Are America’s Blessings Disappearing Forever?

There was a time when the United States was looked upon as a model nation. America was respected because of her wealth, power, freedom and Christian values. Are those days long gone?

Half a century ago, America was the closest thing to paradise on earth. No other single nation had the power, wealth and freedom that the United States had. But today, this nation is looked down upon, and many want to see America continue its downward spiral into ruin. Even many of its citizens have discarded their Christian values and have replaced them with materialism. The nation is daily growing more financially and morally bankrupt.

So what does the future hold? Will America ever return to her former glory?

Are America’s descendants destined to be great again?

As the Bible and secular history show, Americans are among the descendants of ancient Israel. Prophecy foretold that a great nation would arise at the end time, and America has fulfilled that prophecy. (For more details, see “How the Blessings of Abraham Came to America.”) But prophecy goes on to show that the modern descendants of ancient Israel will be even greater!

I remember a picture from the 1950s showing an American farmer unloading surplus wheat from his truck into the streets. Today, there are impending shortages and warnings of more insecurity in our food supply for the foreseeable future. Yet God promises a future time of surplus unequaled in history (Amos 9:13).

After the cold war, Americans felt relatively secure. Because of our military strength, we weren’t afraid of other nations. Today, many Americans are nervous about terrorists. In the future our descendants won’t worry about war, and will enjoy an even greater peace (Micah 4:3-4).

For a long time America has been a leader in the medical field. Its citizens have enjoyed longer and healthier lives than others in much of the world. But in the future our descendants will be even healthier and live longer than we do now (Isaiah 35:5-6; Zechariah 8:4).

A model nation again

This wealth, peace and abundant life will be noticed by the rest of the world. But unlike in years past, the rest of the world will know why our descendants will be prosperous. Zechariah 8:23 says, “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Verse 13 shows that this blessed remnant will include not just the Jews (the house of Judah) but the descendants of the house of Israel as well.

Yes, our descendants will have Jesus Christ as their ruler. It is He who will bring the peace and prosperity to all the descendants of Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28). That peace and prosperity will spread throughout the whole earth.

When will all this happen?

God has worked with the family of Israel throughout history. The British nations and the United States can trace their roots to Jacob’s grandchildren, Ephraim and Manasseh. And just as God dealt with ancient Israel in the past, He is continuing to deal with their modern descendants today.

The time setting for the incredible blessings that our descendants will enjoy is during the time period known as the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth (Revelation 20:4). Many prophecies talk about this time and how the world will be blessed through God’s repentant and transformed people, Israel.

What happens between now and then?

Since America is losing many of her blessings, what will happen to us between now and the time when Jesus Christ returns to this earth and the Millennium begins?

In Deuteronomy 28 God told ancient Israel that blessings would come from obedience to Him, but curses would come from disobedience. At the end of the chapter God tells Israel that they would be scattered and taken into captivity if they continued to disobey Him (verses 64-68). Ten of the tribes of Israel went into captivity around 721-718 B.C. The other tribes went into captivity around 604-586 B.C.

Since America is part of the descendants of ancient Israel, God expects no less from us. Unless the United States returns to God, we will be scattered and taken into captivity just like our ancestors. This time is referred to as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:4-7).

The good news is that, as verse 7 shows, the modern descendants of Israel will be saved out of it by God. After 3½ years of tribulation, which will include cruel captivity, Jesus Christ will return and rescue the end-time descendants of Israel (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 31:1-2, 7-11). This second exodus will pale into insignificance ancient Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Jeremiah 16:14-15)!

Israel’s faithful God will save her descendants from total destruction at the return of Jesus Christ. He, along with the resurrected saints, will rebuild Israel (Amos 9:11, 14-15). Then, God will “appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame” (Zephaniah 3:19-20).

Yes, America’s descendants will have even more blessings than their forefathers ever did, because they will be following Jesus Christ. And this is good news. Unfortunately, those who will not follow God’s laws will not have His help in the troubled times ahead. They will have to learn the hard way that peace, happiness and success come only by following God.

To learn more about America’s roots to ancient Israel, read our blog post “How the Blessings of Abraham Came to America.” To learn more about the coming 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ, read our booklets The Mystery of the Kingdom and From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.

Tim Groves is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. He and his wife, Teresa, along with their four children, live in South Carolina.