People have increasingly asked whether China appears in end-time Bible prophecy. While the Bible doesn’t identify China specifically, it does mention a coalition of nations called The Kings of the East. These nations will use a dried-up Euphrates River to move their armies and gather for battle at Armageddon. China’s growing economic, technological, and military power makes it the elephant in the world’s living room that we can’t ignore. Let’s examine how China’s rise in the end times could affect us as individuals and globally.

In Revelation 16:12, a group of nations is mentioned as the Kings of the East, who are described as having the way prepared to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Who makes up this Eastern coalition of nations? I’m not proclaiming, “Thus says the Lord,” but it is hard to imagine an end-time scenario where this coalition from the East doesn’t include China. Coming to this conclusion was simple because, just in the last century, after thousands of years, Israel is back in her ancient homeland, with Jerusalem reestablished as the eternal capital.

This is a critical point for two reasons. First, the whole reason for the world’s armies gathering at Armageddon is an attack on Israel, which wasn’t possible until our time. Second, despite its rich history, China existed for thousands of years as a third-world backwater nation without prominence on the world stage. Since the year 2000, China’s rise to power has been undeniable, along with its new designation as a superpower. Without a drastic change, China will likely lead the Kings of the East to Armageddon.

As we take a closer look at China’s dramatic rise in the end times, let’s consider the economic powerhouse it’s become.

On October 14, 2014, the IMF reported that China had surpassed the US as the world’s largest economy. This new designation is pivotal because the continued growth of China’s economy fuels its massive military buildup. China is still amid a major economic slump due to a real estate crisis and a sharp decline in investment growth over the last few years. The US and China are in an economic Chess match, and just this week, the Trump Administration and China are rolling out reciprocal export controls.

Although China’s economic growth has slowed, it hasn’t stopped it from making wide-ranging agreements with weaker nations across the globe. This is troubling because, in exchange for giving these nations renewed infrastructure, such as airports and seaports, China is setting up security stations and access to distant blue-water ports in strategic locations worldwide to project its naval power, especially westward.

Looking at China’s rise in the end times, we must consider its incredible technological advances in the last decade. China excels in emerging tech, such as quantum computing, drones, and advanced robotics. Consider the rapid strides in AI with the recent breakthroughs of DeepSeek, a Chinese-owned tech company described as having upended AI. China also has the world’s most complex mass surveillance network, with over 200 million CCTV cameras, facial recognition, infrared capabilities, social credit scores, and ominous prophetic implications.

China has launched numerous advanced satellites into orbit, including Ludi, which operates 22,370 miles above the Earth’s surface, granting China persistent surveillance over one-third of the Earth’s surface. US military analysts are concerned because it gives China constant visual and radar surveillance over strategically important areas. Beijing’s strategy to outpace the West, especially the US, is called civil-military fusion, an effort to develop cutting-edge technologies with military applications.

We’ve considered China’s monumental economic and tech rise; now, let’s look at its rapid military buildup.

I wrote an article about the growing Chinese military threat over ten years ago, in 2014. Since then, China passed the US in one decade to have the world’s largest navy. China has deployed hypersonic weapons systems to overwhelm the US and its allies’ missile defense. China had approximately 260 nuclear warheads in 2014; now, they have over 600 operational warheads. They are on pace to have nearly 1,000 deliverable atomic warheads by 2030, narrowing the gap with the US to within a few hundred. China has a space warfare plan, which includes using missiles and other weapons to disrupt or disable enemy satellites.

The sheer mass of China’s recent military growth is staggering, but another aspect of the China threat has caused enough alarm for government agencies to warn civilians. China has the proven ability to hack into and disrupt critical infrastructure, including the water supply, oil and gas pipeline disruption, transportation, and other areas vital to daily life. Several military experts say this is a likely scenario in a war with the West, Matthew 24:6.

What does China’s rise have to do with the end-times scenario? That remains to be seen, but China appears to be situated for its role on the final page of history.

Armageddon seems less like a faraway event and more like an event that could happen shortly. Any discerning Bible reader must see that events are falling into place increasingly. Timing is everything, and as we covered earlier, Israel is back in the land, and a coalition of Eastern nations will go into Israel for battle.

We are on the cusp of the birth pains and the beginning of sorrows Jesus warned about. Watching rapid major geopolitical shifts take shape in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and especially Israel, it is easy to see that China’s aggression won’t end in Taiwan, but it could realistically assemble with the rest of the world’s armies for the climax of human history, Daniel 11:44 and Revelation 16:12-16.

China is arming to the teeth, the Middle East is embroiled in conflict, and we’re witnessing our society descend into a free fall of immorality. This should be a call to all of humanity, especially Christians. We see signs pointing to the Lord’s soon return and must tell everyone we come into contact with to get ready. Those who long for His appearing know we have little time to warn others to repent because Jesus is coming back, Luke 14:23.

Keep your eyes on China, and remember to pray for persecuted Chinese Christians, as key players are moving into place for an appointment at Armageddon.

All for Him,

Howard

Link to China’s Rise video on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/G-BUK5u4XiA?si=gwA3rPLe5m5iKGaB&t=1

Link to China’s Rise on Concerning The Times Podcast:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chinas-rise-in-the-end-times/id1565453348?i=1000698380021

“Thus saith the Lord, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk therein’” (Jeremiah 6:16).

At this time of year, my daily Bible reading takes me through the book of Deuteronomy. I have read this book many times over the years. The word “Deuteronomy” literally means “second law” or “repeated law.”

And that’s exactly what the book is: Moses repeats the Law to them as he recounts how God tested them in the wilderness.

He reminds them of their sin and disobedience, their grumbling and complaining, and their unbelief in setting up the golden calf, while travelin’ to the Promised Land. He also points out the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness to them: in protection, in provision, and in discipline, chastisement, and judgment.

Whenever I think of Deuteronomy, I think of the Law of Moses: the conditional law that God laid down to Israel: simply put, if they obeyed God’s laws, they would be blessed, and if they disobeyed God’s laws, they would be cursed. To me, that was the main theme of this book. But this time, my reading has been different; I have seen something else that shines out like a bright light.

I still see the Lord giving the conditional Law of blessing and cursing, and I still see Israel’s repeated failures and the Lord’s continuing faithfulness. But I see something else, something beautiful about our God in the Old Testament. God set up His covenant Law over Israel, not as God Almighty ruling over a nation but as a Father, in love, instructing His children as to how they are to behave in His house.

The context of Deuteronomy, if you will, is found right here:

“The Lord did not set His love on you or choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

And so, as you read through the book, you see that it all has to do with a Father’s concern for the best interests of His children. He gives Himself to them as their Protector. They need fear no nation on earth harming them; God Almighty surrounds them, no one can touch them. Consider for a moment how free you would feel if that were the case in the country you live in. As you go about your daily life, you know no evil can touch you.

Then, the Lord gives Himself to them as their provider: they shall not lack or want anything. Consider the land He is giving them:

“…The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything…” (8:7-9).

And if that’s not enough, here’s more:

“You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. The Lord will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known…” (7:14-15).

Given His love, protection, and provision, how free would you feel in such a beautiful and bountiful land?

Question: Understanding this blessed freedom of life under the watchful eye of your Maker and Father, how burdensome does the Law now appear?

And now we come to the child of God under grace. The blessings the Lord promised to Israel there were conditional and temporary. But the same God, the same Lord, has given Himself to us in a much greater way. He has given Himself to us through His only begotten Son. The Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t just watch over us; He abides in us through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus has washed all our sins away with His precious blood; by His resurrection, He has given us eternal life; God has rescued us from the domain of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.

We have been delivered from the pathway to destruction and placed on God’s freeway to a home of everlasting love, peace, and joy.

A final thought: the children of Israel had a glorious free way to travel on had they only trusted and obeyed God.

The Christian has a glorious free way to travel on if they will only trust and obey God.

Admittedly, the free way has many difficulties and dangers. But Jesus has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, so with that, we may travel the free way, rejoicing all the way to the Promised Land.

“…What great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7). Only in the will of God are we truly free.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

Brother Bill

bboldham@sbcglobal.net