As we see the Second Signpost getting closer we must prepare physically.  The three signposts to come could go on for years prior to the tribulation or rapture.  And China is setting an example for us, believe it or not.

Admittedly the title of this post is a twist on Jesus’ words, but you may see why it is applicable to us here in the end times.  The original text is from Matthew 10:16 where Jesus tells His disciples,

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

In context, Jesus was telling us to be careful and use some smarts – but innocently and harmlessly – in dealing with the world.  That Greek word for “shrewd”, phronimoi (Strong’s #5429), is the same word also used for the five wise virgins.  Phronimoi is to be wise, prudent, and have a situational awareness of your surroundings not only in the physical sense but in every sense including material and social.  Some nations seem to act this way, being shrewd, crafty, etc.

The communist party leadership of China acts this way in leading that nation – though they are far from innocent.  They believe they are leading their nation to be the next superpower to challenge the United States for global domination.  However they will end up being the only nation mentioned in the Bible as being the serious challenger to the Antichrist mentioned in the Bible:

“It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’  And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.  The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.”  (Rev 9:14-16, NIV)

and,

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.”  (Rev 16:12, NIV)

The “kings of the East” are recognized as China in popular prophetic theology (and one of the few things the popular picture gets right in my opinion).  China would be able to march a huge army across Asia.  That takes an infrastructure, a vibrant economy, food production, and energy.  Doesn’t the Antichrist conquer the world and hold every nation under his sway?  Apparently not.

Just as King Nebuchadnezzar was said to have authority over every people and language (Dan. 2:37-38), he clearly did not rule them all.  The same is true of the Antichrist to come.  He will not rule everyone.  So if China can beat the “system” and remain independent and even come back at the end and give the Antichrist’s kingdom a major threat, can individuals learn from China’s playbook so they could have a chance at having a greater degree of economic independence?

I believe the answer is “yes.”

For China to be able to do this in the end days it must have two things – a source of oil and gas independent of the global oil supply affected by Antichrist, and it must have its own banking system.

The source of oil and gas available to China has become rather obvious in these last couple years.  It would be Russia.  Right now Russia and China are signing trade pacts and building pipelines across their mutual border.  Today Russia is one of the largest exporters of oil.

China is also setting up its own central banking system apart from the West.  China is buying gold (much more than they are telling).  China is setting up its currency to be the next reserve currency.  They are also selling their holdings of US Treasuries.

So how could we act shrewdly in the face of the coming Second Signpost and prepare for ourselves and be a blessing to those around us?  Imitate China by doing two things I have been saying all along – lessen your dependence on the global oil supply, and get out of the dollar.  As individuals we may only be able to do little things to lessen our dependence on oil, but getting our saved wealth out of the U.S. dollar is something any one of us can do.  We can do what China is doing – selling our dollar-denominated assets and buying precious metals and foreign stocks.

Categories: Preparation, Signpost #2: Iran

Tags: China, Dollar, Prepare, Second Signpost