Was The Holocaust A Judgment Against Israel?

Q

In view of a new book coming out about the holocaust, do you believe that Leviticus 26:14-39 was fulfilled (at least in part) by the holocaust? In other words, was the holocaust a judgment brought about by Israel’s rejection of God?

A

Leviticus 26:14-39 outlines a set of progressively more severe judgments for disobedience. In some of them we can see an obvious historical fulfillment, such as verses 33-36 which describe the Babylonian captivity. I think it’s safe to say the holocaust was a judgment brought about by Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, especially when you consider their response to Pilate on the day the Lord was sentenced to death. Pilate refused to accept responsibility for it and tried to reason with the crowd, but they shouted, “Let His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matt. 27:25). And so it was.

But I believe the final fulfillment of Lev. 26:14-39 will take place during Daniel’s 70th Week and especially the Great Tribulation because it won’t be until near the end of that period when Israel finally recognizes their greatest sin of all, that of rejecting their Messiah (Zech. 12:10) .