In the last article, I identified the Hitler Youth program and the Hitler propaganda program.  In this article, I will identify the police program known as the Secret Police (S.S) and the Gestapo.  Before I get into particulars, I want to remind the reader of a biblical principle that has been against anything right and good since the beginning of the human race.  The Bible gives valuable insight into some of the atrocities that have happened in history. Understanding the biblical perspective then, we get a more understanding insight why they happened. The Bible teaches that there is a powerful enemy to anything good and right in the world. He is known in the Bible as Satan, the devil or Lucifer.  He is consistently trying to destroy people, families and nations. The Apostle Paul wrote 2000 years ago that we are in a battle against evil continually and instructs us how to win: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). 

One sad reality evident of mankind is that we do not learn from the lessons of history but we keep repeating them.  We see the battle of good and evil prevail through the entire Bible.  We read accounts of Jesus when he was on earth confronting and addressing the issue of Satanic battles he was engaged in.  The good news from this is that he has already defeated the devil and his agenda.  Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged (John 16:11).  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him all his armour wherein he trusted and divides his spoils (Luke 11:22). This is referencing Christ overcoming Satan through his (Christ’s) work on the cross. Another is John 12:31: Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world [Satan] be cast out.  Ephesians 2:2: Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.  I share these verses to show that Satan is identified many times in the Scripture as the enemy of God.  I want the reader to know that Satan has been a force for evil throughout the millenniums of the human race and he is still engaged in doing so today.  

Satan will occasionally use certain individuals to accomplish great evil in the world. Satan used Adolf Hitler to accomplish his agenda for evil in Germany, evil that affected the whole world.  We could be studying the life of Joseph Stalin in Russia or Karl Marx or many others throughout history who were used in similar causes of evil and death to millions of people. We read about it in our history books but people usually do not want to even talk about it or reference it but we need once in a while to remind ourselves that it has happened and will happen again if allowed to do so.  The Lord describes Satan as a thief who steals and destroys lives: The thief [Satan] cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Christ] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). 

Back to our focus on Hitler.  There is no doubt that Adolph Hitler was an evil-possessed leader who did the bidding of Satan in the murdering of millions of Jews, Christian pastors and others in Germany.  We wonder: how could such a horrible situation happen and could it have been stopped?   The answer is yes, it could have been stopped.  The situation in Germany was desperate.  The country was suffering from the fallout of WWI.  Following this, the depression of the 1930’s caused economic hardship and Germany simply wanted a better economy. That is where it started.  Hitler promised a better economy and the German people were desperate and willing to sacrifice everything for him to try and bring this about.  But when people make decisions against principle for the sake of their economic well-being they are making a big mistake.  The German people sacrificed their freedoms, their families, and everything else that matters to honest decent people, for Hitler.  Hitler had a carefully calculated plan to achieve total control over the German population.  It started with propaganda, then programs for the youth, then over the rest of the population. Next came manipulated control over the police forces of Germany to punish anyone who resisted the Nazi ideology and agenda. One great deterrent to evil came from the churches in Germany but it came too late.  Hitler developed his SS police and the Gestapo to enforce and punish anyone or any group that resisted his Nazi agenda. He despised pastors and churches and had thousands of pastors and priests arrested on false charges and imprisoned. Some were tortured and others, like Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonheoffer, were executed. There were many other dissenters and opposers to the Nazi agenda but most of the opposition came too late. Hitler already had his police force in place to deal harshly with any group or individual who stood in his way.  “From the mid-1930s into the early 1940s—various groups made up of communists, idealists, working-class people, and far-right conservative opposition organisations covertly fought against Hitler’s government but…” (Historical Encyclopedia). 

So, the forces that withstood Hitler came too late to deter him from moving the Nazi monster forward with force and unstoppable power.  There is no doubt Hitler was not the prophetic false Messianic leader prophesied in the Bible but he was for sure a trial run candidate. The SS police and Gestapo police were effective and ruthless in deterring any resistance to the Hitler agenda as the history books indicate: The Gestapo cracked down ruthlessly on dissidents in Germany, just as they did everywhere else they could. Opposition became more difficult. Arrests, torture, and executions were common. Terror against “state enemies” had become a way of life to such a degree that the Gestapo’s presence and methods were eventually normalised in the minds of people living in Nazi Germany.   

Could it be we are witnessing indications that the same thing is beginning to happen in our western, freedom-loving countries?  The power of evil is gaining more and more ground over the population; even the police tactics and purposes are changing in our country.   It is shocking what police are doing to people for waving Canadian flags.  I am very concerned that when the country wakes up to what is going on it will be too late.  It is now we need to make changes to deter evil from advancing. In a democracy we can all make a difference by doing a little to accomplish a lot.  

The Bible warns of a time at the end when another Hitler type will rise up to deceive the world, then lead everyone into thinking he has the answers to the woes of a desperate world.  Like Germany in the 1930’s, our world is becoming desperate and will be even more desperate with each passing month into the  future as economies crash, when heat and meat become more and more scarce. The time coming will be known as the Great Tribulation. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21).  The good news is that we can be prepared and ready for that time by getting a Bible, seeking New Testament truth and accepting the Son of God as our personal Saviour.  I did that when I was 21 years old. It was the best decision I have ever made in my life.  It was not easy but I decided there really was no other option if I wanted to have eternal life.  You too can make that decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. It’s a decision you’ll never regret.   

The content of this article is solely the personal opinions of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Prince Albert Shopper.