THERE IS A strange contrast between the meek and godly Abraham, a stranger and pilgrim in the land of promise, and the present-day seed of Abraham according to the flesh, unquenchable and defiant in their self-assertion and military prowess on the same memorable soil. Abraham, the called of God, journeyed in faith, being fully persuaded of the promises concerning the inheritance and, eagle-eyed, he constantly kept in view the promised Seed by whom alone the precious truths of God would receive their fulfilment. Separate in spirit as in daily life, the father of Israel walked with God and pledged his allegiance to the city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. Abraham’s armed young men might recover Lot from his folly and captivity, but they would never attempt to gain sovereignty for Abraham, much as he hated the iniquity of the prevailing Amorites. In this regard, nothing is more significant or poignant than that transaction concerning the cave of Machpelah effected between Abraham, heir of the world, and Ephron of the children of Heth. By this means, Sarah, a princess with God, was laid to rest in a purchased tomb as in foreign parts to await the day when she will rise to reign with Christ. Later, she was joined by her husband with whom she sleeps in hope whilst, for millennia, uncaring and alien feet traversed the promised land ignorant of the precious dust which awaits the reawakening.

Today, the brethren in Christ stand related to Abraham by faith, to whom also they are undeservedly heirs, joint-heirs, with the promised Seed. They, too, are “sojourners here in fear”; their “kingdom is not of this world”; their “conversation is in heaven” from whence also they “look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”. We, brethren, are neither nationalists nor internationalists, but Israelites indeed, the true Israel of God “walking in the steps of our father Abraham”. But, unlike the patriarchs, we have the evidence of fulfilled prophecy concerning the nation of Israel to sustain our faith and provide unfailing assurance that God will continue to fulfil His declared purpose. Almost four-thousand years of varied and eventful history pay wonderful and sometimes dreadful testimony to the survival of this unique race despite their waywardness and their rebellious heart, and in spite of the recurring tides of anti-Semitism which have threatened to overwhelm them. The floods of God have passed over them, but His unfailing steadfastness has preserved them for the fathers’ sakes and has held them aloft over the sepulchres of their persecutors, who were mightier and more numerous than they. Their incredible survival is all the more remarkable seeing that they were dispersed from their homeland which for long centuries lay barren and seemingly forgotten of God. The Jews were without a home and their home was almost entirely without Jews: meanwhile they remained unassimilated in the countries of the Gentiles.

As a community, our interest in the Book, the Land, and the People, owes much to the prophetic awareness which was to be found in various men and women of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; for us it was brought to a focus in the writings of John Thomas, particularly in Elpis Israel, & product of fire, zeal, and brilliant hope. Among the many fine declarations of faith in the sure Word of God to be found in that book none is more well-known than the memorable passage which runs :

This was prophecy with a difference. The writer was almost knocking at the door of current events seeking early admission for the sure Word of God; he leant his shoulder to the wheel of time and urged onwards the unrestrainable Finger of God; he inveighed against the contrary political forces of his day certain that the incoming tide would favour Zion, bringing back the Jews to Palestine as forerunners of the return of Christ. He believed that Britain, who in those days was mighty and influential, would be the favourable force protecting the returning exiles.

At that time modern Zionism was unborn. The yearnings of the Jews had not yet crystallised into what Herzl and his successors at the turn of the nineteenth century placarded before their fellow Jews and urged upon the nations—the World Zionist Organisation. The Zionists wanted a home for the Jews, a place of rest for feet worn weary by ceaseless passing among alien peoples, a land where persecution and hate might be forgotten, and kindred Jews might be free and settled in their own way of life.

Zionist longings were a modern expression of the ancient Messianic hope, strangely distilled, transmuted, and changed into a national aspiration, a fulfilment in an assembled people without Christ. At first, Zionism was essentially a cultural movement without the strong political overtones which later came to dominate its leaders. At that time, they thought more of a home than of nationhood. But the force was stronger than its designers had foreseen, its goings forth were of old in the mighty Word of God.

Christadelphian hearts were constantly excited by developments, even the smallest events became significant in the eyes of the beholders. It was almost as though our own flags were flying when General Allenby set foot in Jerusalem and marked the end of Turkish domination. The pages of the prophetic Word were vibrant when in those times Lord Balfour declared :

Whether deliberately or not the Declaration was ambiguous. “A National Home” in Palestine was not “The National Home” and still less was it “Palestine, the National Home for the Jewish People”. Thus it became a veritable battleground for the Jews and the rest of the world, particularly the Arabs.

But the brethren’s hearts were aflame and have remained burning ever since. God was at work and had made known his purpose in an unmistakable manner. Nothing could restrain our joy or shake our confidence; these events were signs of the coming of Christ. It should perhaps be noted that it was not so much that the brethren had espoused Zionism, but rather that Zionism was the major sign of the times, the greatest event since the resurrection. True enough, we felt compassion for the despised people and gave tangible expression by financial help towards the Jewish Relief Organisations, or the Jewish National Fund by which land was purchased for the returning exiles.

However, it soon became apparent that there were strident voices among the Jews. Terrorists of the violent kind emerged, stopping at nothing to secure the political freedom and national independence of the Jews in Palestine. Zionism was putting on a different face. Unlike Abraham, these fanatics fought for rights against unbelievable odds. Immigration was not unrestricted, despite the growing persecution in Germany. Britain tried hard to maintain some kind of balance in the land, but found herself repeatedly caught in forces which she was unable to contain.

Then came the Second World War with what we now know to have been the most fearful and inhuman outrage of all time against the Jews. Hitler’s Third Reich had taken sides against God but, despite his mighty machines of war and devilish practices, the Fuhrer died in squalor and ignominy, and took his place alongside Pharaoh and Haman.

Out of the ruins of the war, Zionism emerged undeterred and full of life, and for a time basked in the sunshine of world compassion, a world ashamed of the camps and crimes of Germany. It was not long however before the land was a ferment of trouble and rival claims. Britain tried to reassert herself and by the craft of diplomacy and armed restraint endeavoured to solve God’s problem by Christless means. She failed. The United Nations failed, and departed. As the clouds gathered and the Jews were left alone, the new Israel was born, and Zionism took national root in the land of Abraham.

The brotherhood’s excitement almost knew no bounds. Events were greater even than expected. Israel stood alone—with God. “Yea, though all the world resist Him, God will realise His plan”. It was at this time that our attitude to Zionism underwent a change which passed unnoticed, a change which has perhaps not been clearly defined. Formerly, our hearts had beaten time with the Word of God and His prophets, and we looked for and hailed with satisfaction and faith the regathering of the people to their own land. As it were, we had stood alongside the work-bench of God and witnessed Him build thrilling fulfilments to those distant prophecies. After 1948 we seemed to stand alongside national Israel, almost like allies in her wars, marching under the flag of the star of David. Perhaps we developed feelings of enmity towards the Arabs, and admired the Israeli soldiers in their belligerent and arrogant defiance, the giant-killer people in defence of their land.

All this was understandable because we favoured Zion and had regard for modern Israel for the fathers’ sakes, and blessed them whilst others cursed. It may well be that our motives and understanding truly stand foursquare upon the Word of God. However, it does no harm to take stock of our emotions and redetermine where our allegiance lies. We stand alongside Abraham whose inheritance will be of God: “not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord”. We belong to that Man whose command is “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. Let us remember that if we lived in Israel today, were the Arabs to invade the land we would for Christ’s sake declare ourselves as conscientious objectors, even if we were Jews according to the flesh and had come to believe in Christ the Lord.

Consequently, we are not political Zionists or nationalistic Jews. We are strangers and pilgrims for a kingdom yet to come. This simple truth must not be overlaid by our natural favour for the renascent Israel. We cannot look with pleasure upon the godlessness of many of Israel's people, nor do we admire her Judaistic humanism, and we deplore the absence of the true Messianic hope from the hearts of the majority of the people of the land. Israel is not waiting for Christ: he is waiting for her to repent. Her true salvation will come through repentance, and not by the military success of her Christless aspirations.

We must pray for her blindness to depart, for the day when she will be grafted into God’s tree once again and received of Him. Meanwhile, we follow with eyes of faith the titanic forces which are to bring all the world to Jerusalem for the day of decision. Brethren, let us stand again by the work-bench of God as He works out His wondrous purpose. Let us remain convinced in our hearts that Israel’s present unbelief and self-assurance together with her outstanding military achievements must give way to Christ.

Our Zionism rests on God’s holy hill in the city of the great King. Our prayer is: “O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion”. We are among those who know that “for Zion’s sake” the Lord will not rest “nor hold His peace”. Not until the Redeemer comes shall the law go forth of Zion. We long for the day when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in mount Zion and before His ancients gloriously. Then shall Israel be turned again to her God and shall acknowledge her Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.

The Christians have tacitly and the Jews officially denied that this Zionist success has anything to do with Biblical prophecies.

(Ulrich Simon: Behold thy King Cometh)