King Abdullah II of Jordan has called on China to increase its involvement in the Middle East in an effort to bring peace to the region. His comments came as Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was in Beijing to lobby the Communist government to strengthen sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. 

Quote: ""China can play an important role in supporting this process both as a world power and respected and trusted Asian neighbour," said the King, on a visit to mark 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. "As a permanent member of the United Nations (Security Council) and a country that has good relations with all parties in our region, China's role is, I believe, destined to increase in the coming period," he said in a speech at Peking University.

China's role is indeed destined to increase in the coming period. China enjoys good relations with all parties in the Middle East at present, but according to Scripture that will change. Following the failure of the peace process in the Middle East, and following the outbreak of war, the Kings of the East (or "sun-rising") are prophesied to march on Israel. The Euphrates river will be dried up, allowing their armies to cross unhindered into the Holy Land. Looking at a map of the Middle East, the Euphrates river acts as a land barrier between east and west, protecting Israel from invasion from states such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. Turkey is planning to build around 22 dams on the Euphrates. Syria relies heavily on the Euphrates for generating electricity, and frequently experiences power blackouts when the water level runs low.

Revelation 16:12
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.

The army that the Apostle John sees in the tribulation period numbers some 200 million men. Presently the only nation capable of mustering such a force would be China, and this causes many Christians to believe that China may have a big part to play in the end time scenario.

Revelation 9:13-18
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses [were] as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

Source Reuters, Bible Study