Date: 06Jan2006
Title: Mark Hitchcock’s Is America in Bible Prophecy? (2002)
Type of paper: Book Review.
Summary Statement:
In 93 pages Hitchcock examines the issue of US presence in end-times prophecy, using key Bible texts, and affirmative and negative claims to that topic. The conspicuous absence of the US in prophecy could lead to these possibilities: (a) the US is destroyed by other nations, either in a large attack, or piecemeal through terrorism; (b) the US is destroyed by itself, through internal moral and social collapse; or (c) the US is impacted by the Rapture of the Christians within it such that it collapses by the loss of some 65 million of its residents.
Paper:
"I'd guess that at one time or another since September 11, 2001, you, too, have wondered where we are headed as a nation. You have probably asked yourself questions like these: Does the Word of God have anything to say about America in the last days? What will happen to America in the end times? How do we fit into God's prophetic program?" (p. 8). America is not mentioned by name in any passage of Scripture, as are a dozen or more other countries. Hitchcock identifies 15: Israel, Jordan (Ammon, Moab, and Edom), Egypt, Sudan (Cush), Russian (Rosh), Iran (Persia), Iraq (Babylon), Europe (reunited Roman Empire), Central Asia (Magog), Syria, Greece, Saudi Arabia (Sheba and Dedan), Libya (Put), Lebanon (Tyre), Turkey. One of the most frequently asked questions about prophecy is reportedly the question of the U.S.A.
USA in prophecy
Hitchcock answers a series of key questions regarding the place of the US in end-times prophecy. Following is a summary of each question and his response to them.
1. Is America Babylon the Great?
This refers to Rev. 17-18. Parallels are observed between New York City, being a kind of capitol of the world, and Babylon. And the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11th 2001 are the prophetic fulfillment: smoke rising, happening in one hour, and the merchants wept at the sight. Hitchcock says, No. And why? Because Revelation says Babylon is destroyed at the end of the 7-year Tribulation. Names associated with this view include Franklin, Logsdon, Van Impe, and Coombs. Extensions of this theory include finding 16 parallels between the US and Babylon in Jeremiah 50-51, and 33 “markers” in Isaiah 13, 14, 18, 21, 24, 47, 48) and 66 identifications with NYC in Rev. 17-18. Hitchcock still says, No. Babylon is presented as a wicked city (not a nation); NYC has “consistently been a safe haven” to Jews and Christians. He says there is a better theory out there. Rev. 17-18 refers to a literal city (pp. 33-40 itemize 7 reasons for this) rebuilt in Iraq in the last days that will serve as a commercial and religious capital.
2. Is American the unnamed nation in Isaiah 18?
These people are described as being fierce and enterprising, having the symbol of wings (thought indicative of US eagle wings), being beyond Ethiopia (therefore not Europe, Asia, or Africa), scattered and pealed (that is, a large land mass), and a land polluted with rivers (or more precisely, “whose land the rivers divide”, thought to indicate Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Columbia rivers). Jack Van Impe advances this theory. Hitchcock says, No. If you look at Isaiah 18-20, it is all one prophecy. There is a larger prophetic context to examine. Wings indicate the insects of the Nile River, and 18:1-2 warns Cushites (Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia today) to not form an alliance with Assyria.
3. Is America “the young lions of Tarshish”?
This theory refers to Ezekiel 27:12, 25, and 38:13, which also refers to the “merchants of Tarshish.” Sheba and Dedan are modern Saudi Arabia, while Tarshish are the Tartessus, which is modern Spain. Tarshish was a wealthy colony of the Phoenicians (see Jer. 10:9; Ezek. 27:12, 25). Ezekiel 27:12, 25 indicates “young lions” (NIV translates as “strong lions”). ``Tarshish`` is a title used some 20 times in Scripture, each time referring to nations at the furthest extent west of Israel. Hitchcock writes that this “could be a reference to the colonies that emerged from Europe – including the U.S.” (p. 54)… and “of all the passages in the Bible that could refer to the Unites States, this is by far the best one” (p. 56). He says it probably does not include the US in the Western Europe allusion. Supporters of this theory include Hindson, Van Impe, and Lewis.
There is an obvious silence in Scripture regarding the existence of the United States, which stands as a kind of conspicuous absence, especially due to the extremely central and strong role that the US plays in world events in these last days. Hitchcock says that this silence “may tell use more than we realize” (p. 61). It leaves us with four central possibilities, describes as options 1 through 4. It hinges upon the initial decision of whether the US will or will not still be a powerful nation in the very last days before the Tribulation. Here is a summary of Mark Hitchcock's arguments.
Argument 1: The USA is not referenced in Scripture because it is still a powerful nation, but God simply did not choose to include it in end-time prophecy.
Response: Possible, but not probable.
It is a major force in world politics and a major influence on global economics; the absence of any clear reference to the US, even if only to protest on behalf of Israel, is conspicuous. “America is the major player in the world today in every arena; what will happen to reduce her to a subordinate role in world affairs?” (p. 63).
Argument 2: The USA is not referenced in Scripture because it will not be powerful in those final years.
Response: There are at least three possible reasons for the deterioration of the USA and thus, for its conspicuous absence in the end-time prophecies.
Reasons for national deterioration include:
- The US is not mentioned in Scripture because it is destroyed by other nations and/or through terrorist organizations who attack.
- The US is not mentioned in Scripture because it loses its influence on the world due to internal moral destruction and the accompanying destruction of society.
- The US is not mentioned in Scripture because it is impacted by the Rapture of the Christians within it such that it collapses by the loss of some 65 million of its citizens.
Terminal generation disappears.
So, why is the US such a second-rate nation in the last days that it is all but absent from prophecy, while numerous other nations are specifically identified? Hitchcock describes these lines of reasoning:
First, the US is an ally and defender of Israel. Some $3 billion to $4 billion are given to Israel in aid each year, making up 20% of the US foreign aid budget. Between 1949 and 2000 $81.38 billion has been given to Israel in aid. Since Israel is described as a “thriving nation in the end times” (p. 66), and since the US is a strong supporter of Israel, the US will likely keep its current status and strength until the rapture.
Second, the one prophetic factor that would account for that abrupt change in international status for the US is the rapture. “I believe the Rapture will produce a power vacuum – and into it will step the Antichrist and his reunited Roman Empire” (p. 67). It would mean the instantaneous loss of 25 million to 65 million US citizens. Patrick Johnstone’s estimates (from his book Operation World, 4th ed., 1987) indicate that the US has the highest percentage of believers worldwide by region: US 23%, Africa 11.4%, Latin America 9.1%, Asia 2.7%, Middle East .3 %, Europe has less than 2%. “To many nations and whole regions of the world, the Rapture will be nothing more than a blip on the radar screen” (p. 70)… “the Rapture may well be the end of America as we know it” (p. 72). 23% of the 2000 Census population of 281,421,906 is about 65 million people.
What will happen to the US after the Rapture? (Ch. 7)
Probably be absorbed into the European confederacy headed by the Antichrist. Given the four power blocs described in prophecy (N, S, E, W), the US would naturally align itself with the Western powers, and thus the Antichrist. NATO alone binds the US to the Western European nations; there are already trends toward global government and away from US sovereignty (i.e., NATO, UN, GATT, NAFTA, WTO).
“Biblical Civics 101” (Ch. 8)
Keys to national blessing are discussed. First, we should maintain our relationship to Israel as her supporter and defender (Gen. 12:3). Hitchcock quotes Dr. Charles Ryrie, “As we have seen, God is not through with the Jewish people, and therefore He carefully watches to see how individuals and nations treat them today” (in Ryrie’s The Best Is Yet to Come, 1981, p. 112) (p 85). Second, we should continue sharing the gospel with the need in the world. Lastly, we should practice justice and promote righteousness in society (Psalm 33:12, Prov. 14:34; Psalm 9:17). We can do this by (1) electing godly leaders, (2) pray for them (I Tim. 2:1-2), (3) support government policies that are right, (4) speak out against harmful and unrighteous policies, and (5) practice holy living ourselves.
Hitchcock cites Job 12:23 where it says, “He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.” God is sovereign over all nations, including the USA.
My reaction and observations
I appreciated the conciseness of this book and the way Hitchcock dealt with the main theories. Each theory is well described, then he offers his rationale as to why it appears inadequate. I think more could be done with each of those objections, or counter arguments. Some seemed less well developed than others, even in the shorter space allowed for the case as a whole. I also appreciated the solid use of Scripture, as well as the discernment between using a text and its context. These are fundamental principles of Bible interpretation and study, yet too many people gloss over them in practice. I appreciated the simple, yet thorough logic behind his reasoning. There are only so many possibilities, and he explores the most basic issues.
References:
Hitchcock, Mark. (2002.) Is America in Bible Prophecy? (Multnomah Publishers, Sisters, OR).
Author: Daniel S. Fox
