Gideon Rachman, writing for The World in 2013, predicts: "Politicians will disappoint the voters—again. The world's leading democracies are experiencing a crisis of confidence. In 2013 that crisis will intensify in America, the European Union, Japan and India. All grapple with profound problems of governance" ("Democracy's Woes," emphasis added throughout).

Rachman's report continues: "American politics will remain gridlocked . . . In 2013 America will find it more difficult than ever to fashion coherent policies to revive growth and to tackle the soaring national debt." He also states that "public faith in politicians could hit new lows in 2013."

One of the major accomplishments of American president Abraham Lincoln was to keep the Union together through the terrible ordeal of the Civil War. It appears that at no time since then has America been as divided as it is today. Major issues divide Americans, with no prospects for unity in sight.

America isn't alone in this regard. Apart from the current intentions of Catalonia in seeking separation from Spain, the most immediate threat to the unity and territorial integrity of a major nation will occur in 2014 in Great Britain. Scotland will then decide whether to remain a part of the United Kingdom or become independent. If it opts to go it alone, the Union of 1713 between England and Scotland will cease—with far-reaching negative political and economic consequences for both countries. Will the present UK leadership be up to the task of persuading the Scots to remain in the United Kingdom?

Part of the biblically foretold decline of the end-time descendants of the patriarch Jacob may involve divisive fragmentation of territory. If you don't yet understand the true biblical identities of these peoples, read our free Bible study aid The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.