Spiritual Warfare and Territorial Spirits (~5.5 MB) - Moriel Ministries

sen people does not necessarily translateinto the expressions of the forms of extremeChristian Zionism which Sizer describes.Moreover, a pro-Jewish theologicalstance is nowhere near as new as Sizerwould have us believe. He looks back tothe Puritans as the progenitors of a pro-Jewish doctrinal stance which he arguesreaches maturity in nineteenth centurydispensationalism. Yet arguably, supportfor the doctrine of the Jews as God’speople is the longstanding historic viewof the church which, ironically, led to terribleanti-Semitism excesses by medievalChristians frustrated that God’s very ownpeople had rejected Christ. Even that anti-Semite Martin Luther recognised the Jewsstill retained a special place in God’s hand.Sizer’s book also raises questionsabout his hermeneutical methodology.For example, as a typical covenantalist hebelieves most biblical prophecy has beenfulfilled already (this position is known aspreterism). A case in point is his interpretationof the abomination of desolation, referredto by Jesus in Matthew 24. Clearly,Jesus was alluding to the fall of Jerusalemto Titus in AD 70. Yet the passage also haseschatological significance: it is, after all,located in Matthew’s so-called eschatologicaldiscourse, and even a superficial readingdemonstrates Jesus is using a soon-tooccurevent to describe an eschatologicalscenario. Thus a Jewish understanding ofprophecy as repeated history which canhave several partial or illustrative fulfilmentsis lost on Sizer. Lest he think sucha view is clear evidence of someone unableto shed their dispensationalist mindset,one need only consider Isaiah 7:14,which found an expression in Isaiah’sday, but also when Jesus was born. Bothchildren represented a sign that markedthe salvation of God’s people Israel.This leads to another hermeneuticalproblem with the book. Sizer correctlyidentifies how a dispensationalist hermeneutic(like any other) can predeterminethe interpretation of the Bible. In thiscase, Sizer argues, a dispensationalistwill always read the Bible along Zionistlines, leading to a tunnel vision whichrejects all other interpretations. Yet Sizerfalls into precisely the very same trap,quite unable to break away from his ownstrongly covenantal hermeneutic, to theextent that his interpretation of biblicalprophecy is allegorised and preterisedalong established covenantal lines. Thus,Sizer engages in the very same dogmatichermeneutics he condemns, rather thanthe exegetical objectivity he appeals for.All this aside, Sizer’s book throwsdown the gauntlet to Christian Zionists,Calvin L. Smithand by extension, many Pentecostals,and thus merits closer inspection. Afterall, support for Jews as God’s people,and by extension the Jewish state, doesnot necessarily or automatically translateinto support for a secular government ofIsrael, which is arguably somewhat moretheologically difficult to justify. Asidefrom this book, there are several otherrecent academic Evangelical attempts topush anti-Zionism. There have been severaltheologically-meaty rebuttals, andChristians who support the Jews as God’speople do well to familiarise themselveswith the current debate and seek to defendtheir position persuasively and effectivelyin a manner which is exegeticallyand theologically viable and nuanced.Dr Calvin L. SmithEditor, Evangelical Review ofSociety and PoliticsCourse Director and Lecturer inTheologyThe Midlands Bible Collegewww.moriel.orgmoriel online• MORIEL is an evangelistic ministry topeople of other faiths, beginning with the Jewsand nominal (non-evangelical) Christians, suchas Roman Catholics and liberal Protestants. Wealso hold seminars on Messianic apologetics,and on Islamic evangelism, and cult evangelism• MORIEL seeks to plant Messianic fellowshipswhere none exist. These are “fellowships”and not congregations, designed to evangelizeJews and to provide a practical way for Jewishbelievers and those called to the Jews to preserveand express their identity in Yeshua as Messiah• MORIEL helps believers to plant churchesin situations where bible-based congregationsdo not exist. We call this Misgav Ladach;a Hebrewterm meaning “shelter for the oppressed”.• MORIEL will stand against serious doctrinalerror where it threatens the credibility ofthe gospel or undermines the authority of scripture.This will be particularly true concerning areaslikely to prove detrimental to Jewish evangelism- such as “Dual Covenant Theology” and“Christian Anti-Semitic”, and “Anti-Zionism”CommentaryDear Mr. Prasch,I just read your article you had writtenabout David Wilkerson. We had receivedhis pulpit newletters for over 20years and supported him financially. Asof about 2 or 3 years ago we cancelledour subscription to his newsletters. Wewere not really aware of what was goingon with him of what we read on the articleyou had written, but that his pulpitnewletters had changed so much we didn’twant them anymore and wondered whathad happened to him. We know about theconfrontation of his ministry and the “holylaughter” of Rodney Howard Brownewhen Browne was in N.Y. for a crusade,and also felt he changed after that. Is isso sad, what a day of apostacy we livein. We quit attending churches totallya few years ago and am amazed how thechurch is in apostacy. We are truly livingin the very last days before our LordJesus returns. I believe the deception thatwe are experiencing is nothing to whatis coming soon. Lord Jesus help us...Randy B.Dear J. Snith:Thank you for your letter.It is a shame how the mighty have fallen.We had long endorsed David and agreedwith his teaching, but you are right somethinghappened. If it happened to David,who can it not happen to? May the Lordpreserve us!We do agree that it is the time of the greatapostasy, but we agree even more with theLord in his direct command that we shouldnot forsake the gathering together of ourselves,especially as we see the day of theLord approach. Also, those who remainalone argue against all sound wisdom.While we understand that churches havemany problems, we do encourage peoplethe solution for bad church is not nochurch but good church. We hope and encouragepeople if they are not in church,to at least be in small group home fellowships,or bible studies.In Peace,DavidJ a c o bYour Letters ...L e t t e r s t oP r a s c hJune 2007 • Moriel Quarterly 15