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(For those who are not familiar with Douglas MacArthur)

Douglas MacArthur was an extraordinary figure in the history of America and of the world. His military career, which spanned more than fifty years, was studded with well deserved stars and crowns. He truly affected political borders and boundaries on behalf of freedom which exists to this very day. Had his advice and strength been given full liberty, it is without question that many of the political and military problems we face in the world today would have been lessened or non-existent. MacArthur became a general in the US Army during WWI and, except for a brief period of inactive service, remained a general until his brilliant career was cut short by a jealous President Truman in the early 1950s. The General, as many referred to him, was the most decorated man in Americas military history, capped off with the Congressional Medal of Honor. His tactics and strategies continue to be studied in our military academies today. His victories set millions free and shut the mouths of the enemy for two generations. America never got a chance to experience MacArthurs politics in a high office, but I would bet that had we awarded him the office of our presidency, our nation would have been a bit taller. General Douglas MacArthur embodied the definitions of the following idealsthose of a man, a soldier, a leader, and an American. This is why I chose him to parallel with the ultimate man, the man Christ Jesus.

INTRODUCTION

FOREWARD
Our Lord Jesus Christ often used comparisons to illustrate His sermons and to high-light spiritual truths. For example, the story of the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the parable about putting new wine in old bottles. The details of these comparisons were familiar to those who hear them because they were a part of their culture and conversation in every day life. In his latest book, Parallel Conquerors, author Dr. Gerald Sutek has utilized this same method by comparing the lives of the Lord Jesus with the life of famed world war II General Douglas MacArthur. In order to produce such a work, Sutek has invested an enormous amount of time in investigative research and study. His accounts of the details in the parables and in the experience of the late and highly decorated general are stated accurately and objectively in this book. Students of the Bible and history will find this volume of great interest and profit. Unfortunately, there was no evidence in any of the more than twelve books read by the author in preparation for this book that General Douglas MacArthur ever received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour or was born-again. He was, however, a man of character and a friend of righteousness. I believe that each person that reads this fascinating account will not only find it insightful but will also have their knowledge of significant episodes in the pacific theater of world war II greatly enhanced Robert C. Gray, D.D., LLD, Hum.D, and Ph.D. Founder of Trinity Baptist College

(PLEASE READ THE PREFACE)


I remember hearing or maybe reading somewhere about history really being His Story. Eternity will be kept interesting when He personally gathers His children around Him and tells us all about His story. I am very confident that when we hear Him tell His story without all the political and economic twists, we will understand that everything in His-story relates to the great plan of the ages, the master account of which is contained in our King James Bible. The vast and seemingly inexhaustible subject of World War II has been my choice for extra Biblical reading for many years. The characters, both good and evil, from that era are so vivid. As we soberly observe our once-great nation decline, the epic of the Second World War gives us one last glimpse of the character our nation once had. As I read my Bible through, and then through again, supplemented with the study of true history from the world wars period, I began to notice parallels in the accounts of the war with the master account of history. Both accounts came acutely to my interest and the more I read of each, the more I was astounded at the types which are to be found in recent history. As Bible students advance beyond surveys and basic doctrines they enter the rich mine field of typology. Their study suddenly becomes beautifully colored and wonderfully illuminated as they begin to match characters such as Joseph and David as types of Jesus, and King Saul with the old man of the flesh, Egypt as a type of the world, or Absalom as Antichrist. Typing Biblical characters with Jesus Christ has been a common practice for as long as men have studied the Bible. It remains to be seen whether this typing will be acceptable when tied to the life, actions, characteristics, and accomplishments of a modern day figure. The faults, failures, and shortcomings of Biblical characters can be overlooked or forgiven, but we wrestle with matching a personality so close to our era with such a magnanimous Person as our Lord. General Douglas MacArthur was likely the man who influenced the world of the twentieth century for good more than any other individual. Millions of people today enjoy political freedom within their boundaries because of General Douglas MacArthur. Millions

PREFACE

more might have enjoyed freedom rather than oppression had he been further trusted. MacArthur was not without his faults; yea, in some areas of his life, he might be better typed with King Saul than with Jesus Christ. He was a duck-or-pucker figure. If you only saw him in the dim light of a disgruntled GI barracks roast or in the frame of a less popular political rival, you might refer to him as Dugout Doug. But in men closest to him, he generated such a loyalty as to be titled, Master of the Pacific or Hero. His adoring wife, the one closest to him, always called him The General or My General. His staff affectionately tagged him, The Old Man or The C in C for Commander in Chief. His powerful influence stirred such jealousies in Washington that when asked if he desired to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery he said, No thanks, I dont want to be surrounded by my enemies. The more I studied the many biographies of this man, many of which were written by those who served by his side, the more it was revealed to me that the period from 1941 through 1951 in the life of General Douglas MacArthur was filled with a goldmine of characteristics and incidents, decisions and accomplishments which would allow me to color and beautify the person of our Lord Jesus Christ by drawing these parallels. The purpose of this book is not to deify MacArthur but to use this brief span in his life as a platform from which [to step off in order] to highlight and exalt the most influential man in all of His-Story, the Lord Jesus Christ. All emphasis, whether italics, bold print, or underlined is the authors.

PARALLEL

CONQUERORS

CHAPTER ONE PARALLEL MEN


Noah Websters 1828 sixth definition of Man is as follows: A male adult of some uncommon qualifications; particularly, the sense of strength, vigor, bravery, virile powers, or magnanimity, as distinguished from the weakness, timidity or impotence of a boy, or from the narrow mindedness of low bred men. The modern dictionaries drop all the adjectives that here describe man, thus depicting modern societys degeneration in the area of manhood. Both Jesus of Nazareth and Douglas MacArthur qualify as men by this definition. MacArthur came from a long line of men. His grandfather set the pace for the familys manhood. A true American pioneer coming from sturdy Scottish stock, he served as Judge Advocate for the Western Military District of Massachusetts. He then pioneered westward to become the City Attorney of Milwaukee, then the Governor of Wisconsin for a brief time in 1855. Later, he was called by President Grant to serve on the Supreme Court in the District of Columbia, retiring after many years of service. The father of Douglas MacArthur, Arthur MacArthur, carrying on the family's manly traditions, quickly proved his bravery, vigor, strength, and magnanimity during his military service for his country, winning the Medal of Honor for extraordinary valor. He went on to achieve the rank of general in an era when men were men. THE MAN MAC No one could ever confuse the MacArthur clan and particularly Douglas for anything but men. His appearance, countenance and demeanor all testified of his manliness. It was said that one could tell he was a soldier even in his skivvies. All this is to be appreciated by true men in the light of todays question-mark representatives of the male gender.

His vigor, strength and stamina were brought to light as he excelled in every physical challenge West Point Military Academy could muster. He also functioned successfully as a team member in sports. Douglas MacArthurs attendance to details of duty, his full acceptance of personal responsibility, and his courage to suffer wrongfully became evident while he was a plebe at West Point at the turn of the twentieth century. His hazing was most severe and resulted in a colleagues death and his own serious injury. During a grueling investigation, he would not reveal any names of those at whose hands he was so ill-treated. Only under the most scrutinizing legal questioning, was he forced by moral obligation to truth to confess that what he had been subjected to was indeed cruel. For his endurance in this trial and for his courage not to tattle, he won the respect of all upperclassmen. His excellence at West Points testing ground for men was demonstrated again and again when each year he achieved the highest rank available to himsenior corporal as a yearling, senior first sergeant as a second classman, and as a first classman a 1st captain. The attaining of first captain was his crowning glory. Like Lee and Pershing before him, he graduated first in his class of 1903 and entered the Corps of Engineers as a second lieutenant. THE MAN CHRIST JESUS (1 Tim. 2:5) Jesus of Nazareth proved himself the ultimate man. His appearance was that of an adult, law abiding Jew. His hair was long by todays standard because it was in keeping with orthodox, law-keeping of the Old Testament (Lev. 19:27). "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." He, no doubt, polled his hair once a year by gathering it all together, holding it close to his head and cutting what hangs down. This is mentioned about Absolom in 1 Sam. 14:26. His hair was black and bushy as mentioned in type in Song of Solomon 5:11. The reference in 1 Cor. 11:14 is after the cross. On the cross the man Christ Jesus bore our shame and reproach so that a man no longer has to bear it himself. Until the cross the shame and

reproach of the heathen was borne by the nation of Israel (Ezek. 22:4; 36:15 ) This second Adam defined manhood by unflinchingly bearing the reproach of righteousness in an unrighteous generation. Any heathen can act unrighteous but it takes a man to live in righteousness in the midst of unrighteousness. There was no way to please his less-than-men adversaries. Jesus illustrated this by rehearsing that, ...John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children (Matt. 11:18,19). A MAN AMONG MEN Jesus, like David, preached righteousness in the great congregation. He was a street preacher extraordinaire and this bought him less than popularity. Men today who follow in these footsteps will both measure their manhood and purchase to themselves the peculiar treasure of His presenceoutside the gate. The valour of Jesus can be seen in his control over himself as well as the storm at sea. His strength and bravery for righteousness was exhibited by overturning the tables of the moneychangers. To think of the courage and faith it took to sleep during a storm at sea that caused experienced fishermen to panic is a measure off the scale of manhood. The allowance that He was God in the flesh must not be a valid copout because Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, assuring us that mortal man could attain this stature. What Peter and the other disciples might better have done had they believed was to have gone back and curled up with Jesus, wrapping their arms around his. If He goes down, then all is lost anyway. The manhood of Jesus in this event is truly to be admired. When you consider the political entrenchment of the Pharisees, the choking grip of tradition, and all the other circumstances, the public action that Jesus took against the moneychangers set a new mark as an example of spiritual manhood. If this action were taken

today by any spiritual man, it would be sure to invoke the most scathing of denouncementin the name of religion, of course. A MANLY EXAMPLE The Lord, without hesitation, sets Jesus as a standard of manhood. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Heb. 12:2-3). Jesus is also the author of victory over sin, death, hell and the grave. His outstanding success in this area gives Him the right to bestow victory on all who will trust and follow Him. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:58). A MAN AT HIS DEATH He endured the cross, despising the shame. One must weigh the fact that when the blasphemous soldiers unjustly buffeted Him, "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?" The Son of Man could have given their name, rank and serial number as well as the number of hairs in the eyelashes of their great grandfathers at birth. Yet he endured the cross, despising the shame and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (Isa. 53:7). Great scholars have written volumes of details both physical and medical revealing the excruciatingly painful death of the cross. Jesus endured this and through it all was able to keep his heart warm with compassion for those who cursed him in unbelief. The ultimate man, this second Adam, ended his sorrowful existence on this planet with, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots" (Luke. 23:34). What an incredible illustration of manhood.

POWER WITH WORDS The power to move men with words is a declining art in our visual world. Isaiah prophesied that this would be true in the last days. When we hear speeches by Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Benny Hinn, and Robert Schuler, we are assured that the days of the eloquent orator (Isa. 3:3) are well nigh gone. Douglas MacArthur, endowed with his excellent education, was well able to change mens minds in accord with his will. William Manchester in American Caesar tells this compelling story of MacArthur when he was pitted against all of the leaders of Australia. The prevailing attitude concerning Australia toward Japan in the early stages of WWII was one of defense. It was MacArthurs job to change their minds to support the exact opposite position, one of offense. The following scene took place in an off-therecord press conference. The motive was to set the stage for this great mind-changing undertaking.
The thirty or more war correspondents and officers rose as the General made an impressive entrance, bare-headed, grave, distinguished looking, immaculate. His right arm was raised in salute. There was no other introduction. Pacing back and forth MacArthur immediately began to declaim his statement of the military situation. His phrasing was perfect, his speech clear and unhalting, except for pauses for dramatic emphasis; the correspondents took notes, but there was no interruption of any kind. The conference room had become a stage, MacArthur the virtuoso, the other officers the extras in the cast, and the correspondents the audience. It was a dramatic occasionthe General held them spellbound for two hours, never groping for a word and displaying the histrionic ability of Sir Henry Irvin. He told them that Australia could be saved in Papua, and only in Papua. He said, We must attack, attack, attack! The meeting over, the General again raised his right arm in salute and strode from the room followed by one or two staff officers. The conference was over. One man alone had spoken-the Supreme Commander. There was no questioning, no opportunity to clarify the meaning of the statement. It had come direct from the lips of General Douglas MacArthur, and such as it was, evidently, beyond question(Manchester).

Mac was forthright in his words, that is, he said what he meant and meant what he said. Dwight D. Eisenhower said this of Mac, Most of the senior officers I had known always drew a clean-cut line between the military and the political. Off duty, among themselves

and close civilian friends, they might explosively denounce everything they thought was wrong with Washington and the world and propose their own cure for its evils. On duty, nothing could induce them to cross the line they, and old army tradition had established. But if General MacArthur ever recognized the existence of that line, he usually chose to ignore it (Manchester). It certainly cannot be said that Mac played no politics, but it can be truthfully said that his eloquence was of such strength that he was able to enjoy the liberty of speaking forthrightly and, therefore, had earned the privilege of many opportunities to express his strength in word. "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men" (Prov. 18:16). THE LIVING WORD Did you ever consider that every single word spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ was the Word of God? Never man spake like this man (John. 7:46). The Lord obviously was selective in what He preserved for us to have today. The Living Word takes the trophy for making a lasting affect. Men are moved to repentance and everlasting life by these words more than two thousand years after they were spoken. Jesus skill with words not only confounded the most learned minds of the day, the rulers (John. 7:15), lawyers and kings but He was able to shut the mouth of Satan himself (Luke. 4). "And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" (Luke 4:22). The power and authority of His words are preserved today and will judge all humanity throughout eternity. "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 7:29). Even those who choose not to believe them must stand amazed that His words are still preserved today, though the world, the flesh, and the Devil have expended great energy to destroy them (John 12:47-48). "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). PASSIVITY VS. MANHOOD Passivity, when classified under the subject of manhood is a fickle characteristic. Under certain circumstances, it often can be more

highly prized than aggressive defense. Many occasions would require more manliness to exhibit passivity than to take bold action. At other times, it appears as a cloak for ones own fear. I confess I do not understand nor align with our forefathers. On one occasion, they are the bravest of the brave. However, the next scene opens with their allowance of their women and children to be ravaged and abused for the sake of the gospel. It is certainly true that passivity is more easily the choice of the reader or observer than it is for the soldier in the fray. Passivity has value on a level involving only ones self, but when a man is leading men in a righteous cause and inspiring others to follow, it pales to ineffectiveness. Jesus laid down his life for us in a passive act that excels in courage. However, He was aggressive in His cause against hypocrisy and sin, and His example inspires me. Jesus said, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt. 26:52) and that was true for that occasion. Nevertheless, on another occasion, He said, "But now he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one" (Luke 22:36). This two-sided coin is applicable in many areas of life. If someone physically attacks me, I am allowed a physical defense, only to the loss of spiritual reward. I also may opt to passively suffer for His namesake and thereby gain a better resurrection. (Read Heb. 11:34, 35) However, if you attack my family, I have no choice but to physically defend them, seeing that I am the saviour of the body (Eph. 5:23). In their observance of MacArthurs aggressive acts, liberals and Communists can afford, from their comfortable positions as armchair quarterbacks, to sit in the grandstand of the passive. However, things usually look differently at the end of a gun barrel or from the front line where Mac spent most of his time. YOU CHOOSE There was a time between the two big wars when our country was not fighting anything. During this no-fighting period, we, as a nation experienced a blotch on our history. There were veterans of WWI, who within a decade of their victorious return, found themselves hungry and financially impotent victims of the Great Depression. Incited, no doubt by communist insurgents, twenty-

five thousand of these disillusioned, lost and starving men stormed Washington, DC, particularly Congress, demanding a cash bonus for their service in the defense of our country. Whether or not they should have received this bonus is irrelevant to my story here. Their conduct was deplorable and their demands threatened riot. They lived in cardboard boxes and built temporary shacks. They generally dwelt in unsafe and unhealthy squalor along Pennsylvania Avenue in an area called Anacostia Flats. For a long, embarrassing two months they made their fruitless marches to the Capitol, stirred by inflammatory speeches. All of this became a national embarrassment. Finally, the President ordered Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur to move against this national blight. In an orderly but powerful show of force and without a shot fired, Mac cleared the area and quelled the storm. The President personally expressed gratification at what had been accomplished; but those in the liberal, communist, passive grandstands leveled exaggerated, distorted, verbal salvos at the chief. They blatantly misrepresented Mac and his staff before Congress. Even to this day his biographers choose this event to give him a political black eye. Personally, I like the way the Chief handled this delicate and unsavory matter. The truth is that if you dont stand for something, youll fall for anything. David experienced something of the above during his unfortunate circumstances in 1 Sam. 30. As he went on to fight the Amalekites and regain his family and belongings, he had three categories in his army: some were standing in the gap, others staying by the stuff, and the rest were stirring in the camp. Surely, if you are not standing in the gap or staying by the stuff, you will find yourself STIRRING IN THE CAMP. Jesus actions, words, and decisions of an aggressive nature have been judged by his enemies to be too heavy-handed and, without doubt, these judges will be numbered among those who will be on the receiving end of His wrath at the Second Advent. The soldier of the Lord who would dare to stand in the gap with his Captain could certainly come nearer a right assessment of our Lords motives viewing from the battlefront rather than the passive, liberal, communist-minded religionist who chooses to size things up from the air-conditioned box seat.

If I have to fight in a war, I would much rather follow a man than a reporter. MacArthur and Our Lord were both men of action who got the job done; think of the manliness it required of the Lord Jesus Christ to turn the knob of His power sufficiently to the left in order that the dirty job of our salvation might be accomplished. Can we sufficiently measure this manliness? Consider who He truly was and what He could have done without detriment to His character as God and without tainting his righteousness. It becomes amazing realization that instead of calling ten thousand angels to vindicate His person, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). Is it any wonder that His Father hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father?" (Eph. 2:9-11). HUMILITY AND MANHOOD Humility and manhood are easier to blend than passivity and manhood. We have too few contemporary examples of this blend. There seems to be a rank that, when attained, does away with the need to display ones accomplishments. This rank is so honored that it simply exists without any help of decoration. Both of our subjects attained this rank. Whether this rank can serve for humility will be discussed here. General Douglas MacArthur won all of his medals. His medals did not reflect honorary awards. He rarely wore any medals at all and yet he was the most decorated man in the history of U.S. military. President Roosevelt once said of him that he was our best general but our worst politician. At the apex of his military career, as he officiated over the surrender of Japan, Mac stood upon the deck of the battleship, Missouri in plain Khaki uniform. Before him stood a most formidable array of top brass representing the combined Allied Powers. One sailor, fortunate enough to observe this moment in history asked his buddy, Look at Mac. Aint he got no ribbons? His buddy replied, If he wore them, they would go clear over his shoulder. A list of his decorations will be included in the chapter entitled Soldier (Manchester).

HE WORE HIS GLORY WELL True humility and well-earned glory can blur in observation. Our Lord chose a humble foal of an ass upon which to make his triumphal entry into Jerusalem in fulfillment of prophecy. However, He received the well-deserved praise and adulation heaped upon Him by those to whom He had given the victory. There is a place for proper recognition of accomplishments and the exaltation of them, but too few men can endure such a bestowment without vomiting the honey (Prov. 25:16, 27). There seems to be a fine line between humility and proper recognition. "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (Rom. 13:7). Manchester (370) reported of MacArthur from the New York Times Magazine, In him great self-confidence is mingled with humility Jealousy or political rivalries often blur the vision of a deserving mans colleagues so that they may distort the due honour. President Harry Truman referred to MacArthur as a pompous $%&*@... but this is like the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. Mac was a political competitor with Truman, so there never was any love between the two. The Pharisees called Jesus as much or worse for similar reasons, for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14). General Douglas MacArthur experienced both of these truths. He was the victim of many outright lies. This cross seems to go with the high office. His enemies generally were jealous Pharisees in political Washington who coveted his publicity but would have fainted at the sight of the front lines. Mac was asked once if he wanted to be buried in the prestigious, military, Arlington Cemetery. His response... No, I dont want to be surrounded by my enemies (Manchester).

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SPIRITUAL MANHOOD In my research for this book, I read more than twelve biographies on Douglas MacArthur including his autobiography. I failed to find a clear-cut testimony of his conversion, as a Bible believer might demand. However, he did have a spiritual side and a reverence for the Lord. He also did render extraordinary service to righteousness. The following personal reference from his autobiography Reminiscences is as close as I could get to a Christian testimony. Christianity, of course, is not the oldest of mans faiths. Although I was brought up as a Christian and adhere entirely to its teaching. William Manchester says of this side of MacArthur, MacArthur acknowledged a higher power. He was even capable of humility in its presence. But he never really came to terms with it. He encouraged missionaries to come to Japan in its moment of vulnerability. He called for 2,000 missionaries to be sent immediately, but our missionary coffers were not that rich. He called for the Pocket Testament League to distribute 10,000,000 Bibles translated into Japanese, which were sent. In the battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the most decisive battles for the conquest of the Philippines, America, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, amassed 700 war ships and 170,000 of the finest fighting men the world had ever known. All was ready for this surprise attack and at 2:00 AM, this great commander retired to his quarters onboard the battleship Nashville. He states in his autobiography that he read again those passages in the Bible from which he had always gained inspiration and hope and then prayed that a merciful God would preserve each one of these men on the morrow. That same morning this man was able to report to the Filipino people and to the world the famous words, I have returned. If I were a lowly soldier about to thrust myself against the wrath of the enemy, I would certainly be comforted to know that my highest commanding officer was in his private quarters praying for me (MacArthur, ). PRAYER UNDER PEER PRESSURE While the battle for Manila subsided in Allied victory, the General led the ceremonies to restore the government of the Philippines to

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its leaders. At the end of this august ceremony, well attended by high officials, the Conqueror said, In humble and devout manifestation of gratitude to almighty God for bringing this decisive victory to our arms, I ask that all present rise and join me in reciting the Lords Prayer. If you think it is hard to pass a tract to your boss, imagine the peer pressure in these high circles of the military and politics. Praise God for all conquerors who are at least friends of Righteousness. I once heard someone say, I raised my boys to be men first, then Christians. All through Scripture, the Lord is looking for men to accomplish His purpose. This is not to circumvent salvation or spirituality, but it is true that a man is a man if he never becomes a spiritual man. Whether Douglas MacArthur ever became a truly spiritual man may not be answered this side of the judgment. Nevertheless, he certainly displayed the raw material of manhood, and the rest of this book will help you to determine whether the Lord used him to stand in a large open gap for his country and his God. THE MEDIATOR...THE MAN CHRIST JESUS "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom 8:34). As I face the wrath of this present evil world and the god thereof, it fortifies and motivates this soldier of the Lord to know that my highest commanding officer, the Captain of our Faith, is interceding to a merciful God in my behalf.

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CHAPTER TWO PARALLEL CAPTAINS


I had originally titled this chapter Parallel Soldiers. However, upon further study, I came to realize that Douglas MacArthur was never a soldier in the familiar sense of the word. That is, he never was a grunt on the front lines taking orders from a sergeant. For that matter, neither was Jesus Christ. The term soldier can refer to a person who makes the military his lifes career and in that sense MacArthur was a soldier. To illustrate this, toward the end of WWII General Douglas MacArthur, then a five star general and supreme commander of the Allied Forces, was invited to a meeting with Admiral Nimitz and President Franklin Roosevelt. Nimitz was present to represent the strategy determined by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to end the war. Mac was there to argue his opposing strategy, which he passionately felt was the better choice. The president was there to hear both sides and make a final decision that stood to affect the duration and possible outcome of the war. Following a brilliant layout of strategy by Admiral Nimitz, Five Star General Douglas MacArthur began his presentation by stating, I am a soldier and will hold the horse if commanded to but and proceeded to lay before the president and his opposing colleagues the better plan which the president finally accepted. This plan proved to be victorious. Consider that this statement, coming from the mouth of the second most powerful man on earth, was evidence that Mac never lost his sense of duty and position as a soldier. CAPTAIN MACARTHUR Douglas MacArthur was a born leader, the product of several generations of leaders. As fear and cowardice passes through genes so generally does courage. He entered West Point as a civilian and graduated a Lieutenant. Already a leader, his courage, as such, found expression in two non-war assignments. While on duty in the Philippines, two desperadoes attacked him. In the struggle, Lieutenant MacArthur shot both dead in their tracks and received, in return, a campaign hat still smoking from its alteration by a slug from the desperados rifle. His foreman, a regular Army sergeant

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and veteran of long years of service, came rushing up. He looked long and hard at the two dead men sprawled on the trail, then at his Captains crownless hat still smoking from the blast, then at the broken tree behind MacArthur (which also had been altered by the slug). The sergeant rolled his quid of tobacco into the hollow of his cheek and slowly drew himself up to his full six feet of height, clicked his heels together, saluted, and drawled in his rich Irish brogue, Begging the Lootenants paddon, but all the rest of the Lootenants life is pure velvut (MacArthur). This prophecy proved to be a concise description of the rest of the generals life. During a conflict with Mexico, Captain MacArthur gained the status of swashbuckler for a very heroic venture that occurred in Vera Cruz. His assignment was to discover some hidden locomotives; this knowledge might be of great benefit if war between the two countries broke out. In the course of this wild night under the Southern Cross, as MacArthur describes it, using a combination of railroad handcar, pony, and boat he dropped seventeen marauders and received four bullet holes through his shirt before returning with the vital intelligence. His reward for his courageous nights activity was a recommendation for the Medal of Honor. CAPTAIN OF OUR FAITH The job of a captain during combat is to plan strategy only in the field and to lead his company into the conflict. The Captain of our faith was brilliant in his field strategy to accomplish the master plan of the Father. He outwitted the enemy several times, averting His early demise that would have thwarted the master plan. In a moment-to-remember battle, he withstood his opponent wielding the sword of the Word of God with deft skill resulting in the defeat of the Tempter. The full account can be read in the fourth chapters of both Matthew and Luke. No soldier in the history of warfare could have accomplished such a victory and thus set the example for his company. Our Captains victory over Satan proved that Satan was a defeated foe and that for the remainder of time the company following The Captain would merely need to, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

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Captain Jesus led his company through temptation (Luke 7:19), storm (Matt. 4:39), armed conflict (John 18:10), and political insurgence (Acts 1:6). He was victorious in battles with hatred (John 15:18), jealousy (Mark 10:37), and rivalry (Matt 26:33). He taught his grunts how to deal with internal spies (John 6:70), defection (1 Cor. 11:23), and dangers involving fame (John 4:1), power (Luke 9:54), and miraculous gifts (Luke 10l:20). He was a Medal of Honor leader in suffering false accusation (John 8:41), unjust criticism (Matt 12:2), open blasphemy (Matt 12:24), mocking (Matt 27:29), spitting (Matt 26:67) and more physical abuse than any other man could endure (Isa. 52:14). He was exalted to worship status for his endurance of the cruelest act any enemy could inflictthe death on the cross (Phil. 2:8). The crowning achievement of His career was His grand and glorious triumph over sin, death, Hell, and the grave when He arose from the grave. His company can feel confident that, because I live, ye shall live also (John 14:19). Though no one join me, still I will follow. I join the Apostle Peter when he says, ...Lord, to whom shall we go? (John 6:68). THE LORDS MIND ON WAR In Exodus 15:3 it is stated poetically, The Lord is a man of war. And, so He is. There is more space devoted to war in the Bible than peace. If you want to make war with the Lord He will put up His dukes but you will ultimately lose. The Lord will not dodge a good fight if you bring it on. He is the passionate warrior against any and all infractions of His law. He names and describes His enemies openly and will carry out His campaign against them to the very end. But, while this may be the Lords mind, it certainly is not His heart. He so desires peace with his creation that He sacrificed His only begotten Son in hopes that reconciliation might be established and peace might reign. MACARTHUR ON WAR A soldier by choice must have an interest in war, if not a passion: at the least, there must be a fascination with the subject or why else would he choose that profession. William Manchester describes this personality conundrum concerning war and peace

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inside the General. Churchill once observed that war, which was cruel and glorious, has become cruel and sordid. To the General it would always retain a nimbus of glory. His critics thought that ridiculous. His admirers believed it made him a more effective leader. Both were right (Manchester). This may have been his attitude of mind, and our country ought to thank him for this attitude, which served us well in victory over our enemies. However, his heart can be seen in the draft of the new constitution for the Japanese people under the guidance of the General during the occupation. When the Japanese included Article nine which would outlaw war in Japan in their draft for a new constitution, MacArthur wholeheartedly agreed stating, You cannot control war, you must abolish it. His philosophy, like many other great leaders was, The best defense is a good offense. If General Douglas MacArthur had been allowed to freely exercise this philosophy concerning such WWII leftover problems like Korea, China, Taiwan, and Russia, we would most probably have eliminated much of the cold war that followed. This includes the oppression of millions of souls under Soviet communism and Chinas constant saber rattling against Taiwan, not to mention the mess we are faced with today (2003) with nuclear North Korea. We can credit one of our worst presidents, Harry Truman, with tying Macs hands in this effort in the early 50s. One day the Lord will abolish and outlaw war but, until then, we had better give him a free hand in dealing with his enemies both in the world as well as within our hearts. By doing so we may avoid future turmoil, trial and tribulation. In one of the many accounts which describe Mac as he flagrantly defied the enemy by openly exposing himself in fierce battle, one of his subordinates said of him, MacArthur wanted to experience the smell of gunpowder and the sights and sounds of combat. Being in or near a battle seemed to quicken him. It was almost like as though the battle fed his system. It was true also that he could appreciate the problems of his commanders and soldiers much better by getting a taste of the fighting than by pouring over maps and operations reports back at headquarters (Manchester).

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The General was often unaware of problems with his staff because of his concentration on military science. One of his biographers claimed, If there is such a thing as an art of war -and MacArthur never doubted that there was- the General performed as a virtuoso. THE CAPTAIN OF OUR FAITH Jesus said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He also said, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. He smells the smoke of your current battle and is very familiar with the terrain ahead. He cares about the outcome and longs for victory and the peace that will follow if only we will follow his divine leadership. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:5-6). KEEPING BUSY WHILE AT PEACE Some soldiers lose their balance in the battle between war and peace. Many have floundered when their battle days ended. Oh, they celebrated the end of hostilities because it was politically correct to do so. However, their addiction to the sights, sounds, and smells of the battlefield left them empty and unfulfilled in the peacetime. The strife raged on inside them and drove them to drink, marital problems, child abuse, and even mercenary service. Douglas MacArthur was quite balanced in this area. He flourished in peacetime the same as he succeeded in battle. His strategy in peace and his victories off the battlefield were just as renowned as his glories in war. FOLLOWING MAC Properly trained men usually do not have any problem following a man who knows where he is going and what he wants to accomplish. The apostle Paul said, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). I have been a leader in the body of Christ for many years and yet it does not bother me to follow someone else, whether younger or less experienced, as long as they

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are going in the right direction. We ought to grow in grace to a point where we would desire others to follow us, as Paul stated above. We must be worthy of that following. General Douglas MacArthur was a natural born leader and as soon as he had the chronology to be credited with the position he displayed his leadership talents well. He exuded confidence and inspired morale beyond the call of duty. General Eichelberger, one of Macs subordinate generals, described Mac in a letter to his wife, He is certainly a fascinating person and an inspiring leader. Though his leadership and decisions were made of iron, that iron was always malleable, being mixed with compassion. Another of his staff stated, The prevailing doctrine in GHQ was that the Chief was unchallengeable, above the mortal realm (Manchester). He cared much for his staff and his men. Whenever possible, he handselected his staff. All beneath him were encouraged by his strong, yet filial guidance. While his administrative and strategic duties as supreme commander demanded a large share of his time at headquarters, he loved seeing, smelling, and hearing the front lines. As a leader, he made sure that he was not estranged from his men. The slanderous dubbing of Mac as Dugout Doug, was undeserving. This dubbing occurred while the General and his entire army were backed into the Bataan peninsula because of the stunning blitz of the enemy upon the Philippine Islands following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The overwhelming strength of the enemy in numbers, weapons, and supplies as well as the inability of the US to supply and reinforce the Generals army created a helpless and nearly hopeless scenario in which MacArthur could not affect a solution. He chose to seclude himself rather than face the unanswerable questions of his soldiers. For this, he was mistakenly collared with Dugout Doug. It had nothing to do with his courage or leadership as was proven many times before, during, and after this black blotch in US military history. COMPASSIONATE LEADER When the General was retaking the city of Manila, there was a time when tactics were in the hands of his field commanders and he

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found himself with little to do. He told his staff that he wanted to see the U.S. prisoners of war and the Filipinos recently released from the enemy camps. I quote from American Caesar, He went first to Bilibib and Santo Tomas prisons, which had just been liberated. At Santo Tomas, he was surrounded by thousands of sobbing, emaciated men in rags. At Bilibib, many of the inmates made a pathetic effort to stand at attention. He wrote afterward: They remained silent as though at inspection. I looked down the lines of men bearded and soiledwith ripped and soiled shirts and trousers, with toes sticking out of such shoes as remained, with suffering and torture written on their gaunt faces. Here was all that was left of my men of Bataan and CorregidorAs I passed slowly down the scrawny, suffering column, a murmur accompanied me as each man barely speaking above a whisper, said, Youre back, or You made it. I could only reply, Im a little late, but we finally came. I passed on out of the barracks compound and looked around at the debris that was no longer important to those inside: the tin cans they had eaten from; the dirty old bottles they had drunk from. It made me ill just to look at them. The men who attempted to understand him and give him the benefit of the doubt truly loved him. JESUS WEPT Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ keeps tract of our battles, sufferings, tears, frustrations, tactics and fears. He keeps our tears, watches over our widows and fatherless children left behind in the battle, and binds up our wounds in both body and heart. The song by J. Lincoln Hall Does Jesus Care? says, Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth and song; As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long? O yes, He cares- I know He cares His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary I know my Saviour cares

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GENERAL CONCERNS Manila was in ruins, though the General had striven hard to avoid the destruction of this beautiful city personally dear to his heart. Many soldiers were dead despite Macs unmatched record of fewest casualties. The battle for the capitol could still be heard in the near distance; complete victory not yet realized. MacArthur stood officiating at the bittersweet ceremony that served to hand over the government back to the civil magistrates. The occupants of Malacanan palace that day were diverse both in culture and religion. A mix of Catholic, Protestant, Atheist and Buddhist were represented in several nations present. His speech, a classic as usual, speaks to his strength, tenderness, and compassion. He began:
More than three years have elapsedyears of bitterness, struggle and sacrificesince I withdrew our forces and installations from this beautiful city that, open and undefended, its churches, monuments and cultural centers might, in accordance with the rules of warfare, be spared the violence of military ravage. The enemy would not have it so, and much that I sought to preserve has been unnecessarily destroyed by his desperate action at baybut by these ashes he has wantonly fixed the future pattern of his own doomOn behalf of my government I now solemnly declare, Mr. President, the full powers and responsibilities under the constitution restored to the Commonwealth whose seat is here reestablished as provided by law. Your country, thus, is again at liberty to pursue its destiny to an honored position in the family of free nations. Your capital city, cruelly punished though it be, has regained its rightful placecitadel of democracy in the East. Your indomitable(His voice trembled. He buried his face in his hands and wept. Then wiping his eyes on his sleeve, concluded brokenly:) In humble and devout manifestation of gratitude to almighty God for bringing this decisive victory to our arms, I ask that all present rise and join me in reciting the Lords prayer (MacArthur).

In his Reminiscences he writes: To others it might have seemed my moment of victory and monumental personal acclaim, but to me it seemed only the culmination of a panorama of physical and spiritual disaster. It had killed something inside me to see my men die. DOES JESUS CARE? O yes, He cares. We can see Him weeping over the city of Jerusalem (Matt. 23) for its present spiritual decay and forthcoming physical devastation. We observe his concern in creations entire conflict

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from Genesis to Revelation by the statement in Ps. 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Adamwhere art thou? POSITIVE-LY MACARTHUR Another facet of his successful leadership was his omniscience, or so it seemed. He knew everything there was to know and still maintained a positive attitude. John Curtis Perry, in his biography of Mac, said of him, The peculiar genius of Mac lay in his power to convince others of his genius. He believed that his actions were justified by history or by divine will. Consequently he could justify overriding the wishes of others, even his superiors. Gen. Frank McCoy, an old Army friend who became chairman of the Far Eastern Commission, summed it up: Mac thinks of himself as a man of destinyand he is a man of destiny. (Perry pg. 72). While exiled in Australia from his army in Corregidor, his intelligence was current on every detail. William Manchester says it this way, No sparrow fell there but MacArthur knew of it; his files held everything from transcripts of executive sessions in Malacanan Palace to the guest lists of the Manila Hotel. His submarines brought the guerrillas equipment, technicians, transmitters, and commando teams, and he personally interviewed each partisan who escaped into his lines. He kept abreast of every detail available concerning the enemy. He had studied the Orientals and had spent so much time in their culture that most of the time he knew their next move while they were still in council. This intelligence not only built his own morale but supported the grunt who knew little more than what his sergeant just told him. This superior knowledge was felt on the front line by the fact that they were always going forward and making great strides with few casualties. Victory always tastes sweet even when between two slices of sorrow. Mac did not permit doubt, bewilderment, vacillation, or confusion to surface. Negative impressions were buried, smothered. This positive confidence of victory bled through the chain of command and affected both his army and his enemy.

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MACS ENEMY What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? Answer = V.J. Day. This was near the situation between the momentum of Macs forces and the no-surrender attitude of his enemy. Knowing the oriental mind as he did, Mac planned his strategy to capitalize on this trait. For millennia Japan had inbred the Nippon mind with two false perceptions: that the Emperor was divine and that the Japanese people were invincible. The way this combination was to play out was that if indeed their Emperor was divine and he had led them into this war, then how could they possibly lose? Add to all of this the fact that Japan had never been defeated or conquered in the entire history of their existence. If individuals died in the obtaining of this inevitable victory they went to their great reward. They had given their lives for the most honorable cause, that being the Emperortheir god. None but an oriental mind can fully appreciate the immovable object such a false doctrine can produce. Harry Truman stated that the only thing the Japanese understand is a superior force, thusthe Atomic Bomb. Only after the loss of quite a few major battles did the crowns of their generals and high leaders begin to tarnish in the eyes of the common Japanese people. Never did the Emperor lose his gold crown of deity. HARD HEARTED HEATHEN If we were to liken this theology to the theology of any unsaved man, we might more fully understand what the witnessing Christian is up against. Some convincing personality told the unregenerate mind that they could be as gods. For millennia we have been inbred with a nature that innately believes this. Because of this, man blindly believes that his battle with God will ultimately end in his favor, thus producing a dangerously closed mind doomed to total and utter destruction. verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah" (Ps. 39:5).

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Sometimes it takes a catastrophic setback in life for the natural man to consider that his invincibility may indeed be vincible. Many die and go to hell wearing their warped and tarnished crown. With this understanding of the 1941 Japanese mentality, one can see how the suicidal warfare of the Japanese army evolved. They referred to their suicide as fanaticism. Mac referred to this as the last ditch of the defeated. Besides the infamous suicidal airplane pilots referred to as Kamikazes, they also had suicidal manned torpedoes called Kaitens. The Japanese theology demanded that they die rather than be conquered. In mans natural state, his god has convinced him that the wages of sin, though they be ever so costly, are far better than surrender to and occupation by the enemyGod. BATTLE LOST WAR WON
Americas worst military defeat

In late November of 1941, the military intelligence of General Douglas MacArthur knew that the Japanese were poised for a surprise attack that would catapult America into the war. They knew that the strike would be at one of possibly four vital military installations of the U.S., the prime target being Pearl Harbor. Another of these prime targets was Clark Air Field near Manila, Philippines. The General also knew the high probability that when the Japanese made their attack he would be chosen as commander of the forces in the Pacific. With the battle looming and the weight of the heavy responsibility pressing, the General lay sleeping in his suite at the Manila hotel. It was 3:00 AM, Dec. 7, when his peaceful sleep was abruptly disturbed by the ringing of his telephone. His aide informed him of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The General could calculate that Clark Field would be close following. He instructed the aide to call a staff briefing, and then turning to his wife, he said, Hand me my Bible. In that moment of extreme crises, during one of the most crucial moments of the worlds history, this man of destiny sat on the edge of his bed and read his Bible. One of the tallest figures of history prayed for fifteen minutes before he went to his first briefing as commander of the Pacific forces in WWII. Whether it is possible for a carnal Episcopalian to be a spiritual man you may debate, but this giant found his strength by seeking

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first the kingdom of God. What do you have to do that is more important than prayer and Bible reading first thing in the morning? The odds were terribly lopsided. Although America was aware of the threat Japan presented, and that they had been building and amassing materials of war for years, for whatever reason historians may argue, America decided to close their eyes and put hands over ears. MacArthurs army in the Philippines was the worst equipped and least readied above all. Mac had badgered Washington from the beginning of his duty there for men and modern equipment, but Congress had more pressing issues at home. They also chose to put the war in Europe on the front burner with the mother lode of war shipments heading east, not west. Japans first air strike against Clark Field virtually eliminated what tiny air power the Commander had. Following quickly was a land invasion force more than double the number of Macs men. The overwhelming numbers combined with lightning speed, the shock of the blistering attack by the enemy, and the lack of equipment and men in Macs army - all compounded to demand withdrawal in hopes of reinforcements and re-supply. The latter was not to be realized. At this point MacArthur made one of the most brilliant military maneuvers in history. His strategy in the withdrawal of his men to the Bataan peninsular and the occupying of the enemy from that defensive position has been, and will continue to be, the study of military education for all time. In military strategy there is a distinct difference between withdrawal and retreat. This withdrawal maneuver held the main forces of Japan, tying them up and buying precious time for the Allied forces. General MacArthur was rewarded for this by the receiving of compliments from virtually every leader in the Allied Forces. President Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Generals Patton, Eisenhower, and Marshal, senators, congressional representatives, cabinet member, and heads of many states joined the chorus to thank and praise him for his brilliance in strategy, and his constancy during humility. They encouraged him to continue to hold the line until plans could be implemented to send help. The choice of withdrawal into Bataan peninsular was not a happenstance retreat. By concentrating his forces there, they could

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control Manila Bay which was of immeasurable value to the enemy. As MacArthur put it, He (the Japanese enemy) may have the bottle, but I have the cork. Nevertheless, he faced reality, which meant he had to withdraw. This was a brilliant maneuver, but it was still the wrong direction and this is loathe to all good military men. The desperate military situation grew worse with no light on the horizon. Heroic days grew into hungry weeks and empty ammo cans evolved into ingenious defensive weapons. With the press of a well-supplied foe and an enemy naval blockade preventing allied supply ships, the noose grew tighter around the neck of Macs army. This paragraph from MacArthurs autobiography, Reminiscences, lets us hear him describe the situation from his own mouth. On January 10th, and again on January 17th, I wired Washington explaining the seriousness of the situation. We had been on half rations for some time now, and the result was becoming evident in the exhausted condition of the men. The limited area occupied by our forces did not offer any means of obtaining food, and we were therefore dependent upon communication by sea, the responsibility of which had passed out of my control. Since the blockade was lightly held, many mediumsized ships could have been loaded with supplies and dispatched along various routes. It seemed incredible to me that no effort was made to bring in supplies. I cannot overemphasize the psychological affect upon the Filipinos. They were able to understand military failure, but the apparent disinterest on the part of the United States was incomprehensible. Aware of the efforts the Allies were making in Europe, their feelings ranged from bewilderment to revulsion. At this stage of the war the enemy were eager for a trophy with MacArthurs name on it and they would prefer it to be in the shape of a cross. Almost too late, President Roosevelt ordered the General to escape the Japanese noose and go to Australia to organize an allied army in hopes of turning the tide from losing to victory. Escaping was not the Generals will. He objected, protested, petitioned, politicked, and delayed, but his will was not to be championed in this matter. Further movement away from the enemy was repugnant to him. He did not want to leave his men. He threatened to resign his commission in order to continue fighting and die with his men.

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It was during this time that he chose not to mingle with his men on the front line. His normally trim frame had lost another 25 pounds as a result of his choosing the same meager diet as his men. The appearance of a commander is of utmost importance to the morale of soldiers. He says in his autobiography, I must have looked gaunt and ghastly standing there in my war-stained clothes, no bemedaled commander of inspiring presence. Dugout Doug, had no inspiring report to give to his starving, inquiring men. To face his men, in such dire circumstances and without any truthful words of encouragement, would further erode the already low morale. Finally, Mac submitted to his orders to leave. He sent for his second in command, General Jonathan Wainwright to say goodbye. They were old friends as well as joint leaders and the parting was painful. Little could each have known that it would be over two years till they met again; both their worlds had changed dramatically. Wainwrights nickname was Jim so when his friend, the General, bade his final farewell he said, Jim, hold on till I come back for you. These orders were dear to Wainwright coming from the man he admired most in the world. Within a short time more than desperate circumstances overruled Jims strong desire to please his commander and he surrendered to the enemy. Whether a fight-to-the-end policy would have been better than the Bataan death march, eternity will have to judge. MACS DARING ESCAPE Mac obeyed the order and through a truly daring and miraculous adventure, he sneaked through the diligent guard of the Japanese naval blockade by way of a minimally armed PT boat. Accompanied by his wife and young son, Arthur, and with a skeleton staff following in similar PT boats, they made their way on a midnight, swashbuckling dash from Corregidor Island at the mouth of Manila Bay to a point on the Island of Mindanao, where he flew to Australia. The world would say it couldnt be done. But the Allied world cheered ravenously when General Douglas MacArthur reappeared alive and well in Australia to begin working his talents to prepare an effective Allied assault against the enemy. For this daring escapade, which resulted eventually in Allied victory in the Pacific War, General Douglas MacArthur received the Congressional

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Medal of Honor, the highest honor America can bestow upon a soldier. Upon arrival in Australia when MacArthur was pressed for a statement, he told the world that he was simply obeying orders from the President to break through the Japanese line and come to Australia for the purpose of organizing an offensive against the enemy and the relief of the Philippines. Then he said those charismatic words he is so remembered for, I came through and I SHALL RETURN. (MacArthur). These words were the source of strength and hope for both his besieged army in Bataan as well as the millions of suffering souls in the Philippines for over two years. BATTLE LOST WAR WON

ETERNITYS WORST DEFEAT

The battle began with the subtle propaganda attack upon Gods commander, Adam, as he walked in the garden accompanied by his CaptainThe Word of God. The goal of the enemy was the destruction of the seed of God that would provide and guarantee freedom for all of Adams army. The battle continued to spread and was waged on many battlefields, too numerous to mention, over the next four millennia. The relentless enemy risked life, limb and many thousands of his army in a desperate, yea, even eternal suicidal attempt to rid the world of the force of freedom through the Word of God. In a dramatic and daring face off, recorded in Matthew chapter 4, the enemy was forced to back down from a withering onslaught by the Word of God. Knocked down, but not knocked out, the enemy strengthened his forces and came to the battlefield of Calvary. Nevertheless, Jesus knew his enemy well and was not ignorant of his devices. He was confident that the original plan would succeed and that He would overcome the enemy. In fact, looking at it from an eternal perspective, the enemy was a defeated foe. The pressure against the Word of God grew so great that it forced the blood through His skin, appearing as bloody sweat. The command came to withdraw back to headquarters. This was contrary to His will. He petitioned headquarters and poured out his situation only to have his petition denied. He could have called

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10,000 angels, reinforcements, and supplies with which to destroy the world and set Him free, but it would not be in accord with the will of headquarters. Finally, He submitted with Not my will but thine, Oh Lord. As our Saviour hung on the cross in seeming defeat, His soul cried out in anguish, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The lights went out in Washington. God had turned his back upon His only begotten son. In the fullness of times He made his miraculous escape from sin, death, hell, the grave, and his arch enemySatan. He slipped the grip of the Grimy One and reappeared safe on the shore of His victorious kingdom, where He is currently preparing His victorious offensive that will hough (Joshua 11:9) the enemy forever. He deserves our Medal of Honor for his gallantry in the obtaining of salvation for mankind. Just before that dark hour of seeming defeat, Jesus spoke the words that have provided comfort and hope for His many besieged soldiers. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). The gospel of John chapters 14-17 describe this parallel era in the relationship between our Lord Jesus Christ and his beloved disciples. This bitter-sweet communion also resulted in misunderstanding within the finite mind of the disciples. Although the words of the Lord were meant to be encouraging, when heard within the context of the moment and considered within the troubled and fearful minds and hearts of human followers, it is no wonder that it required great faith to keep the right view of things. EVEN MAC CANT WIN WITH DEFENSE ONLY Pastor James Knox once said, Before WWII America had a Department of War. From that point on they changed the name to the Department of Defense. Up to the end of WWII America never lost a war. From that point on, we havent won a war. Reasonyou cant win a war with defense only.

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This is basic military strategy and as long as MacArthur was limited to a defensive warfare being backed into the Bataan Peninsular, the most he could do was to keep the enemy occupied. He did such a brilliant job under the worst of circumstances that even his ostensible defeat seemed, in a way victorious. This is further explained by Perry. Macs optimism seemed never to falter, at least in public. The defeat America suffered in 42 in the PI was the greatest overseas military debacle the nation had ever experienced. But Bataan and Corregidor came to symbolize, like Dunkirk, not rout but triumph. It was something heroic, and Mac was the hero. (Perry) When the General arrived in Australia, leaders who could only think in terms of the defense of Australia inundated him. Viewing, only from afar the path of death and destruction left in the wake of a swift moving enemy, they had made extensive preliminary plans for their defense. However, the General shocked them all by scrapping all their plans and introducing the mind-boggling idea of a strong offense. Mind-boggling because the Allied Forces had so little to work with in both equipment and men. How could you press and advance on such a formidable foe with so small and ill-equipped army? Mac could not verbalize the answer; he could only demonstrate it. OFFENSIVE CHURCH = PEACEFUL CHURCH The General tells of this strategic metamorphosis in Australia in his autobiography.
I decided to abandon the (defense) plan completely, to move the thousand miles forward into eastern Papau, and to stop the Japanese on the rough mountains of the Owen Stanley Ridge in New Guinea to make the fight for Australia beyond its own borders. If successful, this would save Australia from invasion and give me an opportunity to pass from defense to offense, to seize the initiative, move forward, and attack. This decision gave the Australians an exhilarating lift, and they prepared to support me with fanatical zeal. As a matter of fact, throughout the war, the most complete co-operation existed not only with the Australians, but with the other nationalities under my command-Dutch, British, New Zealanders, and Filipinos. Not only was there complete lack of friction and misunderstanding, but the

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ties of mutual respect, good will, and admiration among the commanders, staffs, and men of all branches and services, could well serve as a model for any mixed international force (MacArthur).

Why can the world enjoy such unity in their ranks to accomplish carnal quests while the church suffers from schism? Could it be that we operate in the realm of defense only? It has been my experience as a pastor that a church that is fervently fighting the common enemy will not fight amongst themselves. We are to fight the fight of faith and war a good warfare, but at the same time, love the brethren. I pastored a church of about fifty people in Tallahassee, FL. At this time, (mid-70s) the grassroots movement of the Sodomites was picking up momentum. Even though we were small, we went on the offensive against this evil and fought to enjoy several victories. Not only were the soldiers in my church strengthened, enthused and experienced, we had peace within our ranks. In four and a half years of pastoring and leading this spiritual battle, we never had one dissenting vote. MARTYRS VS. COLLABORATORS The irony of Laodicean Christianity has become evident in the compromises, worldly ways, and gimmicks we use in order to enhance the growth of the church, while ignoring the Christian historical principle of how the church grows...persecution. Just go back to the foundational book of Acts in the New Testament and read the manual once again. Thirty years ago a good friend came to my church in Tallahassee and gave me a nugget of encouragement. Pastor Wayne Mund told our little, struggling church to... Strive to be strong. Dont strive to be big. If you become big but are not strong, you will be just like all the other churches. But, if you become strong and the Lord chooses to make you big, then you will be BIG AND STRONG. Wouldnt that be something today to have a church that was not only big, but also strong. The worldly, Madison-Avenue-techniques used to build the numbers of a church are the same methods the devil can use to weaken the church. There was no compromise

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made to produce the large church of the early part of the book of Acts, but they were hard at work fighting the good fight of faith and thereby bringing upon themselves persecution. Read Acts 8:1-4 and find that the fact that the church was working together in the fight, was connected to the persecution of that time; the persecution of that time was connected to the work of the men and women of that church. WHILE THE COMMANDER IS IN EXILE
After the fall of Corregidor and the southern islands, organized resistance to the Japanese in the Philippines had supposedly come to an end. In reality, it had never ended. I had expected and laid plans long before for an underground struggle by guerrilla forces against the Japanese army of occupation. I was certain that a great number of those indomitable defenders of Bataan and Corregidor had escaped into the mountains and jungle, and that they were already at work against the enemy. Unfortunately, for some time I could learn nothing of these activities. A deep, black pall of silence settled over the whole archipelago. (MacArthur 202).

************ Malachi, chapter four, refers to Jesus Christ as the Sun of righteousness. In the absence of the sun we have darkness. It is the job of the resistance in this dark hour, having been trained by the Commander now in exile, to fight the good fight of faith. We are to resist the enemy with all the energy and weaponry supplied unto us by our Great Commander. Sometimes the road gets dark and dreary and that is when we are to plug into the generator of the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of the army of the church. Unlike MacArthurs men left behind enemy lines to fight, we do not have to succumb to the deep, black pall of silence. We can have constant communication with our commander. ************
Two months after the fall of the Manila Bay defenses, a brief and pathetic message from a weak sending station on Luzon was brought to me. Short as it was, it lifted the curtain of silence and uncertainty, and disclosed the start of a human drama with few parallels in military history. I knew, after that message, that my estimate of the moral fiber of the Filipino people was correct. The fire and the spirit of this indomitable nation burned as brightly as

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ever. I knew that the remnants of my soldiers were not abandoning the fight while they lived and had the means. The words of that message warmed my heart. your victorious return is the nightly subject of prayer in every Filipino home. I had acquired a force behind the Japanese lines that would have a farreaching effect on the war in the days to come. Let no man misunderstand the meaning of that message from the Philippines. Here was a people in one of the most tragic hours of human history, bereft of all reason for hope and without material support, endeavoring, despite the stern realities confronting them, to hold aloft the flaming torch of liberty. I recognized the spontaneous movement of a free people to resist the physical and spiritual shackles with which the enemy sought to bind them. It was a poignant moment. . The Commander responded immediately... ...I cannot predict the date of return to the Philippines, but I am coming (MacArthur pg 202-203).

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32). ************ How can we help but see the parallel here. The Supreme Commander in exile is concerned for his army and interested in every detail. His army is behind enemy lines, times are dark, threat is real, and hope is by faith in the return of their Commander. Even the heart of the Commander is encouraged and blessed by the bright hope glowing in the hearts of his army. The memory of Daniels prayer through the great resistance comes to mind (Dan. 10:13). In our day of false hopes in worldly solutions to the problems of our society, we have little or no reason to look to the doctors, scientists, and politicians of our day. The heart of our great Commander is encouraged by a small band of fighters doing what they can (Mark 14:8) under these adverse circumstances. They hold the fort with great resolve. Though our sending stations may be weak, we need to be faithful to communicate to our Great Commander that... your return is the nightly subject of prayer in every Christian heart. Even so come Lord Jesus.

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************
Unhappily, the sender of that first message, Lieutenant Colonel Guellermo Nakar, a former battalion commander of the 14th Infantry of the Philippine forces, was caught by the Japanese, tortured, and beheaded. He wasnt the first and he wasnt to be the last to die in the struggle, but for every patriot who thus went to a horrible and lonely death, a new leader rose to carry on the fight. The word passed from island to island and from barrio to barrio. From Aparri in the north to Zamboanga in the south, the fire of resistance to the invader spread. Whole divisions of Japanese troops that the Emperor badly needed elsewhere were deployed against phantom enemy units. Not many times in recorded history has the world witnessed a spectacle such as the struggle that now ensued. A strong and ruthless force, at times using barbaric methods, was never able to completely conquer this simple, brave people armed with very little more than courage and faith in the promise that we would return. (MacArthur pg 203).

************ For some reason in the laws of the Creator lies a rule, very contrary to human reason, that growth both spiritual and numerical, is born out of hardship, trials, tribulation and persecution. As we observe the terrible decline of the spiritual condition of our nations and their flight away from anything associated with righteousness, we will see more and more following displays. ...yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2). Let us Neither give place to the devil. (Lk. 4:6) and ...use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh. May we be encouraged to know that our strong resistance serves to frustrate the actions of the enemy, and that, if necessary, our skillful withdrawal will be in obedience to our Great Commanders will that we, Occupy till I come (Luke 19:13). It was stated also in Reminiscences that the faithful resistance of those brave Americans on Bataan served as an encouragement to the Filipino people that the Americans had not deserted them. When our resistance takes a publicly visible form, such as a street meeting or speaking up for righteousness, or handing out of a gospel tract, our resistance becomes a tremendous encouragement to those more secret disciples of our Commander.

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While wearing my scripture jacket one day, a lady tapped me on the shoulder and said that she liked my jacket. I thanked her and asked for her testimony and she freely gave it, but then added, but I wish I was as courageous as you. I simply said to her, Its not courage, it is obedience. This encouraged her greatly to discover that she had available to her the same courage if only she would obey. In the armies of the past when the brave flag bearer fell, he was instantly replaced by another brave man. Let us be faithful to fill the gap of those whose names appear not only in the Lambs Book of Life but also in the Lords book of martyrs. May we allow their sacrifice to strengthen us both in resolve as well as numerical ranks as we take great courage in the soon return of our Great Commander. COLLABORATORS VS. MARTYRS Not a very high percentage of soldiers in any army will fight to the end and die an honorable death for the cause at hand. There will always be those who will cave at the threshold of inconvenience, discomfort, or threatening words. "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words..."(Eze. 2:6). General Aguinaldo of the Philippine army wrote MacArthur a letter during the Bataan standoff. He must have turned a blind eye to the atrocities and ravages of the Japanese. He must have turned a twisted ear to the propaganda of their failed but tempting promises. The letter rehearsed the terrible devastation of the Philippines and its people by the Japanese and blamed it all on the fact that the islands were a possession of the United States. He urged MacArthur to surrender in order that the government of the Philippines might accept the rule of the Japanese and thus end their part of the war. With unabashed default he wrote, Japan, through her prime minister, has promised us prompt independence with honor, declaring in the Diet of January 21, 1942: Japan will gladly grant the Philippines its independence so long as it cooperates and recognizes the Japanese program of establishing a greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere suspensive points(MacArthur). This defector had taken the thirty pieces of

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silver offered to him by the enemy. Was he weak? Was he deceived? Was he a traitor? Was he a collaborator? Yes - to all of the above! It seems this tendency to compromise is more evident in secondgeneration Christian soldiers. Nearly every great work suffers compromise with the progressive generations. The comfort and ease of late-Laodicea is very hard to turn your back on. The worst duty in my ministry is preaching in a Christian high school chapel. Most of these kids are defectors in their hearts. Pick any Christian College and you will nauseatingly experience much the same. I would much rather draw duty preaching in front of a biker bar or a sodomite house. Thank God for a few exceptions. FOLLOW THE CAPTAIN Our manual, the Bible, often likens the spiritual life to warfare, soldiery, battle, and combat. In and of ourselves, there remains the constant threat of defeat, but we can be continuously renewed, rearmed, revitalized, and reenlisted by constant communication with our Captain and by re-reading His manual. MacArthur never seemed to falter in his attitude of victory. He exuded this tonic to all who came near him. Having fled the terrible defeat in Bataan and facing tremendous odds, he tells of his arrival in Melbourne to build an army for victory.
As the train pulled into Melbourne, cheering thousands lined the streets in a tumultuous welcome. But heartening as the welcome was, it did not disguise the fact that a sense of dangerous defeatism had seized upon a large segment of Australias 7,000,000 people. The primary problem was to replace the pessimism of failure with the inspiration of success. What the Australians needed was a strategy which held out the promise of victory (MacArthur).

Speaking of his relationship with the Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin, MacArthur writes
We promptly came to a sense of mutual trust, co-operation, and regard that was never once breached by word, thought, or deed. He was the kind of man the Australians called fair dinkum. As I rose to leave, I put my arm around his strong shoulder. Mr. Prime

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Minister, I said, we two, you and I, will see this thing through together. We can do it and we will do it. You take care of the rear and I will handle the front. He shook me by both hands and said, I knew I was not wrong in selecting you as Supreme Commander.

If we could just link-up with our Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ in a similar manner, we could enjoy a similar victory. THE SWORD AND THE SHIELD Mac knew that defense must play an important part as well. He assured the Australians that adequate defenses would be maintained, all the while aiming for the earliest possible moment for offensive action. Five out of six pieces of our spiritual armour listed in Ephesians six are for our defense. We are instructed and admonished by our Captain to use these weapons for our defense, all which point to our relationship with Him. Then we must take up the sword of the spirit and follow Him into battle. Let us not forget what followed when the patriarch David forewent the battle and tarried at Jerusalem. Our Captain admonishes us to abstain from all appearance of evil.(1 Thes. 5:22) and to use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh. (Gal 5:13) and to neither give place to the devil (Eph. 4:27). Our Captain knows his stuff. He has been at the front lines personally and knows the war. He told us that He would never forsake us and that He would be with us to the end of the world. If we will simply follow his victorious strategy, how can we lose? There were times when the equipment and supplies of the General were described as shoestring, but his resolve and wise tactics won the day. The Supreme Commander of all of the Pacific Theater of WWII had at his disposal less than 2% of the total U.S. Army and Air Force. His allocation of U.S. Navy forces was even smaller than that of the Army and Air Force.

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SPIRITUAL LOGISTICS AND STRATEGY If one would draw a comparison between the worlds manpower, equipment and tactics against the numbers and equipment and methods of Christians, we can only fit in the category of Gideons ragtag band. Then one would need to subtract from the Christians side the huge percentage of Christians who do not, and will not fight because of fear. You might end up with 2% of Christians who would dare to unquestionably follow the leadership of the Lord. There simply is no way we can win with our strength. Remember though, the wise words of that fearless warrior of the past, Jonathan, there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. The Lord, like Mac, delights in confounding the wise with His impossible strategy. Remember the Red Sea, Jericho, Gideons trumpets, and even your own salvation. Praise the Lord for His most brilliant strategy over all our enemies. The one edge we always have over the world is our access to wisdom. With the perfect Word of God, and the strategy found therein, coupled with the availability of the Holy Spirit of the Lord Himself. Why should we ever become discouraged, much less be defeated? Remember the story of the poor wise man in Ecclesiastes chapter 9 who delivered the city by his wisdom? The next verse says, Wisdom is better than strength. The world rejoices at the seeming defeat of Jesus, that fanatical religious leader, just as Japan must have celebrated the rout of MacArthur. The world perceives the army of the Lord Jesus Christ as a small, weak, unorganized fanatical cult (albeit sometimes noisy and pesky) of followers who have nothing better, or more practical, to do but scream war chants to make the world feel guilty and uncomfortable, bringing unnecessary reproach and suffering upon themselves. They need only to read the last four chapters of the Bible to discover the final result of the war. WITH HIMWE WIN! THE GENERALS PLANS TO WIN General Douglas MacArthurs war strategies were considered unorthodox. First and foremost, he planned to win. There is no substitute for victory was one of his famous sayings. His colleagues and/or competitors found it very hard to argue against

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success. From hindsight, his brilliance in war strategy became the conventional study of future students of war. As most winning commanders have been throughout mans history, MacArthurs war plans were ahead of his time. Thank God, for largely because of this, the war was shortened, and thousands, yea, possibly millions of casualties were never realized. Mac spent long hours contemplating the strategy of coming battle. He would pour over every detail of every map available to him, visualizing the battle and usually foreseeing the action of the enemy and directing accordingly. It was known that if he were seen pacing his veranda on a warm South Pacific evening, he was not to be disturbed and the enemy was in trouble. Since he was not an unspiritual man, it might well have been he was receiving his instructions from a headquarters located quite out of this world. After all, it is not in man to direct his ways, and I do believe the Lord had a significant hand in directing the results of the war. Lets peek into a scene inside a staff meeting as told by his biographer, William Manchester. Strolling around the veranda, he would outline a coming operation to Sutherland and the others, and pointing the stem of pipe at each officer, would crisply outline individual assignments. Then he would draft a detailed plan, which, one of them recalls, would be a volume inches thick. Every commander thoroughly familiarized himself with his section of it; MacArthur knew it all. In most instances, their contacts with him were confined to answering questions and receiving orders. He intended it to be that way, that is what he meant by remote. In the spiritual warfare, the Bible plainly tells us, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). We need only to listen as Macs staff listened and follow the strategy of the Great Victor. This successful strategist employed all three methods of military aggression, those being air, land and sea. He supported General Billy Mitchell in his battle to separate the air force from the army and although he served on the court martial for General Mitchell, he voted in favor of him. Mac had great rapport with George Kinney, his subordinate in charge of his air corps and afforded him much private time and many accolades. This happened in an era when

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the airplane continued its struggle to win approval as a vital weapon of war. Other commanders viewed water as a hindrancethe General saw it as a highway. He adapted the ancient and classic strategy of war called envelopment to his modern, tri-phibious warfare that became known as leapfrogging. Instead of island hopping which was what every other commander thought should be done, the Commander of the Pacific would avoid frontal attacks with their terrible loss of life. The Supreme Commander would leap over large sections of the enemy, essentially surrounding them and cutting off their supply lines leaving them hanging out to dry. Many thousands of enemy would be dug-in with elaborate preparations of men and armament, in expectation of MacArthurs imminent assault, only to be left like a bride at the altar rail. As the General thought things through there was no need, on many occasions, to meet the enemy head on. This strategy was rewarded with, by far, the fewest casualties of any major commander of the war, as well as with the frustration and confusion of the enemy. To cite just one illustration, in the Philippine operation after Luzon he lost 820 GIs, while over 21,000 Japanese were slain. Quoting again from Reminiscences a Japanese colonel says of Macs tactics This was the type of strategy we hated most. The Americans, with minimum losses attacked and seized a relatively weak area, constructed airfields and then proceeded to cut the supply lines to troops in that area. Without engaging in a large scale operation, our strong points were gradually starved out. The Japanese Army preferred direct assault, after the German fashion, but the Americans flowed into our weaker points and submerged us, just as water seeks the weakest entry to sink a ship. We respected this type of strategy for its brilliance because it gained the most while losing the least." GENERAL UNITY OF COMMAND There was one factor in his strategy that was emphasized above all others. This was the all-important element of unity in command. The General did not balk at shouldering all the responsibility. He preferred it that way. He did his best work and felt most confident

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when every detail of every decision was planned out and finalized by his own design. He was not above seeking advice from those in commands under him, but MacArthur developed the big picture. There were several occasions when battles wavered and were even lost because of split command. The General wrote in his autobiography:
I urged, with all the earnestness of which I was capable, that the command in the Pacific be unified. I stated that, although I was the senior ranking officer by many years, I would be willing to accept a subordinate position, to accomplish the general good. It was in vain. Of all the faulty decisions of war perhaps the most unexplainable one was the failure to unify the command in the Pacific.The failure to (unify) in the Pacific cannot be defended in logic, in theory, or in common sense. Other motives must be ascribed. It resulted in divided effort, the waste, diffusion, and duplication of force, and the consequent extension of the war, with added casualties and costThe handicaps and hazards unnecessarily resulting were numerous, and many a man lies in his grave today who could have been saved.

During most of the war, General MacArthur was Supreme Commander of the Pacific and unquestioned head over all branches of military service. There were occasions though, when bureaucrats and politicians in Washington tried their hand at running the war from 12,000 miles away. On these occasions these white-collar soldiers were neither current in their intelligence nor efficient in their communication. The politics involved in these attempts necessitated divided command and often resulted in disaster. The battle for Leyte Gulf, in the Philippine Islands, was one of strategic importance to Allied victory in that region. This battle would employ Army, Navy and Air Force in an effort too intricate and complex to describe here. MacArthur recalls in his autobiography, Through a series of fatal misunderstandings, directly attributed to divided command, ambiguous messages, and poor communication this battle would have been lost. The fact that it was not lost was credited by MacArthur to direct partiality of Almighty God.

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THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE (John. 17:21) If unity of command and proper communication is that important between feeble men in an earthly war, how much more vital would it be to the operations between our Lord Jesus Christ and His church. When we are guilty of attempting to run His war or interfere with His communications, we are assured of eternal disaster. Our Great Commander went to elaborate extremes to avoid this in the preserving of a perfect battle manual as well as the direct, and never failing line of communication between the grunt and Command Headquarters and it is a tragic and eternal shame that any battle should be in jeopardy because of our static interference. I think of Asa in 2 Chron. 16 who consulted directly with Headquarters concerning his war with the Ethiopians but called Syria for help in his next conflict. I think of Hezekiah, who, nearly all of his reign, was in constant communication with his Commander and Chief, except when he got sick and trusted to physicians. Moses met disaster when he divided Authority at the waters of Meribah. Our Great Captain is available, His intelligence is perfect, His strategy is immutable and His record is victorious. Pride is the static injected into the lines of communication between mortal man and his undefeated Supreme Commander, thus dividing the command, inevitably resulting in catastrophe. FEARLESS BEYOND BELIEF Tales of Macs courage and fearlessness are numerous. Although some may be exaggerated and even spurious, many that are so well documented that one cannot discount this quality in him. It would seem true, that among the countless commanders of military history, the ones who shine among their men, as well as in history, are those who put themselves in the forefront of harms way and set an example of supreme courage in the face of extreme danger. I know well as a man how these scenes of valour stir the daring within me, just by the reading of them. How multiplied this energy must have been to view them displayed live on the field of battle. No one can sleep while reading the audacious accounts of General Stonewall Jackson or General George Patton. MacArthur was a leader in this field.

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Stressed by battlefield administration duties one day, MacArthur said to the doctor who accompanied him that he needed to meet some fire, and I dont just mean sniper fire. Several other staff joined him as they walked toward the front and encountered a silent truck of Japanese soldiers, all erect and all deadvictims of a flamethrower. They passed through a platoon of GIs who were crouched behind cover and who looked up at them as though they were insane. They were warned repeatedly that they were nearing the enemy. On the edge of an enemy-held city they were stopped by a wall. Overhead a Japanese officer was looking down at them through binoculars. MacArthur squared off, placed his hands to his hips, and stared back until the Japanese glanced away. The doctor started counting skirling bullets and stopped when he reached twenty-eight. Then a GI popped out of a cellar and said there was a machine gun just ahead. It started to chatter, and MacArthur turned and walked away slowly, each step deliberately taken, showing his contempt for peril. It was common for him to expose himself to heavy fire to show his men that he was not afraid to do what he was asking them to do. His staff as well as his superiors did not always agree that this was necessary. Dr. Egeberg asked the General why he took such needless risks. The General replied, If I do it the colonels will do it. If the colonels do, it the captains will do it, and so on. On a ship, under great attack, MacArthur stood on deck without fear and observed the attack. A sailor said to his companion, That guys alright. He stands out here on deck and takes it like the rest of us. DONT GET HURT After the first wave of diggers had hit the beach in the amphibious operation at Balikpapan, the General came to the beach on a barge and headed straight for the front, climbed a small shale hill less than two hundred yards from the Japanese lines, and borrowing a map from an Australian brigadier, unfolded it and began studying it. The Australian, too proud to seek concealment when the American commander-in-chief wouldnt, stubbornly stood beside him, and they pored over the chart together while, an aide remembers, bullets whined about us, spurts of dust kicked in the airbullets sliced the leaves above us. Then, according to a

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Admiral Barbey, An Aussie major came running up and warned everybody to take cover, as there was a machine-gun nest in a nearby hilltop. Before he had finished, there was the rat-tat-tat of machine-gun bullets. All of us had dropped. But not MacArthur. He was still standing there looking over his map, quite unperturbed.I shamefacedly said something about fighting ashore being no place for the Navy, and supposed I was the first one to hit the dirt. No, said Lee Van Atta, the I[nternation] N[ews] S[ervice] war correspondent, I was looking up as you came down. Still under fire, MacArthur calmly folded the map, handed it back to the Australian officer, who hadnt moved either, and pointed to another hill about a quarter of a mile away. He said, Lets go over there and see whats going on. By the way, brigadier, I think it would be a good idea to have a patrol take out that machine-gun before someone gets hurt. BRAVADO OR BRAVERY On another occasion, Admiral Barbey was transporting the Supreme Commander to shore on Los Negros. Despite Barbeys protests, MacArthur insisted that he and his cortege ride to and from the shores of both bays in an unarmed Higgins boat. The admirals fears were realized on Tanahmerah Bay, where the cruiser radioed them that an enemy fighter was coming in low, strafing the smaller craft. Manchester quotes Daniel Barbey, I ordered the coxswain to head for the nearest destroyer to get the protection of her guns. An open boat without protection seemed hardly the place to concentrate most of the brass of the Southwest Pacific when there was a Japanese plane on the loose. MacArthur, however, thought otherwise. He asked that I direct the boat to continue to the beach, which I did. A few minutes later a lone plane came in, swooped over us, then continued on in the direction of Hollandia. In thinking about this incident and similar ones at other times, there was never the feeling that this was an act of bravado on MacArthurs part, but rather that he was a man of destiny and there was no need to take precautions ( Manchester ).

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HIGHER AIMS During part of his battle to regain the Philippine Islands, the General made his headquarters in Walter Prices house. Price was an American businessman who had been imprisoned by the Japanese. His wife, a Filipina refused to live in the house as long as the Americans needed it. The Price house quickly became a special target of the Japanese, but, as MacArthur put it, they never seemed to be able to hit the bulls eye. All visitors to the Price house felt that MacArthur was living on borrowed time. The enemy tried again and again to kill him and anyone else who happened to be with him. Carlos Romulo, a high ranking Filipino wrote, Death was all around us, all the time. The building had been strafed repeatedly and was pockmarked inside and out with machine-gun bullet holes. Two war correspondents were killed in a building on one side of the house. Once after an enemy strafing attack, aides ran toward the Generals room, shouting ahead, Did they get you? He said, Not this time, pointing to a bullet hole a few inches away. Eichelberger, a close, high-ranking aide of MacArthur wrote his wife, one of the favorite (MacArthur) knocks that one hears is that he is not brave. Of course that is pure tommyrot because I think he is as brave as any man in the army, if not more so. One shell imprudently fired by MacArthurs own antiaircraft crews sailed through his bedroom and landed on a couch. Luckily, it was a dud. At mess next morning, he put it in front of the officer responsible and said mildly, Bill, ask your gunners to raise their sights just a little bit higher (MacArthur). NOT YET, THANK YOU One day, as he was working in his combination bedroom and office, an enemy plane came down low and strafed the area, sending two 50-caliber bullets through his open window and into the wall just over his head. An aide rushed in and found him working unperturbedly at the desk. Well, said the General, what is it? Thank God, General, the aide said, I thought you were killed. MacArthur did not even glance at the holes in the wall inches above his head. He replied simply, Not yet. Thank you for coming in (MacArthur).

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I HAVE SEEN IT ALL During the battle for Luzon, General Douglas MacArthur, as Supreme Commander of the Pacific, was responsible for nearly a thousand ships, accompanied by three thousand landing craft and 280,000 men. This was more than Eisenhowers U.S. strength in the campaigns of North Africa, or southern France; more than the total allied force in the conquest of Sicily. His enemy, Yamashita, was lying in wait for him with 275,000 men, the largest enemy army to be encountered in the Pacific campaign. The Commander stood on the deck of the Boise observing with professional interest and nodding approval as the captain skillfully evaded two fast-approaching enemy torpedoes. He nodded again when the enemy submarine surfaced on the cruisers port side and was rammed by a U.S. destroyer. Later, he was below in his cabin when a kamikaze dove out of a cloud and plunged toward the Boise. Dr. Egeberg, petrified, watched as it came closer and closer. The Zero was three seconds away when the flier veered toward another ship, was hit by flak, and exploded, shaking the Boises decks. The doctor went below and found the General stretched out on his bunk, his eyes closed. Egeberg thought he must be faking, that no one could be that calm under such circumstances, yet when he stood in the doorway and counted MacArthurs respiration, it was sixteen breaths a minute, indication of a tranquil pulse of seventytwo. Entering, he took one of his patients wrists. That awakened MacArthur. The Physician asked how he could sleep at a time like this. The General said, Well, Doc, Ive seen all the fighting I need to, so I thought Id take a nap (MacArthur).

SUPERNATURAL??? His officers now thought of him as almost supernatural, a view he of course encouraged. Vice Admiral A. W. Fitch recalls a revealing episode at Hollandia. MacArthur, sitting on a little platform at one end of a Quonset hut, was briefing assembled officers who sat facing him in a semicircle, like students in a classroom. Suddenly they heard the familiar whine of a strafing Zero. Everyone except

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the General sprawled on the floor. As the plane soared away, they looked up and saw him like a pontiff bestowing a benediction. Not yet, gentlemen, he said solemnly, not yet (Manchester). SUPERNATURALFOR SURE!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is, for sure, to be at the top of the list of these super-brave commanders. The Bible teaches that fear of anything but God is a sin. There are only two exceptions, those being the fear of a child for his parents and the fear of a servant for his master. Both of these exceptions are pictures of our proper relationships to the Lord. Our Lord was fearless at the age of twelve before the religious crowd at the temple (Luke 2:46,47). No need to wonder why the doctors were astonished at Him. Doctors today would be awed if they would allow Him into their circles. I once heard a preacher say to a group of preachers, There are so many doctors here, youd think God was sick. Another preacher got up to preach and told the crowd he was only a nurse. He then stated that the nurses job was to clean up after the doctors make a mess. If we spent any time researching the decline of educational standards required for a doctors degree in the field of theology as compared to three and four hundred years ago, we would not be so quick to throw around our titles. "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away" (Job 32:21,22). The degrees listed at the end of my name on the cover of this book are earned. But, I did not attain to my forefathers; neither do they even begin to compare. The exam required for entrance into Harvard University in the late 1600s included translating the first ten chapters of the Gospel of John from Latin to Greek. Bible believers do not believe in the evolution of anything, rather the general degeneration of all subjects, education is the utmost. Our Lord never acquired the letters of the learned (John 7:17) but he was able at twelve to confound the wise. The likelihood is that He did not utilize His divine wisdom but rather the simple truths gathered from a pure hearts observation of His Fathers creation (Isa. 45:11,12).

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NO FEAR OF WICKEDESS IN HIGH PLACES He feared not him (Satan) which is able to kill the body, but not able to destroy the soul (Matt. 10:28). He feared neither sin, nor devils, nor powers of the air, nor spiritual wickedness in high places. Strange, how the Laodicean Christian jumps into deception when offered the kingdoms of this world. He cannot seem to resist the great counterfeiter when he offers him the wisdom of this world. It doesnt seem to matter that the product of this worldly wisdom (though packaged in the beautiful, promising campus of an accredited university) is a wrecked, soiled, abused, and broken life. You wouldnt buy a car from a company that produced this kind of product. Come with me to ANY campus of higher learning and pick out which brain-dead lesbian or lust-twisted fornicator that you would like your darling daughter or son to emulate. Ohyou know one who turned out alright? Would you play the stock market with those odds? It is advisable to check out the foundation, the framework, the plumbing, electrical, roof and siding before you finalize the purchase of a new home. Every philosophy, theology, idea, example, ambition, direction and spirit of any institution of higher learning is anti-authority, anti-Bible and antiChrist. The bigger the belfry, the more the bats. !!!PREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAACH!!! Why cant the body of Christ see through the facade of worldly success into the very heart of Satan? The deception increases with each successive generation of Christians as well as heathen. Come with me to ANY business party or (Christ-honoring?) Christmas party. Choose an executive you would like as a role model for your Christian kid. You will be very disappointed when your model is revealed as a fake, a liar, and a sleazy opportunist. Fear of anything but God, is a sin. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. And with full knowledge of these facts, the Bible believer falls into the trap of FEAR, that he may not be a player in the American dream. He fears he will not be able to give his children an opportunity to be what they want to be, all the while being blind, ignorant or rebellious concerning what the Lord might have designed for them. Whatever happened to, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? He fears his

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neighbor may have something he doesnt have, which compels him to acquire the latest new-age, devil-designed and devil-filled device, game or gadget. and if I be a master, where is my fear? (Mal 1:6). NO FEAR OF LIFES PAINS This life is truly a veil of tears. Instead of whining about all the woes that we brought into this world, we should appreciate that the Lord Jesus Christ was willing to join us in this self-wrought suffering. Jesus did not fear disease, poverty, homelessness, pain, physical deprivation, heartbreak, disappointment, or failure. He commanded the disease (Matt 8:8). He became poor (2 Cor. 8:9) and He dwelt among the homeless (Matt 8:20), yet He never held a beggars sign at an intersection. Isaiah fifty-three describes His identification with pain, physical deprivations, heartbreaks, disappointments and also with people who were failures. He was not awed by, neither did He revere, these social blights. These woes of life did neither deter nor distract Him in His journey to accomplish what had been set before Him. He demonstrated that having no fear of these should indeed insure our success with the Lord. Time, chance (Eccl. 9:11), and the elements of this planet rose up against our Lord, and He simply rose above them. He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith in the face of a terrible storm at sea, (Mt. 8:26) while He, Himself enjoyed a smooth snooze. He sailed through the unexpected events of time and chance and arrived at the right place at the right time. He was never heard to complain of the circumstances against Him. Instead of whining about the contrary elements, He used them to teach simple faith. Who among us has not been guilty of fearing these three obstacles which we judge may result in the failure of Gods will? All the while, we forget that the Lord is well able to factor in all of these ingredients. We fail to recall that He knows the end from the beginning. "For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:30-32).

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WE LACK NO FEAR HE FEARED NO LACK The Lord Jesus Christ had all confidence in Philippians 4:19 even before it was penned by Paul. He did not fail to attempt great things for righteousness in the face of seeming insufficiency. (John 6:7) He had read and believed the proverb which promised, "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures" (Prov. 8:21). He had every assurance both that what he was doing was the will of God and, if so, would be backed by the President of the company. We should follow His example and make sure our every venture is a business trip for the King (1 Sam. 21:8) and then, with confidence, simply turn in the expense receipts to the Home Office. NO FEAR OF HYPOCRISY The Saviour did not flinch as the bell rang for another round with hypocrisy (Mt. 23). He knew what was in man. If we read our Bible we need not be ignorant in this area either. His prudence led Him through the political swamps, quagmires, and quicksands which have swallowed up so many of his disciples. He knew that the fear of man bringeth a snare. He knew that He need not please anyone but the Father. He did not fear what man could do to Him either politically, physically or by ruining His reputation. He came to do the Fathers will and He ascended up on high, having accomplished that. So many of the brethren, knowing in their hearts what is expected of them, turn pale, as Peter did (Gal. 2) when their peers suddenly appear. He feared not persecution, torture, disease, death in others, hypocrisy of government, religious as well as secular, the elements, poverty, homelessness, pain and suffering and torture, humiliation nor exaltation, the scorn and reproach of men, neither the needs of others (the 5000), nor his own physical depravations (hunger and fatigue and thirst). He was not deterred by disloyalty in his own camp or by being rejected. His course was not altered by either audience or by being alone, by unbelief or by being believed. His arrest (soldiers with swords and spears- John 18), false accusation,

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denial of friends, heights, temptations, darkness, did not even produce a state of double mindedness. Seeming failure, brilliant success, misunderstanding or false impression (eating with Matt the tax collector), could not affect His heart rate. Ultimately, He did not fear his own torturous death nor the hell that followed; neither did he fear the corruption of his own body, He did not fear the past, present or future. I can easily follow someone as fearless as our Lord Jesus Christ both in this life and through the battle of Armageddon. COMPASSION The Websters 1828 dictionary introduces us to this portion of our parallel history by brilliantly defining this word, which is, by nature very wide and deep. COMPASSION, n. 1. A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it. We have been convinced thus far that both of our subjects were very strong men. Nevertheless, Adolph Hitler, Mussolini, and Attila the Hun were strong men also. Conviction without compassion is cruel. Compassion without conviction is compromise. Conviction with compassion is Christianity. In order not to be numbered among the despots of this cruel world, our parallel subjects must have been successful in balancing compassion with their strength. Many can praise the Supreme Commander General Douglas MacArthur for his compassion, but many more will praise our Lord Jesus Christ for his magnificent display of compassion not only upon the cross of Calvary but also for those mercies which He displays to each and all...fresh every morning (Lam. 3:22-23). The General cared for his men and they knew it. This was a very desperate circumstance of life which they

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all shared. These men faced death together on a moment by moment basis, either by starvation or destruction. As the men gathered around their Commander he writes of this experience: They were filthy, and they were lousy, and they stank. And I loved them. Ezekiel 16 partially describes how we first impressed our Redeemer. Thank God he loved us. To fully understand the surrender, the reader needs the following facts: --In November 1940 the Pacific war had not begun. The only involvement the U.S. had in war in Europe was the Lend-Lease agreement with our allies, which meant that we were helping them with supply of war materials, advice and training but no actual military involvement. --The whole world was looking with a wary eye upon the Japanese and their war materials buildup...Their talk did not match their actions. --November 1940 was the month General Jonathan Wainwright was assigned to head up the US military forces in the Philippines --MacArthur was in the P.I. also but was in retirement from the US and serving as field marshal of the Philippine Army...the P.I. was a possession of the US at that time. --During the between-the-war years the US had let the military armament and manpower ebb to an all time low. --Both generals, being on the other side of the world from Washington D.C. and for all practical purposes on another planet from the war in Europe, were supplied with little or nothing with which to build their forces or train their troops. --On Dec. 7th, 1941 (the day which shall live on in infamy) Japan shocked the world, the U.S., and particularly the troops under MacArthur and Wainwrights command, when they attacked Pearl Harbor...thrusting the world and the US into the terrible conflict of WWII. --The very next day the Japanese struck the P.I. --These two great generals were so overwhelmed by the enemy that they were forced to withdraw all of their troops on the big Island of Luzon into the Bataan Peninsular. --Here they miraculously occupied and withheld the enemy for five months, gaining precious time for the U.S. to recover from the initial blow of suddenly being thrust into a two theater war. --For purposes of strategy, MacArthur was commanded by President

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Franklin Roosevelt to put his life as well as his family in jeopardy and to escape through enemy lines to Australia where he, being restored to active duty as a five star Allied Supreme Commander of the Pacific, was to rebuild the necessary forces and win the war on that theater. --For this tremendous act of heroism Gen. Douglas MacArthur was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor --Wainwright was left to preside over the worst military tragedy in US military history, which eventually included the surrender of all our forces in the P.I., the Bataan death march, cruel imprisonment and torture of our POWs for two and a half years and the raping and ravaging of the people of P.I.. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, like no other man in modern history, can thoroughly exemplify the painful ramifications of ...FAILURE & SURRENDER TO A CRUEL ENEMY. NOTE...To give proper accounting, Jonathan Wainwrights surrender in physical war has been weighed by many in history as inescapable and even merciful. But viewing the consequences in hindsight, these facts were still tragic. The definition of the word surrender from the Websters 1828 dictionary is as follows.
SURREN'DER, v.t. [L. sursum, and rendre, to render.] 1. To yield to the power of another; to give or deliver up possession upon compulsion or demand; 2. To yield; to give up; to resign in favor of another; 3. To give up; to resign; 4. In law, to yield an estate, 5. To yield to any influence, passion or power; as, to surrender one's self to grief

The common word here is yield. The antonym of yield in any thesaurus is simply...stand. The Lord admonished us, having done all, to stand. Eph. 5. To surrender then would simply be to yield to the enemy; to dip your colors; to fail your commanding officer in any way. The following story will finely illustrate the compassion and mercy shown by MacArthur toward one of his subordinates. The parallel benefit from Christ to the sinner will become dramatically evident.

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Jonathan Wainwright in his book, General Wainwrights Story, pointed the blame for his military disaster to the general unpreparedness of the U.S. military at the beginning of the war. He said, We had indeed faced a carefully trained foe with one of the most helpless armies in the history of arms. It was no comfort, sitting there in our rags at Tarlac, (his first place of imprisonment during his time as a P.O.W.) to consider the state of our preparedness on the eve of a war which had been brewing in Washington diplomatic circles for a long time before the blow fell. To state it succinctly...THEY KNEW BETTER! Wainwright said, they never had a chance to win. The Japanese struck from the air with hundreds of bombers and fighters destroying half of the total US Air Force which consisted of 15 B-17s and 40 fighters. Wainwright had 28,000 men under his command 25,000 of which were still untrained. One general under Wainwright had infantry men trained only 3-4 weeks before facing combat. This resulted in the serious lack of DISCIPLINE in the troops. His engineers got no training at all...his artillery never fired a practice shot...its first shot was aimed in the general direction of the approaching enemy. Their guns were obsolete and they had no transportation for their guns. The enemy put ashore multiplied thousands of troops fully trained and fully equipped. This unpreparedness led to DISCOURAGEMENT among US troops as well as officers. The Bible admonishes us to be prepared by being rooted and grounded. --Eph. 3:17 - "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love." --Prov. 16:1 - "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD." --Deut. 4:9 - "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons. --Ps. 39:1 - " I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me." --Matt. 26:41 -"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:

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the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." --1 Cor. 16:13 -"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." --1 Peter 5:8 -"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. --Rev 3:2 - "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. We are to prepare our heart. Failure here would result in the doing of evil. And he (Rehoboam) did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord 2 Chr. 12:14. Along these same lines, it was said by John Wooden, one of the winningest basketball coaches of all time: Failure to prepare, is preparing to fail. PREPARING THE HEART NOT TO FAIL
--Prov.

--Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps. --Ps.

16:1 "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD." 119:2 "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." 119:7 "I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments." 119:10"With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments." 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." 119:32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." 119:34 "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart." 119:36 "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness." 119:58 "I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word." 119:69 "The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart." 119:80 "Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed." 119:111 "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart."

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--Ps. 119:112 "I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end." Ps. 119:145 " I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes." --Ps. 119:161 "Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word." PREPARING THE MIND NOT TO FAIL --Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. --Psa 3:6 "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about." --Ps. 56:11 "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." --Acts 21:13 "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Let us allow a spiritually lost man to preach to us for a paragraph or two concerning the result and cost of unpreparedness. His writing is concerning a physical warfare but the application can easily be made by a Bible believing Christian. From his book General Wainwright warns us,
We suffered a Pearl Harbor because, being capable of no aggressive cupidity ourselves, we could not comprehend aggression from abroad. Intrinsically we remain the same in our good will toward the world. Unless we bear the burden of staying prepared we will court worse attacks. We know now what the unpreparedness of the 1930s cost in lives, wounds, and in the debt which will endure to our childrens children. The expense of making ourselves big enough and tough enough to have prevented that war would have been but a brief fraction of its eventual cost. My men and I were victims of shortsightedness at home, of blind trust in the respectability of scheming aggressors. Terrible as was the ordeal of captivity, I often feel that we were spared chiefly to warn against an infinitely more terrible fate. The price of our unpreparedness for World War II was staggering to the imagination. The price of our unpreparedness for a World War III would be death

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to millions of us and the disappearance from the earth of its greatest nation.

Although General Wainwright (a West Point graduate) had been in the severe circumstances of surrender, he had a constitution which would not allow for surrender. He also had given a solemn promise to his commanding officer (General MacArthur) that he would not surrender, and yet, he did finally surrender. He said that he wished a thousand times that he had not done this terrible thing, or taken this dreadful step, this disgusting tragedy, this disgusting job. He had trusted that the enemy would be considerate. He was wrong. Although surrender within the physical realm was to some degree understandable, it did not lower the cost. Wainwright had withdrawn all forces under his immediate command onto the island of Corregidor. These 11,000 men and several hundred nurses had been on quarter rations for some weeks. Before that they were on half rations. Their uniforms were nothing more than rags. They had forty-eight artillery guns which could reach the shore of Bataan Peninsula two miles away where the enemy was operating at full steam. Forty-six of those guns were no longer functioning. Ammunition was so low a firefight of twenty minutes could not be sustained. The only shelter was a tunnel with a thick stone roof, serving as a hospital. The enemy was shelling the island at a horrendous rate. It was estimated that 1,800,000 tons of artillery fell on Corregidor in a five hour period. This did not include the bombing from the air. The enemy was landing by the thousands in about four different locations simultaneously on this tiny island only two miles long and a mile and a half wide. The enemy tanks were just outside the entrance to the tunnel and Wainwright expected any minute for the muzzle of a Jap tank to swing into the tunnel and begin firing at the helpless thousands of casualties. After consulting with his generals, he made the irreversible decision and started negotiations for surrender. Had he known even a small percentage of the horrific consequences and complications that would follow, not only for himself but for thousands of others under his command, he may have fought on to the very end. Yea, many stated they would have preferred death.

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MacArthur, not quite under the extreme circumstances faced by Wainwright, simply disdained a letter recommending surrender from the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Expeditionary Force. He did not dignify the letter with a response. TO THE CHRISTIAN, SURRENDER IS NOT AN OPTION Without justifying failure or surrender, it would seem that sometimes the world, the flesh and the devil become so overwhelming that one simply cannot stand any longer. THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SURRENDER OR FAILURE. It must be part of human nature that we point the blame toward the Lord rather than the real cause of our captivity...sin. Instead of kicking the Lord around the block, we should be kicking sin. If your life is complicated, it is complicated because of sin. Before sin there were no ulcers, stress, anxiety, drugs, psychiatrists, divorce, guilt, pain, tears, remorse, hatred, envy, strife, burden, fear, abortion, suicide, depression, frustration, disappointments, or FAILURE. It was our choice...dont get mad at the Lord. SIN ALWAYS TAKES YOU FURTHER THAN YOU WANT TO GO. SIN MAKES YOU STAY LONGER THAN YOU WANT TO STAY. SIN MAKES YOU PAY MORE THAN YOU WANT TO PAY. WAINWRIGHT PAYS FOR SURRENDER General Jonathan Wainwright heads his chapter on the actual surrender, BEGINNING OF HELL. His servitude as a POW was described as miserable, tragic, demeaning, unbearable, and humiliating. Even as a four star general, he recalls having to bow to the lowest rank of the Japanese army; if not done to their satisfaction, he would be severely beaten. He says, I can still feel the wish to retch that I felt when I first was forced to do it. He tells of constant hunger, never being satisfied with food, dreaming day and night of food, and of eating anything that didnt move and many times, things that did. He felt the tremendous load of guilt for the suffering of multitudes of innocents as a result of his action; of their needless beatings, illnesses, utter helplessness, and many deaths.

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Endless propaganda and interrogation threatened to loosen the very fabric of life, family, friends, God, and country. THE CHRISTIAN SIMPLY CANNOT YEILD The servitude and torture of sin upon a yielding Christian is much the same. The constant hunger; nothing really satisfies after you have tasted the honey of the Word of God. The propaganda of Yea, hath God said which will cause doubts and questions to gender strife, frustrations, and even hatred. The demeaning humility of having to bow to the wishes of the Enemy because of your defection from a kind God; the haunting guilt and remembrance of your FAILURE. WAINWRIGHTS PAYDAYS DO NOT END WITH THE WAR Some liberals in Washington recommended Wainwright for the medal of honor, but the recommendation had to pass through MacArthurs hands. When the General heard the news of the surrender he could not comprehend it. He shook his head in disbelief, shock, and disappointment. Attached to this news was the recommendation for the medal of honor but Mac simply shook his head negatively and said, There can be no reward for surrender. Although General Jonathan Wainwright, a great West Point military man who was truly brave, had accomplished great things in the defense of his country, and was thought well of by many of his peers...he will always be remembered as the general who surrendered Corregidor. BEFORE A CHRISTIAN YIELDS TO THE ENEMY, MAY HE CONSIDER THE COST. As the end of his imprisonment became evident, Wainwright was a mixed bag of emotions. Of course he was eager for release and freedom. He described it as, burningly eager. And then there was food...food...food...food! He yearned to breath fresh, free air once again...but, surrender was a serious offense. How would his

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superiors deal with his decision. He had been trained by the worlds finest military academy that there is no excuse for surrender. He had studied the surrender of others, ending always with horrendous consequences. He knew that the Japanese did not even allow an explanation from an officer who surrendered, they simply executed him without interrogation. Did he face disgrace, court martial, humiliation, even the end of his career? Although his commanding officer, MacArthur was a long time friend, he could not predict how Mac would respond to the worst action of a military officer and the breach of a personal promise between two good friends. The thought of facing MacArthur was a gnawing future peril. MacArthur was not one to understand failure of any kind; he had never experienced it in himself and simply would not tolerate it in any of those who surrounded him. Then there was Mrs. Wainwright, his son, friends, relatives, and maybe the President of the United States to be faced. Although he had had two and a half years of imprisonment to organize a defense, no argument seemed convincing even to him.

************ Conversely, when a spiritual man is overwhelmed by his enemies and succumbs, he need not experience such consternation. Unlike General Wainwright, we can know our commanding officer in a most intimate way and by reading and rereading His manual for war and personal love story, the Bible, we can predict His response to our repentance. --Prov 24:16 "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." --Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:" --Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted*, strengthen thy brethren." *The word converted means restored, or recovered

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Our good Lord has some principles of restoration which He put in place several millennia ago to take care of just such problems. He desires, yea, He longs for the restoration of a backslider. He prays for restoration to be a joyful reunion for both parties. David was a man, that although he was a man after Gods own heart, he allowed the enemy to overwhelm him; he failed his Lord miserably. Yet, when faced with this fact by the preaching of Gods prophet Nathan, he immediately cast himself upon the mercy of the good Lord and heard the sweet words, the Lord hath also put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Then David could sing the 51st Psalm and thus provide encouragement and strength to many generations to come. --Ps. 51:12 "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." --Ps. 51:13 "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." The good Lord is also the Good Shepherd and as such demonstrates His promises. --Matt. 18:12-14 "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." THERE IS A LONGING FOR CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES As He did with Peter, the good Lord will arrange circumstances of life which in such a way will bring us to face the principles of His restoration. It would not strain the author of all history to have arranged the scene in John 21 for the express purpose to record His designs for reunion between estranged relatives. Simon...lovest thou me more than these...feed my lambs... (James 4:8). "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you The strain was on the

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part of Simon who suffered needless apprehension at the reunion of a kind, loving, and good Lord. *********** Wainwright had been shifted through many POW camps and was in Manchuria when the Russian allies liberated him at the end of the war. MacArthur had won the war in the Pacific and his first directive was the release and safe return of all POWs. MacArthur specified that Wainwright be brought directly to him first. Wainwright, not knowing the intentions of the General, was naturally very anxious. ************ "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry" Luke 15:18-25. Who can read this beautiful story without tears of joy or without personally identifying with it? Who has never dipped his colors for the Lord? Who has never failed to follow the loving commands of a faultless Captain? Who has not been overwhelmed by the world, the flesh, and the devil, and not surrendered, either being ignorant of the full cost, or succumbing in the heat of the moment. Even though there is no excuse for a Christian to surrender, and no excuse will be tolerated nor surrender rewarded, we have all come to ourselves and said, I will arise and go to my father. And at that reunion we found Him just as receptive as the father in the above story in Luke.

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************ Victorious, glorious MacArthur is seated in the dining hall of one of the few hotels in Manila that survived the Japanese onslaught. He is eating a steak, part of the spoils of victory. His aid informs him that General Jonathan Wainwright has arrived. Five-star General Douglas MacArthur the Supreme Commander and the Victor of the entire Pacific region, who probably at that time was the second most powerful man in the world, got up from his steak and moved quickly to greet the trembling, emaciated, tearful, and fear-filled Wainwright. MacArthur greeted his old friend and comrade in arms with hearty hugs and handshakes, calling him Jim, one of the few who knew and used Wainwrights nickname. Wainwright was very drawn and haggard having lost sixty-five pounds as a consequence of his imprisonment as a POW. His Khaki uniform was hanging on his gaunt frame and he wept copiously. He tripped over his words to the General, using many apologies and repentances. MacArthur just comforted and consoled him. In MacArthurs words describing the dining room scene:
I rose and started for the lobby, but before I could reach it, the door swung open and there was Wainwright. He was haggard and aged...He walked with difficulty and with the help of a cane. His eyes were sunken and there were pits in his cheeks. His hair was snow white and his skin looked like shoe leather. He made a brave effort to smile as I took him in my arms, but when he tried to talk his voice wouldnt come. For three years he had imagined himself in disgrace for having surrendered Corregidor. He believed he would never again be given an active command. This shocked me. Why, Jim, I said, your old corps is yours when you want it.

Afterwards Wainwright could not say which had touched him most: the restoration of his dignity and self-esteem or the sound of his most private nickname. ************ One cannot help but see the sublime parallel between this story and the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. What a good God we have, although He does not understand surrender to the enemy because he is God, yet he understands surrender because He was human. Although He never experienced surrender Himself, at least he can understand the circumstances which would bring one to the

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precipice of surrender. He became our surrender. He lovingly stands eager to hug, weep with, and fully restore to active duty, those who will accept His principles of restoration. He even knows our name. "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22-23).

GOD SURE IS A GOOD GOD!


NATIONAL MILITARY DECORATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL AWARDS OF GENERAL OF THE ARMY DOUGLAS MACARTHUR
United States Congressional Medal of Honor (Army) Distinguished Service Cross (Army) with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters Distinguished Service Medal (Army) with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters Distinguished Service Medal (Navy) Distinguished Flying Cross Silver Star with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters Bronze Star with V Air Medal Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster Philippine Campaign Medal (1899-1903) Mexican Service Medal (1911-1917) World War 1 Victory Medal with 5 Battle Clasps representing the Following campaigns: Champagne-Marne, Aise-Marne, St Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Definsive Sector. Occupation MedalWW 1 (Germany) American Defense Medal with Foreign Service Clasp Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal wit 10 Bronze Stars representing Following campaigns: Philippine Islands, East Indies, Papua New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Bismarck Archipelago, Leyte, Luzon, Southern Philippines, Borneo, Arrowhead representing amphibious assault landing on Layte. Victory MedalWW II Occupation MedalWW II (Japan) National Defense Service Medal (1950-1953) Korean Service Medal (1950-1953) with 3 Bronze Stars. Arrowhead Representing assault landing at Inchon. Presidential Citation Badge with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters (7 citations: 3 USAFFE, 3 Philippine Department, 1 GHQ, SWPA) The thanks of the U.S. Senate The thanks of the U.S. House of Representatives Chief of General Staff Badge

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Foreign Service Chevrons; 14 Stripes Expert Riflemans Badge Expert Pistol Shot Badge Combat Pilots Wings Foreign Philippines Medal of Valor Distinguished Service Cross Grand Cross Legion of Honor Defense Medal with Star Liberation Medal with 4 Stars Independence Ribbon Presidential Citation Badge Field Marshal Philippine Army The thanks of the Philippine Congress Stamp and Coinage Issues Honorary Filipino Citizenship Permanent membership in every Filipino military organization. Australia Pacific Star The thanks of Australian Parliament Belgium Grand Cross Order of the Crown with Palm Commander Order of Crown Croix de Guerre with Palm China Grand Cordon of Pao Ting Cuba Grand Cross of Military Merit Czechoslovakia Grand Cross Order of the White Lion Ecuador Grand Cross Order of Abdon Calderon France Grand Cross Legion of Honor Grand Officer Legion of Honor Commander Legion of Honor Croix de Guerre with 4 Palms Honorary Corporal, Chasseurs dAlpine de Baccarat Honorary Private, 8th Infantry Regiment of the Line Legion of Honor Fourregere Medal Militaire Forregere Great Britain Grand Cross of Bath Greece Medal of Valor Guatemala Cross of Military Merit First Order Hungary Grand Cross Order of Military Merit

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Italy Grand Cross of the Military Order Grand Cordon Order of the Crown War Cross Japan Order of the Rising Sun First Class with Paulownia Flowers The thanks of Japanese Diet, 1951 Korea Grand Cross of Military Merit Presidential Citation Badge Thanks of Korean Congress Mexico Grand Cross Order of Military Merit Netherlands Grand Cross Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords Cross of Military Merit Poland Grand Cross Polonia Restituta Virtuti Militari Romania Grand Cross Order of Military Merit United Nations Korean Medal Yugoslovia Grand Cross Order of White Eagle Degrees M.M.S., Norwich University D.M.S. Pennsylvania Military College, 1928 LL.D. University of Maryland, 1928 LL.D. Western Maryland College, 1929 LL.D. University of Pittsburgh, 1938 LL.D. University of the Philippines, 1938 LL.D. University of Wisconsin, 1942 LL.D. University of Queensland, Australia, 1945 LL.D. University of Santo Tomas, Philippines 1945 LL.D. Harvard University, 1946 LL.D. Seoul University, Korea, 1946 S.T.D. Midwestern College, Australia D.Int.L. Pennsylvania Military College , 1946 LL.D. Missouri Valley College, 1947 D.C.L. University of Hawaii, 1946 LL.D. Columbia University, 1947 LL.D. Marquette University, 1951 LL.B. University of the South, 1947 D.H.L. University of Dallas, 1960 LL.D. Buckness University, 1947

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CHAPTER THREE PARALLEL ENEMIES


Consider the enemies of our Great Commander Jesus Christ. Most obviously at the top of the list would be the adversary...the devil himself. Here, in parallel with the enemies of MacArthur, the ageold foe and many of his tactics and strategies will be discussed. Another in the list would have to be the world, with all its allurements. And last, but not least would be the old man, the natural man, the flesh, or carnality, if you please. Consider that we may not be able to refer to the unsaved as His enemies. I am aware of the verses in the New Testament using this term when referring to the unsaved (Rom. 5:10, Phil. 3:18, Col. 1:21). But the Lord kindly refers to them as alien in Eph. 2:12, and an alien is not an enemy unless he makes himself an enemy. The unregenerate man, because he tends to follow the dictates of his nature and often chooses unrighteousness over righteousness, has chosen to make war with the Lord and become His enemy. An alien is simply one who has not come under the jurisdiction of the community. The verses above mention that our walk with unrighteousness, the condition of our minds, and the choices of things contrary to the Lord, generate the animosity necessary to turn us into the enemies of the Lord. He did not design it this way. To Him, we are but aliens, and the choice whether to become sons or remain enemies is ours. Therefore, should not the Lords enemies be ours as well? The men who served under MacArthur generally had the same enemies as MacArthur. Even his political enemies would be shared by his men, especially if they loved him, as many did, and had chosen to be in a unit under his command, and had chosen him personally to be their leader and hero. Since we have chosen the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Captain of our faith, our leader and our hero, should we not gender in ourselves to hate the evil and love the good? Consider then the nature of MacArthurs enemies and their devious tactics; study them well for thereby we may be able to identify our foes both without and within. Through this knowledge and with the help of our Commander we can surely gain the victory. The Lord

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told us, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices"(2 Cor. 2:11). NO EQUAL The Japanese believed themselves to be a superior race. Try to figure how the three members of the axis powers, those being Germany, Italy, and Japan, all propagated the fallacy of racial superiority. How can Germans, Italians, and Japanese come together in a common goal of world domination and cooperation and respect for one another and yet all believe that their race is superior? How did they ever think it could work? The Japanese believed they were the pure race and that all other peoples had evolved from a bastardization of their race. The lie of evolution really plays games with the human mind. ************ All heresy and false doctrine flows from the common headwaters of pride. There is a root of pride in all of us, which preaches the propaganda that we are simply better than others. When we get together in a family, we have to fight against competitive attitudes toward the neighbors. When we get together as a church we must battle feelings that our church is the best and better than all the rest. When a nation of unregenerate aliens group together, is it not natural for them to come to this Luceferian conclusion, seeing their father has held this lie since before Genesis? Who can read Isaiah chapter 14 and fail to see that Lucifer has I trouble? Elymas the sorcerer felt he had something superior to what Paul was offering the deputy and was rebuked soundly by the apostle: O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10). Our Lord lovingly reproves, rebukes, and exhorts us to... --Phil 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." --1 Cor 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." --Phil 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man

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also on the things of others." This perverse attitude led to the grandiose ambition that a superior race deserves the largest and best chunk of land, the richest resources, the best climate, etc. Since the superior race had mega ambitions and a mega population to match, this combination led to ideas of a mega conquest over the inferior people. The Japanese certainly had the advantage of outnumbering MacArthur. There were desperate times when the enemy would throw its superior numbers against the machine guns of MacArthur; bodies would be piled four feet high with Japanese jumping over them to charge the guns. They actually preferred death over defeat. ************ There is a pronounced illustration of this in our carnal man. The old man would prefer to rot by way of sin rather than to come under and submit to its enemyGod. It all started in the garden when Adam, being forewarned of impending death, took the fruit. We have followed our fathers example for millennia. Our gracious Lord continues to instruct His creation and forewarn them against the dangers and evils of the transgressions of His law. The only thing man ever learns from history is that man never learns anything from history. ************ Prides loosest vent is the mouth. At the beginning of the war when the enemy cold-cocked us in our unpreparedness, the Japanese could fortify their big mouth with success. But, when we got up after the initial blow, they became like clouds without rain. No one liked the boxer Cassius Clay because of his flamboyant boasting, but he did have the talent as a fighter to back up his mouthat least in the beginning. Mac tells of a threat he received from General Tomoyuki Yamashita. This most distinguished general had led a tremendous force down the Malayan Peninsula and conquered British Singapore. Now he turned his guns toward the Supreme Commander. MacArthur tells the story:
He boastfully informed the world that the only words I spoke to the British Commander during negotiations for the surrender of Singapore were, All I want to hear from you is yes or no. I expect

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to put the same question to MacArthur. MacArthur comments He was an able commander, much like those I had known in the Russo-Japanese war, but, unlike them, he talked too much.

************ For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things (James 3:2, 5). NO DEFEAT As a people, the Japanese believed themselves to be invincible. After all, since their emperor was divine, if he led them into war, how could god lose? Their history proved this out. Until WWII the Japanese people had never been defeated. They could not conceive of defeat in this war either. It is difficult for the Caucasian mind to grasp the concept of a soldier who genuinely believes A. That his emperor is divine. B. His people are the only pure race. C. There is no way his nation can lose. D. It is an honor to die in battle for the emperor. E. He will be handsomely rewarded for his martyrdom. This combination produces a force that is very difficult to stop. A terrorist who is willing to die for his cause is extremely difficult to stop. MacArthurs army did not have this tenacity. They may have had superior strategy, ingenuity, and toward the end even superior weapons; all these were needed in order to overcome the great strength possessed by the enemy. ************ Some of these characteristics of the enemy could be emulated by the Christian to improve our battle strength. We claim (1) our God is divine, and (2) that our spiritual race is superior, (3) that the Bible is true in its record that our God and His followers will win, (4) that it is an honor to die in battle for our God and (5) that we will be handsomely rewarded for our martyrdom. We just dont practice our theology.

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NO RESPECT Gen. Wainwright said, My men and I were victimsof blind trust in the respectability of scheming aggressors. Once again, the Caucasian mind comes up short in understanding of an enemy which possessed no scruples. Its impossible to fathom an enemy capable of repeatedly throwing babies into the air and catching them on the ends of their bayonets. The enemy would lock a man inside a 2x2x2 bamboo cage, leave him for weeks, while dangling the least and worst food in front of his mouth. He was receiving barely enough to sustain life. All this taxes my own comprehension. Our nation can thank a Christian heritage for the preservation of decent thought. Ill choose a heritage that finds its root in the Bible over one that originates in the Koran or the Bagavad Gita any day. Our enemy in the Pacific had no scruples whatsoever when it came to propaganda and lying, even to its own people. MacArthur writes All during the war the Japanese people had been deluded into believing they were winning. It wasnt until the last weeks of the war that bombs actually fell on Japanese soil. When they did, the citizens were incredulous. In one very brief period of time their deluded fantasy came crashing down to the dust and rubble of reality. Ruin and disaster never conceived possible had engulfed them. In their hour of agony, like all human beings, they turned to their religious faiths to bolster them. But even these failed them at the crucial moment. Shintoism and Buddhism had become so absorbed by governmental control as to be almost an integral part of the fascist hierarchy of leadership. John Curtis Perry said of MacArthur, Mac was convinced that because of the war and the Occupation, Japan had undergone a spiritual revolution, a phenomenon that included readiness for conversion to Christianity.

************ Four times in the New Testament the Christian is warned Be not deceived. All the safeguards are available to avoid deception. It is

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not the Lords will for any Christian to be deceived. So why is it that so many Christians fall for such silly propaganda from the enemy? Unlike the Japanese citizenry who were kept from the truth by the tight government control of all media, the Christian practically goes looking and begging for deception, for example TV, sensual music, movies, unclean books, internet and the like. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jer. 5:31). ************ The Great Deceiver perfected a new propaganda tool during this war. The use of Tokyo Rose was most effective. She became infamous for her broadcasts over radio and powerful P.A. systems blaring out into the jungle during lulls in the fighting. These broadcasts, usually at night, would lure the tired, war-weary, hungry, lonely, dirty, and fed-up soldier to a fantasy on the other side of the enemy lines. The allurements sounded so good that many a soldier threw down his weapon in disgust of a bad surrounding or immediate circumstance, and walked to his torture and death trying to get a satisfying glimpse of the mirage named Tokyo Rose. ************ As this spiritual war nears an abrupt end and the adversary and his cohorts, the world and the flesh, feel the need to pull out all the stops in a last ditch effort to overthrow the King of Kings, we see more and more amusements (look that word up sometime) which serve only to distract our attention away from the fighting at hand. Sometimes these apparitions are not even good fakes. The soldier of the Lord, who is not walking near his Captain, is subject to allurement. He will throw down his sword (KJV Bible) and walk across the enemy lines, with full knowledge of his eminent torture and demise. They can expect only the same treatment that General Wainwright received at the hand of a ruthless, scheming enemy.

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************ An enemy of the magnitude which General Douglas MacArthur faced would not be put down easily. He prefers to fight to his death and with every devious, destructive means available to him. To this enemy there would truly be NO SURRENDER. Hiroo Onodo was the definitive example of this kind of soldier. In his book, No Surrender, he tells his story as a commissioned Japanese officer commanded to conduct guerilla warfare on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The year was 1944. He had two men under him and they were to cause general havoc with the enemy by any means possible. The last words Hiroo heard his commanding officer say as they stood on the beach were, No one can release you from your duty here but me personally. Hiroo, and his men took their orders seriously and with great zeal they began to harass the enemy. They blew up power plants, bridges, airstrips, and enemy posts. They sniped anyone who appeared to be the enemy. They stole food, clothes, money, livestock, guns, ammunition, and explosives. The men under him died but Lt. Onono fought on. The war ended in August of 45 but Hiroo did not know it. He fought on. Scouts were sent to find him but they failed. The Korean war was fought, but Hiroo continued his assignment. Japan, the United States, and the Philippines were now very concerned because of the trouble this Jap guerilla was causing in the late 50s and decided to try to convince him that the war had ended. They sent airplanes flying over the jungle with a huge P.A. system informing him that the war was over. Hiroo heard, but relegated it to propaganda and fought on. President Kennedy was assassinated, but Hiroo fought on. They dropped newspapers in the jungle and notes from his relatives begging him to surrender and that the war was ended, but Hiroo was sad that the enemy propaganda had convinced his loved ones. NASA landed Armstrong successfully on the moon and Hiroo fought on. They flew his relatives over the jungle and they pleaded with him to quit the fight. Hiroo heard them, but fought on. Finally, a reporter from Japan, looking for a story, took it upon himself to go into the jungle, at great personal risk, and contact Hiroo Onodo. He asked him what it would take to affect his surrender. Hiroo said he would surrender only if his commanding officer stood before him and told him to surrender. The reporter contacted the Japanese

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government, who located the old, overweight officer who had commissioned Hiroo to his assignment. Arrangements were made for them to meet on the beach on Luzon Island; with great trepidation Hiroo handed over his gun. The date1973! I agree with Harry Truman that enemies of this caliber can only understand greater power. ************ The devil is not going to roll over and play dead. On the contrary, it almost looks like he is going to pull this war out on his side. Certainly, the numbers, raw materials, weapons against righteousness, and even the spirit that prevails in this present evil world are on his side. If I hadnt read the last chapter in the Book, I might think the devil to be the final victor. He has certainly convinced himself that victory belongs to him. He is going to have to be chained up by the King and cast away for all eterinity. Dont bother asking that the devil be bound now; this is not the time. (1 Pet. 5:8). He has been roaming around this planet enjoying great success recruiting devotees for 6000+ years, so now he is not going to quit bothering you, "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High... (Dan. 7:25) even if Benny Hinn lays hands on you. The world is fueled and powered by the devil (the god of this world). The world is his handiest tool. He is making sure that the artificial light will not go dim and the prostitute of Proverbs 7,8,and 9 will be at every corner. When he is certain of your addiction to him, he will turn off the lights (Eph. 5:8, 1 Thes. 5:5) and the harlot will vanish (Gen. 38:21). There can be no satisfaction in this world for either the children of disobedience or the sons of God because the world is a faade; it is not real in the sense that the midway of a carnival and the strip in Las Vegas is not real. Reality is not the wedding chapel on the strip, but the divorce court and child services of Nevada. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the

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world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (I John 2:15-17). The apostle Paul said, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwel\leth no good thing: (Rom. 7:18)." He made that statement in the present tense. Do you think you have found something better than Paul when you found the second work of grace; i.e. the irradication of the flesh, or sinless perfection? Dont be selfdeceived. The old man is very much alive. If he were dead you would want to cover it up for simple decency. Amalek is a type of the flesh, and the Lord said, "...the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Ex. 17:16). The Lord gave us a way to win the never-ending battle with the flesh. He commanded that we reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. Paul took that recommendation seriously, and said, I die daily. Then Paul elaborated on this a bit more when he said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Our enemies, things contrary to righteousness (2 Cor. 10:5), are strong and mighty; they are experienced and worldly wise. Our enemies are tenacious and will not surrender. They would sooner die and take us with them than lose their prey. It is going to take a greater power to whip them.

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CHAPTER FOUR PARALLEL VICTORS


My style of street meeting includes lots of hymn singing accompanied by my accordion. One of the best street songs is, Victory in Jesus. I try to sing this last to lead into my message... DO YOU HAVE ANY VICTORY? DO YOU HAVE ANY VICTORY? DO YOU HAVE ANY VICTORY? I have their attention now but they do not know how to respond. The only thing the people of the world can relate to on the subject of victory is sports. They look at me as if Im some kind of a cheerleader. They have no idea where I am going with this but they are moderately curious. As a nation of people, we have not enjoyed an uncompromised victory since WWII. Korea was a political embarrassment and Viet Nam was a miserable flop. The men who served there are not to be blamed. Even the Gulf war, Afghanistan, and Iraq serve as examples of compromise and incomplete affairs. We have not had a clear-cut victory to enjoy in so long that we have perverted the definition of victory in order to sooth our conscience. There is no victory on a national level. There is no victory in our homes. The sanctity of marriage is a thing of the past. To begin a home with purity and to consistently maintain that purity in the raising of children, and to grow old together in wisdom all the way to the end is a rare gem. Our nation has lost the battle for the home. There is no victory on the home level. We, the people of our nation, do not enjoy victory on a personal level. There is no character in our people today. We hear Its hard to find good help, yet there are homeless people begging a good living on every corner. The character that existed in our country in the 50s would not have tolerated beggars making a good living while pretending to ask for work in exchange for food, yet refusing to work. There is no victory on a personal level. The concept of victory is limited to the sports arena; therefore it becomes necessary to refresh the definition for those who have conveniently forgotten. I ask, Do you have any strength to do that

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which is right and do you have any courage to quit doing that which you know is wrong...Do you have any victory? Remember, in the first chapter, we refreshed the definition of a man. In the second chapter we learned that our military has redefined the term soldier. Chapter three enlightened us to the fact that enemy propaganda has been quite successful in taking the definition of enemy on a big detour. Now victory has to be reinstituted. Our nation would do well by returning to the proper use of a good dictionary. You will see in this chapter that the man Douglas MacArthur was a soldier who, indeed had his enemies, but was very successful in gaining total victory. Victory emerges out of several qualities: strength, superior strategy, courage, and tenacity. Few men have these by nature, but all are available to the Bible believing Christian. Actually, for a Christian, there is no excuse for anything less than victory. No excuse will be accepted or tolerated by the Commander. He offers victory to us on a silver platter as a free gift. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor 15:57). The same way that a sinner accepts the free gift of salvation by faith at the hand of his Creator and Saviour, so the soldier of Jesus Christ comes to his Commander and receives the victory. With salvation, there are some preconditions to this simple transaction. We will bring these to the table later in this chapter. PROMISE KEEPERS

The sucker-punch of the Japanese, which lead to the withdrawal of Macs forces into the Bataan peninsular, and ultimately made necessary the escape of the General, would have to be answered. But it would take some regrouping, rearming, and rethinking before there could be any returning. The debacle of Bataan made the promise, I shall return seem like cheap words, but for a few individuals. Those few took heart in the history of this great man. Surely, this great Victor could and would accomplish his promise. For all the impossibility of it, it was, for all who received it, their only hope. The alternative was despair and defeat. In a subtle, yet very significant way, it was their hope,

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which helped to affect his return. This hope of those held captive combined with MacArthurs promise and brilliant strategy, served to sway President Roosevelt and the joint-chiefs-of-staff to return through the Philippine Islands, rather than bypass them and go directly to Japan. It took over two years for MacArthur to muster the forces necessary to gain the victory; an interminable time for the captives. He had to retrain, rearm, and then retrace the path of the flight of his withdrawal. This time he was fighting over land and sea, sometimes island by island, sometimes foot by foot, each foot soaked in the combined blood of both Macs men as well as the enemy. Finally in the pre-dawn, his mighty armada was poised at the mouth of Leyte Gulf, all systems checked and rechecked to Go for the invasion. The Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces retired to his quarters to read his Bible and pray for the victory that was to be his within hours. ************ The enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ hoped Calvary was the end of the matter. They tolerate the silly religious belief that He rose from the dead and is coming again. They think it is nice and harmless for someone to hold to these fantasies if it gives them comfort. Religion is a necessary evil that must be allowed as long as it does not infringe upon their pursuit of life. As long as these beliefs can be pigeonholed into the realm of religious mythology, they may be able to affect some solace to the weaker, feebleminded sector of society and possibly keep it pacified. Thus, Religion is the opiate of the people. They will consent that Jesus was a good man and meant well, but unfortunately, society was not ready for his ethereal philosophies and responded in a negative manner. Nice guys finish last. Hollywood portrays Judas alive and Jesus very dead; and with hot religious fervor, they absolutely demand that their thinking be accepted as fact. They step over Jesus, lying bloody on the cross, and go on to their next business venture. Jesus made a great effort to change society, he failed in His attempt; now get over it.

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The fact is, Jesus is very much alive and well. He is poised at the entrance of the harbor. All systems read Go for His return. The enemy is very unsuspecting. He is right now retired in His private quarters praying for the glorious reunion with those held captive. He is armed to the teeth and is confident of nothing less than final victory. Who is on the Lords side? ************ Authors note. Please forgive the length of the following quote from Reminiscences but I could not have written the necessary material better than MacArthur himself. Thank you.
The big guns on the ships opened fire at dawn. The noise, like rolling thunder, was all around us. The Nashville, [the command ship] her engines bringing to life the steel under our feet, knifed into Leyte Gulf. The ominous clouds of night still hung over the sea, fighting the sun for possession of the sky, but the blackness had given way to somber gray, and even as we saw the black outline of the shore on the horizon, the cloak of drabness began to roll back. On every side ships were riding toward the island. The battle for Leyte had already begun. I was on the bridge with Captain C.E. Coney. His clear, keen eyes and cool, crisp voice swung the cruiser first to port, then to starboard as he dodged floating mines. An enemy periscope suddenly spouted up, only to be blotted out as destroyers closed in with roaring depth charges... Shortly after this, we reached our appointed position offshore. The captain carefully hove into line and dropped anchor. Our initial vantage point was 2 miles from the beaches, but I could clearly see the sand strips with the pounding surf beating down upon the shore, and in the morning sunlight, the jungle-clad hills rising behind the town. Landings are explosive once the shooting begins, and now thousands of guns were throwing their shells with a roar that was incessant and deafening. Rocket vapor trails crisscrossed the sky and black, ugly, ominous pillars of smoke began to rise. High overhead, swarms of airplanes dared into the maelstrom. And across what would ordinarily have been a glinting, untroubled blue sea, the black dots of the landing craft churning toward the beaches... I decided to go in on the third assault wave... As we slowly bucked the waves toward Red Beach, the sound of war grew louder. We could now hear the whining roar of airplane engines as they dove over our heads to strafe and bomb enemy positions inland from the beach. Then came the steady crump, crump of exploding naval shells. As we came closer, we could pick up the shouts of our soldiers as they gave and

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acknowledged orders. Then, unmistakably, in the near distance came the steady rattle of small-arms fire. I could easily pick up the peculiar fuzzy gurgle of a Japanese machine gun seemingly not more than 100 yards from the shoreline. The smoke from the burning palm trees was in our nostrils and we could hear the continual snapping and crackling of flames. The coxswain dropped the ramp about 50 yards from shore, and we waded in. It took me only 30-40 long strides to reach dry land, but that was one of the most meaningful walks I ever took... Our beachhead troops were only a few yards away, stretched out behind logs and other cover, laying down fire on the area immediately inland. There were still Japanese in the undergrowth not many yards away. A mobile broadcasting unit was set up, and as I got ready to talk into the microphone, the rains came down. This is what I said: People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God , our forces stand again on Philippine soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come, dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives, and of restoring upon a foundation of indestructible strength, the liberties of your people.... The hour of your redemption is here. Your patriots have demonstrated an unswerving and resolute devotion to the principles of freedom that challenge the best that is written on the pages of human history... Rally to me. Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and Corregidor lead on...Let no heart be faint. Let every arm be steeled. The guidance of Divine God points the way. Follow in His name to the Holy Grail of righteous victory

EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS Can you see our Lord standing with field glasses in hand, looking longingly toward shore. He is eager for the culmination of His passion. Hearing the sounds of battle and of victory before they begin, He is rehearsing in his mind and heart the message of good news. He is about to bring ultimate victory to the long expectant captives on shore. ...the rains came down. Amen! He cometh with clouds. He is the beginning of the latter rain. By the grace of Almighty God... Hosanna! The hour of your redemption is here. Glory! Glory! Glory! Let not your heart be faint. Hallelujah! Sounds like a quote right out of the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 14. Follow in His name. Praise the Lord! Onward comes our great Commander, cheer my comrades, cheer. A dozen or more portions of familiar hymns come immediately to my mind.

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************ General Douglas MacArthur, being a friend of righteousness, was always quick to give the glory back to the Great Commander. In this respect, he puts a lot of true Christians to shame. He is quoted here by a loyal subordinate... In war, when a commander becomes so bereft of reason and perspective that he fails to understand the dependence of arms on Divine guidance, he no longer deserves victory (Whitney 159). Several of his biographers record his unparalleled bravado on the day of his return. The fact that he went ashore on the day of invasion was incredulous to his enemy Japanese general. When shown the photos of his landing on Leyte and walking casually through the water to the beach, the Jap general claimed it was staged in Australia. Many of Macs troops got a twisted angle on this as well. He did indeed come ashore in the third assault wave and the photo of this has achieved great fame, but the next day he reenacted this landing for more photographers who missed the first landing. Troops who only saw the second landing joined in another chorus of, Dugout Doug. Strolling the beach that day with his braided cap, the General made a conspicuous target as he paused to relight his corncob pipe. There was no evidence even of sudden fear [Biblical example is Pr. 3:25] as the planes dove to strafe and bomb, the machine guns clattered, the bullets whizzed, MacArthur did not duck or run, much less even hurry. Manchester tells the story of a GI crouched behind a log. When he saw MacArthur stroll by, he said, Hey, theres General MacArthur. Without turning to look, the GI next to him drawled, Oh yeah? And I suppose hes got Eleanor Roosevelt along with him. Those closest to the battle knew their commander was never very far away. As the enemy was pushed further and further inland MacArthur entered the first town, Dulag. He was inundated by jubilant Filipinos. One ancient Filipina, her face a mesh of deep creases, stood with her arms spread wide, an ecstatic smile on her lips, and an expression of utter joy in her eyes, as though unable to believe in her good fortune. An eight-year-old child clutching a parcel made

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her way through the crowd. She had a present for MacArthur she said, and she wouldnt give it to anyone else. The General opened the package and found a box of cigars for him and a knitted handbag for Jean. Several weeks earlier MacArthur had read enviously that the people of Belgium had presented Field Marshal Montgomery with a jeweled saber. Now, as his eyes filled he said, ...I would rather have this gift than Montgomerys sword. ************ ...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matt. 28:20). ...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Heb. 13:5). What a comfort in the heat of the battle, crouched against a soggy log on a pocked, strafed, and lonely beach, far from human help, we dont have to look far or even listen hard to know the presence of our Great Commander Jesus Christ. "Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?" (2 Sam. 19:12). There ought to be such jubilance at the thought of His return that the excitement puts the enemy to flight. What are we prepared to offer Him on his return; when the Nobleman returns to inspect His fruit? For some it may be a life in full bloom, sporting strong trunk and branches with blossoms of righteousness. For most it will be nothing but leaves.

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UNCONDITIONAL

SURRENDER

The tide of the Pacific War had turned. Though the Japanese threw everything they had at MacArthur, there was no stopping his juggernaut. The Generals decision to take the offensive disconcerted the enemy and they never truly gained advance again. His superb leapfrog strategy kept the Japanese two steps off, in the harmony of their plans. The Supreme Commander maintained amazing advances with record low casualties, winning in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Britain, Bougainville, and scores of other victories for the Allies and defeats for the Japanese. Macs army ran with hungry, heated fury to the very backdoor of the Nips. The General writes, We had met the enemy under its finest soldier with armies and corps pitted against each other in free maneuver, and had totally destroyed them. The dark shadow of defeat was edging ever faster across the face of the rising sun of Japan. The hour of total eclipse was not far off. Despite these terrible losses, the Japanese kept up their positive propaganda in the homeland and among the troops. Few ever knew the truth concerning the rapid advance toward the Japanese homeland. Many were genuinely astonished when the Allied bombs began to pock their homeland. They considered this the sacred ground of their Emperor...their god. For this ground to be defiled by the pagan infidels was unimaginable. They could not mentally process this reality. The Japanese generals who were so braggadocios in their demands of surrender were now the recipients of their propaganda marked return to sender. The Japanese doctrine of invincibility had saturated to the very marrow of their culture. They simply could not lose this, or any war, which had been ordained by their Emperor. Now, pounding on that backdoor with a torrent of bombs on Tokyo and other homeland cities, the furious, aroused giant, General Douglas MacArthur was making no subtle demand for unconditional surrender. At the front of this new wrinkle in the Pacific War, the Japanese simply scoffed. The unthinkable was not to be seriously considered. However, their supply lines were rapidly

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cut and the homeland war manufacturing machine ground to a halt. Their infrastructure was crumbling before their eyes and the tools and weapons of war quickly disappeared beneath the waves; the unconsiderable began to be considered. ************ The old man, the natural man, the carnal nature, the flesh, with undeterred energy, both manufactures and digests the deceptive doctrine of invincibility. It would much sooner die than realize that the long war with the Spirit may end in favor of its arch enemy. The propaganda rages on in the form of pacification, false adulation, comparisons, and procrastination. You are doing just fine. They dont know what theyre talking about. You will make it through this just like you have in the past. God is a loving God, He knows you cant be perfect. Nobody is perfect anyway. Look at those hypocrites, you are just as good as they are. You dont need to make any decisions now, there is plenty of time. Probably nobody knows, and what business is it of theirs anyway. They have their own problems like........... The idea of surrender, much less unconditional surrender, is laughable. But, there can be no victory without unconditional surrender, and as the complications of sin begin to mount and take their toll, the Spirit commences His work of clearing away the thick fog of propaganda. Conviction begins to replace indignation and self-righteousness. ************ As the heat rose, the Allies stepped beyond the threshold the Japanese wanted to negotiate; MacArthur demanded unconditional surrender. The Japs stated they would pull back to their original archipelago. General Willoughby records, The interim air and naval offensives were stepped up. B-29s from the Marianas averaged 1,200 sorties a week. In the last fifteen days of the war, the fifth and seventh Air Force flew 6,372 sorties against Kyushu alone. Macs concept was, What is it about unconditional that you dont understand? The Nips retorted, we want to retain our selfgoverning. We demand no Allied occupation. We will keep our present armament, etc. etc. etc. The Allies attention getting response is, BOOOOOOOOM........ HIROSHIMA! YOU HAVE FOUR DAYS! With broken back, bloody nose, and fractured skull

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the enemy crawls back to the negotiating table. The Japs nag on...We absolutely have to maintain our Emperor and his way of life, and the royal family. We will pull back to the homeland but there can be no occupation from within the homeland...blah...blah...blah...BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM. .......NAGASAKI! UNCONDITIONAL MEANS UNCONDITIONAL, AND THAT MEANS NO NEGOTIATIONS. This second atomic bomb, along with the implication that there were as many in the Allied arsenal as needed was enough to affect the desired unconditional surrender. Few in the world knew that was the last atomic bomb that we had. Even with its face shoved to a concrete wall, a pistol barrel in the ear, a finger on the trigger and the hammer cocked, the insanely fanatical enemy inserted a phrase into its letter of acceptance of unconditional surrender which boldly stated, ...with the understanding that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a Sovereign Ruler. Completely devoid of all hope, Japan still would not give up. This audacity was met with a simple but firm statement. From the moment of surrender the authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate the surrender terms. August 16, 1945. Even with this reply, the Japanese military begged the Emperor to enlist 20,000,000 men into the Kamikaze believing this would help win the war. John Perry wrote, Japan surrendered in August before one enemy soldier had arrived in the home islands. For the first time in history an entire nation, a major power, had surrendered without conditionsbefore an invading force had even appeared. Victory came with unanticipated speed; American experts had thought the war might be a prolonged and bloody one. Major George Fielding Eliot, military correspondent for the NY Herald Tribune, wrote in July 1944 of the real possibility that, Japan [would] defend her soil to the point where the whole of her cities lie in smoking ruin, and where final military success[could be] attained only when the last Japanese male capable of bearing arms[was] hunted down and destroyed in some mountain fastness. To the Japanese to lose face

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is to lose everything but to lose everything is not necessarily to lose face. Plans were quickly made for the unconditional surrender of Japan to be a spectacle to the whole world. This event would be forever associated with total victory. This was the first step in the complete reconciliation of Japan into the family of nations. Victory is sweet; this meant that Mac would finally have his way with the enemy. ************ Macs was not the only victory won that day. In a strange way, the enemy too had begun the sweet process of victory. On the surface, the combination of unconditional surrender and victory, experienced by the same entity, at the same time, does not seem to mesh. If Japan was so utterly defeated and finally surrendered, how would these facts equal victory? The answer lies in viewing the future of the nation of Japan. We will write in detail about that in the next chapter, but let me give you an appetizer. Although Japan surrendered she won liberation from the oppression of her old traditional, aggressive, and feudalistic ways For many Japs, defeat became synonymous with liberation (Eiji preface by John Dower). It is probable that Japan, as a nation, gained more from losing what all Japanese refer to as the Pacific War than we would have gained by winning it or fighting it to a draw (Sheldon, forward pg. X). Although we surrender, we are really the victors in the sense that the Lord gets the victory in our lives. This leads to the abundant life. The flesh is so strong, it is a wonder that anybody ever gets saved. The Lord is so powerful and aggressive in His love towards us, it is a wonder why everybody doesnt get right with Him. I can see why someone would run and hide behind the Calvinist doctrine of election. The truth of it all is that the Lord has more weapons in his arsenal than you would want to experience, but if you insist on

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resisting His advances, you may still lose it all, and die lost, and go to hell. The fact that Japan finally did surrender, even though the enemy never had set foot on the homeland, was a first in history. This is a picture of a sinner who surrenders, unconditionally, to the Lord without ever having set eyes on Him. Without faith it is impossible to please him. It is somewhat understandable why the unsaved sinner would wait so long to repent, but it is not at all understandable why the saint goes though the painful process of tribulation before he can drag himself to the surrender ceremony. The saint has experienced the goodness of the Lord. He knows that occupation by the victor results in great benefit and profit. There is only one conclusion: the saint, as well as the sinner, both love their sin more than they love the Lord. There can be no victory in either life without UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. ************ The ceremony of surrender took place Sept. 2, 1945 on the deck of the battleship, Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. The task of finding a Japanese government official to perform the odious task was quite difficult. Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamoru Shigemitsu was first on board, then Gen. Yoshijiro Umezu of the Imperial General Staff, then nine other representatives. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu struggled pitifully to mount the gangway of the Missouri Battleship with his cane and artificial leg. No one moved to help him. Kase, a step behind him, heard him groan with each movement. Shigemitsu must have known in the moment that he, beaten, crippled, crawling to the victor to suffer his pleasure, symbolized all of Japan (Sheldon). The stage for this awesome, historical event was set like no other. The allied victors displayed their brass in impressive array. The defeated put forth their best show of the flesh, considering the circumstances. The general audience of dignitaries, reporters, and sailors from the crew of the Missouri, stood, sat, hung-from, and leaned, in order to get just a glimpse of the moment. Like a

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courtroom with all parties present and in place, they waited for the judge to enter. No doubt for dramatic affect, the Supreme Commander of the Allied powers walked with swift step to the microphone and gave the following brief speech.
We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored. The issues, involving divergent ideals and ideologies, have been determined on the battlefields of the world and hence are not for our discussion or debate. Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the people of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice, or hatred. But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone befits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all our peoples unreservedly to faithful compliance with the understandings they are here formally to assume. It is my earnest hopethat from this solemn occasion a better world shall emergea world dedicated to the dignity of man. The terms and conditions upon which surrender of the Japanese Imperial forces is here to be given and accepted are contained in the instrument of surrender before you. Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are now closed. (MacArthur).

At that moment 1500 carrier planes and 400 B-29s began to roar overhead in salute. And the low gray clouds parted and the sun began to shine warm upon the deck of the Missouri. A correspondent present swore to himself that MacArthur had ordered the sun to shine, too. (Sheldon, 35,36). Later in reflection, MacArthur said, I thank a merciful God that He has given us the faith, the courage and the power from which to mold victory. The General had previously defeated the Japanese in battle, Now, with these elevated concepts, he was to win them in peace.

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER = 1/3 OF VICTORY The spectacle made of the unconditional surrender will forever be recorded both in the annals of history as well as in the hearts and minds of all nations involved. Though Japan could boast of a

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record free of defeat, it must now acknowledge its public humiliation. The likelihood of this event affecting the longevity of a national attitude of cooperation as opposed to aggression is stronger because of the spectacle of it all. The liberal may argue the necessity of such a glorious display of Allied victory, but Japan must always replay this before takeoff to another Pearl Harbor. Salvation is truly a condition of the heart; however, when this is coupled with a public humbling of the flesh, it may serve longer those who have been exercised thereby. The mourners bench of ages past may not have, in and of itself, affected any more of a salvation; but it seemed to subdue the flesh for a more lengthy term of service. Repentance is still the necessary ingredient, which the enemy of God must add to the recipe of a right relationship with his God. There is a common misconception that the signing of the unconditional surrender essentially constituted peace. The truth is that six full years of the healing balm of time passed before the Allies began to consider offering Japan a peace treaty. For Japan, the unconditional surrender was the first in three critical steps to final victory. The testimony of Japan among the nations of the world was worse than that of prehistoric barbarians. There could be no justification for their atrocities, murders, willful aggression against innocent people, and flagrant and multiple violations of international war agreements. Like their axis-pact, sister-nation Germany, they would be a long time fading the garments of their reputation, stained by the blood of millions of innocents living peaceably in the tropical South Pacific. Many a U.S. soldier came home from the Pacific war and wrote a law in indelible ink, that in his newly established home that never would the word Jap, or Japanese, or Nip ever be spoken in his castle. Never would any product stamped, Made in Japan be purchased with his money. Never a Jap joke would be spoken. Never an oriental considered as friend or mate. This social death mask was held to the face of the nation of Japan for most of the next generation by many different peoples. The world was not ready to make peace with Japan. There was need for much healing.

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Neither was Japan ready for peace. The general populace was still incredulous and reeling over the events which had taken place in the last month. One month they were willing to make even more sacrifices in the final struggle to win the war. And the next month their Emperors representatives were signing an unconditional surrender. The propaganda had been so strong against the Allies, particularly the United States, that the thought of these murdering, raping thugs having their way in the homeland and with their women and children, was unthinkable. MacArthur writes in Reminiscences,
Let there be no mistake about Japans defeat in the war. It was completely crushed. Part of the defeat was physical, with factories, homes, and whole cities destroyed. But another part of that defeat was spiritual. For almost four years the Japanese people had expected nothing but victory. Every bulletin blared of success. Not only that; the people had been told they were fighting a kind of holy crusade against barbarians who had no respect for anything. The war must be won to prevent rape, murder, and other unspeakable crimes. As a leader of the American forces, the Japanese government concentrated on me. When American troops landed in Japan in August 1945, the image of the sadistic commander and his rapacious soldiery was in every Japanese mind. (MacArthur 284).

There were hundreds of trained Kamikaze and thousands of regular soldiers, loyal to their god (Emperor Hirohito), who were greatly frustrated that the war had ended without affording them the glory of dying for their Emperor. Near the end of the war there were more Kamikaze pilots than there were planes available for their martyrdom. When the assignments were given, the leftover pilots ran to their fellows who were assigned a plane and asked them if they could sit on their lap. Now, the opportunity presented itself in front of them to rid the homeland of this murderous invader. Their families would have worshipped them for generations to come if they were the one who took out the Supreme Commander of the enemy, that barbarian criminal, MacArthur. The pride of Japan, before, during, and immediately following the war was a force that, if harnessed, could have fueled the world for a time. The force of defeat, resulting in an unconditional surrender, followed by the humiliation of enemy occupation, was the spiritual equal to the atomic bomb. Japan had, under great duress, been

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brought to its knees, but the heart of the nation was not yet open toward peace. Japan was a fire-breathing dragon, tied up in a strong bag. If suddenly the strong hand of the victor were to be removed, the war machine could have been quickly jump-started. ************ Overwhelming circumstances often bring the enemy of the Lord to the point of surrender, yea, even unconditional surrender. The doctor says, If you dont quit, youll die. The wife gives the ultimatum, If things dont change, I am taking the kids and leaving. The pastor can threaten church discipline. An enemy may even finally bow to self-condemnation and guilt, brought on either by the Holy Spirit, or by himself. It is a wonderful day when that altar call is answered by the penitent. But, it does not necessarily include a peace treaty. Many folk have surrendered, but are still mad at God because He wont let them have their way. The wayward teen may decide that towing the line at home provides a more comfortable environment for the time immediate, but that is not evidence that he has made peace with God and has finally found the victory. As soon as the authority which holds him in tow is removed, he will rebel yet again. The wife who submits, for the sake of the kids and because it is the only acceptable way within her immediate social circle, will rebel at the first opportunity. Peace is a condition of the heart. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). ************ Peace was finally made between the Allies and Japan. This act signified many things. Peace opened trade, travel, diplomacy, international recognition and relations; and it totally ended hostilities. The peace treaty reestablished the testimony of Japan among the nations. NO PEACE...NO TESTIMONY! ************

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Since a Christian without peace has no testimony; this must constitute hypocrisy. Dont expect the world to warm to the witness of a Christian whose heart is not with the Lord. In Genesis chapter 45, Joseph, a type of Christ, reveals himself to his brethren and commands them to go home and tell of all his glory in Egypt. He hurries them along in their important commission by saying, See that ye fall not out by the way (vrs. 24). When they face their father with the good news that Joseph is alive and well in Egypt, the Bible records that his heart fainted, and he believed them not. They even quoted the words of Joseph, type of the Bible, but to no avail. Then it says, ...when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob revived: and he said, It is enough, Joseph, my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. Jacob knew his conniving boys and the mischief which followed their wake for many years. This sudden emotional change, this feigned quoting of the Bible, this hypocritical turn of events in the lives of these whom he considered instruments of cruelty, unstable as water, and serpent by the way [Gen. 49] did not sway the old man. But when Jacob saw the wagons, here was the evidence he had been hoping to see. The tangible proof that what these ones-without-a-testimony were saying with great zeal, was indeed true. Unlike Japan and the Allies, we need not wait six years before a peace treaty is offered. The peace treaty with the Lord can be signed with the same pen on the same occasion as the surrender document. Peace is the second prize in the triple crown leading to victory.

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CHAPTER FIVE PARALLEL RULERS AND REBUILDERS


THE DAY OF OCCUPATION It was a huge military gamble, albeit calculated. The Americans, outnumbered by thousands to one, were landing in hostile country where huge numbers of enemy soldiers were still fully armed and ready. There were twenty-two Japanese Divisions and more than 300,000 excellent combat troops on the Kwanto Plain into the midst of which MacArthur arrived. MacArthur landed at Atsugi on Aug. 30 at 2PM in a C-54 named Bataan. He never wanted the leaders of Japan to forget Bataan. He usurped the right to rub their noses in it. As soon as his office was established, he directed the receptionist to answer all incoming calls with, Bataan. The Supreme Commander, the unquestioned victor, the unrivaled ruler, the unappeased avenger, dramatically appeared at the door of the plane, incredulously unarmed. He posed for photos in his casual, open collar khakis, his rumpled officers cap, MacArthur style sunglasses and his famous corncob pipe jutting from clenched teeth. The absence of medals was nearly as obvious as an abundance of medals would have been. He waved to the reception committee, nodded at the military band, and said to an aid at the bottom of the steps, This is the day weve been waiting for. The symbolism was stunning. While descending from the memorial Bataan, he was actually ascending to the throne of his victorious kingdom. He played each of his roles well. Without hesitation, MacArthur moved directly into the impossible role of supreme ruler over a devastated kingdom. He, without time to plan, instantly became re-builder, reorganizer, re-financer, re-educator, re-thinker, re-planner, re-writer, and the main target of criticism for all that can and will go wrong. In a strange mix of honor and humility, MacArthurs military secretary, General Courtney Whitney, recorded his feelings of the triumph parade through this bomb-ravaged, and totally ruined empire. In the background was a string of the most decrepit

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vehicles I have ever seenthe best means of transportation that the Japanese could round up for the trip into Yokohama. MacArthur climbed into an American Lincoln of uncertain vintage. The other officers found their places in a ramshackle motorcade. A fire engine that resembled the Toonerville Trolley started with an explosion that made some of us jump; then it led the way as the procession headed for Yokohama. That was when I saw the first armed troops in Japan proper. Thirty thousand immaculate Japanese troops lined both sides of the road, facing outward, from Atsugi all the miles to Yokohama. The troops facing outward was actually a great honor to MacArthur. The only other person they ever did this for was their Emperor. This spoke volumes to MacArthurs staff, as there was much heated debate in the planning of this event over the wisdom or insanity of the Generals entrance in such a vulnerable position. Churchill said Of all the amazing deeds of bravery of the war, I regard MacArthurs personal landing at Atsugi (unarmed) as the greatest of the lot. MacArthurs military nakedness was planned, however, with great knowledge. He knew exactly how to gain the respect of the courageous oriental. He was very aware that they held bravery in the highest respect. They, too, took accurate note of his dramatic vincibleness. The Bataan had made a brief stop in Okinawa on their way to the victorious landing at Atsugi. Mac noticed that some in his staff began strapping on pistols in shoulder holsters. Mac said, Take them off. If they intend to kill us, side arms will be useless. And nothing will impress them like a show of absolute fearlessness. If they dont know theyre licked, this will convince them (Manchester 520). Further into the occupation, one of his staff again approached him concerning side arms. He looked up from his Stars and Stripes and said, Suit yourself. Just dont make a fuss about it. To others the Supreme Commander said: In the Orient, the man who shows no fear is master. I count on the Japanese people to protect me (MacArthur). And they did.

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************ In order for the downtrodden vagabond, whether saint or sinner, to win the triple crown of victory, occupation must be followed by unconditional surrender, a peace treaty and finally, occupation. Jesus said, ...I am come that ye might have life, and that ye might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). There is no need to fear His ascension to His deserved throne. Though He comes unarmed, His power is not sullied. He even humbly knocks to gain entrance. He seeks us no further harm but rather that He might reconstruct us after His image, long lost. Once He is welcomed, He enters the heart with great pomp and majesty amidst tears and shouts of joy. He puts a new song in our mouth, even praise unto our God. King David encapsulates the whole of the triple crown victory in Psalm 51. David was in trouble with the Lord over the Bathsheba affair and needed total victory in his life. Lets peek into the private chambers of King Davids heart. Notice in the first six verses the clear, unmistakable, unconditional surrender.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Ps. 51).

Here the king uses many of the synonyms for sin. He spares himself nothing in his contrition. He says that the Lord is right and he is guilty. The repentance is clear with no admixture. The white flag is waved high for all to see. There are no conditions, pleas, arrangements, negotiations, or arguments. This is truly a beautiful example of unconditional surrender.

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Verses seven through nine display the peace treaty which King David signed along with his unconditional surrender. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities." The restoration of his testimony now becomes evident. He is clean, washed, he has joy and gladness and his sins have been blotted out and are hid. He is now healed from his madness against the Lord and is ready for his occupation. Verses ten through fourteen practically dramatize the presence of the Lord.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Observe right spirit, holy spirit, and thy free spirit, and thy presence. Someone has moved in and made everything right. Did you regard the obvious change that takes place at the victory crowning celebration? He said, Then will I teach, and my tongue shall sing. Maybe this can explain why many Christians are not a witness, and why our song service has waned, and why we Bible believers just dont seem to have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in our hearts. Many who have all the right adjectives (Bible believing, independent, missionary-minded, blood-washed, etc.) which ought to describe a victorious Christian, really do not have the kind of victory that results in the strength to do that which is right, and the courage to quit doing that which they know in their heart is wrong.

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************ The terms of the unconditional surrender clearly stated that every power, including the Emperor was to be subject to the Supreme Commander but General Douglas MacArthur knew the oriental mind well enough to know that if he killed either the person or the power of this important symbol, he would be slapping a cornered tiger. Like his leap-frog tactics during battle, he wisely chose to skirt this obstacle, isolating the problem, and thus allowing past and present, tradition and current events to be reconciled. The Emperor, himself a wise man, immediately recognized and respected the wisdom of his new governor, and began immediately to cooperate. This was of immense value to the operation of the occupation. For the first time in history, the common person heard the Emperors voice as he spoke, via radio, ordering the citizens of Japan to submit to the terms of the surrender and to strive to reestablish a position of trust and respect in the world. He explained that he had followed the path of submission to improve Japans precarious position, underlining the need for self-discipline and composure. For his subjects this meant a directive to work in peace, and marked a new phase in the history of Japan. It is difficult for the western mind and heart to comprehend how challenging this was to a man who had all his life played the part of a god to his people. He, himself, had to be, in some way, convinced of this fallacy. Since birth, he had been isolated to this doctrine and could conceive of no other. The emperors capitulation was astounding, especially when you add into this problem the general public perception of the mad-dog, evil barbarian, American foreign devil. Nor was this capitulation singular with the Emperor. The leaders of Japan at the time of surrender had come to the same conclusion as His Majesty. The prime minister at the time of surrender writes his thinking, at that time, in a story printed in the Mainichi Shimbun, a newspaper in Japan, dated Aug. 15, 1946. ...My position was this: we were defeated, and as long as we admitted our defeat, the only manly thing to do was to leave everything to the victor. Such had been the military tradition from ancient times. Only I had one absolute conviction as to what to do. That was to trust the enemy commander. The Bushido is not a Japanese monopoly. It is a universal code...I did not know about

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the personality of General MacArthur, but I myself as a soldier had a firm trust in this soldierly spirit...In this respect His Majesty felt exactly the same as I did. As is well known, His Majesty never inclined to suspect others. He even commanded me to confide in the enemy and to place everything at his disposal. Now retired, Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki stated, in conclusion to this story, I am very happy to know that the course on which I chose to steer the nation to the termination of war has proved by no means a bad thing for Japan (MacArthur 279). This story was brought to MacArthurs attention by the prime minister of that current time, Shigeru Yoshida, in a letter where he clearly stated that, What he (Suzuki) says at the end of the narrative has my unqualified endorsement. His attitude and sentiments at the time of the momentous decision were not only the attitude and sentiments of His Majesty but also, I am quite sure, of the vast majority of the inarticulate but right-minded men in the street throughout Japan (MacArthur 279). Later during the occupation, the Emperor initiated a meeting with the Supreme Commander and established an admirable respect and relationship with his new head. The Supreme Commander describes a very nervous Emperor during this meeting. Unbeknownst to His Majesty, MacArthur tells how he had single-handedly convinced the Allies to remove his name from the top of the war criminal list of those who were to be tried and perhaps hung. The Supreme Commander knew full well the consequences of such action and warned that if that took place he would require nothing less than one million reinforcements and a total military government to handle the bedlam. Such was the attachment of the people to their beloved god even after terrible defeat. ************ The Lord does not seek to destroy our spirit, but rather to unite it with His. Where our spirit would be at odds with the Lords, or even still possibly hostile, He, in his longsuffering, knowing we are but dust, will wisely deal with us, much as he instructed the husband to dwell with the weaker vessel according to knowledge.

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Our submission and cooperation is of inestimable value to this occupational relationship. As it was hard for the Emperor to accept anothers governorship, especially that of a former enemy, so it will be a battle to the end for our spirit to totally submit to the rule of our Heavenly Commander. But as time passed and conditions continually improved, the spirit of cooperation and support between Emperor and Commander could be more easily given, as is true also between our spirit and the Lords. Jesus did say, I am come that ye might have life, and that ye might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). I have seen his governorship over me improve my life without exception for many years. I would be a complete fool to stay His hand of rule at this point. Seeing that we have been our own god and governor for so long, it would behoove us to make a daily public service announcement to all our members encouraging them to exhibit and exercise a spirit of cooperation toward this occupation so that all can profit by it. I believe the Apostle Paul put it succinctly when he said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). And again, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:11). And once more, " ...I die daily" (I Cor. 15:31). Amalek, in the Bible, is a type of our flesh. The Lord fought fiercely against Amalek and still he pestered the peace process. Finally, the Lord makes the following prophesy referring in type to our flesh, "For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Ex. 17:16). One day, when the occupation becomes a teamwork effort with the Lord and His subjects, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Rev. 20:6). The Lord will have His will over ours: "And the Lord said to Moses...I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (Ex. 17:14). Just as MacArthur wisely made allowance for the influence of the Emperor, so the Lord allows us to maintain our spirit before Him. As long as our spirit works in accord with His Spirit, it acts as a

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driving force to produce righteousness in our lives and ministries for the establishment and furtherance of His kingdom. Our spirit gives us not only motivation for righteousness but the confidence to attempt great things for the Lord, and affords us the enjoyment of satisfaction for a job well done. If I did not have the confidence, motivation, yea, even glory, to begin a task for the Lord, I would never accomplish anything for Him except possibly out of benign obedience. The Lord would much rather we serve Him with zeal and personal exuberance. Proverbs calls this our glory, or our praise, and likens it to honey. The wise author of Proverbs says with the complete agreement of the Holy Spirit, "My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste." (Prov. 24:13). Then seemingly reverses and says, "It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory" (Prov. 25:27). But, lest we accuse the Lord of a contradiction, observe the insertion of the word, much. This word would allow us to eat honey, (to enjoy our own glory, or our own spirit) but also warns us not to eat too much. The Lord kindly explains further, "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it" (Prov. 25:16). In other words, take what you need to accomplish the task set before you but be sure and give the glory back to the Lord. The Apostle Paul said nearly the same thing in "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). We need to be sober in thinking of ourselves with sufficient confidence but be very careful not to exceed the proper limits. In summation of these thoughts the Lord gently advises us to be a wise judge in the use of our spirit, "As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise" (Prov. 27:21).

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IMMEDIATE NEED MET IMMEDIATELY Economically, Japan had no neighboring sources of food or industrial raw materials. Eighty percent of cotton textile productive capacity had been scrapped during the war. Hostilities had completely destroyed 25 percent of total industrial capacity, with a further one third materially damaged. The displacement of silk by synthetic fibers had almost eliminated a primary source of dollar earnings for Japan. The dollar shortage became increasingly critical as the necessity grew to import food and raw materials from the U.S., with no lucrative exports to pay for them. Japan had not been self-sufficient in foodstuffs since about 1912 and had depended upon foreign trade for survival. But trade patterns were shattered and, even if Japanese industries could produce, the possibility of restoring vital markets in the Far East and South Asia was dimmed by political unrest and continuing anti-Japanese sentiments in those areas. The specter of starvation literally hung over Japan. Japan was starving for more than just food. The lack of basic needs of life was evident. The Supreme Commander met those needs with a compassion unparalleled in history. One of MacArthurs first orders was to feed the people and provide for their basic needs. US trucks brought in flour, rolled oats, canned goods, rice, blankets, medical supplies, 21,000,000 pairs of socks, 7,000,000 blankets (wool) 5,000,000 pairs of shoes, uniforms, and rubber boots. We did not owe this to the Japanese; if anyone owed anyone, it was the Japanese who owed the Allies. We did not act out of obligation but compassion. As we observe the occupation from a seat more than fifty years post, we tend to take this kindness for granted, but history dictates that the conquered starve as part of their defeat. Japan now ate out of the hand that it had so badly bitten. The Appropriations Committee of the United States House of Representatives wanted to know how MacArthur could justify the expenditure of Army appropriations to feed our late enemy. The Supreme Commander wrote,
There is a popular misconception that the achievement of victory in modern war is solely dependent upon victory in the field. History itself clearly refutes this concept. It offers unmistakable proof that the human impulses which generated the will to war, no less than the material sinews of war, must be destroyed. Nor is it sufficient that such human impulses merely yield to the temporary shock of military defeat. There must be a complete spiritual reformation such as

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will not only control the defeated generation, but will exert a dominant influence upon the generation to follow as well. Unless this is done, victory is but partially complete.

Most of the empires natural leaders were dead. Over 1,270,000 Japanese had been killed in action during the last four years of fighting, and 670,000 civilians had died in the bombings. When Hiroshima was bombed, Japan did not even have enough fuel to move those ships that had survived out of the Hiroshima Bay so the the Allied hospital ships could come in and tend to causalties. MacArthur wrote: Never in history had a nation and its people been more completely crushed. The tattered shreds of Japanese society were hungry also for direction. The reverberations felt when they were forced to swallow reality, rather then buy propaganda, still shook the bedrock foundations of their civilization. Their leaders had not only failed, but had lied to them. Their government had been usurped by the untried victor. Their Bushito philosophy had been found with fault. Their religion would not bolster. In short, their long-standing culture was lost. As a people, they stood before the world disgraced and despised. They could not feed, clothe, house, comfort, educate, employ, transport or mend the bodies of their own people, much less provide any benefit to the world community. They were at the complete mercy of a world they had savagely attacked. They were a total welfare nation. This is the point at which MacArthur (as previously mentioned) made request for 2,000 Christian missionaries from America. The order could not be filled. He also ordered, received and oversaw the distribution of 10 million Bibles in Japan. His thinking was that Christianity should have the opportunity to fill the vacuum left by the war. If, indeed, Japan with a good heart truly signed that unconditional surrender, they now needed mercy. At the signing of the surrender document, one of the leaders of Japan named Kase, observed MacArthurs speech and made this comment,
What stirring eloquence and what a noble vision! Here is a victor announcing the verdict to the prostrate enemy. He can exact his pound of flesh if he so chooses. He can impose a humiliating penalty if he so desire. And yet he pleads for freedom, tolerance,

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and justice. For me, who expected the worst humiliation, this was a complete surprise. I was thrilled beyond words, spellbound, thunderstruck. For the living heroes and dead martyrs of the war this speech was a wreath of flowers. It seemed that MacArthurs words sailed on wings, that this narrow quarterdeck was now transformed into an altar of peace (MacArthur).

Considering the atrocities committed by the Japanese, MacArthur was accused of being soft in his administration and occupation of Japan, but he did not compromise the terms of the surrender via the Potsdam Ultimatum. There were armchair military strategists who wanted blood, gallows and justice served, but the acute situation called for great balance, tact, and wisdom. If ever, in history, there was such a combination as the right man for the job, MacArthur was that man to Japan. He supplied the unique combination of unquestioned authority and approachable understanding. He felt her vulnerability, and saw her need both physical and spiritual. He was both father and mother, dictator and counselor, to that foundering society. Within the Nippon community, he rebuilt the necessary and destroyed the useless. He dictated with iron clad rules, and then fairly judged the exceptions. Every detail of rebuilding a massive society was given into his hand and he never wavered under the weight of this incredible responsibility. Like Nehemiah, of old, his face was set to the task and his hand waved aside his critics. His opportunity was unique in history. When you consider such a task attempted in the political setting of today, it simply could not be accomplished by any man or committee of men. Referring to the success of the occupation, William Sebald, ambassador to Japan said that it did (succeed) may be attributed to the personality, experience, assurance, image, and, for lack of a better word, wizardry of MacArthur (Sebald 103). Although Allied disputes and divergences of viewpoint were frequent, the consensus was that Japanese society constituted a self-perpetuating instrument of imperialism. Therefore, the framework of society had to be destroyed to prevent a revival of imperialism. This belief automatically meant that reform must be as thorough as possible, regardless of other consequences. The direction provided by the Supreme Commander included the structure of a rigid set of rules, laws, and a new constitution to

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replace the one which had brought about such death and destruction. The Supreme Commander found that the old Meiji constitution was warped in interpretation. This new, stern ruler set about to oversee the rewriting of the new constitution for the new Japan. This constitution would set boundaries for the new game. All children operate well when the boundaries are clearly defined, and the next generation of Japan was no exception. This constitution continues to serve the people of Japan unto this day. Upon the foundation of this new constitution, the Supreme Commander began the astronomical project of rebuilding Japan, literally from the ash heap. The few assets they had both at home and abroad were confiscated, even the personal wealth of the Emperor. Nothing was beyond the conscription of the new absolute ruler. Hirohitos personal worth at the time of occupation was 3 billion dollars. He had little choice but to agree with Mac to give it to the state of Japan. He received honors for doing this. Announcements were made on the radio to honor him for this, but most of the wealth he kept in Swiss banks. He never gained anything from this hoarding. ************ One of the first things the Conqueror provided was food. MacArthur opened the army kitchens to the vanquished. If he had not done this they would have died by the thousands. The first thing a new Christian or a recently surrendered Christian needs is food...lots and lots of food. The instruction given to Peter was feed my lambs...feed my sheep...feed my sheep. Apparently, Peter got the message, for when he got a chance to write his own epistle, he exhorted the elders to, feed the flock of God. There is something healing, strengthening, cleansing, and fortifying, and motivating about immersing your sin-sore soul in the bread of life. ...that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deut. 8:3). We are now invited to eat to the full from the very hand we bit so badly in the past.

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If allowed, our new, gentlemanly Ruler delights in meeting our need. His new constitution states clearly, "...For all things are yours." (I Cor. 3:21). "...who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." (I Tim. 6:17). "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). "...no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11). His supply is inexhaustible; our request is the only hindrance. Although we are reluctant and even belligerent to admit it, we are in need of everything. For all that we ever thought we had has been corrupted by the terrible war, the waste and devastation of which has left us barren and desolate. The description of our depravity is matched with Jerusalem in Ezekiel chapter 16:1-14.
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

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Total desolation indeed! And yet, in the meltdown, and from the ruins, our kind and wise Ruler picks through the spoils of His victory over us and transforms our waste into His gold. Certainly, every talent, ability, gift, skill and quality will be used in the construction of His new temple. Without question, all things lovely, whether known or hidden, will He mine and enrich for His pleasure. Many natural resources buried deep are brought to the surface to be refined and polished for His treasure. Even the raw materials found in nearly every experience of our life can be recycled and purified to His great delight. That the King would distill my dregs and consume it to His great satisfaction causes me to wonder with great joy. That the Conqueror would rummage through my remains to find substance fit for the Masters use in the reconstruction of His magnificent temple within me is a tremendous credit to His skill as a Creator. I am reminded of the last stanza of the great poem, The Touch of The Masters Hand by Myra Brooks Welch. And many a man with life out of tune And battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd Much like the old violin. A mess of pottage, a glass of wine; A game-and he travels on. He is going once, and going twice Hes going and almost gone. But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul and the change thats wrought By the touch of the Masters hand. The materials used to construct the furniture and lavish interior of the tabernacle, which stood as a gem in the surrounding barren desert, was the bar tab for 400 years of slavery in Egypt (type of the world). The gold, silver, and precious stones of the magnificent work of Solomons Temple came from the spoils of many of Davids wars with the Lords enemies. May we drill, dig, search, and excavate all the raw material possible and bring it to the Master of Assembly, so our King might not be hampered in His glorious effort to create a vessel fit for the Masters use. As we reflect on His genius

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at producing magnificence from naught, may we never be discouraged in thinking there might not be enough in our quarry to continue the project. If we give what we know we have without holding reserve, our Creator will bless it like He did the loaves and fishes and we will be honored many times over in eternity. But, if we hoard our resources, they find their way into a bag with holes in it and are lost for all eternity. AUTHORITY AND VULNERABILITY MacArthurs title of Supreme Commander was no idle label. He stretched himself to the full height of which this title would demand. He was the most powerful man on the planet, only to be politically outranked by President Harry S. Truman. It was perceived by the latter that the two might vie for the popular vote of America in a contest for the Oval Office. Truman knew the probable outcome and took advantage of his power to see that MacArthur would be hamstrung, if, indeed that contest ever entered the ring. Virtually nothing could be decided, regardless how significant or trivial, as it pertained to Japan by anyone in the world without it passing across the desk of the sovereign ruler of Japan. His word was law, which permeated the tiniest corpuscles of the entire body of the archipelago. John Perry wrote of his power, He could turn to his secretary and say, Take a law. The law was there and you could see its effect in two or three weeks (Perry 65). This stringency and unbending law was all new, differing greatly from the old Meiji constitution which was so warped by interpretation that it nearly promoted situation ethics. A situation like this throws the authority either to the courts or to a dictator. This is nearly where America is today which includes the Christian who is ignorant of the perfect authority of the Bible. He is either ignorant, or unwilling. In either case it results in too much liberty and self allowance which ultimately leads to distortion, compromise, justification, and corruption.
Japan was laid bare, completely exposed to whatever penetration or manipulation the Americans wished. Access was limited only by Americas inability to take full advantage of its position; its opportunity limited only by its own ignorance. Americans could talk

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to anyone and as long as they liked, provided they could surmount the language barrier. They could go anywhere, collect any printed information, confiscate anything they wanted. (Perry 86).

To the Japanese, particularly in the early phases of the occupation, every Allied action, every Allied word, however casually uttered, was freighted with significance. Advice easily became command with stultifying effect on Jap initiative and inflating impact on Allied ego Perry 60). His job as military governor rivaled that of a Roman proconsulship
...from the moment his feet touched Japanese soil in Aug. 45 until his departure in April 51, MacArthur was the Supreme Commander. Washington may have laid down the broad lines of policy, but Mac was the source of information upon which the evolution of that policy was largely based. Mac also had the discretionary authority to interpret directions as he willed, and even greater authority to choose the specific ways and means to be used. Such was the pressure of events elsewhere in the world, so strong the eagerness of Mac to do without supervision, and so great his prestige among both the American public and the Japanese, that Washington was glad to leave him alone. You will exercise your authority as you deem proper to carry out your mission. Washington ordered, and Mac was pleased to comply. (Perry 63).

John Perry said of Mac


For good or not, has any American ever exercised so much power over so many people for such a long time? No case comes to mind. He was so powerful and influential that Americans tended to evaluate the Occupation simply on the basis of whether they thought Mac was doing a good job. Americans who would have protested violently at the first sign of paternalism or arbitrariness in the behavior of the US government at home with relation to other Americans found it not only entirely in order but wholly admirable and inspiringa source of pride, in factthat an American Commander should exercise a wholly autocratic power, untrammeled by legislative controls in a foreign country; and they tended to sympathize extensively with that commander whenever corrupt, distrusted Washington attempted to interfere in any way in the exercise of his power (Perry intro by Kennan).

When MacArthur was appointed supreme commander for the occupation of Japan, there was a maelstrom of controversy and political rivalry, but no man was more fitted for this colossal

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undertaking. He was a genius at wielding uncompromised power without abuse. He was not a pompous idiot nor a dictator like Nero. MacArthur was thoroughly familiar with oriental minds, their administrations, weaknesses, and strengths. He felt like the reforms he was introducing to them would bring Japan abreast of modern thought and action. This is a lifes achievement for an occidental to understand the oriental mind. He was so genuine in his benevolent efforts to aid their fallen society that they came to trust him completely. They knew that he had fought for their benefit against all the allied countries, including his own national alma mater. They came to regard him not only as conqueror but protector. Japanese government agencies substantially completed disarmament and demobilization by Dec. 1, 1945, less than three and one-half months after the surrender without a single untoward incident. One of the worlds great armies and the remnants of one of the great fleets disappeared. The men drifted to their homes and melted into society, despite dire predictions that they might reemerge as disruptive units. Naval vessels were dismantled and cut into scrap; live shells and ammunition of every sort were dumped into the sea; guns were melted down; and side arms of every style were confiscated. Even samurai swords (many of them family heirlooms) and hunting pieces were declared illegal. As the Japanese society began to digest the new rule, and the energy of MacArthurs administration began to empower its fiber, tensions began to relax and the rebuilding became the normal business of the day. Douglas MacArthur was the most popular man in Japan. He had been the only Allied commander whose name the Japanese people had heard during the war; in the Missouri surrender ceremony, he had made a tremendous entrance in to their lives. The very characteristics which troubled Americanshis flair for the dramatic, his insistence on absolute loyalty and unquestioning obedience from his soldiersappealed to the Nipponese. He projected a jovial image of decisiveness and absolute authority. If a Japanese man was dominated by a strong-minded wife, his neighbors would say, Too bad, shes a macarthur. The Tokyo Jiji Shimpo warned that the nations hero worship was making a god of General MacArthur, and indeed, Richard H. Rovere and Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., quoted a Japanese as

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saying, after Hirohito had renounced his divinity: We look to MacArthur as the second Jesus Christ (Manchester 556). Even the emperor submitted and enjoyed it more. After the first visit, the emperor called on the Supreme Commander twice a year. They developed a father-son relationship which would have been unthinkable before V-J Day. At first the people said of each precedent-shattering ...decision, What will the emperor say? They stopped because Hirohito endorsed all of them. He played, (MacArthur wrote) a major role in the spiritual regeneration of Japan (Manchester 578). Ambassador Sebald spoke of the rule of MacArthur. Never before in the history of the United States had such enormous and absolute power been placed in the hands of a single individual. The Supreme Commanders influence extended to over a hundred million people. He said of himself during the occupation, I had to be an economist, a political scientist, an engineer, a manufacturing executive, a teacher, even a theologian of sorts. He enjoyed every minute of it all. He said, I intend to convert Dai Nippon into the worlds greatest laboratory for an experiment in the liberation of a people from totalitarian military rule and for the liberalization of government from within. In short, he, acting as an autarkist, meant to impose freedom on the conquered nation. William Manchester concludes, The experiment succeeded, and it probably would have failed if the General had been less than omnipotent (Manchester 551). LET HIM RULE The Occupation presents multiple types as seen in the indwelling of Christ in you, the two natures, as well as the Millennium. Although MacArthur came in like a lamb, he represented a lion which had all but completely devoured Japan. ...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18). Since He already has the power, why not yield to Him. The answer, of course, is that we, ourselves are power hungry. Our old man, the flesh, does not like ANY authority reigning and ruling over us. This is a universal truth throughout humanity. It is easier, it would seem, to bring this under control after being born again of Gods family and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. However, this experience

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does not eradicate the old nature. As perverted as it may be, it is often easier to bring this rebellious nature under control and submit it to a powerful mortal man than it is to submit to an unseen, spiritual being. As far as I know, the most powerful verse on loyalty and submission in the Bible is found in 2 Sam 15:15. "And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint." Men will make this kind of a commitment to a worldly ruler, a selfexalted idol, a girlfriend, a mom, a secret society, and even an evil gang, before they will swear this allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is because they have never unconditionally surrendered. They have never signed a peace treaty, and they have never enjoyed the abundant life of the indwelling of Christ, the hope of glory. If the Lord could freely exercise His will in us without resistance, we would enjoy the ultimate existence, the fullest satisfaction in all things, and the most fruitful life possible. His authority over us would not be any burden at all. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (l John 5:3). King David sort of touched the hem of this garment when he wrote Psalm 119. His rule over us is a giant experiment to demonstrate the paradox for all eternity that as He rules over us...He has made us free. "For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant" (l Cor. 7:22). Our Lord doesnt just rule in us for the sake of ruling. He is not on a megalomantic, bad trip. He knows our end from the beginning. He knows more detail, truthfully, about us than we will ever have the wisdom and understanding to grasp with our own pea brains. And, with all this accurate knowledge, He designs a constitution unique to our personality and yet universally authoritative to all mankind, and seeks to implement it into our lives. This commonly applicable constitution is named the Holy Bible and is preserved perfectly in the Authorized King James Version. Any person with any wisdom will look in the mirror and in the family history and will have to admit that he needs an authority over him. Especially one that is flawless. If we have secured the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, then we can disarm and

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demobilize...itll be OK. We can read the constitution in relative calm and know that our King and Supreme Commander truly wants to improve our status of life. Victory is more than an end to hostilities and more than a peace treaty; occupation brings satisfaction, peace, contentment, and the ultimate life. When the heathen yell at me on the street and tell me to get a life, I sincerely feel they do not deserve a response. TOTAL COMMITMENT The scope of the mission of the occupation was massive, more than a committee of dedicated men should accomplish in a century. Without taking a deep breath, the Supreme Commander dove into the undertaking like a hungry man devours a good meal. He and his staff worked seven days a week, on an average of 12 hours a day, without vacation, Christmas break, or even a day off for MacArthurs own birthday. He never even toured the countrys scenic wonders. In the five years between V-J day and Korean War he left Tokyo just twice, to attend proclamation of independence ceremonies in Manila and Seoul; in each case he was back before evening. He turned down a million-dollar offer to write his memoirs because he wanted to devote all his energies to the Japanese recovery, which he felt would be the capstone of his career. He was away from the United States for a span of eight years. His presence was requested by many organizations, political parties, Congress, (for the purpose of reporting on the war as well as on the occupation) even the President, but he politely declined, preferring rather to remain at his important post. In a light, egotistical comment, he once told a staff member, If I returned for only a few weeks, word would spread through the Pacific that the United States was abandoning the Orient (Manchester). The Supreme Commander was indefatigable in his obsession to resurrect Japan. MacArthur oversaw the rebuilding and maintaining of the following departments of government, Economic and Scientific, General Accounting, General Procurement Agency, Civil Government, Natural Resources, Public Health and Welfare, Statistics and Reports, Civil Communications, Civil Information and Education, Civil Intelligence, Civil Property Care, Civil Transportation, Military, Justice, and Education. His personal hands-on work included supervising mass vaccinations, registering

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important works of art, giving technical advice to coal mining companies, censoring newspapers, and the overseeing the rewriting of text books for school children. This is honestly just the tip of the iceberg concerning his duties. He answered all the mountains of personal mail he received from both friends and fan club, and he never left the office until all the correspondences and duties of that day were completely finished. Although his finger was in every pie, he wanted the Japanese to shape their own destiny. He said, We will not do for them what they can do for themselves (MacArthur). More and more, as the years of occupation marched on, the office of the Supreme Commander weaned the government of Japan off of the breast of the Allies (almost solely the United States) and on to successful self government, self-respect, and self-reliance. MacArthur was brilliant in working in a very delicate balance between iron clad rule and the weaning process mentioned above. A Japanese author assessing the occupation wrote,
In the final analysis, MacArthurs headquarters and the Eighth army garrison forces were synonymous. The Allies thought of themselves as inducing democracy, and in fact, reformist Japanese responded vigorously to SCAPs innovative projects. [SCAP stands for Supreme Command Allied Pacific; this was the anagram representing MacArthurs headquarters also known as GHQ standing for General Headquarters] In key instances, however, the occupiers agenda was imposed, and Japan, as a vanquished country, had no recourse but to obey. General Order no. 1 and 2, on Sept. 45 warned that failure to comply promptly with Allied instructions would incur drastic and summary punishment at the hands of Allied Military Authorities. This was unavoidable and necessary, for in the absence of an army of occupation, GHQ and progressive Japanese could never have broken, even momentarily, the stranglehold of the immensely powerful and tenacious Old Order, with its ingrained habits of thought, entrenched political interests and steely grip, and postwar transformation could not have begun (Eiji 116).

MacArthur even had a temperament of character which fit well into the oriental culture. He ruled mainly in an indirect manner remaining by-in-large aloof. This was the manner by which the emperor had ruled. It is unlikely that MacArthur copied this style of rule in order to be accepted. Rather, this was the natural style of MacArthur in his administration.

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The rules were evident and were enforced, but the Supreme Commander knew that any reforms that might be imposed or were forcibly pronounced into the oriental culture would last just as long as the occupation. He had to convince them against their longstanding tradition and culture that these reforms represented their best interest for the long future. Another man may not have had such long lasting success at this; but Japan today represents and reflects the character and influence of General Douglas MacArthurs years of self-less abiding and efficient rule. His own words describe his ultimate goal,
If the historian of the future should deem my service worthy of some slight reference, it would be my hope that he mention me not as a commander engaged in campaigns and battles, even though victorious to American arms, but rather as one whose sacred duty it became, once the guns were silenced, to carry to the land of our vanquished foe the solace and hope and faith of Christian morals. (Manchester 546).

Many of the parts of the constitution strongly suggested by MacArthur legislated liberty to the culture of the Nippon. The government was freed from the chains of feudalism. The women were given liberties and freedoms for the purpose of enhancing the home. Manchester said, It was part of his enigmatic temperament that although he could be ungenerous toward American admirals and uncivil toward his superiors in Washington, he was an imaginative, magnanimous conqueror (Manchester 515). It is a unique story in history that tells of a Supreme Commander who conquers an enemy force who initiated the war, for the totally unselfish purpose of setting a people free from their self imposed confinements. Add to this the fact that the Allies gained nothing, but rather paid dearly, for this act of compassion. The only glory the Allies received might be found in the enjoyment of the liberty and success that Japan enjoys today. OUR LORD NEVER SLEEPS It ought to be of great comfort and even delight to the victorious Christian that his Lord never sleeps nor tires in His campaign to improve and perfect every minute detail of our kingdom within His.

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He is, first and foremost, a gentleman and will stand outside on the front porch of His vanquished foe if that is the foes desire. But, oh the joys, fulfillments, continued victories, and attainments that are available to the wise servant who invites Him into the corners of his innermost chamber, to aid, cleanse, bolster, heal, and rebuild those areas of life terribly damaged by the long war. It is glorious that our Lord chooses not a single harness by which to power our wagonload, but rather a yoke. In this joint effort we can accomplish great work. When the Apostle Peter was in jail in Acts 12, the Lord broke his shackles and opened the doors, but He told Peter to stand up and put on his sandals. Blessed is the kingdom that will allow Him to write its childrens textbooks, and keep its accounting books, and regulate its procurement office, and rule over their justice department. Rich will the leaders be who will install Him over their department of natural resources, and pure are they who will allow His censorship of their newspapers and the overseeing of their works of art. As it was incredible that MacArthur, a full-blooded Caucasian, could understand the mind of an Oriental, how much more, that God could fathom the witty inventions of man. God had to become a man and live among us in order that he might learn obedience. Then, think how beneficial to all involved that such a man of understanding would be given the opportunity to rule-in the essentials for decency and rule-out the inherent evil. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph. 3:17). "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,..." (Col 3:15) His agenda for us looks eventually toward our eventual self-respect, self-control, self-motivation, and the resurrection of our personality, washed, fixed and regenerated by His own character and spirit, the end is that we might be conformed to His image. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God

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hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). Other gods may have a singular goal of vanquishing the enemy, and once vanquished, to prosecute, punish, and bleed to the sadistic satisfaction of their perverted, insatiable appetites. May we ever give praise to our compassionate Conqueror who has only our best interest always at heart. "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD" (Ps. 144:15). Our Supreme Commander seeks only to unlock the bands of our own guilt for starting the war in the first place, and to unleash us from our binding traditions of sinful habits and thoughts. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

DISARMAMENT AND DEMOBILIZATION Immediately following the demobilization and disarming of the enemy army, MacArthur issued what was later called the Civil Liberties Directive. It provided that all restrictions of political, civil and religious rights then existing in Japan would be lifted immediately. There would be no censorship of the press by the Japanese, all strictly political prisoners were released, and the infamous Kempi-Tai (thought police) was abolished. He received a storm of criticism from around the world, the leader of which was Russia. The Civil Liberties directive made a strong statement to the Japanese that if they would trust him, he in turn would trust this new liberated people. MacArthur had every reason to chalk up an unqualified success when he reported on demobilization as follows,

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I know of no demobilization in history, either in war or peace, by our own or by any other country, that has been accomplished so rapidly and so frictionlessly. Everything military, naval or air is forbidden in Japan. This ends its military might and its military influence in international affairs. It no longer reckons as a world power either large or small. (MacArthur). Again I wish to pay tribute to the magnificent conduct of our troops. They could easily-and understandably-have emulated the ruthlessness which their enemy have freely practiced when conditions were reversed by their perfect balance between their implacable firmness of duty on the one hand and resolute restraint from cruelty on the other, has taught a lesson to the Japanese civil population that is startling in its impact. Nothing has so tended to impress Japanese though-not even the catastrophic fact of military defeat itself. They have for the first time seen the free mans way of life in action and it has stunned them into new thoughts and ideas(MacArthur).

The people of Japan, some for the first time in their lives, could truly put away their weapons and defenses, both real and spiritual. They had nothing to fear; they could now even place the complete defense of their lives, their children, their kingdom, government, livelihood, happiness and future into the hands of their compassionate conqueror. What a wonderful ending to a horrific historical event. Japans occupational ruler was both shocked and delightfully complimented when Prime Minister Shidehara visited him and presented a draft for the new constitution for MacArthurs advisory eye. It had been long proposed by the more vengeful of the Allies that a no-war clause be instituted into Japans new constitution, but MacArthur chose not to impose this. Here, before his face was the proposed constitution with Article 9 of Chapter 11, composed and written wholly out of the heart of the leadership of the new Japan.
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of preceding paragraph, land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the State will not be recognized. (MacArthur).

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This was unprecedented in the annuls of history and stands as a benchmark to the success of MacArthurs administration of Japan. ITS OK. WE CAN DISARM Its OK. We can disarm, we can demobilize, we can turn our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks. We can relax in our own personal millennium within ourselves. We can put away our defenses for... "There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief"(Prov. 12:21). We need not labor in the design of our own feeble bulwarks against imagined invaders for His name is our strong tower. "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Prov. 18:10). We need not even waste energy in the drafting of our next step for... "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). Its OK. We can now... "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:5-6). What would keep us from writing our own Article 9, Chapter 11 upon our own heart? "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Cor. 3:17). "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Ex. 34:6). OPPOSITION TO ABSOLUTE RULE The enemies of righteousness detest absolute rule. And, so, the voices opposing the Supreme Commanders iron-hand rule were heard around the world. Ironically, most of the noise was made by the ones who have since proven themselves the worst perpetrators of oppression. The objectors to the unity of command exercised in the occupation were, as is always true, those who had little or nothing to do with the winning of the victory; neither had they contributed troops or finance for the continuance of the successful experiment. The Russians, in particular, had refused to enter the Pacific War when they were most needed to divide the Japanese forces. They waited until the victory was secure, just a few days before the unconditional surrender, to engage. Now, they wanted to

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dominate the oppression, rake whatever spoil might remain, and enslave Japan for long into the future. This is exactly what they did with the eastern European countries, divided to them at the end of the war in Europe. There were groups set forward by the Allies that sought to advise, oversee, and take the occupation away from the control of the Supreme Commander. The Far Eastern Commission, the Allied Council of Japan, and less powerful councils were politically motivated think tanks which blew much hot air over tight vocal chords. In the end they produced neither sound judgment nor good advice, and thus were summarily dismissed by MacArthur. MacArthur was at the end of the boot for any and all complaints concerning the occupation, whether valid or fabricated. He knew this was part of the job and simply strode over these fissures as Paul Bunyon would step over the cracks in Main Street. During the occupation the Russians kept Japanese prisoners in their Siberian prison camps and brainwashed them and trained the elite of them to be Communists. Dissatisfied rebels, given advanced training in Moscow, were sent into the Japanese islands as troublemakers. This act was done in order to establish communism in Japan and overthrow and discount the good and fine work of the Occupation accomplished by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. CONFLICTS DURING PEACETIME Our adversary is not a peace monger. He instigated in the garden. He agitated at Sinai. He irritated under Joshua. He conspired with the Pharisees, and he undermines the work of the Holy Spirit in us. His worldly councils are always in opposition of an accord with righteousness, and his strivings create fissures of fear within us. His champion, the flesh, battles incessantly to overthrow the kingdom of God in our hearts; his darts are aimed at penetrating the seal of our redemption. His venom is an acidic irritant to the lining of our peace, and his constant bickering erodes our joy. Neither the devil, nor the flesh, nor the world, played any part in our unconditional surrender. They aided nothing toward our peace treaty. They have only stood in opposition to our desired

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occupation. Our redemption was not financed by Satans blood, and yet, he contradicts our enjoyment of it. He has no advice to give toward our happiness, yet he would take control in a moment. He designs only pits for our journey, yet he beckons us to follow him. Even during the reign of our King, although the world will be subject and the devil will be chained, there is enough rumbling in the underworld to make a very loud crescendo of rebellion, only to be hushed by the final action of our Lord. SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT The United States ambassador to Japan during the years of the occupation gave MacArthur only good marks. He had no political motives for his comments, having been appointed by Truman who was MacArthurs strong opponent. The ambassador wraped the entire event in gold foil when he said, It was an unprecedented attempt by the victorious Allies of the Pacific War, and principally the US, to remake an entire people as a means of preventing another violent Asian conflict. The results, both good and bad, are clearly visible in todays Japan (Sebald. 15). Winston Churchill wrote his comments on the success of the occupation from Chartwell in Kent England.
I have been meaning for a long time to tell you with what interest and sympathy I have followed your policy and administration in Japan. In spite of what happened in the War, I have a regard for the Japanese nation and have pondered upon their long, romantic history. To visit Japan is one of my remaining ambitions; but I can hardly hope it will be fulfilled. I am so glad you have been able to raise them up from the pit into which they had been thrown by the military castes, who only had a part of the facts before them. I admire your wise and farsighted policy. They ought to be our friends in the future, and I feel this wish has been a key to many of your important decisions.

It would have been very easy to prevent the last war but it is not so easy to cope with the future. The peace and freedom-loving nations must not make exactly the same mistakes again. That would be too hard.

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With every good wish and my sincere congratulations on your masterly achievements as a general and a statesman (MacArthur). EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW Do you suppose every knee means every knee? Does the devil have knees? Does Amalek (the flesh, the old man) have knees? The world of eternity will have only applause for the good job done in us and ultimately in the affairs of this great 7000 year experiment. The devil will be compelled to say, Amen! to his own condemnation as he is thrown into the Lake of Fire, never to escape.

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CHAPTER SIX PARALLEL JUDGES


"AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT (Heb. 9:27) Unlike the judgments of the unrighteous enemy, MacArthur ascended the judgment throne in fairness. It was not his most beloved duty, but it had to be done. He did not sit in the actual trial of the war criminals, but his advice and recommendations weighed as heavily as any other official military judges. It was a superhuman ability that allowed him to judge fairly the same officers who had so badly mistreated his soldiers and friends. Although MacArthur had gone to great pains to spare the great monuments and architecture of Manila, many sacked it for their perverted pleasures sake and had targeted MacArthurs treasured private quarters for spoil, vandalism, and ashes. These unrepentant perverts put non-prejudice at further reach. It was ironic for the General, who had been hung in effigy in the middle of Tokyo as a prophetic promise by Tokyo Rose, to be vested with ultimate, unquestioned power upon a throne near the same location. The tide had truly turned. Japanese General Homma had been disgraced by his nation and found guilty for his leading role in the Bataan Death March, and the atrocities which ensued thereafter. His wife came personally to MacArthur to plead for the life of her husband. The Supreme Commander received her with kindness and gentleness, and told her that he had the greatest possible personal sympathy for her and understood the great sorrow of her situation; he assured her that he would give the gravest consideration to her request. In the end, MacArthur wrote a review of Hommas case and made the following eloquent statement of his findings.
I am again confronted with the repugnant duty of passing final judgment on a former adversary in a major military campaign. The proceedings show the defendant lacked the basic firmness of character and moral fortitude essential to officers charged with the high command of military forces in the field. No nation can safely trust its martial honor to leaders who do not maintain the universal

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code which distinguishes between those things that are right and those things that are wrong. The testimony shows a complete failure to comply with this simple, but vital standard. The savageries which resulted have shocked the world. They have become synonymous of horrors and mark the lowest ebb of depravity of modern times. There are few parallels in infamy and tragedy with the brutalization of troops who in good faith laid down their arms. It is of peculiar aversion that the victims were a garrison whose heroism and valor has never been surpassed. Of all fighting men of all time none deserved more the honors of war in their hour of final agony. The callousness of denial has never been exceeded. This violation of a fundamental code of chivalry, which has ruled all honorable military men throughout the ages in treatment of defeated opponents, will forever shame the memory of the victorious troops. I can find no circumstances of extenuation although I have searched for some instance upon which to base palliation (MacArthur).

MacArthur goes on to mention that he is acting as a final reviewing authority. He states that the trial was conducted in the unshaded light of truth. He calls it a strange jurisprudence which would defeat the fundamental purpose of justiceto justify wrong. He concludes that Powerful as he may be in time of war, he still is not autocratic or absolute, he still remains responsible before the bar of universal justice. And with this, he approved the findings of the court to execute the sentence of death upon General Homma. When the final verdict comes in on this judge concerning his judgment, it will, no doubt, be one which reflects one of both complete knowledge as well as superhuman fairness. ************ Jesus Christ, the only person who ever lived who would qualify for the perfect judge, knows all the facts from origin to conclusion, knows not only the actions of the transgression but both the heart and mind of the transgressor. He knows all of the ramifications of the infraction and is perfect in His evaluation of the transgressors reaction to his responsibility. He is not only bound by His perfect law but, at the same time, at liberty to have mercy upon whom He will have mercy. In consideration of all of the above, Jesus Christ is the only sane choice of power upon which to cast yourself for judgment.

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Only a person addicted to foolish rebellion would attempt to dissipate our Lords perfect judgment with a simple act of fickle disbelief. The phrase we have heard all too many times, Judge not is not only a flagrant ravaging of scripture, but is terribly revealing of the speakers general stupidity and lack of character. The perfect judgment of God is a vital building block of life. It is the transmission fluid which is essential to drive the universe, and it will be among the jewels of His righteous crown in eternity. The only force which can alter the course of the righteous judgment of God has been made available to the vilest dregs of creation, that being, ...repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). If the doctrine of the judgment of God is distasteful to you, you had better develop a healthy appetite for repentance. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen 18:25).

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LET US HEAR THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER A delegation of the House of Commons came to Japan during the occupation and made a comprehensive investigation. They reported to the government of London that, ...the occupation should be considered one of the greatest achievements of history. Kozaemon Kimura, minister of agriculture and forestry, stated in the spring of 1947, in the middle of the Occupation, General MacArthur has opened the heart of America to Japan. Similar praise came from heads of state around the globe. In light of todays frivolous accomplishments by our current great men, what General Douglas MacArthur achieved from 1941-1951 should be held out as a golden baton toward young runners of the day, to inspire character, to set worthy goals and to motivate profitable exploits. The Marines, as well as the rest of us, could use a few good men. ************ As MacArthur opened up the heart of America to Japan, so the Lord Jesus Christ has opened the heart of God to us. His occupation of us will only serve to our betterment, as well as the betterment of all whom we touch. May we let Him have His way with us. Jesus Christ, the ultimate man, the God-man, ought to be lifted up before our hearts each new day, and before the hearts of our family and countrymen, so that His exaltation in our minds and lives could draw all men closer to Himself. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32). "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you... (James 4:8). THE END...
NO, ONLY THE BEGINNING!

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Authorized King James Bible. 1611. Bradley, James. Flags of Our Fathers. Bantam Books,2000. Butow, Robert. Japans Decision to Surrender. Stanford University Press, 1954. Eiji Takemae. Inside GHQ...Occupation of Japan and Its Legacy. Continuum, 2002. MacArthur, Douglas. Reminiscences . McGraw Hill,1964. Manchester, William. American Caesar. Boston, Little, Brown, 1978. Manning, Paul. Hirohito, the War Years. Dodd, Mead, 1986. Perry, John Curtis. Beneath the Eagles Wings. Dodd, Mead, 1980. Sebald, William. With MacArthur in Japan. Sheldon, Walt. Honorable Conquerors. MacMillan Co., 1965. Whitney, Courtney. MacArthur, His Rendezvous with History. Knopf, 1956. Willoughby, Charles, A. MacArthur. 1954

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Dr. Gerald Sutek has been in the ministry of the Lord since 1968. He is primarily a publick preacher, ministering the Word of God on street corners throughout the world. He is one of the founders of SWAT TEAM for CHRIST. This organization primarily promotes publick ministry. More can be learned about them via the web site listed below. He has also pastored three churches and has taught in several Bible colleges. He has authored four other books listed below. STREET PREACHERS MANUAL I AM NOT ASHAMED REBUKING IN THE GATE FRAGMENTS OF FAITH These are available via his web site, www.streetpreaching.com or through Bible Believers Book Store (888) KJV-1611 Dr. Sutek has two doctorate degrees; one in Theology and one in History which uniquely qualifies him to write this type of history/typology book entitled PARALELL CONQUERORS. At the writing of this book he is now planning to direct his ministry toward eastern Europe and will soon relocate in Romania.

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