Author: Parameciumcaudatum

Although there is a great deal of gold in Ghana. The gold industry in this country is closely supervised by the authorities. One of the laws that is used to monitor the activities of gold miners and purveyors; and also protect those who wish to purchase this merchandise. Is that no gold whatsoever can be legally bought or sold within this country, without first being ASSAYED. Predictably there are many exceptions to this rule. However, those who flout this requirement do so at their own peril. An acquaintance of mine called me on the phone recently. I met him because I had previously held conversations with The King of Berekum (a relative of his). About the possibility of purchasing some of this precious metal. Although these discussions never came to fruition. The caller advised me that he had some friends. Who although they were from out of town were now in Berekum. That it was advisable for me to come and see them immediately. Since they had some gold dust which they wanted to sell.

Accordingly, I accepted his counsel and within fifteen minutes I was seated in his office in The Town of Berekum. Two strangers were there and they showed me a small bottle containing what they claimed was ‘Gold Dust.’ I looked at it carefully. Even though I was a novice in this field and clearly recognized my own limitations. Thereafter, I invited them to come with me and they followed me to the small store of a good friend. who occupied himself selling smartphone accessories, when he wasn’t mining for precious metals. He poured some of the dust into the palm of his hand and after feeling its texture and looking at the granules very carefully. He looked at me and announced that this was genuine gold dust. This seemed to be a good start to me. I’ve been visiting Ghana since 2013 and I had learned by brutal and painful experience never to take anything at face value. I told the two men that I would return the following day at 10:00 A.M. After leaving I called another friend and asked him where I could obtain some acid. He directed me to an automobile electrical repair shop on Mpatase Road in Berekum.

After arriving in Berekum the following morning I hired a taxi driver to take me there. When I informed the driver of the actual name of the owner he knew exactly where to go. Upon our arrival at the repair shop, I disembarked and asked him to wait for me, and within five minutes I was leaving with a small bottle of warm Sulphuric Acid. The bottle had been wrapped in a black polyethylene bag. Based upon my past experience with acids in college chemistry. I knew that I needed a larger bottle with a flat bottom. I soon purchased one, and after pouring the acid into it, and positioning it in my duffel bag, in such a way, that it would not overturn to cause any seepage. I walked back to my friend’s office where the two gentlemen with the purported gold dust were waiting for me. I had also purchased a small ceramic bowl in the nearby market. I deposited some of the dust into my newly acquired bowl and poured some of the acid over it. I looked at the contents of the bowl carefully; and noticed that the gold dust neither changed color nor effervesced. But in fact was shimmering. One of my friends who specializes in the sale and purchase of foreign exchange looked into the bowl and announced to me, “It’s gold, it’s gold.” However, I remained silent.

Seven years ago I had visited a gold merchant in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Merely to verify that she would actually purchase gold from me if I brought some to her. She assured me that she would but only if it was genuine gold. Then went on to educate me. She asserted, “There is only one foolproof way to authenticate genuine gold, and that is to put it into a furnace and melt it down. I have never forgotten her words. It’s not always necessary to attend an Ivy League university and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for an advanced education. Because experienced, God fearing, pilgrims along life’s meandering thoroughfare. Run into you periodically and teach you everything you need to know to avoid certain pitfalls. If you will only pay attention and listen carefully to what they have to say. As we read in scripture, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7. Furthermore, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23

I told the gentleman who had invited me to come to Berekum to see the ‘gold dust,’ and the two bearers thereof. That before I could make any purchase they would have to accompany me to Kenyasi, where the metal would be assayed, and a final determination made by the experts regarding its authenticity. Initially, they agreed. We arranged to meet at the same office Sunday morning at 10:30 A.M., and from there we would take a taxi to Sunyani and from The Regional Capital, we would find appropriate transportation to Kenyasi. As per usual I completed my morning devotion at home in my hall. When I opened my eyes the walls of my hall were covered with vines, and hanging from them were large black grapes. It was a vision and constituted my first warning that danger was ahead. I went into the bathroom to shower and while that process was ongoing the same vision was repeated. This vision constituted my second warning to exercise caution. After I had shaved and dressed and was getting ready to leave. I looked toward the metal gate in front of my glass door and there I saw a large lizard doing his thing. This vision constituted my third and final warning of an impending loss.

I arrived at the office on time. The gentleman who had informed me about this possible transaction wasn’t there. I called him on the phone and he advised me that although he was in church he was on his way. He got there at approximately 11:45 A.M. His two acquaintances from out of town didn’t show up until 12:00 Noon. When they arrived, all three of them used the most convoluted logic and all of their persuasive powers to convince me that since the miner had verified that the dust was gold; and since I had placed the dust in acid and it had behaved in a manner that was typical of gold. Then why would I need to make the unnecessary and long journey to Kenyasi to have the dust assayed. My only response was, “This is what the law requires.” They were determined to convince me not to follow that plan. But I was unrelenting and remained as immoveable as The Rock of Gibraltar. Because I had been forewarned. One of the greatest lessons to learn in life is to distrust self and trust God supremely. As we read in scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6. (NKJV).

When they saw that their efforts were futile they started to accuse me of conspiring with criminals to ambush them on the way, and rob them. They claimed that the gold dust belonged to their family and if they were robbed they would be killed by the other family members. All of this was classical Freudian projection; frequently utilized by sociopaths. When they attempt to make their potential victims feel guilty. By accusing them of the very crime that they are attempting to perpetrate against them. Finally they absolutely refused to go anywhere with me. Claiming that they had no idea what I had in mind. Since I was leading them into the unknown. I left quietly and returned to my home. Now I fully understood the meaning of those visions and omens. What they had was fake gold. They were merely trying to rob me. Why would they accompany me to Kenyasi to learn what they already knew and also to be exposed?

Since my boyhood years I have been hearing and reading about reptiles. My earliest recollection are the words of my deceased grandmother. Who would talk frequently about the lizard that she saw in her ceiling positioning himself to leap into her bosom while she was lying in bed. I couldn’t have been more that six years old at the time. But even from that period of my early development my subconscious was being conditioned with a grim fear of lizards. I distinctly remember while living in Jamaica that one of our neighbors came over to the property and asked me to climb a certain tree to pick some guineps for her. I quickly obliged. But after acquiring a few bunches and throwing them down to her. I saw a large green lizard (Anolis carolinensis), climbing the tree and coming in my direction. I was terrified. Especially after I witnessed what appeared to be a saw being raised in his back. I was able to descend that tree by one of the limbs and I would not ascend it again. Despite the many pleadings of my neighbor.

“The Jamaican green lizard is also called the green anole, Jamaican giant anole (Anolis garmani), and the Jamaican crested anole. It is found mostly in the West Indies and will eat insects and other small lizards, as well as some vegetal matter. A few Jamaicans believe that green lizards are actually duppies (i.e. ghosts or spirits of dead persons). These spirits take the form of green lizards and will do harm to anyone that interferes with them. It is said that persons should therefore not throw stones at these lizards, since doing so may result in serious illness and even death.” (Jamaica, A Paradise Island In The Sun, October 9, 2018)

Fast forward approximately two decades and I was living in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, West Indies. I walked into my kitchen on two different occasions and there was a large seven inch, four legged intruder, with a long tail, on my kitchen counter top. It was another green lizard. During both transpiring events, he quickly retraced his steps and bolted through the same window that he had used to effect the unwelcome incursion. Presumably, he was looking for food. My landlord’s grandson who was about ten years old at the time came to the property periodically. During such visits he would spend his time chasing and catching the large colorful ground lizards (Iguanas), in order to get a close up look at them. I often wondered how he did it.

“Jamaican iguanas are darkly colored reptiles with scaly skin, long tails, and triangular stripes running along the length of their spines. Their scale color can range from gray to blue and green. The iguanas are the largest animals native to Jamaica.” (National Geographic, Iguanas).

While living in Fairy Hill, Portland, Jamaica. I came upon a Croaking Lizard in one of my drawers when trying to retrieve some underwear. He skillfully hid himself. Insomuch that I was unable to find him. Even though I searched for him tenaciously. I remained at that location for three years. A friend from Seaforth, Saint Thomas, would visit me periodically. He always complained that whenever he used the bathroom on the other side of the apartment. Someone would pass him at the door and “suck his teeth,” as if he had been irritated. Although I had no such overt paranormal experiences of my own while living there. I knew that the house was haunted. Because other people who visited with me at that same address made similar complaints. Furthermore, my own daughter became severely ill as an infant while we were living there and was subsequently hospitalized at The Port Antonio Hospital for one week. I spent some time in the Villa Kerry Anna. Located on a hill in the Iron Shore Estate. Overlooking The Caribbean Sea in Montego Bay. There were many Croaking Lizards in that mansion. All of them however confined themselves to the very high wooden ceiling. They announced their presence by croaking loudly at night and occasionally you would catch a glimpse of them as they moved noiselessly around, over the surface of the groove and tongue.

“This gilt-eye interloper is Aristelliger praesignis, otherwise known as the Jamaican Croaking Lizard. Croakers are insectivores, which doesn’t explain why this one wound up in my glass. After I extracted my pound of flesh in the form of a few images, I set it free. Rumor has it that croakers are extremely unwelcome in Jamaican homes but I didn’t observe any untoward animosity towards these or any other lizards during my stay.” (10,000 Birds, Jamaican Croaking Lizard, November 17 2009).

Most of these experiences were disconcerting. Especially when I recall that in scripture, Satan is described as a reptile.

“And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3: 14-15. NKJV)

According to many prominent theologians. The woman represents the church. The seed of the woman is Christ. The bruising of the heel of the seed is Christ’s vicarious death upon Calvary’s tree. For the benefit of the human race. The bruising of the serpent’s head is Satan’s final destruction in the lake of fire. Not only for his own sins. But also for all the sins that he seduced the people of God into committing. Because all the sins of the redeemed will be blotted out of the heavenly books of record and confessed upon the head of Lucifer the great Scapegoat.

“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:20-22.

This uninhabited land is the desolate earth during the one thousand years of Satan’s imprisonment. He will be confined to planet earth. Over the surface of which he will roam relentlessly for one millennium as he awaits and contemplates his doom. No one will be alive here at that time. Because all the wicked will be dead and in their graves and all the righteous will be in heaven. The only living beings here at that time will be the devil and his angels.  

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.”

I looked very carefully at my present apartment before I moved in. Especially since I’m now living in Ghana. Since I’ve had some previous negative experiences. But in spite all of the checking and repairs. I discovered shortly after moving in, that this apartment, because it had been empty for five years. Was the habitat for many lizards. Consequent upon the poorly installed windows and because there were no people living here. The lizards were everywhere, in my bedroom, kitchen, pantry, hall and dining room.

“A lot of us are busy analysing how Corona virus is deadly and all that, not knowing there is another common creation of God in some of our homes that are more dangerous to our existence. I implore you to take a little time out and read this, it may be useful to you, I mean you reading this right now. The slippery House Lizard known as Wall Gecko also called ”Efie Wura” in Akan fell into a pot of soup prepared by a housewife in Nigeria unknowingly and it killed the woman and her 5 children after eating. Another woman who prepared Tea in a kettle which the gecko fell into, all the family that drank the tea died. Please ensure your food, cooked or raw is tightly closed as this animal is highly poisonous. Therefore do everything possible to get rid of this dangerous animal from your home.” (The Independent Ghana, The Secret Behind Wall Gekco You Should Avoid Before It Kills You, March 13, 2020).

I just learned this valuable piece of TRUTH recently. But since I spent some time in Jamaica as a child and was exposed to a great deal of Jamaican folklore and culture. I was raised with a fear of all lizards. After moving into my present apartment. Some of my friends advised me that these lizards were harmless, but I chose not to take any chances. I started killing them at every opportunity that presented itself. I soon discovered that one of them was living right behind my glass sliding door. At the entrance. Whenever I came home and slid the door open he would attempt to race me into my living room. However, he hid himself beneath the couch. This was far too much for me. The second time this phenomenon occurred, I located my brambled broom and put that poisonous Gecko out of his misery. A few times after opening my bathroom door I either saw one behind the door or in my shower tub. The procedure was repeated until they finally got the message. A few times I ran into one of them on my kitchen wall or on the floor. Of course they did their best to escape. But that’s almost impossible when someone is raining blows down upon you with a brambled broom.

My sisters warned me that all of these lizards might be duppies (spirits). After trying to take one of them out with a mop because he was loitering at the entrance to my bedroom. But fell instead, and struck my head at the time, on one of the concrete columns. I was tempted to believe her. But I sustained no injury and thereafter I continued my relentless efforts to dispossess them and eradicate them completely from my living quarters. Thank God apparently I’ve succeeded. Not only are they now staying out of my area. But whenever they see me they run for their lives.

 

According to scripture plagues are nothing new. They have existed since time immemorial. We read in the Book of Exodus that the Egyptians were plagued not because they had slaves. But because they refused to obey the divine command to release them. There were exactly ten plagues that came upon the land of Egypt in its entirety; and also upon all the Egyptians. It is interesting to note that even though Jehovah commissioned Moses to make a pilgrimage to the Egyptian court (1400 BCE). To demand the release of the Hebrew slaves. In the name of The Lord, The God of Israel. He nevertheless warned, “But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.” Exodus 3:19-20. (NKJV). This Egyptian versus divinity debacle was no accident or strange coincidence. The Egyptian despot didn’t proclaim deliverance for the Hebrew slaves because he wasn’t supposed to. This entire scenario is one of the great traps of history. How can we be certain of this sobering truth? Because we are told, “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16 (NKJV).

Let us briefly review the circumstances that made it unlikely that any ruler or government would merely emancipate a nation of slaves just because he heard that their god desired it:

1. The Hebrew slaves had no army
2. They had no air force
3. They had no naval power
4. They had absolutely no wealth and were impoverished
5. There was no visible imminent threat to the Egyptian military or to the nation
6. The enslavement of the Hebrews not only saved the Egyptians money but they also profited from the oppression of the Israelites.
7. Accordingly, Pharaoh had absolutely no incentive to acquiesce to Moses initial demand; and in fact for him to do so, would have been contrary to common sense.

The events that unfolded as Jehovah dealt with Pharaoh. Demonstrate God’s omnipotence, immanence and transcendence. Although evil exists in our world it is restrained by divine power. Furthermore, its perpetrators are held responsible and punished. The fact that evildoers are ignorant of certain hidden realities, does not exonerate them, or in any way lessen their guilt. The king of Egypt was asked to do something that neither he nor his subjects would countenance, because they were ripe for punishment.

This is how The Lord Almighty operates with impious, pagan, powers. The very fact that they are in the throes of idolatry is an affront to the divine potentate Whom nature itself is designed to expose. We read,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4. (NKJV). Fast forward three millennia of time and we are now back to square one. Planet Earth has been placed beneath the world wide scourge of a terrible plague, COVID-19. It doesn’t have to be fatal because the all loving merciful God has permitted us to develop vaccines. Which have the ability to prevent us from contracting the plague. But if we contract it the vaccines will enable us to avoid the terrible symptoms which invariably lead to death. All Pharaoh needed to do was simply show some reverence, humility, obedience, and worship before The Sovereign Lord. All of these responses are God’s just due. Instead however, he foolishly defied the majesty of heaven and the rest is history.

In this twenty first Century there are people just like the ancient Egyptians. They believe nothing. Even though the information is coming from fully trained and licensed medical professionals. These modern day followers of the king of ancient Egypt have chosen to reject it. If Pharaoh was wise he would have relented after the third plague, Or even the fourth. But he didn’t and consequently the plagues kept coming and increasing in severity. Until all the firstborn of Egypt were lying lifeless. Within the irreversibly cold embrace of death. The citizens of ancient Egypt fully embraced inanimate idols because it was a polytheistic culture. They worshipped gods such as Amun-Ra, the hidden one; Osiris, the king of the living; and Horus, the god of vengeance. They had absolutely no evidence of the supposed existence and power of these pagan deities. But they fully invested their faith in them. When the TRUTH came along in the form of Moses and Aaron they rejected it. Even though the continuously arriving plagues. Each of which the prophet Moses announced in advance. Provided incontrovertible evidence that he represented a God, who was highly exalted above all other gods and whose power was omnipotent.

These seem to be the very same people unfortunately, who refuse to accept the testimony of the former Attorney General, Mr. William Barr. A faithful and loyal Trump appointee. When he asserted that there was no fraud to such an extent, that would have influenced the outcome of the 2020 General Election. Or even the contentions of Mr. Cristopher Krebs who emphatically stated that the 2020 General Elections were the most secure in America’s history. Like the ancient Egyptians they turned their backs on the awesome and glorious supreme God of the heavens. To love and adore the deceptions and delusions that their lying priests had spun for their benefit. Now predictably they are dying like flies because of their own folly. In refusing to embrace common sense and reality. The more things change the more they remain the same.

I left my apartment at 6:50 P.M., on Wednesday evening as per usual for my evening walk. I slid open the moveable glass door, after sliding the metal grill to the right. Proceeded unto my verandah, repositioned the grill, locked it securely behind me, and slid the large glass door back into its closed position. Immediately thereafter, I turned to the left, descended the steps, turned to the right, and walked away from the building. Going through the large iron gates that shielded the property from outsiders and commenced my evening walk downwards. Although it was already dark the unrecognizable figure coming in my direction called to me, “Mr. Brunei, good evening, sir.” My response was “How are you doing?” He replied, “I thought you had already left for America.” I countered, “Don’t you listen to the news? The Delta Variant of Covid-19 is raging in the U.S.A. The health authorities are fighting to bring it under control. Many people are dying there. I’m safe here, sir.”

I continued on my journey descending the steep hill that led me through a narrow lane as I trudged along, passing several fine homes and many block and steel houses under varying stages of construction. Darkness enveloped the night like a black blanket. But there were bright lights glimmering both near and far. I had my flashlight with me and at times when there were no nearby lights illuminating my path. I had to switch it on to enable me to see clearly and prevent me from stumbling into one of the many ditches or mud-holes that littered my path. In the very same way the word of God guides us through life, helping us to avoid pitfalls and catastrophes. As we read in scripture, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105. (NKJV). I would pass mothers bathing their naked kids outside an unfinished house in a large aluminum bowl in the shadows. Or motorcyclists with one, two, or a family of passengers (no one was wearing a helmet). Ascending or descending the steep and treacherous incline that led into the valley, which I had to cross. In order to ascend the very steep hill that led into the village of Kato. I hadn’t taken this route for some time. But after the pain, I experienced in the muscles of my lower back, thighs, legs, and feet. For a period of two weeks after recommencing this routine. I subsequently concluded that I desperately needed this kind of exercise, regularly.

As you probably already know this time of the year is Ghana’s winter. There are frequent showers and very cold nights. I have had to move out of my current bedroom. This change I executed last night. Because regardless of the number of blankets that I use, it’s impossible for me to keep warm at night. Primarily because there are two large windows in the blue room. Not only are they not insulated. They were improperly installed. Insomuch, that there are gaping gaps between the outer window frames and the squared concrete openings in which they are lodged. I’ve now transferred to the pink room. Last night I was comfortable all through the night, with only one blanket. This evening I took a shower. My first such experience in ten months. Although the water was cold my lower back and calves seemed to be very grateful. Because the pain I was experiencing in them (presumably from the cold weather), stopped. Our water was locked off last year October. After The Town of Berekum started constructing concrete gutters/trenches. To provide runoff for the rainwater during inclement weather. They are far away from the completion date. But I suppose they’ve concluded that we’ve been sufficiently inconvenienced.

A prominent woman in the community died recently. I know because the property caretaker’s eldest daughter called on me to request that I put up three funeral guests from out of town. Since there was no running water in my apartment I had an excellent reason to tell her “No.” I’ve learned in life that being able to say “No,” at the appropriate time is a valuable skill to master. Especially with my neighbors. When I first moved here I discovered that large numbers of teenagers regularly congregated on my porch at night. Presumably, they were friends of the 18 year old young lady, who lives in the apartment on my left. I did my best not to bother them, even though they were noisy. Until one of them had the audacity to infuriate me by sliding open my glass door. Whereupon, I marched unto my verandah and ordered all of them not only to leave but also warned them never to return, again. When sitting in my hall I can see clearly, through the glass doors, everything that is transpiring on my porch. Although none of the people there can see anything in my living room. Although I did not attend the funeral. I was forced to be an unwilling participant in the program. Since the mourners hired a musical band to stage a show all night Friday and Saturday. I barely slept both nights since the extremely loud music reverberated to every house in this locality.

My neighbors are very interesting people. Since there was no clothes line on the property on which to hang my laundry, I requested permission to have one constructed. After obtaining the go ahead, I hired some carpenters, purchased the lumber they required. Which they used to build me a beautiful and sturdy clothes line. Within a couple of months my neighbors usurped it completely. Although there were four long lines extending from the crossbeams supported by the two posts. I couldn’t find any vacant line on which to hang my own wet clothes. This painful reality was continuous. Soon I resumed my original practice of hanging my freshly laundered clothes on racks. Extended from the security grills around the windows in my hall. I made no complaints, initiated no arguments, smiled and greeted my neighbors as per usual whenever I met them; and religiously gave candies to all the children on the estate. One hot and sunny afternoon, I came through the large iron gates, while returning from one of my trips to The Town of Berekum; and could hardly believe what my eyes beheld. The two stalwart posts supporting the clothes line had collapsed. That was the karmic consequence of my neighbors selfishness, blindness, emotional apathy and stupidity.

I bought credits for my electrical meter exactly three months ago, today. I paid 120.00 GHS (US$20.00), and up to now my meter is still going strong. Why? The bright bulb on my porch was blown out by the wind, and I never replaced it. My neighbors would come onto my verandah and turn that light on every single night, religiously. Without asking my permission. Now there is no bulb there, and the switch doesn’t even work anymore. None of my neighbors have volunteered to fix the switch or to even replace the bulb. Nor do I intend to pay to have the switch repaired or to replace the bulb at my own expense, under the present circumstances. The nonfunctional switch and the absence of that very bright light is saving me a lot of money. I’m presently having discussions with the landlord about the possibility of enclosing that porch with a metallic grill. To prevent the teenagers from next door from coming onto my porch to wrestle, play football, skate, dance, or engage in a multiplicity of annoying antics. Apparently, my neighbors need to be taught the important principle of boundaries. Because when they are ready they come onto my verandah and plug in their phones to be charged, without asking my permission. Or they come to iron different items of clothing without saying a word to me. Or they come to perm their hair. That’s how my electrical credits are dissipated. But I never complain; nor do I express any disapproval; just for a peaceful life. They would take over my verandah at night for studying or social gatherings. At my expense and inconvenience. All of that came to an abrupt ending when the bulb was blown out by the wind. There is a God; sitting on His throne; and He reigns in majesty and power.

But how did Taiwan get into it’s present predicament of having China breathing down its neck continuously? The brutal truth is that modern day Taiwan is a helpless victim of American ambivalent foreign policy. For decades the USA has poured large amounts of money into China in the form of overseas foreign investment. “As the world struggled to contain the coronavirus crisis, foreign direct investment in the United States plummeted 49% in 2020 while investment in China rose 4%, making China the largest recipient of foreign inflows for the first time, according to a report released Sunday by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.” (Forbes, January 24, 2021). Without American money and investment The CCP wouldn’t be in a position to threaten Tiawan militarily or otherwise.

Within American military circles the Chinese threat to Taiwan looms larger as time progresses. “The top U.S. military commander for the Asia-Pacific region, Adm. Philip Davidson, raised eyebrows at a recent Senate hearing when he suggested China could invade Taiwan within the next six years. The nominee to replace Davidson at the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. John Aquilino, then went a step further, telling the same committee last week that in his view, “This problem is much closer to us than most think and we have to take this on.”” (World Politics Review, Elliott Waldman, Thursday April 1, 2021.) Will America have the will and the military capability to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion if push comes to shove? Maybe and maybe not!

What is abundantly clear however is that such an excursion by Mainland China would not only be extremely expensive it would lead to massive loss of life. Furthermore, although it is currently assumed that China would overwhelm Taiwan’s Airforce within a short period of time. No one can actually predict exactly how long it would take The PLA to subdue the Taiwanese population. Consequently, this would be a prolonged conflict. Because Taiwan’s army, cannot be categorized as a pushover when pitted against China’s military potential. The Taiwanese have a long history of fierce political independence and resilience. This is not a country to be categorized as the collapsing South Vietnamese forces attempting to resist the Vietcong. Or the demoralized, collapsing Iraqi military when facing ISIS (4-10 June 2014). Or the unmotivated crumbling Afghanistan military when pitted against the Taliban (August 2021).

Any attempt by the CCP to invade Taiwan could easily turn into a nightmare for China, for many reasons. The first is that there are many unknowns. No Island similar to Taiwan has ever been successfully invaded. “Taiwan is a rugged, heavily urbanized nation of 23.6 million people. The country of Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China) is made up of over 100 islands, most too tiny to see on the map. Many of Taiwan’s outer islands bristle with missiles, rockets, and artillery guns. Their granite hills have been honeycombed with tunnels and bunker systems….the coastal terrain here is a defender’s dream come true.” (The Diplomat, May 26, 2021).

Most military experts feel that China’s increasing fire power would render any U.S. attempt to intervene military in a China Taiwan conflict, futile. “China’s massive arms buildup has raised doubts about America’s ability to defend Taiwan if a war broke out, reflecting a shifting balance of power in the Pacific where American forces once dominated, U.S. officials and experts say. In simulated combat in which China attempts to invade Taiwan, the results are sobering and the United States often loses, said David Ochmanek, a former senior Defense Department official who helps run war games for the Pentagon at the RAND Corp. think tank. In tabletop exercises with America as the “blue team” facing off against a “red team” resembling China, Taiwan’s air force is wiped out within minutes, U.S. air bases across the Pacific come under attack, and American warships and aircraft are held at bay by the long reach of China’s vast missile arsenal, he said.” (NEWS, March 27, 2021).

Is Taiwan’s case really hopeless? After all China is and is quickly becoming a more formidable military assailant as the years pass. There have been similar scenarios in history. When faced with an indomitable military foe. The Russians retreated and burned the City of Moscow in 1812. That was Tsar Alexander 1’s way of defeating Napoleon’s mighty army, and it worked. In 1588 King Phillip 11, the rich and powerful Catholic Sovereign of Spain. Sent a powerful naval armada against England. During the reign of the protestant monarch, Elizabeth 1. The king of Spain had geopolitical and religious motives for his actions. Unfortunately for him however, things just didn’t work out exactly as he had planned. “Even the Deity seemed to be more English than Spanish, and in the end the fleet, buffeted by gales, was dashed to pieces as it sought to escape home via the northern route around Scotland and Ireland. Of the 130 ships that had left Spain, perhaps 85 crept home; 10 were captured, sunk, or driven aground by English guns, 23 were sacrificed to wind and storm, and 12 others were “lost, fate unknown.” (Britannica, The Clash With Spain).

Based upon China’s recent history of persecuting Christians, destroying temples, churches, and mosques, and other acts of sacrilege. Which are in direct defiance of heaven and many other acts of impiety. I just can’t see how China’s invasion of Taiwan would soon become a reality. Interestingly enough there are approximately one million Christians in Taiwan and combined with the other religious entities there present. I’m certain today that they are praying against any such Chinese military endeavor. In fact commonsense convinces me that prayers are ascending to heaven designed to frustrate and even defeat any CCP ambition to occupy or control Taiwan. That was exactly what king Hezekiah did during his reign in Judea. When his nation was under an existential threat from the emperor Sennacherib. His prayer is inspirational.

“And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: ‘O Lord the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have hurled their gods into the fire, though they were no gods but the work of human hands—wood and stone—and so they were destroyed. So now, O Lord our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.” (2 Kings 18:15-19).

China’s president XI Jinping is our 21st Century Sennacherib. Now he enjoys the unique privilege of being addressed by the divine Potentate. After all the indignities he has heaped upon people of faith, and the insults he has hurled against The Lord Almighty. “Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and haughtily lifted your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!… ‘Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass…‘But I know your rising^* and your sitting, your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. Because you have raged against me and your arrogance has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will turn you back on the way by which you came.” (2 Kings 18:22, 25, 27-28). History has a way of repeating itself. Based upon all the natural calamities and disasters currently unfolding in China on a daily basis. If their fulminations against The Island of Taiwan are not just so much communist propaganda. Designed to divert the minds of their citizenry from their terrible daily woes. Then all of their verbal hot air will inevitably turn out to be just that, meaningless communist propaganda.

In 539 BCE, Judea, under the reign of its new king, Hezekiah, attempted to change the status quo. To discontinue being a vassal kingdom of the Assyrian empire. In response the Emperor Sennacherib sent a large military expeditionary force. Which captured all the surrounding fortified towns and villages. That were satellites of Jerusalem. King Hezekiah sued for peace and in order to secure it the Assyrians exacted tribute amounting to thirty talents of gold and three hundred talents of silver. One talent of gold today would be equivalent to 1,927,289.36 USD. A talent of silver would be worth today US$1,400,116.57. This was an oppressively heavy tax for any nation to have to cough up. Consequently, Hezekiah even had to resort to removing all of the gold from the doors of The Solomonic Temple. To find the means to pay the tribute demanded by Sennacherib. This has always been the practice of world empires. To demand exorbitant sums of money from the nations they subjugate. To facilitate their military expansion, continuation of world dominion; and the unbridled hedonistic indulgence of their ruling classes.

The love of money was not only pervasive in the ancient world it is also deeply entrenched in modern American society. Insomuch that business leaders are willing to sacrifice our national security just so that they can earn countless millions in China. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1Timothy 6:10. Historically America has been a nation with a powerful Christian heritage. However world events have clearly demonstrated that whenever a nation moves away from principles of righteousness then disasters invariably ensue. That is exactly where America is today. The national debt is spiraling out of control. The business elite is shoveling billions of dollars into China’s coffers. Which the communists are utilizing to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. Which will ultimately be used against us. China is not just a threat to Taiwan. They are an existential threat to every democratic country on planet earth.

“The greatest long-term threat to our nation’s information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality, is the counterintelligence and economic espionage threat from China. It’s a threat to our economic security—and by extension, to our national security… We’ve now reached the point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours. Of the nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country, almost half are related to China. And at this very moment, China is working to compromise American health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research” (FBI News, July 7, 2020). We don’t know everything about the malign activities of The CCP in the U.S.A. What we already know is extremely serious. What we don’t know might very well be catastrophic.

Our most serious problems are presented by insiders. Blind and dumb business leaders who are fraternizing with the enemy. In my opinion they have in the past and are presently conspiring with the Chinese to destroy America’s middle class. How can that economic group survive, if American jobs are continuously being shipped to China? I suppose they will only be finally satisfied. When China begins to fly military jets over American territory, as it is currently doing to Taiwan. Demanding that the government in Taipei acquiesce to Chinese demands and recognize Peking. As its only source of government and legislative authority. If the present trends continue throughout America’s business community, The U.S.A. will one day be ruled from China. We know that Trump was corrupt, had a long history of criminal conduct, and powerful dictatorial and authoritarian instincts. But at least he recognized that the USA had to decouple economically from China.

“Nearly three dozen of the nation’s most influential business groups—representing retailers, chip makers, farmers and others—are calling on the Biden administration to restart negotiations with China and cut tariffs on imports, saying they are a drag on the U.S. economy. The tariffs on electronics, apparel and other Chinese goods, which are paid by U.S. importers, were kept in place in part to ensure that China fulfills its obligations under its 2020 Phase One trade pact with the U.S. In a Thursday letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the business groups contend that Beijing had met “important benchmarks and commitments” in the agreement, including opening markets to U.S. financial institutions and reducing some regulatory barriers to U.S. agricultural exports to China.” (Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2021). When will this country learn and fully understand that China is a Communist State? A substantial portion of the profits they make will be used to strengthen their military industrial complex. At some future point in time China will become a far greater existential threat to all western democracies. Even more so than it is today.

But how did Ancient Judea get into the predicament of being so enfeebled and vulnerable to the ascendant world empire of that era? We are informed in scripture, “Ahaz (732-716) was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed he made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.” 2Kings 16:2-4. (NKJV). In summary Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, was a rebel against the government of Heaven. He offered human sacrifices, and engaged in other forms of wickedness which The Lord Almighty hated. That seems to be where America is headed today. At present some politicians don’t even know the difference between right and wrong. They indulge in the advocacy of brazen lies while claiming that they are telling the truth. Is it any wonder therefore that large areas of the U.S.A. are experiencing prolonged drought? That there is a major unemployment problem throughout this country and that poverty is on the increase?

Our decisions and actions have consequences. After several years of violating God’s Covenant. The Lord Almighty finally but reluctantly. Turned Judea and it’s pagan hearted king over to the power of their enemies. The Lord Almighty is a God of Truth and righteousness. The eternal principles of doing what is right. Are clearly defined in the sacred law which Jehovah Himself declared from the towering heights of Mount Sinai. When Judea abandoned those principles they effectively turned their backs on God. The resulting consequences were disastrous.

“Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war; and they besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him. At that time Rezin king of Syria captured Elath for Syria, and drove the men of Judah from Elath. Then the Edomites went to Elath, and dwell there to this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, ‘I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.’ And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent it as a present to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria heeded him; for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.” 2Kings 16:5-9. (NKJV). Because of their unfaithfulness to God and their perversity, Judea lost its independence and became a vassal state of the Assyrian empire.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

The present population of Taiwan is 23,816,775 people. The annual gross domestic product of the Island is US$612 billion. Religious tolerance is guaranteed under Taiwan’s constitution (in sharp contrast to China). Accordingly there are a multiplicity of religious faiths. Which include 8,086,000 Tantric Buddhists, 7,600,000 Taoist Buddhists, 810,000 Yiguandao devotees and 900,000 Christians, 605,000 of which are protestants. Apparently, the CCP are under the erroneous impression that the existence and location of Taiwan is a mere coincidence of history.

It’s a pity that as communists they deny themselves the benefit of reading scripture, and being enlightened from its divinely inspired pages. Because therein we are warned, ^“Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:25-27 (NKJV).

The Chinese need to understand that the people of Taiwan are located exactly where they are situated, by divine appointment. Any attempt therefore by any world power to dislodge them or to grab their territory is an affront to the divine potentate. Of course, China’s behaviour is definitely not original. Other world powers from distant antiquity have attempted to do likewise. As we read in scripture, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.” Ecclesiastes 1:9-11. (NKJV).

In 701 BCE the Assyrian emperor set his sights upon Judea, during the reign of the righteous King Hezekiah; and started issuing voluminous threats against the kingdom of Judah, because Hezekiah wouldn’t acquiesce to the demands of The Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were pagans like all the empires of the ancient world. Communists are dialectic materialists and communism is basically the worship of whichever despot is in charge. Predictably Xi Jinping has ordered Chinese worshippers to substitute his own photographs for those of Jesus Christ. Several international campaigns have been conducted by the CCP to alienate Taiwan from the rest of the world. But because of Tiawan’s resilience and history of credibility those campaigns are petering out. Especially since China’s COVID-19 catastrophic fiasco, and the consequent international fallout.

The Assyrian emperor didn’t only exact tribute from Judea as a sign of their allegiance and submission. To the ascendant seat of world empire located in Nineveh. When Hezekiah didn’t kow tow fast enough, Sennacherib moved a huge military force to within striking distance of the ancient City of Jerusalem. Up to that point in time the Judean king had made sure that he was right with God. As we are instructed in scripture, “Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem…And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.” 2 Kings 18:1-3. (NKJV). We read/hear a great deal about a wide variety of success recipes/strategies in life. A multitude of ‘self proclaimed authorities,’ attempt to instruct us on how to build a successful company, write best selling books, or become stock market gurus et cetera.

The following are a few interesting definitions on how to realize success:

“Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” —John Wooden

“If you are not willing to risk the usual you will have to settle for the ordinary.” —Jim Rohn

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life–think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” —Swami Vivekananda

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” —Walt Disney

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” —Winston Churchill

The Bible however contains a very simple and straightforward formula for success, “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: …’Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.'” Joshua 1:1, 7-8. This is the only authoritative methodology to permanent success that I know. Because everything in Heaven or on earth is absolutely under The Lord’s control.

Not only was Hezekiah fully aware of this all important TRUTH. He vigorously pursued it. “He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went.” 2 Kings 18:4-7. We don’t often read or hear about such characters in sacred or secular history. But whenever we encounter them it’s a refreshing experience. How inspiring it would be if all politicians of first, second, and third world countries today. Would study sacred history and emulate the examples of such moral giants.

The Asian dragon has been threatening during the course of the last few years. To invade Taiwan and to subject it to the corrupt, despotic, totalitarian, communist regime of mainland China. What legal claims however does China have to the Island of Taiwan? The appearance of a culture on the Island, based on agricultural pursuits, around 3000 BCE seem to be the ancestors of the modern Taiwanese people. The Island was controlled by the Dutch during the 17th Century. This was followed by an influx of Hoklo and Hakka immigrants. From the Fujian and Guangdong areas of mainland China. The Spaniards built a settlement in the north and were driven out by the Dutch in 1642. A loyalist of The Ming Dynasty, Koxinga, defeated the Dutch and established a base on the Island of Taiwan in 1662. His forces were defeated by The Qing Dynasty in 1683, and parts of Taiwan was integrated into the Qing Empire. The Island was ceded by Qing to The Empire of Japan following the first Sino Japanese war in 1895.

Rice and sugar were produced in Taiwan and exported to The Japanese Empire. The Island also served as a base from which Japanese forces invaded South East Asia and the Pacific during World War 2. Japan’s educational system was implemented in Taiwan and many Taiwanese fought alongside Japanese soldiers during World War 2. After the end of World War 2, in 1945, the nationalist government of The Republic of China (ROC), led by Kuomingtang (KMT) took control of Taiwan. After losing control of mainland China, during the Chinese civil war, the ROC Government under the KMT retreated to Tiawan and Chiang Kai-Shek declared martial law. The KMT ruled Taiwan (along with the Islands of Kinmen Wuqiu and Matsu (on the opposite side of the Taiwan Strait) as a single party state for forty years. Until democratic reforms in the 1980’s. Which led to the first direct presidential election in 1996. During the post war period Taiwan experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth known as The Taiwan Miracle, and became known as one of the four Asian Tigers. (History of Taiwan, paraphrased from Wikipedia).

A careful examination of these historical details don’t seem to corroborate China’s claim of pre eminent domain or sovereignty over Taiwan. If such an argument were to be countenanced. Then Spain, Japan, and Portugal could also make such claims. Since the British were previously China’s colonial masters they could also advance claims to sovereignty over The People’s Republic of China. As a matter of fact China’s claims to Taiwan are similar to all the other grandiose and frivolous claims. That China has made to The South China Sea, The East China Sea, to India’s Ladakh Region, and to the territorial waters of all of its neighbors. In fact the PRC seem to be just what its neighbors fear. A twenty first century land grabbing monster.

“There are some places in the world that are of such extraordinary military and economic importance that a change in their status might signal the end of an era, or the beginning of a new global order. For this generation, Taiwan is such a place. Taiwan is the largest land mass between Japan and the Philippines, and thus anchors a chain of islands that U.S. strategists have identified as crucial to containing the rising military power of China. Beijing, whose Navy now is bigger than that of the United States, has signaled that it does not intend to be contained and will one day be the dominant Pacific power. Washington has made the prevention of this outcome the overriding objective in its national defense strategy, and each U.S. military service is planning to use the first island chain as a place of leverage for countering China’s expansionist plans.” ( Why Taiwan Has Become The ‘Geographical Pivot of History’ In The Pacific Age, By Loren Thompson, Forbes. September 29, 2020.)

So there you have it. The Communists in China have no love for the people of Taiwan. The frequent pronouncements about ‘reunification’ with the mainland are not rooted in feelings of altruism towards the Taiwanese. The Government of China is motivated by their desire for power and world dominion. If China is able to take possession of the Island of Taiwan then China will have a gateway for its navy to get into the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, with such a commanding tactical position and a large enough navy. The Chinese would be able to convert the South China Sea into a Panama or Suez Canal enterprise. So that all the countries of the world that use that waterway would be compelled to pay duty to The CCP. Such a new geopolitical arrangement presents an extremely serious threat not only to the Western European powers but also to North America. Since the total value of the annual trade passing through The South China Sea is currently estimated to be approximately US$5.3 trillion.

Is it any surprise therefore, that the naval forces of NATO are gathering in The South China Sea. The most powerful Western European powers (France, Germany, U.K., and Holland) are sending warships into those waters. Not only to enforce the prevailing rules based order. But also to signal to China that any attempts to take Taiwan by military force will be firmly resisted. The threatening verbiage and maneuverings of China have not only been noticed in the halls of Europe’s power brokers. They are viewed with great apprehension by Japan, India, Australia, The Phillipines, South Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. For those and many other reasons the Indian, Australian, Japanese and U.S. navies (QUAD) now conduct regular war games in The South China Sea. Any attempted invasion of Taiwan by China’s PLA would be tantamount to the same grievous geopolitical mistake. Made by Saddam Hussein when his forces invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990. After Iraq’s dictator took control of Kuwait’s oil fields. He positioned his army to do the very same to the oil fields of Saudi Arabia.

This was a development that the industrialized nations of the West just wouldn’t tolerate. They had no intention of allowing the ruthless, amoral, Saddam Hussein. To control two of their major sources of energy. The rest is history.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

The bullying tactics utilized by China against its neighbors are exceeded only by the bizarre threats of nuclear war issued against Japan and Australia. For giving moral and verbal support to Taiwan. As that Island democracy, of approximately twenty-four million people, attempts to bolster the national morale of its citizenry. By arming itself appropriately, and building international liaisons and partnerships. To counter China’s increasing threats of imminent military aggression. Indeed, the bellicose rhetoric employed by China against the European Union, and the U.S.A. In response to the criticism leveled against the Asian giant, by those powers, for its enslavement and many violations of the human rights of the Uighurs is alarming. “The Chinese government is committing crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the northwest region of Xinjiang, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Chinese leadership is responsible for widespread and systematic policies of mass detention, torture, and cultural persecution, among other offenses. Coordinated international action is needed to sanction those responsible, advance accountability, and press the Chinese government to reverse course.” (Human Rights Watch, April 19, 2021).

China is not the only country in human history that has persecuted, enslaved, and used genocide against those who worship The Lord Almighty. These practices were employed repeatedly by various pagan world empires of antiquity. The Egyptians for example not only brutally oppressed the descendants of Jacob. But ordered the destruction of all Hebrew male infants.

“Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” Exodus 1:11-16. (NKJV). 

Throughout sacred history, God has spoken directly to a few offenders.

“And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, ‘Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.’ But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, ‘Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.’ And God said to him in a dream, ‘Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.  Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.’” Genesis 20:1-7. (NKJV).

In most cases, however, He has spoken to a variety of offenders through His prophets.

 “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2. (NKJV).

Many times The Lord Almighty speaks to us through regular people, omens, dreams, circumstances, and events. Depending on who we are and our unique experiences. Both Europe and North America have invested time, talent, and vast amounts of treasure in the economic development and education of China and its nationals. Common sense alone and historical developments dictate that the leaders of China should accept the good counsel of both the Europeans and North Americans. Since these powers have been china’s largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment.

According to the 2020 World Investment Report published by UNCTAD,  FDI inflows continued to increase between 2018 and 2019, from USD 138 billion to 141 billion (+2%). This growth is favoured by liberalization plans, the rapid development of the high-tech sector and the establishment of free trade zones. The stock of FDI in 2019 reached USD 1 769 billion, an exponential growth when compared to 2010 when the stock was USD 587 billion. In 2019, China was ranked the world’s second largest FDI recipient after the United States and before Singapore. The country is the largest recipient in Asia. The implementation of projects and the expansion of production investments, such as those of BASF (Germany), Exxon Mobil (USA) and automotive multinationals such as Tesla (USA), Toyota (Japan), Volkswagen and Daimler (both German), have helped to sustain growth.

But like Pharoah of old. China’s Communist leader, Mr. Xi Jinping, has decided to follow the bad examples of all those who have previously rebelled against the Government of Heaven. Apart from the fact that it’s an interesting and intriguing subject. History is poetic in the sense that it repeats itself. The Lord Almighty has declared an eternal truth. For the benefit of all succeeding generations, and for all time. 

“For I am the Lord, I do not change.” Malachi 3:6. (NKJV).

The Lord Almighty is a God of love, truth, justice, and righteousness. All those who act contrary to these eternal principles are doomed. In fact, we are all warned in scripture. 

“The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,  if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” Jeremiah 8:7-10. (NKJV).

Is it any surprise then that the country of China is presently under violent attack by a multiplicity of natural disasters. There is an average of at least two destructive earthquakes, (measuring more than 6 on the Reichter Scale), daily in China. Dams are collapsing all over the country. Inundating cities, polluting drinking water, and threatening the lives and livelihood of millions of citizens. who have had to be evacuated. The Three Gorges Dam (the largest dam in the world, and a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China). Has cracked in several different places and is in danger of collapsing at any time. The billions of gallons of water stored therein would instantaneously drown countless millions of chinese citizens. Who live in cities, towns, and villages downstream from the dam.

Recently the country has been drenched by heavy rains. The amount of rain that normally falls in one whole year. Fell in three days as torrents of water poured out of the sky. As if that was not enough Typhoon In Fa has devastated the Cities of Zhoushan, Zhejiang, Shangai, Jiangsu, Anhui and many other places. Causing water, power, and internet outages. These events have led to apocalyptic floods in Central China. Causing loss of life, the destruction of thousands of homes, automobiles, and the ruination of crops, and farmland. The many catastrophes that I have catalogued so far are just a drop in the bucket. In my humble opinion I think it would be wise for Mr. Xi Jinping to contemplate the warning that Moses delivered to Pharoah in 1300 B.C.E.  “For at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

The Communist leaders of China deny the very existence of Jehovah. They have also engaged in many sacrilegious acts and defiance of divine mandates. They probably think things are pretty bad right now. But in fact they are about to get much worse. 

China’s ruler Mr. Xi Jinping was elected President of the People’s Republic of China on March 14, 2013. With a populace of 1,439,323,776 people. According to the United Nation’s data, China is the world’s most populated country. Since the size of China’s standing army is presently 2,185,000, the largest military force in the world. The President of The Republic of China probably feels that he can throw his weight around. Just ask the Indians, the Vietnamese, the Philippines, the Japanese, and a host of other countries. Who are presently embroiled in territorial disputes with China? Furthermore, the people of Hong Kong are now under the mandate of China’s new Security Law. Enacted on June 30, 2020, by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, of the People’s Republic of China. This law among other abuses essentially curtails the civil rights of Hong Kong Citizens, robs them of their democratic privileges, and criminalizes dissent. All in furtherance of state control and totalitarianism.

Although Christianity has grown in China over the last forty years. The practice of religion is definitely not regarded as a right in Communist China. There are many underground churches because Christianity is not only suppressed, but also curtailed, and persecuted. Churches and other places of worship are routinely demolished and leaders and congregants arrested and imprisoned. “Fenggang Yang, of Purdue University’s Center on Religion and Chinese Society, estimates that there are between 93 million and 115 million Protestants in China, with fewer than 30 million attending officially registered churches. Other Christian organizations postulate a higher number still. Theories of Catholic faithful in China range between ten million and twelve million. However, the Vatican and Beijing have not had formal diplomatic ties since Mao severed them in 1951. Since August 2014, Pope Francis has sought to thaw relations with China, which had strained further amid a dispute over who has the authority to appoint bishops.” (Council On Foreign Relations, Christianity in China published October 11, 2018, by Eleanor Albert).

During the Clinton Administration, The World Trade Organization granted China special trading privileges commencing December 11, 2001. Subsequent to this agreement China has been accused by a multiplicity of countries of violating the basic tenets of this agreement. Such countries include the U.S.A. and several members of The European Union. The protectionist tariffs imposed against China by The Trump Administration, and The European Union, and the punitive measures adopted by China against Australia. Have done nothing to assuage the international tensions being stoked by nationalism and self-interest. The displeasure of the Asian giant against the people Down Under was invoked because Mr. Scott Morrison (Australia’s Prime Minister) demanded a full investigation by WHO into the origins of the Corona Virus. The world knows that the virus came from China. Historically, China has been a breeding ground for deadly diseases.

1. Perhaps the most devastating pandemic to emerge from China was the plague or Black Death that ravaged Africa, Asia and Europe from 1346 to 1353, claiming between 75 and 200 million lives, scientists estimate.

2. The 1918 influenza pandemic, which is often referred to as the “Spanish flu” because censorship during World War I limited its reporting elsewhere, may have originated in China the year before, according to some experts. The 1918 pandemic was the deadliest of the century and one of the more deadly in history, killing 20 million to 50 million people globally.

3. The pandemic of 1957-1959, dubbed the Asian flu because it emerged in China, killed 2 million people worldwide in a two-year period. The Asian flu, caused by the H2N2 subtype of the influenza A virus, began in Guizhou province in 1956 and spread to Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States, according to MPH Online, an independent online resource.

4. Leading scientists in China and internationally, however, generally agree that COVID-19 likely originated in wildlife, before spreading to humans, possibly through an open-air wholesale food market in Wuhan, according to The Wall Street Journal newspaper. Chinese officials reported that several of the first cluster of cases had ties to the market, which has since been closed, the vox.com website reported. An animal, such as a bat, civet or pangolin, likely transmitted the virus to a human there in December 2019, although genetic analyses are yet to confirm the exact species responsible.

(All of the above four paragraphs were taken from The Indo Pacific Defence Forum March 21, 2020).

It should be obvious to anyone that the Chinese Communist State is not only a source of danger to its own citizens. But also a serious threat to the rest of the civilized world. “China spent approximately 1.39 trillion yuan (approximately US$200 billion), on public security in 2019, a threefold increase in the past decade. The public security expenditure includes state security, police, domestic surveillance, armed civil militia, and other measures to deal with public disturbances. Since 2010, it has surpassed the country’s military spending, with a difference of roughly 166 million yuan in 2019. Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang were the top three provinces in terms of public security spending.” (hadley.ward@statista.com).

(TO BE CONTINUED)