The world will tremble – why did it not tremble on October 7th, 2023?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_7_attacks
Tonight, I viewed a film inspired by true events titled “The World Will Tremble,” and I came across a comment beneath it that said; yet it did not tremble.
The synopsis of the story: “The World Will Tremble” recounts the first escape from Chelmno, located in Poland. This was the earliest Nazi death camp, where prisoners were forced into gas vans, with hoses connected from the exhaust pipe to the vehicle, resulting in asphyxiation for 50 or 60 individuals at a time.
Eventually, the Nazis became significantly more efficient. Between 1941 and 1945, over 200,000 Jews were sent to Chelmno, with only four surviving the war. Two of these survivors attempted to alert the world about the atrocities occurring, but their eyewitness accounts went unheeded, preventing the world from having the chance to tremble. Their report was largely disregarded by the media, as it seemed too horrific to be credible. The U.S. Office of War Information declined to publish it, convinced that the two men were fabricating their story.
I have seen numerous films regarding the War and the Holocaust, and I experience a profound sense of dread in my stomach while watching this movie, as I fear the world has yet to witness the extent of what is to come. The world did not tremble on October 7, 2023, despite the horrific atrocities that took place, and the countless individuals murdered, including children. It is difficult to accept that children were burned alive; it feels reminiscent of that time when no one believed it, and/or the propaganda is so pervasive that it remains concealed.
I reflect on the reality that Hamas still possesses 20 hostages, if that is indeed the accurate figure, and I am incredulous that, a year and a half later, they still hold Jewish hostages. I watched a video about a young boy named Abbi who was strangled to death, and I feel anger that insufficient action was taken to assist them, to halt this dreadful assault on the Jewish people, our friends, and our allies. Today was Abbi’s birthday, August 5th,, and he would have been 6 years old.
The adversary we face today is vastly different from the one we encountered in the past, specifically the Nazis. While there are indeed numerous similarities, the malevolence we confront now is significantly more severe than it was in 1942. I observed as the men kept their heads lowered, avoiding eye contact and refraining from speaking while they extracted the lifeless bodies from the van of the victims who had just been exterminated in a brief span of time, having previously dug their graves before removing them from the vehicle. I reflected on the fact that these men live in constant fear—every day, every hour, every minute—much like the hostages do. One individual we witness on the news today is being starved to death and they have him digging his own grave. Tell me do you know his name? 24-year-old Evyatar David – yet the world remains indifferent. It seems easier for them to blame Israel for the situation rather than the actual perpetrators. Sounds familiar from a time we wish to forget called the Holocaust.
As I watch the movie and the prisoners, I perceive the horror in their eyes, the complete and utter loss of will do anything but remain frozen in place as people around them perish, one after another. Even more troubling is the realization that I see the same fear in humanity, hesitant to confront the reality of what is transpiring globally. Leaders in France and Britain appear to be yielding to an ideology that could ultimately lead to their demise if they do not convert to Islam. Their leaders are extinguishing the culture their citizens have known and loved for over 100 years by bowing down to an ideology that is hateful towards them. The leaders have fallen and as it is said, if you repeat a lie and it is repeated often enough, it will eventually be accepted as truth. This is undeniably accurate when it pertains to our children and the youth; if you reach them while they are young, you can instill any belief in them. We have certainly witnessed this infiltration in our colleges right here in America.
Do we think it ends with the Jewish people? Here are some recent headlines:
Currently in Africa – “Dozens of Christians were allegedly killed by radical Islamists known as the Allied Democratic Forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday, with the majority being slaughtered during a Roman Catholic church vigil.”
Here is another recent headline: “More than 43 civilians, including nine children, were killed after Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists, who are linked to ISIS, attacked the Catholic Parish of Blessed Anuarite during a prayer vigil early Sunday morning. This is the same common enemy. Yet is anyone taking notice?
When will the world tremble and acknowledge that our time is limited if we continue to ignore the truth of what is occurring around us? Do we believe that America is immune to threats from our enemies? Are we truly awake? Are we living, or are we merely pretending that such horrors cannot occur here in America? We reflect on the events of a single day, noting how many hostages were murdered, was it 1,200? But who is keeping count? Are we aware of the profound despair and suffering our friends have endured at the hands of a malevolent ideology, and will they continue to suffer if we choose to remain silent? Christians stand in solidarity with Jewish leaders and communities because we understand that our God calls us to do so; however, are we ready to face the same level of hatred that may be directed towards us?
The Rabbi in the movie, tells Solomon when he gives his testimony of the atrocities happening that “The World will Tremble” when they hear the news. Solomon’s testimony became the first eyewitness account of the Nazis’ mass murder of the Jews.
The Jewish underground successfully smuggled it to London, where it was aired on BBC radio on June 26th, 1942. This marked the first news report regarding the Holocaust. There is much more to consider, such as the gas chambers at Auschwitz and Treblinka, and of the 220,000 Jews sent to Chelmno, only four survived. Are we truly aware of the hardships that our friends and allies have faced over the years? Yet, day after day, year after year, they confront the grim reality that their enemy desires their annihilation.
I believe many of us ponder why more Germans did not assist them. Many were simply unaware, perhaps unwilling to confront the entire truth, and many were misled by propaganda or paralyzed by fear. This situation bears a striking resemblance to our society today. People often shy away from the truth because acknowledging it would necessitate action, and it is indeed time to take action. Michael Podchlebnik’s, had remarkable courage by standing trial and confronting his adversaries in West Germany in 1962; can you fathom the anguish he experienced upon discovering his wife and children had been murdered in the very camp where he labored to dig graves? Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, we are confronted with a common enemy who does not recognize our Jewish God, Jesus Christ the son of God.
But be of good cheer, after all God puts his leaders in place as well. General George Patton helped win the war and was a great leader and not because of his own strength but he was a praying man, and I have a great story about Patton and how God helped him win the war. There are too many great leaders that helped win the war like Winston Churchill, General Dwight Eisenhower, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Like FDR we have a Great Commander in Chief in office who is fearless and smart. He also prays and believes in protecting Isreal. Afterall back on December 6, 2017 our great President Donald J. Trump did something that his three predecessors failed to do, he recognized Jerusalem as the Capital of Isreal and put the US embassy there. I remember that day watching it on the TV and I cried tears of Joy. God’s plan is better than all of ours put together and he is in control.
There is much more we can and should do to advocate for what is just, and I am confident that the day will arrive when each of us must make a choice. I have already made my choice because I have been chosen by God, just as you have, to stand in the gap. Isaiah 41:10 states, ‘Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.’
May we all pray for Isreal and for the Jewish people and may we pray for one another. May we pray for all mankind to have peace, love and forgiveness. The first step it to acknowledge the truth and talk about it. Let’s start there!
