Did God Give America a Special Place in Human History?
As world events seem to portend an escalation toward the fulfillment of end times prophecies, many are wondering what the United States’ role will be in the last days.
While some prophetic voices have argued that Scripture’s silence on the wealthiest and most powerful nation means something will happen to America’s ability or desire to engage in the battle of Armageddon and other end-times events, others point to similarities between Israel’s creation and that of the United States, as well as the latter’s continual strength despite mountains of debt and other issues, as signs that God has a special role for America to play in the end times.
Regardless of whether or not the United States will still be a major world player (or even a nation at all) in the last days, the majority of Americans believe God has granted their nation a special role in human history, according to a recent survey done by the Public Religion Research Institute. While only one-third (33%) felt this was not the case, more than six in 10 (62%) Americans surveyed believed that God has been used, is being used and/or will be used for a unique and important purpose in world events. When a similar question was asked in a 2012 poll, 62% also answered in the affirmative.
Self-identified conservatives are far more likely to believe in American exceptionalism, as 80% answered in the affirmative, versus only 45% of liberals. White evangelical protestants are the most overwhelmingly positive in this regard (83% believe God has a special role for America to play), 73% of non-white Protestants and 70% of Catholics, along with a majority (56%) of white mainline Protestants believe America has a divinely appointed purpose in world events.
Meanwhile, a slim majority (53%) of respondents who identify as religiously unaffiliated disagreed with the statement, instead believing that God has not given the United States a special purpose. Curiously, though, even 39% of that demographic, which includes a preponderance of agnostics and atheists, stated that God does have a special role for America to play in the course of human history.
This survey question has been included in at least three previous surveys, dating back to May 2011, and while this month’s survey ties the 2012 survey for the largest number of respondents who believe in American exceptionalism, it also sees a five-point jump in the previous record for those who “completely agree” with the sentiment, from 30% in 2012 and 27% in 2013 to a new high of 35% today.
What do you think? Does the United States have a special God-given role to play in world events? What will the America’s role (if any) be in the end times? Sound off in the comments below.
