I still find myself troubled that a man of supposed stature as John Hagee could have made such a grevious error! I also believe that the questionable material in his book extends far beyond just one chapter. It all seems like he is only correcting what he absolutely has to, to escape the label of out and out “Heretic” while still not insulting his Jewish Friends. But in my book the man is a shameless Worldly publicity and influence seeker.
from Operation Imminent Trumpet:
“Hagee Heresy” Update… Breakthrough and Answer to Prayer
by: Don Geraci
Since the writing of my commentary, “The Mystery of Lawlessness and The Hagee Heresy”, a significant development has taken place that must be both publicized and applauded: ‘The Hagee Heresy’ has been retracted! Rev. John Hagee has agreed to rewrite the chapter in question in his new book, “In Defense of Israel” – i.e. the section of the book that made the clearly heretical claims about the Messiahship of Jesus.
Reference: “John Hagee Declares: “Jesus Did Not Come to Earth to Be the Messiah” http://threshingfloor.onevoicemm.net/weblog/?p=868″http://threshingfloor.onevoicemm.net/weblog/?p=868
That is good news and certainly an answer to prayer, such as I noted in the conclusion of my commentary. I exhorted us to pray for such a retraction from Hagee and deliverance from a spirit of delusion that prompted him to astonishingly deny the Messiahship of Jesus. A noted and very reputable evangelical leader/scholar who had written a strong rebuttal of Hagee’s heretical teaching on Jesus’ Messiahship in his new book, ‘In Defense of Israel’, was recently able to dialogue with Hagee on this issue. The result of that dialogue was that John Hagee agreed to rewrite the chapter in question, submit it for scholarly review prior to publication and be open to future input on this issue. Certainly we can all rejoice in this good news and commend John Hagee for submitting to godly counsel and reproof. The fallout in both evangelical circles and the Jewish community could have been significantly greater without such a retraction. Instead of addressing the ‘Hagee Heresy’, we can instead exclaim, ‘Hallelujah, Hagee!’
Of course we will have to await the revised section in his new book before a final verdict on the whole issue. Hopefully, there will be no questionable statements or doctrines that resurrects any question whatsoever about the fact that Jesus IS – and always has been – the Jewish Messiah. Let me emphasize that my commentary, “The Mystery of Lawlessness and The Hagee Heresy”, was critical of the Hagee doctrinal stance – not John Hagee personally. I am aware that there are many ‘fans’ of John Hagee in the Body of Christ (we should be fans of Jesus first and foremost - He never fails). My concern and contention was that, based on 1 John 4:1-3, every born-again believer – myself included and including leaders such as John Hagee – are subject to the delusion that prompted him to make such heretical claims about Jesus’ Messiahship. The alarm needed to be sounded to EVERY believer at this critical juncture in the eschaton!Tragically, it happened to a very renowned evangelical leader with a large following in the Body of Christ. It could have happened to any other leader as well – and especially, as I noted, in the ‘Peacenik’ Movement which displays a clear pattern to avoid or circumvent the name of Jesus and proclamation of the full gospel in its ministry endeavor to ‘bless’ Israel.
By now we in the Body of Christ, in light of recent, tragic downfalls of various leaders, should recognize that NO man or woman is beyond scrutiny or above reproach. We look to Jesus and the gospel – not men. My concern was for the honor and integrity of the gospel and Jesus’ Name and not for criticism of any man (note how Paul - in Gal.1:8-9 - actually speaks in more judgmental language!). I believe, as stated in my commentary on 1 John 4:1-3, that there is an important and larger lesson to be learned from this whole perplexing issue. We must proclaim the gospel and Jesus’ Name openly and unashamedly in these last days as the Bridegroom, Jesus, prepares to return for His Bride, the Church. To not do so is to our own peril since we will be subtly but actively vulnerable to the same spirit of antichrist that tragically - albeit temporarily (praise God) - influenced John Hagee. This incident also, I believe, signifies a watershed moment in the ‘Peacenik’ Movement.
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Messiah Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14). Forgetting the ‘Hagee Heresy’ and straining ahead – for Zion’s sake and the Kingdom’s sake…Pressing on – in proclamation of the gospel ‘to the Jew first and also to the Gentile’…To win the prize – the salvation of Israel and the Nations…For which God has called us in Messiah Jesus…that is, the Great Commission.Simply put, the time for ‘making a bridge for peace’ to Israel and the Jewish people is over.
It is time to proclaim ‘The Prince of Peace’ to Israel and the Jewish people!This Prince of Peace is Jesus and we are not ashamed to acknowledge Him. The Hagee incident is a clarion call to all believers, especially those in the ‘Peacenik’ Movement, to now shift gears and launch into an evangelistic mode – a new, glorious ‘set time for Zion’ – in which she will experience not only the love of Christians but also the One who has caused Christians to love. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10). After all…is it not Jesus who has given us this great love for Israel and the Jewish people?The fact is – we have now spent several decades seeking to persuade the Jewish people that we are truly repentant of the institutional Church’s historical sins of anti-Semitism and persecution and educating the Body of Christ thereof. The time of oversaturation has arrived! Israel and the Jewish people now know – without question – that the evangelical Christian Church is their best friend and supporter. The Church has been taught about the ‘sins of the fathers’ (if they in fact really were ‘fathers’ of the faith) toward the Jewish people and demonstrated heartfelt remorse for its tragic legacy. We have ‘loved’ Israel and the Jewish people to the saturation point. We must now shift from a ‘comfort’ to a ‘conviction’ mode regarding Israel. No turning back…especially after the Hagee incident.
Now we must proclaim the gospel unashamedly so that the conviction of the Holy Spirit can move many Jewish hearts to a saving knowledge of Jesus as their God and Messiah. Ample seeds of love have been planted in Jewish hearts. Time is short! God’s heart is for souls to return to Him – both Jew and Gentile – before that trumpet sounds. The eternal destiny of many Jewish souls hangs in the balance. Without a gospel witness they will perish - like any Gentile, I might add!”And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Rom 10:14).
It is time to call John Hagee and all Christians in the ‘Peacenik’ Movement on board the full gospel train so that ‘all Israel will be saved’ and to prepare them for the soon Coming of the Davidic King who will reign forever and bring true, lasting peace for Jerusalem. Then we can all attain the unity of the faith – Jew and Gentile – as we present one gospel as one Body and declare together:”Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the WHOLE will of God.” (Acts 20:26-27).Israel shall know the truth – the whole truth – and the truth shall set them free…
for whosoever will. They need to hear the whole will of God in this hour. Scripture and the urgency of the hour mandate it!Israel and the Jewish people are no different than any other nation or people group – they must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus! And they are entitled to – and deserve – a full gospel message at this late hour. Should we not have a burden to rescue and deliver Jewish people from the coming ‘Time of Jacob’s Trouble’? To withhold the full gospel at this critical juncture in the eschaton is a travesty – and surely the worst form of anti-Semitism. Ponder this sobering reality!In the Spirit, a line has been drawn in the sand - and the Hagee incident has drawn that line!We have a choice (1 John 4):
Either… You are not ashamed of the gospel and Jesus (4:2) and are an overcomer (4:4)
Or… Be seduced by false spirits and false prophets (4:1) and be lured into the intensifying spirit of antichrist prevailing in our midst (4:3)Where do you stand? Will you continue to ride the ‘Peace Train’ led by a march of men to a precarious destination at best? Or… Will you proclaim the ‘Prince of Peace’ and join the gospel train and Jesus’ army to win the prize of the upward call of God in Messiah Jesus?The line has been drawn in the sand!
In Christ,
Don Geraci
You might actually want to wait and see if Hagee actually makes a statement of retraction.
And that is why I have a question mark in the title of the Article as well as my comments showing my skepticism
Yea, but where is the question mark in this section?
Since the writing of my commentary, “The Mystery of Lawlessness and The Hagee Heresy”, a significant development has taken place that must be both publicized and applauded: ‘The Hagee Heresy’ has been retracted! Rev. John Hagee has agreed to rewrite the chapter in question in his new book, “In Defense of Israel” -
What was slightly confusing is that you had the question mark in the title but then stated it as if it was a done deal. I’m not trying to be picky I just think we should wait to see if he really offers a retraction.
I did not write the article itself it is a linked article and my comments are in italics above the link.
I have no doubts that Mr. Hagee’s move is a political one to save face with his “peers” while at the same time not alienating himself from His Jewish Friends.
As you will see in my comments in italics above the article Mr. Hagee’s troubling views go far beyond one chapter of his current book.
Thanks. I was apparently a little confused. We are on the same team brother. Keep up the good work.
I e-mailed Hagee’s office and asked them if he believed that all Jews are saved even if they deny Christ. The answer I got back was “yes”.
Hagee believes that all Jews that have ever lived are saved. He say’s they have a special covenent with God.
I still find myself troubled that a man of supposed stature as John Hagee could have made such a grevious error! I also believe that the questionable material in his book extends far beyond just one chapter. It all seems like he is only correcting what he absolutely has to, to escape the label of out and out “Heretic” while still not insulting his Jewish Friends. But in my book the man is a shameless Worldly publicity and influence seeker.
——————————————-
Amen John…
‘If’ this be true, what did he have, some sort of “epiphany”, or is he responding to the public outrage from most Christian ministry’s?
For anyone who read the book, re-vamping one chapter isn’t enough.
He’ll continue to be a false teacher in my book, until he repents.
Thought you might be interested in reading an email Randy Maugans [from the threshing floor] received about Hagee re-writing the one chapter–plus, a few other comments made by Hagee to Michael Brown:
http://threshingfloor.onevoicemm.net/weblog/?p=941
From reading Hagee’s comments, he still refuses to offer the Gospel to the Jews–unless, they ask for it.
I hate being suspicious..but i am. To me it does not appear that anything in his beliefs has actually changed–he’s just going to ‘clean up’ one chapter.
Hagee certainly is wrong, but the delusion of men like Maugans are worse.
Such cultist seek to exclude churches that are born again but reject them by majoring on real (or perceived) errors, while they themselves misled others. Typical of such is a martyr spirit, that is deceived into thinking that those who are in fact seeking to save the lost are part of a conspiracy to kill them. This was manifest in Israel of old, who supposed that Mose, who sought to save the Jews, was really out to kill them (Ex. 14:11). And so it is today.
Paradoxically, they teach that it is the churches which disagree with them who promote discord, as the meaning of unity according to them means agreements with their peculiar doctrines, which usually major on dark saying, which they esoterically proclaim they alone discern.
And so it is with disciples of James Lloyd, who is a verifiable false prophet many times over, and false teacher, while denigrating all who disagree with them. And yet his disciples urged those they loved to follow after him, which would have been to his financial interest. By the grace of God most (we hope) had more discernment than to do so.
His would be successors, such as Randy Maugans (if that is indeed his real name), teach that we are now in the tribulation, and that “There is now NO TIME left to be found inside churches” (18th Day of the 8th Month-Lord’s Calendar/October 21, 2005 C.E.), and that Luke 19:41-44 has NOT been fulfilled, but refers to “the millions (multitude) of followers in Evangelical churches” who support the racial/religious identity and a nation-State of Israel, as if supporting them, rather than opposing their right to exist, was a mark of the anti-Christ.
Consistent with their deception, they imagine that a special affection for the Israel after the flesh (Rm. Rm. 9:1-4), the “natural branches,” is being a respecter of person, yet God Himself manifest such, and is the One who defines what He means by such. Which is that He has special respect to Abraham’s natural offspring, not because of any intrinsic superiority, but because of his love for Abraham. And which covenantal love extends to his physical decedents, which is why they miraculously have a land to dwell in after 2000 years of dispersion.
(Rom 11:28) “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”
And while this same special affection should move one to reprove Israel for their hard hardheartedness toward the gospel and rejection of their Messiah, as Paul did (Acts 13:40), yet his willingness to to go to Hell for them (Rm. 9:3), and earnest despite to see them, above all people, to be saved, (Rom 10:1), is a mark of a real Christian who is walking in the Spirit of Christ, who places a priority upon their conversion (Lk. 24:47; Rm. 1:16).
It is thus not the unique, general support of Israel that is a problem with an evangelical church, but a lack of which, as well an unwillingness to actively seek their conversion, which is one of Hagee’s many errors.
However, the fantasy of Maugans + co. is not only that evangelical Christendom is running blindly after him, and which is will lead to them taking up arms against those who do not support Israel as a object of God’s covenantal love and their Statehood. Like the lying leader James Lloyd (http://www.beaconoftruth.com/ch21.htm), this too will be shown to be deception, while the real betrayal of Bible believing Christians will be by liberals who harbor a victim mentality from the devil, and side with enemies of Israel and all whose identity evidence the literal authority of God’s word, which is their ultimate enemy.