Where is America headed? What is the future of this great country? Where does America fit into Bible prophecy?
First we must understand that the Bible is discussing the nation Israel and what will happen around that nation during end-time events. Since the United States is not anywhere near Israel it is not mentioned. It would seem no nation of the Western Hemisphere or Australia is mentioned.
The Bible tells us of confederacies of nations in the end-times. We know that Russia will lead an alliance of nations against Israel. We understand that ten nations of the old Roman Empire will be involved in the last days. We see the "kings of the East" involved also. Even now we see the shifts on the world scene for these alliances to become reality.
Today America is THE world power. We "lead the world." Why? We have much going for us. Our technology is the most advanced but there are other countries that excel in technology as well. Our government and political system is as free and as fair as most in the world but there are other nations with strong political systems yet they do not have the influence of America.
Within the pages of the Bible we find the principles for national success. Because America has followed these basic principles we live in the greatest nation on the earth. But will it continue?
Why Is America Blessed?
Pro 14:34
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
Psa 33:12
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
History tells us that in 1620 a group of Christians, who called themselves Pilgrims, made their way from England across the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of this land. They had received permission to settle in the northern part of the region known as Virginia to establish a colony & erect a church that they hoped would be free & independent of the Church of England.
But late fall winds battered their little boat, pushing them northward. And when they finally sighted land it was at a place we now call Cape Cod, Mass. The date was Nov. 21. They didn't want to land there because it was a cold & forbidding wilderness.
So they debated for a while. "Should we try to get to Virginia, or just go ahead & settle here?" Finally, they decided that their little boat would probably not make it to Virginia. So they came ashore at a place that we know as Plymouth Rock.
But before they did, they wrote what is known today as "The Mayflower Compact." It began with these words: "In the name of God…, we whose names are underwritten… Having undertaken, for the glory of God, & advancement of the Christian faith…, a voyage to plant a first colony in the northern part of Virginia, do… solemnly & mutually in the presence of God, & one of another, covenant, & combine ourselves together…"
Did you hear what they were saying? "We have come here in the name of God." "We have come here to glorify God." "We have come here to advance the Christian faith." They were saying, "We are unashamedly Christians, & we search for a place where we can worship God the way we feel the Bible teaches us to worship Him."
Someone has said, "The difference between North & South America is that the Spaniards went to South America in search of gold, but the Pilgrims & Puritans came to North America in search of God." There is enough truth in that to explain some of the differences in the history & development of our two continents.
This nation was founded on Biblical principles:
Our coins say "In God We Trust."
In our pledge of Allegiance we say we are "One nation under God."
Our Constitution expresses our belief in God. Our fathers founded this nation: (1) For the glory of God. (2) Based on rights given to them by God. (3) Seeking the blessing of God.
America inaugurates its presidents with a hand on the Bible and asks them to pledge "So help me God." You simply cannot remove the God of Judaism and Christianity from the institutions of this nation.
Jerry Falwell says it like this:
America is a Christian nation because:
Today we are getting away from our founding faith. Consider these recent legal decisions:
Consider the social condition in America:
Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? What about the nations of Canaan? Jesus said this about Capernaum:
Mat 11:23-24
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for thee.
This nation cannot continue to presume upon God. America is blessed because America is righteous. When America is no longer righteous America will no longer be blessed.
Gen 12:3
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The list of nations who have touched God's people the Jews and paid the price is long and getting longer. Our nation has been a haven for Jewish people. They have come here to worship in religious freedom. They have found great opportunity here and have been treated fairly.
We also took a leading role in the establishing of the Israel as a nation in May of 1948. We have consistently stood by them since. We have given them the support they have needed as the only democracy in the entire Middle East.
But will this continue? With the conflict raging now between Israel and the Palestinians and the crisis that seems to now be boiling over in the region will we continue to support them? What if the OPEC nations tried another oil embargo? We could be faced with a choice: oil or Israel one day. If America ever withdraws its support from Israel we would cease to be blessed. Until Jesus comes we must continue to support them.
This is the most important reason. The building of His church is the most important part of God's program right now. One day that will be completed and He will return for it.
The church in the United States has had a large part in being the instrument for bringing people to Christ throughout the world. With only 7% of the world's population the USA has produced over 50% of the manpower and money for world missions in the last century. Since 1950 it has produced 70%. We have been and are now the most influential and powerful missionary sending nation on the earth.
On the one hand it would seem that God should already have judged this nation but on the other we see the way God is working through the American church both here and around the world and it is easy to see why God is still blessing America.
One day however God is coming back for His church. What will happen when He comes back and removes His church from America?
No longer will there be any restraint from sin.
No longer will righteousness exalt this nation.
No longer will this nation support the Jew.
No longer will there be a world missionary enterprise led and supported by the church in this country.
All of a sudden with the church gone, this nation will become as any other. In the end times America will no longer be a world power. The power shift will be to those that surround Israel. It is likely that we will be a part of one of the alliances of nations that make up the end times governments, more than likely with the European one.
One possibility is that with the church gone, this nation could be destroyed. We are setting ourselves up now for judgement. After the rapture I would not give you a "plug nickel" for America.
God is currently using America, while she is a righteous nation, to set up the world for the last days events. Because we are a nation so given over to Christ (comparatively) we are a big part of the "restrainer." If not for America what would have happened to the world if not for our part in WWI and WWII? What would the world have done without our stand against God-less communism?
We must face the reality of evil in the world. I have been amazed people actually believe that if we try hard enough we can negotiate with Saddam Hussein and get him to destroy his weapons of mass destruction. They believe that if we just give him what he wants, or make our case patiently and clearly enough, he will understand and will ultimately cooperate. Whatever our position on war is, we must understand that there are some people who are truly evil, and are bent on abusing their power even to the point of using instruments of death to accomplish their purposes. Whether we believe we should go to war or refrain from war, we cannot escape the reality of evil, and the fact that there are some people with whom you can never negotiate.
I believe that because the region is so vital to end time events, God is using America right now to "pull down and to establish" in the Middle East. We are God's servants in Iraq (and the Middle East) to set things up for the prophetic drama of days to come. I believe George Bush is doing God's will. Our military is an instrument in God's hands to arrange governments for the "Day of the Lord."
One thing we will not do is remove the reason for the evil in that region. That reason is Satan. There are principalities and powers there that are stronger there than anywhere else. We may get rid of Saddam or Osama but the spirit behind them is going to continue to hate and murder. Israel will continue to the object of their wrath. That hatred and spirit of murder will continue until it births the Antichrist and his kingdom that will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus to finally put an end to them.
We should first and foremost be committed and faithful to Jesus. He will return for His church. When? At any moment. He is coming for a people that is ready. We are God's laborers in the end time harvest. Let's be a part of the building of the Ark of Safety.
Second, I believe that we should pray for our President and our nation. We should be watching and praying like never before. We should support our President and our military.
Isaiah 31:1, NIV
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD."
Psalm 33:17-21
"A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name."
Proverbs 21:31
"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD."