Christian Zionism and the restoration of Israel : how should we interpret the Scriptures? / Colin Chapman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chapman, Colin, 1938- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Zechariah.

Bible. Ezekiel.

Christian Zionism.

Zionism--Controversial literature.

Zionism.

Jews--Restoration.

Jews.

Land tenure--Biblical teaching.

Land tenure.

Palestine in the Bible.

Palestine--In the Bible.

Palestine.

Bible. Ezekiel--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Zechariah--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xi, 214 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Eugene, Oregon : Cascade Books, 2021.

Summary:

How should Christians today understand the many promises and prophecies in the Old Testament about the future of Israel and its land? Are Christian Zionists justified in believing that these have been fulfilled in the return of Jews to their land since the 1880s and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948? This book discusses all the key texts about the restoration of Israel that are quoted in these debates, questioning the Christian Zionist interpretation and offering an alternative. This is followed by a detailed study of two important Old Testament texts dealing with the future of Israel, Ezekiel 33-47 and Zechariah 9-13, understanding them in their original context and exploring how they are interpreted in the New Testament. This is no theoretical, ivory-tower debate. We are dealing here with the most bitter and protracted conflict of the last 150 years; and the way we interpret the Bible has profound political consequences. -- back cover.

Contents:

Part 1 Christian Zionism-What are the Key Questions? p. 7

1 Why do Christians have such different views on these subjects? p. 9

2 When Paul expresses his confidence that "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26), is he not speaking about the future of ethnic Israel and their salvation? p. 22

3 What about Jesus' prediction concerning the future of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24)? p. 30

4 What about Jesus' response to the disciples' question about restoring the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:1-8)? p. 37

5 Why not interpret the Old Testament in its own terms-literally-allowing it to interpret itself instead of importing categories from the New Testament? Isn't there a danger of spiritualizing everything in the Old Testament? p. 42

6 If the people and the land are so central to the story of the Old Testament, how can the New Testament offer a re-interpretation of these themes? Part 1. The nation p. 53

7 If the people and the land are so central to the story of the Old Testament, how can the New Testament offer a re-interpretation of these themes? Part 2. The land p. 67

8 Isn't "Israel" different from "the church"? Doesn't this mean that the church was something new, and that even after Christ, "Israel" still has a distinct identity? p. 77

9 What about the millennium? Doesn't a literal millennium assume that Jesus will be reigning from Jerusalem? p. 89

10 Isn't there something miraculous about the creation of Israel? Isn't the State of Israel "a miracle of God and a fulfilment of biblical prophecy." p. 94

Part 2 The Restoration of Israel in Ezekiel-Does Ezekiel Have Anything to Say About The Modern State Of Israel? p. 103

1 How would Ezekiel's prophecy have been understood during and immediately after his lifetime? p. 105

2 How do New Testament writers understand the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy? p. 108

3 Can Ezekiel's prophecy be related to contemporary history? p. 120

Conclusion to Part 2 p. 124

Part 3 The Visions of Zechariah-Trailers of The End Times or Hints of The Incarnation? p. 127

1 Zechariah interpreted as a literal description of the end times p. 130

2 Zechariah's message in his own context p. 136

3 Zechariah as interpreted in the Gospels and Epistles p. 148

4 Zechariah's prophecy as understood in Revelation p. 171.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 203- 204) and an index.

ISBN:

9781725297333

1725297337

OCLC:

1245876446

Publisher Number:

99987451428