On Friday, the governing board of the Presbyterian Church USA voted 266-116 to pass a resolution denouncing the Jewish State, claiming that “the government of Israel’s laws, policies, and practices regarding the Palestinian people fulfill the international legal definition of apartheid.”
“Apartheid is legally defined as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them,” the resolution, INT-02, insisted.
The resolution dared to liken the horror of the holocaust by Hitler’s Natzi regime to the Jewish State’s current treatment of Palestinians, falsely claiming that Israel is segregating its society by race and religion and forcing Palestinians into “ghettos.”
It is the duty of “Christians,” the resolution insisted, to not be silent concerning “Israeli apartheid” and not to fear that lambasting Israel may be considered “anti-Israel or anti-Semitic.”
Despite what the resolution asserts, disseminating and adopting as policy false accusations against the Jewish nation is not only anti-semitic, it is profoundly contrary to Scripture.
Replacement Theology is ‘Replacement Reality’
In 2004, the Presbyterian Church USA passed an anti-Israel resolution 431–62 “to initiate a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel.”
At the time, Jan Markell, the Founder and President of Olive Tree Ministries, criticized the Presbyterian Church for its decision to “divest all economic interest in Israel.”
Markell further warned that the disturbing trend of “churches” attacking Israel is a clear demonstration of the apostasy the apostle Paul warned would occur in the time prior to Jesus’ Return.
“These are the very denominations that believe in ‘Replacement Theology’—that the Church is the new Israel. Modern-day Israel has no more relevance than the Canary Islands. When you embrace this false teaching, you also end up with ‘replacement reality,'” she underscored. “In other words, reality gets totally skewed.”
1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV – “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”
“This is all a part of that ‘end-time’ falling away the Bible predicts and the rampant apostasy of the latter days,” Markell stressed.
In Genesis 12:3, God warns: “I will bless them that bless [Israel], and curse him that curseth thee…”
According to CBN, the PCUSA denomination has seen a 63% loss in membership in recent decades “due in part to embracing liberal views.”
“Is it any wonder that attendance in these churches is plunging and as a result, and their income as well?” Jan Markell questioned. “I’m sure it’s tough for God to bless denominations that are skewed in their worldview and theology like this. Following the pattern of Genesis 12:3, there should be some literal ‘cursing’ going on.”
Biblical Significance Of The Modern State of Israel
Although the world may look at Israel and automatically see red, to the Believer in Jesus Christ, the reborn State of Israel should arouse awe of God and hope, not condemnation.
When the Bible describes the reestablishment of Israel (Ezekiel 36-37), which has taken place in our modern age, it states that God Himself will regather the Jews from around the globe and give them the land of Israel.
Ezekiel 36:24, 28 KJV – “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land… And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers…”
It should be unthinkable for professing Christians to make themselves enemies of Israel and question its legitimate right to the land because, in doing so, they are disputing God’s authority to give the land to His chosen people.
For nearly 2,000 years, the nation of Israel did not exist, and the Jewish people were scattered across the earth. However, God promised that Israel would again become a nation under miraculous circumstances (Ezekiel 36, 37, Isaiah 66:7-8); this occurred on May 14th, 1948.
Understanding the significance of the modern State of Israel is especially important because Jesus told His disciples that when Israel is reborn, one generation would not pass away before His Second coming (Matthew 24:32-34).
Therefore the nation of Israel has been used to bless believers yet again, with the joyful expectation of our Blessed Hope, the soon catching away of the Bride Of Christ to forever be with the Lord in the Rapture of the church (1 Thess. 4:15-18, Titus 2:13, 1 Corin. 15:51-53).
If you do not know Christ, seeing the nation of Israel should promote urgency in you to accept Jesus today. Satan hates Israel, and he hates you also. But God displayed His power to us, through the rebirth of Israel and by countless other means, that we may come to know Him and the saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:29).
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