Zionist Christian Beliefs

The Zionist Christian faith are Christians that believe that the return of Jews to the State of Israel (Holy Land) in 1948 is in accordance with the bible’s prophecy. Prior to that time the common term was Restorationism.

Ideas favoring the restoration of the Jews in the Palestine or Land of Israel entered the British public discourse in the 1830's, though British reformationists had written about the restoration of the Jews as early as the 16th century, and the idea had strong support among Puritans

Some of the Zionist Christian faith believe that the gathering of Jews in Israel is a prerequisite for the Second Coming of Jesus. This belief is primarily, though not exclusively, associated with Christian Dispensationalism.

The idea that Christians should actively support a Jewish return to the Land of Israel, along with the parallel idea that the Jews ought to be encouraged to become Christian, as a means fulfilling a Biblical prophecy has been common in Protestant circles since the Reformation.

The Roman Catholic study Bible as well as the doctrines of most mainline Protestant denominations caution that Revelation in the bible is an allegory. However, some Christians, including many evangelicals and fundamentalists, read Revelation as a prophetic script containing a timetable to the future End Times.

Many Zionists believe that for the Second Coming or the End of Days to occur it is necessary that Jews be converted to Christianity. However, a few prominent Zionists do not believe this is so.

In United States politics, Christian Zionism is important because it mobilizes an important Republican constituency: fundamentalist and evangelical Protestants who support Israel. The Democratic Party, which has the support of most American Jews, is also generally pro-Israel, but with fewer theological underpinnings.

The government of Israel has given official encouragement to Christian Zionism, allowing the establishment in 1980 of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. The main function of the embassy is to enlist worldwide Christian support for Israel. The embassy has raised funds to help finance Jewish immigration to Israel from the former Soviet Union, and has assisted Zionist groups in establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Prominent American Christian Zionists are: