Where America Actually IS In Bible Prophecy
Vol: 59 Issue: 23 Wednesday, August 23, 2006
We’ve had extensive discussions about the question of where America is in Bible prophecy in the past. But a reader sent me an email that (correctly) pointed out that all we have really done is deal with the question.
This reader castigated me (again quite rightly) for what she thought was a cryptic comment to the effect that the answer to the question of where America is in Bible prophecy ‘is as obvious as it is terrifying’, complaining that while it may be obvious to me, it isn’t obvious to her.
My correspondent makes a point of saying that she has been both a Christian and a student of Bible prophecy for thirty years.
Then she shared with me what she believed was America’s fate. She began by asking sarcastically, ‘Please enlighten this lowly believer who truly wants to know,” which is usually a dead giveaway that what she really meant was that she was about to enlighten me.
Sure enough, the very next sentence was “I will tell you what I think may be describing America in prophecy: The white rider who goes out “conquering and to conquer” may be George Bush or America. “
(Bingo! I should have known George Bush would fit into it somewhere. Pretty much every sarcastic letter I receive has some undertone of ‘George Bush is the evilest man on the planet and you don’t see it . .’ and almost all of them contain the word ‘courage’ — as in, ‘you don’t have the courage to tell the truth, but I do.’)
“If I knew where America fits in end times prophecy were obvious, I’d definitely have the courage to “announce” it. What little light I may have I, in fact, I do “announce” to anyone who cares to discuss the matter,” she writes.
To demonstrate, (after she identifies George Bush and America as the antichrist) she turns decidedly optimistic:
“Additionally, I see a second Great Awakening taking place in America. I see that God could be grooming us to stand apart from our European allies when it comes down to the time of the tribulation.”
“I see America resuming its place in history as the “city set on a hill” (as John Winthrop and other forefathers believed, even as recent as Ronald Reagan), an example of fierce independence and autonomy in a world of globalization and multiculturalism.”
I see this happening now, and I see it happening much more rapidly in the future in response to debilitating terrorist invasion and attacks throughout our country.”
“I see the spirit of our forefathers rising up in us and American Christians reclaiming our land “for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith” as those band of Pilgrims in 1620 compacted. I see a second American Revolution, one that will overcome foreign enemies as well as enemies within (secularists). This is the America I see in the end times. What do you see?”
She signs it, ‘with respect’ and her name and town.
Assessment:
While I generally try not to rise when somebody baits me like this, my correspondent DOES have a point. I’ve said it was ‘obvious’ why America isn’t mentioned in Bible prophecy, I AM a bit cryptic when it comes to the reason why.
The reason is partly because I don’t know for sure — I can only speculate — but also, it is partly because when I DO speculate, it terrifies ME.
The Apostle Paul, in his discussion of the Rapture and the end times, closes 1st Thessalonians 4 by saying, “Wherefore COMFORT one another with these words” and not, ‘Wherefore, TERRIFY one another with these words.”
But, since I did say in the column she was referring to that the answer was obvious, (The 100% Reality) and then didn’t elaborate, perhaps she has a point.
So, with your indulgence, I will speculate a little about what it is that terrifies me, (with the attached disclaimer that it IS speculative, and that I could be wrong.)
First, George Bush and America are NOT the rider on the white horse. The Book of Revelation is written chronologically – – and the Rapture occurs before the Four Horsemen of Revelation begin their ride.
Following the seven letters to the seven Churches, John writes, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” (Revelation 4:1)
With these words, the perspective of the Church shifts from the view from Planet Earth to the view from Heaven, where it remains until the conclusion of the Tribulation and the 2nd Coming of Christ.
At the present time, the Church is still here.
Plus, I believe George Bush is a saved Christian. That is NOT to say that Bush holds the same view of eschatology that I do — agreeing with ME is not a condition of salvation.
Trusting in the sufficiency of His sacrifice for my sins and accepting the offer of Pardon He extends to me is. George Bush has made a public confession to that effect.
The Scriptures identify the spirit of antichrist thusly:
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. . . . For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist..” (1st John 4:3, 2nd John 1:7)
Neither Bush nor America meet the Scriptural qualifications for the role of antichrist.
As to my correspondent’s contention of a Great Revival and a 2nd American revolution, that is a political pipe dream with no Scriptural support whatever.
Paul warns that ‘evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse,’ after outlining, in detail, the prevalent social characteristics that serve as the hallmark of the last days of the Church Age.
America’s Red State/Blue State divide follows that basic outline. The Red States are derided by the Blue Staters as ‘JesusLand.”
Politically, the Blue Staters favor negotiating with terrorists and terrorist states.
They favor ‘separation of Church FROM state’, they support abortion on demand, euthanasia, gay marriage, gun control, “commitment to Israel but support of the Palestinian State” (and THAT quote comes directly from the DNC’s website) giving aid and comfort to the enemy by promising negotiation instead of confrontation, and the complete removal of any reference to God in the public square.
Paul’s description could also have come from the Blue Staters platform:
” . . . men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof . . .” etc. (2nd Timothy 3:2-5)
Since America is already politically controlled by the “JesusLand” Red States, a 2nd American revolution would demand the courage of the Blue Stater’s convictions. Which of the political convictions outlined by the Blue Staters would YOU be prepared to die for?
Which would THEY be prepared to die for?
A Great Revival is a possibility, but an unlikely one, since the Blue Staters build their platform on the removal of God from public life. (And there is Paul’s promise that evil men and seducers get worse — not better.)
If my correspondent is advocating a Red Stater revolution, but sees George Bush and America as the antichrist, who would the revolution support?
And how in the world could that bring about a Great Revival?
Having said all that, I will speculate as to where America is in Bible prophecy. I believe the Blue Staters will eventually take control of the government. Having done so, they will agree to a form of dhimmitude in exchange for peace with the Islamofacists. That is already fairly evident when one considers the efforts being made to fight Islamic terror without offending Islam and pointedly ignoring the connection between Islam and terrorism.
(Should we conduct ‘religious profiling’ of Islamic passengers, or should we screen 80 year old Swedish grannies at airports so as not to give offense to Islam?)
America will be free to practice its religious convictions, provided they do not run contrary to that of Islam (which means the end of the free exercise of Christianity or Judaism and its replacement with a less offensive, all inclusive version of both).
That precludes any ‘Great Revival’ — and it also means removing America from any prominent role on the world stage in the last days.
America’s 2nd revolution would be the opposite of the first, with those supporting it favoring dhimmitude over freedom, but renaming it ‘peaceful coexistence’.
The only reason for optimism that I can see in America’s future is that, having fulfilled its Great Commission, the Church Age will draw to a conclusion when;
“the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1st Thessalonians 4:16,17)
Other than that possibility (which may or may not come first) it is a pretty pessimistic picture.
In my humble opinion.
Omegaletter 