img

When a Lamb Becomes a Dragon: The United States of America in Bible Prophecy

img
Samuel Smith
5

LESSON 15

WHEN A LAMB BECOMES A DRAGON: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN BIBLE PROPHECY

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible Study Programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Final Events of Bible Prophecy. The topic for this study is: When a Lamb Becomes a Dragon: The United States of America in Bible Prophecy. In this study, we are going to consider an important Bible prophecy concerning the role America will play in the final hours of earth's history.

Beloved, from Revelation 13, we read about two beasts. The Bible uses the term beast to refer to a power, nation, or kingdom (Daniel 7:17, 23). Thus, Revelation 13 gives us a prophetic insight into the operations of two world powers that will have an effect on the lives of earth's inhabitants as the great controversy between Christ and Satan rushes an end.

The first power is described as a composite beast which rises up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1). We know from our previous studies that this first beast represents the Roman Catholic Church System. We learnt that this power ruled from 538 A. D. to 1798; a period of 1260 years. In 1798, as the prophecy predicted, the papacy received a deadly wound which brought her dominion to an end. From Revelation 13:10, we read concerning the wounded papal power: "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword..."

Now, as the papal power goes down in 1798, the prophecy predicts the rise of another power. From Revelation 13:11-17 we read the following: "11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; 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. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:11-17 ).Friends, this second beast that the Bible describes in the passage above is no other power than the United States of America. Someone might correctly ask: But how sure are you that this second beast is America? Friends, to establish this fact clearly, I will want us to carefully consider the characteristics of this second beast from Scripture and relate these characteristics to the history of America. I believe this exercise will enable us to know for sure whether the second beast in Revelation 13 represents the United States or not.

Now, the characteristics of the second beast in Revelation 13 are as follows:

1. Prophecy: The second beast comes up at a time period when the papal power is going down (Revelation 13:10-11). Thus, we are to expect this new power to be coming up on the world stage around 1798, the time when the Papacy receives it's deadly wound.

Fulfilment: It is only one power in the whole of history that was gaining world dominance at the time the papal power was going down. And this power is the United States of America. Friends, the US had its declaration of Independence in 1776. Her war of independence was fought between 1777-1783. The US constitution was voted in 1787 and ratified in 1788. The first President of the US, George Washington was elected in 1789. The US bill of rights was adopted in 1791; and friends, the US received her first international recognition as a nation in 1798. Beloved, I believe that an Unseen Hand of Providence was directing the affairs of the United States till she stepped into recognition just at the time the first beast, the papacy was going down in 1798.

2. Prophecy: Unlike the first beast which rises up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1), the second beast comes up out of the Earth (Revelation 13:11). If the sea represents a densely populated area of the world (Revelation 17:15), then obviously the earth will have an interpretation opposite to the sea; that is, a place with a sparse population. And so unlike the papacy which arose from the densely populated area of Western Europe, we are to expect the rise of this new power in a sparsely populated area of the world.

Fulfilment: Friends, the United States of America did originate from a sparsely populated area of the world. The land the US has developed so much today, was in some few centuries ago, known as the NEW WORLD. It was an area that was largely uninhabited until many people, who were largely fleeing papal persecution in Western Europe, sought the place as a safe haven. From the classic book 'The Great Controversy’ by E. G. White, page 291, we read the following about the Pilgrim Fathers: "And when God's hand seemed pointing them across the sea, to a land where they might found for themselves a state, and leave to their children the precious heritage of religious liberty, they went forward, without shrinking, in the path of providence."3. Prophecy: Unlike the first beast which had ten horns which depicted the political divide of Pagan Rome; this second beast had two horns like a Lamb (compare Revelation 13:1 with Revelation 13:11).

Fulfilment: Friends, a Lamb in Scripture, basically represents Jesus Christ. From John 1:29, the Baptist told his disciples concerning Christ: "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world". Friends, this third point basically mean that America will begin as a young nation with Christian principles.

In fact, from the Declaration of America's Independence, we read the following: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Moreover, in the First Amendment of America's Bill of Rights, we read the following: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".

Friends, America began as a Christian nation with the zeal to respect the religious rights and freedom of all her citizens.

4. Prophecy: We also note from Revelation 13 that the first beast has crowns on its horns, but the second beast has no crowns. Crowns in Bible prophecy represent kingly authority (Psalm 21:3; Revelation 19:11-16). Thus, this nation, the prophecy predicts, will have no kingly authority.

Fulfilment: Of course, it is a clear fact that America has no kingly authority. In fact, the two horns on the head of this young lamb represent Protestantism and Republicanism; and actually, the separation of Church and State. Friends, right from the onset, America decided to go strictly by the words of Christ as found in Luke 20:25: "... Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's."

The founders of America ensured through their constitution that the state remained separate from the church. For these founders knew the terrible results that will inevitably follow when the church and state were joined together. For many of these people knew or experienced in one way or the other, the persecution and bloodshed that characterized the various nations of Western Europe when the Catholic church and these nations united to enforce religious practices.

5. Prophecy: Even though this second beast came up with the characteristics of a lamb, it later spoke as a dragon (Revelation 13:1). A dragon in Bible prophecy refers to Satan, the arch enemy of God (Revelation 12:7-9). And so even though this second beast begins as a Christian nation, it later speaks as a dragon. An important question that begs for an answer at this stage is this: How does a nation speak? Friends, a nation or country actually speak through her laws and constitution. Thus, in this apocalyptic prophecy, the Word of God predicted that this young nation that began with firm Christian principles will later legislate laws that will serve the purposes of Satan.

Fulfilment: Even though the United States began as a Christian nation with Christian principles, today America is no more the nation with staunch Christian principles. Various laws have been passed by her leaders that are against the clear thus saith the Lord. The nation has now passed laws encouraging abortion, immorality and sexual perversion of various kinds. Violence, rape and murder are the horrible scenes in her streets. Beloved, America today, is no more the Christian nation she used to be.

6. Prophecy: From Revelation 13:12, we read the following: "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed."

Friends, from what we have studied previously in Revelation 13, we know that the first beast in the chapter represents the papacy. Moreover, from our study today, we have proven beyond doubt that the second beast in Revelation 13 is none other than the United States of America. From what we just read from Revelation 13:12 , it is clear that the Bible predicts an alliance between these two end time powers. We are told that the second beast (the United States) will exercise all the power of the first beast (the papacy) before him. And that the second beast (the United States) will cause the earth to WORSHIP the first beast (the papacy) whose deadly wound was healed. From Revelation 13:12, we learn that this young nation that began with Christian principles will actually grow to become a worldwide superpower. This nation, Bible prophecy predicts will then speak as a dragon and actually force the world to bow to the papacy.

Expected future fulfilment: Now, the million dollar question at this point in our study is this: Will the US actually repudiate her Bill of Rights that unequivocally states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". Will the US actually throw away this spirit of her constitution that was intentionally inscribed by her founding fathers to protect the citizenry against papal supremacy? Friends, the answer is a big YES. You may ask why I seem to be so confident about this. Beloved, I am highly convinced that this will take place because of the rapidity with which prophecy is being fulfilled in respect to the Bible's predicted alliance between these two end time powers. Friends, the evidence is seriously overwhelming.

Now, I want us to check out some of the evidence in regard to the growing alliance between America and the papacy. But before we do that, I want us to review the fact that the strong alliance that now exists between America and the papacy is only a recent phenomenon. The US began as a protestant nation. The founders and early citizens of America did not want to have anything to do with the papacy. For it was to protect themselves from the terrible persecution of the papal power that the Pilgrim Fathers left Europe to seek a country where they could worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. They intentionally built a constitution where the church and state will be forever kept separate. In fact, these founders desired a nation without a king, and a church without a pope.

From 1867 to 1984, the United States did not have diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Within this period, America nurtured no diplomatic ties with the papacy. In fact, in 1951, when the Truman Presidency attempted to send Gen. Mark Clark as the nation’s representative to the Vatican, there was a huge outcry against this move from the American people. The message was clear. America as a nation did not want to have anything to do with the papacy.

But friends, as the Bible predicted in Revelation 13, this animosity that America had towards the papal power has gradually changed with time. For instance, on January 10, 1984, under the leadership of Ronald Reagan, the United States established formal diplomatic relations with the papacy by sending William A. Wilson as the country's first representative to the Vatican. And guess what! Few Americans cared or protested.

Now consider this: "In 1960 (the Roman Catholic) John Kennedy went from Washington down to Texas to assure Protestant preachers that he would not obey the pope. In 2001, George Bush came from Texas up to Washington to assure a group of Catholic bishops that he would."- Washington Post, April 16, 2001.

Friends, from the February 24, 1992 edition of Time Magazine, we read the cover story: "Holy Alliance: How Reagan and the Pope conspired to assist Poland's solidarity movement and hasten the demise of Communism." From the inside story, we read this: "In that meeting, Reagan and the Pope agreed to undertake a clandestine campaign to hasten the dissolution of the communist empire. Declares Richard Allen, Reagan's first National Security Advisor: "This was one of the great secret alliances of all time."

Friends, over the years, it is very clear that America has changed the way she views and relates with the papacy. In March 22, 2002, George W. Bush, the President of the United States, made an impressive statement that summarizes all that I’m trying hard to prove here. President Bush said to the American people: "The best way to honour Pope John Paul II, truly one of the great men, is to take his teachings seriously; is to listen to his words and put his words and teachings into action here in America. This is a challenge we must accept."

And of course, this was quite a challenge for many Americans who knew, and cared about their history. Friends, for some decades now, all Presidents of this once Protestant nation had come to power with a firm resolve to obey the papacy. In recent years, the relationship between America and the papacy has flourished immensely to the delight of the Vatican. For the first time in the history of America, a Catholic pope, in the person of pope Francis was given the opportunity to address a joint session of the American Congress on September 24, 2015. And guess what! It was the United States that extended an invitation to him. In relation to the pope’s visit, United States House Speaker John Boehner made this prophecy fulfilling statement: "We’re humbled that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation and certainly look forward to receiving his message on behalf of the American people" (BBC News). Friends, the founding fathers of America could never have imagined that a day like this will come. However, all these events are taking place now because the Bible has predicted an alliance between America and the papacy in the final hours of earth's history.

Beloved, from Revelation 13:12, the apostle John also prophesied that this alliance between America and the papacy will ultimately have worldwide consequences. For the beloved apostle clearly wrote that the second beast (America) will cause the WORLD to worship the first beast, (papacy) whose deadly wound was healed ( Revelation 13:12). Friends, this basically means that America will force the entire world to accept papal decrees, particularly Sunday worship, which is actually the mark of papal authority.

From Revelation 13:16-17, we read the following concerning what the second beast (America) will do to enforce Sunday worship across the world: "16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:16-17).

Friends, as the text above predicts, the United States is going to legislate mandatory Sunday rest laws. This is what is popularly known as the National Sunday Law. Beloved, what you probably didn't know is that Sunday blue laws are already on the law books across various states in America and the world. These laws are only waiting to be seriously enforced. The Bible predicts that the US is going to ensure strict obedience to the decree of Sunday legislation across the world through economic sanctions and ultimate, the death penalty (Revelation 13:15-17).

Beloved, in the final hours of earth's history, as the mark of the beast (Sunday worship) is enforced on the world, the popular majority will choose to accept this mark, and place their allegiance on the side of the beast power (Roman Catholicism). Revelation 13:16 points out that one class of people will receive the mark in their right hand whiles another class receive the mark in their foreheads. From our previous study, we noted clearly that the mark of the beast is not a physical mark that will be placed on the hand or forehead. The meaning of this text is quite straightforward. People who will receive the mark in their hand will do so for convenience. Such people will not want to be affected by the strict laws that will affect their labour, and hence their source of livelihood. On the other hand, those who receive the mark on their forehead will do so on the basis of their personal beliefs or convictions in respect to Sunday sacredness. Beloved, in either way, the Bible teaches that in the final hours of earth's history, anyone who decides to accept the mark of the beast (Sunday worship) instead of the Bible Sabbath will actually be trampling upon the plain commandments of God as found in Exodus 20:8-11. The Bible says concerning such people in Revelation 13:8 the following: "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

At this point, the big question that I believe many readers will want to find an answer to is this: What about the mass number of people who worship on Sundays? From what you are saying here, does it mean these people have received the mark of the beast? Does it mean these people are lost? Friends, I do not imply by the statements i have made above that people who worship on Sunday at the moment have received the mark of the beast, or are lost. What I have done up to this point is to expound what the Bible teaches on these apocalyptic events. In fact, I believe that there are huge numbers of God's faithful children who worship on Sunday. These people are serving God based on the light that they now possess. In Acts 17:30, we read the following from Luke: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." Beloved, God knows that many of His loving children are in Sunday worship, and even in other religions of the world. He does not judge these people based on particular lights that they do not now have. However, it is His desire that all these people will ultimately come to a full knowledge of His truth. At the moment, I want to plainly say that no one has received the mark of the beast yet. However, God's end time warning message is going clear across the globe. This message is described by the apostle John as a three - fold message that is being borne by three angels flying in mid - air (Revelation 14:6-12). Beloved through the swift worldwide proclamation of the message found in Revelation 14:6-12, God is going to provide an opportunity for everyone to know and understand these end time issues. By the time the United States legislates mandatory Sunday rest laws, God's end time message of mercy and warning, would have gone clear across the globe. By this time, anyone who will continue to go along with Sunday worship will then be receiving, so to speak, the mark of the beast; and subsequently the full wrath of God that will be poured out on the wicked without mercy (Revelation 16:1-21).

Friends, I know some of you might still doubt the truthfulness of these words. Some of you might even think I’m making all these up. But beloved, this account of Bible prophecy we have gone through today is a clear and distinct truth from the Word of God.

Friends, Bible prophecy actually predicts the passing of a National Sunday Law in America, and subsequently in other nations across the world. Now, if what we have studied from the Bible today is true, then somehow we should be seeing a push for Sunday legislation in America, and the other nations around the world. At this point, I want us to check out some of the evidence in relation to Sunday legislation across the world:

1. "Because Sunday is the Sabbath of the majority in our land (USA) and has been nationally established as the day of worship, it is the day all should be compelled to observe as the Lord's day... We further emphasize that it becomes the duty of the government to enforce the observation of the day." - Destiny Publication, Special Alert No. 43, July 1983.

2. "This organization proposes in every possible way to aid in preserving Sunday as a civil institution. Our national security requires the active support of all good citizens in the maintenance of our American Sabbath; Sunday Laws must be enacted and enforced." - Quoted as "principles contained in the constitution of the original organization" (then called the American Sabbath Union, and now called the Lord's Day Alliance), in its twenty - fifth report, page 6.

3. April 4, 1998 the city of Bendigo held a Sunday law referendum supported by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Uniting Church. - Melbourne Sunday Herald, April 5, 1998.

4. April 1, 1997 Pakistan a nation of 120, 000, 000 Muslims altered its rest day from Friday to Sunday. - Deccan Herald, April 2, 1997.

5. "In 1998 Norway, with bipartisan support, enacted a Sunday rest day." - From the book: The Pope's Letter and Sunday Laws, page 90.

6. "Germany plans to make Sunday the official day of rest for the E. C. 320 million citizens." - Daily Telegraph, London, September 29, 1990.

7. Germany's constitutional court has ruled that the nation’s capital must, like the rest of the country, abide by the law instituting Sunday as a day of rest from work and of spiritual improvement. - (Deutsche Welle, December 1, 2009)

8. "Therefore, also in the particular circumstances of our time, Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy." - Dies Domini, Apostolic Letter by Pope John Paul ll, July 7, 1998.

9. "Pope Benedict XVI ... called for the rediscovery of the religious meaning of Sundays as an antidote to the rampant consumerism and religious indifference that was making the modern world a spiritual desert." - The Guardian, May 30, 2005.

10. "Pope Francis has lamented the abandoning of the traditionally Christian practice of not working on Sundays, saying it has a negative impact on families and friendships." - No - work Sundays good, not just for faithful.

11. "The Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK) has again launched an initiative to legally forbid working on Sunday. It called on Croatian citizens to support the initiative and contribute to the preservation of Sunday in its historical meaning, as a non-working day which is an opportunity for a family reunion, reports Večernji List on March 1, 2017." - By Vedran Pavlic in Total Croatia News, March 1, 2017.

12. "Free Sundays are what all Catholics, non-Catholics and non-believers need," Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki told Polish Radio ahead of a meeting of the Bishops Conference on Friday, which is expected to support the ban. The idea was put forward last year by the powerful Solidarity trade union, backed by a million-strong petition, and has been batted back and forth in a parliamentary subcommittee ever since. The clerics are careful to base their argument on quality of life rather than religious grounds. "Families don't just need financial support, they need time for themselves," said the Archbishop of Katowice, Wiktor Skworc." - By News from Elsewhere in BBC NEWS, August 23, 2017.

13. "Sunday has just become a little less busy in Poland, thanks to a new law banning most commercial shopping that took effect in March. And Poland’s move, which bucks the prevailing trend in secularized countries toward an ever-more commercialized Sunday, could provide a constructive example for the United States, where the network of state "blue laws" that once restricted Sunday business activities has been substantially reduced." - By Nicholas Wolfram Smith in ncregister.com, April 2, 2018.

As you can see beloved, I could go on and on and on. Today, by the grace of God, I have tried to prove to you that the passing of National Sunday Laws across the globe is just on the horizon. World leaders are only waiting for the right major crises to legislate and enforce it. From David Rockefeller, the American banker who served as chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Corporation, we read the following sobering words that come to support this important point: "This present window of opportunity, during which a truly peaceful and interdependent world order might be built, will not be open for too long - We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept the New World Order." -- (David Rockefeller speaking at the United Nations Ambassadors' dinner; September 23, 1994.)

Friends, I want you to reflect on this quote and let it sink deep into your mind. World leaders are only waiting for the right major crises to legislate and enforce a New World Order where every person will be compelled to rest and keep Sunday holy. Now when it happens, where will you stand? Will you love God enough to keep His commandments including the Seventh-day Sabbath? Or you will embrace Sunday, and thus receive the mark of the beast? The choice is in your hands. However, it is my prayer that the Lord will strengthen you so you can choose to obey Him today, instead of following the traditions and decrees of man.

Exhortation: "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe" (John 14:29).

In our next study, we will consider the topic: Coronavirus, Climate Change and Sunday Laws. The Bible study references for this study are Exodus 20:8-11 and John 14:29. Please do well to go through these references before the next study is released.

The remaining topics in our series dubbed: The Final Events of Bible Prophecy are as follows:

1. Coronavirus, Climate Change and Sunday Laws.

2. Come out of her, My People: God's Final Call of Mercy to His Children in Babylon.

3. A Great Wonder in Heaven: a Woman Clothed With the Sun, and the Moon Under her feet.

4. Countdown to Armageddon: Survivors of the War Behind all Wars.

Stay tuned and never miss any of these upcoming studies. May the Lord bless you and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

Powered by White Throne Ministries