The Final Countdown

It is a tragic occurrence for Iraqis, but exciting for Christians because it is another great sign that Jesus is coming soon… The Euphrates River is drying up and shrinking, particularly in Iraq.

This is one of the incredible prophecies that proves the world is ready for Christ to return. Why? Because during the Tribulation, the largest army ever assembled (Revelation 9:6), coming from China, North Korea, and perhaps a few other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Revelation 16:12) will march right down the dried up Euphrates River (Revelation 9:14; 16:12; Isaiah 11:15) until they meet resistance–near Iraq!

Two quick stories to illustrate the cooperation of China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran:

• China wants Ahmadinejad election recognized
• Experts find Soviet parts in North Korean Missile

These four nations will work together to launch World War III. The battle begins when Russia forms a coalition of Arab nations whose purpose is to obliterate Israel (Psalm 83:4-5). This cabal marches on the Holy Land (Ezekiel 38:15), with Iran being a key driving force (Ezekiel 38:5). In the second half of the assault, China and North Korea march down the Euphrates River and into the Middle East (Revelation 16:12; Isaiah 11:15) to face the armies of the Antichrist (Daniel 11:44).

While unrest rules Iran over the recent election results, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad can rest certain he has the backing of one group of nations–the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Ahmadinejad attended a summit with the SCO members this week.

We often talk about the Russian and Iranian led confederation of nations that will march on Israel (Psalm 83:4-5; Ezekiel 38:8, 16). But there is a second half to that invasion, and it occurs when China and members of the SCO, along with North Korea (Revelation 16:12), follow up the initial movement by marching  a 200,000,000 man army (Revelation 9:16) down the Euphrates River and into the Middle East (Revelation 9:14, 16;12; Isaiah 11:15). So look for more cooperation between the SCO, Russia, and Iran in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that Iran is actively seeking nuclear weapons technology. Iran continues to ratchet up the rhetoric, this time by claiming that they foiled a US terrorist plot to blow up polling places on election day.

The reports of a Chinese bookstore owner being jailed for three years for printing Bibles to give to local Christians is a somber reminder of how blessed we Americans are to live in a nation founded on God and His principles. Sadly, the Almighty remains under assault in the United States, with fringe minority groups having full support of the government in attempts to eradicate the name of Jesus from public life.

Consider these headlines from the last two weeks:

• Liberty University’s tax-exempt status challenged
• Pepsi stops donations to disaster relief ministry because it has ‘God’ in its name (Note: Pepsi has since reversed its stance)
• Senate, Supreme Court refuse admission to wearers of “Jesus is the Standard” shirts
• UCLA student told she can’t reference Jesus Christ in her personal graduation statement
• Bishop faces jail for ringing church bells (Note: Muslim prayer horns in Dearborn, MI are “protected,” regardless of the public outcry of noise pollution)
• Christians prohibited from conducting Bible study in public housing projects
• Oklahoma braces for challenge to Ten Commandments law
• Calls for Red Cross symbol to be axed

Thankfully there is some good news from this week. Students at Florida’s Pace High School thumbed their noses at the ACLU by standing in unison and reciting the Lord’s Prayer at their graduation ceremony. Also, a House committee has approved a resolution that, if passed, will fix the egregious removal of references to God from the US Capitol Visitor Center. Some of these “omissions” include leaving the National Motto, In God We Trust, off the replica of the Speaker’s rostrum; the removal of the Pledge of Allegiance; and the striking of references to God from the Northwest Ordinance and the Constitution.

The United States appears to be depicted in Scripture in Isaiah 18, Jeremiah 50-51, and Revelation 18. Among the many descriptions given we find a nation who was founded on God, but has systematically removed Him from society, growing worse and worse as time goes on (Isaiah 18:2, 7). There is even rejoicing that the Godly heritage of the nation is covered up (Jeremiah 50:11).

Because of great sin (Jeremiah 50:14) and the turning away from God (Jeremiah 50:29), monumental judgment is coming (Jeremiah 50:28; 51:24). This will come in the form of missiles (Jeremiah 50:14, 29; 51:3, 11) launched by Russia (Jeremiah 50:9, 41; 51:48) and perhaps even Iran (Jeremiah 51:11, 28). If this passage does indeed picture America, the United States will be completely destroyed (Jeremiah 50:13, 26).

It was a big weekend for the key Biblical players from the East, beginning Friday with a minor dust up between American and Chinese naval vessels, the fifth such “clash” since March. Friday’s incident was seemingly innocuous, with a Chinese military ship responding to a situation between the US vessel and a Chinese fishing boat. However, tension escalated after a Chinese spokesman berated the US for its involvement, adding more stress to a situation that has been building in recent months. Over in North Korea, there has been heavy activity at a nuclear testing facility, the same site where North Korea first detonated a nuclear device in 2006. After the news leaked, North Korea took the opportunity to reiterate its promise to bolster its nuclear weapons arsenal.

The biggest news, however, comes from Russia. In the wake of the failed (and supposedly Russian-backed) mutiny in the former Soviet state of Georgia, as well as heightened angst between Russia and the European Union, Russia put its military might on display, parading nuclear capable missiles, heavy artillery tanks, and tens of thousands of soldiers through the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities.

Russia, China, North Korea, and the EU play critical parts in the greatest war in the history of the world. It all begins when Russia forms a confederacy of Jew-hating nations (Psalm 83:4-5) and launches an attack against Israel (Jeremiah 10:22, Ezekiel 38 & 39). The Russian led armies will face a great defeat (Joel 2:20; Ezekiel 39:6), so much so that even with every available man working, it will take 7 months to bury the dead (Ezekiel 39:12-13). But there is a second part to this invasion, and that is led by China, who brings with them North Korea and other nations (Revelation 16:12). This is when the largest army ever assembled (Revelation 9:16) marches down the Euphrates River (Revelation 9:14, 16:12; Isaiah 11:15) and into the Middle East, where they meet the Antichrist and his forces, who comes against Russia and China (Daniel 11:44) for breaking the peace contract he forged (Daniel 9:26-27; Ezekiel 38:11).

It’s happening, and happening soon.