What role will the U.S. play in Eschatology...if any?

[Utility]

Peace

[meghan]

I've wondered the same thing myself. This continent is not mentioned in Revelation at all, as far as we know. 1/3 of the world's fresh water is in Canada though. It makes you wonder if wormwood is destined for us Canucks!

[Jezreel]

I've always been taught that the US is what Revelation calls "Babylon". She sits on many waters - many people say this intends to say "culturally diverse" - and the US is certainly culturally diverse.

with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.

Let's put it this way - there's a lot of immorality all over the place, but the immorality in America wins, in my opinion.

and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality....

And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more-- cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.

The US is a hub for all kinds of merchants - think of how many countries create products to sell in the US, or how many companies in the US delegate production to other countries...

As much as the world supposedly hates the US, they're gonna miss it if/when its gone, am I right? No nation stands forever.

My two cents.

[Rey]

I'm not sure it even matters.

[drewcosten]

I'm not sure it even matters.

This I'd agree with. But then I'm not convinced that reading Revelation in the futurist sense is necessarily the correct way.

[TPM]

What role will America play?

Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

[Utility]

Peace

[Jezreel]

Wow. That's quite the post. I'll have to send him a note (hebrew4christians possibly the most well-written online study of Hebrew that I've seen yet)

Here's a question that came to mind: if the US is Babylon (which is what I've come to think - I haven't heard any better reasoning for who/what Babylon is) then when God calls us out of her, what would that entail? Leaving the country? Or not associating oneself with the nation?

[Utility]

Peace

[Jezreel]

Okay so, then that would mean that when God calls us to "come out of her", that's when we're raptured, according to that view... right?

[TPM]

My point was that the US is just like all Gentile nations. It will one day join the world and turn against Israel. At that time, it will be judged like all the other nations of the world for it's great sin.

Until then, I see nothing regarding the US in prophecy.

[Utility]

Peace

[Jezreel]

I'm actually quite certain that there will be signs to show when it will be that Christ is coming - even if I do not believe in a pre-trib rapture (I'm pre-wrath, if anything)

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Of course we are to look to Christ, no matter what, and we are not to follow those into the desert who tell us that the Christ has come, but that does not mean that there aren't signs that precede his coming. There were signs that came prior to his first coming as our Lamb. There are always signs because God will always provide a way out to those who look to Him.

[Utility]

Peace

[Jezreel]

Can you talk in laymens terms? My brain can't wrap around them big words. Show me in the Bible where it says that the rapture comes BEFORE the Tribulation.