A country’s prosperity depends on how they treat God’s people.
It’s long been thought that the economic development of the western world was tied to their cleverness and supreme culture. That the US rise in power over the last 200 years are tied to their own excellence. They are not the first to have this kind of distorted views.
God is the one who let one country rise in influence above another. Why would God favor one nation or nations above others? The answer to this is found, of course, in the Bible. God is the good shepherd and He will favor any society that ensures His people’s right to practice their faith and prosper. If God’s people prosper in a country and are free, God will help that nation to be more influential and powerful then others.
First, let’s establish who God’s people is. According to the Bible, God’s people are those who follow His laws. When adding the testimony from the New Testament we also learn that God’s people accept Christ as their savior.
But we are not talking about any Christian. We are talking about those obedient to God’s original law. They are the ones who need protection, they are the ones under the devil’s attack: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keeps the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev 12:17)
Not only does God help those nations and countries to rise but they are also, because their riches and power is a blessing from God, given a greater responsibility. Or God will take it all from them again.
During the middle ages those who kept the biblical law, God’s original law, were treated harshly as the Catholic church wanted to rid themselves of them. The Catholic church, by its own authority, had changed God’s law and wanted people to keep the changed one instead.
During the Middle Ages, little development was seen. They were also attacked by Islam and even Mongolia. They were poor and struck by many diseases leaving millions dead. Meanwhile, God was blessing the Ottoman Empire with wisdom, skills, and growth as they were sheltering God’s commandments keeping people and letting them worship God in peace while they were under persecution in Europe. God even let them have Jerusalem. But when the Ottomans turned and became harsh limiting religious freedom, their turn had come for defeat. But they had for long been the most advancing technological power in the near east. They even were the first to use firearms and by it won many wars.
However when the reformation movement reformed northern Europe things started to happen for these nations. But they still did not ensure God’s people equal rights, but they at least had a chance to live for the most part in peace. The USA was a small country at first, with little power. However, they declared that they would not repeat Europe’s sins in controlling people’s religion. They determined to separate state and religion, not because they didn’t like religion, they were all mostly Christians themselves, but to make sure no one would have to be persecuted for his or her belief like it had happened in Europe.
Because of these laws, God’s people had a chance to not only live in peace in the USA, they had a chance to prosper and grow. God, therefore, blessed the United States and made them the most powerful nation in the world. Their influence regarding religious tolerance and separation of church and state even reached Europe and God’s people got a chance to flourish there too. The southern countries that continued Catholicism remained the poorer nations with the least development in the living standard of the western society. God favored clearly the Protestant countries, and first of all the ones that protected peoples freedom of belief. However, as an interesting turn in events, the Catholic nations were soon even blessed by the progress of the Protestant nations and got to financially grow by their association with them.
However with time and the growth of atheism and agnosticism the idea that these countries prosperity is tied to their own supremacy arose. Leaving many arrogant and even more eager to abolish religion to establish a religious free world. By this they try to subdue the Christians their right to practice their faith, however, the path will not lead to an Utopia. As all blessings come from God.
The last man to give himself credit for his own power was Nebuchadnezzar. God had allowed him to punish his back-sliding people who had persecuted His servants. In fact, Judah’s bloodshed of God’s prophets had much to do with God allowing them to be defeated. Nebuchadnezzar, on the other hand, allowed man to freely privately follow their faith as long as they were obedient to the state. On one occasion Nebuchadnezzar got big headed and was going to force all the countries leaders to bow before his golden statue. God instantly put him in his place. And Nebukadnessar once again allowed God’s people to freely worship their God. But Nebukadnessar got big headed again and thought it was because he was greater and better than anyone else, that because of his personal excellence, he had become the most powerful nation in the world.
“The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” (Dan 4:30-31)
At that moment Nukchadneszzar became in a reduced state, the lowest of the low.
When his grandson gave the gods of silver and gold the credit for their supremacy while mocking God, God let Babylon itself fall that very same night.
We are dealing with the same God and the same situation today. The western world has provoked God greatly but He has allowed them their authority and strength because they have given His people freedom to worship Him in peace. Let us look at a couple of examples on God helping nations to prosper and then reduce them to nothing when their attitude towards God’s people changes.
EGYPT
Egypt was at one time the greatest and richest nation in the world. But they didn’t come ahead of the other nations for no reason. When Joseph came to Egypt God had decided to create a refuge for His people there until 
they could move into Canaan. So he sent Pharaoh a dream of a coming drought. Joseph was placed in charge and they gathered great storages of food. When the time for the drought came Egyptians and foreigners alike came and sold everything they had to buy grain. The Egyptian state grew extremely strong and rich at this time, all because of God’s forwarning. (Gen. 47: 20-28) Without it, they would have been reduced and weakened. But because of the great income, they became mighty. Israel is allowed the best part of the country to live in. “The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. ..And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. ” (Gen 47:6 & 27)
But when a new dynasty and pharaoh of Upper Egypt took control he did not want to ensure God’s people’s rights in Egypt. Instead, he viewed them as a threat and subdued them. He took their children from them. He even made it impossible for them to keep God’s law forcing them to work on the Sabbath. God’s people were no longer prospering in the land of Egypt, their cry reached heaven. But Egypt, as the most powerful nation in the world, did not see what was coming their way. That their prosperity and greatness had been caused by Gods blessing and their willingness to let His people have the freedom to worship Him after His laws.
They thought they were rich and great because of their own excellence and cleverness. Egypt was far ahead of any nation in technology. They invented many things, they even did brain surgery, they made great and advanced buildings and was before others in maritime technology and medicine. They were also advancing in mathematics and language. But without God’s blessing, they were about to be hit back into the stone age.
God sends Moses with the request to let God’s people go so they can worship God in peace. Pharaoh says no. God gives Pharaoh many chances to do the right thing, but he continues to refuse to acknowledge God and the rights of His people. Ten plagues destroy Egypt’s economy and way of life. The country is shattered. Not only that but when they leave they are instructed to tell the Egyptians to give them of their riches. The fearful Egyptians did as they were told: “And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.” (Exo 12:35-36)
But the Egyptian government still didn’t understand the point and they went after the Israelites to subdue or even kill them. When they reached the Red Sea and entered it with their bad intentions Egypt even lost their mighty army, all their weapons, and chariots. Egypt was now a weak and poor nation. God had given them their blessings, riches, and growth. He had made the state powerful. Now He had stripped them of everything. The ones left was so weak that they feared Egypt would be totally robbed by other nations and so they went into a union with the Kushites for protection and to keep others away.
Israel
God established Israel as their own kingdom under His law. And He gave them a land to do it in.
But Israel was no exception to God’s rule. God wanted them to not make the same mistake the Egyptians had made.
“Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness, the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Understand, therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.” (Deu 9:4-6)
Because God had given them the land and it’s riches because He had caused them to prosper. When Israel failed God and subdued His servants, they too had what was given to them taken away. Even the land. God will bless no country that persecutes His people. At the end of their probation, they crucified Jesus and killed off their own people who believed in Jesus and God took again from them the land and riches He had given them.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom is another such nation. Lot and other godly people moved in amongst them and they prospered. The cities of the plain were rich people. But they were also not the godliest. They had provoked other nations and was taken captive and lost all their riches and even their freedom and family. But Abraham, by Gods assistance, saved them all because Lot was amongst them. They knew why they had been saved, they saw the power of God. They, five cities had fought and lost. But a drifter, Abraham, with his few men had saved them all by the grace of God.
Abraham let them keep their riches and united the families. From now on all their prosperity and riches was tied to God’s blessing because Lot had been amongst them. And for a long time, he was allowed to live in peace in Sodom. He even sat at the gate where the governmental seat was in Biblical times. Lot was a constant reminder of the true God that had saved them, but they rejected it. They decided that they were in such a great state because of their own excellence. Their own talents and intellect. And Lot became a silent reproof of that. For long they ignored him. They felt they could live as they wanted. They used their riches to suppress those less fortunate, arrogant to their position. “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (Eze_16:49)
“I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” (Jer_23:14)
Lot and his family had been allowed to live in peace for quite some time. But God knew that the hour had come were not a single godly man would be allowed to live there in peace. The man whose relationship with God had ensured their freedom and riches, they were boldly ready to destroy. The same night God also destroyed them. “And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door” (Gen 19:9)
Why you have been blessed.
To the great western nations. You are not rich and powerful because you are smarter, better, or whiter than other nations. You are powerful because God blessed your development and gave you knowledge and economy so that you could continue to protect the rights of His people and give them freedom and space to grow. The moment you turn on God’s people, it will be a downhill from there. No matter how great you have been or even are. Your prosperity is tied to how you treat God’s people and how you respect God’s authority. Other nations have been blessed because of your blessings. Other nations have prospered because of your accomplishments and trade.
The enemy of God would like to fool you into thinking that God’s people are the problem. They are not. If you protect and shelter God’s people, God will protect and shelter you. If God’s people are given the opportunity to grow and prosper, so will you.
You are mighty because God made you mighty. “Daniel answered and said, Blessed, be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Dan 2:20-21)
The USA understood the base of their greatness when they were still small. Giving God’s people freedom and a chance to live and prosper, the state for a long time acknowledged that God was the one who had blessed them. In God we trust, were their slogan. They perfectly combined the two elements to ensure their growth. Acknowledging God’s supremacy over their state AND ensuring religious freedom for His people. Thus the USA became, by God’s blessings, the most powerful nation in the world.
The moment they turn from this path and start oppressing God’s people and giving glory for their power to themselves, their downhill begins.
Like Babylon, like Egypt, like Israel and Sodom, they will be reduced to the smallest kingdoms in the world. If the USA cooperates with the Vatican in making state-run religious laws that suppress God’s people’s right to keep God’s original laws, the plagues mentioned in Revelation 15 and 16 will poor on them the worst.
The great city of the world that had everyone’s admiration, will fall in one prophetic day (1 year).
“And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” (Rev 18:16-20)
The Bible has prophesied of a union of the two beasts, Babylon, and her daughters, that will attack the liberty of those who “keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus” (Rev.14:12) They will even deny them the right to live, to buy and sell. “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Rev.13:17)
This is prophecised. The beast that had two horns like a lamb, a seemingly Christian free nation, is going to speak like a dragon. (Rev.13, 11-18) Continuing the sins of the first beast, the Papal power, in persecuting God’s people. (Rev.13,1-11)
When they do that, God will strip them of their power and riches in one year. God was the one who blessed them, He made them big, He made them powerful, and He will take it back gain.
But no prophecy is completely determined. Like in the case of Nineveh, if they turn from their ways, God might change His mind. The USA has still not made that one fatal decision, to unite a false religion with their state and suppress God’s commandment-keeping people who have the faith of Christ. But when they do, their destiny is decided.
“And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” (Joe 2:11-14)