DOES AMERICA HAVE A ROLE IN END-TIME PROPHECY? Psalms 33:12

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1 DOES AMERICA HAVE A ROLE IN END-TIME PROPHECY? Psalms 33:12 I. INTRODUCTION- a. Former President Ronald Reagan said this of America I have always believed that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way. I believe that a divine plan and the hand of Providence placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the earth who had a special love of faith and freedom. b. From the very beginning of our country and throughout our nation s history it is clear that the hand of God has been on this country in an exceptional way. c. America did not become the land of the free and the home of the brave by blind fate or by chance. d. It is clear to those with eyes to see that God has been hovering over this nation from her very conception. e. Why has God blessed America as He has done?... Why has America in her relatively short history surpassed the wealth, power, and influence of all ancient and modern civilizations? f. What has been and what continues to be God s purpose and plan for America?... Where is America in end-time prophecy? g. Before we consider America s place in the end-times let us first consider the reasons for God's favor on America. II. WHY HAS AMERICA BEEN SO BLESSED? a. #1, God has blessed America because America has been a force for world missions.

2 b. In the last century 75% of all missionaries and 75% of all money and material aid given in support of carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world came from the United States of America. c. This means that in the last century 75 percent of all missionaries and 75% of all mission expenditures have come from a country that had only 5 percent of the total world population. d. Our church for example just one church in this nation annually gives thousands of dollars to support the international mission work of the Southern Baptist Convention. e. John 3:16 says that God loves the world God wants the world to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. f. God blesses those who make His priorities their priorities. g. Since World War II Americans have started 1,800 mission agencies and sent into the world more than 350,000 missionaries. h. As a result today 95 percent of the world's population have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ that achievement is due largely to the missionary zeal of churches in the United States. i. #2, God has blessed America because America has been a friend to the Jewish people. j. Throughout its history America has been a safe haven for the Jewish people. k. America has given Jews the opportunity for economic, educational, and cultural advancement and the freedom to exercise their religion. l. And since the founding of the modern state of Israel in 1947 America has been that nation s staunchest and strongest ally.

3 m. America s support of Israel has been largely based on the Judeo- Christian heritage of our nation and the belief of the Christian population of America that Israel is God s chosen people. n. In Genesis 12:1-3 God promised that He would bless those who bless Israel and He has fulfilled that promise by blessing our nation. o. #3, God has blessed America because of America s commitment to freedom. p. In a world filled with trouble, suffering, oppression, repression and tyranny America has always stood and continues to stand as a place of hope, freedom and liberty. q. Freedom is a gift from God and America this land of freedom and liberty is God s gift to the world. r. #4, God has blessed America because America was founded on God and His Word. s. It is clear from history that those who founded this country may not have been perfect but they were determined to establish a nation that was founded on God and His Word. t. Those who founded our nation believed Psalm 33:12 (NKJV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. and Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV) Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. u. For the better part of our nation s history our nation s leaders and to a large extent the people of our nation even those who were not Christians accepted Christian faith and biblical truth as a guide for our nation s laws, values and standards. v. But in our recent history our nation in many ways has abandoned God and His Word.

4 w. In many ways our nation has abandoned the God by whose providence this country was founded and whose power has protected our country throughout its history. x. Because this is true God s hedge of protection around this country is slowly but surely coming down and unless there is a return to God in this nation our country s days are numbered. III. WHERE IS AMERICA IN THE END TIME? a. Dr. Tim LaHaye preacher, Bible scholar and author of the Left Behind book series wrote One of the hardest things for American prophecy students to accept is that the United States is not clearly mentioned in Bible prophecy, yet our nation is the only superpower in the world today. b. Dr. LaHaye continued Does the United States have a place in end time prophecy?" My first response is no, there is nothing about the U.S. in prophecy. At least nothing that is specific. There is an allusion to a group of nations in Ezekiel 38:13 that could apply, but even that is not specific. The question is why? Why would the God of prophecy not refer to the supreme superpower nation in the end times in preparation for the one-world government of the Antichrist? c. Why is America absent from end-time prophecies?... What happens to America? IV. WHAT HAPPENS TO AMERICA? a. It could be that America is absent from end-time prophecies because by the time of the Tribulation America will have lost her influence in the world and will no longer be a major player and power in the world. b. It is hard for us to imagine a world without a strong, powerful and significant America how could that happen?

5 c. #1, By the time of the Rapture and the Tribulation the continuing spiritual and moral decay going on in our country could have led to the collapse of our nation. d. Almost 70 years ago former president Herbert Hoover wrote this warning about the United States Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by our compliance with evil. e. The ever-increasing turning away from God the debauchery, hedonism and moral decay which is going on in America today is causing our country to slowly but surely rot from the inside out. f. One way or another if our nation continues on its present road downward our nation will inevitably collapse implode or fracture. g. If God judged Israel His chosen nation for its sin and sent that nation into captivity He will certainly judge America for her sin and rebellion if we do not repent and turn back to Him. h. #2, It is frightening to think of this but at some time in the future... America could be devastated by an enemy attack. i. Bible scholar John Walvoord wrote Some maintain that the total absence of any scriptural reference to America in the end time is evidence that the United States will have been crippled by a nuclear attack, weapons of mass destruction, or some other major catastrophe... In the post 9/11 world, the detonation of a dirty bomb, nuclear device, or biological weapon on U.S. soil is a dreaded yet distinct possibility. Such an attack could kill millions of people and reduce the United States to a second rate power overnight. j. Since the deployment of the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima in August 1945 America has enjoyed a certain fearbased aura of invincibility.

6 k. But that aura of invincibility and the formidable military power of the United States may no longer deter enemies who are determined to attack the United States. l. Today militarily, there is no stronger nation on the face of the earth than the United States of America. m. But also today our nation has enemies in the world who possess nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction these nation have no regard for human life and they have a burning hatred for the United States. n. It could be that one day one of these nations or even a coalition of these nations (Russia, China, Iran, North Korea) could attack the United States. o. Our nation certainly could win and survive such war we probably would but at the same time our nation could be devastated beyond recovery. p. #3, It could be that America will be so devastated by the Rapture it will be unable to maintain its place of power and influence in the world. q. If the Rapture were to happen today if today all the true believers in Jesus Christ disappeared into Heaven in a single moment America as we know it would be obliterated. r. When the Rapture happens America will lose millions of citizens it will lose all its Christians. s. Not only that America and the rest of the world will lose every baby and every young child that is too young to have made a willful and conscience decision concerning Jesus Christ. t. Every child under the age of accountability will be taken in the Rapture.

7 u. This means that not only would America lose a minimum of 25 percent of her population she will also lose all of her children. v. Can you imagine the paralyzing, debilitating and chaotic result this will have on America and the rest of the world? w. With Christians gone the very best of America the salt and light of our nation will be gone in a moment. x. Author Joel Rosenburg in his book The Rapture Scenario gives a picture of what will happen to America after the Rapture. y. Imagine unbelievers riding in a car driven by a believer who suddenly disappears that car very well could crash imagine being on a plane flown by believers who suddenly disappear that plane also could crash. z. Imagine highly valuable and experienced military commanders and business leaders and medical professionals disappearing in the middle of critical projects or medical procedures the impact will be catastrophic. aa. Think about the emotional ramifications for those left behind who have suddenly lost loved ones and their young children they will just be gone. bb.think of those many people who have long considered themselves to be Christian who are left behind to their utter dismay? cc. Think of all the political leaders of our nation who are Christians think of the effect their disappearance will have on our country. dd.think of the effect of the Rapture on U.S. banks when millions of American homeowners suddenly disappear never to make another mortgage payment again.

8 ee. What will happen when millions of business owners are suddenly no longer around to pay their bills?...or pay their employees?...or continue delivering vital goods and services? ff. What will happen to federal and state governments when millions of taxpayers are no longer providing much-needed revenues? gg.with such an immediate, enormous, and unprecedented shock to American society and economy from the loss of millions of people it is difficult to imagine how the U.S. could remain a super-power. hh. How could America quickly replace all the Christian intelligence and foreign-policy officials who would suddenly be gone? ii. How could our country quickly replace all the officers and NCOs throughout the ranks of the military who are born-again believers? jj. With all the resulting chaos and dislocation caused by the Rapture how could the U.S. move rapidly and effectively to defend a threatened or invaded ally or defend our vital interests around the world?... How could America defend her own homeland? kk.what will America be like when all Christians disappear from our country leaving only those who have rejected God? ll. The Rapture will be like a reverse surgical operation in America and the world in which all the healthy cells are removed and only the cancerous and diseased ones are left to consume one another. mm. After the Rapture America will probably quickly fall in line with the Antichrist the Constitution will be suspended and our country will be swallowed up into one of the sections of the Antichrist s ten-headed confederacy. nn.and America as we know it will come to an end. V. CONCLUSION-

9 a. We all love our country it is our responsibility as Christians and our desire as Americans to pray for and work for the good of our nation. b. But the nations and institutions of this world including the United States will not last forever. c. Our first love and trust is to be for and in the One who stands above all institutions nations history and even above time itself. d. The One by whose power and permission these things exist the One who knows their times and the ends of their days. e. Only He the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of our ultimate allegiance.