Does end-times theology drive evangelicals’ support for Israel? New research seems to cast doubt on this oft-spouted assumption.
A study released this week by the Pew Research Center found that even as a majority of white evangelical Protestants in the United States express strong support for Israel, fewer than one in five cite biblical prophecy about the End Times as a primary reason for that support. Instead, the most commonly cited motivations were shared democratic values, Israel’s right to self-defense, and historical sympathy for the Jewish people following the Holocaust.
The findings challenge a long-standing narrative in political and religious commentary that attributes evangelical backing for Israel largely to dispensationalist theology, which interprets certain biblical passages as predicting a future tribulation period involving Israel and culminating in the second coming of Christ. According to the survey, only 18% of white evangelical Protestants said End Times beliefs were a “major factor” in their views on Israel, compared to 62% who cited Israel’s right to defend itself and 55% who pointed to shared democratic ideals.
Researchers noted that while End Times theology remains influential in certain evangelical circles, its role in shaping political attitudes toward Israel appears more limited than often assumed. The study likewise found generational differences, with evangelicals under 50 significantly less likely than older cohorts to link their support for Israel to prophetic beliefs.
In interviews conducted alongside the survey, several evangelical leaders emphasized that their support stems from a commitment to religious freedom and opposition to antisemitism, rather than eschatological expectations. One pastor from Texas, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We stand with Israel given that it’s the right thing to do — not because we’re trying to trigger the apocalypse.”
The Pew study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that the relationship between evangelical Christianity and pro-Israel advocacy is multifaceted and cannot be reduced to a single theological driver. Analysts caution against oversimplifying a complex interplay of faith, history, and geopolitics in shaping one of the most consistent blocs of international support for Israel in American public life.
The survey’s authors said they plan to release further breakdowns of the data by denomination, region, and political affiliation in the coming months. No date has been set for the next wave of the study.
