US foreign policy in the Middle East is being hijacked by premillennialist dispensationalism. This is a frankly medieval evangelical Christian belief of rickety construction based mainly on a particular reading of the biblical Book of Revelation. Spreading to the US from its Irish roots in the 1850s, it is now entrenched among President Donald Trump’s critical support base. Adherents believe that the current dispensation, also known as the “state of grace” will end with the rapture, when all Christians will suddenly be transported to heaven. Remainers will be subjected to seven years of tribulation followed by the “second coming”, at which point Christ will rule the world for a millennium, with Jerusalem as his capital. While one may not agree with, say, the Munroe doctrine, at least it can be discussed. The rapture requires a suspension of rational thought. I doubt Trump believes in it, but Mike Pompeo, a part-time Kansas pastor, and vice-president Mike Pence definitely do. Only l...
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