In the beginning, God selected two nations to spread His message to the world as to who He is and how He wanted people to live.  The nations chosen were Israel and the United States.  Israel was under the Old Covenant and the laws and America was under the New Covenant of grace.  In the Old Testament God used prophets to teach and to warn Israel.  To America, God uses Bible prophecies and Israel’s history to teach and warn us.  I believe what happened to Israel will happen to the U.S. for the same reasons, rejection of God and disobedience.  Israel used the temple mount to dedicate the nation of Israel and the United States used ground zero in NYC.  

In the 1600s people came to America where “the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.  When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God.” 

Our founding fathers believed that they had come to America for religious freedom.  In fact, some believed that America was a new Israel and that God had given them a covenant that if they followed Christ’s principles God would bless them and protect them as He had Israel.  Our founding fathers believed that God would bless them as He had Israel if they continued to obey Him.  The constitution and the Bill of Rights were based on Christian principles.  The first right was: Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.  What they foresaw actually happened as the U.S., a Christian nation, became one of the most prosperous and powerful nations on earth. 

George Washington in his first inaugural address at ground zero, when the capitol was in NYC before moving to Philadelphia, stated: “it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being that rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes…”   

When we have plenty we take credit for our prosperity and believe it has all been done because of our hard work.  Like Israel we have a tendency to push God out of the picture.  Most Americans no longer believe that God gives us everything we have.  So what happened when the Israelites ignored God?  He punished them by allowing them to be destroyed in A.D. 70, pushed out of their homes and spread throughout the world until 1948. 

The more I study the Old Testament and the history of Israel; they refused to keep God’s Commandments and in fact rebelled and ignored Him.  They worshiped other gods and idols plus sacrificed their children.  As a result He withdrew His blessings and protection and Israel became one of the most despised and mistreated countries ever.  Reading Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other prophets, Israel was devastated and totally punished.  They went almost 2000 years without being a nation.

Shouldn’t we learn from what happened to Israel?  In the 1960s we began eliminating God from our culture.  We prohibited prayer and the Bible in public schools.  Abortion became prevalent.  We began worshipping our idols of success, money, materialism and sexual immorality.  Too many believed they didn’t need God because we had become so prosperous.  Most of our needs were being met by our hard work or government assistance.  We are dependent on ourselves or government and no longer on God.  Is there any difference between ancient Israel’s predicament and the U.S.? 

Israel rejected the prophets and denied God and He withdrew His blessings and protection.  America is rejecting God and the Bible and is following the path of Israel.  It is apparent a sign occurred on 9/11/2001 when ground zero was attached by terrorists similar as to what happened on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as Israel lost its protection 2000 years previously. 

With North Korea threatening nuclear missiles and Iran close to developing a nuclear bomb are we left without God’s protection?  Will we have more incidences as 9/11/2001?  It could also come from hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, floods or fires.  There are many ways we could be punished just as Israel was.  Could America become bankrupt, suffer from famine and disease?  What if our money became worthless? 

As we approach the end times, according to Bible prophecy and signs, is the U.S. no longer needed as a superpower to keep peace among the nations and be used to spread the Gospel of Christ?  Is this why America is not referred to in the Book of Revelation?  In the end times, the only protection Israel will have comes from God.  What happens to America?  Will we be too weak to even protect ourselves? 

Wake up America!  We have a forgiving God able to give us a second chance.  Let’s not blow it.  However, it will take a leadership change in Washington, D.C. and throughout our nation to get back to practicing Christian principles.  The church has a tremendous responsibility to assist in the change.  We must be part of that change through prayer and lifestyle.  There is no better time to start than today.