TWO ADDITIONAL WRITE-UPS ON THE HARBINGER FOR AMERICA

I just finished reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn.

On one level I'm blow away by Cahn's ability to write such a compelling fictional novel that is grounded on the scripture reference of Isaiah 9:10. He threads the story with events that happened to ancient Israel paralleled with events that has happened to America both in our history and modern day.

On another level I'm left wondering. The reader must remember this is a work of fiction, but when fiction becomes laced with facts the lines become blurry. Is that a bad thing? What do you think?

What I liked . . . this book was a compelling story that I could hardly put down. It's about a writer who is pitching a story to a publisher. That's it. So where's the action? Where's the conflict? It's in flashback and comes to light as the writer tells the publisher. It's very tricky to make a story interesting and not confusing for the reader when flashbacks make up the bulk of a novel. But Cahn's writing is clear and he does a wonderful job of keeping tension and conflict high.

You may ask, so what is the story the writer pitched? It's about an ancient mystery revolving around Isaiah 9:10 and holds the secret of America's future. The protagonist encounters a man he calls "the prophet" who sends the protagonist on a type of scavenger hunt seeking out hidden meanings behind different harbingers. I became caught up in the story and eager to learn the meaning behind each harbinger. I was always surprised.

What I didn't like . . . Cahn uses talking heads a lot. This must have been a deliberate choice on his part so the focus of the reader stayed on the plot and meaning behind the book. I don't mind it every once in a while, but then it becomes annoying because I want to see the characters talking and what they're doing. I think an opportunity to more fully flesh out the characters was lost. Also sometimes the conversations between the writer and publisher, and "the prophet" and the protagonist was frustrating and seemed to go in circles. There were times I just wanted them to say what they meant. But, of course, what's the fun in that? A good writer will sometimes frustrate the reader on purpose.

Overall, I measure a book on how much I think about it after I've finished reading it. Believe me, the story of The Harbinger stays with you for a long time. Did it blur the lines between fact and fiction and is that a bad thing? You be the judge. Do your homework and find what is fact and what is fiction. You may not agree with some of the thought provoking issues that Cahn raises, but that you're thinking about them and learning more is a good thing.

About the author: Jonathan Cahn is well known for deep study of the Scriptures and actually leads the Hope of the World ministries while also leading the Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel, which is made up of people of all backgrounds Jews and Gentiles alike. He is a Messianic Jewish believer.
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KATHY: I just finished reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn.

On one level I'm blow away by Cahn's ability to write such a compelling fictional novel that is grounded on the scripture reference of Isaiah 9:10. He threads the story with events that happened to ancient Israel paralleled with events that has happened to America both in our history and modern day.
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ME: The Harbinger is the culmination of a series of topical teachings that Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn gave during a eleven year period at the Beth Israel Worship Center in Lodi, New Jersey and at the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center in Wayne, New Jersey put to the form of a fictional novel; an arduous task which Rabbi Cahn pulls off amazingly to his credit. I believe that the Lord provided the inspiration for the impetus which flowed in the writing of this book.

I must commend Rabbi Cahn for the work, because consider the amount of information and teaching that comprises these various messages through the years, it is nothing less than a miracle that he was able to write the book he did in its current form. I cannot speak as to whether the Lord led him to write the book in its current form, or whether it was a decision he made on his own, but I do understand the reason for its writing. I am of the opinion that Rabbi Cahn wrote his book to reach the maximum amount of people who can be reached to warn primarily the Christians of this nation and as many of its public officials as will listen; of the impending judgment of God upon it if they and we do not change course.
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KATHY: On another level I'm left wondering. The reader must remember this is a work of fiction, but when fiction becomes laced with facts the lines become blurry. Is that a bad thing? What do you think?

What I liked . . . this book was a compelling story that I could hardly put down. It's about a writer who is pitching a story to a publisher. That's it. So where's the action? Where's the conflict? It's in flashback and comes to light as the writer tells the publisher. It's very tricky to make a story interesting and not confusing for the reader when flashbacks make up the bulk of a novel. But Cahn's writing is clear and he does a wonderful job of keeping tension and conflict high.
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ME: I am not a lover of fictional works, though in the past I have read very well written and conceived works of fiction such as Tom Clancy novels, but I prefer to read non-fiction books. Reading The Harbinger was difficult in some places for me precisely for this reason, but since I am well acquainted with the series of topical teachings , sermons, and presentations upon which The Harbinger is based; reading Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Cahn’s book a return to these messages of contemporary events that are interconnected with something much greater than a superficial glance would indicate. You’re absolutely correct in your observation that it is very difficult to keep the story going and not confuse the reader when using flashbacks as the writer – Nouriel Kaplan – retells his story to the at first skeptical publisher. Excellent observation.
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KATHY: You may ask, so what is the story the writer pitched? It's about an ancient mystery revolving around Isaiah 9:10 and holds the secret of America's future. The protagonist encounters a man he calls "the prophet" who sends the protagonist on a type of scavenger hunt seeking out hidden meanings behind different harbingers. I became caught up in the story and eager to learn the meaning behind each harbinger. I was always surprised.
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ME: I highly recommend to you DVD companion to The Harbinger, The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment by World Net Daily. The original messages on The Harbinger are also available through Hope of the World Ministries. These will take you further into the details behind The Harbinger.
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KATHY: What I didn't like . . . Cahn uses talking heads a lot. This must have been a deliberate choice on his part so the focus of the reader stayed on the plot and meaning behind the book. I don't mind it every once in a while, but then it becomes annoying because I want to see the characters talking and what they're doing. I think an opportunity to more fully flesh out the characters was lost. Also sometimes the conversations between the writer and publisher, and "the prophet" and the protagonist was frustrating and seemed to go in circles. There were times I just wanted them to say what they meant. But, of course, what's the fun in that? A good writer will sometimes frustrate the reader on purpose.
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ME: This is perhaps the place where the facts of the topical teachings of The Harbinger didn’t “translate” as well as it could have, but all things considered; transferring as much of the information contained within these topical messages into a single volume – a novel no less – is perhaps even more difficult than writing a work of non-fiction. All things considered, I believe that what amounts to an encyclopedic volume of information being transferred into a single written work of fiction is an incredible undertaking; something I appreciate and understanding because of my own exposure to these messages Rabbi Cahn gave over a decade in approximately seven or more messages.
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KATHY: Overall, I measure a book on how much I think about it after I've finished reading it. Believe me, the story of The Harbinger stays with you for a long time. Did it blur the lines between fact and fiction and is that a bad thing? You be the judge. Do your homework and find what is fact and what is fiction. You may not agree with some of the thought provoking issues that Cahn raises, but that you're thinking about them and learning more is a good thing.
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ME: God is again using an ancient prophecy to warn His current day people of impending judgment if they do not change their ways, and turn to Him, and He is using this book – The Harbinger – precisely for this purpose. I’ve written elsewhere:

As to the duality of the events behind prophecy of Isaiah 9:10 in ancient Israel and now in twenty-first century America; there are examples of prophetic events in Scripture which had their historical fulfillment at one point in history in the Hebrew Bible (The Old Testament) which had a second fulfillment long after the events of its first fulfillment in the period of the New Testament hundreds of years later. One example I can cite is the following from Isaiah 7:14 and the Gospel of Matthew.

Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:18-25

The pages of our Bibles are filled with such examples. I’ll cite the following three examples, though it is not an exhaustive sampling, it’ll suffice for the purposes of our current discussion:

After Solomon’s reign, during the years of the divided kingdoms of Israel (Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom with its capital in Samaria) and Judah (Judah and Benjamin, the Southern Kingdom with its capital in Jerusalem), in the days of Jotham when the Syrian-Samaritan alliance had come about against Judah, and its intention was to replace Judah’s King Ahaz with their own puppet-king who would be more amenable to their wishes (II Kings 15:37, Isaiah 7:5-9)). It was during this time that the word of the Lord came to the prophet Isaiah, and he challenged King Ahaz to ask God for a sign. “To make it as deep as Sheol and as high as heaven.” (Isaiah 7:10-11) But when Ahaz refused to test God by asking Him for a sign that would help strengthen his faith, at God’s explicit command through Isaiah the prophet, he was given a sign that indicated that his enemy would soon be removed (Isaiah 7:16). The Sign? An adolescent Jewish woman who is of marriageable age would bear a son and name him Immanuel – “with us, God” (Isaiah 7:14). Now move several centuries into the future, to sometime around 6 B.C., to the time when Jesus’ mother Miriam (Mary) had been betrothed to Joseph, before they had sexually consummated their marriage; she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit, which Matthew attributes as a direct fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy to Ahaz (Matthew 1:18-25). Two distinct completely unconnected historical events connected by a single prophetic verse of Scripture whose literal sense and meaning indicate two completely different things, except when interspersed with the latter historical event, i.e.; Jesus miraculous conception and birth by the Holy Spirit.
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KATHY: About the author: Jonathan Cahn is well known for deep study of the Scriptures and actually leads the Hope of the World ministries while also leading the Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel, which is made up of people of all backgrounds Jews and Gentiles alike. He is a Messianic Jewish believer.
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ME: I hope you will visit the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center and meet Rabbi Cahn and witness for yourself a fulfillment of prophecy in the making; Jews and Gentiles worshipping the God of Israel in the Lord Jesus Christ. You will go away with great joy and thanksgiving. God bless you, and allow you to visit us soon. I take my leave of you with the following excellent article on The Harbinger that illuminates further its message to our troubled nation. I quote it in its entirety for you:

Another Reviewer (TC) wrote on Nov 16, 2011, more than a year ago the following post titled, The Watchman, 911 And The Harbingers...

"On October 11, 2001, Pastor Wilkerson gave a message to his congregation to address the World Trade Center attacks the preceding month. Although the once mighty republic had for decades been in spiritual descent, the weeks of the late summer in 2001 carried disturbing urgency and Pastor Wilkerson chose a verse from Isaiah 9 to examine the attack.

The ninth chapter of Isaiah is familiar to all: "For unto us a child is born, a Son is given," but this was not what Pastor Wilkerson was called to address. Instead, he used the subsequent verses, frequently applied to the pattern used in the judgment of two houses of Israel. Providentially and prophetically, Pastor Wilkerson read Isaiah 9: 8--11:

And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: The sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

The significance was clear: Israel had turned her back. Ezekiel cites the conditions that preceded the departure of the Glory and the judgment of the nation. He saw at the gate of the altar, looking to the north, the image of jealousy, perhaps Baal, but a strong enough affront to a jealous God who was Himself married to Israel. Ezekiel was promised a vision of greater desolations: at the door he saw "every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed on the wall," the sins of the "ancients" of Israel, their self love, their dark deeds.

As the sins of the nation are expanded and exposed, the women of the land are included: at the door of the gate of the north entrance, Ezekiel saw the women "weeping for Tammuz," engaged in craft and cult, sorceries, castings and lewdness, participants in rites of the idol later called by the Greeks, Adonis.

As his vision continued, Ezekiel saw men in contempt, their backs to the altar, facing the sun. Here, in view of the brazen altar of burnt offerings, they worshipped the sun, the god of the eastern idolaters: the worship of creature over Creator.

The final abomination witnessed by Ezekiel was the violence in the land, the defiance of God and the celebration of Bacchus, to whom they bent their bodies in the ritual ceremony of bundled branches. For these offenses, after the warnings of the prophets, there would be no pity, no hearing of cries. Judgment was due, and judgment was delivered. The nations are called, the nations choose: Ninevah saw brief repentance, but later departed once more.

For Israel, the watchmen sounded: the warning unheeded, the northern house fell to the Syrians, the chosen rod of judgment, the powers came, an initial attack. Rather than heeding the warning, there was defiance and arrogance of heart.

Again in character and mercy, a warning is given, a lull which would precede greater judgment if grace is rebuffed in defiance and arrogance of heart.

Four times in Isaiah 9: 8-10, Israel was accused and four times the judgments followed. There is consistent agreement among commentaries describing the patterns of the unleashing of destruction. Matthew Henry speaks of the consequences of impenitence, "The Lord warns before he wounds: He tries to call his people back but if they do not, there will come greater judgment." The Interpreter's Bible defines the consequences: "What further horror of judgment is yet to fall on unrepentant man?"

The nation's leaders spoke in defiance and arrogance of heart: "We will build, we will replace," with the inference of larger and stronger. Devastation fell on the southern kingdom. The Diaspora of the nation had begun."