I appreciated Gary Burge's sensitivity to the crisis, and being willing to look at it from both the Israeli point of view and the Palestinian point of view. But also from the evangelical belief as one who has supported the Zionist movement as he looked forward to the "last days". However, he states, "We are learning that our vision is not what it should be. Our excitement at living in "the last days" has led us to overlook some devastating facts about our faith, the Middle East, and what God would have us do...." "As an evangelical Christian, as a professor of New Testament at a large evangelical college....how do I embrace my commitment to Judaism, a commitment to which I am bound by the Bible, when I sense in my deepest being that a profound injustice is afoot in Israel?..." He goes on to share what he has witnessed, the stories he is told, and he closes with the question, "Where Do We Go from Here"? May those who have ears to hear really hear, and eyes to see,really see! I highly recommend this book!

This is a well written, well documented, intreesting, and easily read review of Old Testament promises and how they should be interpreted today, contrary to the popular Isreali-propagandized view of Jews and Palestinians rights in the land today. The author points out authoritatively the mistaken policies and attitudes, supposedly bible-based, that have have subjugated Palestinians during the past 60 years.

Every Christian should read this book

It is good to finally read a balanced evangelical account of how people are suffering in Palestine and how we evangelicals have inadvertently played into it.

This book makes me angry. It is that good. Undoubtedly there are villains to be found on both sides of the Palestinian/Israel issue but those who attack this work are dishonest in that the subtitle is "What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians". And that subtitle gives an honest introduction to what this book is about.

The average Christian in America, Evangelical, or otherwise has not thought about Israel in the terms that are presented here. This book uses Holy Scripture in a very responsible manner. Only someone who refuses to examine their presuppositions will not be able to read this book with profit. The silly reviewer who cites one of the book's weaknesses as interpreting the Scriptures from a Christian perspective only reveals his own anti-Christian bias. What he doesn't tell you is that there are a growing number of Jews whose interpretation of the Old Testament, of the Hebrew Bible, Scriptures is the same as Burge's regarding modern Israel.

The average Christian, especially the average Evangelical, needs to read this book! This book completely dismantles the unconditional support of Israel by the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells of the world. And I say this as a conservative Christian.

Read this book! Read this book! Read this book! Buy an extra copy for a friend.

The words of Gary Burge, a professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, are as strong as the Israeli bullets, if not stronger. Unlike many Evangelical Americans, Gary is well informed of the situation in Israel/Palestine. He addresses one of the toughest questions in the Middle East i.e. whose Land and whose Promise?

With a sharp mind, and a passionate heart, Gary tackles these questions seeking the mind and heart of God as revealed in the Bible. Gladly, Gary combines a great spirit of humility, an ability to see the big picture, and an outstanding documented description of the details. Thus, the reader will not only be exposed to eschatological conceptual frameworks but will also experience, through powerful stories, an intimate fellowship with the Palestinian Church and an unmasked understanding of the intentions of the Zionist movement and many of its leaders.

In his preface, Gary steps forward as an honest seeker and pursuer of truth. He says, "As an Evangelical I have a theological interest in Israel's history and future. As a Christian I recognize the ancestral connection between Jews today and Abraham, Moses, and David. And yet I am confused and troubled when I try to interpret the meaning of this small country and I learn about one more village story one more set of keys to a lost home, one more house being bulldozed, and more refugees being pushed away from their homeland" (xii).

He seeks to resolve one of the questions that Palestinians struggled with for so long: how would the Modern State of Israel be the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies if they are committing many injustices against the Palestinians? He explains for his audience the background of the problem and then moves into an exciting study through the pages of Bible. In the Old Testament part, he highlights that God owns the land and that he welcomed non-Israelite "aliens" to live alongside Israel and granted them religious, social, and legal privileges. Furthermore, he seeks to understand the relationship of Justice to the land via several OT texts such as the story of King David who purchased the land of the temple-mount from Ornan the Jebusite or the story of King Ahab who stole the land of Naboth (pp. 90-92). After spelling out the teaching of the OT, Gary compares Biblical Israel to Modern Israel and probes the latter according to the principles (Justice and treatment of aliens) revealed in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament part, Gary studies the teachings of Jesus and the early Christians concerning the land. He believes that the land is "Christified" in the NT. He studies different texts in the Gospels and concludes:

" (1) land is rejected as the aim of faith; (2) land is spiritualized as meaning something else;(3) the promise is historicized in Jesus, a man who lives in the land; (4) the promise is sacramentalized" (p. 177).

Then Gary moves to the next logical question: what about fallen Israel? Three points are important to note. First, Gary states that the believing Remnant is the true Israel (p. 178). Second, after studying Acts, Hebrews, and some Pauline epistles, he adds that it would be wrong to argue that Christians can make a territorial claim (p. 184). Third, fallen Israel is still unique, honored, and beloved (p. 188). Gary concludes by subscribing to a double commitment: Christians are the heirs of Abraham yet fallen Israel is still unique honored, and beloved. On this later point, Gary says, "Israel's obstinacy did not end God's affection for his people. The same is true today" (p. 188).

Gary discusses these important theological concepts, but he does not stop there. He furthers his discussion by presenting a clear picture of the Palestinian Church and the intentions of Zionism. He meets Palestinian Christians who come from a wide range of denominations such as Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, etc.