Does China have a role in the end times?

Rosh, Mesech and Tubal = "All the Russias," and together with China, India and Persia represent the hosts of the King of the North who will come against Israel, and after terrific conflict will be utterly routed, Ezek. 39:4, and destroyed at the beginning of the Millennium. Rev. 9:16 gives the number of the great armies also from the East, as two hundred million armed men. India, Japan, China and other races will show that the long-feared Yellow Peril was not a dream, in the times of what is termed "the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Joel 3; Zeph. 3:8.) "Gomer and all his lands" refers to Germany and Confederated States when they become the allies and vassals of Russia, according to many able expositors of Ezek. 38:6.

These two striking passages we believe cast some light upon the problem of Indian self-government that is perplexing British statesmen at this time. The four angels bound at the Euphrates seem to represent four great nations that have hitherto remained east of that river, which has so prominent a place in the Scripture. We think that our readers will not disagree with that interpretation of the passage. Coinciding with the loosing of these angels, that river is to be dried up "that the way of the kings of the East may be prepared," and an army of 200,000,000 horsemen will then pour into Palestine, probably with the intention of invading and conquering Europe. We question whether the number given of this amazing army is merely symbolical, for John says, "and I heard the number of them."

There are four nations on the east of the Euphrates which in spite of their vast numbers have never moved westward — they "are bound at the great river Euphrates" — that could muster such an army if they became allied, and India is one of these. But in order to become allied, say, with China, Japan and Tibet, and to join with them in this great invasion, it would be necessary for India to be independent of British domination and to be able to raise its own army. It would appear as though events were moving in this direction, however much all patriotic British people may deplore it. In the ways of God with the nations, and it may be that the gospel of His grace might be preached in that land, it has come under British rule, and as long as this exists the dominant power is responsible to God for the right government of it, but we judge from these Scriptures in the Revelation that this rule must cease eventually. These vast armies from the East will be gathered at Armageddon (Rev. 16:16), there to be confronted by the armies of Europe under the Beast and the False Prophet, for the armies of the whole world are to be gathered there, but instead of fighting each other they will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings. That will be the battle of that great day of God Almighty, when He will assert His authority over all that rule and pour out His judgment upon all who oppose His Christ (Rev. 17:14).

The four angels that are to be loosed beyond Euphrates, seem to represent four great nations, in the east, and that river is to be dried up to make the way of these kings and their vast armies easy. This is probably the true “yellow peril,” and the invasion of Europe the purpose. It may be that the armies of Europe under the Beast march into Palestine to withstand them. Anyhow these multitudes will be gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3), not to destroy one another, but to be judged by the Lord. The Coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords

The four angels that are to be loosed beyond Euphrates, seem to represent four great nations, in the east, and that river is to be dried up to make the way of these kings and their vast armies easy. This is probably the true "yellow peril," and the invasion of Europe the purpose. It may be that the armies of Europe under the Beast march into Palestine to withstand them. Anyhow these multitudes will be gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3), not to destroy one another, but to be judged by the Lord.

The kings of the east are often thought to refer to China, Japan, etc. Vast countries in the Far East are waking up, evidently foreshadowing what is to happen in the last days.

As already stated the Euphrates was the boundary of the Roman empire and the land of Israel. It is a kind of barrier which separates the west from the east. This barrier symbolized by the river Euphrates is now completely removed, so that the kings from the sunrise can invade the land. This invasion is also seen in connection with the sixth trumpet. The nations must gather from all quarters in and about Palestine. We find much of this revealed in the Old Testament and it would be strange if the Revelation were silent on so important an event. Ezekiel describes a great invader, a confederacy of nations (Ezek. 38 and 39). Gog, Magog, the Prince of Rosh ( Russia ), Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Cush and Put are mentioned as forming this confederacy. The term "Kings of the sunrise" may even mean the far Eastern Asiatic nations, like China and Japan. The drying up of the Euphrates seems therefore to mean the removal of the barrier, so that the predicted gathering of the nations may take place (Joel 3:2). What began under the sixth trumpet is consummated when the sixth vial is poured out. It is an act of judgment-wrath, while at the same time these opposing nations are gathering for the great day of God Almighty.

Who are “the kings of the east”? Evidently they dwell in lands east of the Euphrates. We have heard much of late years of “The Yellow Peril.” This is significant, and seems to point in the direction of our verse. The drying up of the Euphrates evidently means that the restraining influence that has checked the westward incursion of these “kings of the east” will be removed. In what way this will take place Scripture does not tell us.

This shrinking has been a process going on for a long time. The Balkan States have one after another obtained their independence at the expense of Turkey, until she possesses a mere fragment of her former possessions in Europe. The great European War has seen it dispossessed of Arabia, Palestine, and Mesopotamia, and its shadowy suzerainty over Egypt repudiated. It is not a little remarkable that the Euphrates has been in literal process of being dried up by the dam, which has been in process of construction under Sir William Willcocks for irrigation purposes. Still we believe that the drying up of the Euphrates signifies, whatever means may be taken, that God's restraining power is removed for His own wise purpose, and the loosing of the four angels to be the setting into motion, as allowed of God, all this terrible array of force. The Kings of the East are often taken to mean the Kings of the Far East—China, Japan, etc.—but the Kings of the East in Scripture refer, we believe, to those nearer to Palestine, especially such as belonged to the second world-empire, the Medo-Persian.

"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Behold, I come as a thief; blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.) And he [or "they"] gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." We need not understand this, any more than the previous judgments, literally. The Euphrates was the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. The drying up of its waters, then, to make a way for the kings of the East is a natural figure for the breaking down of that boundary-line of the revived empire under the beast.

The kings of the east probably signify a confederacy of eastern powers under the king who takes the place of the ancient Assyrian. In opposition to Egypt their leader is styled the king of the north. In opposition to the revived Roman Empire, the confederates are styled "the kings of the east." We have seen that such a power will be arrayed against Jerusalem, which seeks aid in the disastrous alliance with the beast, the head of the revived Roman Empire. It is by God's counsel that all the nations are thus gathered "against Jerusalem to battle," but God makes the dragon and men's evil passions to work out his own will. Just as He bade the lying spirit go and lure Ahab to his fall, just as He sends men in this dreadful time "strong delusion that they should believe a lie," so here He uses the unclean spirits out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, to draw together this assemblage of powers, "the clusters of the vine of the earth," to be trodden in the wine-press of His righteous indignation. Doubtless to men's eyes the war will be declared with the usual exchange of diplomatic dispatches, and the usual protests of disinterested intentions. But the Spirit of God unmasks the true motives at work, and shows that the real agents in this great gathering are demons, diabolic counsels, from the heart of Satan and his wicked instruments. By these the war is stirred up, and God's purpose accomplished. The kings of the east gather their forces, and invade the frontier of the beast's dominions. The beast, in concert with the kings of the west, also gathers his forces, and marches to the fatal field of Armageddon.

“The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” The Euphrates is the eastern boundary of the Roman empire. The boundary will be broken up, and a way opened for the kings of the east to come. This must bring Palestine into great prominence; and the western empire is moved by this to go forth to the great battle. The trinity of iniquity puts forth all its unclean power: unclean spirits like frogs go out of the mouth of the beast (the head of the empire), but the dragon is named first, and last the man of sin, the false prophet. Satan, the emperor, and the man of sin: what a trinity! Men will have these; but they reject the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And they will receive and be led by the odious spirits that proceed from this terrible trinity of iniquity! And when the hosts of the east come against this apostate empire, they come as the bowl of the wrath of God. These things cannot have been yet fulfilled. The empire is not yet restored, and the man of sin has not yet appeared. Let not then the fancies of men take away your attention from the awfully solemn fact, that these things will surely soon come to pass!