The Case for Zionism: Why Christians Should Support Israel Paperback – February 19, 2017

“If the choice is one state, Israel can be Jewish or democratic it cannot be both.” – Former US Secretary of State John KerryThese words should send a shiver up the spine of every person of Jewish faith because they represent a growing consensus in this world that religion must be subservient to the will of the people (democracy).The very idea of a “Jewish” state is anathema to an increasingly secular world which sees the Jewish people as an unpleasant reminder of a Biblical world view. Lest you think this is only a Jewish problem, the spirit of Mr. Kerry’s words apply equally to anyone of religious faith.Into this turbulent political and religious context Thomas Ice’s new book The Case for Zionism: Why Christians Should Support Israel, is a much needed primer on why Christians should support Israel. As Mr. Ice explains in this book, Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people, represents tangible evidence that the Bible is true and that the words of YHWH, the living God of the Bible can be taken at face value.Further this threat to a literal interpretation of the Biblical record and the redemptive promises of God, doesn’t just come from secularists like Mr. Kerry. Mr. Ice goes on to explain that today there is a growing number of Christian’s who have fallen for the seductive lure of secular humanism which sees mankind’s hope not in the Messianic promises of the Bible but rather our own efforts by which the kingdom of God can be attain on this earth. Mr. Ice’s book is a challenge to such a world view.The book is divided into an introduction and nine engaging and informative chapters. The introduction gives an overview of anti-Semitism as it relates to Israel and Zionism in an overall framework of YHWH’s redemptive plan. The meat of the book defines Zionism in a Scriptural sense and then makes a persuasive case Biblical and legally for the right of Israel to exist as a nation. The chapters are as follows:1. What is Zionism?2. The Biblical Case for Israel3. Modern Israel’s Right to the Land4. Modern Israel’s Legal Right to the Land5. What is Replacement Theology6. Are Modern Jews Descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?7. What is Anti-Semitism8. Revelation 12 and the Future of Israel9. Lovers of Zion: A History of Christian ZionismFor me the chapters on Modern Israel’s Right to the Land and Modern Israel’s Legal Right to the Land were very informative. It was quite fascinating to learn about some of the more little known facts and legal wrangling which went on behind the sense in the years leading up to the Balfour declaration and the British Mandate. I also appreciated the chapter on Lovers of Zion: A History of Christian Zionism. Hearing about the efforts of those Christian’s who believed the Bible and its promise of a future national Israel before it was a fact and how their efforts were used by YHWH to bring about that national restoration was inspiring.Also informative was Mr. Ice’s discussion of the The Khazar Theory of Jewish history. I’ve heard this subject discussed more frequently of late and Mr. Ice brings clarity to the subject and dispatches the notion with real historical facts.* * * * * * *There is one aspect of this book I would like to offer respectful and what I hope is constructive criticism. In this book Mr. Ice makes what I believe is a compelling Biblical and legal case for Zionism. Having said that, in several instances when inserting his own eschatological beliefs, Mr. Ice does not hold himself to the same standard as he rightfully demands of his suppersessionist brethren. For instance when discussing Israel during the tribulation Mr. Ice relies on an interpretation of the Daniel 9 and prophecy of 70 sevens which is built upon several unreasonable and contradictory assumptions. ***For example in his recent book  Charting the Bible Chronologically: A Visual Guide to God's Unfolding Plan , Mr. Ice explains how the Bible shows an “exponential Decay Curve in the lifespan of mankind after the flood. This decay curve shows that the average age of those living on the earth after the flood decreased to around 70 or 80 years. Yet his own interpretation of the prophecy of Daniel 9 depends upon stretching the chronology of the 2nd temple era to show that Ezra and many of the priests and Levites who returned to Jerusalem were, at their youngest, a quarter century older than Moses. ***When calculating the prophecy of 70 Weeks, Mr. Ice depends upon a special “prophetic” calendar which did not exist when the prophecy was given and would have been unrecognizable to the very people to who the prophecy was sent. This 360/30 day prophetic calendar is itself an assumptive extrapolation of statements in Genesis 6-8 which shows 150 days during a five month period. Today, the first five months of our own calendar also equals 150 days, yet we understand that our calendar in no way represents the actual length of our solar year or our lunar month. As evidence by secular sources since recorded history the solar year has been understood to be 365.24/25 days in length and a lunar cycle 29.53 days.***As a final example Mr. Ice’s interpretation of Daniel 9 relies upon a “commandment” given by the Persian king Longimanus. Left unexplained in any of his writings is the fact that the word “commandment” comes from the Hebrew word dabar which means simply word, speech, or utterance. In the Old Testament dabar is used 1439 times and the vast majority of those refer to the word of YHWH, the living God of the Bible. In Daniel 9 the word dabar is used four times. Of those, three clearly refer to the word of YHWH. In his interpretation of Daniel 9, Mr. Ice does not explain why he ignores the dabar of YHWH to restore and build Jerusalem which is recorded in Haggai 1, Zechariah 1 and witnessed in Ezra 6.Here’s my point, the futurist position regarding the Zionism and eternal nature of the covenants given to Israel, I believe, already stands securely in its own right upon the clear statements of YHWH which have been provided for us in the Biblical record. When we seek to buttress those Biblical truths with eschatological interpretations for which we do not hold ourselves to the same standards we demand of our supersessionist brethren, it ultimately undermines our futurist position. As we draw closer to the return of Yeshua, I believe it is of utmost importance to ensure that the finer details of our eschatological beliefs rest upon reasonable Biblical facts, not well intentioned traditions.* * * * * * *In summary, I believe that in the day and age in which we live it is critically important for every Christian to have a Biblically based understanding of Israel and Zionism as it relates to YHWH’s redemptive plan for mankind. Thomas Ice’s book The Case For Zionism: Why Christians Should Support Israel is a valuable resource upon which to build such knowledge.Maranatha!

Helps me to understand what the Bible says and what is happening in the world about Israel

ISRAEL IS GOD'S BELOVED and CHOSEN NATION. You better know about them since they are all over the ENTIRE BIBLE and even JESUS CHRIST is from ISRAEL!!

A case for Zionism is a great read and should be required reading for all. I enjoy most of the wotk of Dr. Ice

One of the best books I've read - all people interested in Israel and the Middle east should read this book

Author presents a solid case for the Biblical distinction between Israel and the Church, pointing out that God is not finished with His chosen people.

Spent more time that I would have liked on those OPPOSED to Zionism.

This book was very eye-opening regarding the history of Zionism, as well as terms I’ve heard but hadn’t studied much such as replacement theology, covenant versus dispensational, etc. I also didn’t realize the extent of anti-Semitism and even movement towards Islamic belief systems within the Christian church. Besides explaining the Biblical case for Zionism, the author presents clear legal and genealogical evidence to support the legitimacy of Israel as a nation.Seeing God’s hand at work in history fulfilling prophecy is a reminder that He is faithful and will do exactly as He has promised. It’s a reminder, too, that He’s STILL fulfilling prophecy! I liked the quote, “The modern Christian must read with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.” Jesus is coming back, and while we don’t know the day or hour, we can be sure we are drawing closer each day! Are you ready?“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:14)

The book is a through treatment of the title’s subject matter. One of its strengths lies in its documentation. You may want to read it with Google nearby to look up names and their significance or positions in history. Some chapters are easier to read than others, but overall the book is solid and convincing.

Good book easy to read and to understand

Very instructive book on an important issue. Tom Ice has also done a groundbreaking job in finding early representatives of Restorationism or what today is called Biblical Zionism

Good service.happy with it.would use it again...

Excellent...people need to read this!