Russia AND China
TimeWatch Editorial
August 03, 2016
In our last Editorial, we discussed the Fatima Vision of 1917 which included the message that Mary delivered to three youths. The third vision predicted the conversion of Russia. As you will recall we made the point that at first glance, Revelation 13 verse 12 might appear difficult to accomplish since some of the countries in this world were atheistic and communist. We showed however that Russia, perhaps because of the apparition of Mary and the Fatima vision, has already begun the necessary shift from atheistic communism to defender of the Eastern Orthodox faith. We also made the point that the 2016 meeting between Pope Francis and the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church applied the final touch to the restoration of a working relationship with Russia. Add to that the fact that recently there have been a number of religious laws signed into law by Putin; we see a definite shift in emphasis in Russia.
Of course, if you recall that at the end of the Editorial, we made the point that if Russia has begun to be influenced by the papacy, then China cannot be far behind. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , published an article on the Reuters website entitled: “After decades of mistrust, Pope Pushes for diplomatic breakthrough with China” on July 14, 2016.
“Pope Francis is leading a determined push to fundamentally alter the relationship between the Vatican and China, which for decades has been infused with mutual suspicion and acrimony. Interviews with some two dozen Catholic officials and clergy in Hong Kong, Italy and mainland China, as well as sources with ties to the leadership in Beijing, reveal details of an agreement that would fall short of full diplomatic ties but would address key issues at the heart of the bitter divide between the Vatican and Beijing.”Lisa Jucca , Benjamin Kang Lim and Greg Torode, “After decades of mistrust, Pope pushes for diplomatic breakthrough with China, July 14, 2016.
The conflict that has existed between the Chinese church and the Vatican has existed for a while. Now it would appear that there is a definite reconciliation in the air.
“A working group with members from both sides was set up in April and is discussing how to resolve a core disagreement over who has the authority to select and ordain bishops in China, several of the sources told Reuters. The group is also trying to settle a dispute over eight bishops who were appointed by Beijing but did not get papal approval - an act of defiance in the eyes of the Vatican. In what would be a dramatic breakthrough, the pope is preparing to pardon the eight, possibly as early as this summer, paving the way to further detente, say Catholic sources with knowledge of the deliberations.”Lisa Jucca, Benjamin Kang Lim and Greg Torode, “After decades of mistrust, Pope pushes for diplomatic breakthrough with China, July 14, 2016.
Very soon, if Pope Francis has anything to do with it, there will be a visit to China. Inés San Martín , writing for the CRUX website, published an article entitled: “Legendary Vatican envoy predicts Francis may visit Russia, China ” on May 28, 2016. He says:
“ROME-One of the Vatican’s most legendary and accomplished diplomats, as well as the cardinal who announced the name of the Catholic Church’s new chief shepherd to the world on March 13, 2013, believes Pope Francis could become the first pontiff to visit Russia and China. Although French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran on Wednesday, refrained from saying more on the topic of a possible papal trip to Russia and China, countries no pope in the modern era has visited, Francis has repeatedly expressed his desire to visit both places. Widely considered as long shots, trips to Moscow and Peking no longer seem quite so unthinkable, given that Francis has been dubbed a pope of firsts - his unprecedented encounter with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in February being only one in a long list.” Inés San Martín, “Legendary Vatican envoy predicts Francis may visit Russia, China” May 28, 2016
So Testimonies Volume 9, page 11, has it right.
The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 11.
It is truly time to be ready.
Cameron A. Bowen
