The Harbinger: When Discernment & Apologetics Turn Against Even Mainline Christians

The Lord has saved many people out of Roman Catholicism, just as He has saved many others out of Mormonism, the Jehovah’s Witness, The Moonies, the Church of Bible Understanding, Christian Science, Theosophy, Christadelphians, the Worldwide Church of God (including those who reformed it to mainline a more mainline Evangelical Theology), and a good many other cults; and that there are a remnant within the ranks of Roman Catholicism who are true believers in their hearts and have been born again (the Catholic Charismatics) – some with whom I was in touch with more than thirty years ago in a place I was working 1980. Yes, the Lord has even saved many Protestants from the myriad number of “mainline,” as well as “liberal” denominations that fill our great nation. Not everybody who says Lord, Lord is saved, as well you know. The words of the Lord Jesus clarifies why this is so:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

(John 7:13-14)

A brief comment, Jesus is that narrow gate, and any other manner and effort of man to try to reach God is nothing but attempted robbery. (John 10:7-10) There is no other way of salvation. Salvation does not come by any other means or any other person, nor belonging to any fraternity, religious order, church, synagogue, brotherhood, congregation, or denomination; it is by Christ alone and through Christ alone. Thus, He is able and does all the time, save those who are lost within all of these and much more than the Discernment/Apologists among us give Him credit for. How do we know this? Keep reading.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

(Matthew 25:31-46)

You hear people say in defiance, “I was born a Roman Catholic, and I’ll die a Roman Catholic,” or, “I was born a Jew and I’ll die a Jew,” and even, “I was born a Baptist and I’ll die a Baptist,” without giving thought that the day they were born, they, we, all of us have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. (1Timothy 6:7) Everything we have or shall ever have, was first given to us by God. It does not belong to us, but we belong to Him. In the end, it will make no difference whether you were a Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Mormon, or anything else in this life. The only thing that will determine your eternal destiny is whether or not you have been born again of the Spirit of the Living God through Jesus Christ, having accepted and received His redemption.

The transformed new life will have evidence in the life of the one who has born again, and the evidence will be many, but discernible in the person whose life has been transformed by Jesus the Messiah by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God the Father of those who have been adopted as His children through Christ. A good tree grows fruit, and it is the fruits that evidence the indwelling Holy Spirit of God in the life of a believer. It is unmistakable, and their life, speech, behavior, conduct, and associations will show it. Make no mistake about it. It is very real, and noticeable. If a person claims to be a Christian, but shows no evidence of the change, they must reevaluate whether or not they have truly come to Christ in true repentance, and seek God with all of their hearts in reexamination. Just as the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes:

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

(2Corinthians 13:5)

A Tree and Its Fruit

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The Two Foundations

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

(Matthew 7:13-28)

In context of what Our Lord has said, Jacob, the Lord’s brother (James) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has written the following:

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

(James 2)

In short, the vindication as evidence of a person’s faith is the manifestation of that faith in that person’s life – their confession of faith, their behavior towards others in the love of Christ, their works in God – and it is limitless – because in God’s house the smallest peg is as important as the largest piece, and all form a vital function within the body, just as every component within a device is important to the smooth and correct function of that device. There is no such thing as apathetic, complacent, compromising, and secluded Christians – the evidence in the life of the people who claim faith in Jesus Christ whose faith is alive, not dead, and because it is alive they are manifesting it, just as the Scripture affirms above and this one affirms in the following manner: the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth) (Ephesians 5:9), whether it is the Fruits of the Spirit, such as the Word of God enumerates in the following manner:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

(Galatians 5:16-25)

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

(Romans 8:23)

As for these Catholic Charismatics; I must confess I don’t know what they’re still doing in there, because the Lord tells all Roman Catholics to get out of that Church in Revelation, where He lovingly tells them, “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” (Revelations 18:4-5)

But when I wrote what you read, I was commenting on the points in her post I did agree with, though I should’ve pointed out my disagreements with her as well, such as those very hardened positions she takes, which mirror those of the critics of The Harbinger, that only Christians who hold certain theological positions are the true Christians, without taking into account whether that person or those people have been born again.

You know that for a good time after getting saved, we have all had one or more beliefs that were not Scriptural, but with the reading of the Word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our thoughts and understanding of it, we have been weaned away from a many false doctrines that we held on to before we received the Lord. The Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has written:

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(1Corinthians 13:8-13)

This is the fallacy and extreme points of view that a good many from the Discernment/Apologetics Movement make in judging others. I am of the opinion that God is able to save anyone within any movement and eventually take them out of it. He saved Vivian and me from a Christian cult named the Church of Bible Understanding/Forever Family – a commune type community comprised predominantly of young hippies who wore large red badges which said, “GET SMART GET SAVED” who appeared during the national revival of that time known as the Jesus Movement in the US. This was the 70s, specifically 1976. Two months after saving us, the Lord took us out of this cult, and has led us in His grace and love ever since. The two greatest blessings Vivian and I got from this group whom the Lord God used to bring us to Himself through faith in His Son Jesus Christ; was for us to receive this great salvation – and for me to meet my dear friend and “brother from another mother,” Ronald Wilfred Jackson.

Beyond the most essential heart-felt confession of our faith, I do not believe that what a person believes beyond the most essential to our faith, such as Jesus the Messiah being the only way to God, marks that individual as saved or unsaved, because the Scriptures are implicit in this regard, Our Lord Jesus saying:

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:1-6), whom the Father draws all those being called to the Lord Yeshua/Jesus, as Messiah has said: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.””

(John 6:37-40, 44, 65)

I continue, that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, which only one can say if the Holy Spirit of God is in a person’s heart, and He has put it in his heart to say: Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1Corinthians 12:1-2) The day will come when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, (Philippians 2:11), but between now and that day, we must discern the spirits, and only they who have the Holy Spirit in their hearts can with full conviction of salvation declare affirmatively that Yeshua/Jesus is Lord, that is, that He is God, because the Greek word here means nothing short of that. Messiah Himself told His Apostles:

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

(John 14:7-15)

Herein lies the faithfulness of God in Christ to all who believe in Him, that He would do according to their petition, because He loves them; and since they love Him, they keep His commandments from the heart, For Jesus Himself has disclosed this and Himself to us in this way: “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21) And in order for this to happen, they must be born again into a new life, in order for the spiritual blindness to fall from their eyes and that they may see the kingdom of God and it may become real to them in a very real way in their lives, not a concept or a mythological belief, but a reality, just as the Lord Jesus Himself declared to one of Judaism’s great Sages – Nakdimon (Nicodemus) when Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) This is because they have been born into a new life; the life of Jesus Christ who lives within them because of the New Birth, just as it says:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

(John 1:12-13)

Ezekiel the prophet, though he is prophesying of the house of Israel and the house of Judah; speaks of a time when God’s people will receive a new spirit and a new heart to love and follow God. He prophesies the following beautiful words:

“And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.”

(Ezekiel 11:19-20)

And Jeremiah prophesies in Holy Spirit this promise in much the same way, where he relays God’s promise in the words which follow:

I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7) Repeating this promise later on, he says: “and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.” (Jeremiah 32:39) And we know that these prophecies pertain to the Jewish people who would come to faith in Messiah, but we also know that they apply to all of the people of every nation and tongue on the earth, because the promise of God’s blessing in Christ has extended His gifts and calling to the Gentiles, which is why the Apostle Paul and the New Testament applies these generally. God’s promise to Abraham was that He would bless all of the nations through him – that is – through the Messiah through whom we – Jew and Gentile – have our redemption, and with this redemption are united in spirit with His Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul in the Spirit describes this way:

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

(1Corinthians 6:17)

And conclusively, the person who does not have the Holy Spirit, does not belong to Jesus Christ, for the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes in the Spirit:

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

(Romans 8:9)

When Peter wrote his first letter, he preceded his entire letter with the following confession which held both a blessing to God, and the testimony of this new life in Messiah, when he wrote the following: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Messiah from the dead (1Peter 1:3); and in the same letter later on he writes in the Holy Spirit the testimony of the New Birth in the Holy Spirit of God in Christ, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (1Peter 1:23) At a time when only priests and prophets and kings in Israel received the Holy Spirit and prophesied God’s Word which we now have preserved by God’s people Israel in written form; we who by God’s grace are sealed into this salvation by the Holy Spirit of God, who is given to us as His pledge of this salvation (1Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30); this same Holy Spirit of God who spoke through the prophets of old, and inspired the holy people of God to write His Word under His inspiration, who continues to work in us – His people (Jew and Gentile) – to understand and learn from His Word the truth unlocked within it only by the Holy Spirit.

This is why only through the Holy Spirit can one truly testify and bear witness with full conviction of salvation the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus the Messiah, because the Holy Spirit teaches every Christian of this truth, and helps them to articulate it with power and meaning, the person bearing witness of the change that is self-evident within them, just as it says:

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:16-17, 25-27)

Only through the Holy Spirit of God’s grace in Christ can anyone, Jew, Gentile, Catholic, Protestant, or anything else, declare Jesus truly as God, and mean it from the heart with full conviction of faith, regardless of what society they belong to, national origin, organization, or any other man-made construct of man’s invention – these will all pass, but only Christ as Lord will prevail, for it says:

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

(John 16:13-15)

It is because they did not have the Holy Spirit and did not belong to Jesus, that a group of Judean Jews who approached Jesus during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles), could not understand why it was that He taught with such authority and knowledge of God’s Word in their midst, even without quoting from their rabbis as was the custom, but straight from the TaNaKh – the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, and disclose their meaning with great clarity, having made them relevant to the people who heard these words. The Gospel of John says of this:

But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. The Judean Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

(John 7:14-18)

The Holy Spirit is the One who teaches the Spirit-filled believer – the Born Again Christian – the New Creation – the One New Man in Messiah – the Living Word of God – for John the Beloved Apostle, again bears witness of this as he does in the Gospel which bears his name; when decades later he writes his fellow Christians about the anointing of the Holy Spirit opening the closed Book of the Bible, and disclosing the meanings of its pages to the believing Christian who reads and studies it in his/her search for its unlocked truths in the Spirit. In the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he writes many years later about the pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in opening the eyes of our understanding to the Word of Almighty God. I quote:

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

(1John 2:20, 27)

The crowd who came up to the Feast in Jerusalem, all had something to say about the coming of the Messiah; questioning among themselves the finer points of Messianic Eschatology – one group would posit where He would come from (Bethlehem of Judea, see below), while another group would wonder whether or not they would know His origins (where He would come from, see below), whether He would be David’s direct descendant (see below), even conjecturing about what He meant when He said where He was going they could not follow (see below), etc., and they all could not reach an agreement over Him on these points.

The Pharisees themselves, as well as the Sadducees, were conflicted along these lines also, because when Nicodemus cited the Law as giving an accused person the right to testify for himself (John 7:50-51), implying that they were denying the Lord Jesus that right; they retorted by telling him to search the Scriptures, because according to them, “no prophet arises out of Galilee.” (John 7:52)

Now take note, it was not any of these people were wrong in what they were saying, but they erred was in the manner in which they applied these. Much in the same way, the critics of The Harbinger as well as many Christians who are very harsh in their personal assessment of others who do not hold to their brand of “Christian Orthodoxy,” are doing the same. As Solomon wrote: There is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes

Questions Arise About Messiah’s Origins

So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Messiah, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Messiah may come, no one knows where He is from.” Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Messiah comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”

The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Judean Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Division of People over Jesus

Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Messiah.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Messiah is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture said that the Messiah comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” Everyone went to his home.

(John 7:25-53)

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

In closing, with regards to many of the critics of The Harbinger – as is with all religious bigots who split hairs over the letter of God’s Word in their attacks of other people with whom they disagree with. They do all of this, while forgetting the essence, or spirit and intent of what the Word of God teaches, and often do it resulting in the very confusion they claim they are attempting to clarify others to and warn others of. Oftentimes, they create more chaos in such situations than they intended, and the result of what they do is to foment divisions, altercations, and disputations between Christians themselves, while an unbelieving and unregenerate world looks on.

Is it possible for a born again Christian to be a religious bigot? It is possible for anyone to be a religious bigot, if they forget who they are, what it took Christ to get them to where they are, and lack the empathy, the understanding, the humility, and the compassion and mercy, to refrain from doing what comes very natural to them – to criticize, to condemn, to speak against another, even before gathering all the facts – and yes, even David James’ many hours of research as he claims only yielded him the grossest inaccuracies largely based upon misunderstandings of a topical series of teachings that Rabbi Cahn wrote into a fictitious literary work – a novel called The Harbinger – treating this novel as though it were an encyclopedia of theology; by reading into what Rabbi Cahn has written a good many things he did not write, and redefining them in his book to mean what was never intended. (I will present these, Lord willing, in a writing I am working on) This is a form of false witness. Very likely unintentional, but it is bearing a false witness against another, and misusing God’s Word to do it, a very serious thing for one to do as a teacher of God’s Word, because the Word of God says that teachers will incur a harsher judgment in the manner they handle His Sacred and inspired Word. (James 3:1)

If you confess faith in Jesus Christ, and your life has the evidence of that faith, but you belong to a church or organization that they consider Unorthodox according to their standards, you may very well be branded a heretic or even an unbeliever by them, or one who is led astray or leads others astray. This is what many of them are doing with Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn and his book, The Harbinger.

And this is why they have an issue with Christians who associate with others who do not meet their standards of faith whom they consider heterodox. This is why they are apt to criticize harshly Rabbi Cahn when he appears on radio or television shows not of their liking, or when he meets with people like Glenn Beck and others like him. They forget that Christ met with the very people the religiously righteous of His day ignored and avoided at all costs. There’s no difference between the reaction of the religious bigots of Jesus’ day and those every age, even those of today.

But there is one big difference between the group that Jesus Christ visited and dined with and many of those whom the discernment ministries target – the people with whom Our Lord ate and drank were unregenerate, whereas many of the people who are targets of these discernment ministries are sincere Christians. Many of them may be misguided, some may teach error – I am speaking generally here – while others may not, and in fact don’t, but ministries like the Berean Call and the Alliance for Biblical Integrity have serious theological differences they feel they must make public – and they use their platform to do it and make it look like they’re fighting apostasy in the church. History repeats itself. And so it is in our present day.

For example, they make much of the fact that George Washington never took Communion in the church he attended, but when it was given, he would discreetly walk out, and not partake it of it. Some have even questioned his Christian faith because of this, but in so doing, they forget where the Apostle Paul in the Spirit, wrote:

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

(1Corinthians 11:27-32)

Why must these people always assume the worst in people, and attribute Washington’s refusal to partake of Communion as a denial of his Christian faith? This reminds me of something the Apostle Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about people who always see the worst in others, when He wrote the following words:

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)

I affirm from Washington’s public statements and his private writings, that it was because of a deep and personal abiding faith in Christ, and an acute sense of his own mortality and sin; that this man did not consider himself worthy to partake of this sacrament. Precisely because of the Scripture that I just cited that he was aware of and for which he would not partake of the sacrament in an unworthy manner, so as to not be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord, for Washington had examined himself, and had determined himself unworthy to partake of it; not because he was not a Christian, but precisely because he walked humbly before his God, as he entrusted his own salvation to Jesus Christ and not the rituals of any church, even if many of these were grounded upon a Biblical tradition. My God, if this man’s salvation were left to man, and those of a good many others; we would all be left outside of God’s kingdom and sentenced to hell and damnation! Some among these critics of The Harbinger have even called Rabbi Cahn’s salvation into question!

They don’t even realize what they are doing. They are convinced that they are doing the Lord’s work. I know, because I have been in private correspondence with some of them, and they believe this. What’s more, there is almost nothing that anyone can say or show from God’s Word that will deter them in their commitment to defame and marginalize Rabbi Cahn, his ministry, and his book. Some of the more rabid articles on the Internet do it very directly. People like these, whether they are Christians or not, cannot be appeased. The human race has always had them; the Lord Jesus and every follower of His has had to contend with them in the Body of Christ, and so it is now in this instance.

This people split the atom in order to destroy the message of The Harbinger and its messenger, and they are doing it in the name of Christ, thinking themselves doing a service to God by what they are doing, because they believe themselves to be God’s avatars of truth and Scriptural integrity, as one of their ministry calls itself (the Alliance for Biblical Integrity, of which Dr. David James, the author of The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? is its founder and chairman.)

Now don’t misunderstand what I am saying here; I am not questioning this man’s salvation or his sincerity, but I do bring into question his idea of himself with regards to Christians with whom he disagrees with over doctrinal matters not really relevant to one’s faith in Christ, his approach and methods as he articulates his disagreements, and the book he has authored to do it, in this case The Harbinger. He has strayed far off of the plantation with what he has done, and ought to be called to task for it, but from the Scriptures and in a manner keeping with the method and mode which the Scriptures prescribe, and not as he and others who’ve from the so-called “Discernment Ministries” have done.

To help illustrate this, I cite the following example, again from John’s Gospel, where the Lord Jesus takes issue with those who accuse Him of breaking the Law of the Sabbath because He healed and saved human lives during it. According these people Jesus stood condemned, because He broke the Law of Moses, specifically according to them, the Law against doing any work during this period of the week. Again, we see the tendency in well-meaning and not so well-meaning (as in the case of Jesus’ detractors) people quoting the Scriptures to affirm what they see as a truth within it being infringed, without first looking intently upon that Law which they cite as being violated. Were they to look intently into the very Law that they cite against Our Lord, they would see that it makes provision for saving life.

“Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

(John 7:19-24)

Regardless what men will say, it is Christ who is the only and final determinate factor in one’s salvation (Ephesians 1:7), not which Biblical hermeneutic one chooses for their theology, organization they belong to, religious order they decide to be a part of (with some exceptions), or what fraternity they are members of. Salvation is through and in Christ alone, not in exegetical and hermeneutical questions between one group and another. This eludes many people, because human beings tend to feel at peace with themselves if they have “their house in order” – that is to say – if they have all of their theological questions answered and “properly categorized and subdivided into various well-organized theological boxes of their creation. What’s more, they like to measure themselves against others. This is precisely what is at the heart and root of these people who lie in wait to pursue the theological blood of their peers with whom they contend and are at odds with over questions of Hermeneutics and “correct” (according to them) Biblical Exegesis.

Part of this desire to pursue other Christians over differences in doctrine originates in an insecurity the other person’s teaching evokes in the critic that he/she must resolve within himself/herself. The primary critic of The Harbinger, David James has admitted that he is a Cessationist, but after private correspondence with him in which I submitted to him the reasons for believing that the God of the Bible has not changed and will not change for the Cessationists; he concedes a belief that God can work miracles when the need for it arises – yet persists and even stiffens against any claim that his book, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? is nothing more than a very big mistake he cannot retract now that he’s invested so much into. Pride, egotism, bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are also human factors in a lot of the activities of these self-appointed “watchmen” and so-called “discernment ministries” that have proliferated on the Internet in recent years. The Letter of James has a corrective to this type of behavior where in the Holy Spirit he warns as though looking prophetically into the future, he writes this warning:

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. 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 3:13-18)

From the beginning I have posited that the determining factor in David James’ criticism of The Harbinger has been because he is a Cessationist, and as a Cessationist, he will not and cannot accept anyone who claims to have a prophetic word direct from God’s written Word, or a revelatory interpretation over an obscure hard to understand passage of the Bible that most people overlook. What eludes Dr. James is that the prophet Daniel himself is told to seal the prophecy of his book until the last days. Let’s go to God’s Word:

Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

(Daniel 12:5-13)

Without question, the prophecy contained within the Book of Daniel would be sealed until “the end time.” The Gospel itself was a mystery that was revealed only after the cross, but prophesied about and seen from a distance from ages past through the words of the prophets who prophesied of the grace of God, and who inquired about what they were prophesying about, things in which angels longed to look into. (1Peter 1:10-12) What’s more, Paul writes that the revelation that God would admit the Gentiles into the Israel of God – Jew and Gentile one in Messiah – while preserving His people Israel for a future time when “all Israel will be saved,” (Romans 11:26); indeed he calls the partial hardening of Israel a mystery (Romans 11:25) because until the cross, anyone who wished to be admitted into the congregation of Israel had to first convert to Judaism through Mosaic Circumcision in order to be grafted in a by becoming converted Jews, but Christ has circumcised the heart of those coming from among the nations and adopted them to the family of God as His fellow heirs, by redeeming them for God through His blood, and paying for the adoption as Father’s children (Romans 8:14-17), and sealing them with His life giving Spirit (John 20:31, Acts 2:38, Romans 8:10-11, 1Corinthians 15:45, Colossians 1:26-27) so they may enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit through whom we all – Jew and Gentile alike – an ongoing process (Galatians 4:19, Ephesians 4:13) – so that we may all come before the throne of grace with confidence of His grace. (Hebrews 4:16) Paul calls this a hidden mystery that had been sealed until God called him to preach it. I quote:

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

(Ephesians 3:1-10)

The Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also bears witness that the Third Person of the Trinity is the One who imparts to God’s children– the redeemed of God, born again, who are one in the Spirit and walk as one in the Spirit – the revelatory knowledge of His inspired written Word (Ephesians 1:17), opening the closed and mysterious Book of the Bible to them (it is a closed book and a mystery to they who are perishing), and enabling them to understand the glories and magnificence of God’s kingdom and their new life in it as Christ reigns supreme in their hearts and in their minds. Thus in the Spirit, he concludes by writing the following heartfelt wish for all of Christ’s followers:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is (able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

According to the inspired writings of the New Testament, we have been living in these End Times since the end of the Day of Pentecost. See for example, in Acts 2 :14-36 where Peter precedes his monologue by quoting from Joel 2:28-29 “’And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,” (Acts 2:16-21) referring to the events of which he and the other first fruits of believers were partakers of, to which the crowds of Jewish pilgrims visiting Jerusalem were eye witnesses; as he spoke of about Joel’s prophecy coming to pass right before their eyes. We have witnessed amazing prophetic fulfillments in our day – the ingathering of the Jewish people to the land of Israel and the resurrection of a nation in one day, including the resurrection of the language of Hebrew in our day – amazing things that have never happened before in human history.

There is nothing about this Spirit-imparted ability that we as believers should be alarmed about. There is nothing about the things of God which are to the world mysteries, and hidden in Christ from the intellect and wisdom and thinking of unregenerate minds of the unsaved that should alarm us, because the written Word of God and the teachings of Christ (as we have seen) makes it clear that these things are understood and revealed by the Holy Spirit, and taught to us by Him as we read the Bible. Yes, to those who are perishing we speak as though in foolish riddles, and our words appear as though we speak mysteries. (1Corinthians 1:18) So why should some of these people read into our words – as they do with The Harbinger – things which are not there, when we write and speak about the hidden mysteries of God in his prophetic word, some of which judging by the myriad number of interpretations Evangelicals and others have of them; He has sealed until these last days, as we have seen with the Book of Daniel, with the Gospel to the nations itself, and with the impartation of the Holy Spirit to people who were before they came to faith in Christ outside of the Commonwealth of Israel?

But, much of what we deem prophetic fulfillments, these literalists and minimalists among our Christian brethren find it hard to see in a good many things what their personal theological discipline will not allow them to accept as legitimate. This is the problem with a good many of these people. Cessationism is at the heart of this, though it is also a human trait of the old man to be constantly in their neighbor’s business in order to catch the proverbial “fly in the ointment” in others. It’s just a human trait, couched in religious rhetoric, well massaged in clever argument and the use of Hegelian Dialectics and other methods employed in their exposes of others. They have no love, little regard, and absolutely no mercy in how they conduct themselves with their “fellow believers.”

There are a good many things which the writer of the article you cite below and I agree on, and there are others we disagree, but we know that we have our common faith in Jesus Christ, just as David James and the other critics of The Harbinger, and herein we exult in the Lord. But I do disagree with people who put too much stock in rallies held by Protestant Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Baptists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and yes, even Mormons and Observant Jews of different Jewish denominations; to pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the name of Jesus Christ for our nation. You cannot invoke the name of Christ and not get results, for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13, see also Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21)

If God did not hear the prayers of these people, how then could they be saved? There is such a thing as be accepting without being compromised in our faith, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5) enabling us to have an understanding well beyond our theologies, and see things as the Lord sees them, because we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:4) and have the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16) instead the natural mind (1Corinthians 2:14), yes the natural religious mind that cannot accept someone into a church or synagogue service on the basis of how they’re dressed. Yes, there are places like that in our nation, and there are people who think along those lines. I know, I’ve met them, I’m even related to some of them. These people consider it a sign of disrespect when some people attend a service dressed in anything other than a well-tailored suit.

The human race – all of us – have a tendency to overcompensate and go to incredible extremes towards one another; for good and for evil, yes, even the best of us. Everyone has been guilty of it at one point or another. In the present case, we see just another manifestation – theological in nature – make its appearance for a season across the landscape of Christian public opinion. When we see such a thing, we are saddened, because this is what so many of us have fled, having run into the loving arms of Our Savior, who has never turned anyone away who comes to Him in sincerity, and looks for those who will worship and serve Him in spirit and in truth, (John 4:23-24) who does justice, loves kindness, and walks humbly before his/her God. (Micah 6:8)
In the present case of the article you cite below, where the writer presents a point of view that may appear extreme to some, I would say that because I know this person and I know what she is referring to and what she means by it, I understand where she is coming from, and though I disagree on some points with her regarding the topic she writes; I do agree with her that the church is fallen, apathetic, compromising, and ill-informed. Otherwise, how can we then explain the extremes within it which we’ve just discussed? Elsewhere we see that Our Lord Jesus made it plain when He tells us:

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”

(Matthew 7:1)

I do not compromise the core convictions of my faith with any man, but I do live by this one commandment which is enshrined in the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul, who quotes directly from the words of Our Lord, and the Law of God what we all should live by and so often do not:

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:3-21)

Further on the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit continues to write:

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who love his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

(Romans 13)

This is how I live according to the measure of grace given to me by Our Lord, according to His life which I submit to as I die to myself and live for Him each and every day I draw breath. It is because I of this that I have written and continue to write extensively on The Harbinger in answer to its critics. This is why for years, I have dedicated myself to the teaching of God’s Word without compromise, as God has shared with me so I share with others what He has shared from His Word. What I do in writing here and other places of these things, is not for my sake, but for the sake of those who read what I write, contemplate upon what I have written after having verified from the Scriptures that what I have written if is faithful to what they teach, and put it to work in their lives. I write this for their sakes, and yours.

Without a doubt that people who seek to live holy for the Lord and without compromise will find themselves between a rock and hard place with a good many others who live to see fault in others, and look for apostasy under ever stone and under every bed cover. But what I seek with my fellow brethren is the peace of fellowship in the Holy Spirit as kindred children in Christ, all with faults of our own, but who by God’s grace are imputed His righteousness and given His life, so that we may live for Him and not for ourselves and our fleshly desires – much of which are the unnecessary and unjustified disputations we often have among ourselves because of disagreements over semantics and theology. I do however call out injustice where I see it and admonish peace in Christ.

As my praise of her article is in the things which she writes about that she and I are in agreement, and this is where I choose to go with this, though with regards to the critics of The Harbinger, it is obvious that this is where I have chosen to draw the line, because the errors in judgment, and the guilt by association hurled at Rabbi Cahn are so egregious that it must be answered Scripturally and in a manner that will glorify God with His truth, and not offend the other party.

This is a call to awaken. A call to shake the dust off of ourselves, and preach and teach the truth in love. We must beware of those who spend the bulk of their time casting stones at others, when we are to be ambassadors of Christ to a lost and dying world. Sorry, didn’t mean to write you a book in reply to your observations, but the Lord took this into a whole different direction that I believe clarifies a good many things in the Holy Spirit. Hope this does clear the air a bit about my comments. I live for Messiah, and for His peace, being His ambassador of peace, with the Good News for all who will hear.

In closing, I leave this warning from Our Lord Jesus the Messiah, in order that we all do the same, as He has commanded us to do:

“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.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

(Matthew 7:1-6)

And again, in his letter, James the Elder of the Jerusalem Congregation, admonishes by way of commandment in the Holy Spirit:

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)

The Apostle Paul himself is very bold when he writes in the Holy Spirit the following:

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

(Romans 14:4)

Now I am not referring to what he is writing about, but to his question to the other party, because in it he includes what is obviously a promise of grace to everyone whose Master is the Lord; that he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4b)

God bless

Another Discussion On The Harbinger

The following is another discussion on The Harbinger between myself and author David James on The Harbinger. It is in reply to his responses to his readers.

Author: normanlabat Thu 11/22/2012 3:27 AM

Comment:

i am curious about the final chapter which talks about baruch who was really named barry. what's that all about?
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Author: Dave James Thu 11/22/2012 3:32 AM
Comment:

In the Bible, Baruch is a scribe who was to write down what the prophet gave him. In the story Nouriel Kaplan was called Barry as a child because his full name is Baruch Nouriel Kaplan. So, it is a literary device used by the author - and it seems for the purpose of giving the author himself some sort of biblical authority - or authority from God - although he would undoubtedly deny this.
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MY REPLY Submitted on Sunday, December 30th, 2012

Dear David,

I cannot speak for Rabbi Cahn, but I can speak for myself here, and I detect from your sarcasm (below a Christian) and what you have written, that once again, you are attributing to what Rabbi Cahn has written in his book more than what he put into it. This is intellectual dishonesty, because you have placed in the mind of another person, as in this case the person to whom you addressed your answer to; the impression that what you claim Jonathan Cahn meant when he wrote what he wrote, he did in fact mean as you define it; a complete falsehood and fabrication on your part. This is another trait that is not in keeping with the proper behavior of a Christian. One should not presume upon others to attribute to their writings and public statements meanings they did not have, especially believers. One does not redefine the meaning of what other people say or write. You do this repeatedly throughout your book. Why do you do this?
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Author: Alex Thu 11/22/2012 3:32 AM

Comment:

I understand that reading the scriptures, especially prophetic books can seem to mean different things to different people; but I'm going to make my comment short and relevant to both points of view...yes, in the past many of us have made assumptions based on speculation only for there is not enough written about a topic, time, nation etc....to claim this or that as facts when there is not enough of it. This is what I mean... many people believe (sic) that the promise to Israel made by the always truthful GOD somehow is revoked when sinners act like sinners and now he will forget his promise to Israel and place it on the church....NO, NO, NO. They are two different entities and they have different purposes and two distinct futures all though in the end they will both come together when GOD makes this happen. Neither will be foresaken. this, that...only speculation. I got to admit the Harbenger is a great book, that inspires repentence, but has't the bible said this all along, "repent for the kingom of heaven is at hand" Is something that GOD the son said when he was walking the earth. But Israel is Israel, the Church is the Church, America is America... let's not beging to start swapping one for the other...please
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Author: Dave James Thu 11/22/2012 3:36 AM

Comment:

I am pretty much with you until you talk about the distinction between the Church and Israel is merely speculation. It is not speculation when it can be shown that the Scriptures clearly teach this. Even for those who would reject this interpretation, they would not suggest it is speculation on our part.

Unfortunately, although The Harbinger talks about repentance - it does not tell how to repent or be saved - and even if for this reason alone it is not even a "good book" let alone a great one. Take a look at his chapter that is supposed to be about salvation - it does not mention faith, belief or trust even one time - and neither does it mention the resurrection of Christ apart from which there is no gospel.
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MY REPLY Posted on Sunday, December 30th, 2012

This is a most unfortunate statement on your part. How do you presume to criticize another servant of Christ because according to you, he does not measure up to your standards!? How dare you speak like this of another brother in Christ! How dare you sir! This is uncalled for. I stated early on that as time progressed it would become apparent to your readers and to many others by your statements, your claims, and by your behavior in this matter; who truly is speaking God’s Word and for God in this matter. Have you never read that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy!? As it says in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:

Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

Do you not realize that if one is calling another to repentance, who are you to stand in God's way and protest the manner in which he is being called!? Have you not read the Scripture where Christ’s disciples come to the Lord Jesus protesting that others were casting demons out of people in His name, and what was Our Lord’s answer to them?

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.”
”

(Mark 9:38-41)

What is it about this statement that you have overlooked? What is it that drives people like you to hurl stones at their fellow brethren in the name of Jesus Christ without a single regard to that name or to that brother!? You have a complete disregard with what you are doing against your brother in Christ! Are you aware of this? I don’t think so. Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ has spoken about religious people – yes, even among God’s people – religious people, who are quick to hurl stones at other Christians in the name of Christ, thinking they are doing a service to God, and stand in judgment of them and their work and ministries, and this is what He has said:

And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.”

(Mark 4:24)

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

(Matthew 7:2)

Do you think it is for nothing that the Lord Jesus Christ has said this? It is precisely for moments and situations like this. History is replete with religious men judging other men as heretics and done every kind of evil against them in the name of God. Do you think that because you and the other critics of The Harbinger call yourselves Christians and invoke the name of Christ, you will not bear your own guilt over what you are doing? It is not a cult or a cult leader you are now pursuing with a vengeance, but person, a brother in Christ, and other Christians with whom you disagree over doctrinal issues pertaining to topical teachings written in the form of a fictitious literary work! Are you aware of what you are doing? Of course you’ll retort, declaring you are fully aware, and by your own words you will be either justified or condemned, according to the Scriptures. You won’t lose your salvation, but you will be made to account for what you’ve written about a pastor in God’s service, and your work in this regard will be burned up. Do you really want this?
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Author: Vicki Thu 11/22/2012 3:36 AM

Comment:

I am reading The Harbinger and must say that I am enjoying the book. I feel the reaction to The Harbinger is similar to the reaction over The Shack. Both books are fiction - and need to be regarded as such. While there are many books that inspire, encourage, and possibly point to some aspect of truth they should never take the place of nor be viewed as truth. Jesus is truth. His Holy Word is truth. We must be dilligent to rightly divide the truth and not be enslaved or led astray. In the last days, even the elect will be deceived. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear what THE Spirit is saying. You can read the Harbinger and not be deceived that it is an accurate reflection of prophesy. And, you can read The Harbinger and be reminded that it is to Jesus we must turn. You just have to remember that the plumb line is The Word of God, not of any other author. Maybe there are correlations to America and Isreal - but America is NOT Isreal. Yes, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever and we would be remiss in America to think that we can escape judegment. But...Jesus said that He did not give us a spirit of fear. He reminded his disciples to fear not for I am with you...He sent His precious Holy Spirit to be my teacher. Praise His Name! Let The Teacher, teach!
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Author: Dave James Thu 11/22/2012 3:42 AM

Comment:

The reaction to the Shack was hardly overdone - it was filled with outright heresy on any number of points. If anyone thinks that the Shack's depiction of the Lord is anywhere close to accurate it raises the question as to whether that person knows him at all - because it is so radically different than what the His Word teaches.

Concerning The Harbinger being fiction - the author has stated publicly multiple times that the fiction is only a framework, but that what he has written is 90% fact.

I have an article here on the website that deals with the matter of Christian fiction.

In Ephesians, Paul said that the Lord had given pastors, teachers and evangelists to the church for the building up of the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts our heart of the truth of what we read in the Scriptures or what we hear from a teacher who is faithful to the Word of God.
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MY REPLY: For once, you and I are in agreement on something. Well, we’ve agreed on some other things too.
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Author: Patty Thu 11/22/2012 3:43 AM

Comment:

It is obvious that you don't agree with the book, The Harbinger, but as a Christian I feel it is a great book that gets a person to really THINK about the things that have come to pass in our world, specifically our Country, and to remind us that we have 'rationalized' away the beliefs and morals of our Country for long enough and that IT IS TIME to TURN BACK TO GOD. I'm always stunned at the arrogancy of people, especially in government, when they use the phrase "...and may God bless America!"...why should God bless America?! We've done nothing but run him out of our homes, our schools, our government. This country no longer stands for anything decent, so we fall for everything that is indecent. I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe you should stop 'knocking' this book! How do you know that God isn't using it to bring others back to Him?! Are you, then, being a 'stumbling block' to others?!
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Author: Dave James Thu 11/22/2012 3:48 AM

Comment:

Of course it is time to turn to God, but as I note clearly in the article, my book and in another reply to Alex's comment - The Harbinger is absolutely not a great book.

There I stated: Unfortunately, although The Harbinger talks about repentance – it does not tell how to repent or be saved – and even if for this reason alone it is not even a “good book” let alone a great one. Take a look at his chapter that is supposed to be about salvation – it does not mention faith, belief or trust even one time – and neither does it mention the resurrection of Christ apart from which there is no gospel.

I have no doubt that God has used The Harbinger to direct people to him - but he also used a demon possessed girl in Ephesus to tell people to listen to Paul's message - after which Paul delivered her. This is hardly a model to follow. God also used the Babylonians to get people to turn back to him, but that hardly means that we should emulate the Babylonian tactics simply because God used them to his glory. This pragmatic view of the Scriptures and the work of God is completely unbiblical. The end never justifies the means if the means are unbiblical.

Warning people of this and the associated danger is not being a stumbling block. For example, in my book I clearly presented the gospel, while it is not clear at all in The Harbinger. That is what is a stumbling block.
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MY REPLY:

Dear David,
Again you are incorrect in your application and interpretation of Scripture. In your quick response to this reader, you reply “I have no doubt that God has used The Harbinger to direct people to him,” an amazing admission on your part, that God is indeed using The Harbinger to bring people to repentance and to Christ, as has been reported throughout the nation; but you continue by writing, that in Ephesus “but he (meaning God, is what you appear to be saying) also used a demon possessed girl in Ephesus to tell people to listen to Paul's message.”

You are equating the rantings of a demon-possessed woman to the writings of a Holy Spirit-filled born again brother in Christ! Do you realize this!? You're even wrong in your interpretation of what did occur in the Book of Acts. Let me explain.

First, you are incorrect, because God did not use “a demon possessed girl in Ephesus to tell people about Paul’s message,” as you infer, but in order to discredit Paul and his associates, and the message of the Gospel they were bringing to the Jewish community and to the Gentiles of that city. Below is the passage of Scripture which records the event:

It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

(Acts 16:16-18)

Why would Paul be annoyed if what this woman was speaking the truth about him and his message? They were proclaiming the way of salvation. It was because this woman was both demon-possessed, and the demon within this woman, practiced divination, and if anyone in the Jewish Community in that city would hear her, it would bring discredit upon Paul and the others with him with the people they were trying to reach. Why is this the case? Because, as you well know, according to Jewish Law no self-respecting Jew or God-fearing Gentile would ever dabble in the occult or hire a spiritist or a medium for counsel. Therefore it was to discredit Paul and his message of the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ that the demon made statements that appeared to be correct. How can you compare this with the message of The Harbinger!?
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Author: Alex Thu 11/22/2012 10:03 AM

Comment:

Sorry, I did't mean to imply that the distinction between the church and Israel is speculation, you are right Dave it is not and I appologize that it came out that way. The bible is full of biblical truths that is obvious right...so why do we continue to bring about a complete doctrine on a single phrases in the bible that is never mentioned anywhere else when we have so much solid teaching in the scriptures....does our generation have itchy ears for teachings not supported by the bible? IF I was to say that the sabbath which we all know what it means ...but instead I said that every 7 days GOD will punish the nation to a certain degree because...fill in the blank.....and I tried to convince you that's how GOD uses the sabbath for or why GOD made the sabbath ....you should be able to know that it is eaither a lie or mere speculation becuase no were in the bible does it says that right...time and time again the bible gives its true meaning about the sabbath and even then the teachers of the law gave Jesus a hard time about him healing people on the sabbath and Jesus taught them a little more about the sabbath....what I'm saying is read your bible there are so many legit prophesies there. Know what's biblical and don't be taken away by every wind of doctrine. And you are so right Dave...any book that is suppose to bring any MESSAGE about GOD but doesn't care to go into who is Jesus and nor does it tell you how we can be saved...well need I say more?
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Author: Dave James Thu 11/22/2012 10:06 AM
Comment:
Hey, thanks Alex.

Actually, I thought that may be what you meant - but I just wanted to clear it up for someone else who might read it.

You're right about there are enough clear things we can teach about - we don't have to make things up. And a point I make in my book is, if it's not in the text someone made it up.

Happy Thanksgiving.

(I'm in the Philippines right now - so I'm missing the holiday back home.)
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Author: Ray Grace Fri 11/23/2012 4:35 AM

Comment:

Your comments on the Harbinger Book remind me of my youth. I was raised in a group of people who were so holy that God himself had to take off His Sandals to walk in their presence. These people and their Pharisee attitude drove me from God for a quarter century of my life because no one could be saved using their rules. I walked away from God until He let me know that what went on between them and me was not between them and me, but between them and Himself! It was after that that I found, reading the Bible, that the only time Jesus Corrected Himself was when He spoke of those who 'hurt one of these little ones', meaning HIS little ones, that it would be better if they had a' millstone hung about their neck and they were drowned in the depths of the sea, No, it would be better for them if they had NEVER BEEN BORN!"
It's always easier to tear down than to build, to use 'man's knowledge of God' (Theology) to explain why no one is right but you. If you were right, I'd have to go back to Jesus and tell him what I did at the beginning of my wandering in the desert, 'No one can be saved by these standards, I'd just as well go it alone'. Fortunately, I met the Jesus who is the "Good Shepherd" at the end of my wandering. He's not the hireling who takes his 357 pistol to 'do-away' with the wounded little ones who survived the attack of the Wolf, but the "ONE who leaves the 99 and goes into the desert to pick up and nurture and bring back the wounded 'Little Ones'.
I thank the Father God that I have met this Jesus. None of us can make it without his Loving Care, but many are willing to be Pharisees, and to use the '357' on those who don't make it according their 'gospel'.

Ray Grace
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Author: Dave James Fri 11/23/2012 4:54 AM
Comment:

Ray,

I'm sorry I offended you with what I wrote. I would encourage you to consider reading my book where I explain myself more fully and try to be as gracious as possible in acknowledging the good things about The Harbinger.

Jesus spent a lot of time saying, "You have heard it said, but I say unto you..." - that was extensive correction. And his spent a huge amount of time on correcting wrong thinking / theology - so I'm not sure what you mean that Jesus on corrected on one occasion.

Beyond that the prophets and apostles were continually confronting and correcting false teachers based upon the Word of God. I think I have been have careful to show that "corrective" thing I have said is grounded in Scripture. In Ephesians Paul wrote that "he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, pastors/teachers and evangelists for the building up of the Body of Christ." We have a tremendous responsibility to teach people when serious error is brought into the church. Paul told Timothy that in the last days there would be many false teachers. Peter and Jude warned about this as well.

Concerning being a Pharisee: That's a pretty strong word. Would you mind explaining what you mean when you refer to me in that way? And also what I actually said in the article that caused you to come to that conclusion?

I was saved 28 years ago from a life of wickedness and sin by God's wonderful grace. I have been serving Him full time for the last 25 years, as a teacher, elder, Bible institute founder and director and a missionary for 16 years in Eastern Europe. This isn't to say that doing these thing necessarily means someone isn't a Pharisee - but I do think it is at least an indication that they do not wish to be.

I'm in the Manila as I write this - and today I gave 2 keynote messages and 3 seminars that focused on being a better Christian teacher who reflects the love and grace of God in everything we say and do that our students might become more like Christ - and that we are all completely dependent upon the Cross of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to bring about change of any eternal value. Again, if I am a Pharisee, it is not because I want to be - and my guess is that the 1300 or so that were in attendance would probably say that this is a false and unfair charge. But I am open to correction and always wish to be teachable.

So, if you could be more specific, that would be helpful.

In His Loving Care,
Dave
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MY REPLY: Talk about tooting one’s horn. Let your works speak for themselves sir. Let them be written in heaven, or be burned up. Why should your whereabouts really matter? According to the teachings and precepts of Our Lord, he who is least in the kingdom of heaven will be greater than you or I, or anyone else on this list. Why do you set yourself above other servants of Christ? This is not the behavior that we ought to emulate. (Proverbs 18:12, 22:4, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:12, James 1:21, 1Peter 5:5 Perhaps it might do us all good to listen to what Ray Grace wrote, which I quote above to remind all of us of what he said. His plain and simple prose spoke volumes to me. I hope they did to you too.
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TWO ADDITIONAL WRITE-UPS ON THE HARBINGER FOR AMERICA

I just finished reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:18-25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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