LIFE.com presents photos — most of which never ran in LIFE magazine — from Hawaii and the mainland, chronicling a nation’s resolute reply to an unprecedented act of war.

Aikman thoughtfully addresses whether we were once a Christian nation, but more provocatively, what America will be like if, culturally, we become "one nation without God."

The authors make a quasi-legal case for military action and then apply the Army’s Operating Concept 2016-2028 to the situation. They write ... "Americans will expect the military to execute without pause and as professionally as if it were acting overseas.”

- George Washington was a devout Christian, and his writings prove it.

- John Adams believed Christianity provided the uniting principles for the Union.

- Thomas Jefferson stated: "I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."

- Benjamin Franklin abandoned his earlier belief in Deism, and said that Jesus' religion was, "...the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see.

- Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, James Madison, John Quincy Adams and a host of other American leaders were dedicated followers of Jesus.

The resolution, introduced by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., was considered under an expedited floor procedure and passed in a 396-9 vote, gaining the two-thirds required for passage.

Look at our nation now. Instead of being a support to the rest of the world during this economic crisis, we have descended into the worst financial condition since at least the Great Depression. Despite endless rhetoric from the politicians and economic experts, we are still in free-fall. Our investments have declined, our jobs have been given to other nations and our own people are sinking into poverty.

Our military sacrifices have been undercut by bad governmental decisions. Terrorists are convinced that they will ultimately overcome in this present struggle. We are about to leave Afghanistan and Iraq without improving that part of the world. We can’t keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Our support for Israel is anemic. We have lost the peaceful gains we enjoyed for a little time with Russia.

Why is this happening, and what does it mean for our generation? Historians assure us that the early greatness of America was a byproduct of our moral and ethical world view. Our leaders were generally Bible-believing heroes. Our word was our bond: we kept our promises. We taught our children what was right and wrong. We worked hard and were proud of what we produced. Our churches were valiant for the truth and were faithful to expose evil.

During the past two generations the church in America has turned from its literal interpretation of the Bible, and has allowed the corrupting influences of secular humanism, the sexual revolution, abortion, and other ungodly beliefs and practices to slowly infiltrate its leadership. This change is actually one of the main predictions of the End Times. It is called apostasy, or a “falling away” from the truth. The Apostle Paul warned…

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

As a result, at the very time Christians should be most concerned about the rapid fulfillment of End Times predictions, many of them have been anesthetized to the seriousness of their condition. Therefore, our nation has lost its vitality and is in the process of becoming irrelevant. The Bible did not need to mention our presence because we will have lost our influence.

Does it have to end this way? Actually, no! There is still hope for America. What God promised for believers in the Old Testament would still apply today if we would just turn back to Him and allow him to bring a great redeeming revival!

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14