About the ICZC

VISION AND INTRODUCTION

The International Christian Zionist Center (ICZC) sees as its task the assembling of all true believers - as Zechariah foretells, "ten out of each nation" - to come to the aid of the People of Israel.

As the last nations of this world fall away, ending their support for His people Israel, God is calling believers from all nations to come alongside, and to the aid of, the Jews. Though the entire world will in the end turn against Jerusalem, as Zechariah prophesies, yet the Lord will again choose Jerusalem and again take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land.

We already see this process at work. Slowly but surely, most of the nations - if not all - are being turned against the small nation of Israel, which has been regathered and reconstituted in its land. The Bible clearly spelled out that this would happen. The United States of America is still holding out, one of the few nations that, at times, is willing to side with Israel. But that may soon also become something of the past, leaving Israel standing alone in the world in a sea of enmity.

Who will come to her aid here on earth? Isaiah prophesies about this "nation" of Israel lovers when he says:

"Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you." (Isaiah 55:5)

This amazing verse prophesies about the movement that is being made manifest today with many Christians from nations all over the world who, identifying with the people of Israel, speak the same words Ruth the Moabitess spoke to the Jewess Naomi (Israel), "let your God be our God and your people be our people."

In Romans 11:12,15 Paul speaks about the tremendous consequences of this restoration of Israel:

"Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?".

We know from the Bible that the salvation of this planet can only coincide with the full recovery of Israel as a nation. And we at the ICZC feel privileged to be called to make every effort to see Zechariah 8:23 come to pass, when ten men from every language of the nations will grab hold of the sleeve of a Jewish man and say: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!

All over the world, Christians are increasingly awakening to the fact that they are indeed part of, and grafted into, the tree and commonwealth of Israel, as Paul puts it in his epistles to the Romans (chapter 11) and Ephesians (chapter 2). These Christians understand that they are therefore the natural, God-given brethren called to come to the aid of a regathered Judah, that is modern Israel.

These are the children of Abraham by faith - "ten out of each nation" - who are destined to become Ephraim, "the fullness of the Gentiles," joining themselves in spirit to the nation of Judah, and thus becoming one people - one stick in the hand of God for His end time purpose in the earth.

As is written by the prophet Ezekiel 37:19:

"Thus says the Lord God: 'Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah and make them one stick and they will be one in My hand.'"

FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF ICZC's INVOLVEMENT WITH ISRAEL

"Comfort, yes, comfort My people! "Says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her." (Isaiah 40:1,2)

God is calling us to comfort Jerusalem and Israel - this comfort has a spiritual and a practical dimension to it. The involvement of the ICZC with Israel is based on the following foundational comfort, or care, principles.

Care for Jerusalem in all its aspects as she awaits her glorious destiny now that the Jewish people have returned to her. We support every endeavour for a united Jerusalem. This includes the battle for the Temple Mount and the establishing of a model of the Ezekiel temple.
Care for the Jewish people and the people of Israel in particular. God is bringing them home to their land to be a praise and wonder unto all the earth. The ICZC is involved with practically aiding the Jewish people to return to Israel from all over the world through joint ventures with Bridges for Peace.
Care that the world-wide community of real believers will be rightly related to this upcoming miracle of God's restoration of His people, Israel. The ICZC distributes newsletters, books, and booklets dealing with pivotal issues such as the prophetic destiny of Israel according to word of the prophets that is not yet fulfilled. The ICZC also encourages believers all over the world to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles regularly.
Care for the nations of the world. The ICZC believes that the future of the nations will increasingly depend on how they will treat the Jewish people and Israel. Isaiah 60:12 For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined. The ICZC is a prophetic voice to the nations and government leaders to exhort them of the dire need for the nations to stand with Israel.
To prepare for the coming of the Lord and Messiah in mighty power and glory.

WHY THE EMPHASIS ON ZIONISM?

God has made an everlasting covenant with Israel regarding their inheritance of the land. The ICZC stands in full agreement with God's eternal promises to Israel. The Bible is very clear about God's displeasure at the wisdom of the nations in wanting to divide the land, even be it in search for so-called "peace" for the region.

"For, behold, in those days, and that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all nations, and I will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: they have also divided up My land" (Joel 3:1,2)

It has been the official policy of virtually all the nations of the world, under the continual prodding of the Arab States and the Palestinians, that Israel has to be partitioned or divided in order to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Even many people in Israel have been blinded by the good intentions of the so called "peace treaties." But the truth is that the division of the land - which goes against God's everlasting covenant - will never bring peace, as history has already been proving. Israel was stopped on the road to victory in 1973 and had to settle for a cease-fire, followed by a Kissinger-type of peace process. As an earlier treaty had sacrificed the interests of South Vietnam, similarly the 1973 treaty sacrificed the interests of Israel and, as we have seen since, no surrender or sacrifice "for peace" can convince dictatorial Islamic countries to make peace.

ICZC'S PRACTICAL INVOLVEMENT WITH ISRAEL

The Feast Of Tabernacles

(See Leviticus 23:33-44 and Deuteronomy 16:13-17)

The ICZC organizes an annual international Feast of Tabernacles. Many Christians have spiritualised nearly everything in this regard, believing that the land and people of Israel have served their purpose - namely that of bringing the Messiah and Gospel into the world. These Christians share the common belief that God has henceforth no more specific interest in the Jews or in their land, nor in their future as a nation. This widespread misconception has caused much bewilderment about, and even ignorance of, the clear biblical statements and pronouncements of God concerning the wonderful future of His land and His people Israel!

As we can see and learn from the Bible, God's promise of the land and it's restoration is a key element in His dealings with Israel. It was the promise of the land, and the restoration to and of that land, which was linked with the further abundance in blessing for Israel on both physical and spiritual levels, as we see in the following passage and many others in the Bible:

"For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and her salvation as a lamp that burns, the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall no longer be termed forsaken, nor shall your land be termed desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62:1,2,4,5)

There is a biblical balance between the importance of the physical restoration of the land and people of Israel, and their later spiritual restoration. This truth is so amply clarified in the beautiful passage of Ezekiel 37 about this physical and spiritual restoration of Israel: first comes the physical restoration, including the restoration to and of their land, then follows the spiritual awakening when the Breath of God's Spirit will blow upon these bones.

We hear of revivals in different parts of the world, where God is pouring out His Holy Spirit in remarkable ways to get His Gentile body of believers ready, both in quantity as well as quality. But all this is only a foretaste and foreshadowing of the mighty outpouring of His Holy Spirit as promised by His prophets, over all the house of Israel, we understand that this will happen one day during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.

This is the basis of the vision for calling Christians to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles in support of that glorious promise and move of God. During this Feast we will praise Him and be a channel of comfort and encouragement to Israel in the name of millions of Bible believing Christians from all over the world.

It was during the Feast of Tabernacles that the Lord Jesus announced this wonderful promise of rivers of living water, not on Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost was only to be a foreshadowing of the greater rains to come, a foretaste of Joel Chapter Two. Jesus made this offer during the last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles, thus indicating that this wonderful day during which the Lord would give us the former and latter rains, would be during this Feast.

It was during a celebration in Jerusalem that Passover was fulfilled in the Messiah, as the Lamb and Servant of God, becoming the Passover Lamb; His blood being sprinkled before His heavenly Father, before God on the mercy seat.

It was during a celebration in Jerusalem that Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks was fulfilled, when the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was poured out on the early believers, the first fruits.

Is it then not reasonable and likely that, during a celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, something will occur that will fulfil all that the biblical Feast of Tabernacles stands for - just as Passover and Pentecost were fulfilled in Jerusalem during a celebration of those Feasts?

Is it not significant, that the keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles will occur during the millennial reign of the Messiah with the added warning of "no rain" on all those nations who refuse to attend that feast, rather than the feasts of Passover and Pentecost?

When we were preparing for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, the Lord stressed to us the importance of worshipping Him in our lives but especially during the celebration of this Feast. It is after all to be a Feast of Joy, as God commanded. And what better way than to rejoice with singing and dancing before the Almighty Lord in the city of the great King? It is this joyful and abundant Davidic praise and worship that has become the focus of the Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Feast of Tabernacles, more than any other biblical feast, is a feast open to all the nations. This is evidenced in the fact that God, through Zechariah, indicates that the day will come when all nations will be summoned to keep the Feast of Tabernacles and worship the King in Jerusalem! This will be the climax of all that has gone before that glorious day of His reign on earth, namely all that God promised to do for and with His nation Israel, "that the nations shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 36:23)

As we, who have been called out of the nations, are seeing the beginnings of God's restoring grace and favour to His people, we already now want to come to Jerusalem and rejoice with God and praise His Name for all He is yet to soon do for Israel. This Feast is therefore the Feast of the nations, the fullness of the Gentiles coming up to Jerusalem to experience with Judah, the Jews, the blowing of the Wind of God's Spirit, the Feast of the double portions, the former and the latter rain which will fall upon God's people in the month! It is also amazing to note that it was during the Feast of Tabernacles that the inauguration of God's temple took place, when the glory of the Lord came down to fill the House of God, as we can learn from 2 Chronicles 5:2,3,7,11-14.

If God calls upon the heavens the moon and the sun, the mountains and the beasts of the field, the trees and "the waste places of Jerusalem" all to rejoice with Him, how much more should we, His blood washed bride and children, not rejoice at this time? Hear the refrain of this truth over and over again expressed by the prophets of Israel as one of the main reasons for God's restoring grace to His people.

Thus we see how the Feast of Tabernacles is meant to signify the restoration of the tabernacle of David, both physical as well as spiritual, the unity of Gentile believers, the fullness of the Gentiles and the people of Israel, and the promised coming blessing of the former and latter rains coming down one day during the Feast of Tabernacles. It is singularly the Feast of Messiah's appearance: His first and his second!

Come and join us this year as we celebrate God's Feast of Tabernacles!

The Temple Mount And The Temple Model

It is important for believers to understand the reality of the battle for the Temple Mount. The evil one knows it is on this mountain that the Lord shall bring an end to his kingdom. The fact is that the battle over Jerusalem is shifting into full gear, and believers have a vital part to play. According to God's word, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is where He chose to place His name forever. It was here His glory shone for all Israel to see nearly 3000 years ago, and it is the place to which His glory will soon return.

Satan, who knows to always take seriously the things God takes seriously, kept his grip on the Temple Mount for hundreds of years, until he was almost unseated in the 1967 Six-Day War. Thanks to the misguided, if generous, spirit of the victorious Israelis, Islam was permitted to hold sway over who would worship on the Mount. And for the last 32 years, Jews and Christians have been forbidden from doing so. Now, as earthly negotiations over the future of the Land of Israel enter their final stages, Satan is moving to entrench his position on God's holy hill. The "political" struggle over Jerusalem has really never had anything to do with whom heads up which municipality or who oversees the city's housing, parks or public buildings or even who controls the old city. At the heart of the battle lies this small piece of real estate called Mount Moriah, Mount Zion, the Temple Mount - today in the shadow of an Islamic mosque, but, according to the Bible, soon to be home again to a majestic temple built to the glory of God.

The Temple Mount and the soon to be built Third Temple, as promised by God in his Word, fulfils a very important place in this end-time scenario. It is absolutely clear from the Scriptures that only after "the restoration of all things" will the coming and appearance of the Lord take place, as spelled out in Acts 3:21 by the Apostle Peter, when he said:

"Jesus Christ ? whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." There needs, therefore, to be this restoration of all things - certainly also the restoration of the Temple on the 'the Holy Hill' of the Lord - before we can expect the glorious return of the Lord to this planet earth, when He will come in through the eastern gate of that glorious house, as Ezekiel foresaw:

"And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; AND THE EARTH SHONE WITH HIS GLORY. (Ezekiel 43:2) And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east? and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (Ezekiel 43:4,5b). And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles My feet, WHERE I WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOREVER." (Ezekiel 43:7)

This astounding truth is also being referred to in Ezekiel 37:25-28:

"Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will SET MY SANCTUARY IN THEIR MIDST FOREVERMORE. MY TABERNACLE ALSO SHALL BE WITH THEM; INDEED I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, WHEN MY SANCTUARY IS IN THEIR MIDST FOREVERMORE"

These verses are truly amazing, as they show that God, in His wisdom, will actually use the new Temple and sanctuary - soon to be built in Jerusalem. Firstly, He will use it to sanctify His people Israel. And secondly, he will use it to glorify His name among the nations!

Just as He did in Solomon's time, when He filled the house with His glory, He will only come down and meet with His people again when His House is ready to welcome Him. Then He will come "by the way of the East" and the Eastern gate of the Temple, and will fill the house with His presence and glory, and thus dwell forevermore with His people in His city - "the city of the great king".

No wonder David, knowing these truths, writes in his Psalm:

I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob? For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place; "This is My resting place forever, here I will dwell, for I have desired it." (Psalm 132:3-4,13-14)

The Lord has said that He will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and that Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain - Zechariah 8:3

In light of God's plans for Jerusalem that still have to come to pass, He gave us the following scripture in Ezekiel 43:10-11:

"Son of man, describe the temple to of the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its ordinances, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and ? and perform them."

Could there be a clearer Scripture of instruction about the necessity to show to the house of Israel the pattern and design of the Temple, which even in these verses of Ezekiel occupies such an important place unto the sanctification of God's people: "that they may be ashamed of their iniquities"?

In other words, seeing the Temple, or hearing about it - even if it is only a model or pattern of it - will cause many Israelis to realize that they have not come home to just be a nation like all the others. They will realize that they have come home so that the Lord can dwell in their midst, in the city of Jerusalem, in His House, so that all the nations of the world will see and know that the people of Israel are indeed the people of God, set apart for a very special purpose indeed. So special are they, that different prophets have exulted about it - seen it from afar - and prophesied about it in the most wonderful ways.

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established on the top of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples? (Micah 4:1-3a)

No wonder, then, that we felt resistance to the loosening of this mount unto this glorious future especially close to the eastern gate. No wonder, that the evil one is doing everything in the international arena of nations to prevent prayer and praise from again being established on this mountain when Israel returns to see the House of the Lord built on it.

The ICZC is now looking for a hill, preferably overlooking Jerusalem, or a place near Jerusalem, on which to erect an already-constructed model of Ezekiel's Temple, that we may do exactly as the Lord commanded in Ezekiel: show My people the design of the Temple.

The model was meticulously designed after years of study and labour by a brother who made this his life's work. It will occupy an area of approximately 20 by 30 metres, and will stand chest-high from the ground. It is in all a wonderful building, that will make people speechless who see the splendour of it. When ICZC Director Jan Willem van der Hoeven preached in Norway recently, a brother spoke the following prophetic word over him:

"Just as I gave Elijah the altar to rally My people to speak My word unto them, I have given you this temple model to rally My people and speak My word unto them".

We know that many thousands will come to this beautiful building, both from Israel and abroad, and will hear about the wonderful, awesome purposes which God has in mind, and why He has brought His people back to their land and to their city.

We ask that you help us in any way you can. In the light of the verses already mentioned, make Jerusalem also your chief joy and concern; do not give yourself rest, do not only care for your own house and rest, but let your heart and prayer be stirred for Jerusalem, for this project, which is such a step forward towards the ultimate building of the House of the Lord in this city on His holy hill.

A SUMMARY OF THE GOALS AND SERVICES OF THE ICZC

To encourage and stimulate prayer worldwide for that which God has promised in His Word to do for His people, Israel, who have returned to their land.
To stand by God's promises to His Jewish nation, in word and deed, and to encourage and support them in making aliyah (return to Israel).
To help spread the message of God's purposes for Israel amongst the believing children of God worldwide, so that the people of God, called out of the nations, may become one People together with Israel - a staff in the hand of the Lord.
To build a model of the Third Temple in Jerusalem, according to the words of the Prophet Ezekiel, preferably on a hill overlooking the Holy Hill of the Lord, where the Temple will stand in all its glory, and will make the return of the Lord and Messiah possible! (The Third Temple is described in eight chapters in the book of Ezekiel.)
To organize the annual ICZC celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem to the glory of the God of Israel, and as an encouragement to the People of Israel. This feast, according to the Word of God, is a prophetic feast for the end-times, where all the nations of the earth are welcomed to celebrate this Feast together with Israel.
To stimulate the selling and exporting of Israeli-made products through means of warehouses, 'Israel Shops', book tables in churches and groups, etc. When Israel's financial support from the United States of America and other countries falls away, the Jewish state can then be economically supported and undergirded by her Christian friends. This also through investing in businesses and other companies in Israel, especially in the Judea and Samaria, the Golan and Gaza Strip regions.
To be politically involved by accurately informing people of what is happening in and around Israel in fulfilment of God's Biblical Word and making it known, amongst Christians, who still hold important positions in the political realm and in the media.
To organize a Christian Zionist solidarity tour in Israel, preferably monthly, not only to visit the traditional tourist places, but to see the settlements and other places and people who specifically need our support, comfort and love. Inform us of your plans to make a trip to Israel. And if you would be interested in coming with your congregation or group on a ten-day trip, we can assist you in organising your travel plans.
To bless and help the people and institutions in Israel who are in great financial and social need, this in cooperation with the Jerusalem-based Christian organization, "Bridges for Peace."
To be generally involved in the "restoration of all things" as it pertains to the unfolding purposes of God with this nation, as the New Testament clearly teaches, that only at "the times of restoration of all things" can the Messiah be expected to come.

FOR ZION'S SAKE: PRACTICAL WAYS TO SUPPORT THE ICZC

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem: They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention or the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth". (Isaiah 62:6,7)

God is calling watchmen for Jerusalem and Israel - the role of the watchman has a spiritual as well as a practical dimension.

There are three main ways in which believers can participate DAILY, MONTHLY and YEARLY as watchmen in support of Israel through the work of the International Zionist Christian Centre:

PRAY DAILY: Pray daily for Jerusalem and Israel.

GIVE MONTHLY: Monthly support for the work of ICZC, or a one-time contribution to the ICZC.

COME YEARLY: Come to the Feast of Tabernacles yearly, or at least endeavour to come regularly.

Those who support Israel will endeavour to Pray Daily, Give monthly and Come Yearly.