<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Amazing Facts

Amazing Facts Audio

21 The USA in Bible Prophecy

You're listening to Amazing Facts Bible Study Guide, lesson number 21.

When you think about it, it makes sense that the most powerful and influential nation on planet Earth would play an important role in the final events of our world's history.

All right, we're going to dive right into Revelation chapter 13, where we find symbols for 2 world powers.

Revelation chapter 13 verses 1 through 8.

Then I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having 7 heads and 10 horns, and on his horns 10 crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, His feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.

The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

And I saw 1 of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world marveled and followed the beast.

So they worshipped the dragon, who gave authority to the beast.

And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast?

And he was given a mouth, speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for 42 months.

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life, or the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Now remember that according to Daniel chapter 7, beasts in Bible prophecy symbolize nations or world powers.

As we learned from the scriptures in our earlier studies, the beast with 7 heads represents the Roman papacy.

Okay, can you please remind me what were the 42 months mentioned in verse 5?

Alright, the Bible predicted that the papacy would lose its world influence and power at the end of the 42 months.

This prophecy was fulfilled in 1798 when Napoleon's general birth year took the Pope captive and papal power received its deadly wound.

So that happened around the same time that America became a nation, correct?

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had 2 horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." The papal captivity mentioned in verse 10 took place in 1798, and the new power in verse 11 was seen emerging around that time.

The United States declared its independence in 1776, voted the Constitution in 1787, adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798.

So what does it mean when it says that the beast came up out of the earth?

All right, let's see what the Bible says.

The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

So, if water symbolizes areas of the world that have a large population, it seems logical that the Earth would represent the opposite.

It means that this new nation would arise in an area of the world that had been virtually unpopulated before the late 1700s.

It could not arise among the crowded and struggling nations of the old world.

It had to come up in a sparsely populated continent.

Okay, According to Daniel chapter 7 and verse 24, horns represent kings and kingdoms or governments.

In this case, they represent the 2 governing principles of the United States, civil and religious liberty.

These 2 principles have also been labeled Republicanism, a government without a king, and Protestantism, a church without a pope.

Since ancient times, other nations had taxed people to support a state religion.

Most also oppressed religious dissidents.

But the United States established something entirely new, freedom to worship without government interference.

Notice also that this beast has no crown.

An absence of crowns signifies a republican form of government, rather than a monarchy.

Lamb-like horns denote an innocent, young, non-oppressive, peace-loving and spiritual nation.

Jesus is referred to as a lamb in the book of Revelation 28 times.

It would be nice if we could stop right there in the Lord's description of the United States, but sadly we cannot, because scripture does not.

The United States is a great country with its freedom of conscience, press, speech, and enterprise, its opportunities, its sense of fair play, its sympathy for the underdog, and its Christian orientation.

It's not perfect, yet a host of people from around the world seek to become its citizens every year.

It's a sad thought that this richly blessed country will change so dramatically.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth and he had 2 horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

As we learned in an earlier study, the dragon is Satan, who works through various earthly powers to establish his own kingdom and to crush God's church by persecuting and destroying his people.

Satan's aim always has been to usurp God's throne and to force people to worship and obey him.

So speaking as a dragon means that the United States, under the influence of Satan, will, in the end time, force people to worship contrary to conscience or be punished.

Well, what does it mean that the United States will speak like a dragon?

Okay, the answer to your question has 4 points.

Let's consider the first part of verse 12.

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.

The United States will become a persecuting power that will force people to go against their conscience, as did papal Rome, which is portrayed in the first half of Revelation chapter 13.

Next, we see that it's going to cause people to worship the first beast.

Revelation chapter 13 verse 12, and causes the earth and those who dwell on it to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.

The United States will lead the world's nations in forcing allegiance to the papal Antichrist.

Will it be Christ, your creator and redeemer, or the Antichrist.

Every soul on earth will finally worship 1 or the other.

Satan's approach will appear to be deeply spiritual, and incredible miracles will be seen which will deceive billions.

Those who refuse to join this movement will be considered divisive, stubborn, radical, and unpatriotic.

While this may seem impossible, Scripture has always proven true.

I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe.

Next, it will force people to make an image to the beast.

Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast.

Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

The United States will make an image to the beast by legislating religious practice.

It will pass laws requiring worship and force people to either obey them or face death.

This action is a copy, or image, of the church-state form of government the papacy ruled with at the height of her power during the Middle Ages when millions were slain for their faith.

The United States will combine civil government and apostate Protestantism in a marriage that will support the papacy.

It will then influence all the nations of the world to follow her example.

Thus, the papacy will gain worldwide support.

Finally, it will eliminate those who don't comply.

Back to Menu

21 The USA in Bible Prophecy

Transcript

Sponsor

Recorded

Sound Doctrine