Many Christian Zionists, when pressed, can’t really explain how they fell in love with Israel. Or why. Over and over you hear them say – “It just happened to me.” One minute they were totally ignorant and uncaring about the Jews and Israel, and the next they were passionate Zionists. Writing letters to newspapers to protest slanderous columns against Israel. Volunteering to help scrub antisemitic graffiti off a local synagogue wall. Attending every pro-Israel rally within driving distance. And trying to figure how they can scrape up enough money to visit Israel.
Often they discover to their dismay they are the only one in their church who cares about Israel. And when they try to explain why Israel matters to fellow congregants they get that same blank stare they got when they told their non-Christian friends they just got saved.
Clearly this awakening of love has a divine origin. Who can explain it? And how will this historic courtship end? Is this love affair as doomed as Romeo and Juliet? Or as short-lived as a Hollywood romance?
One could hardly blame the Jews for perhaps thinking so based on the most popular Christian end-time teaching called “the Rapture.” How many times have we publicly repented of our silence during the Holocaust? And sworn never to abandon Israel or the Jews again? Yet many Christian Zionists hold to this teaching that promises to fly them off to heaven at the first sign of trouble. Just when Israel needs us the most.
I don’t want to speculate here about how God’s salvation plan will unfold, or when. But if we truly believe Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel, and not just the church’s Christ, then his rescue plan must include “all Israel.” Both Jewish and non-Jewish elect. Which means His last-days salvation plan will somehow bring us alongside Jewish Israel to stand with her. And not leave her in the lurch.
Jesus, Jeremiah and Daniel all described the Great Tribulation as a time of unparalleled anguish that will overpower the whole earth with evil, including Israel. Jeremiah declared, “It is the time of Jacob’s distress!” But then quickly added, “But he will be saved from it!” (Jer. 30:7)
And Daniel told us that when this “time of distress” occurs Michael will arise to protect the nation and “everyone who is found written in the book shall be rescued.” (Dan. 12:1)
I ask you, we who have come forth from the nations through faith in the Jewish Messiah – are not our names also written in that book? Is not the title of the book revealed at the end of the Bible to be – “The Lamb’s Book of Life?” (Rev. 21:27)
So I would say this courtship between Jewish Israel and the followers of Yeshua now awakening to the Hebraic roots of our faith will blossom into a full-blown, God-blessed family reunion. And we will all live happily ever after. To which I raise high my glass of Manischewitz, and toast, “L’chaim!” And forward Moses and Paul’s heartfelt wedding congratulations – “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” (Rom. 15:10)
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8 responses to “Is Christian Love for Israel a Passing Fad?”
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“L’chaim!”…. and I would like to buy the first round!
Here’s to the second round!
Truth is sacrificed on the altar of tolerance, political correctness, and naivety. We want to hear good news, and want others to think we’re good people.
“Israel” in Rom 11:26 means literal Israel = all of Jewry will be saved; the few saved in the NT are non-Jews.
“Yaakov’s distress” is not linked to the whole earth. Dan 12:1 combines the Shoah, Israel’s rebirth, and her final restoration at the Parousia.
The reason we’re anticipating a tribulation which will never come is the “False Prophet” (the Jesuit Order) who has spread his venom since the 16th century (a careful reading of Mt 24, Mk 13, and Lk 21 shows a span between the end of the tribulation and the Parousia).
We’re waiting for Armageddon, God’s vengeance on the Gentiles. Not all will die, but most (as typified by Joshua & Caleb). Most will be incinerated in their beds :
Yeshua said, “Two will rest on a bed: the one will die, and the other will live.” (Davar 61)
Hmmm.
Perhaps you would like to chime in with John and James in Luke 9:54.
The verse has nothing to do with what I’ve written.
2. Pet 3:7, 10 would be more fitting (among numerous other passages).
And so who are the 144,000 of the twelve tribes of Israel in the book of revelations who preach the Gospel in the absence of the church?
Interesting question. A simple reading of that chapter does not seem to mandate one rapture position or another.
I have problems with the doctrine of a secret rapture. To me it is not a convincing part of God’s end-time works. As long as God loves, He will love Jew and Gentile alike.