Editors note: the guest article appearing here does not necessarily reflect the views of Bible Rebel editors or other guest authors and contributors. Bible Rebel seeks to present a wide range of ideas and viewpoints in order to fulfill our mission to provide resources for “Curious Fearless Faith”.
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Have you ever heard a pastor expound that today’s Jews and the modern State of Israel are God’s chosen people, rightfully entitled to the “Promised Lands?” From the early 1900s onward, this belief system — known as Christian Zionism — has taken root in many churches, convincing countless believers that the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 marked the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
According to this narrative, the Jewish citizens of present-day Israel are the direct heirs of the lands gifted to Abraham’s descendants — now their eternal homeland.
It’s a story many of us have grown up with, encouraging Christians to accept, without question, that modern Jews hold a God-ordained claim to the territories sworn to Abraham, some 4,000 years ago.
But consider the consequences: as Christian Zionism’s influence spreads throughout the U.S. and Europe, a startling number of American Christians find themselves compelled — financially, politically, and even militarily — to aid Israel’s rapidly expanding conflicts in the Middle East. Men and women who might otherwise stand firmly against war find themselves supporting armed aggression, simply because they believe it serves God’s plan.
What could drive Jesus’s peace-minded followers to champion violence in the Middle East?
The shocking answer is this: this zeal springs from a misguided interpretation of prophecy — one that twists God’s words about future end-times events into a license for unyielding military dominance today.
Christian Zionist scholars and proponents suggest that dozens, even hundreds of Old Testament prophecies point specifically to the re-establishment of Israel as a nation today — and ready for battle.
Of these, here is a sampling of popular scriptures commonly quoted to garner support:
Isaiah 66:8-9: “Who has ever heard of such things? ... Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?”
Ezekiel 37:21-22: “Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations ... and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.”
Isaiah 11:11-12: “The Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people ... and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel.”
Zechariah 14:2-3: “I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle ... Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations.”
Zephaniah 3:19-20: “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you ... I will bring you home and give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth.”
Let’s dive deeper into these five commonly cited verses and test them against the Bible’s overarching narrative. Are these prophecies truly about 1948, or do they point to something far greater yet to come?
In my following articles, we’ll unravel the strange connection between these scriptures, the wars of Zionism, and “The Day of the Lord” — a central theme throughout the Old Testament. You won’t want to miss this revealing exploration of what the Bible really says about Israel’s prophetic future!