America In The Last Days

I recently saw a meme complaining about Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA. According to the creator of the meme, every year around the 4^th of July, this song climbs way up the charts on all the major music streaming platforms. The problem? The song isn’t really patriotic or pro-America in any overtly discernible way. It does clearly seem to be the story of an armed forces veteran coming home after the Vietnam conflict, but I suppose if one such as the meme creator were to go searching for overt “Yay, America!” lyrics, they would indeed come up empty.

Seeing this meme caused me to begin thinking. First of all, I wondered why the meme’s author would care so much about whether the song was overtly patriotic or not. Then of course, I remembered that it’s the internet, and what good is the internet if one can’t complain about obscure minutiae? More importantly, I began thinking about the usual rhetoric that accompanies Independence Day in the US, and how, at least in Christian circles, I often hear one of two refrains…

Many Christians wax optimistic about the future and how America will be a light unto the world until Christ returns. Others complain about the state of society and talk about how we need to turn this country around before it’s too late. Both of these statements miss a very important Biblical fact: the United States of America will have little to no role to play in the end times.

*gasping noises*

I’m no scholar of the End Times, but I have read the Bible enough times to pick up a thing or two about the end. As far as I can tell, the only nations mentioned (other than Israel) are Gog and Magog (in Revelation 20:8). I’ve heard more learned scholars than myself debate which current geopolitical actors are represented by Gog and Magog. Some say that China and Russia are a good fit, while others believe that the Muslim countries of the Middle East are more likely to be the nations alluded to in Revelation. Either way, the good ol’ US-of-A is not mentioned.

This is probably due to the fact that it would be well over a thousand years before the world at large knew that there were continents beyond the western sea. But, I digress.

Then, there is this little gem from the book of Zechariah: “For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken...” (Zechariah 14:2). Notice that the Lord says He will gather ALL the nations against Israel. All means… all. Even the good ol’ US-of-A.

For my entire life, the US has been an ally of Israel. To even imagine otherwise seems like nothing other than a misguided flight of fancy, but if we believe what the Bible has to say, then we are left with the knowledge that one day, whether it is tomorrow or a thousand years from now, the government of the United States of America will turn its back on Israel. This assumes, of course, that the USA is even a thing at that point in time. After the last several years, I am sad to say, it is not difficult to imagine this once-great nation coming apart at the seams.

None of this is to say that there might not still be pockets of support among the citizens of the US or whatever future nation may hypothetically take over North America. The official government position, however, will undoubtedly view Israel as the enemy. This is not my own prediction, but merely an explanation of the reality which the Bible has prophesied.

As for the “taking this country back” part, Bible-reading Christians should know where society is heading. We will not be “taking back” this nation, or any other. Not during the final days, anyway. One might hope that we will be able to shine a light of hope for individuals who may yet come to Christ before the end, but as for society as a whole, the Bible predicts a grim future…

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:1-4)

What of it, then? Should we abandon all hope? Should we fling our hands up in the air and give up? Should we wail and fret over the fact that things seem to be getting worse all the time? Well, that’s certainly one option, and sadly, it’s the direction I see far too many Christians going. We complain and gripe and moan about how the world isn’t how we think it’s supposed to be. The fact is, we who grew up in the United States until the last decade or so have been living in a protected Christian bubble. Since that bubble popped, or at the very least is quickly leaking air, many (most?) of us in the Christian community have chosen lamentation over joy.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Rather than giving in to despair and bitterness, we ought to look around at the world today in amazement and wonder as we see Biblical prophecies being fulfilled. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2-3)

This phrase has been overused in recent years, but we truly are living in unprecedented times. As we observe the situations unfolding around the world before our very eyes, we have a choice to make. We can either give in to fear and anger, or we can look on in amazement as we see confirmation after confirmation of God’s word scrolling across our tiny screens.