The Cosmic War Behind Anti-Jewish Sentiment
Satan’s Attempts to Destroy the Messianic Line
By Dale Ebel
“When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of Judah’s royal family. But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king’s children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him. Joash remained hidden in the Temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.”
– 2 Chronicles 22:10–12 NLT
A Brief Explanation of the Passage
After the death of her son, Queen Athaliah—daughter of the infamous Ahab and Jezebel—seized power and launched a brutal purge, determined to eliminate the entire royal lineage of Judah. But in the midst of this wicked plot, God sovereignly preserved the Messianic line. Ahaziah’s sister, Jehosheba, courageously rescued the infant Joash and hid him in the Temple for six years. During this time, Athaliah reigned, promoting Baal worship and ruling with cruelty. Eventually, the faithful priest Jehoiada led a revolt, dethroned and executed Athaliah, and reinstated Joash as king (2 Chronicles 23:14–15).
Jewish History Reveals a Cosmic Conflict
This episode in 2 Chronicles marks one of the most dramatic threats to the Davidic line. The Messianic promise hung by a thread, preserved in a single child. If Joash had been slain, the royal lineage that God had promised would produce the Messiah would have ended. But God intervened, as He always does, to preserve His redemptive plan.
The Battle Began Before the Garden
Long before Joash, the cosmic war had already begun. Ever since Satan’s fall—fueled by pride and rebellion (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:15; Luke 10:18)—he has waged an unrelenting campaign against the purposes of God, especially against the Jewish people, through whom the Messiah would come.
Following the fall of Adam and Eve, God made a solemn declaration to the serpent—one that outlines the entire redemptive arc of history:
“And I (Yahweh, Elohim-God) will cause hostility between you (Satan and unbelievers) and the woman (Eve), and between your offspring and her offspring (Eve’s descendants—the Messiah). He (God-Christ) will strike your (Satan’s) head, and you will strike his heel (a reference to the crucifixion).”
– Genesis 3:15 NLT
This verse anticipates Satan’s efforts to wound the Messiah—and God’s ultimate triumph through Him.
Satan’s Repeated Attempts to Eradicate the Jews
Scripture and history are filled with demonic attempts to thwart God’s plan:
- Haman’s genocidal plot in Persia to annihilate the Jews (Esther 3:8–10).
- Queen Athaliah’s purge, nearly extinguishing the Messianic line (2 Chronicles 22).
- Pharaoh’s infanticide, designed to kill Israel’s deliverer (Exodus 1:15–22).
- Satan tempting Christ to abandon His mission (Matthew 4:1–11).
- The crucifixion, incited by demonically influenced religious leaders (Mark 15:1–15).
- Guards at the tomb, a futile attempt to contain the risen Messiah (Matthew 27:63–66).
- Christ’s proclamation to imprisoned spirits, declaring His victory after the resurrection (1 Peter 3:18–20; Genesis 6:1–4).
Each of these moments reveals Satan’s desperation to thwart God’s promise, and each underscores God’s sovereign victory.
When We Forget the Past…
When we forget the past, we forfeit the present, and we fail to prepare for the future.
Biblical history is not optional—it is essential. It must be interpreted through a literal, historical, grammatical, contextual, and commonsense lens. Allegorizing history weakens its ability to convict, guide, and shape righteous behavior.
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:6 NIV
Allegorical Teaching Is Dangerous
“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.”
– 1 Timothy 4:1 NLT
Many evangelical churches today rely on Reformed Theology, which often interprets Scripture—particularly the Old Testament—allegorically. But a biblically grounded believer trusts that the Scriptures are historically accurate, literally true, and divinely inspired. Allegorical interpretations, rooted in Greek philosophy and advanced by theologians like Origen and Augustine, blur the distinctiveness of God’s Word and His promises to Israel.
As Dr. James B. De Young (my Greek professor at Western Seminary) writes:
“Little did Origen realize that his school of interpretation would become the dominant method among Christians, surpassing the literalist school of Syria. Augustine further developed this view, which became the standard for over a thousand years—even surviving the Reformation into the 21st century.”
– The Pre-Tribulation Rapture: Key to the End of the World, p. 1
Modern History: The Holocaust and Beyond
Satan’s hatred for the Jewish people continued through Hitler’s Holocaust, where six million Jews were systematically exterminated. After World War II, the Jewish state was reborn—but it was immediately attacked by Arab nations who rejected the UN’s two-state solution and instead sought Israel’s annihilation.
From 1948 to today, Satan’s strategy has remained the same: destroy the Jewish people, and thwart God’s promises. The recent atrocities of October 7, 2023, where over 1,200 Jews were savagely murdered by Hamas terrorists—along with the kidnapping of 250+ hostages—illustrate the demonic nature of this ongoing war. That Hamas bears a name that means “violence and cruelty” (Psalm 11:5) is no coincidence.
The Truth About Gaza and the Palestinians
Contrary to popular revisionist history, Israel did not expel Arabs in 1948. Arab leaders ordered them to evacuate in anticipation of Israel’s destruction. A British report from April 26, 1948 documents that Jews pleaded with Arabs to remain—but were ignored.
Furthermore, Arab countries refused to absorb Palestinian refugees, preferring to use them as political tools. Jordan and Egypt occupied Palestinian territories without establishing a Palestinian state, a fact curiously absent from modern narratives.
In 1967, after the Six-Day War, Israel offered peace in exchange for land—but the Arab League responded with the infamous “Three No’s”: No peace, No recognition, No negotiations.
Even in 2000–2001, when Israel offered 96% of the West Bank and 100% of Gaza, Palestinian leadership again said no. The problem was never Israel’s unwillingness—but the refusal of the Palestinian leadership to accept Jewish sovereignty.
What You Can Do
- Visit Behold Israel and join Amir Tsarfati’s Telegram channel.
- Read Amir Tsarfati’s latest bestseller: The Israel Decree.
- Study the 17 Scriptures mentioned above. Mark them in your Bible.
- Learn the difference between Literal and Allegorical interpretation. Ask your church leaders how they interpret Scripture. If they do not affirm a literal, historical approach, find a new church.
- Grow in your knowledge of Biblical prophecy with the Henry Morris or MacArthur Study Bibles.
- Reflect on these verses about Satan’s tactics: John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 2:11, Ephesians 6:10–18.
Standing with you in this cosmic battle,
Dale