For almost all of Christianity’s 2000 year history, there was no State of Israel. Sadly, Christian theology
often reflected the fact that the Jewish people had lost their national
sovereignty & had been scattered throughout the world. Many Christian theologians falsely
taught that the promises & blessings of God to the Jewish people, now applied to the Church. Since they
taught that the Church replaced Israel as God’s Chosen People, this false theology is called Replacement Theology.
The rebirth of the State of Israel in a single day, on May 14th, 1948 (as
foretold in Isaiah 66:8), has deeply affected the Bible-believing world. Although there were Christians who taught that the Jews would return to their
land, since 1948, the Christian world is reading their Bible in a new
historical context – a context in which God’s promises to the Jewish people are being fulfilled. The miraculous birth of the
State of Israel demanded a theological explanation as does the on-going
fulfilment of biblical prophesy concerning Israel in the last days.
The Bible is very clear that the Jewish people were given the land of Canaan by
God Himself. God, who is a covenant making & a covenant keeping God, gave the land to Abraham & to his descendents through Isaac as an EVERLASTING possession.
(Genesis 12:1-3).
(Genesis 12:1-3).
We also read in Scripture, that though God said the people of Israel would be
exiled from that land due to disobedience, He promised to bring them back – & not just once, but this second time as well (Isaiah 11:11).
God is not finished with the nation of Israel for she will one day become the
chief of the nations. From Jerusalem the Word of the Lord will go forth to the
nations & the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Israel’s Messiah will reign in righteousness, He will rule the nations with a rod of
iron & nations will not learn war anymore (Jeremiah 31:36; Isaiah 2:2-4).
Christians must support the Jewish people’s return to the land & the rebuilding of their nation. Today, as throughout history, the growing tide
of anti-semitism seeks to destroy the Jewish State & to wipe it off the face of the earth. However, we will stand with Israel & will not be silent (Isaiah 62:6).
Scripture calls us as Christians to comfort Israel (Isaiah 40:1), to bless her
(Genesis 12:3), to pray for her (Psalm 122:6) & to encourage her with God’s precious Word. We do not do this for our own blessing because God promises to
bless those who bless her, & to prosper those who love her. Nor do we bless her because we believe her
existence is to bring about some prophesied event. We stand with her & for her simply because if God is with her, so are we.
