America in Prophecy

For America the advent message contains a distinct warning based upon the prophetic word. There is no such warning for any other country in this age. This warning could best be given by an American right here at home. The first definite application by Seventh-day Adventists of the second beast of Revelation 13 to the United States appears in an article by J. N. Andrews in the Review of May 19, 1851. Other writers on prophecies had applied this symbol to Protestantism, but to apply it to the United States as we do was rather a new thing in prophetic exposition. It created much attention, and it took courage to preach It. In the expounding of this prophecy and its application to America, the Spirit of prophecy took a leading part. We read that “our land is in jeopardy” because we will come to a time of “national apostasy which will end only in national ruin.”—The Great Controversy (1888), 410.FSG 87.3

Many things in the Spirit of prophecy about future happenings in the United States seemed strange at the time they were written, though they are self-evident today. Thus, when we were told years ago that apostasy in America would lead the entire world astray, it was hard to see how that could be, for at that time American prestige was not strong. Now, however, we can easily understand the truthfulness of such statements as the following:FSG 88.1

“As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false Sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:18.FSG 88.2

Back in the fifties when the departure from true democratic principles in America in dealing with the question of slavery led to the awful crisis of the Civil War, our people were deeply impressed that it was important to stand staunchly for the right and to defend freedom, for America might fail again. The early Adventists, including Mrs. E. G. White, while most loyal to their country and the cause of united America, were ardent abolitionists. They were opposed to slavery, and Mrs. White wrote that “the dreadful state of our nation calls for deep humility on the part of God’s people.” Her true love for America is clearly seen in her earnest words concerning the peril of spiritualism in the Civil War and her true concern for her native land.FSG 88.3

“Very many men in authority, generals and officers, act in conformity with instructions communicated by spirits. The spirits of devils, professing to be dead warriors and skillful generals, communicate with men in authority, and control many of their movements. One general has directions from these spirits to make special moves, and is flattered with the hope of success. Another receives directions which differ widely from those given to the first. Sometimes those who follow the directions given obtain a victory, but more frequently they meet with defeat.FSG 89.1

“The spirits sometimes give these leading men an account of events to transpire in battles in which they are about to engage, and of individuals who will fall in the battle. Sometimes it is found to be as these spirits foretold, and this strengthens the faith of the believers in spiritual manifestations. And again it is found that correct information has not been given, but the deceiving spirits make some explanation, which is received. The deception upon minds is so great that many fail to perceive the lying spirits which are leading them on to certain destruction....FSG 89.2

“And leaders in the army really believe that the spirits of their friends, and of dead warriors, the fathers of the Revolutionary War, are guiding them. If they were not under the strongest fascinating deception, they would begin to think that the warriors in Heaven (?) did not manifest good and successful generalship, or had forgotten their famed earthly skill.FSG 89.3

“Instead of the leading men in this war trusting in the God of Israel, and directing their armies to trust in the only One who can deliver them from their enemies, the majority inquire of the prince of devils and trust in him. Deuteronomy 32:16-22.FSG 89.4

“Satan has, through his angels, communicated with officers who were cool, calculating men when left to themselves, and they have given up their own judgment, and have been led by these lying spirits into very difficult places, where they have been repulsed with dreadful slaughter. It suits his Satanic majesty well to see slaughter and carnage upon the earth. He loves to see the poor soldiers mowed down like grass. I saw that the rebels have often been in positions where they could have been subdued without much effort; but the communications from spirits have led the Northern generals, and blinded their eyes, until the rebels were beyond their reach.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:363-366.FSG 89.5

This was written by an American concerning an American war, but it contains important lessons for every war in all the world in these final years. The records of the dreadful slaughter caused by spirit mediums as they misled the generals in World War 1 are well known, and the dreadful work of evil spirits in the torture and mass murder in this last war should be recognized by all and remembered in the years to come.FSG 90.1

There are many reports among Adventists of what Mrs. White said at various times and of visions that have not been recorded. One of these reports is that at Parkville, Michigan, January 12, 1861, she had a vision concerning the Civil War, and that she said in public to a large congregation:FSG 90.2

“There is not a person in this house who has even dreamed of the trouble that is coming upon this land.... I have just been shown that a large number of States are going to join that State [South Carolina], and there will be a most terrible war. In this vision I have seen large armies of both sides gathered on the field of battle. I heard the booming of cannon and saw the dead and dying on every hand.”—The General Conference Bulletin, 61, 1893.FSG 90.3

Though this statement concerning the Civil War was never recorded in writing by Mrs. White, it was generally known and believed among our people, giving them a somber view of the conflict. The attitude of the Spirit of prophecy in regard to the war, and Mrs. White’s instruction against slavery in particular, also strengthened the conviction of our people that they were correct in applying the second symbol of Revelation 13 to the United States; hence, right from the first such a view became our denominational stand on that prophecy. In fact, this light concerning that divine prediction about America has exercised a profound influence on our entire work, not alone in America, but around the world. When we began to preach that prophetic exposition overseas it aroused attention, and it later became the chief directive and inspiration of our activity here and everywhere for religious freedom.FSG 90.4