Antiochus IV Epiphanes ( 215 BC-164 BC) ruled the Seleucid empire (modern day Syria) from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. Part of his reign was spent trying to conquer Egypt and the Ptolemies. As both countries fought for control and power, the Jewish people geographically found themselves caught in the middle and became an unwilling buffer zone. Frustrated by the lack of progress in his campaign after the Ptolemies, Antiochus went after the Jewish people, that led to the historic Maccabean revolt and survival of the Jewish people.
Today, the Jewish people are once again caught in the middle, but this time socio-politicaly and not geographically.
There is a current global tendency for BOTH the extreme right and the liberal left to go after Israel and the Jewish people. The extreme right neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups had dwindled to an almost irrelevant number in the last couple of decades, Even though they had continued to distribute their vitriolic speech, they were no longer a real threat to my people.
That trend is changing quickly, especially in Europe. In early June in Hungary, an article was published
“Given our current situation, anti-Semitism is not just our right, but it is the duty of every Hungarian homeland lover, and we must prepare for armed battle against the Jews.” (Read the article)
This quote appeared in a newsletter published by an organization calling itself “The trade union of Hungarian police officers prepared for action”.
So it appears that the push continues against Israel and the Jewish people. Antisemitism knows no political boundaries when it comes to its common enemy: Israel!
How long before we witness modern day Pogroms in Europe?
Yeshua (Jesus) has promised us that He will return to establish His Messianic Kingdom on earth. But the Prince of Peace came first to die for all of us (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) so that He could establish peace in the heart of men FIRST, and then come back to bring Peace on earth. Only HE can bring real peace, in our hearts, in the middle east and in the whole world!
Shalom b’Yeshua!
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