Just hear the words: “GODZILLA” – and without a shadow of doubt, the one and only image of kaiju-strosity that pops into your mind is:
The gigantic ocean emerging nuclear mutated creature known as Godzilla, aka Gojira (ゴジラ) in Japanese.
Just how popular is Godzilla?
- There are 38 Godzilla movies to date, including movies released for Japan and international audiences
- Godzilla has its own website promoting all things related to the Godzilla franchise: https://godzilla.com/
- Godzilla’s head is a major attraction in Shinjuku: https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/heres-how-you-can-see-the-godzilla-in-shinjuku-up-close-072723
- Take a zip line into Godzilla’s mouth at Nijigen no Mori Theme Park: https://www.japan.travel/en/japans-local-treasures/nijigen-no-mori-theme-park/
- I can’t even begin to explain the appeal and magnitude of the popularity of Godzilla merch! A documented list exists here: https://godzilla.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_merchandise – I bet every man-child and kid on earth has heard of Godzilla.
Simply put, Godzilla is a worldwide phenomenon from Japan ever since his very first debut film in 1954 directed and co-written by Ishirô Honda.
Can we find a comparison to Godzilla in the Bible?
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook,
Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
Can you put a reed through his nose,
Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
Will he make many supplications to you?
Will he speak softly to you?
Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him as a servant forever?
Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you leash him for your maidens?
Will your companions make a banquet of him?
Will they apportion him among the merchants?
Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle—
Never do it again!
Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false;
Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
– Job 41:1-9 New King James Version Bible
Sound like the King of Monsters?
What is a Leviathan?
Search up the original Hebrew word for ‘Leviathan’ to find its transliteration as livyāṯān (לִוְיָתָן) which means (and I kid you not): SEA DRAGON.
[Click here to refer to the definition in the Strong’s Concordance].
Now that we have uncovered the meaning of Leviathan, read Job 41:1-9 again and tell me if that’s not Gojira (ゴジラ) in there!
Did you know that the book of Job mentions two kinds of creature that no scientist or theologian or creationist have a reasonable explanation for? A Leviathan and a Behemoth. Enter the Leviathan for the focus of this entry.
Fortunately, no Leviathan exists to trash our cities today, so Godzilla definitely bags the prize as the closest and most accurate pop cult rendition of the terrifying sea dragon as described in the book of Job.
God and Godzilla’s Message to Us
Human beings like you and I love monsters and they have been used to depict terrifying consequences when we play God in many books and movies. Godzilla for example is a reflection of the negative aftermath of the nuclear arms race.
The book of Revelation in the Bible declares another Kaiju-sized warning to us due to human nature’s propensity towards evil. At the end of Revelation chapter 12 and the start of Revelation chapter 13, we find a Beast with the image of a Dragon standing at the shore of the sea:
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
Whoever has ears, let them hear.
“If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
– Revelation 13:1 – 10 New International Version Bible
The Bible is primarily a Jewish document, and the parable above speaks of a dictator with a Kaiju sized appetite, filled with the praises and awe of the masses and committing senseless atrocities against good folks like Jews and other God-fearing individuals.
Has history given us figures resembling the above ‘monster’? Hitler is one such figure. Even though Hitler is as good as dead, his influence can be felt today by the ever-present reality of Antisemitism – hatred against the Jews. The attacks against Israel today (and ill treatment towards Jews) by her enemies are ideological influences that began as far back as in 1941 when Hitler met the Grand Mufti.
Quoting from the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jonathan Greenblatt:
“Amplifying it all are online platforms that tolerate antisemitism and hate, facilitating its unprecedented reach and accessibility. Not just adults, but children can easily find horrific hate online with a click or a swipe, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In our local communities, we see swastikas drawn into desks at school, students ostracized for supporting Israel on college campuses and synagogue windows smashed. We see hate groups spreading antisemitic rhetoric through fliering campaigns, public demonstrations and online. At anti-Israel protests, common chants have come to include “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Globalize the Intifada.”
Finally, this is all happening at a time when our collective memory of the Holocaust is fading. A recent Pew study indicated that Gen Z knows less about the Holocaust than previous generations. 9 The ADL Global 100: An Index of Antisemitism determined that only an estimated 54 percent of adults worldwide have even heard of the Holocaust. Findings from an ADL Center on Antisemitism Research study reveal that belief in antisemitic tropes is strongly correlated with a lack of knowledge about Jews, Judaism and the Holocaust. Survey participants who correctly answered that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust believed the fewest anti-Jewish tropes.”
The Bible is primarily a Jewish document…
Godzilla reminds us that as human beings, we have the propensity to love monsters, love destruction and may be prone to support ‘monsters’ who breed Antisemitic hatred or hatred for moral righteousness that build up people, families and life itself.
We have a choice to support the monster which comes out of the sea or take the narrow way which leads to goodness, peace and life.
Let us choose life and support Jews and Arabs alike and show love and not hate, lest we become sea serpents, monsters ourselves.