Christian Zionism Israel's last remaining
ally?
Jan Willem van der Hoeven. June 30,
2003
I foresee that the day will come when the last big nation to uphold a certain
degree of loyalty to little Israel - the US - will,
under increasingly severe international pressure, finally succumb and toe
"the politically correct line" - supported by Israel's
self destructive leftist elites - and abandon Israel to the wolves.
It is then that the prophecy of Zechariah will become clear for all to see,
and that an army of strong and faithful supporters will
come forth out of these very gentile nations which are ready to abandon Israel
for personal interest and national expediency.
Zechariah prophesies, "In those days ten men from every language of the nations
shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let
us go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you.'" (Zechariah 8:23)
This promise is also found in the book of Isaiah, where the prophet says
about this phenomenal time:
"Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know
you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and
the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you." (Isaiah
55:5 )
Earlier Isaiah proclaimed:
"For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and
settle them in their own land. The strangers will be
joined with them, and they will cling [like the Gentile woman Ruth did] to
the house of Jacob." (Isaiah 14:1)
It is absolutely clear from these Scriptures, and others not mentioned, that
the Bible foresees a huge helping hand extended at a certain moment in Israel's
history by many Gentiles or strangers who will, like Ruth of old, join their
lives and destiny to the people of Israel.
Zechariah seems to indicate a ratio of ten to one, meaning that in the end
there will be for every Jewish person ten willing
gentiles to support him or her. In other words, for a population of 6 million
Israeli Jews there will be at least 60 million Gentile
believers who will be willing to make Israel their home, and before coming
over will become a force to be reckoned with the world over - as they stand
in the gap in their respective nations for Israel's sake.
Now, I believe that it is true to say that in the world today there must
be between 60 and 100 million biblical Gentile believers
who, if called upon and inspired, would become the most effective force for
Israel abroad, and, when the need arose, would be
willing, just as these Scriptures foretell, to make their home in Israel.
It would certainly be strange - and somewhat ironic and unjust - if Israeli
Arabs who often have no affinity for the Jewish State
and sometimes stand in opposition to her - that they can be the bearers of
Israeli citizenship and passports, while biblically
oriented lovers of Zion from among the nations would not be able to do so.
If challenged and equipped, these tens of millions could become a buffer
or a brake on behalf of Israel in their nations, just as
World Jewry often has been in the past for Israel and Israel-related
causes.
Just as they, the Jewish people in the Diaspora, were inspired to use their
influence and money to build up and protect Israel by the organ of the Jewish
Agency, so Christian Zionists likewise should have an Israel-related and
endorsed institution that would further the cause of Zion among these millions
of Gentile friends of Israel - preferably similar to the Jewish Agency, and
situated and established in Jerusalem.
The prospects of such an organization for the Christian Zionist movement
are breathtaking in terms of the level of support for
Israel, in all the spheres where the Jewish state has need of it most - economic,
political, spiritual, cultural, and even military.
I and others like me have traveled the world and found among Israel's Christian
friends a huge level of commitment, and a
willingness to sacrifice and identify with Israel that is astounding.
What these Gentile believers feel towards the Jewish people is well expressed
by the Moabite, Gentile woman Ruth when she said:
"Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for
wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I
will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you
die, I will die, and there will I be buried. THE LORD DO
SO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO, IF ANYTHING BUT DEATH PARTS YOU AND ME." (Ruth
1:16-17)
These words of commitment spoken by Ruth to Naomi a Jewess are most
moving. What is even more moving is to see people alive today, all
over the world, pray this same prayer and make this same commitment for the
ultimate cause and destiny of the Jewish people. All we need to do is give
them the information and tools and set them to work for Israel.
I remember during one of our yearly Christian celebrations of the Feast of
Tabernacles - the night I was to introduce to this
Gentile crowd of Israel lovers then Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Shimon Peres
- that it was that very night that my son, born of an Arab (Christian Zionist)
woman (my late wife) happened to be inducted as a tank commander in the Israeli
Defense Forces in torchlight ceremony at Massada.
I used that occasion to explain to the Mr. Peres and all those present how
far some of us in our divinely inspired commitment are willing to go in the
fight for Israel. Both my son and daughter served in the Israeli army and
now are fully involved in Israeli
society - I pray as a sign of what one day will become the fulfillment of
the prophets' visions - a stream of people from all
nations coming to the aid of the people of Israel.
The International Christian Zionist Center seeks to facilitate the fulfillment
of this God-given vision and destiny in the following
ways:
 |
To encourage and stimulate worldwide
prayer for His people, Israel - and so to pray for the peace of
Jerusalem. |
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To help spread the message of Israel
amongst believing Christians worldwide, so that they may be inspired to do
for Israel at this late hour what is still possible! |
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To organize the annual Christian Zionist
Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem through the ICZC to the glory of God, and
as an encouragement to the People of Israel. This feast, according to God's
Word, is a prophetic feast for the end-times, where all the nations of the
earth are welcomed to celebrate this feast together with Israel. |
|
To stimulate the sale and export
of Israeli products through means of warehouses, Israel shows, book tables
in churches and groups, etc. When Israel's financial support from the United
States of America and other countries falls away, Israel can then be economically
supported and under-girded by her Christian friends. This can also be done
through investing in businesses and other companies in Israel, especially
in Judea and Samaria and the Golan. |
|
To be politically involved by accurately
informing people of what is happening in and around Israel and making it
known amongst those Christians who still hold important positions in the
political realm and in the media, so that they in turn can lift up their
voices on behalf of Israel. |
|
To organize Christian Zionist solidarity
tours to Israel, preferably monthly, not just to visit the traditional tourist
places, but also the settlements and other places and peoples who need our
support, comfort and love. If you would be interested to come with your
congregation or group on a ten-day trip the ICZC can assist you in organizing
your travel plans. |
|
To help also financially those people
and institutions who are strategically placed and positioned in Israel to
further the Zionist goal as the Bible foresees! |
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To establish a strategic center to
combine and exploit information and resources for the battle for Israel.
A Christian Zionist think tank! |
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To be generally involved in the "restoration
of all things", such as preparing and restoring the vessels for the Third
Temple and all that pertains to this in cooperation with the Jerusalem Temple
Institute; and furthermore to build a scale model of the 3rd Temple based
on the biblical book of Ezekiel to stir visitors to know that Israel has
not come home to their land and city just to stand for ever at a Western
Wall but to see God's hill become the very center of worship and hope for
a new world to come as Isaiah foresees when he says:
"Now it
shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house
shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above
the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say,
"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the
God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat
their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore." (Isaiah 2:2-4) |
May this then be our purpose too and
may it be fulfilled in our days!
Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
International Christian Zionist Center
ICZC
iczc@iczc.org.il
