By COGwriter
In the previous article, various witnesses to China were mentioned. But what is ahead for China, India, Russia, and the rest of Asia in the 21st Century?
Currently, we see that nearly all of Asia, including China, is expanding its influence as this region has become one of the world's leading manufacturers. This is leading to a wealthier Asia, as well as a China that can better finance any military intentions that it has or develops.
China itself is also becoming a nation that is increasingly suffering from the effects of industrial pollution. But Russia, China, and India are all expanding their military power.
Economic Future
Nearly all of Asia is becoming wealthier. And when it comes to wealth, many understand that the more wealth you have, the more time many take to insure that they keep it.
While China has been busy securing the minerals, oil, and other basic materials it feels it needs, it has also been securing various sea rights (a Chinese-based company currently runs both ends of the Panama Canal, for example) as well as taking other steps that apparently will increase its influence. Other Asian nations are building their infrastructures and their military.
Much of what China itself appears to be doing is consistent with what the late Deng Xiaoping once expressed,
China must hide brightness and nourish obscurity . . . to bide our time and build up our capabilities (Source: Times Online).
Like most nations, China realizes that it is in a better economic situation if it has diversified markets, and is not highly dependent upon a single one, like the United States.
In August 2006, the Philadelphia Church of God reported:
April saw an important shift within the global economy: Japanese and European consumers and companies, for the first time in years, had started spending again. The March 20 Wall Street Journal explained the significance of this shift...:
[T]he re-emergence of spending in those nations has implications far beyond financial markets. For one thing, it means that the world might be less dependent on the American consumer, whose willingness to borrow and spend has been a primary driver of world growth for the past five years.
European and Asian consumption replacing that of the U.S. could have huge implications for Americans, because if China, Japan and other exporting countries no longer depend on the U.S. consumer to purchase their goods, they won’t need to buy U.S. Treasuries to prop up the dollar...
Today, however, as the Wall Street Journal implied, it looks like Europe is finally starting to rise from years of slow economic growth. Unfortunately for America, if Europeans really do replace the U.S. as the consumers of choice, it could mean that support for the dollar may start drying up—and that probably means higher interest rates, a weaker dollar, or both. Since so much of America’s economy in recent years has been based on rising housing prices and consumer spending, that is not good news for the U.S. economy.
The Bible shows that after the re-emerging European Empire finally forms, that it will increase the prosperity to many nations. And China is likely to be one of the nations that will benefit from this prosperity. Currently, Asia is looking to the consumers of the European Union to possibly replace those in the United States as purchasers of its many manufactured goods.
Prior to the formation of Babylonian European Empire, all of Asia will receive the witness of the gospel message. Notice what the Bible records:
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
The "end" being discussed above is the end of this church age, as the time of tribulation begins (see vs. 21) then. What this means for the Asians (and all other peoples) is that they will have had a witness just prior to the tribulation. This witness will ultimately help them understand what really will be happening in the world and will set the stage for the ultimate conversion of nearly all the Chinese.
Notice what RC Meredith of the Living Church of God wrote:
Many publications have suggested that the 21st century will be “China’s century.” Even though the Chinese are fiercely moving forward, and their progress in developing their industries is obvious, these publications are dead wrong for two reasons. First, the inspired word of God describes specifically how a coming European Union will be the dominant force in this world—obviously within the next several years. Therefore, brethren, I would like to focus your mind on this matter so you can more intelligently “watch” world events along this line as they unfold before your very eyes. In the coming years, you will perhaps even see a revolt of the peasants in the outlying Chinese cities, who have lagged far behind the standard of living afforded those who have moved to Beijing and Shanghai. Plus, the tremendous pollution of the water, air and foodstuffs may bring about massive disease epidemics and other problems for the Chinese.
In addition, distracting wars and other events may— as God chooses to guide it—greatly undermine the material progress now being made by the Chinese. Meanwhile, you will soon see the European Union evolve into an absolutely powerful and dynamic force in the world— ultimately to become the “Beast” as revealed in Revelation 17 in your own Bible!
So the 21st century will not be the “Chinese century!” Rather it will appear to become the European century for a few years, until the magnificent return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. From then on, the 21st century will be, indeed, “Christ’s century!” And all of us who are able to understand the “Big Picture” of world events from God’s point of view should be preparing to help straighten out the appalling degree of suffering, starvation and misconduct we find on this earth today in virtually every nation (Meredith R.C. An Inspiring and Successful Trip. Living Church News. May-June 2007, p. 21).
Note that the Bible says that all trading nations will have become wealthy trading with Babylon (the restored European Empire--not Asia) that really prospers in the beginning of the great tribulation:
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury (Revelation 18:3, NKJV throughout).
Thus, merchandising Asia, as the world's most populous region, is prophesied to attain wealth from the coming restored European Empire, but it will not then be the most powerful block of nations in the world.
When people in Asia and elsewhere see the Beast power they will marvel:
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is (Revelation 17:8).
They will marvel because of the great wealth, because they did not think Europe would gain such prominence, and because its leadership will have performed various signs and wonders. Note the following:
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10).
Because of these actions, people throughout the world, including in Asia will (to some degree) worship a false leader:
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:1-9).
But this will not last.
The Russians, Chinese, and Indians Will Be Among the First to Recognize the Falsehood of the Beast
Lest any have the misimpression that the Asians are not a discerning people, it needs to be understood that they will be among the first to recognize the falsehood of this European power.
The Living Church of God reported:
Chinese-Russian Ties Continue to Strengthen. The Year of Russia is the banner in China in 2006. Some 206 different events spotlighting Russian culture and advances are scheduled to occur across China, including productions from the Bolshoi Theater. President Vladimir Putin visited China in March to assist Chinese President Hu Jintao in inaugurating the year’s events. 2007 will be celebrated as The Year of China in Russia and will spotlight similar Chinese cultural and technological events. These nation-wide events are designed to tie the nations of China and Russia more closely together (China Daily, March 18, 2006). God tells of a time, near the end of the tribulation, when nations from the north and east will overwhelm the King of the North (Daniel 11:44-45). Apparently an army of 200 million men will be used to complete this horrific task (Revelation 9:13-20). A combined force from Russia and China would relatively easily be able to muster an army of this magnitude, and will also have the financial and technological resources to back it (World Ahead Weekly Udate, LCG. September 15, 2006).
China and India: More Military Cooperation. Last week, the world’s two most populous nations conducted a joint military exercise in the name of “anti-terrorism.” Both nations have been working toward mutually beneficial ends since 2006. The Chinese foreign minister commented that “the military training was intended to enhance mutual understanding and trust and strengthen bilateral exchanges in the field of anti-terrorism, deter the ‘three evil forces’ of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and promote the development of the bilateral strategic partnership.” Chinese and Indian officials plan to continue military activities to bring the two nations closer (ChinaView.cn, December 25, 2007). Joint military exercises between these two nations are important, given a couple of different factors. First, the combined population of these nations is about 2.5 billion—nearly 40 percent of the entire population of the earth. Second, prophetically, God tells of a time, just prior to the return of Christ, when a 200 million-man army will descend on Jerusalem from the east, and destroy an entire third of mankind (Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 9:13-21). As we consider a joint military force of India and China, it would be very easy for these two nations to field a joint army of 200 million men. The final configuration of the armies from the east is likely yet to be established, but it is also likely that we are seeing the foundations of such a confederation being laid right now (World Ahead Weekly Udate, LCG. January 2, 2008).
Probably the Russians, and nearly certainly the Chinese and Indians will finally see that the European Beast power, also called "the King of the North" in the Bible, is not something to be worshiped or trusted.
Why do we in the Living Church of God teach that? Because there are certain verses in both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation that appear to be discussing Asia and the European Beast power.
Notice from the Book of Daniel:
"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Daniel11:40-45).
Notice that the end time King of the North (the European Empire) will overwhelm the King of the South (a Moslem empire), but that those from the east and the north shall trouble the King of the North. This appears to be referring to China and Russia, and possibly India and other Asian nations. And notice that they will be used to help cause the King of the North to come to his end.
And right now, those three nations are cooperating and seem to be getting ready to ultimately be able to fulfill these prophecies. Notice that they met together to discuss this last year:
Facing Western supremacy
By M.D. NALAPAT Professor M.D. Nalapat is director of the School of Geopolitics at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.
UPI Outside View CommentatorNEW DELHI, Feb. 13 , 2007 (UPI) – The foreign ministers of the three giants of the Asian landmass — Russia, China and India — will meet Feb. 14 in New Delhi to advance an old proposal for a Trilateral Global Alliance that would effectively exclude the West from a position of superiority in Asia…
Notice the reasons the same article gives as why:
Although the Russian people look “European,” the fact is that they are separate culturally from Europe. They have their own mindset, traditions and values, and hence will always be opposed, silently or overtly, by continental European powers such as Germany and France, which recognize Russia as not only different, but with the potential to overshadow both of them, should Moscow ever be admitted into the European Union.
After years of seeking to become “good Europeans” by leaving behind their Russian heritage — a process that began with Mikhail Gorbachev and lasted even into the Putin presidency — the Russian leadership has finally realized that the major continental European powers have zero intention of giving parity, let alone primacy, to Moscow. Hence, President Vladimir Putin has focused as much on Asia as on Europe, and with far better results than from his several failed efforts at integration into Europe. This has opened the way for an India-China-Russia alliance.
In the case of China, both Mao Zedong — under whose leadership China “stood up” in 1949 after centuries of servitude — and Deng Xiaoping understood that a relationship with the Western world could only be tactical and temporary, and that finally the clash of interests would lead to tensions. However there were others who sought to create an equitable partnership with the West, especially the United States, much as Putin tried in his first years in power. Today, the strong leadership of President Hu Jintao has clearly recognized that: a) China needs to rely on its own strength first; and b) the best way of developing this power is through a partnership with India and Russia…
In the next round, Iran and Indonesia would enter as partners within the TGA, followed by some key countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and a peacefully unified, nuclear-armed Korea. The TGA would have an Asian membership, but global influence, even in Phase I, when only Russia, China and India would be members. Phase II would see the entry of other Asian powers, while Phase III would witness the entry of selected countries in South America, such as Brazil, and Africa, such as Nigeria and South Africa.
The change in attitude by both the Chinese and Russian leaderships toward the Western world is the engine driving forward this partnership. In the case of India, after six decades of conducting a foreign policy independent of the West, now a team similar to Boris Yeltsin’s is in office in New Delhi, for whom the only desirable path is accommodation with Western demands.
China went through such a phase during the Jiang Zemin period, while Russia’s similar period lasted from 1985 till 2003. That year Moscow realized that the policy of the continental European powers was to cut away at its relationships and sphere of influence, so that finally Moscow would become as irrelevant in Europe as Belgium, a country with which it is often compared in economic terms.
The reality is that Russia possesses a single item — its nuclear and missile arsenal — that gives the country greater weight than Germany, France and Italy combined. The same goes for China. India is thus far a relative pygmy in the strategic field, although the scientific base of the country is strong enough to close this gap within six to seven years, should the political leadership decide on such a course. Since the mid-1990s, several within the Indian strategic establishment — including this writer — believed the Western world would be farsighted enough to make India a partner on terms of parity. However, many are now veering to the view that the Western world still sees India much as the British did in the past, as a secondary power that ought to be satisfied with crumbs.
This refusal of the Western alliance to acknowledge the equality of China, Russia and India with themselves is the reason the years ahead are likely to witness the birth of an India-China-Russia global alliance that would soon become the biggest geopolitical factor in Asia and then in Africa and South America.(http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20070212-115533-6356r).
Two more recent news articles from different sources stated:
Their joint opposition to the presence of Nato and US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq is one motivation for a Russia-China-India strategic partnership (Russia’s Military Strategy. The Post, Pakistan - Mar 7, 2008).
India, Russia, China trilateral meeting to begin soonHindu, India - Mar 26, 2008
Moscow (PTI): The fourth trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of India, Russia and China will be held in the country soon, a Russian minister has said.The meeting aimed at promoting the democratisation for international relations, will be held in Russia this year, First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said.
The last trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries was held in China in October 2007.
External Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had pledged to promote international relations and a fairer and more rational world order at the last meeting.
Meanwhile, Denisov said that the relations between India and Russia were developing steadily and dynamically in all fields (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200803262069.htm).
The truth is that Russia, China, and India do not believe that the Americans and Europeans (the Americans and Europeans are the ones that make up NATO) truly will ever accept them as equals and hence have began to take more steps leading to cooperation with each other.
Thus, the three largest “kings of the East” are setting the stage to fulfill end-time biblical prophecies. And they also want influence beyond Asia–and will ultimately resent the influence of the Europeans, apparently even more than they presently resent the influence of the USA today.
(Perhaps it should also be mentioned that others, such as Taiwan and Japan, may end up also being parts of the “kings of the east”. According to the New York Times,on March 22, 2008, “Taiwan elected on Saturday its first president who had campaigned for closer economic relations with Beijing, paving the way for a considerable lessening of tensions in one of Asia’s oldest flashpoints”).
This concept of Asian involvement in a major battle is confirmed in the Book of Revelation. Notice the following:
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them (Revelation 9:13-16).
Only China, and possibly India and others in Asia (which may align themselves with China and Russia against the European Empire), are capable of fielding a two hundred million man army. Thus, Revelation appears to be discussing an Asian role in the end-time prophecies.
I believe that part of why China itself will most likely help supply manpower for the 200,000,000 man army of Revelation 9:16 is because its current "one child policy" (which it adopted in the early 1980s). This policy is resulting in an excessively high male to female birth ratio because of gender-driven abortions--thus more males than normal will be more willing to fight in the military. And thus this "one child" policy appears to be setting the stage for this army in the 21st century.
China is clearly a nation that biblical is one of the "kings of the east". Russia, India, Japan, and others are also probably "kings of the East". The literal translation is "the kings of the sunrise" and thus this would seem to include Indochina, Indonesia, Korea and other lands.
Also notice the following:
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).
Here we see that the kings of the East are those that need to cross the Euphrates. This combined with Revelation 9, which shows that two hundred million man army be assisted by angels at the Euphrates is strong biblical evidence that Asia is at least part of this massive army.
But All Will Notice the Great Tribulation
Jesus warned about a future time of a great tribulation:
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:21-22).
Since this great tribulation affects the whole world, it will affect the Asians as well.
In Revelation 16, we also see that God will issue punishment to nearly all of humanity after Babylon (the European Empire) falls:
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great (Revelation 16:17-21).
God sent the punishments to get all men, including the Asians, to repent, but they refused at first:
And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory (Revelation 16:9).
Then What?
After all these battles and punishments, the tribulation will end. And Christ will return:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-30).
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).
This will usher in a kingdom that will be established for 1,000 years:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6).
And people of many nations, including those of Asia, will be part of this kingdom. Notice:
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Revelation 7:9).
After the thousand years are over, there will be problems, and then all will be resurrected:
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works (Revelation 20:7-13).
It is important to note that all remaining are judged at the second resurrection, but not all are condemned. However, prior to the second resurrection, apparently a Russian-led confederation will rebel and attempt to attack God's people (apparently in Jerusalem)--but they will not be successful (see also the article Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future). They will be destroyed, but will be raised in the second resurrection.
When is Salvation Available?
The mainstream "Christian" view correctly teaches that there is salvation in no other than Jesus (Acts 4:10-12), as "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (vs.12).
But what happens to the multitudes in Asia who have not even heard the name of Christ? And what happens to those born before Christ's earthly ministry? Recall that the Bible teaches that after Adam sinned, humankind was blocked from the tree of life as God had it guarded so that humans would not be able to access it on their own (Genesis 3:22-24).
Even the basic Protestant view is that unless one professes belief in Jesus prior to the first death, then salvation will be unavailable. It is perhaps because of the difference between this view and that of the Church of God, that Protestants tend to label Church of God groups as cults.
The Church of God teaches that God is only calling a relatively few during this age with the Day of Pentecost (also called the Day of Firstfruits, Numbers 28:26) partially explaining this. "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (James 1:18).
Jesus and the Church of God teach, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). And that will be few at this time, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14), "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14).
Protestants and Catholics tend to feel, correctly, that God uses ministers to preach (Romans 10:14). Yet, the message is not always clear. In Isaiah 6:9-11 God teaches,
"Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed." Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered: "Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate".
In other words, the bulk of the people are not to understand until after a time of great desolation.
Furthermore, the Bible reveals that God has prohibited idolaters to have proper understanding:
And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand (Isaiah 44:17-18).
They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save (Isaiah 45:20).
Thus, is God going to condemn those who worship idols for what He has not let them understand?
Protestant and Catholic theology tends to say yes.
Those in the Church of God say no.
Unless the idolater has committed the unpardonable sin (which is unlikely) they will be judged as other uncalled people are.
Hence, the billions throughout history in Asia and Africa (and elsewhere) are not condemned to suffer forever for following practices they really do not understand.
Those who were uncalled in this age (including most people and nearly all of the Chinese, including those that have long been dead) will be offered an opportunity for salvation.
And nearly all of them will accept it. The Living Church of God teaches that God will ultimately give every individual an opportunity for salvation--and that nearly every individual will accept that opportunity. The presiding evangelist of the Living Church of God has publicly stated, "it seem, the vast majority of human beings will ultimately be in God's family" (Meredith R.C. Last Great Day Sermon. Clearwater, Florida, 20051025).
This means that ultimately that nearly all Chinese will be in the permanent kingdom of God. Notice some of the descriptions from the Book of Revelation:
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:2-4).
Conclusion
China has been an important nation throughout history. In the 21st Century, its wealth and influence is prophesied to increase. The Asians, including the Chinese and Indians, will most likely be among the first to benefit from the coming European Empire, as well as be among those who see that it is not what it pretends to be.
God apparently plans to use China and others in Asia as part of a coalition of kings of the East (which apparently include the eastern and northern Russians) to put an end to the King of the North's military ambitions.
Yet, because most in Asia do not now know the true God, God will punish them as well as the other inhabitants on the Earth. And apparently many will also rebel at the close of the millennium, but will not succeed.
However, since God is a God of love, He intends to resurrect the Chinese and all other Asians and offer them salvation. A salvation that nearly all will accept as nearly all the Asians who ever lived will be in the kingdom of God. A kingdom without fear or death or sorrow. A glorious kingdom. And that is the prophesied future for nearly all of Asians.
Other articles in this series try to address some of the other witnesses that God has provided to the Asian peoples, as well as His plan for the Asian peoples.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God's Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformattedGood News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
India, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part I: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them.
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? This is a draft of an in-process article about Japan. Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan. Will God save the Japanese?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What's ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Thiel B. Ph.D. China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 3: Asia in Prophecy. www.cogwriter.com/china3 (c) 2006/2007/2008 0405