If the Biblical Foundation Falls Away, So Will the Support for Israel
Belief in the Bible as a reliable source of information has been under attack for centuries. So has belief in a personal God. “I do believe there is something, but…” one hears quite often. And in our modern times what the Bible says has become irrelevant to many.
After all, many people believe that the Higher Criticism of recent centuries has long since shown that this Bible is not – or hardly – historically reliable. If the biblical foundation falls away, it is only a matter of time that support for the Jewish people and for Israel will decline at a rapid pace as well. And in that spiritual vacuum, antisemitism – i.e. hatred of Jews – increases quickly and visibly.
Secularisation
The advancing process of secularisation has deep historical roots. That the gods had to be opposed by empirical observation and rational logical thinking began as early as the Greek Milesian natural philosophers in the 6th century BC. Through Graeco-Roman humanism, the separation of upper-nature from lower-nature in the Middle Ages by Thomas Aquinas (1274-1323), Aristotle’s victory over Plato, university research and education in Europe came on fast track. After the first church-bound university in Bologna (1088) came the first free-thinking humanist university in Padua (1222). Centuries of rapidly developing empirical and logical, rationalistic thinking followed. And soon this became the firm starting point for modern man.
Descartes (1598-1650) said: I think, therefore I am/exist. The capacity for logical thought and empirical perception present in my brain is the solid foundation of my existence, he said: Cogito, ergo sum – I think, therefore I exist. And sheer rationalism followed in its wake. God, Church and Bible were increasingly abandoned. Until finally in the 19th century, in the thinking of Darwin, Marx and Freud, the thin thread with God was cut completely. So that ultimately the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) cried out: God is dead! And he became one of the sources of inspiration for the Nazis.
“With many woes the wicked are afflicted, but those who trust in God are well protected.” (Psalm 32:5)
“The Word became flesh in Israel. Jesus the Saviour of the world is Jew”
Salvation is from the Jews
Israel lived and lives in God’s Love. God spoke His Words to Israel. The Bible was formed in Israel and by Jews. To bless the whole world with it. And not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law, till all be fulfilled, Jesus says in Matthew 5:18. Literally He says: “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Whatever higher Bible criticism and rationalism may think of that. Salvation is from the Jews. The Word became flesh in Israel. Jesus the Saviour of the world is Jew.
Many times, attempts have been made to wipe this people of Israel off the map for good. Six million were slaughtered in the countries of Europe in the 20th century alone, including one and a half million children. But think also of the Crusades, and the Inquisition, and the pogroms in Eastern Europe, and of all the unborn children who would never be born because of the murder of these Jewish men and women.
There are only about 15 million Jews left worldwide after all the persecutions and annihilations throughout history, about 7 million of whom now live in Israel. But: this generation (Israel, the Jewish people) will not pass away until they too have seen all that the Lord Jesus spoke about being fulfilled. All Old Testament prophets prophesied about that glorious future.
Future of peace
This year Israel celebrates its 75 birthday: 1948-2023. The Jewish people are preparing for the Messianic age. Peace will flow from Jerusalem into the whole world, under the leadership of the risen King of kings, and Lord of lords: Jesus the Christ, the Messiah of Israel. Just a little longer, and then the nations shall train for war no more, Isaiah 2:2-4. For Israel has the future, and Jerusalem will be the center of the world! Israel will never be destroyed.
The Creator of Heaven and earth says in Jeremiah 31:35-37:
As long as heaven and earth exist.
As long as the ‘laws of nature’ function.
As long as the rhythms of night and day, of sun, moon and stars are there.
As long as the Universe exists:
There will be Israel.
I Myself are the guarantee for that, says the Most High.
Martin Luther said on the basis of Psalm 46 about the Word of God in his well-known hymn ‘A mighty fortress is our God’:
“A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.”
God’s Word will stand forever and will not budge an inch.
