JAPAN - Sharing Intelligence with New Zealand
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon expressed concern about rising tension in the South China Sea, where China has become increasingly assertive in pressing its territorial claims.
Kishida and Luxon “welcomed the agreement in principle of an information security agreement” to facilitate classified information sharing, according to the statement released by Japan’s Foreign Ministry.
The two leaders also agreed to accelerate talks toward signing a pact that would allow the two countries’ forces to share logistical support and supplies during bilateral training and other operations.
Japan has signed similar intelligence agreements with eight other countries including the United States, Australia, Britain, India and South Korea, as well as with NATO. Japan is also negotiating with Canada over a similar deal and has agreed with Ukraine to start talks.
-abcnews.go.com, 19 June 2024
Arno's Commentary
In Daniel 7, the first night vision is revealed to him, and he emphasizes in verse 27: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” This is the end.
The goal? The kingdom of God—the millennium—established at the physical and literal return of Jesus on the Mount of Olives in the land of Israel. All commotions, even the First and Second World Wars, are just a distraction of the enemy, who wants to establish his kingdom on earth. His original thoughts are recorded by the prophet Isaiah in 14:14: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
In the meantime, we have human history, where thousands upon thousands of wars have been fought and millions upon millions slain. Since we are not at the end of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, we are seeing the beginning of the end. Many may object to the following statement, but in today’s world, we have more peace than ever before in human history. Also, more information, more communication, and particularly more prosperity, comfort, and luxury than ever before. Where will that lead? Humanity collectively will accept the great imitator, who offers a fake peace.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is an almost tangible spirit of anxiety among the nations regarding defense. But in the end, there is nothing to defend because of the final destination of the evil one: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
