The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared
by the work of their hands. The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
Psalm 9:16-17
You might be asking yourself the question, how long is the space of time between a prophetic warning and God’s judgment, and when it comes down on a nation such as America? Naturally and appropriately, let’s look at some stories from the Bible for guidance.
God told King Solomon that because he was not faithful to God’s commands (1 Kings 6:12-13), Israel would be divided during the rule of his son, Rehoboam (11:9-13). It seems this word came to Solomon near the end of his forty-year reign, but we don’t know exactly when. Solomon died around 931 B.C. and the kingdom was divided into Israel and Judah the next year.
How about Sodom and Gomorrah as recorded in Genesis 18 and 19? These cities are often compared to America. One of their greatest sins was unquestionably homosexuality (Genesis 19:5, Jude 7). Read the story for yourself. There is no doubt that this and many other sins were embraced by their society. Abraham pleaded for Sodom, but no righteous person could be found there. Angels came to warn Lot what was about to happen, and the very next day judgment began.
The famous story of Jonah gives a pretty clear timeline for the city of Nineveh. God announced that in forty days, Nineveh would be destroyed if the people didn’t repent (Jonah 3:4). The people took this warning seriously and repented; God did not bring destruction (verse 10). Nineveh gives me hope for America, but not much to be honest with you.
In the stories mentioned, the gap of time between the prophetic warning and the judgment doesn’t seem that long. This is something to keep in mind, but this is not an exhaustive study on the matter. So, study it for yourself.
We’ve already looked at the downward spiral of our culture with no sign of repentance or revival, and it doesn’t look good. One could argue that there have been many who have spoken prophecies of America’s impending judgment. And we should expect it. Remember that God disciplines those He loves (Revelation 3:19), and He loves the whole world, not just America. He has also brought about the end of nations and will bring about the ultimate End. This will lead to a glorious eternity for those who believe in Him.
Here is a final thought: God can use the death of a loved one to finally reach the soul of a family member. He can bring illness to cause a person to be totally dependent upon Him. He can bring America to its end in order to reap a harvest of lost souls. He can use any and all negative circumstances for His glory, including the terminus of nations.