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I&CT June 2020 INTERNATIONAL June 2020 ISRAEL Sivan - Tammuz 5780 & Christians Today Understanding Israel and world events from a Biblical perspective www.c4israel.org | [email protected] The Christians for Israel leadership during our Forum in Jerusalem (March 2019). Together we bring the good news about God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people to the world. Israel: A Sign of Hope for all Nations In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples asked Him about the ‘signs Over the last 100 years, we have no doubt seen a rise of It is a message that to this very day challenges the of His coming’ and the ‘end of the age’. Jesus said there wickedness in the world and falling away in the Church. established theology of most church denominations. will be wars and rumours of wars. Nations will rise But we have also seen both those signs of hope being Since the early 1970s, there have been many renewed against each other, there will be famines and earthquakes fulfilled: the restoration of the Jewish people to the land, efforts to bring this gospel into the nations. – but these will be just the beginning of the ‘birth pangs’. and the ‘gospel of the kingdom’ going to the nations. This year is the 40th anniversary of the ministry of At the end of this age, leading to the coming of Christ We feel immensely grateful and Christians for Israel – bringing good news about God’s (first for those who are ready for Him, then in glory for faithfulness to the Jewish people to the world. the whole world to see) there will be a growing privileged to be part of God’s We feel immensely grateful and privileged to be witnesses ‘wickedness’, lack of love, and even hatred by all nations amazing work of restoration at of true followers of Jesus. It will be a time in which those of God’s amazing work of restoration at the ‘end of this age’. who profess faith in Christ will be hunted. the ‘end of this age’. In this edition of Israel & Christians Today, we wish to But in the midst of this persecution, Jesus says, there will Renewed interest in the ‘gospel of the Kingdom’ came about share with you some of the highlights of our ministry. We be two positive signs, beacons of hope in the darkness. as a result of the spiritual revival that began in Europe in do so not out of pride, but out of thankfulness for what God achieves despite our own weakness. The first of these is the fig tree whose twigs get tender and the early 1800s, following the massive upheavals caused by its leaves come out, showing ‘the summer is near’ (verse 32). the French Revolution. Bible-believing Christians and Jews Many Christians are awakening to the significance of This speaks about the national restoration of Israel. began to study God’s word afresh and realised that the great these events. Yet many are still asleep. There remains so The other sign of hope is that ‘this gospel of the kingdom hope offered by the Bible is the coming Kingdom of peace much to be done to raise awareness in the church around will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all and prosperity on earth when the Messiah comes. This idea the world of what is happening - to bring the ‘gospel of nations’. When that happens, ‘then the end will come’ of the kingdom on earth under Messiah had been lost (or the Kingdom as a testimony to all nations’. (verse 14). denied) for centuries by most Church denominations. Will you help us? 4 10 15 Anniversary Understanding the Times Special Lift-out to Keep All Israel Meals on Wheels Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel 2 June 2020 | Israel & Christians Today Sivan - Tammuz 5780 Editorial Colophon Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel Jacob - My Allotted Inheritance Mission descended from the Our mission is to bring Biblical understanding n Andrew Tucker in the Church and among the nations International Editor | Christians for Israel children of Noah concerning God’s purposes for Israel and to (Genesis 10), and the In this edition, we focus on the promote comfort of Israel through prayer number seventy points relationship between Israel, the nations and action. in Jewish tradition and the land. prophetically to the Editorial Team We celebrate 40 years of bringing the nations. The nations Andrew Tucker ‘message about God’s faithfulness to International Editor-in-Chief and Israel are called to [email protected] Israel’ to the nations. And part of that bless each other. We message concerns Israel’s relationship read, for example, there Cathy Coldicutt with the land. At the moment this is very will come a time when Managing Editor controversial: many nations condemn Messiah reigns and the [email protected] what they think is Israel’s unjustified nations will come up to Marloes van Westing expansion of its territory. Jerusalem to celebrate International Communications Manager In the Song of Moses in chapter 32 of the the Feast of [email protected] book Deuteronomy, the Lord calls Jacob Tabernacles (Zech. (ie. the nation of Israel) “his allotted 14:16). Ian Worby, Bryce Turner, Rita Quartel, Marie-Louise Weissenböck and Marijke Terlouw inheritance”. Moses says: “When the Most Today the nations are High gave the nations their inheritance, faced with the Scripture references: THE HOLY BIBLE, when he divided all mankind, he set up conundrum of the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® boundaries for the peoples according to restoration of Israel to Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, the number of the sons of Israel.” the land. It is a miracle Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved that doesn’t fit neatly worldwide. The strange this is: if only they in the thinking and realised what a blessing Israel C4I Offices plans of the nations. At will be for the nations, they the moment, the Christians for Israel International would be rejoicing! Leon Meijer, Chairman nations are very upset Rev Willem J.J. Glashouwer, President Much later, in the book of Acts, Paul by Israel’s proposal to Rev Cornelis Kant, Executive Director speaks to the people of Athens and says: ‘annex’ parts of the P.O. Box 1100 | 3860 BC Nijkerk, “From one man he made all the nations, West Bank. Map of Canaan - Twelve Tribe Portions. | Image: Bible History Online The Netherlands | Tel: +31 33 422 0405 that they should inhabit the whole earth; Why do they get so [email protected] | www.c4israel.org and he marked out their appointed times upset when it comes to Israel and the coming of the Prince of Peace. in history and the boundaries of their The English Edition of Israel & Christians Today land? I suspect the nations ‘rage’ (Psalm 2) Second, we should encourage the Jewish is published by the following English speaking lands. God did this so that they would because they sense that ‘the time of the seek him and perhaps reach out for him people to remember their covenant with branches: Gentiles’ is almost over. They are upset and find him, though he is not far from God, which includes the obligations to and angry that God is restoring his favour Christians for Israel - Australia any one of us” (Acts 17). possess the land, and to look after the Ian Worby, National Leader on Jacob. ‘stranger in the land’. This means that the nations and Israel are PO Box 1508, Springwood The strange thing is: if only they realised dependent on each other. It also appears Third, we need to remind the leaders of Queensland, Australia 4127 what a blessing Israel will be for the Tel: +61 402 277 930, [email protected] that there is a deep interrelationship our nations that 1. it was God who created nations, they would be rejoicing! www.c4israel.com.au between: 1. the number (12) of the the nations, divided them and gave them children of Jacob; 2. the inheritance of What should be our response to their inheritance and ‘appointed times in Christians for Israel - New Zealand Jacob, including the land; 3. the these developments? history’; 2. the inheritance of the nations Bryce Turner, National Executive Director inheritance and the division of the is closely connected with the inheritance PO Box 12 006, Penrose, Our calling as Christians in the nations is nations; and 4. the “boundaries for the Auckland, New Zealand 1642 not to tell Israel what to do. I would of Jacob (Israel) – which includes Tel: +64 9 525 7564, [email protected] peoples, according to the number of the suggest our task is threefold. First, we restoration to the land promised to them; www.c4israel.org.nz sons of Israel.” need to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. and 3. God longs for the nations to ‘seek Israel recently turned 72. That is a very We should pray for peace for the land, and him and perhaps reach out for him and Christians for Israel - South Korea Biblical number. Seventy nations peace for all who live in the land, and the find him’ (Acts 17). Tel: +61 410 430 677 email: [email protected] www.c4israel.org/korea Israel Israel and Israeli leaders and that ‘lawfare’ against Israel Christians for Israel - USA l Pray for the emergency unity government of national will be defeated. Fred J van Westing, CEO conciliation that was formed. Give thanks that the PO Box 2589, Manteca, CA 95336, USA Christians for Israel recent deadlock in Israeli politics is coming to an end.
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