Booklet
H -
The United States in Bible Prophecy
Supplement to Lesson 23
- America in Prophecy
- The Voice of a Dragon
This booklet provides additional
information on the second beast of Revelation 13 as
described in lesson 23.
Please complete lesson 23 before reading this material.
Revelation 13:11 introduces a beast
which has been identified as the United States of
America. Notice five identifying details:
1. It is a "beast."
Daniel 7:17 tells us that a beast in symbolic Bible
prophecy represents a king or political nation.
2. It is "another"
beast. It is not identical to the first beast of
chapter 13.
3. "Coming up"
indicates that it was at that time rising to power as
John watched in vision. The context of verse 10 is
talking about the period of time when the first beast
was taken into captivity--1798. So this nation would
be gaining its power right at that time.
4. "Out of the
earth." This is in contrast with the beasts of
Daniel 7 and the first beast of Revelation 13 which
all came up out of the sea. Sea is the gathering
together of the waters, and waters in Bible prophecy
represent "peoples, and multitudes, and nations,
and tongues." Revelation 17:15. So this nation
would arise in an area which was not crowded with
many peoples and nations. In Revelation 10:2 the
terms "sea" and "earth" refer to
the eastern and western hemispheres, respectively.
John Wesley, in his note on
Revelation 13:11, written in 1754, says of this
beast, "He is not yet come: tho’ he cannot
be far off. For he is to appear at the end of the
forty-two months of the first beast."
Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, 1791 ed.,
vol. 3, p. 299.
In 1798, when the papal power
received its deadly wound, the United States, located
in the western hemisphere, was the only great world
power then coming into prominence in territory not
previously occupied by peoples, multitudes, and
nations. Only nine years preceding this, in 1789, the
U.S. adopted its national Constitution.
"Is it reasonable to
suppose that God would leave out from the prophecies
of his Book this whole Western Hemisphere? No,
No!" (De Witt Talmage, Selected Sermons, vol. 2,
p. 9, 1900.)
5. "Like a lamb." The
nations depicted in Daniel 7 (Babylon, Medo-Persia,
Greece, Rome) were pictured as ferocious beasts of
prey. They were characterized by intolerance,
persecution, and oppression. The United States, by
contrast, is pictured as a docile, domestic lamb,
founded on principles of liberty, equality, and
tolerance.
It is clear from the text that the
United States would not always remain as innocent as it
began.
1. "Spake as a
dragon." A nation "speaks" through its
decrees and legislative enactments. This verse
indicates that the U.S. government would act on the
principles of the dragon which, according to
Revelation 12:9, is Satan.
2. "Exerciseth all the
power of the first beast before him." This tells
us that the United States will enforce the power of
the papacy. It will cause "the earth and them
which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed." The nation will
repudiate its principles of religious liberty.
3. "Great wonders."
Verses 13 and 14 tell us that there will be
supernatural signs which will deceive the world.
4. "Saying to them that
dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to
the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did
live." An image of something is a likeness to
it, a duplicate of it. So the characteristics of the
papacy will be duplicated in the United States. The
papacy has been distinguished historically as a
combination of religious and civil power. When the
United States begins to employ its civil power to
enforce the decrees of religious leaders who are
clamoring even now for such enforcement, the United
States will have formed an image of the Roman
Catholic religio-political structure.
5. Verse 15 describes legal
decrees to enforce religious duty, with the death
penalty for dissenters. Forced religion, practiced by
the papacy during its supremacy, is totally contrary
to the principles of God.
6. Verse 16 tells us that it
will be the United States which instigates the
enforcement of the beast’s mark. Lesson 23
documents the fact that the beast takes Sunday
observance as the mark of its authority. This is in
contrast with the seventh-day Sabbath, which the
Creator has established as the sign of His authority.
7. Verse 17 makes it clear that
those who obey God and refuse to give their
allegience to the beast and his image, will be
prohibited by law from carrying on any business
dealings. Their dependence will be totally upon God.
Although every earthly support will be cut off, they
will trust God for their sustenance. And the promise
is given, "His place of defence shall be the
munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his
waters shall be sure." Isaiah 33:16.
Notice what is to be enforced: the
mark of the beast—Sunday observance. This will be
the deciding issue regarding one’s loyalty.
Satan hates the Sabbath because it
is the sign of Christ’s authority as Creator and
King. And in all ages Satan has tried to work through the
governments of nations in his attacks against Christ and
His people.
Just as in Bible times, so today,
the major movements of nations and kings are the
battleground of an even greater war—the war which
began in heaven between Christ and Satan. In this war we
are all involved. These final events of earth’s
history will be the final climax of the great controversy
which has been raging for 6,000 years.
The outcome of that battle is
described in Revelation chapter 19. Verses 7 and 8
describe the purification of God’s people which will
take place during this trying time. Although outwardly it
may appear difficult, "yet the inward man is renewed
day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16. Texts such as James
1:3, 4 and 1 Peter 4:1 describe the blessings which come
with standing for the right.
Revelation 19 describes the
glorification of Christ’s church, the victorious
return of our Lord, and the destruction of the earthly
powers which attempted to enforce disobedience to
God’s Law.
Then the promise is given that
those "which had not worshipped the beast, neither
his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands;...lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:4.
WHAT
THE BIBLE SAYS
- It’s time to do a
study such as never done before;
- The end of time’s
upon us, even at the very door.
- A test will come to
everyone who dwells upon the land;
- And only by the word
of God will anybody stand.
-
- It’s what the
Bible says that really matters now;
- It’s what the
Bible says that counts.
- It’s what the
Bible says that really matters now;
- So teach me what THE
BIBLE says.
-
- It may be different
from what I’ve always thought;
- It may not go along
with what my parents always taught.
- But if the Bible says
it, who am I to disagree?
- The word of God is the
standard and the test for every creed.
-
- It’s what the
Bible says that really matters now;
- It’s what the
Bible says that counts.
- It’s what the
Bible says that really matters now;
- So teach me what THE
BIBLE says.
Back to Lesson 23