2017 saw a rising influence of Evangelical Christians in America’s corridors of power that has had a positive impact on the State of Israel.

The latest positive development is a Christian group sponsoring a Bible study session in Israel’s parliament next week.

Believing that the Bible has essential truths to teach and should shape our societal values, many Christians are eager for government officials to delve into Scripture for practical lessons in leadership. The Schindler Society is a U.S.-based Christian group that has introduced ongoing Bible study in Congress and now hopes to bring that same inspiration to Israel’s Knesset.

Pastor Jim Garlow, a member of President Trump's faith advisory council, and his wife Rosemary Schindler Garlow, reached out to Member of Knesset Rabbi Yehuda Glick from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party, about hosting a Bible study at the Knesset.

Because of the sensitive nature of Christians and Jews studying Bible together, my organization, Israel365, which serves as a bridge between Christian Zionists and Israel, was called in to collaborate on the program.

Rosemary Schindler Garlow and her husband, Jim Garlow, have demonstrated their unconditional love for Israel and the Jewish people for 20 years. Rosemary dedicated this Bible study in memory of her relative Oskar Schindler, and in the spirit of the righteous amongst the nations, whose support for the Jewish people comes at great personal expense and with no ulterior motivations. As Pastor Garlow explained to me, "the reason we love the Jewish people is not because of some hidden agenda. We stand with Israel because God promises to bless us if we do (Genesis 12:3) and since it is His plan to bring the Jews back to their homeland, we are to support God’s wonderful plan."

Unlike when Christian lawmakers study the English words of the King James Bible in Washington, Jewish lawmakers will be teaching the Hebrew words of King David in his eternal capital city. As far as Christian participation? According to Garlow, "the Christians are there to listen, not lead. We come as learners."

Of course, there is nothing new about the Bible being studied in the Knesset. Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, was an avid reader of the Bible. He wrote essays on biblical topics and hosted a Tanakh study group at his home. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained this esteemed tradition and regularly hosts a Bible study circle in the presence of chief rabbis and leading academics.

The Knesset is already built on a solid biblical foundation, yet the Schindler Society is adding an important element that has not — and could not have — existed until this day. Emerging from the pro-Israel Christian community, this week’s Bible study is the fulfillment of one of the most beautiful descriptions of Jerusalem.

The Hebrew prophet Isaiah wrote that one day the Jewish people will return to their homeland and to their eternal capital. When that day finally arrives, "all the nations shall gaze on it with joy. And the many peoples shall go and say: 'Come, Let us go up to the Mount of Hashem, To the House of the God of Yaakov; that He may instruct us in His ways, and that we may walk in His paths. For instruction shall come forth from Tzion, the word of Hashem from Yerushalayim'" (Isaiah 2:2,3, The Israel Bible).

Isaiah describes the ultimate spiritual achievement as the day when non-Jews will come to Jerusalem to study the Bible. Through the Schindler Society’s sponsorship of Bible study at the Knesset this week, we are indeed witnessing this major historical turning point.

Rabbi Weisz is the director of Israel365, which connects 2 million people to Israel every month. He founded the I365 newsletter, is publisher of Breaking Israel News, and editor of The Israel Bible. He lives with his family in Ramat Beit Shemesh. To read more of his reports, Click Here Now.

JERUSALEM, Israel – A first-time Bible study in Israel is being called a fulfillment of scripture. In an historic move, Christians joined Israeli Jews this week in The Knesset to study the Word of God. Many believe it's a significant step toward unity.

Rabbi and Knesset member Yehuda Glick hosted the study. Some 200 Jews and Christians attended the event, cosponsored by the Knesset Caucus for the Encouragement of Bible Study, the Schindler Society and Israel365.

"And now my head will be lifted upon all my enemies and I shall, therefore, offer in his Temple sacrifices of joy. I shall sing and give praise to the Lord," Glick read from Psalm 27.

"It's exciting to see how the words of the prophets are really coming about," he told CBN News afterward. "We have people from all over the world who to come study Bible from Jerusalem, exactly as Isaiah said, 'The Word of God from Jerusalem.'"

Rabbi Tuli Weiss, founder of  Israel365 told CBN News, "This is the first time Jews and non-Jews came together at the Knesset to study the Bible together. It's amazing. The Bible – that has been a source of division between Jews and Christians throughout our long history – is now the source of unity between our people."

Weiss believes it's biblically significant the event took place in Jerusalem.

"Well the verse in Isaiah says that from Zion shall come forth the Torah, and it says that in the end of days all the nations are going to come streaming up to Jerusalem and they're going to say, 'teach us the Torah' and that's exactly what's happening here today at the Knesset.  It's really exciting," he said.

Dean Bye, international director of Return Ministries, called it "historic."

"Jews and Christians. They say this is historic. It's the first time in the Knesset so for me it's sort of like 'pinch me time,'" Bye told CBN News. "Can somebody say, 'Baruch HaShem [praise His name]? Praise the Lord. [This] really is special."

For years, Glick has campaigned for wider access to the Temple Mount where only Muslims are permitted to pray. That public stance almost cost him his life several years ago when he was shot in the chest at point blank range outside the Menachem-Begin Center in Jerusalem. Glick believes the Temple Mount is key to this matter.

"It's the heart of the whole thing," he explained. "The return to Israel was called Zionism.  Zion is the name of the Temple Mount and connecting to the House of Prayer for all nations, is this exact thing, what we're talking about, what we see right here. That's what's happening."

Bye said, "We're living in an amazing hour."

"It's humbling. I pray that the Lord will grant many more Christians to have this experience and to be able to go back into the nations as ambassadors – shigurim – to be able to let them know that we are living in probably the most exciting times since the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

The Ministry of Tourism has confirmed that a group of US President Donald Trump’s faith advisers will be in Israel February 17 through 21. The mission, being organized by the ministry’s US office “comprises some of the America’s foremost leaders of the Evangelical Christian community,” said L. Marc Zell, chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel and a vice president of Republicans Overseas, Inc. The faith advisers are Trump’s own evangelical advisory board, a loose band of around 20 conservative Christian pastors and advocates from around the United States who have advised the president since his campaign days. The delegation of faith advisers is being lead by Michael (Mike) Evans, an evangelical Christian author who in 2015 founded the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem.

Other members of the faith advisory team are Tony Perkins, Family Research Council president; Ryan Anderson, Heritage Foundation fellow; Tony Beam, North Greenville University vice president; David Benham, entrepreneur; Jason Benham, entrepreneur; Ken Blackwell, former US Ambassador to the UN for Human Rights; Teresa S. Collett, University of St. Thomas professor; Jim Garlow, Skyline Church in San Diego, California; Mark Harris, First Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina; Jack Hibbs, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, California; Harry Jackson, International Communion of Evangelical Churches; Richard Lee, There’s Hope America president; Paige Patterson, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president; Everett Piper, Oklahoma Wesleyan University president; Jay Richards, The Catholic University of America economics professor; Dr. Steve Riggle, Grace Community Church in Houston; Samuel Rodriguez, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference president; and Kelly Shackelford, First Liberty Institute president. It is unclear how many of these advisers will be in the land.

The ministry has kept the itinerary largely under wraps and has asked the advisers not to interview in advance of the trip without their permission. Breaking Israel News learned the visit will include meetings with several high-level politicians, Knesset members and likely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Additionally, Garlow, who heads the Schindler Society, will use the visit as an opportunity to launch the first- ever Jewish-Christian Bible study at the Knesset on February 20 in collaboration the Knesset Caucus for the Encouragement of Bible Study and Israel365. Garlow runs the society with his wife, Rosemary Schindler Garlow. The society has introduced ongoing Bible study in the US Congress and the United Nations. “The Evangelical community is one of the most influential voting blocks in the United States and could easily determine the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections as they did the presidential race in 2016,” said Zell. “The visit is coming at a crucial time in US-Israeli relations and in the Middle East, when the American peace plan is being formulated and President Trump’s regional strategy is being tested in the wake of Iranian expansionism and Russian interference. “The members of the faith advisers will be in an important voice on matters concerning Israel. We look forward to welcoming them to the Holy Land.”