“When living among the Gentiles, the Jewish people would be persecuted but they were also to enjoy times of prosperity. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although…I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries …I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries” (Ezk. 11:16-17).
A pattern can be seen in God’s dealings with His people. They would prosper in the sanctuary of the Lord God until the time came for them to move. Then that prosperity changed to persecution. This pattern is seen in the ancient Jewish community of Alexandria, Egypt. They experienced toleration and great prosperity but eventually anti-Semitism changed to persecution. It could well be that, in the time of the end, this could happen in America.
Alexandria — America
The ancient metropolis of Alexandria, with its teeming polyglot of people, was similar in its politics and economics to the United States of our day. To the ancients, Alexandria was the prime example of a modern society that had reached a high standard of living. Likewise, the conditions enjoyed by Alexandrian Jews was comparable to the wealth and political freedoms experienced by American Jewry.
Alexander, the brother of Philo, was head of a great banking firm. The wealth and munificence of this Jewish millionaire can be seen in the gift sent to the Jerusalem temple. The nine massive gates that lead into the temple were covered in the gold and silver given by this Alexandrian banker. His conduct was similar to some wealthy American Jews. Both are willing to send monies to Israel for her support, but are not willing to return to her from the countries where they live in comfort.
Hunters and fishers
Yet the Lord says, “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks” (Jer. 16:16).
During the first century A.D., an anti-Semitic movement in Alexandria broke out into destructive violence. The religious and ethnic separation and cultural independence of the Jews combined with economic rivalries (Jewish merchants controlled the trading of grain from Egypt to Rome) to incite the populace against the Jews. Their benevolence was replaced by persecution and the Jewish community began a decline that eventually ended in their departure from Alexandria.
We see in America today a Jewish population possessed of wealth and success. If the economy of America continues to decline, this may feed anti-Semitic fanaticism in the last days.
In the notes on Jeremiah 16:16, Adam Clark’s commentary states that God will “raise up enemies against them some of whom shall destroy them by wiles and others shall ruin them by violence.” The Reichman family’s Olympia & York company faces a financial crisis indicating such “wiles” and Neo-naziism is raising its spectre once again in Germany and Europe.
The day may come when America will fan the flame of anti-Semitism and fulfill scripture by forcing the Jews to depart, this time for their own land.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One