Dear Mr. Beardsley,
I guess I have to begin by asking you if you’ve read The Harbinger, and if you did; did you read it before or AFTER you read David James’ polemic against it, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?
And let’s take it from there, but before you give me your answer, I will posit my own observations below to what you have written and posted on your site. I have been reading and responding to the various critics of Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Cahn’s book for the past six months, and I have also read the book, and have heard all of the topical sermons upon which the book is based when they were given at the Beth Israel Worship Center in Lodi, New Jersey and recently at the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center in Wayne, New Jersey, therefore I believe that there is some knowledge on the topic that I have that these gentlemen, including Mr. James, lacks which perhaps by God’s grace, I can share here with you.
First I will introduce myself, I host the website known as The Pepster’s Post: A Voice in Cyberspace, which I recommend you navigate to and view so you may read some of my posts on this topic. I also recommend Faith’s Corner, for additional reading on this topic, inasmuch as Faith and I have been writing on this for months; with Faith preceding me by at least six months. She’s been writing on The Harbinger since the early part of last year, and has responded very well to David James’ point by point on what he attempts to say I his book. In this regard, I have been in contact with David James via his own website, The Alliance for Biblical Integrity, and some of my posts appear on his site.
By God’s the measure of God’s calling, grace, and election, I teach at the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center’s Arise and Shine Academy, where we are currently covering the history of Messianic Judaism, and soon we will be covering the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you live in New Jersey or are close to Wayne, I welcome you to come and take part in our classes.
Now, if I may, I will reply to your points below, and post these on my website, as well as send them to you via your own internal e-mail, since I do not know your e-mail address and cannot contact you directly as I have several others who’ve reviewed The Harbinger on both sides of the ongoing debate.
Blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ,
John Beardsley: Is The Harbinger a Dangerous Fiction or In Essence Non-Fiction for America’s Future!?
February 2, 2013
John Beardsley – Truth With Snares
My opinion, The Harbinger not unlike other dangerous fictions such as The Shack, Left Behind series, and others such as This Present Darkness book reviews linked here. It appears if you publish a book in Christian circles, “poof!” you are now an expert in eschatology, or spiritual warfare or… you name it! I believe The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn is just another in the pile of dung being heaped on Christians making merchandise of them soothing those itching ears rather than adhering to the Word of God.
MY REPLY: It is most unfortunate that you write this way and express yourself in such a manner pertaining to something that another brother in Christ has written. One would ask if Christ or any of His Apostles ever expressed themselves in like manner when writing of other Christians. I think not, but this is happening for a very good reason and let those who can see, see and understand and truly discern.
I believe that you have not read The Harbinger, and that if you have, your personal views about the book have been seriously prejudiced by David James, T.A. McMahon, Jeremy James, Berit Kjos, Jimmy DeYoung, Brannon Howse, Chris Rosebrough, Tim Challies, Gary Gilley, Thomas Ice, and others. I can understand how the writings of such men can influence you and others like you, who’ve never had the benefit of having heard the topic messages and the related presentations given at the time which covers the history and the various occurrences connected to the events depicted in The Harbinger’s fictional narrative.
This is most unfortunate, because others cite your article, just as they cite one another’s and post links to each other’s articles which rehash the same opinions with no response or rebuttal presented to balance the postings. When I post my replies, I also cite verbatim what the critic or non-critic writes in his/her article on my own website. Seldom do any of these people do that and only misquote the source to drive their point which usually far from the point.
John Beardsley: Cahn argues that the verses in Isaiah 9:10-11 set a pattern for what America is seeing today even if it is, it does not justify the publication of this book along with its study book and DVD. Like Peretti’s This Present Darkness, Cahn blends in enough truth (90% according to him) into his work and to show in essence this is what we are seeing in America today.
MY REPLY: Again, the events of which Rabbi Cahn speaks in The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment documentary all happened precisely as he describes them. There are no embellishments, nothing is made up. Regardless of whether or not one wishes to believe the validity of The Harbinger, its accuracy as to the facts is crystal clear, and the events as it relays them happened long before Rabbi Cahn wrote his book, and they happened on the dates given, and statistics are accurate and correct, and their connection to 9:11 and Isaiah 9:10 are all tied to the speeches given by various political leaders who tied 911 to the Isaiah prophecy by quoting it during commemoration services held in the nation’s capitol building on separate occasions.
Jonathan Cahn had nothing to do with that, his book simply allows the reader to see and understand how these happened and why they have significance for our nation. It is unfortunate however that there are people like David James, who because of a theological predilection towards the false doctrine of Cessationism, eschew all of the prophetic, and lump them with the abuses by some.
It is this prejudice that lies at the heart of The Harbinger’s critics, not biblical hermeneutics, as James and others claim, because Christians of various denominations have differences in this respect and one does not see them trumpeting each other as false teachers and false prophets and mystics as these critics do against those with whom they disagree doctrinally on some issues.
John Beardsley: Cahn says this among other things,
“The Harbinger reveals that this is not just a feeling but a precise biblical phenomenon that lies behind everything from 9/11 to the collapse of the American economy, taking place literally before our eyes and holding the secret to our nation’s future.” (Cahn, p4 Harbinger Study Guide)
I must disagree in the strongest terms with Cahn what I see is his private interpretation supplanting and using scripture to sell his fiction or should we call it his ‘fictional nonfiction.’ This is part of why I see The Harbinger not only as dangerous but also heretical. There is much more to say but to any Bible believing Christian – beware! I do not recommend this book but I condemn it for the confusion it has caused and continues to cause. I also condemn the actions being taken legally against other Christians that have objectively sought to warn others of the dangerous teachings compared to the light of scriptures.
MY REPLY: Have you read the book? If you have, then you and I have something we can discuss. If you have not, then you cannot make the above opinion. There is no confusion in this book, the confusion is in the manner in which it has been misquoted, misused, and maligned by David James, T.A. McMahon (who commissioned his book), and the other critics of this book, most of whom have not read it for themselves, and have scarce knowledge and understanding about its background, for them to have attacked it and its author in the manner they have. The campaign of defamation, marginalization, and slander has not ceased for months from these people to their shame. This is not the biblical manner in which Christians should conduct differences of doctrine or interpretation, and there is no place for it in the body of Christ.
John Beardsley: The Harbinger, going beyond what I see as badly twisting scriptures to make a buck off of believers, appears as just another tool of the kookier side of things promoting mysticism (blending dreams with reality). Seeing Cahn’s associations with Charisma Magazine (together with he is threatening the author David James with a lawsuit), his being welcomed by the TBN crowd including Benny Hinn, and others… you can tell a lot with the birds he is flying! Need more!?
MY REPLY: What kind of manner is this for a Christian to express himself and to do it when writing about another brother in Christ? Why do you write in this manner? None of The Harbinger’s critics know Jonathan Cahn personally or have ever met him in person. Do you? Then if you do not know this man, how can you (as they do) write this way about him!? I know Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn personally, and have had the pleasure and blessing to know him as a brother in Christ and friend since 1998. Every word you have used above is patently wrong, unfair, and incorrect. WHAT’S MORE IT IS UN-CHRIST-LIKE AND BELOW THE MANNER IN WHICH ONE CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO WRITE ABOUT ANOTHER. He is not a mystic, he is not a Kabbalist, he is not a Theosophist, he is not a heretic, as you and the others call him thanks to David James’ mischaracterization and highly inaccurate book about The Harbinger.
John Beardsley: If you want to know more details warning against the use of The Harbinger in matters of what the Bible teaches, I offer you several links below:
The Harbinger-A Matter of Critical Discernment http://www.thebereancall.org/content/harbinger-matter-critical-discernment
Is The Harbinger Fact or Fiction? http://apprising.org/2012/07/15/is-the-harbinger-fact-or-fiction/
The Harbinger A Review and Commentary http://herescope.blogspot.com/2012/06/harbinger.html
What’s Wrong with The Harbinger‘s “Ancient Mystery”? http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2012/harbinger.htm
I hope this helps some of my readers and awakens others that because a book is popular does not mean it is good for a Christian!
John Beardsley – Truth With Snares
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
MY REPLY: Every one of the links cited by you above I have responded to and I encourage that you go to my website and read for yourself what I have written to them. I also recommend that you read Faith’s point by point responses to everything David James has written against The Harbinger and do so after prayer and asking that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself remove whatever prejudice you may have towards the book and its author before you do.
Examine your heart before you do anything, and be careful with people who call themselves Christians but spend most of their time and money targeting legitimate ministries and Christians with whom they have doctrinal disagreements with. This is an abuse of their office, and it is proscribed by God’s Word very clearly. Read my posts and you will see what the biblical method of true discernment is and what its fruits are when applied biblically and when one speaks the truth in love, and not maliciously and doggedly assail fellow Christians. Be very careful, for Christ will judge you accordingly as you have judged.
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