Beware of John Hagee, a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Some reasons among many why John Hagee, pastor of the 18,000-member Cornerstone Megachurch in San Antonio, TX, and the founder of, well, John Hagee Ministries, is a heretic and ravening wolf in sheep's clothing, that should be rejected in accordance to God’s Word (cf. Rom 16:17-18; 2 Jn 1:9-11). His post-secondary education on its own reflects the heresy that would become part and parcel of his ministry: Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Trinity University, and the University of North Texas.

1. Hagee is a false prophet.

Hagee’s erroneous teachings and false prophecy on the blood moons tetrad never came to pass and further revealing of his major perversion and corruption of scripture. Hagee attempts to pawn off on his sympathetic but deceived followers that somehow the natural phenomenon of “blood moons” are predictive of Christ’s return and other Biblical prophecies, misapplying and misusing passages such as Ac. 2 and Rev. 6. But it was the product of false division of Scripture and an infatuation with signs-observing. Anyone that truly knows the Bible knew that he would be wrong.

Hagee also falsely prophesied concerning world changing events and the end of the world in 2012 (see here for example: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/amp/Pastor-Hagee-Blood-moons-point-to-world-shaking-5391880.php).

“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (De 18:22)

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matt 7:15)

"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." (Mk 13:22)

2. Hagee is a wolf in sheep’s clothing both as a Charismatic “pastor” and adulterer.

The Charismatic Hagee is well-acquainted with the Word of Faith heretical movement, which is the heresy that believers have the power to create reality with their words. His Word of Faith tendencies lies in his association with a well-known false teacher, John Avanzini. During a 1992 TBN Praise-A-Thon broadcast with Avanzini, Hagee said,

“There is a relationship between your soul and physical and financial prosperity. ‘This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth.’ That’s the spoken Word of God. ‘And then shalt thou prosper and have good success.’ When? After you speak and act upon the Word of God. And you’ve been hearing that tonight out of the mouth of John Avanzini”

Hagee completely butchers the meaning of Jos 1:8, and wrests it into his own preconceived fleshly lusts of health, wealth and prosperity, by speaking the fantasy into reality. In so doing he further exposes his wicked nature as a wolf, since wresting God's Word is always an "error of the wicked" (2 Pet 3:16-17).

In 1975 Hagee had to resign as pastor of a charismatic false church because of his sexual immorality, demonstrating a clearly unconverted condition:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: . . . nor adulterers, . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

After his wife divorced him, Hagee married a young woman from his former church. As one living in adultery—having remarried another woman (cf. 1 Cor 7:10-11, 39; Rom 7:1-3; Mk 10:1-12)—he unscripturally became pastor of the Cornerstone megachurch in San Antonio, TX. His unrepentant adultery and ongoing adultery plainly proves that he has never been born again (Gal. 5:19-21), not being “led of the Spirit” to “marry” someone in adultery, and thus yet “under the law” (Gal. 5:18-24) and under its penalty for transgressing it (Gal 5:19-21). If he was truly born again, he would “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:24) which occurs at salvation (Gal. 2:20; Rom 6:1-7).

3. Hagee is an ecumenical heretic.

He is frequently featured on such radically unscriptural and charismatic forums as Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, and even has an honorary degree from the extremely apostate Oral Roberts University, demonstrating a serious absence of spiritual discernment and love for selfish glory and fame, thus clearly yet a natural (lost) man (see 1 Cor. 2:14-16).

He rejects Gods command to separate from unbelievers and heretics and false teachers (e.g. 2 Cor 6:14-18; 2 Jn 1:9-11; Eph 5:5-11; etc) but Hagee fellowships with them. Which means he is one of them, obviously.

4. Hagee refuses to speak out against sodomy.

Hagee blatantly refuses to speak out against sodomy. Before congregants —and a national and international audience that were watching live— Hagee stated that he no longer opposes a proposed ordinance that seeks to protect the rights of LGBT people in San Antonio.

Saved people not only separate from sin, they also separate from sinners (Eph 5:5-11; 1 Cor 5:9-13; etc).

5. Hagee embraces a false gospel.

Besides the false Charismatic prosperity false "other gospel: which is not another" (Gal. 1:6-9) he also teaches tht the damnable heresy of “Two Covenant” theology which purports that Jews don't need the Lord Jesus Christ because God made a covenant with Abraham and they are saved by keeping the Mosaic law. This is precisely what he tells Jews when in Israel or in other contact with them, and thus eventually lead to him receiving the “Defender of Israel” award in 2022 ("Defender of Israel" Award Given to Pastor John Hagee). In an interview with BBC, he makes it clear that he “does not target Jewish people for salvation.” In his book Defense of Israel he teaches there are two types of salvation. One for Gentiles and one for the Jews in which they do not have to come through Christ and in fact he claims Jesus Christ never presented Himself to the Jews as Christ so they are not guilty nor do they have to repent of their sins and self and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is all wicked lies and plain heresy. None of it is true.

Hagee got this heretical theory from a disreputable and unscriptural source: the Hebrews Roots movement. His theory is the product of an illicit and unwise yoke together with unregenerate Jews and the bogus “Hebrew Roots” movement. He has done this through Christians United for Israel, an organization he founded in 2006.

Hagee says,

“I’m not trying to convert the Jewish people to the Christian faith. . . . trying to convert Jews is a waste of time. The Jewish person with his roots in Judaism is not going to convert to Christianity” (Houston Chronicle, Apr. 30, 1988)

So Hagee conveniently disavows attempts to convert Jews, proving to be a heretic and a false convert himself. He also says,

“The first rule adopted by Christians United for Israel was that there would be no proselytizing at our events. CUFI exists only to honor and support the Jewish people, never to convert them” (Hagee, “Why Christian Zionists Really Support Israel,” May 13, 2010).

This is very unscriptural and heretical since Christ-rejecting Jews, which are most of them, are all lost, and this was definitely never the objective of Stephen (Ac 7) or the apostle Paul or any other apostle, nor the Lord Jesus. They were not afraid of condemning Israel for their stiff-necked rebellion against God and her rejection of the Messiah and for murdering Him, and they certainly did not draw back from trying to convert their fellow Jews to Christ. I would remind Hagee that Paul did always preach to the Jews and debate with them:

“Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Ac. 18:5-6)

Throughout its history, Israel has been predominately unsaved by far majority, and thus God mercifully sent prophets always to them to preach the gospel and their coming judgment, including the prophet Moses. Almost all of them were lost in the wilderness: De. 30:11-20; Num. 14:11-12; Jud. 10:16; Ps. 78 [esp. vv. 7-8, 12-49]; 81:8-16; 95:7-11; 106:6-33; Is. 48:21-22; Ezk. 20:5-8, 13, 38; Am. 5:25-27; Zec. 1:2-4; Rom. 10:16-21; 11:26-27; Ac. 7:51-53; 1 Cor. 10:1-12; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:7; Heb. 3:6–4:11; Ju. 1:5; and most have been lost henceforth: Ps. 106:34-47; Jer. 25:4; Ezk. 2:3-4; 14:1-23; 15:1-8; 20:30-32; Dan. 9; Hag. 1:12-14; Hos. 1:2; 4:1-19; 7:1-16; 8:1-14; 9:1-17; 10:1-15; 11:1-12; 12:1-16; Am. 2:4-8; 4:6-12; 5:4-24; Zep. 1:2-6; Zec. 1:2-4; 7:9-14; 8:14-15; Mk. 12:1-11; Rom. 11:2-4, 5; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:7.

Furthermore, Hagee supports the Temple Institute and helps to fund the building of Israel’s third temple, though it will not even be occupied by Christ but by the Antichrist. This is blatantly unscriptural and evidence of a man void of discernment. I love Israel and denounce the heresy of replacement theology in no uncertain terms, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is required equally for both Jew and Gentile. It seems Hagee is ashamed of the gospel, but Paul was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). People that are ashamed of the gospel are unsaved (Mk 8:34-38) The repentant sinner that is truly converted is never again ashamed of Christ again (Rom 10:11; 9:33; Heb 2:11; 11:16; Rom 1:16; 5:5), the very act of supernatural salvation fulfills the prophecy of never being ashamed again: Rom 10:11; 9:33; Heb 2:11; 11:16; 5:5; ref. Is 28:16; 54:4; 45:15-17.

Rather than preach the truth to the Jews, like Jesus did and commanded, he would rather hold the truth from these lost people ALL for his own personal gain. How horrific is that, but also how revealing!

6. Hagee embraces a false Jesus and propagates lies.

In 2007, John Hagee wrote a heretical book entitled, “In Defense Of Israel,” which is literally loaded with unscriptural doctrine and heresy. He makes many bold unscriptural declarations regarding the Lord Jesus’ personal claims, including apparent denial that Jesus is the Messiah! Hagee appears to deny that Christ was the appointed Messiah to the Jews and the Jesus essentially “refused” to be their Messiah. Hagee likely advertised his book in that fashion as a publicity stunt to draw attention to it, but even that shows Hagee’s willingness to jeopardize the most precious truths about the Lord Jesus Christ’ Identity, which could and will adversely affect the salvation of souls, all for his own personal gain. This is precisely what is meant when Paul warned of false teachers teaching false doctrine,

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom 16:17-18)

John Hagee is indeed a blazing false teacher, whose ministry continues to flourish, irrespective of his false teachings about the Lord Jesus. It seems very few professing Christians are moved by truth in our apostate day.

Hagee says of his book:

“I’m delighted to present my latest book, “In Defense of Israel.” This book will expose the sins of the fathers in the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. “In Defense of Israel” will shake Christian theology. It Scripturally proves that the Jewish people, as a whole, did not reject Jesus as Messiah. It will also prove that Jesus did not come to Earth to be the Messiah. It will prove that there was a Calvary conspiracy between Rome, the high priest and Herod to execute Jesus as an insurrectionist too dangerous to live. Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah, how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered?” (also declared on p. 145 of the book)

Jesus “refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah”?!? Wow, this is plain wickedness and entirely of the Antichrist. He is actually denying and rejecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah, in spite of the Bible proclaiming His Messiahship from Genesis to Revelation. The term and title, “Christ” means Messiah. Thousands of places, OT and NT, Jesus identifies Himself by word and deed as the Christ.

For example, by word:

• “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” (Jn 4:25-26).

• “But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mk 14:61-62)

• “Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.” (Matt 16:20)

• “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Lk 24:25-27)

For example, by deed:

• “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.” (Jn 10:24-25)

• "But if I do [“the works of my Father”], though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. (Jn 10:38)

• “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.” (Jn 15:24)

• In fact Jesus specifically came into the world for this purpose, which is the very opposite of what Hagee is saying: “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (Jn 18:37). A huge part of the truth Jesus testified to was His identity as the Messiah.

• Peter corroborates this: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: . . . Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Ac 2:22, 36)

For Hagee to claim Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah is boldly antithetical to Bible truth, but that is his teaching!

Hagee makes a number of further such unBiblical and ungodly assertions about Jesus in the same context of the aforementioned book,

"If God intended for Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel, why didn’t he authorize Jesus to use supernatural signs to prove he was God’s Messiah, just as Moses had done?" (p. 137)

"Jesus refused to produce a sign … because it was not the Father’s will, nor his, to be Messiah." (p 138)

"If Jesus wanted to be Messiah, why did he repeatedly tell his disciples and followers to “tell no one” about his supernatural accomplishments?" (p. 139)

"The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews. . . . They wanted him to be their Messiah, but he flatly refused. . . . He refused to be their Messiah, choosing instead to be the Savior of the world." (pp. 140-141, 143)

Again, its all lies and heresy. God didn't "authorize Jesus to use supernatural signs to prove he was God’s Messiah"?!? W😳W, what Bible does this heretic read? Jesus Christ said,

"But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." (Jn 5:36).

These "works" include all the great "supernatural signs" that He did "to prove he was God’s Messiah." Jesus did not "refuse to produce a sign" — He produced many, many signs yet they refused to believe in Him. Jesus also NEVER refused to be the Messiah of the Jews. This is a wicked lie, exposed repeatedly in the Bible. One example:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under herwings, and ye would not!" (Lk 13:34)

Though Hagee after attempted to clarify his position when he was confronted, only to cause more confusion than clarity, while solidifying his wicked heresy. He even attempted to conflate “Messiah” with “Saviour.” "Messiah" and "Saviour" are two very different words, though connected. "Jesus" means "Saviour," not Messiah, while "Christ" means "Messiah," the promised deliverer of the Jewish people/nation.

This would explain why he “does not target Jewish people for salvation” (source), since he does not even believe that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel.

Hagee claims, “how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered?” Unlike this wolf in sheep’s clothing (Hagee), the apostles put the blame right on the Jews for killing the Messiah because He was offered over and over and over and yet they denied Him, like the Apostle Peter:

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” (Ac 4:10-11)

Likewise, Stephen the Deacon preaching to the Jewish council declared:

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:” (Ac 7:51-52)

All these this took place in the first century, which is before the reign of Christ on the throne of David (which will occur in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ). The Messiahship of Jesus is not future, it occurred in the past and continues on forever. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 Jn 4:14). Israel will receive Jesus as her Messiah in the Great Tribulation (Rom 11:25-27), the 70th week of Daniel (of which you can read here: Daniels Amazing 70 Week Prophecy with Christ’s Entrance into Jerusalem Prophesied to the Day), but they should have received Him in the 1st century — which was the will of God (e.g. Matt 23:37-39).

The Bible is explicitly clear that Hagee's teachings are deadly poisonous and damnable heresies.

2 Pet 2:1 exposes Hagee as a false teacher:

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

1 Jn 2:22 and 2 Jn 1:7 expose Hagee as an antichrist:

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1 Jn 2:22)

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2 Jn 1:7)

7. Conclusion.

These are evil and antichrist teachings yet there are many more serious errors that could be mentioned. In fact, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Clearly these are enough proofs of a lost and unregenerate man, a ravening wolf in sheep clothing making many people two-fold the more children of hell they once were, and yet that doesn’t stop “evangelical” “Christians” from supporting him; no, not at all, he continues to be faithfully followed and sponsored by such evangelical denominations as the Evangelical Bergthaler Mennonite Conference (EBMC).

They do the very opposite of what the Bible commands and demands, as noted for instance in Rom 16:17-18, which means they are one and the same with him (Am 3:3),

The popularity of Hagee could be accredited to his bent toward conspiracy theories. Though he may be politically conservative, rarely does he preach the gospel (and definitely never the true gospel of Jesus Christ) or faithfully exegete the Scriptures. His sermons are entertainment feel good speeches for worldly-minded people with itching ears for fables (2 Tim 4:3-4); people who are looking for some kind of temporal hope or political or social respite from the chaos of the world around them. Instead of seeking for and then finding true hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are temporarily appeased by the constant spouting of "good words and fair speeches" (Rom 16:18) by this smooth-talking and flattering false teacher and "enemy of the cross of Christ" (Phil 3:18-19), John Hagee. This heretic is a dangerous false teacher that promotes a false gospel and false Jesus (2 Cor 11:4) who must be marked and avoided at all costs, Rom 16:17-18:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”