Page 13 - Balfour100-E

✡ Foundations Christian Zionism 13

‘Christian Zionists

studied the
Scriptures and

concluded that God

had decreed the

return of the Jewish

people to their

Homeland.’

of it [the restoration of the Jews]. But
certainly, if there is anything promised
in the Bible, it is this. I imagine that
you cannot read the Bible without see-
ing clearly that there is to be an actual
restoration of the children of Israel.
‘Thither they shall go up; they shall
come with weeping unto Zion, and with Just one month after the publication of the Balfour Declaration, General Allenby
supplications unto Jerusalem,’ (Jeremiah liberated Jerusalem from Ottoman rule
31:9). May that happy day come soon!
For when the Jews are restored, then the British evangelical interest in Israel’s British Consulate, the first diplomatic
fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered restoration was the formation of the mission in Jerusalem.
in; and as soon as they return, then Jesus London Society for Promoting Chris- With the assistance of the British
will come upon Mount Zion to reign tianity among the Jews in 1809. Government, CMJ established the first
with his ancients gloriously.” This Society is now known as Protestant church in the Middle East
In Scotland, Robert Murray Mc- the Church’s Ministry among Jewish – Christ Church in the ancient walled
Cheyne travelled on a pilgrimage to the People (CMJ). One of its founders was city of Jerusalem – which was officially
Holy Land in 1839. Upon his return to William Wilberforce, noted more for known as the private chapel of the Brit-
Scotland, McCheyne preached to his his work fighting for the abolition of ish Consul. Later the Palestine Explo-
church in Dundee: “The greatest glory slavery. The biblical truths concern- ration Fund also had its main office at
and joy anyone can experience is to be ing the restoration of Israel led the Christ Church. CMJ also established a
like God, and to care first for the Jews ministry to commit to many signifi- joint Lutheran-Anglican bishopric, the
is to be like God... The whole Bible cant endeavours, such as translating first Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem be-
shows that God has a special affection and distributing the New Testament ing Michael Alexander, a former Rabbi.
for Israel... There are some, of course, in Hebrew, and the construction of a One week after the publication of
who will say that God has finished with ministry base situated in the heart of the Balfour Declaration, on 9 November
Israel. But the whole Bible contradicts the ‘Jewish East End of London’ to be 1917, CMJ’s response to the announce-
such an idea: ‘Did God reject his peo- known as ‘Palestine Place’. ment was published in The Times in
ple? By no means!’ (Romans 11:1). They This base would contain a school, London: “With one step the Jewish
will give life to the dead world.” workshops, printing presses and a cause has made a great bound forward.
The common thread in the Church chapel. The chapel, known as the Epis- For centuries the Jew has been down-
in the 19th century was that the com- copal Jews’ Chapel, opened in 1814 and trodden, depressed, hated and unloved
ing of the Messiah had to be preceded was the first place of Christian worship by all the nations. For 2,000 years now
by the return of the Jewish people to built especially for Jewish believers in the Jew has suffered as no other na-
their own land. This was mainstream Jesus.
Christian thought, which was influen- Lord Shaftesbury joined CMJ’s
tial on politicians as well. Thus Lord ranks in 1835, and served it for over Roy Thurley was the director
Shaftesbury is quoted as saying, “The 50 years, most of the time being its of Christian Friends of Israel
ancient city of the people of God is president. Shaftesbury is recognised (UK) from 2000-2007 and is
now chairman of Hatikvah Film
about to resume a place among the na- as Britain’s foremost restorationist of Trust. He is also a director of
tions, and England is the first of all the the 19th century. He was instrumen- Balfour100 Ltd and the editor of this souvenir
Gentile kingdoms that ceases to tread tal in aiding CMJ’s establishment in magazine. He and his wife live in North
her down.” Jerusalem in the 1830s, and with the Wales, and have three children and
The first practical expression of establishment of the pro-restorationist four grandchildren.