TruNews Broadcast: Guest Rabbi Jonathan Cahn discusses his book "The Harbinger"

Encore presentation - Rick talks with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn about his NY Times best selling book "The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that holds the secret of America's future."

Very poorly written, I’m afraid. One of my close friends recommended this book to me and I have to say that the dialog was so repetitive and redundant that I just couldn’t take it anymore. Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Rydelnik was on the radio last week and, as much as he admires and likes Cahn, he says this book is all wrong. The overall message of our need for repentance is good, but to link OT prophecies about Israel and then try to make parallel claims with the U.S. is not scholarly.

The Rabbi used a method that does appear to be simplistic. I think he had a reason for doing that. He wants people to actually read it and understand it. If he had used the scholarly method, the low-information folks would never read it. I almost put it down due to the method he used, but I stuck with it and finally the combined weight of the evidence passed the level of disbelief. Could not be coincidence. What God revealed to Israel was for the purpose of forming a nation. Maybe we should try to listen.

I recommend it as well and completely disagree with a previous posters view that OT prophecies concerning Israel aren't relevant to America today. I wish it weren't so; unfortunately, it is very relevant.

Many who study the Bible, soon see repeating patterns, and how first events are often shadow pictures of future events. One in particular, of course, is the sacrifice of the passover lamb prior to deliverance of Israel from the land of Egypt. This event was a shadow picture of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

I thought the book had some very good points.

I am not sure you could call it ‘scholarly’ but ‘logical’ might be a better description.

It asks you to take ‘leaps of faith’. For example, the argument is made that the United States is a lot like Israel in the OT. Both were founded on the religious concepts. Both did well until they turned from God. Both suffered as a result.

Is that scholarly? I’d say probably not.

But it is logical.

Is that scholarly?

A primary characteristic of a scholar is someone possessing or showing a great deal of knowledge, especially knowledge of the subject in question. I'd suggest that Jonathan Cahn meets these requirements.

Both were founded on the religious concepts.

More, both Israel and America entered into covenants with God.

very poorly written...all wrong

First, I must confess that for the many decades of my life I have read fiction more than non-fiction and enjoyed novel after novel. There have been some of them that were "very poorly written." Just being fair, paved, this book was not "very poorly written." It flows well. The grammar, the build, the conclusion, the focus were all more than understandable. In fact, it kept me reading right through to the end. So, the statement "very poorly written" is not a fair evaluation of the "writing" that is in the book.

Also, it's harder to say that a work of fiction is "in error" than with a work of non-fiction. One could take the message of the book to be "America must repent." It is more than that, though. It's more fair to say "America must repent because God had a hand of blessing upon it."

I don't care who you are, but anyone who reads the noteworthy coincidences of timing, locations, and dates detailed by Jonathan Cahn must pay attention if they have even the least of spiritual bones in their entire body.

Now, as to whether or not "America has God's hand upon it", that is open, of course, to debate. But, in terms of nations it is not. Daniel 4 clearly spells it out: "Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.""

Since that is about the rising and falling of nations and leaders, then it is fair to say that God is involved with nations as nations. It is also fair to say that He is more pleased and less pleased at various times, for He "gives them" means that for reasons of His own sovereignty He removes them from one and replaces them with another.

If you were to ask me if God was more pleased with George Washington than with Barack Obama, I'd say yes. If you were to ask if He was more pleased with that era than this, I'd say yes.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.