God's Judgment On America
Jim Bramlett
Is the United States of America mentioned in biblical prophecy? If we are, indeed, in the "last days" before Christ's return, as the overwhelming evidence indicates, is it possible that the greatest Gentile power in history would have been overlooked, or is irrelevant? Or, are references hidden, as are many other prophecies,
to be "unsealed" to seekers in the last days according to Daniel 12:4?
I believe there are passages that do not name but do infer America. Interestingly, these passages are compatible with current geopolitical developments, and also visions and other supernatural
revelations reported by several believers over the years. The
message is of severe judgment, and is ominous.
Judgment Already Decreed
First, a few words about our beloved country. This is hard for me to
say about America. When World War II started, I was age 11. My
father fought with the infantry in Europe; my uncle with the Air
Corps in North Africa. I went to a top military prep school. Later,
at a large university, I practically majored in Air Force ROTC,
becoming the highest ranking cadet officer and Corps Commander. I
devoted my career to the nation's military service, retiring early --
before I was eligible for promotion to full colonel -- only because
of a higher priority, a call into full-time Christian service. I
laid that promotion at the cross. But now, even retired, as a
regular officer the government has a claim on me as long as I live.
I love my country. The flag can still give me goose bumps. I have
always been extremely patriotic. I have researched and lectured on
America's Christian heritage. I know how God's hand has been on
America, starting with Columbus. Yet to God the nations are but a
grain of sand, and as a nation America has rebelled against God,
insulted Him, and declared Him "not wanted." Some believe America
will get away with it because God "needs" America to fulfill the
Great Commission. He doesn't. We won't.
Many are praying for revival in America according to the promises of
2 Chronicles 7:14. God will surely honor the prayers. There will be
revival, and there will be a great harvest, the greatest the world
has ever known. However, based on the parallel of Jeremiah's warning
to Israel and God's answer to him, the part of 2 Chronicles 7:14
about "heal their land" -- as relates to the secular culture -- will
not be answered until Messiah returns. As with Israel in Jeremiah's
day, I believe judgment on America has already been decreed. God's
moth-like judgment (Hosea 5:12) is in progress, eating at us slowly,
but His lion-like judgment (Hosea 5:14) will soon pounce, devouring
us suddenly and completely.
Applicability of 2 Chronicles 7:14? Even though 2 Chronicles was not
written for probably over a hundred years later, Jeremiah may have
tried to implement the principles of it. As a priest, he was surely
aware of the promise to Solomon several hundred years earlier,
either from the oral tradition or written records. But three
different times (three for divine emphasis), God said to
Jeremiah, "Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or
petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to
you" (7:16, NIV). Also see 11:14 and 14:11. In the latter, God
says, "Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry....I will
not accept them. Instead I will destroy them with the sword, famine
and plague."
In another passage, God reiterates His willingness to show mercy and
urges Israel to repent. "Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and
devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one
of you, and reform your ways and your actions" (18:11). But in His
omniscience and foreknowledge, God then says, "But they will
reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us
will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart'" (v. 12). God knew
what their reaction would be; thus, judgment was decreed beforehand.
(And even Solomon, after God's clear promises and warnings in 2
Chronicles 7, fell into sin, soon died and the kingdom was split.)
Why This Probably Applies to America
1. The End of the Gentile Age. The evidence is overwhelming that
the "times of the Gentiles" referred to by Jesus (Luke 21:24) -- the
same as the age of the "Gentiles" referred to by James (Acts 15:14-
16), and Paul (Romans 11:25) -- is in the final seconds. We are in
the final countdown to what God revealed to Daniel as "the appointed
time." It is no accident that America, the largest and most powerful
Gentile nation, has been in a precipitous cultural decline in the
last half of this century (as Israel, the fig tree, has blossomed)
as measured by numerous statistical indicators. And our global
cultural influence is taking the world with us, as we daily export
worldwide our anti-God and perverted national values.
God's prophetic plan and timetable will not be stopped, and it takes
precedence over everything. For example, Israel is still in
rebellion, largely a godless nation. But God promised to regather
them in the last days. He has, in spite of themselves, and with no
effort on their part to comply with 2 Chronicles 7:14, but simply
because of His plan. "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel,
that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy
name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have
gone....Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct" (Ezekiel 37:22,
32). Israel does not deserve mercy, and a further chastening lies
ahead. Yet God will honor His covenant with their fathers, which
Paul strongly reminds us so that we will not be "ignorant"
or "conceited" as saved Gentiles, wild branches grafted into the
natural olive tree (Romans 11:24-25).
2. The Pervasiveness of Evil. As before the Flood, and with Sodom
and Gomorrah, and with the idolatrous occupants of the Promised Land
before Joshua entered, evil is now so deeply pervasive and
entrenched that it must be purged by judgment. Such seems to be a
clear message of the prophets and the New Testament writers. The
world is rushing madly toward the prophesied Tribulation, "such as
was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever
shall be" (Matthew 24:21).
3. Veiled References to America. While America is not mentioned by
name in prophecy, some Bible students believe there are indirect
references. For example, some believe we are the last-days Babylon
of Jeremiah 50 and 51 and elsewhere. The reason is that a number of
the references seemingly do not apply to ancient Babylon, or even to
a possibly restored Babylon in Iraq, and that America is now the
world's major military and financial power. For example, the "rich"
Babylon Jeremiah describes lives "by many waters" (USA, not ancient
Babylon; 51:13). "She made the whole earth drunk....they have now
gone mad" (our drug/sex/rock culture via MTV and other media
pervades the earth; 51:7). Our soldiers "have become like women"
(homosexuals, women in combat; 51:30). She will be attacked
by "arrows" (missiles; 50:9), from "the north" (direction of Russia;
50:3), with her judgment rising "as high as the clouds" (nuclear;
51:9). NASA's space program is implied in 51:53 (KJV), with Babylon
mounting "up to heaven." Also, "They sinned against the LORD....the
hope of their fathers" (USA, not ancient Babylon; 50:7). Economic
Babylon of Revelation 18, the commercial capital of the world, may
be New York (the Babylon of chapter 17 may be Rome because of the
reference to the "seven hills" in v. 9). Chapter 18:4 mentions that
in one day, and verse 10 says in one hour, she will be destroyed,
with the world's government and financial leaders weeping and
mourning (18:9,15). A one-hour destruction of a great city is
something possible only in the past 50 years, and probable only this
decade with the proliferation of nuclear weapons, recently spreading
on the black market from the former USSR to terrorist organizations,
according to intelligence sources. Only God is holding back Islamic
terrorists and other radicals from setting off a nuclear explosion
in New York, Washington, D.C., Tel Aviv and elsewhere, until "the
appointed time."
In addition, a strong case can be made that America and the 1991
Gulf War are referred to in Daniel 8, with Iraq the ram, and America
the goat which "came from the west, crossing the whole earth without
touching the ground" (verse 5, NIV), seemingly our massive
intercontinental air and sea lift. In verse 8, the goat is
later "broken," or destroyed. We know from verses 20-21 that Media,
Persia and Greece were the first fulfillments, but from elsewhere,
such as verse 17, we know that the vision, in a dual fulfillment, is
for "the time of the end." The above seems more plausible when the
following is considered.. ..
4. Soon Fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Another possible reference to
America, by conspicuous omission, is in Ezekiel 38 and what most
scholars see as an invasion of Israel by Russia and a confederation
of Muslim nations. The geopolitical preconditions for this are
rapidly forming. There are reasons to believe this may occur in the
very, very near future (perhaps at the beginning rather than the end
of the Tribulation as some believe). For example, there has been a
recent security agreement between Russia (Magog, 38:2) and the
leading terrorist state, Iran (Persia, 38:5). Russia is supplying
Iran with nuclear materials and, on the black market, with nuclear
warheads. I have a reliable report of a recent briefing by NATO
intelligence that a nuclear war in the Middle East is feared
probable! America would surely be involved, perhaps as below:
If Israel is attacked according to Ezekiel 38, it is strange that
there is no hint of help from its security partner, the powerful
USA. Oddly, we do not seem to even be a factor. I believe it may be
because, from a military standpoint, America has been neutralized
and rendered powerless by a surprise nuclear attack by Russia (see
below). This would surely give Russian military planners an assumed
and enticing cakewalk to a Middle East takeover, ownership of the
oil fields, new mineral resources and an expansion to the Persian
Gulf, a stated goal of at least one Russian radical, Vladimir
Zhirinovski, whose autobiography is prophetically titled The Last
March South! While Zhirinovsky may never rise to power, this
territorial ambition is undoubtedly shared by other radicals. Of
course, we know from Ezekiel 39:1-6 that God Himself will defend
Israel and destroy the invaders, to make His holy name known (v. 7).
Again, the above still seems more plausible when the following is
considered.. ..
5. End-time Supernatural Revelations. Acts 2:17 promises "visions"
and "prophesies" in the last days. I have become aware of and have
collected records of visions and prophecies from various believers
over a period of years. Some visions have clearly seen a surprise
nuclear attack on America from Russian submarines. I also know of an
older, respected pastor who had an apparent angel visit in his home,
in his study late at night, with the same message of a Russian
surprise nuclear attack from submarines. The being just suddenly
appeared and disappeared out of nowhere. Also, George Washington
reportedly had a vision in his day of America's major wars and a
final military attack on America. Read about A.A. Allen's 1954
vision of an attack on America: click here
The idea of a submarine attack is exactly in line with Russia's
present defense policy. According to the Wall Street Journal (August
25, 1995), "One puzzling aspect of Russia's defense policy is its
emphasis on submarines.. ..is still completing construction of
submarines begun in the Soviet era, on about the same timetable as
the Soviets produced them....(they) will enter the next century with
the largest nuclear submarine fleet in the world." Submarines are
basically an offensive weapon. Why are they doing this? It must be
part of God's plan. For years, high-tech and missile-carrying
Russian subs have shadowed U.S ships or invisibly and silently
patrolled the U.S. coast under the radar/sonar cover of their
fishing trawlers.
For a nation near collapse, on the brink of fascism, this is not a
picture of peace and stability. Yet foolish American leaders
continue to give billions of dollars to Russia (which they are using
on armaments) and shrink our own military, crying, "peace and
safety" according to 1 Thessalonians 5:3, "then sudden destruction
shall come upon them." With uncanny timing, just moments after I
wrote this paragraph, Dateline NBC aired a report that the secret
nuclear shelter built in West Virginia for our Congress is now
closed and being dismantled -- because it is no longer needed, since
the "Cold War" is now over!
"Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against
you," God says. Russian submarines? He says to Magog, "You will
devise an evil scheme....You will say, 'I will attack a peaceful and
unsuspecting people'" (Ezekiel 38:10). America, instead of Israel,
or both?
Other Revelations. Highly esteemed missionary pioneer Hudson Taylor
had a vision in 1855. He saw both world wars, followed then a
spiritual awakening in Russia, Europe and elsewhere, as we are
seeing, followed by the coming of Christ. Also, in 1930 a prophecy
was reportedly given in Russia that a future leader named Mikhail,
with a birthmark on his head, would bring open doors for the gospel,
which would remain open "only for a short period of time, then it
would end and the repression would begin again." Plus, there were
reportedly several prophecies in Russia in 1988 that "the door would
stay open for about seven years." The doors began opening in 1989;
however, the Soviet Union did not officially dissolve until late
1991, which + "about" 7 years = "about" late 1998. (As this 1995
article is being updated in late 1998, Russia is in shambles, in
economic collapse and political turmoil, and a soon return to
tyranny is highly possible.)
[2004 update. At the present time, Islamic terrorism, possibly using
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), poses the greatst immediate
threat to America. The other dangers mentioned are still
applicable.]
Conclusion
There are three witnesses to the above scenario that seem to confirm
one another: (1) Scripture, (2) contemporary world events, and (3)
agreeing supernatural revelations, such as visions and prophecies.
God will answer and honor prayers for revival, even though judgment
on the nation has already been decreed. Revival and harvest will
come -- but possibly as a result of judgment, and not instead of, a
typical biblical pattern. Where is the Rapture in the above
scenario? We cannot be sure, and must not be presumptuous.
With amazing timing, as God often confirms things to me, the same
week this was first printed, NBC News reported new Pentagon alarm at
Russian submarines lurking just off the U.S. coasts! Also, just as I
was finishing this report, two different audio tapes came to me,
both unsolicited, from two people I have never met, both with the
message of God's coming judgment on America! Months later I received
a similar message the very same day I received a newsletter
headlined, "It's Time to Weep for America."
Message to the Church. It is time to boldly "blow the trumpet." The
warning should be greatly sharpened to more of a Jeremiah-type
warning, that actual destruction is coming, not just deteriorating
social conditions or loss of freedoms. "If the trumpet does not
sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Corinthians
14:8). The trumpet call should be to God's own people,
since "judgment must begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:17).
God's message to His people today is to humbly walk with Him in
obedience and to come out of the world's value system. Christians
should get ready to joyously meet their soon-coming King, and tell
as many others as possible about God's grace and salvation.
* * * * * * *
(Final Note: In one U.S. Air Force assignment, I was a "Minuteman" --
the commander of a Minuteman ICBM nuclear missile launch crew
responsible, if so ordered in the event of attack, for vaporizing
ten Russian cities/targets, and in personal possession of the top
secret war code. Always "on alert," I was only seconds away from the
President's launch command, unsealing the code, and ending
civilization as we know it. America's leaders have now dismantled
many missiles and reduced other defense systems, but oddly, in a
spiritual sense, and in one of God's "coincidences, " I am still
a "Minuteman," still on alert, and still only seconds away from the
King of king's shout and command, with His code (from His Word)
already being "unsealed," and with civilization as we know it soon
to end.)
catcmo2006 Would like to "Thank Everyone,"whom either has posted this or had sent posting to me from all of those e-mail address! Some of them I will or have passed on to all readers whom looks at all blog sites that I use. Thank You for allow in this site,group sites, web sites and other prayer sites as well in holding one another up for prayer's being totally united in everyone around this world, it's about Jesus Christ first and prayers,intecessory prayer's and at other times about this vast world we live in today which this old world as we all know it is slowly departing to be reaching our home in glory.
