US Synod Statement On Israel

In conclusion of the 2017 International Convocation of Puritan Synods the Puritan Church statement on the State of Israel has been adopted with 6 of 7 synods voting approval.

NY Times from May 14, 1948

Does Bible Prophecy Point to the Modern State of Israel?

TODAY the world nervously watches the Middle East. Rocket attacks, clashes of armed militias, and terrorist bombings are frequent occurrences. Add to this explosive mixture the very real possibility that nuclear weapons could be used. No wonder people everywhere are worried!

The world was also anxiously watching the Middle East in May of 1948. At that time, 62 years ago, the British mandate to occupy what was then called Palestine was ending, and war was imminent. The year before, the United Nations had authorized the creation of an independent Jewish State in a portion of the occupied territories. The surrounding Arab nations had vowed to prevent this at any cost. “The partition line shall be nothing but a line of fire and blood,” warned the Arab League.

It was Friday afternoon, May 14, 1948, at 4:00 p.m. The final hours of the British mandate were ticking away. In the Tel Aviv Museum, a small crowd of 350 onlookers were present by secret invitation for an eagerly anticipated announcement

David Ben-Gurion, the leader of Israel’s National Council, read The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel. It stated, in part: “We, members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Jewish Community of Eretz-Israel by virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.”

Fulfillment of Bible Prophesy?

Some Evangelical Protestants believe that the modern State of Israel thus fulfilled a Bible prophecy. For example, in the book Jerusalem Countdown, televangelist and mega-church leader John Hagee states: “This momentous occasion had been recorded by the pen of the prophet Isaiah, saying, ‘A nation shall be born in a day.’ (See Isaiah 66:8.) It was the greatest moment in prophetic history of the twentieth century. It was living evidence for all men to see that the God of Israel was alive and well.”

Is that statement true? Did Isaiah 66:8 predict the establishment of the modern State of Israel? Was May 14, 1948, the “greatest moment in prophetic history of the twentieth century”? If the modern State of Israel is still God’s chosen nation, and if he is using it to fulfill Bible prophecies, this would certainly be of interest to Bible students everywhere.

Isaiah’s prophecy states: 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) The verse is clearly foretelling the sudden birth of an entire nation, as if in a single day. But who would cause this birth? The next verse (Is 66:9) gives a clue: “Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.” God makes it clear that the dramatic birth of the nation would be his doing.

Modern Israel is governed as a secular democracy that officially makes no claim to rely on the God of the Bible. Did the Israelis in 1948 recognize God as the one responsible for their declaration of statehood? They did not. Neither the name of God nor even the word “God” was mentioned anywhere in the original text of the proclamation. The book Great Moments in Jewish History says this of the final text: “Even at 1:00 P.M. when the National Council met, its members could not agree about the wording of the proclamation of statehood. Observant Jews wanted a reference to ‘the God of Israel.’ Secularists balked. Compromising, Ben-Gurion decided that the word ‘Rock’ would appear instead of ‘God.’”

The modern State of Israel to this day bases its claim to statehood on a UN resolution and what it calls the “natural and historic right of the Jewish people”. Is it reasonable to expect that the God of the Bible would perform the greatest prophetic miracle in the 20th century in behalf of a people who refuse to give him credit?

How does Modern Claim To Statehood Compare

Modern Israel’s secular attitude contrasts sharply with the situation in 537 BC. Back then, the nation of Israel was indeed ‘reborn’ as if in a day after being devastated and depopulated by the Babylonians 70 years earlier. At that time, Isaiah 66:8 was strikingly fulfilled when the Persian conqueror of Babylon, Cyrus the Great, authorized the return of the Jews to their homeland. Ezra 1:2.

The Persian King Cyrus recognized God’s hand in the matter in 537 BC, and those who returned to Jerusalem did so for the express purpose of restoring the worship of God and rebuilding his temple. The modern State of Israel has never officially declared any such desire or intention.

Isn't Israel Still God's Chosen Nation and People?

In the year 33 AD, the fleshly nation of Israel lost its claim to be God’s chosen nation when it rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus put it this way: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. ” (Matthew 23:37, 38) Jesus’ statement came true when in 70 AD, Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem along with its temple and priesthood. This also was the genocide of all Hebrew lineage Jews as this occurred during the Passover Sabbaths. But what was to become of God’s purpose for Israel “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”? Exodus 19:5, 6.

The apostle Peter, himself a fleshly Jew, answered that question in a letter written to Christians. 1Peter 2:7-10: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Christians who were selected by the Holy Spirit thus belong to a spiritual nation, their membership not being determined by birth or geographic location. The apostle Paul described the matter this way: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Galatians 6:15, 16.

Whereas the modern nation of Israel offers to confer citizenship upon any natural or converted Jew, citizenship in what the Bible calls “the Israel of God” is given only to those who are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (1 Peter 1:2) Speaking of these members of the Israel of God, or spiritual Jews, Paul wrote: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:28, 29.

That verse helps us understand a controversial comment Paul made. In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained how the unbelieving natural Jews were like branches of a symbolic olive tree that were lopped off so that “wild” Gentile “branches” could be grafted in. (Romans 11:17-21) Concluding this illustration, he states: “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” (Romans 11:25, 26) Was Paul foretelling an eleventh hour mass conversion of the Jews to Christianity? Clearly, no such conversion has taken place.

By the expression “and so all Israel,” and so means in this manner Israel would be saved by individual Jews believing in Jesus Christ. Paul then meant all of spiritual Israel—Christians who have been selected by holy spirit. He was saying that the failure of the natural Jews to accept the Messiah would not thwart God’s purpose to have a spiritual ‘olive tree’ full of productive branches. This is in harmony with Jesus’ own illustration of himself as a vine whose nonproductive branches will be lopped off. Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ”—John 15:1, 2.

Although the establishment of the modern State of Israel was not foretold in the Bible, the establishment of the nation of spiritual Israel certainly was! If you identify and associate with that spiritual nation today, you will reap eternal blessings. Genesis 22:15-18; Galatians 3:8, 9.

Who Are the Puritans

The Congregational Episcopal Church receives many inquiries each month asking "Who are the Puritans?  I thought the Puritans are no longer in existence."

Well welcome to the Puritan Church in America.  Our "official" denominational name is The Congregational Episcopal Church.  We have a rich history which begins with the Puritans in England during the 17th century who fled England to France, Holland, and helped settle the American Colony (what is now the USA).

After the Anglican Church became the "official" church of the US colonies the Puritan movement broke into two factions.  One, the Congregationalists and the second, the Free Church.  Congregationalists kept much of the same traditions, although in 1842  it was seen that a leadership was needed so the Synod of Congregational Churches was formed with three "bishops", Presbyters, or elder pastors at the head.  Their presbyteries were in Plymouth, St. Louis, and Chicago.  Plymouth was the seat of the national office or Synod Office.  The Presbytery of Plymouth is still the main seat of the church, although the national synod is now headquartered out of Washington, DC.

Puritans during this time sought to protect their church completely from any government involvement and for this fact was able to help runaway slaves from the south find help in the New England states and in Illinois.  Puritans helped build and operate the "underground rail road".

After the Civil War, the title Puritan came to disuse because of negative connotations of a strict life without pleasure.  Congregational and Congregationalist were adopted as "official" monikers by the national synod.

In 1957 there was a three way split with the Congregational Church.  The nonprofit incorporating of churches and government accreditation of seminaries was the primary reason. One denomination became the (United) Church of Christ, the second the Community of Congregational Churches, and the Puritan Church in America (Congregational Episcopal Church).

Our churches are usually the homes of our pastors and none are 501 C3 corporations. Donations are given directly to the pastor who distributes donations as they see fit.  Our seminaries and bible schools are not accredited by any government agency.  We prefer home schooling to secular public schools.  We still insist on the King James (Authorized) translation of scriptures.  Although we do use the Douhey-Rheims for the apocrapha books.

The Puritan Church in America was the smallest of the new churches although it kept and is considered the protector of Puritan values and practice.  Our churches have no instrumentation with all hymns sung acapella, although instruments are allowed in moderation.  Puritans do not wish the music to take away the worship aspect of hymns.  Christmas and Easter are very solemn celebrations and Puritans have no decorating or special gifts in the churches, although individual Puritans may have very modest home decorations.

The Puritans believe God and His worship are important enough to reserve at least one full day out of the week, and we joyfully devote Sunday to the Lord. Sermons are central to the intellectual life of the Puritans are usually one to one and a half hours in length.  Our faith can be summed up in the Westminster Confession, and the Nicene Creed is the "official" creed of the church.

In keeping with their belief that every area of life should be molded by Christian principles, Puritans see all honorable work as a means of glorifying God. All of life is God's, and there is no distinction between secular and sacred work. God calls each person to a particular vocation or occupation, and the Christian should act as a careful steward of the talents and gifts God has given him. Working in one's calling or vocation is a means of serving God and men. Idleness is considered a great sin; diligence in one's calling a virtue.

Puritans believe in charity that will create independence and break dependence.  All works of charity are done with the benefit of the receiver and not as a means to buy one's way into the favor of Christ.  Puritans believe the home is the primary church, and the meeting house is simply a place where we come together to worship Jesus Christ.

Organized like a miniature church, the family is the most basic institution in Puritan society and is organized like a miniature church. Established by God before all other institutions and before man's fall, the family is the foundation of all civil, social, and ecclesiastical life. In the morning and evening the family assembles together for prayer, and on Sunday the family joins other families in worship.  Husbands are the head of the family, and we profess one marriage between one man and one woman.  Divorce is forbidden except in cases of adultery, and then only if reconciliation is refused by the cheated spouse.  

The End Times

We have received many emails asking about our outlook on the end times and if we think we are in the end times.  Well, we are in the end times, and we have been since Jesus ascended to His Father's kingdom.  To believe we know when Christ will return, no we do not and no other  human being does either.

One has always needed to be careful when predicting the end times.  Our Lord promised His return and in so doing made it clear that we would not know the moment nor hour.  Through history some predicted and were always wrong about the return of the Lord.  William Miller became shamed when his date in 1844 failed to show that Christ would return.  The year 1910 came and went and the Jehovah Witness Church almost fell apart completely because of false predictions.  Hal Lindsey saw the 1980s completely pass by with no return of Jesus.  May then August 2011 came and went and Harold Camping was wrong about the rapture happening.

There have been some powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and other natural disasters recently, but they aren’t unique to our time. Because population density is much higher today than in past centuries, more people tend to be killed when natural disasters occur.

People of Jesus’ day were superstitious and believed that natural events contained clues about the future. When Jesus’ disciples asked him what the signs of the end of the age would be, Jesus gave them a careful response:

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:4-13 nkjv).

Jesus may have realized that the disciples would expect the destruction ofJerusalemand the temple to occur in close conjunction with His return and the end of the age. To make it clear to them that they shouldn’t linkJerusalem’s fall with His second coming, He told them specifically not to trust false Christs. He also warned them not to think manmade catastrophes such as wars or natural catastrophes such as famines, epidemics, or earthquakes meant the end of the age had arrived. Such catastrophic events should not be viewed as “the birth pains of the Messiah,” as the Jews sometimes viewed them, but as “the beginning of the birth pains” (v.8 niv) of events that would take place throughout history. Christians should be prepared for these things and for the severe persecution that would rise against the church from time to time.

What Jesus prophesied came true—Israelwas judged andJerusalemdestroyed in the Jewish-Roman wars. Yet, as He said, the horrors of siege and battle along with the natural disasters of that period were in fact only the “beginning of the birth pains.” Thousands of catastrophic events of all types—wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes—have occurred in the intervening centuries, some of them apocalyptic in scale.

Earthquakes:

Antioch,Syria, ad 525, 250,000 killed;

Aleppo,Syria, 1138, 230,000 killed;

Shaanxi Province,China, 1556, 830,000 killed.

Famines:

“Great Famine” of Europe, ad 1315–17, millions died;

Indian famine of 1896–1902, millions died;

Chinese famine under Chairman Mao, 1958–61, 20-40 million died.

Pandemics:

Antonine Plague (smallpox),Roman Empire, ad 165–180, 5 million died;

Plague of Justinian, 541–542, 25 million died;

Black Death, the Middle East andEurope, 1338–1351, 100 million died.

Wars:

Thousands of wars and armed conflicts since the time of Jesus Christ have caused millions of deaths.

People who lived during these times can be excused for suspecting that they were living in the end time. However, the wisdom of Jesus’ words of caution regarding the linkage of human or natural disasters with the arrival of the end time has endured. His declaration that we cannot know the day or hour of His return (Matthew 24:36) is as applicable to us today as it was to the apostolic church.