THE MINISTRY OF TOKYO ROSE

During World War II, a number of women with seductive voices would spin records of American dance music and reminisce about life in the United States. These broadcasters were called "Tokyo Rose"and were part of Japan's psychological warfare against the United States. The strategy was to combine entertainment and propaganda in order to weaken the morale of American soldiers. Tokyo Rose told them they couldn't win the war.

Psychological warfare is no new thing. For centuries, satan has used propaganda to demoralize the people of God, and when we look at his mode of operation, we can see that satan's most effective spokesmen are trusted church leaders. An account of how propaganda unnerved a nation by destroying its people's morale is given in the Book of Numbers. It took place at Kadesh-barnea where ten pessimistic chieftains brainwashed ancient Israel into believing it could not conquer the giants of Canaan.

Here is what happened: God had promised Israel the land of Canaan for an inheritance and told Moses to send out a man from every tribe to scout the land. When the twelve spies finished their reconnaissance mission, they returned to the camp of Israel with the grapes of Eshcol and gave this report:

"It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Yet, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there." Numbers 13:27-28

Their search of the land revealed many powerful enemies who were much stronger than Israel. And yet, Joshua and Caleb believed Israel would possess its inheritance (if the people obeyed God and resisted their enemies) because the battle was the LORD's. So, Caleb quieted the people and said:

"Let us go up at once, and occupy it; for we are well able to overcome it." Numbers 13:30

But then the ten spies who had searched the land with Caleb and Joshua began their "ministry of Tokyo Rose", they said:

"We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us." Numbers 13:31

Israel heard two conflicting messages; one was a good report that spoke of victory through the enabling power of God; the other was an evil report that spoke of defeat. That entire generation (except Joshua and Caleb) did not possess their inheritance and perished in the wilderness because they listened to leaders who did not trust and obey God.

Forty years later a new generation under the leadership of Joshua entered Canaan and possessed it. Nevertheless, they could not possess their promised inheritance without first following the ark of the covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, into the river Jordan. It is the same today. Each believer must follow the Ten Commandments, even unto death, before he can inherit eternal life, just as Jesus said:

"If you would enter life, keep the commandments." Mat 19:17

It is true that the most noble of men are unable to obey God in their own strength because of their natural propensity to sin. The sinful passions that reside in each of us rise up as giants in our times of temptation and are too strong for us to conquer without the power of God. However, Jesus Christ speaking of obedience to the Ten commandments, said:

"With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Mat 19:25

The Christian soldier who receives his inheritance is the one who overcomes sin. He trusts in the blood of the Lamb for forgiveness of sins and turns away from the authority of satan just like the children of Israel left the rule of Pharaoh. He would rather die than knowingly disobey God, so he resists the devil and trusts Christ for the enabling power that he needs.

"And they overcame him [satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." Rev 12:11

Today, few Christians live an overcoming life because most believe the "Tokyo Rose" ministries. By means of entertainment and propaganda, those so-called preachers are destroying the morals of the church by telling the people they cannot (or need not) have victory over willful sin in order to inherit eternal life.

As long as false teachers in the church system remove the eternal penalty for disobedience, disobedience will never be removed from the church.

Harold and Donna Kupp

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST." Rev 12:17 (KJV)