INTRODUCTION
In evangelicalism today we have had an unprecedented lack of biblical discernment in the recent years, when it comes to just whom we allow to be teachers in the faith. There seems to be a huge ignorance toward the biblical application of what is necessary in one being a qualified and adequate teacher/preacher/pastor. And as a result, there has been influx of false teachers whom are promoting more and more unbiblical ideas as if it were the truth.
One such person that has to be seen as an absolute and outright heretic and false teacher is John Hagee who has been made popular through his many works like "four blood moons." Of which I am going to make this response too.
What does the Word of God have to say on the role of being biblical teacher:
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. (James 3:1-5)
In these words of the Lord's brother James on the function and role of "teacher" and it makes the point that 'not many of you should become teachers' because of the fact that incurs a stricter judgement. And it goes on to state that one, 'For we all stumble in many ways' and in this matter, the "blood moons" falls into this category. The point behind all of this is very clear that for one to be a teacher, he must come to the text with an attitude of reverence and fear for what it is saying and what it means.
Now what is it that the teacher and/or Pastor is do in regard to his role, for us to know this we shall consider one more passage:
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:14-15)
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
In these few texts concerning the teachers role, we have a very clear picture in regards to how a teacher is to conduct himself when they preach from the word. But allow us to see a common theme "teach others what I have taught you," "accurately handle the word of truth," "preach the word" therefore, the sole thing being taught is not humanistic idea or philosophy, nor is it science related issues, nor is it human tradition that church hold too (although sometimes good) that is not the thing that brings edification and growth to Christians; it is the very God-breathed word as a whole that must be the central point of all preaching and teaching ministries.
Now with these preliminary thoughts, we can make some considerations concerning the evidences that this false teacher has to offer for his beliefs concerning this theory.
Error 1: MISUNDERSTANDING THE PROPHECY
At about 3:30 he starts by getting to the main text that he wants to draw from to present this whole idea of four blood moons. He states the following:
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke." Now that is a battle on the ground. But this is in the heavens, "The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes."
Now we need to briefly see the issue here (1) he has left out some vital details in verses 28-29, 32 which tells us when this will take place. (2) So when we read it in full context, it speaks of a people whom are under the leading of the Spirit of God and are prophesying. He does, however, continue on to give us something from the New Testament which he feels supports his false teaching. We pick up with his words:
Turn to Acts 2, the 19th and the 20th verse, the Apostle Peter repeats Joel statement, word for word "And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’"
So you have Joel the Prophet and Saint Peter the follower of Christ saying the exactly same thing. Therefore when you see these signs the bible says lift up your head and rejoice, redemption draw nigh.
So now we come to the real and foundation issue, this man cannot even correctly teach what the passage is saying. Let us make a start on this. First, he only quotes a partial statement from both contexts and misses the very central connective point in this, here is the mission portion:
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Now we have the very context of these two verse quoted by Hagee, and it has a specific fulfilment at Pentecost. When the disciple Spoke in tongues and prophesied. And How does Peter actually interpret this Old testament Prophecy, here are his words:
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
It is right here that we get Peter's interpretation of this Old testament prophecy. (1) the manner that the believers are communicating is a fulfilment of the OT Prophecy. (2) and the Spirit brings forth the purpose of this activity in peter's words, to declare the only means that man can be saved is through Christ alone. (3) the signs being spoken are not to be taken as literal things that will take place in regards to the Sun and Moon; in fact, it has taken place 53 days before Pentecost when Christ died, there we read: "And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour."
Error 2: CONFLATING CATEGORIES
Now we have the second line of evidence as to why this man cannot be trusted as biblical teacher— He has an underlining error that is clouding his judgement and is causing him to misrepresent the scriptures. And here it is:
Turn in your bible to Joel, the second Chapter verses 30 and following as we begin an exciting prophetic series entitled "four blood moons." These three prophetic sermons will present to you prophetic concepts you have never heard before. The bible speaks of signs in the heavens, that have been discovered and recorded by NASA, so you yourselves can find it on google on the internet. The coming four blood moons points a world shaking event that will happen between April 2014 and October 2015.
What does it mean? What is the prophetic significance? Is this the end of the age?
Notice the two things that said right next to one another: (1) “The bible speaks of signs in the heavens” and then (2) “that have been discovered and recorded by NASA” it is right here we see this underline presupposition come to the forefront, that we need something out side the bible to help us understand what is in the bible. In other words, the bible is not clear in what it teaches. Now this is not to sleight Science advancements in any manner, but seriously this man has fallen for a false proposition and is now teaching to deceive others.
Let us go back to the text of scripture:
And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
There is nothing in the text that even refers to “four blood moons” that is being read into the text at this point. Beyond this, it is point to one event which we must see as a whole: the sun will darken and the moon to blood and this is at the same point in time. And as we have noted this took place when Christ was one the cross— the land was full of darkness for 3 hours because of the death of Christ.
What about the other scriptures that are used:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24: 29)
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (Mark 13:24-25)
Now comes the text judgement texts and what is not even spoken of is “blood moons” not even once. When this is to happen, it will happen all at once: the sun will darken, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven. And for this man to only latch on one point is dishonest. These are indeed prophetic words and statements regard the endgames, however, the Joel 2 prophecy is not. Beyond this, we must be very careful; exercising great caution just what we may derive from the words about the manner of the end-times and how it will unfold in our times.
A great principal to consider in this: unless the context gives warrant for us to make application of particular sections of scripture— then we must not cross the line, and make any kind of guess work; but heed to the Lords words in acts 1: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;” to put in more direct approach; do not harken to much on when the end comes, when I am to return. Rather be focused on teaching and preaching the faith until I come then you are doing the Will of the father.
At this point, we need to note that this man is so focus on giving information about the Second Coming which the Bible does not give, and does it permit a preacher to even speculated upon. This is the whole essence of this man “ministry” it is very much in line with the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day adventists, Harold camping (the campingites) and many others. They automatically became and fall upon the camp of false teachers (as does this man).
Error 3: BUILDING A THEORY ON HISTORICAL TEXTS
A third issue that is clear is that this man is building a false idea upon the Old Testament and New Testament histories; and even more significant, here is that it is based an very insignificant referent point in the contexts. Take note of the following examples:
Joshua 10— and the sun and moon standing still.
Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel. Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal.
2 kings 20: 8-11— the Shadow moves.
Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?” Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?” So Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps.” Isaiah the prophet cried to the Lord, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
Matthew 2:1-4, 9 — the Star that lights the way to the King.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. — After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
Matthew 24: 29-31— signs of the returning Lord.
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.These text are all important one in regards to the flow of the Jewish history and the coming Messiah and his role as Redeemer and king. But they hold no bearing to this “blood-moons” theory and myth. In fact, what has just taken place is not even what the bible is speaking too— the Eclipses are all naturally occurring and reoccurring things.
This approach is one thing that needs to be countered as it making a doctrine based not on doctrinal texts but on historical writings; it is in fact, the same error that Jesus Only heretics oneness do with baptism. But no true Christ should adhere to either as it is an imbalanced approach based on shaky foundations.
