Could This Happen Again?

     Have you ever studied what happened during the Holocaust? Most people really don’t want to see pictures or hear stories from that time. The problem is that without remembering what Hitler did, and what the world ignored, it will happen over and over and over again.

     One thing that most people don’t quite understand is that what Hitler did wasn’t that original. There has been a spiritual battle between Satan and the people whom God loves ever since the inception of mankind. Following the Fall of Adam and Eve, God promised to send a Redeemer, who would crush Satan. See Genesis 3:15. From that moment, Satan has been trying to destroy the people of God for two reasons. First, Satan hates God. Secondly, Satan wants to thwart God’s plan for our salvation.

     I’m sure there are more Holocaust examples, but here are just a few. The wickedness that led up to Noah’s Flood was climaxed by Satan trying to saturate mankind with demon possession so that the Savior could not be born. See Genesis 6. Nearly 1,000 years before Christ, the Psalmist Asaph described the conspiracy of the nations surrounding Israel, “They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, [t]hat the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’” Psalm 83:4 (NKJV). About 400 to 500 years before Christ, the infamous villain Haman from The Book of Esther, “sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.” Esther 3:6b (NKJV). Then from the times of the Romans all the way up until Hitler, Europe has repeatedly marginalized, persecuted, and committed genocide against the Jews.

     So Hitler’s actions were not new, but I imagine they were likely the most heinous. Nevertheless, the Bible teaches us that the worst Holocaust is still yet to come. The Book of Revelation tells us that during the last seven years of this stage of our history, the persecution of both secular Jews, and those who have returned to the Lord, will outnumber any genocide the world has ever seen.

     Jesus described that Great Tribulation like this, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Matthew 24:9 (NKJV). The Apostle John wrote regarding that time, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman [which represents Israel], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17 (NKJV).

     Please watch the following videos, and take into consideration that although we cannot see it, the spiritual battle is so very, very real. We cannot stop what God has preordained to happen at the end of our history, but I believe we have a duty before God to do our best to prevent such a horrific thing from occurring on our watch. By the way, if you are a Christian, don’t think that you are safe. Satan hates you too.

     As Christians, I think it’s important to be aware that despite the fact that Jews have generally rejected Christ as the Messiah (religious Jews are still waiting for Him), and being the primary object of Satan’s hatred, God still has miraculous plans for Israel. Through the Prophet Zechariah, God promised to reveal Himself to them during the Great Tribulation, once their hearts have been sufficiently humbled, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.” Zechariah 12:10a (NKJV).

     Now that the nation of Israel has been reestablished after 2,000 years of dispersion, I think God’s plans for this are getting close. If you have ever thought what it would be like to live during Biblical times, you can stop thinking about it. We are!