Francis Frangipane: "Is the United States in the Bible?"

"Is the United States in the Bible?"

Francis Frangipane, Cedar Rapids, IA

Glory Rising: God's Promise to Us

What is in God's heart for America? Is there anything in the Scriptures about the United States upon which our faith can rest? The Bible has a number of general promises that we can apply to our land. These, though they lack clear or specific references to the United States, still supply a foundation for our faith. Isaiah 60:1-3 is such a text. It reads:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

Think of it! Nations and kings will come to the glory of Christ! Regardless of where on Earth you currently live or how dark the world is around you, this text is a living promise to all who pray for their nation!

Personally, I have stood upon this word often, especially in the face of America's spiritual darkness. Isaiah's promise assures us that if God's glory rises and is seen upon us, even in the midst of deep darkness over the people, nations will come to our light.

Persevere in Prayer

But, you say, "America is too rebellious, too unrestrained." The second Psalm gives us encouragement to persevere in prayer, especially when it seems that governments are casting away the cords and fetters of godly, moral restraint (see Psalm 2:3). In the face of the world's rebellion, the Lord says, "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as your possession" (Psalm 2:8). (Photo via Pxfuel)

There are many other Scriptures that call us to pray and believe for a national awakening (Isaiah 52:15; Psalm 67:4, etc.). But I want to submit a text to you that may, indeed, specifically refer to God's plan for America in the days ahead.

The Eagle's Wings

The Scriptures speak of a time at the end of the age when great persecution will break out. In the midst of this persecution, we read an arresting message in Revelation 12:14. It says:

"But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent."

The book of Revelation is, by definition, a book of revelations. Its symbolic portraits must be interpreted not only in historic terms but also in light of end-time realities. Frankly, no one has accurately been able to interpret this book to the satisfaction of everyone else. It would be a sin of presumption on my part to assume I am the first to present an infallible interpretation. Even as we seek humility, let us cautiously proceed, relying on God and time itself to confirm His Word. In that attitude, let me submit to you my thoughts.

The Scripture speaks of "two wings of the great eagle" being given to the woman. I believe that the woman is a symbol of the praying Church, both Jew and Gentile, both united and pregnant to give birth to God's end-time elect. (See Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 12:1-11.)

Let's consider the phrase "two wings of the great eagle." Why would the Holy Spirit find it necessary to calculate that two wings were given? How many wings does an eagle need? Is it possible that two wings symbolize the two political parties of the Great Eagle, the United States – that both wings would support a refugee plan to bring the Christian community into the nation, to a place prepared for them?

Before we dismiss this idea, let me add that when Roman emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, many in the early Church took comfort that he would be their deliverer. The fact that the symbol of Rome was the great eagle only added to the confidence felt in the early Church that he was to be a source of protection. (Photo via Flickr)

I submit to you that this reference to the "great eagle" could possibly be prophetic portrait of the United States of America. In fact, in the history of the world there has never been a nation more committed to being a refuge for persecuted people than the United States. And when we consider that the national symbol of the U.S. is the "great eagle," the symbolism becomes even more plausible.

Indeed, many of those who originally came to America were Christians fleeing persecution for their faith. In a real way, this Scripture has already been fulfilled by many of our founding fathers. The persecution our forefathers suffered was sown, like a seed, into the DNA of American culture.

Roughly 20 years ago I began a series of audio messages concerning America. That series became a book that we called America at the Threshold of Destiny. It was received with joy by a small cadre of prayer warriors. However, our culture was facing many fears concerning Y2K. Then 9-11 came, and frankly, I was flying into a headwind. Not many people were overly optimistic in the years after 9-11.

However, today a new wind is blowing and it's at our backs. Right now, to some, it may not look any bigger than a cloud the size of a man's hand, but as we keep our eyes on the Lord, a new wind of the Spirit is starting to rise. Even though America hasn't improved morally since the 1990s, our direction has changed. God is raising up a prayer army and I believe our prayers are touching the heart of God.

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Francis Frangipane 
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: info@frangipane.org
Website: www.frangipane.org

Pastor Francis Frangipane has traveled throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors and intercessors from many backgrounds. Francis' heartfelt prayer is to see established in every city, Christlike pastors and intercessors, united before God, revealing the love of Christ to their communities. He is the author of several books, including The Three Battlegrounds and Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God, as well as several others. He founded an online training course called In Christ's Image Training which has trained thousands of Believers around the world in Christlikeness, humility, prayer and unity.

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