Is not this the nation above all nations on earth:
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Yes, yes they are. If they aren't now, they will most definitely be later. I'm as confused as you when it comes to the literalness of prophecy. But we shouldn't be surprised if the new wine bursts when it is put into old wine skins.
If the USA is the literal physical benefactor of that prophecy in Deuteronomy, then the USA does it for a perishable crown where moth and rust eats. Especially if Ray thought the USA would fall for their subsequent unbelief, just like physical Israel.
Anyhow, check this parable for confirmation of what you know to be true, spiritually speaking.
Mat 21:33 "Listen to another parable: There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away.
Mat 21:34 When the grape harvest drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to collect his fruit.
Mat 21:35 But the farmers took his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
Mat 21:36 Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.
Mat 21:37 Finally, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.
Mat 21:38 "But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance!'
Mat 21:39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Mat 21:40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"
Mat 21:41 "He will completely destroy those terrible men," they told Him, "and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at the harvest."
Mat 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?
Mat 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit.Mat 21:44 [Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder!]"
Mat 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they knew He was speaking about them. Didn't God tell the Israelites through Moses that if they didn't obey Him, He would strike them with plagues, give everything they had to another nation and destroy them?
Deu 28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
Deu 28:30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
It doesn't end there because unbelieving Israel represents someone else.
Deu 28:68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Well, you get the idea. I'm sure you know that New Jerusalem is the true spiritual heir that lasts.