Last week I mentioned that several ministries have come out against Jonathan Cahn’s “The Harbinger”
In fact if you are one of Jan Markell’s readers, she also addressed this issue.
Here is what Jan had to say…
Note from Jan: In a few days a prominent “discernment ministry” is going to release their review of Jonathan Cahn’s, “The Harbinger” and companion film, “Isaiah 9:10 Judgment.” I have been proud to work with this ministry over the years. But if “discernment” is now tearing down a person’s character and throwing a message of repentance into, “The Shack” category, then I guess I’ll have to re-think whether I remain such a ministry. I guess it’s true: Christians not only shoot their own, they also watch them die a death of agony. In today’s world of deception, we do need ministries who tell the truth, but not in the tone of the review that will come out shortly.
T. A. McMahon put out an article titled “The Harbinger—A Matter of Critical Discernment.”
In all honesty, I think this was harsh and unfair. In fact I am going to state that he is imposing ideals on this book, that are clearly not there.
The primary issue that I hear over and over again from people who are condemning Cahn’s work is that they claim that his book makes the United States out as a nation in covenant with God.
This is an out and out falsehood.
All the way through The Harbinger, the United States is presented implicitly as a nation in covenant with God. No, God has only one covenant nation—the nation of Israel. This is a critical error of the book. – T. A. McMahon
I purchased The Harbinger for Kindle so that I could do a word search on this, and no where could I find anywhere in the book where the author has stated that the US was in covenant with God. This is an absurd statement made by T. A. McMahon.
Everyone knows, including the Jewish Rabbi author Cahn that God is in covenant with only one nation and that is Israel. That knowledge is Christian theology 101.
What the author, Cahn, has done is shown that our nation was Dedicated to God, His Word and principals.
In my series “Israel – America & God’s Judgment” I have taken this even further and tried to show the documentation, that yes, our country is a Christian nation built and dedicated to Jehovah God, His Word and the proclaiming of the Gospel.
Something that I have harped about in the past is how those in the bible prophecy arena do what I call “parroting the parrots.”
Meaning that they will hear one teacher/author/evangelist say something and instead of thoroughly researching it themselves, they will just run with it because the person they heard the statement from “is credible.”
So since they are a credible teacher/author/evangelist, and that person has a number of books, DVDs out, maybe their own TV show, surely they MUST be correct.
This whole idea of Cahn promoting the US in covenant with God is one such example of the parrots parroting each other. That is because I am hearing multiple ministries out there stating just about the same words…”Cahn said America is in covenant with God.”
Now I do want to say that there are points being stated out there from some of the ministries that I do agree with.
One such is Joseph Chambers who has been coming down on the whole fictionalization issue of the message Cahn is presenting.
I am not one who really does not cares for the fictionalizing of such information.
I personally disliked the whole “Left Behind” series because what people started to do is quote that as if they were quoting scripture itself. I would challenge people on their statements to find out that in reality they were just quoting the “Left Behind” series and not scripture.
I fear that eventually that will happen with The Harbinger as well.
T. A. McMahon stated…
In my opinion, The Harbinger is a poor script. I say “script” because it reads more like a script than like a novel, lacking nearly all of the elements that go into making a first-rate work of fiction. It tries to fit into the genre of National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code but fails miserably in my view—and I’m hardly an admirer of The Da Vinci Code. The redundancy throughout the book borders on being insufferable. If it were eliminated, The Harbinger could easily have been reduced to half its size. In addition, the dialog is repetitious, yet little if any insight into the story’s characters is provided, with the result that we don’t get to know them any better than we would a stranger whom we might sit next to on a three-minute subway ride.
Good fiction has drama. The Harbinger reads like a nine-part seminar, ending with a two-chapter tract. – T. A. McMahon
I am sorry, but this is just a cheap shot.
This is how T. A. McMahon basically opened his critique of Cahn’s work. The fact that he did not like it as a first rate literary piece of work pretty much showed through his entire critique and seemed to be what brought on the whole critique.
I believe that this really is not fair and is using one’s bully pulpit to bring another down.
In his article T. A. McMahon also stated something that totally blew me away…
In fact, the entire context of Isaiah 9:8-21 is a prophecy of judgment of the most devastating kind. God declares that He will send Israel’s enemies to “devour” them (v. 12), destroying her corrupt leaders and lying prophets (vv. 15-16), and “for all this,” His anger would not subside, and in His wrath He would not show them mercy. The carnage would result in civil wars among the tribes of Israel—brother against brother—with utter destruction, starvation, cannibalism (vv. 19-20), and finally captivity by her enemy. Even so, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out [against Israel] still” (v. 21). – T. A. McMahon
Can’t the author of this critique clearly see that this is already taking shape?
He will send Israel’s enemies to “devour” them – Today this nation has enemies within its own borders that are devouring us. Look at Islam in America today. It is a cancer growing at an alarming rate.
destroying her corrupt leaders and lying prophets – Look at what is taking place today in our politics, in mega churches, in fact society as a whole. Is not our whole political arena on the verge of implosion? Every time you turn around you read about some wolf in sheep’s clothing being literally caught with his pants down or hand in the cookie jar stealing money.
The carnage would result in civil wars among the tribes of Israel—brother against brother – I don’t know about you, but just about everyone is talking civil war these days. Our nation is clearly divided in many areas; political, racial, class, economic. The tension is so great that it is ready to explode.
with utter destruction, starvation, cannibalism – This one totally caught me off guard and makes me ask if McMahon even pays attention to the news. Our major cities are beginning to fall apart. Detroit is a prime example. Just Google pictures and you will clearly see the destruction. Look at the people going hungry today, in fact our nation has more people on who cannot afford to even buy their own food. Last number was over 44 million people on food stamps. AND CANNABALISM… how many stories have you seen about another person cannibalizing yet one more human being.
and finally captivity by her enemy. – Are we there yet on this? No we are not. I agree that God is finished warning America. We truly are standing at a crossroad where we as a nation will make the decision on which way to go. I strongly believe that if we do not turn around as a nation, we will fall under captivity. But to come to that decision, I honestly believe that bloodshed will come to this nation. It is out of that bloodshed that we will then decide which path at the crossroads we will take.
The context of Isaiah is not there? How much more needs to take place for one to wake up and smell the coffee?
Another imposition from Cahn’s imagination is his suggestion that the inauguration of George Washington in New York City was a “consecration” of America to God similar to Solomon’s consecration of the Temple in Jerusalem. To even compare the two verges on blasphemy, especially because history reveals that much Masonic ritual was involved, as well as the “works-salvation” doctrine of Masonry contained in Washington’s speech. It was more suitable to the god of the Masonic Lodge, the Great Architect of the Universe, than to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of the Bible. – T. A. McMahon
Now I am going to say that this one hits me close to home.
Why?
Because it was one of my relatives who actually baptized George Washington at his own request. We know that Washington was active in freemasonry, but somewhere towards the end of the war history shows a change of heart took place in Washington. That change of heart was in fact him turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is witnessed later in his own writings and actions both public and private.
Citing The Baptism of George Washington, as recorded in the archives of the First Baptist Church of New York, Dr. E. Wayne Thompson writes:
‘Daniel Gano, one of Gano’s sons and a captain of the artillery, was present and said that he, with about forty officers and men, accompanied the chaplain down to the Hudson River where the Reverend John Gano baptized George Washington.’
Dr. James Norwood, a former associate pastor of Dr. J. Frank Norris, cites from A History of the First Baptist Church in the City of New York by I. M. Haldemann:
‘While in camp at Newburgh [near the Hudson River, 1781], General Washington requested Patsor Gano to baptize him according to the Scriptures. He did so immersing him in believer’s baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.’
In the lobby of the John Gano Chapel (underneath the painting of Washington’s baptism), an encased sword is prominently featured. A commemorative plaque reads:
‘The Sword’
‘In 1996, Margaret Gano Redpath, the great, great, great, great granddaughter of John Gano offered William Jewell College the family sword. George Washington had received it from the Marquis de Lafayette; in turn, he bestowed it on John Gano, the first chaplain of the Continental Army. History records George Washington gave the sword to John Gano after he baptized Washington in the Potomac [in fact, it was the Hudson River].’ . . .
Pastor Beller states in his book “America in Crimson Red” this profound…
‘George Washington presented that battle sword, given to him by Lafayette to his Baptist chaplain, John Gano. Let us not take this gesture of kindness too lightly, for a commanding officer knows exactly the ramifications of surrendering his sword. . . . The author will leave the reader to ponder the full thrust of its meaning. However, “a word fitly spoken” is in order at this juncture of our narrative.
‘It is the contention of this author that Washington knew the symbols he was leaving to posterity: He was breaking the baptism of the established church-state monstrosity by submitting to believer’s baptism. He further demonstrated, to the best of his ability, his deferment to the victor of the second state of the war, the spiritual stage. This deferment was not to John Gano personally, but to the Bible and the belief system he so profoundly represented. He placed the symbol of victory and the final break with England, and in essence, Rome, in the hands of a Bible believing, baptized preacher of the Gospel.
I personally come from a long line of Baptist preachers and evangelists. In my family tree some of my ancestors were named after George Washington, they too were also strong biblical preachers. They were so named because of my great uncle John Gano and his friendship with our first president of the United States.
It is easy to point fingers and wear tin foil hats proclaiming the evils of freemasonry. But history shows that Washington did have a change of heart and it was my ancestor who confirmed Washington’s relationship wih the Lord and also continued to disciple him.
We are so quick to say that we are not to judge a man’s heart and relationship with God almighty.
So why do so many feel it is ok to question George Washington’s relationship with Christ Jesus, especially when his own writings, personal witness and the way he lived his life showed that he was a believer in Jesus Christ?
Finally, in those days one just did not go around being baptized; and pastors did not go around just baptizing anyone wanting to be dunked underwater.
There was a very strong reverence and respect for God, even the heathens paid a certain respect to God. People were raised to fear God, and the King James Bible was a staple that was used in schools and colleges as well as in the home. Even the deists, which many were during that time, still recognized and acknowledged God.
God Governs in The Affairs of Men!
That quote is from speech given by Benjamin Franklin in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The delegates were deadlocked about the question of how to structure representation of the states in congress. Benjamin Franklin, a deist, is one of the oldest and most respected members of the convention. He gives this moving speech and helps break the deadlock.
Please take the time to read this, it is worth the read!
From Benjamin Franklin
Mr President – The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding.
We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running all about in search of it.
We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics, which having been originally formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist; and we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were, in the dark, to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings? – In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection! Our prayers, sir, were heard; –and they were graciously answered.
All of us, who were engaged in the struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.
And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? – or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance.
– I have lived sir a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men! And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probably that an empire can rise without his aid? – We have been assured, sir, in the writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little partial local interests, our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by-word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business; and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service. (1)
Here we see a Deist, one who believes in a God who created the universe and then abandoned it, actually turning to God.
This brings me to my second author, Jack Kelly who presented an article last week titled “False Prophets.”
In this article Kelly claims that if you believe in 2 Chron 7:14 in regards to our nation, it is a false teaching for those who have an itching ear.
Here is a brief part of what is said…
“Those who advocate 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a remedy for the United States are just saying what our itching ears want to hear. It’s a false teaching that gives false hope to the Biblically uninformed, a repeat of the false promises of Jeremiah’s time.”
Just in case you do not know the verse Kelly is referring to, here it is…
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Like T. A. McMahon, Kelly also “parrots” the whole US covenant idea.
The United States has never had an official covenant with God, but we’ve broken all His laws just the same. And we’ve done so with ever increasing audacity in spite of overwhelming blessing, as if daring Him to do something about it. If our leaders speak for us, as the book suggests, then Franklin Graham’s recent comment that our president “shook his fist in the face of God” was a warning for all of us to prepare for God’s response. – Jack Kelly
Thing is that God is going to respond. In fact He has already started to give us that response. We have had terror breach upon land, natural disasters abound, sinful nature has run amok, over and over again God has been trying to get our attention.
God has been responding. People just fail to acknowledge it.
Whether they realize it or not those who advocate 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a remedy for the United States are just saying what our itching ears want to hear. It’s a false teaching that gives false hope to the Biblically uninformed, a repeat of the false promises of Jeremiah’s time.
On some level everybody knows things are not OK in the world, and our nature is to want to know things will get better. Having exhausted our human options, we’re finally thinking about turning to God, but claiming the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is going about it the wrong way and it won’t work.
God has always intended to give us hope, but He has never promised to heal the United States, whose national heart is incurably wicked, because He doesn’t have a covenant with the United States. Nor has He promised the United States a future like He does for Israel. But He has promised to rescue the Church by taking us out of the way before He gives the go ahead for the End Times judgments, because He does have a covenant with the Church. And that covenant is not conditional upon our behavior, it’s based on our belief. – Jack Kelly
To be honest, there are some errors in this line of thinking.
First, we as Christians have the right to claim such promises. Paul himself states that we are “Graffed” into the tree and we have been adopted into the Abraham’s family.
If one is adopted into a family, will that adopted child have to live under different rules, regulations, ideas? By all means no. They are assimilated into the family, live under the families rules and regulations, there is no separation. They also partake in the same benefits of the family, inheritance, and blessings from the family, etc.
Scripture says…
Romans 11:16-17 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
If we as Christians cannot claim 2 Chronicles 7:14 as our own being adopted and graphed in as Paul clearly states in Romans. Then we cannot claim any of the Old Testament. If we are not part of the family of Abraham then what are we doing here on this third rock from the sun in the first place?
So to say that standing upon 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a false teaching, then why read any of the Old Testament? If it does not apply to us and to think so is false teaching then why waste our time with the bible at all?
What Kelly is failing to see is that even the deist Ben Franklin understood what it meant to live within the natural laws of God.
Our nation was dedicated to God. Our founding fathers realized that for our nation to stand, we needed to stand upon His principals and precepts. No, we do not have a covenant with God, that is absurd, but we do have a responsibility because we are one of only two nations dedicated to Him.
Because we have stood and operated within the parameters of God’s Word and His natural law, we have been greatly blessed. That is a total fact. But once we as a nation have turned her back upon God, those blessings, protection, and other benefits from living within God’s natural law are now being lifted.
If we had leaders that truly loved God and feared Him and they then applied 2 Chronicles 7:14 in their lives and in the offices of responsibility with which they held; you could not tell me that God would not bless those efforts and those men of God who held such offices of responsibility.
We both know that God would totally bless those efforts because those Godly leaders would be working within the parameters of God’s own natural law.
I would go as far and say that if we had a president who truly loved the Lord and was a strong bible believing Christian; and if they called the nation to prayer, lifting 2 Chronicles 7:14 up as the example, you could not tell me that God would ignore it.
That is why it is so important to have God fearing men in leadership today.
But are we going to get that?
No.
In fact, did you know that a strong God fearing man ran in the last election? He was running on the Constitutional Party ticket. He was and still is a Baptist preacher, he loves the Lord, is still very outspoken for God and country and yet so many Christians bought into the lie of voting for the lesser of two evils.
Instead of voting one’s biblical conscience and standing in faith with God, most Christians voted for the dirtbag McCain. Who by the way just recently authored the NDAA bill that was passed and signed into law by Obama. Which if you do not know, allows the military to indefinitely detain American citizens to be arrested in the United States without charge and due process.
So how many Christians voted for that evil?
Now who was that Baptist Preacher who ran for president? His name is Chuck Baldwin, the only bible believing Christian on the ballot that year. And yes, Tracye and I both voted our biblical conscience and cast our vote for Chuck Baldwin and not the lesser of two evils.
Now imagine where we would be today if Chuck Baldwin did win, did overturn many of the sinful laws of the land, did call this nation to repentance and prayer and did put our nation back on the path of righteousness.
Would you have the gall to say that God would not hear those prayers and not heal our land?
Would that be a false teacher asking the people to repent and ask God to forgive and heal the land?
You know and I both know that God would in fact hear those prayers as He has promised and yes He would heal our land once again.
But as long as we don’t have the courage to stand for one who is a bible believing Christian, we will continue to get what we vote for… evil.
I believe that God has given up warning this nation. Only a few of us are left sounding the alarm on the wall. Time is winding down for this nation and soon we will feel the full brunt of God’s Judgment upon our land. But I still believe that we will be given one more chance once enough blood has spilt upon this nation. Be it civil war, invasion, revolution or what; blood will be spilled on our soil.
Thomas Jefferson is credited saying “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
I totally believe that is where we are at this point in history. The cost to get back upon the path of righteousness will cost us and cost us dearly. But we will not realize that till that blood is spilt.
If we do not turn from our wicked ways, and continue to turn our backs upon the Lord we will become enslaved to our conquerors. Which is the final judgment scriptures call for to take place.
God’s warning and judgments are upon us. Our own daily news clearly makes the case. Just because we may not like a book, mock it as a script or call something false teaching is not going to change that fact.
We need to repent and turn back to the Lord.
The answer…
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
By Ray Gano
ENDNOTES
1 – Timothy Pitkin. A Political And Civil History Of The United States of America: from the year 1763 to the close of the administration of President Washington, in March, 1797: including a summary view of the political and civil state of the North American colonies, prior to that period. Vol. II. H. Howe and Durrie & Peck. 1828
