Is the United States of America in Bible Prophecy?

Today, the U.S. A. is the world’s only superpower and she dominates through economic, political and military power.

Biblical prophecies, in Daniel and Revelation, indicate that the Antichrist and his kingdom will dominate the whole world, economically, politically and militarily, during at least the last seven years of this age. This means that there must be a change in superpowers before the end of the age.

Daniel described the kingdom of the Antichrist as a beast with 10 kings and their 10 kingdoms. Daniel wrote that another king will arise from among the ten and subdue three of the10 kings. This new king will be the Antichrist and then his kingdom will have 7 kings and 10 kingdoms.

In Revelation, chapters 13 and 17, John identifies the kingdom of the Antichrist as the beast which has “7 heads and 10 horns.” Horn in Bible prophecy can signify a king, a nation or a kingdom. This means the 10 nation kingdom of the Antichrist will ultimately have 7 leaders, thus the expression “7 heads and 10 horns.”

The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation also tell us about the rise of the kingdom of the Antichrist. Daniel 11 indicates that the Antichrist will successfully attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign power. By defeating the mightiest fortresses, the beast kingdom of the Antichrist will then dominate the world until the end of the age.

In Revelation, chapter 17, John writes that the beast with “7 heads and 10 horns” will destroy a superpower. In Revelation 17 and 18 John describes the superpower as one who sits on (dominates) peoples, multitudes, nations and languages of the world. John writes that the superpower is also a great city that rules over the kings of the earth. Daniel and John both write that the kingdom of the Antichrist will rise to power by defeating an existing world superpower.

In Revelation 17 and 18, God calls this superpower “Mystery Babylon the Great” and describes her in detail. See the description below,

Description of Mystery Babylon the Great:

• She is called a prostitute. God refers to his people as a prostitute when they chase after other gods. (See Jeremiah 2, Ezekiel 16 and Hosea 9).
• She dominates peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
• She dominates the kingdom with the 7 heads and 10 kingdoms.
• She will be hated by the 10 kingdom with the 7 heads and 10 kingdoms.
• She is responsible for innocent blood, those who bore testimony to Jesus.
• She is also a great city who rules over the kings of the earth.
• She has become home for demons and evil spirits.
• The kings of the earth commit adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grow rich from her excessive luxuries.
• The whole world is intoxicated by the fruit of her labor.
• She has great riches, wealth and splendor.
• She thinks she cannot be defeated, she says I am not a widow, I will never mourn.
• When her destruction comes, the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn because no one buys their cargoes any more.
• Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off and throw dust on their heads, weep and mourn.
• Her merchants are the world’s great men.

For almost 2,000 years people have been trying to figure out who this world power is, who God calls Mystery Babylon the Great. Each prophetic characteristic of Mystery Babylon the Great must be fulfilled before she can be positively identified. If we compare these characteristics to the current superpower, most if not all fit the United States of America. As we consider these characteristics we should be mindful that this is how God views this superpower, not necessarily how we view her.

But, couldn’t the USA be replaced by another superpower before the kingdom of the Antichrist defeats Mystery Babylon the Great? Possibly, but that would mean another superpower must arise and fill all these characteristics which would take many decades or more. Is there enough time for that to happen? Let’s see what Jesus had to say about when the end would be near.

In the Olivet Discourse Jesus said that the following signs would indicate that the end was near: ethnic group will rise against ethnic group, kingdom against kindom, famines, earthquakes, pandemics and fearful events occurring in various places. Jesus called these signs birth pains which biblical prophecy indicates will lead to the return of Christ and the Kingdom of God on earth. It appears that the world is experiencing all or most of these signs today.

Some have said that these signs and events have been taking place throughout history and people have thought that the end was near, and yet it wasn’t. However, never has the world experienced all of these occurring simultaneously at the level we are currently seeing.

At the same time that Jesus identified the signs and events of the birth pains He also said, “when you see all these things, you know that the Kingdom of God is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.” The Bible describes a generation as lasting about 48 years. Therefore, when we see the birth pains begin we can expect that Jesus will return within 48 years.

Therefore, if we are seeing the birth pains that Jesus identified, it would seem unlikely that another superpower could arise and fulfill all the characteristics of Mystery Babylon the Great in less than 41 years (48 years minus the last 7 years). That would seem to indicate that, yes, the U.S.A. is in Bible prophecy and she is the superpower God calls “Mystery Babylon the Great.”

Richard Perry – www.lastdaysmystery.info - August 15, 2006

Note: I calculate the number of years in a biblical generation from Matthew: “Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ” (Matthew 1:17 ). From Abraham to Christ covered about 2,000 years. Therefore, by dividing 2,000 years by 42 generations we calculate that a biblical generation is about 48 years