Japan’s Earthquake & God

Japan’s Earthquake & God

by Lonnie Lane

When an earthquake shifted Japan eight feet westward and a tsunami washed away a portion of her country, was God responsible, or was it a natural disaster? That question arises each time a catastrophic event happens in the earth. Perhaps you’ve heard, as I have, that we live in a time of God’s shaking: “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26). What is it that “may remain.” If ever there were words to meditate upon, those would be good for the task.

When we think of “shaking,” we think of it as meaning “in the spirit”, right? The Bible says that we will have to deal with the motives of our hearts and with places weak in faith, or self-commanded ministries, right? He never really meant physical shaking. Perhaps He did. In looking at some “spiritual” issues with regard to the shaking of the earthquake in Japan, two issues in particular became visible, one having to do with Japan and God, the other with Japan and Israel.

Let’s back up and take a look at some of Japan’s history. Since WWII, when Japan surrendered to the allies, they had been on an upturn, rebuilding their country and their economy. Japan was doing well, with a rising trend in Japan’s economy until suddenly in 1990, it made an about face and began a decline that has continued. Reports indicate that Japan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP meaning the total good and services produced within a country) has declined by half! The tipping point that began the downward trend occurred in 1990, the year that Emperor Akihito was inaugurated as emperor.

Now, let’s back up again. Japan has been a pagan nation for over 3,000 years and their religion is very much a part of their culture. On the outside Japan looks like a Buddhist nation, but in fact its national identity is Shintoism which is largely based on the emperor being a deity. When the emperor is inaugurated he enters into an elaborate two-day long ceremony called the daijosi ceremony which results in him becoming a deity. After WWII as part of the peace process, Emperor Hirohito was required to publically deny his status as a deity and the Japanese government agreed to separate itself from such religious practices. General MacArthur opened the door for thousands of Christian missionaries to go to Japan and for seven years, Christianity expanded in Japan. For thirty years following that evangelistic impact, Japan regained its status in the world. However the growth of the church eventually dwindled. Presently Japan has a very small percentage of Christians, estimated at about 2%.

In 1990, When Hirohito died, his son Akihito became the new emperor. Now a new inauguration would need to take place and the question arose as to whether to include the Daijosi ceremony, which is not just political but highly spiritual. As Japan’s emperor during and after WWII ostensibly turned away from the practice of uniting himself with a demonic god, the advancement of Japan may well have been the result of God’s grace to Japan. But grace is withdrawn when a person, or a nation, gives themselves over to the demonic realm as this new emperor did when he chose to reinstate the Diajosi ceremony in his own inauguration procedures. It is also known as Great Thanksgiving Festival and involves an encounter in which the emperor is united with his non-human Imperial Ancestress in a sexual way so that he is then able to share in her divinity. In this way the new emperor and the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikamif, who is regarded as the chief spiritual ( demonic) ruler over the nation become one. So long as he is ruler over the nation, this spirit rules over the nation with or through him. You can see how this would be an offense to God.

Before we move on to other areas that might have been factors to further take Japan outside of God’s favor, let me first say that satan is trying with all he has to get the world to take Israel’s land, in particular Jerusalem, from the Jews. If he can do that, then Yeshua cannot return to reclaim the earth. Japan and other nations think the issue between Israel and the Palestinians is about human rights and land, but neither is ultimately the true issue. If the devil can invalidate God’s word about Israel, he wins. Israel is the kingpin to the final chapter in human history! The devil, and subsequently many nations under his influence, seek to divide up the land until Israel is too small to defend herself, and keep her from building housing for the many Jews who are “coming home” . This is in fulfillment of God’s prophetic word that before Messiah returns, He would cause the Jews to return to the land He gave them, (proving we’re in the end times). The nations attempting to keep Israel from their land and building on their land, obviously don’t realize Who this land ultimately belongs to. God says the land of Israel is “My land” (Genesis 20:15; 2 Chron. 7:20; Job 31:38; Isaiah 14:25; Jeremiah 2:7; 16:18; Ezekiel 35:5; 48:16; and Joel 1:6; 3:2). Therein is the behind-the-scenes true cause of all the territorial issues.

Two other facts to put this all in perspective: Israel occupies on 1/6 of 1% of the land mass of the Middle East. The rest of it is Arab lands (if you count Iran as Arab though they are really Persians, which is why they speak Farsi and not Arabic.) Yet the lie is perpetuated over and over that Israel is the aggressor who wants to take the Palestinian’s land from them when exactly the opposite is true. The population of Israel is but 2% of the population of the entire Middle East. That she survives as well as she has through all the wars and attempts to take her land, could only be through the miracle of God’s intervention to protect “His” land and “His” people (there are 36 references in the Bible which I have not taken the time to list.) Now onto the Japanese government’s part in this attempt to divest Israel of their God-given land. Below is part of a series of statements by Japan.

On October 14, 2010 when Israel announced the intended building of 238 housing units in East Jerusalem, Japan strongly urged Israel to freeze all settlement activities and do no building. On March 11, 2010, exactly one year prior to the earthquake, The Government of Japan released this statement: “Japan deplores the decisions of the Government of Israel to give permission for the construction of 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem in addition to 112 units in West Bank just after the Israeli and Palestinian leadership’s acceptance of the start of indirect talks. The Government of Japan does not recognize any act that prejudges the final status of Jerusalem and the territories in the pre-1967 borders. Japan demands that the plans should not be implemented.” Would “the final status” mean only when it would become Palestinian territory?

On May 31, 2010, regarding the Flotilla incident, “The Government of Japan is shocked at the report that people aboard boats carrying supplies to the Gaza Strip were victimized as a result of confrontation with Israel Defense Forces. We deeply deplore the casualties and the injuries of many people. Japan condemns the violent acts which caused this tragic incident.” If you saw the videos and heard the reports from Israel’s side, you’d know that the violence was NOT from Israel but from the Palestinians and that the Flotilla was armed and filled with weapons of destruction intended against Israel. It was not carrying humanitarian supplies as Hamas told the world, and the world believed. The “violent acts” were inflicted upon the Israelis by the ship crew, not the other way round. More lies.

On October 11, 2010, an event took place that is contrary to Scripture. From when Joshua led Israel into the land of promise, Jericho has been under the following ban: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates” (Josh. 6:26). In other words, there will be the loss of life if anyone “rises up and builds this city Jericho.” The Palestinians have been rebuilding Jericho with the Japanese government involved in laying a corner stone in Jericho to inaugurate the construction of an industrial park.

On January 11, 2011 Japan issued this statement: “Japan condemns the demolishing of a part of the Shepherd’s Hotel in East Jerusalem with a view to constructing new housing units for Jewish people. Japan does not recognize the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel….” How do you “annex” your own land? “

On February 8, 2011, Japan signed a $32.5 million agreement for treating waste water in Jericho, totaling more than $1.1 billion to the Palestinians. This is in accordance with, as stated, “aims at the establishment of the institutions of the state of Palestine and its infrastructure.” That aim, is to make the State of Israel into the State of Palestine.

On March 8, 2011 a hand-over ceremony took place between Japan and the United Nations World Food Program to mark “Japan’s continued commitment to provide food assistance to the …occupied Palestinian territory…. Japan was thanked by the Palestinians “for their outstanding support which helps our people to strengthen their steadfastness on their land.” (I repeat: Who’s land?) “This support comes from a human security perspective as well as from its political stand for the Palestinian efforts to establish a viable independent Palestinian state….”

March 9, 2011, just two days before the big earthquake hit Japan, the headlines in the Palestine News & Info Agency read: “Japan Increases Food Support to Palestinian People.” That day, an earthquake registering 7.3 struck Japan and a two foot tsunami came ashore that same day. Neither caused substantial damage, but were they a warning from the Lord? His warnings are seldom recognized for what they are. We are certainly not against food support to the Palestinian people by any means. But with it comes an intention to align with those forces which are against Israel.

On March 11, 2011, a statement was issued by Japan on the decision of the Government of Israel regarding the construction of housing units at settlements in West Bank including East Jerusalem, stating, “The Government of Japan deplores the decisions of the Government of Israel to give permission for the construction of 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem in addition to 112 units in West Bank just after the Israeli and Palestinian leadership’s acceptance of the start of indirect talks. The Government of Japan does not recognize any act that prejudges the final status of Jerusalem and the territories in the pre-1967 borders. Japan demands that the plans should not be implemented.” Japan demands that Israel not make a place for the Jews coming to dwell in the land? If God is returning the Jews to the land as He said He would, (a sign of the end times), then what nation can stand against God and not reap the Genesis 12:3 consequences?

That same day, the earthquake hit Japan which moved it’s coast eight feet eastward, resulting in shifting the earth’s axis by four inches, followed by the tsunami later. A USGS geophysicist stated that the quake erupted 6 miles below the ocean and about 80 miles off Japan’s eastern coast causing a 186-mile rupture in the sea floor. The tsunami, after hitting Japan, traveled across the globe to California, bringing only minimal damage. Could this be warning too, if American continues to be instrumental in attempting to divide “His” land? Pray!!!

Despite Japan’s obvious anti-Israel stance, who do you think was one of the very first responders to Japan’s need? Israel! Just one hour after the earthquake, Israel officially offered their help and immediately began to put teams together to help them. Despite Japan “deploring” and “condemning” Israel’s attempt to take care of their own people on their own land, typical of Israel they acted in compassion, supplying their people, resources, finances and some of its well trained citizens to go and help Japan in their hour of need. I’ve heard statements, even from Christians, that Israel is not a godly nation because the country has not accepted Yeshua as their Savior. (There are over 125 Messianic fellowships in the land now)! But Israel acts as their Torah, the same Torah which Yeshua embodied, defines with regard to taking care of those in need, be they their enemies or not. I personally would like to go on record as saying that I see Israel as being more godly and acting more like Yeshua than any other nation on the earth. And for that, satan hates them.

Did God cause the earthquake and the tsunami? Or was it just natural events that periodically do happen? We know that it is not God who is The Destroyer, but we know who is. God, in all He does, is redemptive. He will make good out of it all. He has already begun to do so.

Reprint of this article is permitted as long as you use the following; Use by permission by Messianic Vision, www.sidroth.org, 2011. 

Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.  All rights reserved. Used by permission.