Pacea Ierusalimului

Cât de aproape suntem de venirea Domnului? Cei ce au fost martori la războiul de șase zile au crezut în apropiata venire a Domnului. Mai multe persoanlități din lumea evanghelică americană au organizat în 1971 o conferință la Ierusalim, despre care puteți citi mai jos, în care au arătat că nădejdea creștinilor și a evreilor este Isus Mesia. Până și primul ministru al Israelului, Ben Gurion, a fost impresionat de sionismul evanghelic! 

1971 Jerusalem Conference on Biblical Prophecy 

A conference took place in Jerusalem in 1971 called the Jerusalem Conference on Biblical Prophecy and a book was produced entitled,Prophecy in the Making, which included most of the messages given at the conference and was edited by Carl F.H. Henry, who at the time was the most respected evangelist in the United States, other than perhaps Billy Graham.

The speakers at the Jerusalem Conference on Biblical Prophecyrepresented a broad spectrum of evangelical views on prophecy and the end times. The well respected, W. A. Criswell, who at the time was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, was a main speaker, along with Charles Feinberg, the Dean of Talbot Theological Seminary (now the Talbot School of Theology – part of Biola University). Wilbur Smith, John F. Walvoord, who at the time was president of Dallas Theological Seminary, Arnold T. Olson, president of the Evangelical Free Church and Sam Wolgemuth, the president of Youth for Christ, all spoke as well. These leading lights of American evangelicalism believed in a more premillennial, dispensational approach to Scripture.

It is also fascinating to take note of the members of the "Call Committee" including John Alexander, president of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Dr. Hudson T Armeding, president of Wheaton College, Dr. James M. Boice, pastor of 10th St. Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Bill Bright, president, of Campus Crusade for Christ, Arthur S. De Moss, president of the National Liberty Corporation, Rev. Richard E Halverson, pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C., Rev. D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Dr. Paul Smith, pastor of the People's Church, Toronto, Ontario. Dr. G. Douglas Young, president of the American Institute of Holy Land Studies, hosted this event in Israel.

This list is perhaps a "Who's Who" of leading evangelicals of this period of time, which was so critical in the life of Israel and of the United States. It is astounding to think that the leading evangelical theologians of the day attended this conference on prophecy and formed a united front in spite some of their theological differences.

1971 was a turbulent year for many reasons. However, it was also a season of heightened spiritual activity as the Jesus movement was in full swing. Undoubtedly, one major part of the sociopolitical conditions that caused so many young adults to be open to the Gospel was the existence of the modern state of Israel and especially the recent victory during the Six-Day War. At the time, Hal Lindsay's book, The Late Great Planet Earth,was also quite influential, though popular in nature, which may have been the reason why Lindsay was not one of the speakers.

In his book, Evangelicals and Israel: The Story of American Christian Zionism, Stephen Spector, Professor of English Stony Brook University, describes the history of evangelical Christian support for Israel and views this conference as a turning point in evangelical relationships with Israel.

He writes,

Premillennialist’s interest in Israel increased dramatically after the Six-Day War, and Israeli officials encourage this friendship. Many evangelicals believed that God fought alongside Israel and it's dramatically quick victory – in stark contrast to the United States quagmire in Vietnam. Ben-Gurion, maintaining his connection with Christian Zionists after retiring from office, addressed the group of 1,400 Christians at the Jerusalem Conference on Biblical Prophecy in 1971. It's organizer, a Pennsylvania minister named Gaylord Briley, promoted the conference as “a ringside seat at the second coming." Undeterred by this overtly Christian theology, the Israeli government provided the Jerusalem convention center free of charge as the conference site. Ben-Gurion was the highlight of the event, welcoming the participants and stressing that Israel is the land of the Bible. The former Prime Minister evidently remained fascinated by Christian Zionism until his death. When he died in 1973, Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth was on his reading table.

The second coming of Christ was the focus of the conference and the role of Israel was a primary, yet secondary concern. It was a day when evangelicals loved the Bible, expositional preaching, prophecy, and bringing the words of scripture to bear on current events.

Admittedly, conditions have changed in the Middle East, within the nation of Israel and the global evangelical movement. Yet, the scriptures never change and the hope evangelicals have for the soon return of the Messiah Jesus, although intensified because of world conditions in some areas, is in dire need of re-ignition for North American and Western evangelicals.

Rejoice – things will not stay the same because He is coming again!

(Excerpts from a letter of Mitch Glasser of Chosen People Ministries).

Spre deosebire de acești înaintași evanghelici ce au înțeles chemarea creștinilor de a sprijini statul Israel, la ora actuală se ridică apostați care se dau drept evanghelici, și susțin terorismul palestinian din zonă sub pretextul că pledează pentru „dreptul” palestinienilor de a avea un stat propriu.  Curentul își recrutează faliți și din România: anglicani, crislamiști și alți dezechilibrați din punct de vedere teologic.