On November 1, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, to be known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD). This U.N. resolution 60/7 “condemns all forms of ‘religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief’ throughout the world.”[1] So the nations must end anti-Semitism. And Zechariah prophesies that God “will destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9).[2]

I personally believe that anti-Semitism is the root of all prejudice in the world because anti-Semitism is the methodology that satan has implanted. He is the spreader of this leaven, and he has implanted it in nations, peoples, and societies to accomplish his ultimate goal, which is the destruction of the Jewish people. Just read the Scriptures that describe the end-time. What are they about? They are about the rising of nations to destroy Israel and to destroy the Jewish people (Ezekiel 38:14–16). Believe me, whatever tragedies we have seen, whatever horrible events like the Holocaust have occurred, do not think satan is done, and do not think he is satisfied. The Jewish people are his archenemy because of who they are in God’s eyes, and he has always jealously wanted to usurp that place (Zechariah 2:8). He wanted to be the apple of God’s eye. He wanted to be number one (Isaiah 14:13–14). Therefore, he was out to destroy those who were God’s chosen.

God is coming to the end of His patience with the nations abusing Israel and the Jews. As Joel prophesies, “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land” (Joel 3:2). God is declaring, “Let’s deal with this! Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war.” God is getting ready to war with the nations (Revelation 16:14). Why?

Let the nations be aroused

And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat,

For there I will sit to judge

All the surrounding nations.

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.

Come, tread, for the wine press is full;

The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!

For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 2:12–14)

These Scriptures in Joel make it extremely clear that there is a point in time when God is fed up with what has happened among the nations in their treatment of His people. We know that God used the nations to deal with Israel, but He is saying through Joel, “Yes, I had you take them captive, but I did not mean for you to abuse them. I did not mean for you to destroy them. I was disciplining them, but you were moving in an anti-Semitic drive that aligned yourself, not with My plan to bring them back as My people, but with satan’s plan to destroy them.”  If satan can take down Israel, he can take down the rest of the nations. That is why God is saying, “Get rid of the anti-Semitism so that you are not judged with the nations!” As Christians we take this message seriously and ask the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts if there be any anti-Semitism in us. Together we cry with Israel, “Never again!”

[1] United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, “International Holocaust Remembrance Day,” Holocaust Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/international-holocaust-remembrance-day.

[2] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).