China and Russia Strengthen Ties

China’s President Xi visited Russia this week and Russian President Putin is scheduled to visit China in September. “The Ukrainian crisis has strained Russia’s relations with the West. Sanctions have been imposed on Moscow, hurting Russia’s economy as well as causing its currency and energy exports to plunge. As a result, the Russian government is moving closer towards Asia, particularly China… the two nations have been developing increasingly warming ties and finding common ground internationally, especially at the UN Security Council where they are both permanent members. As vice foreign minister Cheng recently put it: ‘China and Russia are each other’s most important strategic partners. Our relationship is special and significant’” (Deutsche Welle, May 7, 2015). “In addition to a new potential deal on Russian gas supplies via pipeline using the western route to China, the two nations are also expected to finalize an agreement on development of a joint Russia-China military helicopter” (ibid.).

Prophecy reveals that a great 200-million-man army will come together east of Jerusalem at the end of the age, and will fight against the European beast power in the Middle East (Revelation 9:13-16). Such an army will probably need manpower from China and military support from Russia. The growing cooperation between these two nations lends credence to age-old Bible prophecies.

For more on this subject, see our telecast “The Soon-Coming Great Tribulation.”