Christian Zionists in every nation: Whatever else the 2008 US presidential elections are saying - and I know they are telling American Christians a great deal of very serious things - we should be hearing a klaxon in OUR ears.
Don’t be duped by the fact that the vast majority of American Jews - 78 percent - voted for Barack Obama.
Don’t be misled by the congratulations of Israel’s leaders who told the new president-elect they believe that he would “strengthen the special Israel-US relationship” (Ehud Olmert); that Israelis are “impressed by [Obama's] commitment to the peace and security of Israel” (Tzipi Livni); and that Israel and the new administration “will work together for peace, security and prosperity in our region and a better future for us all” (Benjamin Netanyahu). This was purely prudent political posturing - paving the way for a positive start in relations once the White House changes hands.
The alarming truth is this: the already terrible danger to the Jewish national homeland and its people just multiplied, substantially.
And Christian lovers of Israel manifestly are not ready to confront it.
Obama’s meteoric rise found the American Church in disarray, caught flatfooted by the triumphant emergence of an extremely liberal leader surfing a giant wave of history, destiny and popularity that could not be stopped by the 62 to 73 percent of Evangelicals who voted against him.
There is little to be achieved by pointing fingers at influential Christians like Focus on the Family’s Dr. James Dobson and Charisma magazine’s Steve Strang, who took forever to give their blessing to John McCain; or Pat Robertson, who a year ago endorsed Rudy Giuliani in a move McCain said left him “speechless.”
Fact: just as the McCain campaign seemed unable to keep focus, especially towards the end of the race, battered (it is true) by a wildly wobbling Wall Street, American Bible believers, too, seemed unable to rally behind the team most likely to defend biblical Judeo-Christian values.
As a result, the man who leads America for the next four years will successfully oppose and undermine those values. And he will most certainly push hard to realize his predecessor’s “two-state-solution.”
Whereas George W. Bush entered office eight years ago eschewing excessive involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict before 9-11 dragged him and his country into the Mideast morass, Obama is eager to engage the region from the start.
Even before the financial collapse that propelled him to the front, Obama had made it clear that, as president, he would robustly tackle the “open sore” of the Arab-Israeli conflict that infects “all of our foreign policy.” Visiting Israel in July, he vowed that he would apply sustained energy to resolve it.
And we should not ignore the ominous prophecies of Jesse Jackson - seen rejoicing at the Obama victory bash in Chicago, Illinois last night.
His words, as reported last month in The New York Post, hang in the air.
Jackson gloated over the changes an Obama presidency would bring. The most important would occur in the Middle East, where “decades of putting Israel’s interests first” would end. And although “Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades” remain strong, they’ll lose a great deal of their clout.
“Bush was,” he said, “so afraid of … upsetting Israel that he gave the whole thing [solving the conflict] a miss(!)”. He added that “Barack will change that” because, as long as the “Palestinians” haven’t seen justice, the Middle East will “remain a source of danger to us all.”
“Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims.”
Of course, contrary to what Jackson said, Bush spent an enormous amount of political capital trying to bring resolution to Arabs and Jews. And he’s not done yet! His secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is leaving Washington on her 24th trip to the region as I write.
How much more will Barack Obama not do? On a roll before he even gets to the Oval Office, this man means business, and who will be able to withstand him?
Israel’s leaders won’t. They are not people of faith, and America is the only “friend” they have left in the world. As Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni warned Wednesday: The US will push Israel into advancing the discredited land-for-peace process if the Jewish state refuses to do so.
According to Ynetnews Livni, who is contending in the newly-launched race for prime minister, noted that Israel’s general elections, scheduled for February 10, “must reflect the country’s interest in advancing the peace process, otherwise the international community, headed by the US, will try and push us in this direction.”
She needn’t worry. America will push whoever the Israelis choose to lead them. And whoever they are, those leaders won’t resist.
And we Christian Zionists, increasingly - it seems - more concerned with being politically correct than with standing on the Word of God, will do little to help.
Top leaders in our movement say things like “There are some Christian Zionists who are opposed to the peace process in the Middle East, but that does not define a movement of millions.” (David Brog of Pastor John Hagee’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI) as quoted in “Effort aims to counter Christian Zionism” - Los Angeles Times; October 24, 2008) Brog added that his group believes simply that Israel should make all decisions regarding its land use and peace effort - not the US, “Palestinians” or anyone else.
Another high-profile leader was reported in The Jerusalem Post on October 16 (”Christian Zionism with a difference” by Larry Derfner) to be taking pains to explain that Christian Zionists would NOT urge Israel to retain its land against the will of its people and government.
“We believe,” said International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) director Malcolm Hedding, “that the people of Israel, through their elected representatives, have the right to make their own decisions on this country’s future, and we have said that we will support the State of Israel wherever it chooses, or chooses not, to extend its sovereignty.”
He continued: “We believe in biblical Zionism, which recognizes that there are lots of things playing out in Israel over which we have no influence.” While God will ultimately fulfill His promise to bestow all the promised Land of Israel on Abraham’s descendants “we will leave that to God.”
The ICEJ - which is self described as “the world’s largest Christian Zionist organization with active representation in nearly 80 nations” - may have adopted this stance under its present leadership, but it was not the founding position of the organization.
Established in 1981 in direct response to the world’s rejection of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the ICEJ stated at one of its first meetings in the presence of Israeli dignitaries: “We pledge our support and untiring international effort for the unification of Israel’s land and Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.” (Emphasis added.)
Christian Zionism - from its earliest days in the 16th Century when it was still known as Restorationism, until the late 1990s - was always centrally concerned with the issue of the Jews return to the Land and the return of the Land to the Jews! According to the Bible this physical national reconstitution is the first step on the road to Israel’s restoration to its God.
Today there are a number of organizations and many individuals who call themselves Christian Zionist. But while a great deal of focus is on providing social and material aid to Israeli people and on educating the Christian world about the often dark history of Jewish-Christian relations - all of it vitally important work - hardly a single prominent Christian Zionist still sees the centrality of the battle for the land.
That battle - fought by people like Lord Shaftesbury, William Hechler, Arthur Balfour, Orde Wingate and, in our day, Jan Willem van der Hoeven (founder of the ICEJ and today the director of the Benjamin-based International Christian Zionist Center) - is far from over.
Israel’s ancient enemy (and ours!) knows this full well. He is not confused. He knows Israel’s return to and safe existence in this land remains paramount. Just see where he is directing his forces. The land is his primary target! We assist him by not resisting him.
Shamefully we have abandoned the field, surrendering the floor to the Condoleezza Rices and Valdimir Putins of this world who with impunity squeeze Israel into surrendering the cradle of Jewish nationhood and the heart of their ancient homeland - even though this threatens their existence.
And we insist we have no right to tell Israel what is right and wrong, what is wise or foolish!
As if worldly politicians have more authority than we who worship the God of Israel, the God hundreds of millions of Christians have praised for the way He miraculously restored the land to the Jews in 1948 and 1967!
We can continue to feed the hungry and clothe the poor and fix up their homes and encourage them with our smiles and our love and our tourism and our feasts, all this is good.
But unless we get back into the front line of this war we Christian Zionists will help Israel not at all!
there is much deception being orchestrated in the united states. do not worry. there are some on the front lines that you do not know about. we have been training for a long time. when it is time for us to surface… we will arise unloading much weight. the lie cannot stand up to the fire. make sure you do not go blind and prepare for much hollow talk.
Stan,
You say, “The land is HIS primary target!” Do you not think that “His primary target” is the salvation of the lost, including Jews and Arabs?
Don’t get me wrong, I do not wish to see Israel concede any of the land that God has given to it. I feel this way because, it seems to me, the purpose of the land in scripture was to provide a home and an identity for the children of Israel as God’s people.
As such, I do not really think secular Jewish zionism is going to accomplish that goal. I think all Christians who love Israel should spend at least as much prayer, energy, time, and money in seeing the gospel preached to Israel as they expend in seeing Israel maintain her borders.
Do you agree?
Also, I think perhaps we have neglected the importance of spreading the gospel to Israel’s enemies. The salvation of Muslim Arabs would meet two goals: 1) they are saved and can glorify God on account of it, and 2) they will hopefully (assuming someone sticks around long enough to instruct them in the Bible) love and seek to bless Israel.
Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
Bless you!
Stan, there are still many of us standing with Israel as you are. While we do not understand the plans of G-d, we trust that His ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are higher than ours.
One of my friends at BGU reminds me periodically that it should not matter how much the U.S. or anyone else pushes or pulls Israel - the leadership of Israel should say NO to it.
Given the anti-semitic history of the Church; it is truly a miraculous calling of G-d we Christian Zionists have! Our prayers are not without effect, for the prayers of a righteous man avails much. Our support, and yes, even our votes, are not without consequence.
Millions upon millions of people voted for McCain. It is not up to us to count people. Gideon was way outnumbered. With G-d, he prevailed. So shall all those who trust in and look to the Lord.
It seems that the president - elect is going to have more than his hands full with the economic situation at home in the U.S. G-d has a way of distracting leaders. He places men in authority and displaces those in authority. For now, Obama is the person G-d has allowed to be seated. Now, we must pray for him, and for all of us.
I sit here in a state of disbelief over the Jewish support of Obama. I do not believe he will support Israel, if a conflict were to occur. I think Russia, Iran, and many other nations will be taking advantage of his inexperience and socialisticlly naive beliefs.
Shalom Stan,
Isn’t it possible that McCain/Palin lost their bid for President/Vice President because like Bush and Clinton more staunchly did, they cast their vote NOT IN FAVOR OF G-d’s Choice for Israel and her G-d GIVEN LAND, but rather, their vote was already cast for the continued promotion of the man-made ‘two-state solution?
I say this is precisely why they lost even though political speculation abounds in the courts of man’s logic and reasonings as to what caused them to lose.
The G-d I know means exactly what He says concerning Israel; His decisions and choices are not negotiable.
Had McCain and Palin stood convicted for the G-d of Israel’s DECISION concerning the land, I believe the outcome would have been quite different.
Does not our G-d SAY THAT ALL THOSE THAT that BLESS Israel shall BE BLESSED, OR CURSED IF not a BLESSING to Israel?
What? Our G-d doesn’t mean what He says? No, He means EXACTLY what He says.
McCain and Palin were going to continue our national curse against Israel and G-d’s hand could not allow this to continue coming from the hand of professing christians.
More to share as the grace of G-d enables me.
Thank you. I am in America. My stomach is gripped and I cry for Israel. And I cry for America. And I know the worst sin I can commit is despair. And I will just keep praying. What I do not know, G-d does. G-d help us.
Hello ….I think many christians here in the US are saddened with the outcome of the elections….I believe God when he says he raises up governments and brings them down…I am sorry Israel but God will save you…it says that in the Bible to.
Hi Stan,
I love your heart, your work, and the insights you trigger in my studies and life.
Here’s a thought, if “one” day for G-D is a 1000 years for man; then, “one hour with the beast” would be 41.66 years to man. Now, the “Six Day War” ended on June 10, 1967, 41.66 years = 41 years and (.66 of 365) = 241 days + or - ; which is puts us @ January 20, 2009, the day Obama takes office. I may have too much time on my hands, but history shows Israel was surrounded, then attacked by Her enemies, and She is still surrounded by Her enemies today: All fall-out of the “Six Day War”. Now, even though Israel was attacked first, miraculously She won the battle, and even returned the majority of the land seized as “goodwill”. Interestingly, Nixon stood by Israel which led to the “Oil Embargo”, many hated him for it. Later, the world became oil dependent on the middle east. As it is written, the “woman” who is supported by the “scarlet beast”, is wrapped in “scarlet and purple”…not unlike the “red and blue”, of America, France, Britain, etc., who are now forcing the hand of Israel to give up Her land for their “oil security”, to Her destruction, as well as their own; Unfortunately, Israel has allowed to put Her faith into their hands. Because of this, Israel’s people are making a choice, as those who support the actions of those countries are also making a choice. Those who truly love, seek, and wish to know G-D are becoming a very small group indeed. G-D only reveals himself to those who seek after Him, not those who follow after men who tell them who he is. Those who know Him are being “Sealed in the Lord” right now, others will be found with no “oil” in their lamps very shortly. As one who loves YHVH, it is clear that there is no other to trust at this point of time, only Him, his Son, and His infallible Word which has clarified the Way for those who seek it.
Excellent article, Stan.
The election of Barack Hussein Obama is a tragedy for America,
a disaster for Israel, and a theat to all those who still believe
in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
President Obama may well be God’s Judgement falling on an
unbelieving, rebellious, anti-Christian and
anti-Israel America.
We are facing trouble on an unimaginable scale if Obama
acts to curse Israel, as he seems to be moving to do…
You are right, Stan…
Where is the Christian leadership?
Where are those in America and Israel with the wisdom and understanding
to appreciate the threat we are facing… and who have the strength to stand up and confront this evil… Where are they?
History repeats itself.
We are back in the 1930s…
With weak, gutless, naive, liberal, pacifist ‘leaders’…
facing ruthless, genocidal barbarians who are arming themselves with nuclear weapons…
2009 looks like being a very eventful year.
We need to prepare for a very difficult time.
May God bless Israel and give strength and wisdom and protection
to all those who stand up for Israel against the present rising tide of evil.
James Rowntree, Anchorage, Alaska.
Stan - What CAN ordinary Christian Zionists like me, like the people whose churches you speak at, and the people who comment on your blog, do - in practical ways - to stand up for Israel’s God-given right to her land? We know of the importance and power of prayer, but I think of those who rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall with Nehemiah: everyone building “worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand”. Neh. 4:17. Our weapon is prayer. What is our work?
We can say: We support Israel, but we will not act against the will of majority of Jews , or we can stand with unconditional support of the Word of God concerning Jewish claim on Jewish land (even if we stay alone).
It is better not to be coward. We can be rock and lighthouse for the Jews !
Thank you for this message.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Emmie,
I’m not Stan, but I have a suggestion:
It has been said that on average American Christians give around 2% of their income to churches or charities.
Of that, among evangelical churches at least, 10% usually goes to “missions.”
Of that 10%, less than 2% is given to spread the gospel among the world’s estimated 1.3 billion Muslims.
Do you see the trend here? Israel’s number one enemy in the world today is Islam.
Islam is the single largest unreached people group in the world.
And almost no resources, either in money or man power (i.e. missionaries, prayer partners, etc.) is dedicated to reaching these people.
We know these two things to be true from scripture: God loves Israel and blesses those that bless her, and God loves the world and is not willing that any shoudd perish (this includes Muslims).
So, by supporting missions to the Islamic world you are blessing Israel, because a Muslim who comes to Christ loses the ideological basis for his Jew hatred, and you are honoring Gof by loving and seeking the salvation of the lost.
As a Church, perhaps American Christians should repent for the apathy, and yes, even hate, we have shown towards Muslims, and commit ourselves to their salvation.
Israel became a nation again when I was four years old. Throughout all of my life this little nation has been in a battle for it’s very existance. Today, more than ever, I can see the prophesies concerning that land taking shape, and becoming ever more clear. As all the nations of the world align themselves against the decendants of Abraham, I can see Armageddon on the horizon. ” All nations” does not exclude the United States. God forbid that we turn our back on Israel, but, I know that will be so, probably in the near future. This man from nowhere,who so suddenly appeared on the scene, and became president of this country, is most certainly no friend of the Jew. Despite his lies, once in power, I believe he will turn on Israel with a vengence. His past is shady, and his eligibity to be president is suspect. He was reared as a muslim, and, no doubt, is still a muslim at heart. Very soon, he, and all who go against Israel will face the wrath of an angry God.
It was Bush and Rice who have been pushing Israel to a 2 state solution. I must be wrong, but I thought they were Republicans. Righteous and Godly. They are still to this day pushing for a Palestinian state. Many of you commentators, no doubt, voted for Bush, the Republican. Now that the Republicans have lost, you want to demonize the Democrats and Barack Obama, obviously God’s choice for president of USA at this time.
Be careful, your hypocricy is showing. As I have always said, God’s will be done.
Obama’s campaign was characterized by vague generalities and “feel-good” slogans that appeal to the majority of Americans. As an American, I believe that I have the right to say that many of my countrymen (and women) are very naive. They don’t believe that people would lie to their faces in order to gain their support and further their aims. Obama, aided by the media, hid his leftist beliefs under a cover of centerist rhetoric.
My prayer is that all of the hidden things about Obama and his beliefs would be revealed. Further, I pray that they would be revealed quickly so that the average American will clearly see the truth before too much damage has been done to our country and our allies like Israel.
It is an unfortunate fact that many people have to learn things the hard way. People make bad decisions based on hope rather than careful thought. Later, when things don’t turn out as expected, the become “sadder but wiser”. Americans are no different. My prayer is that this period of “learning things the hard way” will be brief like a sudden summer storm or a quick fever.
Stan Goodenough:
I have been reading your articles for some time now and respect your dedication. I believe what the LORD said that the land surrounding Israel is theirs, and I believe that Palestine belongs to Israel and should not be traded for any reason. But I have come to think that you might be wrong about what you believe the LORD told as you have said
Dear Mrs. Palin - for reasons you may well not yet fully fathom, God has seen fit to place upon your shoulders a burden that would break many men.
When I heard you speak so beautifully and powerfully during the Republican National Convention, I had no doubt that - as with Esther in the palace of the king, the Lord has brought you into this world, watched over you, and prepared you to come to the second-highest office in your land, for such a time as this. And I have no doubt, if you look to Him for guidance and skill - that He will use you mightily for His glory, and through you bring your great and God-founded nation back into line with the destiny He has always had for her.
The United States should not be an “honest broker†between the Jews and those pledged to destroy them. Your country should be boldly and unequivocally Israel’s unapologetic ally. To take such a stand would pit America against the world, but they already hate you and your values. A new BBC survey whose findings were released yesterday showed that every one of 22 nations polled want to see Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House rather than John McCain and you. Don’t rise to that bait. Don’t be deflected. You will never win the world’s approval and blessing until you turn your back on God and lose His.
Remember Cyrus the LORD choose him to build the temple; do not go by what you see. The LORD’s hand is in this one.
Stan and Friends,
We all know that the Lord G-d places kings and queens in His chosen places. Not ours. We have nothing to really do with it. (We follow the flow (sort of speak)). We must continue to see our lives spiritually in the Works of our Lord G-d. He removes kings and queens just as easy as picking up a rock and tossing it into the sea. Hence, the seas are roaring pretty strong and often.
It will go down as the great prophets and disciples saw. All of this is in His Hands.
Maranatha!
Derek,
American was given an opportunity to choose the Godly way or the un-Godly way during this election. As when the Israelites choose Saul to be king over over them, Americans have rejected God at this hour. It does not mean that God’s choice was not clear — only that the majority of Americans have chosen the world over God. That may change in the future as circumstances become more dire and, through tribulation and trial, Americans return to their Godly heritage.
God has placed Stan in Jerusalem to sound the alarm, and he has been faithfully doing that for many years. It is time that we all listened and helped sound the alarm as well. We can sit around chewing on it and praying, shaking our heads at the world, or we can RISE UP and tell every one we know and ask them to tell everyone they know! The time for silence is over! The time of fireside chats and armchair politics is over. RISE UP AND SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS!!!! FOR ZION’S SAKE!! RISE UP!!!!!!
GOD have mercy on us all if we do not!
STAN, THERE IS A GOOD CHRISTIAN T.V STATION THAT IS GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ANY ONE CAN WATCH IT ON THEIR COMPTUERS IT IS GODS LEARNING CHANNEL .ORG . AND YOU CAN TEACH THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT THE G-D OF ISRAEL AND THEY DON;T PULL ANY PUNCH;S I;M VERY HAPPY TO WATCH IT EVERY DAY AND GET THE TEACHING ABOUT THE HOLD BIBLE AND NOT THIS WATERED DOWN RELIGION THAT THE CHURCH IS TEACHING. YOU ARE IN MY PRAY;S
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/damian_thompson
An example of the use of a church for blasphemous propaganda.
Emmie said “Our weapon is prayer, what is our work”?,.
I believe our weapon is the word of God ( the two edged sword), and our work is prayer!.
We need to humble ourselves, seek Gods face and turn from our wicked ways, so that God will hear our prayers!. And we must always pray in the name of Gods only begotten Son, Jesus! as He instructed us to do!!.
Jude 4 says, (there will come a time that ) men will deny the only Lord God , our Lord Jesus Christ. This is where our battle is today, that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who came in the flesh. 1John 2 :22 says,”Who is a lair but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?, He is anti-christ, that denieth the Father and the Son”.
For Zions sake, we Mmust love the Lord with all our heart mind soul and strength, and our neighbor as our selves and be doers of Hid word and not just hearers only,and be able to be instant in prayer, by righteous holy living, the Lord says to “Be holy as I am holy”! Then we can be asured that God will fight for us. . Halleljah!.
I too, cry out for what’s happened here in American, and also for Israel. I was shown in a dream 6 years ago to stand and pray for Jerusalem. God has given me a heart and love for His chosen people. I believe God has called many of us to be a “watchman.” I am a Christian, and we must not remain silent any longer! We must warn those that are lost and blinded to the truth of God’s Word, We must continue the work Jesus the Messiah has called us to do! Thank God we have been grafted in to His Kingdom. Don’t lose your focus now, remain strong, remain faithful. We are in a time of testing. Pray for mercy. God’s plan is Soverign.
the last laugh will be THE ONE WHO knows the end from the beginning.
hosha na Moshiach
America is a deceived nation, to include many of the American Christians. We do not have a happy future awaiting us, as America turns further away from the God of Israel and His Son the Jewish Messiah. If God lets America go the way the majority wants, America will be another Britain sooner than later: the glory days are over.
CBDenver
You fail to realize the point I am making. Samuel the prophet did not say to the people “thus said the LORD David will be king.†No the people choose on the own accord; had Samuel said the LORD choose David, then your explanation would be right. Now to make it clear, there is no where in the bible where a prophet of the LORD spoke what the LORD has said and it did not come true. Either one is lying or the other is true, but the LORD Almighty does not lie.
Dear Stan,
It is sadly true, but most “Christian” churches in America don’t teach prophecy……and they do not understand what time it is that we are in and what is on the horizon…..and many churches replace themselves with Israel in the bible…..”replacement theology”…..most believe that God is done with Israel…and don’t have a clue about what is going on there…… boy are they going to be rudely awakened. It is truely the time of “the great apostacy” that Yeshua warned about. And that poor schlub Obama, I do believe that he will regret the day that he lusted so…. after the presidency of the US. We are headed for really bad times and our only hope is in God……. “The Lord knows those who are His.” (2Tim.2:19) We stand with you as “watchmen on the wall” and our hearts are with you and Israel and we pray continually……God bless all of us and give us strength.
Of the people who are so sympathetic with these “Palestineans”, I cannot help but wonder - Would these people change their mind if these bombs that are falling on Israel, instead, start falling on their cities and homes. One would think that their position on solving the problem is to hug these fanatics and show them love. If that be the case, why do they not go over there and wrap with them, show them this love, and get their stupid heads cut off. I say that the Israelis should use whatever means necessary to protect their God given country. It certainly is most regrettable if there is innocent casualties which occur when when the Jew is protecting his homeland, but what else can they do? Should they just surrender to these criminals? I think not. After all, that is the goal of the Muslims. George Bush is wrong to promote this land for peace, and so wil be Obama, whom, I think, will be more agressive in this.