{"id":11733,"date":"2015-02-14T18:03:50","date_gmt":"2015-02-14T18:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.watchmanmedia.org\/?p=11733"},"modified":"2018-05-22T16:55:18","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T16:55:18","slug":"britains-leading-role-restoration-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/watchmanmedia.org\/?p=11733","title":{"rendered":"Britain\u2019s Leading Role in the Restoration of Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"britainFor more than three centuries, Christians in Britain had nourished a vision, based on the Bible, that God desired to make of the Jewish people a sovereign nation once again in their own land. The church leaders\u2019 interest in the restoration had a background in the prophecies of the Old Testament, and were driven by the subsequent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, their interpretation of Scripture, a sense of justice, the desire to rectify the wrongs committed by Christians against God\u2019s chosen people, and a feeling of sympathy for the Jews and their aspirations.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, when John Owen (1616 \u2013 24 August 1683) who was a theologian, pastor and academic administrator at the University of Oxford, was preaching before the House of Commons in 1649, he spoke of \u201cthe bringing home of His ancient people to be one fold with the fullness of the Gentiles\u2026in answer to millions of prayers put up at the throne of grace for this very glory, in all generations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Revivalist and founder of the Methodist Church John Wesley stated in his notes on Romans:<\/span><\/p>\n

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So many prophecies refer to this grand event (of the restoration of Israel), that it is surprising any Christian can doubt of it. And these are greatly confirmed by the wonderful preservation of the Jews as a distinct people to this day. When it is accomplished, it will be so strong a demonstration, both of the Old and New Testament revelation, as will doubtless convince many thousands of Deists, in countries nominally Christian.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Robert Murray M\u2019Cheyne (21 May 1813 \u2013 25 March 1843) <\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

In 1839 the Church of Scotland sent a delegation, including R. M. M\u2019Cheyne, to the Holy Land on a mission of enquiry. Upon his return, he preached a sermon in Dundee on \u201cOur Duty to Israel,\u201d in which he said:<\/span><\/p>\n

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The greatest glory and joy anyone can experience is to be like God, and to care first for the Jews is to be like God\u2026. The whole Bible shows that God has a special affection for Israel\u2026. There are some, of course, who will say that God has a special affection for Israel\u2026others say that God has finished with Israel. But the whole Bible contradicts such as an idea: Did God reject His people? By no means! (Romans 11:1)\u2026. They will give life to the dead world: The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like the dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger from mankind (Micah 5:7)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bishop J. C. Ryle (10 May 1816 \u2013 10 June 1900) <\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

In May 1868 Bishop J. C. Ryle of the Church of England, and one of the prominent Bible teachers of the last 200 years, preached a sermon at Rectory Church, Mary-le-Bone, entitled \u201cScattered Israel to be Re-gathered,\u201d using Jeremiah 31:10 as his text. In it he said,<\/span><\/p>\n

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However great the difficulties surrounding many parts of unfulfilled prophecy, two points appear to my own mind to stand out as plainly as if written by a sunbeam. One of these points is the second personal advent of our Lord Jesus Christ before the Millennium. The other of these points is the future literal gathering of the Jewish nation, and their restoration to their own land.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He goes on to say,<\/span><\/p>\n

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Out of the sixteen prophets of the Old Testament, there are at least ten in which the gathering and restoration of the Jews in the latter days are expressly mentioned. I believe there is one common remark that applies to them all. They all point to a time which is yet in the future. They all predict the final gathering of the Jewish nation from the four quarters of the globe, and their restoration to their own land\u2026. I ask you, then, to settle it firmly in your mind, that when God says a thing shall be done, we ought to believe it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834\u20131892)<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Considered to be England\u2019s most influential non-conformist preacher, Charles Spurgeon voiced the question of the restoration of Israel as well. He linked the restoration of the nation of Israel with their acceptance of Christ as their Messiah. \u201cIt is certain that the Jews, as a people, will yet own Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of David as their King,\u201d he said, \u201cand that they will return to their own land, and they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the old cities, the desolations of many generations.\u201d Spurgeon reminded his listeners:<\/span><\/p>\n

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If the dispersion was a mark of God\u2019s judgment, according to the prophets, then Israel\u2019s return to the land is the mark of God\u2019s grace. In fact, so astounding will be the future return of Israel that it will make the exodus from Egypt seem small in comparison.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst Jews, which later came to be known as The Church\u2019s Ministry Among Jewish People, was also founded in 1809. The society began in the early nineteenth century when leading evangelicals, including members of the influential Clapham Sect, such as William Wilberforce and Charles Simeon, decided that there was an unmet need to promote Christianity among the Jews. The original vision of the society was to:<\/span><\/p>\n