The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his126/america4.arj/AMERICA4.TXT

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America In Prophecy - Jack Van-Impe

CHAPTER 4

This chapter continues our discussion of America in Bible prophecy.
The question and answer method will be used to recapitulate the
startling truths mentioned in the past three chapters.

Q:  Do you think that America's present and future are predicted in
the Bible?

A:  My answer must be affirmative.  After delving into this subject
intensely, I cannot come to any other conclusion.

Q:  What are these prophecies and where are they located?

A:  They are mentioned in the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah and John.
Let's begin with Isaiah.  In chapter 18:1-2, the prophet depicts a
latter-day nation that amazingly resembles modern America.  He says:
"Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of
Ethiopia:  That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of
bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a
nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning
hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers
have spoiled!" From this we deduce the following:

1) America's emblem, a bald eagle, with outstretched wings, fulfills
the prophet's description of a land shadowed with wings.

2) The nation is beyond the sea from Israel.

3) This nation is scattered and peeled, meaning spread out and
cultured.

4) She is measured or staked out as well.

5) She has spoiled or polluted waterways that affect the land.

Q:  Is there more?  What about the description of Babylon itself?
Where is she mentioned in God's Word?

A:  Political Babylon is mentioned in the writings of Jeremiah and
John.  However, may I unequivocally state at this point that it was
God Almighty Who gave the prophecies through His servants.  God spoke
and man wrote.  That is why God says in Jeremiah 30:2:  ".  .  .Write
thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book." This is
important to know.  Why?  It makes one realize that the predictions
are not the ramblings of men, but statements from Jehovah God Himself.

Q:  What does Jeremiah state?

A:  In chapters 50 and 51 of the book bearing his name, Jeremiah
presents conclusive evidence that a "latter-day" Babylon shall spring
into existence far different from, and superior to, ancient Babylon.
As one studies his remarks it is amazing to see that modern America
seems to be the fulfillment of these predictions because:

1) She is a nation of mingled people (Jeremiah 50:37).  America  and
Russia both have intermingled and interracial inhabitants,  but Russia
is not in mind as we will prove.

2) She is a nation whose ".  .  .mother shall be sore confounded.  .
" (Jeremiah 50:12), coexisting with "mother" at the hour of her
decline.  Ancient Babylon does not fit the bill since she was founded
by a father--Nimrod.  However, America's mother is England who
presently is confounded, confused and near collapse, financially.  She
no longer is considered a superpower and soon mother and daughter
shall both be challenged.

3) She ".  .  .dwellest upon many waters.  .  ." (Jeremiah 51:13).
This typifies America, bordered on each side by the world's two
largest oceans and possessing the longest river on the globe--the
mighty 4,200-mile-long Mississippi.  Surely ancient Babylon composed
of barren deserts was not in view when Jeremiah penned such
prophecies.

4) Her wealth plagues the nations of earth to the point of insane
jealousy, for Jeremiah 51:7 declares:  "Babylon hath been a  golden
cup in the Lord's hand.  .  .therefore the nations are mad."

5) Her space exploits are so utterly fantastic that she tries to ".  .
.mount up to heaven.  .  ." (Jeremiah 51:53).  America's space program
is significant in the light of Jeremiah's declarations.

6) Babylon exists when Israel is back in her land.  America is only
200 years old, and the newborn babe--Israel--a child.  The new land of
Israel was established in 1948, meaning that the prophecies could only
coexist since that hour.  Who but America can fulfill the requirements
mentioned to this point and coexist with Israel?  The answer is
obvious!

Q:  It is all so convincing!  Can the Apostle John add anything to
this discussion?

A:  Yes!  John, in the book of Revelation, pictures two Babylons.  One
is portrayed as a world religion, geographically located on seven
hills--undoubtedly the seven hills of Rome (Revelation 17:9).  The
other Babylon is an internationally respected nation (Revelation 18).
John describes the nation by saying:

1) ".  .  .the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the
abundance of her delicacies" (Revelation 18:3).

2) She is laden with sins (Revelation 18:5).

3) ".  .  .she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously .  .  ."
(Revelation 18:7).  Sadly, her superabundance of material goods
produced idleness and sin.

Q:  The Apostle John mentions her overabundance of wickedness.  What
is presently happening in America relating to this "latter-day"
prophecy?

A:  America has never been in such a state of degradation and
hopelessness.  Truly America is laden or loaded with iniquity.  The
pollution inundating our land centers around:

1) Drunkenness, or culturally identified:  "alcoholism".  Ten  million
inebriates drink themselves into insensibility on a  continual basis
while millions more spend billions on booze  annually.

2) Drug addiction which mars and scars another ten million in our
nation.

3) Tobacco which pollutes both lungs and land to the tune of ten
billion dollars per year.

4) Gambling, which robs needy millions through governmental controlled
lotteries and mafia-dominated casinos to the amount of 60 billion
dollars each year.

5) Prostitution and pimping which spreads disease and shame to nine
million Americans every twelve months and costs 25 to 100 dollars per
orgasm.

6) Homosexuality which seeks to arrogantly, egotistically,  blatantly
and publicly boast about its perverted members.  In  anger they desire
to come out of the closet.  Well, the closet  is a good place to
practice sex.  If it is good enough for the  married in the privacy of
the closet, why should homos  receive special privileges to proclaim
their perversity.  God  says, ".  .  .it is a shame even to speak of
those things which  are done of them in secret" (Ephesians 5:12).

7) Smut peddlers, spreading sexual filth via magazine racks also cover
the nation.  Their satanically inspired garbage is found everywhere
including the corner grocery store.  Christians should rise up in
arms, boycott the Devil's hangouts loaded with soul-destroying
adulterous materials, and patronize the shops of decent Americans.
Since Jesus said that lust through the eyegate amounted to adultery
(Matthew 5:28), then why fraternize such soul-damning dealers who bait
the young into a life of lustful slavery and eternal Hell.  Make a
decision, then fulfill it!

8) Immoral lepers also plague the nation.  As a result, millions are
carrying illegitimate babies.  Thousands of the victims are 11 to 13
years of age.  It appears that high school sex education courses have
stimulated rather then educated the young.  Sex sin, however, is
reaping its reward.  Presently nine million persons with venereal
disease have reaped the reward of running sores from eyes, ears,
mouth, genitals and other moisture producing areas of the body.  That
is why the kiss of the V.D.  carried is even obnoxiously unclean.  Do
not get "tricked" or "trapped." The shame is not worth the brief
encounter.  Beware, young man and young lady!  Beware, Mother and
Father!  Your fling may sting for ".  .  .they that plow iniquity, and
sow wickedness, reap the same" (Job 4:8).

9) Abortion, the murder of "unwanted babies," produced by immoral
lepers is also affecting one million women annually.  These so-called
cultured but barbaric sinners think nothing of having their little
bundles from God hacked to pieces and flushed.

Never mind that God says, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13).
Sinners have taken the matter into their own hands, but remember God
holds the final trump card--the Judgment (Revelation 20:15).

10) "Mercy killers" are also on the ascendency in America.  They  are
progressive abortionists who have become hardened to  killing and now
wish to include the "mommies and daddies"  along with the "babies."
The "honor thy father and mother" in  God's commandments (Exodus
20:12), interferes with their fun.   The responsibility is too great.
So, the old folks must go.   These sick birds must be related to
Hitler.  Am I proclaiming  fairy tales or does such thinking and
planning exist?  You be  the judge:  Drs.  Watson and Crick, the
famous Nobel prize  winning discoverers of the DNA molecule, have both
recommended such a course.  Dr.  Crick advocates compulsory  death for
all at age 80.  Presently, proabortionists, killing  one million
babies annually, are involved in brainwashing  programs for
"euthanasia" or "mercy killing." They cry:  "Why let your poor mother
or grandfather die in misery?  Surely your compassionate nature should
make `Death with Dignity' a consideration." This is the ultimate of a
depraved society, created by humans who have decided to play God!

11) Murderers, beyond abortionists and `Death with Dignity'
advocates, stalk the country.  Fifty thousand are savagely
slaughtered within the nation annually.  The human animals  who stalk,
torture, brutalize and then slaughter their  victims, use hatchets,
knives and guns.  They then  decapitate and dismember the victims and
finally burn and bury the remains.  My files are flooded with such
atrocities.

12) Robbers and looters also rear their ugly faces, destroying,
plundering and pillaging another man's lifetime  accumulations.  They
call it "fair play" because of their  many shortages.  I like what Roy
Wilkins, the famous black  leader, said about the New York thieves.  I
quote:  "Tens of  thousands of blacks and Hispanics poured from their
tenements and barrios in 16 areas to produce an orgy of  looting.  .
.  The cry echoed through the ghettos, `It's  Christmastime, it's
Christmastime!' And Christmastime it  was!  In an attempt to arrive at
a cause for the behavior of  the people, many commentators cited the
high rate of  unemployment.  Even President Carter leaned toward this
view.   But not all of the New York City raiders were hungry or
suffered from lack of job opportunity.  From their televised
pictures, none appeared to be unhealthy.  Besides, they got  ready to
loot in six minutes--too quickly.  The solution is  not to give these
offenders a job if one wants a job  honestly done.  Many of us Blacks
sympathize with the  editorial position of the Amsterdam News Harlem's
Black  weekly.  It said, `Everyone convicted of looting should serve
his sentence at hard labor.'" I believe that the decadent  film fare
in theatres and on television screens has brought  about most of the
rottenness described in this message.  In fact, U.S.  News and World
Report recently reported on "Violence in the Movies." I quote:  "In
the view of David E.  Silber, professor of psychology at George
Washington University in Washington, D.C., `There is a lot of evidence
to suggest that some people model their behavior on what they observe,
and this can be disastrous if the model is a violent movie.' Silber
adds:  `The more violence that is shown, the more likely some people
are to commit violent acts.'" It is so dangerous that a growing number
of organizations contend that the danger is sufficient to warrant
widespread changes in the handling of movies.  Roger Ebert of the
Chicago Sun-Times says:  "Recent violent acts in our city have been
attributed to the inspiration provided by movies." His final lament
is:  "God save the kids of this generation from the dreams they are
storing away."

Q:  Can a nation continue under such sinful circumstances?

A:  Not indefinitely!  The Bible says, "Righteousness exalteth a
nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).  Sin
can only produce disaster both for individuals and nations.  This is
why Psalm 9:17 declares:  "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and
all the nations that forget God." Job 4:8 states:  ".  .  .they that
plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same."

Q:  You believe then that judgment may be imminent for our beloved
nation?

A:  There is no doubt about it!  Isaiah describes the judgment of the
"latter days" as being administered upon all nations--including
America.  One does not have to agree with the interpretation of
Babylon to know that America, as a nation, is part of the coming
holocaust administered against all nations.  She then must be included
in such texts as Jeremiah 30:11:  ".  .  .I make a full end of all
nations.  .  ." ".  .  .I will execute vengeance in anger and fury
upon the nations such as they have not heard" (Micah 5:15).  ".
{God} shall bring forth judgment to the nations" (Isaiah 42:1), and ".
.  .the destroyer of the nations is on his way.  .  ." (Jeremiah 4:7).
No doubt about it--America is part of the "all nations" package marked
for destruction.

Q:  Are there any specific judgments administered against Babylon
already identified as America?

A:  Most assuredly so.  A sneak attack, similar to Pearl Harbor, is
predicted upon Babylon in Jeremiah 50:24.  God says:  "I have laid a
snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou was not
aware.  .  ." John, in Revelation 18, describes the effects of this
surprise attack.  The bankers, merchants and workmen all wail saying:
".  .  .  Alas, alas that great city, Babylon, that mighty city!  For
in one hour is thy judgment come" (Revelation 18:10).

Q:  Who will be the ruthless villain who violently strikes without
warning?

A:  None other than Russia!  All her blasphemous negotiations around
the detente doctrine add up to Iying rhetoric.  Her communistic
leaders have never known the meaning of truth or honesty--and the
future will prove it!  In Jeremiah 50:9, an assembly of great nations
(superpowers) come up against Israel from the North.  This is the same
Northern bear that marches on Israel (Ezekiel 38:15).  Actually,
Russia is North of both America and Israel.  It is interesting to note
that neither the USA nor the Soviet Union wins.  Both military qiants
are crushed.  Some biblical scholars believe that Russia starts the
sneak nuclear attack against the USA, crippling her, and then moves
against Israel where God Almighty smashes this godless communistic
monstrosity into oblivion--leaving but onesixth of her armies (Ezekiel
39:2).  Whatever the alignment of events, it is clear that both
nations fall, Christ returns, and world peace begins.

Q.  All these signs, then, are directly related to Christ's return?

A.  No doubt about it.  In fact, it all occurs after the Rapture and
just before Christ returns to earth.  The timetable is presented in
Isaiah 13:10.  In this text, ".  .  .the stars of heaven and the
constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be
darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to
shine." This is the exact prophecy Christ mentioned in Matthew 24:29,
portraying the final scenes of the Tribulation hour prior to His
return to earth.  He said:  "Immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION of
those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her
light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens shall be shaken." The sneak attack, then, is definitely a
final Tribulation occurrence.

Q:  What hope is there for the world in the light of these facts?

A:  ".  .  .Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9).  Trust in Christ.
He died at Calvary to save sinners for time and eternity.  By
receiving Him and the merits of His shed blood, one can be prepared
for the future, yea for eternity.  Do not delay!  The events mentioned
in this lesson are at hand.  Tomorrow may be too late!