Iran war prophecy

Molly Butler/Media Matters

Christian media figures have claimed that the Iran war could signal “the second coming” or the “End Times” and said “we are watching incredible prophecy in this time come to pass”

Written by Payton Armstrong

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Right-wing Christian media are praising President Donald Trump’s decision to join Israel in launching military strikes against Iran, with some figures likening Trump to Cyrus the Great and Constantine the Great and claiming that “we are watching incredible prophecy in this time come to pass.”

Christian media figures have said the war could be a sign of “the emergence of the Antichrist, the tribulation period, the battle of Armageddon, the second coming,” claiming that he has “literally become Constantine the Great”; asserting that “God is using President Trump in a prophetic moment”; and telling audiences, “It’s all going to be happening in God's timing.”

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  • Trump joined Israel in striking Iran — a longtime goal of right-wing evangelicals who believe in End Times prophecy

    • The U.S. and Israel launched wide-ranging military strikes on Iran, reportedly killing multiple high-ranking Iranian leaders and many civilians, and thrusting the region into a new era of instability. As of March 3, at least six American service members have reportedly been killed in action since the conflict began, and Trump has said, “There will likely be more before it ends.” Additionally, a girls’ elementary school in Minab was hit during the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign, killing 165 people and injuring 96 others, according to Iranian state media. [NPR, 2/28/26, 3/2/26; BBC, 3/3/26; The Guardian, 3/1/26]
    • Military commanders have been accused of tying the Iran war to biblical prophecy, with one combat-unit commander reportedly telling noncommissioned officers that Trump is “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.” Military.com reported: “An organization that has been fighting against religious extremism in the United States military for two decades has reported more than 200 new complaints since Saturday’s initial strikes against Iran, with members across all services claiming that high-ranking officers are tying the mission overseas to fulfilling a Christian prophecy.” [Military.com, 3/3/26]
    • For years, Christian media figures have likened Trump to Cyrus the Great and claimed he is “anointed” by God. Vox explained the comparison in 2018: “Many evangelical speakers and media outlets compare Trump to Cyrus, a historical Persian king who, in the sixth century BCE, conquered Babylon and ended the Babylonian captivity, a period during which Israelites had been forcibly resettled in exile.” [NPR, 1/20/25; Reuters, 3/22/24; Vox, 3/5/18]
    • Evangelical leaders and right-wing media figures have long claimed Israel is central to the supposed End Times and Iran is “not simply a talking point, but what many … believe is a land of biblical significance” and “considered a major player in End Times prophecy.” For years, those figures have cited various conflicts in the Middle East to warn that the End Times are either here or imminent, and have suggested that Iran could represent the antagonist “Gog” or “Magog” in a biblical prophecy. According to Britannica, in the Bible, “the names Gog and Magog are applied to the evil forces that will join with Satan in the great struggle at the end of time.” [Baptist News, 3/2/26; Media Matters, 11/7/23, 7/19/11; Harvest, 3/2/26; Right Wing Watch, 6/20/25; Britannica, accessed 3/3/26]
    • Conservative media figures have so far been divided over Trump’s war with Iran. Many prominent right-wing figures have supported the war, but a wide variety of streamers and podcasters have broken with the administration, with Tucker Carlson calling the attacks “absolutely disgusting and evil.” [Media Matters, 3/2/26]

  • Right-wing Christian media celebrated Trump’s war with Iran as a fulfillment of prophecy, saying that Trump is “literally becoming Cyrus the Great” and that “the return of Jesus is back on the menu”

    • FlashPoint host Gene Bailey and “self-styled prophet” Lance Wallnau likened Trump to Cyrus the Great liberating Babylon, with Wallnau saying, “Cyrus Trump holds the cards.” Bailey opened a segment discussing Iran by saying: “History has a strange way of repeating itself. … When Cyrus the Great entered Babylon, he didn't crush a people. He didn't crush a people group. He liberated them. The Persians still call him Cyrus the Great because he restored dignity, honored faith, and broke the back of the oppressive regime. His name is etched in Persian memory, not as a tyrant but as a deliverer. So, let's fast forward two thousand five hundred years now, many Persians see something similar to Donald Trump.” Wallnau later said, “Cyrus Trump holds the cards.” Bailey has interviewed Trump on FlashPoint at least seven times. Trump appointed Bailey to an advisory board on his Religious Liberty Commission, and told the host during an interview, “We’re with you 1,000%.” [YouTube, FlashPoint 2/28/26; Media Matters, 6/12/25; The Wall Street Journal, 10/9/24]
    • Wallnau declared: “The return of Jesus is back on the menu.” Wallnau said: “Things are happening right in alignment with actual feasts. … There's always a feast day manifestation because Israel and the return of Jesus is back on the menu.” [Right Wing Watch, 3/2/26]
    • Also on FlashPoint, right-wing pastor Andrew Sedra said “we're seeing President Trump literally become Constantine the Great, he's literally becoming Cyrus the Great.” Sedra celebrated that “Trump is going after the head of the snake, which is Islam,” adding, “It is a very, very good time to be alive where we're seeing President Trump literally become Constantine the Great, he's literally becoming Cyrus the Great. He's taking decisive action to make sure that Christendom freedom will last across the West for a hundred more years.” Sedra also said, “God is using President Trump in a prophetic moment of time to execute judgment on evil and wicked civilizations.” [YouTube, FlashPoint, 2/28/26, 2/28/26; Daily Mail, 6/22/23; Ministry Watch, 3/11/24]
    • Pro-Trump pastor and podcaster Greg Laurie — who interviewed Secretary of State Marco Rubio in October — declared that the war could be a sign of “the emergence of the Antichrist, the tribulation period, the battle of Armageddon, the second coming.” Laurie, who hosts The Greg Laurie Show, said: “It reminds me of the words of Jesus who said, ‘When you see these things begin to happen, look up because your redemption is drawing near.’ As far as I can see, the next event on the prophetic calendar will be the rapture of the church. … When that event happens, all of the prophetic things that are going to take place are like dominoes closely stacked to each other. And once the first domino falls, the others will fall: the emergence of the Antichrist, the tribulation period, the battle of Armageddon, the second coming, the millennial reign of Christ, heaven and Earth become one, and somewhere in that prophetic scenario is the invasion of Magog with her ally Persia. So, it's all going to be happening in God's timing.” [YouTube, 3/1/26; The Greg Laurie Show, 10/28/25; Christianity Today, 5/12/25]
    • Trump ally and “prophet” Amanda Grace claimed that the strikes on Iran were “prophesied back in December,” adding, “We are watching incredible prophecy in this time come to pass.” Grace often shares what she calls prophetic warnings and alerts and “a Word from the Lord” on YouTube and has interviewed members of the Trump family including Eric and Lara Trump. [YouTube, Ark of Grace Ministries, 2/28/26; Media Matters, 5/30/24; YouTube, accessed 9/2/25]
    • Pro-Trump “prophet” Julie Green said, while discussing Iran, “We should be celebrating and being in comfort and being at peace knowing that God is in control.” Green, who has hosted Eric and Lara Trump on her online show, told her audience: “Prophetically, God has been talking about what we're seeing right now. So this is something that we should be celebrating and being in comfort and being at peace knowing that God is in control, knowing that God is having his way and he is removing every evil leader out of their powerful positions.” [Rumble, Mornings with Julie, 3/2/26; Media Matters, 10/4/21, 5/30/24]
    • Right-wing pastor John Hagee streamed a sermon on YouTube titled “God's Coming Operation ‘Epic Fury’” in which he said that “we rejoice in the prophetic scriptures.” Hagee, who founded and chairs a group called Christians United for Israel and has previously argued for military strikes against Iran, opened his sermon by stating: “We thank you for our president, Donald Trump, whose wisdom and courage has crushed the enemies of Zion. Today we rejoice in the prophetic scriptures of Ezekiel, revealing God's operation fury for the enemies of Israel.” [YouTube, 3/1/26, 3/1/26; The Nation, 6/24/25; The Guardian, 3/6/23]
    • Pastor Sean Feucht — a self avowed Christian nationalist who recently announced a “revival” partnership with the federal government for the country’s 250th celebration — noted during a YouTube stream that his evangelical group has had a presence in the Middle East since “the height of ISIS” and said, “God has us positioned there for the end-time open doors of what he's going to do in Iran.” Feucht added: “We're going to see the gospel go forth like never before.” Right Wing Watch reported that during a February livestream, “Feucht announced details of what he called the ‘Roots Of Revival’ tour in which the federal government will partner with him as he hosts prayer events ‘from coast to coast [in] all the historic and epic places of revival and awakening that were birthed in America.’” [YouTube, 3/1/26; Right Wing Watch, 2/11/26, 4/21/23]
    • Right-wing pastor Jack Hibbs uploaded a sermon on YouTube in which he discussed the strikes against Iran in front of a screen saying “Bible prophecy update.” Hibbs, who in 2024 was invited by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to serve as the House of Representatives’ guest chaplain, invoked a verse from Jeremiah 49, which references “the latter days,” and said, “Is that what we're watching? Is that what we're seeing? We'll see. We shall see. But that prophecy has never been fulfilled. Not in total.” [YouTube, 3/1/26; Media Matters, 1/31/24; One for Israel, accessed 3/3/26]
    • Joseph Z — who regularly shares “prophetic updates” on YouTube and in his bio has said he practices “Last Days Prophetic Journalism” — said strikes against Iran “could be Bible prophecy playing out” and “we're going to see an absolute revival come to Iran.” He suggested “what took place in Jeremiah 49” could “be a prophetic fulfillment of what's happening in Iran.” [YouTube, 3/1/26, accessed 8/11/25; Right Wing Watch, 8/12/24]