The Twofold Return To Zion

by J.L. Ferguson, Barrhead | Category: General | Jun 1971

The Education Department of the Jewish National Fund published a booklet some time ago entitled "A Nation Reborn". It is the story of how the State of Israel was established. It tells of Israel's loss of national independence following the destruction of the City and Temple in A.D. 70, of her subsequent dispersion, and of her age-long hopes and prayers for a Return to Zion. It points out that "Whilst the idea of the Return to Zion was shared by Jews everywhere, a movement designed actively to promote the resettlement of Jews in Palestine began to develop in Central and Eastern Europe from the beginning of the 19th Century. Rabbi Z. H. Kalischer (1795-1874) wrote in 1830 of the need for a return". Some 30 years later he published "Drishat Zion" ("Quest for Zion") urging, from a sense of deep conviction, "the formation of a society to train settlers and colonize Palestine As a result, a Zionist Society was established in Frankfurt-on-the-Oder in 1861". Around the same period other Jews, sharing the same vision, wrote in equally compelling terms.

In 1860 Theodor Herzl was born in Hungary. Early in life he examined deeply the Jewish Question and "his personal solution" was outlined in a booklet entitled "The Jewish State". Herzl suggested a return to Palestine and the revival of Jewish nationhood. This, he stated, would earn Jews the respect of other nations and equality with them.

The response to Herzl's proposition was gradual but effective and in 1897 the interest in Europe and America was so great that he was able in that year to gather several hundred Jews from all parts of the world to consider the matter. And so at Basle, Switzerland, the historic First "Zionist Congress" was held. The Basle Programme adopted at the gathering was: "To create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law". In his diary Herzl made this note: "At Basle I founded the Jewish State. If I were to say that today I would be met by universal laughter. In five years, perhaps, and certainly in fifty, everyone will see it". They did. Fifty years later the Jewish State was formed, David Ben Gurion making the official pronouncement in Tel Aviv on 14th May 1948. The formal recognition of independence brought to reality the dream of nineteen centuries for a Jewish State in the ancestral Homeland; but the flame was kindled in 1830.

So according to their own records the great Jewish awakening as to the return to the highways to literal, physical Zion became evident in 1830 and was brought to fruition in 1897, with subsequent development, as we all know. The ways of Zion are now throbbing with the multitudes of the returned exiles. This is significant in the light of scriptural predictions concerning the return of the Son of Man.

It was in November 1829 that the vision of the simpler and more scriptural manner of life and service for God's children began to find expression, in the gathering in Dublin of a few believers who met together to engage in a simple observance of the Breaking of the Bread and to share in other spiritual activities. This movement of the Spirit of God gained ground rapidly throughout the British Isles and overseas and companies of believers, in great numbers, took their stand in accordance with what they believed to be the Lord's will for them. Some saw deeper into the Way of God than others and to them came the vision also of the New Testament churches of God and the fellowship of these churches in a spiritual unity comprising God's house and the place of His rule. It was the vision of the highways to spiritual Zion.

They taught these truths orally and in the literature of the day, longing, with the passing of the years, to express them. But to the majority of God's beloved children such truths were not acceptable. So in the period 1892-94 the Separation took place, and the present testimony of the churches of God came into being, God's house built again in remnant times. God's people had come again to the service and joy of spiritual Zion. And, please God, when the Lord descends to take the Church which is His Body to be for ever with Himself, there will be found on the earth a people waiting for His coming, a people the foundation of whose beliefs are in that spiritual holy mountain and city.

We are able to look back today, a century removed from the happenings, and see with wonder and awe these two contemporary, but far from coincidental, movements in these historic periods. We recognize that the present return of Jews to Palestine is in the main political and materialistic, but we are, nevertheless, persuaded that in the second half of the nineteenth century Almighty God evidently moved mightily towards the re-establishment of Zion-physical Zion in the hearts of His ancient people Israel-spiritual Zion in the hearts of His present-day people. The mourning highways began again to rejoice. Truly, blessed are the eyes which see these things for we live in glorious days.

J.L. Ferguson, Barrhead | Jun 1971
General