As folk who follow me will know, my major writing project (likely my last) is writing a three-part book to be titled “Priests of the Bible” – Part 1: the Priesthood, Part 2: the Priests, Part 3: a Priestly People. This article follows two Israel related articles following the 7^th October attacks: “Israel and Calvinism – two hot potatoes” and “Israel at war and what is happening in Israel today”.  

One of the last chapters to be written is one that I have given the provisional title: “Israel: yesterday, today and tomorrow”. It looks as if I will soon take a longish break from the Internet as we (me and Mrs B) embark on our travels, but hopefully I will be able to carry on writing during that time, away from the many distractions that comes one’s way, using the time to focus on hearing from God.

I hope readers will therefore bear with me for sharing my thoughts on what is a profound and controversial subject, and there is much we don’t know (which I hope to reflect on and research further) in this stake in the ground post, mindful as I am that there will be those, even in my own theological stable, who will not agree with all what I am about to say. I should begin with a caveat that there is much I have not fully made my mind up concerning, as much due to not being in possession of all the relevant facts and these pertain to subjects where those who purport or appear to know what they are talking about often have opposing views and take polarised positions. I have reflected elsewhere we are not helped when the Unholy Trinity (media, politicians, societal elites) lie. One of these subjects is as a big as any biggie – what to make out of events related to Israel today?

But before I get going on Israel, which after all is a major topic that is covered in my book, since most of the Priests of the Bible were also Priests of Israel according to the Covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob, related to which was the Aaronic priesthood, which Priests of Bible considers at length. Moreover, the Bible is a Jewish book that is best read with a Jewish mindset and perspective. But first, I want to lay out a number of matters that have given rise to controversy, particularly among earnest Christians. While most Christians I have come across do not take one or other extreme position, and such is the ignorance that is sadly all too apparent, many do not even take a view other than that which might have been told to them by their ministers.

These are the subjects I have in mind – not a definitive list to be sure but it is one that covers many subjects that I see as important, where Christians have different views (albeit often not one or other extreme) and pertinently impacts on how one views Israel through time and happenings in the world and church. What I want to do is define all the terms I use and I often defer to Wikipedia, despite not being a source I would normally go to for deeper theological understanding. I also share my views and say why I believe as I do. I should also re-iterate when it comes to taking a view, there are often shades of grey, defining what is meant when it comes to terminology is all important and often it is not a case if you don’t believe one thing that is presented you must believe the other thing.  

1. Preterism versus Futurism
2. Cessationism versus Continuationism
3. Supersessionism versus Dispensetionalism
4. Calvinism versus Arminianism
5. Anti-Zionist and Anti-Semitism
6. Reformed and not Reformed
7. A-, Post- or Pre-Millennialism
8. Israel and Palestine
9. Evangelical, Liberal and Catholic
10. Tackling (or not) “social injustice”

1. Preterism versus Futurism

When it comes to Bible prophecy, there are some that hold the view that almost all Bible prophecy will have been fulfilled in Bible times and if not the case those prophecies where there has been no literal fulfilment should not be taken literally. This is the Preterist view point. The Futurist, however, and my study of the Bible leads me to taking this position, will identify many (up to 500) not yet fully fulfilled prophecies and given the other, about 2,000, prophecies have already been fulfilled to the letter, we can expect the same for what remains, although often prophecy, e.g. the Abomination of Desolation, can be fulfilled partly sooner and completely later. One of the consequences of taking the Futurist position concerns what is happening to Israel today, e.g. becoming an autonomous nation, with Jews living in their historic homeland, with a wonderful future in prospect under their Messiah.

2. Cessationism versus Continuationism

Cessationalists believe the gifts of the Spirit (notably the sign gifts, e.g. speaking in tongues and prophecy) are not for today and had died out when the canon of scripture was completed. Continuationists dispute this and say the gifts are for today. I am a continuationist as there is nothing in the Bible to support the cessationalist position and much to back up the notion that these gifts are for today’s church so they can bless others, but with a degree of skepticism, having seen too many instances of counterfeit gifts being manifest. This is pertinent when those purporting to be prophets claim this or that concerning Israel. However, I believe we are all the poorer because the church, including the charismatics (who often focus on individuals and what is going on in their set-up rather than the bigger picture), have neglected the prophetic and have not been seeking out God when it comes to what is going on and how to respond. Always, we must test and weigh what is prophesied.

3. Supersessionism versus Dispensetionalism

According to Wikipedia: “Supersessionism, also called replacement theology, is a Christian theological doctrine which describes the theological conviction that the Christian Church has superseded the nation of Israel assuming their role as God’s covenanted people, thus asserting that the New Covenant through Jesus Christ has superseded or replaced the Mosaic covenant exclusive to Jews” and that “Dispensationalism is a theological framework of interpreting the Bible which maintains that history is divided into multiple ages or “dispensations” in which God acts with his chosen people in different ways … They believe that there is a distinction between Israel and the Church, and that Christians are not bound by Mosaic law. They maintain beliefs in premillennialism, a future restoration of national Israel, and a rapture of the Church that will happen before the Second Coming of Christ, generally seen as happening before a period of tribulation”. My observation is that Replacement Theology has been the majority view in the church down the ages, starting even before Augustine and, while Dispensationalism is often presented as a more recent phenomenon, there have always been Christians who have believed there continues to be a special place for the nation of Israel in God’s plan, outside the Gentile dominated church. Long ago, I rejected Supersessionism, as much because of the many Old Testament scriptures foretelling a future for Israel, yet I am not an ardent dispensationalist either. For example, I am not convinced on the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church, that certain teachings, e.g. teaching concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom in Matthew’s gospel, are for Israel only and not for the church, and I firmly believe that in order for Israel to be saved they need to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, just as the Gentiles have to. 

4. Calvinism versus Arminianism

My first “Google hit” when I typed in “Calvinism vs Arminianism” (reasonably) gave me “In Calvinism, God’s sovereignty is emphasized to the extent that God controls all events, including the election of individuals for salvation. In Arminianism, there’s a balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. God’s sovereign will works in harmony with human free will”. Taking sides on the question of which is right has been a contentious factor throughout church history, giving rise to many debates. While I see myself as a moderate Calvinist, insofar that preaching the gospel to all and sundry must be a priority and that beliefs like divine predestination and human free-will should be held in tension and only God can altogether resolve, I can see the validity of the arguments on either side. When it comes to Israel, they are both elect of God but individually they need to respond to God’s offer of salvation, made possible because of the atoning sacrifice of Yeshua Hamashiach.

5. Anti-Zionist and Anti-Semitism

According to Wikipedia: “Zionism is a nationalist movement that emerged in the 19th century to enable the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine, a region roughly corresponding to the Land of Israel in Jewish tradition” and “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”. The history of the Jews has thrown up many cases of anti-semitism, and we are seeing this today in the aftermath of the Hamas led attacks on Israel on 7/10 (which I will get to). Hatred of Jews, as with hatred of any ethnic group, is wrong and is something to be challenged. However, anti-zionism is not the same as anti-semitism, and such is today’s cancel culture that those that who criticise Israel often unfairly suffer for doing do (even if their views may be wrong) and are often labelled as anti-semites, due to powerful forces pushing Zionist ideology and legitimising the oppression of non-Jews who get in the way of their plans, and these are often supported by well-meaning Christians who are sympathetic to the Zionist cause. My reading is Zionism is not Juadaism and my suspicion is that some of the leading Zionists are begin some of wickedness going on in the world where those who seek to expose it are then accused by the power Zionist lobby as Anti-Semite with untoward consequences to follow. But always, as argued throughout this book, God has a special love for Israel and the Jews who have been deceived.

6. Reformed and not Reformed

According to Wikipedia, “The Reformation was a major theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and the authority of the Catholic Church … the Reformation marked the beginning of Protestantism”. Before writing this, I wrote a chapter for my forthcoming “Priests” book titled: “Jesus our Great High Priest”. Why this is significant was that, among the important doctrinal emphases of the Reformation, that of Jesus being our Great High Priest, who because of His atoning sacrifice for all humanity, as a result of His dying on the cross, means we can approach God through Him, without the need for any other priestly intermediary. There were many important figures of the Reformation. The two that are best known are Luther and Calvin, who both held to Replacement Theology and gave indications in their words that they were anti-semite. It is true that, while among the many other Reformers, some who gave their lives for pushing the very doctrines those in my theological camp nowadays take for granted, many were deficient in their Israel thinking (although it can be argued, throughout the history of the church, no movement had a full understanding of everything), yet their contribution in helping today’s believers to have a correct understanding of God and His Word, was monumental.    

7. A-, Post- or Pre-Millennialism

The prospect of a future reign of Christ on earth is subject of many prophecies besides that of His 1000-year millennial reign that we read about in Revelation 20. Sound, learned and pious Christians have long been divided over what to make out of the millennium. There are three main scenarios put forward: A-millennialist – believing the scriptures referring to the millennium are not to be taken literally; Post-millennialist – believing we are already in the millennium or about to be, before the personal return of Christ; Pre-millennialist – believing the millennium will happen following Christ’s return to planet earth and when Israel has an important part to play, along with their Messiah. My research into the Prophets and the Priests of the Bible leads me to take the Pre-millennial position.  

8. Israel and Palestine

Also, in my research into the Prophets and the Priests of the Bible, I was able to plot some of the history of Israel, beginning with the call of Abraham, through the Exodus until the Exile and post Exile until the first century CE. While there have been Jews living in the land of Israel ever since, before the twentieth century they were relatively few and they shared the land with non-Jews, typically those following Islam and to a lesser extent the Christianity. Jews began returning to Israel later in the nineteenth century with the advent of Zionism. Following the Balfour declaration in 1926, and even more in the aftermath of World War 2, that migration increased. Until Israel was given independence in 1948, it was under foreign occupation. The land of Israel has been referred to as Palestine, beginning with the Romans but, as for today’s Palestinian people, these are better referred to as Arabs, often from surrounding countries, although ever since the Exile in the sixth century BCE there have been non-Jews living in the land, including the Edomites and Samaritans, as discussed in my book. “The Palestinian Question” is a complex and controversial one, to which I confess not to having an entirely satisfactory answer, and which divides many, including Christians. It is worth noting Britain conquered Palestine from the Ottomans in 1917, toward the end of World War 1. British rule in Palestine was administered under a League of Nations Mandate until Israel became a sovereign state in 1948. It was aimed to lead the native population to self-government and independence. Britain allocated nearly 80% of Palestine to Transjordan, and this included the majority of Arabs that lived there. Even so, there are claims on behalf of the Arabs living in non-Jordan Palestine prior to then that they were cruelly driven out by Zionists intent on ridding the land of those who didn’t fully go along with implications of being subject to a Jewish state, and that remains the case to this day.

9. Evangelical, Liberal and Catholic

According to Professor Bebbington, such as in in his often referred to seminal book: “Evangelicalism in Modern Britain – a history from the 1730s to the 1980s”, the four characteristics which have marked Evangelicals are: Biblicism (emphasis on the authority of Scripture); Crucicentricism (centrality of the atonement); Conversionism (people need to be converted to Christianity); and Activism (e.g. in evangelism, on issues of social justice). From the get go, I was in the Evangelical camp and I soon discovered that my early mentors were anti-Liberal for taking away from the scriptures and anti-Catholic for adding to the scriptures (and they were also suspicious of many other Evangelicals for not being doctrinally sound enough). Over the years, I have mixed with and positively engaged with folk from the Liberal, Catholic and unsound Evangelical camps and, while seeing the bad in all of them (and in my own come to that), I have seen a deal of good too. Yet my convictions are still predominantly Evangelical and my desire, like St. Paul, is for Israel to be saved.

10. Tackling (or not) “social injustice”

Over my sixty years mixing in Christian circles, I have seen different emphases on what was deemed important come to the fore. I have seen the divisions that often with it, some of which could/should have been avoided. In my later working life, when I embarked on a career as a community worker, I saw how important it was to tackle issues to do with social justice. I have found that this is something that has increasingly exercised Christian consciences. I have also seen the pitfalls, such as making these concerns override those of preaching the gospel and going along with secular agendas that do not have a sound biblical basis. Often the secularists were happy to receive support from Christians but only on their terms. I cover these challenges and concerns in my other writings. Whether or not you include “social”, justice should be a concern of all Christians and these include responding to the legitimate concerns of today’s social justice movement, without losing their nerve by neglecting that same teaching as what the Holy Spirit has been sent us to convince the people of the world of – sin, righteousness and judgement. While we are limited in what we can do in a world that is full of injustice, ignoring such should not be an option, while preaching the Gospel. Yet, as we consider the situation as relates to Israel, the longing for justice should be our concern.

One of the temptations we face is getting on our spiritual high horses and looking down on those who don’t go along with our way of thinking. I have tried to explain in each of the ten cases above what each of the terms mean and reasons for taking the position I do. While one might deduce that where one stands on the above will dictate how we see world events and our position on Israel, this is true but only to an extent. My quandary is I do not know all of the relevant facts amidst all sorts of disinformation and opinionated pundits, trying to understand the wide range of views that are on offer and deciding what is true and what isn’t, and my needing to come to terms with the heart and mind of YHWH – the Holy One of Israel. So, I end with how I see things right now, mindful that when I later return to the subject there will likely be momentous, unforeseen developments.

My first observation is Israel is never long out of the news and that is consistent to how I understand Bible prophecy. The 7/10 attacks have been referred to as Israel’s 9/11 and like 9/11 is likely to prove a game changer, perhaps leading eventually to some of the end time battles prophesied, such as the Gog-Magog war in Ezekiel 38 and 39. I am loathe to speculate though, for three reasons at least – it is too early to do so and the situation is in a state of flux; when that particular war takes place, Israel will stand alone (not the case at present) and it is God who delivers them, and lastly, Russia (Gog) (supporting Magog (Iran)) are being held up as the bad guys when the irony is all the parties that have supported Zelensky and Ukraine are the just as bad guys and, now that conflict is all but lost, this anti Putin/Russia alliance are now, without exception, supporting Netanyahu and Israel. I am suspicious too of the claim that the attacks went ahead WITHOUT Israel’s prior knowledge.

There is evidence that the Israeli leaders did know and by allowing the attacks makes them just as guilty of war crimes as Hamas, even before we get to happenings in Gaza. I could write a long paper on “evidence” but suffice to say my suspicions are more than raised, just as the claim that Hamas was set up by the Israeli leadership in the first place – all for nefarious ends. While not a point many would raise, I am seeing watching on my wall all sorts of related events. Before Israel, it was Ukraine; before Ukraine it was Covid; and it was Israel more than any that pushed the Covid hoax with its draconian measures in making its citizens take the deadly shot. I am also mindful of the pre 7/10 Palestinian claims of human rights violations, and believe some at least may be justified.     

There are some among the Christian pro-Israel camp that would point to scriptures like “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” Isaiah 66:8 as proof of divine providence in establishing the land of Israel. Others have reservations, such as claims by Palestinians living in the land of being treated badly. Over recent years, I have heard many claims and counter claims and am yet to come to a firm view. If we are into quoting scripture: “And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone” Deuteronomy 28:64 might still apply to a people who have not turned back to their God. Sacrifices to Baal and Molech, for example, continue, given the number babies aborted in Israel.

My object is not to take sides or win arguments in a season when I am seeking the truth. If I have a plea to my Christian brothers and sisters, it is they seek the truth too and not to gravitate to those plausible voices that merely reinforce their prejudices – both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine. One piece of wisdom passed onto me by my late father was “two wrongs don’t make a right”, and I can’t help feeling that is what is happening, with each side claiming the moral high ground. Both sides of the Israel Palestine divide may point to wrongs perpetrated by the other side and I do not feel qualified to definitely say where the right-wrong balance lies – Israel or Palestine. What I do know is many innocent people have suffered in the conflict. I like it when a church leader friend, when asked to put on his church prayer bulletin “Pray for Israel in their suffering”, added “and Palestine”.

It was the 7/10 Hamas terror attacks on Israeli civilians that got the world’s media attention on Israel and the various conflicts that relate, and following that the civilian deaths as a result of Israeli forces going into Gaza in order to seek out and then destroy Hamas. Then there are the stop the war protests all over the world. I get some of the arguments of both sides. For the protestors, it is the carnage, suffering and avoidable deaths of civilian casualties living in Gaza. As for Israel, they need to go after the terrorists. As for Hamas, they create bases in civilian centres and prevent folk leaving when the IDF warn them that they are going in for an attack. While a cease fire and a negotiated peace settlement is desirable, I feel that it is an unrealistic hope as things presently stand. While I do not trust the authorities on the Israel side because they are beholden to their nefarious, Zionist cabal puppet masters, I trust Hamas with their demonic leadership and avowed aim to wipe Israel entirely off the map and bring in the Caliphate even less. As I write, this remains an unresolved conundrum.  

Much has been said concerning the cease-fire marches. For some protestors, maybe most, their motive was to call for an end of the conflict where most of the victims were innocent civilians. As with any protest, there are those with other intentions, including stirring up hatred toward Israel and supporting Hamas, irrespective of their actions that sparked of the current conflict and avowed aim to destroy Israel. My own view is the actions of Hamas and their supporters and the meany mouth response by those in authority are disappointing, if not disgraceful, as are those that support Israel irrespective whether their actions are right or wrong. But here I leave it, pretty certain when I return to the subject in three months’ time such will have been the developments my views may change.

As I begin to wrap up, I want to reflect on two descendants in the Abrahamic line: Ishmael, Abraham’s son, and Esau, Jacob’s son. Ishmael is seen as the father of Arab nations and the person Muslims, who are often among those most opposed to Israel, look up to. While some Muslims have been friendly toward Israel, others have called for its complete destruction. Then there has been a long Bible history of conflict between Israel and Edom, through characters like Doeg, Haman and Herod. The demise of Edom and God’s anger at them rejoicing in Israel’s demise, were among the main theme of the prophecy of Obadiah. It is likely, among those whose ideology is Zionism are a mix of the descendants of the Edomites following the Babylonian exile, the Khazarian mafia, and their Ashkenazi Jew descendants that form much of present-day Israel and include the Rothchild dynasty and other bad “Jewish” actors, and whoever is the Synagogue of Satan, spoken of in Revelation 2:9.

One might go further and see a relationship with the “sons of god”, Nephilim infiltration in Genesis 6 and the prophecy concerning the Fall of Babylon in Revelation 17-19, for it is the ancient Babylon system and its nefarious and occult practices that has gained major leverage in all three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Interestingly, the judgement of the Great Harlot we read of in Revelation 19 is what precedes Christ returning on His white horse. We should also take a long-term view. With reference to the prophet, Isaiah, we read: “In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance” Isaiah 19:23-25.

Regarding Israel, they remain the apple of God’s eye, not because they are better than anyone else (they aren’t) but God always keeps His promises, and because of this Satan contrives for Israel to be destroyed, and he been unsuccessfully trying to do so ever since God gave His word to Abraham. One of the promises is to give the physical descendants of Abraham the land of Israel. While some would want to replace physical with spiritual, and others claim that it would be unfair of God to do so, as dear Job had to find out the hard way – you can’t expect to win an argument with God. What we are seeing is the continuation of the Seed War that began in Genesis 3, with the Fall of Adam, followed in Genesis 6 with the Great Flood and in Genesis 11 with the confusion of the languages at the Tower of Babel – all before Abraham received from God his Great Nation promise. I believe there is an evil underbelly to both Hamas and Zionism and those who I feel for are the innocent civilians, especially the children, both Israeli and Palestinian, many of which from both sides have died. What we are seeing is more than a conflict between Israel and Palestine etc. but rather between good and evil.

Given the direction the world is heading, all humanity will soon be forced to decide which side they are on, if they haven’t done so already: good or evil, light or darkness, God or Satan. While I hope there will be a Great Awakening, when good prevails over evil, I feel that we must first brace ourselves for a false light amidst Great Deception (and here the Antichrist fits the bill) and the prospect of wickedness prevailing for a season. But God, who is not mocked, will have the last word. We know that in the end God wins (I know, for I have read to the end of His Book). We cannot sit on the sidelines. We must choose sides. It is not one between Israel or Palestine or any other choice of opposites, but it is God’s side and it is to Him I turn and I would urge my readers to do so too. As for peace (shalom) that will only entirely happen when the Prince of Peace is reigning – from Zion!