Communism will continue to erode as the basis for life and government in China, even if at times it seems to swing back toward more hard-line communist policies. After the terrible confusion of the Cultural Revolution, the gradual way in which the leaders of China allowed the shift from communism to a market-based economy was done with wisdom. Had China tried to implement these changes as fast as the Soviet Union, it would have created another terrible human tragedy. A stable, prospering China is in the best interest of the world, and the gradual opening of China spiritually is also in the best interest of truth and the kingdom. If the door opens too fast, the sects and cults will swarm over China like they did the former Soviet Union.

Even so, there are still hard-line communist elements in China that represent a threat to their continued development as an open society. These are also a major threat to world peace. There are long-range plans on the part of some in the leadership of China to possess the Middle East and its oil reserves. The gradual but unrelenting pursuit of this purpose is a major force contributing to the destabilization of the Middle East.

We were prophetically warned during the 1980s "communism will soon become commu-wasm" but that the "remnants of communism would combine with radical Islamic elements to create the worst danger that the world has ever faced." China is the largest remnant of communism, and they are working with and using Islamic extremist groups. If this course is continued, it will ultimately result in a greater and more dangerous destabilization of the world than experienced during the Cold War. Many in China see this destabilization as their national interest, and desire to make China into a superpower that can counter the United States just as the Soviets once did.

There are also elements within the leadership of China that desire to develop as an economic superpower more than a military superpower, using economic power to steer world affairs toward China’s interests. These are more noble-minded and have a vision for world peace and prosperity. These two different groups are counter-balancing powers within the Chinese leadership at this time, and the reason we seem to be dealing with two different faces in the Chinese leadership.

In the pendulum of world affairs, China is one of the most strategic nations in the world. The direction they take will be a major determining factor in how much time is left for the harvest. We need to pray for Chinese government leaders, and our own leaders in their dealings with China. Christians should be especially open to developing spiritual, cultural, and business relationships in China.

We must always remember that we are not warring against flesh and blood, and the devil’s intent on manipulating human politics is usually very different than the actual political ambitions of the people he uses. The enemy’s main intent is to kill and destroy, especially the Jewish people and Christians. His greatest victory is to get Christians fighting Christians, or Christians attacking the Jewish people. Like a chess master who stays focused on the real prize, the checkmate of the enemy’s king, the devil, only uses human politics to facilitate his ultimate goal—thwarting the Lord’s last day purposes that will be manifested through the church and Israel. It is because many of the great leaders of the last day church are going to come from both China and Russia that the enemy also has a major strategy to be to ignite a war between Russia and China, and to continue using both of these nations to destabilize the Middle East. We must pray for the peace of these two countries, and not drop our guard when it appears that cooperation and peace are growing between them. As friends, they can become two of the strongest and most stable countries in the world. As enemies, they can sow discord and death throughout the world. Pray for the Lord to continue sending laborers for the great harvest in both of these countries.