By WAYNE SLATER
Conservative Christians have been the dominant force in American politics for almost three decades. But the movement may be restless over promises unfulfilled, a lack of enthusiasm over Republican presidential candidates and questions about the movement's future. This story is one in an occasional series examining several new directions for conservative evangelicals in politics.
SAN ANTONIO – Not far from where pastor John Hagee preaches the end of the world, the Tilt-a-Whirl and Ferris wheel are doing a booming business.  
J. MICHAEL SHORT/Special Contributor
Pastor John Hagee talks to a reporter in his office at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. A group of evangelical women in bright costumes are dancing to "Hava Nagila," a Hebrew folk song of celebration. Booths selling roasted corn and turkey legs are identified with one of the ancient 12 tribes of Israel.
"In Isaiah, it says in the last days when the Messiah returns, all nations will come to Jerusalem and celebrate – Jew and gentile," said Renate McWright, a dancer on the grounds of the Cornerstone Church she attends.
The Rev. Hagee, head of the 19,000-member megachurch, is one of the nation's leading Christian supporters of Israel, using his Texas-based television ministry to reach a worldwide audience. Although largely unknown beyond religious conservatives, he mustered evangelical support early in George W. Bush's run for president – and he's seen as an important power broker in the latest race.
Mr. Hagee shares the agenda of social conservatives – opposition to abortion and gay marriage. But his chief mission is a church-driven campaign to get Congress to do more to protect Israel and the U.S. from Islamic extremists.
His growing profile on the religious right has sharpened questions about his efforts to build an evangelical-Jewish alliance to influence foreign policy – another example of Christian leaders moving in new directions in politics.
Critics say his unconditional support of Israel discourages compromise on Palestinian statehood and feeds calls to attack Iran, exacerbating an already explosive situation in the Middle East.
"He's trying to base American foreign policy on his reading of the Bible. And that is absolutely dangerous territory for anyone to tread into," said Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Mr. Hagee said he is following the Bible's mandate to protect Israel. He espouses an end-times theology in which he connects Iran's nuclear threat with the Apocalypse, the final battle of good and evil on earth.
In his book, Jerusalem Countdown, he writes: "Before us is a nuclear countdown with Iran, followed by Ezekiel's war and then the final battle – the Battle of Armageddon. The end of the world as we know it is rapidly approaching."
His message fits neatly into the calls to strike a nuclear facility in Iran.
"Iran is Germany," he said, and its president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, "is the new Hitler."
"He intends to attack Israel first and then bring the nuclear fight to America," he said. "His terrorist-trained people are in Iraq right now killing a third of U.S. forces there. That's an act of war."
Devoted to a cause
Biblical prophesy is not new. But Mr. Hagee, the nation's leading Christian Zionist, seeks to channel biblically inspired devotion to Israel into organized efforts to affect politics and public policy.
His group, Christians United for Israel, lobbies Congress on behalf of policies that support the state of Israel. The organization claims 50,000 members from churches representing 2 million people and conducts Night to Honor Israel rallies at Christian churches and hotel ballrooms – 75 cities last year.
Christians United's second annual Washington event in July drew 4,500 supporters. President Bush provided a welcoming statement, and speakers included Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Mr. Lieberman brought the crowd to its feet by comparing Mr. Hagee to Moses.
"Like Moses," the senator said, "he's become the leader of a mighty multitude – even greater than the multitude that Moses led from Egypt to the Promised Land."
In an interview in his book-lined study at Cornerstone Church, Mr. Hagee said 4,500 evangelicals representing every congressional district lobbied Capitol Hill last summer, and he hopes to have 7,000 next summer.
Forty percent of the GOP base is social conservatives who consider opposition to abortion and gay marriage highly important. But polls show the threat of Islamic extremism is also among their top concerns – and Mr. Hagee is seeking to rally Christian conservatives around that issue.
Politically, he considers Mr. McCain the strongest presidential candidate on protecting Israel and has contributed $1,000 to his campaign. But he's open to other Republican contenders.
Mr. Hagee said he's "not comfortable" with GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani's liberal position on social issues, but isn't among Christian conservative leaders who have ruled him out as a presidential nominee.
Faith and politics
In 1999, Mr. Hagee urged the head of the Christian Coalition in Iowa to back Mr. Bush for president, boosting evangelical efforts that helped the Texas governor win the early nominating state.
More recently, he counseled Gov. Rick Perry to have the state divest holdings in companies doing business with Iran.
His church is a huge, cream-colored complex north of downtown San Antonio. Behind his desk are pictures of Ronald Reagan and Iran-Contra figure Oliver North. Out front, in the reception room, is a signed photo of George W. and Laura Bush.
"I feel sure Hillary [Clinton] is going to be the Democratic nominee," he said. "Whoever is on the Republican side better put on his track shoes, because the lady's not going to make any mistakes."
Outside, the church was celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jewish holiday of Sukkot that commemorates the 40-year period during which ancient Israelites wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters.
The dark clouds of the Apocalypse might be coming, but not today. The sky was bright, and people were gathered in folding chairs to watch the church women's dance group.
"How many of Abraham's children do we have? Raise your hand," said Mrs. McWright, the dance leader. "Woo-hoo! All of us are Abraham's children."
The rides were typical carnival fare. One depicted a jaunty Indiana Jones, who in a movie sought the Ark of the Covenant, the repository of the 10 Commandments.
There was no picture of the Ark, only a huge likeness of Harrison Ford and a fearsome, vaguely Arab figure holding aloft a blood-soaked scimitar.
Each of the food booths, made of lattice work and palm leaves, was identified as one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Above one was a lone star, a pair of steer horns and two Texas flags.
At another booth, Chrissie Kolb was serving chalupas. She said the Cornerstone's governing structure mirrors the 12 tribes. With 19,000 members, a dozen leadership groups help facilitate church affairs.
"Multi-level marketing for Jesus," she said.
Biblical mandate
For his part, the 67-year-old Mr. Hagee separates his support of Israel from apocalyptic prophesy. He said his support is based on a biblical mandate to protect Israel.
His end-times theology, a main theme of his ministry, is a sticking point for some Jews. It envisions a series of biblically foretold events ending in a final battle in which Jesus will return and those not converted to Christianity, including the Jews, will perish.
At this month's Night to Honor Israel celebration in the huge sanctuary of Cornerstone Church, conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager, who is Jewish, acknowledged the resistance of some Jews. But he vouched for Mr. Hagee's good intentions and good works.
At the celebration, Mr. Hagee gave away $8.5 million to Jewish projects, including an Israeli orphanage and programs helping Russian and Ethiopian Jews immigrate to Israel.
The pastor's son, Michael, opened the evening by singing the Israeli national anthem in Hebrew. A representative of the Israeli government greeted the crowd, a Jewish cantor sang and congregation members marched through the aisles waving flags bearing a menorah and the star of David.
"I have something to say to the president of Iran," Mr. Hagee declared from the pulpit.
"Mr. Ahmedinejad, do not threaten the United States. Do not threaten the state of Israel.
"Mr. Ahmedinejad, threats against Israel have a way of becoming self-fulfilling prophesies."
The church erupted in a roar, 6,000 people leaping to their feet and cheering.
It sounded like a ball game in the World Series at the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded and the crowd cheering with a wild, ringing exuberance as if something very big was about to happen.
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