The last war under leadership from the East
By Pentecostal
Pastor and Teacher Teun J. de Ruiter
Economics predict that the Far
East with China as first country, will
become the greatest influential and financial nation the World. What
can be
said about her financial power can also be said about her military
power. It is
already clear that it wants to become the greatest military power in
the world.
When she was asked what her budget is for her military investments and
expenses
and investments she did not respond. But we know that the enormous
country is
modernising and enlarging her forces with a very rapid speed. How shall
we
evaluate these developments in the light of Biblical prophecy? And how
shall we
with our obtained insights try to fill in our prophetic insight in a
practical
way? These are the questions I will attempt to answer in this article.
The Bible about the powers that
come from the east.
In Revelation 16:12 is written
about preparing the way for the kings of the
east, Many commentators agree that here the powers are meant of the
east of
Asia. It is difficult to leave China out of this prophecy. In the next
verse 13
we read in the (RSV): “And I saw, issuing from the mouth of the dragon
and from
the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet, three
foul
spirits like frogs.” The dragon stands for a great, very dangerous
devourer of
people. The dragon is the great legendary
animal that plays an important role in Chinese symbolism. We do
not need
to doubt that China is pictured here in the apocalyptic literature, as
Revelation is classified, on the endtime international scene as a
formidable
power. The dragon stands however primarily for a great, spiritual, evil
power
(see Revelation 12:3). But this not necessarily prevent us to regard it
here as
a symbolic picture of China. The beast stands for a great, evil human
power
that will lead humanity to massive slavery. The false prophet is a
great,
antichristian leader. These three evil powers will together lead
humanity on the way to destruction. Today
we see
already that China fits increasingly better in this picture of the great, combined endtime force.
It seems then that China is
going to march for war to the west and what is
her purpose? Revelation 16:16: “And they
– the kings of the whole world with their armies assembled them at the
place
which is called Hebrew Armageddon.” Though there is some discussion
about
what location exactly is meant here I choose for the most obvious
location.
This is the valley of Harmageddon near the mountain Megiddo in Israel.
The
purpose for the march of the armies of the nations is to subjugate the
nation
of Israel. For she is in the eyes of worldleaders very
arrogant and rebellious..
In verse 12 of Revelation 16 my
attention was drawn to the statement that
the water of the Euphrates dried to prepare the
way for these kings. Geographically and topographically it is
not
necessary that this great river would dry up to make it for a large
army
possible to march to the Holy Land. What could the Spirit try to convey
to us here?
I suggest the following view: The powers of the northern part of the
Middle
East in the area of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, the land that was
in
former ages so powerful and influential and now for the most part
belongs to Iraq,
will loose their influence and power. The result is that the armies,
led by the
kings of the east can march without any hindrance to the Holy Land.
Something has happened in the
first decennium of this century that seems to
be the first preparation for the fulfilment of this prophecy. The
nation of this area is Iraq.
And in a very real sense is it already
been dried up. The United States was primarily used to do this. Experts
do
agree that Iraq will never become again an country of importance in the
world.
We know that Saddam Hussein had tried to make the old location of
Babylon again
of world importance with a great world business centre. But this was
his great
mistake and he paid with his life for it. For the prophets of Israel
had said
in the name of the Lord that Babylon would never be rebuilt.
(Isaiah13:14;
Jeremiah 50:1-3; 25, 26 and verse 37).
The leadership of the kings from
the east
The Lord will have the victory!
The
armies assemble in the valley of
Harmageddon and from there they will attack Jerusalem; if you know
Biblical
prophecy you will think of Zachariah 12:2,3 and 14:2 and 3. This army
will be
very large for the nations will try to destroy the nation of Israel
permanently. There is no nation that will come now to her assistance,
for also
the power of the U.S. is much smaller than before. But the Lord will
not allow
Israel to receive a final and definite defeat. For then Israel will cry
to her
God to send her the long promised Messiah. The result is that Jesus
will return
and Israel will see that it is Jesus Christ, whom they crucified
(Zechariah
12:10); read also Revelation 16:15. Jesus. Jesus will descend on the Mount of Olives. There will be a great
earthquake and the mountain will split in two. A river will come out
off the
temple and flow eastward and westward (Zachariah 14:1-11). The prophecy
is very
clear about it that the armies of the nations will be totally conquered
and Jesus
is going to reign over His people and the nations of the world.
Is this vision on the rising of
the worldpowers as I shared above of
importance for us in these days? Surely it is, for when we know what we
can
expect to happen in the near future we will have time to prepare
ourselves for
it. We will also realize our responsibility to point our fellowmen to
the
privilege to accept Christ now as our Lord and Saviour and be prepared
not to
be a part of the plans of the great, evil one, that intends to lead all
human
beings to the eternal destruction. Let us work while it is day and do
the job
to which the Lord has called each one who believes in Him. Let us
proclaim the
wonderful name of Jesus who gave His life on Calvary to pay for our
sins and
restore us in fellowship with God. He will also give all who believe in
Him a
share in His coming Kingdom.
React? Contact... Pastor T. J. de Ruiter