The current mayhem in the Middle East is consider eschatologically significant for many Christians and the teachers of modern futurist eschatology see the opportunity to justify their teaching and make a lot of money. They'll speculate prognostications, none of which will happen, write many books and solicit many donations, and make a lot of money doing so. I would venture to say some of the profit making may not even be at the hands of Christians because with the internet anyone can pose (even AI).
One of the most informative tells, imo, are the old men who say they believe X will happen before they die and they want you to believe it and support their ministry. David Jeremiah is 82 years old. John Hagee is 83 years old. Sid Roth is 83 years old. John MacArthur is 84 years old. Hal Lindsay is 93!
Imagine for a moment all those men live to be 100 years old.
Every time anyone hears them say, "I believe the time is near.... I believe X will happen in my lifetime," they are necessarily implying X will happen in the next 7, 16, 18 years. Then, if and when "X" does not happen every single one of them will be proved a false teacher; a false profiteering teacher who took people's money consequent to their teaching false speculations. Unblessedly, by the time of their death they'll be dead and no one will be able to hold them accountable. No one will even try and those younger than these old men will keep doing the same. Jan Markell is 79. Michael Youssef is 75. Thomas Ice is 72. Alistair Begg is 71. Gary Hamrick is 59. After they die others like Jack Hibs and Dan Sexton will do the same: profit off of eschatological claims that never come true.
it's been nearly 200 years since the rise of modern futurism and not a single prediction any teacher in that eschatology has ever made has come true. Every single one of them has a 100% fail rate and no one within their circle does anything about it. They let each other do it, and often times collaborate!
So do not be surprised when news in the Middle East prompts an increase in YouTube videos (especially the monetized ones).
