A friend at FR asked me to comment on your Isaiah 18 post.
The foundation for 18 is Cush..which in Isaiahs day was the 'Ethiopian 25th dynasty'..King Tirhakah.
This Dynasty ruled Egypt and Ethiopia..and was a Juggernaut.
Ethiopian armies served in other Egyptian Armies..most notably the army of 'Shishak'..that sacked Jerusalem.
'Cush' is mentioned in Ezekiel chap 38..the battle with Gog.
Isaiah 18 vs 1 ..Land of whirring wings..which sends envoys by the sea..in papyrus boats..over the water.
Prophecy carries the value of duality..what was spoken in the time of the prophet can happen again,or be a marker to a future scenario..but here one must be very carefull to say this is such and such.
The Apostle Paul.. Rav Shaul said we see through a glass dimly..meaning we percieve vaugely.
Certainly the U.S. is the world leader in aviation...Her diplomatic history is replete with overnight Envoy activity to any spot on the globe..so ya..the Envoy over water theme.
Papyrus is an interesting conotation..as reeds made boat hulls..but also paper a very thin and fragile medium for the time.
If the Prophet saw a modern jet liner..and noted its thin fuselage..he might have equated it to Papyrus of his time.
Some comment that scripture is strangely silent concerning America...Yes...but only just now..soon events will unfold..and the picture will be defined more clearly.
Since the early 80's in my life the theme of a one world system with global power has emerged..many have tried to attach scripture to America here..some have only framed Papal Rome..others just Iraq[Babylon].
My Spirit has allways witnessed the realm of "Principalities and powers"..litterly the Demonic.
The scriptures clearly reveal the 'Wrath to come'..upon all...all who take the mark of the beast.
Here is where America is too be seen.
Henry Kissinger brought and initiated many of the forms which are the foundation to the beast system..[No Kissinger is not the A.C.]..These foundations were implimented in Australia and Newzealand decades ago..seeing that both are isolated Islands,where business is done first globally each day..and are socialist..meaning adapted forms are not readily rebelled against..it began.
The Bar code /economic identsystem.
The national I.D Card.
The Debit card.
The MESH BLOCK..satillite location grid system.
Here the bugs were worked out on tracking an individuals spending and transit movement...
The system is inplace in America..Applied to Americas economy instages..with Federal law written to.
Now Subcutinous implants are available...soon a national I.D. system with a computer chip.
So yes..America is very much part of the mark of the beast system..and will recieve the Judgements listed in the Revelation of Jesus[Yeshua].
Some of us will escape by Divine will..others will become the Saints whose blood cries out before the throne for Righteous Judgement by our Lord.
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it..but whoever loses his life for My sake..will save it unto life Eternal"
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response. It does make alot of sense, I just don't like the idea of us being part of the Beast System. I guess I need to quit fighting the notion and just accept it.