“The human race, without God, is destined to enslavement.” - Dr. Andy Woods

Most of the information shared in this article is to illustrate just a portion of the nefarious manner in which the Chinese government and subservient businesses it controls have operated. But how could this international story impact us in a personal sense here in America? The Chinese have had great success in marketing their wares to the world but with their gadgets and technology comes the threat of a modern day Trojan horse of epic proportions. To understand just some of the possible implications, let me circle back to my opening paragraphs in Part One about China and Third World influences.

The Chinese have a long history of saying one thing while their goal is actually something far different. An offer to build and finance infrastructure for poor nations may certainly seem appealing to the leaders of countries still living in the tech dark ages, but China’s move to become the technological savior of the Third World should be of great concern elsewhere. Once a nation accepts Beijing’s offer to wire them into the modern day, then, besides financial remuneration, China is rewarded with a prized key component every totalitarian dictatorship needs: access to information. Whether fully understood by the host countries or not, Beijing’s international campaign to provide infrastructure is driven by their ability to extract useful information from what appears to be innocuous raw data and their desire to further inoculate their population from the perils of free speech, human rights, democracy, and, especially, religion. They have the expertise and have become masters at weaponizing information to severely hamper or eliminate opposition. All they need is access to raw data.

Along with the installation of Chinese hardware comes the ability for its makers to sift through and organize every bit and byte coming into and going out of any nation taking their infrastructure bait. Through this unchecked, backdoor, algorithm-led surveillance, breathtaking amounts of information could be captured and processed, giving the Chinese an advantage in many areas. Since we know that crushing free speech and religious liberty are crucial priorities to China’s Communist dictatorship, it stands to reason that one of the most important uses of these new data streams would be to identify dissidents opposed to Beijing’s totalitarian agenda.

One group vehemently opposed to Communism, and whom Red leaders have constantly sought to suppress, are Bible-believing Christians. It is no wild leap to imagine that, as you and I here in the West seek to bring spiritual, emotional, and material support to believers living in countries where Chinese tech has been deployed, Chinese authorities, through their international data nabbing, may become interested in who we are, what we do, what we say, and who we say it to. Not long ago dictators would have to send human elements to foreign soil to do the dangerous work of surveillance. Now, the Chinese can openly deploy particular hardware and electronic infrastructure to accomplish far more than an old-fashioned spy ring ever could! 

With data acquired through China’s far-reaching infrastructure projects, we can be sure that Chinese computer scientists and programmers are fast at work building databases and cross-referencing names, email addresses, and other information to pinpoint individuals in China that we Christians in the West may be in communication with. It is a fact that the totalitarian government there has developed the most sophisticated surveillance capability known to man and is avidly tracking the associations of EVERY Chinese citizen. (I report on this ominous reality in the documentary “Home Invasion: The Rise of Surveillance Society.” [1])

If Beijing is actively tracking the associations of their citizens in country, why then would they not also seek to document whoever their citizens are communicating with abroad? There is no unfiltered outside news or social media available in China and if one is fortunate enough to be able to communicate internationally through email, you can be sure it’s been scanned for anything the authorities there deem useful or unlawful. It might seem less significant or even far-fetched to us who are not constantly looking over our shoulder in fear, but it is clear that literally no privacy remains for the Chinese citizenry. Every area of life there is being surveilled and judged by their government. They are truly a “surveillance society.”

China is continually updating the Orwellian system of advanced control over their population such as no nation has ever deployed. The astounding electronic surveillance capability already in place across the world’s most populace country is nearly incomprehensible. To assure complete domination, the Chinese dictatorship has over 170 million CCTV cameras in operation watching any and every move made by its citizens. By 2020, however, they plan to deploy nearly 600 million such cameras in total. [2]

An intricate system of personal social credits to track the populace was announced in 2014 when a projected six-year roll out of the system began. A low social score can affect the interest rate an individual is charged or even the ability to get a loan, where they can live, the quality of their children’s education, and much more. Literally, everything you do, everywhere you go, and everyone you meet with is scrutinized and you are assessed social credit scores accordingly. Those who don’t follow the will of the government across the board are penalized. In 2017, over 11 million Chinese citizens with failing social credit scores were refused access to airlines, with 4 million others unable to use trains and public transportation. What grievous acts would ban someone from flying? Would you believe as little as carrying a cigarette lighter through airport security, smoking on a train, or jaywalking. [3]

As of spring of 2018, 7 million citizens deemed by the government to be “dishonest” were mired in the blacklist. Many named on the list are never informed of their precarious state until they attempt to register at a nice hotel, buy a house, or take a holiday. As one can imagine, if anyone questions or criticizes the government they may find their assets frozen and the names of relatives added arbitrarily to the “dishonest” list with little or no recourse. In Xiamen, should you happen to call someone on the dishonest list you will receive a voice message before the call connects saying, “The person you're calling is dishonest.” [4]

In mid-2018, the Chinese government began publishing the names and pictures of those who’ve left debts unpaid in order to bring public shame to offenders. But one could only hope that would be the extent of the punishment if you were unfortunate enough to being exposed as a Christian. Apparently, among the most dangerous of dissidents, they are often intimidated through investigation, arrest, and jail, with their families often threatened and detained as well.

A Sneak Peek at the Future Seven-Year Tribulation Period

Living in undue fear and paranoia is unhealthy and unhelpful but the world has truly entered a new, uncharted, and dark phase through the use of technologies. Realism is often uncomfortable but, with churches being demolished and Christians being arrested, it is obvious that the government is in full attack mode against all religions.

Besides unauthorized, Bible-believing-style Christians, other religious minorities are experiencing intense persecution. The Uighurs (pronounced we-gurs), a smaller Muslim sect numbering about 11 million in China's northwestern Xinjiang region, have been particularly singled out as a threat to Beijing’s atheist control. Not only are an estimated 1.1 million Uighurs now being held in repressive “re-education programs,” i.e., “concentration camps” (as seen in this smuggled photo) but more than a million Chinese civilians have been dispatched to aid the military and police and have been deployed to actually live in the homes of Uighurs as uninvited but mandatory roommates to indoctrinate and surveil them. These agents of the Chinese government are ordered to literally follow the Uighurs everywhere they go 24/7 (including everywhere within their own homes), with one purpose in mind: to be certain the Uighurs cannot carry out any religious activity such as prayer or study of the Qu’ran. Imagine what that must be like and one begins to understand the radical ends the Chinese government is currently going to in its quest to silence any and all religious activity. [5]

Only government-authorized, pseudo-Christian churches offer an appearance of physical safety for now. The sterilized religion practiced in these churches is certainly no threat to the Communist regime. However, it is eternally lethal for those who place their trust in the teaching offered therein.

Working on a five-year plan to attempt to make Christianity compatible with socialism, the Chinese are currently editing a version of the Bible that aligns with the edicts of Communism and in state-sanctioned churches the singing of communist revolutionary songs must precede any hymns or worship. [6] In April 2018, China banned all online sales of Bibles. According to draft rules that were implemented last October, foreigners are now prohibited from providing “religious information” to mainland Chinese via the internet. Religious services cannot be streamed (live on the Internet) as well. [7] An estimated 1,700 to 6,000 crosses have been removed from church buildings in recent months [8] but as the picture of the destruction of the Golden Lampstand Church in Shanxi Province depicts here, it could be far worse.

Inside state-authorized churches, crosses can still be displayed – providing that pictures of Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping adorn the wall to the left and right. [9]

Reminding many of life under the rule of Mao, pictures of China’s President Xi Jinping are replacing pictures depicting Jesus Christ in homes across the country! Beginning about 18 months ago, residents of more impoverished areas report being told to reject “superstitious religion” and to realize that the people who can really help them are the Communist Party and General Secretary Xi. Several reports say that some were told they would not be eligible for government assistance unless their pictures and posters of Jesus were removed. [10] At about the same time, widespread reports began to filter out that government officials have, to varying degrees, also banned children and teens from attending church services or being a part of religious meetings. [11]

Prophetic Implications

The surveillance technology the Chinese have developed and the way in which it is being used is significant in multiple ways. First, in the fact that they have and are continuing to perfect and deploy these intrusive systems, China’s Communist regime is acting as a forerunner giving us a peek into an important aspect of Antichrist’s future reign.

Next, in mirror ideological image to the coming biblical Man of Sin, China is systematically seeking to use this technology to surveil, control, isolate, and eradicate any individual or group who defies them. In particular, they are targeting the Church, threatening anyone who dares spread the real Gospel within China’s borders.

Third, as much as many past dictators would have wished to do so, China’s surveillance technology is showing us that without this critical element the Antichrist simply could not yet appear and fulfil what Scripture says of him.

The second part of Revelation 13:7 - arguably one of the most important passages in Bible prophecy - emphatically states “...and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” This is exactly what Hitler wanted. Likewise did Stalin, Nero, Napoleon and every other man who wanted to dominate the world – except none could actually accomplish it. Why? They didn’t have the means to control the mass of humanity because they lacked the intelligence gathering ability to coordinate and implement such a monumental undertaking. Bluntly put, Antichrist simply could not have come until now!  Not until our day has the technology needed to wield power and control over ALL people worldwide been available. As Antichrist rises to fame and then power he will weave an incredible web of deceit and influence throughout the culture. The technologies and innovations that man has developed will be made ready at his behest. However, the intricate system of surveillance technology and the computing power now available to utilize it will be the key. Without them, Revelation 13:7 could not find fulfilment but now every piece is falling into place. This fact should signal to all Christians that our Messiah and King is ready and awaiting the signal from God the Father to come and get His Church very, very soon!

What Then Must We Do?

Though we do not know his identity or exactly when or how Antichrist will arise, we understand that what is happening in China today is absolutely the spirit of Antichrist at work. In time, China’s Communist leaders will inflict more and more repression and persecution upon their people. But neither this nor other world events changes our responsibility to our Godly mission in the least. This is a time for clear-headed, biblical strategy, not despair and retreat. Jesus instructed us, saying “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16). Understanding the Chinese government’s relentless desire to stamp out religion and their ability to utilize data, just briefly imagine the following scenario with me.

It would be more than foolish to advertise our missionary intent or in other ways identify ourselves as Christian believers whenever we attempt to communicate with someone in China. But that reality could be realized by the Chinese through intercepted communications we’ve had with others elsewhere in the world where we are or have been open about of faith and work for Christ. As I’ve illustrated earlier in this article, the Chinese are positioning hardware so as to skim and capture data as it flows into and out of other nations. So it could be as simple as flagging our true Christian identity and then matching information such as our name, city, email, or IP addresses garnered through their backdoor data thievery. As I stated earlier, using that information, Chinese government programmers could then feasibly cross-reference to determine who we communicate with in China. I don’t have to explain the potentially ominous results for those inside China and perhaps for others who might in the future attempt to enter the country. The outcomes could be devastating or even deadly.

Additionally, there are many places in the world where the identity of missionaries - whose real agenda is to evangelize the lost - is cloaked to allow them to operate. What would stop the maniacal and rabidly anti-Christian officials in China from sharing information they may gain about underground church members or clandestine missionaries with like-minded dictatorial regimes elsewhere who wish to crush any opposition that could threaten them? Again, the implications are chilling.

One would have to be willfully ignorant to ignore that, if the Chinese government would prodigiously spy on its own people, then surely nothing would prohibit them from exporting the technology to other dictators to do likewise. China’s leaders follow the same totalitarian edict that Mao followed but, because they aren’t, as a norm, making overt military threats and there are untold financial profits to be made, many in the West seem bent on ignoring the obvious at all cost. The Chinese have only changed their views on trade and understand that commerce can result in control. They still depress their people – especially those of faith – with complete disregard for human dignity, freedoms, and life itself.

The Chinese leadership are thugs, criminals to be frank, and there is no amount of makeup one can apply to disguise this fact. The abject oppression of their own people and the absence of anything resembling free speech, along with the most advanced surveillance state in the history of the world, should profoundly dispel any notion that they are politically moving toward us. The fact is that they are becoming more repressive with each passing day. In reality, with modern China we are witnessing a sort of dress rehearsal of the time when Antichrist will reign. But for now, we cannot ignore that their goal is actually the same as every Communist dictatorship before them – world control.

Epilog

After more than 5,000 words of disturbing information, I want to close with one positive and absolute reminder that is reflected on the faces of these Chinese Christians.

Throughout time, tyrants have attempted to silence and wipe out the Church but NONE have succeeded.

China will not succeed and neither will the Antichrist, the False Prophet, or their ruler, Satan, the Dragon of Revelation. God alone is in ultimate control and His Word is eternal! The repression of Communist China is no match for the Word of God!

Isaiah wrote, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isa 40:8).

Peter wrote, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Pet 1:24-25a).

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt 24:35).