Preface

The following is an excerpt from a sermon preached by Pastor John Hagee, Cornerstone Church, in San Antonio, TX. Pastor Hagee boldly and powerfully affirms the absolute inerrant truth of every word in the Bible. Pastor Hagee has kindly given his permission to use this sermon excerpt to encourage you to study prophecy. It does not mean that Pastor Hagee would necessarily agree with any of the interpretations in this book. The excerpt is taken from his opening remarks of a sermon titled "Apple of God's Eye." May I encourage you to obtain a copy of this important, bold, message regarding the Christian's relationship to Israel and the Jewish people. To obtain this important message "Apple of God's Eye", Write: Global Evangelism Television, Inc., John Hagee Ministries, P.O. Box 1400, San Antonio, TX, 78295 - 1400.

In the United States there are preachers, and teachers who are saying there is no reason for you to study prophecy. Let me give you 4 very valid bible reasons why you should know and study bible prophecy.

One - Prophecy proves the authority of the word of God. The Bible is different from every other book. Certainly different from every other religious book. The books written by false religions or cults, try to explain the past. They try to explain the present. But all of them are silent about the future. Twenty-five per cent of the word of God, when it was written, predicted the future; and, it has come to pass with 100% accuracy. Consider the birth of Christ. The time of His birth is given in Daniel 9. The fact of His birth is given in Isaiah 7. The Place of His birth is given in Micah 5. The details of His life, His death, and His resurrection, are given in Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53. The fact of His resurrection is given in Psalm 16. One mathematician has figured out that there is 1 chance in 87E93 or 87 followed by 93 zeroes -( here is how the number looks regular, instead of scientific notation - 87,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. )- that the Bible could be right on guess alone. It has to be supernaturally inspired.

Two - Prophecy demonstrates the ability of God to know the future; and to control kings, and to control kingdoms, and to see it come to pass. Consider Daniel's writings in Daniel 2 and 7. Daniel was given the panorama of the nations that were to come upon the face of the earth after his generation. He said to Nebuchadnezar, "you are the head of gold." And after you shall come the breastplate of silver, which was the Medes and the Persians. And then he said there shall be the belly of brass which represented Alexander the Great. And then he told of the iron legs, representing both eastern and western divisions of the Roman empire. And then he said that in the final generation, are the feet, having 10 toes representing 10 kingdoms. And there would be a stone cut without hands, speaking of Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone, precious and elect in Zion. That would come and crush the image, and make it fine as powder of the threshing floor and throw it into the wind. How could anyone know that future except it was God. Who, but God, could predict the future of kings and kingdoms with 100% accuracy. Bible prophecy proves beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God is in control, that He is in charge. The bible says that He puts one king up and He puts another down. Proverbs 21:1 says "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." Please understand that the United States government, and the United Nations, and the Soviet Union, and the European Common Market, are no challenge for God. He changes their hearts like He changes the course of a stream. He is in total charge.

Three - Prophecy reveals the purposes of God. God lets us see the future clearly and with confidence. When you understand what is going to happen, you have assurance and you have peace in the present. God told Abraham the future of Sodom and Gomorrah. In prophesy He tells us the future of the world. We are not at the mercy of CNN, or CBS, or ABC, or NBC. God's word has the answer about tomorrow.

Four - Prophecy is absolutely accurate. 2 Peter 1:16 says "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." Peter said that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, have not followed after what we have heard people say about Jesus Christ and His resurrection; but, we are eye witnesses of His majesty. His majesty refers to the eye witness of the Ascension of Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:19 says "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" A more sure word of prophecy? More sure than what? More sure than our eyewitness account. Peter is saying that prophecy is more accurate than their eyewitness account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then he said , secondly, we do well to take heed. Meaning there is a great benefit to knowing the future. Thirdly, as a light that shines in a dark place. I assure you that America is in a dark place. I assure you that the world is in spiritual darkness. But, I assure you that prophecy is the light that shows us the future so that we know where America is going. And we know where the world is going. And we have peace, and confidence knowing that God reigns. And that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that He sits at the right hand of God the Father. And everything is going to be all right; because, King Jesus is Lord of all.

Give Him Praise and Glory!!!

Amen! Thank you Pastor John Hagee.