Rick Tryon

Why Did God Permit The Holocaust? Rabbi Sacks Answers

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As I’ve said before, question everything. Faith requires a healthy dose of skepticism about everything we think we know.

One of the most often asked about and pondered upon questions is a simple one: why does God allow evil to thrive?

And to narrow it down to a more concrete example: why did God permit the unspeakable horror of the Holocaust to occur?

I recently came across some of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks videos and writings. Rabbi Sacks, who has passed away, articulated the answer very well. Here are four of his quotes.

“The Holocaust was not God’s will. It was the result of human beings choosing evil and refusing to see the divine image in others.”

“God did not permit the Holocaust. God does not will evil. What happened was what happens when humanity walks away from God.”

“The question is not ‘Where was God?’ but ‘Where was man?’ God calls us to be His partners in defending life, dignity, and justice.”

“The Holocaust teaches not that God abandoned humanity, but that humanity abandoned God’s command to honor every life as sacred.”

Tuesday Watchdog Alert: When Politics Tries to Play Prophet

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Iran’s ruling clerics don’t just talk politics — some openly talk apocalypse.

Recent reporting highlighted how hardline Iranian leaders and Revolutionary Guard figures continue using “Mahdist” language — the belief that chaos, war, and resistance against global powers can help prepare the way for the return of the Hidden Imam, or Mahdi. Analysts warn this ideology is becoming more central inside Iran’s leadership culture.

“Clerical figures aligned with the Guard have made their views explicit. As Hojatoleslam Ali Saeedi, formerly the Supreme Leader’s representative to the IRGC, said in a 2012 speech: ‘The IRGC is one of the tools for paving the way for the emergence of the Imam of the Age [Mahdi] in the field of a regional and international awakening.’ “- From the Hungarian Conservative

In plain English? Some leaders believe global conflict is not a problem to avoid — it’s a stage to set. That should wake people up.

The Bible warned long ago that rulers and nations would chase power through deception, fear, and spiritual blindness. Christians aren’t called to panic over every headline, but we are called to recognize when political movements start sounding like counterfeit salvation stories.

Our Lord already told us who wins history.

“See that no one leads you astray.” — Matthew 24:4

The world keeps looking for a warrior-politician, a system, or an ideology to save humanity. But broken people cannot build heaven on earth with missiles, propaganda, or “holy” revolutions. That usually just creates more graves.

And honestly, if your end-times plan requires nukes and chaos to “help God out,” maybe rethink the strategy.

The real Kingdom of God will come with great power and glory when Jesus Christ returns, but that won’t be according to man’s timetable — and it won’t be by any manufactured apocalypse.

So what?
Today, spend 10 minutes reading Matthew 24 and praying for discernment. Don’t let headlines shape your worldview more than Scripture does.

Saturday Watchdog Alert: When You Are Your Own God

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The modern world promised freedom without God.
How’s that working out?

A recent report from the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture says America continues to wrestle with the rise of the “nones” — people with no religious affiliation — even while many are desperately searching for spirituality again. Meanwhile, a Washington Post report on “nihilistic violent extremism” described a growing trend of young people embracing meaninglessness, rage, and destruction as identity itself.

That’s the problem with a culture that worships self.
When “you are your own god” becomes the national religion, eventually people realize their god is anxious, lonely, angry, addicted, and scrolling TikTok at 2:00 a.m.

So people drift into New Age spirituality, aesthetic Satanism, crystals, chaos, online occultism, or just plain numbness — because the human soul was built to worship something.

The Bible already diagnosed this centuries ago:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” — Romans 1:25

Here’s the good news: Jesus didn’t come to make you more religious. He came to rescue you from emptiness.

Turn off the noise for 15 minutes. No phone. No music. No doomscrolling. Think about your purpose in life and ask this:
“Are You really there?”

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Isaiah

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John Wesley

“Isaiah is the evangelical prophet, speaking Christ’s gospel centuries before His birth.”

Charles Spurgeon

“In Isaiah we see the majesty of God and the misery of man, yet also the miracle of grace that bridges the two.”

Abraham Joshua Heschel

“Isaiah’s words are not echoes of the past but shouts meant for every age.”

N. T. Wright

“Isaiah gives us the script Jesus Himself believed He was fulfilling.”

Thursday Watchdog Alert: Rumors Of Peace, Rumors Of War

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The Middle East is on fire again. Iran tensions are escalating, missile threats are growing, and global powers are scrambling to avoid a wider war. Meanwhile, Islamic extremism keeps dragging entire populations into cycles of fear and violence.

Rumors of a peace deal, then back to rumors of war the very next day.

So… is this biblical prophecy?

Maybe. Maybe not exactly the way YouTube prophecy gurus with blurry thumbnails claim every Tuesday night.

But Jesus did say: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… nation will rise against nation.” — Matthew 24:6-7

The point of prophecy was never “guess the date.” The point was: wake up. This world is fragile. Human governments cannot save us. And every missile launch reminds us we desperately need a King greater than Caesar, presidents, ayatollahs, or influencers with ring lights.

Here’s what should concern Christians most: global conflict always squeezes ordinary believers caught in the middle. Churches shrink underground. Fear rises. Hope fades. Yet historically, Christianity often grows strongest where comfort dies.

Funny how humans keep trying to build heaven without God… and accidentally create another dumpster fire instead.

Pray for Christians trapped in conflict zones. Read Matthew 24 slowly. Then do one bold thing this week that brings light instead of outrage—encourage someone, help someone, or share your faith without apology. The world has enough heat. Be light.

And remember this: There will be no peace absent the Prince of Peace.

Faith Requires Skepticism

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Question everything. Faith requires a healthy dose of skepticism about everything we think we know.

Wait, faith requires skepticism?

Of course it does. Our Heavenly Father commands us to love Him with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. Did you get that last one? Minds.

God wants us to ask questions, examine His wonders, and search the Scriptures seeking truth. That requires an inquisitive mind.

The most dangerous aspect of the doctrines of men is that they are usually close enough to biblical truth that they fool even the most sincere and honest among the faithful.

Some of those doctrines of men are so convoluted and confusing that they present stumbling blocks to those outside the faith and sometimes cause the faithful to abandon the faith.

We should faithfully seek to understand God’s truths about His nature, His creation, and His will for His people, even if that means challenging long‑held doctrines and theologies that were devised and propagated by religious folks for their own benefit — or for the purposes of the principalities and powers behind them.

Remember who the enemies of our Lord were? The religious leaders of his time and culture who had perverted and changed the Word of God into the doctrines of men.

Remember the lesson of the Reformation? Churchianity was challenged, and the centuries‑old religious status quo was called to task — salvation by grace, not ceremonies and dead works.

Bible Rebel will be asking questions and challenging assumptions here. We believe it’s high time for a New Reformation, or at least a fresh look at the old wine in the old wineskins.

Every Wednesday we will be raising some important questions about commonly held doctrines and assumptions within modern Churchianity.

Stay tuned.

Tuesday Watchdog Alert: Today’s Reality Check

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Two headlines. Same story. Different continents.

A nun was kicked and beaten near a holy site in Jerusalem amid a surge in anti-Christian hostility. From The Times

Meanwhile in China, underground Catholics face surveillance, detention, and pressure to submit to a state-controlled church. From The AP

Let’s be blunt: following Jesus is not trending—it’s costly. And yet… this is nothing new.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.” — John 15:18

Here’s the twist: persecution doesn’t kill the Church—it exposes it. Comfortable Christianity fades fast. Real faith gets sharper under pressure.

Western culture may not be kicking down your door (yet), but it’s quietly asking you to soften truth, stay silent, and blend in. Same battle. Different strategy.

Jesus didn’t call fans. He called followers.

So what now?

Do Something.
Do one bold, visible act of faith today—pray out loud, share truth with someone, or stand firm on a conviction you’ve been avoiding. No theatrics. Just courage.

Because the line is being drawn—globally and personally.

Watchdog Alert: Faith That Doesn’t Bow

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Leaders of a prominent underground church have been detained in south-west China, according to a church statement, the latest blow in what appears to be a sweeping crackdown on unregistered Christian groups in the country.
From The Guardian

“The Chinese government has ushered in the new year with new arrests of underground Protestant church members,” said Yalkun Uluyol, China researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The government should immediately free those detained and let them freely practice their religion.”
From Human Rights Watch

Two headlines. Same message.

In China, authorities have detained pastors and church leaders from underground congregations, part of a sweeping crackdown on independent Christianity.
At the same time, reports confirm dozens of Zion Church leaders arrested and facing prison, simply for preaching outside state control.

That’s not ancient persecution. That’s right now.

Different cities. Same demand: Submit—or suffer.

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” — 2 Timothy 3:12

This is where the gap becomes obvious. In parts of the world, following Jesus costs your freedom. In others, we’re still debating how to make Christianity more comfortable.

But the gospel was never designed for comfort—it was built for conviction. Those pastors didn’t get arrested for being extreme. They got arrested for being faithful.

They refused to let the government define their message. They refused to dilute truth to stay safe. And that’s the dividing line coming into focus globally.

Not Catholic vs Protestant.
Not denominational labels.

Faithful… or flexible. Because pressure doesn’t destroy real faith. It reveals it.

The underground church in China is growing, not shrinking—because when everything is stripped away, what’s left is real. No branding. No performance. Just belief.

And that raises the question for us: What happens to our faith when it actually costs something? If our faith depends on comfort, it won’t survive conviction—but real faith stands when everything else is taken away.