A few weeks ago, Ted Cruz was interviewed by Tucker Carlson, and Carlson challenged Cruz about his support for the modern-day nation of Israel. Cruz brought up presumably Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 27:29-30 and Genesis 28:13-16, the idea and a prophecy that God will bless them that bless Israel, and curse them that curse Israel.
On social media, many are talking about this conversation, and most are critical of supporting Israel simply because of this idea from the Bible, what they describe pejoratively as "Christian Zionism". Some who consider themselves Christian such as Catholics are adamant that Christian Zionism and dispensationalism, as they put it, are heresies. But actually it is they who are wrong.
To begin with, in Genesis 12:1-3, God is speaking to Abram, who would later be renamed Abraham and who would spawn the bloodline of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a holy bloodline that would even birth the Son of man Jesus Christ.
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars [the holy bloodline, the 12 tribes of Jacob]: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child [the Son of man Jesus Christ], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Revelation 12:1-5
Jacob would also be renamed by God, in his case, "Israel", meaning one that wrestles with God.
When you read Genesis 12:1-3 with Genesis 27:29-30 and also with Genesis 28:13-16, you can see that it is the bloodline of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that is special, as opposed to merely the bloodline of Abraham, because Abraham had children and descendants from 3 different women: Sarah, Hagar and Keturah.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 12:1-3
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
Genesis 27:29-30
And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Genesis 28-13-16
So, it is the lineage of Jacob, also known as Israel, that is special. He would have 12 sons, which would become the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel's Messiah, the Son of man Jesus Christ, would come from the tribe of Judah, the same tribe of David.
Now, this does not mean that every individual of the line of Israel is what Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 27:29-30, and Genesis 28:13-16 are about. Cruz mistakenly assumes this, and concludes that the modern-day nation of Israel, which is populated mostly by Jews, as in the descendants of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, is the "great nation" referred to in Genesis 12:2.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram... I will make of thee a great nation...
Genesis 12:1-2
The truth is, the "great nation" that would come from Abram must now be "the kingdom of God", which will begin on the day of the LORD, or in other words, at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Yes, it was supposed to be another way, and this explains the mentioning of "a great nation" in Genesis 46:3.
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
Genesis 46:2-4
But that was plan A, which did not work out because of the mistakes of David and Solomon. We are now at plan B, a "new covenant".
This new great nation that will be begin on the day of the LORD will be populated largely by a remnant of Jews of these last days, individuals of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, every one chosen by God to live on in his kingdom and receive the Holy Spirit. I say, largely because God will also include in his kingdom other humans, particular descendants of Ishmael and also other Gentiles that are currently living in parts of the promised land and that have been afflicted and poor. In addition, there will be the 144000 saints, each saint a descendant of one of the 12 tribes of Jacob, including the 10 tribes lost in 722 BC. Every one of the saints will be a celestial being rather than a human being. The saints will serve the kingdom of God as soldiers, while human Jews will serve as priests and ministers. So, this is the great nation that will be formed in one day, the day of Christ.
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
Isaiah 66:8
Now, some people think Isaiah 66:8 - that a new nation of Zion will be born in one day - was fulfilled in 1948, when the modern-day nation of Israel gained independence from the British Empire. That is not correct. Nor for that matter was Isaiah 66:8 fulfilled in 1967, when the city of Jerusalem was conquered by the IDF as a result of the Six Day War. The 1967 war was Psalms 83, which to be sure is about "a nation" described as "Israel". And Psalms 83 also describes Israel as God's people: "thy people". All of this is because some number of Jews of today's nation of Israel will make it into the coming kingdom of God, and at that time these individuals will have the Holy Spirit.
For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance... So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Psalms 83:1-18
But, going back to Isaiah 66:8, notice the idea of birth pangs: the word "travailed". Birth pangs mean, Isaiah 66:8 is an end time prophecy, not something that occurred decades ago, in 1967 or 1948. So, the Zion that will be born in one day must be the kingdom of God, the realm that will be established on the day of the Christ.
Now, when the kingdom of God begins, with Jesus Christ in celestial form reigning on the throne, those who bless this new house of Jacob will be blessed, and those who curse this new house of Jacob will be cursed!
In Psalms 72:10-11, although that may have been meant for Solomon's kingdom, ie. plan A, you can see nations such as Tarshish (England) and Sheba (Tigray, Ethiopia) bringing gifts to Zion, not unlike a tribute or a tithe. Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 27:29 are about this sort of thing.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
Psalms 72:10-11
Furthermore, in Zechariah 14:16-19, it is written that those nations that refuse to come up to Jerusalem to worship the king, whom at first will be Jesus Christ but eventually God the Father, will be cursed with "no rain" and possibly even with some kind of "plague". This means, the nations that were defeated at Armageddon and have not been destroyed must also come. In other words, Muslims must renounce Islam and begin to worship Jesus Christ, or else they will be cursed and ultimately starved to death.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Zechariah 14:16-18
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
Psalms 22:27-29
So here, you can see the idea expressed in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 27:29.
Unfortunately, today, because of demons and prosperity gospel types, Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 27:29 are being misappropriated for the sake of church fundraising.
Another thing is, due to the doctrinal errors of Augustine, most of Christendom now subscribe to the eschatology of ammillennialism and what has come to be known as Replacement Theology.
To those that are under the impression that the church has replaced Israel, let me point out that in Romans 11, it is expressly stated that Christians are not to be highminded nor to boast against the natural branches of the olive tree, namely the Jews, because God intends to graft some of the Jews back in.
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid... God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:1-5
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Romans 11:11-12
When Jews are graffed back in, they will be graffed in as "natural branches". But when Gentiles are graffed in as Christians, they will be graffed in "contrary to nature". The point here is that Jews and Christians are not graffed in the same way! What is this about? This is about the kingdom of God and the greater commonwealth of Israel, something that ammillennialists and the like have no understanding of.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Romans 11:17-24
So, the church has not replaced Israel. Granted, "blindness in part" has happened to Israel, but there are reasons for this.
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes... For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Romans 11:25-32
At any rate, when salvation does come to Israel, it will come directly from the Holy Spirit (ref. Joel 2:28-29, Zechariah 12:10) rather than from the pulpit of a Christian pastor.
So, Christian Zionism is not a heresy. It is actually the very gospel itself. The problem with churches nowadays is that nobody understands what the gospel is anymore. As the Bible prophesies of the last days, all of Christendom has fallen into apostasy. The gospel as Jesus Christ himself preached in his day as the Son of man, and also as John the Baptist preached when he was preparing the way, fully expressed is literally "the gospel of the kingdom of God".
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:14-15
The kingdom of God will be a special nation of Jacob that God will establish, and all the nations of the world are to flow to it.
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:1-3
The fact of the matter is that Christians are to support Zion, even as it is today, because some portion of today's Zion will become the kingdom of God!
Even the LORD's prayer, that Catholics are fond of praying, is essentially about the coming of this kingdom.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10
So, every Christian must be a Zionist. For at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Zion will become the kingdom of God, literally "The Zion of the Holy One of Israel".
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 60:12-14
It will be through this forthcoming Zion, and the power of God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that the world will be saved.
Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Zechariah 8:22-23
If you think evil can be defeated merely through argument and rhetoric, you have no idea what is going on.