China’s Plan to Be King of the East :: By Jack Kinsella

Chinese civilization and culture date back 4,500 years. The Chinese have never been aggressive conquerors of other nations or people, but they have a history of being extremely aggressive in defense of their country and the imperial control of Chinese territory and peoples.

The annexing of Tibet, the military campaigns against India in the 1970s, and intervention in the Korean War in the 1950s were further manifestations of the Great Wall syndrome dating to 200 B.C. It’s been observed that if you stuck a two by four into the ground in China, the next morning there’d be a wall around it.

During the ’90s, the Clinton administration tried to 1) recruit China as a strategic ally, but the strategy failed while Chinese agents 2) gleefully looted U.S. national secrets, 3) influenced the U.S. national election of 1996, 4) got a pesky missile guidance problem fixed, 5) arranged to have a laundry list of technology waivers granted; and then, as soon as a new administration took office, forced down a U.S. plane and took its crew captive.

Within hours, there were walls around the EP-3 spy plane, there were walls around the crew, and by the time Beijing released it to us, the Chinese had stripped the plane clean of technology so they could build a wall around their airspace too.

China doesn’t want a friendship with the West or a strategic alliance with Washington; the 90’s détente was an excuse to plunder the U.S. for fun and profit while learning as much as possible for use in China’s next Great Wall.

China plans an Asian Common Market that would give member countries – including China, preference over countries outside the bloc.

China envisions an Asian Common Market that included the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Asia, exclude Japan, suck in South Korea, and in the view of the planners in Beijing, ensure Chinese prosperity at a time of increased tensions with Washington.

To this end, China has been conducting a quiet but persistent diplomacy designed to wean the countries of the region away from their “dependence” on the United States.

Beijing has only been partly successful among the ASEAN states (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Most of them don’t trust China any more than they do the United States, and in many instances, less.

But the “anti-hegemony” rhetoric of Chinese diplomats has been having an increasing response in the Middle East. There, significant elements of the professional and ruling elites are looking to ways of reducing their exposure in Western financial markets. China presents an attractive alternative.

China’s move toward Iran is not aimed at expanding China’s empire, but instead at widening one of its walls. Beijing sees in Iran the ideal country to replicate its North Korea/Pakistan strategy.

By creating nuclear and missile capabilities artificially in unstable, potentially aggressive neighbors, Beijing can divert the attention of the United States to these problem states and away from China.

It’s a policy that has worked for two decades and has resulted in China being nearly surrounded with a buffer zone of nuclear states friendly only to Beijing. China’s new Nuclear Great Wall.

Assessment

When the apostles were first beginning to spread the Good News of Jesus into the world, the Holy Spirit instructed them not to preach the word of God in Asia.

“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia” (Acts 16:6).

As a consequence, the initial thrust of Christianity as it spread across the earth went toward the west rather than the east. This had profound implications for the future, not the least of which was the fact that Christianity thereafter would be seen as a western institution and be identified closely with western government.

History shows that this has been the course that the message of the Gospel has taken as it has been preached across the world. It started in the Middle East and spread north and west throughout Europe while its eastern course was blocked and thwarted.

Five hundred years ago, Columbus brought Christianity to the Western Hemisphere, where it began to spread across the American continent (Jer.25:22). Today, it is sweeping across eastern Asia, coming, like the sun, full circle around the globe.

Modern China is home to one of the fastest-growing underground church movements in history, as the Word of God continues to follow the path of the sun, from east to west, but the Bible says that the light of truth goes out during the Tribulation period.

John says that the four spirits bound at the Euphrates River will be unbound in the last days to prepare the way for the kings of the east.

It is from this river that the ‘night’ of Satan bursts its eastern boundaries and moves west, proceeding westward from there to take away what light of God yet remains in the west.

The invasion of the West by the forces of the East is one of the most significant events of the last days. From its earliest pages, the Bible has consistently predicted that the final destruction of Babylon will come with the rise to power of the Prince of Persia (2 Chron. 36:20).

The ultimate Prince of Persia is still to come.

At the head of an army greater than any the world has ever seen, this ranting madman from the North will overthrow the power of the western world and, in his rampage, destroy the entire earth. In that disaster, a third of the human race will die in warfare alone (Rev.9:14).

The army which will inflict this terror on the planet will number 200 million soldiers (Rev. 9:16). Their battle colors, according to the Bible, will be blue, orange-red, and yellow (Rev. 9:17).

John said that in the van of this army, demon spirits would issue “out of the jaws” of the dragon, calling the entire world to the battlefields that prelude and surround Armageddon (Rev. 6:13).

China’s one-child policy resulted in way more young men than young women, so China’s standing army of 200 million is an army of frustrated and jumpy young men without much hope of a family life apart from the state.

China is extending its reach into Iran, even as it seeks ways to drive the West back over to its side of the Euphrates.

Jesus said, “And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

This was written by Jack Kinsella on June 7, 2003. He went to be with the Lord on March 14, 2013.

His articles can be found in the Omega Letter archives at this link.

Things Written Before :: By Nathele Graham

Many people won’t study the Old Testament. I’m not sure why. They might read Psalm 23 just for comfort, but other than that and a vague knowledge of the creation account and the flood, they turn right to the New Testament. The Gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus, but did you ever wonder who those people are? Then, when you get to the Gospel of Luke, the genealogy seems different than listed in Matthew’s account. If you understand who the people are by studying all of Scripture, you will understand that both Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, and Mary, Jesus’ human mother, descended from King David but through two different sons of David. The story behind each person is very interesting and can be read in the Old Testament.

Each of their stories will help you to understand that God uses people in spite of our imperfections.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

There are many lessons to be learned in Old Testament Scriptures, and prophecy has been given for us to understand the times in which we live. Do you base the future on a fortune cookie or on God’s truth? Nostradamus was no prophet of God Almighty, so turn to Scripture and learn truth.

The world today is a very scary place. In this time of crisis, the Old Testament will make it clear that persecution isn’t new. Read about how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to obey God rather than bow down to false gods of gold. They faced death rather than bow their knees to heathen gods.

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).

They knew God was able to deliver them from death, but even if He allowed them to die in the furnace, they wouldn’t serve demon gods. God did deliver them, and their testimony was powerful.

Daniel wouldn’t compromise his faith either. The political advisors of the day were corrupt. Does that sound familiar? They hated Daniel because of his faith. They plotted against him and came up with a law making it illegal to ask anything of any god or man; the man asking would be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel loved and served God Almighty, and he openly continued to pray to the only true God in spite of the evil decrees of men.

“Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God” (Daniel 6:11).

They went and tattled to the king and had Daniel thrown to the lions. But God had a greater plan. Daniel’s life is a testimony to the power of God, and even the king knew the penalty would be useless.

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (Daniel 6:16).

Today, as Christians are being told to compromise our faith and stop worshipping openly, the faith these men had is encouraging. Daniel wouldn’t stop worshipping God and praying to Him in spite of man’s laws forbidding it. Study all of Scripture and be sure that your choices are consistent with Scripture, then stand firm on God’s word.

Another example of faith from the Old Testament is Job. He faced the loss of his children, his fortune, and disease riddled his body. All evil comes from Satan. God may allow bad things to happen, but Satan is always to blame. Job never lost faith in God Almighty. Job heard no encouraging words from his wife.

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). Then a group of friends came to visit him, and they went on and on about how all of Job’s troubles were his own fault. Job finally listened to God and was able to say, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27).

That’s faith we can admire. Long before Jesus walked the earth and gave His life to redeem humanity, Job knew his redeemer lives. Do you have that faith? Do you profess it with your mouth but deny Him by your actions? Take a lesson of faith from Job.

Old Testament Scripture gives examples of faith. In the letter to the Hebrews, there is a long list of people who accomplished great things because of their faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:1-3).

The author of Hebrews starts at the beginning and tells us that by faith we believe God created all things. The creation account is found in Genesis chapter 1, and John chapter 1 reveals that Jesus is the Word made flesh and the Creator of all things. Then the writer of Hebrews goes through a long list of men and women who lived their lives day by day but had faith in God and served Him. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain; Enoch was Raptured prior to God’s judgment; Noah took God seriously and built an Ark. The list goes on, but if you read the history of each person listed in the “Hall of Faith,” you will learn more about your own faith and how believing God is always better than believing sinful man.

Old Testament Scripture is very important for examples of holding fast to faith in spite of what our eyes can see.

Elisha, a prophet of God, and his servant were in a bad situation that brought fear upon the servant. Elisha had thwarted the plans of the king of Syria to destroy Israel because he listened to God. The king of Syria came after Elisha with an army. The servant saw the army and felt fear.

“…Alas, my master! How shall we do? And he answered Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15b-17).

Elisha kept his eyes on God and saw His power. What about us? We have more than chariots of fire; we have Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him, and fear not.

Jesus was Jewish and mostly spoke to a Jewish audience, so as Gentiles, we need to study the Old Testament to gain understanding of the New Testament and what Jesus accomplished for us.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

The Law was given by God to teach about sin and sacrifice. Blood had to be shed in order to cover sin, but animal blood could never take sin away. Read about Passover in Exodus and understand that Jesus, God incarnate, was the Lamb of God who shed His blood for our salvation. Faith in His death, burial, and resurrection takes sin away. We have the fulfillment of Job’s words and know that our Redeemer lives. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies by His birth and by His death. We should never take His sacrifice for granted. Like Daniel, we should never stop openly worshipping our God.

Paul’s letter to the Romans contains about sixty quotes from the Old Testament. This letter was written to a Gentile congregation, but still the Old Testament was cited. Scripture, from Genesis through Revelation, is inspired by God. Men wrote the words that the Holy Spirit dictated.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Unless you study all of Scripture, you’ll miss many important points in New Testament teaching.

The letters written to the congregation in Corinth contain a long account of Jewish history. Paul talks about their wandering in the wilderness. Why would this bit of Jewish history be important to a Gentile congregation? The Old Testament is filled with many “pictures” for us to see Christ more clearly.

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

The Greek word translated “ensamples” is “typos,” which here means to show a pattern or a picture of something. The Israelites wandered for 40 years because of their lack of faith, but God was always there to lead them and care for them. God provided manna, which is a type of Christ.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (John 6:32-33).

When Moses struck the rock, and life-giving water flowed from it, that was a picture of Christ.

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).

If you still have doubts as to the importance of Old Testament Scripture, listen to Jesus. On the day of His resurrection, His disciples were extremely confused and fearful. Two of those men left Jerusalem, walked to Emmaus, and discussed the events of the past week.

“And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them” (Luke 24:15).

These men had great sorrow, and instead of looking for Jesus, their grief blinded them. The Living Lord was walking with them, but they couldn’t see. Makes me think of Elisha’s servant. Jesus asked what they were talking about, and they gave an account of the problem; they thought Jesus was the One who would deliver them, but He was crucified.

“But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done” (Luke 24:21).

Some women had been to the tomb, but it was empty. These men forgot Old Testament prophecy… they forgot to study things written before. Jesus called them fools.

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scripture the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

What a Bible study that must have been! It’s found in the Old Testament, but we have to study things written before in order to understand.

We live in a time of great turmoil and uncertainty. There are many “experts” who confuse us with secular answers to a spiritual attack. How will it all end? The book of Daniel gives a very concise answer that Jesus confirmed. There will be a final 7-year period of time in which God’s wrath will be poured out upon non-believers. The only way to avoid this time of tribulation is to put your faith in Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer. In Him there is forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life.

The signs of the times are becoming very clear, and if you haven’t given your life to Jesus yet, do it today. If you have accepted His sacrifice for redemption, then don’t take your eyes off of Him. Find God’s peace in Scripture… both the Old and New Testaments.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

PLEASE NOTE: Friends, I am having some trouble with my email. For some reason, my Inbox is not allowing any emails to come in. If you have written to me in the last few weeks and I haven’t responded, I apologize. Until I get this problem solved, please email me at nathele@embarqmail.com.

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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