Is the United States in Biblical Prophecy?

When it comes to prophecy, there have been numerous attempts to explain the book of Daniel as it relates to the times we live in.  I think we may have moved far enough in time to see the progression more clearly.

In Daniel 2, it has traditionally been understood that the gold head was the Babylonian Kingdom.  Daniel makes this identification for us.  The chest and arms were the Medes and the Persian Empire, the belly of bronze was the Hellenic Empire and the fourth Kingdom was the Roman Empire.  The Roman Empire was destroyed and then transformed by the mountain of the Lord which is the Kingdom of God that is growing here on earth during the church age.  I believe this is a correct understanding of this passage.

In Daniel 7, the second vision is recorded by Daniel.  In this vision there are four beasts namely the lion, bear, leopard and the last beast which is left unidentified.  Revelation 13 does identify the last beast stating that it is a combination of the lion, bear and the leopard. 

The animals all appear at one time rather than in sequence in Daniel 7 demonstrating that all of these nations will exist at the same time in history.

It has been traditionally understood that Daniel 7 parallels Daniel 2; however, the vision is very different.  I think all of the animals in Daniel 7 can be identified in this present age. 

The British Empire is represented by the Lion.  In Daniel 7:4, it says, “The first was like a lion, and had Eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off.”  The Eagle is the symbol for America and it has been the British-American Empire that is still ruling to this day.  The wings represent the spiritual nature of these powers; however, over time these wings were plucked meaning that American-British alliance lost their spiritual origin.  The text also notes that the Lion with Eagle wings turns into a man emphasizing that these spiritual nations are transformed into godless nations.  

The Bear is Russia which maintains an empire during our present age.  The bear has three ribs in its mouth revealing that they present a threat to Israel and actually harm Israel at some point most likely due to its alliance with the Islamic nations which continue to threaten and harm Israel.

The Leopard is an animal that has a lot of spots.  If you have ever seen a leopard, it has lots and lots of spots.  The spots represent a collection of nations that work as one.  A leopard that fits that exact identification does exist in the United Nations.  The U.N. is seen as an empire in our world today.  The Leopard has four wings and four heads.  The number four is the number for the authority over the earth so that the Leopard's authority extends to all people on the earth which is true of the U.N.

I think in part that the current configuration of nations is important because Israel as a nation came into existence in 1948 which began an eschatological (def: end times) clock ticking.

The final beast is the final world government which will combine the British-American, Russian and United Nations into a one world government.

The final world government is controlled by 10 nations.  The United Nations currently has 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.  The book of Revelation predicts that the world government follows a horrific cataclysmic event where 1/3 of the world's population is killed.

Out of these 10 nations that rule the world, one little horn which I believe is the great city found in Revelation 17 will come to power and these 10 nations will give their power to the beast.  Revelation 17 demonstrates that the center of power resides in a revived Roman Empire which had previously been destroyed by the mountain of the Lord in Daniel 2.  However, the Rome which sat on seven hills may simply be a picture of the world government that covers seven continents.

The end of the vision in Daniel 7 is the coming of the Son of Man who gives the earth to the saints beginning the millennial Kingdom.