John Hagee’s recent Hitler comments were entirely consistent with his theology and should not have come as any surprise to Jewish groups. Fulfilling Biblical prophecy has always been at the root of Mr. Hagee’s support of Israel. Many Jews understood that but bargained that the motives for his support were less important than the fact of it, including his role in rallying other evangelicals and in raising money for Israel.
This desire for allies has led Jews to downplay all sorts of Hagee comments. For instance, in his book “Jerusalem Countdown,” he disparages modern Judaism:
“Today they have a flag; they have a constitution; they have a prime minister and a Knesset. They have a police force, a powerful military might, and the world’s best intelligence agencies. They have Jerusalem, the City of God. They have a nation. They have everything but spiritual life.”
For Jews wanting the benefits of Hagee’s support without the problems, the toughest question is whether he really wants peace in the Middle East. He certainly believes that any two state solution — even if supported by the government of Israel — will bring down God’s wrath. “There will be grave consequences for the nation or nations that attempt to divide up the land of Israel,” he writes. “This is not a time to provoke God and defy Him to pour out His judgment on our nation for being a principal force in the division of the land of Israel.”
Beyond that, prophecy requires not peace for Israel but horrific war, an ultimate battle, with Iran as the aggressor, aided by the anti-Christ, who will be the head of the European Union. In the end, the war will prompt the Jews of Israel to accept the returning Jesus as the Messiah, and thereby gain their spiritual life. “He has dragged these anti-Semitic nations to the nations of Israel to crush them so that the Jews of Israel as a whole will confess that He is the Lord.”
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Previous Posts
Good Bye
Today is my last day at Beliefnet (which I co-founded in 1999). The swirling emotions: sadness, relief, love, humility, pride, anxiety.
But mostly deep, deep gratitude.
How many people get to come up with an idea and have rich people invest money to make it a reality? How many people get to create
posted 8:37:24am Nov. 20, 2009 |
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"Steven Waldman Named To Lead Commission Effort on Future of Media In a Changing Technological Landscape" (FCC Press Release)
STEVEN WALDMAN NAMED TO LEAD COMMISSION EFFORT ON FUTURE OF MEDIA IN A CHANGING TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski announced today the appointment of Steven Waldman, a highly respected internet entrepreneur and journalist, to lead an agency-wide initiative to assess the state o
posted 11:46:42am Oct. 29, 2009 |
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My Big News
Dear Readers,
This is the most difficult (and surreal) post I've had to write. I'm leaving Beliefnet, the company I co-founded in 1999.
In mid November, I'll be stepping down as President and Editor in Chief to lead a project on the future of the media for the Federal Communications Commission, the
posted 1:10:11pm Oct. 28, 2009 |
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"Beliefnet Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Steps Down to Lead FCC Future of the Media Initiative" (Beliefnet Press Release)
October 28, 2009
BELIEFNET CO-FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPS DOWN TO LEAD FCC FUTURE OF THE MEDIA INITIATIVE
New York, NY - October 28, 2009 - Beliefnet, the leading online community for inspiration and faith, announced today that Steven Waldman, co-founder, president and editor-in-chief, will re
posted 1:05:43pm Oct. 28, 2009 |
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Secularizing the Cross (Christian Activists: Be Careful What You Wish For)
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week, in Buono v. Salazar, about whether a white 6 1/2 foot cross can be displayed in a national park as a tribute to World War I soldiers. Though it's depicted as a classic clash of the secular and the religious, it actually illustrates why Christian act
posted 1:15:51pm Oct. 08, 2009 |
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posted June 4, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I live just a few miles from Hagee’s church. The lady who cuts my hair faithfully attends each and every Sunday, and while she sometimes opens her Bible in mid-cut to show me why God wants her to have a Lexus, she insists she has never once heard Reverend Hagee preach on Israel. The lady who owns the shop, however, who also attends the church, once commented to me “I love all the Jew-people. I just wish they would schedule on Saturday.”
I think Reverend Hagee’s preaching on Israel has far more to with the recognition he can receive from politicians, his ability to stand in their halo and claim prominence in his own congregation as a result. My guess is the Reverend’s calculus is all about politics and very little about Israel, that he really doesn’t care about Israel one way or the other as long as the net result is to keep those donations coming in. He has to have a few fanatic followers, of course, to keep up the charade.
Is my view unfair to the Reverend? Perhaps. But the Reverend is preaching that the slaying of the Jews and all others not sharing his Biblical beliefs before their eternal punishment in Hell will trigger his free pass to Heaven (OK, I know it’s a bit more involved that that, but you get the idea), so I’m not for giving him the benefit of many doubts.
posted June 4, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Can’t we just agree that Hagee is a racist idiot just like Jeremiah Write and leave it at that. Real Christians should know better that to pay any attention to either of these fools.
posted June 4, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I’m guessing you aren’t a multi-millionaire, Paul. If they are idiots, why aren’t you rich? And would a real Christian refer to someone as a “fool,” I wonder. Isn’t there some kind of Biblical injunction about that?
posted June 4, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The point I was trying to make, unsuccessfully it appears, was that Hagee’s appeal isn’t all about the Rapture. He’s a preacher of the prosperity gospel. And the admixture of “Christian Zionism” has entertainment value for his followers, keeping them amused while keeping them in church for a few more hours during the week. Even those calls on Congressional offices are really exciting for the people making them.
Idiot? Fool? Anything but! A real force to be reckoned with–but far more substantial than the You Tube clips show. I wouldn’t be suprised if something similar hasn’t occurred in Wright’s church.
posted June 5, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Of course Hagee wants war. Even more than the prosperity gospel he is trying to sell, his end-times/faith-based nihilism theology/philosophy is what keeps his pews, and thus his collection baskets, full.
In response to Paul, Hagee is dumb like the fox who gets the gig to guard the henhouse. Can’t say the same for his zombie-like followers.
posted November 9, 2010 at 2:38 pm
There is no democracy in Israel as a state is illegitimate and illegal and not recognized
Evidence of this if anyone wanted to write a comment in the Israeli websites
Does not allow him or be there are many obstacles to prevent him from writing a comment The reasons for Arab-Israeli conflict is the occupation of Palestine in 1948.
Palestine Arab Islamic state like the rest of the Arab and Islamic states surrounding
Them. Means that there are Jews and Zionists in Palestine a big mistake, because this entity
Zionist is not consistent with the surrounding area (such as language, customs, traditions and religion)
The only solution to end the Arab-Israeli conflict is the expulsion of Jews from Palestine
All of Palestine. The Jewish people will not rest and will not feel comfortable and stability
But if it gets out of Palestine and the Middle East completely. If people continue to
Jews in Palestine and the Middle East, the death and destruction will continue.
Palestine Arab Islamic state and will remain
posted November 14, 2010 at 6:47 am
There is no state called Israel
This is a terrorist state called Israel.
State of thieves called Israel a
basis of the displacement
and killing of Innocent nation .
state of thieves basis
bloodshed and war
And the arrest of people
for tens of years to
prevent him from claiming
The right to life .
basis steal the land of the
Palestinian people
And then steal
the land of the Arab-Muslim
the entire .State of the
thieves do not know the law …..
Does not recognize the
law of the United Nations,
a state that considers itself above the
law . the law is the siege of Gaza
And the bloodshed and
destruction of houses and
killing innocent people
and occupying the country
This is a country named Israel thieves
This is a terrorist state called Israel