And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Revelation 12:1

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her Child he might devour it.
Revelation 12:4

She gave birth to a male Child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her Child was caught up to God and to His throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God…
Revelation 12:5-6

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male Child…
Revelation 12:13

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus…
Revelation 12:17

This chapter (Revelation chapter 12) reveals the spiritual reality behind the relentless persecution of Jews and Christians throughout History.

The devil hates Israel, because God chose that nation both to reveal His Word and to bring the Messiah, the Savior, to the world. If he could, he would wipe out both Israel  and the very memory of its existence, but God always keeps that from happening. Unable to wreak his full wrath on the Jews, he turns on the Christians, those “other offspring” of Israel who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

When antisemitism arises, you can be sure that the persecution of Christians is on the same agenda. Those who hate Jews hate the followers of Jesus, motivated by the same demonic forces in both cases.

Lord God, thank You for protecting Israel and the Jewish people all through History, in spite of it all. Thank You for using Israel to reveal Your Word. Thank You for bringing us the Savior You promised, through Israel. Lord, give to both the Jewish people and the true followers of Jesus, insight into what’s going on around us and the wisdom to stand together. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles