A Great Documentary
I try to bring somewhat different perspectives for you, the reader, through this Israel Watch column. That means that there are weeks when I don’t do a straight “Israel analysis” column.
This week is another week like that. Instead, I want to talk about something that will hopefully give you an interesting look at how we support Israel.
Over the weekend, I came across a fantastic new documentary, “The Israel Dilemma,” promoted by Answers in Genesis. I found it on their website. Hosted by Timothy Mahoney, of the “Patterns of Evidence” group. A stellar production from start to finish. Now, some personal background about this, then I’ll dive into the documentary itself.
In 2007, I wrote an Israel Watch column in which I mentioned that Answers in Genesis did not discuss eschatology. That was objectively true, but I ruffled some feathers there by stating that fact. Large ministries are sensitive to any perceived criticisms. Ironically, I had in the paragraph before that statement praised AiG for the magnificent work they’ve always done in the area of creation vs. evolution.
In fact, until I left the publisher I worked for, I had been an editor on several AiG projects. I knew them very well.
My point in relating this background is to pivot to AiG’s recent willingness to now broach the subject. It should be obvious that I am giving credit where credit is due. My personal view all these years is that if a national ministry would offer a “bookends” approach—handling both origins and eschatology, and everything in-between—their audiences would mushroom and be energized in a “whole Bible” approach.
(It should be obvious that discussions of eschatology are controversial only because of emotions rising in such discussions. I very well understand that a creationist-based ministry does not want to get bogged-down in ridiculous debates and arguments over Dispensationalism, Replacement Theology, eschatological timelines. But my “bookends” model is sound.) Here is the blurb from AiG:
“While AiG does not involve itself in eschatological discussions, it is still important to study Scripture and understand that since Scripture was true about a past judgment by God (in this case, the conquest and exile of both Israel and Judah), then it will also be true about a future judgment by him. Whether referring to Rome’s conquest of Israel in AD 70 or any future judgments, the principle is the same. God can and does judge sin, and Christ will return to this earth in judgment. We can and should help unbelievers see the connection between past and future biblical judgments so that we might more effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
So, kudos to AiG for advertising this on their huge website. Now to the documentary itself. By the way, the sequel to it, “The Israel Dilemma II,” is now ready! I am beyond excited to see it, because there they will delve into more specific Bible prophecies. I plan to watch it over the upcoming snowy weekend.
Honestly, I always start out with a skeptical view on these things. Just like I pay very close attention to the translators’ notes on new Bible versions. For example, if a new translation is soft on the creation accounts in Genesis, I write-off that version. Likewise, if they offer Replacement Theology perspectives, or otherwise diss Israel, I stop reading. (This is one reason I study from the King James Version; I don’t need modern translators, many of whom are liberal, to interpret Scripture for me.)
Now to the documentary.
First, Mahoney interviewed Benjamin Netanyahu and the late Shimon Peres. The latter is especially intriguing, because he wasn’t known as a religious guy. Still, he acknowledges the biblical themes of Israel and even showed a very deft understanding of the distinctions between the Holy Land and the Promised Land (in my view, Christians over the years have gotten comfortable calling Israel “The Holy Land,” rather than…Israel. Most do this without malice or agenda, but I do believe many Christian leaders have used this term as a way not to have to say “Israel.”)
Mahoney then talks with conservative thinkers and scholars like Peter Gentry, Rabbi Mannis Friedman, and Brent Kinman. As a matter of balance, he also interviews well-known Israeli archeologist Israel Finkelstein, a person who is not convinced that many biblical accounts are actually factual. Interestingly, Finkelstein later in the documentary does acknowledge the historicity of some events.
Mahoney makes many very relevant points, looking at various prophecies.
If the prophecies are true, then it means life is not a meaningless cycle of events but is part of a Divine plan. It’s mentioned that God’s prophecies are “Headed toward definite outcomes.” In this way, prophecy refutes random evolution! This is an important point. It also forges a worldview alliance with groups like Answers in Genesis.
On this note, Mahoney said, ““This means prophecy can provide a kind of scientific tool.”
EXACTLY!
About the Bible and its prophecies, they are, “A verifiable test of its legitimacy.”
YES!
Joel Richardson also states that a great evidence for the God of the Bible is the People of Israel. Yes, yes, and yes. (This is the hallmark of my own site, The God That Answers.)
All in all, I highly recommend that you watch these documentaries.