The Conventional Wisdom

It happened again just last weekend. I was listening to a pastor who has an excellent grasp of Scripture. In the course of his sermon, he stated as a matter of common knowledge, “Since we do not find the United States in prophecy….” The statement was made as a matter of fact, not to be disputed or as a premise to be supported. But we all know this is true. He was speaking to his congregation, whom he had taught well across the years. They accepted the pronouncement with the same attitude with which he had given it. This was not a point that needed support. Virtually everyone agrees. It is common knowledge that America is not found in prophecy and does not appear in the Book of Revelation or elsewhere in Scripture. Therefore, for some reason, it will not have a role in the seven-year Tribulation period that will occur after the church is raptured. Case closed. The topic does not warrant further discussion.

They can only speculate on the reason for America’s absence from the prophetic picture, which seems strange since today America plays such a prominent role in the world, and many students of Scripture make the case that the Rapture is coming soon. They are cognizant of the teaching of Christ that no one knows the day or hour of the Rapture, and they make no attempt to set a date. Yet, Scripture has a lot to say about the condition of the world as the Rapture approaches, such as in the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24-25, and based on that passage and others, they believe that the stage is set for the Rapture to occur. Consequently, it seems that the United States would play a prominent role in that seven-year time of judgment following the Rapture. Nonetheless, the most prominent voices on the subject assert that America is nowhere to be found in Scripture.

I contend that the scriptural evidence compellingly supports just the opposite position, that not only does Scripture include America in prophecy, but that its presence is so obvious, so imposing, so unmistakable, that America’s role in Scripture is virtually undeniable. This conclusion not only embodies the elephant in the room, but it keeps hitting us with its trunk. In addition, I believe you will join me in that conclusion by the time you consider the evidence in future articles.

These two conflicting positions elicit the question, how could people knowledgeable regarding the scriptural teaching on prophecy differ so drastically in their conclusions on this point? If America’s presence in prophecy is as obvious as I contend, why then is this position rejected by so many knowledgeable students of prophecy?

I am convinced that many prominent experts on prophecy fail to find America in God’s program for the future because they are looking for the wrong America. They have in mind an America that has been rather than the America that is and will be, an America that is materializing before our eyes at this present moment.

The America We Love

America! There has never been anything like it. Our Canadian neighbors may not like us stealing the name, but here in the United States we use the term to refer exclusively to ourselves.  That may be wrong, but it is a reality. To our friends to the north we say, “Please accept our apologies.” Somehow the designation, the United States, does not convey the warmth embodied in the name America. After all, we are Americans. Try using “the United States” to say that. You can’t. 

After 9/11, a friend from India, expressing his condolences and concerns for our nation, finished his comments by asking, “Where would the world be without America?” Good question. Maybe speaking German or Japanese. To those who delight in focusing on America’s historical deficiencies, I advance a simple question: “Compared to what?” Where is that better, flawless country to which you are comparing it? Or maybe a better question: “Why haven’t you gone there? Why are you still here?” Or if they are comparing America to perfection we might have them try that on themselves first. The fact is that we live in an imperfect world consisting of imperfect people, so instead of focusing on America’s faults, we should focus on the unique characteristics America possesses that have made it the greatest nation on earth and consider the vast contributions with which she has blessed the world. 

We have had good reason to maintain this view of our country. Yes, we have had our flaws, as has every nation, but I believe that an impartial assessment would reveal that America stacks up favorably when compared with any other country now in existence and throughout history. Our detractors would be quick to point to slavery as our great national sin. However, even that stain in our history ultimately reveals American goodness through our fighting to free ourselves of that evil at great human cost.

Several years ago, a country in Asia sustained a natural disaster. As they struggled to deal with the immediate aftermath, they concluded that America was not doing enough in providing help. One commentator decried, “Where is America?” Though help from America had arrived, they had expected more. This response accentuates the fact that the countries of the world look to America, expect America, to extend grace, to come to their rescue in time of need, even though we have no obligation to do so. We would never hear or expect a nation in distress to ask, “Where is France?” Or “Where is China?” No, they have no such expectations of any other nation. But they do expect America to come to the rescue. This expectation reveals the extent of the contribution America has made to the welfare of the world. It conveys the acknowledgement of nations around the globe that America resides in a class by itself in its display of goodness.

No, you will not find that America in prophecy. However, in my next article, I will introduce you to an America that clearly plays a prominent role in the teachings of Scripture regarding the future.