Greg Laurie claims USA not in last days’ Bible prophecy and then speculates his reasons, including possible nuclear devastation.

Greg Laurie, a well known Protestant minister and speaker, made some comments about the USA and the Bible:

July 15, 2013|6:15 am

Bible prophecy related to the end times mentions many nations, including Libya, Iran, Iraq Ethiopia, and possibly even China and Russia, but not the United States of America. In an article on his blog, Pastor Greg Laurie gives three plausible reasons for the nation’s exclusion.

“Where is the United States? Why are we not in the last-days scenario?” asks Laurie, pastor of Harvest Church in Riverside, Calif.

One reason why the United States is not mentioned in Scripture is perhaps because the nation “might be devastated by a nuclear war,” the pastor writes. “It is a horrible scenario and one that none of us would want to see, but we cannot rule it out as a possibility.”…

A second possible reason could be that the U.S. might decline as a world power, Laurie says, quoting Proverbs 14:34, which reads, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

“As our country becomes more and more secular, systematically eliminating God and the Bible from our education system, courts, and the arts, we will begin to reap the inevitable results of sin. We will begin to rot from the inside,” the pastor warns…

A third possibility could be that the U.S. will witness a revival, “which I find a lot more hopeful,” Laurie goes on to say. “That is not to say a revival would eliminate us as a world power…” http://www.christianpost.com/news/greg-laurie-on-why-bible-prophecy-makes-no-mention-of-america-100050/#zBIt5upyd2ZV3vBB.99

Let us mainly deal with these two “plausible reasons” here (I plan to address his more about his third, while citing more of it, in a post a bit later).

First, the USA is mentioned in last days’ biblical prophecy, but the words describing it are not as direct as say Egypt (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9). The USA is more described than named in various places.

In these times, the USA currently has the strongest military fortresses in the world and if we consider the start of the Great Tribulation to be part of the last days (and I do), then the USA is mentioned. Here are a couple of passages:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)

23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise,
Having fierce features,
Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

25 “Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:23-25)

The “he” above is the European King of the North (who has not yet arisen), also known as the Beast of the sea in Revelation 13. Those with the strongest fortresses are the USA and its Anglo-allies, and they will be destroyed in their seeming prosperity.

Interestingly, getting back to Greg Laurie, his view that the USA would be nuked or similar is consistent with what the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote back in 1979:

What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15…That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear–the revival of the medieval “Holy Roman Empire.” We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later “the beasts armies” will surround Jerusalem. Thirty days later the Great Tribulation will probably start with a nuclear attack on London and Britain–and possibly the same day or immediately after, on the United States and Canadian cities. The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall fully then realize, is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble,” spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. And Jacob’s name was named on Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:16). At that time a third of the people in our nations will die, or shall have died, by famine and disease epidemics; another third will dies of the war–our cities being destroyed (Ezek. 6:6), and the remaining third will be carried to the land of our enemies as slaves (Ezek. 5:12). Armstrong HW. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).

Yet, unlike Greg Laurie, Herbert Armstrong correctly tied this devastation in with the end time event of the start of the Great Tribulation (part of the reason is that most outside the COG do not understand the biblical tie to Jacob for the USA–see also Anglo – America in Prophecy). Devastation, possibly including nuclear weapons or something worse, is what will be a major sign that the Great Tribulation will begin.

Secondly, their is no doubt about the moral decline in the USA. In an earlier post today, I mentioned a few such as government scandals (see Scandals in the US government), espionage scandals (see It’s not paranoia: The USA government is engaged in massive surveillance on its citizens and others; Germany applauds Snowden.), improper debt policies (see USA ‘budget deal’ problems and ramifications), promoting violence in sports (see Is American Football Evil?) and other ways, exporting pornography (see Celebrity Porn: AOL Please Stop Featuring It and Entertainment has a growing pornography problem and British and American Moral Decay), trying to promote and fund abortion (Obama’s First 100 Days), promoting homosexuality (USA government promoting homosexual pride parades internationally and Corruption reportedly up worldwide; Obama’s immoral views denounced in Kenya), and various types of moral decline (British and American Moral Decay ), etc., the USA is not doing right.

Without national repentance, which seems unlikely, the USA is doomed. The USA, and the rest of the world, needs the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

The USA itself is mentioned in Bible prophecy around the time of the end, and much of what is warned about show that it (along with its Anglo-allies) will essentially be eliminated and many of its people made slaves. So, while I agree with Greg Laurie that the USA has moral decline and may be subject to nuclear devastation (or something similar or worse), I do believe that this is foretold in scripture.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? See also the video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
British and American Moral Decay Public nudity is becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-lands. What are some of the consequences?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.