Rise Of The Kings Of The East

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.