America’s Prophetic Role: Religious Liberty and the Heavenly Homeland

Revelation 12:16

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Hebrews 11:13-16

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

The understanding of these passages centers on the providential establishment of the United States as a land of religious liberty where the "earth helped the woman" by providing a refuge for those who live as strangers and pilgrims seeking a heavenly country Revelation 12:16EVRR448+1.

The Earth Swallowing the Flood of Persecution 🌍

The "earth" in prophecy represents earthly powers or territories that rise up to protect the church against persecutionEVRR402.

• The Flood of Persecution: This symbol refers to the intense papal persecution of the saints during the 1260-year period of supremacyMPC 75.1+2.

• Swallowing the Flood: God intervened through various means, including the German Reformation and the rise of the United States, to halt this destructive forceEVRR402+2.

• The Role of America: By legislating civil and religious liberty, the United States became the most significant fulfillment of the earth opening its mouth to provide a home for the oppressedEVRR402+1.

• 1798 and Napoleon: The literal fulfillment of the earth "swallowing" the civil power of the papacy occurred in 1798 when Napoleon took away the Pope's authority, ending the 1260 days of bondageMPC 75.1+2.

Strangers and Pilgrims Seeking a Better Country 👣

Hebrews 11:13-16 describes the character of those who are preserved through these trials Hebrews 11:13-16.

• The Pilgrim Identity: True believers are citizens of the kingdom above and do not dabble in worldly politics or seek a permanent home on this sin-cursed earth Philippians 3:20TM 131.1+1.

• A Heavenly Focus: Like the patriarchs, God's people today must confess they are strangers and pilgrims, looking for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God Hebrews 11:1013MR 156.2+1.

• The Example of the Fathers: The Pilgrim Fathers were driven by a desire for liberty of conscience to cross the sea and lay the foundation of a nation that would respect the inalienable rights of all peopleTA 246.3+2.

July 4th and the 250th Anniversary Context 🎆

While July 4th is celebrated as the birth of a nation, its deeper significance lies in the religious principles it was intended to protect.

• Providential Timing: The founding of the United States was a world-wide wonder, as God saw the end hastening on and provided a refuge for ProtestantismEVRR448+1.

• A Mirror of Principles: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution reflect lamb-like horns of youth and gentleness, establishing Republicanism and Protestantism as the nation's strength Revelation 13:11GC 441.1+1.

• Dangers of National Apostasy: As the nation approaches significant milestones, it is a time to remember that if the United States restricts religious liberty or enforces Sunday laws, it repudiates the very principles that made it the "earth" that helped the womanLDE 133.4+2.

• The True Celebration: For the pilgrim, anniversaries like the Fourth of July should serve as a reminder of God's mercy and a call to maintain the separation of church and state so that the gospel can be preached in freedomAH 475.4+2.

God has prepared a city for those who, despite living in a land of liberty, remain focused on their heavenly home and refuse to bow to the decrees of the beast Hebrews 11:16EW 284.1+1.