By Nicholas – member of the Western Rite Vicariate, a part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese in America
So far, the Trump Administration has put forward no less than 7 objectives (reasons) for the Iran War. Let’s look at the most commonly cited ones, and consider whether any of them make actual sense.
Did we go to war with Iran to liberate its citizens? If so, carpet bombing major cities would seem a poor way to spread freedom. Corpses are not known for their civic participation. Survivors of aerial campaigns of mass destruction are not known for their gratitude.
To prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon? No one actually believes that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon, and didn’t Trump tell us all multiple times that he had destroyed their nuclear capability? Did Americans see Iran as a looming threat? Support for this war among the general American public stands at somewhere between 24% and 27%. Most Americans couldn’t care less about Iran. Even the traditional American response of “rallying around the flag” in times of war is not materializing.
Right-wing influencers, such as Candace Owens, are encouraging service members to get out of the military rather than fight in this war. Many are actively sharing resources to help service members leave the military. There is no widespread “rally” behind the president in this war. The Trump Administration sees the complete lack of support, but is curiously doing nothing of substance about it.
Americans have never been more distrustful and resentful of their own government than they are today. They voted en masse for a man, Donald Trump, whose campaign explicitly promised peace and prosperity. What they got is more economic decline and more war. A supermajority of Americans are not drinking the war Kool-Aid. Especially not Gen Z, the demographic suffering the most from America’s internal decline, and the one now prime military fighting age. Attacking Iran will not provide American young people with affordable homes, stronger purchasing power, and better job prospects. They know this, and no amount of cooked economic statistics will convince them otherwise.
Is this about controlling oil? America has no legitimate prospects of seizing Iran’s oil. This war can destroy a huge chunk of global oil production. However, the idea, that American “boots” on the ground will enable Washington to control Iranian oil fields, is too far-fetched for anyone to take seriously. The already failing global economic order is likely to go into freefall as a result of supply chain disruptions.
Maybe it was for political reasons? If so, that is a non-starter. Trump seems to have wanted the benefits of being a “wartime” president. The results for him, however, are going to be more akin to Truman and the Democrats’ ouster in 1952 over a stalled war in Korea, rather than to W’s successful reelection in 2004. The planning and execution of this war have been total chaos. The American people will not reward failure, so why would any politician do this? Unless, maybe, the destruction is the whole point?
Is this a Great Power move to reduce China’s influence globally? Many theorists have called Iran an “outpost” of Chinese influence in the Middle East. To be fair, this may be an actual underlying rationale for this war among some real decision makers. The American National Security State is definitely anti-China. On the other hand, this war is the longest of long shots. The U.S. is going to lose. The only question is how long it takes for us to realize that loss. Would competent policy mandarins risk the international reputation of the U.S. given the low probability of success? Was preventing a closer China-Iran alliance really important enough to sustain all the losses we have suffered? Never bet against government idiocy, I suppose, but that level of sheer incompetence seems a stretch even for Washington.
Was this merely a mistake? An example of a narcissistic president surrounded entirely by “yes men” making an enormously bad gamble that a people, of whom he knows nothing, would rise up against their own government when seriously attacked? Maybe, but we are days into this conflict and even a dullard can see that Iranians are not going to overthrow their government for the benefit of America and Israel. Yet, as of now, the Trump Administration is doubling down on a bad hand, even as previously die-hard Trump supporters are defecting to the anti-war camp in droves.
Is this about Zionists achieving the dream of a Greater Israel, encompassing land that now belongs to multiple Middle Eastern states? The religious zealots might really believe that God Himself will deliver them a miracle. The military professionals, however, must realize that a possible result of this war is the complete destruction of Israel as a viable state. Contrary to all the propaganda, Jews are safer almost anywhere else in the world than in Israel. Many of them hold dual citizenship. When they finally crawl out of the bunkers, finding nothing left of their cities but ruins, how many secular Israelis will pitch in to rebuild? How many will go home to the safety of New York, Miami, or even Eastern Europe? If the survival of Israel is so important to Zionists, why pursue a course of action that can easily lead to the end of Israel as a viable Jewish ethno-state? Sure, the religious zealots might be convinced that the messiah is going to miraculously deliver them, but most Jews and most Israelis do not fall into that camp.
It is clear that Bibi Netanyahu wanted this ill-advised war, and his government is taking advantage of the chaos to invade Lebanon and murder more Palestinians. However, is Bibi the global decision maker, or is he middle management for those that are? After the war, Bibi could find himself prime minister of a massive ruin. He actually lives in Israel, unlike a lot of his billionaire backers. It is hard to understand how he couldn’t foresee that this war could end in a worst-case scenario, with him as the global scapegoat for a catastrophic mistake. It is a strange gamble for a man who is known as the ultimate political survivor. Especially if the only way out is to actually use nuclear weapons, which is evidently under consideration. Who thinks that Israel would survive and prosper in an irradiated Middle East? Nuclear ash clouds don’t respect borders.
So why? Why is this happening? The short answer, I believe, is that the transnational, governing, demonic oligarchy, the “Epstein Class,” wanted this war to happen. But, why would mega-rich, powerful, unaccountable, sexually perverse billionaires and their hirelings want a war that threatens to destroy everything they publicly profess to love and support?
The most probable answer I can come up with – the Apocalypse is the point. A majority of the “Epstein Class” want to burn down civilization as we know it, so that from the ashes they can build the Utopia of their dreams. A new world completely under their control. Instead of just being mega rich perverts pulling strings from the shadows, they will be the earthly gods of a new age of a very different humanity.
Why just be rich and above the law, when you can be a god?
From their perspective, it doesn’t matter if the Iran War is a “success” or a complete “failure.” What matters is to cause conditions that allow them to completely overthrow the existing global and U.S. domestic Constitutional orders. The chaos, mass destruction, economic decline, and possible U.S. domestic civil unrest are not unfortunate results of a poorly thought out set of policies. They are essential tools in building the brave new “Epstein” future.
Average humans reading the above can dismiss it, or be troubled by it, but few will support the idea expressed in it that we need a new human civilization run by demonic billionaire technocrats. Unfortunately, the world isn’t comprised only of reasonable people. Especially in America, we have millions of extremely unreasonable people who, like the “Epstein Class,” are actively committed to bringing about the Apocalyptic end of the world as we know it.
These are the messianic Zionists – both “Christian” and Jewish. They are the only significant base of support this war has. The “Christian” Zionists want to fulfill Biblical prophecy leading to the return of Jesus Christ, followed by his 1,000-year reign on Earth. The messianic Jewish cults want to build the Kingdom of their promised messiah so that he will show up and rule it. That will usher in a Golden Age of Pax Judaica in which the Rabbinic Jews will dominate the world, enjoying such perks as thousands of goyim slaves each.
Zionist motivations differ from that of the “Epstein Class” and their demon gods, but their desire to destroy the world as we know it aligns perfectly. The Zionists are the foot soldiers of the “Epstein Class” in implementing their accelerationist Apocalyptic plans. They are the useful idiots who will sacrifice anything asked of them, including the lives of their children. They will bear any hardship placed upon them. They will willingly accept any lie, any contradiction, as long as they believe they are doing “God’s Will” in bringing about the End of Days.
Which is why this war is being marketed exclusively to Zionists. They are the only ones willing to get on board with a war this full of global danger. (As an aside, if you think the existence of the “Epstein Class” is a conspiracy theory, just replace every reference to it below with “U.S. National Security State” and the analysis works the same. Messianic Zionism is a cover for this war, not the primary cause.)
Some examples below of framing the Iran War in Apocalyptic language to appeal to Messianic Zionists:
- A military religious freedom group reported that they received over 200 complaints from troops voicing concern over commanders telling them that the war with Iran is “biblically sanctioned.” Reports came from 50 military installations across all the U.S. Armed Forces. A commander is reported to have said that Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon.” This is a continuation of a pattern established under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has been responsible for expanding Zionist prayer sessions and Bible studies in the military. Reports are that many U.S. commanders appear particularly enthused by the prospect of an intensely bloody confrontation, believing that much bloodshed is necessary to fulfill the Evangelical Christian end-times narrative. Are American soldiers on board with the Apocalypse? Indications are that many are not. One NCO wrote that this rhetoric is eroding morale and violating constitutional oaths, especially for troops that could deploy at any moment. Their opinions, however don’t matter. The intended audience for all this religiosity is not the soldiers in the barracks. No one cares what they think. The assumption is that they will follow orders, regardless of personal beliefs. American civilian Zionists are the real audience. For them, such actions and language, officially sanctioned by the Pentagon, reinforce their belief that this war is for God and is being waged under His anointed leader – Donald Trump.
- On March 5th, American evangelical leaders gathered around President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to pray over him and for U.S. success in the war against Iran. The photo op was organized by Paula White Cain, televangelist and head of the White House Office on Faith. Ralph Reed of Faith and Freedom Coalition characterized the prayer session as asking God’s support for the attacks on Iran, “I am grateful to President Trump for his courageous decision to strike the terrorist regime in Iran. I am honored to pray for him & our armed forces at the White House. May God grant victory & freedom for the Iranian people.”
- In press comments, Senator Lindsey Graham said about the Iranian War, “This is a religious war, and we will determine the course of the Middle East for a thousand years.” This is an explicit reference to the “Millennial Reign” of Christ, which most Evangelicals believe will be centered in Jerusalem following the end of the anti-Christ’s reign. The message is clear to “Christian” Zionists – fight Iran to kickstart the Apocalypse.
- Serving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a 2018 speech at the Arutz Sheva conference in Jerusalem, openly discussed the possibility of a third Jewish temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. “There’s no reason why the miracle of the re-establishment of the temple on the Temple Mount is not possible,” Hegseth said according to the Times of Israel. Both “Christian” Zionists and messianic Jews want the temple re-established but for different reasons. “Christian” Zionists believe that the re-establishment of the temple is a necessary precursor for the return of Christ. Messianic Jews believe the rebuilding of the temple is necessary to usher in their messianic age. To build the temple, the Al-Aqsa Mosque would have to be torn down to make way. This is an action Iran would never stand for. So Iran has to be destroyed, and as far as Zionists are concerned – Pete Hegseth is just the man to do it.
- We could give more examples of religious framing from the government, but let’s take a moment to look at what Zionist preachers are saying. One of the most famous “Christian” Zionists is Pastor John Hagee. Hagee is the founder of John Hagee Ministries and Cornerstone Church, a massive evangelical megachurch with over 22,000 active members. To oversee his religious empire, Hagee has reportedly received annual compensation exceeding $1.3 million. Who knew the Apocalypse could be so profitable? In 2024, Hagee declared that Iran’s missiles were the prophetic start of the “Gog and Magog” war from the Bible. After the start of the Iran War, Hagee stood before a giant banner hailing “Operation Epic Fury” to pray for God to help Israel and the Jewish people “crush their adversaries.” In his sermon promoting Operation Epic Fury, the Trump ally predicted Russia, Turkey, “what’s left of Iran” and “groups of Islamics” will invade Israel, and be destroyed by God through a combined attack of earthquakes, hailstones and friendly fire. The Iran War, evidently, is just the beginning.
- Hagee is not alone among “Christian” Zionists calling for us to bring about Biblical prophecy. At the same time, however, let’s not forget that many Zionist Jews have been taking steps to rebuild the temple, conquer and settle more land, and many other things intended to bring about the coming of their messiah. What kind of world will that messiah usher in? A Utopian world in which the Jews are on top. You can hear a quick synopsis here. You can find out more about this topic from Tucker Carlson. A religious extremist Israeli hiding in a bunker, while his whole life is destroyed above him, will tolerate a lot more suffering if he believes the end result will be a Jewish paradise. Quick note – not all Jews, even the religiously practicing ones, believe in all of this or that their actions can bring any of it about. A large and influential number of Jews, however, do and they are in the driver’s seat of the Netanyahu Government.
Click here to listen to this Rabbi explain the wonderful new world for Jews after their Messiah comes in which every Jew will have 2800 goyim slaves. This is the world we are sacrificing for.
Now don’t get it twisted. In my opinion, Donald Trump, John Hagee, Pete Hegseth, or even Bibi Netanyahu are not calling the shots that led us to this war. This is an operation willed into existence by the “Epstein Class,” and their demonic overlords, for their own ends. If you reject the existence of the “Epstein Class,” then it was willed into existence by the U.S. National Security State. Either way, the real purpose of the war is not to bring back Jesus Christ or pave the way for the Jewish Messiah. The war is not happening to intentionally fulfill religious Zionist prophecies. The last thing the “Epstein Class” wants is to meet Jesus. However, without millions believing in those prophecies, this war could not be happening.
Which is why the Zionist Apocalyptic narrative has to be protected by the “Epstein Class” at all costs. Reduced numbers of Apocalyptic cultists make bringing about an Apocalypse a whole lot harder. Without the Apocalyptic support, the “Epstein Class” would find themselves dangerously exposed. They need a nice, fat John Hagee to keep millions occupied with Armageddon instead of authentic Christianity, which teaches peace, love, and justice. The “Epstein Class” want civil resistance, possibly even civil disorder, to justify continued building out of a comprehensive system of control and surveillance. What they don’t want is a full-scale revolution which they are not prepared to contain. This is a tight rope they seem to think they can walk.
Non-Zionist Christianity, particularly Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism, are a major threat to the Zionist narrative. Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy are both ancient and have direct ties to the original Christian communities in Palestine, and throughout the Near East. The Roman Catholic Church is the single largest religious organization in the United States. Orthodoxy is growing rapidly, especially among Gen Zers of military age, and is the domestic U.S. presence of the second largest Christian Church in the world. The Iran War has resulted in both these Churches pushing back harder against “Christian” Zionism that at any time in U.S. history. Pope Leo denounced the Iran War, a fact that U.S. Roman Catholics have seized upon to proclaim that Roman Catholics cannot morally participate in, or support, this war.
All the above puts those two Christian Churches on a collision course with the “Epstein Class” and the Control Grid they are busy erecting. For Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians, this is a potentially dangerous situation. The “Epstein Class” is erecting a framework, legal and operative, that can be used to turn anti-Zionist Christians into martyrs. I will be exploring that further in the next post.
