Paul Calvert investigates



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Paul: Today many people claim that disasters have hit nations because they have touched Israel, do you think this is co-incidence or is it discipline on those nations?

Mervin: Well, if you take Genesis 3, "I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you" it could well be argued that nations who have interfered with Israel in a negative sense do pay a price. I do believe there is a fair amount of evidence to support that; so yes I do believe there is a negative to nations who malign Israel, attack Israel and basically persecute Israel.

Paul: In the story of Esther, Mordecai said Esther should intercede for her people and maybe she was born for such a time as this. Do you think that God raises up leaders to protect the nation of Israel?

Mervin: Undoubtedly there have been people highlighted throughout scripture, people who have stood up and been counted, people who have been raised up as judges and deliverers, prophets, all throughout Israel's' history there has been a man or a woman for the occasion and Mordecai would most definitely come under that category too.

Paul: The Holocaust was a tragedy; do you think it could happen again in Europe? The far right movement seem to be growing more and more in popularity.

Mervin: Theoretically yes it could happen, but I don't believe it would happen, simply because we have moved on from the Holocaust. That doesn't mean to say that there will not be an attempt to exterminate Israel within its' own borders. That's a different matter altogether, but as far as Europe is concerned I do not see a return to the Holocaust days.

Paul: Denying the Holocaust is illegal, but there are still many people who deny it, why do you think that is?

Mervin: That's a very good question and honestly I don't know the answer, it's bizarre and it's ridiculous to deny something which is historically established. Maybe they have something against the Jews and they want to remove them from people's minds, I don't know; certainly Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran denies the Holocaust.

Paul: What's your prayer for the Jewish people who have suffered so much over the centuries?

Mervin: My first prayer for the Jews would be that they recognise their Messiah. They have suffered incredibly over the years but God has restored them to the land; he has brought them back and re-established them. They are, I think, the 5th most successful country in the world economically, but spiritually they are still far away. However God is working and individual Jews are coming to faith, but I do believe nationally it will happen and that is my prayer. CR

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