In the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel Hamas terrorists slaughtered more than 1,200 people, a new book argues that recent events signal a prophetic war against the Bible itself being waged by an unholy alliance of Islamic jihadists and secular progressives. The War Against the Bible: Ishmael, Esau and Israel at the End Times, by Rabbi Elie Mischel, provides a biblical lens to interpret current events, explaining how Israel’s enemies unite in hatred for God’s word.
On the joyous festival of Simchat Torah celebrating the Torah, Hamas carried out one of the worst atrocities against Jews since the Holocaust —raping women, burning babies and taking hostages. With antisemitic protests and anti-Christian riots erupting worldwide, Mischel explains that we are witnessing the fulfillment of the Bible’s prediction of nations banding together to wipe out God’s people Israel.
“The war against Israel is not about land or politics, but a rebellion against the God of the Bible Himself,” states Mischel. “Islamic jihadists reject the Bible’s moral restrictions, while secular progressives seek to revolutionize society free from its ‘outdated’ teachings. Though ideologically opposed, they unite to defeat Israel as the standard-bearer for biblical values.”
The book draws on the rich heritage of the Hebrew Bible, presenting it as a living document that offers guidance and wisdom for our times.
“We tend to view Tanach as a source of halachah [Jewish law] and of ethics, which is certainly true. But Tanach is much more than that; every verse is alive and breathing, guiding us in each and every generation,” the rabbi says. “The prophecies and books that we usually ignore—books like Yishayahu, Zechariah and Ovadiah—are meant for us, for our generation. Though we have to approach Tanach with humility, we have an obligation to study it and to use it as the prism through which we understand current events.”
The book calls on Jews and Christians to take up the mantle as “watchmen for salvation” by studying God’s word to understand the remarkable events of these times—and to act upon that understanding.
As Mischel says, “Our generation hungers for the Bible’s vision to make sense of the confusing events swirling around us. We can no longer be bystanders, but must fight this war over the future of biblical faith and values.”
Yishai Fleisher, the international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, praises the book, stating, “Rabbi Elie Mischel lays bare the battle to erase the Bible and replace it with either Godless nihilism or toxic Jihadism. But this book also shines with the light of Israel as a force for uniting and healing humanity and filling this world with the presence of God.”
Rabbi Elie Mischel is the director of education at Israel365. He lives in Efrat, Israel, with his wife and children. The book is available at Israel365store.com and amazon.com. Rabbi Mischel is available for interviews. Contact the author at: eliezer@israel365.com.
