What is Zionism? Though there are many ways to answer that question, from a Christian perspective it is the belief that God's covenant with Israel is still intact, that He in His great compassion is calling them back to the land promised to them after their dispersion around the world for centuries. This regathering is the inceptive stage "until the Spirit is poured on them from on high," as Isaiah phrased it. "Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!" (Psalm 14:7 NIV)

Though many Christians today support Israel for these and other reasons, there appears to be a vague, inadequate understanding of how this meshes with the Good News of salvation. It is my contention that a thorough examination and understanding reveals that there is no contradiction, and in fact they are unified parts of the whole message of God's Word. The Bible does not contradict itself. It is an "integrated message system", as Chuck Missler is fond of saying. The contradictions arise from our inadequate understanding of it.

From a Christian perspective, the gospel, or good news, is central. However, a thorough, accurate understanding of what those terms mean can only be acquired through the historical context. To understand what this good news meant to the original Jewish recipients of the message at the time of Jesus, we must examine their expectations. They were well acquainted with the Bible, and indeed expecting a Messiah, a Deliverer, based on God's promises as expressed by the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures. This Messiah, Son of David, King of Israel, would rule the world from God's throne in Jerusalem.

In conjunction with his coming, the many promises of restoration and consolation and vindication for Israel would also be enacted. Israel would be freed from oppression, would be exalted as the chief of the nations, with greatly expanded physical boundaries. The entire world would experience unprecedented benevolence and peace through the just reign of the Messiah.

One example of this expectation of redemption for Israel is in the words of Isaiah: "The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor." (Isaiah 60:14-21 NIV)

Therefore, when John son of Zechariah showed up on the scene, widely acclaimed as a prophet, and began declaring, "the time has come, the Kingdom of Heaven is near," the hearers knew exactly what he was heralding. The promised King was arriving, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. This, to them, was the Good News!

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem." (Isaiah 52:7-9 NIV)

Unknown to them at that time, the Good News had other elements as well. The King first had to give his life as an atonement for the sins of many, then return to Heaven for a period. But this did not negate or nullify the promises that God had made to Israel regarding the role the Messiah would play in the future regarding her redemption, during "the times of refreshing". The Good News of the Kingdom was about both personal salvation for any individuals who accepted the Messiah, and national salvation for Israel in the end times.

It is here that the common Christian understanding of the gospel breaks down, in not appreciating the future aspects laid out in profuse detail by the Jewish prophets. But it is here that we can discover the awareness that being a Biblical Christian necessarily means being a Christian Zionist. This awareness only comes through a humble familiarity with the entire Bible.

In one of his explanations of the gospel, Paul linked it back to the covenant God had made with Abraham, a unilateral, unconditional covenant (as opposed to the bilateral, conditional covenant at the time of Moses). God declared to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through Abraham and his descendants. Specifically, one very special descendant, the Messiah, would provide the ultimate blessing to the nations by shining the light of the knowledge of God to the world. This blessing, available to both Jews and Gentiles, was a part of that covenant.

Yet another essential part of that same covenant, also unconditional, was the land God granted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is this land that is the point of contention today, as some parties try to abrogate that grant and wrest it away from Israel. Because the land grant was part of that same covenant that God made with Abraham that is the foundation of the Christian gospel, what is now called "Zionism" is also an essential part of the that plan. Certainly the fact that Israel now exists as a nation, against all odds, vindicates the assertion that the covenant with Abraham is still in force.

The reclamation of that special land plays a central role in the current unfolding drama of Bible prophecy. For it is through the fulfillment of those prophecies regarding that land that Israel will begin to understand that God is still personally and intimately concerned for her. Zionism is not just about ownership of land; it is about the plan of redemption for Israel.

From a Christian perspective, the return of the Messiah Jesus is an essential part of that plan, the ultimate fulfillment, and one that coincides with the promises made to Israel as well. "For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory." (Psalm 102:16 NIV) However, it is important that we do not support Israel for selfish reasons, thinking that if we do, our eschatological schedule will be advanced. We do desire his appearing and his kingdom, but we must never "use" the Jews to get what we want. Certainly it is valid to long for the coming of the Messiah, and the associated blessings that will fall on Israel, but not with ulterior motives. No, we love Israel and the Jewish people simply because God fills our hearts with love.

To summarize, many Christians cannot see how what we call Zionism and the Gospel fit together, although they are in essence one message, which is the message of the Bible. The good news of the Kingdom of God is not just about our "personal salvation" - though that is of course vital. But the good news of the Kingdom is much broader than that, and is articulated largely by the prophets of the Tanakh (Old Testament). The Son of David, King of the Jews, Moshiach, will rule from Mount Zion over a regathered, reinvigorated (spiritually) Israel, as well as over all Gentiles who have acknowledged him as King. That is the synthesis of the two messages, which are not really two, but one.

"On that day (the day of Messiah) a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity." (Zechariah 13:1 NIV)