I thought it was pretty clear that the Emissary's role included a lot of different things - not just finding the celestial temple and being the 'first' to talk to the prophets.
Through his connection to the prophets, Sisko saved Bajor from Dominion occupation, rediscovered an ancient lost city, and faced down the pah-wraiths on multiple occassions. And the series pretty much stated flat out that all that was only the beginning of his destiny (that being the reason he never returns from the fire caves).
Through his connection to the prophets, Sisko saved Bajor from Dominion occupation, rediscovered an ancient lost city, and faced down the pah-wraiths on multiple occassions. And the series pretty much stated flat out that all that was only the beginning of his destiny (that being the reason he never returns from the fire caves).