One thing that comes to mind in
these contemporary times regarding the United States is its magnetic attraction
to peoples around the world. This nation might be likened to the Planet
Jupiter. It is huge in most of the ways human beings see as alluring, giving it
the greatest gravity–materially speaking—of any nation state to grace earth’s
surface. God has indeed blessed America "from sea to shining sea."
While all other nations
orbit this one, realization about the liberty that is synonymous with the U.S.
to worship, move about, work, play, or even just be slovenly doesn’t escape
even those kept from knowing much about things going on around the rest of the
planet. Indeed, America’s gravity dynamically draws all peoples toward its
irresistible opulence. With the exception of a very few people, no one makes
noises about leaving this nation to live elsewhere. Billions look in America’s
direction as the shining light on the hill, as President Ronald Reagan once
called it.
Even the defectors who
sought to dodge the draft during the Vietnam era have since done all they could
to come back to the nation they deserted. The Hollywood types–like Barbra
Streisand, for example—who periodically threaten to leave America because they
don’t get their way, politically, decide to stay when it comes down to the
moment of leaving or staying. In southern parlance, they know on which side
their bread is buttered.
Perhaps to get right to the
heart of what has made America the center of the universe of nations, and to
try to determine its status so far as involvement in Bible prophecy might be
concerned, I would like to consider a well known historical observation by a
man outside this country--a Frenchman, no less!
French social philosopher
Alexis de Tocqueville, while touring the United States in the 1800s said about
America: “America is great because America is good. If she ever ceases to be
good, she will cease to be great.” De Tocqueville no doubt was speaking of how
he viewed cultural and societal good. But, upon observing the nation’s
Christian church foundation he encountered, he must have based his
conclusion on the fact that America’s goodness in the societal sense was a
result of Christianity running throughout the country’s cultural fiber. What he
likely didn’t understand was what that “goodness” really means in God’s
economy.
God’s Word speaks of this
“good”: “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none
good but one, [that is], God” (Mar. 10:18).
Jesus was not saying to the
man who fell on his knees before the Lord that He, Jesus, was not “good,” but
the Lord was acclaiming that God, alone, is the only good. Jesus was–and
is--the only “good” flesh-and-blood person to ever walk the earth’s surface
following the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. That is because Jesus IS God.
Christianity is the God-sent
only belief system through which any people–individually or collectively--can
ever be considered “good” in God’s holy, omniscient eyes. Belief in Jesus
Christ for salvation is the ONLY way to reconciliation with God, which redeems
lost man from sin. Christianity is the belief that says Jesus, alone, was the
lamb that takes away the sins of the world. All other belief systems we call
religions constitute the broad way to eternal destruction apart from God and
heaven.
“Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt.
7:13-14).
Jesus said this: “…I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the father, but by me” (John
14:6).
A Prophetic Nation
So, it is through His Son,
Jesus Christ, the second member of the triune godhead, that God the Father
recognizes “good.” The Christian roots of this nation called America gives this
country claim to the only “good” that is found therein. America has been
blessed only because of its “goodness.” Let’s have a look at this seemingly
elitest declaration.
President George Washington
said in his farewell address, "Reason and experience both forbid us that
national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." John
Adams, America's second president, said, "The United States Constitution
was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the
government of any other."
We have only to look at what is
inscribed upon the edifice that houses the U.S. Supreme Court, and what is
etched in the surfaces of walls that frame other government buildings, to
understand what is the “religion” to which Washington and Adams referred as
being the basis for America’s “morality”. The Ten Commandments that flow from
the mind of God so influenced the founding fathers of America that they saw His
directions for godly living as inseparable from their own governance.
is what Jesus, the Son of God,
said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not
come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).
Jesus, the founder of God’s
only outreach to mankind with the offer of redemption through Christ’s shed
blood on the cross at Calvary, fulfilled the Ten Commandments, that Mosaic Law
that is everywhere one looks in Washington, D.C., and in capitals around
America. This, despite incessant attempts by those who would destroy all
vestiges of our Christian heritage.
The question we who teach,
preach, and write about Bible prophecy get practically every time there is a
forum for Q & A, is something like: “What about America –is it in Bible
prophecy?”
The answer that must be
given, if we are to be absolutely faithful to truth found in God’s Word is: No,
America isn’t mentioned by name in Bible prophecy. But, it is always
appropriate to follow up with: However, America is certainly in prophecy in the
sense of being among the nations foretold to influence the course of human
history while the end of the age approaches and the tribulation looms on the
prophetic horizon. We can say that, because here we are, right in the mix of
things moving the world toward the climax of human history.
America, A Golden Cup
Again, is the name “America”
given anywhere in Scripture? Of course not. But, the influence this nation has
exerted since coming to its full bloom as earth’s greatest superpower in
history makes it a prophetic nation. The Creator of all things continues to use
America in His mighty hand to accomplish two very distinctive, supernatural
purposes. As a matter of fact, the United States, in my view, has an
overwhelming presence in Bible prophecy. Its place is at the very heart of the
end times things that we observe developing –matters we see unfolding in daily,
even hourly, news reports. In this sense, I am of the conviction that God is
speaking of America –in type, if not by name, when His Word tells us the
following:
“Babylon [hath been] a golden cup
in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken
of her wine; therefore the nations are mad” (Jer. 51:7).
Certainly, the United States
of America has been a “golden cup” in the Lord’s hand. No other nation of
modern vintage can come close to claiming that achievement. Some nations of
Europe were formative in bringing forth Christianity into the world, thus
shedding a degree of Gospel light into a world of sin-darkness. But, it is
America that, despite its great shortcomings, and more recent degeneration,
that has been a shining beacon, reflecting from that golden cup in God’s hand.
Being the first nation in
spreading to the whole world the Gospel message –that Jesus’ sacrifice on the
cross makes possible the only way to redemption for lost mankind—is a feat no
other country can claim. This, ultimately, has been done not by the offices, or
under the auspices of American ingenuity, but by the omniscience and the
omnipotence of the One holding the “golden cup.” It is God’s grace and mercy
that has put America as a beacon of God’s light upon that mountain of Gospel
dissemination. God’s providence gave this nation the industrial and
technological genius –a fact that is denied, or that is so taken for granted
today.
America and Babylon
Tragically, the United
States, like every other nation of this generation, is the hybrid offspring of
the Babylonian system, which God’s prophetic Word has traced from the times of
Nimrod on the Plains of Shinar and the Tower of Babel (read Genesis 11).
America, which has spread the Gospel message to the entire world, will, sadly,
be in one form or another part of the agglomerate beast system mentioned in
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel Chapter 2 –the 10 toes on the feet of the
multi-metallic man-image. This nation will, in a grotesquely metamorphosed
form, become a constituent part of the nondescript beast of Daniel 2, which is
prophesied to appear during the tribulation era–as presented in Revelation
Chapter 13, as it raises from the sea.
“And I stood upon the sand
of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten
horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy”
(Rev. 13:1).
This world Babylonian hybrid
that represents –in the final analysis—total, luciferian rebellion to Jesus
Christ, who fulfilled God’s prescription for living righteously, will do all
within its Satan-derived power, to destroy all that God holds dear to His
heart.
Israel, America’s Saving Grace
This brings us to America’s
second reason for existence --toward the purpose of accomplishing God’s great
prophetic plan. In my view, this use of the phenomenally powerful American
nation is among the most profound indicators we can find that America, indeed,
is in prophecy. And, I believe that America’s being in prophecy includes God’s
using it to be mid-wife in Israel’s modern birth into the land promised to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob those thousands of years ago.
It was President Harry S.
Truman–who said he had read the Bible through a number of times—who insisted,
despite many voices of opposition, that the embryo country still in the womb of
the Holy Land, Israel, come to birth on May 14, 1948. America stood by Israel’s
struggle to get to its feet, and through the battles it fought against its
attacking, hate-filled enemy neighbors.
God’s hand was at work in
unseen ways, it becomes obvious to a careful look at unfolding times leading up
to Truman’s assuming the presidency following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in
1945.
Truman had, as mentioned
above, read God’s Word through a number of times. He told those around him that
the Jews had promises from God to the land. He apparently believed that America
must bless Israel, not curse that people. Historians would say that coincidentally,
perhaps even ironically (but I am convinced that the word should be
"providentially"), Truman had a Jewish friend–Edward Jacobson--with
whom he had co-owned a haberdashery. His partner convinced Truman early on of
that nation’s prophetic destiny.
Although Israel now has its
own nuclear arsenal, it is America–in human terms—that has provided the most
strength, militarily, which discourages overwhelming assaults against the
Jewish state. But, looking beyond the physical earthly protection for Israel,
it is the Lord of heaven that provides the ultimate hedge of protection.
God has proved in war after
war throughout Israel’s earlier and latter incarnations that He keeps His
promises to protect them from absolute destruction, despite their many Diasporas
and their tribulations as captive and/or outcast people. He uses human military
to accomplish this promise that the Jew will always be His chosen people. But,
many strange reports have come out of some of those battles, proclaiming
supernatural activity having turned the tide. Reports of battles during
Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948, as an established nation in 1956, 1967,
and 1973, brought such reports. And, at a spiritual warfare level in the sense
of Ephesians 6: 12, there continue to be conflicts unseen by human eyes.
Christian Soldiers
Israel’s nuclear capability
and America’s stupendous military and technological might are strong defensive
ingredients for modern Israel’s protection. But, while surrounded by forces of
overwhelming numbers whose satanic rage cannot be stemmed, it is a most
unconventional army that is Israel’s greatest ally. It is this ally contingent
that holds the joint Israeli-American defensive coalition in place, in my view
–and, I believe—in God’s prophetic plan. It is a spiritual force that is
Israel’s closest friend. Christians, particularly those in America, make up the
spiritual army that supports Israel’s right to exist as does no other group on
earth.
I must qualify that
statement, because today there are so many divergent claims to the name of
Christ –differing views about what it means to be “a Christian.” The definition
I use here is one who has been “born again” (John 3: 3). This means that a
person has been born into the family of God, for all eternity. The only way for
this to happen is for an individual to accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross
at Calvary–His shed blood—to pay for the individual’s sin, which separates the
individual from God. Those who are “born again” make up this army of
defenders of Israel’s right to exist in its ancient homeland. This army doesn’t
bear physical arms, or fight, literally on the bloody fields of battles
surrounding Israel. This army fights with prayer for the peace of
Jerusalem, and does spiritual battle for Israel, God’s chosen people, while
that Jewish state moves in blind unrepentance, toward its ultimate great
destiny–to be the head of all nations during the Millennium, Christ’s 1000-year
reign on Planet Earth.
America Plunges While the
Church Arises
America, the golden cup in
the Lord’s hand for more than two centuries –having disseminated the Gospel to
the world, and having been the mid-wife of Israel’s birth into modern times,
then its protector—is not mentioned in Bible prophecy, by name. Supposedly
lesser nations of history are mentioned. For example, Persia (present-day
Iran), Syria, and others, upon delving into etymological studies of ancient
days juxtaposed against the geographical locations of current national
entities. Russia, for example, fits into the region known in ancient times as
the region called “Rosh.” But this once shining city on the hill called America
is nowhere to be found as the very end of days unfold.
So, what happens to the United States of
America?
We have looked at my view–which
I believe is the biblical view—that God’s people, the Christians of these end
times, are Israel’s most fervent friends. But, again I must write a word of
qualification. Not all of the born again hold to the position that Israel is
God’s chosen nation as given in the Old Testament. Most Christians today (again
talking about born-again members of God’s family) don’t even think in terms of
Israel and its prophetic destiny one way or the other. This is because these
Christians aren’t taught about the truth of these matters by their pastors and
teachers. Also, they don’t do enough study on their own to open their spiritual
minds on these things, so God the Holy Spirit can instruct them regarding
Israel and prophecy yet future. They are ignorant of these things. Many are
willfully ignorant.
o, it is a relatively small
group who observe prophetic matters as outlined in God’s Word. Nonetheless, all
Christians –every single individual who is a member of God’s eternal
family—will go to be with Jesus Christ when He shouts: “Come up here” (Rev.
4:1). All of Israel’s most fervent supporters –that Jewish nation’s staunchest
allies—will instantly be gone from the planet. I believe it is at this moment
on God’s prophetic time line that America’s time as a viable nation will begin
a precipitous plunge. It will recede into the depths of history past, so far as
its grandiosity is concerned.
Much of the stable,
tax-paying base will be removed in that stupefying moment. Its worker-base will
be so severely disrupted that it won’t come close to resembling the economic
powerhouse it was the moment before the rapture. This, because America has, it
is quite safe to presume—the highest percentage of Christians of any nation of
significant population.
The politicians and powers that be
within governmental and business bureaucracies will flail wildly, trying to
bring their turfdoms back into some semblance of order. It will be a task that
will be impossible without the most extreme, draconian measures. Ultimately,
I’m convinced, these political and governmental powers will readily agree to
come under the auspices of the much more stable European Union. The EU–the
member nations of which have long-since doused the Gospel light, thus its
populations not as severely affected as that of the U.S.-- will grow to immense
size and power within perhaps only a few days.
Israel Following Rapture
Israel will suddenly find
itself without its staunchest lobby-base with the American government. The U.S.
leadership will, itself, find itself so tied up in the staggering problems of
trying to regain economic and societal equilibrium that urgent pleas from
Israeli leaders will likely go unheeded.
The Islamic world will have
lost in the rapture its small children and babies in the wombs of mothers
within the Middle Eastern world. But Islamic armies of young, fanatic militants
will be untouched by the catastrophe that has caused the disappearance of many
millions of people. These, under their enraged leadership, will almost
certainly fervently look at Israel to vent their frustrations. Likely the
true Islamic fundamentalist fanatics will see what has happened as Allah’s
preparing to bring on the end of the world.
Perhaps this is the “hook”
in the “jaws,” which Ezekiel the prophet foretold God promises to
implement at this time. There will be no one –including America—to offer to
defend Israel. It is at this time that the great, supernaturally persuasive
world leader who will one day in the future be known as “the beast”
–Antichrist—will come forward from the swiftly reforming western alliance. He
will propose to all of the antagonists of the forces poised for war a peace
covenant they won’t be able to refuse.
Without genuine repentance
of her people, America’s time as the apex nation of history will end. She will
lose her golden glow. Her former glory will turn black with soot from the fire
of judgment and wrath that will be the fate of all who come against Jesus
Christ –the God of all creation.
America’s place in prophecy,
without repentance before God, is seen in the Babylonian system of rebellion,
as represented by the description of the destruction of its chief city.
“Therefore shall her plagues come
in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned
with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her” (Rev. 18:8).
About Terry James
Leading
biblical prophecy expert Terry James is an author, general editor, and
co-author of numerous books on Bible prophecy—hundreds of thousands of which
have been sold worldwide. His latest release isHeavenVision: Glimpses
into Glory, a look at what the Bible says about Heaven through the
lens of James’ recent near-death experience when his heart stopped beating
three times on Good Friday of 2011.
Other
recent titles James has released include the nonfiction, Departure:
God’s Next Catastrophic Intervention into Earth’s History (Defender,
2010), an exciting collaboration with leading prophecy experts and
Bible scholars who join James in sharing their insight and analysis of biblical
prophecy as it aligns with world events leading up to the Rapture of the
church. In addition, he has written The American Apocalypse: Is the
United States in Bible Prophecy? and Are You Rapture
Ready? (foreword by Tim LaHaye), as well as the
novels The Nephilim Imperatives: Dark Sentences and The
Rapture Dialogues: Dark frequent lecturer on the study of end-time
phenomena, James is interviewed often by national and international media on
world issues and events as they relate to Bible prophecy. He has appeared in
major documentaries and media forums in all media formats in America, Europe,
and Asia. He has appeared as an expert source in a History Channel series
enitled “The ostradamus Effect.”
A active
member of the Pre-Trib Research Center Study Group, James is also partner and
general editor in http://www.raptureready.com,
which is the attraction of national and international media and was recently
rated as the number-one Bible prophecy sitn the Internet.
James,
who has been blind much of his adult life due to a degenerative retinal
disease, works from his home in Benton, Arkansas. He and his wife, Margaret,
have two grown sons, Terry, Jr., and Nathan—and too many cats to count.
Read Also
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What is the
Gospel?
Believing Christ died, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ died for YOUR sins and
rose again, that’s SALVATION.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are
saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed
in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures. 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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Believing
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Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
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