(Matthew 24:6-7) “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Once again we see the nations in turmoil as we saw preceding the two previous world wars. The stakes today are much higher than they have ever been with all of the major super powers now having nuclear capability. While the focus of the media has been on COVID-19 the nations are gearing up and positioning themselves for a conflict which may likely escalate into WWIII.
Iran has just launched a cyber-attack on Israel and released viral videos depicting the destruction of Israel by missiles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to destroy the Iranian regime after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a “Final Solution” for Israel. Khamenei’s official website featured a poster depicting people celebrating on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem after apparently capturing it from Israel. Iran is also turning against Saudi Arabia and the moderate Arab States for developing their relationship with Israel. In the future it is highly likely that Iran will send missiles into Saudi Arabia and Mecca and the oil reserves under the desert of Saudi Arabia will burn. (Isaiah 21:1-2) (Isaiah 34:5-10)
At present the two main super powers China and America it seems are heading for a ‘face-off!’ in the South China Sea. While a direct conflict between CCP run China and the USA and its allies might not be far away, the Trump administration views a rearmed Japan as a key lynchpin in pushing back on Beijing’s yearning for global conquest. This has led to a long term military drill in the South China Sea. This drill is meant to send a clear message to the Chinese Regime in Beijing to curtail China’s aggressive behaviour towards America. Given Japan’s past aggression in China in the early part of last century and its expansionist agenda in WWII, will China be able to take sides with Japan?
The CCP may see this militarization of Japan as a threat to China’s expansionist agenda? Having further increased Japan’s stock pile of weapons can America even stay free from the possibility of a conflict with Japan in the future? Many Japanese still remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki launching the whole world into the nuclear age. Added to this, America is also engaged in a stand-off with Iran in the Persian Gulf and veiled threats are being sent from both sides. China is obviously taking advantage of the COVID-10 Pandemic, especially seeing its effects in America. It seems clear that the CCP of China does not care how many millions are affected by the virus so long as they can remain in power. This is the way all communist regimes are and have always been in the past.
There is no doubt that China has its sights on claiming the South China Sea and expanding its empire into the South pacific region. China has invested heavily in Australia and is seeking to invest in the smaller South pacific nations north of Australia in the South Pacific. While this is happening Turkey is making moves to overthrow the Syrian regime to give Turkey access to Israel from over the Golan Heights. President Erdogan wants the Temple Mount site for Islam and is positioning himself to be the first caliph of a resurrected Turkish Ottoman Empire and he needs allies. Hence, his globetrotting activities have been shoring up support for the cause of Islam and the resurrection of the Turkish Ottoman Caliphate. Erdogan has just taken Libya on board as Turkish forces have helped the Libyan government to fight against the Libyan rebels backed by Russia. Possibly Russia and Turkey at some point will have a face-off?
Russia it seems will no longer support the Assad regime in Syria. In January this year Presidents Putin and Erdogan launched Russian-Turkish relations, not only in the energy sector but in general. The two leaders opened a new page in bilateral cooperation that will have an impact on the state of affairs in the region. Turkey has been fostering economic ties with China. Turkey and China have expanded ties, but their relationship is marked by continued distrust and competition. The two sides are expanding economic cooperation but fundamental political differences remain. Whether Islamic ideology and Communist ideology can find some kind of a level playing field remains to be seen.
As for Israel they are now surrounded on all sides by their implacable enemies hell-bent on their destruction. Also it has been reported that Iranian forces are withdrawing from Syria. Does Iran know something we do not know? Is the destruction of Damascus imminent? (Isaiah 17:1) This week President Erdogan has reached out to Prime Minister Abe of Japan in a ceremony via a teleconference system in which they both attended. The two exchanged a gratitude to each other for the way they both handled the COVID-19 Pandemic in their respective countries.
The teleconference was held to celebrate the opening of a brand new hospital built in Turkey by a Japanese construction company. President Erdogan expressed his hopes for the further development of friendly relations between Turkey and Japan through this opening of the hospital. In a future conflict with America, if this occurs, Japan may well side with Turkey. Russia, having economic ties with Turkey, may well side with Turkey and Japan to take down America. At present with the COVID-19 Pandemic hitting America hard it may provide an opportunity for China to take out America if they can with missiles. Possibly we will see a sea battle in the South China Sea?
China, Russia and Turkey are all committed to their individual ideologies. None of them have the capacity to compromise on this. China is communist; Russia is Christian Orthodox and Turkey Islamic. Possibly they will all join forces against Israel when God brings down the nations into the valley of Jehoshaphat to sit in judgement on them there. (Joel 3:1-3) (Zechariah12:2-3; 14:2) (Ezekiel 38:1-6) All of them will want to occupy Israel and economic interests will be the catalyst of the invasion. (Ezekiel 38:10-12) America and the European countries may stay out of it and be spectators. (Ezekiel 38:13)
However when the wrath of God comes upon the nations that have attacked Jerusalem these spectators that have not done anything to support Israel will also feel the wrath of God upon their cities. (Ezekiel 39:6) As for China they may well send an army down the ancient Silk Road that connects China with Israel. We do know that a 200 million strong armed force will cross the dried up Euphrates River and that they will be responsible for the death of a third of the world’s population. The way John describes them leaves no doubt about their destructive fire power most likely being missiles. (Revelation 9:13-19; 16:12) Some see this 200 million strong army as China but when you look at this army they are called “the kings from the east” and they will come from the region of Iraq, Iran, Syria and other surrounding Islamic nations. They would have to be Islamic armies rallying to the cause the Caliph of Islam (The Antichrist).
This vast army that has spread over the whole land of Israel like locusts will meet their demise on the plain of Megiddo by the rider on the White Horse accompanied by the armies of heaven, the glorified saints and the surviving remnant of Israel. (Zechariah 14:5, 14) (Jude 1:14) (Revelation 19:11-16) While we see these wars, rumours of wars, nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom, the Lord Jesus tells us not to be alarmed because the end is not yet even though the whole world will be on a downward spiral trying to come to terms with the destructive forces being unleashed on men. When we see these wars looming on the horizon and the nations taking sides against each other and Israel hard-pressed what are we to do as believers? The Lord Jesus Himself told us what to do. “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
