September 28, 2019
Steve Sabz
Close-up hands on the background of the symbol of Judaism, the star of David (Photo by Александр Марко)
Christians United for Israel (CUFI) is the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States. It's Founder and National Chairman is John Hagee, author of the failed prophecy book, Four Blood Moons: Something is About to Change (2013), and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. On Friday, September 20, 2019, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) aired, A Night to Honor Israel, hosted by Director of CUFI Erick Stakelbeck.
At the event, John Hagee gave a speech where he equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism and prostrated himself before his Jewish and Christian Zionist audience by concealing and ultimately denying the deity of Jesus Christ discussed in Mat 25:31-46. As you can hear in the video embedded below, Hagee falsely states that the passage is about "God Almighty", not Jesus Christ (whom he refers to by the Jewish-friendly title of "Jesus of Nazareth"), judging the nations (time 00:11:20 video source).
God will not hold us guiltless in the day of judgment. Matthew 25 is the judgment of the nations. God almighty is judging every nation and every person, not for what they said, but for what[sic] how they treated the Jewish people. Jesus said in as much as you've done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, the "my brethren" would be the Jewish people, you have done it unto me. Those found guilty of oppressing the Jewish people, according to Jesus in Matthew 25:46, go away into everlasting punishment. Christian anti-Semitism is an oxymoron. Why? Because Christianity as taught by Jesus of Nazareth is driven by the law of love.
John Hagee to an audience of Jewish and Christian Zionists at A Night to Honor Israel on 9/20/2019 (time 00:11:20 video source)
However, Jesus explicitly states that the Son of Man, a title he uses for himself 88 times in the New Testament, will sit on his throne to judge the nations. Jesus also attests to this in Jhn 5:22, and so does the apostle Paul in 2Ti 4:1.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Jesus Christ to his disciples in Matthew 25:31-32
In the passage above, Jesus borrows the title "Son of Man" from Dan 7:13 where he is presented before the Ancient of Days in heaven. But it isn't surprising that Hagee would deny Christ his deity because Jews also deny Christ's deity. In fact, they think he's an imposter and false prophet, not the Messiah and Son of God.
Another false interpretation spurred by Hagee's Jewish-centric ideology is his vain attempt to identify Jews according to the flesh as Christ's brethren. Hagee falsely states that God will judge the world based on how they treat Jewish people. It is true that Jesus was born of the Jews Joseph and Mary, but Jesus himself denied his connection to his natural family in the New Testament. For example, when Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were wanting to speak to him as he was preaching, Jesus answered, ""Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother"" (Mat 12:48-50). So then, contrary to Hagee's assertion, it is those who are born-again from above, whether Jew or Gentile, who are the mother, sisters, and brothers of Jesus Christ.
CITE:
Sabz, S. (2019, September 28). Night To Honor Israel Dishonors Christ. Retrieved from https://scienceandbibleresearch.com/night-to-honor-israel-dishonors-christ.html
Steve Sabz
Steve Sabz is the author and founder of Science and Bible Research. He is a professional educator with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from William Paterson University, where he also completed graduate level courses in Human Physiology and Endocrinology. Steve has been studying theology since 2015 and has successfully completed seminary level courses in Textual Criticism, Biblical Hermeneutics, Eschatology, Puritan Theology, Ancient Church History, Soteriology, Biblical Theology, Prolegomena, and Biblical Greek from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Dallas Theological Seminary. Steve is also the author of Evolution's Complexity Problem: See How Evolution Falls Apart At Its Beginning and End Time Rewind: An Exploration In Bible Prophecy And The Fate Of The World.