A Teleological Interpretation of War in the Middle East

When geopolitics meets the Apocalypse: how biblical and messianic narratives intersect with real-world strategy in the Middle East.

Makis Vorlokas · 06/03/2026 · HERMIS

When geopolitics meets the Apocalypse: how biblical and messianic narratives intersect with real-world strategy in the Middle East.

"In the Middle East, wars are not fought only over borders, oil, or strategic power.
They are also fought within another narrative: the idea that history is moving toward a final act.
When geopolitics begins to speak the language of the Apocalypse, politics ceases to be merely the management of interests and becomes a question of destiny."

When Geopolitics Speaks the Language of Faith

Evangelical pastor John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel, has repeatedly argued that the return of the Jewish people to Israel represents the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stated in 2018 before the Knesset that America’s support for Israel is not only a matter of policy, but also of faith and destiny.

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has repeatedly claimed that the existence of the State of Israel is directly connected to the biblical promises of the Old Testament.

After the Hamas attacks in 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invoked the biblical command “Remember what Amalek did to you,” a phrase from Deuteronomy that has historically been used to describe the ancient enemy of the people of Israel.

These references later became part of a broader legal debate, including discussions before the International Court of Justice, in the context of the case concerning Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Short timeline

1948

The establishment of the State of Israel.
In evangelical circles in the United States, it is often interpreted as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

1979

The Islamic Revolution in Iran.
The new regime introduces a political theology centered on the expectation of the Hidden Imam.

1990–2000

The rise of the evangelical movement of Christian Zionism within American politics.

2017

Recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by U.S. President Donald Trump, a decision welcomed by evangelical groups as a “historic moment.”

2023–2024

The war in Gaza brings biblical and apocalyptic references back into public political discourse.

The Middle East has always been a geopolitical crossroads. Today, however, it also functions as a stage for competing narratives about the end of history.

When the strategic language of power intersects with the theology of the Apocalypse, politics acquires a dangerous depth. Wars cease to appear merely as conflicts of interests and begin to be framed as episodes of a preordained destiny.

History has also shown that wars believed to fulfill prophecies are often the hardest ones to stop.