Some good has come out of Emmanuel Macron’s three day state visit to China. In comments to the press on his way back to France, Macron said that Europe must build its position as a third pole between China and the United States (ref. 1). He went on, Europe must not become followers of the USA or China on the issue of Taiwan, and furthermore Europe must reduce its dependence on the US dollar (ref. 2).
This position is quite different from the one that France took in 2021 when Florence Parley followed the footsteps of Jean Yves Le Drian and sent the nuclear attack submarine SNA Emeraude and the support ship BSAM Seine to carry out an American-style “Freedom of Navigation” operation in the South China Sea, sailing the warships provocatively through certain waters claimed by China.
Before he left China, Macron said that, concerning Ukraine, he wanted China to convince everyone to come to the negotiating table and particularly bring Russia to its senses (ref. 2), an interesting choice of words. But Xi replied that he was ready to talk to Ukraine only when the conditions were right (ref. 2).
So, Russia continues as it should.
Of course, prophetically, the conflict in Ukraine, a war of nations and kingdoms in these last days, must continue until all who would fight for the side of evil (e.g. Neo Nazis, Devil dogs, etc) are no more. “Such things must needs be.” (ref. Mark 13:7).
However, in regard to Taiwan at least, it seems, it is France that has come to its senses. If it is now the policy of France, and therefore the European Union, to be neutral regarding the USA versus China, especially on the matter of a naval war around Taiwan and the South China Sea, then this is a good thing.
In Isaiah 27, God prophesies an important and a decisive naval war in the last days: Satan’s navy, what the Bible describes as “the dragon that is in the sea”, versus a nation in the east fielding a weapon system described as the “east wind”.
In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.
Isaiah 27:1-2
Notice that the “DF” of China’s powerful antiship missiles stands for Dong Feng 东风, which literally means “east wind”. Hence “the day of the east wind”!
In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.
Isaiah 27:8
In Isaiah 27:4-5, we can see God, the LORD of hosts, asking nations that have nothing to do with this fight to either remain out of it, or else to side with him.
Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.
Isaiah 28:4-5
Either way, at the appointed time, Satan’s control of the sea will come to a fiery end.
So, if France is now neutral, then good for France. Furthermore, as goes France, so goes Europe, more or less.
Whether Macron will continue to lead this new neutral France is another matter, because apparently the protests against him over pension reform are still going on.
Now, a few days ago in California USA, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing Wen met with Kevin McCarthy, the current speaker of the US House of Representatives. This further breach of the one China principle by the USA prompted China to launch exercise “Joint Sword”, three days of live-fire drills around Taiwan and even simulated strikes (ref. 3), what the PLA describes as an “offensive posture”. So far, some 71 combat aircraft and 9 ships of China have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. So, this is another step towards the second seal of Revelation.
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Revelation 6:3-4
By the way, today in 2023, China’s navy is the world’s largest, surpassing even the USA’s. China has more vessels and more firepower. This, plus the fact that China’s army is the world’s strongest explains the scripture, “there was given unto him a great sword”!
Besides news of the USA versus China, there is spiralling violence in Israel between Muslims and Jews. Enraged by a clash at Al Aqsa mosque (ref. 4), Hamas fired some 34 rockets from Lebanon, the largest barrage in years (ref. 5). Then, two British-Israeli sisters were killed in a shooting, and a tourist was killed by a car ramming (ref. 6). In response, Benjamin Netanyahu has mobilised police reserves and members of the IDF (ref. 6). What is more, in a phone call to Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “the Islamic world should be united against Israel’s attacks in Palestine” (ref. 7). Turkey bombing Sulaymaniyah airport in Iraq to get at the Kurds is also noteworthy (ref. 8). All of this points to the fourth seal of Revelation, the rise of the Assyrian, also known as the Antichrist – the one who is to come out of Nineveh, Iraq (ref. Nahum 1:11).
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale [green] horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Revelation 6:7-8
Plus, there is also the third seal (ref. Revelation 6:5-6): ongoing inflation in the USA that should lead to hyperinflation and consequently a new US currency, the prophesied mark of the beast (ref. Revelation 13:16-17).
Except for Jesus Christ, no one knows (ref. Revelation 5:5) which seal will be opened next.
Still, things are happening, and every indication is that the end is coming – the seventh seal that begins the seven trumpets and vials of the wrath of God.
In other news that may or may not have to do with Bible prophecy, to my surprise, the 2023 World Chess Championship is being played between Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi (rating 2795) and China’s Ding Liren (rating 2788), respectively the second and third highest FIDE rated players in the world (ref. 9). Having won the title of World Chess Champion five times, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen (rating 2853), currently the highest FIDE rated player in the world, has decided not to defend his title (ref. 10).
It might be a coincidence or not that this match involves both Russia and China, the two nations of the prophesied kings of the east.
I know that the 1972 World Chess Championship between the USA’s Bobby Fischer and the USSR’s Boris Spassky was significant. Fischer’s win in 1972 happened to be a turning point for the USA in the Cold War. America had to win the Cold War and become the sole superpower because it was fate (ref. Revelation 17:18).
If anything, I suppose, this 2023 one is about the rise of the east. Maybe, Carlsen’s decision not to play in 2023 is as supernatural as Fischer’s decision to play in 1972. Time will tell.
Concerning the east, China’s city of Shanghai, 上海, which literally means “above sea”, is the eastern most point on the Eurasian continent, at the same latitude as the city of Jerusalem. Also, Russia’s possession of the Kuril islands means Russia, which is of the north, is equally a part of the east.
The kings of the east are important in these last days because in due time, these two will align militarily and fight against the forces of the Assyrian and against the forces of the False Prophet – the two final beasts of Satan.
But tidings out of the east [China] and out of the north [Russia] shall trouble him: therefore he [the Assyrian] shall go forth with great fury to destroy [Jews and Christians], and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [the Temple Mount]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Daniel 11:44-45
Also, on the day of the LORD, Jesus Christ will come in the clouds, with his angels and his born-again saints, from the direction of the east – the rising of the sun.
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:27
… from the rising of the sun shall he [Jesus, the Son of God] call upon my name [God the Father]: and he shall come upon princes [rebellious angels] as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay. Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? …
Isaiah 41:25-26
Returning to the 2023 World Chess Championship, the first game of this 14 game match ended in a draw. A drawish Delayed Exchange, Ruy Lopez was played, and some opportunities were missed.
Though spectacular wins are always exciting to watch, it would be meaningful if the 2023 match were to somehow draw at least for 14 games. This is because, in terms of Bible prophecy, Russia and China, the two kings of the east, are equally important in these last days.
Now, if the score remains equal after 14 games, which is very improbable, a number of rapid and blitz games will be played as a tiebreaker. If it is still drawn after all that, the match comes down to a format that the chess world describes as, wait for it, “Armageddon”. In Armageddon chess, white gets more time, but a draw means a win for black. How fitting would it be if this thing ended in Armageddon?
I will say more if it turns out that this 2023 chess match is meaningful.
References:
1. Reuters (10 April 2023), “Macron: Europe should not follow US or Chinese policy over Taiwan”, reuters.com
2. Claire Gatinois, Frederic Lemaitre and Philippe Ricard (7 April 2023), “Macron fails to convince Xi to budge on Ukraine”, lemonde.fr
3. ABC (9 April 2023), “China begins military drills around Taiwan after Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US Speaker”, abc.net.au
4. Bethan McKernan (5 April 2023), “Palestinians arrested and injured in Israeli raid on al-Aqsa mosque”, theguardian.com
5. Emanuel Fabian (6 April 2023), “34 rockets fired from Lebanon at Israel in worst barrage in years; Hamas blamed”, timesofisrael.com
6. DW (9 April 2023), “Israel: Netanyahu mobilizes reserves after deadly attacks”, dw.com
7. Jacob Magid (9 April 2023), “Erdogan to Iran’s Raisi: Islamic world should unite against Israeli attacks”, timesofisrael.com
8. Fadhel al-Nashmi and Kamal Sheikho (9 April 2023), “Iraq Condemns Turkish Attack on Sulaymaniyah Airport”, english.aawsat.com
9. ECU (6 April 2023), “FIDE World Chess Championship Match – Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Ding Liren starts in Astana”, europechess.org
10. Ayana Archie (20 July 2022), “Five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen says he will not defend his title”, npr.org