They’re not just accepting, they’re participating. Dirty looks if you aren’t wearing a mask, preaching the orthodoxy of the vax, and if you voice any disapproval of the CDC, Biden, or this wholesale curtailment of liberty, you must be some kind of reptile.

I was actually expecting the "brother against brother" conflict from years back. I just did not know then how that would come about. Now we know.

Although some here speak one of the Chinese languages, it will likely take a generation of tyrannical rule before it becomes one of our official languages. And it will likely be a second generation later before a majority of those in the United States of West China speak one of other Chinese languages.

@Daveclark5 I was just being facetious to indicate that you are right about your own government. However, I don't believe China will be the ultimate source of the problem, although it started out to seem like it. It is getting weaker by the day (although it could still cause problems). In the big picture I see it as a distraction. The real problem is what pits humans against each other, but that takes special interest to delve into. I study bible prophecy, and based on what I've come across over the decades, the ultimate agent of the global problem - from the humanistic point of view - will be an entity that will not give a darn about women, will "think to change times and laws," and is supposed to still practice slavery and beheadings too. Only one fits that bill, and millions of its adherents are already within all our borders.

@eschatologyguy
I understand your perspective. I have also studied the Bible (Not just prophesies, since it all informs of its ultimate author: the one who inspired it) for almost half a century. I’ve also studied other religions and understand exactly what you mean. Gen 16:10 talks about this problem that will not go away.

Along with that, I’ve studied many other cultures (beyond religions). In the last couple of decades of my military career, I saw the concern of China rising. About 15 years ago, I started looking into the military concerns about China. This seemed to be silly since we were the world’s supreme power. 2 decades before, there were only 2 super powers, but the USSR had basically crumbled under the weight of its competition with the USA.

As I studied (in War College and on my own) the other threats to the US, I saw the focus of many was turning the China and its 500 year plan. We were struggling to build a realistic 20 year plan and didn’t even conceive of a plan that considered plans for even 100 years in the future. China’s 500 year plan called sacrifices and losses in the near future 20-50 years, but they were strategic losses that would produce long-term gains and would ultimately place them in a position of ruling the entire world.

China may not succeed, but they’ve been able grow in influence to a point where they don’t even have to directly attack in order to bring down their most powerful foes. They understand the arrogance, laziness and shortsightedness of the Americans and of their other western countries; and they use that against us. They have been building alliances with many 3rd world countries, teaching them to speak mandarin or Cantonese and getting them dependent upon Chinese products, railways, and import/export relationships.

They have presence in Africa that threatens Europe, in South America and Canada that threatens the USA in the Philippine islands and other pacific island that support their power to threaten Asian countries. (To name a few.)

If you look at the Instruments of National Power (commonly represented by D.I.M.E), they have increased ( I )ntelligence through spying and purchasing of information; ( M )ilitary through building up of their Naval equipment, space operations (satellite, space-based weaponry/technology, and ability to shoot down our satellites/eyes in the sky and other space based assets), strategic alliances with enemies of the current world powers, etc... ; And their ( E )conomic power has grown supported by their persecuted people’s slave labor, theft of intellectual property and backward-engineered knock-offs, loans made to rich countries, etc... They have even increased their ( D )iplomatic power, by putting their rivals against each other and swooping in at the end for credit (first to recognize Afghanistan’s new “government”, Iranian support, North Korean support, etc...) along with greasing the palms of politicians like the Biden crime family and Obama and Clinton’s before him.

I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss the threat China is to the free world, but that isn’t our ultimate enemy. The fact of the matter is that the evil within is what will ultimately destroy the individual, the family, the community and the nation. IMO

@Daveclark5 Glad you're a believer. I've always believed prophecy is part of the "package," as its serious study is alluded to in Hebrews 6:1.

China and the rest of the "strangers, the terrible of the nations" will be at each others' throats after Ezek 28:7 (check out Isa 14 as well, and give attention to v16). Isa 25:5 and 29:5 seems to suggest this.

If you're a Pre-Tribulationist, you're good to go. I suspect Amillenialists will be sticking around for a bit longer. Why Messiah rescues what are presumed to be Egyptian Copts in Isa 19 had always puzzled me. Then I learned that they are Amillenialists. Paul tells us of a reward for those "who love His appearing." We must have that yearning for His returning to "gather us to Himself." Not yet the second advent as we read Amos 5:18 about that.

@Daveclark5

If you have the time.