What is a Christian Zionist? Since I bill myself as a Voice of Christian Zionists, allow me to expand on what that means. Also, how do Messianic believers fit into the picture? There are sure to be other definitions, but here is mine. As a Christian Zionist, I am a believer that Jesus (Yeshua) is the promised Messiah of the Hebrew scriptures and that God is literally restoring His covenant people, Israel, to their own land in its historic geographical location. I have a literal view of the Bible which says Christians are adopted into Israel. I used to trace my roots back 2,000 years to Jesus. Now I realize my roots go all the way back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; all the way to Adam at least 6,000 years! The Old Testament is for me, too!
A recent email asked how a person could believe in Jesus and be a Torah observer. It is a valid stand and speaks of someone who takes his faith seriously and is not “sleeping” through life, like many today.
There are two points to make. First, most of Christendom believes the law was done away with. However, that is a misinterpretation. Romans 10:4 is the basis for this error: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Most put a period after law, but Yeshua did not end the law, it still exists and is in full force. It will be the standard by which all are judged at the last Day. The Apostle Paul’s point was not the end of the law, but the end of obtaining righteousness through the keeping of the law. (renewed annually with a blood sacrifice) Torah observers in Yeshua keep the feasts and dietary stipulations now, voluntarily, by personal choice. It does not earn them righteousness. But the depth and wealth of revelation of the Torah is now greatly appreciated by sincere believers. By the way, Torah never was limited to “legal codes”, but embraces the heart of God, the love of God, the intent of God to bless His people.
Secondly, we see the revelation of the name of God to be Yahweh (or Yehovah, as I now prefer). There is a great site by my friend Keith Johnson. Here is the site: http://hishallowedname.com/ The discovery of the Leningrad manuscripts in the 90’s produced manuscripts with about 50 times out of 6,828 uses of the Name where the original vowel points still exist, confirming Y’hovah as the pronunciation. But I digress.) Nehemiah Gordon, a Karaite (scripture believing) Jew, worked closely with Keith. Nehemiah was a prominent scholar working on the Dead Sea Scrolls. He and Keith also have a book proposing that Matthew’s Gospel was originally written in Hebrew.
Finally, I agree with Nehemiah that Rabbinic Judaism errs when they elevate the oral law (and traditions) above the scripture. A Christian Zionist takes the Bible literally wherever possible and hold scripture above man’s opinions. My mission is to call people to wake up, stand up, and speak up. God is restoring His name in our day, to be read and spoken. This is in direct contrast with the rise of Islam’s god who is not a father and has no son; which means the Isa of the Koran is a different Jesus than Paul preached. Israel is being restored in covenant mercy by Yehovah, the ultimate promise keeper. Former gentiles who find Messiah Yeshua will merge with believing Jews (Romans 11) as one new man (Ephesians 2). The return of Jesus is very soon when all will recognize Him in His fullness as Yeshua ben Yehovah (Philippians 2).
And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Romans 11:23-24
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:11
Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (READ MORE)
Elisha’s Eyes
24 01 2012Book One the GENERATION Series, was Generation LAST, on why we are now in the last generation of history as we know it. The conclusion expounded Isaiah 60 and the glory of Yehovah given to His people at one of the darkest hours of world history. Glory is expressed some 15 times in the first five verses of Isaiah 60 as arise, shine, glory seen, and even the word light.
Perhaps the most important key word is radiant, found in verse 5. We do not simply reflect God’s glory, we radiate His glory: Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart will swell with joy; Isaiah 60:5.
Jesus is the light of the world. Generation LIGHT reveals His glorious light expressed in supernatural power enabling us to swim against the rising tide of the enemy of our souls. The result is not only survival, but also an overcoming authority: to heal, to save, and to set captives free. This is the day of resurrection power as exemplified first in Elisha, then Jesus, and finally in the last generation, through Israel and the Church. While this book accentuates “seeing” as the prerequisite LIGHT, the GENERATION Series concludes with Book Three, declaring the resurrection power released in this last generation. Generation LIFE is coming this Spring (Lord willing).
Exploits!
Yehovah God let the prophet Daniel see today’s news, over 2,500 years ago. What was Daniel’s revelation about the 21st Century? He was not seeing only destruction, but victory. Many Christians have heard at least something about the great vision of history that God gave to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It was interpreted by Daniel. God revealed the major kingdoms of history, even including the kings of the last generation. But just look at the result: God’s King and Kingdom fill the whole earth!
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44
That gives us the big picture, but what about the personal view? How will each believer act in the end times? We have already talked about being children of light, not surprised as the world will be, when Jesus returns as a thief in the night. But Daniel gives us another piece. When the antichrist is in power, He will deceive many by his flattery. Yet this will not be the case for believers who know God.
Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Daniel 11:32
The Hebrew word translated great exploits means function or do. In other words, believers will be able to function when the world becomes dysfunctional with fear and panic at the unfolding events. That is certainly good news and a reason for our hope. We will be watching, sober, awake and functioning even at the worst of times. We have read the end of the Book. Jesus wins! And He lives in us! Christ living in us is our hope of glory.
I am praying that we all see what God sees with “Elisha Eyes” and radiate His glory and His joy! This is the only way to function effectively in today’s dysfunctional world.
Les Lawrence – Voice of Christian Zionists (READ MORE)
Share this:
Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: christian zionists, Generation LAST, Jesus, Pro Israel, Yehovah
Categories : Israel Commentary