A California church was the scene of an emotional and highly attended gathering where faith leaders tied recent Middle East conflicts to biblical prophecy.

On July 16, 2025, Pastor Jack Hibbs and Israeli speaker Amir Tsarfati hosted an event at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills to argue that the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel mirrored prophetic warnings from scripture, linking modern geopolitical events to End Times predictions, the Christian Post reported.

Hibbs, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, welcomed Tsarfati, a former Israeli Defense Force major and founder of Behold Israel, to discuss the theological implications of recent Middle East wars and Israel’s global standing. The two highlighted what they described as spiritual and apocalyptic consequences stemming from the 2023 Hamas attack and subsequent regional wars.

The October 7 attacks, according to Tsarfati, were not isolated incidents but part of a long-brewing geopolitical plan orchestrated by Iran. He argued that Israel’s enemies—including Hamas, Hezbollah, and various militias—had been nurtured strategically over twenty years as part of what he called Iran’s efforts to “destroy Israel” through proxies.

Tsarfati told the audience the effect of the attack was more than military—it changed global perspectives. He said it was a moment that brought clarity to Israelis and the international community, signaling Israel's geopolitical significance and vulnerability.

Claims of Prophecy Fulfilled in Modern Battles

Drawing from biblical passages, Hibbs leaned heavily on the Old Testament books of Joel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel to assert that key prophecies were being fulfilled. Citing Joel 3, he explained that God's judgment against nations that divide Israel or act against it is foretold in scripture and remains relevant today.

Hibbs emphasized how the modern return of Jewish people to Israel and efforts to divide its territory echo several verses spanning from ancient prophecy to current global actions. He argued that these political movements are not merely international diplomacy but rather signs of divine reckoning.

In response to the recent conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Tsarfati claimed significant military successes for Israel, declaring that terrorist groups and opposing armies across the region had been nearly dismantled. He thanked the United States military, stating the Iranian nuclear threat had been eliminated.

Focus on Damascus and Biblical Warnings

Isaiah’s prophecy of Damascus, particularly a verse stating "Damascus will cease from being a city," became a focal point of discussion. Tsarfati suggested that recent developments in Syria, including the collapse of the Syrian army, affirm the dire prediction in the ancient text.

Hibbs supported that claim by revisiting accusations made in the early 2000s, specifically that Saddam Hussein’s chemical weapons had been relocated to Damascus ahead of the U.S.-led Iraq invasion. He suggested these weapons could play a future role in a prophetic-level event involving the Syrian capital.

The two men painted a vivid picture of geopolitical escalation tied to scriptural warnings—one in which natural and spiritual consequences overlap. Hibbs described future destruction in Damascus as unprecedented and devastating, based on prophetic language stating it would never again be inhabited as a city.

Theological Debate Expands Across Generations

Together, Tsarfati and Hibbs argued that support for Israel is not merely political, but spiritual. Tsarfati cited Matthew 23:39 to argue that Israel must exist for the Second Coming of Jesus—a position shared by many in the prophecy-focused branch of Evangelical Christianity.

Tsarfati dismissed widespread public narratives that blame Israel for Palestinian suffering, labeling them part of a misinformation campaign that ignores a larger Iranian-driven conflict. He called assertions that Israel oppresses Palestinians “nonsense,” and maintained that war is being directed at Israel rather than initiated by it.

Hibbs aimed antisemitism, describing it not only as unjust but “satanic,” linking its rise to global spiritual rejection of Jesus as divine. He connected this sentiment to prophecy, claiming that hostility toward Jews fulfills biblical predictions of widespread opposition to God's chosen people.

Declining Evangelical Youth Support Raises Questions

Despite the fervent messaging at the event, data suggests growing division among younger Evangelicals on the issue of Israel. A study highlighted in a Jerusalem Post article from 2024 showed that support for Israel among Evangelical youth has dropped by over half.

This generational shift underscores changing attitudes in the broader Evangelical community regarding Israel's role in biblical prophecy and foreign policy. It also reflects debates within American Christianity about the proper interpretation and application of ancient texts in modern geopolitics.

The theological position promoted by Hibbs and Tsarfati appears aimed at pushing back against that trend, offering a reinforced narrative that current events are direct echoes of scripture.

As tensions remain high in the Middle East and theological perspectives diverge within Christianity, the conversation surrounding prophecy, politics, and Israel shows no signs of quieting. The Chino Hills event illustrates just how deeply some believe these worlds are intertwined.