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The American approach to the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran and Israel, is often seen as a product of cold geopolitical rationality—interests in oil, containing hostile regimes, and strengthening strategic alliances. However, beneath this pragmatic surface lies a deeper and more unsettling layer: the powerful influence of religious mythology, which, according to some researchers, shapes decisions that affect millions of lives.
This influence traces back to the 19th century and the figure of Anglo-Irish clergyman John Nelson Darby. Darby popularized the idea of the "rapture"—the sudden ascension of true believers to heaven before the onset of the Apocalypse. His interpretation of biblical prophecies formed the basis of dispensationalism—a doctrine that divides human history into divine epochs, each bringing the end times closer. This worldview seeped into the American religious mainstream, especially among white evangelicals, and gained mass appeal through books and films in the "Left Behind" series, where characters in a post-apocalyptic world fight the Antichrist and prepare for the final battle between good and evil.
Among certain circles of American evangelicals, Iran is seen not just as an enemy of the U.S. but as a potential catalyst for prophetic events. Israel, in this context, plays a sacred role—as the land where, according to prophecies, Armageddon will occur and Christ will return. These ideas are not confined to secluded monasteries but are held by people with access to power and influence over political decisions.
Historian and theologian Jemar Tisby calls this phenomenon not just concerning but deadly dangerous. He argues that many of Donald Trump's actions, including moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and taking a hard line against Iran, cannot be understood without considering their theological roots. Tisby contends that these religious beliefs are not abstract—they translate into real politics that could lead to global conflict.
Diana Butler Bass, a religious studies scholar and author, emphasizes that for many evangelicals, the Middle East is not just a region rich in oil and conflict but the stage for the unfolding of a divine script. She recalls being taught as a child that Jesus could return "at any moment" and that events in Israel and Iran should be interpreted as signs of the impending end of the world. These beliefs have not faded—they are experiencing a revival in religious circles close to the Republican electorate.
When President Trump ordered the airstrike on Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, political analysts focused on issues of national security and regional balance. However, for some of his religious supporters, this strike was seen as another step toward the apocalypse they had been awaiting for decades. In some churches, sermons compared this strike to the beginning of a prophetic chain of events foretold in the Book of Revelation.
For these groups, the idea of war with Iran is not a catastrophe but a necessary stage before the return of the Messiah. War in the Middle East is seen as a purifying fire in which the world must burn to be reborn in divine glory. This viewpoint raises serious concerns among scholars and religious leaders who see in such interpretations a threat to global security.
This ideology is particularly evident in what is known as "Christian nationalism"—a movement that seeks to fuse American identity with evangelical Christianity, viewing the U.S. as a chosen people whose mission is to fulfill a divine plan on earth. Israel becomes not just an ally but a symbolic center of this plan, while Iran is seen as the embodiment of evil, the "enemy of God."
The complexity lies in the fact that these beliefs are often indistinguishable from pragmatic foreign policy. They are woven into rhetoric, decisions, and even military campaigns, creating an illusion of rationality where mystical expectations and apocalyptic fantasies actually prevail.
Many observers underestimate the depth of these religious influences. They analyze Trump's tweets, Pentagon statements, and intelligence reports, ignoring the fact that for part of the elite and electorate, these events carry a spiritual meaning. This is where the danger lies—when policy becomes an extension of prophecy, it loses touch with reality and turns into a tool of mystical sacrifice.
What the future holds for U.S.-Iranian relations in this context is not just a strategic question but a metaphysical one. Time will tell whether this confrontation will be determined by the cold logic of interests or by the hot faith in the end times.
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