An Amazing Fact: The General Society of Mayflower Descendants estimates that there are 35 million living Mayflower descendants worldwide, with 10 million living in the United States.

The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620, carrying 102 passengers, and it arrived near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, after 66 brutal days at sea. They had endured violent storms, crowded quarters, and meager rations. About 40 of them were Pilgrims in search of religious freedom.

In England, the king not only ruled civil society but also served as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. By law, all English subjects were required to attend their local parish church on Sundays and other holy days. Unauthorized religious assemblies were prohibited, and dissenters could face harassment, fines, imprisonment, and other penalties.

Because the Pilgrims had serious objections to many unbiblical and oppressive practices of the national church, they left for America, where they hoped to worship freely according to their understanding of the Bible.

Amazingly, only one passenger died on the Mayflower voyage, but the Pilgrims had arrived too late in the season to plant crops, and they were unprepared for the harsh weather ahead. During their first winter ashore, roughly half the passengers passed away from disease, malnutrition, and inadequate shelter.

The First Thanksgiving

Things began to turn around in March 1621 when a Native American named Samoset walked into Plymouth Colony and greeted the Pilgrims in English, saying “Welcome, Englishmen.” A few days later, he returned with another Native American named Squanto.

A member of the Wampanoag Confederacy, Squanto spoke English fluently because he had once been kidnapped by English traders and taken to Europe, before eventually returning home.

Squanto became the English settlers’ interpreter, guide, and instructor. He taught them how to farm the local land, where to hunt and fish, and how to forage for edible plants. His language skills also helped to prevent misunderstandings between the settlers and the Wampanoag.

After a successful harvest in the fall of 1621, the English held a three-day harvest celebration, giving thanks to God for His provision. About 90 Wampanoag men also attended the gathering.

The Wampanoag contributed venison, while the English provided wild fowl. (There may have been turkey, but historical accounts don’t specifically mention it.) Other foods likely included corn, fish, and vegetables.

This celebration is often recognized as the first Thanksgiving.

An Amazing Prophecy

What’s fascinating is that more than 1,500 years earlier, the Bible foretold that the New World would provide refuge for God’s persecuted people. Revelation 12:16 says that “the earth helped the woman” escape the persecution she had experienced in the Old World.

A “woman” in Bible prophecy symbolizes God’s people, or the church (Isaiah 54:5, 6; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25). And in contrast with the crowded “waters” representing the “multitudes” of Europe (Revelation 17:1, 15), the “earth” represents a less densely populated territory—which describes America in the 1600s.

In America, the Pilgrims were able to worship God according to their consciences, beyond the direct control of the English monarchy and its established church.

The Beast From the Earth

From the same “earth” that helped the woman, John saw “another beast coming up” (Revelation 13:11). A beast in Bible prophecy represents a nation or political power (Daniel 7:17, 23). This power comes to prominence as the sea beast receives its deadly wound (Revelation 13:3, 10, 11). These details point to the United States, a young nation that emerged from the American colonies near the end of the 18th century.

This beast has “two horns like a lamb” (v. 11). Unlike the crowned horns of the sea beast, the earth beast’s horns have no crowns. This fits what Ohio congressman John A. Bingham described as “a church without a Pope and a State without a King” (quoted in The New York Times on April 30, 1856).

These ideals of civil and religious liberty received constitutional protection. The First Amendment reads, in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The first clause restrains the federal government from establishing religion, while the second protects people’s right to practice their faith.

Because the lamb is a biblical symbol of Jesus (John 1:29; Revelation 7:14), the horns’ lamblike appearance suggests that these founding principles reflected Christ’s respect for freedom of conscience.

History Will Repeat

Sadly, the beast that rose from the earth has another characteristic, an ominous one. It speaks “like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). The dragon is a biblical symbol for Satan (12:9). This points to a tragic turn of events.

The same nation that today respects religious freedom will one day violate the principles of its Constitution and use the dragon’s methods to enforce false worship. Religious laws will be enacted, causing those who don’t go along to face discrimination, economic hardship, and eventually death (13:15–17).

This may be hard to believe, but it’s what the Bible says. Many are unaware of this coming fulfillment of prophecy, yet current events remind us how quickly religious and civil liberties can be threatened.

Are You Ready?

The Pilgrims risked everything for their freedom. What sacrifices are you willing to make in order to remain faithful to God’s Word?

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). When the state claims to honor God but begins to enforce a form of worship that’s at odds with His Word, how will you respond?

Now is the time to draw near to Jesus, study His Word, and prepare for what’s coming.

Remember, “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5, 6).