Is the USA in Bible Prophecy?
When examining the verses in Revelation 17-18 and Jeremiah 50-51, one can discern an uncanny alignment between the description of the United States and these prophetic passages regarding "Mystery: Babylon the Great".
This essay will explore the compelling argument that the United States is indeed referenced in these verses due to its unique geographical placement, cultural influence, economic prominence, and global reach.
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Revelation 17: 1-5
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
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Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery:
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"BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH"
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Jeremiah 50: 21-30
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The noise of battle is in the land,
the noise of great destruction!
How broken and shattered
is the hammer of the whole earth!
How desolate is Babylon
among the nations!
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I set a trap for you, Babylon,
and you were caught before you knew it;
you were found and captured
because you opposed the Lord.
The Lord has opened his arsenal
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
in the land of the Babylonians.
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Come against her from afar.
Break open her granaries;
pile her up like heaps of grain.
Completely destroy her
and leave her no remnant.
Kill all her young bulls;
let them go down to the slaughter!
Woe to them! For their day has come,
the time for them to be punished.
Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon
declaring in Zion
how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,
vengeance for his temple.
Summon archers against Babylon,
all those who draw the bow.
Encamp all around her;
let no one escape.
Repay her for her deeds;
do to her as she has done.
For she has defied the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets;
all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,”
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The "Sitting on Many Waters" Symbolism
Revelation 17:1 mentions an entity that "sits on many waters," indicating both geographical influence and political power. Remarkably, the United States is bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with the Gulf of Mexico to the south. This geographic positioning gives it control over vital sea routes and a strategic advantage in global trade, akin to the influence described in the prophecy.
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Economic Prosperity and Excessive Wealth
Revelation 18:3 speaks of Babylon's luxurious lifestyle and wealth. When observing the United States, its reputation as a land of prosperity and abundance resonates deeply. The nation's economic strength, consumer-driven society, and opulent way of life align with the imagery of Babylon's excesses described in the prophecy.
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Global Cultural Impact
Jeremiah 51:7 speaks of nations drinking from Babylon's cup, symbolizing cultural influence. The United States' global reach in terms of media, entertainment, and technology is strikingly similar to this depiction. Hollywood movies, American music, and technological innovations have penetrated every corner of the world, just as the prophecy suggests.
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Enduring Military Dominance
Jeremiah 50:23 refers to Babylon as a "hammer of the whole earth." This phrase parallels the United States' role as a superpower with an unparalleled military force. From its involvement in both World Wars to its current position as a leading military power, the United States' historical and ongoing influence in global conflicts is reminiscent of the "hammer" described in the prophecy.
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The "Hindermost of Nations"
The phrase "hindermost of nations" from Jeremiah 50:12 can be seen as a reference to the United States as a later nation in the timeline of history. With its relatively recent establishment compared to many other nations, the United States fits the description of a nation that comes later in the sequence of world powers.
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"Woe, Woe to you... Great City"
The woman is seen as a great merchant who controls the world's economy and has great military power. However, the beast hates the woman and will eventually destroy her with fire (possibly from a nuclear blast). Revelation 18:10 suggests that the merchants of the earth will "stand far off" and mourn the destruction of the woman.
When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury
see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
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“Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!"
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The "one hour" might indicate an overwhelming nucear attack, and "standing far off" could be due to the nuclear fallout from an attack.
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Conclusion
While interpretations of biblical prophecies can be diverse and sometimes subjective, the parallels between the descriptions in Revelation 17, 18, and Jeremiah 50, 51, and the attributes of the United States are striking.
The United States' unique geographical position... cultural influence... economic might... global reach... and military dominance align remarkably well with the prophetic descriptions.
While this argument may not settle the debate definitively, it opens the door for thought-provoking discussions about how ancient texts might hold symbolic reflections of modern nations.
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REFERENCES Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth (by David Wilkerson); ChatGPT 3.5