Antisemitism[1] has emerged in countless ways throughout the ages and in a variety of places and societies around the globe. Ideologies and myths behind antisemitism contain polar extremes where Jewish people are seen as either running global finance and the media or as cowardly and disloyal citizens.[2] The consequences of such accusations have led not only to harassment but also to severe persecution to the point of genocide of the Jewish people.

The allegations against Jewish people—who make up only a small percentage of the world population[3]—are plentiful, repetitive, and even contradictory. In response, Messianic Jews and Christians,[4] like us at the Coalition Against Antisemitism (CAAS), conclude that the excessive targeting of Jewish people defies logic and justifies the search for spiritual causes of antisemitism. Followers of Messiah have determined that antisemitism must stem from supernatural origins and turn to the Bible to try to make sense of this ancient and current phenomenon.

Potential Spiritual Causes of Antisemitism

Today’s believers in Messiah often identify two main spiritual causes of antisemitism: divine retribution for sin and demonic attacks. Many are wary of mentioning the first source—the possibility of antisemitism arising from God’s judgment against sin—since this charge has intensified the persecution of Jewish people.[5] But, Messianic Jews like Vladimir Pikman, director of Jewish Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), admits that the violation of God’s covenant can result in consequences for the Jewish people (Deuteronomy 28; Leviticus 26). “We know, biblically speaking, that one of the spiritual reasons for Jewish people to still be in trouble is our disobedience to the Torah,” said Pikman during a lecture on the spiritual roots of antisemitism at DTS.[6]

Non-Messianic Jews sometimes interpret the Hebrew Scriptures this way as well (although this approach is not central to contemporary Judaism’s understanding of Jewish suffering). “From the Bible through the Shtetl our forefathers believed that when collective calamity befalls us, we must stand before the Almighty in recognition of our failings – our sins,” wrote Joshua Berman, an Orthodox rabbi and professor at Bar Ilan University in a Times of Israel blog two months after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. “But there is very little talk of ‘sin’ as the cause of our current crisis, even within religious circles.”[7] Berman added that while there are no biblical prophets today to specify the type of sins behind recent afflictions, Jewish tradition encourages an ongoing admission of sin, the seeking of God’s forgiveness, and an expectation of redemption. Other non-Messianic Jews see antisemitism as God’s way of preventing Jewish people from assimilation.[8]

Despite the theological validity of these explanations for antisemitism, the Jesus-believing community seems to lean toward the second possible reason for antisemitism—a spiritual or cosmic battle against the Jewish people. Jewish tribulations are too intense to be solely attributed to transgressions.

Antisemitism as a Spiritual Battle against Jewish People

Messianic Jewish biblical interpreters, especially, tend to view the demonic adversary, Satan, as continually trying to derail the plans of God, including His commitments to the Jewish people. These interpreters often cast Satan as the instigator of hatred against them throughout time. The promises of God in the biblical narrative center around His choosing the Jewish people as a holy people (Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2), pledging to preserve them (Jeremiah 31:36–37), and sending through the Jewish people a messianic redeemer for sin for all humankind. God revealed this promise of a redeemer after humanity’s first disobedience (Genesis 3:15) and confirmed it in Abraham’s calling (Genesis 12:3).[9] “We shouldn’t be surprised if the devil wants to attack that,” said Darrell L. Bock, New Testament scholar, in a panel discussion at the C.S. Lewis Institute. “If they [the Jewish people] have a unique place in God’s plan, they have a unique place in the devil’s plan as well.”[10]

Messianic Jews and Christians often view the Bible as offering numerous examples of Satan’s attempts to thwart God’s redemptive plans by attacking the vessel through whom salvation comes—from Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Israelite male babies (Exodus 1:22) to the similar New Testament story about Herod the Great’s attempts to kill the young Messiah (Matthew 2:16–18). “It’s spiritually rooted,” said Jonathan Bernis on a broadcast for Jewish Voice Ministries. “When God has a redemptive act planned at a specific time in history, there is always a demonic spike to prevent that from happening.”[11]

This theological approach to antisemitism interprets the most recent attacks on Jewish people in Israel (and the rise in global antisemitism) as Satan’s latest scheme to obstruct God’s future plans. This future includes the Messiah’s return (Matthew 24:30) and Satan’s final destruction (Revelation 20:10). If Satan can annihilate the State of Israel and the Jewish people, then God’s people cannot call on Him for redemption. Scripture presents this turning back to God as the event that will trigger the Messiah’s second coming (Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 23:39).

The centrality of the Jewish people to God’s future kingdom sparks animosity from the biblical adversary. “The Bible is clear: God loves both Israel and the Jewish people (Deut. 7:6-9; Jer. 31:3; Rom. 11:2, 29). Therefore, antisemitism has one cause—Satan,” wrote Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries. “Israel plays a crucial role in God’s redemptive plan for the world. That is why Satan seeks to thwart God’s plan by concentrating his efforts on destroying the Jewish people.”[12]

This type of biblical interpretation, however, posits that, despite Satan’s efforts, God will be the final victor against him. God will ultimately deliver His chosen people (Romans 11:25–26), keep His promises, and return to the promised land on the clouds of heaven (Revelation 1:7) during the final restoration of the Jewish people and the nations. Once God’s kingdom is fully established, antisemitism with its root causes will be forever abolished.