A few years ago we could not have imagined how rapidly our beloved country would decline. Prophecy students have wondered for decades how it could be that the United States will not apparently be a major player in the Bible’s End Times scenario. Europe is there as a Revived Roman Empire, but with a much weaker composition than ancient Rome. Ancient biblical lands are still players in the prophetic future. They have modern names: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and others. But how could the one great “superpower” of our generation be ignored in the struggles of the end of this age?
Look at our nation now. Instead of being a support to the rest of the world during this economic crisis, we have descended into the worst financial condition since at least the Great Depression. Despite endless rhetoric from the politicians and economic experts, we are still in free-fall. Our investments have declined, our jobs have been given to other nations and our own people are sinking into poverty.
Our military sacrifices have been undercut by bad governmental decisions. Terrorists are convinced that they will ultimately overcome in this present struggle. We are about to leave Afghanistan and Iraq without improving that part of the world. We can’t keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Our support for Israel is anemic. We have lost the peaceful gains we enjoyed for a little time with Russia.
Why is this happening, and what does it mean for our generation? Historians assure us that the early greatness of America was a byproduct of our moral and ethical world view. Our leaders were generally Bible-believing heroes. Our word was our bond: we kept our promises. We taught our children what was right and wrong. We worked hard and were proud of what we produced. Our churches were valiant for the truth and were faithful to expose evil.
During the past two generations the church in America has turned from its literal interpretation of the Bible, and has allowed the corrupting influences of secular humanism, the sexual revolution, abortion, and other ungodly beliefs and practices to slowly infiltrate its leadership. This change is actually one of the main predictions of the End Times. It is called apostasy, or a “falling away” from the truth. The Apostle Paul warned…
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4
As a result, at the very time Christians should be most concerned about the rapid fulfillment of End Times predictions, many of them have been anesthetized to the seriousness of their condition. Therefore, our nation has lost its vitality and is in the process of becoming irrelevant. The Bible did not need to mention our presence because we will have lost our influence.
Does it have to end this way? Actually, no! There is still hope for America. What God promised for believers in the Old Testament would still apply today if we would just turn back to Him and allow him to bring a great redeeming revival!
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
