How often have we heard that America will
not exist during the End Times? There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes
to how America fits in and this statement has the potential to place fear into
our hearts and minds. If left unchecked, we can begin forcing our assumptions
into the Biblical texts because we allow fear to guide us. We must trust in
God’s sovereignty over our lives and nation and allow the text to speak for
itself. With that said, I think it is wise that we ask the following questions:
Is America mentioned in end times prophecy?
The answer, whether we like it or not, is
no. The United States was not a nation of any sort when John recorded the book
of Revelation. Furthermore, North America was not even discovered for another
fourteen centuries. Sure, God knew, but it doesn't matter because it did not
affect those living at that time. However, this does not mean that our nation
will have no place or influence in the events of Revelation.
Some have suggested that because America
is not mentioned in the book of Revelation then that means we have been
destroyed in a nuclear war or suffered continental collapse. However, the
reason John did not mention the United States in the last book of the Bible is
two-fold:
1. The United States was not a nation two
thousand years ago and thus did not apply to the audience for over fourteen
centuries after writing.
2. It simply means that we are not the people
in focus. The book of Revelation is focusing on God's dealing specifically
with the nation of Israel. We must remember that the United States of America
is not God’s covenant people.
The absence of America from the
text simply shows that God was not going to get bogged down in all the
details with us. There are many things about the future that we don't need to
know and, at the time of writing Revelation, John the apostle was unaware that
the continent of North America even existed.
The United States may exist as a nation
when these events unfold or it may not. This is because Christ could delay His
return for another forty-five thousand years if He chooses. I do not believe He
will, but ultimately the decision is His and no one knows the exact day or
hour.
Will America be destroyed before Revelation's
prophetic fulfillment?
There are four continents, as well as
plenty of nations, in the world which are not at all mentioned in the
whole of Scripture: North and South America, Australia, and Antarctica. It
would be absurd to conclude then that each one of them has been completely
obliterated by the time of Christ's return.
Does America play a role in Biblical eschatology?
We have played a huge role in Biblical
eschatology up to the present day! On May 14, 1948 the leaders of the world,
including our own Harry S. Truman, recognized Israel as a Jewish State whereby
they became a nation again. The technological advancement achieved through the
free enterprise of the West has served both to advance the Gospel and prepare
the way for the end to come.
No matter what happens to us, the people
of this land will continue to have an impact on what transpires in the end
times. However, we must realize that we are not the people God is focusing the
world's attention on - Israel is.
Conclusion
Christ told us that no one knows the exact
day or the hour when He, the Son of Man, will return. However, He did say we
would know when the time is getting close. With the amount of
prophetic fulfillment happening in our day it would seem to indicate that His
return is very near, but it is just as likely for Him to wait another hundred
years or so. Remember, God is patient and longsuffering. He could in fact be
raising up vessels of destruction to prepare the way for His glorious return,
but it is hard to say. All we know for sure is that He is faithful and He is
coming back at some point in the future.
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