A Jewish Believer In Jesus Responds To John Hagee
by Mike Oppenheimer
Let Us Reason Ministries
Two Opposites Cannot be the Same or True
-John Hagee’s supports Israel but at the same time abandons giving the gospel to the Jews-
James 3:10-12: “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh.”
Hagee is well received by both the church and by Jews. His ministry is on 50 radio stations, seen on 160 Television stations in America, in nearly 100 million homes. He has authored over 20 books; some of which have become a best seller in America (on the New York Times Best Seller list). “Jerusalem Countdown” sold 1.4 million copies. Hagee’s latest book is “In Defense of Israel” (October 2007) is on the USA Today bestseller list and on the Christian Booksellers List. John Hagee is called Doctor Hagee, having Honorary Doctorates from Oral Roberts University, Canada Christian College and from Netanya Academic College in Israel.
It was years ago that I lost any respect I had for Hagee when I saw Rick Godwin on his stage sitting on one side and Hagee on the other side with Kenneth Copeland giving a horrendous teaching to Hagee’s flock; it was shameful (Aug. 18,1999). (Godwin certainly is not pro Israel, which makes Hagee’s position all he more perplexing). When a pastor promotes this kind of off the wall teaching I cannot have any respect for him.
In this “wonderful sermon” Copeland taught the congregation that Adams wifes name was Adam. “She was the man with the womb.” That when Eve was being deceived by the Devil “Adam Stood there and just listened to the whole thing.” On Jesus, “He bore sickness – you resisted. He bore poverty – you resisted. You give whether you’ve got anything to give or not. You become a giver – a sower of seed.” “Man was rich beyond his wildest imagination before he was ever created. He was born into the right family.” “He created all those planets, how come you can’t create something? You don’t know as much about it as He does. He has a greater working knowledge of that faith than you do. But we’re learning. Our time is coming. And in some ways its already here. Hallelujah.” And there is far more to all this nonsense that was delivered to his congregation than I cannot write about now.
Hagee exercised no discernment when he should be protecting the flock, there is a reason he said nothing about this. He has been a promoter of word faith teaching and teachers for years at the same time he has been pro- Israel. In fact, in today’s church, the majority of support for Israel comes from the word faith camp which is filled with false teaching, I scratch my head on this and can only wonder why.
Before I address his perceived pro Israel stance that has finally become a controversy, let me point out some of his word faith teachings:
“What is the good news to the poor? Christ took you poverty at the cross and gave you the riches of Abraham.” “The chains of poverty have been broken at the cross” (Hagee Jan.8, 2003 TBN Praise-A- Thon) See Luke 4 for what Jesus meant.
“There is a relationship between your soul and physical and financial prosperity,” Hagee says. “”˜This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth’ [quoting Joshua 1:8 KJV]. That’s the spoken Word of God. “˜And then thou shalt prosper and have good success.’ When? After you speak and act upon the Word of God. And you’ve been hearing that tonight out of the mouth of John Avanzini” (Praise-A-Thon, November 4, 1992 Hagee.) Avanzini is part of the faith prosperity movement, who presents himself as an expert and revelator on financial prosperity.
John Hagee on the TBN Praise-A-Thon broadcast said that “poverty is caused by sin and disobeying the Word of God” (April 16, 1993), “poverty is a curse.” (November 4, 1992). Even more recent- “Christ took you poverty at the cross and gave you the riches of Abraham.” “The chains of poverty have been broken at the cross.” (Jan.8, 2003 TBN Praise-A-Thon, Hagee).
Jesus was not rich and neither were the apostles but this is overlooked or changed by those who teach this unbiblical view. Paul says the apostles were in poverty at times. Does Hagee want us to believe they were cursed! His statements are consistent, which proves he has his foot in the word faith teaching (if not his whole body). Luke 6:20, 24 disagrees “. . . did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5) It is certain that Hagee heads up one of largest Word-Faith churches in America with a congregation of 18,000 members whose diet has a mixture of American patriotism, word faith teaching and Christians for Zionism..
Hagee heads up the movement for modern Zionism in the church, some see this as a appalling position. I personally believe the bible teaches that Israel’s land is theirs and any Christian who challenges this clearly challenges God who wrote this in his word. So Hagee is not wrong on everything but what he is wrong on has severe consequences.
There are different types of Zionism, many see it as just a political movement. “The movement’s name is derived from Zion, the hill on which the Temple of Jerusalem was located and which later came to symbolize Jerusalem itself” (Encarta Encyclopedia).
The term Zionism was coined by Nathan Birnbaum on April 1, 1890. The movements goal even before it was named cwas to see the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. As Christians we are to acknowledge the Scriptures and God’s people he formed from Abraham. Zionism simply means supporting the inherent right of the Jewish people to have their own homeland in the Middle East “” the place referred to by Jews today as “˜Eretz Israel,’ promised by covenant in Gen.12 and reaffirmed in numeropus other places in gensis and other books. Modern Zionism is concerned with the development and support of the state of Israel. (American Heritage dictionary) If one accepts the concept of a biblically endorsed Jewish right to the land, they are Zionists or for Zionism.
After the holocaust by Hitler, which was ethnic cleansing at its worst, the UN saw the need to give the surviving Jews a land which was then a desert. In 1948 the Jewish people were able to declare their independence, their new state of Israel was autonomous and have the right of any Jew to settle there. They also have the inherent right to protect and defend the safety of the state of Israel and her people like any other nation against aggressors.
Hagee has become well known as advocate for Israel and has been granted several awards from Jewish organizations for his outspoken advocacy for the nation of Israel and Jewish rights. He was given the “Humanitarian of the Year” award by the San Antonio B’nai B’rith Council.
Hagee has formed Christians United for Israel, where 30 million evangelical Christians in the US – have shown support for CUFI in writing. “The purpose of Christians United For Israel (C.U.F.I.) is to provide a national association through which every pro-Israel church, Para-church organization, ministry or individual in America can speak and act with one voice in support of Israel in matters related to Biblical issues.” Hagee states in his book In Defense of Israel, p. 46 “My vision for this movement remains singular: to demonstrate Christian support for the state of Israel, and in so doing, to make the necessity of such support apparent to our local, state, and national officials.”
Israel certainly can use all the support possible as she has been reprimanded by the UN hundreds of times (many for defending herself). Her neighbors constantly broadcast their evil intentions for this tiny nation barely get winked at for their aggressive statements, threats and actions.
Many enjoy Hagee’s preaching and are impressed by Hagee’s ability to expound the word but does he really knows what he is speaking about. While many are wooed by his messages on Americas Christian origins and our fall from morality (which is true) and end time prophecy they overlook the obvious errors and have lifted him to be on the pedestal to represent the church, as if his voice is all of ours- IT IS NOT. Hagee has been accused of holding to a dual covenant of which he emphatically denies. In light of his errors in Bible interpretation one may question if he understands what they mean by dual covenant. In my opinion, Hagee denies this because he does not understand what he is teaching IS what they perceive as a two covenant way of salvation, one for Gentiles and one for Jews.
Hagee has held the same position on Israel and the Jewish people for numerous years, only now is he finally explaining himself more concisely. Lets look as far back as 1988.
“The Jewish people have a relationship to God through the law of God as given through Moses,” Hagee said. “I believe that every Gentile person can only come to God through the cross of Christ. I believe that every Jewish person who lives in the light of the Torah, which is the word of God, has a relationship with God and will come to redemption.”
“The law of Moses is sufficient enough to bring a person into the knowledge of God until God gives him a greater revelation. And God has not,” said Hagee . . .” (Julia Duin, “San Antonio Fundamentalist Battles Anti-Semitism,” The Houston Chronicle, 30 April 1988)
He believes that Jews can come to God without going through Jesus Christ eEven though Jesus came to his own people and told them to believe in him.
The Houston newspaper quoted Hagee’s own words: “I’m not trying to convert the Jewish people to the Christian faith.” “In fact, trying to convert Jews is a “˜waste of time,’ he said. “˜The Jewish person who has his roots in Judaism is not going to convert to Christianity. There is no form of Christian evangelism that has failed so miserably as evangelizing the Jewish people. They (already) have a faith structure.’ Everyone else, whether Buddhist or Baha’i, needs to believe in Jesus, he says. But not Jews. Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced by Christianity.” (“San Antonio fundamentalist battles anti-Semitism,” Houston Chronicle, April 30, 1988, sec. 6, p. 1.) underline mine-
To sum up what he believes- converting Jews is a waste of time. Paul did not think, as he said ther gospel is to the Jew FIRST, Hagee says not at all. In Romans 9:3-5: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren , my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”
Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved”. This is a heart of the Lord for his people who “have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness” (Romans 10:2-3).
Righteousness which is ONLY FOUND in Jesus Christ. Hagee is saying that Gentiles have a different covenant and way to God than the Jewish people who are already inn covenant. To claim Jewish people do not need the gospel that is given in the New Testament to be saved, because they are already under covenant with God is more than absurd, it is listening to the tactics of the ancient enemy of Israel. This is why I’m not surprised by his teaching in his book “In Defense of Israel,” that has caused a storm of controversy.
As believers his position in incompatible with Jesus’ words that he spoke to Jews “no man comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6). John, a Jew, further writes, in his first Epistle “He who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). This certainly challenges Hagee’s own opinion of what the Bible is teaching on both Jew and Gentile.
Several years ago CRI did an article on Hagee’s teachings. Hagee responded and wrote a letter to former CRI researcher Erwin M. de Castro, on Oct. 18, 1994. Hagee repeated his assertion that the blindness of Israel is only as to the identity of the Messiah, not spiritual blindness associated with lack of salvation. However, Paul confirms that the veil of blindness on Jewish eyes can only be taken away in Christ when regenerated by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:14-18). Much of what Jesus said would not make sense if it was only a spiritual blindness Jesus, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). The twelve Jesus sent out not to the gentiles “but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). The Bible explains Israel being blind, “Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith” (Romans 11:20) V.23 “if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, “ to the covenant that Hagee seems to think is there permanent position even without faith. And the book with the title Hebrews (written to Jewish believers) chapter 3 and 4 address this matter.
In his letter Hagee made it clear what he means:
“There are Jewish people who have relationship with God right now according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5) … The Jewish people are judicially blinded to the identity of Messiah… Question: If God blinded the Jewish people to the identity of Jesus as Messiah, how could He send them to hell for not seeing what he had forbidden them to see? … Inasmuch as God has blinded them to the identity of Messiah, targeting the Jewish people for mass evangelism is fruitless” (Hagee letter (on Cornerstone Church letterhead) to Erwin M. de Castro of the Christian Research Institute, October 18, 1994, pg. 3, copy on file. Special thanks to CRI’s Elliot Miller for his exhaustive effort to locate this document- quoted in PFO article on John Hagee)
However, Pastor Hagee’s recent error departs even further away from the Bible than I expected. This has become hazardous to the body of Christ because it is presented as being pro Israel, thus it is something that must be addressed.
The Controversy Today
Hagee’s book “In Defense of Israel” is only a continuation of what belief he has held for many years but compounds his errors and made it obvious to students who have studied Scripture.
In his section called “The Jews did not Reject Jesus as Messiah” (p. 132). Pastor Hagee attempts to prove that Jesus Christ did not come “to be Messiah to the Jews,” (if he is not the Messiah of the Jews than he is not the Messiah of the Gentiles either, He is both savior and Messiah of all) He affirms Jesus is NOT the Christ (Messiah) for the Jews, “If God intended for Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel, why didn’t he authorize Jesus to use supernatural signs to prove he was God’s Messiah, just as Moses had done? The Jews, knowing of Moses’s signs to Israel, asked for a supernatural sign that Jesus was indeed their Messiah. Jesus answered: No sign will be given…except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. — Matthew 12:39-40. Jesus refused to give a sign. He only compared himself with the prophet Jonah, who carried the message of repentance from God to the Gentiles in Nineveh” (p. 137-)
The sign of Jonah would be the last sign he would give to them and it concerned Him. He had already done numerous signs which they failed to acknowledge were from god and approved of Him.
Has Hagee not read the Bible where Jesus feed 5,000 people twice, John 6:14: “Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Which is a direct reference to Deut 18:15. Or when he healed Matthew 8:16-17: “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet , saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
The Apostle Peter at Pentecost spoke (Acts 2:22-23) “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you.”
Christ’s answer to the Jews when they demanded to know if He was Messiah (John 10:24-27): “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Messiah, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.”
Christ miraculous signs proved He is Messiah, one in particular was the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead
Jesus stated of himself in John 3:14-16 :”And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Is not dying and resurrecting a supernatural sign?
The scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”
Hagee writes, “Jesus refused to produce a sign … because it was not the Father’s will, nor his, to be Messiah. (p. 138). If one uses this one Scripture and discounts all the others, they can come to his wrong conclusion.
John 20:30-31 “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
John 5:45-47 “there is one who accuses you–Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Jesus did not want the signs to convince them but His teaching which was based on the correct interpretation of Moses’ covenant and not the Pharisees interpretation of it. So following the Torah as Hagee claims is sufficient unto itself, but Jesus said it should bring one to a saving knowledge of Christ.
Hagee says, “If Jesus wanted to be Messiah, why did he repeatedly tell his disciples and followers to “tell no one” about his supernatural accomplishments? Think about it! If the man were trying to gain national attention to rally the support of the general public for the overthrow of mighty Rome, he would not go around the country saying “Tell no one!”
What eludes Hagee’s understanding is that Jesus wanted every person to come to their own conclusion who he was and not have it spread by those who already knew.
Peter confessed of Jesus: “You are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of God,” (Matthew 16:16-17). Just as Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ) John 1:40-41.
Hagee interprets the word “Messiah” as the rabbis do, who do not believe. The Messiah was to be a conqueror that would “smash Rome” and “usher in an era of universal peace” (p. 141). Since Jesus did not come to do this, He was “not the Messiah.” A political Messiah was the mistake of Israel and her leaders. His conclusion- the Jews are excused in rejecting Christ, “The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews” (p. 140). This has been a continued error as far back as 1999 “The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah, it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews!” (John Hagee, Should Christians Support Israel? p. 67-68. PFO Article, “The Other Gospel Of John Hagee”)
Matthew 21:42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.”
Mark 8:31-32: “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly.
Was Peter wrong and uninspired by the Holy Spirit when he accused them all saying “God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:14). Is Jesus the Messiah of the Gentiles and not the Jews?
Hagee “They wanted him to be their Messiah, but he flatly refused. (p.141) “Jesus rejected to the last detail the role of Messiah in word or deed” (p. 145).
No, he refused to rule over them before His crucifixion was accomplished and He tells them to repent of THEIR rejection by calling upon him to come back Mt.23. They first rejected him so he rescinded the kingdom from them at that time.
The Jews Did not Reject Jesus as Messiah
Hagee writes,”Most evangelicals believe the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah and therefore qualify for God’s eternal judgment. Replacement theologians have said that “the covenant with Israel was broken because she would not accept Jesus Christ whom God sent” (In Defense of Israel, p. 132)
What replacement teachers say is wrong and what Hagee says about Christ’s refusal to be the Messiah to the Jews is wrong. Two wrongs don’t make it wright. John 1:11-13: “He came to His own , and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Who were “His OWN”? Brethren who believed from the Jewish nation?
It is clear that Hagee does not reject Christ as his Messiah, but instead puts his own stumbling block before the Jews by removing the offense of the Cross. Telling them- you’re fine without the gospel- Romans 9:32-33 “they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 1 Corinthians 1:23: “But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block.” 1 Peter 2:8: “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”
Hagee “He refused to be their Messiah, choosing instead to be the Savior of the world” (p. 143)
This is an oxymoron statement, Hagee may think he is defending Israel but it is at the expense of the gospel that can save them. He is either the Messiah of Israel or He is not the Messiah at all.
In Hagee’s video advertisement, his own words give weight to his book. “In defense of Israel will shape Christian theology”¦ it will also prove that Jesus did not come to earth to be the messiah”¦ Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the messiah how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8khCJTDD44&feature=PlayList&p=
DBFEBF932AE60F1B&index=92
From Hagee’s website under his beliefs http://www.jhm.org/beliefs.asp Exodus 2 helps return the Jewish immigrants to their homeland- we can fulfill the command to bless the nation of Israel. But if Exodus 2 subscribes to Hagees view on their not needing the Messiah to be saved then he not helping them spiritually but dooming them.
On Hagees website- Our Commitment to Israel
“We believe in the promise of Genesis 12:3 regarding the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. We believe that this is an eternal covenant between God and the seed of Abraham to which God is faithful.”
Being an outspoken promoter of Israel for the land and then deny them the gospel is not being Israel friendly, it is not loving the Jewish people. Withholding the gospel to any people to give them land or their culture in its place is not love as God loves. Hagee needs to get back to the basics.
As a Jewish believer who support Israel’s right to live in the land God gave them, I look forward to the day prophecy is fulfilled where all of my brethren will be saved. However, this does not have me overlook Israel’s mistakes or condone their wrong decisions politically. Israel is not perfect and neither is the Church. I love the Jewish people and I go on record to state that You can’t be pro Israel or for the Jews if you teach these things. denying that Jesus Christ is their Messiah is NOT showing love or support to Israel .
On Hagee’s website
The Lord Jesus Christ We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. ‚ We believe in His substitutionary death for all men, His resurrection, and His eventual return to judge the world.
Salvation- We believe all men are born with a sinful nature and that the work of the Cross was to redeem man from the power of sin. ‚ We believe that this salvation is available to all who will receive it.”
This seems to be at odds with Hagee’s viewpoint of the Jews not needing the new covenant, since they are part of “all men.”
Paul, a Jew, who was sent to the Gentiles said “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). It does not say to the Gentile only. The church is made up of believers in Jesus Christ as the Messiah- both Jews and Gentiles. Paul who was a Jew wrote in 1 Cor. 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (Christ which means Messiah).
In Romans 10:1 Paul could not have been more clear when he stated: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel, is that they might be saved.”
Paul’s teaches how they are to get saved: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:12-14). The name of the Lord is Jesus, their Messiah. This does not exclude the Jews but especially includes Jews. There is NO way of salvation for the Jew apart from Christ.
In response to the numerous criticism Hagee offers some elaborations, which The Expositor publishes in full. He explains himself more, showing that his position is indeed not an orthodox view.
Haggee says, “To be Messiah you must live. To rule and reign you must live. Jesus came to die and be the Savior of every person on earth”¦ Again, you must live to be Messiah. You cannot be both Messiah and Savior! “¦ Jesus claimed to be Savior several times in the Bible. He never claimed to be Messiah to the Jewish people (emphasis mine).
Is Jesus the Messiah or not?
Jesus said: “I am He who live, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:18). He died as our savior because He was sent as the Messiah (Christ). Luke 24:26-27″ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (also vs.46.)
I disagree- because the Bible disagrees”” Jesus’ Messiahship is not determined by what the Jews or any other people think about Him, for He is who He is no matter how many people believe it. The Bible tells us he is both Lord, savior and Messiah.
Luke 2:11: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ (Messiah) the Lord” He is introduced as one who is born as savior and Messiah right from the beginning. What is he talking about??? Only God can be the savior, only God can be the Messiah, only God is King of Israel; this is basic Christianity. How can anyone who is mature in the faith not know this!
In John 4:25-26 “the Samaritan woman at the well said to Jesus “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” On this one Scripture Hagee’s whole argument of Jesus “You cannot be both Messiah and Savior” becomes useless.
In John 1:41 upon hearing John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God, Andrew went and told Peter,
“We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
The Holy Spirit has made a concerted effort to bearing witness of Jesus being the Messiah throughout the New Testament. The term Christos (used 529 times), “the Anointed one,” means “Christ,” whenever you see the title Jesus Christ it means He is was God’s Messiah on earth.
Matthew 1:18: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows” Luke 2:25-26:”there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.(see up to verse 32.)
Matthew 16:20 Then He (Jesus) commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.”
Jesus claimed to be the Messiah ““ the Bible says so Jews Andrew and Peter who were Jews believed him to be the Messiah. (See Mt.22:42-, 26:63; Lk.4:41,23:2; Jn.4:42, 11:42, 17:3.)
Does not Jesus’ crucifixion, raising from the dead on the third day; ascending into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father qualify him as Savior and Messiah? Of course it does. Everytime the word Christ is seen in the Scripture it means the anointed one- Messiah. “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”(Romans 1:3-4). Hagee is completely wrong on this.
Acts 2:30-31: “He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ ” Was not Jesus the savior resurrected?
Acts 3:18-121: “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ , who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
The same Jesus that Hagee says is not the Messiah of the Jews is coming back to be the Messiah of the Jews when they repent.
Acts 8:37: “Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Acts 5:42: “they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
Acts 10:36-37: “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ –He is Lord of all–
An Paul before Festus sums up his speech stating Acts 26:22-23: “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come– that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Jesus did not fulfill the Jewish leaders (wrong) messianic expectations, but he did fulfill God’s. Modern “˜rabbis’ teach there are two Messiahs, one for the gentiles another for the Jews (among their other opinions to explain this away.) If this same Jesus came to be the Savior of the Jews and Gentiles then He is also the Messiah of the Jews. Prophecy pointed to Jesus as The Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled that prophecy and was the Messiah.
If one does not understand the Old Covenant was replaced by the new through the Messiahs death (Jesus IS the one and only Messiah) they come to this wrong conclusion.
“There are right now Jewish people on this earth who have a powerful and special relationship with God,” “They have been chosen by the “˜election of grace’ in which God does what he does without asking man to approve or understand it. Let us put an end to the Christian chatter that “all the Jews are lost” and can’t be in the will of God until they convert to Christianity! . . . there are a certain number of Jews in relationship with God right now through divine election” (Should Christians Support Israel? Hagee, pp.124-25, 127 -underline mine.)
While we all make mistakes this is not a mistake, Hagee defends his position. The only Jews who are in a relationship with their God is through the gospel of their Messiah. This is what the Old Testament predicts and what the New Testament explains. While God will keep His covenant promises to Israel this does not put one into a justified relationship with their God.
Hagee states that Gentiles come through Jesus but the Jew that lives in the light of the Torah are fine. Galatians 2:16 written by a Jew saved by grace tells us the opposite. Galatians 3:11: “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Paul continues giving the basics of Christianity and the difference of the torah and the New Covenant as “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:22-25) The Bible tells us the law is to bring us to Christ.
To say the other religions need Jesus but not the Jews, they already have a covenant with God is to miss the very message of the Messiah. I don’t understand how this does not become an obvious contradiction to people who love Israel and the Jewish people. In the old covenant ones sins were forgiven by sacrifice not by living under the Torah and they had to have faith in it. The new covenant teaches there is One Sacrifice for all- one Messiah for all. Hebrews 8:7-13: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”¦.In that He says, “A new covenant, “ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
This is why it states there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. The destruction of the Temple in 70 AD was God’s way of showing the old way is no longer acceptable.
Does not Hagee understand that the sacrifices are what preserved them, not by keeping the Torah- it was always by faith. “I do not set aside the grace of God: for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:21).
Does Hagee understand this is the main reason why Jesus was sent- not to make us rich and successful or to make America great but to sacrifice himself unto God for our sins, and we follow Him as our Messiah.
While the church is divided on these issues of Israel we are told in the word of God 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Hagee’s confusion does not help the situation in fact it increases it.
Satan’s main plan is to stop Israel from being in the land to believe and call upon their Messiah ““ remember what Jesus said in Luke 13:35: “See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”
The bible says “Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people; this often used to say that we are to only speak up as support for Israel and comfort Israel by bringing her back into the land. Actually it is about proclaiming the gospel to them.
Isaiah 40:1-5: “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.”
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Though there is still a future fulfillment to complete this verse, this actually took place when John the baptizer announced the Messiah to Israel, in the Messiah ““ God’s glory was revealed (and her sin was dealt with at the cross).
One might understand Hagee’s message to be in defense of Israel and having no offense to the Jew. Hagee’s pro Israel may be commendable but it is at the expense of giving them the gospel. There are other ministries to the Jews that have a strictly social gospel, where they help Jewish refuges return to the homeland and be assimilated into their culture, Hagee is no different. Hagee is so pro Israel that he promotes a false security of salvation for them; by their Old Covenant. There is salvation in no other name or any other way (Acts 4:12). Denying Jewish people salvation by the New Covenant compromises the COMMISSION OF Jesus to preach the gospel to every creature. To deny that Jesus came to Israel to be their Messiah, as well as savior is to deny Israel the salvation which God provided for them through Jesus their savior.
Hagee points out that the crucifixion was not the fault of the Jews but the Gentiles. Actually the Jewish leadership delievered him into the hands of the Gentiles. But the fact remains- it is all of our fault- Jesus came to die for our sin. Jesus would have died for sin even if Israel had accepted him, (for this is the only way sin can be forgiven) but the Scripture foretold they would not- case closed. So it does not matter what the timing of the kingdom on earth is in relation to the necessity for Him to have us reconciled to God first.
Romans 10:1 Paul could not have been more clear or more emphatic when he stated: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel, is that they might be saved.” Which means that Jesus Christ is the only way for all people of all religions, especially the Jews, whose Scripture predicted the Messiahs coming. In conclusion ,supporting Israel ‚ to havie their land and culture is not as important as giving them the gospel that will affect their eternity.
I recommend for people to read The Other Gospel of John Hagee Christian Zionism and Ethnic Salvation by G. Richard Fisher of personal Freedom Outreach to get more insight on Hagee’s perpetual denial of salvation to the Jews through Jesus Christ their Messiah.
