Pastor Z: We support Israel!
Teacher C: Why?
Pastor Z: Because Israel is God's people.
Teacher C: Really?! Which god?
Pastor Z: Our God!
Teacher C: Hmmmm...our God has a Son, right?
Pastor Z: Of course...we're Christians!
Teacher C: Ah...so the modern State of Israel is also Christian and that's why we support Israel...?
Pastor Z: Well...not exactly...
Teacher C: Oh, i get it: the GOVERNMENT of the modern State of Israel is run by Messianic (Christian) Israelis...?
Pastor Z: No...
Teacher C: Hmmmm...so modern Israel is NOT Christian--neither as as a nation nor as a government...?
Pastor Z: No.
Teacher C: So Israel doesn't worship the same God as us because Israel's god doesn't have an Only-Begotten Son; Israel (at least those Israelis who aren't atheists) worships a FALSE GOD...right?
Pastor Z: Well...they don't acknowledge Christ right now, but they will eventually.
Teacher C: Well...until they DO acknowledge Christ as LORD, we Christians aren't obliged to support them then.
Pastor Z: But we ARE obliged to support them so that God will bless us.
Teacher C: What?!?
Pastor Z: The Bible says that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel.
Teacher C: Hmmmm...i believe that's a reference to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).
Pastor Z: Yes...and Abraham is the grandfather of Israel.
Teacher C: Abraham is also the grandfather of Sheba, Ephah and Nebaioth [Ishmael]...shouldn't we be supporting them as well?
Pastor Z: No, for Christ came through Israel.
Teacher C: Right...the same Israel that rejected, betrayed and murdered our God's Son (Acts 7:51-53).
It seems to me that we Christians have all the blessings we need in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). I don't believe our GOD requires us to support a state that neither acknowledges Jesus as Lord nor subscribes to the New Covenant that was ratified in His Blood.
Pastor Z: We should still pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Teacher C: Which Jerusalem?
Pastor Z: There's only one Jerusalem.
Teacher C: With all due respect, Pastor Z, there are two Jerusalems...
The first Jerusalem--the earthly one--is called by the Apostle John "Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified" (Revelation 11:8). The Apostle Paul called the earthly Jerusalem Hagar: "Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children" (Galatians 4:25).
In contrast the Heavenly Jerusalem is called the True Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22-24).
The earthly Israel will never be blessed or free until they acknowledge Messiah Jesus when He comes to deliver them from the Antichrist.
Pastor Z: The Prophecies of the Old Testament are coming true with the reinstitution of the State of Israel in 1948 and the Gathering of the Jews to Palestine; this is the time we should be supporting Israel!
Teacher C: You are referring to Ezekiel Chapter 36 and Jeremiah 32:37; let's look at these passages carefully. Two events identify this moment in history: (1) The Spirit of GOD falls on the hearts of the Israelis; (2) Israel shall dwell in safety.
In the 75 years since the creation of the State of Israel NEITHER OF THESE PROPHECIES HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
We know that GOD's Spirit is ONLY poored out on those who submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and are participants of the New Covenant; as a nation and a government Israel has yet to receive the Spirit of Christ because they still reject Him AND the New Covenant.
How many military conflicts had Israel been engaged in since it became a nation again? According to Wikipedia it's been SEVENTEEN; the State of Israel has seen little if any peace or safety since its rebirth.
The only reasonable conclusion we can come to is that THESE PROPHECIES OF THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL MUST REFER TO THE 1000-YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST WHEN HE RETURNS TO THE EARTH. When seen in that context, everything comes together and makes sense. GOD is NOT racist;
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." -- the Apostle Peter, Acts 10:34-35 KJV
God said as much to Joshua when ask who He was for: the current occupants of Palestine or Israel...GOD's reply was "Not am I for" (Hebrew, Joshua 5:13,14). Transliteration: "I am for neither [Israel nor the Canaanites]."
If GOD is no respecter of persons (or nations) we should not show such favoritism either.