Revelation 9:13-16 "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them."

China has been the only nation who has boasted that it can field a two million man army, precisely as the Bible predicted they would 2,000 years ago. And today, China has been playing a major role in the world. And moreover, China has been moving upon the world stage and aligning itself with the Biblical scenario predicted for it. Despite a pledge by Beijing, China has continued to provide missile help to Iran and Syria. U.S. officials said. These are the nations the Bible predicted China would ally itself with against Israel.
The officials said Chinese companies are providing components and technology to Scud-class programs in both Damascus and Teheran. These include the sale of missile engines and weapons of mass technology to Iran. The State Department has identified China's Jiangsu Yongli Chemicals and Technology Import and Export Corp. as a leading exporter to Teheran.

Jiangsu has already appeared on the State Department list of companies sanctioned by the United States because missile and WMD exports. The list bans the U.S. government or companies from dealing with sanctioned firms. Jiangsu was also identified as a supplier of missile and WMD components for Syria military programs. Syria has obtained Chinese helop for its development of Scud-class missiles. Even though U.S. administration officials said China pledged to end missile help to such countries as Iran and Syria. But by late last year, U.S. officials said the pledge had been violated.

China Fulfills Another End-Time Prophecy By Signing Compact With Russia

The presidents of Russia and China have signed their first treaty in more than half a century. But as well as agreeing a friendship pact, presidents Jiang Zemin and Vlademir Putin also found common ground in their opposition to US missile defense plans. They issued a separate declaration stressing their commitment to the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which the US wants to redraw as part of its missile project. The statement calls the treaty a "cornerstone of strategic stability and the basis for reducing offensive weapons", reported Russian news agency Tass. The friendship pact itself contains no military or political alliances, focusing instead on boosting the two countries' mutual interests and boosting trade. The BBC's Adam Brooks says trade between the countries is only a tiny part of their economic interests, hut the developing relationship between Moscow arid Beijing will he watched more for its strategic importance. Russia and China have found common ground in their opposition to Washington's 'Son of Star Wars' anti-missile program, which had its latest test at the weekend.

'DANGEROUS STEP'

But they are united by their opposition to US defense strategy. "It is not favorable to global strategic balance and stability," a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing said following the weekend tests. China is vehemently opposed to the US plans for a missile defense system because of the threat it will pose to its own tiny second-strike capability. And Russia also released a statement saying the test threatened the international structure of nuclear disarmament.

"A logical question again arises - why take matters to the point of placing under threat the entire internationally agreed structure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including its core, the 1972 ABM treaty?" Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a statement. Pentagon officials promised to press forward with plans for more tests of the system after an interceptor missile hit a dummy warhead over the Pacific Ocean.

One fifth of the world' s population today is Chinese. China, occupying the third largest area on earth, has always fascinated modern western minds because of its more than 4,000 years of undivided history and culture. The great ancient wisdom manifested by Confucius (551 - 479 BC'.) and Lao Zi (570) B.C.) are gems in the spiritual treasures of the world. In the darkness of today's lax morality, the light from this ancient jewel is still shining. If the Bible is a book for all peoples, it seems only reasonable to find China at least mentioned in the Bible! Does the Bible have anything to say about China? OF COURSE IT DOES. Many of the Chinese characters have strong Biblical messages in them, In searching for an answer to this intriguing question, let us start our quest by delving into a bit of China's ancient history.

For millennia, China has called herself "the land of God." It would appear that the Hand of Omnipotence was leading this ancient civilization. In the annals of Chinese history, we do not find a single instance of God's anger being poured out upon a Chinese city because of moral depravity, as happened to Sodom, Gomorrah. or Pompeii. Ancient Chinese art has never featured pornography or naked female sculptures - like I that uncovered in Near and Middle Fast excavations.

When it comes to China, however, you might agree that, for most people in the world today, the familiar image that comes to mind is not Confucius or high moral standards, but the Great Wall was intensified by the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi (259-210 B.C.)

The Middle Kingdom

The Chinese nation, earlier known as the "Middle Kingdom," dates hack to 2205 B.C. with its first dynasty, the Xia, established by King Yu. Even today in China, King Yu is still well-remembered "the great Yu." He was favored by Shiangdi [the God of heaven] who instructed him in the nine methods which enabled him to solve the problem of draining a huge flood that prevented further development and habitation of their land. It is interesting to note that Buddhism DOES NOT BELIEVE IFN A CREATOR GOD, or GOD OF HEAVEN. King Yu was also renowned as a virtuous and exemplary ruler, providing a fitting pattern for later rulers to emulate.

Following the Xia were the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Each of these kingdoms ruled over many states, some of these states having more extensive land and greater power than the royal dynasty itself, We will learn that most of the many kings of these first three dynasties served as Heaven-appointed agents, ministering by love rather than by force. During the later Zhou dynasty, the rulers of the eastern states fought one another for the control of all China. In 221 B.C., the Qin State defeated all its rivals and established China's first empire controlled by a strong self-imposed emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi. Thus China entered its fourth dynasty, the Qin, (221 - 206 B.C.).

To keep out invaders, Qin Shi Huangdi ordered the construction, repair and strengthening of the Great Wall, which, with its eventual completion, stretches about 4,000 miles. It was built with the blood and tears shed by thousands of slave workers under ruthless oppression, and was finished several centuries after the Qm dynasty. The Great Wall, the greatest human project in the history of mankind, has a sad history. Many of the 300,000 workers, who suffered from inhumane and cold-blooded treatment, lie entombed within its massive structure. Even though the Great Wall today is a symbol of unity and peace for the Chinese, no one can forget the high price paid to keep out potential foreign aggressors. Now, more than 2,200 years after Qin Shi Huangdi, the Great Wall has gradually become a landmark of unity for Chinese all over the world, and an identifying symbol of China. The name of "China" in all foreign languages of the world finds its root in the Qin [Chin] Dynasty.

Revelation of God to Man

Back to our opening question: does the Bible, which is meant for all people of the world, have anything to say about the land of China? The Bible, inspired by the I holy Spirit of God and written by more than 40 authors over a period of 1,600 years, faithfully records the words of the God of the universe. It is a treasure mine of priceless truth. It is the great standard of right and wrong, clearly defining sin and holiness. of all the books that have flooded the world, however valuable, the Bible is the most deserving of our closest study and attention.

The Bible opens the history of past ages. Without it we should have been left to fables and speculation regarding occurrences in past eras. This sacred volume gives not only an accurate history of the creation of this world, a history of our human race, but also the world's only authentic account of the origin of nations. It contains instruction concerning the wonders of the universe, and reveals God as the Author of the heavens and the earth. The Scriptures unfold a simple and complete system of theology and philosophy. Without the Bible, we are soon enveloped by false theories, superstition, and spiritual darkness.
Although unappreciated by many in today's secular world, the Bible is, in fact, the foundation of all true knowledge, for it is the revelation of God to man. Throughout the ages God's divine hand has preserved its purity. The many mysteries found in the Bible are perhaps the strongest evidence of its divine inspiration. One of these mysteries is Bible prophecy foretelling persons or events in the future. In the entire Bible there are thousands of prophecies. Most of them have been exactly fulfilled in time and place as predicted. The rise and fall of nations have been foretold in the Bible long before they happened. Some prophecies are yet to he fulfilled in due time. This is entirely beyond human comprehension!

Our Lord Jesus clearly revealed God's purpose for giving prophecies when He said:
John 14:29 "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."
One of the most powerful, yet often neglected, Bible prophecies that might bring conviction to the Chinese, as well as the world, is the prophecy of China written by Isaiah (720 - 680 B.C.).

The Land of Sinim and the Prophecy of Isaiah

The ancient Dead Sea Scrolls, found in 1947, include the hook of Isaiah, and once again confirm that today's Bible is accurate and reliable. This verse in Isaiah is thought to refer to China:
Isaiah 49:12 "Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim."

You may wonder what the word "Sinim" means. Where is this land of Sinim, mentioned by Isaiah before his service was terminated in 680 B.C.? According to Strong's Concordance, "Sinim is a distant Oriental region." Young's Concordance reports, "Sinim is a people in the Far East; the Chinese?"

However, the meaning is still not quite clear. If you check an English dictionary for help:
"Sino" indicates Chinese; for example, Sinophile. [French, from Late Latin 'Sinae;' the Chinese, from Greek 'Sinai;' from Arabic 'Sin;' China, from Chinese (Mandarin) 'Ch'in' [Qin], dynastic name of the country.]"

Now it is clear that the Hebrew word "Sinim" means China, as can be seen, for example, in the word "sinology" - a study of things Chinese. As we mentioned earlier, all Chinese roots meet in the Qin dynasty. However, the Hebrew alphabet does not have the equivalent of "ch" in English and "Q" in Chinese. Thus "Qin" has been phonetically translated as "Sinim."

The Significance of China

In Isaiah's day, the state of Qin was only one of hundreds of states under Zhou (770 - 256 B.C.). It was located in the present Gansu Province through which trade with the West was conducted. How is it that Isaiah chose Qin to indicate the Middle Kingdom? What was so special about Qin? Rang Kung was appointed as the first Duke of Qin (770 B.C.), then a small, aristocratic house. Under his administration, the state of Qin emerged as one of the 14 major states under the Zhou dynasty. It was 500 years after Isaiah that Qin Shi Huangdi defeated all the other competitive states and established the Qin dynasty. From then on, Qin represented the Middle Kingdom [China].

The God of Isaiah, with divine foreknowledge, saw all the stages in the development of Qin - from a small, dependent, aristocratic house to becoming the famous Qin empire. God knew that the Duke of Qin would become ever stronger, equal with those of the other 13 states. Moreover, He foresaw that after another 500 years, the Dukedom of Qin would still exist, defeat all the other states, and unite them as one empire, even choosing "Qin" as the name for the new empire!

Some attempt has been made to identify Sinim as Syene [Aswan] in upper Egypt. Yet a closer look at what Isaiah said precludes this opinion. Listen to what he said:
"Indeed He says, It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6).
God proclaimed here that the mission of His Servant [Jesus Christ] was not limited to the salvation of the Jewish nation and its colonies [like Aswan] alone, but is also extended to all Gentiles throughout the world. In fact, when Jesus affirmed the faith shown by the Roman centurion [a Gentile] He said. "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 8:11)

Jesus used the expression, "from the east and west," to represent all the Gentiles. Isaiah used the term, "those from the north and the west and these from the land of Sinim," in the same sense. "These from the land of Sinim" should naturally be a large group of people among the Gentiles. Only China, not the small city Aswan, could fit the verse so well.

Sinim and Today

Isaiah's prophecy about China did not stop with the Qin dynasty, but rather it extended into the future. Over the 2,600 years since Isaiah, many countries have come and gone, but the land of Sinim (Qin) still stands firm as the land of China. The most exciting phases of this prophecy relative to "Sinim" will surely continue to be fulfilled. Reading earlier verses in this 49th Chapter of Isaiah, we find these words:

"That You [Jesus Christi may say to the prisoners, 'Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves...' For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them... Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, And these from the land of Sinim." (Isaiah 49:9, 10, 12)

Isaiah's foretelling of a final gathering of God's faithful among those "in darkness" must indicate a multitude of peoples - even from China. Most of the people living in China, since Isaiah's day, have been "in darkness" concerning the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ.

Yet here is a specific prophesy and a promise to bring "prisoners of darkness" in the land of Sinim to the light of salvation, freedom and mercy.

We mentioned earlier that the Great Wall has forever been associated with the land of China - ever since the establishment of the Qin dynasty. The existence of the Great Wall is reminiscent of its first builder and planner. Hundreds of emperors have ruled and died in the long history of China. Most of them are forgotten. But the name of Qin Shi Huangdi stands out!

The same prophet Isaiah foretold that the God of Israel paid the greatest price of all in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue fallen humanity! Jesus Christ came to earth, was nailed to a wooden cross, and died that all mankind might be rescued from sin. He would bear the nail print scars in the palms of His hands forever. Does the God of Israel know and care about the land of Sinim (China)? Even though the following verses are specifically to Israel, isn't it interesting that they come right after the prophecy of China in this book? We also know that many passages in the Bible written for Israel are also appropriated to the Church at large. No doubt, all the great missionaries who have spent their lives ministering the Gospel in China have made a tremendous impact. producing fruit for Christ's eternal kingdom.

God forgets no one whom he loves, just as He assures that a hair of our head doesn't fall to the ground without His notice. It is also interesting in light of China's "wonder of the world," the Great Wall, that this wall may also be continually before God.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet! will not forget you. See, I have Inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me." (Isaiah 49:15-16)

The land of Sinim is still there. The massive Walls are still before the people of China and before the God of Israel. Jesus died for the people of China who must now come out of darkness. We must learn why it was necessary for this Holy Man, the suffering Servant, to die. Just as the Great Wall cannot be separated from the land of Sinim, so the Great Wall of defense from evil and sin, built at the cost of Jesus Christ's blood on Calvary, cannot be separated from the God of Israel!