Lies have been used against the Jews, by their enemies, since the time of Haman. Perhaps one of the best known lies is the Protocols of the Elders of Zion published in Russia in 1905. The publication purported to be a plan by Jewish leaders to take over the world. The forgery was hatched by the Russian secret police as an anti-Semitic scheme to deflect widespread criticism of the Tsar’s repressive government.
Despite being exposed as a fraud by the London Times newspaper in 1921, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion has continued to be published in many languages throughout the world[1]. Hitler referred to the protocols in his book Mein Kampf to vilify the Jews. Truth, it seems, has no power against a lie, when people are willingly ignorant and are satisfied to use lies to justify their beliefs and actions.
Propaganda against the Jews continues in many forms today. In 2010, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre produced a pamphlet entitled, 2010 Top Ten Anti- Israel Lies[2]. In forthcoming issues of The Lampstand we propose to examine each of the 10 lies. We are not interested in the lies because we support the present political system of Israel which is organised on largely atheistic and humanistic principles; but we are interested in Israel because of the promises of God to bless those who bless Abraham’s seed.
Increasing propaganda against the Jews has also in turn caused an increased level of anti-Semitism against Jews in many countries. A report from the Jewish Community Protection Service (SPJC) in France noted that anti-Semitic attacks in France increased by 55% from 2011 to 2012, and that 58% of racist violence in France was targeted at Jews[3]. Similarly, in 2007, FBI figures show that among 1,477 religiously motivated hate crimes reported by U.S. law enforcement authorities, 9% were anti- Islamic, 9.5% were “anti-other religion,” 4.4% were anti-Catholic and, by far outstripping any other category, “68.4% were anti-Jewish[4].”
The Bible tells us that the opposition against Israel will grow before the battle of Armageddon (Mic 4:11; Isa 41:11). In this mounting tide of anti-Semitism we see then a fulfilment of Bible prophecy which reminds us of the nearness of our Lord’s return.
[1] The Plot The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Will Eisner
[2] http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=4442915&ct=8205381#.UT68shycRM4
[3] http://dl.antisemitisme.org/REPORT%202012.pdf
[4] http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/21/antisemitism-jews-un-oped-cx_cr_0122rosett.html