The current trip by the President of the United States to Saudi Arabia intends to show strong support for the Saudi effort to thwart Iranian hegemony in the Middle East, choosing to align with the Saudis while rebuffing Turkey. The Saudis have something the Turks do not, hundreds of billions of dollars to spend. It is here that the crucks of the answer lies to the question, where is the U.S. in the end-times?
It’s an interesting question in the broader sense of what is the role of nation states or regions not specifically mentioned in Christian eschatology such as India or all of North and South America? The typical answer is that they are under the control of the antichrist. While it is true that the antichrist is given “authority” over all the earth by Satan (Revelation 13:4), the Greek word exousia translated authority means authority in a moral or spiritual sense that is demonstrated in an earthly way. Indeed, the book of Daniel tells that the antichrist’s reign will not be absolute like Nebuchadnezzar’s (Daniel 2) and that four great coalitions will exist during the Tribulation of which the antichrist controls only one (Daniel 11:21-45). Through his persuasive moral and spiritual authority the antichrist will cause the deaths of millions beyond his direct control.
Where is the U.S. in end-times scripture? The better question is where is the influence of the United States in the end-times? The answer is no-where. Saudi Arabia, and much of the moderate Arab states, is betting the future of their government on the backing of the United States with military training, intelligence, and support. The Saudi’s believe this will be sufficient to thwart the rise in Iranian hegemony in the Middle East. The Saudi’s are throwing hundreds of billions of dollars at the U.S. to strengthen a faltering U.S. economy. If the visions of the book of Daniel are for our times then this will fail. Iran, China, and Russia are destined to rise in power and influence while Saudi Arabia’s attempt to thwart their rise, and by extension the U.S, will not succeed. From the vision of the ram and the goat, the country that stands up to thwart Iranian influence is Turkey, not Saudi Arabia (Daniel 8). It would not be surprising to have Saudi Arabia drop its ties with the U.S. and align itself with Turkey in the future.
The U.S. continues to rebuff the Turks, one by arming the Kurds rather than forming a Turkish alliance in Syria and two by harboring a detested rival of Turkish President Erdoğan. That is not to say I believe the U.S. should support the Turks but rather it shows that the U.S. influence in the region is destined to fade while Turkey and Iran rise as the dominant players.
The collapse of the U.S. economy doesn’t play well in the U.S. press but articles appear weekly suggesting just that. There is no more funny money by the Federal Reserve to keep the ship-of-state afloat. The illogical hope is that an infrastructure spending bill along with a deep tax cut will provide the necessary stimulus to jump start the economy. It is reminiscent of overdraft charges where banks charge you money they know you don’t have. The congress is many months away from presenting a tax cut bill which will be much debated for more months before a vote, the effect of which will not show in the economy until 2019; too little too late.
U.S. military training and support runs on money. When the money disappears so will the export of training and support, not just to the Saudis but throughout the world. The U.S. will go from banker to beggar. It is the antichrist who will control vast sums of wealth and distributes it to those who yield to his exousia (Daniel 11:24). Will liberal politicians compromise their stand on human rights in an effort to get some of that wealth to keep the ship-of-state afloat? It won’t bode well for those who reject the antichrist and profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Just a side note, if you’re counting on a pre-tribulation rapture to escape the trouble ahead then you are taking a stance destined for disappointment just like the Saudis. The scriptures tell us that we are to be refined by fire to strip away all hindrance to a holy life during the Tribulation (Daniel 11:35; 1Peter 1:7; Revelation 2,3).
May God bless you in your study of His word.