The role of the United States in Bible prophecy is something I wish the Bible would have clarified in further detail. Like most of the world, the United States is not specifically mentioned in the Bible. This very fact makes things very difficult for students and teachers alike as they attempt to pinpoint where this country will be at the End of this Age. Sure, it is easy to see how this country will be part of a one world system, but to be honest; I would love to see the amount of detail found in Ezekiel 38-39 for example.
Several months
ago I began
looking deeper
in an attempt to
discover this
mystery and
I found nothing
but speculation
by ministers and
experts alike.
Some of what I
found made a ton
of sense, as
various
individuals tied
in the United
States to
several
prophecies. For
example, here a
few of the more
interesting ones
I came across.
·
The United
States is
the messengers
and ambassadors
or
a tall and
smooth skinned
people
located in
Isaiah 18:2.
·
The United
States is
the
great eagle
that is found in
Revelation 12:14.
·
The United
States is
the
Mystery Babylon
found in
Jeremiah 50
and
Revelation 17-18.
·
The United
States is
the
villages or
young lions
located in
Ezekiel 38:13.
·
The United
States is
the sword
that can be
found in
Ezekiel 38:21.
·
The United
States is
the coastlands
that are
mentioned in
Ezekiel 39:6.
·
The United
States is the
eagles wings
found in
Daniel 7:4.
As you can see,
there is a ton
of guesses out
there and as a
result of this;
I decided to
take a different
approach to this
topic and its
one
that centers on
the might of the
US Military.
At the forefront
of military
power,
the United
States of
America is
leading the way.
Here are some
figures
based on 2011
numbers that
I obtained from
IISS
(International
Institute for
Strategic
Studies). As a
disclaimer, I
want to announce
that
I am all for
having a
powerful
national defense,
but some of
these statistics
are alarming
when
viewed through
the lenses of
scripture.
·
The United
States
accounted for
45.7% of all
money spent
on the military
on the planet
Earth.
·
The United
States
spent
8.2 times more
than China,
and
14.03 times more
than Russia.
·
The United
States
spent 739
Billion dollars,
which is
more than the
next 9 countries
behind it,
combined (487
billion).
So now that we
know
how much the
United States
is spending
on the military
as compared to
the rest of the
world,
where on earth
is this
money going?
According to
2011 data that
is
publically
available:
·
The United
States has
more than 1000
bases
worldwide.
·
The United
States has
a base in 150
countries
throughout the
globe.
·
The United
States has
around 1.5
million military
personnel in
foreign lands.
·
The United
States has a
military base on
every single
continent on
Earth with the
exception of
Antarctica.
These numbers
are quite
shocking and for
good reason,
there hasn’t
been a nation in
the history of
this planet
that has managed
this feat. Oh,
and by the way,
these numbers do
not include
the massive
amount of “lily
pad” bases
scattered
everywhere that
remain
classified. For
those that do
not know, a
“lily pad” base
is a small
launch point for
Special
Operations that
are launched
under classified
actions. Going
further, here is
a global ranking
on the US
Military in
specific
categories based
on data from
2011.
·
Total active
manpower –
1,477,896 (2nd
in the word)
·
Total reserve
manpower –
1,458,500 (4th
in the world)
·
Total aircraft –
18,234 (1st
in the world: 3
times more than
#2)
·
Total
helicopters –
6,417 (1st
in the world: 7
times more than
#2)
·
Total tanks –
9,573 (2nd
in the world)
·
Total infantry
vehicles –
26,653 (1st
in the world)
·
Total towed
artillery –
2,163 (5th
in the world)
·
Total
self-propelled
guns –
950 (8th
in the world)
·
Total rocket
artillery –
1,430 (4th
in the world)
·
Total logistical
vehicles –
267,247 (1st
in the world: 4
times more than
#2)
·
Total aircraft
carriers –
11 (1st
in the world:
more than the
rest of the
world combined)
·
Total submarines
–
75 (1st
in the world)
·
Total destroyers
–
59 (1st
in the world: 2
times more than
#2)
·
Total frigates –
30 (3rd
in the world)
·
Total nuclear
weapons –
2,150 active
warheads (1st
in the world)
Now while the US
military is not
leading the way
in all
categories, it
is however
significantly
more powerful in
offensive
projection
due to naval and
air power. This
means that the
US military can
go to
any place in the
world and
sustain the
conflict.
With the United
States and its
ability to
anywhere on the
globe bring
destruction down
an adversary,
what are some of
the weapons
they are going
to be using?
Here is a list
of some of the
weapons that are
not only
the most
destructive on
the planet,
they possess a
technological
advantage
that other
weapons systems
deployed by
other nations.
·
The F-22A Raptor
– A 5th
Generation
air superiority
fighter that
utilizes
stealth, speed,
maneuverability
and advanced
avionics that
will provide the
US an advantage
over all other
nations in air
combat
for the next few
decades.
There are
approximately
196 aircraft in
inventory
with each one
costing around
$150 million per
plane. Much
of these
airplanes
abilities are
classified.
·
The GBU-57
Massive
Ordinance
Penetrator
– A
30,000 pound
bomb that is
capable of
penetrating
through 200 feet
of concrete
before
detonating thus
making it near
impossible to
hide from this
weapon. There
are
20 bombs in
US inventory
with program
costing
$314 million.
The weapon is
designed to be
dropped by the
B-2 Spirit
stealth bomber.
·
The XM25
“Punisher”
– A 25 mm
grenade launcher
that affords the
US warfighter
the ability
to engage
targets that are
behind cover
by air bursting
the projectile
over the enemy.
The weapon
system was
deployed in
Afghanistan in
2011 and
approximately
41 are in
service. In
2013, the US
Military will
begin production
of
12,500
rifles at
$25,000
each.
Some of you
might be
thinking that
given the state
of
the world’s
economy and
specifically
the United
States financial
issues, the
drive for
military
dominance would
end. However,
there are no
plans to do so,
and in a rare
speech made from
the Pentagon,
President Obama
declared that –
“Our military
will be leaner,
but the world
must know
the United
States is going
to maintain our
military
superiority”.
Two years ago,
on April 10th,
2010, then
Secretary of
Defense Robert
Gates declared
that United
States possessed
a capability
known as
Prompt Global
Strike. But
before I explain
what this system
is, let us take
a look at
what the Bible
has to say
about how this
world will be at
the End of this
Age.
·
I Thessalonians
5:3 (NIV)
– While people
are saying,
"Peace and
safety,"
destruction will
come on them
suddenly, as
labor pains on a
pregnant woman,
and they will
not escape.
So let me ask
everyone this
question –
Where is this
destruction
going to come
from?
Keeping this
verse in mind,
allow me to
describe what
Prompt Global
Strike is.
In short, this
system
provides the US
Military the
ability to
strike anywhere
on the globe in
one hour.
This system
includes the use
of ICBM’s,
hypersonic
cruise missiles
and a kinetic
weapon system
launched from
space. In 2011,
a test was
conducted of the
system as a
missile was
launched from
Hawaii and
struck a target
in the Atoll
Islands
some 3,700 miles
away.
The entire
sequence
occurred in less
than 30 minutes.
I found this
system very
interesting
because of what
is found in
Daniel 8. To
those unfamiliar
with this
chapter, it
predicts the
arrival of the
Anti-Christ and
his destructive
actions
after he
arrives.
·
Daniel 8:19
(NIV)
– He said: "I am
going to tell
you what will
happen later in
the time of
wrath, because
the
vision concerns
the appointed
time of the end.
I
– Here we have
Gabriel
beginning to
explain the
vision Daniel
had by informing
him that what he
has seen will
transpire at the
end or time
wrath.
·
Daniel 8:23
(NIV)
– "In the latter
part of their
reign, when
rebels have
become
completely
wicked,
a stern-faced
king, a master
of intrigue,
will arise.
I
– The
Anti-Christ
arrives on scene
·
Daniel 8:24
(NIV)
– He will become
very strong, but
not by his own
power.
He will cause
astounding
devastation
and will succeed
in whatever he
does.
He will destroy
the mighty men
and the holy
people.
·
Daniel 8:25
(NIV)
– He will cause
deceit to
prosper, and
he will consider
himself superior.
When they feel
secure,
he will destroy
many and
take his stand
against the
Prince of
princes. Yet he
will be
destroyed, but
not by human
power.
I
– In these
verses we can
see that the
Anti-Christ will
be responsible
for worldwide
devastation,
only to be
destroyed by
Jesus himself at
the end of the
Tribulation.
Some of you
might be
thinking
that I am saying
the United
States of
America will be
the location in
which the
Anti-Christ
comes out of.
I am not.
Daniel 12:4
states that
no one will know
the correct
interpretation
of the Book of
Daniel until the
end.
·
Daniel 12:4
(NIV)
– But you,
Daniel, close up
and seal the
words of the
scroll
until the time
of the end.
Many will go
here and there
to increase
knowledge."
So…
what am I saying
then?
Well, regardless
of what your
stance is on the
Rapture and
unless the
United States is
wiped off the
face the Earth,
the US Military
will exist at
the time of the
Tribulation
and could
be a part of
the cause that
causes worldwide
destruction.
Come Quickly
Lord. Amen.
