LCG: China & Beginning of Sorrows

Beijing Air Pollution
Beijing After Rain Beijing on a Normal Sunny Day

In its latest update, LCG reported the following:

Ethnic Unrest in China. China is experiencing civil unrest with bloody clashes between the Han Chinese and the Muslim Uighurs. China’s security forces are involved and some Uighurs have died. In addition, China has drawn negative attention on the world stage. Turkey’s Prime Minister, in an apparent attempt to internationalize the crackdowns, has accused Beijing of “genocide” against the Muslim minority (Stratfor.com, July 10 and 11, 2009). Jesus Christ warned that one sign of the end of the age would be “nation” rising against “nation” (Matthew 24:7). The Greek word for nation here is “ethnos,” from which we derive our English word “ethnic.” As we look around the world at the confrontations taking place, it is nearly always violence between ethnic groups within the boundaries of existing nations. Ethnic conflicts have always existed, but in the context of Christ’s warning, these ethnic conflicts will increase as the end of the age approaches. In fact, they are referred to as just “the beginning of sorrows” (verse 8). Although ethnic conflicts around the globe are discouraging and appear to be increasing to the point where they could be seen as normal, we must not grow weary or callous to hearing about them. True Christians will earnestly pray for those who are suffering (Matthew 6:10) and they will also be alert to the reality of the approaching end of the age.

All is simply not well in China.

After visiting China two years ago, LCG’s Dr. Meredith wrote the following:

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…

So the 21st century will not be the “Chinese century!” (Meredith R.C. An Inspiring and Successful Trip. Living Church News. May-June 2007, p. 21).

China’s pollution, potential for significant social unrest, and how it is discussed in biblical prophecy demonstrate that the 21st century will not belong to China. But China will be a major player in a variety of events. Even after the “beginning of sorrows”, a time that is the prelude to the Great Tribulation .

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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 reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Gerat Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?