Christian Zionism - New Life Tabernacle of Chattanooga

Chapter 1: Introduction
‘As the navel is set in the centre of the human body,
so is the land of Israel the navel of the world ...
situated in the centre of the world,
and Jerusalem in the centre of the land of Israel,
and the sanctuary in the centre of Jerusalem,
and the holy place in the centre of the sanctuary,
and the ark in the centre of the holy place,
and the foundation stone before the holy place,
because from it the world was founded.’ 1
This quotation from the Talmud, called the Midrash Tanchuma, epitomises
the deep resonance many Jewish people have felt for the land of Israel, the
city of Jerusalem and the Temple from their exile in AD 70 to the present day.
It also explains, in part, the motivation behind the Zionist movement as well
as the reason for the continuing Arab-Israeli conflict.
In this critical investigation of evangelical Christian Zionism from 1800
in Britain and America, this introduction will give an overview of the thesis;
define Zionism and Christian Zionism; appraise the significance of Christian
Zionism as a movement; assess the present state of research; explain the
research aims and methodology; note the author’s contribution so far and
summarise the intended outcomes.
1. An Overview of the Thesis
This thesis will examine Christian Zionism in three chapters dealing with the
history, theology and politics of the movement. Chapter 2 will trace the
historical development of Christian Zionism since 1800 and its transition from
British sectarianism to mainstream American Evangelicalism. Chapter 3 will
assess seven basic theological tenets that distinguish the various strands
within the Christian Zionist movement: an ultra-literal and futurist 2
hermeneutic; a belief that the Jews remain God’s chosen people;
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2
Midrash Tanchuma, Qedoshim. Cited on http://www.templemount.org
‘Futurism’ is the method of interpretation in which the events recorded in prophetic
Scripture, especially the Book of Revelation, are understood to describe future events at
the end of history just prior to the return of Christ. This is in contrast to a preterist
position which regards these same events as having been fulfilled in the Early Church.
See Robert G. Clouse, ed., The Meaning of the Millennium, (Downers Grove, Illinois,
IVP, 1977) and C. Marvin Pate, ed., Four Views of the Book of Revelation, (Grand
Rapids, Zondervan, 1998).
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