The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
So much Christian music celebrates Israel that I fail to see how anybody brought up in the Christian tradition can be anything other than Pro-Israel. But there are even many Jews who are either indifferent to or antagonistic in various ways to Israel so I suppose I should not be surprised at people who can sing one thing in Church and say very differently out of church. There are even whole Christian denominations that are anti-Israel, including one Methodist outfit, if I remember rightly. How can they not know that both the "old" and "new" parts of their holy book were written by Jews -- and that their saviour was an Israeli Jew?
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Only "amillennialist" Christians have a long track-record of anti-Israel bias, because their theological foundations require interpretations of many biblical verses concerning the "elect" be applied to the Christian church since the death of the Christ, and that all biblical prophecies concerning national Jews refer to the Christian church.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, "premillennialist" Christians have a long track-record of pro-Israel bias, because their theological foundations see the "elect" are both Jews and Christians prior to the second coming of the Christ, and that many biblical prophecies are applicable only to national Jews, and these remain unfulfilled to this day. They see these many prophecies that apply to national Jews beginning to be fulfilled in the historic revival of the State of Israel.
"Amillennialist" Christians answer back by pointing out that the State of Israel is an atheistic nation, and that no biblical prophecies have been shown to be fulfilled by the historic revival of the State of Israel. In fact, they say, the State of Israel is in moral decline, no better than the rest of the world. Only in the church is where Christ is at work in the world today.
An "amillennialist" who disagrees with that statement (and who is even more confident in his views about who are the "elect") is Harold Camping from the worldwide Family Radio, Oakland, CA, whose long and careful study of the bible has led him to conclude from biblical history that the Christ will return on May 21, 2012. The exclusive purpose of Family Radio now is to broadcast to the 'elect' that message to prepare.
Harold Camping's prophecy has now isolated him from many who see the church playing a vital role in the world.
In summary, most pro-Israel Christians are "pre-millenialists." The best you can expect from an 'amillennialist" Christian is a neutral stance.