A Record of Discernment Pertaining to The Harbinger as Expressed by Its Critics PART ONE

AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERIES AND THE PURPOSE WHY I HAVE WRITTEN IT

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.

(Proverbs 11:1 NASB)

With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

(Proverbs 11:9, NASB)

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

(Proverbs 11:12, NIV)

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

(Luke 6:45)

It is possible for sincere children of God to be ignorant in a good many things, and often make mistakes because of human error and our own predilection towards them if we are not careful how we walk before God, behave towards others, and express ourselves; otherwise Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God would not have exhorted his fellow believers in the following manner.  I quote:

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.  But you did not learn Messiah in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.  Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.  He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

(Ephesians 4:17-32)

The Scriptures are clear in one thing; those who dig up dirt on other people are themselves vile and fill of filth, only they are not aware of it, and when they conduct themselves in this manner, it is not out of faith, but out of unbelieving heart.  I quote:

To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

(Titus 1:15)

In the previous reports, posts, with the exception of my book The Truth About The Harbinger, I have used what is to some (the critics of The Harbinger) some rather strong words in my description of what they had been involved with for the better part of 2012 and on to 2013, though as much as the previous year.  I used terms such as slander, libel, bearing false witness, egregious error, misreading the narrative of Rabbi Cahn’s book, misinterpretation of The Harbinger, false and misleading information based on false premises about the book, misinformation, disinformation, mistakes, outright lies, sophistry, the use of unfortunate epithets, and some others; which taken in context individually or in their totality, all form a formidable witness against anyone who might either partially or entirely have taken part in such activities, especially if those at whom it is directed are respected Evangelical Christian ministries,  and one well-known and highly respected Evangelical Christian ministry involved for many years in what in former days went by the proper name of “Christian Apologetics,” but has since devolved into what is today is called “Discernment Ministries” of which the Internet abounds these days; another sign of the times we live in.  I never believed that the day would come when I would witness with my own ears and see with my own eyes Christians slandering other Christians and bearing false witness about them on radio, in video presentations, and in the printed pages, as well as on the Internet; but the day and times have arrived.  We are witnessing Christ’s fulfillment and warning that in the end just before His return, betrayal would be the hallmark of some of our brethren within the body of Christ.  It has come to pass, though not quite in the manner that most of us thought, but in a more insidious manner, a more clever and sinister manner; in the manner of religious disputes and public open reproaches of Christian ministers by other Christian ministers and their followers claiming to contend for the faith. (Matthew 24:10)

In a section of my book, The Truth About The Harbinger that I title The Strategies of Hell, I present five strategies the devil is using today against the church.  I quote:

“It must be asked: If the devil would look upon American evangelicals, perhaps the largest Christian group in the United States today, and strategize to bench them from becoming active, what do you think he would do?  I’ll tell you.  It’s very easy and very simple.  He would:

1.   Have them disagree over whether or not Christians can and should join with others in the national debates on the issue and topics that concern Americans in general and Jews and Christians in particular.

2.   Have them fight amongst themselves by creating one or more watchdog groups against another group or groups with whom they disagree

3.   Have them write books, and articles focusing primarily against other Christians to warn them of the other’s apostasy, even calling out longtime mainline Christian leaders, pastors, and evangelists whom they accuse of apostasy, compromise, and even heresy in some extreme cases.

4.   Turn them into spiritual neurotics and introverts who turn in on themselves rather than evangelize and become forces for real revival across this land.

5.   Introduce destructive heresies, such as Cessationism or replacement theology on one side and extreme Pentecostalism (spiritual emotionalism without discernment of spirits) on the other, as well as other false doctrines.

(Jose J. Bernal, The Truth about The Harbinger: Addressing the Controversy and Discovering the Facts About This Prophetic Message, pages 182-183, Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group, 2013, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, www.charismahouse.com)

It was for a very good reason, when the Apostle Paul visited the Christian Community at Ephesus for the last time on his last journey to Jerusalem, that he warned them (as he does us in context) in the following manner; because this deals with the church, and not with outsiders but those within from amongst us.  He warned them and us in the following way:

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.  Therefore be on the alert…”

(Acts 20:29-31)

Now some may contest this, but Paul warned the Ephesians and us, that from within the church men from among us would arise speaking “perverse things” – a call to repentance is not a “perverse thing,” but to assail a Christian brother over a doctrinal matter is, because it twists contending for the faith into and confuses it with being contentious and divisive towards other members of our faith.  Some may even claim that such prophecies as Mark 13:12 does not apply to them or these times, because we have yet to see in this country people being put to death for their faith; but I would say that when trusted ministries led by respected leaders hold other Christian ministries and servants of Christ to open reproach by classifying them as “false teachers” and “false prophets” and in the more extreme cases, claim that they “blaspheme the Holy Spirit” – these brethren have consigned those of whom they direct their reproaches to the death of their ministries and support.  And not just this alone, but they have usurped the role of the Only Judge in summarily condemning entire groups of their fellow brethren to fires of hell for their personal faith and walk before God and how they express it.  And this is precisely what these people do without remorse, believing that what they do against their brethren, they do in service to God.  Who can contest then, the following prophecy of Micah 7:1-6 does not describe the current state of our church and our nation and this society, where we read:

Woe is me! For I am

Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers.

There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,

Or a first-ripe fig which I crave.

The [b]godly person has perished from the land,

And there is no upright person among men.

All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;

Each of them hunts the other with a net.

Concerning evil, both hands do it well.

The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,

And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;

So they weave it together.

The best of them is like a briar,

The most upright like a thorn hedge.

The day when you post your watchmen,

Your punishment will come.

Then their confusion will occur.

Do not trust in a neighbor;

Do not have confidence in a friend.

From her who lies in your bosom

Guard your lips.

For son treats father contemptuously,

Daughter rises up against her mother,

Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.

(Micah 7:1-6)

And some of them, I have heard in a recent radio broadcast claim that it is biblical and correct to be contentious with error, because he’s contending for biblical truth, that it is justified because Jesus Christ has not come to bring peace, but a sword, and that those who speak biblical truth will fight for it by speaking out against doctrinal errors.  The twisting of this mindset and the self-righteous presumption that produces the self-justification in those who embrace results in the bitter fruits of divisiveness, dissensions, slanders, gossips, and creating in those who practice these works of the flesh masquerading as “discernment” (a twisting of the meaning in 1Corinthians 12:10b “distinguishing of spirits”) an air of religious spiritual and theological superiority.  These people actually believe themselves to be defenders of the faith fighting heresy and apostasy within the church by publicly attacking legitimate Christian ministries with whom they have doctrinal disagreements.  Some of them are credentialed, and because of their reputation and notoriety as “discerners,” one evil report from them spells the death knell of any Christian ministry, because they hold such sway over a large part of the church and have a sizeable following from whom they get their support.  This is how they make their living, not by preaching the Gospel, but by slandering others without first having contacted them to discuss privately their disagreements.  Beloved brethren, this is not biblical discernment, it is tale bearing, gossip, and bearing false witness.  In the world, it is known as “digging up dirt.”  Is this was Christ has enjoined us to do, and to do it with one another?  No.  Absolutely not.

Thus, seeing the signs of what Christ has warned us to look for, not just the obvious false prophets and false teachers peddling their wares on television and radio, who preach a false gospel of materialism and false entitlement – we know who they are – but those within our body, within the church – Christians targeting other Christians; I have used the strongest terms possible to describe the behavior, public statements, and writings of those who have engaged in this type of activity, and the best way to do it is to quote them entirely, and allow their own words to be the evidence of why I say these brethren have engaged in the most egregious public behavior against a fellow believer and servant of God I have ever witnessed in my lifetime.  This is not hyperbole, this is fact, and here I present the evidence of it in their own words, as I have exposed and biblically addressed their writings, posting my responses on my website, The Pepster’s Post: A Voice in Cyberspace, as well as having written it in the form of my book, The Truth about The Harbinger: Addressing the Controversy and Discovering the Facts About This Prophetic Message in 2013.

Here we will examine both the reason and use of such terms and their application to the current topic regarding these men and their ministries by first examining the definition, hermeneutic, biblical, and dialectical application of each word, while putting each word in the context of what we present using the words spoken or written by The Harbinger’s critics as they spoke them in interviews and wrote them in either articles, journals, or David James’ infamous polemic which should never have made it to print, but discussed thoroughly with Rabbi Cahn and others with the biblical knowledge to address all aspects of the controversy.  Unfortunately, Lord willing as we will see, it was not done as it should have been done, and everything was hastily put together in order to rebut the message of The Harbinger and diminish both its rising popularity among Christian Evangelicals, and non-Evangelicals, and to blunt and discredit it.

While it is true that I have used this strong language to address the critics of The Harbinger, some of whom are brethren of ours in the faith, something that I have had absolutely no desire or delight in doing, but was compelled by the actions and statements these made against Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn and his book during the years 2012 and 2013 – actions and statements that compelled me to address these biblically because I was witnessing a group of misguided but zealous professing Christian men (and some women too) attack a book and its author none had ever met – some by their own admission, “had never even heard of before” (David James, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? pg. , 2012 The Berean Call, Bend, Oregon), and in some cases, a book some of them had not read themselves, but had gone on the information that was initially given to them from David James, as DeYoung admits in an early interview (3-9-2012).  This is not fiction, this is fact. 

The Harbinger was released on January 3^rd, 2012.  On the day of its release, Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn appeared on Pat Robertson’s 700 Club.  When Brannon Howse interviewed Jimmy DeYoung, while David James was finishing his write-up of The Harbinger, on Howse’s Worldview Weekend radio program on March 9^th, 2012, the two gentlemen (Howse and DeYoung, but especially DeYoung) trashed The Harbinger without having read it, or spoken with Rabbi Cahn about it, and DeYoung in no uncertain terms proceeded to call Jonathan Cahn a “false prophet” and a “false teacher” who “mishandles God’s Word!”)  [These are striking accusations and epithets Mr. DeYoung applied to Jonathan Cahn.]  This is in spite of the fact that it was as early as January 6^th, 2012, Jimmy DeYoung had contacted David James via e-mail to share his apprehensions of The Harbinger after viewing Pat Robertson’s interview of Pastor Jonathan Cahn on the 700 Club three days before.  According to David James, Jimmy DeYoung provided in that e-mail a link to the interview which he watched. (David James, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?  from the Preface on pg. 13, The Berean Call, Bend, Oregon, 2012) 

Between this early January interview on DeYoung’s radio program Prophecy Today, and Brannon Howse’s interview of Jimmy DeYoung on his radio program, Worldview Weekend on March 9^th of that year, two entire months had passed and neither men had read The Harbinger, but were quick to trash it without getting the facts for themselves, but going on the word of David James, who wasted no time to obtain a copy of the book almost upon its release, and proceed to pick it apart to write a “review” of it.  From the get go, Mr. James was already, like Mr. DeYoung pre-disposed against it, and it shows in his writing.  He went to great lengths to describe the contents of The Harbinger in the most unfavorable light possible.  His arguments were cleverly tailored to interpolate a different narrative into The Harbinger that it did not contain, and to present its author as “disingenuous and misleading.” (David James, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?, page 32, The Berean Call, Bend, Oregon, 2012.)

The reader must realize that The Harbinger was released on January 3^rd, David James received and answered Jimmy DeYoung’s e-mail on January 6^th about his apprehensions about the book, and he appeared on January 7^th, the next day, having read through the book in one day, to criticize it roundly.   He spared no argument that he could use to present The Harbinger as unscriptural as possible.

I had been blogging since April 12^th, 2010, mostly about social-political issues of the day.  My articles were as diverse as GLOBALISM: BEYOND THE RIGHT-LEFT PARADIGM, to Rabbinical Judaism’s Chokehold on Jewishness.  I even included my seven-part series of teachings on the resurrection titled, THE RESURRECTION – A REEXAMINATION OF THE EVIDENCE – PART ONE and the others in successive order.

My first article addressing the critics of The Harbinger was Critiquing the Critics of The Harbinger.  Believe or not, I wrote and posted it on as late a date as October 1^st, 2012; a year to the date prior to the release of my book, The Truth about The Harbinger: Addressing the Controversy and Discovering the Facts About This Prophetic Message!  The Harbinger  had already been out for ten months and had taken the nation by storm.  Someone at the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center had approached me regarding a group of Evangelicals who had come together to criticize The Harbinger.  This person provided me with the link to Cessationist Brannon Howse’s Worldview Weekend radio broadcast in which the host interviewed another Evangelical Cessationist named Jimmy DeYoung on The Harbinger – this was the infamous Brannon Howse/Jimmy DeYoung broadcast, held on March 9^th,  2012 in an e-mail she had sent to Brannon Howse, the host of the show containing the link to the interview.  This was one of several interviews on The Harbinger its critics throughout the year.  I had already been acquainted with Brannon Howse’s Worldview Weekend broadcasts and had enjoyed many of them, and had found many of them informative and balanced up until then, but I was about to get shocked with what I was about to hear on this broadcast of Mr. Howse’s program.

The Berean Calls’ online library, appropriately named The Berean Library, with a subtitle of “Identifying False Teaching in Christian Bookstores,” libels Jonathan Cahn as a false teacher and displays the following, The Harbinger ~ The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future by Jonathan Cahn (Bad Fruit) calling the New York Times bestseller as “bad fruit” from the pen of Rabbi Cahn.  A most unfortunate personal attack against a fellow servant of Jesus Christ.  This is not atypical of these self-styled avatars of “discernment,” they’ve been known to do this many times before, and it is interesting that it is usually the same seven or eight who engage in this type of activity against people within the church.

This study will be broken in various parts.  Below is their breakdown in this series. 

Part One – will contain a list of the dates and programs with the names of hosts and critics of The Harbinger, (may be a partial one, since these are the ones I am aware of from various sources) all of which I have strived to be as accurate as possible in handling – of the various programs The Harbinger was reviewed and discussed by its critics – the group responsible for launching what became the egregious and unfortunate example of a misreading I have ever witnessed; a misadventure by some well-meaning, but extremely irresponsible individuals who took it upon themselves to criticize the work of another without first consulting him privately about it.  For Part One, I’ve broken down this list by each show where The Harbinger and or Jonathan Cahn was attacked by these people, so that under each heading is the name of the show and participants who discussed and attacked The Harbinger and Jonathan Cahn.  Each list for each show is in chronological order. 

Part Two – will contain direct quoted transcripts of each program that aired through 2012, and what was discussed in those programs regarding The Harbinger and or Jonathan Cahn.  This will present with the statements these gentlemen made as a testimony and a record of statements made by critics of The Harbinger, therefore it is presented here a direct statements David James, Jimmy DeYoung, T.A. McMahon, Brannon Howse, .  Also included here the relatively fair and impartial reviews of The Harbinger during 2012, as well by Chris Pinto and Chris Rosebrough, Jan Markell and others.  The statements will be presented “as is” or rather as they were made without interpretation or rebuttal, but allowed to stand on their own merits.  For Part Two, the list will be broken down not by show, but by date chronologically.

Part Three – will contain direct quoted transcripts of each program that aired through 2013, and what was discussed in those programs regarding The Harbinger and or Jonathan Cahn.  This will present with the statements these gentlemen made as a testimony and a record of statements made by critics of The Harbinger, therefore it is presented here a direct statements made by these critics.  Also included here will interviews where Jonathan Cahn and The Harbinger are brought up in passing, or are the focus of these gentlemen during 2014, as well by Chris Pinto and Chris Rosebrough, Jan Markell and others.  The statements will be presented “as is” or rather as they were made without interpretation or rebuttal, but allowed to stand on their own merits.  For Part Three, the list will be broken down not by show, but by date chronologically.

It should surprise no one that the same person at the epicenter of this controversy has called me a liar, and has accused me repeatedly of misrepresenting the facts, of mischaracterizations, as well as egregious errors of interpretation and judgment; much the same of which I have originally said of him and other critics of The Harbinger of doing.  These accusations have come from one individual – David James – who is very adept at projecting himself and his actions on to others, and has in at least one conversation on the topic (an interview with Susan Puzio on her radio program), alluded to my statements without explaining (of course) the context in they were made or the biblical application of them.  Since David James has so often insisted during our discussions on Amazon.com, claiming that I and other defenders of The Harbinger (such as Ladybug on Amazon, Connie/Faith on Faith’s Corner, and others) have mischaracterized and slandered him and the other critics of The Harbinger, it would be prudent and intellectually honest of him to have cited examples of this rather than just throw the charge out there and expect people to believe his charges at face value.  The problem with this is that in order to effectively do this, he would have to address what I have written regarding his mishandling of The Harbinger, and how he has libeled and put a minister of the Gospel to open reproach in the public’s eye; this would open him up to more criticism regarding both his methods and his hermeneutics, and the fix would be self-incriminating for him in the long run.  This would force him to cite biblical examples, and since he cannot because his narrative does not support them, he deflects all criticisms of himself and redirects them on to the defenders of The Harbinger.  The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? is nothing but a string of arguments with an occasional passage of Scripture, but it is not biblical.  But is this possible?  Yes.  Satan quoted Scripture to Christ, but that did not make his arguments biblical.  David James’ polemic is precisely that.

When I first became involved in this controversy, it had been brought to my attention a fellow congregant of the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center, who directed my attention to the link which took me to Brannon Howse’s infamous interview of Jimmy DeYoung – the first time I had heard of DeYoung, though I was already aware of Howse’s Worldview Weekend radio program, and had in fact enjoyed each broadcast up until that time.  There was a time when the content of each show was real, contained relative and substantive information and not the latest heresy some Christian minister might be allegedly (according to Howse) be preaching in some dark corner of the continent.  At one time, Brannon Howse was not a “ambulance chasing heresy hunter,” but spoke issues that were important to Christian Evangelicals.  It is a sad thing to send how his show has been trending in recent years.

Because none of these gentlemen had ever met (and as far as I knew at that time), or knew up front Jonathan Cahn’s faith and his teachings as had come to know them and know them now, I was certain that this could be resolved biblically and reasonably among brethren who were of the same faith and hope of our calling.  After all, I was certain that when these men would be presented with the facts put forward correctly using proper exegesis and using a biblically accurate hermeneutic, with the data also presented, each in its historical context, we could all reach a consensus, and the matter would resolved.  After all, when I examined David James’ contentions and the objections of other critics of The Harbinger, I was convinced that once the facts were presented to them, they would retract what they said and wrote about the book and its author.  They were sincere Christians, weren’t they?  I was in for a rude shock and awakening.

In the beginning, I honestly and innocently believed that if one were to present to these gentlemen the facts; dates – biblical and historical – its hermeneutical application in the light of our discussions what had been written and said about them – that this matter could and would be at the very least, partially resolved, because in the face of this information and raw data provided to them, which it is obvious they had not considered because they never presented it when they made their case against The Harbinger; The Harbinger’s critics would realize the errors they made and retract if not most of what they had written and said against the book and its author, and apologize for having made them – the divisiveness their acts and statements, and articles and book had been would have been mitigated considerably by their penance.  Sincere people, when faced with new information that rebuts their own, make apologies and retract falsehoods.

So I contacted first Brannon Howse by private e-mail to address the unfortunate interview he gave Jimmy DeYoung, one of The Harbinger’s earliest critics, and the one who contacted David James to look into it after watching Pat Robertson’s interview of Rabbi Cahn on the 700 Club, the day The Harbinger was released very early in the year.  As a matter of fact, it was Jimmy DeYoung who interviewed David James on his own radio program, Prophecy Today, to discuss The Harbinger as early as January 7^th, 2012.

Well, I first contacted Brannon Howse by e-mail and presented to him a transcript I had written of the broadcast of March 9^th, 2012 in which I answered and rebutted point by point every statement uttered on that unfortunate show, and thought that Mr. Howse, a brother in Christ, would have extended me the courtesy of a reply to my e-mail, at the very least, offering an apology for having allowed such rash and slanderous statements to be aired on his program.  I never got it.  That was my first big surprise.

I next made contact with David James, the author of a polemic against The Harbinger and the man at the epicenter of this entire controversy whose polemic T.A. McMahon had offered to publish through the Berean Call early at the start of the controversy.  Our first contacts were mutually cordial, and I asked him early on if he was a Cessationist, to which he replied in the affirmative.  With this understanding, I proceeded to correspond with him, and to write to him on his website at the Alliance for Biblical Integrity.

The second big surprise I received was the reaction I received from David James to the information I had shared with him, both in private e-mails, and in discussions on his website, as well as postings on The Pepster’s Post: A Voice in Cyberspace.  As I had mentioned, early on I was convinced that the people at the epicenter of this controversy were sincere but misguided professing Christians, who when presented with the facts; would examine and consider them, and perhaps retract at least some of what they had said and written in public forums, print articles, Internet articles, and on radio, and last in David James’ own book.  I was in for a rather rude awakening with David James as well. 

I had not known and was not aware that for months, another blogger, Connie/Faith had purchased a copy of The Harbinger and David James’ The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? and read through both books, and later addressed what Mr. James had written rather clearly and biblically by private correspondence, by postings on David James’ website, The Alliance for Biblical Integrity, and on her own website, Faith’s Corner.  Because Connie/Faith was a Cessationist, she didn’t make the error of mistaking The Harbinger for a work of predictive prophecy or of eschatology, but for what it is – a prophetic warning and call to God’s people and the nation to repentance written as a work of fiction, but containing factual events that have taken place in recent years, commencing on 9/11.  Her sober analysis had already addressed much of The Harbinger’s critics’ contentions.  I contacted Connie/Faith and discovered that she also had corresponded with David James with the same results as me, but neither of us discussed the details of our exchanges with the ubiquitous David James.  While he could claim that The Harbinger was at the top of the charts in popularity among Christian Evangelicals, during the year of 2012, David James made the rounds of many radio program to trash The Harbinger and promote his own book.  For a time, he was everywhere, discussing The Harbinger and promoting his book.

I discovered, as other defenders of The Harbinger had, that neither David James or any of the other critics in his group were listening.  They didn’t listen to Connie/Faith, they didn’t listen to Ladybug, they didn’t listen to the others, and now they were not listening to me.  What’s more, David James and his colleagues had convinced themselves and those within their circle of “trusted men” that their cause was right therefore any attempt to discuss the matter with them would prove academic – a labor in pure futility.  This was the same type of theological stubbornness I had encountered when engaging missionaries of the Watchtower Bible and Track Society of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other cults such as the Jesus Only and Black Israelites I had encountered in the late 70s when I worked in New York City; but – with one minor exception among a small group of Prosperity Gospel-Name it and Claim It brethren my wife and I met – this was the first time I encountered this type of behavior among professing Mainline Christian Evangelicals. 

I was taken aback and surprised and extremely disappointed, especially by the blowback I got from David James later on.  I soon came to realize that David James and his friends were either sincerely completely misguided and misguiding others, or not so sincerely misguided and misguiding others.  It was either one or the other, but not both.  One thing was for certain regardless of which group they fell into, they were most assuredly misguiding others about The Harbinger and Jonathan Cahn, and it needed to be corrected and addressed biblically by someone in book form.

Eventually, I was compelled to write a biblical examination of all of these claims against The Harbinger, containing some of what I had already written during the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 included, as well as other material, but as I was writing this book, I had not approached anyone about it, nor told anyone, but David James that I was working on a book that biblically addressed what he had written in his book against The Harbinger.  I had posted this on my website, The Pepster’s Post: A Voice in Cyberspace, but beyond that, it was few whom I told about it.  By the early part of this year, as I was seeking the Lord about continuing to write on The Harbinger, or to move on to other projects, and was awaiting word from the Lord as to what to do, I received an offer to write the book.  This book became eventually The Truth About The Harbinger.

Interest in The Harbinger did not come exclusively from its critics, and I don’t want the reader to come away with the false impression that the list below represents all of the various radio and television programs that reviewed and covered The Harbinger in the years 2012-13, but the list below is mostly comprised of those who gave it negative reviews, with the exception of Chris Pinto and Chris Rosebrough, who were unbiased and extremely well-balanced in their reviews of the New York Times bestseller.  The actual list that compromises positive reviews of The Harbinger dwarfs this list by a margin of more than three or four to one.  Because we are addressing the critics and what they have said and written, we are not including positive reviews here.

During the months of 2012 it had become evident that many of The Harbinger’s critics were following every interview, every book signing, every statement made by Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, to attack any statement, any declaration, or any question he answered as ammunition to continue their program of discrediting and maligning him.  This was a classic case of stalking, and I had never in thirty-seven years of walking in God’s grace, had ever witnessed such a behavior by one group of Christian Evangelicals towards another.  This is no exaggeration, and I have produced below in this report the list where the reader may see for themselves the frequency and continuation and repetitiveness where these same people specifically targeted Jonathan Cahn to publicly discuss him in the most unfavorable manner possible.  It is a sad and classic textbook example of how Christians are not to treat other Christians in public, and I present it here in the form of transcripts of their own words.  Jesus warned us to be very careful in our speech.  He was clear about it when He said, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)  And James, the Lord’s brother, also in the Holy Spirit wrote:

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)

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?  Nor can salt water produce fresh.

(James 3:1-12)

Now take special note in how proper Christian dialogue is described and contrasted to dialogue that is rooted in bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and arrogance which James says lies against the truth – and brethren, isn’t this what bearing false witness against another does?  Isn’t a false and erroneous report itself a lie against the truth?  James in the Holy Spirit, calls it such, and that is what it is; a lie against the truth, which itself has an appearance of truth, but is nothing but a lie.  And James makes it clear that the wisdom that produces it is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, and even calls it demonic!  We read:

Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.  This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 

(James 3:13-17)

Now take note in how the wisdom that is from above; from the Holy Spirit of God, from the Lord, from Jesus Christ Himself is described – and take note the fruit that it produces:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(James 3:17-18)

The wisdom of God is pure, peaceable, gentle, it can be reasoned with, if merciful, produces good results, does not change, is sincere and not duplicitous, and it is righteous, and sown in peace by those who work towards peace.  Where is this in the way The Harbinger’s critics wrote and spoke regarding their brother Jonathan Cahn and The Harbinger?  Where is this in the way they have ignored and even spoken about those who called them out for their public statements and behavior after being warned by others about what they had done?

Is it possible that well-meaning Christian brethren, experienced and knowledgeable ministers of God’s Word who’ve spent years dedicated to defending the faith against heretics and charlatans, and all manner of cults and unbelievers could err and even get carried away by their own zeal without realizing that they have done so against a fellow brother; a fellow minister of the faith?  And to even do so, and after it has become too late for them to stop and reverse what has been done against that brother?  Yes, of course it is possible, and it has been done more often than we care to admit ourselves. 

This is the sad record of God’s people in history, and Christians – whether well-meaning or wrongfully in wrath with malice in their hearts – do it all the time, otherwise James would not had written in the Holy Spirit as he did above.  Man is fallible.  He makes mistakes, sometimes terrible mistakes.  The critics of The Harbinger thought they were on to something when they first mounted their attacks on The Harbinger in 2012, but as their contentions were examined closely by biblically knowledgeable Christians, they were discovered to be nothing but contrivances developed through a total misreading of the book and clever interpretative interpolations inserted into its narrative by David James in his polemic, all of which his “trusted men,” who rubber stamped his “concerns” gave their hearty approval, even justifying how Jonathan Cahn was mistreated during 2012 and 2013.  This is very sad, and does not speak well of God’s church.

Psalms 15:1–5

“O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”

Additional PsalmsPsalms 48:1–14, Psalms 4:1–8

I have been writing in response to critics of The Harbinger since late last year.  There are a myriad of articles also that I’ve addressed, some others I have yet to address, much of these I have already addressed and my articles can be accessed at my website, The Pepster’s Post: A Voice in Cyberspace.

I have had the privilege to have what is a front row seat to the teachings and messages that Pastor Cahn has given over a ten year period which comprise the message of The Harbinger, and I know these messages very well.  What’s more, I also have read The Harbinger for myself several times, and I know Pastor Cahn personally.  None of The Harbinger’s critics can make this claim, and those who wrote their polemic against the book, cannot make any of these claims.  It is my close and intimate knowledge of the topic, the one who has taught it for ten years in various messages which eventually became what the book contains, and know personally firsthand all of the aspects of this topic that needs to be known in order to examine it in the most thorough and biblical manner possible that has enabled me to write The Truth about The Harbinger: Addressing the Controversy and Discovering the Facts About This Prophetic Message and get it published October 1^st of this year.

I was planning and had desired to end my discussions addressing the criticisms against The Harbinger and move on to other projects, and had prepared to do so after the publication of my book The Truth about The Harbinger: Addressing the Controversy and Discovering the Facts About This Prophetic Message on October 1^st of 2013; but it had become increasingly evident from certain objections raised by one of them to my article about Pastor Gary Gilley’s brief but highly charged broadside that it was not enough for me and others to warn these brethren that their approach and methods, and their treatment of a brother in the faith – Jonathan Cahn – a fellow minister in service to Jesus Christ no less; the language they used against him, and their behavior towards those – like myself – who brought these things to their attention; was not enough to tell them of this, the evidence for it had to be presented to them, because they had become convinced in their minds that they had done no wrong and had not sinned in what they did to Jonathan Cahn for two years – 2012 and 2013. 

Having made this clear, we now go on, and again express our appreciation to these critics for allowing me to fully examine everything possible according to the Scriptures, to verify both the efficacy of the message of The Harbinger and its particulars to the light of God’s Word, while we address man’s contentions with it.  In doing this, we understand the purpose of such divisions these arguments pose to the body, and while we lament them, we also so God’s purpose in this, as Paul does when he writes in the Holy Spirit the following.  I quote:

But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.  But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.  For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.  For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

(1Corinthians 11:16-19)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)  I believe that God more than amply supplies what is necessary to validate something that is His by allowing critics of it to have their say, and then raising His servants to defend it biblically.  In the case of The Harbinger, He has used the critics to compel His people to get their noses back in their Bibles to verify the content of this incredible New York Times bestseller.  The critics of The Harbinger have allowed all of us to closely examine the Scriptural, historical, and public records available to us, and the arguments they present, so that we may biblically arrive at a definitive conclusion about this topic and address its clarion call to all of God’s people and the leaders of this nation, and its citizens to know the degenerate state we are in, seek God, and call upon the name of Jesus Christ in full personal repentance individually and then collectively as a nation.  This is something all Jews, Christians – Jewish Messianics, Evangelicals, and all people of faith can agree with and do, and we must do it sincerely and fervently to avert disaster.

Brethren, this is why I am compelled to present here the record of what has been done to Jonathan Cahn, and to do so in the writings and words of those who did it.  But let me make this absolutely clear to everyone, and write this in the sight of God before whom I must account, I am not doing this in malice, nor am I doing this in revenge, nor to prove anything, nor to show myself as though I had any knowledge above theirs.  I do this so as to compel my beloved brethren who have erred, and have done so seriously, to truly search their hearts, remember these words, seek the Lord about them, repent of any wrong – whether self-actualized or not – just repent to God’s mercy for their sakes, and to make their apologies to their brother whom they have injured wrongfully, and commit that they shall never again engage themselves in this manner against another Christian minister.  This is not Christian Apologetics, it is slander, and slander is expressly forbidden in God’s Word, and it is so egregious that it has made into our civil law as one of the most objectionable actions one party can take upon another.  That is how serious this is.

These brethren must see their own reflection in the mirror.  I think they’re like Dorian Gray, who having an image of his likeness immortalized on canvass; they too have had an image of themselves immortalized in the tapestry of their minds, who – like Gray – have kept it well hidden in an locked upper room, and have forgotten what they really look like.  It is my intent to open wide that door so that they may see the true likeness of themselves immortalized in their own words and compel them to repentance.  I am no better than they, no one is.  I am only a concerned brother trying to help them find their way back, just as I would expect a concerned brother or sister to do with me if I were ever to digress from the grace of God in my treatment of another brother, and stray into a dark and dangerous place as they have.

Now I understand why some of these brethren would wish that this would go away, but as long as they continue to harangue other Christians over secondary and tertiary matters where they have disagreements and consign them to gates of hell over them, and speak publicly against them, I will continue to write about this, and expose this aberrant behavior, because it is not the biblical manner of dealing with differences; one does not treat a brother the way they treat an unbeliever and false prophet or false teaching who teaches against the clear doctrines of God’s Word.  Theological differences can exist between Christians, but they are not to try to resolve them by publicly slandering their fellow servants over them on the Internet and in print media, or on radio.  This is not how it’s done.  Differences are discussed biblically without resorting to personal attacks, but in being good “Bereans” by thoroughly investigating according to the Scriptures every aspect of the differences until a consensus is reached from God’s Word.  Of course, this must be done prayerfully, invoking the name of the Lord Jesus and asking the Holy Spirit of God to impart enlightenment to those involved.  This we must do.

Now before I complete this project, I may make changes to the order of these summary parts, but these are part of my wrapping up my involvement with this controversy as I move on to other pending projects in the Lord which I must finish, which I had temporarily set aside in late 2012/early 2013.  By God’s grace, I am relatively satisfied, though not fully, that I have addressed the unbiblical practices of those involved in this controversy, and have sounded the alarm to them that they must repent, must take immediate remedial action on their part for what they have done and said against another servant of Christ, retract all of the false and unbiblical accusations, charges, and arguments, and post corrections to them, as well as apologize for them directly to the offended party – Jonathan Cahn – and ask his forgiveness, and above all – God’s whom they have offended.  If they do not do this, and as of this writing they have not, they are still in their sins and wilfully at variance with God’s written Word and the commandments contained therein.  I have nothing to do with this, I am only pointing this out.  May their blood be upon their own heads.  I and others have repeatedly warned them like the prophets repeatedly warned the kings of Israel and Judah.

Jose J. Bernal

Systems Analyst

As a man thinks within himself, so he is.

Proverbs 23:7a

The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:33

"Do not petition G-d to go where you are going; rather find where G-d is going and travel with Him."-- Unknown Jewish Wise Man

"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer not neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.".--- Author Unknown

"It’s not failure, but the fear of failure that stops most people.”-- Philip Anschutz

"THERE IS NOTHING MORE FRIGHTENING THAN ACTIVE IGNORANCE." -- Goethe

"To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." - Unknown Author

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life, as by the obstacles that he has overcome while trying to succeed.” – Booker Taliaferro Washington, 1856 – 1915

“ A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us. ”— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Truth is in history, but history is not the truth." - Nicolás Gómez Dávila

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PART ONE

A LIST OF THE PROGRAMS AND AIR DATES WHERE THE HARBINGER WAS DISCUSSED BY ITS CRITICS DURING 2012-2014

The following is a list of some of the interviews these critics of The Harbinger had during the coming months from the beginning of 2012 and the end of 2013.  This is as exhaustive a list as I could compile from the records available to me.  There is the possibility of other broadcasts where The Harbinger was discussed and criticized, but what is below is what I could gather from my own records and podcasts, as well as those of unnamed but well-trusted sources to which I am most grateful for their assistance.  In some cases, some of the transcripts quoted here were compiled either by myself or these sources, or from original archives.  This is the public record verbatim of what these critics of The Harbinger have said about the book and about its author, Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, a fellow servant in the Lord and brother in the faith for which these men claim they, like he and us, contend.  Listening to these broadcasts, and the publication of a polemic against The Harbinger by David James, as well as Internet articles posted against it the urban legends they created by its critics, compelled me to write a biblically-based correction to these that was published on Tuesday, October 1th, 2013 titled, The Truth about The Harbinger: Addressing the Controversy and Discovering the Facts About This Prophetic Message because they had to be answered and laid to rest once and for all.

The List of Programs, Guests, with Dates:

On Thursday, January 5^th, 2012, Chris Pinto spoke of The Harbinger on his Noise of Thunder Radio (NOR) program.  In it Mr. Pinto was non-committal either way, but extremely fair in his review of The Harbinger, perhaps the only truly impartial reviewer among this group of men (Jimmy DeYoung, David James, T.A. McMahon, Brannon Howse, Gary Gilley, Thomas Ice, Paul Barreca, Mark Dinsmore, Ken Silva and Paul D. Van Noy,) to have discussed the book.  Chris Pinto has wisely kept himself away from the controversy, and as far as I can determine, has not spoken about The Harbinger any further.  But unlike these other men, Mr. Pinto is not an ambulance chasing heresy hunter, but keeps his programs almost exclusively focused on biblical topics pertaining to history, eschatology, apologetics, current religious and political trends, America’s Judeo-Christian roots, its founders, and the Gospel.  Interestingly, it was through this broadcast that Connie/Faith of Faith’s Corner says she was originally introduced to The Harbinger, and she commends Mr. Pinto’s review as more often “spiritually more trustworthy than most, biblical and true.”  Now I’ve included Mr. Pinto’s review of The Harbinger here, but I do not consider him a critic of The Harbinger or of Pastor Cahn, because he really did not review The Harbinger to criticize it, but was fair and neutral in handling the material, as one would expect one Christian minister to be towards another brother’s and fellow minister’s work before he has had an opportunity to discuss it with him in private.  Therefore, though it is included here among the list of reviews made primarily by The Harbinger’s critics, it really is here as evidence of how early The Harbinger had attracted attention when it first came out.  To my knowledge, this was the first public review of The Harbinger made on radio by a member of this group.  Mr. Pinto’s radio show, Noise of Thunder is posted on Brannon Howse’s Worldview Weekend Radio, but I do not know how deep his connections are with Mr. Howse, who is one of the most vociferous critics of The Harbinger, and proud of it.  At this time, I do not know if Mr. Pinto had viewed Pat Robertson’s interview of Rabbi Jonathan Cahn on the 700 Club when he aired his review of it on his show, Noise of Thunder that Thursday, January 5^th, 2012.

DAVID JAMES’ APPEARANCES ON JIMMY DEYOUNG’S PROPHECY TODAY RADIO PROGRAM

The following list contains the twelve times that The Harbinger has been discussed and trashed on Prophecy Today; Jimmy DeYoung’s radio program.  David James is a frequent guest of Jimmy’s on this program, but these were the specific dates where he commented on The Harbinger to trash it, and libel Jonathan Cahn as some kind of false teacher or false prophet, if not by calling him that outright (either gentlemen), then by implying it within the narrative of his book and articles and in conversation during these interviews. 

The reader will note that the dates of Wednesday, April 4^th, 2012 and Saturday, October 6^th, 2012 were dates when he aired a discussion/debate he and David James had with Jonathan Cahn on The Harbinger.  But make no mistake about it, David James was involved in preparing to write against The Harbinger very early on, from the get go, as a matter of fact, even as early as Saturday, January 7^th, 2012, two days after its release.

On Saturday, January 7^th, 2012 DJ - TH (1.7.2012) Jimmy DeYoung viewed the 700 Club interview of Jonathan, contacted David James, and the two men trashed it here for the first time.

On Saturday, March 10^th, 2012 James-3-10-12 Jimmy DeYoung & David James II In these first broadcasts – Jonathan Cahn was accused of everything from Replacement Theology – to trying to deceive Jewish people – to Being a false prophet who will be cut off.  David James was a guest trashing The Harbinger.

On Saturday, March 17^th, 2012 DJ - TH (3.17.2012)

On Saturday, March 24^th, 2012 DJ - TH (3.24.2012)

On Wednesday, April 4^Th, 2012 james-cahn (4-.4.2012) The “debate” with Jimmy DeYoung & David James – only after Rabbi Cahn wrote a few times asking for them to allow him to answer these outrageously false charges.

On Thursday, April 12^Th, 2012 DJ - TH  (5.12.2012)  Here David James announces that a major Christian ministry (The Berean Call) wanted to publish his book.

On Saturday, June 9^Th, 2012 DJ - TH  (6.9.2012) Jimmy DeYoung & David James – insinuating Jonathan Cahn had Mormon connections.

On Saturday, August 4^Th, 2012 DJ - TH (8.4.2012)

On Saturday, August 25^Th, 2012 DJ - TH (8.25.2012)

On Saturday, October 6^th, 2012 cahn interview (10-6-12)

On Saturday, June 1^st, 2013 DJ - TH - (6.1.2013)

On Saturday, January 4^th, 2014 DJ - TH - (1.4.2014) In this broadcast Jimmy DeYoung again promotes DJ’s book, and both men trash The Harbinger.

VARIOUS OTHER RADIO PROGRAMS WHERE THE CRITICS DISCUSSED THE HARBINGER IN 2012

On Friday, March 9^th, 2012, Brannon Howse interviews Jimmy DeYoung on Worldview Weekend on The Harbinger BEFORE both men have read the book, and trash it; Jimmy DeYoung calls Jonathan Cahn a “false prophet,” and a “false teacher.”  This is what I call “the infamous interview” where I was introduced to this growing controversy by a member of our congregation at Beth Israel’s Jerusalem Center.  In these first broadcasts – Jonathan Cahn was accused of everything from Replacement Theology – to trying to deceive Jewish people – to

Being a false prophet who will be cut off.  Brannon Howse & Jimmy DeYoung. 

On Friday, March 30^th, 2012, Brannon Howse did an interview with Jonathan Cahn on Worldview Weekend.  I heard that interview (but only once) and it was very well done, very cordial and it seemed as though Brannon and Jonathan would be friends in the end.  When Brannon Howse allowed others to  do his thinking for him that he went off the rails on this topic.  Brannon later said that he removed that interview from his Situation Room archives.  It may have been on the June 26, 2012 broadcast.  March 30^th, 2012: Brannon Howse & Jonathan Cahn – after pressing for the chance to answer.

Brannon Howse: Aired Friday, June 22, 2012
Brannon’s guest is Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. Topic: Dr. DeYoung and Brannon begin this week’s program by discussing a recent radio program by a “discernment ministry” defending the book, The Harbinger. The program included, in a negative manner, a discussion of individuals that have rightfully been concerned with the book The Harbinger. In addition, the host of this program wrote a WND.com article that Jonathan Cahn, the author of The Harbinger “…got stuck with unraveling a code given to him by God.” As Dr. DeYoung explained, this is a major issue. Today, God is NOT giving anyone code to unravel. God is not giving extra Biblical revelation today. If God is giving an individual a code then that would make that person a prophet and the office of prophet is closed because the cannon of Scripture is closed. This is not a small issue or a side-bar issue or a non-essential issue. This issue is actually at the heart of defending the authority and supremacy of Scripture. Brannon explains how he actually interviewed Jonathan Cahn for 54 minutes because Mr. Cahn requested the opportunity to address the concerns that Dr. DeYoung expressed about The Harbinger in a previous program with Brannon. Worldview Weekend Radio has sought to be fair and offer both sides of this debate yet at the end of the day, we understand that there are some legitimate concerns with The Harbinger and we appreciate the men that are addressing their concerns about such important doctrinal issues. Brannon and Dr. DeYoung believe that some people seem to be about destroying people and not destroying arguments raised up against the Lord. However, respectfully disagreeing with the author of the book, The Harbinger, as men like Dr. DeYoung, T.A. McMahon of the Berean Call, and Pastor Gary Gilley have done is not being cantankerous nor are they being “modern-day Pharisees.” Topic: Results of Egyptian Presidential elections, delayed, which sets the stage for a disaster in Egypt. Topic: Iranian delay tactics in nuclear talks sets the world on edge. Topic: The Syrian situation is getting worse as Russia and China backed the Assad regime.

Brannon Howse: Aired Tuesday, June 26, 2012
On today’s program Brannon reveals his concern over Jonathan Cahn, author of the Harbinger appearing on the June 26, 27 program of Glenn Beck to talk about getting America back to God. Beck does not worship the God of the Bible as a self-described Mormon. Cahn has also been a guest on the television program of Sid Roth and Sid Roth’s endorsement is on the cover of The Harbinger. Hear audio of Cahn on Roth’s program. Hear audio clips of Roth pushing silly signs and wonders as well as audio of Roth promoting, praising, and interviewing Todd Bentley of the “Lakeland Revival.” Cahn’s publisher Charisma house (sic) has also published the books of Perry Stone on “How to interpret dreams and visions” as well as the book by “Apostle” John Eckhardt. Cahn has also been a guest on the television program of Jim Bakker in the past few months. Brannon explains why he believes that The Harbinger is exposing evangelicals to what they normally would not accept and questions why evangelicals and “discernment ministry” leaders that claim to be watchmen on the wall would not see the problem with The Harbinger or Cahn’s associations. Brannon also expresses his concern and disappointment that Jan Markell, at the time of this broadcast, has Cahn on her ministry website as speaking at her fall conference. Jan has also written that Cahn “…got stuck with unraveling a code given to him by God.” God is not giving extra-biblical revelation. The Harbinger is an example of teachers and teaching going mainstream that not so many years ago would have been considered silly and foolish at best and unbiblical at worst. In an article published at wnd.com Jan tries to say that the critics of Cahn’s book have not followed Matthew 18. This is not a Matthew 18 issue. Matthew 18 is about church discipline and personal and private sin of a believer. Mr. Cahn’s book is a public issue and Matthew 18 does not apply. Some “discernment ministries” need to apply better discernment and proper hermeneutics or they are going to continue to attack the good and support the bad based on their own feelings and opinions instead of the proper application of Biblical truth. Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - BH speaking of "deep concerns" about you and bashing Jan.  Brannon Howse came against The Harbinger after Jonathan Cahn appeared on Glenn Beck.  Brannon Howse and Rabbi Cahn – after again he pressed for the chance to answer –  Howse attempted to interrogate him on everything from  the Tribulation Period to Kabbalah to Sid Roth.  And then varied attacks – about Jonathan Cahn’s speaking at Jan Markell’s Prophecy Conference.

Brannon Howse: Aired Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Brannon’s guest is Jonathan Cahn. Brannon, and several nationally known writers, have been very concerned about not only the contents of Cahn’s book, The Harbinger, but other issues related to the book. Jonathan Cahn asked for the opportunity to respond to these concerns and Brannon was pleased to have a very cordial and frank conversation with Mr. Cahn. Brannon asks many questions of Cahn such as, why would he have Side Roth endorse the book on the front cover, does Cahn agree with the signs and wonders movement, does he believe prophets and Apostles are for today? Does Cahn believe that God is giving extra Biblical revelation through dreams and visions? Brannon asked Cahn what his eschatology is and to Brannon’s amazement Cahn has not worked this out even though his book is being embraced by organizers of prophecy conferences. Brannon asked Cahn why, when he was on with Glenn Beck for two days, did he not distinguish between the god of New Age Mormon Glenn Beck and the God of the Bible? Can Cahn see where he could be leading people to believe that the god of Beck and the Bible are the same when they are not? Brannon asks Cahn about his speaking at a conference with New Apostolic proponents and “Apostles” Dutch Sheets and Chuck Pierce. Does Cahn not see that working with false teachers or appearing with Glenn Beck is a violation of 2 John 9-11, Romans 16:17, or 2 Corinthians 6:14? Cahn’s book is built around Isaiah 9 but why did Cahn not included in his book a reference to Isaiah 9:15 that involve the warning of false prophets? Israel was judged for embracing false prophets and should this not be a message for America as well with the proliferation of false prophets and false “Apostles”? Does Cahn believe he was stuck with unraveling a code given to him by God? Now that Cahn has had the courage to come on to Brannon’s program and defend his positions, why will the pro-family leaders that have embraced false teachers not have the same courage to accept Brannon’s invitation?  Tuesday, July 3, 2012 - BH interviewing you.  Brannon Howse & Jonathan Cahn – after pressing for the chance to answer.  The “debate” with Jimmy DeYoung & David James – only after Rabbi Cahn wrote a few times asking for them to allow him to answer the charges made against him by these men.

Brannon Howse: Aired Friday, July 6, 2012
Brannon’s guest is Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. Brannon plays several clips from his recent interview with Jonathan Cahn, author of The Harbinger, and Dr. DeYoung responds.  Thursday, July 5 & Friday July 6, 2012 - BH & JDY critiquing interview.  Brannon Howse and Jimmy DeYoung – another anti-Harbinger show.  Brannon Howse & Jimmy DeYoung seeking to take apart that interview with Brannon Howse which had not gone well for them.

Brannon Howse: Aired Friday, July 13, 2012
Brannon’s guest is Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. Dr. DeYoung and Brannon begin today’s program by reporting on what they believe is sensationalism on the part of a discernment ministry that is defending the book The Harbinger. In addition Brannon and Dr. DeYoung discuss the book “Mega Shift” that has been recommended and promoted by the producer of the Isaiah 9:10 Judgment film and his website. The Isaiah 9 film is based on the research of Jonathan Cahn who is author of The Harbinger. Topic: World leaders attack an Israeli report stating that the Jewish settlements are legal. Topic: Iran plans to expand not suspend their nuclear program. Topic: Egypt races for new showdown between Islamists and army.  Brannon Howse & Jimmy DeYoung.

On Thursday, July 19^th, 2012, Chris Rosebrough reviews The Harbinger and interviews Rabbi Cahn the next day (July 20^th) to discuss the book further.  He is fair and balanced in his review, having thoroughly examined both the book’s detractors and defenders in the “discernment camp.”  He apparently reads the book, or parts of it, and affirms that in the last chapter of the book, there is a clear call of repentance and the Gospel is presented unambiguously.  This contradicts David James’ claim in his book.  In his interview of Rabbi Cahn, he is fair, but does not pull any punches, but asks the hard questions about the book that needed to be addressed and resolved.

Brannon Howse: Aired Monday, August 6, 2012
Part One: David James is the author of a 223 page book that was released this week entitled “The Harbinger Fact or Fiction? David James, the author, and T.A. McMahon, the publisher, join Brannon to discuss this topic: Topic: Are you surprised by ministries you know and have supported that they are supporting and even promoting The Harbinger? Topic: A common refrain in support of the book is that the many coincidences between contemporary events and biblical prophecy cannot be just chance events but surely must be the hand of God. How do you respond to that? Topic: Jonathan Cahn, in various interviews, has accepted praises as a prophet of God. Do you think he is a prophet of God? Topic: Some have said that a number of Jonathan Cahn’s critics have never read The Harbinger. How many times have you read the book? How much time did you put into research and study for your book? Topic: Some of those who have criticized your review of The Harbinger say that you have nit-picked the book to death and missed the forest for the trees – that the book is just about repentance and turning to God. One reviewer even described your criticism as “really, really stupid.” How do you respond to that? Topic: He says he has been wrongly accused of Replacement Theology, which is especially misguided because he is a Messianic Jew. Do you think he is arguing for Replacement Theology? Topic: Jonathan Cahn says he has been misunderstood by his critics who say that he is handling Isaiah 9:10 as a prophecy concerning the United States. Do you think you have misunderstood what he is saying? Topic: Jonathan Cahn says that The Harbinger never states that America is in covenant with God – but you bring up this issue a number of times in your book and contend this is what he is saying. Why is that? Topic: We take your calls.  Also seems to crush David James’ account of reading it right after it came out (Saturday, January 7^th, 2012) – and then quickly realizing it wasn’t Replacement Theology – He apparently went on the air 6 months later to say it was.

Brannon Howse: Aired Thursday, August 30, 2012

Topic: “Discernment” ministry author writes “The second chapter of Galatians reveals that Paul rebuked Peter at Antioch…Note that Paul’s rebuke of Peter was done in a private setting and not in public.” What? This is 100% false. The verse reads in the New King James, “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all…” What part of “before them all” does he think means private? This is the same “discernment” author that wrote in the same article that “unless someone disavows or adds to items listed in the Apostles Creed, they are our brother or sister in Christ…” We dealt with this last week but the Apostles Creed does not include the gospel and many non-believers, including Catholics, would say they agree with the Apostles Creed. If this is the discernment of some “discernment leaders” then how can they discern the truth about people like Jonathan Cahn that this author has defended? Topic: Christian talk show host tweets that “A Sikh will pray at the RNC. Christians should be respectful, but not bow their heads. Praying to a different God.” While this is a true statement, would this same talk show host tweet something similar over his own New Religious Right friends and the leaders of the organization he works for when they take part in prayer meetings with members of the New Apostolic Reformation and/or Word of Faith and Priests from the Church of Rome that are praying to a different Jesus? Topic: The National Day of Prayer Task force to host a prayer event October 3-7th that includes IHOP and NAR proponents as well as six of the Seven Mountain Mandates of the NAR. Topic: Even Tea Party leaders held their Tampa event at the church of Rodney Howard Browne and praised him on their conference website. Do people not think about their credibility these days? Topic: We take your calls.

On Wednesday, September 28^th, 2012, Brannon Howse devotes almost his entire broadcast to air on his program, World View Weekend – Cessationist Pastor Eric Douma’s pulpit message at Twin Cities Fellowship against Jonathan Cahn and The Harbinger.  I’ve been informed that Twin Cities Fellowship shut down after this message was given.  Wednesday, September 26, 2012 - BH's broadcast of Eric Douma

On Monday, October 1^st, 2012, Brannon Howse on his Worldview Weekend on completely trashed The Harbinger and misapplied a Cessationist argument against it by calling the book a “new revelation” as though it were implied by Jonathan Cahn or anyone else to be Scripture!  Monday, Oct 1, 2012 - Brannon wanted "equal time" in your book.

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I have provided below a list of the different ministries that go by the moniker of Discernment Ministries and their doctrinal/theological orientation.  The site I pulled it from is decidedly Cessationist and Calvinist in orientation.  It is called with CHRIST.org.  I list it here so that those who read their articles will be aware of the doctrinal and theological “bent” or bias of the Critic’s Corner, as I like to call it in order to understand their approach.

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Arminian/Wesleyan/Pentecostal A Christian Journey - Cassandrah Batya (Closed down) Alliance of Biblical Pentecostals – Gary Osbourne,ÿ Apologetics For Christians - Kelly & Theresa Powers Apologetics Index - Anton and Janet Hein-Hudson,ÿ Apostasy Alert - Jackie Alnor Apostasy Revealed - Clive J. Smith Apostasy Watch - Steve Lumbley The Berean Call - Dave Hunt & T. A. McMahon Cephas Ministry - Nicholas A. Stivers and Rita Williams, & Christian Research Service - Bud Press Christian Research Institute - Hank Hanegraaff, D Critical Issues Commentary - Bob DeWaay, ÿ Deception in the Church - Sandy Simpson,ÿ N Discernment-Ministries/HERESCOPE - Jewel van der Merwe, now Jewel Grewe,ÿ Eastern Regional Watch - Steve Muse,ÿ In Plain Sight.org - Carol & Al Brooks, ÿ Let Us Reason - Mike Oppenheimer,ÿ Moriel Ministries - James Jacob Prasch, Yÿ Olive Tree Ministries - Jan Markell, Y O Reasoning for the Scriptures - Ron Rhodes Spiritual Counterfeits Project - Tal Brooke Spiritual Research Network - Chris Lawson,ÿ Spiritwatch Ministries - several Pentecostals,ÿ The Berean Call - Dave Hunt, T. A. McMahon The Discernment Web Ring - Several,ÿ TNN Online - John K. McKee,  Y,ÿ Understanding the Times, Int'l - Roger Oakland Wood and Steel - Scott MacIntyre (Closed down)		Calvinistic/Reformed Alpha and Omega Ministries - James R. White Apprising Ministries - Ken Silva,ÿ Berean Beacon - Richard Bennett Biblical Discernment Ministries - Rick Miesel Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) - Matthew J. Slick,ÿ Christian Research Net - Ken Silva and other contributors, [ÿ Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet - Dr. Peter Jones Christian Worldview Network.com - Brannon S. Howse Discernment.org - Rev. Robert S. Liichow Faith Defenders - Dr. Robert Morey Lighting the Way International - Dwayna Litz, [N Phil Johnson's Bookmarks - Phillip R. Johnson Slice of Laodicea - Ingrid Schlueter Stand To Reason - Gregory Koukl,ÿ   Syncretistic Sovereignty + Free Will Kjos Ministries - Berit Kjos, [G Lighthouse Trails Research Project - Deborah Dombrowski, [G
Y - Messianic, ÿ- Non-cessationist, N - Demonism/Spiritual Warfare & - King James Only, D - Preterist, G - Jesus and the Bible Only! [ Doctrinally Syncretistic (Sovereignty of God AND Sovereignty of Man) O - Dispensational
Other Ministries Critical Issues Commentary - Bob DeWaay, ÿ :  DeWaay's spiritual journey includes an early slog through charismania, but also graduation from North Central Bible College (Pentecostal) and Bethel Seminary (Pentecostal).  His ministry is generally on solid ground regarding the subject of free will, a rare phenomena indeed.  See his article here.  This appears attributable to sovereign grace, exposure to Reformed and Lutheran scholars, and "verse by verse expository teaching and preaching" in a pastoral setting.  His academic background and having little-to-no exposure to dispensational scholars may explain his non-cessationist views. Watchman Fellowship - James K. Walker, This site is large and maintained by a professional staff.  Evangelical, baptistic.