In the many centuries of their Roman enforced separation from the Promised Land, the Jews never ceased to mourn the loss of their national homeland, and never gave up hope of a return to the land of their ancestry. The prayer book of Jewish Synagogue is replete with petitions to God for the restoration of the people to the land of Israel, and thereafter for the rebuilding of the fallen temple.

In 1897 Theodore Herzl wrote “Der Judenstat” (the Jewish State) which gave birth to the modern movement of Political Zionism. The revival of Zionism was induced by the plague of persecution heaped upon Jewry through anti-Semitism in Europe and Russia.

The onslaught of Satanic evil unleashed upon the world in 1914-1918 during World War I actually was utilized by God almighty to avail the land of Palestine to the nation of Great Britain. Great Britain under the auspices of the League of Nations was authorized to effect the Palestine Mandate. This mandate sought to resolve the Jewish problem in Europe by according the Zionist Congress with a national homeland in Palestine. So, in essence God used WWI to prepare the land to receive the people of Zion. Although the land was ready for the Jewish people, the people themselves were not quite ready to return. Judaism expected the Messiah to prepare the agency of that return. Then came the dark days of WWII, an era of unprecedented evil that saw the forces of Satan attempt to wipe out the people of Zion. But again, God utilized that terrible evil to place the people back into the land and to re-fashion the nation of Zion amongst the community of nations of the world on May 14, 1948.

Then in 1975, at the behest of the Arab world, the United Nations equated Zionism with racism. This resolution stated unequivocally, that the zeal of Zionists to rebuild Israel in the Promised Land is tantamount to racism against the Arabic-Muslim peoples, and an obstruction to peace in the world. In 1990 the UN repealed that resolution prior to the 1991 Persian Gulf War against Iraq.

At the United Nations World Conference against Racism, held recently in Durban, South Africa, tiny Israel again was specifically singled out as today's number one villain of world racism. Thousands took to the streets with banners calling Israel an apartheid state, comparing Zionism to racism and calling for the indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon.

UN Secretary General Kofi Anan, in his opening speech, used Israel as the poster country to single out for racism, condemning it for occupying, displacing, blockading and utilizing genocide and ethnic cleansing upon the Palestinians.

He further upbraided Israel for using the Holocaust as a means to overwork the world-sympathy issue, while it used similar tactics against the Palestinians. The draft resolutions of the conference mention no other country but Israel, blaming it for "ethnic cleansing" and executing its own holocaust upon the Palestinian people.

In reality it is the Arab countries themselves that brought about the atrocities on the Palestinian people. Israel never wanted conflict and never initiated any wars. The Arab countries, refusing to accept the Partition Plan approved by the UN, started the 1948 war, hell-bent on destroying Israel. The Arab countries have continuously provoked Israel and brought about each war and conflict since then, never for a moment giving up their dream of cleansing the Middle East of its purported cancer, the Jewish people. All the atrocities, those experienced by Israelis and Palestinians, were brought about by the leaders of the Arab people. Israel fought in self-defense. It is still, unfortunately, fighting on the defensive.

Today, Israel does not want to occupy the Palestinians, nor does it want to blockade their cities. Yet the constant threat of an attack on a passenger bus, or an explosion on a street, or a suicide blast in some inconspicuous shopping center leaves Israel with only one choice, simply to act to defend itself. So who is to blame? Leaders of Palestinian terrorist groups who send their suicide bombers to blow up women and children, or the leaders of Israel who are merely doing their best to ensure that their people can live without the constant threat of violence?

What is the problem with Zionism? Why does it stir up so much hatred and passion in the world? Why is the nation of Israel such a controversial dynamic in our world today? It is quite well known that this dilemma is rooted in thousands of years of religious history. But what exactly is the root of all of these complex problems concerning Zion? As I alluded to in a previous article, “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken”, it is a dilemma rooted in Divine Providence! God has chosen Jerusalem and Mt. Zion to be the manifest parallel of the Divine in the eternal realm. The controversy over Zion and Jerusalem exemplifies the reality that there is an ever intensifying supernatural conflict concerning the one whose right it is to rule in Zion!

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

That precious cornerstone, which was foreordained before the foundation of the world, is Jesus Christ! Therein lies the whole problem! This world, its nations, its religions, and its peoples are not sympathetic to the right of Jesus Christ to reign in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. This plain fact was pointed out by the apostle Paul in his writings to the Romans.

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I ( God ) lay in Zion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence: (Jesus Christ) and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Thus Zion is a stone of offence to this whole world. While the world can find an accommodation and tolerance with, or for any of man-kinds humanistic philosophies or religiosity, it simply cannot condone the fact that God has manifest his own son in human flesh, allowed him to be sacrificed for sin, bore him away to Heaven via the resurrection awaiting the great Day of the Lord, when he shall return unto his people Israel, whereupon he shall become the reigning King in Zion!

And the obstacle for people toward that accommodation is their complicity with the conspiratorial rebellious scheme of the God of this world, Satan himself, to usurp the throne of God. The Luciferic Conspiracy began in the Heavenly Zion and is now increasingly focused on the earthly Zion.

Obviously included within that conspiracy are those who equate Zionism with racism. The UN sponsored conference on Racism was commandeered by radical elements of real racists. The assembly branded Zionism as being based solely upon a religious teaching that elevates Jewry to a position of racial superiority. The very same nations that have sought to rewrite history by indicating that the Holocaust never really happened, were the same nations represented at the racism conference demanding that Israel be liquidated, and the Jews be exterminated. It reminds me of another conference that was held in Germany in 1938. At the Wansee Conference of Nazi Germany, Palestinian Chief Mufti Haj al-Husseini met with Adolph Hitler to discuss the means of annihilating the Jews of Palestine as well as those in Europe. Once the plan was drawn up, it was called the "Final Solution." But even the Nazis couched their plans in less-open terms than do the anti-Zionists of today. Terms like "killing," "extermination" and so forth were never again used in public or committed to paper by the Nazi's. They sought to keep secret their evil scheme until it was too late for anyone to obstruct their mission. The Arab states today are far more explicit in their language describing their ultimate plans for Israel. Listen to Yasser Arafat himself: “Our struggle against Zionism is not a struggle about borders, nor about peaceful co-existence, it is a struggle about the existence of Israel”! “Peace to us only means the total extermination of Israel”! Furthermore, many of the fanatical Muslim clerics declare that Holy Jihad must be waged by the Islamic faithful to eradicate the Middle East of the Zionist state altogether. This agenda has historically been the dream of Satan ever since the “enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman” first raised its head of conspiracy. ( Genesis 3:15 ) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Yahweh God, by his mere choosing the Woman (Israel) is the real target of this targeted hatred.

In a conference that was intended to denounce racism and prejudice, we witnessed instead the open and blatant hatred which yet prevails in our world against God's chosen people. This is racism that reeks of the discrimination that Jews have experienced throughout their history. When I hear and see so many of our world leaders and thousands of their followers point to Israel as the villain in the Middle East conflict, while at the same time tolerating the terrorists threats, and the persistent rumors of war that is associated with terror organizations, I cannot help but realize that Satan is already gathering steam for his final war on the remnant of Israel. But let there be heard a word of caution to all anti-Zionists:

Psalms 129:5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Anti-Zionists will find themselves squarely positioned in the storm of the wrath of almighty God. Acts 2:34-35; Mark 12:36; Psalms 110: 1-2; Matthew 5:25 all allude to the idea that God will put down all enemies of Zion, and make them the footstool of Jesus Christ when he comes to reign in Zion. The world will become the footstool of Israel and heavenly Zionism!

Still, the conspiracy of Satan permeates much of the human race, and compels mankind to engulf himself in the program of evil against God's anointed! But God is not mocked! The Psalmist states: The heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing, the kings and rulers take counsel together against Israel, conspiring to cut Israel asunder; but God sitteth in the heavens and laughs in derision, because his son hath already perfected salvation, and will soon return unto Zion!

Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion

This is the reason that Christians should pray for the peace of Jerusalem! (Psalms 122:6) For hundreds of years, Jews have prayed the prayers of David, asking; how long Oh Lord wilt thou not remember Zion? The day of the Lords return to Zion is set in stone, and it draws nearer as the world gathers itself together in total opposition to Israel's mere existence.

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the Day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Joel 3:16-17 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

That there seems to be a great many evidences to show that we have reached the period in the great roll of the centuries, when the ever-living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is up lifting his strong right hand to bring his people from afar, to plant them in their own land, and to return his Divine attention once again to Zion, is indisputable. None other people under Heaven can boast of such high authority to their earthly inheritance, for it is rooted in the Holy Word of God, and that very same God has planted them back in the land of Zion, because it is time for their King to return!

The Jewish people and the land are inseparable! Providentially the aim of God is the establishment of the Zionist Kingdom on this earth, a kingdom which shall have no end.

Luke 1:32-33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Isaiah 2:3 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.

Psalms 132:13-14 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Psalms 69:35-36 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

No wonder that there is such a controversy over Zion! Surely the most frustrated creature in the entire cosmos would have to be Satan. He has conspired to utilize every evil means his wicked cadre of associates can hatch to thwart the Divine plan of God to fulfill his covenant with Abraham, and through that reality to bless all nations through the King of Zion. Satan will soon give up on his anti-Zionist stance, and seek to perpetrate a deceptive evil plot to establish his own king in Zion. Having seduced Israel into an illicit covenant, Satan will once again think that he has conquered Jesus Christ. But then just like he did back on Calvary, Jesus Christ will crush the head of the ole serpent with a mighty vengeance! The Lord is jealous over Zion, and he will deal harshly with the enemies of Zion.

Zechariah 1:14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

Zechariah 8:2-3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Almighty Yahweh God, who chose Israel to proclaim to the world his existence, his revelation of prophecy, his priesthood, his blessings, his Holy Word, and finally his own precious son shall soon choose to return his Son to Israel, whereupon he will upbuild the fallen tabernacle of David and establish his throne upon Mount Zion. Finally at long last the promises that Yawweh made to the Old Testament prophets of Israel concerning Zion will be realized. Daniel prophesied that Israel would cut off their Messiah in mid-stream, leaving half of his mission to this old world still as yet unaccomplished. But soon it will become fulfilled!

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to “anoint the most Holy”.

These six things remain to be accomplished in our world. Sin, iniquity, transgressions, unrighteousness, completion of prophecy, and un-holiness abound in our world today. That is because the whole world is confederated together against the rightful King of Zion!

The Most Holy is soon to be Anointed! He was rejected two thousand years ago when Israel conspired with Satan, and joined him in crucifying the only begotten son of God, but the day is fast approaching when Israel will mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son. ( Zechariah 12:10-11 )

Psalms 102:13-16 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

Psalms 14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Zechariah 1:17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Yes, there is a “Set” time for God to favor Zion. The setting for that re-choosing of Zion commenced with the return of the Jewish nation in 1948, and using Jesus own analogy, that set time comes like a woman in travail with child. The child that is depicted as causing Israel's labor pains today is Mt. Zion!

Oh but there cometh out of Zion a great Deliverer! Zionism stirs deep within my heart and soul, for I know that the Lord awaits me on the beautiful hill of Zion. I take heart in the ages old songs about Zion.

THERE WAITS FOR ME A GLAD TOMORROW, WHERE GATES OF PEARL SWING OPEN WIDE, AND WHEN I'VE PASSED THIS VALE OF SORROW, I'LL GO TO DWELL UPON THE OTHER SIDE.

SOME DAY I'LL HEAR THE ANGELS SINGING, BEYOND THE SHADOWS OF THE TOMB, AND ALL THE BELLS OF HEAVEN RINGING, WHILE SAINTS ARE SINGING, “HOME SWEET HOME”.

SOMEDAY MY LABORS WILL BE ENDED, AND ALL MY WANDERINGS WILL BE O'ER, AND ALL EARTH'S BROKEN TIES BE MENDED, AND I SHALL SIGH AND WEEP NO MORE.

SOMEDAY THE DARK CLOUDS WILL BE LIFTED, AND ALL THE NIGHT OF GLOOM BE PAST, AND ALL LIFE'S BURDENS WILL BE LIFTED, THE DAY OF REST SHALL DAWN AT LAST.

SOMEDAY BEYOND THE REACH OF MORTAL KEN, SOMEDAY GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN, THE WHEELS OF MORTAL LIFE SHALL ALL STAND STILL, AND I SHALL GO TO DWELL ON ZION'S HILL.

I want to be with my precious redeemer, and I want to hear him say “well done my child”, and I long for the day when he will bring peace to this ole world, and he will live and reign upon Mount Zion, but I also know that the enemy is targeting all lovers of Zion, and is trying to steal Zion's hope.

But until then, we can all carry a song in all of our hearts, a song about our wondrous new home that awaits just over the hill: “Were marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion, were marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God”! Psalms 50:22 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined! Amen!