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14. "Tokyo Rose"-Type Propaganda (Psychological Warfare)
Psychological warfare is the use of propaganda to hurt the enemy's morale. In World War II, Iva d'Agucho, known as Tokyo Rose, made broadcasts for Japan telling American GI's to give up--that the world was against
them, that their fighting was in vain, that they would either die or end up in prison. This type of warfare is recorded in the Bible against restorationists. For example in the Book of Ezra, the Israelites
of Judah (who in the King James version are called Jews, but are not to be mistaken with the modern-day people who call themselves Jews) were laboring to restore the badly-damaged temple. The enemies of Israel
used psychological warfare in an attempt to halt the restoration. "Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building and hired counselors against them to
frustrate their counsel...," Ezra 4:4-5. The book of Nehemiah is about the restoring of the walls of Jerusalem; in it we again see the use of psychological warfare. "For all of
them were trying to frighten us, thinking, 'They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.' But now, O God, strengthen my hands. And when I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of
Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, 'Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming
to kill you at night.' But I said, 'Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.' Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him,
but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report
in order that they could reproach me. Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me,"
Nehemiah 6:9-14. |