Tag: Eternal Life

EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH –Dec. 2023

Southview Bible Church * 135 Bennett Ave. * Council Bluffs, IA. 51503

Phone: (712) 322-5743 E-mail: pastor@southviewbible.org * Web Site: www.southviewbible.org

 

Why Antisemitism?

 

Why are the Jews so universally hated? The world is trying to figure this out, but according to Scripture, it ultimately can be boiled down to one word, even though the world is oblivious to it. What accounts for the persistent and universal spirit of antisemitism? The FBI director recently testified that Jews make up only about 2.4% of the US public and yet they account for about 60% of all religious-based hate crimes. He said, “The Jewish community is targeted by terrorists really across the spectrum”. But why? 

 

The pundits of the world right now are grappling with this phenomenon. Consistently the world cycles back to the HATRED of the Jew. Why? Many answers have been offered by various scholars including economic factors, scapegoats, ethnic hatred, resentment of Jewish success, and religious bigotry. But none of these explanations give an adequate explanation as to the WHY of universal hatred of the Jews.  

 

The Bible ALONE gives the ultimate root cause of universal antisemitism. The answer is found in one word, or more specifically one person – one spiritual being named SATAN! This is a spiritual phenomenon. Satan is the “god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4). He is “the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). The “whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 Jn. 5:19). Satan “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). 

 

God has uniquely chosen the Jews to be the centerpiece of His plan. The Word of God was given through the Jews (Rom. 3:1-2). The Messiah came through the Jews as “salvation is of the Jews” (Jn. 4:22). God has ordained Israel to be His unique witness nation (cf. Isa. 41:8-23; 43:10). The blessing of God for the world comes through the Jews (Gen. 12:3). 

 

God has prophetic plans for Israel and has laid them out in His Word. If Satan can disrupt and cause these plans to not be fulfilled then he will have defeated God. Satan cannot get directly at God so he goes about seeking to destroy Israel and thereby indirectly frustrate the sovereign plan of God. “Good luck” on that one (sarcasm)!  

 

Satan desperately tried to prevent the Messiah from being born. At one-point, wicked Athaliah had all the male descendants of David killed, but in the sovereignty of God, one child was spared, which allowed the Davidic line through whom the Messiah would come to continue (cf. 2 Kings 11:1-3). When Jesus was born wicked Herod tried desperately to have the Christ-Child killed (Matt. 2). 

 

Satan, from every angle, has desperately tried to circumvent the plans of God, which run through the Jew. He has used the Pharaohs, Haman, Antiochus Epiphanes, Herod, Hitler, Terrorists, Crusades, Pogroms, the Holocaust, etc., but none have succeeded. However, his final push for the total extermination of the Jews comes in the last days just prior to the Second Coming of Christ.  

 

The Bible teaches that in the last days, Israel will once again be re-established in the land of promise. They are there! In that context, there will be a worldwide rise of antisemitism that will pave the way for the greatest wave of antisemitism in the whole of human history. That reality is summarized and unfolded in Revelation 12. Here we are shown what will be Satan’s final attempt to destroy Israel and the Jewish people prior to the Second Coming of Christ. 

 

Revelation 12 may be the KEY passage in the entire Bible in regard to prophetic truth regarding antisemitism. This passage deals with the 70^th week of Daniel (commonly called “The Seven-Year Tribulation Period) which is the most specifically dated event in all the Bible in terms of its beginning, middle, and end (cf. Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 12:7; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5-7).  

 

Revelation 12 deals with Israel and the Jewish people at the mid-point of the Seven-Year Tribulation Period. The chapter is filled with imagery, but in no way are they allegorical because each of the images is clearly DEFINED.

 

The woman – represents Israel. 

The Man-Child/Lamb – represents Jesus.

The dragon/serpent – represents Satan.

 

At the midpoint of the Tribulation Period, Satan will be cast to the earth, no longer having any privileged access to the heavens. At this point, he trains his focus on the WOMAN (Israel) in an all-out effort to destroy her. 

 

Revelation 12:12–13 (NKJV)

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” 

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 

 

This last three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period is described by Christ as “great tribulation” (Mt. 24:21) and will include the pinnacle of worldwide antisemitism as driven by Satan himself. As we see antisemitism increasing in our day we know where ultimately this is going, because the Word of God is clear! Eventually under the leadership of Satan and his lead man (the Antichrist), the entire world will be in opposition to Israel and the whole world will be allied to fight against Jerusalem (cf. Zech. 12:3; 14:2). But “Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations…” (Zech. 14:3).  

 

Thot: “Herein is proof that God is not finished with Israel. If He were finished, there would be no reason for Satan to expend such effort 

           to annihilate the Jewish people.” – Jim Showers

 

Earnestly Contending, Pastor Dwight J. Oswald