Monday: The United States in Prophecy
People have asked, and understandably so: How could Rome have the kind of influence today, or in the future, that is depicted in Revelation chapter 13? Long gone are the days when it could command armies, such as it did in times past. The answer is found, too, in Revelation chpater 13.
Read Revelation 13:11-12. What marks help us identify who this power is?
Image © Steve Creitz Goodsalt.com
The beast that precedes this one, long viewed as Rome by Protestants, was depicted as having been given power forty-two months (Rev. 13:5). The forty-two months are the same as the “time and times and the dividing of time” of Daniel 7:25, or three and a half years (Rev. 12:14) or 1260 prophetic days (Rev. 12:6) — the time during which the papal power oppressed its opponents. This prophetic time period (using the day-year principle) began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798, the year that the pope was taken captive. At this time the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled.
Around this point in history, near the close of the “forty-two months” (1798), another power appears (Rev. 13:11, Rev. 13:1), this time arising out of the earth, which is in contrast to many of the previous powers, which arose out of water (see Dan. 7:2-3) , a symbol of masses of people. “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (Rev. 17:15, NKJV).
For these reasons, and others, this power must be the United States of America, which arose in a relatively uninhabited part of the world and didn’t need to overthrow any major empires in order to do so.
“What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America”. — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 440.
Though this power is first described as having two horns like a lamb, symbolizing gentleness, it will speak “as a dragon” (Rev. 13:11),indicating a time of persecution such as took place under the previous power. Revelation 13:11-17, then, answers the question about how Rome could exert the influence that prophecy predicts. It will have the might of the United States behind it — that’s how.
(53)
When God speaks, He leaves no room for error or misinterpretation.
If we are honest with the scriptures, if we are willing to have the scripture speak for itself without human wisdom and understanding, the Bible can defend itself.
God said there will come a power which will lead the world in to darkness. It came to power just as it was predicted and it's demise came just in the year it was predicted to occur in history.
The rise of lamb like beast predicted happened exactly the way it was predicted in the bible.
This lamb like power came into existence by promoting religious liberty and providing safe haven for those who wanted to worship without fear of persecution.
This lamb like beast now denies creation as religion but teaches evolution which is also a religion of faith.
This lamb like beast leads the world into immoral sin and calls it freedom of choice.
The bible says, every man did what was right in his own eyes.
As Christians these things should encourage us to know the God of the bible is trustworthy in all his sayings.
My God says, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather they turn from their (wicked) ways and live.
God is Love.
What are the prophecies about the Islam in the book of Revelation?
Had Ellen Gold WHITE told on this subjec?
I have seen a number of attempts to connect prophecy to the detail of current new events. Mostly they have come unstuck as the news moves on. We don't gain credibility by being the first off the block in proclaiming such a prophetic link. Out commission is to preach the Gospel; which is a Christ-centered message of hope and encouragement. If we get that right then the rest of it will fall into place.
I agree with you that the Gospel is the essence of our existence, not the prophecies. But the prophecies are there to give us clues about the time we are living, or that we will live. We know that we are at the final round of this overall fight with evil and sin. God has pointed to that. May we lift up our heads and get prepared! There is no time to waste. "Planning for a hundred years, but living as Christ's 2nd coming is today!"
This is what we should focus on. Holy spirit will reveal to us all God secrets. Now lets just spread the Gospel.
I too have wondered if Islam doesn't figure in here. The applications made 150 years ago may have been appropriate for the world as it appeared at that time, but it seems to me that Islam is a significant factor that was unknown then. It seems to me that there are three broad groupings: 1) Christianity, which in a sense includes Judaism, since one came out of the other and Paul says "all Israel will be saved", 2) Islam, the only other significant monotheistic religion, and one of the major world religions of our time, and 3) the various polytheistic religions, mostly eastern (Hindu, Buddhist, etc.).
What is the meaning of jerimiah 23
Hi Rouben, which part of Jer 23 are you querying?
Remember that Jeremiah was writing first & foremost to the children of Israel.
Remember that most prophecies were dependent on a response from the people - If you love me & obey me - I will protect and provide for you.
Of course we can learn the lesson of the Principles that underlie God's words to Israel.
Most Bible students believe the following verses refer to Jesus when he returns to the earth after the 1000 years.
Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and act wisely, and shall do judgment and justice in the earth.
The word of God is sure and it will be fulfilled! Amen
Esther Moran
God always bring the truth to light for all His children in all generations
Can someone help me with this question? The 1260 years of prophecy is typically declared to be 538-1798. We clearly state the event in 1798 that marked the end of the prophecy - the arrest of the pope by Berthier. What clear event marks the beginning as 538? My personal search leads to no event that shows the "supremacy of the pope", as the lesson says, happening in 538. I'd appreciate something definitive; something rooted in history. Thanks.
It is partly because 1798 was such a clear date so something 1260 years earlier was needed. That was the years the Goths, one of the 10 kingdoms descended from the Roman Empire, retreated from Rome. Several other events prepared the way, Justinian having given authority and credibility to the pope five years earlier, Constantine having moved the seat of political power out of Rome prior to that, etc. Rarely are events as clean cut as the night Medo-Persia invaded the capitol of Babylon, or Berthier taking the pope captive. Most historical transitions occur more gradually, and identifying a specific date for them isn't always clear cut. For example the Babylonian captivity of Judah that started the 70 years was actually several captivities of varying completeness, and the return after the captivity was the result of several proclamations--these separated by a few years.
In other words, prophecy has exactly the kind of flexibility that believers need!
If China moves to become super power ahead US what will our current position of profecy looks like? What if we are Wrong? We were wrong in 1844 and we can be wrong now! If Holy spirit is within us why worry and try to translate every political move to fit into our profecy!
I just want to grow in CHRIST.
I personally believe Eric raises a very relevant point. What if prophecy doesn't play out the specific way we have come to think/assume it will?
This quarter's lesson is based around the core question as to how to prepare for the end times. I believe Eric's last sentence hits the nail on the head - grow in Christ.
There have been a range of daily comments across the weeks that have similarly affirmed that our need is to grow in Christ and have enlarged on what that actually and practically means or looks like.
These comments have illustrated that growing in Christ involves daily (and moment-by-moment within that day) having our hearts and characters transformed and renewed by His Holy Spirit so that we:
* love others as Christ did/does in very practical ways in our daily life
* seek first the principles and practices of the Kingdom of God so that the great and precious promises of His Kingdom are manifest in our lives and correspondingly demonstrated practically through ministering to a world that is so broken
* be His hands and feet in the way we live our daily lives
* be salt and light to those around us to display that God and the way/s of His Kingdom is the ONLY way, truth and life.
In being and doing this, however things actually play out in detail, the end times will be taken care of by God as we are abiding in Christ: growing in Him and sharing in His work of salvation/restoration through the ways we practically interact with whomever we associated in the course of each and every day.
If all that is necessary is to "grow in Christ" why did Jesus tell the disciples to watch out don't be deceived? Why was John given the messages in Rev 13 & 14??
Of course we are to grow in Christ all the time, but we have been given a special message to share that at the End Time there will be groups who will be misleading people to worship and follow false Christs and false prophet, getting people to worship the beast and not Christ.
So many use the Bible and the name of Jesus to convince them to worship money, a man, a false religion and even Satan.
So what should we do? Always, always, always start with Jesus loves you and wants to restore you to the perfect image of God. Then and only then point out the dangers and possibilities of being mislead, especially at the end times.
Not one without the other and always in the right order.
According to inspiration our church has a special message to be the watchmen -
Eze_33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming, and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned; if the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity. But I will require his blood at the watchman's hand.
Eze_33:7 And you, son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear the Word from My mouth, and warn them from Me.
2Co 11:13 For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light?
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.