Page 9 - TORCH Magazine - Issue #19

ancestral home of the Jewish people. It says Jews will be gathered out of every land to present themselves to Messiah in Zion and that ‘Jerusalem shall rise’ – a reflection of what the Bible says about a restored Israel.
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O that the chosen band Might now their brethren bring And gathered out of every land Present to Zion’s King.
Of all the ancient race Not one be left behind But each impelled by secret grace
His way to Canaan find!
We know it must be done For God hath spoke the word All Israel shall their Saviour own
To their first state restored. Rebuilt by His command Jerusalem shall rise Her temple on Moriah stand Again, and touch the skies.
Send then Thy servants forth To call the Hebrews home From west and east,
and south, and north
Let all the wanderers come. Where’er in lands unknown Thy fugitives remain
Bid every creature help them on Thy holy mount to gain.
The Wesley brothers and their contemporaries didn’t regard the
prospect of Jews returning to the Land
of Israel as a political matter. Rather, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, they simply took God ‘at His Word’. They dedicated themselves to studying the Scriptures, to understand the will of God concerning the Jewish people and Zion. And we should do the same.
The Wesley brothers’ position on Israel set a tone that was favourable towards the Jewish people. The lyrics sung in pews by generation upon generation
in the Methodist Church continued to bless Israel by proclaiming the spoken Word concerning Zion. Over the next two centuries, their contribution towards Christian Zionism was foundational in pulpits across Britain, planting seeds of compassion for the Jewish people and empathy towards the creation of a Jewish homeland in Zion, their ancestral home. And before long what began in the pulpit soon streamed into politics.
In the present day, a correct understanding of what the Bible says concerning Israel is still foundational
in setting Godly attitudes towards the Jewish people. Sadly, the demonising of the State of Israel and rejection of Bible truth has caused a slippery slope that will have devastating consequences unless the Church gets back to God’s Word and “nearer to the mind of Christ.”
And for our final hymn....
When Israel out of Egypt came, And left the proud oppressor's land, Supported by the great I AM, Safe in the hollow of his hand, The Lord in Israel reigned alone,
And Judah was his favourite throne.
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