With all the events, alliances and conflicts in the world today, the question about the United States in end times prophecies increasingly is being discussed. It is frequently pointed out that the USA is not specifically mentioned anywhere in the Bible. This is, of course, true. However, neither is India, China or France mentioned by name, yet it does not mean that they have no part in end time events. The USA has been quickly written out of the prophetic picture by some good Bible teachers, but perhaps we should pause before hurriedly dismissing the United States. The USA is the most powerful nation on earth with a profound economic, military and cultural influence on the entire world. Russia, China and even groups like the European Union simply do not match the USA in influence. As this subject is discussed and debated certain ideas have emerged about America in the end times.
It needs to always be remembered that in the prophetic word, the only nation that is of great significance is the nation of Israel, the covenant nation. And Jerusalem is the epicenter of end times activity, not Washington DC, Moscow or any other city. But nevertheless, it is legitimate for Americans to ask about the United States. Certain views have been presented related to the USA in prophecy.
THE USA SIMPLY NO LONGER EXISTS. This view sees the United States as no longer a powerful, dominant nation. This can be because it has been overwhelmed by a nuclear exchange or perhaps a series of catastrophic events, such as multiple volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, pandemics, or terrible climate events, or perhaps an electromagnetic pulse destroying the nation’s infrastructure. The nation is reduced to third-class status and so, is simply not a factor any more.
THE USA HAS GONE THE WAY OF ALL THE ANCIENT EMPIRES. As Daniel declared to the wicked king Belshazzar, God weighs nations in regards to their righteousness and wickedness (Dan. 5:27). And it is suggested that this He will do with the USA. While the nation was founded on principles found in God’s Word, it has departed into apostasy, materialism, hedonism and wickedness of all sorts. Because of this reality, God has judged the USA and it is irrelevant to the prophetic picture. When the moral center of the empire collapses, then so does the empire, and, in this view, this applies to the United States.
A NATIONAL REPENTANCE HAS COME AND THE RAPTURE REMOVES MUCH OF THE POPULATION OF THE USA. This view states that there will be a massive revival which will turn this nation around. Millions come to faith and then the Rapture takes place. However, Romans 1:18-32 strongly suggests that the USA is already under the judgment of God and that revival is unlikely. And while the Rapture event will take believers out of this world, including the United States, this would certainly remove the “salt” preservative from this nation. While all would want to see the masses coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is probably not going to happen in light of the Bible’s declaration of the apostasy in the end times.
THE USA IS PART OF THE WORLD EMPIRE OF THE ANTICHRIST. At the moment, this seems to be a real possibility and perhaps is the best view. The Book of Revelation clearly declares that in the second half of the Tribulation all the nations of the earth come under the authority of the Antichrist (13:7), which would include the United States. That being said, the possibility exists that the USA might play a major role in this coming evil empire.
THE MATTER OF IMMINENCY. Imminency is the doctrine that at “any moment” the Rapture could occur and end time events would quickly unfold. If we believe that the Lord Jesus could return at any moment, then it would seem that the United States would have to be factored into end times events. As noted above, the USA is economically, militarily, and culturally the most powerful and influential nation on earth. It is hard to imagine that if the Rapture were to take place next Tuesday, that the United States would be irrelevant on Wednesday. Granted, if the biblical end time events don’t take place for another 25 years, then this status of the United States may well have changed. But if these events do come soon, then the USA would need to be factored in.
THE ANTICHRIST AND HIS EMPIRE COME OUT OF THE WEST, THE ROMAN EMPIRE. Daniel 2 teaches that the fourth and final empire of human kingdoms has two distinct parts to it. This fourth empire is Rome, and the first part was dominant in the days of the New Testament. It is the second part that is present in the very last days. It is from this empire that the Antichrist and his empire come to dominate the world. Daniel 7 pictures the four empires as four animals, with the fourth one (part 2) having 10 horns on it. These represent 10 nations. In this important vision, Daniel saw another horn, a little one, growing on the head of this fourth animal, but later after the 10 are in existence. The “little horn” is the Antichrist and he comes from a western nation but is not one of the 10. The Antichrist will defeat 3 of the 10 nations (Dan. 7:23-24) and the other 7 apparently simply submit to him (cf. Rev. 17:12-13). This confederacy of 11 nations will dominate during the first half of the Tribulation. With imminency in mind, it is likely that the USA would be part of this 11-nation confederacy, as a western nation with western culture.
THE EVENT THAT TRIGGERS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD. It is not the Rapture event that brings the beginning of the Tribulation. It is the signing of a treaty or covenant between the Antichrist and the leadership of Israel (leaders who are secular and not godly). Daniel 9:27 declares that “he (Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (in Israel) for one week (seven years).” When Antichrist enters into this covenantal agreement with Israel, a nation still in unbelief, he has yet to form the 11-nation confederacy of western nations. This requires that he is the leader (king, president, prime minister, etc.) of a single, powerful nation that is able to legitimately support and give military support to Israel. So, certain nations simply would not fit such a covenant requirement. For example, it is hard to believe that he would come from Luxemburg or Portugal. Very few western countries fit the requirements of the covenantal agreement with Israel. Of course, it is not clear what the situation might be like in 20 or 30 years, should the Lord not trigger the events of the end times.
THE GLOBAL SYSTEM OF REVELATION 18: “BABYLON”. The Bible clearly teaches that globalism will dominate the last days of man’s kingdoms. Satan, the False Prophet and the Antichrist will put together a “unified” world system. This is not for the benefit of mankind, but so that Satan (along with the Antichrist) might be the sole object of mankind’s worship. At the mid-point of the Tribulation, all of this will come together (Rev. 13), so that for forty-two months all nations will come together under the authoritarian rule of Antichrist. There will be a global economy that will operate under the heavy-hand of the False Prophet and Antichrist. (This is where the infamous “666” will exist). The United States even today has a powerful economic influence over the entire world, much to the distress of China. Russia and other nations. But by the mid-point of the Tribulation individual nations have been molded into one. Revelation 18 speaks of the economic power of “Babylon”.
There are significant differences of opinion among good Bible teachers as to the identification of “Babylon” in Revelation 18, especially where it might be centered geographically. Is it a revived ancient Babylon on the Euphrates River? Is it in Rome or some other city? This will not be settled in this short article. But looking at the totality of OT and NT revelation, it seems that the geographic center of things in the second half of the Tribulation is Jerusalem and the Temple there. It makes good sense that the Unholy Trinity (Satan, Antichrist, False Prophet) would focus on Jerusalem, the only city where God has put His name. This is where the Antichrist will establish himself and “takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thes. 2:4). All the nations, including the United States, will be part of this Satanically controlled empire. Fortunately, it will not last very long.
The Bible is a book about God and His work of reconciling and restoring all that was lost back in the Garden of Eden. He has chosen the nation of Israel as His means of accomplishing His divine purposes. And this He will do. Other nations will be used by Him in bringing about His goals, and this could well include the United States, if the end times are imminent. Nations are God’s idea. According to Revelation 21:24-26, there will be nations even in the eternal kingdom of God. Since nations were God’s idea, and in His wisdom, in eternity, He will divide the redeemed human race into nations once again, to be part of His accomplishing His eternal purposes.
