Glory of Zion International Ministries
Notable beliefs of the organisation are:
1. The view that the current geo-political nation of Israel is essential to the consummation of God's promises.
"As those who have been grafted into God’s covenant, we are called to stand with God’s covenant land. Every nation will be reconciled around this land."
2. The strong Jewish flavour to the entire organisation. In the book A Time to Advance that Pierce co-authors with Robert and Linda Heidler, the organisation's fascination with Judaism surfaces; the book is aimed to help the reader 'Understand[ing] the Hebrew Tribes and Months' and therefore "receive prophetic understanding of how the Lord orders [the reader's] steps throughout the year".
Click on the book title for a sample.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2Cor 1:20)
Every shadow has an object that it points to. The shadow is never truly the object. In academia, the shadow is called the type, while the object is called the antitype.
3. On-going revelation
http://www.gloryofzion.org/prophecy/index.php?pid=v9h576h7
Chuck Pierce claims to speak with revelation from God
The omission of mentioning sin in regards to Jesus' death is also worth taking into consideration.
"[Jesus] submitted Himself to the Father of creation and became a sacrifice upon a tree for all humankind. This liberated us from the curse of death and destruction."
Chuck Pierce and his 'ministry' encourages the observance of Jewish traditions, like the Rosh Hashanah, and the Feasts. The blowing of the shofar (a ram's horn commonly used in Jewish rites) is also a common element to Pierce's ministry.
While Pierce also claims apostleship and prophethood, these are claims that will not be challenged in the scope of this article. His Dominionism theology will also not be discussed. This article aims to address Glory of Zion's obsession with Jewish Tradition.
"[Jesus] submitted Himself to the Father of creation and became a sacrifice upon a tree for all humankind. This liberated us from the curse of death and destruction."
Chuck Pierce and his 'ministry' encourages the observance of Jewish traditions, like the Rosh Hashanah, and the Feasts. The blowing of the shofar (a ram's horn commonly used in Jewish rites) is also a common element to Pierce's ministry.
While Pierce also claims apostleship and prophethood, these are claims that will not be challenged in the scope of this article. His Dominionism theology will also not be discussed. This article aims to address Glory of Zion's obsession with Jewish Tradition.
Christ, the Real Deal
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2Cor 1:20)
Every shadow has an object that it points to. The shadow is never truly the object. In academia, the shadow is called the type, while the object is called the antitype.
The Old Testament was given as a beacon, pointing people ahead to something in the future. Eden, Adam, the Serpent Crusher, Babel, Abraham's seed, the Promised Land, the blessing for the whole world, Joseph, Moses, Israel, Joshua, the Tabernacle, the sacrifices, the Mosaic Law , the High Priest, the judges, Boaz, the kings, David, the Temple, the prophets, Cyrus, Mordecai, the Son of Man, the Suffering Servant, the Messiah. All these, and perhaps more, are types that find their fulfillment or reversal in Jesus, the antitype.
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luk 24:25-27)
So, if Christ is the fulfillment of everything in the Old Testament, then reintroducing elements of Jewish tradition in the effort to make our spiritual lives more authentic would be a step backwards, in the wrong direction.
Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:16-17)
Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, encourages them not to feel pressured by those who would insist that the Gentile Christians would have to keep the Jewish customs to be authentically Christian. Would we consider Paul to be mistaken, that we would return to observing shadows now that the real thing has come?
So put down your shofar, and cease your planning to celebrate the next Feast. Leave the shadows in the past where they belong and cling to Christ alone, whom those shadows point to.
So put down your shofar, and cease your planning to celebrate the next Feast. Leave the shadows in the past where they belong and cling to Christ alone, whom those shadows point to.
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As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgement on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honour of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honour of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honour of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.(Rom 14:1-9)
Lest I be chided from 'passing judgement' - I am not questioning whether one who subscribes to Pierce's brand of theology is Christian or not (This passage was written with the Jewish convert - Gentile convert conflict in mind anyway). I raise issue with Pierce and his 'ministry' because his teaching unnecessarily weakens the faith of those who follow him, for he distracts from Jesus with his obsession with Jewish traditions - the very traditions which were supposed to point people to Christ.
Recommended Reading
Why All Christians Should Care About Biblical Theology, an article by Matt Tully
The Goldsworthy Trilogy, a book by Graeme Goldsworthy on how the Old Testament points to Christ.
God's Big Picture, a book by Vaughn Roberts on how the Bible fits together.
Recommended Reading
Why All Christians Should Care About Biblical Theology, an article by Matt Tully
The Goldsworthy Trilogy, a book by Graeme Goldsworthy on how the Old Testament points to Christ.
God's Big Picture, a book by Vaughn Roberts on how the Bible fits together.
