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| The return of anti-Semitism |
According to prophecy revealed by Jesus Christ, the end times on earth directly preceding His return are going to be exceedingly bad times for both Jews and Christians.
Here's what Christ said: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me." (Matthew 24:9)
And He also said this: "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city." (Luke 21:20-21)
While Jerusalem hasn't yet been surrounded by the armies of the world, the nation of Israel is surrounded by hostile Islamic countries that not only refuse to recognize her existence but also call for her destruction. Even though Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Koran, Muslims claim that the city belongs to them and not to the Jews.
And so, Christ's prophecies are definitely being fulfilled concerning the persecution of Israel, the Jews and Christians in the last days. Anti-Semitism, which was the scourge of Roman Catholic Europe for many centuries, was considered past tense after Germany's defeat in WWII 70 years ago that brought a merciful end to Hitler's Holocaust.
Now however, anti-Semitism is not only spreading once again like a deadly malignancy across Europe, it's spreading across the entire planet. At Chicago's De Paul University, the students, faculty and alumni have asked the administration to pull its financial investments from companies that do business with Israel because they believe that the Jewish nation illegally occupies Palestinian land. DePaul University student body votes to divest from Israeli occupation in campus-wide referendum | Mondoweiss
Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of history understands that no Palestinian people or nation ever existed. That land was promised by God to the Jewish people and to no one else. (Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:13-21) The land of Israel came to be known as Palestine in 130 A.D. when Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed the nation Syria Palestinia after he had quashed the Bar Kochba rebellion.
Nevertheless, De Paul, a university that claims to be a "Christian" institution, actively promotes an unbiblical heresy that foments anti-Semitism by encouraging its students, alumni and faculty members to punish Israel by divesting economically from that nation.
However, De Paul is actually a Roman Catholic school. And the Roman Catholic Church has historically been the epicenter for anti-Semitism throughout the world since its inception in the 4th century A.D.
And the Catholic Church refuses to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city because the Catholic Church believes that she has replaced Israel and the Jews as God's chosen people. As such, the Catholic Church believes that Jerusalem belongs to her.
Throughout the world, anti-Christianity also spreads. In Khartoum, Sudan, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim has been sentenced to death for refusing to renounce Christianity and convert to Islam. Ibrahim, who recently gave birth, also has a 20-month old son. Her husband Daniel Wani is a U.S. citizen who is confined to a wheelchair and is totally dependent upon his wife. Sudanese woman sentenced to die for Christianity gives birth in prison - CNN.com
In Sierra Leone, two Christian villages were burned down recently by Islamists after many of the villagers converted to Christianity. In predominantly Islamic Malaysia, Christian churches have come under increasing attacks from Muslims who want to eradicate Christianity from that nation. Christian proselytism is illegal in Malaysia and Christians are even forbidden from saying Allah's name. The Voice of the Martyrs
During Christmastime last year, Islamists set off three bombs in a Christian section of Baghdad, killing 37 people. In September, 2013, the government of Cameroon closed down several churches to try to halt the spread of Christianity in that nation.
And in predominantly Roman Catholic Argentina, a law (Law 9891) that was passed to allegedly safeguard citizens against "psychological manipulation" is now being used against Protestant churches that have been increasingly condemned by that government for attempting to convert Roman Catholics.
Why have Jews been historically persecuted and maligned throughout the world for many centuries? Because they are under an ancient curse from God for repeatedly violating His covenants; rebelling against His laws and persecuting His prophets that He sent to warn them to repent.
The Lord spoke these words to the ancient prophet Jeremiah in the 6th century B.C.: "I will send four kinds of destroyers against them (the Jews); the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem." (Jeremiah 15:3-4)
What did Manasseh do that so angered the Lord? He rebuilt shrines to detestable pagan gods that his father had destroyed. And he also reinstituted the detestable pagan practice of human sacrifice by fire to the pagan god Molech. But certainly, Manasseh's sins were just some of many sins committed against God by the ancient Israelites.
That curse that God instituted against the Jews will finally end when Christ returns to Israel and establishes His millennial kingdom on earth. (Zechariah 12-13) At that time the Jews will finally recognize Christ as their Messiah. However, until that time the ancient curse will remain on them.
And that ancient curse has been the reason for the historical anti-Semitism that has plagued the Jews for many centuries.
And the Roman Catholic Church has been the purveyor of much of that anti-Semitism. During the 16th century, Pope Clement VIII (1536-1605) said this: "All the world suffers from the usury of the Jews, their monopolies and deceit. They have brought many unfortunate people into a state of poverty, especially the farmers, working class people and the very poor. Then, as now, Jews have to be reminded intermittently that they were enjoying rights in any country since they left Palestine and the Arabian desert, and subsequently their ethical and moral doctrines as well as their deeds rightly deserve to be exposed to criticism in whatever country they happen to live." The New Catholic Church
For Christians, the persecution comes with being Christ's ambassadors on earth. Since they possess the truth of eternal life through the biblical gospel, they are targeted by Satan for persecution and destruction. Simply stated, the devil's business is to prevent the salvation of every human being on the planet. And in order to do that, the devil seeks to silence the Christian witness.
Christ warned: "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One (Heavenly Father) who sent me." (John 15:20-21) And then, Christ said this: "In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me." (John 16:2-3)
Certainly, Christians will continue to be persecuted by Islamists throughout the world. But Christians are now facing persecution in places where they were never persecuted before. For example, in the United Kingdom, Christian ministers can be charged with hate crimes for declaring Islam a false religion or preaching against homosexuality. To illustrate just how far the U.K. has fallen away from a Christian worldview, homosexuality was illegal there just 50 years ago.
And Christians are being hauled before human rights commissions in western nations for opposing homosexuality or proselytizing non-Christians. Eventually, all public displays of the cross, the 10 Commandments and Christianity will be outlawed throughout the entire world.
How bad is it going to get for Christians and Jews? Prophecy warns us that when the dreaded Antichrist appears and assumes control over a world government, he will seek to eradicate Christians worldwide.
The prophet Daniel wrote: "He (Antichrist) will speak against the Most High (God) and oppress his saints..." (Daniel 7:25) The apostle John who lived about 600 years after Daniel, wrote this in the Revelation: "He (Antichrist) was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them." (Revelation 13:7)
The future isn't going to be good for Christians and Jews. And the persecution is going to get much worse
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