Mark Hitchcock - Is America in Bible Prophecy?

I have to confess: I love Bible prophecy and I love America. So I guess it was just a matter of time before I wrote a book about America in Bible prophecy. Ever since I became interested in Bible prophecy, I have wondered about the end-times destiny of the land that I love. And I've discovered that I'm not alone.

As I have had the privilege of speaking at prophecy conferences and churches over the last ten years, probably the number one question I have heard is this: Is America in Bible prophecy? Something inside us wants to know what will ultimately happen to this great land we call the United States of America.

And interest in this already popular subject has surged in recent months because of the terrorist attacks against America. In the days after the attacks, I was asked this question dozens of times.

I'd guess that at one time or another since September 11, 2001, you, too, have wondered where we are headed as a nation. You have probably asked yourself questions like these: Does the Word of God have anything to say about America in the last days? What will happen to America in the end times? How do we fit into God's prophetic program? Will America be destroyed by a nuclear attack? Will America collapse as a result of moral corruption? Will bioterrorism destroy us?

When you think about it, our interest in Americas role in the prophecies about the end of the world could be interpreted as a little self-centered. After all, you rarely hear someone wondering about the end-times role of India, Scotland, Australia, Mexico, or Brazil. Don't the people in these nations matter to God as much as Americans?

Despite the fact that people in other countries might consider it a bit arrogant, I believe it is completely legitimate to wonder what will become of America in the end times. The United States is the most powerful nation in the history of the world. What's going to happen to it?

The purpose of this book is to take a concise yet in-depth look at all the theories concerning America in the last days, examine the biblical passages that are used to support these views, and then set forth what I believe is the most likely biblical scenario for the future of America.

In this book I am going to assume that the reader has at least a basic knowledge of events in the end times. To make sure you understand these events, let's do a brief review and define a few key terms that you will see sprinkled throughout the book.

This next event on God's prophetic timetable is the Rapture. This is when all people, living or dead, who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord and go with Him up to heaven and then return with Him to earth at least seven years later, at His second coming (see John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The Tribulation is the final seven years of this age. It will begin with a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist and end with the second coming of Christ to earth (not to be confused with the Rapture). During these seven years, the Lord will pour out His wrath upon the earth in successive waves of judgment. But the Lord will also pour out His grace during this time by saving millions of people (read Revelation 6-19).

In the last half of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will rule the world politically, economically, and religiously. The entire world will either give allegiance to him or suffer persecution and death (see Revelation 13:1-18).

The campaign or war of Armageddon is the final event of the Great Tribulation. In this war, all the armies of the earth will gather against Israel and attempt to eradicate the Jewish people once and for all (see Revelation 14:19-20; 16:12-16; 19:19-21).

The climactic event of human history is the literal, physical, visible, glorious return of Jesus Christ back to planet earth to destroy the armies of the world gathered in Israel and to set up His kingdom on earth, a kingdom that will last for one thousand years (see Revelation 19:11-21).

My prayer is that God will use this book in your life to give you a greater love for Bible prophecy and most importantlyfor the Savior who is its focus.

Maranatha!

Our Lord, Come!

May God richly bless America.

Mark Hitchcock

F or thirteen years of our lives, the first thing we did every morning at school was to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. In this pledge we boldly recall the heritage of our nation and declare that the United States is one nation under God.

But the truth is that all nations are under God. All the nations of the earthand their leadersare under the sovereign hand of God.

Very early in the pages of the Bible, Scripture makes this abundantly clear: When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8).

Job says, He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away (12:23). And King David, the greatest ruler of Israel, acknowledged the rule of God over all the heavens and earth:

Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. (1 Chronicles 29:10b-12)

In the book of Daniel, God reminded the great king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, that it is He who rules over mans kingdoms:

Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. (Daniel 2:20-21)