Great Found in a Cave in Northern Galilee  (March)

The Largest Discovery of Gold Coins in the History of Israeli Archaeological Expeditions is Discovered at the Caesarea National Park (February)

The Oldest Modern Human Remains Ever Found Outside of Africa are Discovered in the Manot Cave (February)

Ancient Tablets Detailing the Lives of Babylonian Jews Put on Display in the Bible Lands Museum (February)

2014

2,800 Year Old Farmhouse Discovered in Central Israel (December)

3,300 Year Old Cult Complex Found at Tel Burna Site B (October)

2013

Iron Age Stone Altar Discovered in Shiloh (November)

6th Century Engraved Gold Artifacts Unearthed in Jerusalem (September)

Ancient Samson Mosaic Uncovered in Huqoq Synagogue (September)

2,700 Year Old Inscribed Pottery Shard Found in Jerusalem (August)

Ancient Egyptian Sphinx Discovered in Northern Israel (July)

2,00 Year Old Cooking Pots Uncovered in Jerusalem (June)

1,500 Year Old Mosaic Exposed in Southern Israel (May)

2,000 Year Old Stone Quarry Discovered in Jerusalem (May)

Second-Temple Period Ritual Bath Uncovered in Jerusalem (April)

Ancient Industrial Installation Revealed in Jaffa (February)

2012

First Temple-Period Water Resevoir Discovered under Western Wall (September)

9,500 year-old Figurines Discovered Outside Jerusalem (August)

4th Century Synagogue Discovered in Huqoq in the Galilee (July)

2,700 year-old Clay Fragment Found in Jerusalem (May)

3,000 year-old Shrines, Objects discovered in Ancient City of Khirbet Qeiyafa (May)

Ancient Hebrew Seal Found in Jerusalem (May)

Greek Warrior Helmet with Leaf Imprint Found in Haifa Bay (February)

Stamp with Temple Menorah Discovered in Acre (January)

2011

Temple Period Ritual Purity "Voucher" Discovered in Jerusalem (December)

Second Temple Ritual Bath Discovered Near Kibbutz Zor'a (October)

Rare Statue of Hercules Exposed in the Jezreel Valley (August)

Artifacts Found in Ancient Drainage Channel in Jerusalem (August)

Rare Second Temple-Period Gold Bell Discovered in Jerusalem (July)

1,500 Year Old Public Building Uncovered in Akko (June)

2009

Magdala Stone

Excavation Discovers Remains of Building from Time of Jesus (December)

Archaeological Analysis Proves Hasmonean Rule Extended to Negev Highlands (December)

2,000 Year Old Mikveh [Ritual Bath] Uncovered in Western Wall Tunnels

2008

Byzantine Gold Coins Found in Jerusalem (December)

Roman Temple Uncovered in Zippori (August)

First Temple Period buidling exposed west of Temple Mount (March)

2007

Ancient Byzantine Church discovered in Tiberias (August)

Herod the Great’s Tomb Discovered (May)

2006

Ramla Excavations: Gold & Silver Bracelets (April)

Ancient Jewish Site from United Kingdom Period Discovered at Kana (March)

Ancient Mosaic Recovered from Palestinian Thieves (February)

2005

Ancient Inscription of Alphabet Discovered Near Jerusalem (November)

Archaeologists May Have Found Evidence of Goliath (November)

Archaeologists Uncover the “Oldest Church” in Israel (November)

Artifacts from Temple Mount Saved from Garbage (October)

Fish Bones Unearthed in Jerusalem's City of David (September)

Jaffa: Horse Skeletons (September)

Palmahim: A 6000 Year Old Cemetery is Exposed in Excavations (April)

Rare Crusader Coin Found in Jafa Flea Market (March)

2004

Remains Found of Settlement in Kana (December)

Coin of Jesus Found in Ancient Tiberias Excavation (November)

Haifa University Archeologist Uncovers World’s Oldest Bedding (June)

Objections to evidence are not evidence in & of themselves & even though my [professing] Christian friends may not want to engage with me in any particular biblical discussion of the subject, their anti-Semitism defies God’s Word. As I’ve stated before, I am not an expositor of Scripture, an expert in any field whatsoever, or a theologian. I’m just just a bloke who loves Israel & their Messiah most especially. However, despite the witness of Scripture, History, Anthropology & Archaeology, there is still dissent within The Church from some.

If we confuse our feelings concerning social justice & political awareness, with a misguided conviction that The Gentile Church is now the Israel of God, we will soon find ourselves in very deep waters indeed. Not only will we have wandered away from God’s Word, we will also have taken sides against His elect. The Israel that I support & pray for are not simply the physical inhabitants of that sliver of land in the Middle East; not all Israel is Israel. The Israel that I support & pray for are the Jews that I understand biblically & theologically.

Fashionable Christian anti-Zionism & Emergent Neo-Christofascism are nothing more or less than a very sad indictment to The Church’s confirmed Hellenisation. A replacement theology that either cannot or will not acknowledge its Hebraic root & that Hebraic root’s place in the will & plan of God, is a dangerous ignorance & a rabid arrogance.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them,

when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen (Romans11:25-36).