“And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Rev. 7:4–9).
It doesn’t take a Zionist to figure out that the twelve tribes of Revelation are not the Church. Much of Christendom over many centuries made claims to the contrary—hoping that Christians were the promised Israel instead of the Jews. But the text is explicit that “the children of Israel” (Rev. 7:4) have the “seal of the living God” (Rev. 7:2). The Apostle John sees all Israel represented in the Kingdom of Heaven! This is cause for praise to the living God, the God of Israel, for His unconditional covenantal keeping power.
After the apostle beholds the redeemed sons and daughters of Zion, (Israel) he turns his gaze to the overwhelming spectacle of gathered nations, tribes, peoples and tongues. How great is God’s salvation, brought in through the Jews (John 4:22), to the Jew first and also to the Gentile! (Rom. 1:16).
From this glimpse into eternity, we rejoice in knowing that just as surely as God is gathering Israel to His covenant land, He will gather us to His Eternal Kingdom. We’ll coalesce as the New Jerusalem with the twelve tribes as our gates and the twelve apostles as our foundations (Rev. 21:12–14). Link
What is a Zionist?
In a recent article, I received hundreds of comments, 99% of them agreed with me, but a number of those Christian brothers and sisters asked me to explain Biblical Zion and Zionism. To that end, I called Ariel Ministries and asked them if I could reprint Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s article on same. Dr. Fruchtenbaum is one of the finest Biblical scholars alive today, and came to Christ very early in his life. You can learn of his journey through the eulogy he gave for his mentor, Burl Haynie.
Whether or not you agree with his doctrine is not relevant because he answers the question of what Zionism is, both Biblically and historically. Ariel Ministries has been a blessing to me and countless other believers for many decades.
ZIONISM – WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT
By Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
The word “Zionism” is very common today thanks to the United Nations condemnation of it during their General Assembly debate on November 10, 1975. Because of this, there is much confusion among Christians as to the nature of Zionism and whether or not Christians should support it or stand against it. We at Ariel Ministries get many letters asking us to explain what Zionism is.
There is a lot of propaganda going on concerning Zionism; much of it is guilty of distortion and misinformation. In fact, anti-Zionism has become merely a new term of old fashioned anti-Semitism.
Some circles are claiming that Zionism is a worldwide Jewish conspiracy aimed at the undermining of western culture in order to allow for a communist takeover. In these circles, Zionism is equated with communism. Much literature is being published propounding this by anti-Semitic groups and this writer has had the ugly experience of having to see and read much of this hate literature. One of the most famous works that give this view of Zionism is known as the PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION. This was actually a Russian forgery by a group of anti-Semites who were attempting to propagate the theory of a worldwide Jewish conspiracy. It purports to be the record or “protocols” of Jewish elders who came together to develop a program for world domination but has been proved to be a Russian forgery by Czarists who were trying to propagandize the masses against the communists. From this came the popular view that communism was a Jewish conspiracy.
When the Arab states on four occasions failed to defeat Israel with the force of arms, they began a propaganda campaign to equate Zionism with racism. Thanks to Arab oil power to bribe and to intimidate the nations, the victims of racism are now accused of being racist themselves. The United Nations has ceased to be an organization seeking justice and peace for the world. It has become a tool for the destruction of existing nations. By condemning Zionism’s right to exist, they have condemned Israel’s right to exist. It is impossible to separate Zionism from Israel. By this one stroke then, the United Nations legalized the destruction of Israel by their enemies. The United Nations is indeed guilty of playing into the hands of Satan who will, during the great tribulation, organize a worldwide invasion of Israel (Zechariah 12:1-3, 14:1-22). Although the verdict was repealed 17 years later, the damage was already done.
But if Zionism is neither a worldwide Jewish conspiracy nor a Jewish form of racism, what is it then?
The root of Zionism is the word “Zion.” Furthermore, the word “Zion,” although originally referred to the mount upon which stood the Jewish temple, eventually became equivalent to the name, “Jerusalem.” So, Zionism is concerned with the land of Zion and with its capital of Jerusalem.
Zionism describes a feeling. Zionism is an expression of the longing and yearning that the Jewish people have had in the past and still have for their homeland. Zionism existed during the Egyptian bondage. It existed during the Babylonian captivity. It exists in these days of the dispersion which began in 70 A.D. As soon as any Jew expressed a desire to go back to his land, regardless of his reason, he was expressing Zionism. Any Jew who looked toward and identified himself with the promised land, whether he knew it or not, whether he admitted it or not, was a Zionist.
Zionism is neither a conspiracy nor racism. It is an expression of a yearning placed into every Jewish heart by God Himself. Unfulfilled Zionism is being outside the land of Israel. Fulfilled Zionism is being and living in the land.
But what most Christians want to know is this: Is Zionism Biblical? To this question, every believer who takes the Bible literally and seriously must say yes. A typical Zionist passage of Scripture is found in Psalm 137:1-6.
“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hanged up our harps. For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing Jehovah’s song in a foreign land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her skill. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. If I remember thee not: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.”
The longing to go back to Israel, by the Jewish captives in Babylon, is an expression of Zionism. The word “Zion” is used twice as is its equivalent “Jerusalem.” Zion is to be remembered (verse 1) and so are its songs (verse 3). Jerusalem must not be forgotten (verse 5) but preferred above all joys (verse 6). It is impossible to be more Zionistic than the author of Psalm 137.
Another Zionist was Isaiah the prophet for he wrote in 62:1:
“For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and Her salvation as a lamp that burneth.”
Many other passages may be cited but lack of time forbids us doing so. But these should suffice to show that Zionism is a Biblical expression and therefore Christians should be active in two things: First, to stand by the State of Israel; and secondly, to condemn all misrepresentations of Zionism as either a conspiracy or racism.
Conclusion
Patriotic Americans come in all sizes and shapes, from all denominations of Christendom and Judaism, as well as other religions, and from all races and skin colors. All of us however, will agree that the United Nations is an evil entity and America should dissolve her membership in same.
Thus, I would hope that folks understand that one of the giant foes of freedom, the United Nations, is actually behind the pejorative and very negative usage of Zion and Zionism.
As for those of you who tilt towards anti-Semitism, perhaps this will give some explanation as to how the United Nations has purposely propagandized the term.
© 2017 Kelleigh Nelson – All Rights Reserved
