During the Middle Ages, Christians were often the worst enemies of Jews, while today the denominational group of Evangelical Christians are Israel’s great supporters, and the difference is rooted in the interpretation of the first and second biblical covenant in relation to the Messianic return. While end time prophesy was a source of Jewish persecution throughout the development of European Christendom, beginning in the nineteenth century the Evangelical desire to quicken the messianic return caused a reinterpretation of doctrine to include the Jewish people being restored to the land promised to them by God through Abraham. This paper explores the development of this system of beliefs--the inclusion of the Jews into the end time prophesies-- looking at two unexpectedly complementary aspects within Evangelical Christianity: a “love” for the Jews that has become a source of political and financial aid for the State of Israel and efforts toward conversion of Jews within and beyond Israel. The change from hate to “love” is one that can be seen through analyzing biblical reinterpretation and an understanding of Evangelical’s quest in fulfilling prophesy. From a historical-political perspective, this evolution has become a crucial factor in the modern day relationship between America and Israel.

American Evangelicalism and the Jews: An Obsession with the Second Coming of Christ