A US religious watchdog group said hundreds of American service members have complained that some military commanders are presenting the Iran conflict as part of a biblical prophecy. Commanders reportedly made claims including that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus” to trigger Armageddon (a prophesied end-of-world battle).
The complaints were filed with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a non‑profit that advocates for religious freedom and the separation of church and state in the military.
According to the MRFF, more than 200 complaints have been lodged from service members across multiple branches, including the Army, Marines, Air Force and Space Force, at dozens of military bases since the start of the US–Israeli campaign against Iran.
‘Iran war is part of God’s divine plan’
One detailed complaint, submitted anonymously by a non‑commissioned officer (NCO), alleges that a commanding officer opened a “combat readiness status briefing” by urging troops not to fear the situation in Iran, describing the campaign as “all part of God’s divine plan.”
The commander reportedly cited passages from the Book of Revelation, the New Testament text associated with the end times, and framed the conflict as a precursor to Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ.
The NCO said the commander spoke with a grin, and that the remarks were made on behalf of himself and 15 other troops, including members of different faiths.
The MRFF has labelled the incidents a worrying sign of Christian nationalist influence in the US military, arguing that such rhetoric could undermine morale and violate the constitutional principle of church‑state separation. Under US military policy, commanding officers are prohibited from coercing subordinates into adopting specific religious beliefs.
The Pentagon has not verified the specifics of the complaints, and the White House has refrained from issuing a direct response. The dispute unfolds as President Donald Trump rejects claims that Israel pressured the United States into striking Iran.