Zionism founder says: "Salvation is to be by money"

William Eugene Blackstone, (1841-1935) was the author of the The Blackstone Memorial (1891), a petition advocating US government support for the resettlement of Jewish people in Palestine, which was signed by 413 prominent Christian and Jewish leaders in the United States. "He initially focused on the restoration of the Jews to the Holy Land as a prelude to their conversion to Christianity, out of a pious wish to hasten the coming of the Messiah." (Wikipedia)

Below is a quote from Blackstone's book Jesus is Coming which portrays some of the thinking that eventually gave rise to the establishment of the modern Jewish state in Palestine. [W. E. Blackstone, Jesus is Coming, F.H. Revell, Chicago, 1898. p. 173-174]

Zionism is a modern term expressing the national hopes and sentiments of the Jews.

These sentiments, however, are baased on widely different views, as held by the most extreme sections of the parties into which the Jews are divided.

As is well known the Jews have, in the past fifty years, become divided into three sections, viz.: the orthodox, the status quo, and the reformed.

The orthodox hold to the Old Testament Scriptures, as interpreted by the Talmud, as the literal Word of God, and also to the hopes and heritage of their ancestors founded thereon. They believe in the oft repeated utterances of the prophets, that some day they shall return to Palestine and become permanently settled as a holy and happy nation, under the sovereignty of their coming Messiah.

These hopes are the very core of their intensely religious life, and are embedded in the most solemn devotions of their prayer-book.

...

"O build Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed art Thou, O Lord!"

With such faithful and earnest prayers have these orthodox Jews kept alive the fires of devotion and the glorious hopes of restoration, while being driven up and down the earth with the rods of enmity ostracism and banishment. But for over seventeen centuries, while they have thus fervently prayed, they have made no effort to return to Palestine, believing that they should wait until God Himself, brought about their restoration by supernatural means.

About 200 years ago the persecutions began to abate, and in the eighteenth century they were generally emancipated from these various disabilities. With this coming of liberty, there was a noise and a shaking and the dry bones of Ezek. 37 began to come together.

The Universelle Israelite Alliance was organized in Paris in 1860, and later the Anglo-Jewish Association in England. Through these powerful organizations the Jews can make themselves felt throughout the world. And now, within a few years, there have been organized Chevevi (lovers of) Zion and Shova (colonizers of) Zion societies, mostly among orthodox Jews of Russia, Roumania, Germany, and even in England and the United States. This is really the first practical effort they have made to regain their home in Palestine.

In a few words, followers of the status quo are striving to reconcile the genius of Judaism with the requirements of modern times, and in Western Europe are in a great majority.

The Reformed Jews or Neologists have rapidly thrown away their faith in the inspiration of the Scriptures. They have flung to the wind all national and Messianic hopes. Their Rabbis preach rapturously about the mission of Judaism, while joining with the most radical higher critics in the destruction of its very basis, the inspiration of the Word of God. Some have gone clear over into agnosticism.

Strange to say, from these agnostics now comes the other wing of the Zionist party. And not only have they joined this party, but they furnish the leaders, viz.: Dr. Max Nordau of Paris, and Dr. Theodore Herzl of Vienna.

The orthodox Jews who have enlisted under the Zionist banner, are animated by the most devout religious motives. But the agnostics aver that this is not a religious movement at all. It is purely economic and nationalistic. Dr. Herzl, its founder and principal leader, espoused it as a dernier resort, to escape the persecutions of anti-semitism, which has taken such a firm hold of the masses of the Austrian people. He has conceived the idea that if the Jews can regain Palestine and establish a government, even under the suzerainity of the Sultan, it will give them a national standing which will expunge anti-semitism from the other nations of the world, and make it possible for all Jews to live comfortably in any nation they may desire.

Not all the orthodox Jews have joined this movement. Indeed, the leaders of the Chovei Zion Societies hold aloof.

...

Zionism is now the subject of the most acrimonious debate among the Jews. Many of the orthodox criticize it as an attempt to seize the perogatives of their God.
While others say that God will not work miracles to accomplish that which they can do themselves.

Many of the reformed Jews, now that they can no longer ridicule the movement, decry it, as an egregarious blunder that will increase instead of diminishing anti-semitism.
They have no desire to return to Palestine. They are like the man in Kansas, who, in a revival meeting said he did not want to go to heaven, nor did he wish to go to hell but he said he wanted to stay right here in Kansas.

Just so these reformed Jews are content to renounce all the prophesied glory of a Messianic kingdom in the land of their ancestors, preferring the palatial homes and gathered riches which they have acquired in Western Europe and the United States. They cooly advise their persecuted brethren, in Russia, Roumania, Persia and North Africa, to patiently endure their grievous persecutions until anti-semitism shall die out.
But these brethren retort that their prudent advisers would think very differently if they lives in Morocco or Russia, and that even in Western Europe anti-semitism instead of dying out, is rather on the increase.

In the midst of these disputes, the Zionists have seized the reins and eschewing the help of Abraham's God they have accepted agnostics as leaders and are plunging madly into this scheme for the erection of a Godless state.

But the Bible student will surely say, this godless national gathering of Israel is not the fulffilment of the glorious divine restoration, so glowingly described by the prophets.
No, indeed!

...

Dr. Herzl is reported to have said, "We must buy our way back to Palestine, salvation is to be by money."

The scriptures quoted below are prophecies that show when Israel returns to God, they are in the land of their enemies. The return of Jews to Israel during the past century does not fulfil any of these prophecies. The state of Israel remains a secular state. David is not recognized as their king; neither is Jesus, who is the promised Messiah from the line of David. The Zionist state is financed, and supported militarily, by the USA, along with donations from various Jewish groups, and by Christians deceived by dispensationalism, and by their flawed interpretation of these prophecies.

In Leviticus 26, the consequences under the Old Covenant of Israel not keeping it are specified. Four periods of "seven times" of punishment are determined. In the final period of seven times, God says he would remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and his people Israel, while they were captives in the land of their enemies. Notice, this occurs, not when they have been restored to their land, but when they are "in the land of their enemies."

Leviticus 26:43-45
The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.
But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.

When the first temple was dedicated in Jerusalem, Solomon prayed that when Israel sinned, and the people were taken captive in other lands, that God would hear them "in the land of their enemies," if they would repent and return to God with all their heart. This does not fit the history of the Zionist movement.

1 Kings 8:47-49
Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,

Jeremiah spoke of the people of Israel returning from the land of their captivity, and serving "David their king." This is a metaphor for Christ. This does not describe the Zionist state in Palestine.

Jeremiah 30:8-10
For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

The return of God's people was to be with "weeping, and with supplications." That does not describe the Zionist settlement of Palestine, which was accomplished with modern weapons, bombs, and brutal terrorist tactics.

Jeremiah 31:7-11
For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

Jeremiah's prophecy about the new covenant in Jeremiah 31.31-34 is applied to the church in Hebrews 8 and Hebrews 10.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

In Jeremiah 33 there are several verses about Israel's return from captivity. These prophecies don't fit either the return of the exiles from Babylon in ancient times, or the modern Jewish settlement of Palestine, because Jeremiah said David would be their king.

Jeremiah 33:7-9
And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

Jeremiah 33:14-26
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

Neither have the Jews of the secular state of Israel sought to "join themselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant."

Jeremiah 50:4-5
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

Ezekiel said that the people would "dwell safely" when God brings them back to their land, but that does not describe the Zionist state today. They rely on a powerful air force, and nuclear weapons.

Ezekiel 28:25-26
Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.

The people of God are called "sheep" in the prophecy of Ezekiel 34. This suggests the ones Ezekiel refers to are those who follow Christ, as the in the New Testament, Jesus says he is the Shepherd. [John 10:11]

Ezekiel 34:22-25
Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.

David is called the shepherd on both Israel and Judah in Ezekiel 37.

Ezekiel 37:22-24
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Every one of God's people are to be brought into the promised land; and none will be left in the land of their captivity. This in no way fits the modern emigration of Jews to Palestine, which is only partial. However it does fit the church, as every one who is in Christ is promised "a rest." [Hebrews 4:9]

Ezekiel 39:26-28
When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.

David is a symbol of Christ in Hoseah's prophecy. Christ is the king of Israel, the Church, in the latter days.

Hosea 3:4-5
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

The prophecy of Amos 9 below was quoted by James in Acts 15:16. He applied it to the church. The "tabernacle of David" in this prophecy is therefore the New Testament church.

Amos 9:11-15
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Zechariah said people would come from the east and the west, and dwell in Jerusalem; this would be impractical if it was literal. But in the New Testament, the entire church is included in the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem. [Hebrews 12:22-23] Jesus may have alluded to this prophecy when he said, "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 8:11]

Zechariah 8:7-8
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

Zechariah says the riders on horses will be confounded!

Zechariah 10:5-6
And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

Few horse riders have been "confounded" during the struggle for the Jewish settlement of Palestine. And Zechariah said the enemies of God's people will be trodden down in the mire in the streets. Of course, the horses and their riders are metaphors. Zionists and false prophets of dispensationalism, who claim the Zionist state fulfils the prophecies of the Bible about the restoration of Israel, are the "riders on horses." The horses of Zechariah's prophecy are people with no understanding.

Psalm 32:9
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.