Evangelicals Love Donald Trump for Many Reasons, But One of Them Is Especially Terrifying
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The enemies of Israel have unleashed a massive air attack on the Promised Land. Hundreds of fighter jets streak across the sky. But before Israel can be destroyed, fire rains from the heavens and the enemy jets explode in mid-air with no explanation. Hailstones the size of golf balls follow the fire. The ground shakes. Birds pick clean the bodies of the fallen attackers. The enemy is vanquished without a single Israeli casualty, and the country is saved.
These are some of the opening scenes of the bestselling 1995 book Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days , by Jerry B. Jenkins and the late evangelical minister Tim LaHaye. But don’t mistake this scenario for a mere action sequence: It’s based on the war of Gog and Magog, a biblical conflict prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel. In the Bible, Gog is the leader of Magog, a “place in the far north” that many evangelicals believe is Russia. According to Ezekiel’s prophecy, Gog will join with Persia—now Iran—and other Arab nations to attack a peaceful Israel “like a cloud that covers the land.” LaHaye, like many evangelicals, believed this battle would bring on the Rapture, the End Times event when God spirits away the good Christians to heaven before unleashing plagues, sickness, and other horrors on the unbelievers remaining on Earth. Meanwhile, the Antichrist reigns supreme.
The story of Gog and Magog is central to the bloody eschatology long embraced by millions of American evangelicals. In recent years, End Times has gained special political currency as believers have seen any number of Middle East conflagrations as fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy, notably the US invasion of Iraq and the war in Syria. Gog and Magog took on fresh relevance earlier this month, when the Trump administration assassinated Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force.
On many levels, President Donald Trump’s self-created crisis in Iran seems to have no relationship to any sort of coherent foreign policy or geopolitical plan for the future. The assassination has yielded few if any tangible rewards for the US. But there is an eager constituency for Trump’s improvised policy toward the Middle East and Iran in particular: the evangelical Christians who see it as a means of ushering in the return of Christ. Lured by the promise of conservative Supreme Court justices, anti-abortion measures, and a commitment to Christian supremacy under the guise of religious freedom, white evangelicals voted for Trump in higher numbers than any other group—more than 80 percent.
He desperately needs them if he’s going to be reelected. And while some have expressed concern about the administration’s inching toward war with Iran, many of those with what were once fringe beliefs have cheered the killing of Soleimani. “Iran has this big part to play in biblical history,” says religious historian Diana Butler Bass, who grew up in the evangelical church, attended an evangelical college and seminary, and wrote her Ph.D. thesis at Duke University on American fundamentalism. “There are these particular prophecies from Ezekiel, where there is talk of a war that will happen at a very important moment in Israel’s history. And that war is going to kick off the End Times. People in this prophetic community believe Iran is going to be one of these aggressors.”
Bass thinks this worldview may be central to understanding Trump’s foreign policy. “When Iran gets into the news, especially with anything to do with war, it’s sort of a prophetic dog whistle to evangelicals. They will support anything that seems to edge the world towards this conflagration,” she says. “They don’t necessarily want violence, but they’re eager for Christ to return and they think that this war with Iran and Israel has to happen for their larger hope to pass.”
Not all or even most evangelicals believe in the literal truth of these sorts of prophecies, though nearly 60 percent of white evangelicals, according to one 2010 poll , believe Jesus is definitely or probably going to return by the year 2050. But those who do subscribe to this apocalyptic world view seem to be overrepresented among Trump’s religious supporters and advisers. In October, a host of influential evangelical pastors came to the White House to pray with Trump to protect him from impeachment. Among those who laid hands on the president as he stood, head bowed, in the Oval Office, was repeat visitor Greg Laurie, pastor of a California megachurch. A few days after the killing of Soleimani, Laurie made a YouTube video with Don Stewart, author of 25 Signs We Are Near the End , to discuss Iran and the End Times. “The scenario that the Bible predicted, seemingly so impossible,” Stewart promised, “is now falling into place.”
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From the outset, Trump has surrounded himself with people who hail from the fringes of the evangelical community that is steeped in the language of biblical prophecy, and his administration regularly reflects that language back to them in its messaging. In March 2017, for instance, Trump issued an official White House statement recognizing the Persian New Year in which he misattributed a quote to Cyrus the Great , the libertine pagan leader of the ancient Persian empire who was anointed by God to free Jews in Babylon. Ordinary Americans probably wouldn’t have even noticed the announcement, but evangelicals knew that Trump was speaking their language. Many of them believe Trump is like Cyrus, a flawed nonbeliever who nonetheless is chosen by God to work his miracles on Earth.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was reportedly instrumental in pushing for the killing of Soleimani, is also a master of such messaging. In March, during an interview in Jerusalem with the Christian Broadcasting Network (founded by another apocalyptic preacher, Pat Robertson), Pompeo showed his familiarity with another Iran-centric Bible story popular with End Times evangelicals. In the story, a Persian king is urged to slaughter the Jews in his kingdom at the urging of the evil adviser Haman. But his Jewish Queen Esther convinces him not to and saves her people. Asked whether he thought Trump could be a modern-day Esther, saving the Jews from Iran, Pompeo replied, “As a Christian, I certainly believe that’s possible.” The secretary of state’s End Times beliefs made headlines again after the Soleimani killing, as meme-makers circulated a quote from a speech he made in a Kansas church in 2015. A few days after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, Pompeo said: “We will continue to fight these battles. It is a never-ending struggle. … until the Rapture.”
When the US embassy was moved to Jerusalem in 2018, two evangelical pastors were brought to Israel to speak at the ceremony opening the new embassy building.
Why were evangelical religious figures brought to speak at the opening of a US diplomatic facility?
Robert Jeffress and John Hagee were brought by Trump to Jerusalem to speak at the re-opening of the US embassy there.
Both of these crackpots believe in the apocalyptic theory of the future of Israel.
That Trump goes along with this is just more insanity from him and his presidency and his followers.
Larry, there is no defense for the "belief" that we should support Israel because it fulfills Bible prophecy, and to say this belief is dangerous is a vast understatement.
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He can rapture himself all he wants, one thing he will NOT do is make this country into a theocracy or push his religion onto to others...AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
It is? Really? Central?? I'll bet if you asked 10 evangelicals to explain Gog and Magog, 9 of them couldn't do it.
Where is the evidence that this allegedly central foundation or focus on this story is connected to how or why people vote?
Yeah, I think those normal, everyday issues have a lot more to do with how people vote than things like Gog and Magog.
Desperately? Who else would they be voting for?
I remember a Stephen King short story ... Jerusalem's Lot (not to be confused with his book 'Salem's Lot) where I first heard those names. Even though I don't believe in demons, that was one hell of a story!
Someone with actual morals maybe?
They have tried that. More than once. In 2012 Democrats and the media were still selling the idea that Mitt Romney was the Devil. I'm not Mormon, and I don't agree with everything he says, but I have to acknowledge that he is the most moral candidate for president I have ever seen. Did the Left appreciate this? No.
In fact, he was roundly mocked for his morals. But he's not alone. Both Bushes were mocked for their socially conservative family values approach. Ronald Reagan was mocked for his traditional and supposedly backwards-looking social conservatism.
Voting for the moral guy has been tried. Over and over. People who vote that way - along with the candidate, himself - are routinely and reliably abused for it. Just this once, this group said "fuck it" and went for the foul-mouthed guy because they thought he might have a different approach than traditional politicians and actually get some stuff done.
And what has been the result? Democrats and the media cannot stop talking about how sad it is that evangelicals and other conservatives would vote for such an immoral person. I mean, there is no pleasing some people. Everything you try is wrong.
These comments are literally nonsensical.
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lol. You wont be happy til all of NT is the kids table.
There is no doubt, none, that the anticipated fulfillment of biblical prophecy is one of the main reasons evangelicals support Trump's policies towards Israel.
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That would most certainly not have been Hillary then...
That is true of the majority of his comments,.
I agree. After reading the article, comments and links, I have to just say "Strike One".
Agreed.
The sad part is the people who believe this articles premise really believe most Christians think this way.
And doing so they become the real fundamentalists.
If people believe that then they didn’t read the article. The article does NOT say most Christians believe this.
Is that what you got from the article? Try reading it again; [deleted]
You keep believing that and life goes on whether you like it or not.
And Trump will be re elected whether the left and their Lincoln project allies likes it or not.
Actually, I don't think so, if I read this right. I think they come to have a false belief of who most all Christians are. Believe me, most people who say they are Christians don't walk around reading a Bible all day long, nor do they live their lives strictly by the Bible. They sin and pray for forgiveness. They try to live a good life and treat everyone fairly. They put their faith in God that everything is going to be alright. And even if it doesn't turn out the way they wanted it to, they have faith that when their lives have ended in this world they will spend eternity with their Father. This is the way I see most people I really consider to be Christians.
The objective of the article is to say Trump got a couple of sidewalk preachers and millions of evangelical Christians want to get on with the ending of the world. And Trump is desperate for their support. It's rather ridiculous. [deleted]
The fulcrum of all religions==fear, obedience and hopelessness.
That is ridiculous.
Why?
I think you got it all wrong, but it does show how some people have been mislead for so long they think they know something and have no idea.
Sure, I can see why many Christians support this guy.
I would rather trust an Evangelist who believes in the End Times than an Islamist who wants it to happen now and would gladly take part in accomplishing it. Unfortunately too many people feel differently.
Too many secular progressives are actually in an alliance of convenience in this country against Christians.
More martyrdom bullshit.
It may just seem that way. Make fewer ridiculous claims and you will find fewer challenges to same.
Buzz,
You do realize that in end times, 2/3rds of Jews die and the other 1/3 convert to Christianity, and that is why they want the West Bank all Jewish. It's to fulfill the end-time beliefs.
So, really, they are not doing you any favor.
So you believe it's going to actually happen? Do you believe in Santa Claus as well? IMO its nothing but a harmless fantasy that will never happen and if it means they support Israel until it does then as far as I'm concerned they're welcome to that belief. As I've said above I'm a lot more concerned about the Islamists and their supporters and the rise in antisemitism and they're NOT fantasies.
not to them. no worries, you're safe awhile longer in china, but bone up on some scripture and hide the yarmulkes. they probably won't come looking until all the muslims are gone.
Since in this scenario, their only reason for supporting Israel is to see the destruction of the Jews, don't you think that is the ultimate in anti-Semitism?
Yes, I will consider it antisemitism when the End Times arrive (don't wait up tonight for that to happen) but in the meantime they are supportive of the Jews and Israel and its being Jewish. I don't criticize kids for believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy as well.
Wow, that's shows some real desperation for support.
Desperation? LOL what a twisted comment. I'm sure there are many here who are laughing at it, as I am.
Only speaking for myself Buzz but I wouldn't have much self respect if I relied on support from those that I knew were ultimately praying for my eventual destruction.
I watch Science Fiction and Fantasy dystopian movies as well, and they don't scare me.
I guess this person never heard of the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy.
If enough people in a position to effect events believe it will happen, of course it could happen.
We have high officials in the Trump administration who believe this bullshit. Trump himself doesnt though. Maybe he can save us, lol.
Who said anything about fear Buzz. I was talking about accepting support and self respect.
I asked you politely not to ever address me again because I grew tired of your name-calling and insults - looks like I have to have you blocked.
IMPASSE
Do whatever you want Buzz. I respond to comments that I have something to say about. That is what I have always done and what I will continue to do.
Many Christians believe that modern Israel doesn’t play a big role in Biblical prophecy regarding end times and they support Israel because it is the right thing to do.
How about you?
What is your belief regarding Israel’s role during the End Times?
ezpz. convert or die.
I don't think you are correct in that assumption. There are Christians working to bring about the End Times because they want to be raptured and they want Christ to smite their enemies and throw them in the Lake of Fire.
Read the Left Behind Novels...millions of copies sold. Those books are exactly the scenario I just laid out.
Well since Judea is in what is modern Israel you'd have to be a Christian that denies the content of Matthew 24.
Still no reply.
I wouldn’t either if I were you.
Well Buzz, that is basically what the article is saying, except it is replacing Islamist with evangelical Christian.
No it's not. It's warning people about worshipping false idols.
Like how so many worshipped at the feet of and swooned before Barack Hussein Obama?
nothing compares to the mass hysteria exhibited by teavangelicals and teanderthals during the last 3+ years
Maybe I haven't read the article enough times, but I have read it enough times to recognize it's just a hit piece, any hit piece will do against Trump and they want to include the Christians in on it as well. They say the evangelical Christians, but for their readers every Christian is an evangelical Christian and most of their readers believe that.
To me it seems you're saying the evangelical Christians want to get the Jews together to either convert or kill them and that's why the evangelical Christians want to push for the end times just like some of the Islamist want to do in your comment above. I read all of John's comments and every link, plus some off of those links. I can't remember all about them at this time, but the idea was to expose what frauds these preachers are. No one is worshiping the preachers and the only thing I'm doing is supporting the belief that the Jews are God's chosen children. I could care less at this point about the messengers or participants. Trump has done what no other president pretending they were going to do the same has never done.
You can rest assured none of the people over at Mother Jones believes a word of this, but it's good for antagonizing believers and non believers alike, but for different reasons.
So the DOJ replaced Catholic Charities with Hookers for Jesus, a charity which isn't as highly rated - part of Trump's vindictiveness over anyone who isn't a Trump toadie. You can't make this shit up. The emperor is going crazy with retaliation against honesty, decency, and our Constitution.