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By Daniel C. Juster, Director
Satanically inspired attempts to destroy
Israel are nothing new. Throughout Scripture we read of such attempts. In
Moses' day Amalek sought to destroy Israel. During the days of Esther and
Mordechai, Haman a descendant of Amalek devised a plan to systematically
destroy the Jewish people. Haman became the paradigmatic figure of the
arch-enemy of Israel. Though the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in a terrible
war, and perhaps a million and a half perished, Rome never sought to destroy
the Jewish people in totality.
Anti-Semitism in the Western World
Though there have been terrible events throughout the history of Christendom, the danger of Israel being wiped out was never at issue. There were several reasons for this limit to danger. While Church theology taught that the Jewish people were under a curse and were to be kept in a second-class status, Church theology also taught that the Jewish people were to be preserved as a sign and a warning to people to never forsake the Christian faith. The Popes were part of an inter-generational tradition that maintained that the head of the (Roman Catholic) Church was to protect the Jewish people and assure their continuance. In addition, persecutions were sporadic and regional. The Crusades in the middle ages caused the murder of a small percentage of the total Jewish people and was contrary to papal policy. The Inquisition, beginning in the 1500s, was localized mostly in Spain, Portugal and later South America. Pogroms in the 19th century were erratic and while thousands perished, there was no systematic attempt to totally wipe out the Jewish people.
... read the rest of the article
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicted, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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