The 400 Old Prophecy & Warning of America’s Fall

On the Fourth of July, Jonathan Cahn shares a prophetic message – where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re heading. The prophetic warning embedded in America’s foundation: the mystery of Parasha, the secret of Winthrop’s Island, and where it is all heading.

America’s Prophetic Foundation: A City on a Hill or a Nation in Decline?

The words and vision of John Winthrop were nothing short of prophetic. Drawing from the Bible, he declared that if America would follow the ways of God, then the blessings that once came upon ancient Israel would come upon this new land. From its very beginning, American civilization was built on a foundation rooted in God.

Two Founding Pillars: Virginia and Massachusetts

The first foundation was laid at Cape Henry, Virginia Beach. There, settlers who had crossed the Atlantic erected a wooden cross on the sand. They bowed their heads in prayer and dedicated the land to God. This act marked the birth of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and the broader colony of Virginia—each established with a divine purpose: to glorify God and spread the Gospel.

The second pillar was the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This founding was even more intentional, led by the Pilgrims—Separatists seeking a land where they could freely worship God and live according to His Word. Sailing aboard the Mayflower, they established a covenant—the Mayflower Compact—stating that their new civilization would exist for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel.

John Winthrop’s Prophetic Vision: A City on a Hill

Ten years after the Mayflower landing, another wave of believers—Puritans—set sail in what became known as the “Puritan Exodus.” John Winthrop, their leader aboard the Arbella, penned a vision for the new world. He wrote:

“We are a company professing ourselves fellow members of Christ… knit together by love… entered into covenant with Him for this work… We must consider that we shall be as a city on a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”

This idea, “a city on a hill,” has become one of the most enduring symbols of America. But few realize its biblical roots—drawn directly from the words of Jesus, the Messiah. The vision was clear: to build a civilization of disciples, a nation that mirrored the holiness of ancient Israel.

America as a New Israel: A Nation Under God

America was not founded to replace Israel but to follow its pattern. So strong was this vision that at one point, it was even proposed that Hebrew be the national language. The United States was established to be a holy nation, dedicated to God’s purpose, and this spiritual foundation set it apart from all others.

Even as secularism grew, the original intent still echoes in America’s core beliefs—such as the sacred value of the individual, rooted in the biblical truth that every person is made in the image of God. From this, we get freedom of conscience, equality, and the principle that no government stands above God.