What shocking statistic did Les share about Jews being murdered in the last 800 years?
The shocking statistic was that in the last 800 years, one out of every two Jews—50 percent—was murdered or faced a violent death. It came from a national magazine and was described as hard to believe, yet it aligned with God's foretelling of Israel's suffering.
Les explains that he had promised to give a shocking statistic, which he had read in a national magazine and shared with one or two of his class. He says the last 800 years reaches back to about 1200, and during that period one out of every two Jews was murdered or faced a violent death—50% of the Jews on the planet. He admits it is hard to believe, but if anyone doubts him, he can tell where it was. He then ties it to Scripture, saying God had foretold way back before Israel crossed Jordan that this is what was going to happen to them. This comes in the setting of Moses' song in chapter 32, which Moses wrote for Israel to remember, and afterward God tells Moses to go up Mount Nebo, look over Canaan, and die there, being gathered to his people as Aaron died in Mount Hor.