On Tuesday, February 13, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) published the survey results from their “2023 State of Antisemitism Report.” The AJC has been conducting similar surveys since 2019. This survey was conducted in the United States by telephone and online from October 5 – November 21, 2023. The nationally represented sample included 1,528 Jews who are 18 years of age or older. The survey results are deeply troubling.
The survey reported that “78 percent of respondents felt more insecure” following the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. The survey also revealed that “63 percent of American Jews believe that their overall status in the US is ‘less safe’, compared with 41 percent in 2022 and 31 percent in 2021.”
Question: What’s really at the heart of antisemitism?
Answer: Spiritual Warfare.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).
All forms of antisemitism have Satan as their source. Ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve, Satan has attempted to destroy the Messianic line that would ultimately defeat him (Gen. 3:15).
Bible scholar, Arnold Fruchtenbaum rightly observes,
“[A]ll anti-Semitic campaigns throughout Jewish history have been instigated by Satan. . . . Satan works on the principle that whomsoever the Lord loves, he will hate. God, throughout the Prophets and the New Testament, spelled out His eternal love for the people of Israel; therefore, Satan has had a perpetual war against the Jews, seeking to destroy them at every possible opportunity” (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, third edition, Ariel Ministries. Kindle, loc. 8852).
Prior to the first advent of Jesus Christ, Satan tried to rid creation of the Jews through repeated attacks. For example, Satan attempted to exterminate the Jews through Pharoah’s order to kill all male infants born to Hebrew families (Exod. 1:15-16; 22). Later, Satan sought to end the Hebrew people through Haman’s nefarious plot against the Jews as recorded in Esther 3. Satan also tempted Jesus Christ in order to disqualify Him from being our Savior (Matt. 4:1-11).
But on the cross at Calvary, Jesus Christ not only sealed our victory over sin and death, He sealed Satan’s fate forever. The Apostle Paul triumphantly declared, “When He disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him” (Col. 2:15).
Though Satan’s future is sealed, he has not given up the fight. He wants to destroy Israel to prevent the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. Through antisemitic warfare, Satan seeks to remove Israel from the face of the earth so that there will not be a remnant from Israel for Christ to rule over. But again, Satan’s future is sealed. Jesus Christ will return as the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16). And after the thousand-year reign of Christ, Rev. 20:10 states, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
As Christians, it is important for us to understand what is behind all forms of antisemitism. The truth is, we are in a real battle. This is spiritual warfare.
The Apostle Paul recognized there is a real war and that Satan is trying to eternally destroy those whom God loves. In his last letter to Timothy, Paul did not say, “I have danced the good dance.” Paul said, “I have fought the good fight” (2 Tim. 4:7).
We must rise up and do likewise. We must rise up and pray for Israel. We must rise up and reject all forms of antisemitism. We must also rise up and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is only through Jesus Christ that Israel and the world will be truly blessed. Will you please join me in praying for Israel and her people?
by Dr. Matthew Dodd | February 16, 2024