Im confused how Hagee, who claims to be a Christian (One who believes that Christ is the only way to Heaven), although he isn't, could believe that Jew's (Who dont believe that Jesus is the Christ) are going to heaven....

Im confused how Hagee, who claims to be a Christian (One who believes that Christ is the only way to Heaven), although he isn't, could believe that Jew's (Who dont believe that Jesus is the Christ) are going to heaven....

No True Christian would write the heretical things that Cult-leader Hagee has written in this book. Christ not the messiah? Defending those who murdered Jesus? Hagee even implies in this book that God's plan can be defied or worked against by HUMANS! News flash, Hagee: If God is real, then his plan is always and at all times fulfilled, and never at risk of derailing by any mere mortal human.

Hagee needs to stop himself before he does any more damage to the Christian faith and to Israel. This book is shameful and amateurish and worst of all, BLASPHEMOUS.

I have read portions of this book and have never been so informed! I want to thank the author for opening up my eyes to this information and I hope he will let nothing stand in his way of telling the truth.

In Defense of Israel

Thank you... It came in a timely fashion... Just what I ordered.

This book was a real eye-opener for me with respect to the said events about how the Gentile church in it's early form of Christianity persecuted the Jewish people, & how it continues today. I thought the book was well written and I was unable to put it down! It intrigued me, because never before had I heard of certain events from the history books in school, or the media about such wide-spread anti-semitism and the plight of the Jewish people. This book catapulted a deeper love for God's chosen people who are the "Apple of God's eye" as the scriptures declare. As for all the critics who are sighting heresy to Hagee's teachings, I bed to differ. I did not once see where Hagee denied Jesus as the Messiah. Hagee's references to the Jewish people having a "judicial blindness" were only stated up until the time of Christ (pg 153). He is not saying that the Jewish people cannot be saved! Rather, he is speaking of Christ's 1000 year reign, where "All Israel will be saved" and the Jews will see the Messiah with their own eyes in that time in history. It is a profound mystery to born-again believers in Christ how this will occur, but Yeshua will do it rest assured! This book is a clear example of the love and solidarity that should come between Christians and Jews. For by this "love" (agape) will all men know that we are Christ's disciples, if we have love for one another. Through the Holy Scriptures, we are inplored to bless Israel, and I believe that this book will help to facilitate that achievement to a deeper degree in the lives of the evangelical church.

In Defense of Israel Very informative, John Hagee has more knowledge of Israel than most any other writers.

In this slim volume, John Hagee persuasively and even somewhat concisely makes the case for Christians' unqualified support for the Jewish people. He also deserves credit for doing it in a way that does not exalt himself or his great organization, Christians United for Israel. His relation of his personal history with this issue is especially interesting, and a nice complement to the informative chapters in which he makes his case. Having said that, this volume was clearly a slap-dash job. It's as poorly written as any non-fiction Christian book I've read. If you don't mind his tortured approach to the English language, you'll learn a lot, though.

It is important for people and nations to recognize that Israel is the apple of God's eye and all the land He promised Israel unconditionally will one day be theirs when they repent and accept the one they turned away from over 2000 years ago.

I am concerned that Hagee is too political to be a good shepherd and this book further confirms this. This book is awful in the way it characterizes Christ, the Anointed One. The writer (we assume it is Hagee but who knows who it really is) loves Israel, which is a good thing...we should love all people. Unfortunately he seems to have an agenda for Israel that is not biblical as a pastor. One that is called of God to preach and guide the flock has a duty. There is only one gospel...anyone that teaches another "gospel" is a heretic. I don't think Hagee is a heretic, but I do see that he gets himself in a bind theologically and gets "stones thrown at him" because he has a politically charged agenda instead of a message of Christ to deliver.
Man, in his foul ways has made up a set of beliefs called "replacement" theology whereas the church has replaced Israel. This is absurd. Scripture tells us plainly that Gentile believers were grafted into the vine BECAUSE OF THE MESSIAH who is Jesus...who died for us...who was rejected as the Messiah by many of the jewish people(many still do).

Perhaps Hagee attempted to refute this belief, but he lost site of the Scriptures when he did it. Supposedly the revised edition makes things a little less muddy, but there is no biblical proof that we should support the nation of Israel over any other nation. God is sovereign and He asked us to do one thing: "make disciples of all nations." Every church that fails at this fails to really be a church...we have no other agenda that is biblical.

An interesting book. After reading this book, I read "the Jews and their Lies by Martin Luther.

I would have to say that this is the most accurate book concerning Israel I have ever read. Although I don't agree with Hagee in some of his beliefs on other Biblical and religious subjects, this is a must read to understand Israel and the jewish people and our relationship with them as gentiles and christians.

Pastor John Hagee has written, yet again, a national best seller. "In Defense of Israel" outlines through scriptural references and ethical logic the reason that Christians everywhere (especially in America) should stand in support of the Nation of Israel.

After a brief history of the persecution of Jews by Christians through the ages, Hagee explains why so many Israelis and American Jews feel naturally suspicious, at times, of Christian verbiage. His arguments make common sense.

He further explains the Israeli conflict with fanatic Muslim teachings and actions.

While simplistic, this treatise does help explain the Jewish mindset with regard to the Holy Land.

It would likely be good reading for Muslims, Christians and Jews alike.

You don't have to agree with Pastor Hagee, but it would seem logical to give him the same consideration that you would give to any other writer on these world changing issues.

Stand back. Take a breath. And ask yourself ...... what has Hagee said that is wrong and why .... what has he said that is right and why.

Trying to be as objective as possible, there seems to be a lot more right with his position ... than anything which is wrong.

Densel Myers
Yukon, Oklahoma

First off, Hagee's just another Televangelist Megachurch Pastor who thinks that the Roman Catholic Church is everything that's wrong with Christianity. He misunderstands the Crusades too and thinks they were just an Anti-Jewish pogrom, don't worry about Christian (at the time) aspirations to reclaim holy ground from Muslims. Thinks the Catholic Church caused the Dark Ages (uhh, can you say uncivilized Germanic tribes (a lot of them) destroying what was left of "civilization as they knew it"). And Hagee, I really do wonder what he believes, I know he considers himself a Christian, but, what kind exactly??? You read this book and get a real strange idea of Hagee's beliefs. I support Israel btw, but this book and Hagee's theology just plain sucks.

Two Words for this Book:

Apostate!
Heresy!


His words:

like a cloud without water.
double minded man.
blind leading the blind.
converting others; yet they are now worse than they were before.

Overview:

His god and obssession is Israel.
He is the accuser of the Brethren when they don't agree with him; calling them anti-semitic, and haters of the Jews.

My flashback while reading this book was exactly as in the days when Jesus was in the flesh, standing before his accusers... CRUCIFY HIM!
Because Pharasees then did not KNOW HIM and Pharasees now don't know HIM.

Don't make this man anymore richer by buying this book... I am going to pass my copy around so that others won't have to purchase it. He thinks he is defending them... reality tells me he is blinded to his own making of a New Hollocaust.

This is a excellent,Interesting, and Factual Book. Everyone in the U.S.A. should read it. No, everyone in the World should read it. Whether they believe in the Bible or not.
Rev. Hagee brings up many interesting facts That the average person including Christians, Jews, and Moslem don't know or even think about, in regards to Israel,God,the Bible, and the future of mankind.
H. G. Brown

We are always interested in what is happening in Israel. God has instructed us that IF we bless Israel, HE will bless us. THEY are God's chosen people and we are to love them and help them. This book should bre read by all.

God bless each one who reads this,

Pearl Black

This book can be summed up with the following quote:

The difference, my dear Christian friends, between Israel and the Arab world is quite simply the difference between civilization and barbarism. It's the difference between good and evil and this is what we're witnessing in the Arabic and Islamic world. I am angry. They have no SOUL! They are dead set on killing and destruction. And in the name of something they call "Allah," which is very different from the God we believe in, because our God is the God of love.

- Brigitte Gabriel, speaking at John Hagee's Christians United for Israel Convention, July 27, 2007

A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry.

- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

I give the book 1 Star for the effort it took this false prophet to get off the couch and type some words, which thousands are getting suckered into believing!!

All promises were delivered and fulfilled to Israel by 70a.d.

The Church is the New Jerusalem which came down out of heaven, with the destruction of Babylon (Old Jerusalem) in 70a.d. Israel(the mother of harlots) was the only nation that was in covenant with God (Revelation is a covenant book), she killed the prophets and those sent to her. This is why God destroyed her, but kept His promise to remain true to the Old Covenant faithful (Abe, Isaac, Jacob,....etc.)These faithful inherited the land (kingdom of heaven)along with those in the first century when Christ returned in 70a.d.

The Book of Revelation was fulfilled in the first century with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70a.d. ("things which must "shortly" come to pass).

This is why you will die without ever seeing the Biblical, Second Coming of Christ.

In the meantime, answer these two questions:
1) In Rev.22, if this is the eternal state where there is no more curse or night in the new heavens and earth, then why do the nations still need healing(vs.2)??
2) Why is it in 1 Cor.15,(a text that is used by futurists to try & prove a FUTURE, BODILY, RESURRECTION), the Greek shows that the resurrection was presently taking place in the first century even as Paul wrote the letter?? Read vss.29-49 very carefully and see how often the present tense is used in reference to the resurrection.

Any religion that bases it's beliefs on a futuristic (to us) second coming of Christ, will always fall short of Biblical Truth, and are essentially calling Christ a liar (unawares).

If you want things even more clarified for you, then read Max King's book, "The Cross and the Parousia" to see how all Biblical prophesy has been fulfilled, and how we are now living in the Eternal State (New Heaven and Earth).

This is an educational book that John Hagee has written. It tells the
history and down fall of the Jewish nation. The Holocaust was
devastating, to think that Adolf Hitler would conceive such a horrible
death for thousands of people is mind-boggling.
Hagee's love for the Jewish people shines bright in this book.
I've seen his "Night to Honor Israel" and it it beautiful and heart warming.
Yes, there should be a fellowship between the Jews and the Christians.
I enjoyed reading this book and I learned things I did not know. I highly
recommend this book if you want to know the connection between the Jews
and the christians. And most important to know the reason the Jews are
God's choosen people.

First, let me say there's some great critical reviews here. I'd just like to add to the conversation with a broader look at what Hagee had to say, and see where he's coming from and going to in relation to the Bible as I understand it.

From p. 169 Hagee proclaims, "Heaven and earth have not passed away; neither has the Old Covenant!"

The Bible states otherwise. Hebrews 8:13 is one of many references which clearly state that indeed, Jesus erased the rules and regulations of the old covenant: "By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete....". Hagee throughout his rant that the old covenant is still in effect uses a number of odd reasons why the old covenant still exists today. Hagee fails to realize that ultimately the people of the old covenant broke covenant with God; not the other way around. Hagee reasons that the 10 commandments are in the new testament, therefore the old covenant still exists (see p. 167). Not so; rather, the Ten Commandments were based on regualtions that transcended the nation of Israel and the old coveant -- existing prior to it and after it. It was wrong to commit murder when Cain killed Abel; and Jesus tells us that before the laws of Moses, God had intended that once a man and women married, nothing should 'tear them asunder' --- even though the law of Moses allowed for a certificate of divorce. Moral law didn't begin and end with the nation of Israel, the law of Moses, or the old covenant. Jesus perfectly fulfilled what the law of Moses and the nation of Israel could not. "He sets aside the first to establish the second" (He 10:9).

From p. 134, Hagee writes, "Go ye [Jews] into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature...The message of the gospel was from Israel, not to Israel!"

The Bible indicates something altogether different. Jesus states, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 10 is clear that Jesus isn't just the shepherd of the gentile flock, but of the original flock of Israel as well. John 3:18 warns "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already bacuse he has not believed in the name off God's one and only Son." Jesus proclaimed all of these truths IN FRONT OF AN ALL-JEWISH AUDIENCE!!!!!!!! Indeed there is no Jew or Gentile in Christ Jesus.

From p. 31, Hagee writes, "The plot among Herod's inncer circle produced the Roman crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary. It had nothing to do with the Jewish people as a civilization.... The justice of God would never permit judgment of the sins of a handful of people to be passsed to an entire civilization of people."

THE BIBLE SAYS something altogether different. In Acts 2:22, Paul is addressing "ISRAEL" and says in v. 23 "This man (Jesus) was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge, and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross." Later Peter warns the nation of Israel of his day "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

As for the second line of Hagee's reasoning, over and over in the scriptures nations are judged because of their leadership. For example, in Lamentations chapter 4, Jeremiah writes that even godly men suffered, and tenderhearted women cooked and ate their children, the Lord's wrath had consumed zion, ....why? In v. 13 God reveals, "But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests."

I believe that John Hagee is pro-Israel at the expense of Jesus Christ. I personally feel that the scriptures indicate that Israel and the Old Covenant are no more. I believe that the warnings of such passages as Matthew 24 are a clear reference to the destruction and end to the nation of Israel and its role as a remnant witness for God unto the nations. Hagee agrees with the literal interpretation only when it fits his reasoning. He admits on. p. 155 that "Jesus answered in Luke 21:20, 'But when you see Jerusalem surrrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.' This was accomplished in A.D. 70 when the Roman general Titus destroyed Jeruasalem."

However, when addressing the parallel passages in Matthew, Hagee reasons that the text is not temporal but referring to events thousands of years later (rather than in the context of a forty-year "generation" that Jesus is clearly alluding to). P. 156 reads in part, "Jesus continues by saying, 'Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains' (Matthew 24:36)... Judea is part of what is now called the West Bank. Jesus's statement assumes that in the last days the Jews would be living on the West Bank...."

It is my belief that the "last days" Jesus is referring to isn't the end of the world, but rather the end of Israel. Even in Acts 2:14-21, Paul indicates that on that morning of Pentacost 2,000 years ago, the prophecy was being fulfilled which read, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people..."

It is my belief that today's Israel in the middle east isn't spiritual or prophetical, but political. Without Christ, a Jew,.... or a Muslim, or an athiest.... is lost. Just because a nation exists that calls itself "Israel", it doesn't make it any more a legitimate fulfillment of scripture than does a Mormon state of Utah or a possible state for Philistines made up of tall people that will use the bible as evidence for land ownership rather than a right relationship with God. 40 percent of those who live in Israel don't believe in a supernatural God at all, much less Jesus. And of the forms of Old Covenant worship that exist today, none (whether liberal, orthodox, or other Judaism) even come close to resembling the ordinances and commands of the race thousands of years ago. Indeed, true Israel is not a product of race, but of faith. Abraham's parents weren't "Jewish", but pagan. Galatians tells us that Abraham's seed is not a bloodline, but a line of faith continued by the precious atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

That will be John Hagee's standard, as well as the standard for us all, on judgment day.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to know what is going on in the world today. It opened my eyes to many things. A great book. Should be a "must" read for everyone.

Jim

I just got finished reading John Hagee's book "In Defense of Israel", and have to throw a word of wise out to the public, in particuliar Evangelicial Christians. Pastor John Hagee has a love and passion for Israel and the Jewish people. I applaud him on this. Israel still has a place in God's heart and plan (Jer 31:34-36, Rom 10:1-2, 11:26) Mr Hagee does a good job documenting the anti-semitism in some of the Early Church fathers writings, Jewish contributions to Christianity, also in the fields of the arts, medicine, education, ete,ete. Israel will once again be a blessing to all nations in the New Millenium (Isa 66). This I do applaud John Hagee on. BUT, in Chapter 10 of "Answering Christian Critics", he says that:

1.) Jesus did not claim to be the Messiah (pgs 136, 137)

2.) The message of the Gospel was from Israel, not to Israel (pg 134)

3.) Jesus refuted Jewish" claims of being the Messiah (pgs 138, 139)

4.) The Jewish people did not reject Jesus as being the Messiah, rather it was Jesus who rejected being the Messiah to the Jewish people. (pgs 140, 141)

5.) Because Jesus didn"t take the cup of the Messiah, or the fourth cup at the Passover seder, he refused to be the Messiah (pgs 144, 145)

6.) Jesus words" of going into all nations and preaching the Gospel unto "all creatures" meant going to the Gentiles, creatures meaning "gentiles" in Greek.( pg 145)

The Bible is very clear: Jesus is the ONLY Way to the Father (John 14:6), and anyone who doesn"t beleive Jesus/Yeshua is Christ, that it is the spirit of anti-Christ (1John 2:20-26) Mr Hagee has been accused of preaching dual covenantism, this book only pours gasoline on the fires. I would not recommend this book to anyone. This book, unless John Hagee repents and recants, will bring more apostasy and confusion into the Body of Christ. I recommend anything by Joel Rosenberg, starting with "Epicenter". Maranatha!

Read what a leading scholar writes:


Pastor John Hagee's new book, In Defense of Israel: The Bible's Mandate for Supporting the Jewish State (Lake Mary, Florida: Front Line, 2007), was publicized by announcements stating that the book would "shake Christian theology." The following positions are explicitly laid out in the book:

* The Jewish people, as a whole, did not reject Jesus as Messiah.

* Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah.

* Jesus refused by word and deed to be the Messiah.

* The Jews cannot be blamed for not accepting what was never offered.

Statements like this must be evaluated in light of 1 John 2:22: "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ [i.e., Messiah]. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son." As commentator Stephen S. Smalley explained, "The true believer is the one who accepts the Christhood of Jesus, whereas those who deny his messianic identity declare themselves to be on the side of the antichrist" (Word Biblical Commentary).

What could possibly be the motivation for teaching such error? First, In Defense of Israel desires to dispel once and for all the notion that all Jews are Christ-killers, a terrible lie that has fueled anti-Semitism in the Church for more than 1,500 years. Second, the book wants to refute the false teaching of replacement theology, explaining that, "Replacement theologians have said that `the covenant with Israel was broken because she would not accept Jesus Christ whom God sent.'" (See p. 132 of In Defense of Israel.) Tragically, in the attempt to fight against these serious errors, a more serious error has now been introduced. Yet some believers and even leaders! are buying into this error hook, line, and sinker, and some have begun to teach and preach it as well.
Since the publication of the book, Pastor Hagee issued some clarifying remarks, but the clarifications only complicate the issues and fail to renounce and remove the error.

Here are three fundamental statements that all believers should be able to affirm without hesitation:

1) Jesus came to be the Messiah. This is the fundamental message of the New Testament, which is why we call him "Christ" (meaning, "Messiah"). And it is a fundamental message of the Scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer and die if He was one day to rule and reign (see, e.g., Luke 24:25-27, 44-47), a biblical truth that most of the Jewish people of Yeshua's day missed, a biblical truth that most Jews through the ages have continued to miss, and a biblical truth that In Defense of Israel has now fed into as well.

In the clarifying statements that were made since the publication of his book, it was explained that Jesus came to be the suffering Messiah but not the reigning Messiah something, of course, that we all knew, and something that would hardly "shake Christian theology" but these statements have simply introduced another nuance to the error, since nowhere in the New Testament is such a distinction made.

In other words, God did not say to Israel, "It's fine that you rejected Jesus as Messiah because He did not come in the political way you expected. He had to die in order to be the Savior of the world, so you are not guilty." There is not a hint of such a message in the Scriptures, which simply proclaim him as the Messiah, period.

That's why Jesus explicitly identified Himself as the Messiah in the Gospels (see, e.g., Matt 16:16-17; Mark 14:61-62; Luke 7:20-23; John 4:25-26; 5:39, 45-47; 10:24-25) not as the suffering Messiah, whom his people were supposed to reject so that He could die, as opposed to the reigning Messiah, whom they would one day receive, but simply as the Messiah and that's why the Gospel authors frequently announced Him as the Messiah (in Greek, the Christ; see, e.g., Luke 2:11, 26; John 1:41; 3:28; 11:27; 20:31). And that's why the apostles proclaimed Him as the Messiah in Acts (see, e.g., Acts 2:31, 36; 3:18, 20; 4:26; 5:42; 8:5; 9:22; 17:2-3; 18:5, 28; 26:23).

I would encourage you to look up every reference cited here. It is all quite simple, forthright, and easy to understand, and nowhere is any distinction made between the suffering and reigning Messiah. To repeat: Jesus is proclaimed as the Messiah of Israel, period, and because He is the Messiah of Israel, He is the Savior of the world.

2) The Jewish people rejected their Messiah. Although all Jews are not Christ-killers (God forbid!), and although the entire Jewish nation did not play a role in the crucifixion of Jesus, God held the Jewish people in Jesus' day responsible for His death and, more significantly, He held them responsible for rejecting Jesus the Messiah after His resurrection. The New Testament witness is explicit and consistent on this.

That's why the apostles preached to "the people of Israel" that they were guilty of rejecting the Messiah (Acts 2:22-23, 36; 3:13-15, 17, 19; 4:10-11; 5:30; 7:52; 13:27-28; see also John 1:12), and that's why Paul spoke of Israel's hardening, breaking off, stumbling, transgression, and rejection (see Rom 9:31; 10:3; 11:7, 11-12, 15, 20 although with the full expectation of Israel's future redemption; see Rom 11:11-15, 25-26). Again, I encourage you to take a moment to look up these passages. They are striking in their force and consistency.

Because of this rejection, severe judgment came on the Jewish people in the first century, as prophesied by Yeshua with tears (see Luke 19:41-44; see also Matt 23:29-37) and as taught in his parables (see, e.g., Matt 21:33-46; 22:1-14).

As painful as this witness is, it cannot be rewritten, nor can anyone lessen Israel's guilt because it was God's will that Jesus died on the cross. To the contrary, just as it was God's will that Joseph be sold into Egyptian slavery and yet at the same time his brothers were guilty of sinning against him (Gen 44:16-45:5; 50:14-20), so also it was God's will that Yeshua die for our sins while at the same time the Jewish people, along with Herod and Pilate and the Romans, were guilty of having Him crucified (see Acts 2:22-24; 4:27-28).

It is scripturally impossible to claim that "the Jews cannot be blamed for not accepting what was never offered." A glorious offer was made and refused, and that's why Paul's heart was broken (see Rom 9:1-5).

3) Jesus remains the Jewish Messiah, and there is no salvation for the Jewish people outside of faith in Him. Although Pastor Hagee has consistently stated that he does not teach "dual covenant" theology, referring to the false concept that Jews can be saved outside of faith in Jesus, his new teaching certainly aids and abets that error. After all, if "The Jews Did Not Reject Jesus as Messiah" (as stated in bold print in his book), and if "Jesus refused by word and deed to be the Messiah" (be it the "reigning Messiah" or not), then, not only can it be said that "the Jews [in Jesus' day] cannot be blamed for not accepting what was never offered" but that the Jews in any day cannot be blamed for not accepting Yeshua.

This again is a fundamental denial of the Word of God, and although In Defense of Israel claims that the "message of the gospel was from Israel, not to Israel," Jesus, Peter, and Paul declared that the message of the gospel was to Israel first, and then from Israel to the nations (see Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 3:26; 13:32-39; Rom 1:16; in Paul's words to the Jewish leaders in Rome, it was "for the sake of the hope of Israel" that he was bound in chains; Acts 28:20).

To be sure, there are a number of other errors found in the critical section of In Defense of Israel (including the myth that there was a so-called cup of the Messiah, the alleged fourth cup of the Passover meal that Yeshua supposedly refused to drink), but this is not the place to address those concerns, and to focus on the smaller problems would detract from the larger picture.

In Him,

Michael L. Brown, Ph.D.


Dr. Michael L. Brown is founder and president of ICN Ministries, devoted to taking the message of repentance and revival to Israel, the Church, and the Nations. He has preached throughout the United States and in numerous foreign countries, emphasizing radical discipleship, holy living, and the visitation of the Spirit. His books, articles, and messages have been translated into more than a dozen languages. In 1996, he became part of the ministry of the Brownsville Revival, holding weekly sessions for leaders and heading up the revival's intensive two-year School of Ministry. Dr. Brown is now President of the FIRE School of Ministry located in Charlotte, NC.
As a Jewish believer in Jesus, Dr. Brown is active in Jewish evangelism and has debated rabbis on radio, TV, and college campuses. He is also a published Old Testament and Semitic scholar, holding a Ph.D in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University. In 1997, he was appointed Visiting Professor of Jewish Apologetics at Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission and has been affiliated with Regent University Divinity School as an Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Jewish Studies.

First and foremost, Mr. John Hagee made it clear how we Christians should embrace the Jews because without the Jews, Zionists (Christians) would not have known Jesus Christ! There is nothing in this book which states that Jesus Christ is NOT the Messiah. It is carefully explained how the Lord came in the form of man (WITHOUT sins, but was tempted by the serpent, thus not the Messiah as yet because His kingdom is NOT in this world (see John 18 verse 36)). Jesus Christ died as King of Jews (Messiah). His death and resurrection is the key for our grace and salvation, and it is thru his blood. This book is an excellent source for those who are willing to learn. IN DEFENSE OF ISRAEL fills in the gaps of the historical wars (Crusaders and Spanish Inquisition) as well as that in the 1930's with Hitler. We are currently in the 21st century and anti-semitism is at its peak. We have not moved from the ages of when Pilate, Herod, Titus, Hadrian destroyed Jerusalem. In fact, we are heading towards it again but with the ideology behind the Iranian leader's thinking. His idea is to eliminate Jews all together!

The reviewers who stated that this book speaks on the "anti-christ" by Hagee, they are misinterpreting the book! Hagee did NOT elaborate on Christ not being the Messiah. One must re-read carefully before executing this statement. This is the reason why I had to re-post my review because I mis-typed some key elements.

First and foremost, Mr. John Hagee made it clear how we Christians should embrace the Jews because without the Jews, Zionism (Christians) would NOT know Christ! There is nothing in this book which states that Jesus Christ is not the Messiah. It is explained carefully how the Lord came in the form of man (with sins, thus not a Messiah) and died as King of Jews (Messiah). His death and resurrection is the key for our grace and salvation and it is thru His blood. This book is an excellent source for those who are willing to learn. In Defense of Israel fills the gaps of the historical Crusader and the Spanish Inquisition (wars). Not only did this book filled the gaps, but it ironically coincides with the life of Nostradamus (and in N's Final Prophecies and Countdown to Apocalypse books). I find it odd that many people did not know that N was a Jew and converted to Christianity (Protestant) during the 1500's; same for his family in France! He described the utmost disgust of the Catholics in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries, as did Mr. Hagee. What Mr. Hagee pointed out is that anti-semitism is still effective (to date) among us Christians! Like one viewer below said, "there are two groups of Christians". This is true. The ministers today do not focus much on the relationship of the Fig Tree (Israel) and the prophecies. We have a lot to learn as Christians and Jews. Mr. Hagee is a well-learned instructor. I highly recommend this book for all who love the Lord.

Pastor Hagee should be consistent in his practice and starting saying "Jesus not-the-Christ" in his sermons.

The heresy of Hagee must not go unchallenged. As a Messianic Jew I am extremely disappointed. Yeshua IS the Messiah.

Perhaps Spurgeon said it best...

"There shall be no new God, nor new devil, nor shall we ever have a new saviour, nor a new atonement. Why then should we be attracted by the error and nonsense which everywhere plead for a hearing because they are new? To suppose the Theology can be new is to imagine that the Lord himself is of yesterday. A doctrine lately true must of necessity be false. Falsehood has no beard, but truth is hoary with age immeasurable. The old Gospel is the only Gospel. Pity is our only feeling toward those young preachers who cry: `See my new Theology!' in just the same spirit as little Mary says: `See my pretty new frock!'"

In Yeshua haMashiach!

Claude P. Scheiner, Jr.

When I read Pastor Hagee's book, I was in shock that he would say that Jesus did not come to be the Messiah. Unlike his other books I was greatly disappointed. Thankfully, I had an E-mail forwarded to me that Pastor Hagee wrote stating he will be coming out with a new edition of In Defense of Israel with an expanded chapter 10 - the very chapter that has caused confusion. Pastor Hagee stated in was not his intention to mislead his readers by stating Jesus did not come to be the Messiah. In the E-mail I received he clarified that Jesus did not come to be the reigning Messiah but the suffering Messiah when he came to this earth the first time. The Jews of Jesus' time were looking for a reigning Messiah; they were looking for a Messiah who would conquer the Romans. Jesus did not come to be the reigning Messiah the first time. He will come the second time as the reigning Messiah. His own people missed it the first time. This book is good but wait until the new edition is released that expands and clarifies chapter 10.

I'm stunned that Pastor Hagee would argue that Jesus isn't the Messiah.

Perhaps his fans don't understand that Messiah and Christ are synonyms. But surely his publishers and colleagues do. So it's difficult to understand how he can avoid correction for teaching that Jesus isn't the Christ. Christos, incidentally, was the Greek term used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Jewish Bible by Jewish scholars several centuries before the birth of Jesus.

As a Messianic Rabbi, I not only love Yeshua the Messiah and the Jewish people, I also appreciate honest Biblical teaching and scholarship. This book is deficient in both its honesty and its scholarship.

You shall not find a more Pro-Israel Servant of THE LORD YEHOWSHU'A (JESUS) than I. I believe in standing by Israel to the bitter end; and that any attempts by any prime minister of Israel to trade "land for peace" will ultimately lead to disaster for the Israeli people. The current peace talks to develop a palestinian state? Forget it! The palestinian radicals will never allow it because they do not want "a state". They want Israel. The other palestinians who want to be left alone are just hostages to these terrorists groups backed by Syria and Iran.
I say these things so that others shall know where I stand concerning Israel. But I will not overlook this heresy preached by John Hagee. He is a blasphemer and a liar!
The Apostle Paul said if he or an angel from Heaven preached any other Gospel than the one already preached,--let that person be accursed! (Galatians 1:8) So it is written; so let it be with John Hagee!

Acts Chapter 9:19-22:
"Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"
22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ."

Romans 5:17-18
"17For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men."

Romans 10:9-13
"9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
13for 'WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'"

I recommend the entire Chapter of John Chapter 9 (The Gospel of John as well); but a crucial part is Chapter 9:35-39
35Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
36He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"
37Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you."
38And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him.
39And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."

There are just too many Holy Scriptures to count. The very word "Christ" is the Ancient Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah"-- translated both as: "Anointed One".

If you herald THE HOLY BIBLE (and every word is GOD Breathed: 2 Timothy 3:16-17), there is no doubt JESUS IS THE LIVING GOD INCARNATE,--THE MESSIAH Who Has Come to Take Away the sins of the world: The entire world, both jewish and gentile.

Galatians 3:27-29
"27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."

Colossians Chapter 3; here is verse 11 of said chapter.
"11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all."

1 John 4:1-3
"1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world."

1 John Chapter 5:9-12
"9If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.

10The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.

11And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life."
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Mr Hagee has called GOD, THE FATHER, a liar.
He blasphemes.
And these are just a few HOLY SCRIPTURES. I am not his judge. But I would not want to call THE FATHER a liar.

IN CHRIST JESUS: THE LORD GOD INCARNATE, TRIUMPHANT AND RETURNING SOON TO JUDGE THE WORLD!!!

wells
*Isaiah Ch. 9:6; Isaiah Ch. 53; Psalm 110; Zechariah Chapter 12 thru Chapter 14; 1 Timothy 6:9-12*

This man is to be shunned! He possesses a "form of Godliness but denies the Power thereof . . . avoid such men as these"(2 Timothy 3:5)

John Hagee is well educated in history and speaks from a great depth of knowledge. HE understands the roots of our religions and how distortions have created great turmoil, intolerance and death to millions of innocents. He is trying to get the word out that those seeking peace and brotherhood are in danger, trying to protect innocents and trying to prevent history from repeating itself. His book is easy to read yet very powerful. Every American should read it. May G-d Bless him!

In his video promoting the book, Pastor John Hagee makes the following statements:

"The Jews as a people did not reject Jesus as Messiah."
"Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah."
"Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah..."

The video is available at YouTube.

[Hagee] The Jews as a people did not reject Jesus as Messiah.

[Response] The Jews as a people *did* reject Jesus as Messiah. That is why Jesus took "vengeance" on them by destroying Jerusalem and the Temple:

"20But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; 22because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20-22, NASB throughout.)

Hagee claims the Jews didn't deserve to be punished. However, Jesus said they *did* deserve to be punished (Matt. 17:17), that they *would* be punished (Matt. 24:34; Luke 11:49-51), and they *were* punished in A.D. 70 within one generation just as he predicted. During the Jewish War, hundreds of thousands died, and those remaining were sold into slavery. So a huge number of Jews did deserve to be punished, and Hagee's assessment is contrary to Christ's and denies the historical record.

[Hagee] Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah.

[Response] Jesus *did* come to earth to be the Messiah:

"The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:" (Matt. 1:1)

"Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah." (Matt. 1:16)

"He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which translated means Christ)." (John 1:41)

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.'" (John 6:35)

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28)

"for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." (Matt. 26:28)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1Tim. 1:15)

If Jesus didn't come to be the Messiah, then John Hagee has no Savior and is condemned.

[Hagee] Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah...

[Response] Jesus *did* claim to be the Messiah:

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" (John 14:6)

"13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' 14And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.' 15He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' 16Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' 17And Jesus said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon al this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.'" (Matt. 16:13-17)

"25The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.' 26Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'" (John 4:25f)

Jesus identified himself to the high priest by referring to Messianic prophecies in Ps. 110:1 and Dan. 7:13:

"62The high priest stood up and said to Him, 'Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?' 63But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, 'I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.' 64Jesus said to him, 'You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"
65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, 'He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66what do you think?' They answered, 'He deserves death!'
67Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?" (Matt. 26:62-68)

Those present at Christ's trial understood that he was claiming to be the Messiah because they accused him of blasphemy and sarcastically referred to him as "Christ."

Conclusion: John Hagee is either pitifully ignorant or he is a liar. Either way, he has no right to be expounding the Word of God.

Those familiar with the history of Christianity know how badly the church persecuted the Jews. Christianity was supposed to spread love and charity but along the way, even in the writings of some so-called "church fathers", God's people became the target of hatred. For more info, see Our Hands Are Stained with Blood by Michael L Brown. A theology of animosity towards Judaism grew in early Christianity, and at Nicea, the ties between Judaism and its daughter religion were finally severed.

The church ignored Paul's very clear instruction to love the Jews in Romans 9 to 11. The Jewish people are dear to God on account of the promises He had made to the patriarchs, "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Unfortunately the church chose to ignore this divinely inspired message and instead created a perverse theology that proclaimed the Jewish people were cursed by God for rejecting Jesus as Messiah. The church claimed that it was the new Israel.

This demonic doctrine held sway for centuries, leading to oppression, expulsion, extortion and murder. See The Anguish of the Jews by Edward H Flannery. This replacement theology which was at the root of Christian Antisemitism is today still prominent in many denominations. But nowadays they are more subtle in propagating their repulsive doctrine. Careful to avoid charges of Antisemitism, they have become Anti-Zionists, singling Israel out as a scapegoat, condemning it whilst ignoring oppression around the globe and encouraging divestment from the country.

Mercifully a Philo-Semitic strain of Christianity arose amongst the British Puritans in the 1600s. Many of the American founding fathers were Christian Zionists. Standing With Israel by David Brog has more information on this. In the 20th century this spirit of love, found overwhelmingly but not exclusively amongst Evangelicals, made some churches reject replacement theology. These Christians believe that all Jews ought to be loved unconditionally regardless of our different views about the identity of Messiah, affirming the message of the prophets that God will keep his unconditional promises to the nation of Israel.

Now is the time for choosing, as Israel is surrounded by enemies and assailed by the world community. It is 1938 again, as John Hagee warns in chapter one. It is time to heed the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 from verse 40 where He speaks of his brothers, meaning relatives in the flesh. At this moment in time, true Christians must stand with Israel against world opinion and against threats of annihilation from Iran, Syria and various terrorist organizations. Vide Ruth & Esther by Frank Morgan.

In chapter three, Hagee examines Antisemitism from the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, through the "church fathers" like John Chrysostom, the crusades, the 4th Lateran Council, the Spanish Inquisition, Martin Luther and its culmination in the Holocaust. The Jewish identity, eight Biblical proofs of National Israel, and the Arab, Berber, Kurd, Pashtun, Persian and Turkish peoples are discussed in chapter five. The next one looks at the religions of the region, including the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam and the Wahhabist movement of Saudi Arabia.

Hagee investigates revolution and radical Islam in chapter seven, including the Iranian revolution and the growing threat from that country. In this regard, see also The Final Move Beyond Iraq by Mike Evans. Some of the Islamic terror groups discussed here are Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyyah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Harkat al-Mujahideen and Jaish-i-Muhammad.

Christianity could not exist without its Jewish roots. Our tremendous debt to the Jewish people encompasses our Jewish Savior who followed Torah, the scriptures preserved by them and the staggering Jewish contribution to civilization. Just consider these names, a tiny sample of achievers: Leonardo da Vinci, Elie Wiesel, Leonard Bernstein, Felix Mendelssohn, Emile Berliner, Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein, Emma Lazarus, Ayn Rand, Irving Berlin and Louis Brandeis. Society has been greatly blessed by their scientific, medical and cultural contributions. And history shows that those individuals and nations that loved Israel were blessed. Hagee provides examples from scripture regarding prosperity, divine healing and salvation that came to gentiles who loved Jews.

Christian critics are addressed in chapter ten, especially those who still hold to the error of replacement theology. The ugly lie of the "Christ killers" is once again refuted. The ordinary people flocked to Jesus in their thousands. He was killed by the Romans in a plot instigated by the inner circle of Herod Antipas. See The Passion by Geza Vermes for a thorough examination of what transpired. Replacement Theology is so utterly negated by the prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Zechariah and also by Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 that one wonders how it could ever have gained credibility. There are also the everlasting and unconditional covenants that God made with Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15 for eternal possession of the Holy Land.

In the penultimate chapter the author addresses secular critics by pointing out that Israel is a vibrant democracy and is not the cause of the Middle East conflict. He deals with the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate (More on this in The Mountains of Israel by Norma Parrish Archbold), the 6-day war of 1967, the Yom Kippur war of 1973, the Lebanese war, the bombing of Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981 and the Oslo Accords that brought only misery to Israel.

There are indeed two types of Christian. God has kept his word to restore Israel as a nation, the most spectacular miracle of the 20th century. But theological Antisemitism has mutated again, moving from creed to people to nation. Previously it targeted Judaism, then the Jews themselves. Now it wants to annihilate the Jewish State. Jimmy Carter is a tragic example. Those of us who fear the God of Israel cannot remain silent at a time like this. We are commanded to comfort his people (Isaiah 40:1). This is what John Hagee and Christians United for Israel are doing. Why Care about Israel? by Sandra Teplinsky provides further valuable insights.

Well I have come a long way from listening to Hagee. He like many of the other pid preachers on TV today( Van Impe, Copeland, Hinn) belive that the Jews do not need to be saved. the book goes on to discuss the evils of the arab world without discussing the other side (atrocities that Isreal has done). What I particularly dislike is the fact that this type of favoritism preaching (everyone needs to be saved except the Jews) is not found in our new testament. When we read of Isreal in our bible it is spritual isreal being spoken of , not the place created in 1948. Come on Christians, get beyond this type of nonsense. Christianity today has got to go beyone what paid prechers tell us. Awful book

I am not the type that goes out and buys every book and I do not fall for every gimmick. This book is excellent. The term he uses for Messiah is used in his case as one who comes to deliver like Moses did when he came to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Jews in the days of Jesus would gladly have accepted Jesus as Messiah if He would have been the type of Messiah they were expecting, that is one who would deliver them from the Roman oppression. Jesus did refuse to be that kind of Messiah. He is going to be that kind of Messiah the second time around. John Hagee never once says that Jesus did not come to save the Jews from sin or become a savior. His use of the term Messiah is not as savior but as one who takes over and delivers from their enemies like he will do at the second coming. We have to actually read the book to understand his full meaning. We can't review this book by just listening to the promotion video. I am not endorsing all John Hagee preaches or teaches but this book is okay and is not heresy or anti-christ in any way. Everything he says about the early persecution of the Jews is very true. I didn't get that from Hagee alone but from reading history. The Jews did very little persecution compared to the the persecution done to them.

I am an athiest and I think all of John Hagee's works are nothing but fodder for his pocketbook. Since I am an athiest and an American, I don't think I owe Israel or the Jews a thing. I think we would all be better off if Chrisians and Jews would form thier own state called Idiot Land. I've got bad news for you kids, you will die and be eaten by worms.

Todd Harrel

I have always felt that Israel is God sent and protected, but this book brings to light many aspects that the liberal media does not want to report and scriptures to back it up.

I was thrilled with the info I received in this book. Questions I had had for years were answered. The author is right on the money I believe! I also am enjoying his Cornerstone Church TV program for the first time as a result of this wonderful read! God bless this man and his message. The world should take heed!

I love pastor John Hagee, but I cannot recommend this book. My fear is that people who are not "taught" or well versed in the Scriptures will believe that Yeshua (Jesus) never claimed to be the Messiah of Israel, which is dead wrong, for He did so over and over again to them. Pastor Hagee has gone too far with this book, and I believe he will do more harm them good to the Messianic Movement around the globe by its release. He has hurt the Jews, and not helped them at all. Yeshua is the only way to God. Heaven help him. Hagee's words directly contradict the whole message of the entire New Testament. Hagee's words directly contradict the fundamental declaration that defines the Christian Faith, which is that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah (i.e. the Christ). This is what Yeshua, Peter, and rabbi Paul declares to their fellow Jews. I have to say that the apostate teachings of John Hagee in this book make me sick as a Jewish Believer. Read "Jesus the Jewish Theologian" by Dr. Brad Young, its a much better book. --Shalom, Truth never fails.

Another heartwarming, fascinating biblical truth book from Pastor Hagee. A must read book for all Christians concerned with the future of Israel and end times events. Full of historical facts regarding world history and how it relates to present day affairs.

John Hagee's claim that Jesus was NOT the Messiah and never claimed to be the Messiah is absolutely absurd. Actually it's blasphemy to deny the true identity of Jesus. The message is clear in 1 John 2:22, "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son."
You may say, 'well surely, John Hagee would not say Jesus is not the Christ', and you would be right. But to teach the heresy that Jesus is only the Christ (or the Messiah) for the Gentiles but not for the Jews is still messing with the basic Biblical doctrine---that "rock" upon which the church is being built---the revealed knowledge of 'Who Christ is'.
I fear for the number of those who have been led by Hagee's teaching to believe their Jewish heritage keeps them in covenant with God... I shudder to think how many will spend eternity in hell because Hagee has used his reputation and notoriety to convince thousands of Christians to avoid preaching the gospel to the Jews, insinuating that they (the Jews) have their own covenant with God and we should not interfere with God's plan of salvation for them... Never-mind the fact that the 'covenant' the Jews had (through Moses) is "obsolete" (Hebrews 8:13), and the only 'plan of salvation' God has for those who call themselves Jews is the same as it is for any other sinner---righteousness which comes by faith alone in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the Truth, the Life, and no one (Jew or Gentile) comes to the Father except through Him.

John Hagee has come to personify for many the curious relationship between right-wing Christian America and Israel. In a funny way this poorly-written slice of really bad history can also serve as a valuable piece of material for those researching the actual ideas and philosophy behind the radical fusion of pro-Israeli politics and the religious right that helped put George Bush in the White House during the 2004 election. "In Defense Of Israel" is not a bad book because it claims that Israel has the right to exist (which it does), but because Hagee's documentation of key historical events is so poor that it's almost laughable. The problem here is that Hagee's point of view is so radical that he presents current events from a purely one-sided, misinformed side. One must be objective when looking at the Middle East conflict, and Hagee is so far from it that this material is dangerous for those who do not keep themselves informed. For example, Hagee paints a basic picture of Jews being the good guys and Palestinians being the bad guys, this is almost racist. It is obvious that Israel has been building a neo-apartheid system which is causing frictions, so much so that even many in the Jewish civilian population are against most of the government's radical right-wing policies according to major Jewish scholars. Hamas for example, like it or not, is an elected government and did indeed recognize a ceasefire until Israeli troops incurred into Palestinian territory. Hagee's sections on Lebanon are almost appalling as he tries to support and validate the unwarranted destruction of Lebanon's civilian population and infrastracture. He fails to mention that before Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, Israel had crossed into Lebanon and kidnapped several civilians for "questioning." Not to mention Israel failed in it's main objective to crush Hezbollah because the group has wide popular support in Lebanon as a defense considering the nation's basic military was already crushed. Hagee's historical descriptions of U.S. aid to Israel are also ridiculous. Israel was an almost never-mentioned topic before 1967. After the six-day war, the U.S. finally did begin to provide Israel with it's huge military package, not because of a need to aid "God's Chosen," but because now Israel had established itself as a great candidate for a U.S. client state in the Middle East. Hagee tries to paint the Middle East conflict as some sort of good vs. evil battle with cosmic undertones. He never mentions that secular Arab movements were sprouting in the Middle East that served as good counterweights to Islamic radicals. But of course, we helped crush these movments beginning in 1953, when we overthrew the elected Prime Minister of Iran (because he was going to nationalize the country's oil), and replaced him with the brutal Shah dictatorship who's secret police, the Savak, we trained in torture tactics. The Shah was of course overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, read "All The Shah's Men" for the tale. And there are plenty of other examples, including the Palestinians. But Hagee of course makes it seem as if Palestinians, if not all Arabs, have some sort of natural blood lust to kill Jews because they follow what Hagee no doubt considers a Satanic religion. One should give Hagee credit though, for promoting an end to anti-semetism among Christians, and he is correct in citing the horrors of the Inquisition. But he never mentions the current Inqusition against Arabs on the part of people like him, who believe there is a cosmic duty to support every single Israeli policy, no matter how downright bloody, as with the case of Lebanon. Would not both Jews and Arabs be the children of God? Why doesn't Hagee really study the documented record on our foreign policy in the Middle East, just look at Pakistan as it slides into a dictatorship imposed by a U.S.-backed regime. But Hagee's real concern isn't nuclear-armed Pakistan, but Iran, the current boogey man this book claims wants to take over the world. Hagee's take on Israel and America's relation to her is all fantasy land, and a dangerous one at that, considering the voting bloc that eats this up could very well still weild considerable power at the voting booths.

Factual. Hard to deny what is said. If America can make it through the next 5-years is the question. My answer is, "yes, it can". The bad news of that is a lot of violence is about to occur, for nothing.

I have another issue with this book. Pastor Hagee makes it seem that Jewish people are a race. A Jewish person nowaday is mostly called Jewish because of religion only. Biblical Jews have been mixing with many nations since bible times. Israel is now composed mostly of Germans, Polish etc.. in other words, "northern Europeans," who have converted over to Judaism and now considered Jews. So Hagee, who are the chosen people you are talking about???

If you have read Jerusalem Countdown, then you have basically read most of this book. Hagee repeats his arguments about how bad the Church has been, especially the Roman Catholic Church, throughout history in their persecution of the Jews. This is not without merit, because what he is saying is true, but he leaves out the Jewish persecutions of the Church and always cast them in the best light possible. He does the same thing with modern day Israel. He, for some reason thinks that they can do no wrong and that they have become more important than the Church.

Hagee, has become anti-Christ in his teaching by now denying that Jesus was the Messiah. He is actually now claiming that Jesus did not think of himself as the Messiah and that he is going to be the Messiah at the Second Coming, but not at the first coming. He makes this argument in an attempt to rescue Jews from the charge of rejecting their Messiah, since they cannot reject something that was not yet offered. The word Christ or Messiah appears 515 times in the New Testament in reference to Jesus. Anyone who reads the New Testament will be able to see this grave and heretical error that John Hagee is now promoting. John Hagee has said that Jesus did not claim to be the Messiah, but merely the Lamb of God. Here is a conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well in John's Gospel that shows the error of such a teaching John 4:25-26 says "25The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." 26Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."

Notice that Jesus says he is the Messiah in John 4:26. Now look at Acts 2:36 "Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."

John Hagee has now crossed the line and gone way outside the realm or the gospel and is now preaching contrary to the New Testament. John Hagee needs to repent and preach the opposite today. This is shameful and it is time for evangelicals everywhere to call John Hagee on this anti-Christ doctrine that he is now preaching.

One can love the people of modern day Israel and still preach the gospel to them and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. Hagee carries dispensationalism and Christian Zionism to the extreme in this book.