There are more people that speak Chinese than
any other language in the world.
Together with the Jews, Chinese is one of the earliest
and the oldest enduring civilizations.
It has a 4,500 years of unbroken history.
Chinese history is recorded all the way back to 2500 BC.
Daoism came about in the 6th century BC.
Confucianism & Buddhism came about in the 5th century BC.
Records show that China worshipped the true eternal God dating back to 2500 BC.
They called God by the name of Shang Di (上帝)
Shang Di (上帝) = "Emperor (or Sovereign) Above," "Lord On High," "Highest Lord," "the Supreme God," or "Celestial Lord."
The Xia Dynasty is the oldest Chinese dynasty recorded in history (About 2500 BC.)
The Xia Dynasty worshipped Shang Di
Historical Records
(Volume 10, Chronicles 10, Xiao Wen Volume 28, Book 6, Feng Shan)
In ancient times, the son of Heaven of the
Xia Dynasty personally and reverentially
sacrificed to Shang Di at the border, that
was why it is called the Border [(Sacrifice)]."
Centuries later...
The Xia Dynasty was succeeded by the Shang Dynasty who also worshipped Shang Di (1766 BC.)
Centuries later...
The Shang Dynasty was conquered by the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BC.)
The Zhou people replaced Di with Tian (天) and called God by the name Shang Tian (上天)
Tian (天) = Heaven
Many centuries later...
A wicked man named Qin Shi Huang became the 1st emperor of a unified China (221 BC.)
Qin Shi Huang rejected the worship of the eternal God. Massive idolatry came into China during his reign.
Daosim, Confuciansim and Buddhism grew and dominated the Chinese people in his time...
Many centuries later...
An Italian Jesuit Priest by the name Mateo Ricci traveled to China to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, (1552 AD.)
He was very intelligent and full of wisdom, he studied the history, culture and science of the Chinese.
Mateo Ricci was a well respected man and became the 1st foreign advisor of the Chinese Imperial Court. (1601 AD.)
Mateo Ricci converted many chinese men to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Many years later...
The Roman Catholic church was wicked and demanded China to renounce their honor for
their Chinese ancestors in order to be accepted by the Roman Catholic church.
Several leaders of the Roman Catholic church wrongfully slandered and condemned all Chinese Emperors to burn in hell,
The Chinese Emperor 'Kang Xi' was a Christian and he stated that they don't pray to their ancestors or worship them,
they simply honor their ancestors as a manner of respect.
(1715 AD.) Pope Clement 11th (XI) sent Papal missionaries to Kang Xi, they demanded China to renounce their honor
for their ancestors, this demand was insensitive and offensive to Kang Xi.
The Pope insulted the Chinese, their culture and even their fellow Jesuit Missionaries.
A French Bishop confronted Kang Xi with insults and challenged the Chinese Emperor,
Kang Xi stumbled and banned the Westerners permission to preach in China to avoid futher conflict.
Evangelism was greatly hindered in China. (1721 AD.)
When you read the historical records,
Shang Di has the same character, nature and power as the God in the Old Testament. The Earliest-known
religious system of the Han Chinese people who worshipped Shang Di was a monothelistic religion.
They did not make any graven images or idols of Shang Di, he was known as the unseen one in heaven.
The earliest references to Shang Di are found in Oracle Bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty. The
inscriptions bear record that Shang Di is soverign over all nations and in complete control of all things. Apart from
the Oracle Bone, Shang Di is mentioned 96 times in the Wujing (Collection of 5 classic books)
And 79 more times in other Chinese classics. The emperor of every dynasty would function as a high priest and make a yearly animal sacrifice. During the ritual an unblemished bull would be slaughtered and presented as an animal sacrifice to Shang Di, where it was offered to the god's "spirit tablet" (神位) During an annual sacrifice, the emperor would carry these tablets to the north part of the Temple of Heaven, a place called the "Prayer Hall For Good Harvests," and place them on the throne. There are no physical representations recorded of Shang Di. However, there are many references to the attributes and character of Shang Di, including: maleness, emotion, compassion, intellect, judgment, mastery, and greatness.
GOD IS SOVEREIGN
Classic of Poetry, Da Ya, Anecdotes of King Wen, End of Chapter 4
"The decendants of Shang Dynasty were
in number more than hundreds of
thousands. But when Shang Di Gave the
command, they became subject
to the Zhou."
THE LORD YOUR GOD IS ONE
Historical Records Vol.28, Book 6, Page 624
"Shang Di is another name
for Tian. The spirits do not
have two Lords."
HE IS ALL POWERFUL
Classic Poetry, Da Ya, Anecdotes of Tang, Homage, Chapter 7, Verse 4
"Mysterious Almighty Heaven
is able to strengthen anything."
HE KNOWS ALL THINGS
Classic of Poetry, Da Ya, Anecdotes of King Wen, Huang Yi, Verse 1
"O Almighty Shang Di, you come to us in
your majesty. you discern all that is
happening for the peace of the people."
HE IS OMNIPRESENT
Record Rites, Confucius, Xian Ju, verse 29
"Shang Di is revered because His will
extends to the nine limits [everywhere]."
GOD IS LOVE
Classic History, Book of Zhou, The Great Declaration, Middle Section, Paragraph 4
"Heaven loves the people,
the ruler should honor Heaven."
There are many other records that confirm Shang Di is eternal, righteous, just, holy, compassionate, full of grace, faithful and wise.
This all confirms that Shang Di is indeed the same God of the Bible.
CHINESE DOCUMENTS RECORDED DURING THE TIME OF JESUS CHRIST
History of Latter Han Dynasty, Volume 1, Chronicles of Emperor Guang Wu, 7th year
"In the day of Gui Hai, the last day of the
month, there was a solar eclipse
[The emperor] avoided the Throne Room,
suspended all military activities and did
not handle official business for five days.
And he proclaimed, "My poor character
has caused the calamity, that the sun and
moon were veiled. I am fearful and trembling.
What can I say?...Anyone who presents a memorial
is not allowed to mention the word 'holy'."
Gua Hai is the last day of the 5th month in the Spring, during
the 7th year of the Han Emperor Guangwu (Between 31 - 33 AD.)
TIME OF JESUS CHRIST BEING CRUCIFIED
History of Latter Han Dynasty, Volume 1, Chronicles of Emperor Guang Wu, 7th year
"Summer, fourth month [of the year], on
the day of Ren Wu, the imperial edict reads,
'Yin and Yang have mistakenly
switched, and the sun and moon were
eclipsed. The sins of all the people are
now on one man. Pardon is proclaimed
to all under heaven."
TIME OF JESUS CHRIST DYING ON THE CROSS
History of Latter Han, Annuals Number 18, Gui Hai
"Eclipse on the day of Gui Hai,
Man from Heaven died."
TIME OF JESUS CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (3 DAYS AFTER GUI HAI)
History of Latter Han, Annuals Number 18, Gui Hai
"During the reign of Emperor Guang Wu,
on the day of Bign Yin of the fourth
month of Jian Wu, a halo-a rainbow-
encircled the sun."
This sign in heaven appeared 3 days after the eclipse.
1 JOHN 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
MARK 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
REPENT AND BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST...
HE SUFFERED AND DIED ON THE CROSS, HE IS THE UNBLEMISHED LAMB OF GOD...
HE RESURRECTED TO GLORY AND IS NOW EXALTED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD...
HE'S COMING BACK TO RIGHTEOUSLY JUDGE THE WORLD...
