These, Our United States

Written by Duane Kellett based on his research and analysis of the issue of whether the United States is found in biblical prophecy. This is always a controversial topic but one that cannot be ignored by those of us who believe the ancient Jewish prophets had something to say about the current time we live.


A question is often raised as to whether or not the United States is mentioned in the Bible. The general consensus among the scholars of the day is that such a reference does not exist. Today, many well-meaning folks see no correlation between the events of the day and the prophetic warnings issued in God's word to the nations of the world. So long as the United States is a major player on the world scene, no judgement of God on a disobedient and unruly world is imminent. Is this line of thought justified when scrutinized against prophetic pronouncements in God's Holy word? Or, are we akin to the ostrich, our head in the sand and our backside exposed to the swift boot of judgement God is sending our way? For sure, if our head is in the sand, we won't see the impending wrath of God coming. However, no mattter how deep our head might be buried, when the blow comes, we will surely feel it.

The United States would have been a nation unknown to the prophets of old. It would be a concept, which would become a reality only centuries after their pronouncements had been made. It would be a location, a landmass, and a people of distinct characteristics. It would be a nation that would arise in the latter days, strong and powerful. The prophets would have had no modern day name to assign to a nation that would only exist in the latter stages of God's plan and redemption for a world gone wrong. God would have a purpose for this mighty nation of the latter days and world events should shape it into a powerful leader among the peoples and nationalities of the world. The prophets did not know the nation by name but they did know the nation by location and deed. Listen to what the prophets have to say about this mighty nation:

Jeremiah speaks on the matter with not one, but many, references. In chapter 50, verse 41, he writes, "Behold, a people shall come up from the north, and a great nation, and many kinds shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth." (emphasis mine). A great nation shall come, says Jeremiah. Many kings shall be raised from the coasts of the earth. A look at the map will show the curious that the United States borders the Alantic Ocean on one side, the Pacific Ocean on the other, the Carribean sea to the south and the Bering sea to the north. If one does a bit of math, one discovers that the United States branches of government are comprised of one President, one Vice-President, one hundred Senators, 435 elected members of the House of Representatives and 9 Supreme Court justices. Indeed, in those latter days there shall be a great nation. And in those latter days, many kings shall be raised from the coasts of the Earth.

Jeremiah again references this unknown nation in the 6 chapter, verse 21. He writes, "Thus saith the Lord, behold a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither." This great nation of Jeremiah writes will be raised from the sides of the Earth. If one could imagine Jeremiah choosing a reference that would make sense to him in defining the location of this great nation, is it not possible that, standing as he was in Jerusalem, he would place this country of the future on the opposite side of the globe? And what nation of our age professes to lavish concern on the disadvantaged of our society and our world?

In chapter 51, verse 13, Jeremiah warns this nation of the latter days. He writes, "Oh thou that dwellest on many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of they covetousness." The United States is a land of abundant treasure, mighty rivers and numerous streams. The peoples of our nation are becoming greedier by the day.

The Prophet Daniel weighs in on the matter with a most prolific statement. Some scholars attribute his words in chapter 8, verse 5, to the great sweeping campaigns of Alexander the Great. Others see it differently. Daniel writes, "And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west, on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes." Daniel speaks here of the abomination of desolation, the anti-christ. This evil man comes from the west. The United States is the dominant nation in the Western Hemisphere. This man will come from the west across the face of the whole earth and, most significant of all, he will not touch the ground in his coming. Sorry Biblical scholars, I beg to differ with you here. Alexander the Great may have conquered most of the known world of his time but this man of evil will traverse the whole face of the earth. And scholars, every time Alexander climbed down from his horse, his feet touched the ground. The man spoken of by Daniel will travel from the west, across the face of the whole face of the earth and he will not set foot on the ground again until he arrives in the Holy city Jerusalem. Today, the President of the United States can climb aboard Air Force One, leave Andrews Air Force Base and not set his foot upon the ground until he arrives at whatever destination in the world he has chosen to go to.

Isaiah speaks to the matter of this nation as well. He speaks to the moral decadence and the arrogance of this nation in the latter days. He prefaces his remarks in chapter 2 with the worlds, (verse 2), "And it shall come to pass in the last days..." Beginning in verse 7, he describes this nation, writing, "their land is also full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots. Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself; Therefore forgive them not." In chapter 5, Isaiah speaks to the military strength and prowess of this nation of the latter days. he writes, beginning in verse 26, "And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken; whose arrows are sharp, and they bows bent, their horses hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind."

Isaiah, again, makes a most interesting reference in chapter 23 verse 11. There he writes, "He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms; the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strongholds thereof." God will stretch out his hand, over the sea, to destroy the strongholds of the merchant city? In Chapter 46, verse 11, Isaiah further writes, "Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man who executeth my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed it, I will also do it."

Ezekiel gives a most interesting description in Chapter 17, verses 3 and 4. He writes, "And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar; He cropped off the young twigs, and carried into a land of traffick; he set it down in a city of merchants." A great eagle with great wings? Our national symbol is that of an eagle, wings outspread in flight. Ezekiel speaks of divers colours. Could this possibly be a reference to our flag, the symbol of our great nation? A flag made up of diverse colors of red, white and blue? The land of traffic and the city of merchants where significant enough to mention. Is there any place in the world with more traffic than we have? Is not New York City the world's preeminent merchant capital?

When one takes into account the writings of the prophets, one has a choice to make. Ignore the words they so painstakingly wrote millennia ago or rise up and take notice of the events swirling in the world around us. September 11, 2001 was a tragic day in our nation. On that day, the world forever changed. Events are spiralling out at a pace that can only strain the political and diplomatic arms of our government. Our military forces are engaged on foreign fields of battle and in the domestic protection of our way of life.

Jesus summed things up in a most definitive way. In chapter 24 or Matthew, starting with verse 35, Jesus says, "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 Noah 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 Noah entered into the ark, and know not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."