The Awakening of a Region

While visiting China, Napoleon Bonaparte made a very prophetic statement, “When China awakens it will shake the world.”  Napoleon was correct in his assessment as China for the past century has been a player in the international arena.

Snubbed by world powers during the post World War I peace negotiations this country became isolated from the west , began its internal progress, and the rest is history.    The awakened China has risen from obscurity to be a dominant political, military, financial, and cultural phenomenon and truly fits into the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

However, Napoleon only saw part of the Asian awakening and there are other nations that have shaken the world in their awakenings.  Both North and South Korea in the past 50 years have truly been like China, demonstrating military might, financial influence, and a profound influence on culture worldwide.

Japan rose out of the ashes of nuclear disaster to take its place among the leading nations of the world and has been able to stay at the forefront.  Napoleon was essentially correct about China,also nations such as the Philippines and Indonesia with its threat of Islamic influence certainly are on the horizon of world influence.

While it is true Napoleon saw a portion of prophetic reality, the history of the Pacific Rim and prophetic fulfillment are running on a parallel course and as time marches on the accuracy of God’s word continues to be verified and one area to watch is definitely Asia!

Sooner or Later Evil is Defeated

One of the most legendary battles in history was that of Waterloo, where the coalition forces under the command of the future Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon’s army.

Some experts maintain Napoleon’s defeat came from being ill and unable to properly direct the battle and attacking when he was not ready. Others state several days of rain prior to the battle had kept the French Calvary at bay for the initial attack thereby losing its effectiveness.

Of course, Wellington’s decision for his men to stay in place even with incessant assaults from Napoleon’s infantry, cavalry and artillery were certainly a factor. The Prussian army coming to Wellington’s aid at the last minute certainly demoralized the French effort truly turning the tide.

However, there is a stark reality to the career of Napoleon Bonaparte that must be considered in the saga of the Battle of Waterloo. During Napoleon’s military career he won more battles than Alexander the Great, Fredrick the Great, Hannibal and Julius Caesar, yet it was Waterloo that saved Europe and caused his exile to a deserted Island.

Daniel’s panorama of prophecy saw the major powers of his historic period all rise and fall, with the assurance these things happened due to God’s control, Daniel 2:21, 22.

Alexander the Great and Caesar to Fredrick the Great to Napoleon to Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini to the present day despots triumph for a while, but as these evil men surely rise they surely fall, one way or another they have their own personal Waterloo.