Where does America fit in biblical prophecy?
It doesn't!
America is but 226 years old, yet if you would listen in the majority of it's churches, you would believe they had been around since Jesus!
You would be led to believe that the whole Bible was written just to us! Yes, I am an American.
I wish that it was common knowledge that the prophecies of Daniel concerning the "end-times" were written to the Jewish people.
Week, after week, I listen to preacher after preacher speaking about prophecy and relating it to the United States like we are smack dab in the middle of it. I hear them quoting the words of Jesus, you know, the words in red, like He is addressing the United States of America directly! Like I said, we are but 226 years old as a nation, NOT 2 thousand plus years old.
I also wish that it were common knowledge that the Bible was written to 2 sets of people; the Jews first; the church second. Ask yourself this question when reading the Bible.
In order,
These things are of the utmost importance when "rightly dividing" God's word. Without the answers to these questions, it is no wonder there is the amount of confusion in churches across America. It is why there are so many different "denominations."
Denominations divide the church. The "church" is the Body of Christ. How do the thousands of denominations fit into this Body? There were problems from the beginning. In Corinthians Paul felt it necessary to clear it up in the first chapter
{amplified version}
10 But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments.
11 For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you.
12 What I mean is this, that each one of you [either] says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ.
13 Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
Yet, these divisions remain today!
The Apostle Paul spent most of his ministry trying to unify the believers into the one true church. The believers were called "Christians."
Acts 11:26 " And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
Not Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Muslims, Jehova's Witnesses, SDA's etc., .... but Christians.
After this reference there is no other reference to what they were called. I can only see one benefactor to the widespread division of the church today; satan. It is abundantly clear that the "church" is divided far to thin; one only has to be in a group of 2 or more people and bring up the subject of religion to see firsthand the division that exists.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,
In Romans Paul warns us to watch out for those who would cause division;
{KJV} Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
In the book of Ephesians Paul tells us to maintain our unity in the faith;
{KJV} Ephesians 4:13-15 "13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
In 1Timothy Paul foretells the future;
{KJV} 1 Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
In Galatians, Paul warns us; that EVEN if an angel comes and preaches any other doctrine {pay attention Muslims and SDA's} not to believe it;
{KJV} Galatians 1:6-9 "6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
How then can we continue in the hundreds of denominations that exist in our country today? Theologically, the definition of a "cult" is;
A system of religious beliefs and rituals with a body of adherents deeply devoted to an extrabiblical person, idea, or thing; it cultivates worship in a religion that, with reference to its basis for man's salvation, is considered to be unorthodox, spurious, or false, thereby insulating its members against true salvation in Christ. And inasmuch as the central doctrine of Biblical Christianity is the sacrificial death of Christ for man's sin (Eph. 2:8,9), all cultic deviations tend to downplay the finished work of Christ and emphasize the importance of earning moral acceptance before God through one's own religious works.
Are you unknowingly involved in a cult? Click here to see.
The Bible lists 6 identifying marks of a "false prophet."
- through signs and wonders they lead astray after false gods (Dt. 13:1-4),
- their prophecies don't come to pass (Dt. 18:20-22)
- they contradict God's Word (Isa. 8:20)
- they bear bad fruit (Mt. 7:18-20)
- men speak well of them (Lk. 6:26)
- they deny that Jesus, the one and only Christ, has come once and for all in the flesh (1 Jn. 4:3), thereby denying His sufficiency in all matters of life and Godliness (2 Pe. 1:3)
