On November 4, 2008, the world was glued to the U.S. election results.
"Today America elects 'The President of the World,'" read the daily
issue of Al Chourouk, a Tunisian Arabic paper. "We [are] witnessing an
election that might as well be all ours," wrote Koh Lay Chin of the
Malaysian New Straits Time.
And as the results rolled in guaranteeing the election to Barack
Obama, citizens of the world cheered. Africans, rejoiced in the
streets, Brazilians threw beach parties, and Australians celebrated in
posh ballrooms.
"He is the first truly global U.S. president the world has ever had,"
said Pracha Kanjananont, a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbuck's in
Bangkok. "I really think this [election] is going to change the
world," gushed Akihiko Mukohama, 34, the lead singer of a band that
traveled to Obama, Japan, to perform—wearing an "I Love Obama"
T-shirt—at a promotional event for the president-elect.1
"At a time when we must face huge challenges together, your election
has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond," said French
President, Nicolas Sarkozy in a congratulatory letter to Obama.
"Believers are praying that God will enlighten him and help him in his
great responsibility, which is enormous because of the global
importance of the United States..." wrote the Reverend, Federico
Lombardi, Pope Benedict's Spokesman.
The Mysterious Beast
The world understands that the politics, elections, trends, and
economy of the United States influences every other nation on the
planet. It is the world's sole superpower with no close rivals.
Despite America's status, many contemporary Bible commentators insist
that the United States is not mentioned in Bible prophecy. They see
the U.S. fading into oblivion under a supposedly future New World
Order dominated by the United Nations. In this article I want to give
you something different to think about. I want to suggest the
possibility that America is the exact power specifically mentioned in
the following mysterious verse:
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two
horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." Revelation 13:11.
Allow me to build my case. First, what is a "beast"? Answer: A great
nation. The proof is in Daniel 7–a chapter that clearly parallels
Revelation 13. Both chapters talk about beasts, ten horns, a mouth
speaking great things, and war on the saints. See Daniel 7:3-8, 21 and
Revelation 13:1-7.
Daniel 7 describes four beasts: the lion, bear, leopard and
dragon-like beast. An angelic interpreter confirmed:
"The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth." Daniel 7:23.
So we can nail this down: According to Scripture, a beast isn't a
computer or super-evil person, but a kingdom. That's what the angel
said. Historically, ninety-eight percent of Christian scholars have
interpreted Daniel's four beasts to represent the ancient nations of
Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
Back to Revelation 13:11: "I saw another beast coming out of the earth."
Thus John saw a great nation rising. From where? "Out of the earth."
Daniel's beasts all rose from the sea. See Daniel 7:3-7. Water in
prophecy represents multitudes of people. Another angel confirmed:
"The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples,
multitudes, nations and tongues." Revelation 17:15.
Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome all rose from the midst of a sea of
peoples in Europe and the Middle East. Not so with the beast in
Revelation 13:11–it comes from the earth. This points to a great
nation rising out of a sparsely inhabited area. "I saw another beast
coming out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb." Revelation
13:11. Thus we have a new nation, with Christian features, rising out
of a sparsely inhabited area, with a government without kingly power.
Each word is significant. The true Lamb is Jesus Christ. "Like a
lamb," indicates this nation would have lamb-like or Christian
features. A lamb is a young animal, a baby sheep. Thus this nation
would at one time be youthful and new. Significantly, its "two horns"
have no crowns like the first beast in Revelation 13:2. Crowns
represent kingly power. Thus we have a new nation, with Christian
features, rising out of a sparsely inhabited area, with a government
without kingly power. Are the pieces coming together yet?
Here's the shocker: Revelation 13 also reveals that this exact nation
will finally achieve superpower status during the last moments of
time, make a major mistake, and lead out in the global enforcement of
the mark of the beast. God's Word reports:
"And he [the lamb-like beast] causes [he resorts to force] all [his
power becomes global], both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead, that
no man might buy or sell [the world's economy is involved] except the
one who has the mark." Revelation 13:16,17.
These verses parallel the last part of Revelation 13:11 describing the
final, tragic act of the lamb-like beast–"he spoke like a dragon."
Let's put all the pieces together:
+Revelation 13:11 predicts the rising of a great beast.
+In prophecy, a beast represents a great nation.
+This nation comes out of the earth, or wilderness area.
+This nation starts out young, like a baby lamb.
+This nation is lamb-like, with Christian characteristics.
+This nation has horns with no crowns–it has no kings.
+This nation achieves superpower status near the end of time.
+This nation influences the world's economy.
+This nation finally speaks like a dragon.
+This nation finally enforces the mark of the first beast in Revelation 13:2.
Be honest: How many nations on Planet Earth fit each of these clear,
unquestionable, Heaven-inspired details? Only one.
The United States of America.
God has blessed America. Yet prophecy predicts major changes will
someday envelop our beloved country and our eyes should be wide open
to even now discern the proverbial writing on the wall. May the Lord
prepare us for future events. Above all, may we each have a strong
relationship with the true Lamb, Jesus Christ, and reject the dragon's
voice.
References
1. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=157935
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