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Christian Zionism: Road-map to Armageddon?
The term "Zionism" was first coined in the late nineteenth century, and referred to the movement for the return of the Jewish people to an assured and secure homeland in Palestine. Ironically, this vision was largely nurtured and shaped by Christians long before it received widespread Jewish support. The origins of "Christian Zionism" lie within nineteenth-century British premillennial sectarianism, but by the early twentieth century it had become a predominantly American dispensational movement, and pervasive within all main evangelical denominations. The contemporary Christian Zionism movement emerged after the "Six Day War" in Israel in 1967, and it has had a significant influence on attitudes towards the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Evangelicals are increasingly polarized over whether Christian Zionism is biblical and orthodox or unbiblical and cultic. In this book Stephen Sizer provides a thorough examination of the historical development, variant forms, theological emphases and political implications of Christian Zionism. His excellent and informative survey is interwoven with critical assessment that repudiates both nationalistic Zionism and anti-Semitism.
298 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 17, 2011
This is a must read by anyone wanting to understand Christian support for the state of Israel, and by anyone who is open to thinking about whether such support is the only way to read the Bible.
September 22, 2016
This book has some merit for its historical examination and theological critique of Christian support for Zionism. In my opinion, however, I consider it unfortunate that it appears heavily flawed by the author's tendencies to misrepresent his theological opponents, grossly distort the history and politics of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and cite antisemitic sources in order to bolster his radical anti-Israel agenda, which extends to insinuating Israeli complicity in 9/11. (It is not coincidental that, in 2015, the author was censured by Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guilford, for posting "clearly anti-Semitic material" on social media.) The writings of Steve Motyer and Peter Walker are recommended as less extreme, more measured responses to the theological tenets of Christian Zionism.
August 30, 2017
Stephen Sizer is perhaps one of the best theologians alive today when it comes to exposing and criticizing Dispensationalism and Christian Zionism, and his book, Christian Zionism: Road Map to Armageddon, is one of the best books on that topic.
Part one, 'The Historical Roots of Christian Zionism since 1800,' covers the history of the Dispensational system, showing its questionable origins in 19th century preachers such as Irving and Darby, and how the system became popular in Britain and the United States during the 20th century, influencing politicians and affecting modern history up the present day.
The theology of Dispensational Zionism is laid bare in part two, 'The Theological Emphases of Christian Zionism,' where Dispensationalism's distinct emphases are examined and critiqued. Here it is shown how it differs from historic Christian doctrine and makes a mess of the unity and clarity of Scriptural principles.
Finally, in part three of the book, 'The Political Implications of Christian Zionism,' the present day ramifications of Dispensational Zionism are shown. Sizer shows how detrimental this theological view is to respect for human rights, particularly those of indigenous Christians living in the Holy Land (as well as their Muslim neighbours).
Sizer concludes by arguing that only a robust Covenantal view of the Bible can do justice to redemptive history and avoid the chaos, confusion and suffering that has been caused by adherence of many people to a Dispensational view of ecclesiology and eschatology. This is great for showing how the debate over Covenantal versus Dispensational theology isn't just a dry academic debate, but has real world implications that affect many lives, often in a negative manner.
Part one, 'The Historical Roots of Christian Zionism since 1800,' covers the history of the Dispensational system, showing its questionable origins in 19th century preachers such as Irving and Darby, and how the system became popular in Britain and the United States during the 20th century, influencing politicians and affecting modern history up the present day.
The theology of Dispensational Zionism is laid bare in part two, 'The Theological Emphases of Christian Zionism,' where Dispensationalism's distinct emphases are examined and critiqued. Here it is shown how it differs from historic Christian doctrine and makes a mess of the unity and clarity of Scriptural principles.
Finally, in part three of the book, 'The Political Implications of Christian Zionism,' the present day ramifications of Dispensational Zionism are shown. Sizer shows how detrimental this theological view is to respect for human rights, particularly those of indigenous Christians living in the Holy Land (as well as their Muslim neighbours).
Sizer concludes by arguing that only a robust Covenantal view of the Bible can do justice to redemptive history and avoid the chaos, confusion and suffering that has been caused by adherence of many people to a Dispensational view of ecclesiology and eschatology. This is great for showing how the debate over Covenantal versus Dispensational theology isn't just a dry academic debate, but has real world implications that affect many lives, often in a negative manner.
April 14, 2023
A COVENANTAL CRITIQUE OF CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ZIONISM
Author Stephen Sizer wrote in the Preface to this 2004 book, “Beginning in 1995, I began to write a series of articles about the political and theological issues surrounding the involvement of Western Christians in the peace process. The flak received from some readers gave an indication of the depth of feeling within British evangelicalism on the Arab-Israeli issue… Form 1997 the haunting images from my journeys to Israel/Palestine and the many unanswered questions became the stimulus for doctoral research … The fruits of that research have been distilled into this book… My motivation for this book lies in the conviction… that for Western Christians, especially evangelicals, to ignore or stereotype their Palestinian brothers and sisters, now threatened with extinction, is not only deeply offensives, it is surely a contradiction of our faith, and ultimately immoral before God.” (Pg. 12-13)
He continues, “Clearly not all evangelicals identify with or support Christian Zionism, the author included…. In Europe, a larger proportion of evangelicalism would identify with a covenantal perspective than in the United States… evangelicals in the United States are exporting their apocalyptic dispensational pro-Zionism to the rest of the world, with devastating consequences in the Middle East. It is intended that this book will contribute not only to greater dialogue between advocates and critics, but also to the wider search for peace between the children of Abraham, physical and spiritual.” (Pg. 25)
He explains, “Christian Zionism is a political form of philo-Semitism, and can be defined as ‘Christian support for Zionism.’ … Evangelicals, in particular, are increasingly polarized as to whether Christian Zionism is biblical and orthodox or heretical and cultic. Two mutually exclusive positions have emerged---that of covenantalism and dispensationalism…” (Pg. 19)
He notes, “What the Balfour Declaration left intentionally ambiguous was the meaning of ‘a national home.’ … Was this synonymous with sovereignty or statehood and, if so, what were to be the borders? Would it occupy all of Palestine or just a portion? What was to be the status of Jerusalem? Furthermore… there was no reference to Palestinians…Clearly Balfour did not believe that ‘the present inhabitants’ need be consulted, either before or afterwards. That 90% of the indigenous population of Palestine were Arabs, of whom around 10% were Christian, seemed irrelevant to the politicians and Zionists who had another agenda. So the awkward questions were left unanswered and it is these ambiguities that have plagued Middle East peace negotiations and divided Christians ever since…” (Pg. 65)
He says of Hal Lindsey, “Lindsey’s popularity may be attributed to a combination of factors. These include his … imaginative (if rather dogmatic) insistence… that contemporary geopolitical events are the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and his repeated assertions that the end of the world is imminent… Lindsey’s success is probably due in part to the way he revises his predictions in the light of changing world events… In keeping pace with history, Lindsey shows … that the demise of the Soviet Union, the rise of militant Islam, the success of the Allies in the Gulf War, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and even the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center were all the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and signs of the imminent return of Jesus Christ… he justifies the demonization of Russia and China… In so doing, Lindsey identifies unconditionally with the political and religious far right…” (Pg. 91)
He summarizes, “Christian Zionism … arose through the revival of historic or covenantal premillennialism in the nineteenth century, out of which emerged… dispensationalism… covenantal premillennialism teaches that God’s future purposes for a restored Israel depend on faith in Jesus Christ and involve a close relationship with the worldwide church… Dispensationalists… distinguish between God’s eternal purposes for Israel and the church in separate dispensations: the former seen as God’s earthly people, the latter his heavenly people… new forms of dispensationalism Christian Zionism have emerged in America… apocalyptic dispensationalism is preoccupied with the ‘signs of the times’; Messianic dispensationalism with evangelizing Jews for Jesus; and political dispensationalism with defending and ‘blessing’ Israel. These… share three basic tenets:” a commitment to biblical literalism, a futurist eschatology, and the restoration of the Jews to Palestine.” (Pg. 106-107)
He notes, “Lindsey’s difficulty with finding an accurate and lasting interpretation is nowhere more evident than in his attempt to date the second advent… Lindsey was not the only writer to suggest that the Messian would return in 1988. When Jesus did not return that year, however, Lindsey revised his timescale by suggesting that a biblical generation could be anything from forty to 100 years and that perhaps Daniel’s prophetic clock had started ticking again not in 1948 but in 1967…” (Pg. 125-126)
He states, “Dispensationalists have … insisted that God promises that those who bless his earthly people will themselves be blessed, while those who curse the Jews will be cursed… There is, however, no indication in the text of Genesis 12 that this promise of blessing and warning of cursing was ever intended to extend beyond Abraham. The promise, when referring to Abraham’s descendants speaks of God blessing them, not of entire nations ‘blessing’ the Hebrew nation, still less the contemporary and secular State of Israel.” (Pg. 147-148)
He argues, “virtually all Christian Zionists, insist that the Abrahamic covenant remains unconditional. However, subsequent references to the land in Scripture stress that humility and meekness rather than ‘chosenness’ became a precondition for inheriting or remaining in the land, whereas arrogance or oppression were legitimate grounds for exile… The land is never at the disposal of Israel for its national purposes… The Jews remain tenants in God’s land. The ethical requirements for continued occupancy are clearly outlined in the Law.” (Pg. 163)
He says, “It is critical to religious Zionists that any future temple is built on the same site as the temples of Solomon, Zerubbabel and Herod… It is inconceivable that the Muslim authorities would countenance any Jewish construction within the confines of the Haram Al-Sharif. In any case, most orthodox Jews remain convinced that the Dome of the Rock is an abomination and must be removed before the temple can be rebuilt.” (Pg. 236-237)
He summarizes, “1. Christian Zionism … predated the rise of Jewish Zionism by at least sixty years. 2. Its origins lie within nineteenth-century British premillennial sectarianism… 3. While the strategic value of a Jewish homeland in Palestine was a factor in British foreign policy during the nineteenth century, it became a feature of American foreign policy by the end of the twentieth century. 4. Without the initiative and commitment of British Christians… it is questionable whether the Zionist dream of a national homeland in Palestine would have been realized. 5. Without the sustained political support of Christian Zionists in America… it is doubtful whether the State of Israel would have remained in existence since 1948, let alone continued to occupy and settle the West Bank since 1967. 6. … the Christian Zionist movement is at least ten times larger than the Jewish Zionist movement and has become a dominant lobby within contemporary American politics. 7. … Christian Zionism is a novel theological system based on an ultra-literal and futurist reading of the Bible, which… is essentially the product of early nineteenth-century millennialist sectarianism.” (Pg. 254-255)
He concludes, “This study has sought to repudiate not only anti-Semitism but also nationalistic Zionism. The choice does not have to be between Christian Zionism and ‘replacement’ theology… Based on covenantal presuppositions, it is contended that a biblical approach to the Palestine-Israel conflict will work and pray for the place and security of the Jewish and Palestinian people because they are created in the image of God…” (Pg. 261)
This book will appeal to Christians seeking critiques of Christian Zionism.
Author Stephen Sizer wrote in the Preface to this 2004 book, “Beginning in 1995, I began to write a series of articles about the political and theological issues surrounding the involvement of Western Christians in the peace process. The flak received from some readers gave an indication of the depth of feeling within British evangelicalism on the Arab-Israeli issue… Form 1997 the haunting images from my journeys to Israel/Palestine and the many unanswered questions became the stimulus for doctoral research … The fruits of that research have been distilled into this book… My motivation for this book lies in the conviction… that for Western Christians, especially evangelicals, to ignore or stereotype their Palestinian brothers and sisters, now threatened with extinction, is not only deeply offensives, it is surely a contradiction of our faith, and ultimately immoral before God.” (Pg. 12-13)
He continues, “Clearly not all evangelicals identify with or support Christian Zionism, the author included…. In Europe, a larger proportion of evangelicalism would identify with a covenantal perspective than in the United States… evangelicals in the United States are exporting their apocalyptic dispensational pro-Zionism to the rest of the world, with devastating consequences in the Middle East. It is intended that this book will contribute not only to greater dialogue between advocates and critics, but also to the wider search for peace between the children of Abraham, physical and spiritual.” (Pg. 25)
He explains, “Christian Zionism is a political form of philo-Semitism, and can be defined as ‘Christian support for Zionism.’ … Evangelicals, in particular, are increasingly polarized as to whether Christian Zionism is biblical and orthodox or heretical and cultic. Two mutually exclusive positions have emerged---that of covenantalism and dispensationalism…” (Pg. 19)
He notes, “What the Balfour Declaration left intentionally ambiguous was the meaning of ‘a national home.’ … Was this synonymous with sovereignty or statehood and, if so, what were to be the borders? Would it occupy all of Palestine or just a portion? What was to be the status of Jerusalem? Furthermore… there was no reference to Palestinians…Clearly Balfour did not believe that ‘the present inhabitants’ need be consulted, either before or afterwards. That 90% of the indigenous population of Palestine were Arabs, of whom around 10% were Christian, seemed irrelevant to the politicians and Zionists who had another agenda. So the awkward questions were left unanswered and it is these ambiguities that have plagued Middle East peace negotiations and divided Christians ever since…” (Pg. 65)
He says of Hal Lindsey, “Lindsey’s popularity may be attributed to a combination of factors. These include his … imaginative (if rather dogmatic) insistence… that contemporary geopolitical events are the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and his repeated assertions that the end of the world is imminent… Lindsey’s success is probably due in part to the way he revises his predictions in the light of changing world events… In keeping pace with history, Lindsey shows … that the demise of the Soviet Union, the rise of militant Islam, the success of the Allies in the Gulf War, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and even the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center were all the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and signs of the imminent return of Jesus Christ… he justifies the demonization of Russia and China… In so doing, Lindsey identifies unconditionally with the political and religious far right…” (Pg. 91)
He summarizes, “Christian Zionism … arose through the revival of historic or covenantal premillennialism in the nineteenth century, out of which emerged… dispensationalism… covenantal premillennialism teaches that God’s future purposes for a restored Israel depend on faith in Jesus Christ and involve a close relationship with the worldwide church… Dispensationalists… distinguish between God’s eternal purposes for Israel and the church in separate dispensations: the former seen as God’s earthly people, the latter his heavenly people… new forms of dispensationalism Christian Zionism have emerged in America… apocalyptic dispensationalism is preoccupied with the ‘signs of the times’; Messianic dispensationalism with evangelizing Jews for Jesus; and political dispensationalism with defending and ‘blessing’ Israel. These… share three basic tenets:” a commitment to biblical literalism, a futurist eschatology, and the restoration of the Jews to Palestine.” (Pg. 106-107)
He notes, “Lindsey’s difficulty with finding an accurate and lasting interpretation is nowhere more evident than in his attempt to date the second advent… Lindsey was not the only writer to suggest that the Messian would return in 1988. When Jesus did not return that year, however, Lindsey revised his timescale by suggesting that a biblical generation could be anything from forty to 100 years and that perhaps Daniel’s prophetic clock had started ticking again not in 1948 but in 1967…” (Pg. 125-126)
He states, “Dispensationalists have … insisted that God promises that those who bless his earthly people will themselves be blessed, while those who curse the Jews will be cursed… There is, however, no indication in the text of Genesis 12 that this promise of blessing and warning of cursing was ever intended to extend beyond Abraham. The promise, when referring to Abraham’s descendants speaks of God blessing them, not of entire nations ‘blessing’ the Hebrew nation, still less the contemporary and secular State of Israel.” (Pg. 147-148)
He argues, “virtually all Christian Zionists, insist that the Abrahamic covenant remains unconditional. However, subsequent references to the land in Scripture stress that humility and meekness rather than ‘chosenness’ became a precondition for inheriting or remaining in the land, whereas arrogance or oppression were legitimate grounds for exile… The land is never at the disposal of Israel for its national purposes… The Jews remain tenants in God’s land. The ethical requirements for continued occupancy are clearly outlined in the Law.” (Pg. 163)
He says, “It is critical to religious Zionists that any future temple is built on the same site as the temples of Solomon, Zerubbabel and Herod… It is inconceivable that the Muslim authorities would countenance any Jewish construction within the confines of the Haram Al-Sharif. In any case, most orthodox Jews remain convinced that the Dome of the Rock is an abomination and must be removed before the temple can be rebuilt.” (Pg. 236-237)
He summarizes, “1. Christian Zionism … predated the rise of Jewish Zionism by at least sixty years. 2. Its origins lie within nineteenth-century British premillennial sectarianism… 3. While the strategic value of a Jewish homeland in Palestine was a factor in British foreign policy during the nineteenth century, it became a feature of American foreign policy by the end of the twentieth century. 4. Without the initiative and commitment of British Christians… it is questionable whether the Zionist dream of a national homeland in Palestine would have been realized. 5. Without the sustained political support of Christian Zionists in America… it is doubtful whether the State of Israel would have remained in existence since 1948, let alone continued to occupy and settle the West Bank since 1967. 6. … the Christian Zionist movement is at least ten times larger than the Jewish Zionist movement and has become a dominant lobby within contemporary American politics. 7. … Christian Zionism is a novel theological system based on an ultra-literal and futurist reading of the Bible, which… is essentially the product of early nineteenth-century millennialist sectarianism.” (Pg. 254-255)
He concludes, “This study has sought to repudiate not only anti-Semitism but also nationalistic Zionism. The choice does not have to be between Christian Zionism and ‘replacement’ theology… Based on covenantal presuppositions, it is contended that a biblical approach to the Palestine-Israel conflict will work and pray for the place and security of the Jewish and Palestinian people because they are created in the image of God…” (Pg. 261)
This book will appeal to Christians seeking critiques of Christian Zionism.
February 24, 2017
Sizer gives a thorough historical foundation about Christian Zionism, which is based on dispensationalism and belief in premillennialism. The author uncovers the the false theology that is used in order to defend the basis of Christian Zionism.
January 11, 2024
This book covers the theology, political influence , and lobbying behind Christian Zionism from the 1800s onward.
The main point is that Christian Zionists had become obsessed with "restoring" the Jews to their "rightful" place in "Zion" by reestablishing Israel as a country. Evangelical Christian influencers, from the western world, decided to prioritize the politicization of Israel over God's will to pursue evangelism.
A lot of these Christian Zionist preachers and influencers were very broken people, believing they were fulfilling God's will. Some thought that the Gospels were only directed to the Jews, not the Gentiles. Some thought that they could predict Jesus's return based on Israel being established as a country. Some thought Napoleon was going to be the "beast" (from Revelations 13:11).
Christians Zionists motivations were even worse than their beliefs. Christian Zionists have this insane obsession with Israel and "futurist eschatology" (end times obsessing).
Stephen Sizer does not appear to take a "pro-Palestine" political stance, so much as to be critical of the Christian Zionist's misguided words and actions that support Israel. I like that about the book because honestly, I have sympathy for any victim of terror, (whether Jew or Palestinian). I respect how Sizer simply wants his fellow Christians to reclaim their God given purpose.
This book is outdated, and this is not a criticism of the book, but it's 20 years now, and a lot has changed. Overtime, political ideologies change, belief systems and false theology changes, and lobbyist groups reform. But if you read this book with a good awareness of what's been happening over there for the past 20 years, you should be able to get a lot of historical knowledge out of this book. And you'll be able to see how the Palestinian -Israeli conflict got to where it is now.
The main point is that Christian Zionists had become obsessed with "restoring" the Jews to their "rightful" place in "Zion" by reestablishing Israel as a country. Evangelical Christian influencers, from the western world, decided to prioritize the politicization of Israel over God's will to pursue evangelism.
A lot of these Christian Zionist preachers and influencers were very broken people, believing they were fulfilling God's will. Some thought that the Gospels were only directed to the Jews, not the Gentiles. Some thought that they could predict Jesus's return based on Israel being established as a country. Some thought Napoleon was going to be the "beast" (from Revelations 13:11).
Christians Zionists motivations were even worse than their beliefs. Christian Zionists have this insane obsession with Israel and "futurist eschatology" (end times obsessing).
Stephen Sizer does not appear to take a "pro-Palestine" political stance, so much as to be critical of the Christian Zionist's misguided words and actions that support Israel. I like that about the book because honestly, I have sympathy for any victim of terror, (whether Jew or Palestinian). I respect how Sizer simply wants his fellow Christians to reclaim their God given purpose.
This book is outdated, and this is not a criticism of the book, but it's 20 years now, and a lot has changed. Overtime, political ideologies change, belief systems and false theology changes, and lobbyist groups reform. But if you read this book with a good awareness of what's been happening over there for the past 20 years, you should be able to get a lot of historical knowledge out of this book. And you'll be able to see how the Palestinian -Israeli conflict got to where it is now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2011
A comprehensive and well-documented expose of the Christian Zionist movement. The influence of this movement is staggering and the subsequent political ramifications are disturbing. This book is a much needed wake-up call for Christians, highly recommended!
November 12, 2015
An excellent and (too?) thorough history of Christian Zionism and its various branches, together with a detailed exposition of the arguments for and against Zionism. Very helpful for thinking through one's own beliefs as well as for understanding the incredible intransigence in the Middle East.
August 23, 2009
Good historical and doctrinal examination of zionism with many of the political and religious aspects described.
February 5, 2017
Christian Zionism is a very dangerous movement that too few people are aware of.
August 24, 2014
One of the few detailed books on the subject. Very well-documented.
January 30, 2017
Re-read pertinent selections.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews