Is America Mentioned in Bible Prophecy?

In spite of America's housing market meltdown, dismal unemployment rate, rapidly declining currency, and trillion-dollar deficit, what happens in Washington DC still affects the globe. Recent setbacks aside, the United States of America yet remains the world's sole superpower. In this light we inquire: Is America mentioned in Bible prophecy, or has God's Word overlooked the most influential nation on earth?

Many prophecy writers emphatically state we're not there. They may pinpoint Russia, China, Israel and Iraq as major end-time players, but not the United States. In this article, I want to give you something different to think about. I want to suggest the possibility that America is the exact power specified in this mysterious verse:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon (Revelation 13:11).

Allow me to build my case. First, what is a "beast" in prophecy? Answer: A great nation. The proof's in Daniel 7 - a chapter that clearly parallels Revelation 13. Both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 plainly refer to beasts, ten horns, a boastful mouth speaking great things, and war against God's saints (compare Daniel 7:3-8,21 with Revelation 13:1-7). Daniel 7 describes four great beasts: a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dragon-like creature. An angelic interpreter confirmed:

The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth (Daniel 7:23).

So we can nail this down: According to Daniel 7 - a chapter that plainly parallels Revelation 13 - a "beast" in prophecy isn't a computer or super-evil person, but a mighty kingdom or nation. That's what the angel said. Historically, 98% of reputable Christian Bible commentaries have interpreted Daniel's four beasts to represent the ancient nations of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. This is a fact.

Back to Revelation 13:11: "I saw another beast coming out of the earth." Thus John saw a great nation rising into power. From where? "Out of the earth," predicted the prophet. In Daniel 7, all four beasts "came up from the sea" (Daniel 7:3). What does "water" represent? Again, prophecy provides the answer: multitudes of people. We know this because in a parallel prophecy, another angel confirmed: "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues" (Revelation 17:15). True to the facts of history, ancient Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome all arose from the midst of a sea of peoples in Europe and the Middle East. Not so with the beast in Revelation 13:11 - it comes from the earth.

Thus Revelation 13:11 points to a great nation rising out of a sparsely inhabited area.

"I saw another beast coming out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb." Each word is significant. The true Lamb of God is Jesus Christ. "Like a lamb," indicates that this nation would have lamblike or Christian features. A lamb is a young animal, a baby sheep. Thus this nation would at one time be youthful and new. Significantly, its "two horns" have no crowns like the first beast described in Revelation 13:2. Crowns represent kingly power. Thus in Revelation 13:11 we see a new nation, with lamblike, or Christian features, rising out of a sparsely inhabited area, led by a crownless government without a king. Are the pieces coming together yet?

Here's the shocker: Revelation 13 also reveals that mysterious "beast" with horns "like a lamb" would achieve superpower status near the end of time, make a fatal mistake, and lead out in the global enforcement of the mark of the beast. God's Word reports:

And he [the lamblike beast] causes [he resorts to force] all [through his global influence], both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead, that no man might buy or sell [the world's economy is involved] except the one who has the mark (Revelation 13:16,17).

These verses parallel the last part of Revelation 13:11 describing the final, tragic act of the lamblike beast - "he spoke like a dragon." Let's put all the pieces together:

1. Revelation 13:11 pinpoints the rising of a great beast.

2. In prophecy, a beast represents a great nation.

3. This nation comes out of the earth, or wilderness area.

4. This nation starts out young, like a baby lamb.

5. This nation is lamblike, with Christian characteristics.

6. This nation has horns with no crowns - it has no kings.

7. This nation achieves superpower status near the end of time.

8. This nation influences the world's economy.

9. This nation finally speaks like a dragon.

10. This nation finally enforces the mark of the beast.

Be honest: How many nations on Planet Earth fit all ten of these clear, unquestionable, Heaven-inspired details? Only one.

The United States of America.

"God bless America, land that I love!" we sing every 4th of July. It's true. God has blessed America, in spite of its problems (and we obviously have many). Yet the prophecy of Revelation 13 plainly predicts that when earth's closing crisis hits, major changes will envelope our beloved county, and the last movements won't be pretty. Sadly, in the closing moments of time, this mighty nation that has stood tall for representative government, democracy and freedom, will finally sacrifice its mild, lamblike, Christian principles, "speak as a dragon," descend to force, and enforce the mark of the beast.

Can't you see it coming? If our eyes are open to see the signs of the times, we should be able to discern Revelation's predicted from-freedom-to-force trend in full swing right now. Big government is taking over. Our rights are disappearing. The dragon is snarling.

The mark of the beast is coming.

May God help us to understand His "sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19), to prepare for what is soon to break upon planet Earth with blinding speed, and to get ready for the great Day of God. Above all, may we each have a strong relationship with the true Lamb, Jesus Christ, and reject the dragon's voice.