And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. [Revelation 16:12 KJV].
The rise of the Peoples Republic of China in recent years has brought much conjecture within Western governments as to what this nation’s ultimate strategy will be. We are told in Revelation 20 that all the world’s armies will mass together at Armageddon.
At this present time, the world wallows in depression, shortage of money and is busy printing more bank notes, lowering the value of their currencies, creating for themselves further debt. China and to a lesser extent Russia are busy building up gold reserves. At the moment all oil is bought on world markets using US dollars. As the US dollar decreases in value, so it is that the rest of the world pays more and more for their oil. The use of the US dollar has created an overwhelming demand for the US currency bringing the US into even more debt. However the rest of the world is finding it difficult to trade using the increasingly unstable US dollar. If anything happened to the US dollar the currency of the rest of the world would rush to go back to the gold standard and the value of gold would rocket skywards. China and to a lesser extent Russia are, with their positive cash flow situation gradually amassing unprecedented amounts of gold bullion. They are not publicising it very widely but the facts are known to some. At the moment there is a currency war between the various countries with central banks busy devaluing their nation’s currencies. If, as expected, China as it is believed, seek to bring in a gold based “Gold Trade Note” as world currency. If this were to happen the finances of the rest of the world will bottom out and will most likely become worthless.
However we find in the Bible that the Antichrist will rule during the Tribulation period for seven years. He will have control on the world’s wealth and the money supply. Unless you submit to his mark on your hand or forehead at that time, you will not trade or do business. At the moment China has much of the world’s wealth under control. The USA and Europe because of its massive purchases from China owes many thousands of millions of dollars and euros to China. The Western world and America are in China’s debt. The West knows this and the financial controllers of the USA and Europe are well aware of the situation. By Antichrists policy of reform, he will be able to bring pressure on China and other nations in the Far East. We are told of Antichrist;” Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the god of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. [Daniel 11:37-38 KJV]. ?He will control the world with his massive armies which he will formulate from the Western powers. After 3½ years of his reign, God will bring His judgements upon a world that has forgotten God, are then bound up in the riches that abound due to Antichrists measures, and with all the evil known to man, mankind will submit their lives in riotous living, sin and debauchery, immoral living, witchcraft, worship of the Devil, also submitting to the terrible rise of the extreme power of Antichrist, who sets himself up in Jerusalem as God. [Rev 13: 1-18].
At this point God intervenes. We are told in Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39 how God puts into the heart of the Russian rulers to go and plunder the Middle East, mainly Israel who under a treaty is living in relative peace. There is, at that time, an element in Israel who sealed by God and are totally against the intervention of Antichrist into Jewish life and worship. We are not told the details, but it appears that Russia [Magog] is the first to move towards the Land of Israel. In doing so it appears the Antichrist with his commercial centre in Europe probably intervenes. During this time the world is racked by many terrible natural disasters instigated by God in Judgement. We then come to the “Kings of the East” or China and its allies who with an enormous army advance across the nation’s towards the Middle East and the Land of Israel. During their advance a third of the population of the world will be killed. Whether it be by the judgements sent by God, or the Chinese armies we don’t know. However all the armies of the world led by the Antichrist, indwelt by Satan meet to do battle at Armageddon. At this point Christ chooses to return to save his earthly people and take up His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to reign over the world in righteousness, judgement and love. Christ with His armies will appear in the clouds, landing on the Mount of Olives the Lord will thoroughly wipe out the armies of the world gathered at Armageddon. And a new age under the reign of Christ will arrive. [Rev 19:11-27][Rev20:1-15].
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. [Revelation 21:1-5 KJV].
Brian D. Papworth
South Sea Representative of the Prophetic Witness Movement International.
www.pwmi.co.nz