Could the Holocaust Happen Again?

Since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, anti-Semitism has risen dramatically around the world. 

In the United States, the heads of three prestigious universities grappled with students chanting genocidal statements about exterminating the Jews. Yet they refused to unequivocally condemn such statements in a congressional hearing. 

In London, thousands chanted the phrase “from the river to the sea”—which implies the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, currently the State of Israel, should be free of Jews.

Anti-Semitism increasing around the world 

Israel is surrounded by enemies that want to destroy it. The recent Iranian attack on Israel has escalated tensions. The continued fighting in Gaza has led to more anti-Israel protests around the world. Many see Israel as the instigator of the hatred in the Middle East. 

Others work diligently for peace in the Middle East, but the ongoing hatred for the Jewish people will result in only further hostilities and the threat of a full-blown regional war.

Consider the following reports:

• Reported cases of anti-Semitism in France, Spain and the U.K. are up over 1,000 percent (“Europe’s Policies to Combat Antisemitism Have Failed the ‘Real World’ Test,” April 1, 2024).  
• In February, the Community Security Trust, an organization that monitors anti-Semitism in the U.K., reported a 589 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.K., calling it a “watershed moment for antisemitism in the UK” (“Huge Rise in Antisemitic Abuse in the UK Since Hamas Attack, Says Charity,” Feb. 14, 2024).  
• Immediately after the Hamas attack, there were reportedly 202 anti-Semitic incidents in Germany, a 240 percent increase over the previous year (“Germany’s Scholz ‘Ashamed’ at Antisemitism Wave as ‘Kristallnacht’ Pogrom Marked,” Nov. 9, 2023). 
• The Anti-Defamation League reported that there was a 388 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. in the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7 (“US Antisemitic Incidents Up About 400% Since Israel-Hamas War Began, Report Says,” Oct. 25, 2023). 

History has shown that a rise in hatred and violence against Jews has often been a prelude to times of global instability and chaos. Before World War II, the German Nazi party scapegoated the Jews for the German people’s woes and started to alienate them from society. The result was the Holocaust, in which Hitler used German industrial ingenuity to exterminate 6 million European Jews, which he called “the final solution.”

After World War II, the world vowed to “never again” let this happen. But is our world living up to this pledge? What does Bible prophecy say about a future holocaust?

The coming Great Tribulation

The Bible prophesies that in the end times, a power known as the “beast” will again arise (Revelation 13; see “Who Is the Beast?”). This 10th and final resurrection of the Roman Empire will be a conglomeration of European leaders under a single charismatic political leader. Another name for “the beast” is the “King of the North.” This power will react to the aggressive actions of the “King of the South” (likely a confederation of Muslim nations) by defeating it with an overwhelming military force (Daniel 11:40-43). One of the reasons this confederation will be formed is to destroy the state of Israel (Psalm 83:4).

This future European power will enter into the Holy Land, Israel (Daniel 11:45). But it will not come to celebrate friendship and camaraderie. This leader will conquer the Holy Land and set up a false worship system (Daniel 12:11).

This will begin the period of time Christ called “great tribulation,” the worst time in all of human history (Matthew 24:21). This echoes prophecies by Daniel (Daniel 12:1) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 30:7). The Great Tribulation describes a period of unprecedented war, violence, suffering and chaos that will impact the entire world.

Even though the desire behind the words never again is sincere and honorable, the Bible shows that the reality is, human suffering on a vast scale will happen again.This European power will inflict suffering on all the nations that have descended from ancient Israel. The Jews living in the state of Israel will literally flee for their lives from this invading power (Mark 13:14).

Though Europe is at peace with Israel now, that peace won’t last forever. The end-time beast power will likely be led politically by Germany and religiously by Rome. Sadly, atrocities greater than the Holocaust will be perpetrated by this future power. Since Jesus clearly stated that this time will be worse than any that preceded it in history, that means the human atrocities that will be committed by this future European power—and other world powers—will be worse than what happened during the Holocaust (Matthew 24:22).

Part of this suffering will be due to global warfare. The book of Revelation symbolizes this future warfare as the rider of the red horse, who will “take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another” (Revelation 6:4).

In response to the beast’s dominance, a group of nations from the East will form an alliance to challenge the European power (Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44). They will launch an attack against the beast with an enormous 200-million-man army. In the process, “a third of mankind” will be killed (Revelation 9:15-18).

Yes, even though the desire behind the words never again is sincere and honorable, the Bible shows that the reality is, human suffering on a vast scale will happen again.

Yet, despite this dismal future, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The nations align against Israel

In a recent UN vote on a demand that Israel enact a ceasefire without preconditions, the United States abstained, allowing the resolution to pass. Russia and China vetoed the previous attempt at a ceasefire because it was tied to the release of the hostages.

Despite Hamas openly stating its intent to repeat the Oct. 7 attacks “until Israel is exterminated,” Israel has often received greater condemnation from the world community and more negative press from the Western media. 

In 2023, the United Nations condemned Israel 14 times. Two-thirds of all resolutions that criticize countries were targeted at Israel alone, despite the many bad actors around the world.

Watch for ever-increasing hostilities from the nations against Israel. The psalmist foretells the nations of the Middle East, among others, forming a confederacy to “cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (Psalm 83:4). Even Israel’s allies will turn against them. Isaiah foretells that Ephraim (the United Kingdom) and Manasseh (the United States) would oppose and betray Judah (Isaiah 9:21).

The Bible warns the nations that “though all nations of the earth are gathered against it,” God will defend Judah. The Lord will strike the nations with “confusion,” “madness” and “blindness” (Zechariah 12:2-4). 

God will “gather all nations against Jerusalem,” and they will take half the city by force. That is, until Jesus Christ Himself will return and defend the city (Zechariah 14:1-4).

The Kingdom of God will bring peace

When talking about this future time, Jesus gave some good news: “But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matthew 24:22, English Standard Version).

Jesus Christ will intervene to stop this brutal human carnage. With His overwhelming power, He will forcibly bring it to an end and then begin to build a new world. He will replace the flawed governments of this world with His government—the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:27). His government will cause peace, justice and righteousness to spread throughout the world (Isaiah 9:6-7).

People’s attitudes toward the Jewish people will dramatically change. God will dwell in Jerusalem and bring peace to the city, the region and the Jewish people (Zechariah 2:12).

Then, instead of seeking to destroy the Jews, people will seek to learn from them: “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8:23). 

Only then will the phrase never again ring true.

To learn more about what the world will be like under Christ’s direct rule, download our free booklet The World to Come: What It Will Be Like.

Date Posted: May 6, 2024