Mathman,

Your comparison of the USA to Babylon is compelling.  I think you are correct.  I see it as a "parallel" and that's a subject I have written about numerous times.  God uses parallels. Over and over again God uses parallels in the scriptures (both parallels and antiparallels).  His word says, "That which has been is what will be... that which is done is what will be done..." (Ecc. 1:9).

 

My guess is that the collapse of the USA won't happen until after the rapture and that glorious event is very close.  Another possible connection to Babylon and the US trying to divide Israel is something I see in Daniel. 

 

"This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN"  The word PARSIN Daniel deciphered as Peres which means "divided". 

 

26 "This is what these words mean: Mene": God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.  27 Tekel": You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres": Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

 

Right up until the last minute, Belshazzar was eating and drinking at the party.  Everything still proceeded as pretty much normal.  That very night Belshazzar was slain and his kingdom was divided.  What do you suppose will happen to the US after our leaders have tried to divide Israel. 

 

Destruction was not poured out on Sodom until after Lot was taken out and so I hope that the parallel means we will have been raptured out of this wicked world.

 

YBIC

Bruce Baber