Those who write on current issues and events as related to Bible prophecy yet future have, as often as not, been somewhat off the mark. For example, I’ve viewed the weather (the climate changes in the seasons) just as weather, with little prophetic significance; others, however, see weather as, in some cases, pointing directly to prophetic development.

Bill Koenig and John Maturin’s take on the weather as related to treatment of Israel does intrigue me. And others writing and speaking in that vein have occasionally captured my curiosity—like, for example, Hurricane Katrina during the George W. Bush administration and things going on at that time with the treatment of the Jewish state.

That hurricane was indeed an attention-getter, and it remains one of the most violent on record to have hit our nation.

Most writers of this sort have based their regard of the increase of violent weather as a sign of the end times on the following Scripture:

Again, I have, over my many decades on the planet, known of violent weather phenomena—especially since I’ve lived for much of that time here in the mid-South, which is considered on the fringe of Tornado Alley. As a matter of fact, we missed being hit directly by a tornado while living in Jackson, Mississippi, by less than a city block.

So when learning of foul weather, even the sometimes unusual outbreaks across the region or the world, I haven’t been particularly turned toward the “seas and waves roaring” of Luke 21:25 as being a significant indicator of end-times prophecy.

However, learning of the current weather phenomena raging across the nation and world, in conjunction with the other geophysical activity—earthquakes and the like—we are, I believe, experiencing the forewarning in Luke’s account.

Some of the stories of such concurrent, angry weather plaguing diverse regions are listed on Rapture Ready News on May 20:

• Tornado hits St. Louis metro area, leaving 5 dead and causing widespread damage

A destructive tornado struck the St. Louis metropolitan area, Missouri, on May 16, 2025, killing at least five people and injuring dozens, according to city officials. The storm caused significant damage to infrastructure and homes, with over 5,000 properties affected. At least seven storm-related deaths were reported across multiple states on May 16, with some reports mentioning at least 10 fatalities.

• First-ever Dust Storm Warning issued for Chicago, visibility drops to near zero across metro area

The first-ever Dust Storm Warning for the Chicago metro area was issued on May 16, 2025, as winds of up to 113 km/h (70 mph) carried dust into the city. The storm reduced visibility to near zero and affected major routes across Chicago and surrounding areas.

• Tornado Emergency issued as violent tornado strikes Marion, Illinois

A violent tornado struck south of Marion in Williamson County, Illinois, between 18:00 and 19:00 CDT on May 16, 2025, prompting the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a rare Tornado Emergency for the area. The tornado destroyed homes near Market Road, caused significant structural damage across southern Marion, and formed part of a broader Midwest outbreak that killed at least 16 people.

• Violent tornado strikes London, Kentucky, killing at least 9

A violent tornado struck the city of London in Laurel County, Kentucky, at 23:49 LT on May 16, 2025, killing at least nine people and injuring many others. The tornado caused extensive damage along Keavy Road, KY 1006, and Old Whitley Road.

These were but a few storms raging within the US. Tornados are also striking in places around the world where such storms are almost never reported.

My own lack of discernment to this point regarding the “seas and waves roaring” has received enlightenment, it seems.

Jesus, when standing in the midst of them while He walked the streets of Jerusalem, chastised the religious hierarchy for failing to discern the prophetic times. They were looking into the eyes of their Messiah—the King of Israel and the very Son of God. Yet they, with all their training and religiosity, couldn’t discern the matters they were supposed to relay to the people.

It is most interesting, in the context of our commentary here, that the Lord used weather to make His point:

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:1-3).

It seems that lack of discernment regarding the matter of the weather, in my case, needed adjustment—no, needed correction!

The prophecy regarding the seas and waves roaring, which I’ve mostly considered to mean the sea of humanity in tumult among the nations of the world, it’s obvious to me now is primarily a geophysical phenomenon that will mark the end times. I continue to believe that, secondarily, the “seas and waves roaring” also refers to humanity in turmoil as the time of Christ’s return nears. It has, I’m of the conviction, a dual meaning.

As with all other prophecies in God’s Word, we must, as believers, discern the times we’re in with regard to Christ’s Second Coming. The next prophecy is the one from which we in God’s family should take great comfort, as Paul urged:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and     with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess 4:16-18).

Something I’ve often fought against in my writer’s mind in these commentaries is the matter of being too America-centric. That is, it’s always tempting to bring things involving the United States into articles. I’m most familiar with our nation and its influence on geopolitical and other areas of life upon the planet. So it’s perhaps a sense of familiarity that produces laziness in my research if my guard against such isn’t at full resolution.

However, in this particular piece, it is altogether appropriate to make America the focal point. The reason is that I continue to receive a number of emails from writers who look at developments in which the US is undeniably at the center of critical areas of nation-state interaction.

Of course, the emails I receive are inevitably steeped in and surrounded by questions with Bible prophecy at their center. And with the frenetic pace of developments lately, those messages are, almost as a unified theme, posing the question: Why is America so powerfully observable in geopolitical and geo-economics activity at this late hour of this Age of Grace (Church Age)?

Without exception, these mention the fact that the American president commands full attention in all he does, and now there is, with the death of Pope Francis, a newly elected pontiff—an American.

President Trump seemingly has the magic touch in leading all nations–even antagonist nations like China—to join in working to make the world economy one that will benefit all. This president also leads the way in seeking peace in the Middle East in dealing with Iran and Israel, between Russia and Ukraine, and between India and Pakistan–all areas that present the danger of igniting nuclear conflict.

Pope Leo XIV, who is already ballyhooed as “the American pope,” joins the movement in calling for peace and safety as he demonstratively aims to lead with great vigor from the Vatican, Christendom’s most powerful center from the world’s diplomatic perspective.

Many who watch things develop toward prophetic stage-setting and even fulfillment are speculating as to whether the powerful influence the US is currently exhibiting in the areas of geopolitics, geo-economics, and religion might indicate that America is destined to be the Babylon of Revelation 18.

One of the most-asked questions by those interested in end-times matters is: “Is America in Bible prophecy?” Or, “Why isn’t America, certainly considered the greatest nation to this point in history in terms of wealth and material achievement, not in Bible prophecy?”

The most common answer given by teachers and others who view prophecy from the premillennial, pre-Tribulation, futurist perspective is: “No. America is not found in Bible prophecy.” That has most frequently been my own answer to that basic question. The US isn’t found within the pages of God’s prophetic Word.

I can’t answer for others who deal with biblical eschatology (the study of end things). I can only say that my own meaning within my answer is that the US isn’t mentioned by name anywhere in prophecy.

Whether this most materially blessed nation in history, despite the absence of its name, is or is not somewhere in prophecy is another matter. Regarding that, my thinking has trended in more recent times toward “perhaps.”

Babylon, the city second only to Jerusalem as far as the number of times it’s mentioned in the Bible, is, of course, at the center of most controversy in the question of whether America is implied in Scripture. Is the United States Babylon the Great?

Despite the adamant answers to this query by some of my colleagues and friends on both sides of the America/Babylon matter, I must say they cannot—nor can I—know for certain. Only history playing out can provide the answer. We don’t know the future in detail when speculating upon such peripheral prophetic issues. Such is reserved exclusively for the God of Heaven.

Time’s unfolding, however, always draws things to come into focus so that prophetic detail can be more clearly discerned. It seems to me that recent times have provided ever-increasing magnification, showing America’s possible inclusion within these “end-of-days” prophecies, as the secular world terms them.

I’m not declaring that I think America is Babylon the Great. Like this commentary’s title implies, however, our nation, in many ways, looks more and more like a mirror reflection of that prophesied entity. The speculation , therefore, is allowable, in my view.

If God’s Word is true—and it is in every respect—there must be a city, nation, and commercial influence of tremendous magnitude during the time of what John was told to call the Apocalypse: the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

We must then, if trying to understand whether the present generation is near the time of Christ’s revelation, or Second Coming, ask whether a city-state commercial system as described in Revelation 18 exists.

As a matter of fact, there is indeed such an entity. It is the only one on the scene right now. Far beyond that fact, the one presently on the scene is unlike any other that’s ever existed.

The United States of America is, in terms of human achievement and attainment of every conceivable development of material convenience, the absolute apex of all nations of all of history! This isn’t being boastful of my nation. It’s simply fact that even the most ardent America-hater can’t truthfully deny.

At the same time, as we’ve seen over these closing days of the age, America is the exporter of evil even the likes of Sodom couldn’t claim.

Here are God’s Words, through John while the apostle and prophet was exiled on Patmos. Is there any possibility that these words might fit America the Great?

Let’s look here at the mysterious entity God called “Babylon the Great.” Its total destruction assuredly describes how it will be the apex nation/city/commercial and religious system of human history.

“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

“The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 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 (Revelation 18:9-10, 15-19).

It’s a frightful and exceedingly sad speculation, to be sure. But we are commanded by our Lord to “watch” (Mark 13:37). Therefore, we must do so in accordance with Christ’s other command:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).