WHAT FOLLOWS IS A PUBLIC REBUTTAL OF THE FALSE WITNESS LEVELLED AGAINST THE AUTHOR OF THE HARBINGER: JONATHAN CAHN. I SERVE AT BETH ISRAEL IN THE CAPACITY OF TEACHER OF GOD'S WORD AND DO SO BY THE GRACE AND CALLING OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF GRACE GIVEN TO ME BY ALMIGHTY GOD FOR HIS SERVICE. I KNOW PASTOR AND MESSIANIC RABBI JONATHAN CAHN PERSONALLY, AND HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR ALMOST THIRTEEN YEARS. WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO REDAD IS MY RESPONSE TO THE BITTERNESS OF ONE MAN AGAINST ANOTHER.
SCARPATI: Dear Berean Call,
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/scarpatiletter.html
I wanted to let you know that I had appreciation for your June, 2012 newsletter that discussed The Harbinger. As one who attended the congregation of Jonathan Cahn for over 13 years, serving in a pastoral position there for several years, I heard a good number of sermons that were not based on a sound use of God’s Word. If one attended there for an extensive time, he may have noticed an unhealthy focus on "mystery busting" and Jonathan drawing attention to himself as a "special end-time vessel of The Lord" in a manner that gave him and the congregation where he taught an air of superiority over other leaders and churches. This involved an unsound usage of GOD's eternal WORD with a focus on connecting various events to other events and/or Scripture.
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REBUTTAL: How quickly you have turned on your fellow servant in Christ, as Judas turned on the Lord; to betray his name, to betray his trust, to betray everything you and he labored for in order to ingratiate yourself with these people. Did you really hear a good number of sermons, as you say above, that were not based on a sound use of God’s Word? Really did you? Can you cite these sermons? Can you explain concisely where it was that you thought these erred?
And your assessment of Jonathan Cahn as “drawing attention to himself as a ‘special end time’ vessel of the Lord’ is so full of cynical contempt and unbelief it is amazing; because we are all according to God’s Word ambassadors for Christ (2Corinthians 5:20) and as such, we are also a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession (1Peter 2:9), or have you forgotten this? How then can you out another servant of Christ and claim as you do that he is calling attention to himself?
Your accusation drips of envy and an air of one who believed that such attention should have been given to him instead; because even to make this statement in itself is nothing short of an ego trip and betrays your own displaced feelings of wrong being done to you and your entitlement mentality that has made you break the commandment against covetousness by envying your brother’s calling in Christ, and allow deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness manifests themselves in the way you write about him (Mark 7:22), and disregard the Word of Our Lord Jesus Christ against speaking evil of your brother and judging him “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5), the commandment against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16, Exodus 23:1, Deuteronomy 5:20, Matthew 19:18), and many more. Your own contemptible writing speaks for itself. By your own words you have brought judgment upon yourself. I ASK YOU SIR, WOULD CHRIST TREAT YOU IN THIS MANNER? HAS HE EVER?
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SCARPATI: It actually struck me how T.A., having not attended the congregation of Jonathan Cahn, seemed to have picked up on the same type of thing that others, who have known Mr. Cahn for years, have also been concerned with. So let me testify to the gift of discernment that it seems GOD has given to you. I'm not sure that replacement theology is at the heart of Mr. Cahn's error, but rather an overall focus on mystery and making connections in a manner that is negligent of sound doctrine and a clear gospel message. His error can be very subtle, which would explain why so many would be taken in by it.
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REBUTTAL: You attended 13 years in this congregation, was a pastor in this congregation, heard all of Jonathan Cahn’s messages during that 13 year period, and you write that you are not certain that Jonathan Cahn teaches Supersessionism (Replacement Theology)!? You know that he does not, how then can you write without certainty about this!? If you cannot write with certainty about this, and you were there for thirteen years, how then can anyone take your word on anything else you write here? Again, let the Lord give discernment, because as you have written here, so you have betrayed the poison of your own soul, and the harbored and festering bitterness you have harbored and now express, having seen the opportunity to unleash in writing the true feelings of your heart. Of course you’re going to ingratiate yourself with this man; of course you’re going to side with him and claim as a false witness that what Jonathan Cahn taught while you were there was error. Isn’t it funny, you waited so long for you to come out and say it!? Let those who can discern do so in Jesus’ name. Your own words indict you. Your own words contradict what you are trying to say here. I ASK YOU AGAIN SIR, HAS CHRIST EVER TREATED YOU WITH SUCH CONTEMPT AS YOU TREAT YOUR BROTHER HERE? HAS HE EVER?
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SCARPATI: The Harbinger deals with a topic that in itself is a valid one - the need for America to repent. But in these perilous times of our nation, where so many believers are grieved because of the increase in godlessness and lawlessness, there is the temptation for us to compromise, and to be willing to overlook unsound usages of GOD's WORD when the cause seems right. The error of compromising doctrine and accepting a wrong use of Scripture for the sake of morality is what leads to such unsound practices as Christians uniting with Mormons and Catholics over issues such as abortion, pornography, and homosexuality in ecumenical events. As great of a concern as these things may be, may we resist the temptation to put a correct use of Scripture on the back burner, even in such times when emotions are flying high because of the perilous times in our nation.
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REBUTTAL: These points have nothing to do with The Harbinger. Jonathan Cahn has not united with Mormons, has not united with heretics, and to claim that he has because he was on Glenn Beck’s show, and was on other shows that some like Mr. McMahon might consider in their estimation (like yours) aberrant, does not in itself indicate that Jonathan Cahn endorses their teachings or what they do. He is simply doing the work of Christ’s kingdom by delivering the good news that our Merciful Father, the God whom we serve; has given US as a people – His people – and this nation which we inhabit, a specific warning in which there is the hope of the Gospel – salvation, and restoration for our nation, if we (His people) turn from our wickedness – such that which you have done here; a most grievous wickedness and thing to do to a fellow servant in Christ and one with whom you worked side by side with for so many years – only to betray him in this manner. It is a disgrace! A DISGRACE! IT IS BETRAYAL OF THIS SORT THAT OUR LORD HAS WARNED WILL BE ONE OF MANY SIGNS THAT WILL PRECEDE HIS RETURN.
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SCARPATI: In his response to you, where Jonathan appeals to the good reviews and popularity of the book, he overlooks the fact that the way to life is narrow, and the way to destruction broad (Matthew 7:13-14), and that the deception in the end times would be so great that even "the very elect" would be deceived if possible (Matthew 24:24). The popularity of the book is something which should make us concerned, not more confident regarding its accuracy.
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REBUTTAL: You use the same type of logic the religious opposition used against Jesus. They were worried that the multitudes were following everywhere, and were worried that the Romans would see this and take it as a revolution against Caesar’s government, and they would lose their elevated status with the government and their influence over the people. They considered the people ignorant and themselves the learned. They were the doctors of divinity, the religious experts and intellectuals, the learned authorities on God’s Word in their day, and they opposed everything Jesus Christ stood for.
As it was then, and as it has been throughout human history, so it is to this very day. We are seeing here. We are also witnessing the betrayal by men such as yourself of others. Have you read The Harbinger? If not then, do not pass judgment on it. And stop bearing false witness against your neighbor, against your brother in Christ. And repent, and seek God’s forgiveness, and then go to your brother and apologize for what you have done. It is a disgrace, and YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT FOR IT.
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SCARPATI: Mr. Cahn says that the book "never says that Isaiah was prophesying of America" but that the pattern of judgment in Israel is now recurring in America. So, if it was not prophesying, why has Mr. Cahn referred to its message as being prophetic (I have evidence that he's done so if you haven’t heard or seen it). Having known Jonathan, I'm aware of his tactic to give half-truths and to lead someone to come to a certain conclusion (like his being a prophet) without directly saying it. He would say certain things that would lead you to one conclusion, and others that could lead to the very opposite one. He operates in a lawyer-like fashion. Is he a prophet or not? Is the book prophetic or not? Putting together clues is not prophesying, is it? Prophets got direct revelation from GOD. We must be very careful to not use the word "prophet" or the concept of something being prophetic in a loose, sloppy, undefined, or unclear manner.
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REBUTTAL: Have you never read in the Book of Revelation where it declares most emphatically that “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy?” Or have you not read in God’s Word where it says “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” (John 6:43-48) What is it about this that you have overlooked? They shall all be taught of God, that is to say, that the Holy Spirit of God will teach and direct us to God’s truth, to Christ, and this is a work of God; the Father of whom James in the Holy Spirit writes very clearly there is no shifting shadow and variation. (James 1:17) Do you have any idea what this means? Then, how can you write as you do?
How can you claim that he says he’s a prophet, and that his book is this or that, when you don’t even understand the distinction between the prophetic and the non-prophetic yourself, as these men also don’t? There are prophetic utterances that are not prophecy, because they are not holy writ and are outside of the cannon of Scripture; such as prophetic utterances mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments which are never recorded, but alluded to, as when King Saul prophesied among the prophets.(1Samuel 10:1-16) We have also have the example of Agabus, who prophesied that there would be a famine in the days of Claudius and it came to pass, but we are not given the prophetic word verbatim, we are just told that he prophesied this. (Acts 11:28)
I have known Jonathan Cahn personally for twelve years, and I serve according to God’s election and calling at Beth Israel. I bear witness before Jesus Christ that not one word that you have written above has any truth to it whatsoever. HOW DARE YOU BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST IN THIS MANNER AND LIE TO THE LORD BEFORE WHOM YOU HAVE MADE THESE FALSE CHARGES, AND THINK THAT YOU WILL ESCAPE YOUR OWN DEMISE BY YOUR OWN MOUTH!?
AND HOW DARE YOU LECTURE ANYONE ABOUT BEING CAREFUL, WHEN YOU HAVE RECKLESSLY SHOWN SUCH DISREGARD IN THIS AND MANY OTHER MANNERS!? Your own words here indict you as a lawbreaker, because you judge the law by judging your brother in Christ. I don’t say this, the Word of Almighty God makes it quite clear. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12) , and also, But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. (Romans 14:10) WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS SCRIPTURE THAT ESCAPES YOUR NOTICE, OR THAT YOU OR YOUR ASSOCIATES FAIL TO UNDERSTAND!? The Word of God warns that “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37)
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SCARPATI: It seems like what Mr. Cahn is doing is, in essence, saying he’s a prophet. It’s like he’s giving a different variation of prophecy, and because of that variation (implying he’s gotten revelation regarding the future of America, appealing to “connection signs” rather than being in the more typical style of modern-day professed prophecy) he’s flying under the radar with some who are generally discerning. But for years in his congregational teachings there were such connections being set forth - up to your ears. I testify to the things I am writing here regarding Mr. Cahn's modus operandi, as a witness who knows him. And believe me, there are others who have also been witnesses to such things. And I'm hardly even scratching the surface here in terms of sharing all the reasons why I have concern over Jonathan Cahn.
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REBUTTAL: Pastor and Messianic Rabbi, NOT MR. CAHN, as you deride his station and his calling; Pastor Cahn has never claimed to be a prophet, but the message of The Harbinger is prophetic, as is any message of God’s Gospel and all matters pertaining to it, inasmuch as anything that is related to repentance cannot be divorced from the cross, and the message of The Harbinger is a message of repentance, and repentance must be followed by a confession of faith in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God, where He makes intercession for the saints – US – and by common confession, thus it is prophetic because of its very nature. It you charge Jonathan Cahn with manifesting some of the sign-gifts as outlined properly in the Apostle Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, then it bears witness against YOU, because the use of such gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul makes clear are necessary components and offices that exists for the purpose of serving Christ effectively.
You are trying to disgrace him, and defame him, because you know that Mr. McMahon and the others of his colleagues do not believe in these gifts, but are Cessationists; and in so doing, you CONDEMN YOURSELF AS ONE WHO DISBELIEVES IN THE PRACTICE OF SUCH GIFTS, OR WORSE (AS THESE MEN DO) YOU PROSCRIBE THEM, and Paul has warned us to keep from those who hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. (2Timothy 3:5) This is a denial of Jesus Christ which John the Holy Spirit has warned us about as a sign of Antichrist, because to deny His works in His servants is to deny Him; remember it was in vain did Jesus warn that we do to another, we do unto the Lord!? (Matthew10:40-42, 25:31-46, Luke 10:16, 18:5, John 13:20) BE VERY CAREFUL, DON’T BE FOOLED AND THINK THAT YOU ARE EXONERATED BECAUSE YOU SAY, “Lord, Lord to God,” and YET DO NOT DO HIS WILL, BY SLADERING YOUR BROTHER IN PUBLIC, AND BY BREAKING THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE HIM AS CHRIST LOVES HIM AND YOU, AND ME. BE VERY CAREFUL. YOU ARE WALKING A TIGHTROPE IF YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL GET AWAY WITH THIS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT CANNOT BE WRITTEN HERE, BUT THE LORD KNOWS YOU INTIMATELY OF WHICH YOU THINK NO ONE SEES, BUT GOD SEES, RIGHT INTO YOUR HEART AND JUDGES YOUR INTENTIONS.
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SCARPATI: As far as similarities, sure, there are parallels between what happened between ancient prideful Israel and modern prideful America. But there have been recurring patterns that span all nations and individuals from the time of the fall. Since the fall, man has always been prideful, and so there has always been the recurring theme of man's pride followed by God's judgment. (Please note the truth of Proverbs 16:18.) This has happened in nations aside from Israel and America. For example, in the very chapter that follows Isaiah 9, in 10:5-16, we see judgment on prideful Assyria, the very tool used to humble Israel and Judah. And what about the same pattern seen with Edom as recorded in Malachi 1:4: "Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever."
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REBUTTAL: Your writing betrays you. You write: “As far as similarities, sure, there are parallels between what happened between ancient prideful Israel and modern prideful America. But there have been recurring patterns that span all nations and individuals from the time of the fall. Since the fall, man has always been prideful, and so there has always been the recurring theme of man's pride followed by God's judgment.” But the Apostle Peter writing in the Holy Spirit, prophesies of men such as yourself, when he writes the following, and TAKE NOTE, IT IS ALMOST VERBATIM WHAT YOU WRITE ABOVE IN YOUR CURRENT STATE OF BITTERNESS AND DISBELIEF, I quote: Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2Peter 3:3-4)
The impulses that drive you to write what you did here, are the same lusts that wage war in your members, which become evident when discerned properly by God’s Word and His Holy Spirit who brings to light all things by imparting understanding into them. Your bitter spirit has driven you to write against your neighbor; against your brother in Christ as you have and to make it public for all to know. You have tried to shame him, to belittle him, to destroy his ministry and his good name before others, and you have only served to do it to yourself and your own credibility.
What? Because history is repetitive, we’re supposed to deny what is occurring in our own day? Because God has judge these nations, do you think He will not judge US if we – the people of God in this nation – do not pray for our leaders, repent ourselves of the type of behavior we see here characteristic in your screed against your neighbor – and the incessant attacks by the people whom you address your letter to – Mr. McMahon, Mr. James, Mr. Howse, Mr. Ice, et al – do you believe that if these do not likewise repent from their witch hunt and inquisition, there will not come judgment on this land and on their ministries for what they have done from a Holy and Just God!?
BE VERY CAREFUL SIR. Even what you write above again, bears witness against you, because the pronouncements upon these godless nations bear witness against you, inasmuch as you are trying to write against the message in The Harbinger, which is a warning of impending judgment upon this nation, but also one of hope of we turn, as Nineveh turned, and was spared by God, even though He gave no hope to them that they would be spared. Read the Book of Jonah for yourself. This was a people who didn’t even have a covenant relationship with God. But because the cross reaches back into history and forward into the future; and it was established long before the foundation of the world that Christ would die for our sins and be raised for our justification; the people of Nineveh served as a type. Let those who have eyes to see, see and understand in Jesus’ name.
________________________________________ SCARPATI: What has Jonathan Cahn revealed in The Harbinger that any Christian who knows their Bible couldn't know anyway? Again, just from the above referenced verses of Isaiah 10 and Malachi 1, we could know that any nation (including present day, rebellious, proud America) that is sinful is in danger of potential judgment. If The Harbinger were never written, a believer could see in Scripture the pattern of pride followed by God’s judgment. But Mr. Cahn has had a history of taking such things and putting a spin on them that "wows" you, when in reality he hasn't really taught anything that a Bible-knowledgeable believer could not have already known from the truths already revealed in God's Word. If anything, there may be a subtle, yet very dangerous undermining - a subtle drawing attention away from The Word of God towards Jonathan Cahn's so-called prophetic message and connections (and really Jonathan Cahn himself). ________________________________________
REBUTTAL: By one stroke of your pen, you condemn Jonathan Cahn for having written The Harbinger and join with T.A. McMahon in trashing him and his book by claiming that it is full of errors, and by the other hand you contradict yourself by writing “What has Jonathan Cahn revealed in The Harbinger that any Christian who knows their Bible couldn't know anyway? Again, just from the above referenced verses of Isaiah 10 and Malachi 1, we could know that any nation (including present day, rebellious, proud America) that is sinful is in danger of potential judgment. If The Harbinger were never written, a believer could see in Scripture the pattern of pride followed by God’s judgment.” What will it be Mr. Scarpati? You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Either you believe as these gentlemen do, that The Harbinger is wrong, or you believe that it is a warning to this nation and God’s people, as a reading of God’s Word would reveal, that we are in serious danger. It can’t be both. But, your own words bear witness against you, for you contradict your own words in that you wrote in the manner expressed above.
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SCARPATI: Let me share a true story that illustrates the point of my concern. A woman I know was invited to Beth Israel (the congregation where Jonathan pastors) and began attending regularly, getting a diet of Jonathan Cahn’s style of teaching. I personally had spoken to her about salvation. At one point it seemed like she may have believed the gospel and I spoke to her about water baptism, which the Scriptures clearly command for a new believer. But she was resistant and not giving proper recognition to the Scripture’s authority. But one day she more or less told me that decided to get baptized. But in explaining what brought her to this conclusion, she did not refer to Christ’s command of Matthew 28:19, but rather told me about her having seen a truck with a rainbow on it (I don’t remember all the details now, as it was several years ago, but she may have connected the truck with the rainbow with some other event). So, she decided to do the right thing (if she truly was saved) for the wrong reason. It was not the Scripture she referenced when giving her reason after finally deciding to be baptized, but a sign – a truck with a rainbow that she saw. This is not the thinking of a disciple.
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REBUTTAL: Your own words condemn you again as a false witness against your neighbor, against your brother in Christ; for you write here about a woman who made a decision based upon something that she saw rather than by Scripture, and then attempt to impute guilt upon Jonathan Cahn for this woman’s independent choice of which he had, even by your own account, nothing to do with; but in your twisted thinking, you have imputed guilt upon your brother in Christ for something that God has not declared him guilty of. YOUR WORDS HAVE AGAIN BETRAYED YOU AS ONE WHO IS QUICK TO SPEAK, QUICK TO JUDGE. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT CHRIST WOULD IMPUTE UPON YOU? CHRIST, WHO HAS IMPUTED UPON US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HAVING REMOVED OUR GUILT AND OUR SIN; AND NOW YOU STAND AS AN AMBASSADOR OF POOR TIDINGS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR BY ATTEMPTING TO IMPUTE UPON HIM A GUILT THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO! Let those who truly discern, discern here the spiritual and mental state of this man, and pray that he would be convicted for having borne false witness with such a ludicrous example of twisting reasoning as that displayed here.
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SCARPATI: I am not saying that there aren’t some valid “connections” that exist. For example, Scripture links the Hebrew holy day of Passover to Christ. But there is a sound Scriptural basis for making this connection. There are types within Scripture that point to future things. God does amazing things and His Word and works are amazing. But we need to have a sound Scriptural basis for any such connection we are making.
The type of teaching that is being set forth in The Harbinger can really be destructive in subtly drawing people’s attention away from The Scriptures. It promotes the kind of thinking of the woman who was led by the truck with the rainbow on it rather than The Scriptures. The serpent in the garden, in subtle manner, got Eve away from God’s Word rightly divided – the command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I have observed the same type of shallowness seen in the above-mentioned woman in other regular attendees of Jonathan Cahn’s teaching. I share this to help people to understand in case they are wondering, “What type of danger can come from a book like The Harbinger, which calls people to repentance?”
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REBUTTAL: The shallowness is in you, Mr. Scarpati. Your own writing bears witness to that. What you are seeing is many young Christians in need of discipling – a challenge that even these gentlemen will agree every congregation across this great nation faces. If you read the Scriptures, you will discover also that these types of challenges were faced by the early church. Again, why do you find fault with the need for discipling? If you had not betrayed your ministry and would have pursued selflessly to disciple the young lambs among the congregation at Beth Israel, instead of imputing guilt upon Jonathan Cahn for their state of being, you would have gone a long way to contribute in God’s kingdom by filling that need.
I bear witness to this myself, inasmuch as I have had the honor and the pleasure of sharing the teachings from God’s Word that the Lord has given me in almost thirty-seven years of careful study of His Word. Don’t complain, do something about it; teach and nurse God’s lambs; those young ones in the Lord, and help them grow and mature. This is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit of which these gentlemen have issues with because it doesn’t fit their theology of Cessationism. “What type of danger can come from a book like The Harbinger, which calls people to repentance?” None, if repentance and a turning to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the result. Then what is the problem, but in disagreeing with how it is being done – semantics and policy – all secondary aspects of an argument as to what is the better method to reach people for Christ. A wrangling about words which really profits no one, and only serves to create unnecessary division.
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SCARPATI: At times, Scripture is used, but not in context, but rather as a sign. I can take an isolated word or sentence of Scripture out of context and think, “God is speaking to me through this”. One can read and use the actual individual words of Scripture as signs in the same way people use tea leaves or other divining objects. I can read, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors” (Psalm 24:7) and think, “God is telling me to remodel my home and to get rid of the old gates and doors that I have and to replace them with new ones”. The point is that it’s a correct usage of Scripture that is important, and not merely a usage of Scripture. In 2 Timothy 4:3 it doesn’t say that they will not endure doctrine, but that they will not endure “sound doctrine”. Scripture can be misused and twisted (2 Peter 3:16). I’ve seen people in Beth Israel who seemed “connection crazy” at times. But there was an apparent wall – a disconnect when trying to simply discuss and apply Scripture in context with those same people. There certainly was a form of godliness in being interested in what “the hand of God” was doing, but a lack of submission to His Word, rightly divided. Such is a danger of not using Scripture – The Holy, inspired Words of GOD, properly.
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REBUTTAL: Every congregation has their share of eccentricities. That fact is borne out by you, and by your writing. That you can write this way about other people, rather than try to mollify and rectify the situation, by providing them with sound biblical teaching, rather than running away in bitterness and now seeking to speak all manner of evil against a place and a people (those among them who were there when you were part of the ministry) and against a ministry so openly, so brazenly, is not in accordance to Christ. It is not in character with someone who claims to serve Christ. We have already gone into details above about this, but you keep dripping away the bilge that fills you.
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SCARPATI: I don’t think that I can rightly say that Jonathan Cahn is responsible for all of the unsound usage of Scripture that I witnessed at Beth Israel. There is so much Scripture-twisting among the professing church. But I do think that Jonathan’s manner of making connections contributes to the problem and accords with such unsoundness. I did discuss this sort of issue with Jonathan personally, and he didn’t seem to be very concerned about it. I hope that people will draw conclusions about this matter if The Harbinger based a sound use of God’s Word, seeking The Word (rightly divided of course) as their authority by which to discern. Using Scripture is a sloppy, careless way can be dangerous, and make one open to superficial connections.
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REBUTTAL: This is the reason that there are teachers of God’s Word, that the Holy Spirit give gifts for service in the church to meet these needs. I am honored and humbled at once that the Holy Spirit of God has called me in Christ to teach His Word, and I do by the measure of God’s grace given to me, to exhort, to encourage, to correct, to admonish, to reprove, to instruct, and to acknowledge the Lordship of the One True God and Savior of us all, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
I would encourage you then to repent of this that you have done; retract this screed you have written against a brother; return to Beth Israel and seek Jonathan Cahn out, and ask forgiveness for what you have done, then humble yourself by writing a public apology and explanation of what you have done here, for it is grievous and it is a disgrace. It does not bear witness against Jonathan Cahn and against Beth Israel, but it bears witness against you, Mr. Scarpati.
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SCARPATI: Connecting the dots may seem intriguing, interesting, and entertaining; but it's a proper understanding and application of Scripture that is the great need in America, and everywhere (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Are we so desperate for entertainment that simply studying a portion of Scripture (such as Isaiah chapter 9), explaining it in context, teaching about general truth that can be learned through it (such as truth pertaining to the sin of pride and refusal to repent), and then giving application to modern-day circumstances, is not enough for us? Even when discussing Frontline, Charisma being the publisher, Jonathan speaks of "an extremely dramatic, far more than natural, and “out of the box” way" in which things (supposedly) happened. If one spent enough time and research trying to do so, I suspect he could make many such connections between various events of Scripture and history that would have an appearance of being "beyond coincidence", which were only found because of the great number of possibilities of connections that existed (like connections made with the supposed Bible-code revelation. There are so many possibilities to work with in seeking connections when working with the letters of Scripture).
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REBUTTAL: Mr. Scarpati, in case it has escaped your notice and the notice of Mr. McMahon to whom you write your screed; the events depicted and spoken of in The Harbinger all took place. The only crime against this book is that it was written in the form of a fictitious novel, which these quick critics appear not to be able to stomach, and neither do you. Everything that is connected happened without Jonathan Cahn trying to make connections of these things; they happened as they did, and he wrote about it as it happened. He didn’t try to make the connections, nor did he write to sensationalize the story, but wrote them as they happened. This by itself is more than enough evidence for the authenticity of the story. In a court of law it would be what is known as empirical evidence.
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SCARPATI: But regardless of the validity, or lack thereof, of the connections made in The Harbinger, let's not miss the most critical issue. If The Harbinger is supposed to be prophetic, then let's remember that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10) and that Moses and the Prophets (The Old Testament) are about Jesus (Luke 24:25-27, John 5:39, 1 Peter 1:10-11). Does The Harbinger bring about a clear enough understanding of the person and work of Jesus The Messiah? In his response, Jonathan said that his job is to sound the warning. And in answering the questions he asks towards the close of his response, "What if God were to sound warning to America of judgment? What might such a warning sound like?" he says, "Believers, pastors, ministers, Bible expositors, and Christian leaders across this land believe it would sound identical to The Harbinger". Identical? Do you realize what’s being implied here? Has anyone actually used the word “identical” in expressing their judgment of how much The Harbinger reflects what God would say? Does Mr. Cahn believe it’s identical? Who else represents God’s communication in an identical manner to God’s except a true prophet or Messiah, the incarnate Word Himself. Regardless of what people may say, consider the following.
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REBUTTAL: Your own twisted reasoning, now having after so long a period being nurtured by nothing more than your own bitterness against this man, has resulted in a type of dissonance expressed here in your letter, that is devoid of God’s truth. It contradicts itself and then seeks to appeal to reason with your readership, who by now realize that there is something very wrong with what you are saying here. Discerning Christians will read this understand as the Lord Himself gives them the ability to, and from their own understanding of the Scriptures; that they cannot bear witness with what you write, but discern that there is much confusion and turmoil in you. It expresses itself in your writing.
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SCARPATI: Is the manner in which The Harbinger speaks identical to God’s manner of communicating? Let's ask, "Is The Harbinger's presentation of the gospel in accordance with the gospel presentations recorded in the book of Acts?" "Is the gospel message clear enough in it to clarify who the true Jesus is and what the true gospel is as opposed to the false gospels and false Jesus'?" Does it properly confront the multitudes of nominal, lake of fire bound "Christians". Even many unsaved, non-gospel believing "conservatives" who don't regard the Scriptures don't like the way that America is going now and might agree that it needs to "repent" (according to their unscriptural understanding of repentance). But remember, many will say, Lord, Lord, to whom The Lord will say, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23).
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REBUTTAL: All of the people whom you cite are coming to the Lord in droves. It is being reported that across our land, countless of number of people are coming to faith in Jesus Christ and true repentance as a result of having read this book. And why do you judge and criticize another servant of Christ in the way he serves? WHO DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE TO SPEAK EVIL OF ANOTHER AND STAND IN JUDGMENT OF HIM, AND CONDEMN HIM BECAUSE HE IS DIFFERENT THAN YOU, OR DOES THINGS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN YOU WOULD DO THEM? What do the Scripture say about this? I will tell you and again, it is an indictment of your writing and your behavior:
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
(1Corinthians 12:14-26)
So then, why do you write this to destroy your brother in Christ, and cause him suffering by your hand, by your word, by your testimony; all false as they are, and think that by doing this you are serving Christ? Who do you think you’re fooling but yourself!? This reminds of the following Scripture where the Lord’s disciples saw others preaching and baptizing people not of their group, and they tried to prevent them. I quote:
John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
(Mark 9:38-50)
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SCARPATI: Our nation abounds with nominal Christianity. We are to "repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). If the gospel is not crystal clear (and what a need for it to be clear with all the false Jesus', false gospels, and with all the nominal Christianity out there) then all the warning and calling to repentance in the world will avail nothing. Muslims, Catholics, and other lost people have the concept of the need to repent in their systems which don't save. If Mr. Cahn were called by GOD to bring the revelation of the harbingers to America in a prophetic, or in any sense, would the true gospel message and a clarification of who the true Jesus is not be more central and highlighted in the book? In the past I, and not I alone, have discussed concerns with Jonathan about an unclear gospel presentation and related matters (and other issues as well) on multiple occasions. He gave a not-so-clear presentation of "the gospel" to many on numerous occasions.
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REBUTTAL: I have served at Beth Israel for years and I have yet to see for myself any sign of an unclear Gospel message in the preachings and teachings at Beth Israel. In fact, with every service there is a call to repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in prayer, EVERY SERVICE. So I do not agree with Mr. Scarpati here. He is again bearing false witness and attempting to ingratiate himself with Mr. McMahon to whom he directs his letter, because Mr. McMahon and his colleagues have argued this point against The Harbinger.
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SCARPATI: Repentance is important, and necessary (Luke 13:5); but apart from the true gospel, there is no salvation. Yes, there certainly is a need for America to repent. And part of the repentance that is needed is to turn from preaching an unclear gospel and using the Bible in ways that don't clearly center on Christ and the gospel of grace. We need to repent for chasing after every wind of doctrine and get back to Christ and The Scriptures rightly divided (not just referenced, and used how anyone wants to use them). Repentance should be demonstrated by taking into account the multitudes of nominal Christians in this nation and not preaching in a vague way. If one supports the idea that they are giving a message in a manner that is "identical" to the one God would present it in, and they are wrong - if it is not perfectly and completely identical in any manner, then everything he does, says, and writes, as well as his motives, comes into question, as he has implied that he is an gave an identical (exact) representation of GOD and was wrong. This is no small matter.
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REBUTTAL: THIS IS NO SMALL MATTER INDEED. YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT YOUR OWN WORDS SPEAK AGAINST YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED HERE IS A DEFAMATION, A MISCHARACTERIZATION, AND PERSONAL VITUPERATION OF ONE WHO AS PASTOR OF BETH ISRAEL, ACCORDED YOU THE COURTESY TO SERVE WITH HIM THE CHRIST YOU NOW ASSAIL BY ASSAILING HIM. DON’T THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT GUILTLESS IN THIS MR. SCARPATI. YOU MUST REPENT OF THIS, SEEK GOD ABOUT THIS, AND TURN FROM IT. I’VE ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, I NEED NOT REPEAT IT HERE.
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SCARPATI: A word to those who have posted Jonathan Cahn’s response to T.A. McMahon. I realize that for some of you, behind the reason for posting it was a sincere desire to be fair. Fairness is good. But if judgment is made that someone is using Scripture in an unsound manner, or doing anything else that is contrary to the Scriptures, which could be damaging to God’s sheep whom he purchased with His own blood, then don’t fall for any appeal for fairness that Mr. Cahn may have given. I do want to be fair. But I must make a judgment as to whether or not something is sound; and if it truly is not, then I don’t want to give it a platform, and a potential to affect the minds of others. It’s not fair for people to be exposed to things that can subtly, perhaps very subtly, lead them away from a sound use of Scripture in context. Yes, there is Scripture’s meaning, and its application which can apply to events of today. But isn’t The Harbinger going beyond that? It’s one thing to apply the truth of sin, pride and God’s judgment to circumstances of today, but another to make connections of the events of then with the events of today, drawing attention to what may seem like connections and not towards proper, sound use of Scripture. Again, I’ve seen real spiritual shallowness (and/or deadness) at Beth Israel, which apparently accords with Mr. Cahn’s manner of using Scripture.
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REBUTTAL: I recently wrote another critic of The Harbinger in the following manner, and I quote it here because it is most appropriate to what you have written above. I quote:
I cannot blame many of The Harbinger’s critics for objecting to the book, and I understand that their main objection is as to it being a work of fiction dealing with Biblical End Time Eschatology in the framework of indisputable connections to recent headlines of events which occurred beginning with the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. I cannot even blame them for not liking a work of fiction, when many of these critics, like myself; prefer non-fiction literature.
I understand them, but I also am aware of one very important fact which they and I know you have overlooked; The Harbinger is primarily a work of fiction based upon a series of topical messages given by Pastor Cahn through a ten year period that were primarily commentaries of events and trends our nation has undergone since that tragic Tuesday morning.
Therefore, the work in question cannot be treated as one treats an encyclopedic thesis on eschatology, but for what it is; a novel that contains the elements of various commentaries contained in a series of topical messages given by Pastor Cahn over a period of ten years pertaining to several events that, when examined properly and in context, form an undeniable link and with it a clear message that Someone whom I believe is the Lord God, is trying to get our attention to veer away from the trajectory our nation has followed for a generation.
Thus, this makes this compelling novel a very different piece of literature than its critics pretend it to be, and therefore at least it is hoped; mollifies their shouts against it, because they’re based upon entire misconceptions and allusions to things that are not within the text, subtext, or context of the book. The only ones who put it there are its critics. I will try to make this point below as I have on several other blog sites and e-mail messages to other critics of this book.
Another area where I disagree with The Harbinger’s critics is in the area of the methods they have employed in criticizing the book. It is not Biblical. It is not Biblical for many reasons, because in every instance where we are called as Christians to “out” someone, it is in the case of apostates from the faith, and those who have fallen into a life of sin and ill repute while claiming to be followers of Christ, and those others who have caused and continue to cause mistrust and division within out congregations.
Clearly, Jonathan Cahn does not fall into any of these categories, regardless of what the critics will say. He is not an apostate from the faith – he is a genuine born again believer in Christ and selfless and dedicated servant of the Most High God (I bear witness to that fact personally); he is not one who leads an unruly selfish sinful life, but is a consummate and dedicated husband and father of two wonderful children; nor is he one who causes mistrust among God’s servants, for he never speaks of anyone in any way, nor is he quick to speak, quick to judge, but is prudent in his manners and extremely unassuming in his demeanor, very conservative and extremely selective in his associations and private life, a dedicated servant of the Most High God who never utters a word against anyone outside of his ministry or within it, and has not spoken anything against even those who’ve assailed him savagely for writing his book. He never brings them up. And you will note that he never speaks of them in any interview unless they’re brought up in conversation; and then he keeps his words few, never speaks in any disparaging way about any of them, though we cannot claim the same for his critics.
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SCARPATI: May GOD strengthen you and your staff, Mr. McMahon, in any opposition you may be having because of your search to defend the truth; and may true believers who are taken in by the drama of The Harbinger, neglecting proper attention to the more central issue of the gospel, come to their senses and think soberly, rightly dividing The Word of truth, by HIS grace. Be fair in your reviews, but also be faithful to truth.
Once again, as a former Associate Pastor who was with Jonathan Cahn for years, I testify that you really seem to be on to something. Among others of us who know Jonathan Cahn better from first-hand experience (years of it), there also has been concern. 1 Timothy 5:24-25.
In Messiah,
Robert Scarpati
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REBUTTAL: YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT YOUR OWN WORDS SPEAK AGAINST YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED HERE IS A DEFAMATION, A MISCHARACTERIZATION, AND PERSONAL VITUPERATION OF ONE WHO AS PASTOR OF BETH ISRAEL, ACCORDED YOU THE COURTESY TO SERVE WITH HIM THE CHRIST YOU NOW ASSAIL BY ASSAILING HIM. DON’T THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT GUILTLESS IN THIS MR. SCARPATI. YOU MUST REPENT OF THIS, SEEK GOD ABOUT THIS, AND TURN FROM IT. I’VE ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, I NEED NOT REPEAT IT HERE.
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