Today we discuss Dajjal, Iran, Israel, and the powerful religious symbolism surrounding conflict in the Middle East. As tensions rise across the region, ancient scriptures and end-times prophecy are increasingly invoked in political rhetoric and public discourse. In this conversation, we explore how Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions interpret themes such as Purim, Amalek, messianic expectations, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the role of apocalyptic narratives in shaping modern geopolitics.

How are these texts being understood today? And how should they be interpreted in light of current events? Joining us is Dr. Ali Ataie, a scholar of biblical hermeneutics whose work sits at the intersection of Sacred Languages, Comparative Theology, and Comparative Literature. At Zaytuna College, Dr. Ataie has taught Arabic, Creedal Theology, Comparative Theology, the Sciences of the Qur’an, Introduction to the Qur’an, and Seminal Ancient Texts—helping students engage deeply with classical religious traditions while addressing contemporary questions. Dr. Ataie completed his MA in Biblical Studies at the Pacific School of Religion in 2011, before earning his PhD in Cultural and Historical Studies in Religion from the Graduate Theological Union in 2016.

He is also a native Persian speaker and is proficient in Greek, Arabic, and Hebrew, allowing him to engage directly with the sacred texts of multiple traditions in their original languages. In this episode we examine the intersection of theology, scripture, and geopolitics—and how religious narratives about the end of times continue to shape conversations about the future of the Middle East.