RISE OF THE KINGS OF THE EAST
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: 3 Wise Men
http://christianfunnypictures.com/2016/12/three-wise-men-11-hilarious-cartoons.html
B. CHINA & END TIME PROPHECY
1. What role does China, one of the world's great superpowers, play in end-time Bible prophecy? The word "China" doesn’t appear in the Bible, because it’s a significant distance away from the Middle East where Biblical events are mainly centered. For example, from modern Israel, China lies more than 2,100 miles (3,379 kilometers) away. Modern Russia is much closer - 800 miles (1,287 kilometers) away.
2. China is implied to be involved in the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the 7 years of tribulation, after the sixth bowl judgment. At that time, the Euphrates River will be dried up, allowing the “kings of the East” to invade the Middle East and march toward Israel. It is the “kings of the East” identification that many associate with China.
C. SCRIPTURES
1. Daniel 11:36-45 tells the story of the Antichrist just before the battle of Armageddon. We know this is Antichrist because 1). no other king fulfills this historical record and 2). his reign leads up to the “time of wrath” (36) and “the time of the End (Endtimes)” (40). He conquers the Kings of the North (Russia) and of the South (Africa). He thinks himself victorious, “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.” (44)
2. Revelation 16:12-16 puts a spotlight on this trouble from the East. 12 “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 14...demonic spirits...go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.16 ...to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
3. Revelations 9 tells us the number of troops in the Chinese Army; 14 “the sixth angel [said] “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And [they]...were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was 200 million.”
I. RECENT CHANGES IN CHINA & AMERICA
A. CHANGES IN CHINA
1. The development of enormous military strength; intimidation of Hong Kong, Tibet, Taiwan, and other regions; pursuit of global economic dominance; aggressive rhetoric on the world stage; and, of course, the persecution of Chinese Christians—all this has been characteristic of China.
2. It is not hard to imagine that the “kings from the East” who one day march into the Middle East will include China. China, will try their hand at conquest. [Got Questions]
B. AMERICA’S DECLINE AS A SUPERPOWER
1. America's role as the world's only superpower is on the decline - which is to be expected since the US is only slightly referred to in the Book of Revelation. America is responsible for their own decline. In 2000 Congress granted China Most Favored Nation trade status under Bill Clinton. From 2000-2018, the U.S. lost 5,000,000 manufacturing jobs, and many more since.
2. In prophecy, the Bible points out nations such as Russia, Europe and China, who rise to power, filling the power vacuum left by a declining America. Rev 16:12 speaks of a time when, the "kings from the East" (the Chinese army), will sweep westward to meet up with the forces of the Antichrist.
3. Since World War II it has become clear that this largest of all countries has a prophetic role. No longer is China content to stay within its vast borders, as it has been for almost five thousand years. Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in China's power and influence.
II. STATISTICS ON CHINA’S RISE TO POWER
A. CHINA’S ECONOMIC POWER INCREASE
1. China over the past half century has seen 700 million people raised out of desperate poverty. China did this by brute-force imitation.
2. PERSONAL & NATIONAL GDP. Since 1990 American’s per capita GDP grew by 2.7 times, but
Chinese citizens since 1990 have seen their per capita GDP grow by 32 times. In 1990 China’s GDP was $360 billion; it reached $18 trillion in 2022. Thttps://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202309/26/WS65124852a310d2dce4bb7e38.html
3. In just three years, from 2011 to 2013, China poured more concrete than the United States had poured in the entire 20th century.
4. China holds the majority of the United States' debt and, with just one click of a button, could economically destabilize the US. China’s high growth rate, low labor costs and a huge emerging market have attracted the world's highest levels of direct foreign investment.
5. CHINA’S VAST WORK FORCE. China's population of 1.3 billion makes it the most populous nation on earth with a fifth (20%) of the world's people. It is estimated that by 2025, China will have the world's largest middle class" (Foreign Policy, March/April 2008). An enormous population is the building block of a superpower.
B. IT’S MILITARY
1. Its army is already estimated to contain about 2.5 million soldiers, making it the largest standing army! China also has the world's second largest navy. China now has 351 combat ships to the US’ 294 (although they are generally smaller in size). While global arms spending rose 4 percent in 2008, China's grew by 10 percent to an estimated $84.9 billion.
2. HIGH TECHNOLOGY. China employs sophisticated precision weapons, high-tech information and communications technology. China is already thought to be using artificial intelligence in military robotics, missile guidance systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned naval vessels. China has conducted large-scale cyber-operations abroad. In July, 2024 the UK, US and EU accused China of carrying out a major cyber-attack targeting Microsoft Exchange servers.
3. NUCLEAR ARSENAL. China, it said, "likely intends to have at least 1,000 warheads by 2030."
4. ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPONS. China is testing and developing an array of weapons and tools that could destroy, disable or hijack satellites that the U.S. military heavily relies on to operate around the world, the Defense Department said. NBCNEWS 12-12-23. Space lasers will be used in ‘anti-satellite tactics.’
5. UPGRADES. The Chinese military is currently upgrading its Stealth Fighter jets, its Aircraft Carriers, amphibious landing ships, helicopters, and missile frigates. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59600475
C. RECENT AGGRESSION
1. They have become an aggressor nation since 1950. They have aggressively demand Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Sprately Islands (which proves they have a strategy to control all of Asia). Their have used aggressive rhetoric on the world stage, and persecuted the Chinese Christians.
2. All these characteristics of China make it easy to imagine that the "kings from the East", who one day march into Israel, will include China. [China's Role in the Great Tribulation, by Christian Evidence, Monday, January 15, 2018]
3. China has been claiming more and more territory in the South China Sea, coming into conflict with Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippians, and Papua New Guinea. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/territorial-disputes-south-china-sea
III. NEARER TERM: CHINA HAS BEEN PREPPING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEIZING TAIWAN
A. DESIRE TO RE-ACQUIRE TAIWAN
1. China sees Taiwan as a renegade province that must be brought under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the U.S., maintain the “One-China” policy – legally believing that Taiwan belongs to mainland China (though the democratic gov’t of China moved to Taiwan to escape the Communists in 1949), but we still consider Taiwan “partitioned” by itself until some future date.
2. According to U.S. intelligence, Xi has told the Chinese military it needs to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2024/05/07/how-dc-became-obsessed-with-a-potential-2027-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan/
3. Taiwan officials say Beijing has intensified military activities around the island in recent months, including drills in May that the Chinese military said were designed to test its ability to “seize power” over the island. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/china/china-xi-reunification-taiwan-national-day-intl-hnk/index.html
4. When Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan & it’s new separatist President, the Communist Chinese Gov’t became livid, “The US would "pay the price" for Ms. Pelosi's visit.” The PRC did “live-fire military drills in the air and at sea around Taiwan” during her visit.
B. INDICATIONS OF WAR-PREPARATION
1. In March 2024, a Taiwanese data analyst posted an odd satellite image: the Chinese military had erected a scale model of the roads around the presidential palace in Taipei at one of its remote military bases in Inner Mongolia. The military is evidently practicing taking the presidential palace in Taipei! Chinese officials are proceeding with President Xi Jinping’s directive to be ready to invade the independent island by the late 2020s. https://www.newsweek.com/china-taiwan-presidential-office-mock-target-images-1883927
2. Sept. 10-16, 2024, the Russian & Chinese militaries launched massive naval and air drills spanning the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas and involving over 400 warships, submarines and support vessels, more than 120 planes and helicopters and over 90,000 troops. https://apnews.com/article/russia-naval-air-drills-china-f941584643d6503df2b42dae7abe7f15
3. This is a significant issue, for if China tried, alone, to retake Taiwan, it would have to face the U.S., U.K., and possibly Japanese navies. But if the RUSSIAN NAVY were to advance alongside the Chinese Navy – who would have the nerve to fire on both of them & start WW3? Especially since Taiwan is considered part of the PRC.
C. CHINESE WAR EFFECT ON THE U.S.
1. May 8, 2024 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and seizure of chips producer TSMC (2330.TW), opens new tab would be "absolutely devastating" to the American economy. "Right now, the United States buys 92% of its leading-edge chips from TSMC in Taiwan.”
2. According to NBCNews, a military conflict over Taiwan could ruin the global economy (cost $10 trillion) and cause crippling disruption to the supply chain of crucial semiconductors for years. Such an event would make the Covid disruption look like a walk in the park.
3. When Peter Thiel was asked his thoughts on U.S. response to a Taiwan takeover were, he said, “It’s not worth WW3.” This will probably be the US Govt’s position, especially with weak leadership.
CONCLUSION: CONSIDERATIONS OF PROPHECY
1. Q – Could China field an army of 200 Million? Time Magazine, May 21, 1965 [p. 35], quoted China as saying they could field an army of that size then! “To back up Lo’s bluster, Red China passed the word that its 200 million-man (and woman) militias had gone into serious training.” Certainly, with 1.3 billion citizens, they could field an army of that size now!
2. Q -HOW WILL CHINA BE ABLE TO MOVE 200 MILLION PEOPLE? Obviously there must be more than ships for them to move to the Middle East. There’s also an overland route, China National Highway 314 (also called the Karakoram Highway) that goes from China, through the Himalaya Mountains, and into Pakistan. It's called the “8th Wonder of the World” and 1,000 workers died building it! It could move large numbers in large airplanes, and troop ships. The New York Times had an article on Sept. 7, 2023 entitled, “China’s Military Is Going Global.” It describes how China is already transporting troops to many places throughout the world.
3. China began the BELT & ROAD INITIATIVE, a global infrastructure development strategy, in 2013, to invest in more than 150 countries. This “investment” comes with Chinese personnel, probably soldiers and spies among them. China claims it has created 400,000 jobs, probably most of them filled with Chinese workers.
4. China is also operating over 100 POLICE STATIONS across the world, especially in places with a lot of Chinese tourists. These police may often be soldiers or spies, as well as police. Beijing has been operating an overseas police station in New York, London, Rome, Tokyo, Toronto, etc., and using them to go after dissidents in a worldwide extension of their police-state. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/19/china-police-state-outposts-00092913
B. THE CALL
1. If we’re not ready for the coming of the Lord, we should get ready, for the coming of the Lord draws near!
2. Pray for World Peace. Pray for revival in the U.S.A. Pray for revival in your own heart!
3. PRAYER
