The Tim & April Show — Episode 92: "Why Some Christians are Excited About the War in Iran and Hope for the End Times"

Podcast: The Tim & April Show, The New Evangelicals Network
Hosts: Tim Whitaker & April Ajoy
Date: March 6, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode unpacks the recent US airstrikes in Iran, the political chaos surrounding Trump’s “no new wars” pledge, and—most pointedly—the roots and real-world consequences of Christian end-times theology on US foreign policy. Tim and April, both ex-Christian nationalists, dissect not only the policy and media responses to the war, but especially how apocalyptic visions animate a shocking amount of excitement and support for war among certain Christians. They tackle theology, politics, culture—and nostalgia for the Rapture-induced trauma of evangelical childhood.

Episode Overview

• Ex-evangelicals and former Christian nationalists, Tim and April, confront the disturbing reality that many Christians support or even celebrate war in Iran as fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
• The hosts examine how Christian nationalist theology fuels US foreign policy, particularly the hope that world conflict in the Middle East signals the imminent return of Jesus.
• The show challenges the historical and theological origins of these beliefs, exposing them as recent innovations rather than ancient orthodoxy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Anecdotes & Show Banter (00:36–09:00)

• **April and Tim connect on the chaos of young parenting—through car trouble and migraines—to set a human, relatable tone.
• April discusses her comedy work, making clear she’s more than just a podcast co-host (“My main thing is comedy. I make sketches. It’s my thing.”)[08:13, April]
• The New Evangelicals plug: free faith resources, scholarship, courses, and encouragement to find a “better path forward” away from Christian nationalism.

2. War in Iran & Trump’s “No New Wars” Broken Promise (09:00–18:00)

• US Bombs Iran despite Trump’s previous "no new wars" claims.
• “This is the third Saturday I’ve woken up since Trump’s inauguration where we bombed another country. I would love to stop waking up on a Saturday to learn about a new war we’re in from the president that said no new wars.”[09:37, April]*
• Trump’s confusing late-night press conference, delivering threats while wearing a USA ballcap:

  “The hour of your freedom is at hand...Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government, it will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance.” [11:05, Trump press conference clip]

• Hosts observe the American double-standard in optics, comparing Trump’s ballcap to Obama’s “tan suit” scandal.

3. Media Reactions & Political Blowback Among Conservatives (18:00–26:00)

• Notable conservative voices (MTG, Charlie Kirk, Matt Walsh) criticize the war, citing betrayal of the “America First” anti-interventionist promises:
  • “All I can think about is the military industrial complex. Those guys are lighting up their cigars, drinking their whiskey, and patting each other on the back, because all they can think about is how much money they’re going to make...while the American people, all they want is to be able to afford a house, afford health insurance...That’s not MAGA. That’s not America First. It’s literally Israel first.”[19:44, MTG]*
  • “One other person...this one broke my brain—Matt Walsh...The messaging on this thing is, to put it mildly, confused. And I concur. And I hate that I am agreeing with Matt Walsh.”[23:38, April (reading Walsh)]*
• Hosts point out the hypocrisy and opportunism from these figures—willing to call out inconsistencies when it suits their new narratives.

4. Government Justifications & Congressional Dysfunction (26:30–32:40)

• Administration officials give unclear or gut-based justifications:
  • “The President had a feeling…based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the United States…he made a determination to launch Operation Epic Fury.”[26:41, Caroline Levitz]*
  • Operation name ridiculed as “Call of Duty” logic, ignoring real human costs (e.g., bombing a girls’ school).
• Christian nationalist leaders like Mike Johnson resist Congressional war-authorization oversight:
  • “It would take the ability of the US Military and the commander in chief away from completing this critical mission to keep everybody safe.”[27:51, Mike Johnson]*
  • In reality, Congress shirks its own constitutional responsibility to declare wars.

5. War or Not a War? MAGA World Messaging Chaos (31:00–34:00)

• Montage of talking heads arguing if it’s a “war, combat operation, or strategic strikes.”
• April’s biting summary:
  • “I’m just thankful that I am not a Republican that has to find ways to defend everything that Donald Trump does when it goes against the very fiber of my integrity.”[32:44, April]*
• Tim notes the chaos and unpredictability is even worse than anticipated, given only one year into Trump’s second term.

6. Media Suppression & Propaganda (35:00–36:00)

• Pete Hegseth: The media should downplay American casualties lest Trump "look bad."
  • “When a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it’s front page news...try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step.”[35:15, Pete Hegseth]*

7. Theology Deep Dive: Christian Nationalism, End Times, and War Lust (38:00–65:30)

• Viral Story: Military Commanders frame the war as divine prophecy, Trump as “anointed by Jesus.”
  • Tim: “For any of us who grew up in Christian nationalism, it wasn’t that crazy at all.”[39:11, Tim]
• Christian Zionist propaganda in churches:
  • John Hagee’s church opens worship with a war-prophecy video montage:

    “…prophecies written thousands of years ago are stepping onto the world stage...Is this just another war? ...Where are we in the unfolding plan of God?”[40:18, Hagee video]

  • April describes “blood moon” prophecy culture; personal anecdotes of rapture terror as an evangelical teen.
• Apocalyptic Excitement:
  • April: “There was almost glee, this joy that we would have, no matter how many people died, because we thought it was a sign that Jesus was going to come back and the Rapture would happen.”[43:34, April]
  • Tim: “...these people love when wars like this happen because it doesn’t affect them, because they’re on God’s side...This is a very self-centered, Western, colonized theology that preaches a theology of death.”[48:00, Tim]
• Left Behind culture:
  • The infamous movie trailer (and book series) sparked anxiety for a generation:
    • “I legit thought I was left behind when I was 13, for 20 whole minutes… gave myself the pep talk that guillotine death will be really quick… the trauma.”[53:03, April]*
• Where Did These Beliefs Come From?
  • Tim traces the core of this theology not to ancient Christianity, but to 19th-century preacher John Nelson Darby (and the Scofield Reference Bible)—a relatively new invention:

    “This theology developed from a dude in the 19th century who fell off his horse and hit his head and developed dispensationalism. It is not ancient, it is not historic, it is not orthodox.”[57:39, Tim]

  • Highlights:
    • Dispensationalism splits history into “divinely managed ages” and predicts Rapture and mass destruction.
    • Genesis 12:3 twisted to claim America must always support Israel—or face God’s wrath.
  • April: “I was pissed… the amount of anguish and honestly trauma that I experienced from believing in this… it was probably the easiest theological belief to let go of. Because the moment you take a step back... it makes no sense.”[58:58, April]
  • The consequences: Encourages war, discourages environmental concern, leads Christians to abdicate responsibility for real-world suffering.
  • Not all Christian nationalists share dispensationalist end times views, but both forms ultimately crave power and “control.”

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Satirical analysis:
  • “Blood moons and Left Behind and Monster Energy drinks—we are very serious on this show!”[76:33, Tim, sarcastically]
• Classic “Weird Christian” segment:
  • Hilarious breakdown of viral conspiracy theory clip that Monster Energy cans are “secretly” 666 in Hebrew (followed by a discussion of evangelical susceptibility to such thinking).

9. Listener Stories & Community Engagement (66:00–68:45)

• Example testimonial from a listener leaving evangelicalism after COVID isolation and the support they found through TNE.
• Multiple super-chat shoutouts and April’s signature comedic joy.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Show Opens, Life/Comedy Chat: 00:36–09:00
• US/Iran War, Trump’s Flip Flop: 09:00–18:00
• Conservative Blowback Montage: 18:00–26:00
• Gov’t Justification & Mike Johnson: 26:30–32:40
• “Is It a War?” MAGA Messaging: 31:00–34:00
• Media Suppression Segment: 35:00–36:00
• Theology of War — Deep Dive Begins: 38:00
  • John Hagee, Blood Moons, Left Behind: 39:59–53:38
  • The Dispensationalist Origin Story: 53:38–65:30
  • Rapture Trauma, Social Consequences: 58:58–62:47
• “Weird Christian” Monster Energy Segment: 71:07–76:00

Tone & Language

• Mixes satire, candor, and theological literacy; hosts’ tone alternates between humorous, earnest, and indignant.
• Unflinching in confronting both political corruption and spiritual dysfunction.
• Combines “inside baseball” evangelical references with accessible explanations for newcomers.

Concluding Thoughts

• The episode is a clarion call: To recognize that what may seem like fringe apocalyptic beliefs are, in fact, central to millions of Christians’ thinking—and that these theologies shape real-world policies and deadly international conflicts.
• Final message: There is a better, saner path forward—a faith rooted in love, justice, and compassion, not fear, conspiracies, or bloodlust.

Selected Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• April on Christian excitement for war:
  “Anytime Israel got into some sort of war or kerfuffle...there was almost glee...because we thought it was a sign...the Rapture would happen.” [43:34]

• Tim on the real-world damage:
  “These people love when wars like this happen because it doesn’t affect them, because they’re on God’s side...this is a very self-centered...theology of death.” [48:00]

• MTG (Clip) on broken MAGA promises:
  “They literally are trying to start World War III...That is not MAGA. That’s not America First. It’s literally Israel first.” [19:44]

• Tim on Christian Zionism’s roots:
  “This theology developed from a dude in the 19th century who fell off his horse and hit his head and developed dispensationalism.” [57:39]

• April, on letting go of the rapture obsession:
  “The moment you take a step back and look at the belief...it makes no sense. And I just let it go. I felt so much lighter after just stopping believing in nonsense.” [58:58]

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

• This episode is an essential primer on how American evangelical theology shapes—and destabilizes—national policy, especially during wartime.
• Both a history lesson and a personal testimony, it’s full of insight, empathy, and biting critique, making it a must-listen for anyone wondering why some Christians seem to root for war.

For more resources, community, and theological clarity, visit The New Evangelicals.