People have increasingly asked whether China appears in end-time Bible prophecy. While the Bible doesn’t identify China specifically, it does mention a coalition of nations called The Kings of the East. These nations will use a dried-up Euphrates River to move their armies and gather for battle at Armageddon. China’s growing economic, technological, and military power makes it the elephant in the world’s living room that we can’t ignore. Let’s examine how China’s rise in the end-times could affect us as individuals and globally.
In Revelation 16:12, a group of nations is mentioned as the Kings of the East, who are described as having the way prepared to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Who makes up this Eastern coalition of nations? I’m not proclaiming, “Thus says the Lord,” but it is hard to imagine an end-time scenario where this coalition from the East doesn’t include China. Coming to this conclusion was simple because, just in the last century, after thousands of years, Israel is back in her ancient homeland, with Jerusalem reestablished as the eternal capital. This is a critical point for two reasons. First, the whole reason for the world’s armies gathering at Armageddon is an attack on Israel, which wasn’t possible until our time. Second, despite its rich history, China existed for thousands of years as a third-world backwater nation without prominence on the world stage. Since the year 2,000, China’s rise to power has been undeniable, along with its new designation as a superpower. Without a drastic change, China will likely lead the Kings of the East to Armageddon.
As we take a closer look at China’s dramatic rise in the end times, let’s consider the economic powerhouse it’s become. On October 14, 2014, the IMF reported that China had surpassed the US as the world’s largest economy. This new designation is pivotal because the continued growth of China’s economy fuels its massive military buildup. China is still amid an economic slump due to a real estate crisis and a sharp decline in investment growth over the last few years. The US and China are in an economic Chess match, and just this week, the Trump Administration and China are rolling out reciprocal export controls. Although China’s economic growth has slowed, it hasn’t stopped it from making wide-ranging agreements with weaker nations across the globe. This is troubling because, in exchange for giving these nations renewed infrastructure, such as airports and seaports, China is setting up security stations and access to distant blue-water ports in strategic locations worldwide to project its naval power, especially westward.
Looking at China’s rise in the end times, we must consider its incredible technological advances in the last decade. China excels in emerging tech, such as quantum computing and advanced robotics. Consider the rapid strides in AI with the recent breakthroughs of DeepSeek, a Chinese-owned tech company described as having upended AI. China also has the world’s most complex mass surveillance network, with over 200 million CCTV cameras, facial recognition, infrared capabilities, social credit scores, and ominous prophetic implications. China has launched numerous advanced satellites into orbit, including Ludi, which operates 22,370 miles above the Earth’s surface, granting China persistent surveillance over one-third of the Earth’s surface. US military analysts are concerned because it gives China constant visual and radar surveillance over strategically important areas. Beijing’s strategy to outpace the West, especially the US, is called civil-military fusion, an effort to develop cutting-edge technologies with military applications.
We’ve considered China’s monumental economic and tech rise; now, let’s look at its rapid military buildup. I wrote an article about the growing Chinese military threat over ten years ago, in 2014. Since then, China passed the US in one decade to have the world’s largest navy. China has deployed hypersonic weapons systems to overwhelm the US and its allies’ missile defense. China had approximately 260 nuclear warheads in 2014; now, they have over 600 operational warheads. They are on pace to have nearly 1000 deliverable atomic warheads by 2030, narrowing the gap with the US to within a few hundred. China has a space warfare plan, which includes using missiles and other weapons to disrupt or disable enemy satellites. The sheer mass of China’s recent military growth is staggering, but another aspect of the China threat has caused enough alarm for government agencies to warn civilians. China has the proven ability to hack into and disrupt critical infrastructure, including the water supply, oil and gas pipeline disruption, transportation, and other areas vital to daily life. Several military experts say this is a likely scenario in a war with the West, Matthew 24:6.
What does China’s rise have to do with the end-times scenario? That remains to be seen, but China appears to be situated for its role on the final page of history.
Armageddon seems less like a faraway event and more like an event that could happen shortly. Any discerning Bible reader must see that events are falling into place increasingly. Timing is everything, and as we covered earlier, Israel is back in the land, and a coalition of Eastern nations will go into Israel for battle. We are on the cusp of the birth pains and the beginning of sorrows Jesus warned about. Watching rapid major geopolitical shifts take shape in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and especially Israel, it is easy to see that China’s aggression won’t end in Taiwan, but it could realistically assemble with the rest of the world’s armies for the climax of human history, Daniel 11:44 and Revelation 16:12-16
China is arming to the teeth, the Middle East is embroiled in conflict, and we’re witnessing our society descend into a free fall of immorality. This should be a call to all of humanity, especially Christians. We see signs pointing to the Lord’s soon return and must tell everyone we come into contact with to get ready. Those who long for His appearing know we have little time to warn others to repent because Jesus is coming back, Luke 14:23. Keep your eyes on China and remember to pray for persecuted Chinese Christians as key players are moving into place for an appointment at Armageddon.
All for Him,
Howard
Click here to write letters to our Christian Chinese brothers and sisters in prison.
