20th century...and not all evangelicals today believe in Zionism. These may back Israel politically since she became a nation, but don't believe her return was prophesied in the Bible.
For most of church history, the traditional interpretation has been that the promises to Israel in the Old Testament are not fulfilled literally but spiritually.
“20th century...and not all evangelicals today believe in Zionism. These may back Israel politically since she became a nation, but don’t believe her return was prophesied in the Bible.”
Jesus said:
Luk_21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Presumably, Jerusalem will cease to be trodden down by the gentiles “when the times of the gentiles” are fulfilled.
In many ways, though, Jerusalem is still “trodden down” insomuch that the Muzzies still control the Temple Mount and all the world meddles in their affairs as bombs still continue to go off.