China's Xi, in call with Saudi crown prince, calls for Strait of Hormuz to remain open

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for Middle Eastern oil exports, and tensions there often involve Iran (biblical Persia). The call for keeping it open suggests regional instability that could be precursor conditions to the Gog/Magog coalition described in Ezekiel 38-39, where Persia is specifically named as part of the invading force against Israel.

China's involvement in Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly regarding strategic waterways, aligns with the 'Kings of the East' prophecy in Revelation 16:12. While this is diplomatic rather than military, China's growing influence in the region and concern for oil transit routes could be early positioning related to the eastern powers' eventual march toward the final conflict.

Though the Strait of Hormuz is not the Euphrates River, both are critical Middle Eastern waterways whose closure or drying affects geopolitical dynamics. The emphasis on keeping maritime passages open reflects the strategic importance of water routes in end-times prophecy, where the Hebrew term נָהָר (nahar) for river systems plays a crucial role in military movements.