In attempting to determine if the United States (i.e., the USA) will be present at the final confrontation of nations during the so-called “Last Days” or “End Times,” we will focus on several prophetic scripture passages that mention either one or two eagles, or wings like those of an eagle. (Some people think that these references to an eagle allude to the United States, probably because an eagle is the national symbol of the USA.)
[Note: When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible.]
The first prophetic scripture passage that we will consider is Ezekiel 17:1-8, which states,
[T]he word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers of various colors, came to Lebanon and took from the cedar the highest branch. He cropped off its topmost young twig and carried it to a land of trade; he set it in a city of merchants. Then he took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a fertile field; he placed it by abundant waters and set it like a willow tree. and it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature; its branches turned toward him, but its roots were under it. So it became a vine, brought forth branches, and put forth shoots. But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, from the garden terrace where it had been planted, that he might water it. It was planted in good soil by many waters, to bring forth branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic vine.’”
Although two great eagles are mentioned in this scripture, the context provides no compelling reason to believe that either or both of these eagles represent the United States or that this scripture pertains to the final confrontation of nations.
Daniel 7:2-7 is a second prophetic scripture passage to consider in determining if the USA will be present at the final confrontation of nations. This scripture says,
Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
Subsequent verses in Daniel 7 indicate that verses 2-7 pertain to the Last Days, but we do not think there is a sufficient reason to believe that the lion with eagle’s wings represents the United States. Although an eagle is the national symbol of the USA, the lion has no relevance that is specific to our nation. Furthermore, there are several nations, in addition to the USA, that have an eagle as their national symbol, so if the eagle wings pertain to a particular nation, that nation could be other than the USA.
A third prophetic scripture passage that mentions an eagle (or a creature with eagle’s wings) is Revelation 12:13-17, which declares,
Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Not only does this scripture passage pertain to the Last Days, but also its mention of the wings of a great eagle may be a symbolic reference to the United States, although as indicated previously, the eagle could instead allude to another nation that has an eagle as its national symbol. In any case, most Bible scholars believe that the woman mentioned in this scripture represents Israel. The primary basis for this belief is that Revelation 12:1 says the woman is wearing a crown with 12 stars, and this evidently symbolizes Israel, which was originally comprised of 12 tribes.
However, even if Revelation 12:13-17 is a prophesy that, sometime during the End Times, the United States will rescue many Israelites from subsequently being harmed by Satan (i.e., the dragon) and his followers, there is no indication in this scripture passage that the USA will be present at the final confrontation of nations that is discussed subsequently in the Book of Revelation.
Conclusion
We believe that there is no scripture in the Bible that indicates with a high degree of certainty that the United States will be present at the final confrontation of nations. Our belief is based on not only the scriptures that we have addressed previously, but also on our consideration of scriptures that specifically pertain to the final confrontation. And, any reason that might be given as to why a current world power like the USA would not be present at such a climatic time in history does not seem to be addressed by biblical scripture.
[For additional perspective regarding the final confrontation of nations, click on “Will There Actually Be a Battle of Armageddon?”]