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Exactly where is America in the prophecies concerning the tribulation? The political spheres of influence are clearly defined in the Book of Revelation, however, America is not mentioned. There are three schools of thought for those keeping an eye on world events and how they relate to prophecy.

The first school of thought is that the United States in mentioned either directly or indirectly in the Book of Revelation. It takes a little mental gymnastics or the following of the Jewish people throughout history to make this work. I will not go into every single theory, for there are too many, that tries to prove that America can be found in end-times prophecy. People try in vain to find this country because it is difficult, nearly impossible, to explain how a major superpower can simply not be mentioned.

The second school of thought is that the rapture of the church will cause so many people to be removed from the United States that the country will simply collapse. Millions of people vanishing would absolutely devastate the economy and render this country useless.

While I cannot dismiss this option as Jesus said that no man will know the hour in which He comes, I find it rather unlikely that the rapture will be the catalyst that destroys America. As we watch prophecy unfold in the current headlines, there seems to be a common trend. Every prophetic event seems to come naturally. It was natural that Israel be established as a country. It was natural that European countries come together with agreements and treaties that cumulated into the revived Roman Empire. It was natural that technology brought us to the point where it is possible for everyone in the world to see the same events as they happen.

I am not denying the sovereignty of God with these statements. He has allowed these things to take place in His own time to bring the world where He wants it. All I am saying is that it is easy to understand why those who never think of God can see these events as "progression".

If everything else is coming together naturally, they why would the lack of America during the tribulation be caused by a direct and extremely visible act of God?

The third school of thought is that the United States is either destroyed or at minimum marginalized and is subservient to a ruling world power. It is this school of thought that is difficult for Americans to accept, even though it occurring before their eyes.

America has already been destroyed. It is only a matter of time before the effects are felt by every man, woman, and child living in this country. One characteristic of an American is their ability to deny the simplest of truths. That seems to be the state in which this country is in.

American is the first country in the world that was able to wage a full-scale war and have an economy grow simultaneously. Yet, even with the greatest military in the world, no President would dare wage war again without the approval of a world-governing body. The death-blow to our ability to wage war was when the United States had to go to the United Nations and surrender control to the governing body just to receive a small tithe from other countries to rebuild Iraq. Removing Saddam Hussien from power and luring the terrorists to Iraq to fight instead of fighting them on American soil was the correct thing to do. However, this war will be used as an example of what not to do for every future administration.

For the first time in the history of this country, the Supreme Court has begun referring to and relying on rulings from other countries to base their decisions. The overturning of the sodomy laws was based on a French ruling. The highest court in the United States has turned over the sovereignty of this once great nation to other countries.

The economy of the United States will continually be challenged by the European Union. The dollar is losing its appeal around the would as countries such as China and Russia are preferring to deal in Euros.

The ability to deter countries economically no longer exists. When the United States decided to impose economic sanctions on Syria for supporting terrorism, Syria simply turned to the European Union for business deals.

Other examples can cited, the moral degradation, poor public education, corruption that transcend political party lines, but there is one factor that cannot be escaped nor ignored.

God has never allowed a country that turned against Him to go unpunished forever.

The United States is actively and aggressively pushing God out of its collective existence. It is in the papers every day, it is in the courts every week. While the majority of the population claims to belive in God, the country itself is trying to remove every vestige of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from existence.

Does this sound like a person who preaching doom and gloom? It is a message that you, as an American, do not want to hear? Do you find yourself rejecting it this message?

If so, then you are no different then those who listened to Jeremiah and rejected his message.

Now, let's try to understand why this message is rejected.

You instinctively reject this message because you believe your citizenship is in this country. If you are a citizen of the United States, then it is impossible to think of yourself as being a citizen of a world government. It is impossible to think of your great country falling from it's place in world affairs.

However, as a Christian, your citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). Christians are aliens of this world (1 Peter 2:11), simply passing through. As we are in this world, we are to be the "light" and the "salt" to a world that needs Christ.

A Christian is suppose to be the one that stands up in the most dire of circumstances and tell those around him that Christ is still with us.

God never promised that we would not go through hard times. He never promised that we would live in a great nation before Christ's return. He never told us to place our faith in our country, our job, or any endeavor we may spend our time on.

We are to place our faith in God. We are to have faith that He is in control and that our role in this world is what He wants us to do.

When Christians deny what is happening to America they demonstrate that they have placed their faith in the comfort and security of what was once a great nation. Conversely, when a Christian becomes obsessed with the problems of American society, they, too, demonstrate that they have placed their faith not in God and His divine plan, but in the government of the United States.

Do this mean that American Christians should simply give up and watch this country fall apart? Absolutely not. It means that Christians should be temperate. We should see the events taking place, not be deceived by denying what we see, and keep our focus on His work.

For most Christians this is a difficult concept. Most Christians look at the term "God's work" and think of a minister preaching at the pulpit or someone helping out at the church bake sale. While these are examples of men and women working for God, they are not the only examples.

Every time a Christian talks about Christ, whether it be to a non-Christian or in support of another Christian, they are doing the Lord's work. Your existence as a Christian in this world is the Lord's work.

Can anyone you know tell that you are at work? If not, then you need to step it up a notch.

There are so many people in the world today that need to hear about Christ. While it may not be God's will for you to be the one to lead a person to Christ, it is His desire to make sure the people you interact with know that you are one of His children. That is what was meant when He said you are the light and salt of this world.

By letting others know that you are a Christian you are serving as an example of what it means to be a Christian. Even if the person does not accept Christ at that moment, they should remember you and your influence.

Do your actions coincide with the statement "I am a Christian?" If not, then you should remember who it is you are representing in this world.

If you keep focused on the job, if you work at doing His work, then you will understand that no matter your circumstances, God has a plan.

Don't let yourself be deceived into disbelief of the events happening today. Don't let yourself feel doubt or insecurity at the prospect of the decline of America. These things will come and pass.

God's word, and his eternal kingdom, will last forever.

Stay focused on that and let God take care of the rest.

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