Jerusalem Countdown: Revised and Updated (Paperback)

by John Hagee
Key Phrases: nuclear countdown, replacement theology, stumbling stone, Jesus Christ, Middle East, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This highly anticipated audio version on CD of John Hagee's best selling updated edition of Jerusalem Countdown, unveils the reasons radical Islam and Israel cannot dwell peaceably together. Dr. Hagee paints a convincing picture explaining why Christians must support the State of Israel by saying, Those nations who align with God's purpose will receive His blessing. Those who follow a policy of opposition to God's purpose will receive the swift and severe judgement of God without limitation. Can anyone actually believe that the Islamic fanatics presently in charge of the Iranian government would not use nuclear weapons on Israel, America, and the World? --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author
Narrator, Eric Martin, has worked as a journalist, actor, writer and radio broadcaster. He has been the recipient of both National and International honors in the field of narration. Mr. Martin has been involved in missions and aided Operation Exodus in evacuating many Jews from Russia. The voice he uses to proclaim his passion to fight for the persecuted Christians will continue to touch many lives through his recordings. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Frontline; Rev Upd edition (January 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599790890
• ISBN-13: 978-1599790893
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #98,012 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

301 of 394 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Warning to the World?, February 10, 2006

By	DarrenGJohnson "DarrenGJohnson" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerusalem Countdown (Paperback)

John Hagee says he wrote this book April of 2005. It would be seen as prophetic if he would have released it then, but since he did not, we will either have to disbelieve him or take his word for it. The truth is much of this book is a rehash of Dawn Over Jerusalem that Hagee wrote back in 1998. The only fresh stuff here is that Iran is currently a nuclear problem for the United States and Israel. The reason I gave this book three stars is because Hagee states his purpose is to make everybody aware of how important the Iranian escalating conflict is to the world. Hagee does this, but any newspaper in the Western World could have done the same. His second point was to inform us of the countdown in the Middle East as all being a part of God's plan for the Jews. I think that Hagee's interpretation of Scripture is skewed, but nevertheless, he does lay out clearly his interpretation of those scripture. Hagee says over and over again that "Anti-Semitism is sin and as sin it damns the soul." This is a major point that he wishes to get across and because of its repetitive nature Hagee does accomplish his goal.

Hagee opens by speaking about Iran and the current crises that the U. S. and Israel as well as other parts of Western Civilization and the world face. He even gives a map of Iran and where at least eight of the nuclear development facilities are. He tells of privileged conversations that he has had with former Prime Ministers of Israel and other sources that he does not name both in Washington and in Israel. The first part of the book is interesting in the same way that the newspaper stories are interesting. Hagee then begins to speculate about what kinds of nuclear attacks are going to happen in the USA. He predicts, unashamedly that America is going to have a nuclear bomb set off in not just one but several major cities in the United States at the same time.
After this Hagee speaks about Islam and how militant the religion, or at least the radical fundamentalist element of the Islam religion really is. Hagee is not far off base here. He then goes his own history lesson from the Hagee point of view about the history of the nation of Israel. It is not so much that the facts of history that he gives are inaccurate, but he has a particular bias on the facts. For example, he says that Christians forsook the Jews during the Roman siege. If they did it is because Jesus himself told them to leave the city, as well as Jewish Christians and all Jews for that matter. Jesus warned and predicted the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. The city was under the judgment of God. Hagee may have the historical story correct, but he puts a negative spin toward the "Christians" that left and went to Pella. He does give a history of Jewish people being wrongly persecuted, but at the same time he fails to mention how the Jews persecuted the Christians in history. Let me say that he is correct however, so called Christians were wrong at many junctures in history for their persecution of Jews. Another twisted concept is the story of Began and the bombing of the King David Hotel. Hagee says this was not a terrorist act. I guess it all depends on which side of the act that you are on. The Al Quada faction responsible for 911 probably sees that as an act of war, but everyone else defines it as terrorism. Hagee wants to present Israel as pristine and pure for all to support, but this is dishonest. When Israel of old tells her own story they include all of their failures in the story. They never paint a puritanical picture of themselves, but would tell the truth about their own sins and the sins of their kings. They did not make excuses or conveniently leave things out. I would hope that Hagee would reevaluate his approach to this, but he seems to think that brash arrogance is more convincing than the full truth.

Several times Hagee speaks of Anti-Semitism and how that it is sin. He is right, but does he not know (I am sure he does) that the Arabs are descendents of Shem as well and the term applies to them as well? Hatred against Jews or Arabs is wrong, not just hatred against Jews.

In the third section of this book Hagee gives his version (of which he claims scriptural support) of the future. He bases most of his end time events scenario on Ezekiel 37-39, Jeremiah, and portions of Daniel. He maintains that the Bible teaches that Russia will form an evil alliance with the Arab nations and march on Israel and that God will step in and send an earthquake, cause the armies to panic and turn on one another and rain down fire and brimstone upon the invading armies in order to demonstrate to the nations that He is God and that He loves Israel. He consults some older Hebrew Scholars to get the fact that Rosh in Ezekiel really means Russia and Meshech means Moscow and blanketly says that this is attested by virtually all scholars. He is right if you consider all Scholars to be Hal Lindsey, John Walvoord, and whoever else has graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary. The fact is that such an interpretation is scarce among scholars. If it were so prevalent he would not have to go back to the 1800's to find a lexicon to support his (really Hal Lindsey's) theory. It seems to me that for someone who is suppose to take the Bible literally, he does an awful lot of not taking it literally when it comes to the weaponry described as bows and arrows. Hagee sees nuclear rockets and such. This is not the only place that he takes literal interpretation not so seriously.
Hagee takes several chapters to discuss Romans 9-11 in order to prove that the Jews are the elect and chosen of God. He says that this portion of Romans is God's position paper on the nation of Israel and that it is what he calls the magnificent codicil. In other words it is a stand-alone document that does not need Romans 1-8 and 12-16. I do not have time or room to take this on here. Let me just say here that there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

Pastor Hagee takes a two people of God approach and he does so emphatically. In perhaps his bizarrist (and that is saying a lot) interpretation of scripture for someone who says that scripture should be taken literally, Hagee interprets God's promise to Abraham saying that the stars of the heavens which Abraham was to count was the Church and the sands of the Sea shore are the Jewish people on earth. This is a remarkable stretch of exegeses that has no New Testament support whatsoever.
Perhaps most damaging in Hagee's theology is his belief that the Jews have a different covenant and that the proclamation of the gospel is not powerful enough to open their eyes to who Jesus is and be saved. This is where Hagee is at his most heretical.
For me, Hagee has missed the message of Jesus in the Gospels all together. Jesus condemns the Jewish establishment of his day (Hagee would agree with this statement with limitations to Caiphas and the Herodians only) and the Temple and predicted there coming destruction. Jesus reconstitutes Israel in himself, in other words Jesus message is repent and believe the gospel or give up your way of being Israel and come trust me for mine (see N T Wright). Jesus redefines Israel, not as a Gentile Church replacing Israel, but by being the true Son (Hagee rightly points out that Israel is called the true son of God), or the New Israel himself. Jesus is the New Israel and appoints twelve apostles and tells them that they will be the new judges over the twelve tribes of Israel. He is not only Israel but also He, himself replaces the Temple as well. Jesus said "Destroy this Temple and I will build it again in three days." He spoke concerning his body that would be raised from the grave after three days. Hagee does not see that Jesus fulfills in himself the promises made to Abraham and David. This is the point of the opening of Matthew and the genealogies that are there given. Anyone interested in further discussion send me an email at [e-mail].

I realize that by criticizing John Hagee I am opening myself up to people not liking my review. People generally judge something like this on the basis of whether you were kind to their favorite preacher and not was the book review really helpful. There are some good things in this book,the historical chart at the end being one. Hagee also wakes us for the necessity to pray for a hurting part of the world that we would rather forget about and hope that it just goes away. I am not sure if there will be an attack like Hagee predicts and even if I were sure I am not sure what good it would do to know. We cannot live in fear. We must hold to the hand of the one who holds our future in His. Jesus the Messiah is the answer. I only wish Hagee would say this more.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Incredible Twisting of the Word, November 22, 2007

By	C. Edward Hughes (Morgantown, WV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have read "Jerusalem Countdown" in its entirety, along with other books by Rev. Hagee, and though I acknowledge his research effort and do not doubt the accuracy of his estimation of Iranian war capabilities and intentions; I am thoroughly convinced he goes way beyond scriptural boundaries in his association of modern Jews, Judaism, and Zionism with the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. To borrow one of Brother Hagee's phrases... He is 'exactly wrong'.
First of all, "Jerusalem Countdown" is generally based on the faulty premise that geographical Israel of today must be protected and undivided, as it was given to Israel by God. "Grave consequences" are promised to any who would "divide up the land" with the Palestinians or any other people (page 194). This sets aside the fact that modern Israel is but a small portion of the geographical land given by God. If we must support Israel's occupation of the original God-given land, as Rev. Hagee insists, then Israel must occupy Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon with our blessing.
Secondly, "Jerusalem Countdown" is full of inaccuracies, such as, the many references to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc., as "Jews". Abraham was not a 'Jew'. Jews did not exist in his day. Also, Hagee manufactures end-time fulfillments of prophecies concerning Israel's salvation, which were all fulfilled in Christ, when He came the first time.
Most importantly, Rev. Hagee reveals throughout the book, his heretical idea that "Torah Jews" have no need of Christ --- that they are forgiven and their names are written in the 'book of life' (i.e., page 129) --- and that anyone who would teach that modern Jews (outside of faith in Christ) have no place in the family of God are 'antisemitic'. All of this, in my opinion, is most dangerous, especially to Jewish people who would want to know the truth, concerning their Messiah.
Pastor Eddie Hughes

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars an inconvenient truth, October 9, 2007

By	W. J. Malan (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jerusalem Countdown is Hagee's jeremiad against Iran. We (the US and Israel) need to "take down" Iran before Iran "takes down" the US and Israel. Hagee is serving up baloney, plain and simple.

For the sake of argument, let's assume the Iranian government is every bit as evil as Hagee contends. Hagee's casus belli against the Iranians is that they are working to get a nuclear weapon. What Hagee conveniently omits from Jerusalem Countdown's 270 pages is that Israel already has 200-300 nuclear weapons, as well as multiple ways to deliver them, including submarines purchased from Germany. Iranians may have used "suicide waves" against Iraq, and they may use "suicide bombers" against Israel and others, but I have yet to see a government intent upon its own "regimicide".

Hagee not only omits the fact that Israel is the regional nuclear powerhouse, but also that the Israelis have biological and chemical weapons capability. Any act of massive aggression (e.g. a full scale attack) upon Israel by its hostile neighbors would unleash a rash of plagues not seen in the region since Pharaoh and Moses squared off.

And what of Pakistan - our "ally?" Pakistan is already a nuclear power, and Gen Musharraf's hold on power is none too secure. What happens if Pakistan is taken over by a virulently anti-US regime? Do we go after their nukes, and mix it up with their population of 170 million?

Hagee does not say; this too, would spoil his plot.