CHAPTER SEVEN

Is the nation of America mentioned in the Bible? Several scholars have debated this question and there are opinions for and against.

 

I believe America is in the Bible and is a nation that is both prophesied and ordained by God. If we refer to the book of Isaiah, Chapter Ten, we read the statement, “woe unto them that unrighteous decree.”

The prophet is embellishing this statement.

 

The word “woe” is translated and used in the King James's version. Other translations say ah or ho. If we truly comprehend the implication, we will understand this expression of woe is meant as a warning. The word woe is also used to indicate grief.

 

In Chapters 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22 & 23 of Isaiah, each Chapter begins with the phrase, “The burden of”. In these seven Chapters, thirteen through twenty-three of Isaiah, we read of impending judgments upon all of Israel, Judah, Jerusalem, their neighbors, and enemies.

 

The expression of a “burden” is a judgment, which one must bear. There is no escaping or getting out of these burdens for one must bear the consequences.

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Beginning with Chapter Thirteen through twenty-four, all of these Chapters are burdens or judgments with the one exception, Chapter Eighteen. When you first read Chapter Eighteen, it seems to be unimportant in world events of the past, present, or future. It seems to be lacking in substance, or have any significance to add to the historical value of the Hebrew people of the past, present, or future. For this reason, the majority of scholars have ignored Chapter Eighteen.

 

The writings concerning Chapter eighteen by the scholars are vague or almost nonexistent. They can be summed up, as “Ethiopia is to send a present or gift to God or Jehovah.”

 

Many translations of Chapter Eighteen start out by saying, “woe [ah, ho, or warning] to the land, territory or country of the shadowing wings, whirring wings, or outspread wings, that, is or lays, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, Kush or Cush”. In the book of Isaiah, Chapters 13 through 23, the prophet conveys many judgments, warnings, and burdens. We see in these eleven Chapters, 13 through 23, that Isaiah speaks directly to the nation God is concerned with warning. Yet, when you get to Chapter Eighteen you must question whom Isaiah is addressing.

 

We must ask the question; did the prophet Isaiah know who the Ethiopians were? It is obvious Isaiah was aware of who the Ethiopians were just read Isaiah Chapter 20:4. If the prophet knew and understood who the Ethiopians were, then why did he not just say woe, or warning, to the land of Ethiopia? Why would he write or address the country of Ethiopia in such a strange way? The answer is quite simple. Isaiah had no idea who these people were when he made this prophecy.

 

This country did not exist during his day and would not be born for thousands of years.

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God was showing Isaiah the birth, development, and judgment of a country that only God in his wisdom knew and understood would become one of the greatest nations under God. In the vision that God showed the prophet, God was revealing a nation, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia? The Hebrew word used for beyond means west.

 

We, who are from the west, always observe a map with the top of the map to the north. The right of the map is the east, the left the west, and the bottom, the south.

 

The Hebrew people being from Asia or the east, always faced the sunrise. In front of them or “before” them always represented the east. The end of the horizon or the heavens, behind or “beyond” them always meant west. To his left were his north and his right-hand point's south.

 

The term “beyond” the rivers of Ethiopia means west or westward. This prophecy was not speaking to Ethiopia, Egypt, or any of the countries in Africa. This prophecy is to a nation that was unknown to the prophet. This nation was located west of Africa. If you draw a line starting where the prophet was referring to, or talking about, and go beyond, or west, of the rivers of Ethiopia, this line will run over northern Africa due west.

 

Now when we read and study the rest of this prophecy, we must ask ourselves, what countries in West Africa could boast of these great things, which are addressed to this country, which God is revealing to the prophet?

 

I will inform you now before we read and study the rest of the Chapter that not one of these countries west of the rivers of Ethiopia which consist of all the countries of West Africa can live up to these accomplishments. So, continue the line past Africa. This line will go right into the ocean, so do not stop just because we have a little water. Proceed with our line until we reach land.

 

We will not see land until we reach the soil of North America.

Our line will hit South Carolina. This line is due west of the rivers of Ethiopia. The line being due west would eliminate all of the land mass of Europe and Asia. Either this country is in West Africa or America. Once we have reviewed the remaining evidence, you can be the judge about who the prophet was warning.

 

In the vision God was showing the prophet a nation that was coming up in the west, a great and powerful nation, which had an ordained mission to accomplish. Isaiah describes this country as a land of the “outstretched wings”. It was not by accident, or by chance, that the great eagle was selected as the symbol of the United States of America. God, in his divine wisdom decided this from the beginning.

 

Just like a great mother eagle that would gather her offspring under her wings, “America was to be a land of safety, liberty, immunity, protection, security, and defense for the entire world. It was to have a government, which would allow religious freedom, liberty, and protection for all. This country would welcome to its shores all the people scattered from other foreign lands that were suffering, poor, and oppressed.

 

In Isaiah 18:2 we read, “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!”

When we examine this verse, we see that this nation sends messengers, ambassadors, envoys, or agents by the seas or waters.

 

This indicates people sent on official Government business. When we look at these facts, we can conclude that America has sent Ambassadors to every country, dominion, kingdom, nation, empire, and land around the world. America has more embassies than any nation in history.

 

Next, we come to how these Ambassadors will travel. The original Hebrew word used showed a compound word, which in English is translated as water drinking vessels. Not having any understanding or knowledge of what a water-drinking vessel could possibly be, the early scholars translated this Hebrew phase to mean, “Vessels made of or out of water drinking plants.”

 

A water-drinking vessel is a steamship. All ocean-going vessels of today, regardless of how they are powered, whether by nuclear, diesel, etc., all must take in ocean water to make steam in order to power the ship. Is will appear that Isaiah saw the first steam ship years before the invention of the steam engine.

 

The next part of Isaiah 18:2 says “to these people terrible from their beginning.” Or “To these people powerful from their beginning.”

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The word terrible as used means powerful, such as a military power.

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All the nations of the world, past and present, have started from a small beginning and grew with time to become a great land. This is a fact of all the nations with one exception, the USA.

 

The country of America was in her infancy, when in July 1776 she declared her independence and went to war. They won their independence from the most powerful country in the world at the time, England.

 

“To these people terrible from their beginning.” This statement, by Isaiah, is referring to America. History will bear out this fact.

It cannot apply to any other nation on earth, except America.

The baby lion of the Union defeated the great lion of England in battle.

 

The next part of the paragraph reads, “A nation that is metered out and trodden down.” The literal translation would be that the land is measured out under the treading.

 

This would mean that lines under the foot measure out the land. America is the most measured land in history. George Washington was a surveyor and one of the many that have stepped off our land. Subdividing every inch of our soil into quarter sections, of half a mile square was required for this kind of surveying transaction.

 

America has more roadways, interstates, and farm roads than any country or nation on earth.

She has even brought the ocean to the center of the U.S. At the ports in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a barge can be loaded and travel down the Arkansas River through channels and locks. Traveling all the way to the Mississippi River, down to the gulf of New Orleans headed to the Atlantic Ocean. These are just some of the reasons that America has been the industrial giant that she is.

 

The next phase “whose land the rivers have spoiled,” the other translations say, “whose land the rivers have divided or a country crisscrossed with rivers.” The word that is translated spoiled is a Hebrew word used in the old Leviticus ritual of animal sacrifice. This sacrifice was divided into four parts or quarters. The priest would cut the animal from the head to the bottom and then across to make four parts. This Hebrew word is best translated as meaning “to literally quarter.”

 

America is the only nation divided into quarters this way. Her rivers divide her into four quarters. The Mississippi River cuts through the country with waters that begin in the upper northern tip of the country and proceed south through all of the land to the ocean. Other rivers run west to east and east to west.

 

When anyone refers to the directions or locations in America as a whole on the map, they say Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, or Southwest. America is the only country in the world divided in this fashion.

 

In verse three we read, “All of the inhabitants or people of the earth or world and those who dwell on the earth, see when he lifts up an ensign, badge, banner, flag, coats of arms, crest, emblem, insignia, standard or streamer on the mountains and when he or they blow the trumpet or speaks, hears them”

 

The prophet Isaiah foresaw in his vision that this nation would be a decisive factor in the world. We, in America have placed our flag on the moon for the entire world to see. We were the victors in World War I and II. When America speaks the whole world listens. They say when America has a cold the world has influenza.

 

In verse four of Isaiah the prophet says, “For the Lord said to me, I will take my rest.” This is a strange statement God is making; “I will take my rest.”

 

In verse five, Isaiah says “before the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower.” I have always questioned and asked when has God ever rested?

 

Christ made the statement, “My Father has worked continuously until today and I continue to work likewise.” John 5:17 God's seventh day is coming.

 

Satan has been in control for the past six thousand years (six days). God's rest is the thousand years; or one day he has promised would come.

 

Countless scholars refer to this period as the millennium. God will take his rest, but “before the harvest” is meant to express before the end time, or before the end of Satan's reign on this earth.

 

God is going to consider, or weigh in the balance the nation in Isaiah Chapter Eighteen. This nation in Isaiah Chapter Eighteen is in its prime of power or height of glory.

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The statement “when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, “indicates that the fruit is at a mature stage and is almost ripe for picking. Yet, God goes on to say, “But I will not allow it to continue.”

 

Isaiah 18:5 says, “He will cut off the sprigs with a pruning knife, and take away and cut down the branches.” No one who has ever been a farmer or done any gardening would dare to prune his orchard or grape vineyard at such a time, not when the fruit for harvest is days from being ready or mature. Pruning is accomplished in the early spring or fall when the tree or vine is usually in the dormant stage, or cycle. The only reasons anyone would ever do such a thing before the harvest would be because the tree or vine was diseased. In order to save the orchard or vineyard, such a sacrifice would be made. One who loves the vineyard would forego the spoils of his labor to save the vineyard.

 

In Isaiah 18:16 we read, “they will be left together to the wild birds of the mountains and to the wild beasts of the earth, and the wild birds will summer on them and all the wild beasts of the earth will winter on them.”

 

America, you are at your fullest and greatest height of power, but God is not pleased with you. You are diseased and immorally corrupt.

 

You no longer allow praying or the Ten Commandments in your schools.

You may have “in God we trust “on your money, but you do not trust God any longer.

You worship the almighty American dollar.

You kill your children before they are born.

You are number one in all areas of crime, drugs, divorce, etc.

You have become last in all areas of educating your children.

You have the worst record of human rights violations of any civilized country in the world.

 

On the average in the U.S. 1 million crimes are committed every month, including 80,000 aggravated assaults, 8,000 forcible rapes and over 1,000 murders.

 

For international comparison, the murder rate per capita in the United States is 10 times higher than it is in Japan and five times higher than in Spain or Norway.

 

No, God is not pleased with you America God will cut off our sprigs; this means our overseas interest and influence. Then, He will cut down our branches. The East and West Coast are our branches. Our coasts are the life's blood of all our large cities. This is where the majority of the population resides. If you look at a map of the U.S., you will see that geographically America is wider east to west, than she is north to south.

 

The Bible belt starts in Texas and proceeds upward north to Canada. There is one mountain range on each side of the Bible belt, the Rockies to the west, and the Appalachians to the east. The Bible belt is the main trunk of God-fearing and believing people in America. The vines of America branch outward, toward the east and to the west.

 

God makes a promise to this nation in Isaiah Chapter Eighteen, “they will be left together to the fowls of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth.”

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The” wild birds of the mountains” is a metaphor used for a bird of prey, such as hawks, eagles, or buzzards.

 

In my opinion, God will drive the inhabitants of America from the east and west into the Bible belt. Literally forcing people between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains. “Birds of prey” is a metaphor, which indicates economic hard times for America. The Bible belt is also the wheat belt, with bread being the staple of life.

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In verse six, God says “all the wild beasts will winter on us.” Knowing what is coming upon the world, I believe these “beasts” indicate the evil beasts in Chapter Thirteen and Seventeen in the book of Revelation.

 

America is sick and judgments are coming on our land. All the cities will be made low and brought to bear the weight of its sins. God will cut off our sprigs and bring down the branches, but God has made us a promise. We will be left together as a people between the mountains.

 

Isaiah 18:7 says, “In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.”

 

America will survive and her people will be brought together. During the next millennium, we will take the gift, to Christ in Jerusalem. “Mount Zion” is always referred to as that great city Jerusalem.

 

Let’s look at this gift for a moment. In Zephaniah Chapter 3:10, it says, “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.” Here, you see the same people as those spoken of in Isaiah 18. It is at the same appropriate time in God's plan as Isaiah Chapter Eighteen. These people will come to Jerusalem and they will bring the offering, presents, or gifts to God.

 

In Matthew 21:12, Christ goes into the Temple of God and overthrows the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves, etc.

 

In Matthew 20:13-42, the chief priest and elders challenged Jesus and he spoke to them in parables.

 

In Matthew 21:43 Jesus said, “Therefore I declare to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to the nation bringing forth the fruits.”

When studying the statement that Christ made to the priest and elders of Jerusalem it is obvious that the kingdom of God would no longer belong to Judah. This kingdom would be taken away.

 

Did you notice that Christ said that the kingdom would be given to a nation? This nation would bring forth the fruits. Christ said this one nation would bring the fruits and the prophet Isaiah said the gift, or present.

 

The prophet Zephaniah said offerings.

Is there any doubt whom this God-fearing Christian nation might be?

There is only one nation, under God, in all of man's history that can possibly live up to these prophecies.

 

That country is America.

 

America is great only because God ordained it. She cannot boast of it herself. She was founded on God and biblical principles. She is one, of a few nations in the world that is considered or called a Christian nation.

 

Many nations have driven there outcast and weak to her shores. God has raised her on his principles and not the principles of the world.

 

She has become a powerful and wealthy nation. God knew he would need a strong nation to support the return of the house of Judah to their homeland in Israel.

When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ come to receive his kingdom on the earth, Satan will no longer be in control. Christ will rule all nations from Jerusalem (Zion).

 

In the book of Zephaniah Chapter 3:1 we see a warning, “woe to the oppressing city.” If you read on, you will understand that this city is Jerusalem. In verse four, the prophet says, “Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.”

 

Only one city fits this description and that city is Jerusalem.

 

Inverse six God says, “I cut off the nations”.

 

Inverse eight we read, “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”

 

All of this is yet to come and we can see more in detail about God's wrath in the book of Revelation and other books of the Bible.

 

Due to the support of countless Christians in America who love and support Israel, Satan will bring his wrath against us. A correction, or judgment, is coming upon us.

 

“The evil and corruption of the hate and greed in this land must stop”, so says the Lord.

 

Only if we will repent as a nation and turn back to the Lord Jesus Christ will God hear us and heal our land. God said he would honor the nation whose God was the Lord. The beast of Revelation will hate America and what is written will all come to pass. If we call on the name of the Lord, as a nation, our punishment will not be as severe.

 

America will come under great wrath in the days ahead. It will come to a point that this great country of ours will seem lost and we will almost fall.

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When we get to the point that all seems lost, God will bring us back together as a nation, united for one purpose and cause.

 

A nation called out to serve God.

 

God has promised us that we will be left together and bring the gifts to our Lord and Savior in Jerusalem.