1239. Why the World Hates Israel-Part 1

Why the World Hates Israel
Part 1

Clearly, the world hates Israel. The UN spends an inordinate amount of time condemning and accusing her. Anti-Semitism is increasing around the world, especially on college campuses. The Arab world in general and the Muslim world in particular have singled out Israel and her people as their number one enemy that must be exterminated. Nations, groups, and even churches have joined the BDS movement to strangle her economically. Despite her contributions to the world as well as her role in thwarting the spread of radical Islam in the Middle-East, the world consistently displays an irrational hatred for the tiny nation of Israel. But why?

To understand the reasons, we must take a giant step back to see beyond what is visible. This big-picture perspective reminds us that Satan is currently the god of this world. Jesus called him “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Paul called him “the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). So, how on earth did Satan gain this title? How could God let this happen? Why did God let this happen?

In eternity past, God set out to establish a kingdom over which He would rule as Sovereign King. His kingdom was the universe, which included heaven and earth. Since a king needs subjects, God created a host of angels to serve Him primarily in the heavenly realm (Rev. 5:11), and a male and a female human being (in His image) to serve Him on earth (Gen. 1:26). God’s chosen form of government for earth was a Theocracy in which He would reign as its King, but He would administer His rule through His earthly representative-Adam.

It didn’t take long for the highest-ranked of His angels to become so overcome with pride (Ezek. 28:11-17) that he actually believed he could overthrow God and become “like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14). God responded by throwing him out of heaven (Ezek. 28:16) and changing his name to Satan, meaning “Adversary.” Having been banished to earth, Satan disguised himself as a serpent (Rev.12:9; 20:2) and persuaded God’s earthly representative to join him in his rebellion against God (Gen. 3:13).

It was then that the theocracy, God’s chosen form of government for earth, was lost. God’s angelic enemy snatched the rule of earth away from God’s representative and established his own rule, one that could be called a “satanocracy.” Since Satan’s ultimate goal was to become the supreme sovereign of the entire universe, he began his quest to overthrow God and usurp His position.

In order for God to prove His superiority over Satan, He had to crush Satan (Gen. 3:15), bringing his earthly rule to an end, and restore His own theocratic kingdom on earth. He accomplished the first at the cross where Christ procured the victory over sin and death, Satan’s most powerful weapons. With Satan’s power (over God’s people) destroyed, God could restore His kingdom on earth under His rule as a theocracy. To show the wisdom of His original plan, God had to, once again, appoint a representative on earth-one like Adam in his function, but unlike Adam in carrying out His responsibilities. He would be a “Second Adam”-one whose perfect obedience and sinless character would bring the results God had always desired. The only suitable representative would be God’s Son-Israel’s promised Messiah.

Next week in Part 2, we’ll look at how Jesus, the Second Adam, will establish Israel’s long-awaited Millennial Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven) and the important role Israel will play in its formation and throughout its existence. This will reveal the origin of the world’s irrational hatred for God’s Chosen People.