For many, America’s absence from Bible prophecy raises serious concerns. It is worth noting that a host of other world powers do not appear in Scripture either. The only modern nations cited in prophecy date back to antiquity—Syria, Israel, Persia, and the like.
That aside, theories about America’s future abound. Based on the cultural and historical connections between the United States and Europe, some have speculated that the U.S. will become part of the revived Roman Empire described in Daniel’s prophecy:
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Daniel 2:41-43)
America’s Providential History
3 Reasons God Could Turn His Back on America
What Does the Future Hold for America?
Others have suggested that invaders or another outside force will weaken the United States. One theory surmises that America might not play a significant role in end-time Bible prophecy because it will lose so many Christians in the Rapture—I hope they are right! Others worry that America will crumble from the inside due to moral decay.
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America’s Providential History
Over the years, America’s wealth, technology, and scientific advancements have surpassed all previous civilizations. I believe our nation has enjoyed God’s blessing because many Pilgrims and our Founding Fathers sought the counsel of God’s Word as they forged our national identity (Psalm 33:12). Drawing from this heritage, the United States has propelled world missions, befriended the Jewish people, and promoted liberty and justice.
Critics of Christianity can try to rewrite our nation’s heritage, but they will fail. America’s identity is bound up in its faith.
If we allow this foundation to erode, it will come at a steep cost. The history of world powers like Babylon, Greece, and Rome suggests that the greatest threats to America’s future lie within. Previous empires have followed a lifecycle something like this: they moved out of bondage to spiritual faith; from faith to courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; and from dependence back to bondage.1 It is not hard to trace America’s history on that path. I would say we have passed the midpoint and are somewhere in the second half of that cycle—barring a change in course.
3 Reasons God Could Turn His Back on America
Our nation can expect a markedly different future if it exchanges the pursuit of godliness for worthless things like apathy, immorality, and greed. The Bible warns of three national sins that result in God turning His back on a nation.
1. The National Sin of Ingratitude
According to the book of Judges, Israel cycled through rebellion, retribution, repentance, and restoration thirteen times. Later, the prophet Jeremiah reminded the people of how close they had been to the Lord when the nation was established (Jeremiah 2:1-2). He warned that their callousness would incur God’s judgment, and it did. If America hopes to enjoy God’s continued blessing, it will do well to heed Jeremiah’s warning with a grateful heart.
2. The National Sin of Idolatry
In Jeremiah 2:5, the Lord gave a cutting assessment of Israel: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves” (NIV). He could ask the same question of America. Why has the most blessed nation on earth turned its back on God in favor of self-interest? Chaos, factions, and economic struggles have replaced God’s peace and provision because we have pushed Him from the public square to the periphery of our nation’s life.
Even the Church in America has allowed the culture to dictate how it expresses its faith. As a result, the Church is losing its relevance. Christ calls us “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), but He has also warned that He will remove our lampstand—our influence—if we stray from Him and do not repent (Revelation 2:4-5). Our mandate for righteous living comes from the Word of God, not the world.
3. The National Sin of Indifference
How did Israel respond to God’s assessment? According to Jeremiah 2:6, they did not even bother to ask, “Where is the Lord?” Awash in the riches of God’s abundance, they assumed He would continue to grant them favor no matter what they did. Contemporary Christianity reflects similar attitudes. Believers often form closer friendships with the world than God, and they seek out preachers who offer empty words of hope that are powerless to transform lives and save souls. The solution is to make good on our confession of faith, to “let steadfastness have its full effect, that [we] may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4, ESV).
What Does the Future Hold for America?
Though America is not in Bible prophecy, it seems that God has had a plan for this nation in redemptive history. Our country has not been perfect, but its blessings are undeniable. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (NLT). America’s future will depend on how closely it follows this blueprint for success. Although we cannot know the details of America’s future, each of us can make a difference by choosing to obey God today.
Sources:
1Herbert C. Hoover, Current History (Philadelphia: Events Publishing Company, October 1951), 256.