Christian Zionists vs. 'Wild, Crazy Popular Apocalypticism'

NEW CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS SEEK DISTANCE FROM 'WILD, CRAZY POPULAR APOCALYPTICISM' 

A group of Christian scholars representing a "new Christian Zionism" seek to distance their views from the "wild, crazy, popular apocalypticism" with which Christian Zionists have often been associated.

Eleven speakers, mostly theologians, presented at the April 17 conference, "People of the Land: A Twenty-First Century Case for Christian Zionism..." Most of the talks were based upon a chapter for a book expected to be published sometime in the next two years.

While the group does not agree on everything, they are united in the belief that God's covenants with Israel were not displaced by Jesus Christ and the Church. In other words, while Jesus is central to salvation, God will remain faithful to the promises He made to the Jewish people. How, exactly, that works itself out will continue to be a matter of study and debate.

One of the difficulties Christian Zionists have had is that dispensationalism, a theological view held by a large subset of Christian Zionists, has been misrepresented in the media and associated with "the wildest excesses of a popular apocalypticism," Craig Blasing, executive vice president, provost, and professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, explained during the Q&A.

The conference speakers did not take a single position on what their theology means for the current state of Israel. At least one speaker said that supporting a two-state solution for the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict would not necessarily be inconsistent with his theology. Another speaker said he makes a distinction between the current state of Israel and the "covenanted people of Israel."

"I don't know if the rest of the panel would agree with me, but I think there's a distinction between the State of Israel and the covenanted people of Israel, and that it's important to make that distinction. For one, so that the state of Israel is not seen as a redemptive thing on its own. But secondly, because the state of Israel is such a mixed bag ... Who then, represents the covenanted people? ... What part of the Jewish tradition? And the second question people also struggle with, what kind of scope is there to that land that's promised? And I don't have any answers to that," said Robert Benne, Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion and Chair of the Religion and Philosophy Department at Roanoke College.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/new-christian-zionists-seek-distance-from-wild-crazy-popular-apocalypticism-138155/#5f8ml74tU1Cs5LMR.99

[TBC: In their efforts to be inclusive, this group promotes an uncertainty about endtime events that is contrary to Scripture in that they have no certainty on what comprises Israel or of the promises that God gave to Israel. The certainty that we can have concerning Israel is evident in Scripture. As Dave Hunt noted in the December 2006 issue of The Berean Call, "God has tied His name and integrity to Israel. He is called the God of Israel 203 times and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 12 times. Depending upon what happens in the Middle East, God will either be vindicated or discredited. His name and integrity will either be upheld in perfect purity and power, or He will be disgraced as a liar who cannot make good upon His promises to His people Israel. That’s how important the regathering and ultimate blessing of Israel is! 

If the Muslims, UN, EU, et al., succeed in destroying Israel, the integrity of everything God has said throughout His Word would be placed in question. If “forever” and “everlasting” don’t really mean forever in relation to Israel (“all the land...to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever”–Gn 13:15; “I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee...all the land of Canaan [not ‘Palestine’—there was no such place] for an everlasting possession”–17:8; 'the covenant which he made with Abraham...Isaac...Jacob...Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan...'–1 Chr:16:16-18 [16] Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; [17] And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, [18] Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
See All..., etc.), then how can we be sure that the promise of “everlasting life” (Jn:3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
See All..., etc.) means forever?"]