Persia, Purim and the Planets: Christian Prophetic Responses to Islam
Part of a series of seminars on Signs of the Times: Christians, Muslims and the Apocalypse
Speaker on 19 May: Dr Richard McCallum
(Director, CMCS Oxford)
THIS IS A HYBRID EVENT: register to attend online, or join us in person at CMCS Oxford.
Abstract
Christian prophetic speculation about the Middle East has once again intensified in recent years, with events such as the 2026 conflict between America, Israel and Iran generating renewed interest. These theories predominantly centre on the role and future of Israel, while consistently drawing Islam and Muslims into the frame — often as adversaries. This seminar examines how such discourse shapes Christian attitudes toward Muslims and the broader implications for Christian-Muslim relations.
Prophecy, however, means different things in different Christian contexts. Some Christians engage with biblical prophecy, debating the interpretation and contemporary application of ancient texts. Others operate within charismatic traditions, treating the utterances of modern-day prophets as direct words from God for the present moment. This seminar explores both strands and their influence on how Christians perceive Islam and engage — or fail to engage — with Muslims. It also examines a contrasting tradition in which prophecy functions as radical critique: a challenge to war, injustice and the abuse of power, and a call to love of neighbour rather than destruction of the enemy.
---
The topic of End Times prophecy in the Bible is a major focus of the CMCS Reading the Bible in the Context of Islam (RBCI) project on Daniel, Islam, Apocalyptic.
------