Tora! Tora! Maranatha!

I recently watched Tora! Tora! Tora!, a 1970 blockbuster named after the Japanese code word トラ・トラ・トラ for a surprise attack. It tells the story of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the American Pacific naval base on Hawaii which the Japanese pre-emptively bombed, ending American neutrality and aligning itself with the Allies.

The film cleverly builds tension and suspense. It seemed that many American military knew that the attack was coming. Some had cracked the Japanese Purple Code, by which Tokyo communicated with its embassies. British warnings about Japanese fleet movements were discounted and a newly installed radar station’s warnings were ignored. Bungled communication, rivalry among senior personal and general inertia all contributed to the "date which will live in infamy" (F. D. Roosevelt).

To be fair to the Americans, peace negotiations were still taking place when the attack happened between the two nations. It may even be that the British and certain sections of the US government secretly welcomed the attack, forcing the ‘sleeping giant’ into action. Still, over 2000 died, even though many knew the attack was coming and calculated the approximate timing.  

The biggest catastrophe to clout planet Earth will take place soon. It’s not environmental disaster or nuclear war, but the visible and terrible return of Christ in judgement. We’ve been talking about it for years; some have read the signs and texts and concluded the time is near. Yet it will take many off guard. Unbelievers, though they have heard of it, live as though it is nothing but a fantasy or zany religious dogma. Some in the church barely talk of it, focussing instead crazed ideas of dominion, financial gain and unpromised mass revivals.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect”. Matthew 24:44

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36

The lazy man will not plough because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. Proverbs 20:4