Understanding the truth about who and what Zion is, is a very touchy subject in the world today, and it is at the root of so much conflict between peoples and nations. I know that even approaching this subject, I will be roundly criticized by Believers and Atheists, Christians and Jews, the Religious and the Secular members of society. But I hope I will be seen as someone who seeks to express God's heart rather than my own worldly agenda. And for that reason, I ask for a measure of Grace as I share what I have come to believe.
So, this post is not just for Christian readers; I have written it for secular readers, as well. We all need to understand each other and our different opinions concerning the land of Israel. But most of all, we need to understand what "Zion" means to God. And, as in the past [whenever I've written about my Biblical view of Israel and my interpretation of their role in these End Times], I'm sure I will be labeled a "Zionist Christian", and/or typecast as a "pro-Feast, Jewish apologist". To be honest, if I am forced to apply a label to myself, I prefer "faithful follower of Jesus Christ", which includes my Biblical worldview.
First of all, when I speak about Israel, most times I am referring to the land according to that Biblical worldview. I see the land of Israel [which I differentiate from the current nation state of Israel] as that land promised to God's Chosen People in the Bible. Although there has been an ongoing debate regarding Israel's right to occupy the land, in my opinion, that debate begins and ends with the authority of God in His Word: So that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that heavens are above the earth (Deuteronomy 11:21). In regards to that view, I recognize that there is a distinction between the future prophetic restoration of that land, and the Israel that exists there, today. Now, before everyone gets all riled up and assumes that I am dismissing the modern state of Israel as inheritors of God's promises, you would be sorely mistaken.
According to my Biblical worldview, I know and understand that Jesus will not return until God turns the focus of His saving mercies on Israel again, and Israel responds to God through Jesus Christ, calling upon His Name for Salvation and Deliverance. That hasn't happened yet in a national sense. And statistics have been reported that 45% of Israeli citizens identify as Secular, 33% as "traditional" Jews [in matters of their faith], and 10% as Ultra-Orthodox [following strict Jewish religious laws]. Another 10% identify as Christian, and a small minority (10-20,000) boldly call themselves "Messianic Jews", who are Jews who believe in Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling the promise God made in Zechariah 12:10 ... Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayers, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a first son.
That brings me back to this discussion about "Zionism" and the truth about its Biblical significance. Remember, I'm not interested in promoting the world's interpretation of political Zionism, or Christian Zionism, or any other definition of Zionism that is not of Biblical consequence. I want to make it clear that from the position of my Biblical worldview, there isn't much about the state of modern Israel that coincides with the Biblical Israel. HOWEVER, that doesn't inhibit my belief that it will one day step into its prophetic and true role as Isaiah 35:10 says: So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
And this confusion over the misinterpretation of the true Zion leads to so much of the conflict and hatred in the world today. From an initial understanding of the word "Zion" in the Bible, it is synonymous with "City of God", and it is a place that God loves and dwells with His people. But Zion is much more than a place or characteristic of its geography. Zion is the spiritual heart of Israel, representing God's presence among His people. It stands for the joy, holiness, and divine beauty that encompasses God's everlasting covenant with Israel; a sacred relationship that will endure forever. So, from one aspect, it can be identified as Jerusalem in the Old Testament; the place God dwelt on Earth. It is Mount Zion, the high hill on which David built a citadel. After King David's conquest of the ancient city, he built his royal palace there, and Zion/Jerusalem became the seat of power in Israel's ancient kingdom. When his son, Solomon, built the Lord's temple in Jerusalem, the word Zion expanded to include the temple area, what we call the Temple Mount today.
As Biblical time marched on, Zion grew figuratively to mean Israel as the people of God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Zion refers to God's spiritual kingdom. I admit it is confusing and covers a wide scope of understanding. To make matters even more complicated, in this modern century, the word Zion and Zionist have taken on negative connotations among a wide variety of peoples and nations. There are those who see the reestablishment of a Jewish homeland as illegitimate, and desire to "drive them into the sea" or destroy them completely. And there are obviously those who do not know the history of the Bible, or what it says about the Jews and their ancestral lands, and why it is important to them, and specifically to God .
For centuries the Jews had been exiled around the world from the land that God promised them, and there was a collective desire to return and resettle their ancestral lands and to revitalize and cultivate their native Hebrew culture. They longed to return to the Biblical Zion. But after the atrocities of the Holocaust and with the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948, this love of Zion became a nationalistic and political movement, rather than a religious, spiritual, or cultural identity. Zionism, today, continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the nation of Israel and address presumed threats to its continued existence and security. It has little to do with God's view of Zion.
Let me be clear in explaining my sensitive position, and please read the next couple of paragraphs before you pass judgment. The state of Israel, as it exists in the Middle East today, does not represent the Israel that will say, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord" ... YET! As I stated earlier, it is largely a secular and political state, with no religious connection to Yeshua, their Messiah, at all. In fact, they are still waiting for Him to arrive and rescue them from their enemies. They are true political Zionists. Remember, the population includes a sizable number of religious Orthodox Jews who remain blinded to their future [as the Bible attests to], and most probably view themselves as Zionists from a historical, Old Testament perspective. But I want to remind you that there is a growing population of Messianic Jews, who know and believe in Yeshua as the Biblical Messiah, and are evangelizing "in the Name of the Lord". And I praise God for this remnant who are returning to the true identity of Zion in the land.
So, in my opinion, the current nation of Israel, as a whole, has a long way to go to return to their Scriptural identity. The are still in rebellion and refuse to recognize their Creator and Messiah. Indeed, Tel Aviv has declared itself "the gay capital of the world", [not exactly a descriptor of God's holy Israel]. As proclaimed by one gay Israeli citizen: "Israel isn't a regressive [Taliban] state based on ancient scriptures. It is a modern, democratic, and progressive society built on democratic values. The people of Israel have chosen to have a free, secular, democratic, and pluralistic society where gays are not only tolerated, but where gay culture is celebrated." Does this sound like the Biblical Zion?
So, having said all this, when I look at modern Israel, I choose to focus my prayers on the small, but growing numbers of Messianic Jews who see the real reason they are "back in the land", and who recognize their calling and purpose. When I say I love and support Israel [as God calls us to], I am looking beyond the nationalistic, political reality of the current state of Israel and seeing them as God sees them ... His beloved Zion, the people that He longs to dwell among. I see the devoted Jews who have surrendered their lives to their Savior Messiah and are faithfully working to bring about His return.
For any Christian who believes in "Replacement Theology" and accuses me of not supporting Israel, as the Bible demands of us -- or conversely, of supporting a Zionist state -- I understand that I will likely be condemned by both sides of that coin. For the adherents of Replacement Theology, please know that I do not share in the belief of your doctrine. I do not believe that the Church (and especially not the Western Church!) has replaced Israel as God's chosen people. I read Romans 11 and do not try and corrupt it. I accept it, word for word ... God's gifts and His call are irrevocable [He never withdraws them once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call] ... and so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. And this will be My covenant [my Agreement] with them when I shall take away their sins.
And for the secularists and atheists who discount the Word of God, I will agree with you that the Zionist, political State of Israel is not perfect. I do not blindly uphold it as the Israel of the Bible. But I would like you to understand that it is not yet that Biblical nation of Israel who whom God established a covenant ... but one day it will be. And it is the future Israel that I pray for and long to see come out of its rebellion and recognize its Messiah. I have close friends who are among the beginning of that true Biblical remnant in Israel, and they have shown me the hope and the promise of Israel's restoration.
I do not expect this post to change anyone's mind. To those that hate Israel as an aggressor in the Middle East, and who vehemently disagree with its divisive government and policies, I will tell you that I acknowledge your viewpoint. And I see the spiritual forces that are behind the efforts to encourage that hatred and hostility. And for those who believe we should worship and pray for the modern state as the embodiment of Biblical Israel, I would say this to you: If you say we should love Israel and stand with her, no matter what, this is my response ... we must love Israel through a Biblical lens. We must support her and pray for her to come out of her rebellion and reclaim the covenant of her ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and we must long to see her restored to the fullness of her power in God; restored to her true character and purpose in leading the world to Yeshua. For all this, I make no apologies. BUT, I must also declare that I do not yet see that version of Israel. So I continue to pray and hope.
Finally, I will pray that the land and the people of Israel will be returned to the holiness that YHWH bestowed on Zion. May the God of Israel remain patient as He waits for His chosen people to call upon the Name of the Lord. May they fulfill their destiny soon, turning from their rebellious nature in the world, and spiritually living out Psalm 137:1 ... By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Let us keep God's view of His land and His people in perspective. And may the world come together over the Truth of Zion.
Isaiah 2:3-4 .... For out of Zion shall go forth the law [the teaching], and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and 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.
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