The USA in Bible Prophecy

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17. THE USA IN BIBLE PROPHECY In the second half of Revelation 13 another beast appears: the beast that comes out of the earth. It represents a power that will play a pivotal role in the mark of the beast crisis.

1. What are the Powers That Will Work Together in the End - Times?

 Revelation 13:1-2,11; Revelation 16:13-14 The beast that comes out of the earth will work together with the beast that comes out of the sea, the Papacy to fulfill Satan’s plan.

Before identifying the beast that comes out of the earth, notice that, together with the dragon and the sea beast, it is part of a counterfeit trinity.

In this false trinity, the dragon, Satan (see Revelation 12:9), is the counterfeit of the Father. The beast that comes out of the sea, the Papacy, is the counterfeit of Jesus Christ, the Antichrist, an institution that wants to take the place of Christ. The beast that comes out of the sea is the counterfeit of the Holy Spirit.

 The dragon: The dragon gave “his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2) to the sea beast; so the Father gave power, authority and His throne to Jesus (see Matthew 28:18 and Revelation 3:21). “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast” (Revelation 13:4): the dragon is worshipped through the worship rendered to the beast. So he who honors Jesus honors the Father (see John 5:23 and 13:20).

 The sea beast: this beast comes out of the waters of the sea and “he was given authority to continue for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5). The beast worked for 3 ½ prophetic years: at the end of this period it was given a deadly wound from which it recovered (see

Revelation 13:3,12,14). In like manner Jesus began His ministry coming out of the waters of the river Jordan at His baptism and then worked for 3 ½ years. At the end of His ministry He died and then was resurrected (see Daniel 9:25-27).

 The earth beast: this beast is also called the false prophet (see Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10). A prophet claims to speak on God’s behalf and this beast “spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11), that is like Satan. The Holy Spirit turns the attention of the world to Jesus and speaks on His behalf. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit that “He will…bring to your 2 17. The USA in Bible Prophecy – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019 remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26), “He will testify of Me” (John 15:26) and “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).

So, the earth beast turns the attention of the world to the sea beast.

Even before knowing the identity of this beast, we know that it will work to turn the attention of the inhabitants of the world to the Papacy that they may worship it (see Revelation 13:12).

2. Which Characteristic does the Beast That Comes Out of the Earth Have?

 Revelation 13:10-12

1. The historical period: This beast comes up after the first beast was taken into captivity. In 1798 Pope Pius VI was taken captive to France where he died a year later. As the first beast was going down, this beast was rising up. This power rose up around the end of the 18th century.

2. It comes out of the earth: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth” (v. 11). The first beast came out of the sea and waters represents “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (Revelation 17:15). By contrast the earth represents a low populated area. This power rose in a part of the world with a low population at that time.

3. Growth not by military conquest: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth” (v.

11). The Greek verb anabainō is used in the New Testament also speak of the growth of plants. This nation had a constant and slow growth, unlike the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8, which grew through military conquests.

4. Lamb-like characteristics: “He had two horns like a lamb” (v. 11). The word lamb appears 29 times in the book of Revelation. Every time but here it applies to Jesus. This power has some characteristics that makes it look like Jesus. The 10 horns on the first beast had crowns on them (see Revelation 13:1). The horns on this beast have no crowns: this suggests that this nation is not a monarchy but a republic.

5. Speaks like a dragon: “…and spoke like a dragon” (v. 11). This power has features of both the lamb and the dragon. A nation speaks through the laws it issues. So this nation issues laws that are according to the spirit of the devil.

6. Global power: “And he… causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast” (v. 12). This power has global influence.

There is only one nation that fulfills all these characteristics: the United States of America.

1. The historical period: The declaration of independence was ratified on July 4, 1776. The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia on 1787. 17. The USA in Bible Prophecy – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019 3

2. It comes out of the earth: The USA rose up in a geographic are that had a low population at that time.

3. Growth not by military conquest: The USA grew constantly and slowly like a plant and mainly not by conquests. A prominent author, describing the rise of the United States, spoke of “the mystery of her coming forth from vacancy” and wrote: “Like a silent seed we grew into empire” (G. A. Townsend, “The New World Compared With the Old”, p. 462).

4. Lamb-like characteristics: The Pilgrim Fathers were European Protestants who fled to find relief from persecution. In Europe they experienced the oppression that derives from the union of Church and State and they desired found a nation where freedom would be granted. The 2 lamb-like horns represent the 2 principles on which the USA were founded: civil freedom and religious freedom (freedom from the king and the pope), Republicanism and Protestantism.

The beginning of the declaration of independence says: “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” . This statement was revolutionary for that age. Jesus Himself approved these principles: the separation of church and state (see Luke 20:25) and religious freedom since He never forced anyone to follow Him (see John 12:47-48).

In the first amendment of the Constitution it is written: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (The First Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791).

5. Speaks like a dragon: the USA were founded on Christian premises but they will come to the point of speaking like a dragon. The voice a nation is the laws it issues. Since 9/11 American citizens have seen their personal liberties decrease.

6. Global power: after the fall of Communism the USA are the unchallenged first world superpower and definitely exert an influence over the entire world.

3. What are the Things That the Earth Beast does?

 Revelation 13:12-14 It exercises authority and promotes the system of false worship of the Papacy. Religious elements appear in the text: great signs and fire from heaven.

These signs are miraculous signs; Jesus has warned about false signs in the last days (see Matthew 24:24). Through these great signs American Protestantism will deceive many into joining this global false system of worship (see Revelation 19:20). 4 17. The USA in Bible Prophecy – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019 In the Old Testament we find fire came down from heaven at the inauguration of Solomon’s temple and on Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged the false prophets. Fire from heaven was a sign of God’s approval.

In the New Testament we find tongues of fire on the disciples when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them at Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-4); also in the book of Revelation the Holy Spirit is symbolized by fire (see Revelation 4:5).

These false signs and false manifestations of the Holy Spirit will be believed to be tokens of God’s approval and used by Satan to deceive the world. We see some of this happening already in the Charismatic movements.

The USA will cause the world to worship the first beast (the sea beast) telling the world to make an image to the beast. An image is something that looks like the original. The image to the beast must be something that looks like the beast.

The Papacy’s main feature is the union of religious and civil power, i.e. of Church and State. The Papacy lost its temporal power in 1798, the deadly wound; the text says its wound would be healed.

The image to the beast represents the union of religious and civil power in the USA. American Protestantism will push Americans and the whole world to unite Church and State, that is to use the laws of the government to regulate religious issues, such as worship. The great signs will be used to validate their requests.

There are movements, such as “The Lord’s Day Alliance” in the USA and the “European Sunday Alliance” in Europe, that promote Sunday as a day of rest, pushing the government to issue laws on Sunday rest: “This organization proposes in every possible way to aid in preserving Sunday as a civil institution. Our national security requires the active support of all good citizens in the maintenance of our American Sabbath. Sunday laws must be enforced” (The Lord's Day Alliance, 25th annual report, 1913, p. 6).

In his apostolic letter on Sunday, Pope John Paul II wrote: “In the particular circumstances of our time, Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy” (“Dies Domini”, 1998).

4. What does the Earth Beast do Next?

 Revelation 13:15 The earth beast gives breath to the image of the beast. This imagery is taken from the creation of Adam. Father, Son and Holy Spirit made a creature in their image: God breathed the breath of life in Adam’s nostrils and he became a living being (see Genesis 2:7). So the false trinity has a creature in its image and the earth beast, the counterfeit Holy Spirit, gives breath to the image of the beast.

The image of the beast then speaks. 17. The USA in Bible Prophecy – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019 5 A nation speaks through its laws: this text says that the USA will pass religious laws and then the union of Church and State will be a reality. Based on the demands of Catholicism and Protestantism, the USA government will issue a law to enforce Sunday observance.

5. Which Expression is Repeated in This Passage Referred to the Earth Beast?

 Revelation 13:12,15-16 The earth beast will cause the world to worship the first beast and will force everybody to bow down to the image of the beast and so receive the mark of the beast. This is Satan’s method: God never compels His creatures to worship Him. He always seeks to draw us to Him showing His love towards us (see Jeremiah 31:3 and John 12:32).

Whenever religion uses compulsion or the civil power it is a sign that it is not led by God. False religion cannot have the power of the Spirit to convict the consciences and therefore it needs another power, the civil power.

Benjamin Franklin, one of the USA founding fathers, said: “When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one” .

6. Who Will Have to Join This False System of Worship?

 Revelation 13:15-17 Working together with the Papacy, the USA will lead the entire world in this false worship. Those who do not want to join will suffer consequences; freedom of conscience will not be granted to those who oppose the false worship. They will not be allowed to buy or sell and eventually they will risk their lives for their faithfulness to God’s Word.

In Daniel 3 we find a similar story where Daniel’s friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, did not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image in the plain of Dura: this golden image was a tribute to Babylon. They were faithful to God’s law and were thrown in a fiery furnace for refusing to transgress the second commandment. The test of faithfulness for God’s end-time people will be the fourth commandment.

The USA are building an image to the Papacy, spiritual Babylon (see Revelation 17:5). Until Sunday observance will be enforced, those who keep Sunday will not receive the mark of the beast.

But God asks us today to be faithful to Him by keeping the Sabbath holy.

ACatholic source stated: “Reason and common sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible” (“The Catholic Mirror”, December 23, 1893). 6 17. The USA in Bible Prophecy – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019

Appeal

If you are faithful today, you prepare yourself to be faithful tomorrow: do you choose to be faithful to God and His Word today, whatever the consequences may be?