We are in the era of pride and the proud. In the past pride was known as a sin, but now pride is thought a part of self esteem, a 'good' thing. Events now are reducing pride, but soon the arrogancy of the proud shall cease- entirely.
All may on occasion have pride in something, but to be proud is a continual state of being arrogant and haughty. I was recently reading:
I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. (Isaiah 13:11)
Let us consider: In Beijing on Thursday May 21 in the middle of the afternoon at 3.45 pm the sky goes suddenly black as night, then there is a thunderstorm. This as the CCP prepares for their national conference on May 22.
This is not the first time the capital of China has been struck by darkness. On June 4th in 2013, air pollution generated a similar blackout on the anniversary of the forcible suppression of the student-led Tiananmen Square protests. .. The session also saw the passage of a hugely controversial national security law for Hong Kong, in what could be the biggest blow to the city’s autonomy and civil liberties since its handover to Chinese rule in 1997. breakingisraelnews.com
News is leaking out of the meeting about new laws for the church. The government is drafting new plans to further persecute the underground house church. The details have not come out yet, but it seems that the current coronavirus epidemic is being used as a reason for the Communist Party to put even more pressure on the church than they have in the last two years.backtojerusalem.com
The Communist party in China has recently become much more arrogant, due to what has appeared its successes, and also Xi the leader's absolute power. However, in Bible prophecy, China is not a leader in the great modern revived image of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon's ten toes of the combined Eastern and Western Roman Empires. China has not been part of the culture of the Image. China has sought total control over the Western merchants as well as Europe, Africa and the Pacific in a global bid that has ignored underlying tensions and the weaknesses, as if they didn't exist. However in that proud bid for control they also have sowed the seeds of their problems and themselves become reliant on all the world, so that in the event of any war, China would be exposed. More so the Chinese pride has led to the global current virus issue.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:18-19)
Pride leads to a situation of Hubris, where people fail to humbly consider their weak points which then cause issues for them, that may bring their downfall. There is now a body of evidence that points to Chinese taking over the Wuhan Virus labs, excluding other nations and the inexperience of those on a 'power-trip' in the labs likely leading to lack of care, which possibly led to the virus escaping. Pride and trying to save face prevented the initial Covid-19 outbreak being dealt with well in Wuhan, as the power of corrupt officials protecting themselves led to denials of self-evident facts. Then there is considerable agreement that the Chinese leadership saw their damage and both wished to prevent other nations from dealing with the virus and deliberately spread the virus. This proud policy, did indeed spread the desired destruction, but it failed to consider the consequences of an anger that exposed China's reliance on the Merchants making things in China. Americans are now agreed that China is bad or their enemy. nationandstate.com
Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. (Jeremiah 50:31-32)
China, the haughty, may indeed be punished by their own mistakes of Hubris in the fire of the virus raging through their cities. But the other proud merchant nations who rejected their God and became proud and sought to make profit and became reliant on cheap labour in China, also are punished by connection to the thing they relied on for the Mammon they loved. Just as Israel of old was punished by the Assyrians for their faithlessness, so the nations who once upheld the Bible but who have rejected it, are punished by the inheritor of the Assyrians, the Mongol Empire which became the Chinese Empire, whose symbol, in Empire, is the fiery dragon.
Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the East, and are soothsayers like the Philistines (Palestinans), and they please themselves in the children of strangers (Isaiah 2:6)
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. (Isaiah 14:25)
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina (Philistia), because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (Isaiah 14:29)
While arrogantly thinking how to restrict any preaching of the Word of God, the skies go dark on all China's leadership, the heavens are black as night in the warmest part of the day.
The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up. He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars (columns, compresions) of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. (1Sam 2:7-9)
Taiwan has been blessed above all other nations as the best example of how to deal with a novel and dangerous virus, just when China would wish to reject Taiwan's independent existence. Taiwan has also become a refuge for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters, now
“President Tsai Ing-wen pledges ‘necessary assistance’ after a resurgence in protests against newly proposed security legislation from Beijing” theguardian.com
Taiwan did not have it's economy affected, and has been now sold a carrier-sinking torpedo from America. “The United States said its strong and bipartisan support for Taiwan’s democracy “comports with” the U.S.-China agreements” voanews.com
The Chinese CCP have called the protesters in Hong Kong 'terrorists', yet as they enact laws, Taiwan lines up behind these 'terrorists' and behind Taiwan, America stands ready. Yet if the Hong Kong protests continue they will affect China itself. However it plays out, there is no win or 'saving of face' for China. The proud are reduced.
In this context the pride of all nations in their system of global trade, from fatally broken supply lines to not having workers, is reduced because of the Covid-19 Virus. All that was valued highly, including a much vaunted freedom of movement was shut down: Stay home. But some nations are more affected, with personal life-changing effects to their leaders.
We heard, if we listened, the American President Donald Trump saying how he had to shut down his most wonderful economy, with the lowest unemployment rate. He didn't say it but he also had to shut down his own family's business which he was still living off as he donated his salary. Therefore he is affected unlike other members of government or bureaucracy who weren't business people and who received wages or income even when not at work. inquirer.com The New Yorker headlined “How the Coronavirus Shattered Trump’s Serene Confidence”. Trump will now try to open and re-build the economy with many and all blaming him for each and every death. Trump is being humbled, but let us consider the context of the purpose. Some have accused Trump of not being Christian, but these accusations miss entirely plain observation of his interaction with faith leaders and the exceedingly broad church of hugely fragmented sects and denominations that make up the American Christian landscape, and have made the nation since its Enlightenment era founding. Trump may be tested now because he inherited and chose a prosperity 'gospel' – Trump (and his Father) chose Marble Church. “He attended its Sunday services for almost 50 years, but says he does not know if he ever formally joined the church. He describes himself as a Presbyterian, but Marble is not a Presbyterian church — it is part of the Reformed Church in America, a separate denomination that traces its beginnings to 1628 and the first ordained minister in New Amsterdam, as New York was then known... The lure was Dr. Peale, a household name since the publication of the 1952 best seller that transformed “the power of positive thinking” into a national catchphrase. Today he is remembered for preaching optimism and personal fulfillment, asserting that it was possible to achieve spiritual and material success in life. He himself became a wealthy man who lived on Fifth Avenue opposite the Metropolitan Museum of Art. nytimes.com
Trump also inherited from his father Fred an understanding about the blessing that comes from blessing Israel (Gen 12:3). As to whether that blessing comes as wealth or in some other form, is perhaps not clarified in theology. It is not only the American president who is being tested, but also the American people. There are people that the creator 'winks at' (Acts 17:30) but others are rebuked and called to repent,
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:1-2)
In the work of the Creator among the nations Germany, for example, it seems is not tested in particular, as America is.
Another nation hard hit and tested, and found wanting is secular Britain. A word associated with the UK PM Boris Johnson's rhetoric is NHS. Brexit, in the words of Boris, was to bring the NHS more funding. The Americans who have a private health sector were told it was sacred. Boris Johnson was also reluctant to lock China out of Britain's communications network, for reasons of trade. So the virus is sent out from China, then from Italy, then from Europe to Britain and came to infect and almost take the life of Boris Johnson. Boris had the attitude that “seemed to regard being ill as a form of moral weakness. It baffled him.” It also baffled the nation, and caused them great concern. www.theguardian.com
Boris was tested as everything he most prized was to be taken from him, his assumptions about illness, his energy, new child, new wife, new life as PM. In secular Britain, he is a chameleon. Boris thanks the NHS but not God. He didn't say he prayed, Michael Gove, Steven Glover of the Daily Mail and Donald Trump for “all Americans” however did pray. www.dailymail.co.uk
The Jewish community, who themselves were disproportionally victims of the virus in Britain, prayed for Boris.timesofisrael.com The Christian Monitor noted “News of his hospitalization would be compelling enough. Yet the public response is just as newsworthy. It hints at a spiritual revival of concern for the weakest during this health crisis, no matter what their station in life. Across Britain, people have placed signs outside houses saying “Pray for Boris.” www.csmonitor.com
We can be sure the British PM Boris life was spared, tested, humbled by ongoing weakness for a reason.
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. (Job 40:10-11)
The merchants are affected, not so much by the virus itself, but by the actions to curb the virus. It is reported “Worldwide trade shows record collapse in April amid virus lockdowns” ihsmarkit.com
People have been changed and humbled by not having an income to spend or have become happier with what they have, not seeking new things to buy. New things to buy are often not available anyway, as many goods are suffering supply chain failures. Many may consider the wisdom of Jesus
“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.” (Luke 12:15)
However the most remarkable change for the Merchants is their move to a more digital, moving picture web-based economy. The globalist traders have been reduced, but they have not been humbled as yet. They have seen that in-person face-to-face meetings are not desirable and they have desired to use the medium of pictures to talk face to face and conduct global business. They now put more trust in the things their hands have made for their livelihood, yet in their confidence, arrogance and pride they have not considered the extreme fragility of such a system… that a mere pulling of the plug from the wall socket demonstrates. Because of their pride in their works and power, they are being set-up for the ultimate global electric plug-pulling.
Let us consider how much is now entirely ephemeral digital; beginning from letter writing, to accounting, to exchanging knowledge on the internet, banking, communication, record keeping, governing, travel, design, ordering goods, tracking transporting of goods, to include now as 'bricks and motar' retail is forced on line by the virus, the entire trade system: all on a mobile phone! Then to add to the fragility it is to now be powered by a diffuse fragile infrastructure of solar plants and wind towers.
Every aspect of the majority of people's lives can now be halted with one giant global electric dislocation. Where is the wealth that gives power to the wealthy – now? Can any eat a yacht or a diamond? It is written:
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:.. upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish (English speaking globalists with their heritage in Anglo-Indian trade), and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:11-17)
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:19)
