HEADINGS ON THIS PAGE

PDF VERSION OF THE PAGE

THE UNITED STATES IN BIBLE PROPHECY

THE 'LITTLE HORN' OF DANIEL 7, AND 'BABYLON THE GREAT' OF REVELATION 18.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?

At the beginning of each page of the Prophecy Section of this journal I ask this question, and explain God's timetable for the second coming of Jesus Christ. That timetable is Daniel's '70th Week'.

The first four pages of my Prophecy Section correspond to four links in a divine 'prophetic chain':

And while I encourage my visitor to examine these pages individually, I also offer a condensed combination of their four links in the following document:

SECOND COMING TIMETABLE (PDF)

In this first brief introductory section my two main points are:

1) A side-by-side comparison of the three versions of Jesus' Olivet Discourse (from Matthew, Mark and Luke) reveal that the midpoint of Daniel's 70th Week is the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD.

2) When this midpoint is combined with an examination of the four visions of John's Little Book (in Revelation chapters 11-13), we are led to the undeniable conclusion that Daniel's 70th Week is the 'Great Week of the Abrahamic Covenant'.

If John's 'Little Book' did not exist, I myself would feel compelled to embrace one of today's three major views on Daniel's 70th Week; Post-Millennialism, A-Millennialism or Dispensationalism. But John's Little Book does exist. Its first three visions depict what God accomplished through the family of Abraham BEFORE the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD:

1)  Reveal God's way of salvation through the Temple and its symbolic animal sacrifices.

2)  Give the complete Bible to the world in both the Old and New Testaments.

3)  Give birth to a Child Who would provide salvation for all mankind while conquering Satan.

And the fourth and final vision of John's Little Book depicts a singular characteristic of world history SINCE 70 AD:

4)   A Satanically empowered Beast which began with the Roman Emperor Vespasian in 70 AD.

1) THE TEMPLE AND THE COURTYARD (Revelation 11:1-2)

2) THE TWO WITNESSES (Revelation 11:3-12)

3) THE WOMAN, THE CHILD AND THE DRAGON (Revelation 12)

4) THE BEAST FROM THE SEA (Revelation 13)

THE BEAST AND ITS THREE ALLIES:

(The False Prophet, The City of Rome, The United States)

This is the fourth in a series of four web pages in which I explain four 'prophetic characters' in the book of Revelation; the Beast and its three 'allies'. And I explain these 'characters' in the order in which we encounter them in Revelation. And so in this fourth page I explain the United States in its appearance as 'Babylon the Great' in Revelation chapter 18.

In my first page titled Understanding the Beast I have already thoroughly described the Beast. In explaining the rise and fall of the Beast, I have necessarily had to include the rise and fall of its 'close associates' with it. And so I would encourage my visitor to read that page first, because it provides important background information for the three pages that follow.

THE FOURTH BEAST OF DANIEL 7

Over 2500 years ago the prophet Daniel saw a vision in which four great beasts came up out of the sea. I agree with many commentators who believe that the 'sea' in Daniel's vision represents 'the great sea of humanity'.

Daniel was a Jew who lived in Babylon and served the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. And while living there, Daniel witnessed Nebuchadnezzar going back to Daniel's homeland, Israel, and destroying it. And in the process of destroying the kingdom of Judah, along with its capital city of Jerusalem and its Temple, Nebuchadnezzar brought an end to the kingdom of David as well.

And so, in response to Daniel's questions and prayers, God gave him the vision of these four beasts. These beasts symbolized four Gentile empires that would dominate the land and people of Israel until David's promised kingdom would be restored. Those four empires would be Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. And in this vision they were symbolized by a lion, a bear, a leopard and a dreadfully terrible fourth beast:

BABYLON

PERSIA

GREECE

ROME

Daniel observed that this Roman beast had 10 horns. Horns symbolize concentrations of power in Bible prophecy. Daniel was told that these 10 horns represent 10 kings (or kingdoms) that would arise out of the original Roman Empire (Daniel 7:24). The original Roman Empire ruled most of the then-known world. From its center in the city of Rome, Roman domination radiated outward in a 360 degree circle, dividing the world into 10 primary areas. I believe that these 10 regions, beginning with the Italian peninsula itself, might be divided up as follows:

1. Italy

2. Achaia (Greece and the surrounding region)

3. Asia (an area now called Turkey)

4. Syria (an area including what is now Israel and the greater Middle East)

5. Egypt

6. Africa (northern Africa)

7. Spain

8. Gaul (now known as France)

9. Germany

10. Britain

THE RISE OF THE LITTLE HORN

After being introduced to these four Beasts, Daniel's attention was drawn to the 10 horns on the fourth Roman Beast, and to a 'Little Horn' rising up among them:

I considered the (ten) horns, and behold there came up among them another Little Horn, before whom three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And there in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous (boastful) words.   Daniel 7:8

My belief is that the appearance of the 'Little Horn' in this prophecy is a picture of the rise of the United States upon the world stage. I propose this idea based upon the five traits of the Little Horn that this one verse in Daniel 7 describes:

1) The 'Little Horn' arises out of ROMAN ROOTS. The United States was established by people of European descent who had a western, 'Roman' heritage. The founding fathers borrowed a great deal from the government of the ancient Roman Republic; seeking to build a representative form of government that would improve upon the original Roman one. They even took Roman pen-names as they communicated their thoughts publicly in the media of the day. Their love of Rome is also reflected in the Roman architecture of Washington D.C.

2) It arose as a LITTLE horn (Daniel 7:8). The United States began as 13 sparsely populated colonies in the 'new world' of the western hemisphere. It began as a very weak and insignificant nation within the world.

3) It DISPLACED 3 HORNS; the three 'Roman horns' of France, England and Spain. The history of the United States has its roots in the European conquest of the Western Hemisphere. When the original thirteen American colonies came into existence, North America was dominated by three major world powers; France, England and Spain.

The people of the colonies joined the British to fight against the French in the 'French and Indian War'. Then the fought against the British in the wars of 'Independence' and '1812'. Finally the United States pushed Spain from the Florida peninsula and the southwestern United States; in the process of ultimately defining its territory. The Little Horn did not destroy the other three Horns. It removed them from a part of the world that would eventually become the continental United States.

4) The 'Little Horn' had THE EYES OF A MAN. These 'eyes of a man' symbolize the idea of seeing things as mankind sees them. It represents the humanism that underlies the government and worldview of the United States.

The concept of democracy is based upon the idea that governments should rule through 'the consent of those who are being governed'. It is a belief that mankind, in its collective strength and wisdom, has the ability to govern itself and to overcome every problem and challenge that confronts it. We see this perspective in popular American phrases:

WE THE PEOPLE

E PLURIBUS UNUM (FROM MANY ONE)

UNITED WE STAND

5) POMPOUS, BOASTFUL WORDS  The 'Little Horn' spoke proud words. These arrogant words might best be understood within the larger context of the Bible. This prophecy, along with the other four prophecies in the book of Daniel, all come to the same ending; the restoration of David's promised kingdom in Israel, and the rule of David's Son (Jesus Christ) over the world forever.

Therefore God's future world government will not be a democracy. It will be a Theocracy, ruled by God. It is within this context that we can begin to understand why God might characterize humanistic democracy is inherently 'boastful'. This boastfulness corresponds with three claims that the United States has made about itself from its earliest days:

A) ONE NATION UNDER GOD The Declaration of Independence was based upon certain 'inalienable rights' bestowed upon mankind by a 'creator'. But America's founders did not find these rights in the 10 commandments of the Bible. They based them upon 'natural law' and 'nature's god'. The founders were not Christians; they were 'Deists'. They only acknowledged a creator; not the Creator. And so the founding fathers proposed a secular 'divine right' for their new government.

Since then we have included 'one nation under God' in our pledge of allegiance, and have put "In God We Trust" on our currency and coinage. And some Americans (both Protestants and Catholics) claim that Christ Himself established our nation, and that it is uniquely pleasing to Him and serves His purposes. But this is not so.

Thomas Jefferson created his own bible; the Jefferson Bible. And it is distinguished by his removal of the miracles of Jesus from it; viewing them as 'irrational' and 'unenlightened'. This was the 'Christianity' of the founding fathers; a politically seductive 'nod to Christians' in order to incorporate them into 'the American project'.

B) THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT Americans believe that their form of government ought to be copied by every other nation in the world. Democracy supposedly insures that a nation will be fair, and that its leadership will be representative of its people. But wealthy people, interest groups and corporations vote every day (and often many times a day) within the halls of power. Meanwhile the common citizen waits for his turn to vote once every few years.

The 'founding fathers' well understood that the President, Congress and the Supreme Court would be influenced by people coming to Washington to represent their 'interests'. This is unavoidable, and is also necessary. A government cannot function without input from capable citizens. But the 'fathers' also recognized the danger of centralized government. And so they delegated many powers to the states. But states also need input from 'leading citizens', just as Washington does.

And so America has ended up with two governments; one based upon the voices of citizens who vote every 2 years, and a second government based upon the voices of those who vote every single day. And given this duality, no democracy can exist for very long without a 'deep state'.

In short, Democracy is a facade that allows government by the rich, shrewd and powerful to prevail. And there is no reason to believe that, when ordinary citizens do actually vote, they will make wise choices. When American elections have been held, they have often been dominated by 1) media influencers who control the public's knowledge and perspectives, and 2) people who meddle directly in the election process itself.

And looking beyond American domestic politics, America's leaders have often pursued their international interests under a mask of 'promoting democracy'. America has repeatedly claimed to support the rights of 'under-represented people' in other nations, when in fact this has only been a prying wedge for meddling in the internal affairs of those nations.

Christians who believe that they can serve God and promote His kingdom through the ballot box are deceived, and need to re-examine their 'worship of democracy'. The Bible says that mankind's best combined efforts are 'corrupt' (Psalm 14:3). The Bible nowhere encourages Christians to further the interests of God through 'political action'. It does not forbid Christians to work against evils in society, or to serve in government. But it nowhere encourages grabbing the levers of power in order to fulfill God's agenda. Such partnerships between church and state characterize Roman Catholicism, not Biblical Christianity.

C) PROTECTOR OF HUMAN FREEDOM There is only one real Provider of freedom for mankind; freedom from the fear of death that hangs over our heads every day, and freedom from the tyranny of Sin within us, which keeps us from being the kind of people and living the kinds of lives that we really want to live. That is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Most of us feel 'free' if our health is good and we have money in our pockets. But such a perspective is shortsighted. None of us is ever truly free apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He owns the universe and has conquered death. To know Him is to be rich indeed, and free indeed.

AMERICA IN THE LAST DAYS

After first observing the 'Little Horn' in Daniel 7:8, Daniel had more questions about this Little Horn. And he asked an angel about it. And through Daniel's conversation with the angel we discover traits of the Little Horn that would characterize its late-stage existence:

Trait #1 - GREAT POWER  We first notice in Daniel 7:20 that before he began to ask questions, Daniel had already observed that this 'Horn' had gone from being 'little', to being 'greater than his fellow horns'.

Trait #2 - BOASTING AGAINST GOD  The 'Little Horn' goes from being simply 'boastful' in Daniel 7:8, to 'speaking boastful words against the Most High' (God) in Daniel 7:25.

Trait #3 - INTENTION TO CHANGE 'TIMES AND LAW'  Today in the United States we still identify the years of history in relation to the coming of Christ. Years are either B.C. (before Christ), or A.D. (Anno Domini, after the birth of Christ). But this verse may be telling us that America will intend to remove all traces of Christian 'times and laws' from everyday life. It might extend to how people measure 'weeks'. Right now we observe 7-day weeks, associated with God's creation 'week' in Genesis 1.

Trait #4 - PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS UNTIL THE SECOND COMING   Daniel 7:25 says:

He shall persecute the saints of the Most High.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand FOR a time and times and half a time (3.5 times).

The 3.5 'times' mentioned in this verse represent the second half of Daniel's 70th Week; the period from 70 AD to the second coming of Christ. But this verse is not necessarily saying that the Little Horn will persecute Christians throughout the entire second half of the Week. In the original Greek version of this verse, the word translated 'FOR' can also be translated 'UNTIL'. The verse can be understood in the following way:

Then the saints shall be given into his hand UNTIL a time and times and half a time (3.5 times).

In other words until the end of the second half of Daniel's 70th Week; during the last days of the second half of that Week. Then the angel revealed what would happen after that:

But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away the Little Horn's dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.

Then the kingdom and dominion, along with the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people; the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.   Daniel 7:26-27

REALITY CHECK

For those of us who have been born and raised in the United States, and have rejoiced in its dominance over the world and its wealth and prosperity, and have been taught from childhood that America is a virtuous nation, it is unsettling to consider the possibility that this is not true. But I would challenge my reader to take an honest look at history, and to ask yourself whether or not this so-called 'nation under God' has acted like the gentle Savior who impoverished Himself and died in order to bless His enemies.

In just the first 65 years of America's history, beginning with the ratification of the Constitution in 1788, this nation went on to conquer Mexico and menace Japan. Through the Mexican-American War the United States annexed what is now the southwestern United States. Then America sailed steam-powered warships into Tokyo Bay in 1853, under Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, demanding that the Japanese open their country to our businessmen, and that they provide coaling stations for our new steam-powered merchant and naval vessels.

In the following 45 years, the industrialized Northern states conquered the agricultural Southern states in the Civil War. Then Americans crushed the native Indian people of the western states, and seized Spain's colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. In a total of 110 years, America went from 13 colonies to a world power with colonies of her own. The rest, as they say, is history.

America went on, after World War 2, to become one of two 'superpowers' in a bipolar world; dominated by Russia and the United States. And then in 1991, with the fall of the communist Soviet Union and America's deployment of smart weapons in the conquest of Iraq, the world recognized America as the one superpower in a unipolar world.

Boastful American leaders began to talk about the 'Project for the New American Century' and 'The End of History'. And because projecting military power to the other side of the world is very expensive, America also turned to the 'soft power' of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED); to foment political upheaval and 'color revolutions' wherever it desired.

With its hundreds of military bases scattered across the earth, and its nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers dominating all of the oceans of the world, America proceeded to trample upon Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq (again in 2003), Libya, Syria, Eastern Europe and now Russia. But America's 'unipolar moment' has now come to an end (2023).

Now the world is again multipolar, and many nations throughout the world are rejoicing to have options other than the America's 'rules-based order'. For Americans, the question is this:

IS IT BETTER TO BE GREAT OR TO BE GOOD?

Is 'Making America Great Again' (MAGA) a worthy goal? Does might truly make right? What is America's true history?

God makes a distinction between greatness and goodness. He says that both the great and the not-so-great will stand together before Him in judgment. And the only basis upon which they will all be judged is whether or not they were good:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:12

In his first general letter to Christians, the apostle Peter wrote:

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, as a thief, as an evildoer, or as a meddler in other people's matters.   1 Peter 4:15

Peter's words sum up much of the foreign policy of the United States since the end of World War 2. Any thoughtful study of recent American history will find an endless trail of political meddling and military aggression, often on behalf of business interests, resulting in the theft of the wealth of other nations.

One of the clearest examples of this is the toppling of Iran's legitimate government in 1953, and America's replacement of that government with the Shah of Iran. The Shah was someone who would put his own interests and the interests of the United States above the welfare of the Iranian people. A more recent example is the meddling of America in Israel's internal politics during the election of 2015; a meddling that continues to this day.

In 2020, with the coming of the Covid pandemic, Americans witnessed the imposition of masks, shutdowns and the suppression of nature's own antiviral remedies (Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin). This was followed by changes to election laws and the imposition of harmful mRNA 'vaccines'.

This collusion between 'big Pharma', politicians, government agencies, the entire medical industry, and the legacy and tech media giants boggles the mind. Unprecedented darkness began to overshadow both America and the entire world in 2020. But God sees it all. His judgment shall not be escaped. And He has a warning for those who have conspired together and said 'Cast in your lot among us; let us all have one big fat purse':

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say "Come with us, let us lay in wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole as those that go down into the pit. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil. Cast in your lot among us; let us all have one purse."

My son, walk not in the way with them. Refrain your foot from their path. For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. But they lay in wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy for gain; which takes away the life of its owners.

Proverbs 1:10-19

For, behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Isaiah 26:21

HUMANISTIC EVOLUTION

Consistent with its foundational humanism, America has essentially made Darwin's 'Theory of Evolution' an amendment to the Constitution. This theory attributes mankind's existence not to God, but to the evolutionary struggles of biological creatures that have lived before us. It replaces an Intelligent Creator with primitive animals, as the apostle Paul described:

Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things.

Romans 1:21-23

Today the discussion of 'Intelligent Design' as an alternate explanation for the universe, our solar system, our planet and biological life is condemned and suppressed in America.

The theory of evolution is 'law' not because it is scientifically valid, but because it is the official narrative about ourselves and the world. It denies that our lives are defined by a moral relationship with a glorious Creator, Who deserves our love and worship. Instead life supposedly had its beginnings in dead physical matter and chance events. And so now we are told that the survival of the earth depends upon mankind's 'evolutionary growth' in knowledge. But the key to mankind's blessedness is not knowledge. It is the acknowledgment of God.

Roughly 2500 years ago God told the prophet Daniel that the last days, before His judgment of the world, would be characterized by 1) an increase in knowledge and by 2) people traveling 'to and fro':

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book; even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.   Daniel 12:4

This has now come to pass. And this increased knowledge means that today's scientist knows, when he looks through a telescope at the universe or through a microscope at the biological machinery of life, that he is looking directly at the handiwork of an infinitely wise and capable Creator. Increased knowledge is not going to save a rebellious human race in these last days; it is going to damn it.

Some believe that an intellectual 'truth debate' or 'culture war' is still going on between Evolution and 'Intelligent Design'. This is false. That debate is OVER. In allowing mankind to fully explore both the outer universe and the inner quantum universe of the atom and the living cell, God has revealed Himself fully and finally. And so now the scientist's knowledge leaves him without any excuses before God. This is why many of the most wicked people on earth today are also many of the most highly educated. They know more than most people do about the glory of God, and yet they still persist in their lies and disobedience.

HUMANISTIC REBELLION

Now, since the end of World War II, with its first use of nuclear weapons and the survivors of Hitler's concentration camps returning to their original homeland in Israel, America has followed a path of ever more pointed rebellion against God; even in the context of these apocalyptic circumstances. American humanism is now shaking its fist in the face of God more fiercely than ever before, as foretold by King David:

Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord (God the Father) and against His Christ (the Son of God), saying "Let us break their bands apart, and cast away their cords from us". He that sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His deep displeasure. "Yet have I set my King upon My holy hill of Zion (Jerusalem)".

Psalm 2:1-6

What are these 'bands' and 'cords' that America is determined to cast off?

CORD #1  The 'cord of JUSTICE' and righteous judgment. Beginning immediately after World War 2, and the horrendous crimes that were tried and punished at Nuremberg, a Harvard-trained pediatrician named Dr. Benjamin Spock began to teach American parents that it is wrong to spank children when they do evil things; and that the capital punishment of adults is 'cruel and unusual'.

This attack upon the Law of God and the moral fabric of human society has sent America plummeting on a downward trend toward increasing lawlessness ever since. Now any Christian who contradicts this lawless narrative is himself deemed 'hateful' and a criminal. Capital punishment is foundational to Christianity. Jesus allowed Himself to suffer the death penalty, so that repentant criminals who trust Him might be forgiven through His shed blood.

CORD #2  The 'cord of the HETEROSEXUAL FAMILY': of respecting our creation in the 'image of a heterosexual God' (Genesis 1:26). The one true living God is an eternal Family comprised of a Father, His Companion the Holy Spirit, and their only Child; the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why the apostle Paul listed homosexuality as 'Exhibit A' in his claim that an unwillingness to acknowledge and honor God leads to twisted relationships with our fellow man (Romans 1:24-27).

America has cast off the sanctity of marriage, has embraced sexual carelessness and adultery, and has destroyed over 60 million unborn children. And now America has officially criminalized anyone who repeats God's declaration that homosexuality is unnatural and immoral. Today the 'transgender movement' is the 'tip of the spear' in this attack upon God's image, 'male and female', placed within us.

CORD #3  The 'cord of ISRAEL', and of God's promises that He will give the land of Israel to Abraham, and re-establish the kingdom of David in it. Even as God is bringing the Jewish people back to His land in startling fulfillment of Bible prophecy, America chooses to oppose these things behind the hypocritical mask of seeking 'justice for the Palestinians'.

The leader of the Palestinians, the Mufti of Jerusalem (Amin al Husseini), visited Hitler during World War 2. He encouraged Hitler to finish his extermination of the Jews in Europe, and to then come and exterminate the Jews in Palestine and the Middle East. He also raised up a Muslim army in Bosnia to support Hitler. When a people group chooses to go 'all in' against the one true living God, they should not be surprised to learn that He is going 'all in' against them.

Thus says the Lord. The Lord and your God, who pleads the cause of His people (Israel). See, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling; the dregs of the cup of My fury. You shall no longer drink it. But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you. Who have said to you 'Lie down, that we may walk over you'. And you have laid your body like the ground and as the street, for those who walk over.

Isaiah 51:22-23

The folly of Israel's enemies lies in not learning from God's past judgments upon Israel itself. God spoke long ago through the prophet Jeremiah, as the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon was happening, warning the Gentile nations of the world:

"For behold, I begin to bring evil on the city (Jerusalem) which is called by My name. And should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished! For I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth" says the Lord of hosts.

Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and say unto them "The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation. He shall mightily roar upon His habitation. He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth, for the Lord has a controversy with the nations. He will plead with all flesh. He will give them that are wicked to the sword" says the Lord.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, nor gathered, nor buried. They shall be refuse upon the ground.

Jeremiah 25:29

In Jeremiah's day the people of Israel were like America is now. They were prosperous, 'progressive', and believed that God was on their side. They had a noble heritage, a great capital city centered around the magnificent Temple of Solomon, and false prophets telling them that nothing but peace and prosperity lay ahead. But God sent Israel a message; 'Your sins demand judgment. A Gentile king is coming to conquer you. You must go out and surrender to him if you want to escape with your lives':

And unto this people you shall say "Thus says the Lord; 'Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. He that abides in this city (Jerusalem) shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. But he that goes out and bows to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prize. For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good' says the Lord. 'It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire'."

Jeremiah 21:8-10

Jeremiah's message was hated, and he was viewed as a fool, a coward and a traitor to his country by many of his fellow Israelites. Today God has a similar message for America and the rest of the Gentile world:

'A Jewish King is Coming!'

'You must go out and surrender to Him now, leaving your earthly treasures and loyalties behind, if you wish to escape with your eternal souls.'

Were the two desolations and dispersions of Jerusalem and the Jewish people, in 586 BC (by the Babylonians) and in 70 AD (by the Romans), justly deserved punishments from God? Yes, certainly.

But Israel has been 'the canary in the coal mine' for the rest of humanity. Now the world treads upon thin ice if we don't think God is going to judge the rest of us as well. In the meantime, having been punished twice for its sins, Israel will soon see and welcome its Messiah and Prince of David:

"Comfort, comfort my people" says your God. "Speak comfortingly to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. For she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."   Isaiah 40:1-2

BABYLON THE GREAT

In Revelation chapter 17 we are introduced to an important prophetic figure; a Woman that rides upon the back of the Beast of Revelation. In verse 5 God calls this Woman 'Babylon the Great', and makes it clear that She is the city of Rome; a city that is situated upon seven hills (verse 9), and that ruled over the kings of the earth when John received the book of Revelation (verse 18).

IN REVELATION 17,
'BABYLON THE GREAT' IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

In Revelation chapter 18 we encounter 'Babylon the Great' again. Only in this chapter is it clear that 'Babylon the Great' is not the city of Rome. It is something much greater than a single city in Italy. It is a major, wealthy center of world commerce.

IN REVELATION 18,
'BABYLON THE GREAT' IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC WORLD

And in Revelation 18 Babylon the Great's destruction comes in one hour, by fire:

The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand at a distance for fear of her torment saying 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon! That mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.   Revelation 18:9-10

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying "Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing".

And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying "What city is like unto this great city?" And they cast dust on their heads and cried, weeping and wailing, saying "Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her wealth! For in one hour is she made desolate".

Revelation 18:15-19

In Revelation chapter 18 we are shown the sudden destruction of those nations that are most closely connected to the Roman Catholic Church; the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.

Close communication between the RCC and American political leaders has always been a part of American life; especially since America's rise to unrivaled wealth and power after World War 2. And so it is accurate to say that America is the preeminent Roman Catholic nation in the world today. Rome has many church members in Central and South America, and throughout the world. But for the RCC, America is vital. America is the source of the vast majority of Rome's wealth and political influence.

In Revelation 17:12 we see 10 horns (nations or kingdoms) that will give their power to the Beast in a final 'prophetic hour'. And in Revelation 17:16-17 we are told that these 10 horns will hate Rome:

And the ten Horns which you saw upon the Beast, these shall hate the Whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree and give their kingdom unto the Beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.   Revelation 17:16-17

I believe that this attack upon 'Babylon' is described by Jesus in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:29-30, Mark 13:24-25, Luke 21:25-26), and in the corresponding sixth seal of Revelation chapter 6 below:

And I beheld when he had opened THE SIXTH SEAL. And behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great DAY of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?"   Revelation 6:12-17

The great 'DAY' of God's wrath, mentioned in verse 17 above, is also referred to throughout the Bible as 'The Day of the Lord' (Isaiah 2:12-21, Ezekiel 30:3, Amos 5:18, Zephaniah 1:7,14, Joel 1:15, 2:31, 3:14, Zechariah 14:1).

As I have read this description of events which immediately precede the second coming of Christ, I have wondered whether or not the stars falling to the earth are not nuclear warheads. After all, a thermonuclear weapon is simply the split second creation of a star.

THE DAY OF THE LORD

And the trajectory of such a weapon is accurately described in this passage. While a ripe fig might fall directly to the ground when there is no wind, the trajectory of a fig tossed from a tree in a storm is very similar to the trajectory of a nuclear warhead delivered by a ballistic missile. In addition, when a nuclear weapon is detonated, the edges of the mushroom cloud roll like the two sides of a scroll, as the fireball and mushroom cloud rise into the sky.

The apostle Peter also described the coming of God's fiery judgment upon the earth:

But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   2 Peter 3:10

Might not Peter's words about 'elements melting with fervent heat' be a description of the fusion of elemental hydrogen? In the light of this fiery destruction, Peter explained how people should live:

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the Day of God. Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.   2 Peter 3:11-13

COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE

In Revelation 18:4-8, before describing Babylon the Great's destruction, God commands His people to come out of Babylon:

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying "Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.   Revelation 18:4-5

This commandment from God says two things:

1) COME OUT OF BABYLON.
2) IF YOU DO NOT COME OUT, YOU WILL SUFFER WITH HER.

It is important to address both of these sayings. What does God mean when He tells people to come out of Babylon? I have already explained my belief that the 'Babylon' of Revelation chapter 18 is the greater Roman Catholic world. So does God want Christians to leave the Western Hemisphere? My answer is 'No'.

God is not talking about coming out of Babylon 'physically or geographically'. He is talking about coming out of Babylon 'spiritually'; completely separating ourselves from Roman Catholicism and the Roman Catholic Church. God is saying "Touch not the unclean thing!":

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate" says the Lord. "Touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you".   2 Corinthians 6:17, Isaiah 52:11

When Christians associate with Rome or take part in its Mass, they are telling everybody else that Rome is Christian, and 'OK'. They are promoting darkness and aiding Rome in its deceptions. This is what God means when He says that Christians who do not condemn Rome are sharing in Rome's sins. There can be no compromise with this 'Mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth' (Revelation 17:5).

What does God mean when He says that Christians can partake of Rome's plagues? In Revelation chapter 6, after the sixth seal is opened and the stars fall to earth, we are immediately shown heavenly things in Revelation chapter 7. The seventh chapter first describes the control that God's angels will exercise over the winds of the earth, hindering the nuclear fallout and firestorms that follow the use of nuclear weapons. These angels will control the winds for two reasons:

1) To place seals upon 144,000 young Jewish men who will become 'first-fruits to God' from within a repentant Israel (Revelation 14:1-5)
2) To remove (rapture) of all of God's people from the earth before they suffer from this nuclear attack.

Then the winds will be released, and the consequences of the attack will be allowed to play out (in the following trumpets and bowls of Revelation). It is this group of raptured people that we see rejoicing before God's throne in Revelation 7:7-17.

But we must understand that in this scenario God alone has the power to remove people from the earth. Whether to rapture someone, or to leave them behind to experience these dreadful circumstances, is completely in His hands. We will have no power in that moment. Therefore we are encouraged to watch and remain faithful:

Watch therefore and pray always; that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.   Luke 21:36

When Christians fail to oppose Roman Catholicism (refusing to expose and 'protest' Rome's false claims), and thus also fail to faithfully evangelize Roman Catholic people, they will be left on earth by God; to share in Rome's torment. This is the plain meaning of God's warning.

LOBBYING HEAVEN

What does God tell us to do in this hour? To get involved in the world's political business? No. He tells us to 'TRUMPET' the Gospel to the world. This is the symbolism of Joshua's victory at Jericho. The Israelites did not attack the walls of Jericho. They marched around those walls for seven days, 'trumpeting to the glory of God'. And then God Himself brought the walls down.

The weapons of Christian warfare are not physical, but spiritual; 'Pulling down strongholds and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God' (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). Do we want to hasten the coming of the Lord? Then we must finish the work that He said must be done before He comes. We must blow our Gospel trumpets endlessly:

And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, as a witness to all the nations. And then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14

Christians need to realize that the long-suffering patience of God toward mankind is leading to the salvation of people:

And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.   2 Peter 3:15

There is a purpose in God's patience. The fields are still 'white for harvest' (John 4:35). God is still telling His church to 'let down their nets for a catch' (Luke 5:4, John 21:6), and not to assume that God's saving work on earth is done:

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky. And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.   Daniel 12:3

And Christians must not only 'trumpet' in the world. We must also 'lobby' in heaven. Should we be worried about earthly lobbyists, and their many activities in Washington? No! Christians have access to 'halls of power' infinitely greater than those here on earth.

We are not only encouraged to 'lobby God' through prayer, we are commanded to do so. And whether or not we embrace that opportunity says much about what our treasures and priorities are:

For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you even weeping), that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame. Who set their mind on earthly things.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:18-21

If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-2

The book of Revelation shows God the Father taking His great power and ruling the world only after He has heard the prayers of His people:

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.   Revelation 8:3-6

TOP OF PAGE

HEADINGS ON THIS PAGE

PDF VERSION OF THE PAGE