The prophesied end-time state of the nations — or what we call the Sign of World Politics — is coming into alignment. In Part 1, we looked at what the Bible prophesies concerning the European Union, and in Part 2, Russia and the United States. Finally, we will look at what the Bible prophesies concerning China, Israel, and the coming one-world government.
04. China Rises in the East
Revelation 16 describes a mighty army marching toward Jerusalem from the East. John records, “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings of the East.” In another passage, an army of “200 million horsemen” is described (Revelation 9:16). Only two nations in the world have the population to field an army that large: China and India — both to the East.
Although India and China represent ancient civilizations, throughout most of the past 2,000 years they have been relatively weak compared to western nations. Indeed, until the 20th Century, both were subjected to colonialization by other great powers. While possessing tremendous natural resources and human potential, neither were considered great powers themselves until very recently.
Then, in 1972, President Richard Nixon went to China. He alone recognized the potential benefit of opening China as both a supplier and a market — even if he failed to appreciate the danger of catching a tiger by the tail. India also emerged from several hundred years of British rule to quickly rise as a developing nation. Today, both China and India possess nuclear weapons and are significant players on the geo-political scene.
The Bible describes the kingdom of the Antichrist coming apart at the seams near the end of the Tribulation. While putting down a rebellion in the south, he learns that eastern kings are about to attack his flank. The unprecedented mass of men and equipment converges in the Valley of Jezreel in northern Israel — what most people call the Valley of Armageddon. Although the rebellion is directed against the Antichrist, all of these nations are in ultimate rebellion against Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:20 says that the slaughter will be horrific. John describes God’s wrath as a wine press and says that blood will flow “up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.” And all that carnage will be unleashed by a word from the Lord.
In terms of a sign of world politics, it is important to understand that it would have been impossible for any nation — or coalition of nations — to field a 200-million-man army until just the past century. John foresaw the rise of China and other eastern nations in both population and power — something even Richard Nixon did not discern 50 years ago.
Today, many Westerners are growing alarmed by Communist China’s rapid rise and global aspirations. Certainly, there is reason for concern. But those of us who are looking for Jesus Christ should have our eye on another much smaller nation.
05. Israel is Back
One of the most frequent prophetic themes in the Old Testament is God’s promise to protect the Jewish people, regather them in the End Times, and reestablish their nation once again.
Jews and Gentiles alike sometimes wondered if God’s promise for protection was a back-handed blessing, because persecution has been the typical Jewish experience. And yet protect them He did. No other ancient people group is identifiable today. The Canaanites, Philistines, Babylonians, and Romans have all faded into history. Only the Israelites have persevered.
The miracle of their preservation cannot be overstated. Historical records claim that two different advisors to great rulers were asked to prove the existence of God. Their two-word answer was, “the Jews.”
The prophets also foretold that God would regather the Jews after scattering them, and then restore them as one nation on the mountains of Israel (Isaiah 66:7-8; Ezekiel 36-37; and Zechariah 12:1-6; among many other passages). That promise remained unfulfilled for 1,897 years.
Faithful Christian scholars and writers as late as the early 20th Century could not fathom how God would orchestrate history to motivate the Diaspora to return to Israel, or provide them a home there. While Christians accepted His promises by faith, the fulfillment of them seemed inconceivable.
Beginning in the late 1800s, God raised up Jewish and Christian Zionists — like Theodor Herzl and William Blackstone. Through cataclysmic upheavals and horrors throughout the 1900s, He motivated Jews from around the world to go back to their ancient homeland. And, on May 14, 1948, He saw to it that Israel came to life. The dry bones of Ezekiel 37 stood up and became a nation once again — for His Holy Name’s sake.
Over the past 75 years, other Bible prophecies have been fulfilled. Israel has become the focus of all the nations of the world, with control of Jerusalem the central question. In spite of rising satanically-inspired antagonism toward Israel, God has promised provision and protection for the Jewish people regathered to their ancient Promised Land (Amos 9:15).
Israel is the greatest sign that Jesus is coming soon. Like a prophetic billboard, Israel’s existence tells us that we are in the End Times. But the rest of the world is pursuing one more aspiration that will prepare the way for the coming Antichrist.
06. Clamor for a One-world Government
I’ve already cited the foolish longing of Belgian Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak. He merely gave voice to an aspiration of mankind since it first began to organize into a larger society.
As Noah’s descendants multiplied upon the earth, they decided to disobey God. They chose to build a city and a tower, making a name for themselves lest they be scattered over the earth (Genesis 11:4). That first attempt at a one-world government did not work out so well. God confused their language and scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
Since then, countless dictators and despots have attempted to expand their power. Geography, distance, and language and cultural differences made it difficult to establish and sustain an empire. Today, technology and hubris in the heart of man is giving rise to hope/fear that a one-world government is coming soon.
Bible prophecy makes clear that a future leader will emerge from the revived Roman Empire to conquer the whole world (Revelation 13, along with Daniel 9:26-27 and Revelation 6:1-2). He will ascend to power quickly through smooth words and deception, and then unleash a reign of terror toward any who oppose him. We do not know who he is because he will not be revealed to the world until the start of the Tribulation. That is why I said Satan has always had a man poised and ready to go — because he does not know when the Rapture will occur, leading to the Tribulation.
This particular indicator tells us the world is poised to embrace the man Scripture calls the Antichrist. The Great Reset is just the latest attempt to push this globalist agenda. Like a lion waiting to pounce, Satan is biding his time but preparing to launch his final assault. He will succeed for a season — seven years to be precise.
If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ, you will not have to witness or endure that horrific period of Tribulation when the wrath of God is poured out on the earth. Those who come to trust in Christ after the Rapture can take comfort in knowing that the Tribulation will not endure forever. The global rule of the Antichrist will come to an end — with nations rebelling against him and Jesus Christ returning to annihilate the armies of the earth and usher in His 1000-year reign of peace, righteousness, and justice.
Recognize The Signs, Keep Focused On Jesus
Like the other categories of signs, the Signs of World Politics alert those with eyes to see that we are living on borrowed time. Jesus is coming soon.
So, while we recognize the signs and study their implications as foretold in the Word of God, we keep looking for our Blessed Hope. In other words, we don’t fixate on the road sign, or stop to gaze upon it, or have a roadside picnic. Instead, we continue to our destination.
We are blessed to live in a time when the Signs of the Times are multiplying like never before. We have seen Bible prophecy fulfilled in recent years that faithful Christians could only imagine (or found inconceivable).
Like stars in the heavens that pour forth speech without words (Psalm 19:1-3), the signs are coming into prophetic alignment and proclaiming the soon return of Jesus Christ. Are you ready?
