The Biblical Roots of a Spiritual Hatred
The Bible reveals that the animosity toward the Jewish people is not merely a result of human prejudice—it is a byproduct of spiritual warfare. The Jewish people are at the center of God’s redemptive plan, and because of this, they have also been at the center of Satan’s fury.
From the very beginning, God chose Abraham and established a covenant with him:
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – Genesis 12:3
This was not just a blessing for Abraham personally, but a divine promise concerning his descendants—Israel. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come through this chosen line. Therefore, the Jewish people are the earthly vessel through which God brought salvation to the world. Satan has always sought to disrupt that plan.
We see this clearly illustrated in Revelation 12, where Israel is symbolized as a woman in labor, and the dragon—Satan—stands ready to devour her child. The passage reveals that after the child (Messiah) is caught up to heaven, the dragon turns his rage against the woman and the rest of her offspring. This is not poetic metaphor—it is a spiritual reality that has played out across centuries.
Pharaoh attempted to exterminate Jewish males in Egypt (Exodus 1), Haman tried to annihilate all Jews in Persia (Esther 3), and Herod ordered the murder of Jewish infants in Bethlehem (Matthew 2). These were not random acts of tyranny—they were satanically inspired attempts to sever God’s redemptive thread.
This ancient hatred continues today. It is a hatred stirred by demonic influence. The enemy knows that Israel still has a role to play in end-time prophecy (see Romans 11, Zechariah 12–14, Matthew 24), and he will stop at nothing to incite nations and individuals against them.
A Historical Trail of Blood and Exile
Antisemitism is not confined to biblical times. It is woven into the very fabric of human history. Few peoples have endured such sustained persecution, dispersion, and genocide across so many cultures and centuries.
The Jewish people were exiled from their land after the destruction of the First Temple in 586 B.C. by Babylon, and again in A.D. 70 when the Romans razed the Second Temple and scattered them throughout the empire.
As the Christian Church grew in influence during the early centuries A.D., antisemitism took on religious tones. Some early Church fathers wrongly accused the Jews of “deicide”—the killing of God—and laid the blame for Jesus’ crucifixion solely at their feet. This heretical teaching fed the fires of animosity in medieval Europe.
In 1096, as part of the First Crusade, thousands of Jews were slaughtered in the Rhineland massacres. During the Black Plague in the 1300s, Jews were falsely accused of poisoning wells and were burned alive by the thousands. They were expelled from England in 1290, France in 1306, and Spain in 1492. Often, their property was seized and their lives destroyed.
Martin Luther, though a reformer in many respects, published a treatise later in life titled On the Jews and Their Lies, which called for the burning of synagogues and homes. His writings would be quoted centuries later by the Nazis as justification for their policies.
Then came the Holocaust—the industrialized murder of six million Jews under Hitler’s regime. It remains one of the darkest chapters in human history, and a chilling reminder of how far unchecked hatred can go.
Despite this, God has preserved His people. The rebirth of Israel in 1948, after nearly 2,000 years of exile, is a prophetic miracle. Yet hatred for the Jewish people has not diminished—it has simply evolved.
The Modern Face of an Ancient Evil
In today’s world, antisemitism often masquerades as political critique, cultural commentary, or comedic expression. But underneath the mask, the venom remains.
According to recent studies by the Anti-Defamation League (yes, I know), antisemitic incidents—ranging from vandalism to violent assault—have sharply increased across the globe. In the U.S. alone, there has been a year-over-year rise in antisemitic acts, including synagogue shootings, campus harassment, and online hate.
This hatred is no longer isolated to neo-Nazi groups or fringe extremists. It is surfacing in mainstream entertainment, music, and politics.
Take Kanye West (Ye), for example. His 2022 statements about going “death con 3 on Jewish people” were not only shocking, but disturbingly well-received in some online circles. He repeated tired tropes about Jewish control over media and money—conspiracies that have historically fueled violence.
Candace Owens, a prominent conservative commentator, defended West’s remarks as expressions of frustration. Owens, who was let go from The Daily Wire over anti-Jewish rhetoric, had called the torturous “experiments” on Jewish and other prisoners by Dr. Josef Mengele during World War II and the Holocaust “bizarre propaganda.”
Tucker Carlson, while not openly antisemitic, has platformed voices and views that feed radical sentiments long associated with antisemitic ideologies. Even subtle repetition of “globalist” language—when left undefined—can reinforce conspiracy theories tied to Jewish people in the minds of those already predisposed to such beliefs.
We must be wise to the power of suggestion. Hatred is not always shouted—it is often whispered. And when those whispers are broadcast through podcasts, television, and social media to millions of ears, the impact is devastating.
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Drawing the Line
In recent years, antisemitism has often taken the form of extreme anti-Zionism. Critics of Israel claim that they are merely opposing the policies of the Israeli government. And in a healthy democracy, critique is fair and necessary.
But many of these voices do more than critique—they seek to delegitimize Israel’s very existence. They compare Israel to apartheid regimes, call for its destruction, and glorify acts of terror against its citizens. That is not political debate—that is antisemitism.
The Bible is clear: God gave the land of Israel to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Though they were scattered for centuries, God promised to regather them in the last days:
“I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers.” – Jeremiah 16:15“I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up.” – Amos 9:15
Israel is not a colonial invention—it is a prophetic fulfillment. And Satan hates every inch of it.
Zechariah 12:3 says:
“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples… though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”
That day is fast approaching. And so is the climax of global antisemitism.
Why the Church Must Care
As Christians, our faith is inextricably tied to the Jewish people. Jesus was Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The Bible we cherish—from Genesis to Revelation—was written by Jewish hands under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
To harbor hatred or even indifference toward the Jewish people is to forget our roots. Romans 11 warns Gentile believers not to become arrogant. We were grafted into the olive tree of Israel, not the other way around. God is not finished with His people. Paul writes:
“Has God cast away His people? Certainly not!… For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” – Romans 11:1, 29
Yet too often, the Church has fallen into replacement theology—the false belief that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. This has fueled centuries of persecution and must be repented of.
We must stand with the Jewish people—not just politically, but theologically. Not because they are perfect, but because God’s covenant with them is still active. We must also pray for their salvation. Paul’s heart cry was that his fellow Jews would be saved (Romans 10:1). That must be ours as well.
What Can We Do? A Call to Action
In a world drowning in darkness, the Church must be a beacon of truth and love.
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The following contains from thefederalist.com - from author Jim Witteveen, a Canadian missionary currently working in Brazil as a seminary director and professor.
"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." - Genesis 12:2-3
We know the Israelites are the children of Abraham, say the dispensationalists. Therefore, we need to stand with Israel. If we don't, we will be cursed. If we do, we can expect to be blessed by God. Think what you will of Benjamin Netanyahu and his politics. Think what you will of Israel's, and now our, conflict with Iran. We must support Israel because they are Abraham's children, and we cannot expect God's blessing if we turn our backs on them. Oh yes, and there's one additional benefit: Our support of Israel will bring about all of the things that are spoken about in Revelation, and our support for the modern nation-state known as Israel will usher in the speedy return of the Lord Jesus.
The problem is, the dispensationalists forget how the second part of Genesis 12:3 has been fulfilled in Christ (the Descendant of Abraham, through whom all the families of the Earth have been blessed), and they also neglect one important aspect of the New Covenant, a fact repeatedly emphasized by the Apostle Paul:
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring — not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all… (Romans 4:16)
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So them, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham the man of faith. (Galatians 3:8-9)
And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)
Regarding that last verse, it's important to note that the word “and,” before “upon the Israel of God,” can (and I believe should) be translated as “even,” and understood to mean “that is” — creating a parallel between “all who walk by this rule” and “the Israel of God.” These are one and the same group. These are “those who are of faith,” who are “blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
The question of the moment is this: Who is it who must be blessed to receive God's blessing? And who is it who must not be cursed, lest God's curse fall upon the one doing the cursing? The answer, both under the Old Covenant and the New, is “God's people.” Who were God's people under the Old Covenant? The children of Abraham and those who were grafted into their family from outside, those who joined themselves to Israel and became covenant-keepers. And who are God's people now? The children of Abraham, as defined by the Apostle Paul: “those who are of faith,” “the one who shares the faith of Abraham.”
Is that the modern nation-state of Israel? No, it is the church! Does God's promise to Abraham still stand? Yes, it does! Does that promise have to do with a narrow strip of land bordering the Mediterranean, and does it apply only to people who belong to a specific ethnic group? No, it doesn't! It applies to Jew and Greek, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free (Colossians 3:11).
The moral of the story is this: If you are going to let your vague memory of a Sunday school slogan guide your international policy decisions, make sure what you learned in Sunday school was correct. And if you're teaching the Bible to children, realize that your teaching could have huge repercussions, not only for the children you're teaching but for the world geopolitical order.
End of Jim Witteveen's excerpts
"A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise does not come from men, but from God. " - Romans 2:28,29
If you disagree with Jim Witteveen's perspective, please spare us any name-calling. If you have a theological or rational argument to counter his, please share that thought.