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The Wings of The Eagle
We recently discussed a potential wounding that
may strike America in the coming months. Whether it is something from hell
that God allows or something that actually comes from His hand, the Lord
will use this to help purify America's soul. I do not see the USA being
destroyed, crushed or even marginalized; the chastening, if needed, I
believe will bring this nation into its highest spiritual destiny. Whatever
the conflict, its effect will help break the bonds of uncleanness from the
land.
If there is a wounding, remember His hands
also heal. Recall Jesus' statement to Peter, that Satan had demanded
permission to sift Peter (and the disciples) like wheat. There were "two
Peters" fighting for dominance in the apostle's life: a superficial,
ambitious chaff nature and a deeper "wheat" nature. America is much like
Peter: strong, self-confident and carnal. The Lord had to break Peter's
self-will in order to unleash the spiritual side of the apostle.
Yet, it is possible that our prayers, our
deepening godliness and fasting might cause conditions to change across the
nation. It is possible to avert the wounding altogether.
As the Lord calls us to pray for the United
States, I want to share with you my vision of God's plan for this nation. To
do so, we will look into the Revelation of John. I know some think of
America as a modern Babylon. To you I say that, even if we are exiled in
Babylon, the command is still to pray for the nation, for in its welfare is
our welfare (Jer 29:7).
The Revelation Of Jesus
The last book of the Bible is, as its
introductory sentence proclaims, the "Revelation of Jesus Christ." The book
begins with John's profound encounter with the Lord Jesus in which the
apostle collapses like a dead man. In chapters two and three we see Jesus
correcting and encouraging His church; in chapter four He is displayed as
the King sitting upon His throne. In the next segment we behold the Lamb
followed closely by His elect, where He opens the seals of judgment. And in
the final section, Christ is revealed in a glory so expansive and brilliant
that the earth and sky are swallowed in light, and in the Holy City, the sun
itself pales and is needed no more.
Throughout the book, Jesus is continually
unveiled as the Eternal Commander of the heavenly host, leading a triumphant
church into His victory. If we do not see the revelation of the Son of God
in this book, we will assume it is merely a prophecy of events. Without a
vision of Christ, our fears magnify the judgments of God; we will miss the
Eternal Champion Who has written His autobiography before it happens.
It is with the reassuring knowledge of a
conquering, invincible Christ that we step into the drama of end time
events. And, I believe, as we study the twelfth chapter of John's
Revelation, we will see a prophetic picture of America's end time role.
The chapter begins with a "great sign"
appearing in heaven: "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her
feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." This woman is most often
interpreted by Bible scholars as the true church (although a few scholars
see her as ancient Israel). Clearly, however, the early Christians did not
recognize the woman as natural Israel; they saw her as a prophetic picture
of themselves (Jews and Gentiles united as a new creation in Jesus Christ).
Indeed, because her children hold the "testimony of Jesus," and since they
overcome by the "blood of the Lamb," she is Christian in nature and
fulfills, in my opinion, the role of the "Jerusalem above," whom Paul says
"is our mother" (Gal 4:26; see also Heb 12:18-23).
Verse two tells us that this woman is not
aloof or quietly composed, rather she is in "pain to give birth," pregnant
with the end time promises of God (see Gal 4:19). Her travail represents the
most complete and focused intercession she can utter: the release of Christ
in His many membered body. In spite of Satan's attempts to abort or kill her
child, she fulfills her holy mandate and gives birth to that which shall
rule the nations.
Those few commentators who identify the
woman as natural Israel, logically identify her offspring as Jesus Himself.
However, Matthew Henry, author of perhaps the most widely read Bible
commentary, writes that the woman is the church. Of her offspring, he
writes: "She was safely delivered of a man-child (v. 5), by which some
understand Christ, others Constantine, but others, with greater propriety, a
race of true believers, strong and united, resembling Christ, and designed,
under him, to rule the nations with a rod of iron; that is, to judge the
world by their doctrine and lives now, and as assessors with Christ at the
great day" (from Matthew Henry's Commentary).
The Great Eagle
As compelling and profound as the above
interpretation is, my purpose is to identify for our intercession a
scriptural understanding of God's purpose for America. Let us, therefore,
continue farther into Rev 12. After the woman gives birth, great conflict
increases between the kingdom of God and Satan, first with a war in heaven,
then with the dragon warring with the rest of the woman's offspring. Knowing
his time is short, the devil rages, both against the woman and her seed. Now
consider this next verse. John tells us that, to protect her, ". . . the two
wings of the great eagle were given to the woman" (Rev 12:14).
Commentators offer various interpretations
as to who or what is represented by "the great eagle." It is significant
that within their range of perspectives, there is this view offered by the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary: "The great eagle is the world power . . .
in early Church history, Rome, whose
standard was the eagle, turned by God's providence from being hostile into a
protector of the Christian Church. As 'wings' express remote parts of the
earth, the two wings may here mean the east and west divisions of the Roman
empire."
According to this 1871 commentary, early
Christians interpreted the "great eagle" as the Roman Empire. In partial
fulfillment of John's prophecy, under Constantine in 312, great protection
did indeed come to the early church. (Constantine himself was viewed as the
"man-child . . .caught up to God" through his vision of the cross, and he
also "ruled the nations.")
This interpretation by the early church,
that a great nation would be turned to God to protect the church from
persecution offers a legitimate faith-pattern for us. Beloved, consider: the
symbol of the United States is, in fact, the great eagle! And while we may
argue about the future, let us acknowledge the past: the wings of this eagle
have indeed provided refuge for persecuted peoples for hundreds of years! It
is highly possible that the great eagle mentioned by John is a reference to
God's plan to use the USA as a place of protection prior to the rapture of
the church!
Seeing As God Sees--Could the United
States be "a" or "the" Eagle?
We cannot ignore the fact that there is
great spiritual wickedness in high places over America. Still, as wickedness
has become increasingly more brazen over the last 30 years, so the true
church in the U.S. has become more pure, with maturing prayer and unity.
Thus, we would be in great error to ignore the Father's intentions for
America. This is not to limit His purpose with other nations around the
world, either. Great evangelists will come from Africa and Asia; even Russia
will have a mighty role in the end time harvest. God's heart is for the
nations. However, within the context of all that He is doing, we are
confronted with a prophetic reference to the wings of the great eagle being
given to the church at the end of the age. Even Bin Laden is credited with
saying he desires to die in the belly of the eagle (in a terrorist act). Why
should we not accept that the Almighty might have created the USA to protect
Christians during the time of Satan's worst raging?
I realize that, for some, the mere
suggestion that the United States may be the (or "a") fulfillment of the
"great eagle" resurrects all the negative impulses they have had about
America. Some are convinced that America is the final manifestation of
Babylon. Yes, the spirit of Babylon is here (as it is throughout the western
world), but this nation is not "Babylon" spoken of in Revelation 17 and 18.
The "blood of prophets and of saints" (Rev 18:24) has not been poured out
upon America's streets. The exact opposite has been true: America has been a
place of safety for the church and a gift of divine protection for the
nation of Israel!
Imperfect as this nation has been, still the
United States has been a strong defense for the oppressed of the earth. Time
and again the wings of this "Great Eagle" have been given to Christians
fleeing persecution from around the world. Despite all the flaws, prejudices
and injustices committed by Americans, there simply has never been a nation
whose spirit was more given to protecting the church, or people in general,
than the United States. Can any one nation on earth better fit the prophetic
profile of this verse?
Both Wings
Consider also, our Scripture text reads,
"the two wings of the great eagle" were given to the woman (the church). Why
would John specify "the two wings," as though we did not know how eagles
fly? I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to know God's will is not just
sheltered under the eagle's "right wing." There are divine passions
sheltered under the "left wing" as well. Christian Republicans ought to pray
for and publicly support the interests of Christ, as they are revealed in
the Democratic party: care for the poor, civil rights and protection for the
environment. Likewise, believing Democrats should cross the aisle and take
strong pro-life stands, and also publicly resist the legalization of
perversion under the guise of freedom. Beloved, I believe the Spirit of God
has set His sights upon this nation. America has a unique role in end time
events which will take both wings to fulfill.
Will there be a wounding, a chastening of
our land? If the prayer movement staggers, if we put down our spiritual
vigilance, increased difficulties will be almost inevitable, especially if
the entertainment industry continues to embrace the deep things of hell.
Yet, we are moving in the right direction. The Supreme Court recently made
significant restrictions on abortion rights, and more restrictions are
coming. This is an answer to prayer, but obviously much work is needed.
However, I am fully convinced that whatever
happens, it will be filtered by the mercy of God and redeemed to serve His
purpose. I also believe that our Father will increasingly capture the soul
of America until "the two wings of the great eagle" are given to the woman.
In our next message we will discuss the
spirit of strife that is in the land. Until then, let us stand before God
for all nations during this difficult time.
--Francis Frangipane
http://frangipane.org
Check out Francis' new book,
"AMERICA AT THE THRESHOLD OF DESTINY
At:
http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/311/cat311.htm?781
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Francis Frangipane's Upcoming Events:
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MD 301-631-0969
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Marietta, GA 678-285-3259
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"The Three Battlegrounds"
An in-depth view of the three arenas of spiritual warfare
http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/311/cat311.htm
"It's Time to End Church Splits"
http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/311/cat311.htm
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http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/453/cat453.htm
Check out Francis' new book, "AMERICA AT THE THRESHOLD OF DESTINY
At:
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