By Cindy Jacobs: “A Perspective on the Japanese Earthquake”

by Cindy Jacobs, Charisma Magazine

As one looks across the face of the earth today, it doesn't take a large amount of spiritual discernment to see that things are shaking as has been prophesied over the past few years.

Many voices, including mine, have spoken over what is known as the Rim of Fire nations, or the Pacific Rim.

These are approximately 40 nations that ring the Pacific with some sort of volcanic activity.

The tragedy in Japan brings this prophetic shaking starkly to the forefront of the news. Many are asking the question, "What is taking place?"

First of all, I know that we must stand in the gap and pray for Japan. The enormity of the loss and the intensity of what has transpired will continue to unfold, and it is hard to grasp with the natural mind.

What do we know? God had warned us that shaking was coming. This doesn't mean it was His desire for it to happen but that it was more of the biblical fulfillment that He doesn't do anything without first warning through His servants the prophets (see Amos 3:7) In fact, I along with others prophesied volcanic eruptions would occur in the Pacific Rim.

Others might ask, "Was this a judgment from God?" This is a difficult question. I tend to think God is grieved that so many have died because, no doubt, many of them did not know Him as the Savior. He is not willing that any should perish without knowing Him.

However, if we all pray and act in this crisis, I do believe that the Holy Spirit wants to breathe the wind of revival across Japan and bring a mighty spiritual awakening to the "land of the rising sun" with healing in His wings.

Christians throughout the years have paid an enormous price for the evangelization of Japan. Early missionaries suffered the most horrific forms of martyrdom at the hands of ruthless leaders. At one time in the city of Nagasaki, even little children were crucified.

Great Christian leaders such as Yonggi Cho have spent countless hours and efforts in Japan. The All Revival Koshen Mission under the direction of Paul Ariga during the late 1990s prayed for hundreds of thousands of hours and saw a stadium event in which thousands of Japanese came to Christ.

Japanese Christian leaders made prayer journeys to Korea and other nations to repent of the war atrocities from World War II. There was some gospel advance, yet Japan has historically had 12 of the mega-unreached cities of the world—those with more than 1 million population.

I personally have felt that one reason Japan was such a hard group for the gospel was the fact that they have had a direct link with the Imperial family and a direct link with the sun goddess, Amaterasu.

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