So much happening online delaying my blogging about our sovereign, prime minister and party being FOOLED (thus NOT a government) by prime-evil barbarians pretending to deserve rational political recognition, but upon catching up with dozens of emails I’m pleased to find this sent on Tuesday from my dear friend Neil (emphases mine).

As though by God-incidental confirmation, Neil’s thesis echoes not only my repenting on behalf of our ungodly UK leaders, but also my mulling over 2Thess 2:1-12 on the ‘strong delusion’ God is sending the new woke Archbishop of Wales before their reckoning, viz: ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now over to Neil:

THE BANDWAGON OF DECEPTION

(SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE IN A SEA OF LIES)

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this article is to explain some aspects of how a great deception has become imbedded in the Church and Christian society. This overview is far from exhaustive: my hope is that readers will feel called to research further in the Bible and seek to understand God’s redemptive plan for Jews and Gentiles.

THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

In about 50 AD, the apostles and elders held a meeting, later known as The Council of Jerusalem, to discuss whether the acceptance of Gentiles as believers should be dependent on their agreeing to observe Jewish practices and procedures (i.e. by converting to Judaism). Acts 15 describes the outcome: Gentile believers did not need to convert to Judaism.

The decision was largely based on Peter’s experience, when he went to the house of Cornelius the centurion (see Acts 10). Cornelius and his household were baptised in the Holy Spirit, after listening to Peter. They were neither circumcised nor observers of Jewish customs and practices.

The apostles and elders had “eyes to see and ears to hear” and understood that God was moving in a new way among the Gentiles. The Council of Jerusalem showed a generosity of spirit that was both inclusive to Gentile believers and obedient to the Will of God.

Their decision was Biblical and evidence-based.

COUNCIL OF NICAEA 325 AD

Moving swiftly forward, the outcome of the Council of Nicaea* was very different. The gathering of bishops (all Gentiles), ordered by Emperor Constantine, ignored the Jewish heritage of the Christian faith, and made no mention of Jesus being a Jew.

To be accepted as Christians, Jews were required to renounce their Jewish beliefs, not keep Shabbat, change their names to Christian names etc. The fact that the apostles had Jewish names and Jesus’ Hebrew name is Jeshua, was ignored.

After the Council, Constantine wrote: “It was declared to be particularly unworthy for, the holiest of all festivals (Easter), to follow the custom of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes … We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews …. but to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews ….. At the same time it is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord.”

There is more in this vein; suffice it to say, the Council of Nicaea nurtured and developed the roots of antisemitism that were seeded over the previous 200 years. Unlike the Council of Jerusalem’s attitude towards Gentile believers, there was nothing inclusive or generous of spirit in the Council of Nicaea’s view of the Jews.

Their attitude was neither Biblical nor evidence-based.

PAUL THE APOSTLE

It seems likely that Paul, by God’s guidance, foresaw the possibility of the Church parting company with its Jewish roots. Paul could not have been clearer in his teaching that the gospel of God was “to the Jew first and then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). In Romans 9-11, he explains the relationship between God and His chosen people Israel, and that even though many rejected Yeshua, they remain “beloved for the sake of the fathers” (11:28), and will be saved (11:26). Paul also warned the Gentiles against arrogance towards the Jews (11:18).

God’s love for His chosen people Israel is confirmed in many other scriptures. Some examples: His everlasting covenant (Genesis 12:1-8); they are ‘the apple of His eye’ (Zechariah 2:8); His first-born (Matthew 4:22); special treasure (Deuteronomy 7:6}; My Glory (Isaiah 46:13); My Nation (Isaiah 51:4).

Paul’s passion and love for his people is also clear (e.g., Romans 9:3) and he never renounced his Jewish roots; rather the opposite, he calls himself a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Acts 22:2, see also Philippians 3:5).

WHAT IFs

We have looked at some aspects of how antisemitism became established in much of the Church, and commented on God’s deep and enduring love for His people. I now want to summarise some facets of how antisemitism has influenced society. I do this by a number of “what if” questions, as a form of shorthand covering huge issues.

What if many of the Founding Fathers of the Church; the Heroes of the Faith; God’s Generals; and various convocations of bishops, were all wrong in their attitude towards the Jews? Who would dare to speak out against such protagonists?

What if Hitler had not felt that the Lutheran church supported his views?

What if the once recognised bastions of virtue, truth and justice like the UN; ICJ; BBC; and so on, are wrong in their attitude towards the Jews? Who would listen to anyone who rails against such established bulwarks of society?

What if proponents of Replacement Theology are bearing false witness?

What if much of the Church has been undermined by, and has succumbed to, ‘woke’ ideology?

What if the Bible is accurate when it says people will prefer lies to truth (2 Timothy 4:4, see also 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11) and that those who curse Israel will be cursed (Genesis 12:3).

What if the media are accepting and promulgating (broadcasting) Hamas reports without carrying out due diligence and verifying those reports?

I am sure you will be able to think of many more.

THE WHY AND THE HOW

Satan, the father of lies, knows what the Bible says: nevertheless, he believes he can thwart God’s End-time plan, and avoid his ultimate destiny: “the lake of burning sulphur” (Revelation 20:10).

He has already established a pattern of deception and scheming against the Jews.

Why?

Because the Book of Revelation says Jesus will return to Jerusalem to take His rightful place on the throne of David, as King of the Jews. Satan seeks to prevent that certainty. His attempts to destroy Jesus, to disperse the Jews, to undermine their national identity, to annihilate them (the holocaust), to prevent their return to Israel and/or to destroy or divide Jerusalem, have either failed or have not been fully realised.

Time is short and Satan is getting more desperate – he is whipping up a frenzy of worldwide antisemitism and hatred against Israel which, in fact, is fulfilling prophecy.

CONCLUSION

Much of the Church has bought into a lie, in respect of its relationship with Israel. It is time to expose this ancient deception. We, the Gentile Christians, need to humble ourselves and repent (2 Chronicles 7:14). God forgive us for forgetting how greatly blessed we Gentiles are to have been grafted into the Jewish tree. The roots of that tree were established and nurtured by Jesus and the Jewish apostles: we owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude.

The maelstrom of lies, libels and curses against Israel is overwhelming, and it is truly astonishing that they are so widely accepted by so many who should know better.

I tell you the truth, prophecy is being fulfilled in our time, and it may not be long before Jesus returns – Hallelujah. And one thing is certain, each one of us is going to have to give an account before God for our words and actions (Romans 14:12).

What will you say?

*For a more comprehensive description of the Nicaea Council’s attitude towards the Jews see: ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) articles:

• The Breach: Where the Church Parted Ways with Israel (2021)
• 1,700 Years After Nicaea (2025)

PS

Replacement Theology’s ungodly root: despising the Desposyni