DW: German Foreign Minister Maas slams ‘massive’ attacks on Israel; EN: Anti-Semitism on rise worldwide, in US, Europe

As long as there are states & groups that threaten #Israel with annihilation, it must be able to protect its citizens. Germany will continue to make contributions to ensure this. Our solidarity is not confined to words alone.- @HeikoMaas in Israel ?? pic.twitter.com/PCvQBEG6Wc

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) May 20, 2021

COGwriter

Deutsche Welle posted the following:

German Foreign Minister Maas slams ‘massive’ attacks on Israel

20 May 2021

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Israel has the right to defend itself against “massive and unacceptable attacks,” as he arrived in Israel on Thursday.

Maas stressed that Germany’s solidarity “is not limited to words.”

During a one-day trip, Maas is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top ministers for talks on the Israel-Palestinian crisis.

“As long as there are states and groups that threaten Israel with destruction, it must be able to protect its inhabitants. Germany will continue to make contributions to ensure that this remains the case.” Maas said as he met Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.

“We support the international efforts for a cease-fire and are convinced that the violence must end as soon as possible in the interest of the people. I would also like to call for this here today,” he added.

“The fact that we see that Hamas is again firing missiles into the south of Israel, since we have arrived here in Tel Aviv, is for us an indication of how serious the situation is that the people of Israel find themselves in,” Maas said. https://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-maas-slams-massive-attacks-on-israel/a-57593388

A couple of days ago, also at the website of Deutsche Welle, there was an article to the effect that Germany is supporting Israel at least partially because of its history associated with the Holocaust.

That being said, antisemitism is a real problem around the world. Notice the following about that from Ecumenical News:

Anti-Semitism on rise worldwide, in US, Europe …

May 19, 2021

Anti-Semitism is rising worldwide, including in the United States and across Europe; anti-Muslim hatred is widespread in many countries with religious freedom of deep concern in China, Russia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Burma, says the U.S. Secretary of State. …

“More broadly, we’re seeing anti-Semitism on the rise worldwide, including here in the United States as well as across Europe,” said Blinken.

“It’s a dangerous ideology that history has shown is often linked with violence. We must vigorously oppose it wherever it occurs.”

He noted that anti-Muslim hatred is still widespread in many countries, and this, too, is a serious problem for the United States as well as in Europe. https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/anti-semitism-on-rise-worldwide-in-us-europe-anti-muslim-hatred-widespread-us-report/60872.htm

Here is another report:

Anti-Semitism’s Vile, Unending Hatred Never Ceases to Smoulder

May 19, 2021

Recent demonstrations, a mix of pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas — the terrorist organization that calls in its charter for the elimination of Israel — in Canada and around the world, have had a notably corrosive and vicious thread running through them.

They have been darkly embroidered with extreme and repugnant slogans and signs, calls against Jews of profoundest insult, and pockmarked in some cities, Toronto among them, with the Nazi swastika, cries of “Death to the Jews,” and the lacerating declaration from some protesters that Israelis are present-day Nazis. …

Hate in its purest form, with all its undiluted rage and fervour, has too frequently targeted Jews. Eighty years ago the world saw hate in its vilest, most savage manifestation. The greatest hate crime in the history of the world, a crime in which hate was the only fuel, torture and death its only aim, and unspeakable malice its companion servant, was the Holocaust.

To bait present-day Jews with being the mirror of their persecutors in those days, with being the same as the sadists and merciless murderers of six million of their ancestors, goes into some region far beyond insult, and outside all boundaries of protest.

So when we see in 2021 cars draped with swastika flags patrolling metropolitan streets, or see a despicable bigot, part-time contributor to CNN (since fired) boldly and publicly post on the internet that “The world today needs a Hitler,” we are somewhere we should not be.

And when we hear chants of “Death to the Jews” in the streets of Western cities, it might be an occasion to look to those unquenchable embers.

And what calls the winds that rouse those embers today? The fact of the existence of the state of Israel. Israel is a state that was meant to be — after the devilish enormity of the Holocaust — a haven; a tiny pitch of earth and sand, a postage stamp of territory, in which Jews after centuries of persecutions and anti-Semitism, and after Hitler’s Goyaesque extermination camps, might find shelter and security.

That haven-state has been fighting for its existence, and for the very lives of all who have become its citizens, since the days of its birth. There is no other country so continuously embattled, no country that has been so often the object of terror, no country so frequently under negative judgment from the United Nations, and finally no country of which it may be said if it loses one combat, it loses all. https://harbingersdaily.com/anti-semitisms-vile-unending-hatred-never-ceases-to-smoulder/

Many people hate others, and the Jews tend to be one of the more hated groups. But that is not how people are to live.

Notice something that God had Moses record:

8 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

It is not just physical, ethnic Jews that are at risk–spiritual ones are as well (cf. Romans 2:28-29; John 15:20; see also The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions).

There was a poem that came out last century by Martin Niemöller that was intended to get people to think:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

It is not just Jews that are hated or will be in the future. Throughout history, true Christians have sometimes been called “Jews” and have been subject to persecution supposedly directed towards Jews. True Christians also had to suffer through the so-called Inquisition (see The Spanish Inquisition), which utilized torture against those that had Church of God beliefs–and more is expected in the future (see Persecutions by Church and State). Protestant leaders, including Martin Luther, have also promoted antisemitism and Church of God persecution (see The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong) as have various ones who were Eastern Orthodox (see John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Antisemite).

Real Christians have always been on the side being persecuted and have never been on the side of the persecutors. And this will be true again in the future.

People should not be antisemitic. People should not hate others.

It is not just certain Muslims who hate Jews–many who claim Christ still hold anti-Semitic views, and some take direct anti-Semitic actions.

Sadly, we will see persecution greatly increase before Jesus returns (cf. Daniel 7:25; 11:30-35; see also Persecutions by Church and State)–this will affect Philadelphian Christians.

All the faithful will be subject to persecution and being betrayed by professing believers (Matthew 24:9-13, Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16-18; Daniel 11:32-35).

The underlying antisemitism in Europe and throughout the world will allow for this, especially when the time comes when the Beast’s government mandates it (Revelation 13:15-17).

This will happen in Europe according to Revelation 13.

Germany’s current view towards Israel will NOT prevent deadly anti-Christian persecution from coming–because it will come again per Daniel 7:25. Matthew 24:9, etc.

In the past, Christians were persecuted because they:

Claimed Christianity
Kept Passover on the 14th
Refused to eat unclean meat
Would work on Sunday
Had false accusations railed against them
Were binitarian
Kept the Sabbath
Kept the Fall Holy Days
Were not trinitarian
Taught that the pope was an Antichrist and precursor of the final Antichrist
Having and teaching from the Bible
Rejected papal authority
Did not accept idols
Had different teachings than the Church of Rome
Had writings Rome did not like
Rejected Roman sacraments
Objected to the dress of the Roman ministry
Considered Rome to be the prophesied Babylon
Taught that in the time of the final Antichrist that some would fall away
Had practices that Rome considered Jewish
Refused to baptize infants
Did not participate in carnal warfare
Teaching the millennium
Taught the Kingdom of God
Baptized adults

In the future, according to Greco-Roman Catholic teachings, they will also be persecuted for:

Not accepting non-biblical teachings about Mary
Not accepting the Great Monarch (Beast, King of the North)
Teaching that the Kingdom of God will come soon
Not wearing crosses as a mark (cf. Revelation 13:16-17; see also Mark of the Beast)
Keeping the biblical Sabbath in accordance with the commandments
Possessing/advocating writings that disagree with the Church of Rome
Teaching after the Great Tribulation begins that Jesus will return within a few years

Christians have been persecuted for holding doctrines that we in the Continuing Church of God hold and are clearly expected to be persecuted in the future for holding Continuing Church of God doctrines.

Persecution is a fact of history. It has happened before and we should be prepared for the fact that it will happen again.

The underlying anti-Semitism in Europe and throughout the world will allow for this, especially when the time comes when the Beast’s government mandates it (Revelation 13:15-17).

Some items of related interest may include:

God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does? Watch also Mystery of Race.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church.
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? A video of related interest is titled: The Past and Future Inquisition.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Anti-Semite This late fourth/early fifth century Bishop of Constantinople is considered to be a ‘saint’ and ‘doctor’ by the Church of Rome, Church of England, and the Eastern Orthodox, but he did not teach Christ’s love.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else? Here is a link to a related sermon: USA in Prophecy: Samaria .
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of relaled interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?