THE MYSTERY OF THE SHEMITAH: Is it real?

The Mystery of the Shemitah by Jonathan Cahn (Lake Mary, Florida: FrontLine, Charisma Media / Charisma House Book Group, 2014) 275 pp. paper 16.99

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The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn became the #1 Christian book of 2012, set publishing records, reached publishing milestones and propelled the author to a very high-profile position on the national and even internatShemitah coverional stage. Because The Harbinger was riddled with biblical errors, theological flaws and historical misrepresentations, what started out as a 2-3 page book review, quickly turned into a book-length response and led to The Berean Call publishing my first book, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?

On September 2, Jonathan Cahn’s third book, The Mystery of the Shemitah was released to book retailers and was already ranked very high at its debut just on pre-orders alone. As can be seen from the current rankings on Amazon.com, it is clear that The Mystery of the Shemitah needs to be carefully examined to determine if the errors in The Harbinger have been corrected or perpetuated in this new volume.

 

Although I have already done five interviews discussing this book, the article below is the first evaluation in writing to appear on the ABI website. I trust that you will take time to carefully consider my concerns and that you will feel free to contact me with your thoughts, either positive or negative. (If you have trouble posting a comment, please send me an email to let me know.)

And finally, my purpose for evaluating and critiquing The Mystery of the Shemitah is two-fold:

First, because so many people were influenced by The Harbinger and because this new book is already a best-seller, the Body of Christ needs to see that there is another side of the story that might not be completely obvious to some. And even for those who might sense something isn’t quite right, many won’t really work through the sometimes slow and often laborious task of carefully checking to make sure everything is correct.

Second, just as one of my goals in writing The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? was to model the process of discernment, the same is true of this article. First and foremost, discernment involves checking everything against the Word of God to make sure all of the arguments, theories and claims are biblically sound. And then, beyond the biblical side of things, discernment also frequently involves evaluating the logic of arguments, the veracity of assertions from a historical perspective, and even the proper use of statistics which can be framed such that the true picture is obscured and hidden from the reader, even if unintentionally.

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SUMMARY

The Mystery of the Shemitah, which went to its second printing the day it was released, builds on the concepts and theories Jonathan Cahn first presented in The Harbinger, particularly those in the chapter also titled “The Mystery of the Shemitah.” The author’s theory is that God has visited warnings and / or judgment against the United States according to a seven-year cycle going back many decades. Although this reviewer agrees that America is deserving of God’s judgment and a call to repentance is definitely in order, the foundational premise of this book is biblically flawed from the outset. The Shemitah (Jewish Sabbath year) was an obligation given specifically and exclusively to the nation of Israel, and there is no biblical support for the idea that God would either require any other nation to observe the Shemitah year or that He would impose a Shemitah-type judgment according to a seven-year cycle on any nation, including Israel itself. Beyond this, the Shemitah, being a Sabbath and an integral part of the Law of Moses, was completely fulfilled in Christ and is no longer in operation (even it actually did affect other nations prior to the Cross).

Furthermore, none of the overwhelming number of assertions and fact-claims throughout the book concerning economic trends, financial statistics and historical events are documented whatsoever, raising the question of the source of the author’s information, the accuracy of that information, and why this most basic and necessary aspect of any research-based non-fiction book is completely missing. The burden of proof for such assertions and claims should never be on the reader if an author is to be taken seriously. In addition, the integrity of any publisher is rightly called into question when an author doesn’t cite his sources.

The bottom line is that, unfortunately, the significant problems that plague The Harbinger have possibly been exceeded in this book and so should give pause to anyone who takes the Word of God seriously.

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BACKGROUND

In the Law of Moses, God required that His chosen people, the Children of Israel, cease from their work on the seventh day of each week (the Sabbath). In addition to the Sabbath day, the Lord also instructed Israel to observe every seventh year as a Sabbath, as well. During the Sabbath year, the Israelites were to allow the land to rest from planting and harvesting and to allow whatever came up on its own to be picked by the poor among them. (Exodus 23:10-12; Leviticus 25:1-7) And just as God had provided a double-portion of manna on the 6th day of each week while the Israelites were in the wilderness so they would not have to work on the Sabbath, the Lord actually tripled the harvest in the sixth year to carry them through to the harvest in the first year of the new seven-year cycle.

Not only was it an agrarian cycle, but it was an economic one, as well. On the last day of the Sabbath year, lenders were required to forgive or “release” (the meaning of “Shemitah”) borrowers from the obligation of repaying their debts. (Deuteronomy 15:1) Over time, the last day of the Sabbath year and the year itself came to be known as the “Shemitah” (pronounced sh’mi’-tah). Although one would naturally suppose that such a system would wreck an economy and the lives of those who possessed enough to be lenders rather than borrowers, once again keeping the Lord’s command in this matter would be a source of blessing rather than hardship:

…for the Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. (Deuteronomy 15:4a-6)

Among other serious sins, the Israelites disobeyed the Lord’s command not to take foreign wives who came from nations where idolatry and the worship of false gods was practiced (Deuteronomy 7:1-5).  As a result, the idolatrous practices and pagan worship of those nations became an integral part of Israel’s own religious practices. Consequently, the worship of the one true God was largely abandoned and the Law of Moses was largely ignored. By the end of the sixth century B.C., Israel had failed to observe a total of seventy Sabbath / Shemitah years.

In judgment against Israel’s pervasive and persistent sin, God used the Babylonian empire to execute judgment upon the southern kingdom of Judah beginning in 606 B.C., just as He had used the Assyrians over a century earlier against the northern kingdom of Israel. In addition to ultimately leveling Jerusalem and destroying the temple, the Babylonians carried away large numbers of Israelites into captivity—a captivity that lasted for 70 years—one year for each Sabbath year that the nation had failed to observe the Shemitah. Thus, because of this God-imposed Shemitah with the Israelites being in captivity in Babylon, the Promised Land “rested” for the same number of years that the Israelites had failed to allow the land to rest as the Lord had commanded (2 Chronicles 36:20-21).

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EVALUATION

Introduction

The fundamental premise of The Mystery of the Shemitah is that not only did God require the nation of Israel to observe the Shemitah / Sabbath year, but that there is also a mystery connected to the Shemitah such that there is a seven-year cycle woven into the very fabric of history and the order of the universe—a cycle that can and does affect other nations and even the entire world. According to Jonathan Cahn, this mystery manifests itself through various calamities, including natural disasters, wars, and financial crises that tend to occur according to this seven-year cycle on the Hebrew calendar when God is trying to get the attention of a nation and warn her of impending judgment.

Based on his unbiblical view of the United States in God’s program, Cahn argues that the Lord continues to follow the same seven-year cycle in His dealings with America that He established for ancient Israel in the Law of Moses. And just as God imposed a “Shemitah” upon the nation of Israel as a judgment, forcing the land to rest for seventy years, likewise He has been visiting calamities upon this country as warning of impending judgment through stock market crashes, economic crises and various other cataclysmic events—all because of the mystery of the Shemitah.

Throughout the book, the author goes to great lengths in an attempt to demonstrate that this has been going on for at least a century. And as he did in The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn contends that the most recent cluster of devastating events began with the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 on the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and United Airlines flight #93 (which he collectively refers to as “the first shaking”). Furthermore, Cahn claims that the mystery of the Shemitah has been working in conjunction with what he calls the “Isaiah 9:10 Effect” and has manifested itself as a “second shaking” with the precipitous fall of the stock market on the last day of the Shemitah year in both 2001 and 2008, according to the modern Hebrew calendar.

However, before one gets too excited or becomes convinced that “Cahn has done it again” (as some have put it), a number of things need to be considered. Unfortunately, there are so many significant issues in this new book that rival or surpass the problems in The Harbinger, it seems that The Mystery of the Shemitah may be an even more fragile house of cards than Cahn’s first book.

Discernment Tip:  Strive to understand what the author is saying well enough to be able to summarize it in a few sentences.

When working through a book or an article, the first step in exercising discernment is to read the work all the way through and simply highlight or otherwise mark areas that are not clear, things that strike you as possible problems, things that are obviously erroneous, weak arguments and things that need to be fact-checked. However, the first time through, don’t worry about getting into the details or formulating some sort of response to issues of concern.

Then after completely reading it for the first time, jot down a few notes concerning your overall impressions and two or three major “take-aways” that reflect what you believe to be the author’s primary thesis, his major arguments, and his overall conclusions. After this, try to summarize the entire piece in just a few sentences.

Now you’re ready to go through it a second time and begin the process of more careful evaluation.

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The Theory of Shemitah Cycles in America

That God expects or will impose a Shemitah upon any nation other than Israel has no scriptural basis. Neither do the Scriptures provide any indication that the Shemitah is some sort of universal principle that operates throughout or even at various times in history. Yet, in spite of this, Jonathan Cahn argues that America has been subjected to the mystery of the Shemitah repeatedly over at least the last century, following the modern Hebrew reckoning of Sabbath / Shemitah years. However, this does not follow the ancient pattern to which he appeals for support since God has never subjected Israel to the operation of some mysterious universal force according to seven-year cycles.

In The Mystery of the Shemitah, the author uses many graphs to depict America’s economic cycles, with significant rises in the S&P 500 during bull markets, which are inevitably followed by sometimes precipitous declines or crashes leading into a bear market. He further suggests that if one were to similarly graph ancient Israel’s economy, because of the mystery of the Shemitah, it would track very closely with America’s economy, and exhibit similar trends with sharp increases and rapid declines as Israel observed the Shemitah every seven years. This theory is without merit on multiple counts.

First of all, during Israel’s roughly 800 years of existence, between the time they entered the Promised Land around 1400 B.C. and Babylon’s first attacks on the southern kingdom in 606 B.C., the nation did not observe seventy of the required Sabbaths. Yet, in spite of this protracted period of disobedience, including the Sabbath-year laws, God did not impose a Shemitah upon them until the Babylonian captivity. In contrast, Cahn contends that God has imposed a Shemitah on America for many or most seven-year cycles going back to at least the beginning of the 20th century. Or at the very least, because America has turned from God, the nation has been subject to the natural consequences of the mystery of the Shemitah. Clearly, Cahn’s theory does not fit the biblical pattern.

Secondly, Cahn is wrong when he suggests that when Israel did observe the Shemitah, the nation’s economy experienced crashes or at least sharp economic downturns for a period of time following the last day of the Shemitah year (which Cahn refers to as “the Shemitah’s wake”). His theory is that because debts were wiped clean and there had been no planting or harvesting during the Sabbath year, Israel must have been subject to wildly swinging economic cycles of seven years each that tested Israel’s faithfulness.

However, this theory is without merit on biblical grounds. Rather, the Scriptures indicate that the Shemitah was a blessing in every respect with no downside whatsoever. While Cahn does acknowledge that the Shemitah was to be a blessing, he then turns around and argues that there was much economic hardship as the nation recovered from the effects of the Shemitah, because of both the release of debts and the lack of a crop during the Sabbath year—something that he must claim in order to set the stage for his theory concerning America.

In sharp contrast to Cahn’s unbiblical notions, there is no scriptural evidence that ancient Israel experienced any hardship at all because of the Shemitah. Rather, quite the opposite was true because, as previously noted, in the sixth year God actually tripled the harvest so that the Israelites would not have to work in the fields during the entire Shemitah year. Furthermore, the nation also had more than enough to carry the Israelites all the way to the harvest season in the first year of the next seven-year cycle. Logically, this means that the Israelites would have been free to do other things, including perhaps selling some of the extra produce, which could have arguably allowed them to pay down their debts before the last day of the Shemitah year.

Another important point to consider is that ancient Israel’s economy was not based on deficit spending and huge debts as is true in America today. In 2014, almost everyone has debt of some sort—and in many cases the debts are staggering. Consequently, if those debts were wiped off the books, the entire U.S. economy would collapse.

In contrast, there was most likely very little debt in ancient Israel as compared to America today. There was no banking or lending system backed by the FDIC in ancient Israel, meaning that all loans were personal. Again, just common sense suggests that if potential lenders knew they had to recover all their money before the end of the next Shemitah year or forfeit it, there very likely wouldn’t have been very many people who would have been willing to extend credit and personal loans to others.

Beyond this, unlike today, only those who were poor were borrowers and only those who could afford to write off debts were able to give loans in the first place. In fact, there were a couple of provisions in the Shemitah laws for not wiping debt off the books—if a borrower was not an Israelite and if the entire country was prosperous:

Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother, except when there may be no poor among you; for the Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. (Deuteronomy 15:3-5)

So, once again, Cahn’s theories and arguments simply have no biblical or logical merit.

Going back to the imposed-Shemitah: God’s reason for linking judgment to an imposed-Shemitah upon Israel was because they had failed to observe the required Sabbath years. However, there is no biblical basis for suggesting that God would impose a Shemitah-type judgment upon any nation that was not obligated to observe the Sabbath year in the first place. Therefore, no matter what has happened to America over the last 100+ years, it cannot be linked in any biblical way to the Shemitah, even if it were true that economies tend to go through roughly seven-year cycles.

If Jonathan Cahn were right about the mystery of the Shemitah, then economists almost certainly would have noticed and been writing about this precise seven-year cycle long before God “revealed” it to the author. Tremendous fortunes could have been made by savvy investors who know how to play just such market cycles. However, preliminary research indicates that while some economists have suggested that economies may naturally follow a cycle of a bit less than seven years to as much as ten years, there is no universal agreement on this point. This stands in sharp contrast to the precise seven-year Sabbath cycles in ancient Israel.

us economy cycle 1948 to 2012

Since World War 2, we’ve already had 11 recessions. And if you go back another hundred years, you’ll see the same pattern. Those dates in red show the bottom of each recession. Now look: how far they spaced apart?

Would you agree: another recession is inevitable? It’s only a matter of when. In the past, recessions occurred at intervals of 7-10 years (barring a few that came a little quicker).

It’s almost like summer hurricanes in the Caribbean. We know they’re going to happen. We just don’t know when and where exactly. Fortunately, we’ve developed a good system of hurricane warnings.[1. http://retireby40.org/predictable-economy-cycle/]

Obviously economic cycles of some duration are inevitable because bull markets don’t last forever and neither do bear markets. And that economic cycles might generally have some average length is not necessarily surprising either. However, to conclude that the mystery of the Shemitah is behind these, when the Shemitah cycle is exactly seven years, but the length of the modern cycles varies by as much as three years or more just defies common sense.

All of this raises many questions of which the following are just a few:

  • How is it possible that God has not been imposing Shemitah judgments upon Israel and the Jewish people for two millennia, when they are the only ones ever obligated to observe the Shemitah year?
  • Why is it that, while ignoring Israel’s ongoing failure to keep the Sabbath year, the Lord has been using seven-year Shemitah cycles as warnings or judgments upon America over the last 100 years or so, even though the United States has no obligation to observe the Shemitah?
  • With no scriptural reason for anyone to think that the mystery of the Shemitah might be influencing America’s economy, how could it possibly be considered to be a biblical warning?
  • If the mystery of the Shemitah affects the world, does this mean that every country experiences the same seven-year economic cycles, or is it that only America suffers when even Israel does not?
  • If the mystery of the Shemitah is always at work, then how can it be determined when God is issuing a warning and when He is not?
  • If there are no cataclysmic events connected to a particular Shemitah cycle, does that mean God is pleased with the way things are going?
  • What is it that determines that one economic cycle might be six and a half years, while another might be eight years—and why are they not always exactly seven years so that a precise pattern might be recognized by serious believers who know the Bible well?

Furthermore, although Israel was to be blessed by the Shemitah through God’s faithful provision, according to Cahn’s theory, America has experienced nothing but judgment related to the Shemitah. Once again, none of this makes any sense from a biblical or logical perspective.

And finally, as noted previously: The Shemitah, being a Sabbath year and an integral part of the Law of Moses, was completely fulfilled in Christ and is no longer in operation (even it actually did affect other nations prior to the Cross).

Discernment Tip:  Context isn’t the main thing—it’s the only thing.

Always take care to understand any passages cited to support a given point in their original context. Of course there is the literary context of the text itself, which includes the verses leading up to and following the passage being considered. However, just as important is the historical context, which includes the author, the recipients, the time period in history and various cultural factors.

In the case of the Shemitah, the historical context is supremely important. The revelation and commandments concerning the Sabbath years were given specifically and exclusively to the nation of Israel. They were the recipients of the revelation given to the author who is Moses. Furthermore, the period in history was the era of the Law of Moses, which extended from the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai in the middle of the 14th century B.C. to Christ’s death on the cross around A.D. 30. So, the Shemitah laws were given exclusively to a specific people, during a limited period of with a clear beginning and ending, with no indication whatsoever that there was an underlying mystery affecting the nation or that God would use a mystery of the Shemitah when dealing with any other nation but Israel.

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“The Revelations Came Rapidly…”

The suggestion that God has been revealing all of these things to Jonathan Cahn alone is quite problematic. In an appearance on the Jim Bakker show in August of this year, Jonathan Cahn stated concerning the writing of The Mystery of the Shemitah, “This is what came and the Lord did it—and He did it rapidly, as with The Harbinger—the revelations came rapidly and it went forth,”[1. http://jimbakkershow.com/video/the-mystery-of-the-shemitah-03/ at the 13:00 minute mark] while gesturing toward heaven, obviously indicating that God had revealed these truths to him. And, just as with The Harbinger, this essentially puts him in the position of being an end-times prophet who is now receiving new revelation from God and revealing a mystery that has never been seen by any biblical scholar of the last 2000 years. And as typically happens, he continues to be referred to and introduced as “an end-times prophet.” If this were simply in reference to him being one who boldly proclaims God’s word, this would not be a problem. However, this is specifically related to him being a revealer of mysteries never before seen in history or the Bible.

This also raises yet another important question: How is it that God is just now sending a warning of judgment through a modern-day prophetic voice after the fact? The Harbinger was published in 2012, over three years after the stock market crash of 2008, over ten years after 9/11 and close to 100 years after some of the events Cahn ties to the mystery of the Shemitah operating through significant historical events, such as the Balfour Declaration in 1917. As with his other theories, this makes no sense biblically or logically—and it definitely does not follow any pattern seen in the Scriptures concerning how God deals with mankind.

Discernment Tip:  Beware of claims of newly discovered truth in the biblical text that no one has ever seen before.

While it is true that we can never fully plumb the depths of the Scriptures in terms of implications and applications, the text says precisely what it has always said. Some have attempted to defend Jonathan Cahn by saying that he is only finding new applications—which would not be a problem. However, as what he says in writing, or when teaching or in his various appearances is carefully examined, it is difficult to conclude that his various theories, various aspects of those theories and his conclusions go beyond simply application issues and extend to the intent of the biblical author(s) (both divine and human) and the meaning the author(s) intended to convey. For example, it is impossible to conclude on the basis of any passage or combination of passages that anything such as “the mystery of the Shemitah” even exists as a principle that operates behind the scenes throughout history.

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America as the Second Israel

In order to make his case that the mystery of the Shemitah has been manifesting itself in the United States for decades, Jonathan Cahn must necessarily treat America as a sort of “second Israel”—which is precisely what he did in The Harbinger as was demonstrated in The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? (despite protests to the contrary). That he has done this again in The Mystery of the Shemitah can be seen in two of the section headings in chapter 7, which are titled “The Israel of the New World” and “The Fall of the Second Israel.” And although Cahn has consistently protested that, being a Jewish believer in Christ, there is no way that he could or would hold to Replacement Theology, at the very least he seems to hold to something that could perhaps be called “Parallel Israel Theology” or “Secondary Israel Theology” (terms coined by this reviewer).

In the section “The Israel of the New World” Cahn writes:

Most would find it surprising to learn that America was consciously, intentionally, and specifically founded and formed after the pattern of ancient Israel. Its founders saw it as a new Israel, the Israel of the New World. It was their exodus from Europe like the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. The New World was their new promised land, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony was their New Jerusalem. [1. Cahn, Jonathan. The Mystery of the Shemitah (Kindle Locations 746-749). Charisma House. Kindle Edition.]

There is no nation in the modern world so deeply linked to ancient Israel as America. There is, therefore, no stage or platform on earth so well suited for the manifesting of the mystery of the Shemitah as America. [1. Ibid. Kindle Locations 765-766.]

The primary basis for his view is the fact that the founders of this country, from the Puritans and Pilgrims to the Founding Fathers, viewed America as the new Israel and so dedicated the new country to God’s purposes. However, any objective evaluation of America’s history reveals that although God’s name was invoked by the Founding Fathers at various points, it is equally true that the paganism of Freemasonry is deeply embedded into the very foundation of this country, as well. This is evident wherever one looks in the nation’s capital—to the degree that in the dome of the Capitol building, George Washington is depicted as becoming deity as he is received into heaven.[1. http://www.aoc.gov/capitol-hill/other-paintings-and-murals/apotheosis-washington]

Furthermore, while Cahn gives a lot of weight to George Washington’s prayer in St. Paul’s Chapel near the location where the World Trade Center towers once stood, he never tells his readers that the procession to the chapel was a Masonic procession that has been re-enacted for years by Freemasons in New York City.[1. http://www.masonicworld.com/education/files/artjun02/THE%20FIRST%20INAUGURATION.htm] Neither does he let his readers know that Washington was sworn in on a Masonic Bible,[1. http://www.stjohns1.org/portal/gwib] or that the one who administered the oath of office was a Grand Master Freemason,[1. http://www.masonicworld.com/education/articles/A-MASONIC-PRESENCE-AT-WASHINGTONS-INAUGURATION.htm] or that a famous portrait of Washington depicts him in Masonic garb,[1. http://www.mountvernon.org/research-collections/digital-encyclopedia/article/freemasonry/] or he that he was appointed as the charter Master of Alexandria Lodge #22 in Virginia,[1. http://www.gwmemorial.org/washingtonTheMason.php],  or that he was buried with a Masonic ceremony.[1. Ibid.] The god of many of the Founding Fathers was apparently not the God of the Bible, whether or not they quoted the Bible or made reference to the Creator.

Discernment Tip:  Despite the title and words of the song  “Every Promise in the Book is Mine,” this really isn’t true, and if we fail to recognize that certain things only concerned ancient Israel, our understanding of the entire Bible will be fraught with problems.

While the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), not every truth, promise or principle is equally applicable in the same way as it was for the original recipients. For example, God promised Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). And we also know that Abraham became the model of faith for believers of all generations (Romans 4:2-3). We can easily see all sorts of applications for these truths. However, God also promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit a large piece of land (Genesis 13:14-15)—and there is no direct application of that truth to all believers. Rather, the application is indirect and concerns God’s faithfulness, but does not extend to all believers inheriting the actual physical land that was promised to Israel or any other geographical place.

God dealt with the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob in a unique and exclusive way and this cannot be extrapolated to any other country, even if America’s founders saw it as a “Second Israel” and dedicated this country to God’s purposes. There is no scriptural basis for concluding that God would ever deal with America on the basis of the Shemitah, which was given to Israel alone. And any attempt to do so is to read a meaning into Scripture and theorize an application that the original (divine and human) authors never intended or would even have imagined.

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The Hebrew Calendar

Evidence suggests that the modern Hebrew calendar is out of sync with that of Moses’ day—perhaps by a significant amount. Although according to the modern Hebrew calendar, the last year in the present Shemitah cycle begins on September 25, 2014, according to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the actual Shemitah year is disputed. [1. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12967-sabbatical-year-and-jubilee]

Dr. David Reagan has written an interesting article concerning the calendar problem in which he cites an authority on the subject who deals with this issue in the book Jewish History in Conflict:

The calculation of the years of the Jewish calendar, according to the Talmud, was done in the 2nd Century A.D. by Rabbi R. Yose. His rabbinic chronology is called the Seder Olam Rabbah.13

Since the rabbinical chronology from the time of Creation to the end of the Hebrew Scriptures is relatively clear, the discrepancy between the rabbinical calendar and the Christian reckoning of time relates mainly to the inter-testamental period for which there are no biblical records. This period is referred to by secular historians as “the Persian period.” The Babylonian Empire was overthrown by the Medo-Persian Empire (539 B.C.), and it is the length of the Persian period that is in dispute. The rabbinical chronology says it lasted 52 years (with 34 years of domination over Israel). The accepted chronology of historical experts says it lasted 207 years.

A remarkable new book has recently been published which examines this problem in detail. It is called Jewish History in Conflict.14 The author is a New York attorney and Orthodox Jew by the name of Mitchell First. He studied Jewish history at Yeshiva University’s Revel Graduate School, receiving his M.A. in Jewish history in 1995. He had previously earned a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1982.

The book provides an intriguing survey of what Jewish rabbis have had to say about the calendar discrepancy. He quotes the writings of 105 rabbis and scholars from 882 A.D. to the present, and it is fascinating reading.

In the process, the author proves that the Jewish chronology is flawed and the conventional chronology is the correct one. In fact, the evidence he presents is overwhelming. [1. http://lamblion.com/articles/articles_jewishlife3.php]

Being a highly debated issue, it seems unlikely that it will be completely solved to the satisfaction of everyone. Yet, in the context of the present discussion, it does make a difference.

For example, if the actual year is disputed, that also means that it is impossible to determine where the calendar is relative to the seven-year Shemitah cycle as it was established by God around 1445 B.C. Furthermore, attempts to establish when Sabbath years occurred relative to the known date of certain events in the Old Testament have remained inconclusive. And if the modern Hebrew calendar is off, or if the Sabbath-year cycle is off by even one year, then a key component of Cahn’s premise for the entire book is undermined because none of the events cited by the author can be conclusively connected to the biblical Sabbath years of Moses’ day.

Even less certain is the timing of the Jubilee year, which was a special Shemitah year that occurred after seven of the seven-year Sabbath cycles, i.e., in the 50th year. Furthermore, there is no consensus among the rabbis as to whether the Jubilee year was concurrent with the 49th year or whether it was after the 49th year and concurrent with the first year of the next seven-year cycle. To complicate things further, some have suggested that the Jubilee was an intercalary year (a year that is inserted into the calendar), such that the Jubilee cycles were 50 years each. If this is true, which the Jewish Encyclopedia indicates is the majority view among the rabbis, [1. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12967-sabbatical-year-and-jubilee] then the seven-year cycle would move later by one year for every 50 years. And besides all this, there are questions concerning exactly when the Jubilee year was suspended (as it is no longer observed). [1. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/513212/jewish/When-is-the-next-Jubilee-year.htm]

Taken together, this means that it is virtually impossible to know for certain if the Shemitah years are being reckoned according to God’s calendar. Yet, despite all of these difficulties which should be known by a Jewish rabbi, and after acknowledging that no one knows when the Jubilee years are on the Hebrew calendar, Cahn apparently brushes these problems aside and begins discussing the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the Six-Day War in 1967, claiming that these amount to Jubilee years for the nation of Israel, whether or not they are legitimate Jubilee years in the eyes of God.

Whether 1917 was the actual calendar year of Jubilee or not, we cannot say. But with regard to the two-thousand-year exile of the Jewish people from their land, it was certainly a prophetic Jubilee—a mega-Jubilee, a Jubilee of ages. And it happened to take place in the year following the Shemitah, as ordained in the ancient decree concerning the Jubilee.[1. Cahn, Jonathan. The Mystery of the Shemitah (Kindle Locations 2933-2936)]

The problem is obvious: Even though Cahn cannot know for certain when the Shemitah cycles actually occur on God’s calendar and even though there is even less certainty concerning the Jubilee, he then proceeds to build his unbiblical case for the mystery of the Shemitah affecting America, and thus, the case that everyone must be ready for the end of the Shemitah cycle in 2015 and the beginning of the next Jubilee year that will follow it.

In an interesting and troubling development, on September 16, 2014, Mark Biltz appeared on The Jim Bakker Show, and building upon and referencing Cahn’s work on the Shemitah, he and Jim Bakker had the following exchange:

Note: the following does not include everything that was said in this exchange, but nothing is left out that would distort the context or meaning of what is said, and the entire show can be seen at this web address.

Biltz: . . . Go back to Leviticus 25:8-10—this is what Jonathan was speaking about . . . so here we see the significance of the Shemitah year . . . and you see Rosh Hoshanah, you see Yom Kippur and on Yom Kippur…(interrupted by Bakker)

Bakker: But the Rapture has to take place on the trumpet sound day…

Biltz: . . . yeah—I don’t know what year, I don’t get into whether….(interrupted by Bakker)

Bakker (to the studio audience): Now, do ya’ll accept that or not? If you can’t accept that you have never studied the Old Testament—you have no idea of the trumpet—you always say, “oh, He’s coming at the sound of the trumpet. You’ve got to understand that this is the VERY HEART . . .

Biltz: Yes.

Bakker: . . . of ALL God’s teaching in the Old Testament.

Biltz: Sure. It’s all tied to His calendar. . .

Bakker: I believe this is the final [blood moon] tetrad. God is specific. His numbers are ALWAYS the same. Numerology will make you know God. I mean real numbers.

Bakker (several minutes later): So you see . . . (interrupted by Biltz)

Biltz: The Tribulation as a seven-year cycle that will follow the cyclical Shemitah cycle.

Bakker: So—you would feel like maybe we should prepare for the Tribulation (Biltz interrupts)

Biltz: Definitely. I think we have one year to really prepare for what God’s coming [sic]

Jonathan Cahn has been a regular guest on The Jim Bakker Show in connection with both The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah—in which he makes a connection between the Shemitah and the blood moon tetrad—discovered and popularized by Biltz.  Mark Biltz has also been a regular guest on Bakker’s program in connection with his book Blood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs—and has spoken at Cahn’s church, Beth Israel Worship Center. WND actually billed the weekend he was there in June as “The Harbinger meets Blood Moons.”[1. http://www.wnd.com/2014/06/the-harbinger-meets-blood-moons/]

Discernment Tip:  Take nothing for granted and be willing to do the hard work to check any and all assertions and fact-claims, even by “experts,” especially if there are other red flags.

Given that The Harbinger was the #1 best-selling Christian book, remaining on the New York Times best-seller list for over two years, Jonathan Cahn is viewed by many as a leading authority on the Old Testament, all things Hebrew and Jewish, Israel, the founding of America, the Lord’s feasts, current events and the end times. For this reason, it is unlikely that all but perhaps a few readers of The Mystery of the Shemitah will ever even think to dig a little deeper to see if the foundational issue of the Hebrew calendar is as certain as it is presented by the author.

This is not mentioned to bring Cahn’s integrity into question. However, everyone brings certain presuppositions, assumptions and knowledge to the table which influences one’s worldview and how the Scriptures, events, trends, statistics, and any number of other things might be interpreted.

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What’s in a title? The Mystery of the Shemitah…

Jonathan Cahn has positioned himself as a “revealer-of-mysteries,” many of which he claims no one else has ever seen before. One only need consider the many titles of his messages which contain the word “mystery.” This could be rightly characterized as Jonathan Cahn’s ministry trademark.

However, concerning the biblical Shemitah, there is no mystery—and there never has been. The exact requirements for keeping the Sabbath year were very explicitly revealed by God to and through Moses as recorded in the Pentateuch. The Scriptures never give any indication that there was some sort of underlying mystery or principle that was also in operation. It was all very straightforward and clear.

Furthermore, when God imposed a Shemitah upon Israel through the judgment of the Babylonian captivity, this was not a mystery either. Everything that was happening to the nation of Israel, and why it was happening was very clearly revealed through the prophets. Again, there was never some sort of mystery woven into the fabric of the creation at work.

Bible teachers have long defined a biblical mystery as “something which was hidden in the past, but now revealed.” And the nature of biblical mysteries is such that they can only be known and understood through direct revelation by God through a prophet (and apostles functioned as prophets in the New Testament). For example, in dispensational theology the church was a mystery in the Old Testament, not being foreseen even by the prophets until God revealed it through Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. Therefore, since Cahn has positioned himself as the revealer of biblical mysteries that have never been seen before, and given that he says that “the revelations came rapidly” as he was writing The Mystery of the Shemitah, he is being viewed as an end-times prophet—not just in the sense of a forthteller, but as a foreteller of revelation. And this is the way he has been frequently introduced for over two and a half years.

Yet, if he really is receiving revelation from God so that he can reveal previously hidden mysteries, this raises some serious questions concerning how God does things. If Cahn is right, not only was America’s relationship to the Shemitah never revealed by God until a couple of years ago through him, but the Lord had also been judging America according to the Shemitah cycle, but with no warning or explanation until after the fact.

This same problem is found in The Harbinger. According to the author, God sent a warning through the terrorist attacks in 2001 but with no corresponding prophetic revelation that this was the “first shaking,” as Cahn puts it, before the fact. And then, according to Cahn, the Lord sent a “second shaking” through the stock market crash of 2008 and the subsequent recession, yet without any warning before the fact. This does not fit the biblical pattern at all. If things had gone according to the biblical pattern, there would have been very specific revelation years in advance that 9/11 was coming if America didn’t turn to God.

Interestingly, Cahn is claiming that what he is now revealing is the expected warning by God ahead of even more calamitous events that will come as God judges this nation. Once again, this makes no sense biblically or logically.

Then there is the matter of the subtitle: The 3,000-Year-Old Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future, the World’s Future, and Your Future!

Now, as the revealer-of-mysteries, Jonathan Cahn adds to the drama of the book’s title by insisting that the mystery he has discovered is both universal and personal in scope, while directly appealing to the national conscience of Americans. Unfortunately, this has the feeling of being little more than sensationalism and marketing hype—and perhaps comes perilously close to “peddling the Word of God.”

Discernment Tip:  Always judge a book by its cover.

Although this is contrary to the popular saying, it is extremely important in the process of discernment. Think about all of the things which can be found on the cover: the title and the subtitle, the name of the author and a brief bio sketch, the publisher, often a synopsis or at least clues to the content, and endorsements.

The bio sketch usually includes where the author went to school, past and present ministries, and various accomplishments such as books he or she may have written. Just knowing these things about an author can be invaluable because all of them likely give insight into the author’s beliefs.

The relative trustworthiness of a book can often be determined simply on the basis the publisher. Few Christian publishers will print anything that they don’t agree with, at least in general. Therefore, if a publisher consistently puts out material that is frequently questionable or worse, that tells you something about what might be in the book in question. In the case of The Mystery of the Shemitah and The Harbinger, both were published by Frontline, which is a division of Charisma Publishing—a huge publishing empire that is the purveyor of some of the most unbiblical work of this generation.

Also, if you know that an endorser of a book is known to have questionable or outright bad theology, then that, too, tells you something about the book he is endorsing.

One more thing to consider, though not on the cover, is the book’s foreword. When someone writes a foreword to a book they are giving it their strongest seal of approval to the contents of the book—and they are putting their own reputation on the line. Therefore, you can be sure that the theology of the book’s author and the theology of the foreword’s author is very closely aligned in general terms. Therefore, if you are familiar with the author of the foreword, you already know a lot about the book and its author.

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The Blood Moon Tetrad

The matter of the “Blood Moon Tetrad” has taken on a life of its own over the past year. For those who may not be aware, a full lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a “blood moon” because when the shadow of the earth completely blocks the sun’s direct rays, the moon takes on a reddish or red-orange color, for the same reason that sunsets are also frequently this color (due to refraction of light by the earth’s atmosphere).

A blood moon tetrad is when there are four consecutive full lunar eclipses with no other intervening eclipses. And, interestingly, as they have sometimes in the past, all four full lunar eclipses fall on Jewish feast days (Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles) in the spring and fall of 2014 and 2015.

Because of this, many prophecy teachers have suggested that biblical prophetic passages referring to the sun being darkened and the moon turning to blood (eg., Joel 2:30-31) could find their fulfillment during this current blood moon tetrad (which also includes a full solar eclipse). (I have has addressed this issue extensively in another article on this website, so I won’t go into refuting this notion here.)

Suffice it to say, in The Mystery of the Shemitah, as have others, Jonathan Cahn suggests there may well be a connection between the blood moon tetrad (and solar eclipses) and the supposed Shemitah of 2014-2015. Apart from the many biblical problems with this theory, one of the greatest concerns is the practical consequence of this quasi-date-setting (which is done with the perfunctory caveats that this might not be connected with biblical end time events in order to avoid the charge of date-setting).

The immediate problem is that if people think the Rapture or the beginning of the Tribulation or the Second Coming of Christ is directly connected to these completely natural events, then they don’t have to be concerned with the idea that the Rapture could happen at any moment—which, given human nature, means that some won’t be prepared and will be caught off-guard. For those who are caught off-guard and haven’t trusted in Christ for salvation, they will enter into the Tribulation and experience the worst cataclysmic events this world has ever seen as God pours out His wrath.

Then the longer term problem is that if the blood moons, solar eclipses and Shemitah pass without anything happening, how many will completely turn their back on anyone who teaches on prophecy—or turn their back on the Word of God altogether? We could well be in the last days, or even the last hours of the last days—but God’s timetable is not the same as ours, and Christ could come at any moment—before, during or after the blood moon tetrad.

Furthermore, history shows that when dates are suggested for the end of the world, the Rapture, Armageddon, etc., there are those who become so caught up in it that they quit their jobs, get rid of everything they own, and just wait for the end to come. Even more tragically, as happened with at least one person because of the date-setting of Harold Camping, some may commit suicide.

This may be one reason why Jesus told his disciples that no one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels or the Son of Man himself (Matt 24:36, 44; Mark 13:32).

Discernment Tip:  Think. Think biblically and think logically—because the two aren’t at odds for the believer.

The Lord has given us His word to know and understand what He has done in the past, what He is doing in the present and what He will do in the future. He has also given us a brain and the ability to reason. So, let’s put this altogether and consider just three things about the blood moon tetrad biblically and logically:

  1. The present blood moon tetrad is a completely natural and predictable event. NASA has calculated the precise location and the exact timing (to the second) of every lunar and solar eclipse for thousands of years in the past to thousands of years into the future. Since Jesus is the Creator, that means He is the one who established this precise timetable and geometry of the orbits of the earth, moon and sun in the very beginning. Then how is it that He couldn’t have figured out the mystery of the Shemitah and its convergence with the blood moon tetrad long before Cahn and Biltz did? Yet, He told his disciples, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
  2. The wording of Joel 2:30-31, (and quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:19-20)) suggests that the darkening of the sun and the moon turning blood red are simultaneous events. However, if Cahn and Biltz are right about the present blood moons being fulfillment of this prophecy, there is a problem: full solar and full lunar eclipses can only occur exactly two weeks apart, because during a solar eclipse, the moon is between the earth and the sun, and during a lunar eclipse, the earth is between the moon and the sun.
  3. Consider all the times that the Lord used nature as a warning of judgment or as the judgment itself—for example, in the past there was Noah’s flood, the plagues of Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea by a wind, and Joshua’s long day when the sun stood still. Then there are all of the cataclysmic events in nature described in the book of Revelation. Although they involve God using nature, none of them were / will be merely natural, predictable events. Each was / will be supernatural, even though done using nature. If they had been purely natural and completely predictable, then they would never be recognized as coming directly from the hand of God.

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Lack of Documentation

Although The Harbinger was classified as a work of fiction, Jonathan Cahn stated in an interview with Brannon Howse in 2012 that his book was 90 percent fact and 10 percent fiction. Also, in the lead-in to the book, Cahn wrote: “What you are about to read is presented in the form of a story, but what is contained within the story is real.”[1. Cahn, Jonathan. The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future . (Kindle location 54) Charisma House. Kindle Edition.]

Given that it is “mostly real,” a particular problem with The Harbinger is that very few of the author’s assertions and fact-claims are documented. Because of this, a tremendous amount of primary research was needed to do the necessary fact-checking to any degree. As it turned out there were many problems, not the least of which was the author’s very selective use of historical facts and statistics in order to make his case (as was thoroughly documented in this reviewer’s book, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?).

However, The Mystery of the Shemitah is not a work of fiction at all—it is non-fiction. Unfortunately, Cahn bombards the reader with dozens and dozens of assertions and fact-claims concerning historical events, economic trends, financial statistics, and includes many graphs depicting the course of the stock market—all with absolutely no citation of sources of any kind. This is a significant issue for many reasons, not the least of which is that with the overwhelming success of The Harbinger, it is unlikely that many, if any, of Cahn’s readers will ever take the time to do the necessary fact-checking themselves.

It is inconceivable that a non-fiction book with so many fact-claims would be published with no documentation. The standard, even for college-level papers, is that if there are facts that are not common knowledge (i.e., the Grand Canyon is in Arizona; George H.W. Bush’s son was also a President of the United States), then the source of those facts must be cited in footnotes or endnotes and the paper must also include a full bibliography. For a best-selling author and a major publisher to release something like this into the marketplace with no citation of sources raises serious ethical questions, if not worse.

Beyond this, it appears that many of the facts cited by Jonathan Cahn may have come from a source that is not even recognized as legitimate by many colleges and universities. The following are a few of what appear to be some of the more obvious examples. (Note: Unfortunately, because of the lack of documentation, this reviewer had to do a significant amount of research to discover the sources of Cahn’s assertions and fact-claims.)

In each of the following pairs of screen shots, the first is from the Kindle edition of The Mystery of the Shemitah and the second from Wikipedia. (The reader may also note in some cases, not only the lack of documentation, but the similarity of wording between the book and the apparent source material.)

Concerning the use of Wikipedia as a primary source for research work, Wikipedia itself notes the following in an essay:[1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Academic_use]

Even the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, has been quoted as saying the following concerning the popular website:[1. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/15/wikipedia_can_damage_your_grades/]

To be fair, not all of the facts cited in The Mystery of the Shemitah seem to have come from Wikipedia, and yet in some of those cases, there are serious (potentially even legal) issues because of similar or nearly exact wording combined with the lack of documentation. Here is one example.

 

Beyond the lack of documentation for facts and figures, there are a total of nineteen graphs in The Mystery of the Shemitah, none of which have any citation for the source of the graphs or for the data used to create the graphs. The following are three graphs found in the book.

The first thing that should catch the reader’s attention is the lack of vertical scales with units for reference points. Depending on the amount of compression or expansion done on the vertical scale, such graphs, just like with statistics, can be made to support virtually any theory or conclusion if there is no scale for context. The following graph perfectly illustrates the problem, because based on Cahn’s book, one would think that the stock market fluctuations on the proposed seven-year cycle was producing economic cataclysms of profound proportions. However, as can be seen here, when viewed in the full proportionate context of the rises, as well, the downturns in both duration and amount are relatively minor.

Discernment Tip #1: Beware of an author who fails to document assertions and fact-claims when they are critical to his argument. 

Interpretations in primary sources can easily be presented as facts in secondary sources, particularly when things like history and economics are involved. Therefore, the context of the original information can be vital to correctly understanding what is being presented.

An author should never leave the burden of proof upon his readers by forcing them to do the research he should have provided for fact-checking purposes.

Discernment Tip #2:  Someone has rightly said that if you torture statistics long enough, you can get them to confess to anything.

Be very careful when an author uses statistics to lay the primary foundation for his theories. Statistics, like history and economics, can usually be interpreted in a variety of ways. Whenever an author bombards his readers with statistics to prove his point, this should be an immediate red flag to dig deeper to avoid being caught up in the drama of the “overwhelming evidence.”

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Marketing “Fear”

Intentionally or not, these men are marketing “fear”—and “fear” is selling at a brisk pace in today’s troubled world.

Is this assessment too harsh? Consider this:

As noted earlier, Jonathan Cahn and Mark Biltz have recently made regular appearances on The Jim Bakker Show. The program that aired on September 16, from which the previously cited exchange between Biltz and Bakker is taken, is fifty-eight minutes long. Of that fifty-eight minutes, the entire last twelve minutes, 20 percent of the show, are devoted exclusively to promoting “survival” products and food packages. In order for the ministry to maintain 501(c)3 non-profit status with the IRS, this survival gear cannot be sold, so these things are “given away” for “donations” of up to $3,000 for a package that is supposed to feed two people for up to two years.

The video below is the ten-minute segment at the end of the September 16, 2014 The Jim Bakker Show. It is difficult to not characterize this as anything but gratuitous, shameless marketing.

Naturally, the promotion of survival products doesn’t happen only when Mark Biltz is on the program, but is part of every show. On the September 2, 2014 show with Jonathan Cahn, the survival equipment and food advertisement is in the middle of the program, which can be seen here.

These men are no less culpable than Jim Bakker, even though they are just guests. They are more than just guests—they are regular fixtures on the program. They are a vital part of the success of The Jim Bakker Show. And they are helping him to get rich by trying to create a market of fearful people and then selling products to this very market. When Mark Biltz and Jim Bakker team up to warn their audience that they have one year until the Tribulation begins—and when at least Biltz and Cahn will not allow themselves to be pinned down on the timing of the Rapture (meaning that they hold open the possibility that the church may go through it)—and then they turn around and promote these survival products with slick marketing techniques, this is nothing less than peddling the Word of God.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

Discernment Tip: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Only God knows the heart and judging motives is not our prerogative. However, when massive amounts of money are in play, it can be difficult for even the most spiritual, well-meaning people to keep their bearings—at least for a time. This is not an accusation and we can only hope that this hasn’t happened in connection with the current Shemitah / Blood Moons debacle.

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Closing Thoughts

We don’t know God’s timetable and so we can’t know when the Rapture will happen or when the Tribulation will begin. The Rapture could take place before you finish reading this sentence. It may happen on the Feast of Trumpets in 2015. Or, it could be long after the last lunar eclipse in the current Blood Moon Tetrad.

The only thing we know for certain is that the Rapture will take place (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and that we must be ready when it happens. Moreover, the only way to be ready for the time when all believers will be caught up to meet Christ in the air, to be with Him forever, and to avoid going through the horrors of the Tribulation as God unleashes His wrath upon the earth, is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God in the flesh, became a man, and lived a perfect life in complete obedience to God the Father. He willingly offered Himself up as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men, taking the punishment we all deserve, shedding his blood as a payment for our sins, and dying in our place on a Roman cross. He offers salvation, the sure hope of forgiven sin, to anyone who will turn to Him in faith, trusting in Him and His shed blood and His sacrificial death.

And because He arose from the grave on the third day, His offer includes not only the sure hope of forgiven sin, but also the sure hope of eternal life as a free gift of God’s grace to all who believe.

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For those who might be interested in a more in-depth treatment of the Shemitah theory as presented in Jonathan Cahn’s first book, The Harbinger, you may want to consider reading my book: The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? – available in both Kindle and paperback versions.

382 Comments
  1. Thank you so very much for this splendid critique of Rabbi Cahn’s books. My reading time is limited, so I have not read them, BUT based on various articles supporting his writings, I have had a strong intuition that there is something very wrong.

    I’m 80 years old, was saved at the age of 10, and during my walk with the Lord have realized that He has given me a spiritual gift of discernment when it comes to “newly discovered” information. This is another one of those wannabes that feel they have an inside track when it comes to prophecy. Just reading the reviews makes me realize that he veers from “thus saith the Lord” as revealed in the Bible.

    You so aptly point out the many flaws and discrepancies and are to be strongly commended for taking the time to present them. It was very wise of you to comment at WND’s article and link your site to it. I pray that many will seek the truth and read what you have written here.

    Thanks again, and God bless you richly!
    Caroline Biederman

    P.S. I am going to bookmark this for future reference.

    • Thank you for the very kind and gracious words. I sincerely appreciate it.

      Dave

    • To David James,
      Seems the part of your argument mentioned in the 2nd 1/2 of your summary about the US being judged for not keeping the Shemiah year is a straw man argument. I didn’t read the book but listened to interviews and read articles. I understood Jonathan to say america is being judged and the warnings follow a Shemitah cycle. I don’t find that too far fetched but you do. I think that’s an un necessary and confusing part of your article.

      Your points about graphs, statistics and documentation is good and examples are very important.
      It takes a lot of time but I’d like to see this article reduced. It’s hard to find time to read articles. I have a self set deadline for a book for September otherwise I’d copy write it to show you what I mean. There’s better information in your article than in the other few I read. Thanks, His truly, Doug Ribot

      • Hi Doug. Thanks for writing.

        It’s always difficult to determine what to put in and what to leave out of an article. Yes, it could have been shorter, but what to leave out? As you noted, it has better information than in others you’ve read – so there’s always a trade-off.

        Concerning the straw-man argument: No, I don’t believe it is a straw-man argument – which I do my very best to avoid at all costs. The point is that the Shemitah laws are an exclusive feature of the Law of Moses and the Scriptures give no indication whatsoever that they were in effect either before or after the Law Moses was given or fulfilled.

        Furthermore, God didn’t even judge Israel according to a Shemitah cycle – so that isn’t even a precedent. Beyond that, Cahn’s graphs are distorted in order to amplify the apparent “judgment” – and the fact is there have been no consistent catastrophic economic collapses following a Shemitah pattern.

        Here is a link to an excellent white-paper by an economist discussing Cahn’s theories – and it totally destroys them: http://bowyerbriefing.com/docs/Shemitah%20Years%20and%20Blood%20Moons%20as%20Market%20Timing%20Tools.pdf

        The fact is that on average, the Dow has declined less than 5% in Shemitah years, and increased less than 10% in non-Shemitah years. That doesn’t sound like a pattern of judgment to me. Furthermore, if you take out 2008, the average decline in Shemitah years is less than 3%.

        Just as he did in The Harbinger, Cahn has selectively cherry-picked his data – and suppressed contrary data in order to bolster his case.

        It is a sham and millions of people have bought into it – bringing untold money into the coffers of Charisma Media – the single largest publisher of heretical material of this generation.

        • I found the facts interesting in the Harbinger with the Buttonwood agreement, quotes from Isaiah of Tom Daschle, the sycamore, the Church the pine tree and stone … With the exception of the sycamore it could all be planned by the occult nevertheless it would have taken some impressive planning ahead.

          I refused to buy his books for personal reasons. I didn’t like the way he ran his Church. I told him it was a religious social club giving the good feelings of salvation without the love or commitment Christ and his disciples had for one another. I likened him to a harlot. If he had faith to move mountains I wouldn’t like him cause I don’t see that he loves the brethren. His carelessness that may discredit us is just one aspect of it.

          Perhaps when I am done with my book God willing you can critique it. I actually made a new discovery about the Bible that a sensationalist would love to get their hands on. Hopefully my book will be copyrighted and out before anyone does. I plan to put all the relevant information on a website in English and Mandarin for starters but I’ll need a translator.

    • saved? what an awful doctrine, does that mean 90% of the world is unsaved? and you call that GOOD NEWS? how childish,
      it is a persons capacity for love that saves him!

      You can’t hold the wind, you can’t put the light in a glass. Love is like that. Your concept is so unsophisticated. I have heard of it before. What if one of your loved ones doesn’t believe? how do you reconcile that? If you can live with that then theres no need to create a devil is there?

      • Peter,

        If you want to discuss this from a biblical perspective and see what God himself said about the matter, then this would be a good place to discuss what the Bible says about salvation.

        If you’re only interested in arguing for your own personal perspective with no more authority than your personal opinion, this isn’t the place you’re looking for.

        All are sinners, deserving eternal punishment, before an infinitely holy God. Life is short. Hell is hot. And heaven is real. You can find forgiveness and a personal relationship with the living God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God – God-in-the-flesh – who took the punishment we all deserve by shedding his precious, innocent blood, dying on a Roman cross as God’s perfect sacrificial Lamb so that we might have the sure hope of forgiven sin and arose from the grave and is alive forevermore that we might have the sure hope of eternal life.

        We could go back and forth all day about others, loved ones, those who haven’t heard, etc. – but the only person who is going to stand before God to give an answer to Him for your life is you. So, the first and priority issue at hand is what about you? After you’ve dealt with that issue biblically – what the Bible actually says – not simply your opinion concerning what is just and fair (which presumes you’re able to determine that accurately from God’s perspective) – then we can discuss the other issues.

        You can read more about salvation here on the ABI website under the menu item “Eternity.”

        • I hope you don’t mind me quoting a world renowned scholar and my teacher, Tovia Singer rabbi

          To understand the brazen manner in which Christendom tampered with the Jewish scriptures, let’s examine the verse that you insist “proves” that Jesus is the messiah. Psalm 22:16 in the King James Version (KJV) reads,

          Dogs have compassed me; the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.

          Understandably, Christians are confident that this passage contains a clear reference to Jesus’ crucifixion. “Of whom other than Jesus could the Psalmist be speaking?” missionaries ask. They insist that the Bible could not be referring to any other person in history but the savior who bore the marks of the Cross.

          Apparently, you were so impressed by this argument that you wondered how a rabbi like myself could miss this reference to Jesus’ crucifixion. Paradoxically, well-educated Jews are utterly repelled by the manner in which the church rendered the words of Psalm 22:17.1

          Whereas in a Jewish Bible this verse appears as Psalm 22:17, in a Christian Bible it appears as 22:16. To avoid confusion, this verse will be referred to as Psalm 22:17 throughout this article.

          To understand how Christian translators rewrote the words of King David, let’s examine the original Hebrew words of this verse with a proper translation.
          Psalm 22:17 (16)

          Correct Translation

          Hebrew

          King James Version (16)

          For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evildoers have enclosed me; like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.

          כִּי סְבָבוּנִי, כְּלָבִים: עֲדַת מְרֵעִים, הִקִּיפוּנִי; כָּאֲרִי, יָדַי וְרַגְלָי:

          For dogs have compassed me, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.

          Notice that the English translation from the original Hebrew does not contain the word “pierced.” The King James version deliberately mistranslated the Hebrew word kaari (כָּאֲרִי) as “pierced,” rather than “like a lion,” thereby drawing the reader to a false conclusion that this Psalm is describing the Crucifixion. The Hebrew word כָּאֲרִי does not mean pierced but plainly means “like a lion. The end of Psalm 22:17, therefore, properly reads “like a lion they are at my hands and my feet.” Had King David wished to write the word “pierced,” he would never have used the Hebrew word kaari. Instead, he would have written either daqar or ratza, which are common Hebrew words in the Jewish Scriptures. These common words mean to “stab” or “pierce.” Needless to say, the phrase “they pierced my hands and my feet” is a not-too-ingenious Christian contrivance that appears nowhere in Tanach.

          Bear in mind, this stunning mistranslation in the 22nd Psalm was not born out of ignorance. Christian translators were well aware of the correct meaning of this simple Hebrew word. They fully understood the meaning of the word כָּאֲרִי and deliber- ately twisted their translations of this text. The word kaari can be found in many other places in the Jewish scriptures and they correctly translated כָּאֲרִי “like a lion” in all places in Christian Bibles where this word appears with the exception of Psalm 22—the Church’s cherished “Crucifixion Psalm.”

          For example, the identical word kaari is also found in Isaiah 38:13. In the immediate context of this verse King Hezekiah is singing a song for deliverance from his grave illness.In the midst of his supplication he exclaims in Hebrew “שִׁוִּ֤יתִי עַד־בֹּ֙קֶר֙ כָּֽאֲרִ֔י” Notice that the last word in this phrase (moving from right to left) is the same Hebrew word kaari that appears in Psalm 22:17. In this Isaiah text, however, the King James Version correctly translates these words “I reckoned till morning that, as a lion…” As mentioned above, Psalm 22:17 is the only place in all of the Jewish Scriptures that any Christian Bible translates kaari as “pierced.”

          It must be noted that the authors of the New Testament were not responsible for inserting the word “pierced” into the text of Psalm 22:17. This verse was tampered with long after the Christian canon was completed. Bear in mind, during the latter half of the first century, when the New Testament writers were compiling their Greek manuscripts, Psalm 22:17 was still in pristine condition; thus, when the authors of the New Testament read this verse, they found nothing in the phrase “ like a lion they are at my hands and my feet” that would advance their teachings. As a result, Psalm 22:17 is never quoted in the New Testament. Missionaries, who insist that the Christian translation of this verse reflects the original words of King David, must wonder why there was not one New Testament author who deemed this supposed allusion to the crucifixion worthy of being mentioned in his writings.

          A cursory reading of the entire 22nd Psalm reveals the extent to which this verse was subjected to reckless tampering. Throughout this chapter, King David routinely uses an animal motif to describe his enemies. The Psalmist’s poignant references to the “dog” and “lion” are, therefore, common metaphors employed by the Psalmist. In fact, David repeatedly makes reference to the “dog” and “lion” both before and after Psalm 22:17. For King David, these menacing beasts symbolize his bitter foes who continuously sought to destroy him. This metaphor, therefore, sets the stage for the moving theme of this chapter. Although David’s predicament at times seems hope- less, this faithful king relied on God alone for his deliverance. As the Psalmist eagerly looks to God for deliverance from his adversaries, he conveys the timeless mes- sage that it is the Almighty alone Who can save the faithful in times of tribulation. Let’s examine a number of verses in this chapter that immediately surround Psalm 22:17 as they appear in the King James Version.

          King David, the author of Psalm 22, identifies his enemies as “lions” in the verses that immediately precede and follow Psalm 22:17 (16).

          Psalm 22:12-13 (KJV)

          Psalm 22:20:21 (KJV)

          Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. (13) They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

          Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. (21) Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

          As mentioned above, it is obvious when reading this larger section of the 22nd Psalm that King David is using an animal motif—most commonly lions—as an animated literary device, in order to describe his pursuers and tormentors. This striking style is pervasive in this section of the Bible. In fact, each and every time the word “lion” appears in the Book of Psalms, King David is referring to a metaphoric lion, rather than a literal animal.

          For example, in the 17th Psalm King David appeals to the Almighty to rescue him from the hands of his enemies, the “lion.” Bear in mind, an examination of the 17th Psalm is of great relevance to our study because in many respects Psalm 17 and 22 are sister chapters, both with regard to their literary motif and driving theme.

          In the 17th Psalm, he is seeking deliverance from his adversaries as in Psalm 22. In Psalm 17:8-12, he pleads with God for deliverance from the “lion,” as he cries out,

          Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouths they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in our steps; they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth, like a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

          Fearing that he has been abandoned by God, David implores the Almighty to answer his supplications for help, mitigating any question as to the identity of the Psalmist. It is explicitly clear from the very first verse of this chapter that the person speaking is King David.

          “Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my darling from the lions.”

          Moreover, missionaries are confronted with another vexing problem in their effort to interpolate the words of this Psalm into a first century crucifixion story. In the simplest terms, this text that Christians eagerly quote is not a prophecy, nor does it speak of any future event. This entire Psalm, as well as Psalm 23:1-3 that follows, contains a famous personal prayer in which King David cried out to God from the depths of his pain and anguish—a fugitive from his family and former friends who betrayed him. Accordingly, the stirring monologue in this chapter is all in the first person. Fearing that he has been abandoned by God, David implores the Almighty to answer his supplications for help, mitigating any question as to the identity of the psalmist. It is explicitly clear from the very first verse of this chapter that the person speaking is King David.

          Understandably, Trinitarian Christians are confronted with another staggering problem; attributing this to anyone other than David, i.e., Jesus, is nonsensical, considering that most Christians deem Jesus and God to be one entity. In the beginning of this chapter the Psalmist cries aloud,

          “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.”

          (Psalm 22:1-3)

          Why would Jesus, whom Trinitarians insist is God, complain that “God is so far from helping me?” To whom was Jesus complaining? How could God, the first Person of the Trinity, not hear the cries of God—the second Person of the Trinity? To whom is this supposed god/man complaining? Finally, why would God be complaining to God? The Psalmist is confused and bewildered as he beseeches God, who he believes is silent. He feels as though his supplications were cast aside. In the verses that follow, David questions his feelings of abandonment when enumerating the times when God listened and intervened on behalf of his ancestors. If God and Jesus were truly one entity, then how or why would God not understand His own predicament? How can God wonder why God doesn’t hear His own prayers? Furthermore, who are God’s ancestors? Applying the words of Psalm 22 to Jesus challenges even the most fertile imagination and places an enormous strain on Church teachings.

          The nagging question that comes to mind is: Why did the King James Version translate the Hebrew word כָּאֲרִי (kaari) in Isaiah 38:13 correctly, “like a lion,” yet deliberately mistranslate this same word as “pierced” in Psalm 22:17? Clearly, these Christian translators were well aware of the correct meaning of the word kaari, as evidenced by their translation of Isaiah 38:13. Why then did they specifically tamper with Psalm 22?

          To fully understand why the Church felt compelled to revise the 22nd Psalm, it is essential to grasp the central role this famed chapter plays in traditional Christian teachings. The Church fathers cherished Psalm 22 as a chapter that explicitly des- cribes in vivid detail the agony of the Passion Narratives, and provides the Gospel’s script for Jesus’ crucifixion. Segments of this Psalm are quoted extensively in the New Testament as a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy of the crucifixion. The most notable quote from Psalm 22 appears in the first two Gospels and is found in the chapter’s opening verses, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Matthew and Mark place this “Cry of Dereliction” in the mouth of the crucified Jesus as his last dying words.2 These two Gospels resourcefully use Psalm 22 as one of many palettes from which to paint the brutal picture of a tormented crucified savior. All of the Gospels3 similarly use Psalm 22:19 (22:18 in a Christian Bible) in their crucifixion narratives, and Hebrews 2:12 quotes Psalm 22:23 to explain why the messiah had to suffer for humanity.

          Psalm 22 has, therefore, always been a vital text to the Church and was used repeatedly in order to retroject the life of Jesus into the “Old Testament.” In so doing, missionaries sought to lend credibility to their claim that Jesus is the messiah as was foreordained by the ancient Jewish prophets. For Christendom, the Psalmist’s original intent was superseded by its interest in applying this entire chapter to Jesus’ passion, no matter how extensive the revisions would be. The Church, therefore, did not hesitate to tamper with the words of the 22nd Psalm so that its verses would reflect and sustain its Christian message. Isaiah 38:13, on the other hand, possessed no Christological value to the Church and was neither quoted nor used by the Church fathers to propagate their teachings. Christendom, therefore, had no need to mis-translate it, and Isaiah 38:13 was, accordingly, left intact.

          Interestingly, the stunning mistranslation in this chapter did not escape the notice of the missionary world. In fact, this controversy has attracted quite a bit of attention from Christians dedicated to Jewish evangelism.

          For example, Moshe Rosen, the founder of Jews for Jesus, advances a rather inventive response to this controversy over the appearance of the word “pierced” in Christian translations of Psalm 22. In his widely distributed book, Y’shua, Rosen readily concedes that the Hebrew word kaari does mean “like a lion,” and not “pierced”; yet it is on this very point where he makes his argument.

          • Peter,

            Thanks for clarifying your position as (apparently) who rejects that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

            There are plenty of ethnic Jews who have placed their faith in Jesus as Messiah who could easily deal with all your objections – but volumes of copied and pasted texts from multiple sources doesn’t lend itself to this forum – and people just aren’t going to read.

            I understand that you think that Isaiah chapter 53 is also dismissed, but many rabbis are uncomfortable with it because this is clearly the suffering Messiah.

            I could cut and paste from multiple sources to demonstrate that appropriate understanding of the Scriptures – but your mind is already made up and do not accept the Christian New Testament has being the authoritative Word of God.

            So, I see nothing but round after round of pointless tit-for-tat discussion – that will be profitable to know one.

            If you come to the point where you’re willing to accept what I would consider as the entire authoritative Word of God, then we can continue to interact. Until then, it probably won’t happen.

          • Dear Peter:

            I read through your whole post. I was very interesting in doing so because I have a heart to see as many Jewish people come to know Jesus as Messiah as possible. I am shaking as I’m writing this right now because I think I may have the answer for you.

            It “just so happens” that a man by the name of John Metzger visited my church a few short months ago and I got to speak to him personally. I hope I remember what he said correctly but I’m only going by memory here so please forgive me if I get some of it wrong. I would advise that you get in touch with him at Ariel Ministries. He studied under Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a Messianic Jew.

            What he told me is that when vowel sounds were added to the Hebrew texts (the Masoretic text?), some of the meanings were changed and this one is Psalm 22 was one of them! It was the RABBIS who changed the original meaning from “pierced” to “like a lion”, not the Christians who were guilty of changing anything.

            As far as Psalm 22 not being an actual prophecy but an historical event, Arnold Fruchtenbaum deals with this and systematizes this information in a book entitled “Messianic Christology”. I had the book but donated it to my church and do not have access to it right now. But John Metzger was selling it when he came to my church and I’m sure you could obtain a copy from him for further explanation.

            And lastly, Deut. 6:4 – the Sh’ma – the verse that says, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD your God is one LORD”, please be aware that the Hebrew word for “one” is echad, i.e. a composite unity, not yachid, an absolute one. John Metzger wrote a book entitle “God in Eclipse” that brings this out. He placed it in the book like this on pp. 73:

            Hear O Israel, the LORD (singular) your God (plural) is one (echad – plural) LORD (singular).

            The concept of the trinity is sprinkled all throughout the Tenakh and this is what John’s book is about.

            Oh, my dear man, please get in touch with John Metzger and get more info. I beg of you. I am not totally qualified to engage you in these matters but I know he is… and I’m sure he would be more than happy to do so.

            Blessings!
            Laura

          • Thanks, Laura.

            Peter – she has given you some very good advice.

          • You’re welcome, David. Hope it helps.

          • Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?

        • I replied to this comment as the reply option didn’t seem available in your last response. This conflict of views ahas gone on for 1000s of years it seems. Christians seemed so infuriated with unbelieving jews especially (also muslims) that they felt compelled to persecute, harangue, kill them in countless pogroms, crusades and the Spanish inquisition.

          Your approach is also threatening, quote “hell is hot” quote “man is evil’ paraphrasing. What of love? why don’t you speak words of love? you say the crucifixion of Yeshuah was the ultimate act of love, well why don’t you show a little of that instead of regurgitating doctrines. They boil down to “its my way or the highway”

          Anyhow this is what I think. I have seen some beautiful Christians who seemed filled with light. They seemed to be helpful souls and I respected them. never once did they make any judgemental statements. That is love in action. i don’t think quoting doctrine is useful as you said

          Love is heaven, fear is hell, stop peddling it

          • Peter,

            IF changing my style to fit your concept of love would make difference in your receptivity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but if you’re honest, you’ll admit that was just a smoke screen.

            Again, if you want to discuss what the Bible says, I can and would be very loving if you would accept what the Bible says. But you will only accept the passages that you accept as valid – making you judge and jury.

            It’s hard to have an honest discussion under those terms.

          • Peter,

            I’ve watched about 20% of this video – and it is nothing more than the recounting of this man’s spiritual journey – and although sincere, it does not prove or even support your point.

            Everyone has a spiritual journey – whether they be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Taoist, Agnostic, Atheist, etc.

            What I heard demonstrates that he was the victim of confusion and it isn’t surprising that he has ended up confused.

            He came out of holiness Pentecostalism, which has a significant number of biblical problems, then went to a Quaker seminary – that has even more serious biblical problems. Because neither of these traditions follow the Word of God using a consistent means of interpretation, he was confused – and ultimately didn’t recognize the truth when he saw it – and he latched on to what he thought was the truth – but was in reality only part of the truth.

            Testimonies are interesting and sometimes important. They are always sincere and real for the person – but they are subjective and must be viewed in light of the objective Word of God. And, unfortunately, he missed the truth and now rejects what the New Testament reveals.

      • Peter,
        The potential for eternal life is good news. The bliss of ignorance is avoidance to painful truth that can help us grow. I didn’t create the devil and some of my loved ones don’t believe. If God destroys me I still believe He is righteous. If He destroys my loved ones He is righteous. I didn’t avoid the conflict between reality and the way I am. It was not pleasant for a time but it brought me to a much stronger peaceful place. I either exalt my ego as god or I accept the way God really is.

  2. Thank You, for all that Caroline said I ditto. Your a blessing to those of us that has read your review. Thanks again for your time

  3. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Not only for being a vessel of the Lord’s mercy in your wonderful expose of Jonathan’s Con, but in schooling the reader in discernment skills! May the Lord bless you and keep you and use His gifts through you to turn many, including Mr. Cahn, to His truth recorded in the word of God. The living truth that is demonstrated clearly in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    • Thank you for your very kind, gracious and encouraging words.

      Dave

    • Thank you for the encouragement and kind words.

  4. Dave: Thank you for this impressive critical analysis contained within your article with regards to the so called mystery of the Shemitah. You are helping to enlighten the Body of Christ of the dangers of prophetic speculation which has now become more of an industry than a true proclamation of the gospel of Christ. Your article has provided good pointers on discernment tips something I’ve never seen before done by any author. Perhaps your publisher may want to publish your articles in book form? Just a thought.

    GOD BLESS YOU

  5. “However, God also promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit a large piece of land (Genesis 13:14-15)—and there is no direct application of that truth to all believers. Rather, the application is indirect and concerns God’s faithfulness, but does not extend to all believers inheriting the actual physical land that was promised to Israel or any other geographical place.”

    Well no duh! How could anyone think this promise applied to every believer – not every believer is a descendant! Not even each descendant owns land in Israel. Obviously, the promise is not to each, but to the collective.

    • K. Savage: The problem is that those who believe that the church has replaced Israel in God’s program, believe that the promises made to Abraham are fulfilled spiritually in the church. This is a problem.

      I’m not sure I understand your basic point.

      • Promises (specific) are given and Principles (general) are about application and is where you have missed the boat. cahn does not ever have israel replaced-ever. my good solid baptist teaching knows the difference and have never heard him even remotely replace israel and say she will not receive the promises coming to her from God. america was founded upon the Bible’s principles so they apply. israel is waiting to receive her promises and the Promise Himself–Jesus Christ the Lord.
        when i was not even a christian, but applied biblical principles, in the realm of my finances i was blessed by that for the sake of them being true. principles have blessing or cursing attached to them based on application. when i became born-again i came to know God by Promise. cahn’s work highlights the difference so i am mystified that you have mixed the two separate teachings to say he has blended them. i believe your understanding is flawed in this matter.
        sincerely, andrea

        • Hi Andrea,

          Thanks for commenting.

          I appreciate your comments about the difference between principles and promises – and in fact, have taught Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics for over 20 years – and I have always taught about this issue very clearly.

          So, I don’t think my understanding of these is flawed – or is the way I have evaluated Cahn’s theories.

          If anyone has confused the issue of principles and promises, it would be him. There are no principles anywhere in Scripture that indicate there is a 7-year economic cycle built into the fabric of the way the universe works – or that God uses in dealing with any nation. There are specific promises, however, and those are related only to the nation of Israel.

          I agree that Cahn does not believe that America has replaced Israel in God’s program. I understood that within a few days of beginning to deal with this issue the same week his first book was released in 2012.

          However, there is no doubt, based upon quote after quote in The Harbinger, that he believes that God has and continues to deal with America in a way that is different than any other nation in history – except the nation of Israel. He is the one who has established what I have called a “parallel theology” – rather than “replacement theology.”

          I would encourage you to read my book The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? – which I believes makes an thoroughly biblical and historical case – using Cahn’s own words – quote after quote – that demonstrate beyond any doubt that he has crossed the promise/ principle line in ways that very few Bible teachers have except for genuinely replacement theologians.

      • Galatians 3:28-29. Not that the author’s intent was replacement theology nor do I embrace that notion, but when the Jews rejected Christ at the fulfillment of the 70 Weeks Prophecy, the Gospel went to the nation’s and there was no more Israel/Jews as chosen people as it now became the body of believers who further became inheritors of the promise. Romans 11 supports this as a “spiritual Israel” that will be saved as does Peter’s verses on “an holy nation, a peculiar people” which at one time in the Old Testament the Lord claimed of the Israelites.

        • No, Jonathan Cahn doesn’t hold to Replacement Theology, but what you have described that you believe is precisely Replacement Theology.

          The 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel has not been yet fulfilled.

          Paul’s point in Romans 9-11 is that God has not rejected his people – and if you read Jeremiah 31, you find that God’s promises to national Israel were eternal and that they cannot be broken.

        • Janice,
          It’s clear to me that in the end God will save a remnant from the non believing nation of Israel — most Jews today. Both Jew and non Jewish believers will partake with them in salvation.
          Jews don’t have to change their religion to be believers. If they believe Moses they’ll believe the gospel if it is not misrepresented.
          I believe most Jews from the first communities of believers continued to obey the law of Moses as far as diet and holy days were concerned so in that sense they don’t have to become what Christians who don’t are today.

          • Jews most certainly have to believe in Christ for salvation – which necessarily entails moving away from the Law of Moses as the Book of Hebrews makes clear.

          • Peter had been with Messiah/Christ a long time when he said he’d never eaten anything unclean. Paul said circumcision nor uncircumcision matter. I paraphrase him saying if you get circumcised to be saved you need to keep the whole law to be saved.
            Seems to me many or most of the early believers kept most of the customs they grew up with. I don’t believe keeping or not keeping them matters.

          • Doug,

            The book of Acts was a transition period and so we must be careful about formulated solid doctrines when taking things in isolation.

            The requirements for Gentile believers with regard to the Law was made clear by the Jerusalem council in about A.D. 50. However, this wasn’t clear for the Jews until the Book of Hebrews was written around A.D. 67.

  6. Your article does not deal with the same problem of the year assigned to Israel, and not Jews in general. ISRAEL is left here without root, nor branch. THERE ARE NO LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL. They all await their resurrection on different soil than here. The re-gathered are the fulfillment end time of this tiny footstool of those of Isaac’s first born, whom G-d hates in comparison with ISRAEL who long past has had it’s own threshing floor, and the grain await in heaven for their promise to be in “first”

    • B.J.Stone,

      I’m not following you. What is your point?

  7. David,

    Thank you for taking the time and energy involved in researching this book. May the Lord bless you for your efforts.

    Here’s my real concern:

    Through digesting Christian gnostic novels and teachings since the 80’s, the average Christian has already fully developed “itching ears” for devouring these kinds of myths. Upon confronting this particular book head-on with some of my brothers & sisters in the Lord recently, they just gave me a cold stare and “spiritually” separated me from their company.

    It all reminds me of a British aristocrat that I met during a ministry tour in England. He became angry with me when I tried to explain to him that the book “Piercing The Darkness” by Frank Perrelli was not meant to be a scriptural guide to spiritual warfare. That was 30 years ago! And to this day some Christians are still trying to wage warfare against the devil based on an ear-tickling book that the author himself declared to be fiction! The author actually expressed surprise that so many Christians took his novel that seriously and were turning it into a guide for battlefield-like prayer.

    I truly believe, and am disheartened by the fact, that IITimothy 4:2-4 is being fulfilled before our very eyes on a global scale. We’re awash in a sea of deception!

    Keep swimming towards home,
    Tim

    • Tim – Thanks for the encouragement and insight.

  8. I found this website via some responses you made on a website promoting this book. I liked what you had to say so I followed your link and wow! I have a lot of reading to do… 😉

    I follow Dr. Michael Brown on Facebook and when time permits, his radio show. I just love him to bits. I have nothing against those brothers and sisters who manifest the various “charismatic” spiritual gifts. However, I despise sensationalism. Especially when it’s couched in “buy this book and discover the SECRET” And that’s where this whole “blood moons”, “end times”, “buy Iraqi Dinari now before it’s too late”, mindset seems to be steeped in – We know something that no one else knows – hurry! Buy stuff and spend money now! I mean, I want to be open to warning signs and I want to be watchful and ready, but I guess I’m too much of a cynic when it comes to paying for a Biblical secret.

    Thank you for taking the time to post those responses so I could find my way here. I look forward to diving into this review and the many other articles on this site.

    Also, super special kudos for listing AiG as a ministry link! 🙂

    ~Lisa

  9. As you know, Dave, I know Jonathan Cahn personally and what bothers me most about this article is not that you go after his theory, but his person, and it’s this I’d like to address at this time, leaving the rest for a future date.

    When Jonathan Cahn made the claim that “the revelations came rapidly”, my first response was “So what?” When Brannon Howse, one whose show you’ve made appearances on, advertised his book “Religious Trojan Horse”, – AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR APPEARANCE(S) – he gave a summary of his book, using what I would deem his own form of “scare tactics” regarding the “end times” – in both content and in his persuasive pitch – and then ended his pitch with the following:

    “My revelations will shock you at first. Then you’ll likely be tempted to despair – and make no mistake – the situation is grim. Yet I will offer you hope simply by opening your eyes to what is happening and what can still be done. I’ll chart a path on which we can return to truly biblical teaching, preaching and raising our children”

    Isn’t it interesting that Brannon used the phrase “my revelations” in the SAME context as Jonathan Cahn without a peep from anyone?

    In order for Brannon Howse to bring his revelations to others, he must have received them from somewhere first. Now you can argue all you want that HIS revelations came from research and that he wasn’t saying he was getting these directly from God. But now, let’s think this through. If his revelations didn’t come from God, where did they come from? There are only a couple of choices. They either came from his own mind (which God gave him), or it came from the enemy – or a combination of both. If they came from the enemy, would the devil say that HE was the source and blow his cover? Or would we expect him to give glory to God for this new understanding of Brannon’s? I think we both know the answer to that one. If these “revelations” came from Brannon’s own ability to think, why should I listen to him above anyone else? Who is Brannon Howse? He is not God.

    I’m sure that you would agree with me, Dave, that any understanding we have comes from God. So why wouldn’t Brannon (or you) give God the credit and glory for what Brannon NOW understands that he didn’t before? Isn’t what HE brings to HIS readers “new revelation” that was never before seen too? If not, then why did he feel it necessary to write a book? Why does ANY believer write a book if there is no “new revelation” to share? Isn’t “illumination” a ministry of the Holy Spirit?

    If Jonathan Cahn had said, “The Holy Spirit illumined my thinking as I was researching” (which is, by the way, when he got this “revelation”, not unlike Brannon Howse), would you deem that a more acceptable phrase? And, if so, don’t you believe you are just splitting hairs and parsing words since this is really no different?

    Assuming you agree with me that our level of understanding comes from God, I’m sure you understand that God can thwart our thinking and allow us to believe something faulty. He can even turn us over to a depraved mind when we suppress the truth in unrighteousness, correct? So either way, can we not agree that we should give God all the credit for our thinking processes – in EVERY instance – since He turns minds as He pleases?

    I’ve seen too many knee-jerk reactions against words like “reveal” and “revelation”, even if the concepts presented are rooted in God’s Word (which Jonathan’s revelations ARE). You have a hard time accepting the statement, “the revelations came rapidly” because, in my opinion, you are trying too hard not to cross a line so as to avoid violating the scripture that warns us not to add to the Word of God. But I submit to you that these “revelations” are not new in the sense that God is giving us new scripture or more to add to the Canon, they’re just new discoveries, discoveries that glorify God! Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” All Rabbi Cahn did was search out a matter and make these discoveries which is COMPLETELY different than what you have been accusing him of for close to three years now. Rabbi Cahn isn’t afraid to make the statement “the revelations came rapidly” because all he is doing is giving ALL praise, honor and glory to God for ANY form of illumination he receives. What is so wrong with that?

    As far as Jim Bakker goes, it matters not what a ministry is peddling, as long as they believe in the product and their heart is in the right place, which we can’t judge. If you look on Brannon’s website, you will see the prices he charges for his own goods and services that some might deem exorbitant. You ALL have your products to sell. In my opinion, Brannon peddles things with NO nutritional value whatsoever, physically OR spiritually. At least Jim Bakker is selling a product that will keep you physically alive for a time in a crisis and what can it hurt to have something like that around even if you don’t end up needing it? It certainly won’t go to waste. And when you examine the prices vs. what you pay monthly for food, it’s a great bargain if you can lay out that kind of cash all at once.

    Some of your discernment tips are very good so I decided to utilize your advice in at least once instance, double checking one of your fact-claims regarding what you said about the $3,000 being for “two people for up to two years”. If you watch the video again, you will find that the $3,000 product is for 7 years worth of meals for one person – or 3 ½ years for two people. There was too much information crossed over and lumped into one sentence in your article so it can easily mislead the reader if they take for granted what you say without watching the video for themselves because they see you as a man of integrity. I also decided to double check the math in case this was the problem and your assessment was correct. However, even the math that was advertised by the Jim Bakker show came out right if you consider that each person is allotted three servings per day. This, then, leads me to believe that, apparently, those who may have vetted this article before publication did not take your advice and double check you on everything themselves, even after reading your tips.

    I also decided to do just a cursory check of other comparable emergency food products online and, from what I could tell of the products I viewed (I looked at six), $3,000 for 7 years worth of food for one person is not a bad price at all and the money is going toward a ministry that some, but obviously not you, believe in. And this is only comparing food prices, not the other things that are included. If you decide on one of the other packages, it gets a little pricier in the long-run but it usually does if you buy in smaller quantities. But, overall, it’s still a pretty good deal, even a VERY good deal. Whether or not you realize it, this article has an air about it that gives people the impression that they should never prepare for anything bad because the church will not go through the tribulation even though I don’t believe you intended it that way. But if I were critiquing your article the way you critique others and their works, this is how it would have to read.

    That whole section you wrote regarding “peddling the Word of God” and how you came to your conclusions by critiquing Jonathan’s, Mark’s and Jim’s respective, individual positions on the timing of the rapture, causing them to appear as though this is just some gimmick, some “get-rich-quick scheme”, lumping them all in together as though they are “in-cahoots” with each other, having nefarious motives and are laughing all the way to the bank is just terrible. JUST TERRIBLE, Dave. I can hardly believe you said it. That is a personal poke in the eye along with a simultaneous hit below the belt. When I first read it, I was STUNNED… and speechless. How can you protest when you’re told you’ve gone too far and have gotten too personal!? The fact that you make an attempt at smoothing it over in your “Discernment Tip” section right after you already made the statement is no comfort. You said it and it’s now out there for the general public to be suspicious of these men. You KNOW that Jonathan Cahn has NEVER placed a timing on the rapture and has been very consistent on this matter so to try and use, what some might consider, a doctrinal weak spot to trap him is… it’s just… BEYOND words to describe.

    But now that you said it and if this is what you TRULY believe, it leads me to ask this question… Since Brannon is CONSTANTLY peddling his products – FIVE times a week, sometimes using the SAME urgent, emotional pitch we see from the Jim Bakker show, are you also guilty of “peddling the Word of God”? Is Jimmy DeYoung, your very close associate, guilty too since makes REGULAR appearances (once a week) on Brannon’s show? He has also become quite a “fixture” himself. If simply being a guest on a show makes one culpable for the host’s actions, then you and/or Jimmy DeYoung are also guilty. It works both ways.

    I’m much less concerned about people turning away from prophecy teachers or the very Word of God due to what Mark Biltz, Jonathan Cahn and/or Jim Bakker have done or are doing. I believe your concerns are unfounded. All they’re guilty of doing is making some keen observations based on God’s Word and have not set any firm dates for the rapture or second coming. You can disagree with their assessment and state why. That’s completely fair and legitimate. But I think I demonstrated that you go much further than that in this article. You go after their very persons. What is much more worrisome to me is that people will turn away from Christianity ALTOGETHER due to all the backbiting that goes on in Christian circles. We can disagree with each other but let’s be civil about it. A dying world is watching and we must be careful.

    Your personal attacks are so wrong on so many levels and I feel I have only scratched the surface. But I must leave it here for now. If you think my comments and questions are provocative, please re-read this article (as well as your past ones as well as your book) to see who provoked first and then reconsider what you have written about these men personally.

    I look forward to your response.

    Sincerely,
    Laura

    • Laura,

      We have profound fundamental disagreements on a number of issues – so your response was to be expected. I could probably have written most of it myself because I understand your view thoroughly after hashing out for over two years.

      I appreciate you pointing the error in reporting how much food Jim Bakker is selling for how many people and for how long. I will make the appropriate corrections – although that part has no bearing on the issue at hand.

      I think there are some fundamental differences between Brannon Howse and Jim Bakker on the points in question, particularly because of the products involved and the amount of money involved. I am not here to defend Brannon Howse. He can defend himself if and when it is necessary. And, Jonathan Cahn can do the same.

      But just concerning one thing related to Brannon and his “revelations” versus Jonathan Cahn’s: That has to be some of the most tortured logic I’ve ever witnessed – and the readers of this can use their judgment and come to their own conclusions – because it’s so bad it doesn’t even require a response.

      For the rest of it – we’ll just have to disagree. There are many that agree with me as I have received a number of emails / comments from people I don’t even know. Combined with the perspective of those I do know, so far it’s running, I’m guessing 20:1 in favor of my article. One pastor and theologian said he thinks its the best work I’ve done so far.

      I realize this isn’t a popularity contest – and I haven’t produced a best-selling work or a #1 Christian book – but, neither am I alone in my perspective. If I were every respected Bible teacher and godly servant of the Lord were telling me I’m wrong to the degree that you are – or even to a far lesser degree than you, the article and my book would never be published.

      As it is, there are basically just two of you coming after me with a vengeance. But that doesn’t bother me in the least because I have a significant number of very excellent godly people who have been in ministry for decades who believe I have done and continue to do the right thing.

      So, I take what you say, seriously consider it, and then decide to what degree it is valid – and make adjustments or no adjustments as seem appropriate.

      You know where I stand and I know where you stand.

      I’m not at all against being criticized – and there are any number of forums available to anyone who wishes to do so.

      The fact is, that not one in 100 people will bother reading through a comment of the length of yours above.

      And, the fact is that allowing comments to post on the ABI site can be a difficult decision.

      For one thing, if there is a comment as long as yours, then if there are factual errors, misrepresentations, things needing clarification, etc. – then I just about have to respond or it amounts to tacit agreement with all the charges. But, the fact is, I just don’t have time to get into a protracted debate in the comment section of the website – especially since we both know there is very little if any progress to be made in persuading the other person, if we haven’t resolved things after two and a half years.

      On the other hand, if I don’t let a comment through – then I open myself up to the criticism of wanting to stifle my critics – which absolutely not true as can be seen by the fact that I let this comment post.

      I say that to say this, I won’t guarantee that I will let through any, most or some future comments through that are of this length with all of these kinds of charges.

      Since there are many venues and forums for airing grievances, if I don’t allow comments through, there are dozens of other ways to get the same information into the public arena.

      Thanks for taking time to comment.
      Dave

      • Dear Dave & Laura (the strongest opposer of Dave’s article),

        I am a fellow Christian who has read The Mystery of the Shemitah, watched the Harbinger DVD, and studies the Bible daily as I’m sure both of you do. I understand any time something new comes out making bold claims like Jonathan Cahn we are called to decipher. What I find most troubling from both of you, whom I have no doubt are serious Christ followers and have hearts for God….it is not Christ like to be going back and forth and criticizing one another and boasting of your own ideas and claims against one another. Do I think The Mystery of the Shemitah is absolutely accurate, no…otherwise it would have been in the Bible thousands of years ago. But do I believe Jonathan Cahn has a heart for God and information extremely relevant and Some Biblically accurate points, yes. I also thin Dave has very good points about discernment, etc. God uses us all in different ways. We do know many things that are Biblically accurate from Jonathan’s book such as end times prophecy, The number 7 is important to God, etc. Valuable things can absolutely be taken from his book. But to sit here and argue with one another via an Internet forum to prove your points is not Christ like. God has given us warnings from the Bible, He has given is warnings for judgement in the stars and sky and His creation. Just agree to disagree and spend your precious time spreading God’s word to a nation and world in rapid moral decline. Don’t fall into satan’s trap of pride to prove your points. If people read books and believe everything is bible and don’t Biblically cross check things, there is nothing we can do about that. But it does appear both Dave and Jonathan have nothing but God’s work you are trying to spread to a lost nation so just keep spreading the good word and focus on God’s light.

        God bless you all,
        Kelley

        • Dear Kelly,

          I appreciate you desire to be a peace-maker and to try to keep us focused on the main things – which is very important.

          However, I think you’re missing some very important points to be considered in the matter of doing the Lord’s work – and dealing appropriately with false teaching when it comes along.

          First, this isn’t about personalities – although since it’s about the work they do, it inevitably touches on these things. So, this is primarily about the things he has written, which have demonstrably serious biblical and historical flaws, not the least of which is a misrepresentation of the truth through extreme selectivity.

          This isn’t about a series playground taunts over who has the coolest shoes – this is about God’s truth. Although I acknowledge things that he has gotten right in this regard, the things that are so badly wrong completely overshadows the entire work and brings into question whether Truth can be so poorly packaged that it is no longer worthwhile for the average reader who won’t do the necessary research to take time to point it out.

          This isn’t about coming together for a group hug and Kumabaya moment simply because we all get some things wrong.

          If you have followed this to any degree over the past 3 years as I have, you realize that this is about a genuine call to much-needed repentance wrapped in bigger message that has been hijacked my a multimedia empire, with millions of dollars at stake – with DVD’s and two additional books in the works – and countless messages being passed off as coming from “America’s Rabbi” – all being marketed by one of the greatest purveyors of heretical books this generation has ever seen (Charisma Media), hawked by a shameless outlet that will sell anything to make a buck no matter how bad the theology or how crazy the survival gear (WND) – while appearing on equally sensationalistic and radio and TV programs like Coast to Coast, Sid’s Roth’s It’s Supernatural, TBN, Jim Bakker (who uses 20% of each program to hawks survivalist goods, while priming the pump with Cahn and Biltz), Benny Hinn,, NAR conferences, etc. – and the list goes on.

          This has become a blight on American Christianity – and the quest for biblical truth – and has long ago gone well beyond simply “getting along” – or simply one of us trying to prove our points – or agreeing to disagree.

    • Interesting to note that you completely disregarded the evaluation of the theology presented in the article in favor of constructing a straw-man caricature of a personal attack, ma’am. That’s typical of people who sidestep the issues when their theology does not line up with the Word of God.

  10. I realized I need to make a correction in my last post. The proverb I cited above should have read Proverbs 25:2, not 26:2. Sorry.

  11. Thank you, Dave, for posting my comments in spite of the length and its hard-hitting nature. I also thank you for correcting my Proverbs reference.

    Just a couple of things and we can leave it at this for now.

    I would like to address your “tortured logic” comment first. One of your discernment tips was to think logically and biblically because they are not at odds for the believer. I used a whole lot of logic as well as scripture to back up what I said. I didn’t cite the verses but these are a few from which my arguments stemmed: Ephesians 1:17-18; Romans 1:28; and Proverbs 21:1. Your comment on this subject seemed like a bit of a cop-out to me so I will have to stick with my position.

    As far as your reasoning for saying that these men are ALL guilty of “peddling the Word of God” along with using words like “culpable” is out of order, in my opinion, especially when you consider that ALL ministries seek for donations and employ VARIOUS tactics to do so, i.e. pulling on heart-strings, urgent need of money to pay bills, scare tactics, etc. It’s the heart condition that counts. Plus, as far as I can tell, a closer examination of the product vs. the price “reveals” that it’s a very reasonable one. And just for the record, I do give you the benefit of the doubt regarding the $3,000 reference… always did. I just wish you would do the same for Jonathan Cahn, Mark Biltz and Jim Bakker..

    There’s no need to answer. I just appreciate your posting this.

    Have a good day, Dave, and God bless,
    Laura Haynes

    • Laura,

      Just a couple of things.

      I wasn’t clear with my tortured logic comment. I did not mean for it to apply to your entire post. I was only referring to the matter of “revelations” concerning Brannon and Jonathan.

      I will say it again: When Jonathan talks about revelations, he means what God has directly given or shown him which he passes on to others. Brannon doesn’t mean that and I’m totally baffled that you don’t or won’t see the difference. The only thing Brannon meant was that he was revealing something that his audience might not be aware of. It is the difference between the gift of prophecy and the gift of teaching. One is foretelling and the other is forthtelling. The difference is really obvious – and I was stunned that you even tried to argue this point it is so clear.

      I didn’t say that Jonathan or Mark are peddling the Word of God – but they are culpable because they are helping someone to create a market of fear, who then sells into that market. It has absolutely nothing to do with Jim Bakker’s past or his theology. In fact, when I first saw the cover of his book – and I heard what was in it (I didn’t read it) – I think the title was *I Was Wrong* – then his past was in the past in my mind.

      Furthermore it is not true at all that all ministries seek donations and employ various tactics to sell their wares by using ethically questionable means. I could name many, many of them – including my own. So, this is another false charge – and perhaps this also could be considered tortured logic.

      The actual amount of $3,000 is completely beside the point.

      And, for the record, if Jim Bakker wants to sell survival goods – that’s totally okay with me. However, to use fear-mongering through hijacking the Word of God to create a market – and then sell into that very market – that is just so wrong on so many counts. And the 12 minutes of marketing in that segment of his show was just shameless. Tom Horn does exactly the same thing with his http://www.survivalmall.com . I don’t get really angry at very many things, but this makes me angry.

      Thanks for writing, though. I do appreciate the interaction.

      Dave

  12. I appreciate the time and effort that went into this analysis. Interestingly, an additional “discernment” tip I apply is the number of question marks and/or exclamation points in the text: your succinct declarative style appeals to me as more intrinsically credible than Mr Cahn’s.

    “Mystery of the Shemitah”‘s loose stringing together of disparate facts and leaps to conclusions made me think of nothing so much as Von Daniken’s “Chariots of the Gods” from the 1960s. Sort of a historical “Six Degrees of Separation.”

    • Thanks for your comment.

      I don’t like to use exclamation points in writing like this – ever.

      It would be hard to find any in things I’ve written – and I agree with you, which is why I don’t.

      They are a form of unnecessary rhetoric. Either your statement stands on it’s own or it doesn’t.

      Thanks, again.

  13. Hi Dave:

    I didn’t realize you had responded to my last post… until now.

    You were PERFECTLY clear with your “tortured logic” comment. I understood COMPLETELY that you were just referring to the matter of “revelations” of Brannon vs. Jonathan which is why I explained where I got my logic and cited the specific Bible verses I used to make my point.

    I know EXACTLY what Brannon meant when he said what he did – and agree with you that that is INDEED what he meant. He, obviously, wasn’t even thinking in the terms I mentioned which is why I challenged you (and him) to think it through a little further. The reality is, whatever understanding Brannon has, has come from God! Whatever gifts Brannon has, has come from God too. They did not come from himself. Spiritual growth is a grant from God. So in order for him to be able to share his learning with others, he had to receive it from God first since it’s God Who has gifted him with his thinking skills, talents and abilities. So, in essence, he, too, got his “revelations” from God, whether or not he (or you) is willing to admit it! I’m baffled that you cannot grasp that I was just attempting to make you think it through more thoroughly and realistically instead of only examining what Brannon meant by what he said.

    Regarding your saying that you did NOT say that Jonathan or Mark were peddling the Word of God, you said in your article, and I quote, “These men are no less culpable than Jim Bakker, even though they are just guests.” The definition for “culpable”, according to the online Meriam-Webster dictionary is “deserving blame; guilty of doing something wrong”. So what is it that they are guilty of if not ALSO “peddling the Word of God” just for associating with Jim Bakker? I can’t quite pinpoint it at this time but it sounds like you’re either trying to back-peddle or split hairs.

    I don’t remember even mentioning Jim Bakker’s past so I don’t know why you’re attempting to argue in this way.

    False charge? I don’t recall classifying ALL tactics that are used by ministries to gain support as “unethical”. I was just saying that ministries CAN and DO use various means to convince people that THEIRS is worth supporting. I wasn’t charging ANYONE with ANYTHING when I said that. Remember that I argued that it’s the heart condition that counts? How you got that I was, somehow, saying that ALL ministries are doing unethical things to gain support is beyond me. That is something you decided to read into. To state it plainly, we all have our own ideas of what is “ethical” vs. “unethical” and if the scriptures are not clear on something, it’s a gray area. You can’t project your own convictions on others if the scriptures are not clear. Let each be convinced in his own mind.

    You believe Jim Bakker is doing something unethical and just using “scare tactics” to “get rich”. I need more proof of that before I’m willing to go that far. Point is, we cannot see into his heart and if he TRULY believes in his product and that horrible things may be on the horizon and he just wants to protect people and save lives, then his heart is pure before God. But if not, then God will judge him accordingly as He will us ALL.

    I think it best to just leave it here for now, although, I could say more.

    Thank you for considering my comments.

    Laura

    • Laura,

      We obviously disagree on the most fundamental things and that hasn’t changed for over two years, and I don’t see that changing in the near future.

      So, there really is no point in continuing to debate you – and I won’t, because there is nothing more I can say that hasn’t already said and that is true of you, as well.

      • Your first paragraph… is one thing we CAN agree on. However, I DO see value in a friendly PUBLIC debate – even if we, you and I, never see eye to eye this side of heaven.

        Thank you for your time.

        Laura

  14. David,

    I am in full agreement with your views and so glad that you are taking the stand that needs to be heard! It is obvious to me that today’s doomsday end-time prophets appeal to the non-scholarly church community is at all time high! Unfortunately,today’s pop-church culture is largely resposible for allowing such non-biblical bilge to be promoted…even lauded as “gospel” truth!!! I am a trained conservative Christian scholar in biblical languages (w/specialty in Hebrew and Semitics). I am constantly made aware even in my home church just how important it is for the church to be fully educated in the truth of God’s Word and the standard hermeneutical principles that serve to keep the church on a stable course in the pursuit of truth that sets us free from the confusion and errors of those who interpret God’s Word through the lense of their own pre-determined hermeneutic.

    Thanks again for underscoring the truth that not many wish to hear because they love having there “ears scratched”!

    J. Hatfield

    • @J K Hatfield

      Thanks so much for the kind and encouraging words (in the midst of the well-taken lament of the state of affairs in the church).

      Please be sure to sign up for the ABI updates if you’re interested in being notified when additional articles are posted.

      By the way, this article is in the process of being readied for publication as a booklet by The Berean Call. We don’t think The Mystery of the Shemitah warrants a full book-length response, but it does warrant a significant response, which will be available in e-book format within the next few weeks.

      Dave

      • Hey! I subscribe to the Berean Call and it is where I first heard about the Harbinger.

      • Your essay was excellent and if they are brothers and sisters in Christ, we should and are required to correct. However, some are not brothers and sisters but charlatans.

  15. Sir, I first heard of the Harbinger back some time and at the time I was leery and believe I saw your work posted on The Berean Call Newsletter. Over the years I would hear of Cahn’s work and lately became more interested due to the many seminars and referenced to his books. My problem has always been the speed in which he glosses over dates and facts. I have several DVDs and again and again, I attempt to follow his logic and correlations to market trends and Scripture but I get lost in the babble. Currently, it seems to settle on 15 September 2015 as the end for the U.S. Well, this may well occur giving current trends but I find it had to credit the Shemita as Cahn’s portrays it. Currently, is not fear of the Lord but fear of economic depression which seems to drive folks. My wife puts up with my search for spiritual wisdom but repeats that she is happy with her faith in the Lord and remains in His promise to provide. I believe she is more correct than I. I enjoyed your article and PDF about Cahn’s works and agree with much of what you say and continue to study. Thanks for your efforts to enlighten and encourage.
    In Christ,
    Calvin Moon
    camoon42@gmail.com

    • Thank you, Calvin.

      I appreciate your taking time to comment – and for your voice in this. I agree that one of the main problems is the fact that he does gloss over so many things so quickly.

      The listener or reader would assume that with his apparent command of so many facts and figures that he must be correct in both his research and analysis.

      Unfortunately, upon doing the necessary research and analysis, it becomes apparent that the sources for much of what he says are dubious and also that he very selectively chooses what events and facts to present, while ignoring or glossing over those that would undermine his argument.

      My article is in the process of being converted to a booklet that will be available in e-book format shortly – and possibly print format at a later time if demand justifies it.

      Thanks, again.

  16. THANK YOU DAVE,
    I now know why the Lord clearly told me not to read these books. I have wondered because so many others in the Body of Christ have been saying how wonderful they are. Many of my friends have asked if I have read these books and seem shocked when I say no. They then tell me I must, but the Lord always said no. God bless you for the clarity you have brought and especially the tips on discernment.

    • Thank you, Dawn.

      Yours is a very interesting testimony given that millions have read The Harbinger – and that The Mystery of the Shemitah is also selling many copies. Many are saying that everyone MUST read them, while other sincere believers are finding that they CANNOT read them because of the errors they contain. It would seem that we are witnessing a spiritual battle of tremendous proportions. We have only one standard by which we can determine which side is right in this – and that is the Word of God. So, we can only “let God be true and every man a liar.”

      This has been a very difficult process in many ways, but we are not discouraged, and trust that the Lord will make clear who have understood these matters correctly and who has been wrong.

      Dave

  17. I was having a conversation with someone recently about the way you tend to handle scripture. I’ve been defining it as a type of hyper-dispensationalism. However, there was some confusion as to what I meant by that and, just for the record, I was NOT referring to mid-Acts dispensationalism. A more generic definition for “hyper-dispensationalism” is a system that takes the basic tenets of dispensationalism to an extreme level, resulting in unbiblical and often heretical teaching and doctrine.

    But so as to avoid further confusion with mid-Acts dispensationalism and to more accurately define the type of hyper-dispensationalism to which I am referring, I’ve decided to coin my OWN phrase, that being “straight-jacket dispensationalism/theology”. It’s a system that places God and/or His Word in a proverbial straight-jacket, not so much as allowing mere APPLICATION of verses originally intended for Israel to America and/or Christians or saying that because something isn’t specifically spelled out in God’s Word in the way YOU think it should be, God doesn’t work in a particular way today.

    Chris Pinto once defined this way of handling scripture as “dispensational Darbyism”, his explanation, in essence, being the same as mine above. He noted that it was COMPLETELY unbiblical and I agree. It, no doubt, leads to all sorts of false accusations against believers for merely applying scripture to a nation other than Israel and/or Christians. For instance, when 2 Chronicles 7:14 is used in this way, the charge has been that of “replacement theology” (see Brannon Howse’s interview on the Tommy Ice TV program that aired this past week… WOW!).

    You also seem to have trouble understanding shadow vs. final fulfillments even though scripture is FILLED with them which is why you cannot accept the blood moon theory as a mere “shadow” fulfillment.

    As far as the Shemitah goes, I believe there is MORE evidence in scripture to support that God has ALWAYS functioned according to the Jewish/moon calendar and still does. For instance, right after He created the world, he RESTED on the seventh (i.e. SABBATH) day before there ever was a law or Sabbath established. He rested after the WHOLE world was created where both Jew AND Gentile would live. Also, please consider that He kicked off the church age on a feast day, namely Pentecost and keep in mind that the church age is a dispensation that would put a temporary blindness on the Jewish people while reaching out to Gentiles. So, who is to say that He will not END the church age on a feast day, namely, Trumpets, especially since the tribulation will be a time He will be focusing on Israel?

    There is NOTHING in scripture to indicate the LORD ever stopped working in accordance with the Jewish/moon calendar or that the Mosaic law – in ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM – or in ANY dispensation – was ever put away even though it had been/is being fulfilled in Christ. It is the template of God’s redemptive plan.

    So, in conclusion, a worldwide Shemitah-cycle makes PERFECT sense to me.

    • Laura,

      Thanks for your thoughts.

      All I can say is that I believe it represents a radical misrepresentation of what I believe and is a nothing more than a caricature – and thus a straw man that is easily knocked down.

      I’m sure we will just have to disagree with this.

      I am currently teaching dispensationalism in a Bible school in Hungary and I’m confident that my students would promptly say they would consider your comments exactly the kind of misunderstanding of dispensationalism that I was discussing with them today.

      Dave

      • Laura,

        On more quick note. I would just be very careful with throwing around the label “heretical.” Heretical in general means a denial of the fundamentals of the faith. I have never accused Jonathan Cahn of such a thing as I recall – and those are very strong words to level at a brother in the Lord so nonchalantly. Be very careful of “idle words…”

        I would challenge you to find a single heretical – or even borderline heretical teaching in anything I’ve written.

        And concerning a mishandling of Scripture – consider this quote from The Mystery of the Shemitah.

        I would challenge you to find a single verse or group of verses to support the second sentence in Jonathan Cahn’s book:

        “Observance of the Shemitah and the Shemitah as a prophetic sign. Only Israel was compelled to keep the Shemitah as an observance. As an observance, the Shemitah applies to one nation. But as a prophetic sign, it may apply to any nation.”

        This is totally made up – has no Scriptural support whatsoever – and is passed off as a thoroughly biblical teaching. The book is riddled with stuff like this and yet you are determined to blindly defend it.

        This is not only unfortunate, it is frightening – because you are joined with millions of others who are doing precisely the same thing.

        • Hi Dave:

          I believe your overall handling of the scriptures is very unbiblical because you fail to take into account the WHOLE counsel of God. God teaches us Who He is just as much by His actions as He does by His words. The Egyptians, for instance, at the time of the Exodus knew that He was the LORD because of His mighty works, not because He spoke to them directly. It was more than enough but, from what I’ve observed, it’s not enough for you to believe something is biblical if it’s not spelled out EXACTLY as YOU believe it should be. You cannot seem to accept certain concepts as being biblical without an outright statement saying so and this is what is faulty.

          Your second challenge to me is just further proof that you ARE a “straight-jacket dispensationalist” and that this is not just some caricature of your belief system.

          Consider this… the reason the Shemitah, as a prophetic sign, MAY apply to any nation (note that Jonathan Cahn used the word “may” here) is because we can see and study the WORKS of God in the Bible. Let’s face it, God HAD to work out the details of both the Babylonian AND Persian empires to be EXACTLY in line with the Shemitah so Israel could be TAKEN captive at the right time and then RELEASED at just the right time. How can you deny that and then say that I’M the one who is blindly defending Jonathan’s book? This is the sovereignty of God at work here and has PROVABLY affected other nations/empires. Do you REALLY need a Bible verse to say it?

          God also used the Hebrew calendar to bring salvation to ALL people groups. Christ died on Passover, was raised on First Fruits and the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Do you deny this?

          You think the contents/arguments of Jonathan’s books are totally made up and have no scriptural support because you do your Bible study like my son used to do his English homework. His teacher would pose questions to the students about a story they were reading and he would look in the book for the answer FULLY expecting to find something he could copy verbatim when what his teacher was REALLY after was CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. You MUST employ critical thinking skills if you are to understand the Bible correctly. And you, Dave, do not do this. How do I know? Because you challenged me to “find a single verse or group of verses to support the second sentence in Jonathan Cahn’s book” (regarding the POSSIBILITY that the Shemitah COULD apply to other nations). So I ask you again… do you REALLY need a Bible verse/verses to state it outright when the concept is most definitely there?

          I’ve also heard you say that we cannot know for sure if God is doing something in particular but then you proceed to do that very thing by presuming and dogmatically teaching that God has NOT done something or is NOT doing something.

          Laura

          • Laura,

            Unfortunately, you are engagng in the worse kind of eisegesis – you can make the word of God say anything you want to say. The slightest allusion to something is enough to build an entire doctrine around or any system of theology.

            Accuse me of what you will, I will stick with what the Word of God says explicitly. If I err, it will be on the side of the the pattern of the apostles and prophets.

            I take this very seriously – and as I frequently teach my students, “If it’s not in the text, someone made it up. When I stand before God, I am more than comfortable say, “I took you word seriously, because I took the doctrine of verbal, plenary, inspiration seriously – as did the biblical writers themselves. You stand in a long lone of people who used your method – beginning with Origin – and finding many modern-day examples in Benny Hinn, Katerine Kuhlman, Oral Roberts, William Branham, Kenneth Copeland, Marylin Hickey, Creflo Dollar, Ernest Angley, Sid Roth, Jim Bakker, Robert Tilton, and countless others. I will gladly and willingly stand with the likes of H.A. Ironside, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Charles Spurgeon, John Whitcomb, Renald Showers, Stan Toussaint, Mark Bailey, Tom Constable, D.L. Moody and countless hosts of others – who took the word of God seriously and found no need to just simply make things up that aren’t found in the text.

            You’re wrong – and you don’t have the Word of God to stand on. You can make up anything you want – and say, “well, it’s between the lines.” Call me crazy, by I’ll stick with what the Words in the lines actually say – because that is that was inspired by the Holy Spirit. IF you want to build your life and doctrine on the white spaces, where every heretic and false teacher has found his inspiration because he had some direct link to the author of the white spaces – when I stand before God, i’ll take my chances on what he actually did write because that is what was given by inspiration of God for our instruction, reproof, etc. for the equipping of the saints that everyone might be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

            I will simply say, “it was there” – while the most you can say is, “I was guessing and relying on someone else who said it was there, when it was not.”

  18. What I find interesting is the fact that this secret or mystery is just being revealed however what does the scriptures say?

    “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7

    What we DO NOT find any prophecy about the shemitah applying to any country besides Israel. What we do find in scripture is G-d saying that the shemitah only applies to the land of Israel.

    “The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. 3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” Leviticus 25:1-4

    Notice the part “when you enter the LAND I AM

    Cahn also says that there is a wake of the shemitah that cause economic hardship. However do we see this in scripture?

    “Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety.‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” 21 Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years.” Leviticus 25:19-21

    Apparently Cahn has a hard time reading scripture; instead he makes up things that are not taught in scripture.

    • Agreed.

    • Hi Stephen, You said:

      “What I find interesting is the fact that this secret or mystery is just being revealed however what does the scriptures say?”

      Interesting in deed when Jude 1:3 tells us:

      “earnestly contend for the faith which was . . .once delivered . . .unto the saints.

      I persoanally believe that all we need to know is contained in Genesis through Revelation.

  19. Opps! I didn’t finish my post…

    What I find interesting is the fact that this secret or mystery is just being revealed however what does the scriptures say?

    “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7

    We DO NOT find any prophecy about the shemitah applying to any country past, present or future. What we do find in scripture is G-d saying that the shemitah ONLY applies to the land of Israel.

    “The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. 3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” Leviticus 25:1-4

    Notice the part “when you enter the LAND I AM giving you”. Yea the shemitah is ONLY applicable to Israel and no other country is commanded to observe it ever.

    Cahn also says that there is a wake of the shemitah that cause economic hardship. However do we see this in scripture?

    “Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety.‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” 21 Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years.” Leviticus 25:19-21

    Opps! I guess Cahn forgot to read that passage! There is NO hardship for those who observe the shemitah. Apparently Cahn has a hard time reading scripture; instead he makes up things that are not taught in scripture.

    In the shemitah book Cahn again makes the case that the cancelling of debts cripples a country. Not so – the Israelites who followed G-d’s laws/commandments knew that every 7 years debts would be written off so those who did loan money (without interest) would not loan so much that they would loose money. IOW there was no runaway debt like we have today, so it would not be a big problem.

    So much is wrong with the shemitah and Cahn’s dabbling in the Zohar (mystical books that are outside the bounds of scripture). On top of the dates that dont line up this should cause people to pause and test everything.

    Shalom

    Stephen

  20. I have read the book Mystery of Shemitah by Jonathan Chan and firmly believe there are some biblical errors. Your insights are a breath of fresh air. Thank you.

    • Thank you, Gerald. I appreciate the kind words and encouragement.
      Dave

  21. David,

    I am going to quote a short section of scripture and interject my own thoughts into it. I prayed to the LORD about how to answer you and I just received the answer this morning. It literally just popped into my head and I am AMAZED and in AWE as to how well this fits the charges you just made against me. This is proof that I’m not relying on ANYONE else but the Holy Spirit of God to teach me, contrary to your false accusation against me. No one but GOD showed me this.

    This scripture can be found in John 7:45-52:

    45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
    46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.
    47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

    MY COMMENTS: Now, David, re-examine your comments to me in your last post once again. You said and I quote,

    “You stand in a long lone [sic] of people who used your method – beginning with Origin – and finding many modern-day examples in Benny Hinn, Katerine Kuhlman, Oral Roberts, William Branham, Kenneth Copeland, Marylin Hickey, Creflo Dollar, Ernest Angley, Sid Roth, Jim Bakker, Robert Tilton, and countless others. …IF you want to build your life and doctrine on the white spaces, where every heretic and false teacher has found his inspiration because he had some direct link to the author of the white spaces – when I stand before God, i’ll take my chances on what he actually did write because that is what was given by inspiration of God for our instruction, reproof, etc. for the equipping of the saints that everyone might be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

    Are you saying that this heretical/false teaching “mob”, including me now, are under a curse because we all engage in the “worst kind of eisegesis” instead of exegesis, i.e. the accepted “laws” of interpretation?

    Back to your comments:

    “I will gladly and willingly stand with the likes of H.A. Ironside, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Charles Spurgeon, John Whitcomb, Renald Showers, Stan Toussaint, Mark Bailey, Tom Constable, D.L. Moody and countless hosts of others – who took the word of God seriously and found no need to just simply make things up that aren’t found in the text.”

    I know who more than half of these men are AND I highly respect them so I don’t want it to appear as though I’m smearing their character or their walk with God. The only point I wish to make here is that, by citing mere men and THEIR views as you just did, you are using the same argument that the Pharisees did in this passage.

    Back to the scripture:

    50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
    52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

    MY COMMENTS: And now look at this. Instead of seriously considering what the LAW had to say that Nicodemus CORRECTLY pointed out, the Pharisees set out to embarrass him – one in their OWN ranks (not unlike ME).

    And here is what I find most interesting of all. In Matthew 2:23, it says the following about the Jesus the Messiah:

    “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

    What Old Testament scripture(s) can we find that says the Messiah will be called a Nazarene EXACTLY? The only passages I know of in the Old Testament that scholars use to support this are Judges 13:5, which is about Samson (not the Messiah), Amos 2:11, Lamentations 4:7 and Isaiah 53:2 which says:

    “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”

    These are only the SLIGHTEST ALLUSIONS (your words to me) of the Messiah coming from Nazareth in Galilee or him being called a Nazarene. If you were living in the first century, David, I can GUARANTEE you that you would be saying that Matthew just made this up since the scripture is not “explicit” enough to draw this conclusion.

    And there are MANY more examples such as this when it comes to signs of the Messiah.

    Now when it comes to Jonathan Cahn, his LIFE has followed a PATTERN of the apostles, prophets and Christ Himself. You and others like Brannon Howse and Jimmy DeYoung have followed him around in order to find some fault in him, something with which to trap him. But it’s just further proof that he IS a godly man especially when I see you arguing against him just as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day argued against Jesus.

    Your arguments are moot, David.

    Laura

    • Laura,

      I don’t rely on men for support – only the Word of God. This is what we have now. I cited these godly, well-known Bible expositors, not relying on what they wrote, but for the consistency with which they are known to have accurately handled the Word of God. You cite the Holy Spirit as the inspiration for your insight – quite a claim – and a very subjective one at that. Along with which comes the corollary, that my conclusions have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit – even though mine are in line with Scripture. That is a very precarious place to put oneself.

      Besides this, Matthew not only walked and talked with Jesus, but was also inspired by the Spirit of God. Him I believe – and him I would have always believed. Your interpretation of his words is a different situation altogether.

      What bothers me most about your frequent accusations is that when you argue against my interpretation and handling of the Word of God you invariably put me and others in the company of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who were enemies of Jesus and bent on destroying him – and furthermore, they were not indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

      I think it would be very wise and prudent to rethink this particular line of attack. Those who disagree with Jonathan Cahn are born again believers, who love the Lord and His Word and would defend both to the death. We are Christ’s brethren through his precious blood and are heirs and joint-heirs with him in the kingdom. We, too, are dwelt by the same Holy Spirit who enlightens, guides and convicts.

      You would do quite well to both reconsider and retract your harsh words that compare us with the Jesus’ worst enemies rather than his friends and loved ones. Your comparison is radically wrong and further more, it is mean-spirited and hateful.

      If you were to take time to sit down and discuss just what the precious Lord Jesus has done in our lives over the years – to take many of us who were Christ-killers at heart – and persecutors of the brethren, to those who now spend nearly every waking hour – and expend enormous energy and resources to study, research, and devote untold hours submitting our hearts to correctly know and apply the Word of God and its author, I think you would be just a bit more restrained in your free-wheeling accusations against us.

      As much time as we have spend together through only the medium of writing, you somehow think you know us. You don’t. You don’t know our hearts – and you don’t know our passions. You don’t know the sacrifices we make on a daily basis to serve the risen saviour and to encourage the people of God on so many ways. You don’t know the 16-18 hour days spent preparing to the prayerfully teach the Word of God accurately and to develop close relationships – even through the Hungarian language that I have spent this week – or my trip to Bulgaria next week to train pastors to have a love and understanding of the Lord and his word. You know nothing, yet you attack mercilessly – and worst of all – you don’t go after our content – you go after our character.

      You should be deeply ashamed of yourself – especially for assigning your latest round to the prompting of the Holy Spirit – which I have to bring into serious questions.

      So, Laura, you have ventured into some very deep and very treacherous water that actually threatens your very soul – and I would caution you that you many not be on as certain a footing – and setting yourself against men who have respected ministries with significant ministries that would collapse if they were as unstable and unspiritual as you have tried to characterize them.

      You are on very, very shakey ground – and you have taken some very irresponsible positions that could cause you problems in the future from which you are going to find yourself retracting in the next 18 months or so as this begins to play out.

      • David,

        I have told you this before and I feel I should restate it again. I have NEVER called your salvation into question. Even though I see a pattern of Phariseeism in your arguments and life at THIS time, I have never judged you as an unbeliever. Phariseeism, as you may recall, is something I, myself, had to repent of as a BELIEVER!

        Even King David, who was a man after God’s own heart, fell into gross sin and had to be confronted. And how did the prophet Nathan confront him? With an illustration in order to drive the point home. Do you REALLY believe it was just a coincidence that everything you argued lined up with that short section of scripture I cited? It doesn’t seem to matter how much evidence I place before you, you will reject it.

        I didn’t even comment on each aspect of that passage like I could have but will do so a little more now. What Nicodemus had to say to his colleagues, the Pharisees, parallels what is happening today in that you never gave Jonathan Cahn a hearing before judging him and then speaking and writing negative things about him PUBLICLY, all because you thought you knew enough about the scriptures to make that sort of judgment. You accused me of judging you without knowing you when you were the one who went on Jimmy DeYoung’s program just ONE DAY after reading The Harbinger, never having so much as even HEARD of Jonathan Cahn before or attempting to contact him. I, on the other hand, got to know you better before making any judgments. In fact, I made it a point to get to know both you and Jonathan and AM in a much better position to judge since you have both given me ready access to you over the past 2+ years.

        Do you deny that you also set out to embarrass me just as the Pharisees did with Nicodemus? They responded to his pointing out what the law stated about one being allowed a fair hearing by ditching the question and, instead, asking if he was from Galilee, then adding insult to injury by telling him to “search the scriptures”, when, in reality, he was the only one who had and had a desire to follow them! This was a definite slur on his character. The way you posed your argument, you not only told me I am guilty of mishandling the scriptures myself, you dropped names that were designed to embarrass me. It was like you were saying, “Are you a follower of Benny Hinn, etc too?” Answer: No, I am not! Most of those people you mentioned I only know by name as I never give them the time of day and others, about half of them, I’ve never even heard of.

        I don’t know if you realize this but Jacob Prasch brought out the fact that the Scribes and Pharisees were conservatives scholars. He said that the Scribes were text experts who knew all about the ins and outs of the Hebrew language (even having a counting system when copying the texts to ensure total accuracy – never getting anything wrong) and the Pharisees prided themselves on knowing interpretation (hermeneutics) of scripture as well as application. He said Jesus would have agreed with them on most things (except their liberal view of marriage and divorce) and the reason He engaged them so much is that they WERE to be taken more seriously but that they SHOULD HAVE known better. You are a self-described conservative Bible teacher so it would be fitting that you, of all people, would be more prone to falling into this trap, just as I did. This is the danger. Other groups, like charismatics, have a tendency to fall in other areas but this is the area in which you and your colleagues must be most careful.

        I don’t know if you’re trying to convince me, your readers, or yourself that your life and arguments are not following the pattern of the Pharisees. I’m sure the Pharisees worked just as hard as you do since they DID know a lot and were more conservative. It’s probably the very same thing that made them angry with Jesus since they protested so much.

        So much for keeping private things private, Dave. If she (you know to whom I’m referring here) did state that she trusted you, you have just given her reason not to. I’m not speaking for her, only telling you how I would feel. I think you should remove those comments since the Bible says that “love covers a multitude of sins”. You shouldn’t even allude to it and you should be ashamed for even mentioning it in a public forum. If you wanted me to know this, you could have emailed me privately since you have my email.

        No matter what happens within the next 18 months, I feel very safe defending Jonathan Cahn and will continue to do so because he’s extremely careful. He hasn’t set any firm dates on anything or said that anything even has to happen.

        Laura

        • Laura,

          For some reason my last response didn’t post, but I will try to recreate as much of it as possible.

          As far as I recall, neither I nor others have referred to Jonathan Cahn as a Pharisee or anyone one else.

          I think your main problem in carelessly using this tile of true believers in Christ. This is unbiblical at its core and you are demonstrating a serious deficiency in your understanding of the Scriptures and Jesus’ teaching by usit it so frequently.

          This title is consistently used of those who have set them up as enemies of Christ and who are not believers in Him – and those who sought to trap him and publicly set themselves against him. This is in no way true of those who have challenged the teaching of Jonathan Cahn. We love the Lord Jesus – and we have submitted ourselves to his Lordship. We recognize that his is Lord and Savior as the Son God, the Son of Man and the Son of David. He is the Messiah of Israel, born of a virgin, was a worker of miracles exclusively in the power of God, he was the Perfect Sacrifice for the Sins of all men, was bruised for our iniquities, he shed his precious blood for the remission of sin, he arose from the grave on the Third, he will return in power and glory and will establish his kingdom of righteousness on the earth. He offers salvation as a free great to all who turn to him and receive him as Savior as a free gift of God’s grace.

          There is no Pharisee who has ever believed and proclaimed this truth and this message who remained a Pharisee – including Paul and Nicodemus.

          You may disagree with us – and I am willing to own the epithet of Pharisee if it fits – and I am considered such a person by the hundreds I minister to and the hundreds of godly men and women who know me personally. However, you do not know me – not at all. You think you know me from just my writings and comments here. You don’t not all. You wrongly think you know me from only one small part of my life ministry and nature. This is why I have tried to maintain my criticisms of Jonathan Chan based on exactly what he has written, what he has said, and with whom he has appeared.

          I have been in extensive correspondence with him recently and one of the things he has confirmed is that has “never known me to be a mocker.” which is one of your frequent descriptions of me (at last that has been true of Jose).

          My actual recommendations is that somehow we either talk on the phone or meet in person. I can promise you with 100% confidence that the person I am and the person you have created in your mind about who I am are not the same person. I referred to another person, who found out this same thing, but upon your recommendation I have removed that reference. The last thing I wish to do is violate a confidence with some who has expressed trust me.

          In the mean time, I think you owe and many others an apology for your frequent and clearly unbiblical judgmental use of Pharisee as a label – and to rethink your entire approach to this.

          As it stands, you are honestly in a very wrong and misguided unbiblical position that need to be corrected publicly.

          I am not your enemy – and neither am I Jonathan’s. I am that the enemy of others who seem to think I am. We do have an enemy – but it is not each other – and he seeks to destroy us.

          Dave

        • Dear Laura, When you said to David:

          “you never gave Jonathan Cahn a hearing before judging him and then speaking and writing negative things about him”

          I highly doubt what you say is true. After reading David’s book on the Harbinger one is left with the overwhelming feeling of just how kind David was to Mr. Cahn.

          You’re on a slippery slope Laura.

          • I have written to Jonathan Cahn many times – and even more so frequently. H have had a number of very cordial and actually, in a couple of cases, some light-hearted exchanges.

            He knows, based on our correspondence, that this is about the issues and not about him.

            I have a number of mails that were written before I published my book or my article.

            If there is a single critic of Cahn, who has tried to remain cordial, it is me.

            Much more could be said.

          • Dear Bonnie:

            I appreciate that you are trying to defend David here and can understand why. However, David HIMSELF would not deny this. If memory serves me correctly, I believe he even spoke about it on Susan Puzio’s blog talk radio program.

            I also cite for you pp 13 in his book entitled “How this book came to be written” where he describes the events that took place shortly after the release of The Harbinger. And when you do a little research, you will find out that David was speaking about it publicly just ONE DAY after “quickly” reading the book without contacting Jonathan.

            Jonathan Cahn wrote to his critics to get a hearing. There were one or two of them who shut him out COMPLETELY, but David, to his credit, did not and was, later, willing to do a special program in April of 2012 on Prophecy Today discussing the matter. Jimmy DeYoung moderated that discussion. I believe that even Jimmy admitted during that broadcast that Jonathan wrote to them to get that hearing and this was the catalyst for that special broadcast.

            I know all of this, not only because I’ve had my finger on the pulse for over two years and listened and re-listened to many broadcasts done as well as have probably read just about everything there is to read on the subject, but because I know both Jonathan and David and their account has been the same.

            But, if you don’t believe me, just ask David for yourself. I trust that he will confirm this.

            Laura

          • Laura,

            We all know the timeline as I laid it out in my book.

            Once a publisher and author put their work in the public market place, it is understood by all parties that they have opened themselves up to praise, review and criticism.

            Why isn’t the same standard held for those who rushed to praise Cahn’s work before they contacted him – or did the 100s of hours of research I did to come up with a reasonable, fair and researched response.

            My first interview with Jimmy DeYoung was just that, a preliminary interview of about 10 minutes – in which I gave some very clear facts from the book – and also clarified some wrong misperceptions.

            I am astounded at the defense that has been mounted around a man the likes of which no one has ever seen before, while the criticisms are held to a standard never before witnessed in the publishing world.

            The entire thing has been turned into a circus because a few people chose to get emotionally tied into this thing – far more than even the author himself – and which have forced the author to ask them to tone down their rhetoric. You know who you are.

  22. David,
    What applies to Israel doesn’t apply to America any more than the Law of Moses applies to a Gentile Christian during the Church Age. I want my $15 back!

    Joe

    • Well, I agree.

      Good look on the refund. Perhaps the author will considered helping you out with that.

  23. I just don’t get it! Why is this guy so heck bent on applying the things that were meant for Israel to America. Just like Replacement Theology. People are such sheep and as scripture says they really like having their ears tickled I guess.

    Read The Harbinger Fact or Fiction, again I’m pre-warned on Cahn’s latest work! Glad I never bought his books.

    He’s like that guy that supposedly found wagon wheels under the water at the Dead Sea Crossing, and supposedly Jesus’ blood. It’s just a little too good to be true.

  24. Cahn keeps being invited to event after event, radio broadcasts, Christian shows, etc. etc..

    Mr. James you said:

    “And finally, as noted previously: The Shemitah, being a Sabbath year and an integral part of the Law of Moses, was completely fulfilled in Christ and is no longer in operation (even it actually did affect other nations prior to the Cross.”

    With that being said do you really believe that the Apostles would have given Cahn the “right hand of fellowship”?

    There were many serious problems with The Harbinger, and now there is second book that is as bad or worse.

  25. David (and Bonnie to some extent),

    You, David, said that we all know the timeline as you laid it out in your book but Bonnie, apparently, doesn’t. She couldn’t believe that you judged Jonathan and spoke or wrote negative things before giving him a fair hearing so I felt it necessary to set the record straight.

    I also wanted to re-visit Susan Puzio’s program that you did with her on The Harbinger and, at the 13:20 minute mark, you said:

    “What I found over the months – weeks and months of dealing with this is that, whenever an article was – showed up on the internet, as more and more people became aware of The Harbinger – whenever there was an article that was – expressed concern about The Harbinger, the author would frequently contact that person and want to discuss the article and discuss the book and, in the case of radio interviews, ask for equal air time and all that. So what happened was, after my article was published in late – I think it was late March, Jonathan Cahn actually contacted me. And, actually, Jimmy DeYoung and I had done four or five, at least, interviews – radio interviews up to that time as well. So people were aware of that. And he’s aware of my article so he was wanting equal air time. So what Jimmy and I decided to do was that we would have a moderated discussion. And that aired on April 6th, I believe, and so it was about a 75-minute discussion between Jonathan Cahn and myself with Jimmy DeYoung moderating and asking questions. And, yes, so that is still available on the Prophecy Today website.”

    Now, these are your own words, David. Where did I get this idea that you wrote things about Jonathan before having any contact with him? Your own lips. Note that you said that Jonathan contacted you AFTER your article was published AND that you had done FOUR or FIVE radio interviews before then as well.

    Now, just for grins, I decided to look up when your article was published. Apparently, you were mistaken and it was published at the end of April, not March, so this would explain the discrepancy. Keep in mind that I wasn’t tracking any of this in the spring of 2012 as I hadn’t gotten involved in it yet. That wouldn’t happen until July of 2012. I just took your word for it and this was, apparently, your recollection of the events as they unfolded. My only “sin”, for which I DO apologize, is not double checking to see if your account was correct.

    You may have had “a number of mails that were written before [you] published [your] book or [your] article” but who initiated those emails? You yourself said it was Jonathan Cahn and not you. You weren’t lying in your statement to Bonnie (quoted above) but you left out just enough information to make yourself look better.

    Just knowing all of this makes me highly suspect of your account regarding any personal correspondence you’ve had with Jonathan. I take what you say with a grain of salt. I know Jonathan very well and I know for a fact that he believes this has all been very personal, not just about the issues.

    Regarding your other comments, why would anyone in their right mind contact Jonathan to praise his work? The point is, Christians should live by a higher standard than the world and go the extra mile to be sure there are no misconceptions first. Yes, there are times when believers have to be corrected, even publicly, but we need to be careful and not do this in a reckless way.

    Laura

    • I misspoke in my interview with Susan – the article was published after the moderated discussion with Jimmy. Jimmy and I had discussed the book a couple of times and one of the listeners contacted Jonathan – who then contacted me.

      Never before in the history of Christian publishing has an author or his supporters ever suggested that once his book was in the marketplace that it wasn’t “fair game” for evaluation. The entire process of editing, rewriting, theological readers, etc. means that the author and publisher have agreed that it is “ready to go and open to whatever criticism might come.”

      I continue to be astonished at how illogical this charge is that you and Jose have leveled over and over again.

      And, beyond that, it is completely obvious that if we had contacted him personally first, before we said anything publicly, that absolutely nothing would have changed – and all the charges and observations I make in my own book and interviews would not have changed. So, what you’re suggesting is pointless – and has never been even considered legitimate until you guys made up this standard.

      As far as taking my word “with a grain of salt” is essentially calling me a liar – publicly. That is a great way to end a conversation – and so as long as that stands, you, Laura, no longer have a platform for your rants on this website.

  26. Dr. David Reagan’s book review on the Shemitah addressed the fact that the Jewish calendar is a “total mess”, and that according to the Talmud was done in the 2nd century A.D. by Rabbi R. Yosi and his calculations are off by 250yrs. ( wish he had been more derogatory about the Harbinger)

    According to Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones in his book The Chronology of the Old Testament the Rabbi was Yose ben Halafta and the Jewish Calendar is known as the Sedar Olam Rabbah (The Book of the Order of the World).

    pg.297

    Over the centuries, orthodox rabbis have differed somewhat in their listing of the Persian kings, but they generally have not departed from the 52/53-year parameter established within the Sedar Olam.(1)

    The result of this shortening of the span of the Persian Empire is that the paramount prophecy and major foundation block of chronology – the Daniel 9:25 seventy weeks of years – has become dislodged. Furthermore, this shortening as perpetuated within the Sedar Olam is deliberate.

    pg.298

    The ninth day of the month Ab (c. mid-July) is a great day of sorrow to Israel. On this day 586 B.C., the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple. Further, the second Temple was laid waste by the Romans under Titus on the same day in A.D. 70. And on this very day A.D. 135, at the conclusion of a 3 1/2-year revolt, the Romans crushed the army of the “messianic” Simon Bar Kokhba (also spelled “Cocheba”).

    Bar Kokhba had been declared the long-awaited Messiah by the formost Jewish scholar of that day, the highly venerated Rabbi Akiva (Akiba) ben Joseph. In 130 A.D., Emperor Hadrian of Rome declared his intention to raise a shrine to Jupitar on the site of the Temple,(2) and in 131 he issued a decree forbidding circumcision as well as public instruction in the Jewish Law. (3)

    Having preached peace all his life, the 90-year-old Akiva gave his blessing to the revolution by proclaiming that Bar Kokhba was the “star out of Jacob” and the “sceptor out of Israel” (Num.24:17)

    By removing the 164 (or 165) years from the duration of the Persian Empire, Rabbi Halafta was able to make the 438-year Daniel 9 prophecy fall reasonably close to the years prior to the A.D. 13 revolt during which Bar Kokhba rose to prominence as Israel’s military and economic leader.(8)

    Then with Akiva proclaiming, “This is the King Messiah” (9) followed by “all the contemporary sages regarded him as the King Messiah,” (10) the Jewish populace united around this false hope.

    (1) Moorman, Bible Chronology, op. cit., p.13.

    (2) Dio Cassius, Roman History, op. cit., vol. VIII, Book 69, p.447.

    (3) Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Caesar and Christ, Volume 3,(New York: Simon and Schuster, 1944), p. 548

    (8) Encyclopedia Judaica, op. cit., Volume 16, “Yose ben Halafta,” p. 852.

    (9) Ibid.

    (10) Ibid., p.231

    When you said:

    “This also raises yet another important question: How is it that God is just now sending a warning of judgment through a modern-day prophetic voice after the fact? The Harbinger was published in 2012, over three years after the stock market crash of 2008, over ten years after 9/11 and close to 100 years after some of the events Cahn ties to the mystery of the Shemitah operating through significant historical events, such as the Balfour Declaration in 1917. As with his other theories, this makes no sense biblically or logically—and it definitely does not follow any pattern seen in the Scriptures concerning how God deals with mankind.”

    It make me think Mr. Cahn has had to dislodge some stuff just as
    Rabbi Yose ben Halafta had to to make the Jewish Chronolgy fit closer th Bar Kokhba.

    • Bonnie,

      Yes, you are correct. It appears that the modern Hebrew calendar is off by 1-3 years from that in use when God gave the Law to Moses. This presents a major problem for Jonathan Cahn’s theories. Also, no one has any idea when the Jubilee year is, or how it is to be counted – as the 49th, 50th or as an intercalary year – but while Cahn acknowledges the problem with the Jubilee cycle timing, he then immediately ignores it and declares that 1917 and 1967 are a sort of Jubilee for for Israel – suggesting that 2017, then must also be significant. Unfortunately, this sort of manipulating the data to fit the theory happens repeatedly.

      I honestly don’t think he’s doing this for nefarious reasons – or even to be intentionally deceptive. I do think, however, that he is caught up in his own methodology and “mystery-finding” – which I have suggested to him in recent emails.

      • Do you honestly feel that you said enough in your dealings with Mr. Cahn that red flags should have gone off for Mr. Cahn?

        • Bonnie,

          I’m not sure what you mean by your question Are you asking whether I’ve said too much or possibly too little.

          If too much, since The Harbinger was the #1 Christian book of 2012 and was on the NY Times bestseller list for 110 weeks. The Mystery of the Shemitah debuted at #5 and went to reprint the same day of its release. In addition he has done literally hundreds of radio and TV interviews, in addition to speaking in conferences and churches.

          So, it would be difficult to overstate how significant this has been and continues to be.

          If you’re asking if I’ve done enough: I’ve written the only book critiquing The Harbinger, have done multiple articles, have corresponded with many whose ministry involves apologetics and discernment, responded to dozens of comments on my articles, done many radio and / or internet radio interviews (I just did a 2-hour one yesterday) and my current article on The Mystery of the Shemitah will soon be published at least as an e-booklet (50-70 pages) – and I will probably also be producing a series of videos that deal with specific aspects of both books that need special attention.

          So, either way, I think the balance has been about right.

          IF I misunderstood your question, please let me know.

          Dave

          • Did he ask for comments on the Harbinger before he released it?

            And whether he did or didn’t I guess makes no difference becasue the Harbigner had been out long enough and he had dealt with lots of people and lots of people did critique the book before he released the Shemitah and yet he went ahead and published it and had to be aware of the fact that he was attributing the thnigs meant for Israel to America yet again.

            See what I’m saying?

          • Bonnie,

            I can’t say who he consulted about The Harbinger before its release. I don’t know what theologians or literary critics deal with it ahead of time – but just as is true of anything once it is published and in the market-place, plenty has been said. And, I can’t say for sure, but in his second book (Decoding The Harbinger) he did seem to shore up some weaknesses that The Harbinger had – for example, his presentation of the gospel (or lack thereof) in The Harbinger, was much better in the second book – and I had devoted an entire chapter in my book to this issue. So, I don’t know if the adjustments came because of my book or someone else – or he just realized the problem itself.

            Yet, you’re right, in many ways it appears that he learned nothing from the extensive critiques he received on The Harbinger – and even doubled down coming out even more by referring to America as the Second and Last Israel.

            I just couldn’t believe he did that.

            However, if you’ve read my article, you know that I’ve dealt with these and many other problems – and I have also done several interviews dealing with this, as well – and more things are on the way.

            I don’t think enough people have dealt with it directly – and there are any who realize there are serious issues – but I’m doing what I can to raise awareness of the most egregious problems.

  27. I’m telling you straight up, Cahn has an agenda and it is to portray himself as a prophet that is recieving new revelations from God.

    What was the interview you did yesterday?

    • Bonnie,

      I agree that this charge has been leveled a number of times – and not without reason because on things he has clearly said as well has the fact that many have placed that level on him.

      But, in fairness, he has vehemently denied this charge. I do have a segment of the Jim Bakker Show that comes as close to him outright saying this as one possibly could and still try to maintain plausible deniability.

      Whether he thinks he is functioning as a biblical prophet is ambiguous because of the discrepancies between things he has said at different times – and continues to say the same sorts of things.

      What is not debatable is that there are others who absolutely believe he is receiving new revelation from God – and refer to him as if this were true.

      However, depending on the venue allows for unfortunate ambiguity in his some of various statements.

      He has repeatedly said he doesn’t consider himself a modern-day prophet – but his theology does allow for prophetic words from some people today.

      • On pg.34 of your book Harbinger Fact or Fiction you said:

        “But what else besides “prophet” would be an appropriate title for someone who believes he has discovered the hidden meaning of a biblical mystery that God has given for today and then proclaims this prophecy message is factual?”

        • Bonnie,

          I still haven’t figured out if you’re agreeing with me – or arguing against me. Yes, I wrote that – and I still agree with that this is the only logical conclusion. I was arguing for the logical conclusion in the face of the denials. So, I stand by what I wrote.

          • Can you explain what you mean by:

            “I was arguing the logical in the face of denials”

            Do you mean his denial. Because the layman reads that and it very much looks like you are if not saying he is trying to come across as a prophet, you are insinuating that he is.

            Just because he has vehemently denied being a prophet really doesn’t mean a lot since the overall theme of his writings has him coming up with such preposterous “new” revelations that only a prophet (according to biblical examples) would come up with.

            If there is one thing I have learned about Christians and non-Chrisitans alike is they can be consummate liars.

          • Bonnie,

            I think there was a misunderstanding. My point was that even though he denies being a prophet or claiming that he is, there are many things he has written and said that seem to put him in the position of actually believing in some way that he is. Many of his statements seem ambiguous so that it is difficult to pin him down on this.

            So, I think you and I are in agreement.

          • All one has to do is read the fourth chapter of you book to get the impression that you trying to make the point that Cahn sees himself as a prophet.

            And you shoot me down for saying what I think his agenda is?

          • Hi Bonnie,

            No – I wasn’t shooting you down at all – and I apologize for giving that impression.

            My point is actually the same as yours – although he denies claiming to be a prophet of some sort – his repeated actions and words suggest that in some way he actually does think he is functioning as a prophet.

      • What upset me was you said:

        “But, in fairness, he has vehemently denied this charge.”

        Yet on pg.37 of Harbinger Fact or Fiction you said:

        “Sid Roth concludes the first segment of his interview series on It’s Supernatural by saying. “This may be-no, this is the most important prophetic show you will ever see.” Later, Roth tells Cahn”

        David Wilkerson was a prophet. You are a prophet that’s going on really deep revelation of what David Wilkerson saw [sic]. What do you think is going to happen in America?

        IF EVER CAHN WERE GOING TO DENY THAT HE IS A PROPHET, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TIME TO DO SO.

        YET NOT ONLY DID HE FAIL TO CORRECT ROTH, BUT HE ALSO WENT ON TO ANSWER ROTH’S QUESTION, GIVING HIS VIEW AS TO WHAT HE SEES IS YET FOR THE UNINTED STATES, AS IF HE

        {{{ACCEPTED WHAT ROTH HAS JUST SAID ABOUT HIM.}}}

        When I said what I thought his agenda was you came back and said in “all fairness” to him he had never said he was a prophet. Fairness MY FOOT, the guy is wishy washy!

        • Bonnie,

          Really no need to be upset with me – we’re on the same side of this issue.

          What you aren’t aware of is how many things that have gone on behind the scenes for two years. This has become a far more complicated issue than you can imagine. And, you wouldn’t believe some of the accusations that have (and continue to be) leveled at me.

          When you are the only one who writes a book about a best-seller – especially the #1 Christian book in 2012 – and the new book may be on a track to equal or pass The Harbinger (though I really doubt it because there are at least as many problems with the new book).

          My “in all fairness” comment is because he really has repeatedly denied being a prophet in the biblical sense of a “foreteller” in the OT sense.

          I couldn’t agree with you more that he adjusts how he handles things and what he says depending on the venue and audience. His supporters are watching every word I write anywhere on the internet (and this is technically possible via a tool within Google) – and there are some very vocal ones (including a member of his church who has written a book that is primarily against mine) – also published by Charisma – and which essentially has all the same problems as The Harbinger.

          The other reason I said this is because two years have passed between both his book and mine – and I do believe that my book has had some influence on him. I don’t think it has had much effect on what he actually believes, but he is more careful about how he handles the “prophet” issue.

          However, as you will note in my article on The Mystery of the Shemitah, I specifically cite an appearance on the Jim Bakker show in which he unequivocally indicated that “the revelations just came” from God.

          I realize that you’re relatively new to this discussion – but I have made it clear over and over, in a number of venues, that there is a clear disconnect between what he has written and what he has said.

          I’ll let the reader decide exactly what to call that tendency.

          But, if you look at the way I deal with issues, it would be difficult to use the label of “wishy washy” of me. I know that you weren’t doing that – but I did sense that perhaps you were upset with me because you thought I was doing the same thing as Jonathan Cahn in this way. I think you will find that this is definitely not the case at all.

          I do appreciate your comments and the opportunity to clarify some important points.

          Dave

          • You said:

            “My “in all fairness” comment is because he really has repeatedly denied being a prophet in the biblical sense of a “foreteller” in the OT sense.”

            Unger’s Bible Dictionary pg.1040:

            . . .the revelation of God’s will for the present and the disclosure of His plans and purposes for the future are of inestimable benefit to the believer. . . .

            Isn’t that what he believes he is doing is making revelations of God known to us?

            What other explanation is there for a prophet except maybe the Prophets on Star Trek.

            He has also left the conversation dangling as in the instance with Mr. Roth. From how he reacted he left it up in the air. Why deny something when others are doing your work for you? He can sit high and dry and look humble.

            It’s like someone that gets applause and with the left hand they signal no and with the right hand they signal more.

            Yes, I did get the feeling you were being wishy washy, it hurt my feelings.

          • I have no idea what you mean about others doing my work for me. I have hundreds and hundreds of hours in research in this and there probably aren’t too many things you will find that I’m not already aware of in this issue – and I don’t think you will find any wishy washiness in any of my work.

            There are mean and nasty ways of saying things, and there are better ways to say the same things.

            I don’t pull punches, but one doesn’t have to be mean and nasty. And, people have to be given room to change or clarify their positions.

            There are things in my life that someone could criticize me about that isn’t as true now as it was then. So, we have to give people room to misspeak and to change or modify their views – or the way they say things.

            I’m in a position with a national and international platform – and I have to be circumspect in the things I say and write. Those not in those roles can say just about anything, with any tone or any language and get away with it with little consequences, except that it hurts them.

            When I deal with serious issues, my choice of words are extremely important. It’s not just a matter of speaking the truth, it’s a matter of speaking the truth in love – and being an example for how others should deal properly with difficult issues.

            We may say things differently, but I think our view are similar.

  28. Now we really do have some crossed wires.

    My comment:

    “Why deny something when others are doing your work for you?”

    had nothing to do with you, it was directed at Mr. Cahn not correcting Mr. Roth.

    • Sorry for the misunderstanding. I see your point.

      • Since I just got in on this mess has Cahn ever admitted that he took liberties with the information in the Harbinger?

        How interesting, David Reagan at Lamb and Lion just sent an e-mail (I’m subscribed to it) with an article entitled “Why all the Sensational Huksterism” and he says in part:

        “Bible prophesy is a playground for fanatics and sensationalists”

        Also got one from Berean Call about false prophets & damdable heresies.

        • Good morning, Bonnie.

          This just begins to touch on the the tip of the iceberg this whole scenario has been. Last year. Reagan had Cahn on the cover of his magazine and called him “America’s Endtimes Prophet” (I think that was the wording.) So, sent him a copy of my book and a nice note asking him to just consider that there might be another side. Believe it or not, he returned the book without even looking at it, along with a note that he didn’t need anyone helping him with discernment. And, now he’s turned around and come out against Cahn’s new book. So, when I saw that, I sent him another email asking him if he would now be willing to read my book if I sent him a copy. That has been about a week ago, I think, and I haven’t heard from him – and sort of doubt that I will.

          The Berean Call was the the publisher of my book and we are just now getting ready to publish a booklet (50-70) pages based on my article critiquing Cahn’s newest book.

          This whole thing has been one of the strangest things I’ve ever encountered in the 30 years I’ve been a believer or the 25 years I’ve been in ministry.

          In the meantime, there’s a member of Cahn’s church who seems to have made it his life’s goal to say every nasty thing about me he can think of (including outright lies that he refuses to correct when pointed out). He has a blog, but it only has 8 members – and if that is the extent of his readership, I’m not going to give him more publicity or a bigger platform by naming him or his blog.

          The lawyers for Charisma Media / Frontline – the publisher of Cahn’s books – threatened me and TBC with a lawsuit because they say I violated fair-use copyright law – which they had to know was an unwinnable case as my book easily met all the criteria for fair-use of quotes of Cahn’s book – and they persisted with their threats until we finally decided to go public with their threats – at which point they promptly went completely silent.

          And even more strange is the fact that Cahn, who is the sole copyright holder of the book – and therefore would have been the plaintiff in any copyright case brought against me – says he knew nothing or virtually nothing about the lawsuit threat. I don’t understand how that could possibly work, but I haven’t pursued it yet to determine if or how much he was actually involved. It was obviously just a scare tactic to get my book out of circulation because it is a devastating critique of The Harbinger – and any lawyer worth his salt would have known from the outset that this would have been a lawsuit they couldn’t have one – and perhaps it would have even been considered frivolous – which would have been a huge problem for them.

          So, as I’ve said before – there is a huge backstory to this whole thing – a lot of which can be read on the ABI website.

  29. How funny, I was commenting on another article Lamb and Lion sent me and I said people should do themselves a favor and read your book.LOL

    They haven’t said anything negative about you or your book since I have been recieving e-mails from them.

    Will try and find as much about this on ABI as I can. Really sad Cahn saying he didn’t know anything about the lawsuit, kinda idiotic that he expects people to believe his lawyers would do somthing like that without consulting him on the matter.

    That Cahn would do something like that doesn’t show that Cahn has much of a Christ like attitude.

    What a mess, sorry you’ve had to deal with it.

    • Just look down on the right side of the ABI home page or search for “Reagan” and you will find the article.

      Actually, the contention is they were Charisma’s lawyers – but again, Charisma couldn’t have been the plaintiff because they don’t hold the copyright. I haven’t come across the smoking gun per se – but logic suggests he had to be aware of it. But until I have hard evidence, I’m not going to level an accusation.

      Not in my personal case, but with others who have been involved, it has damaged 20+ year relationships. However, there have been some who came out strongly against me and The Berean Call, who have since changed their position and realize they were wrong.

      There are others who have dug in their heels and relentlessly call on me to repent of what I have done.

      I have a close group of godly men with decades of ministry experience whom I consult in matters of this magnitude, and so far, all have agreed that I have taken the right position and the right actions all along the way. They aren’t afraid to tell me when I’m wrong or when I need to modify or change things – and so far, they have provided nothing but support. So, I have full confidence that I / we are on the right side of this – and time will show this to be true.

  30. Bonnie, it’s not hard to be a prophet. To hear the voice shouldn’t be looked at as something hard to believe or unheard of but very common in the body of Christ. How can your walk with the Lord be sustained without hearing His voice? Secondly I’m on nobody’s side on these issues because we’re not judges for there is only ONE judge but I find it EXTREMELY interesting that the last day of the Smitah ends with an eclipse on the 13th of September and then later in that month there is a blood moon. Blood moons have always represented something historical as far as prophecy goes and it is the last blood moon of the four in a two year span. Let’s not waste to much time debating for love awaits while souls perish daily into eternal torment. Let love rule our hearts in Jesus name!

    • Nick,

      Prophecy is a gift or an office – it is a specific sign gift – and even Paul makes it clear that not everyone has every gift. However, this issue is not about the cessation or continuation of the sign gifts.

      A “blood moon” is not an unusual occurrence and is simply a total lunar eclipse – and I saw this latest one myself and it was anything but a “Blood Moon” – it was a dingy brownish-red – and I know others who saw exactly the same thing.

      That a full lunar eclipse would fall on a Jewish Feast Day is not that unusual either because the Jewish calendar is on a lunar calendar – so it MUST happen from time to time. That it would happen on four consecutive feast days and is more rare, but has only been somewhat connected with some significant historical event related to the Jewish people 3 out of 8 times – and two of those were after the fact – so how could they be signs.

      I am extremely concerned that God’s people, in an attempt to provide warnings are resorting to numerology and divination – which is forbidden as witchcraft.

      The events that are prophesied to occur concerning a darkened sun and a blood moon are supernatural events – whereas these in this tetrad are completely natural and predictable. Furthermore, the passages that discuss these (Joel 2, Matt 24, Rev 6) all read as if the sun darkening and the moon turning to blood being simultaneous events – whereas solar and lunar eclipses can only occur 14-15 days apart.

      So, no, blood moons have not always represented something related to prophecy, not even close.

      The reason it matters is because people are being misled by a mishandling of the Word of God – and some people are getting rich as a direct result. This is serious stuff.

    • Hi Nick, Nice to meet you.

      Prophecy is the gift of determining the will of God. In that sense I think that every individual believer can experience that, and, I have personally heard the Lord audibly. I think a person can determine what the Lord wants them to do and it is conveyed by the Holy Spirit.

      You’ll have to take up the blood moon issue with Mr. James.

      • There are no Scriptures I’m aware of where the gift of prophecy is defined in this way. The gift of prophecy was a foundational sign gift given for the establishment of the church.

        • Isn’t that what basicly happened to Peter in Acts 10:15. The vision was sent just to Peter.

          • Of course prophecy contains the will of God – but it isn’t defined as something to determine the will of God concerning a question one has. That is revelation – and of course the gift of prophecy and revelation overlap (so maybe part of the issue is just one of semantics). On the other hand, we can never lose sight of the fact that Peter and the other apostles were uniquely commissioned and gifted in ways that was not true of any other group of men in history – specifically appointed for offering the kingdom to Israel – and after Israel’s rejection of the Messiah and the offer of the kingdom again by Peter in Acts chapters 1 and 2, they were the foundation of the church, with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2).

  31. You said:

    “Of course prophecy contains the will of God – but it isn’t defined as something to determine the will of God concerning a question one has.”

    I don’t think Peter had a question. He was convinced that the gentiles didn’t have a place in the church until God showed him other wise.

    In his work “When Will the Gift of Prophesy Cease?” F. David Farnell says:

    “Therefore prophecy, reduced to its basic function, is Spirit-inspired utterance based on the direct, miraculous reception of divine revelation.

    That’s what I don’t understand about Cahn. Doesn’t he say that he has a “new” revelation?

    There’s nothing new about it. Halfway through the Old Testament God turned from dealing with Israel directly through the law and began to deal with Israel directly through His prophets.

    And we see what the consequences of Israels disobedience was. Revelation tells us what will happen to people that are disobedient to the will of God.

    Been there done that.

    • Cahn tends to be ambiguous with his answers on this. He denies receiving or giving special revelation at certain times – and at other times seems to contradict this – and has positioned himself a “revealer of mysteries” – which is something he does frequently in the title of his messages. This doesn’t mean that these messages containing “mystery” in the title have anything to do with new revelation, but his consistent use of this in both his messages and his books means he is using this as (what in known in the music business) “hook.” It’s the thing that draws people in – and positions himself as someone who reveals things no other Bible scholar has seen or been aware of before. In more than one message or interview or article, he will say something along the line of “this may be the first time this has ever been said – or revealed.” So, he’s apparently trying to walk a very fine line because he would lose a lot of otherwise discerning evangelicals if he were too direct about receiving impressions, revelations, or whatever, although he can freely use this language with Charismatic audiences because this is something they would easily accept – and unfortunately, uncritically much of the time.

      • Under Hermenetutics – Harbinger – In Defence of a Prophetic Voice by David Reagan.

        In the article of Lamplighter – Vol.XXXIV – May 2013 June No.3, Reagan brings up the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast that Cahn spoke at.

        Good Gravy! he outlines half of it when he speaks about ancient Israel. All he had to do was speak on Revelation and the end times information in it and bing bang boom no need for a book filled with half truths.

  32. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
    But he who restrains his lips is wise.”-Proverbs10:19

    While I can understand and appreciate Mr. James’ needful, lengthy and patient responses to the oddly persistent and wordy posts by some readers; as this is his website and ministry…I can only hope and pray that you would spend as much time in the Word of God as you do blogging on behalf of a false prophet with the spirit of Balaam. I am praying the Lord grants repentence to Jonathan Cahn. I do love that man but he has sadly gone astray.

    • @daystar,

      Thanks for your voice of reason in the midst of some rather frivolous discussions and comments that usually require some sort of response if I actually let them through – and I do my best not to censor posts just because I disagree with them. I will deny posting if things get out of hand or too far off topic – but usually not without a warning first.

      It appears that your admonishment to study is toward those who are posting comments rather than my responses. In my case, it would definitely be a well-received concern. The fact is, that in the large scheme of things, I still have to spend a relatively little time responding if I’m careful. There are posters who know I won’t all their posts just because it would require hours to respond.

      I realize there is a proper balance – and although I admire Jonathan Cahn’s passion and zeal – but on this issue he’s gone off the rails and I’m deeply concerned that a very important issue is being unnecessarily obscured by so many of his missteps.

      • Bonnie, Unfortunately, you are exactly right – a powerful message that could have stood on its own as one of the great speeches in history – that degenerated into an infomercial for his book.

        So many time he has missed or obscured a tremendous opportunity given to him to be faithful in standing for the Lord and then obscures the truth with documented problems that he would be been off to leave out.

  33. Yes, you are correct…your responses are terrific and, quite frankly, redeem the spellbound posts of some of the bloggers.

    Truthfully, I would rejoice to see Jonathan align himself with God’s revelation in the Word and not man’s imagination, however clever it may seem. I would love to see his God given gifts fully submitted to the Holy Spirit. I believe your heart and your ministry reflect the same sentiment. And I pray the Lord uses your skills to help many stay on the narrow path of Jesus Christ.

    • I’ve had some pretty good email exchanges personally – I don’t know where this is all going to end up.

      On the lighter side, I currently have 4 pieces (2 Lbs total) of donated Fillet Mignon on the grill – which will definitely improve my responses over the next few hours. at least. 🙂

  34. That’s great…enjoy!

    • Quickly became past tense! One busy, but happy blogger.

  35. Dave,

    I really believe the greater issue here is that everybody wants to be a somebody. It’s part of our sin nature. Even in the Body of Christ, people struggle with their identity. Who they are in Christ, and what to do with the dead guy? Of course, that is why the scriptures deal with this head on…in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 5:20 we are “new creations in Christ” and “its no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us”. We wrestle with these truths and I believe when we don’t submit to them fully, create a messy hybrid of serving two masters. I say “we” because I believe it’s a sin well known to all of us, every human being, anywhere.

    The endless outbreak of books on just about every topic imagineable (and unimaginable) is just a symptom of the greater problem…the pride of life. With of course, the authors name attached prominently….it is the struggle with our identities. Not that every book is bad or every author corrupt, but Solomon was right way back then that “of making many books there is no end” Even “in the Lord”, every believer loves the idea of being used by God…To become a “Rabbi Somebody”, a “Reverend Wannabe”, a “Father Forget-me-not” or a “Pastor Profit” plays into the love of the world and the acceptance of men rather than simply pleasing God and trusting Him at His word. Some have overcome and had victory in this regard, even as we need to wear the full armor of God everyday. Taking heed to what is written in 1John 2:15-17;

    “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

    Here lies the problem, believers, even ministers, have not let go of their love of the world and the praises of men. This is a great stumbling block and I believe at the heart of the issue with not only Jonathan Cahn and other “pop” prophets, but a large part of the Church. We have become fishermen, making up stories and embellishing truths to be unrecognizable, instead of becoming fishers of men and proclaiming the truth which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in faith and trusting God with the outcome.

    Let’s continue to pray for one another. And thank you again for the platform and your minstry, which is so very helpful.

  36. Thank you Mr. James for going through the trouble that you have to discern these books and the author. I have very little patience for fear mongering and its good to know that from what I can tell and from what I discerned in my spirit was not unfounded. Thank you for the points you made, I appreciate it and I hope and pray that you continue to produce good sound and logical reasoning pertaining to scripture so as to weed out those who see fit to misrepresent it.

  37. I think some are taking this far too literal. I don’t believe that rabbi cab is saying that christians are obligated to observe the shemitah. It is merely symbolic. Do you really believe it is merely confidence that in the face of disaster and great threat the leaders of the us are quoting this verse? All the parallels are merely coincidence? The fact that ground zero is right next to the church where our first leaders met for worship after Washingtons inauguration and acknowledged their dependence upon God and that the good and blessings they had received would depart if the nation turned from God? The parallels of the sycamore and the cedar to replace it and the Isaiah verse inscribed on the highest beam of the tower erected to replace those knocked down. If you don’t see any prophetic fore or hind shadowing or whatever you want to call it in that I think you’ve got to be spiritually blind as a bat. If a disaster befalls on the shemitah then it is symbolic. All of that stuff was a foreshadow of Christ. The remitting of debt would align with the remission if sins and mercy and blessing of Christ.

    So it is purely prophetic and symbolic not literally about how anybody is supposed to observe the Old Testament shemitah. Christ is the real shemitah. And as a nation more and more he is mocked and rejected. Our people did start out declaring their deep dance and allegiance to God and confessing if they ever turned their back on him it would be their undoing. And now their projeny are turning have turned their backs on him. Even many who claim to be christians. The people they have elected are defiant and quoting the very words of pride and defiance the rebels of Israel did. Rather than putting on sack cloth and ashes, declaring a day of fasting and repentance and reflection asking The Lord to reveal and forgive their sin like our fore fathers would have, they think they are great and above it all and can overcome of their own power and will and continue sinning.

    • Hi Lisa,

      Thanks for taking the time to write. You’re right, he is not saying we should observe the Shemitah – but what he is saying very explicitly is that the entire United STates is being affected by the Shemitah cycles – in a very literal way.

      His entire premise is built on misguided understanding of the entire Bible – and how it must be applied. He also has serious problems with the first book where this was first discussed – The Harbinger.

      I would suggest you read my book The Harbinger: Fact of Fiction? That will make everything much more clear.

      Also, I’m in the process of expanding this article to be published as an e-book in the near future.

      We must always think biblically or we will tragically misunderstand when God truly is doing something to get our attention.

      The Shemitah applied exclusively and explicitly to ancient Israel ONLY – and there is no indication anywhere in the Bible that suggests its effects will be found anywhere else.

      This is pure speculation on Cahn’s part – and a very wrong way to handle the Word of God.

      Beyond this, he has very selectively chosen facts and statistics to support his case, all with no documentation whatsoever. That is a very unethical practice for a work of non-fiction and it is difficult to understand how any reputable publisher would let something like this be printed in this shape.

      Dave

  38. David,

    I have known Jonathan Cahn for quite a few years and during that time can attest that his teachings have remained biblically sound and solidly conservative. Had they not, I would not have hesitated to correct him — in a gentle manner, I would hope — because right doctrine and theology are paramount. Moreover, the Bible teachers he has admired have also valued literal and straightforward interpretations over emotional experience or allegorical leaps into error. Had they not, I would have criticized him to his face in no uncertain terms. In addition, every reading recommendation I ever saw him give, from translations to devotionals, from handbooks to commentaries, was on the mark — solidly evangelical, solidly historical/grammatical, solidly conservative.

    I have not followed every twist and turn of this dispute, but I am disturbed by his being portrayed as exactly the opposite of what I have known him to be over a lengthy period of time. Were I to compare his theology to that of others who were more well-known until recently, I would say that his approach to Scripture ironically is far closer to yours than to people like Benny Hinn or Sid Roth. Yes, he is charismatic doctrinally, but much more like a Chuck Smith, a Walter Martin, or a Greg Laurie than what some would call a “charismaniac.”

    In other words, the portrait that’s being painted of him is, to me, unrecognizable. To use a political analogy, it would be like painting a portrait of Jimmy Carter to depict Ronald Reagan.

    There remains serious doctrinal error in the church which must be highlighted and pointed out. It is in many ways as bad as it’s ever been in our lifetime. But in Jonathan Cahn’s case, a colossal mistake has been made, apparently from virtually the day his book was released.

    I first noticed it when he was accused of being a replacement theology proponent. When a friend informed me about this accusation, I didn’t know whether to be angry or to laugh out loud. It was almost the equivalent of confusing Josh McDowell with Richard Dawkins. I well recall the conversations Jonathan and I used to have on many topics, including how ludicrous it was to accept replacement theology — precisely because he and I shared (and share) a commitment to a natural and literal interpretation of the text. A quick google search of Jonathan would have cleared up that misconception immediately.

    One last point. It’s about character. I have seen my share of hypocrites in the church. Jonathan is not one of them. I can say about him what Walter Hooper once said about CS Lewis. He is “the most thoroughly converted man” I know. Simply stated, he walks the walk.

    I always tell people that the Lord wants us all to have the hearts of children but the minds of adults. That’s the Jonathan I’m proud to know.

    I don’t expect to change minds, but I thought I’d weigh in on this.

    • Jack,

      I appreciate your defense of Jonathan Cahn, the man. However, my contention isn’t with him as a person – my critique and criticisms are about what he has said and written.

      So, any challenge against what I’ve written must be in light of that – and what you’ve written doesn’t deal with the issues that I have addressed.

      That would be the best place to start.

  39. Mr. James,

    Thank you for this excellent critique. I’m ashamed to say that my mother and father-in-law are starting to delve into things like this and John Hagee’s “Blood Moon” theories. This is particularly troubling, as the doctrines presented in these things obscure the gospel and tend to lend themselves to a heretical dual-covenant theology (especially in the case of Hagee).

    A shame that Mr. Cahn does not zealously proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ with as much zeal as his preposterous, unfounded theories which seem to drag Christians back into legalistic Judaism instead of forward into Christ.

    • Hi J. Dean,

      In Ionathan Cahn’s defense – he does believe in the gospel – and he does proclaim it, although not always clearly (as in The Harbinger).

      His theology is definitely not dual covenant – so he can’t be linked to Hagee in that regard.

  40. For me, what matters most is the present time, am I Holy and acceptable to G-d when the time comes?

    We can always debate of what happened on Genesis, Exodus or anything that is written in the Bible. Whether we like it or not we have different opinions, understanding, different cultures, different experiences. But as individual, what is it for us personally?

    For me, Everything that happened from the very beginning of creation to the end of time are written for us to see the Father, revealed to us, and to save us through His Son Yeshua, and that is LOVE.

    • Yahel,

      Thanks for commenting.

      Yes, you are correct there are some bottom-line issues as you suggest – and those are a priority. However, the Bible is not a closed book, but is largely opened to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. And as you note, they reveal God – and this includes the need to grasp His nature, character and His plan throughout all eternity, including in the present time and space in history. However, those things can be and are obscured, distorted or almost completely hidden by those who impose their own ideas onto Scripture and thus make it difficult or almost impossible for others to truly see the truth that is there. This is why Jesus and all the prophets spend such a significant amount of time warning about and condemning those who do such things. This is no small matter and needs to be exposed and confronted when it occurs.

      If this is not done, then there will be many who will not be ready by being acceptable to the Lord when he comes.

      Again, thanks for writing.
      Dave

  41. Dear Dave,

    Upon reading both the Mystery of the Shemitah and your response here, I am compelled to voice a couple questions for you.

    1. Do you believe America has been blessed above all nations, by the Unseen Hand? On a scale or manner surpassed only by Israel itself? The way our nation was founded, upon Biblical principles?

    2. Do you believe God’s Promises are conditional and can be taken away? Causing a judgment effect, once the Unseen Hand removes itself from the affairs of a nation?

    If the land is sick, due to a willful rejection of God, the antidote is, “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.”
    If we are the solution for the land, couldn’t we also be the problem, if we don’t humble, refuse to pray and don’t seek God’s Face?

    3. Does God send warning signs to His People so they have the opportunity to turn from their apostate ways?
    If so, what would those warning signs look like? What about the events laid out by the Shemitah, could any of those points raised within those pages indeed by accurately labeled as warnings or judgment? Or do you throw the whole book out?

    In researching the dates, and the way the number 7 keeps coming up, it makes me believe, that whether we know the exact dates of God’s Shemitah’s, or Jubilee years, or not, it definitely seems apparent that there is an attempt to get a message across to us in cycles of 7. Cycles of the moon and sun seem to matter more to God than our time keeping from the beginning of days.

    Even before the Blood Moons, and the Shemitah and Harbinger, and other books, I felt the scriptures would provide warning signs to turn us back to God. The fact is, we need a warning.
    America is apostate, and the process is only speeding up.

    I watched the speech of Tom Daschle, the Senate Majority Leader, Sept 12, 2001, and when he quoted Isaiah 9:10 it sent chills up my spine because it indeed was a Vow of Defiance, against God, and that it was repeated, and then followed up with the fastest slide away from God this nation has ever seen, only cemented in my mind that there was indeed a connection.
    The willful response to 9/11 brought the crash of 2008 and the willful response of 2008 will undoubtedly bring about the next, even more severe crash, whenever that will be.

    One thought too, as I read your review of Shemitah, I assumed you would list all of the many, “veracity of assertions from a historical perspective, and even the proper use of statistics” but you ignored the many “coincidences” of 4 – 7 year cycles, or times that world powers crumbled or rose during these 7 year cycles. The events of September 2001 and September 2008, being separated by exactly 7 years. I read much in your review that called Cahn’s motives, or foundational premises, into question, but not much criticism on the “coincidences” of 7 year cycles in our nation’s history.

    I guess my question is, do you not see any pattern here that is of merit?

    You didn’t have anything good to say about the book and after reading the book and researching dates, and world events, I see there simply must be more than coincidence if nothing else.

    Thanks

    • Thanks for your comment and questions. Before I answer your questions, let me post a few:

      1. Have you read my book that goes into much more detail – or even my articles on The Harbinger? What is here only scratches the surface of the issues – and the whole thing is much more complex than it appears on the surface.

      2. God has clearly blessed America. You seem to believe it was because it was found on biblical principles – but the question is whether that is the real reason – and does this make America a Christian nation either now or in the past? Furthermore, have any other nations incorporated judeo-christian principles into its foundation – or legal system?

      3. Are God’s promises ever conditional? Are they ever unconditional? What promises did God make to America – and, if so, when did he make them?

      4. Are you suggesting that America constitutes “His people?” What percentage of a nation’s population needs to be believers in order for that nation to be considered His people? 10% 25% 50% 75% 90% 100% What percentage of America’s population is comprised of born-again believers in Christ?

      5. Doesn’t the Bible make it clear that at any time people are turned from God that they are to turn back at that moment? What other signs are needed to suggest that God is really serious?

      6. How was Daschle’s or Edwards’ speech explicitly defiance against God? Were they not using Isaiah 9:11 wrongly – and for an entirely different purpose than Israel’s response? Weren’t their speeches primarily intended to be defiance against America’s enemies rather than against God?

      7. What is the context of the passage in Chronicles concerning “My people”? Who are “My people?” What does it mean to “heal their land.”

      8. Are you sure their must be something more than coincidence? Are you sure that the statistics and historical facts have not been cherry-picked – and misrepresented? How many hours have you spent researching this matter for yourself from primary sources – or does most of your information come from the one trying to convince you he is right?

      Dave

      • Hi David

        Just a note on point 2 about any other nation incorporating Judeo-Christian principles…

        Yes. Canada.

        Our national anthem speaks of God keeping our land glorious and free, more so than your ‘rockets may glare’.

  42. Dave,
    Thank you for the very in site full article. The one point I would like to disagree with is related to George Washington and freemasonry. I have read David Barton’s book on the history of freemasonry. In it he debunks a lot of false assumptions behind the influence of freemasonry and the founding of America. The book is a great read. A couple of the things he covers include: how freemasonry has evolved from a biblical based institution in its beginnings to what it has become today. Also, George Washington was not an active member of any lodge. The painting you referenced was pained many years after Washington’s death- sometime in the 1900’s if I remember correctly.
    Again, thanks for the article. I listened to James Dobson’s family talk last week with Jonathan Cahn. It raised a bunch of red flags with me, which led me to your article.
    Thanks again,
    Ben

    • Hi Ben,

      Thanks for taking the time to read my article and for your comments.

      Unfortunately, David Barton’s work has largely been discredited by a number of Christian historians – to the point that his publisher of some books have ceased their work with him.

      Furthermore, he seems to be influenced by Mormons, like Glen Beck, with whom has a close relationship – and the occultic ties between Mormonism and Freemasonry are well-known and documented.

      Furthermore, much of Barton’s constituency seems to be among southern Christians – a demographic known for having a freemasons in significant numbers – so it is not difficult to understand why he would paint freemasonry in a more positive light.

      And, finally, it might be helpful for you to follow some of the links to sources I cited because Washington’s life-long links to freemasonry – including his swearing in and burial – as well as a number of portraits in masonic regalia are also well-known.

      I think it would be helpful to do some additional research into more broad works than just Barton’s.

      Dave

  43. David, I just ran across your website, I have been reading so many comments I forgot how I found this site. Laura and Bonnie just wore me out, it’s 2am and for a 75 year old it’s a little past my normal bedtime. Your article was square on the mark, I have been dealing with those in my fellowship who have begun to idolize Johnathan Cahn(appropriate name (Con), you dare try to alert them to the error of his books and you are attacked as if you are a member of ISIS. My pastor seems to have wearied of the battle and sort of just takes an Oh well attitude, a wonder kind getleman, knows the word and loves the Lord, but unwilling to take a stand on many of these issues. Maybe thats why I am compelled to take up the fight. A few others I warn folks of,Beth Moore, Mr. Bakker the snake oil salesman, most everyone on PTL DayStar and the list seems endless(lf only Al Gore had not invented the internet, TV and global warming).Your right about the south and the Masons, in days gone by I was pastor of a church in Texas, that was my first experience with the Masons, all my deacons were masons, wow did I stir a hornets nest, they soon left, I stayed and the little church carried on and was able to affect the lives of many Texas A&M Aggies by God’s grace. I am too old to back down now, it is sad to lose friends because you sound a warning out of concern for them, but thats the world we live in, so I just carry on and look forward to meeting my Lord and Savior face to face. And I think it might be like when the monkey got his tail caught in the fan,”it wont be long now, probably wont need many more clean shirts. Keep up the good work, I will pray for you and your ministry your boldness and protection. Sorry I rambled on but that’s what old guys do best.
    by grace alone
    Jerry R Wood.

    • Jerry,

      Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging comments.

      If we can ever be of any help, please be sure to let us know.

      Dave

  44. I should be fast asleep but am still up, I found your website and have been furiously reading like there is no tomorrow. How I praise God for raising you up,I notice you have Tom Constables notes on your site as a link, I found his site about a year or so ago, and have benefited from his work. Sometimes I get lured away thinking I am the only one who thinks the way I do as I live in a small Alabama town with not much opportunity to find like minded folk. Seem to all be life long Democrat, Southern Baptist so rutted in their beliefs(don’t bother me with Bible facts my mind is made up) and some how rather than gaining patience, I have lost a little and my angry tones(I rather call it passion) turn off some or most. Got to get a grip on that. Any way what a joy to have found ABI, almost woke my wife of 54 years to rejoice with me but thought better as I would surely taste her (passion) anger. Heh heh , learned a little in 54 yrs. Well it is now quarter to five, might as well put on the coffee and continue to read till she wakes up. When she gets on me for not being my usual energetic self tomorrow I am gonna blame it on you. May God continue to bless you and yours, press on!!
    by grace alone,
    Jerry

  45. Thank you for your article It seems like The Mystery of noShemitah book is about speculative theology with no sound biblical teaching to back it up. If I have t believe or accept a teaching or revelation as truth from God, show me the verse or chapter from the Scriptures and not only and if its from the Old Testement that verse or chapter should be interpreted in the light of the New Testament teaching of Jesus Christ and Apostles.

    Any revelation from the Spirit should not contradict the word of God and any new truth that has been revealed to us, is the old truth rediscovered. Any teacher who claims to unveil mysteries that have been secret for 2000 years is making unorthodox assuptions.

    If we break God’s moral law, we will suffer its consequences and this principle applies to jews and gentlie alike. We are living in the dispensation of grace not of the law. It’s by the grace of God through faith and by the enabling of the Holy Spirit that a christian will be able to obey the moral law. Sabath year, or Shemitah on the last day of the Sabath year apply only to the Jews in the Old Testament. No where in the Bible does it say that it applies to the Gentile Nations too.

    Dave the author of this article makes it clear that the assuptions, claims, theories, revelations or mysteries of the author of The Mystery of Shemitah have no sound biblical support. America as a second promise land is a myth not a fact, it has been the land of revivals and many blessings from the Lord but so have been in the past countries like England, Scotland, Wales, North Island and throughout history many other countries.

    God didn’t choose the anglo-saxon race in Britain and then in America as the second Israel. Wishful thinking isn’t it? Who is going to be naive and believe that? I don’t really get this but how can America as a nation be subject to a sabatical law that was only for the Jews? Why would God punish a nation for the disobedience of a sabatical year that He never gave to them in the first place? That would make God unjust and unreasonable and this theory of the mystery of shemitah is a non sense to me. God works in a mysterious way, not in a magical way as if he will bring economic recession, market crush or judgements to a nation every 7 years.

    It seems like someone is playing with biblical and historical facts and interpreting them to fit his own theory and this new theory is expounded as a new revelation and sold to a public that is eager to buy the latest sensational book about the end times.

  46. To all who have participated in this not-so-friendly at times exchange of opinions please consider this : The economy of the USA is presently the dominant factor in the world’s global economy. When our economy falters, the global economy generally follows suit. It should be clear to anyone with any modicum of wisdom that our economy is about to collapse, and that there are forces steadily at work to make this happen. When it does, it will be clear to all that this will have been the beginning of GOD’s judgment on the whole world. In this sense, and in other ways, such as the USA’s former support of GOD’s chosen people, the Jews, our nation holds a place among the nations giving us prophetic relevance more than most other nations.

    Cahn is correct to say that the relationship between Israel and the USA is one which has specific and special relevance in Heaven. In a few months, after we will have chosen to disregard GOD’s foreign policy stated in Genesis 12.3 concerning Israel we will be bringing upon ourselves the curse mentioned in that verse first mentioning GOD’s everlasting covenant with Abraham.

    As Jonathan Cahn is hoping and praying that the readings of his books will be the beginning of a wakeup call to warn our nation towards true repentance, somehow I cannot understand how any believer would want to disparage his work. When we stand before our LORD we will all find that our doctrinal purity is not as pure as we constantly insist it to be. Men such as Tozer, Spurgeon, J.Vernon and any other of the great men of faith all had blind spots and freckles in their doctrinal views, and so do we. Cahn has too, but none which would warrant the opposition he is facing from within the Body Of Christ.

    May we as believers close ranks and help each other to finish our race with joy. If we must have a firing squad to dispatch true heretics let us not form our firing squad as a circle.

    • Terry,

      Thanks for taking the time to read my article and comment.

      I’ve said it dozens of times that I fully agree with the current state of affairs and that the USA is deserving of judgment, and that that judgment may well be underway.

      However, no amount of being right about that can serve as a justification to mishandle the Word of God, misrepresent historical facts and selectively present data in order to bolster one’s arguments.

      I’ve corresponded and spoken with Jonathan Cahn – as well as some of his supporters – and done everything I can to get them to just reconsider their approach. They are the ones who have damaged their own message by their refusal to acknowledge the significant errors in their work – and yet their critics are the bad guys for pointing it out.

      And, unfortunately, your comments tend to reflect just the sort of pragmatic, the-ends-justify-the-means approach that has propelled men like Jonathan Cahn and Mark Biltz and others to power, fame and fortune at the expense of biblical truth simply because they have included the of legitimate warnings along with everything else. Yet, while we are also issuing the exact same warnings, but trying to be faithful to the Word of God and the facts of history in general, the firing squad is turned on us – while in the same breath we are castigated for being a firing squad.

      We are living in very bizarre times when it comes to holding the Word of God in high regard – and trying to handle it responsibly.

      Dave

    • Cahn has too, but none which would warrant the opposition he is facing from within the Body Of Christ.
      I assume you have read Cahn’s book but by the above statement you have not read David James book. It seems a bit disingenuous to say the above if you have not read Jame’s book. You also state…”It should be clear to anyone with any modicum of wisdom that our economy is about to collapse,”therefore implying Mr. James does not have a modicum of wisdom, Mr James makes it very clear his awareness of the trouble our nation even world faces in these present days because of unrepentant sin. You might consider reading Mr. James book with a learner heart before you condemn those who question, not the motive of Mr. Cahn, but his misuse of scripture, the ends never justify the means..also ” If we must have a firing squad to dispatch true heretics let us not form our firing squad as a circle.” this is a very catchy saying but very irrelevant to this situation. No one is shooting anyone here, only seeking to correct error at this point…..”that our doctrinal purity is not as pure as we constantly insist it to be.” here you fire another wild “shot” implying Mr. James and others who warn of Cahn’s errors believe their own views are without the possibility of error. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The only one claiming(implying) they are a Prophet is Mr. Cahn and you do know a true prophet of God must be without error. Please read David James book before you “shoot” at him, I do not know him personally but I am by grace in the “circle” Peace and grace to you Terry

  47. David…

    I see this thread began months ago, and I’ve just now slogged my way to the end of it. Like Jerry, “Laura and Bonnie just wore me out”. (Especially Laura.)

    I came upon your expose of “The Harbinger” some months after that book was published (thanks so much for your diligent work of pointing out it’s problems), and I’ve been following–somewhat loosely–the controversy from ABI’s site. I agree, the whole controversy has been quite strange. I was particularly disappointed with Dr. David Reagan’s ill-informed dismissal of your work in “TH: Fact or Fiction?” Yet I see here that for support re: the Shemitah you have referenced Dr. Reagan’s critique of Cahn’s Shemitah theories. It would seem Dr. Reagan is no longer accepting Cahn’s work at face value, which is good.

    My question is, does this mean Dr. Reagan has reconsidered his view of “TH: Fact or Fiction?”, and has he recanted his endorsement of TH? I hope so, but after reading through this entire thread I didn’t find a settled statement about that. (Maybe Jerry and I aren’t the only ones worn out by Laura.)

    Anyway, many thanks again for your diligent work, David.

    • Hi Chas,

      Thanks for the kind encouragement.

      No, Dr. Reagan has not changed his view of The Harbinger – even though he didn’t like the book as a good read, he continues to uphold its premises and theories – even while being against The Mystery of the Shemitah. It’s a very strange situation. He refused to read my book and even sent it back to me when I mailed him a copy – and yet, even after The Mystery of the Shemitah came out, he ad Jonathan Cahn on his program to discuss his disagreements with that book. No such offer to me as he seemed to just dismiss me as a disgruntled nobody. While it is true that I’m a nobody compared to a lot of far more well-known men, my book continues to be the only book-length treatment of Cahn’s work and with the endorsements I’ve received, it has to be at least considered because of the extensive research that went into it. Otherwise, someone is just choosing to leave themselves ill-informed about the overall issues.

      My second book, dealing with The Mystery of the Shemitah, (based on this article) should be out within the next two months.

      Thanks, again.
      Dave

      If you’re interested, you can subscribe to the ABI update and I will let you know when it is available.

  48. interesting, since we read both books by jonathan cahn.you’re right about the founding fathers beings deists & freemasons. n.hagger wrote about that in ‘the secret foundings of america’. washington & most others were, & used the masonic ‘bible’, while their neighbors did the rituals in their temple next doors… you mention that colleges & universities don’t recognize certain stuff- they don’t recognize much truth anymore at all, defenitely not Jesus! God still speaks, do you agree with that? are you maybe scared about the coming collapse of america & the western world? and yes, there ARE 7 year cycles. and savvy investors knew & know, and are getting rich!! the rapture: ANY moment?
    what about the man of sin has to be revealed first totally (2nd.Thess.), and all the stuff that has to happen before Jesus returns (Mt.24/Lk.21/Mr.13/etc)? as far as my Bible says, it will be Christ’s SECOND coming, not third, at the LAST trumpet! Before God’s wrath at the end of the tribulation…according to God’s Word, we have to go through some stuff, to test us. Sorry! But Jesus promised to be with us, always. so hold unto Him! one more question: have you read the warnings by david wilkerson? hefty stuff.txs for listening.

    • Marita,

      Thanks for taking time to comment. You bring up a whole lot of stuff in a very short comment! Whew!

      I don’t have time to get into everything in detail, so I’ll just make a few brief comments.

      1. You wrote: “God still speaks, do you agree with that?” ANSWER: I believe that God has spoken in His Word – and that we are presently in one of the many eras in history in which God is not presently giving new revelation. I do believe that God still actively guides and gives wisdom for decision-making through the work of His indwelling Spirit.

      2. You wrote: “Are you maybe scared about the coming collapse of America and the western world?” ANSWER: No, not at all. Do I believe it is coming? Absolutely. Am I afraid of it? No, not at all. And I do believe it could happen before the Rapture occurs – although I do believe the Rapture will occur prior to the seven-year Tribulation period.

      3. You wrote: “Yes, there ARE 7 year cycles and savvy investors knew and know.” ANSWER: No, there do not appear to be seven-year cycles. Do a Google search on seven year economic cycles and you won’t find anything at all except those directly connected to Jonathan Cahn’s theories. If these cycles were known, then economists would have been writing about this for years. Even an extensive search of the internet demonstrates that no one was writing about it, even though Cahn has said economists have know this for years. My research indicates this just isn’t true.

      4. You wrote: “The man of sin has to be revealed first (prior to Christ’s return” ANSWER: Agreed.

      5. You wrote: “All the stuff *the Tribulation) that has to happen before Jesus returns…it will be Christ’s SECOND coming not third” ANSWER: Agreed. The Rapture is not part of His coming. His first and second coming are to the earth. At the Rapture he meets believers in the air. There are not three comings. The Rapture is our Blessed Hope. The Second Coming is His Glorious Appearing when every eye will see Him.

      6. You wrote: “At the LAST trumpet! Before God’s wrath” ANSWER: You’re assuming that the “last trumpet” must be the last trumpet judgment. There is nothing in Scripture that requires – or even hints at this. When the trumpet (shofar) is blown – there are 7 blasts – just as it was when God destroyed Jericho. So, if a shofar announces the end of the Church Age – and there are seven blasts of the shofar – then the Ratpure would occur at the 7th (i.e., last) trumpet blast. There is nothing in the context of 1 Cor 15 that says anything about judgment going on and there have been 6 previous trumpet judgment blasts. So, this is a faulty theory on a number of counts.

      7. You wrote: “Jesus promised to be with us” ANSWER: Yes – and we are also told that we are not appointed to God’s wrath.

      8. You wrote: “Have you read the warnings by David Wilkerson?” ANSWER: Yes – at least some of them. Before his death, he was shown to be a false prophet multiple times. I deal with this in my book The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?

      Dave

  49. marita hayes “have you read the warnings by david wilkerson? hefty stuff”..could you explain why you think this to be “heavy stuff”

  50. David, would you have the time (between Filet Mignon’s) to drop me an email in reply to two simple topics I have?

    Let me know your stance on Jesus going to hell and speaking in tongues.

    Would be rare today to find someone who believes just these two items in the proper term and usages as I do.

    Appreciate your site, have posted it on my Facebook “Friends of the Bible” blog and will link to it once I find your background a little more.

    I’m just a minnow in the big Charismainia, so don’t worry about my ulterior motive.

    Cheers
    Tom

    • Concerning Jesus going to hell: You would need to further clarify what you mean. If you mean he “suffered in hell” as does Hagin, Copeland, and others in the Word Faith movement, then no, he didn’t.

      Concerning speaking in tongues: There is no biblical evidence that he did – and in fact, based on the long ending of Mark, such “new” tongues would not begin until the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost.

      • Having read both books ands seeing these comments I think everyone is missing the point. GET RIGHT WITH GOD NOW. For what is your soul worth compared to your bank account? For the record I also enjoy the writings of CS Lewis.

        • Sincce well week seem agree – what it sont?

        • I don’t think we’re missing the main points – and in fact agree that we need to be right with God.

        • Cmiller
          12:47 pm on May 24, 2015
          When Harold Camping was setting dates you could’ve said — the main point is GET RIGHT WITH GOD NOW. To me the main point was he was basing it on definitions of numbers that could have different meaning and he wasn’t breaking it down to all it’s possibilities or prime numbers at least. I’m sure Satan was egging him on as enemies of the gospel laughed.

          • And, of course, whenever anyone is criticized for just about any view that someone (usually) randomly relegates to “secondary issue” status, the come back is frequently “you’re missing the main point” – or they take the pragmatic approach that it is wrong to criticize anything that is a “secondary issue” – while I’ve even been sharply criticized for pointing out serious deficiencies in their presentation of even the gospel. It’s a sad state of affairs.

  51. “No scriptural basis”

    Our doctrines often come before God, as we rely on them more than the Lord Himself.

    You can spend some time trying to figure out how and why a Jewish farming law coincided perfectly with the crash of every stock market in the world, on 3 or 4 occasions.
    Or, you can reassess your doctrine.

    • Mick,

      Thanks for taking time to read and comment on the article.

      I would note several things:

      1. I’ve demonstrated that the doctrine I have used to evaluate the mythology surrounding this book have come FROM God – NOT before God.

      2. Just a bit of research on your part would demonstrate what you believe to be crashes that coincide with a “Jewish farming law” do not, in fact coincide – and in fact, even if they did on 3 or 4 occasions as you suggest, would be expected since there have been many crashes over the last couple of hundred years, whereas the shemitah occurs once every seven years. This is no more significant than saying that God must be involved with a broken clock being correct twice a day.

      3. The reason you and very few others have actually done the research to figure this out on their own is that they are simply assuming that the author is being accurate in his presentation and use of statistics is because in one of the most egregious examples of journalistic malpractice, Jonathan Cahn doesn’t provide a single solitary source for any of his dozens of “fact claims.”

      4. You have not noted any instances where my understanding of the Shemitah, as revealed by God himself, is in biblical error in any way – whereas I have shown the error in Cahn’s work from a biblical perspective over and over.

      Without wishing to appear too harsh – because that is not at all my intent or my heart in the matter – it does cause one to wonder who it is who should reassess both their doctrine and their blind acceptance of these theories.

    • Mick,
      In an interview Jonathan was saying how his Shemitah alleged observation was exact to the year and day. Then he said Wall Street people had called him and said they knew about the 7 year pattern but did not know it was the Shemitah. I challenge you to find that pattern anywhere but in Jonathan’s book. I find Wall Street is aware of average of 7-10 year cycles. That is far from Jonathan’s claim of being precise.

      • Doug,

        You are exactly right. Anyone can search the internet in vain for any reference to precise 7 year cycles. You will get page after page of hits with Google – and every one of them is connected to what Cahn says – not evidence that this is something Wall Street analysts have known. And with the analytical tools that economists and financial gurus have had for years, such a precise 7-year pattern would have been spotted by thousands of people – and anyone with any investing savvy would have made tons of money on this fact. If you know what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter at all whether the market goes up or down as long as you know ahead of time what is going to happen – you can get unbelievably rich with very little capital to work with.

  52. Wow David,

    I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your ministry. It must be frustrating to work so hard and still see so many lambs led away by false teaching, and yet, you haven’t given up. I pray that God continues to give you the strength to continue.

    Thanks for all you do.

    • Thanks, Joe.

      It’s things like your comments that makes it all worth while.

      Dave

  53. I am just a confused christian. My story is long, but I turned away from God. And I have been missing that part of my life–SO just 2 weeks ago, I joined a bible study in my senoir community. I started reading my bible again and praying. And it has been years that I turned away. And I have been put in the middle of all this..The Holy Spirit has drawn me in. I have been reading this site and that site, and I keep coming back to this site and you Mr. James. The pastor and his wife who runs the bible study are completely taken in by Mr. Chan and his preaching and books. The first week of bible study was John 1 and the second week was a DVD Mystery of the Shemitah. Other people are turning to me for some help understanding this. So I have been sharing your site, because I have been led to believe you and also from just reading my bible. It seems this is just dividing the Body of Chirst. This is very confusing, because Mr. Cahn does preach some truth. My hope is our country, my family will turn back to God as I am trying to do now. And I wanted to thank you and ask is there anything else I can share with the other people. Thank you again Matthew

    • Matthew,

      Thank you for taking time to read some of the material here and for the kind encouragement.

      I personally know of others who followed a path that took them away from the Lord for a long time. I’m thankful to hear of your return – and I very much understand and feel badly for you in the struggle, frustration and confusion that you’re now experiencing.

      You have chosen a very difficult time to come back into the fellowship of believers who are sincere about walking with the Lord—precisely because of the confusion that men like Jonathan Cahn, Mark Biltz, and a number of other teachers who have risen to prominence and influence within just the last few years.

      I entered into this discussion in the Spring of 2012, first with an article about The Harbinger, on this website – and then a few months later with my book, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? – which caused a firestorm the likes of which no one in the prophetic, apologetics or discernment community has ever seen in at least the last 50 years. It has even been quite ugly at various points.

      My new book dealing with the Shemitah and the Blood Moons is about to be released – and with the 4th lunar eclipse in this tetrad coming up in September – just two weeks after this “Shemitah” cycle (which I don’t believe exists) – things are about to really heat up again. I wish it weren’t so – and that there were more who tend to be more cautious and discerning as you are demonstrating.

      There are a few people who have dealt with this, but I’m glad you came across the ABI site because we have dealt with this more extensively and thoroughly than anyone else to this point.

      The place I would start would be for you to get my book, available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format: The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? It goes through Cahn’s book in a very careful and thorough way – and also deals extensively with his chapter on the Shemitah – which is the basis for his book on the issue and the DVD. I think reading through it will give you the tools you need to give cogent answers to your friends – and also provide them something they can read.

      The one thing I would caution is about the way you are perceived in setting yourself against the pastor since he is the one who showed the DVD.

      My suggestion would be for you to get a few copies of my book (and I’m not looking for more sales and will send you a few copies if it is an inconvenience or hardship for you to purchase them) – read it – and then first approach your pastor and let him know that you have found a source that makes it clear there is also another side to this whole story and that Jonathan Cahn hasn’t been completely forthcoming with the way he has been presenting his case in either his books or DVDs.

      You didn’t mention whether this is a Pentecostal / Charismatic church – but if it is, I think you will find it virtually impossible to persuade any but perhaps a very few of the dangers associated with this book.

      I would also go to the ABI website and go to the Dave James Reports section and look for those broadcasts that deal with the issue. That will also give your friends something to listen to.

      I have done many other interviews with others that I can probably find links to and post, as well.

      If I can be of any more assistance, please let me know.

      Blessings in Christ,
      Dave

      • I was away,thank you for answering me. I will order your book. I was going to quit the bible study(Dr. Gary Wetzel is a retired Presbyterian Pastor who has two bible studies in my senior community). He has sent us alot of information??? Preparing for Economic Armageddon–The Shemitah in the Bible–Info on Jonathan Cahn etc etc..I was just looking for a bible study. In the past, I have gone to many many churches searching for the truth I guess. I have no denomination. I have no problem helping others, threw reading the bible and reflection I feel you are passing on the truth. And I am very thankful I found ABI and you Mr. James.

        • Sorry for the delay in responding.

          I just returned from a 2-week ministry trip to Sweden and Finland.

    • Am thankful to God you found Mr. James site, I will be praying for you Matthew.

  54. what are the odds that the Shemitah believers will take advantage of what going on in Greece right now?

    • Zachary,

      How would they do that?

  55. today the stock market dropped 300 point’s because of Greece and since

    the Shemitah believers believe that the Shemitah is a universal thing

    that they would pin this as a part of it.

    (sorry if i dont make much sense.)

    • Since we’re not at the end of the supposed Shemitah year (which I doubt), I don’t think so.

  56. Hello David –

    I am in the financial services field and have been bombarded by Shemitah discussions. I truly appreciate your clear, transparent, and Biblical assessment. And THANK YOU for bringing understanding to America’s founding history. I cannot begin to tell you how many of my Christian (Fundamental AND Evangelical) friends try to bend history to fit their brand (better yet denomination) of Christianity. I have forwarded your website and this post to many friends.

    And I want to complement you on trying to be Christ-like with some of the “conflicting” perspectives (trying to be nice). I was quite impressed, humbled, and reminded how I need to be.

    May Christ’s Peace be with you,

    Daniel

    • Hi Daniel,

      Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comments. As you know, I come under fire as often as not – so the Lord uses comments like yours to really encourage me that I am doing the right thing – and something that needs to be done – and especially that I am doing it with the right spirit.

      My book on the Shemitah and the Blood Moons should be available in the next couple of weeks – and will be available on-demand through The Berean Call an the ABI website.

      Thanks, again.

      Blessings in Christ,
      Dave

  57. The most simple point to everything is that in these times there will be false prophets BUT there will also be REAL prophets.

    One must simply stay in connection with Jesus so that we can be led successfully.

    Ive not read Cahn’s books but ive seen him in videos, and while his claims are interesting they are “not in the bible” of course is not in the bible…. bible wont say “america” for example.

    Prophecies are validated upon their completion….. so we just have to wait for things to happen to say 100% sure how things did happen.

    If not? Dont struggle too hard, just speak the word of God as it is written, and pray that the Holy Spirit can guide those who heard the word of God.

    Certsinly Cahn is not the only giving possibilities for these days, a lot more are.

    But none of them can replace tbe Holy Spirit as the perfect guide.

    • Hi Leon,

      Thanks for taking time to make some thoughtful comments.

      In fact, I agree with you in principle in many ways – but I think it might be helpful to add a few more thoughts to discussion to bring a bit more balance to your own observations.

      I’ll do this point-by-point, following your thoughts to make it easier to follow.

      1. Jesus predicted false prophets – but not real prophets. Joel connected genuine prophecy picking up – but only directly related to the Day of the Lord. There is substantial biblical evidence that we are in a period of time when genuine prophecy is not being given and won’t be until we enter the Tribulation period.

      2. Yes, we must be in connection with Jesus to be led successfully – but there are a good number of godly people on both sides of this discussion – and some very godly people, who walk with the LOrd and know the Word of God very well have real problems with considering Jonathan Cahn a prophet.

      3. There’s a difference between seeing parallels and applying principles from the Scriptures – and in many cases – Daniel for example – God’s prophecies were very specific concerning yet-future civilizations, which were easy to identify. America does not fall into that category in any way.

      4. While prophecies are validated upon completion – there were three tests for a true prophet of God given in the Old Testament – and fulfilled prophecy was only one test. So, a false prophet may have an event actually come to pass, but if he mishandled the Word of God or misled the people of God, then he was to be marked as a false prophet – even if everything he prophesied came true. The problem with Jonathan Cahn is that he has radically mishandled the Word of God in several ways in multiple places – both in interpretation and application. Furthermore he has distorted facts of history and misrepresented statistics and other things in order to build his case – and concerning this particular book, he did so with no documentation whatsoever – making it a huge undertaking to check out the myriad of facts with which he bombards his readers. This is unbiblical on the on hand and unethical on the other.

      5. I spend very little time on Cahn – and haven’t for quite some time. It is sporadic, and I spend a far greater part of my time working on exactly what you suggest. However, there are responsibilities connected with being a Bible teacher and leader in the Christian community – which includes warning people when people come on the scene – and in many case are so immature in their faith, despite being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they have been led far astray from the truth of the Word of God. While it is true that no one can replace the Holy Spirit as the perfect guide – God definitely raises up pastors and teachers for the building up of the Body of Christ (Eph 4) – and therefore, it is through these people, also empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach others in clear objective words – with correct interpretation and application of the Scriptures, so that the Spirit within other believers are able to recognize the truth in a way that they might not on their own. Otherwise, there would be no need for God to send true teachers – which has clearly said He does and will continue to do.

      Again, thank you for taking time to write. I appreciate the opportunity to interact.

      May the Lord bless you and give you great wisdom.
      Dave

  58. Whether it is tomorrow or a hundred years from now the answer is still the same – be prepared NOW. Meanwhile, out of Israel: http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/44534/leading-israeli-rabbi-messiah-imminent-jewish-world/#MDdtVFj2WPTsy3Jg.97

  59. Time will tell. Lets see how it all plays out in the near future.

    May God help us to understand
    Don’t you all no we should not argue.
    Everybody had there own beliefs
    That’s my conclusion after reading a very interesting subject .

    • Pamela,

      Thanks for taking time to read the article and comment.

      I don’t think it is arguing or outside the will of God to point out biblical, historical and other errors that are leading people astray. I think it is our responsibility.

      Even if he is correct in that something major will happen on or near these dates, that by itself is not justification for mishandling the Word of God nor failing to note the sources for anything he uses to make his case.

      Dave

    • Everybody had there own beliefsl……you are so right…Prov 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
      but the Lord weighs the heart. And Scripture rightly divided is the scale.

      • Jerry,

        Yes, you are absolutely right – and when it can be clearly demonstrated that someone is mishandling the Word of God from the Scriptures themselves, then it becomes clear who is most correct in their view.

        Dave

  60. The point is to always be ready whether it is tomorrow or a hundred years from now. Meanwhile, out of Israel:

    http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/45001/shmitah-messiah-this-year-arrival-jewish-world/#UIq7VkQQhoZiQ2ex.97

    • I would stress the need for extreme caution concerning the “revelations” of a Jewish Rabbi who is making a case for the return of the Messiah. We are told that we do not know the day or hour. There are also other issues that must be considered – including the fact that many rabbis agree that the current Hebrew calendar is off by one to three years – so this may not even be a Shemitah year at all.

      • I’m curious which Rabbis believe the current hebrew calendar off and why. Thanks David.

        • Hi Doug,

          The article I quoted from concerning the calendar discrepancies was based on work done by David Reagan (I don’t agree with him concerning The Harbinger), but this work seemed reasonable.

          That article is found here: http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_jewishlife3.php

          Actually it is a rather complicated issue.

          Here is a lengthy article that seems to argue for the accuracy of the modern calendar, although I haven’t read it thoroughly: http://www.cogeternal.org/text/004hebrewcalreliable.htm

          The main point, I think, is that there is enough controversy that it is not something to be “pounding the pulpit” over – as do Mark Biltz and Jonathan Cahn.

          The fact is there is enough doubt that the current calendar is not the one given by God to Moses as a starting date, that these men are on very shaky ground – and what if they are off by just one year?

          First, their approach, particularly that of Mark Biltz, destroys the doctrine of the imminency of the Rapture of the church, leaving people thinking they may have time they don’t have – and if nothing happens, how many of the millions of those they have influenced might become part of the great apostasy (falling away from the faith) that is to come in connection with the rise to power of the Antichrist.

          • Thank you for taking time to answer me Dave

  61. I have watched many you tube clips of Johnathan Cahn. My relationship with Jesus has improved, and my perspective on life has shifted more towards God due to his teachings and his passion for Jesus Christ. I cannot say if there are any errors in his teaching, but I thank God for Johnathan, and all preachers, evangelists, and prophets who are spreading the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the earth.

    • I, too, thank God for those lives which have been changed by the Word of God and those who preach it.

      However, if you cannot say whether or not there are errors in his teaching, then you need to know your Bible far better than you do – and I say that with all sincerity and kindness.

  62. That you do not wish to publish my comment with the link out of Israel is telling

    • Actually, I will publish your comment. I don’t have any idea what you think my timing in posting your previous post with it’s link means – but as a moderator of a this forum, I have to be careful that others are not misdirected to false teaching – which is probably true of your original link.

  63. Time will tell how accurate Johnathan Cahn’s views are. Less than seven weeks to the end of the Shemitah year. I am sure many people will be looking with keen interest at the Dow Jones Index. I think it is very obvious that America is facing some significant judgement in the very near future. The evidence of their disobedience to God is overwhelming.

    • Brendan,

      If the Dow falls precipitously on Elul 29 of this year, it does nothing whatsoever to prove that Cahn’s views are correct. Fulfilled prophecy is only one of three tests of a true prophet of God. God made this clear to Moses – that if a prophesied event comes to pass, but the prophet wrongly uses the Word of God, then he is not to be considered a prophet of God. Cahn has repeatedly mishandled and continues to completely distort the Word of God in regard to Isaiah 9:10 and the Law of the Shemitah and has wowed millions with these teachings. God’s Word is the arbiter of truth – not current events which can be manipulated by the god of this world. Remember, based on Isaiah 14 (concerning the king of Babylon), Ezekiel 28 (concerning the king of Tyre), and Daniel 9 (concerning the “Prince of Persia”) there are “spiritual powers behind the world powers” – and our Enemy manipulates them for his own ends. I would suggest that we be very careful about how we evaluate what is being taught.

    • Brendan,
      Time has already told me Jonathan’s alleged cycles are statistically insignificant and not referenced. Anyone who reads the Bible can see we’re in the end times. Jonathan has capitalized on that by sensationalizing half truths. Ask Jonathan who these Wall Street people are who he says contacted him. Jonathan said the Wall Street people read his book and told him they knew about the (alleged) cycles but didn’t know they were the Shemitah. Jonathan says the cycles are accurate to the exact day. The only cycles Wall Street knows are 7-10 year cycles — far from accurate to the day. The only mystery is Jonathan’s documentation references.

      Jonathan has followed the steps to becoming a popular preacher typical of many narcissists. Now he is grandstanding and sensationalizing half truths. I’m not impressed by his swelling speeches against the supreme court making him more popular and awesome in the eyes of his listeners. “I gave them laws were not good” says God in Ezekiel 20:25 Rather people should be asking why God is giving us over to laws which are not good instead of shifting the attention to the supreme court.
      That’s how I see it Brendan.

      • The lack of any documentation should be the red flag that alerts everyone that this just isn’t for real. He had more documentation in his “fiction” book, The Harbinger, than in this book.

        High-power Wall Street investors analyze data all the time with powerful computers to try to detect trends of even fractions of a percent, which can mean millions in some cases.

        Furthermore, where did his graphs come from and why don’t they have vertical scales? Anyone with the slightest comprehension of statistics knows that without a vertical scale, graphs have no value whatsoever.

        And beyond this, the lie keeps getting repeated that the stock market crash in 2001 and 2008 are the largest in U.S. history. However, only occasionally is it mentioned that this is in terms of points, not percentages of the stock market itself. In fact, neither of them even make the top 10 when percentages are considered.

        As bad as the recent SCOTUS decision was, why is it that this was the “tipping point” – the point of no return, rather than Roe v. Wade in 1973. Although this recent decision redefines marriage from that defined by God – an abominable thing – it seems virtually impossible to suggest that this is worse than a law that has allowed approximately 58 million innocent unborn children to be killed mercilessly by abortionists. Furthermore, the SCOTUS decision changed nothing concerning the thing that is abominable to God – the homosexual act itself. The SCOTUS decision did nothing to make that situation worse.

        People have to start thinking logically, theologically and spiritually – and they aren’t. We just NEVER learn.

  64. I do not typically get involve in these types of discussion; however this one time I could not resist. To all…do you know for a fact that we are in the end times? Everyone Christian generation since Christ has thought THEY were in the end times (especially Paul!!). I cannot believe that God created us with logical minds and we choose not to use them. It is sad to see so called believers search for something, for Truth (yes capital T), when they already have it, like non believers? When did we stop listening to God’s call to live FOR Him and Him alone, love our neighbor, and spread the Gospel…and start listening to human opinions (illogical ones at that), misinterpretation of Scripture (Scripture that ironically IS quite logical) and other fallible human nonsense.

    I herald the simple fact that David James uses logic (given by the very Creator Himself) to make his point. Furthermore I am deeply saddened that others choose to follow any line of thought, like a leaf in the wind, to the wrong end.

    Thank you again David James for bringing common sense and sound Biblical teaching to this subject. I attest to be no expert in these matters, BUT I can read and do read…and use my God given mind to sort / sift through nonsense. And at the end I simply choose to follow Christ, love my neighbor and spread the Gospel. I will let God handle the rest.

    Thank you David James!

    • Daniel,

      Thank you for the kind comments and the call to reason.

      As I frequently tell my students, “Sometimes thinking logically is the most spiritual thing you can do.”

      Of course, there are detractors who claim that isn’t spiritual at all – and I’ve been labelled a “deist” for using logical arguments rather than some pseudo-spiritual approach to things.

      The Lord saved me from a terrible life over 30 years ago and I understand the significance of Hebrews 11:1 and the work of the spirit and what it means to walk by faith (I’ve been a missionary for 25 years – which requires a lot of walking by faith or you simply walk away from it all).

      Concerning the “end times” – the fact is that from a biblical perspective we have been in the “last days” since the day of Pentecost since theoretically, had Israel accepted Peter’s offer of the Kingdom in Acts chapters 2 and again in chapter 3, the Rapture would have taken place, then Daniel’s 70th week and then Christ would have returned to set up his kingdom. However, God, in his grace has brought untold numbers to salvation by waiting for put things into motion on His timetable.

      We are in the end times – have been biblically for a long time – and during that whole time there have been those who have gotten it wrong every time they tried to narrow it down to their own time table due to their interpretation of current events. Of course, the time will come when someone will get it right – but not by mishandling the Word of God and distorting historical facts. It could happen on an exactly predicted day – but not because that is the day they predicted it would happen. The Lord said it will happen at a time when we don’t think it will happen – so these “non-date-setting date-setters” keep popping up – some raking in millions of dollars – many with actually pure motives to warn people, but because of their failure to handle the Scriptures correctly, end up unwittingly becoming part of a deception.

    • “…do you know for a fact that we are in the end times?”
      Daniel,
      Daniel 12:4 “…even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” 
      Jet travel, computers …  There is no exponential increase in communication, travel or knowledge near the time of Christ or any time in history as now. 
      Israel is recognized as nation in 1948 and Jews are returning.
      Now it’s possible for a monetary system controled by a microchip implant as the “mark of the beast” from Revelation 13:16-17 
      Global warming (debatable by some)  Luke 21:25  … the sea and the waves roaring;  and Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, …
      Beheading we grew up thinking was not done anymore.  With Islam it’s increasing greatly.  There are people saying guillotines are being built secretly by the US government.
      Revelations 20:4 “… souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;…
      While there are a lot of disagreements on some of the symbolism the gospel has been preached into every corner of the earth.
      I believe the book/hidden scroll in Daniel is being opened. I’m writing about it. When it’s done I hope David will critique my book before I publish it.

      Our creator made me extremely logical and deductive. The big man in the shadow has shown me things way beyond my reasoning ability — His reasoning. Christians in general haven’t loved the way our father in heaven commanded us to. That’s why the sword has begun here.

      • I left out — the budding of the fig tree — Jesus cursed it even though it was not the time of figs.

        When you see the budding of the fig tree and the other trees —
        The Law, The Temple being rebuilt and the law established
        The Flood –roaring of the seas from global warming looking like worldwide floods
        The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (the fig tree — Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves) man with his knowledge unraveling the genetic code and finding eternal life apart from God

        God will not let those trees will not bear fruit again. When it looks like they are budding look up for your salvation draws near. That’s how I see it and I believe it is from our father in heaven.

        How long it takes is up to Him.

      • Doug,

        You’re speculating at almost every point and unbiblical at some – to the degree I was hesitant to even let your posts through because to do so requires an answer – but I don’t like to censor people. So, I’ll take it point by point.

        YOU WROTE: Daniel 12:4 “…even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Jet travel, computers … There is no exponential increase in communication, travel or knowledge near the time of Christ or any time in history as now.
        RESPONSE: True – but the same was true of every one of the last 100 years – and will continue to be for the next 100 years. All we know is we’re closer than we were yesterday and must always be watching and waiting. To go beyond that is speculation.

        YOU WROTE: Israel is recognized as nation in 1948 and Jews are returning.
        RESPONSE: That is true, but they could continue return for the next 200 years. We’ve already passed “this generation” as commonly understood – so we are not bound by the length of time of the aliyah. Jesus point is that you will know that this age (generation) has not come to its end until all these things have come to pass.

        YOU WROTE: Now it’s possible for a monetary system controlled by a microchip implant as the “mark of the beast” from Revelation 13:16-17
        RESPONSE: That is one possibility – but is pure speculation. We just don’t know what the mark is. Based on the Greek, a tattoo is the actual word – and given the popularity and universal acceptance of tattoos, it could very easily be that – particularly if combined with certain types of conductive inks. But again, you’re speculating and have no idea.

        YOU WROTE: Global warming (debatable by some) Luke 21:25 … the sea and the waves roaring; and Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, …
        RESPONSE: That would put us already well into the Tribulation with none of the other judgments having taken place, even if you disagree with a pre-Trib rapture. There is clearly a sequence to the tribulations judgments, so you’ve moved from speculating to being explicitly unbiblical.

        YOU WROTE: Beheading we grew up thinking was not done anymore. With Islam it’s increasing greatly. There are people saying guillotines are being built secretly by the US government. Revelations 20:4 “… souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;…
        RESPONSE: No – beheading has always been part of Islam. Your lack of knowledge didn’t mean it wasn’t happening – particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia. Beyond that, I want to know EXACTLY who “THEY” are who are saying that guillotines are being secretly built by the US government. There is always an unidentified “they” who is saying the U.S. government is doing “something” without a shred of evidence. Maybe this is true, but I HIGHLY doubt it – and once again, you’re just guessing.

        YOU WROTE: While there are a lot of disagreements on some of the symbolism the gospel has been preached into every corner of the earth.
        RESPONSE: This doesn’t have to happen until the very end of the tribulation, just prior to Christ’s return in Revelation 19.

        YOU WROTE: I believe the book/hidden scroll in Daniel is being opened. I’m writing about it. When it’s done I hope David will critique my book before I publish it.
        RESPONSE: Pure speculation – and although I’ll be happy to look at it (in all seriousness).

        YOU WROTE: I left out — the budding of the fig tree — Jesus cursed it even though it was not the time of figs. When you see the budding of the fig tree and the other trees —
        The Law, The Temple being rebuilt and the law established
        RESPONSE: This won’t happen until after the Rapture, the revelation of the “beast from the sea” (the Antichrist), and the confirmation of the seven-year peace treaty with Israel.

        YOU WROTE: The Flood –roaring of the seas from global warming looking like worldwide floods
        RESPONSE: Pure speculation with no biblical support. And, in fact, God has promised he will not judge the world again through flood again.

        YOUR WROTE: The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (the fig tree — Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves) man with his knowledge unraveling the genetic code and finding eternal life apart from God
        RESPONSE: Some of the most far out speculation. Where does the Bible even hint that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a fig tree? Even if man in completely able to unravel the genetic code how does that necessarily mean eternal life could be achieved? In fact, that suggestion is unbiblical or God’s words “you shall surely die” could be made null and void through science. So, once again, speculation with a sprinkle of unbiblical reasoning.

        I’m not trying to be mean – but if your work here is representative of your book, you will have to self-publish and it won’t make it past any decent theologian or theological editor.

        Your zeal is commendable, but you need to be much more careful.

        Respectfully,
        Dave

        • Thanks David for your response!
          You’re not being mean. You’re helping me to express myself better.
          I’m not disagreeing or arguing the order of these things — my intension is to show that they are all possible in the foreseeable future. Many claim to have perpetual energy machines but we don’t see them if they are there. One person explains why it is physically possible, as Tesla said, to get electricity from any point in space. I’m not claiming to have the machine but making short points about its in my opinion why it’s likely.

          You Wrote — “RESPONSE: That would put us already well into the Tribulation with none of the other judgments having taken place, even if you disagree with a pre-Trib rapture. There is clearly a sequence to the tribulations judgments, so you’ve moved from speculating to being explicitly unbiblical.”
          I never said that is happening at this moment. It’s a looming possibility.

          You wrote — “YOU WROTE: While there are a lot of disagreements on some of the symbolism the gospel has been preached into every corner of the earth.
          RESPONSE: This doesn’t have to happen until the very end of the tribulation, just prior to
          Christ’s return in Revelation 19.”
          My point is there is no place I know of on earth where the gospel is not available, accessible mostly by internet right now.

          My book goes into more explanation of my speculations. We all speculate. My point to Daniel is there are plenty of new things happening that make most passages in Revelation look physically possible in the foreseeable future.. But I see your point that every generation thinks this.

          Is there a biblical passage that says Israel will make a 7 year treaty with the antichrist or is that speculation?

          Let me clarify —
          Man was judged by a tree. God put a Cherubim and sword going every way like a flame so we can not go back and eat of the tree of life.
          Man was judged by a flood. A rainbow shows us we will not be judged by a flood again.
          God gave us the law. Christ is the end of the law.
          When Jesus cursed the fig tree it was prophetic. If it was cause he wanted figs it wouldn’t have been before the time of figs. I can’t put in all the details here.
          When you see the budding of the fig tree and the other trees I will argue my point that God will not allow a global flood again, nor the full re establishment of the law in Israel nor man to find the key to eternal life.
          When it looks like those things could happen — global flooding, re-establishment of the law, eternal life possible (unravel the gene code/ grow our own organ replacements in petri dishes…)– look up because God will not allow those things to happen again. The tree of knowledge will not bear fruit.
          Whether you agree or not it is much clearer in my book.

          What I document in my book is that Christ did go back into eden, revisit the original sin and undo it. He is the tree of life and he did a healing much greater than physical healing of the body. He reconnected us to the eternal that the first Adam had lost. Even at best if Shamans can actually become a high speed inorganic being after death the being they become has it’s matrix as the earth and eventually will die but what Christ did takes us beyond time and space to the ultimate and eternal non things that define all things, the kingdom of God that flesh and blood can not inherit. I’m giving you little bits of something that took me 40 years to learn and develop but I look forward, God willing, to having your criticisms when I finish, God willing, writing about them.

          I should have said we can see the end time events taking shape. I certainly don’t have an exact date and I realize there can be other possibilities. At the risk of sounding blasphemous I believe the translators of the Bible did a lot of speculating. They translated 1 word as up to 100 different often unrelated English words and visa versa. I’ve tried to understand it as best I can with what tools I have.
          God’s love and the holy spirit are beyond my capabilities of reason. While I make use of my reasoning talents I certainly don’t worship them as God. To me God is like a dark shadow — not because he is dark but because I can’t perceive him clearly. Once in awhile I look in and see something — Oh, look, a fingernail.
          I’m getting ahead of myself. My book is not finished yet.
          Thanks again.

          • Doug,

            I’ll comment on your perpetual motion machine illustration and just leave it at that to assure you that you’re not going to be taken seriously by any theologian or publishing editor – you will be entirely on your own to self-publish – and the book won’t do well. This problem most clearly illustrates the flaws in your thinking because you’re speculating in areas you don’t understand, but think you do.

            Again, my intent is not to be mean-spirited, but to try to get your attention and caution you that you’re going down an unprofitable path that will not be the help you are convinced it will. I’ve seen others make the same mistake – and it never ends well.

            My background is in mechanical engineering from a prestigious math, science and engineering private school in the Midwest (which I only mention for perspective, not to brag). Even though I now work primarily in theological issues, I still read heavily in the area of science, discoveries, astronomy, quantum physics, etc.

            Literally thousands of people have tried to create perpetual motion machines – but in this present universe, due to the 2nd law of thermodynamics and the problem of increasing entropy – it is quite literally impossible. Not just theoretically, but mathematically. Many have convinced others they have figured it out – have made the machines – and you can actually get quite close, especially in an environment with super-cooled conductors with almost no friction – and some have convinced others that they have been successful, only to later disappoint them that they had lost a lot of money on their “investment.” Anyone who thinks it “might” be possible – just maybe – not only doesn’t know the answers, they don’t even know the questions.

            Things do get rather crazy at the quantum level, which might yield some interesting results in the future – but there is no practical application – and no perpetual motion available there, yet, either – and I don’t think there will be.

            My point is that you’re treating this as if something can be dreamed up, then it might just be possible. That’s not the way things work – concerning physics – or concerning the future. You might come up with one particular scenario, or even 100, but for every one you come up with there are 1000’s of alternative branches.

            Another thing to consider is that even though every prophecy in the Bible that has been fulfilled, has been fulfilled literally. However, it’s only in hindsight that we see how they were fulfilled literally – and most of the time no amount of speculation could have come close to hitting on the way prophecies were actually fulfilled.

            I’ll just make one more point and be done: You wrote: Christ did go back into eden and revisit the original sin. I’m unaware of any passage(s) that remotely suggest this concept. Where does the Bible say He is the Tree of Life? He never even uses that metaphor of himself, even though he uses many.

            You’re heading down a path of unlimited speculation and allegorical interpretation.

            That’s not biblical – and my personal view is that you’re venturing into very dangerous territory,

          • Nikola Tesla, one of or the greatest inventor(s) of our time said — “Ere many generations pass, our machinery will be driven by a power obtainable at any point of the universe.”.
            Tesla was told by his highly regarded teacher some of his ideas he later accomplished were impossible.
            Me saying Main themes are possible in the foreseeable future – is not like the many false claims to having found the perpetual motion machine. It’s like someone showing the laws of physics Tesla believe would make it possible.

            You wrote — “However, it’s only in hindsight that we see how they were fulfilled literally – and most of the time no amount of speculation could have come close to hitting on the way prophecies were actually fulfilled.”
            I’ll give you “some” of the time — Not “most of the time”
            Many of the prophecies were about literal things that were clearly told how they’d be fulfilled such as Jeremiah and Isaiah telling which kings would destroy which nations – who would be destroyed if they did what.

            You wrote “I’m unaware of any passage(s) that remotely suggest this concept. Where does the Bible say He is the Tree of Life? He never even uses that metaphor of himself, even though he uses many.”
            I could be wrong but backed up by some of my discoveries I believe eating his flesh and drinking his blood is directly related to the tree of life. I also know the tree of life is guarded by Cherubim and is in Eden and Passover is about going in to Eden and revisiting and undoing of the original sin and reconnecting to eternal life. Show me one passage that directly says There is a first death. Yet if the lake of fire is the 2nd death there has to be a first death. We all died in Adam. “On that day you shall surely die…” is the first death recorded in scripture. Some things are understood.

            If you want to see the direct connection with going in to Eden to eat the tree of life you’d have to sign an agreement of non disclosure or wait until the book is done as my discovery is only going to be new once. My advisors asked me not to disclose it lest someone steal the ideas and take credit for what was not directly revealed to them.

            Whether you are mean spirited or not I am glad to be reproached, I’m not at all taken back by it. I also don’t expect anyone to accept what I said on the little bit of poorly written stuff I posted here so I take no offense. Again, thanks for your response.

          • Doug,

            It’s one thing for someone to think that an idea won’t work – it’s another for it to violate the laws of physics. But, I honestly don’t want to get into a debate over these things. For one thing, I just don’t have the time. Secondly, each time you try to explain what you mean, it becomes more clear (at least to me) that there are some serious issues with the way you’re handling biblical ideas.

            Neither do I have the time to get into a deep theological and biblical analysis of what I’m seeing as likely problematic ideas.

            I don’t want to get into signing an NDA – if you ask me not to share anything or use it, I wouldn’t. If, as a fellow-believer and Bible teacher my word isn’t good enough, then I’m not interested into getting into this any further.

            What’s more troubling though, is that if you think you have a unique discovery from within the Bible text that the best Bible scholars of the last 2000 years haven’t seen – and especially one that needs to be protected by an NDA, then you’re very possibly heading into heresy territory – or just foolishness.

            Again, I hesitate to say things like this in such a strong way, but I’ve been at this a long time – and I read 3-5 hours most days, and see people coming up with “new” stuff all the time – and almost all of your explanations so far are based on theological speculation and deductions – the very things that have caused some of the greatest theological blunders and controversies in the history of the church.

            If you want to share your “discovery” with me, that’s fine – and I’ll give you my honest evaluation and won’t pass it on for me or others to potentially profit from. (By the way, you can’t copyright ideas – so, once you publish, anyone can build on it or use it anyway.) So, if you wish to choose to trust me or not, it honestly doesn’t matter to me. My plate is more than full.

          • I’d share it openly. It’s not just me. I’m confident my discovery is Biblically sound to the standards of the likes of NT Wright and or Knox Biblical Seminary as judge and If anyone can find anyone who discovered it before 25 years ago I’d pay $1,000 if they agree to pay $100 if they can’t.
            From what I read I don’t think you hesitated to say what you’ve said how you’ve said it which is the only reason I’d run it by you when it’s done. I know I can’t copyright ideas. I’d just intend God willing to prevent anyone else from getting credit for a revelation our father in heaven gave to me before I publicize it.
            I’m very aware of many false claims before me and of many non Biblical traditions “Christians” use for discerning heresy.
            Unless my crew gives the ok to share it I’ll cut it here.

          • Doug,

            If you would find approval from N.T. Wright and Knox Theo. Sem. I am fairly confident we are standing on quite different theological ground and agree that it would be best to not take this further.

            Your determination and my concern is the only reason I’ve expressed myself in rather strong ways. I usually try to be more diplomatic, but unfortunately, my ability to influence you in this forum is very limited.

            I have no idea what your overall theology is, but the way I have read your explanations, I think we are committed to a different set of hermeneutical principles.

            I am seriously concerned about your willingness to “bet” on your finding of truth from the Word of God as is this were some sort of game.

            I agree that that it would be best to cut if off.

            If you want some honest input on your “discovery” I’ve already told you I would keep it between us – and we would take it out of this public forum. But to be honest, I’m not too excited about the prospect. It was an offer to help you. There’s no upside in it for me – and I’m not looking for any.

            However, if you publish your book and it does turn out to be a problem with any sort of widespread influence, I will deal with it – and try to do so fairly as I do anything else. It was an offer to help. Your call, totally.

          • You wrote — “If you would find approval from N.T. Wright and Knox Theo. Sem. I am fairly confident we are standing on quite different theological ground and agree that it would be best to not take this further.”
            I threw out 2 names I thought were main stream and made a bet to show my confidence.
            Scratch “…Wright” and “Knox…” and replace it with “Dallas Theological Seminary”.

            You wrote — “I have no idea what your overall theology is” (“God” willing you’ll find out), “but the way I have read your explanations, I think we are committed to a different set of hermeneutical principles.”
            I’m not formally educated but can see that many who are disagree on whatever hermeneutics is. I’m a regular guy saved from sin and set apart by my father in heaven.

            You wrote — “I am seriously concerned about your willingness to “bet” on your finding of truth from the Word of God as is this were some sort of game.”
            To me it is like a game — the things of and love of “God” is an ever unfolding wonder and betting is my way, personal style, of showing my confidence. Not betting huge numbers is my way of being humble. I don’t try to be anything but myself because when people don’t like me they find offense in everything I do and when they do they don’t. I stay out of the hypnotic frey of pretense as I express my testimony. I will get through to many you can’t just as you will influence many in ways I can’t. A priest wrote me ‘You changed my way of thinking. It’ll never see things the same again’.

            I see no condemnation in speculation. Sharing the wonderful and terrible things our father in heaven has shown me for others along the way is why I’m writing a book. My intension is not to deceive people. I trust they will see for themselves what’s true and useful or not. My father in heaven will honor that intension.

            Thanks for your responses Dave.

            “If you want some honest input on your “discovery” I’ve already told you I would keep it between us – and we would take it out of this public forum. But to be honest, I’m not too excited about the prospect. It was an offer to help you. There’s no upside in it for me – and I’m not looking for any.”
            I respect that and in due time, “God” willing I’ll run it by you.

  65. I appreciate the zealousness the comments….BUT again EVERY generation has experienced these things. Be very careful in interpretation and translation. I believe scripture says no one knows the day or time…I would like to think that includes me, you, and anyone “guessing”. Why don’t we focus on being Christ like, loving our neighbor and spreading the Gospel? Please pardon the basics of the Faith…however they seem to trannsend eschatology.

  66. Having last night, on a tip from a Christian friend, watched Cahn, Biltz and Bill Salus on TBN for a 90-minute in-studio discussion of the Shemitah and the Blood Moons, I noticed several things:

    •The host [Perry Stone?] kept referring to his 150,00 hours of Bible study and that the claims by Cahn and Biltz made him “just want to lay down on the floor now…”

    •The almost preternatural glints of something [greed?] in Cahn’s and Biltz’ eyes when they spoke; Biltz in particular was strangely animated by something that made me want to turn off the TV and run out of the house!

    •The remarkably different demeanor of Bill Salus, who didn’t seem to be there making claims to have received earth-shattering new revelations. His references to possible prophecy fulfillment in Elam [southeastern Iran] and earthquakes happening at the Bushehr nuclear facilities were reasonably presented. I wish they gave him more time, but clearly he didn’t come across as the wild-eyed snake-oil salesmen that Cahn and Biltz did.

    •Almost no reference was made to where the Church stands in reference to their unfolding scenarios. I believe one sidebar, brief comment was made about the Rapture, but Cahn and Biltz in particular seemed to support the host’s claims that the Church somehow becomes triumphant in these days. Salus did relate accounts of remarkable underground revival events occurring in Iran. That was encouraging! The Holy Spirit/”Restrainer” [as Perry Stone did refer to] is still here in us and at work in areas where we wouldn’t think!

    •I did notice, thankfully, that the host said that viewers not right with the Lord need to get right asap [my words].

    In summary, I was truly disappointed but not surprised. I generally very much dislike TBN and most of its programming, but as someone who researches and preaches on Bible prophecy fulfillment and believes that we are already at the critical point of the “hockey stick” graph sort of prophecy fulfillment, I was put off by the whole presentation.

    Now I recall how much the apostle Paul exercised himself in many of his letters against competing “pseudo-apostles”, excellent public speakers who made powerful presentations and gained huge followings among his dear converts–the bulk of them Judaizers. And what do we hear now from Cahn and Biltz–but a heavy emphasis on the terms of the Law, the Feasts, the Shemitahs [but not Jubilees]…appearing to take advantage of the faithful who are looking for any sign at all that their redemption draws near. Pardon me, but my God, how much more these days do I need to hear and see simple preaching of the Good News of God’s grace in Christ instead of what’s being passed off as the latest and greatest!

    I need that because, despite the grave errors and misdeeds folks like Cahn, Biltz and their enablers and handlers, I do believe we really are at a very late, late hour in the Age of Grace. The degree of spiritual attack and general level of antichrism I have sensed, and fought against, in the past six months has just skyrocketed…never before in my 37 years as a Christian have I experienced this constant onslaught of blackness and evil. Of course, if I just kept my eyes on the Scriptures and stayed away from researching what’s happening around the world, things might be different subjectively for me, but I feel my calling is to stay focused on eschatology for now.

    I know lots of folks like to think that the Letter to the Church in Philadelphia applies to them [and/or their fellowships], but I thank God for that little passage. It’s the story of my life and the sum of my hopes these days, come what may.

    Blessings to all of you, especially Dave, and let’s keep holding on to the word of His patience.

    • Dr. Ady,

      Yes – I’ve watched that particular program.

      Because of the incredible amount of controversy that my work on this issue has created (and my next book on this whole issue is due out within the next two weeks) and because I’ve tried to circumspectly avoid casting aspersions concerning motives, I will just note that your observations coincide exactly with my own with regard to that particular program at virtually every point.

      I found Perry Stone’s comment about the number of hours he’s studied especially distasteful.

      Neither can I, for the life of me, figure out why Bill Salus has ever allowed himself to be put into that situation and in that company. However, he has apparently furthered his relationship and deepened his connection to Cahn and Biltz in the production of a DVD that I saw advertised just a few days ago.

      I will be speaking at two keynote sessions of The Berean Call conference in August (you can go to their website to see the times) – on exactly this topic – which will be live-streamed.

      • David, you said:

        Neither can I, for the life of me, figure out why Bill Salus has ever allowed himself to be put into that situation and in that company.

        That is something which puzzles me as well. This latest appearance isn’t the first time, either. Some months ago (it may have been last year) Salus appeared on another episode of the PTL program hosted by Matt Crouch, which included three other prophecy-oriented authors. The issue of end-times prophecy was handled glibly, and in an adversarial way, as a “battle of the prophecy teachers” face-off. Crouch would pose a question, but then kept interrupting the answers being given, and would re-word the answers to say something different, screaming “Are you saying ‘blah-blah’?”. When the person would try to reiterate what they actually said, “No, I didn’t say that…” Crouch would say “Well that’s what I heard!” and off he’d go with another guest. It was a farce.

        I do wish Salus would consider the concept of biblical separation more carefully. He seems level-headed enough, but, you know, “bad company” and all that.

        I also wish he and other serious biblical authors would figure out that they don’t need TBN.

  67. Good critique and informative as well as the links at bottom, thx. The only contention I would have is the ending of the article about the rapture, I don’t that there is evidence of a rapture, unless through a misinterpretation of scriptures.

    • Hugh,

      Thanks for taking time to read the article and for your encouraging comment.

      Concerning the rapture, I’ve been studying and teaching this for nearly 30 years – and use the Bible to demonstrate that the Bible very clearly teaches that there is a rapture. Although we might be able to debate the timing relative to the Tribulation and the Millennium (I firmly hold to a Pre-Trib rapture), the FACT of the rapture – the “harpazo” in the Greek – which means “catching away” is undeniably taught in 1 Thess. 4 and then the same event seems to be described in 1 Corinthians 15. There is much more evidence than this – but these two passages are virtually inescapable unless one simply ignores the plain meaning of the text in favor of some sort of spiritualization.

      I’m not interested in debating this on this message board because I teach this in multiple courses every year around the world in many Bible colleges. So, rather than debate, I think we’ll just have to accept that we disagree on this particular issue. It’s not that I’m afraid of debating it – but I honestly don’t have time to type out the same thing I teach over and over again all the time – while being behind on many projects.

  68. You should go after the Southern Baptist and other denominations who believe in Dispensational theology and discover the numerous flaws. You can also go after main stream denominations for Amillennialism. Looks like you now have a lot of work ahead of you.

    • Jim,

      I appreciate taking the time to read the article and comment.

      Unfortunately, I agree with, believe, have studied and taught dispensational theology – and now multiple times each year both nationally and internationally. If any system were without its difficulties (in terms of biblical passages), there would be no debate – and yet even on doctrines for which there should be no disagree due to the clarity of the Scriptures (i.e., the deity of Christ, salvation by faith) there are still huge debate.

      Every time I teach dispensational theology or a course related to it, and as I continue to study the arguments for all “competing system,” my conviction remains firm that dispensationalism is the most biblical system of theology is the one the most naturally flows from the Scriptures.

      So, are you an historic premillennialist who believes Revelation was fulfilled in 70 A.D. with the destruction of Jerusalem – and the 2nd coming of Christ being a past event which was fulfilled spiritually – or do you adhere to some other eschatological system?

      Just curious – although I’m not planning on getting into a debate about it in this forum.

  69. I am not your original corresponder, but I am an amillenialist, and I find that that system fits with the Scripture, and the facts of history quite well, rather than making future many of the actually fulfilled prophecies of the Word. I started out as a dispensationalist, but in seminary and afterwards, as I got into the original languages, I saw that it was not tenable.

    Going back earlier in your blog, I deeply appreciate your analysis of the “harbinger,” and other related “prophecies” that seem to find a foothold as a result of British Israelism. It has always struck me as interesting that people want to identify their country in this way, without any support from the Biblical test(s).

    • Carl,

      Thanks for the kind and encouraging comments.

      Concerning our eschatological systems, we know we won’t persuade one another – particularly in this forum.

      I will just make a couple of comments, though, for the sake of our readers.

      1. Whether one is a dispensationalist or an amillennialist does not in any way hinge on the original languages – and as a seminary graduate, I’m a bit surprised that you brought that up as part of what persuaded you to change.
      2. I’m not surprised that you switched in seminary, but it was not because of the original languages – not even slightly. That truly is a red herring.
      3. I, too, have been to seminary, studied the languages, etc. – but I’m not a dispensationalist either because of what others have written or what I have been taught, but because I believe this is the theological system that most consistently and naturally taking the Word of God seriously in both its literary and historical context – and most importantly, one that most clearly understands the nature of unilateral, unconditional, eternal covenants – and the nature of a covenant-keeping God who gave them.
      4. The following covenants are unilateral, unconditional and eternal: Abrahamic (Gen 12, 13, 15, 17, and confirmed as eternal to both Isaac and Jacob), the Land Covenant (Deut. 29-30), the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7) and the New covenant (Jer. 31 and Eze 36).

      • I am sorry, but I must reply to your post this one last time; I will limit it to that because what we are discussing is not at all germane to the topic at hand. You state that “I’m not surprised that you switched in seminary, but it was not because of the original languages – not even slightly. That truly is a red herring.”
        I am afraid that your statement, in this case, is incorrect. It was no “red herring,” as this was a seminary that held to the premillennial, dispensational view of Scripture. It was, in fact, completely because of the study of Greek and Hebrew that I left my dispensational view of the Scriptures. As I became able to make examinations of the texts with increased precision, I began to observe that far from being the system of theology that “. . . most consistently and naturally taking the Word of God seriously in both its literary and historical context,” it was in fact quite the opposite.

        I do not believe that your statement(s) were due to any particular mendacity on your part; yet a statement like that implies that you know and understand another individual’s internal motives and reasonings—a thing which only God can discern.

        • Carl,

          First, I apologize for giving the impression that I was judging motives. That was not my intention.

          Second, the specific study of the original language of which passages caused you to switch away from dispensationalism?

          Third, was your personal study of the these passages the only thing that influenced you to change or were there other authors, scholars, Bible teachers with whose work you were interacting to come to your conclusions?

          I’m not aware of any single passages or group of passages in the original language that are so incorrectly translated in a good translation that the difference between the two would form a sound basis for anyone abandoning one theological system in favor of another.

  70. Hi,
    Whilst living outside of the USA and being pro American not anti I often wonder why so much emphasis and focus is placed on America almost to the exclusion of the rest of the world
    If one looks at what is traditionally called endtime events/phophecy biblically you can make a pretty strong case that America isnt mentioned at all (albeit a very unpopular thing to even suggest to some).
    We see most biblical attention on Isreal ,the middle east with mention of Russia and China etc why? Could it be that America is no longer in the picture.
    The greatest disaster faceing America is when a people turn away from God to idols.
    Religion has become a money makeing business.. write a book about money and the hoards will come running and this book cashes in on that..when it comes to Mammon you cant serve two masters as God says.
    People should be more concerned for the crisis thats already apparent in the pre occupation with money and success rather than a righteous God.
    Sodoms iniquity is stated in Eze 16:49 pride, fullness of bread, properous ease and they didnt strengthen the hand of the poor and needy …God destroyed them.
    On my visits to the states one thing stands out that conflicts with the giving nature of Americans… the huge amount of homeless people…. a pretty big sign that things are wrong.. you dont need blood moons or dubious stupid charts to see that.

    • My experience is that most responsible Bible prophecy teachers understand and agree that America has no pivotal role in prophecy – and is not singled out in any way in the Scriptures. The view that it is, is mostly held only by some cults and this not the general view of conservative evangelicalism.

      There are many reasons for the numbers of homeless in the U.S. – and it is a very complex problem that many don’t understand. However, it is isolated almost exclusively to dense urban areas, is often fueled by drugs and mental issues for which people may seek temporary help, but return to life on the streets. In only very rare cases is it simply a matter of complete disregard for their plight. Interestingly, there are some who just prefer living there. It is a sad and difficult situation.

  71. I was not implying that you were judging motives, but you were judging internal decisions made by someone else, who, when they explained the basis of their decisions, you made the judgement that ‘no, that’s not true.’ But in my case, at least, it was true. I am much older now, and the style of eschatology has become far less important to me than how we treat others in the name of Christ. I could cobble together the verses and events that started my thinking if you would like. Daniel’s seventieth week, and the events of Jewish history played a large part in the re-examination of my beliefs, as did, of course, verses in Revelation. I basically believe in Covenant Theology—how can one not, if they read the Word of God?

    Unless you would like a studied response from me, I will leave it at that, as I found your examination of the Shemitah “scam” to be most excellent–and that is I found your blog.

    • Carl, since you understand I wasn’t judging motives – but rather making an assessment of methodology (how you arrived at your conclusions), I still maintain that holding to Covenant Theology rather Dispensational Theology does not hinge an understanding of the original languages. OF course, certain details might become more clear, but the two systems, as a whole, are both held and defended by those who are biblical language scholars and those who are not.

      Your original wording was such that it gave the impression that you were saying, “If someone just understood the original languages, they would abandon dispensationalism because that is what caused me to change.” I’m not challenging that it might have been part of the process – and then you sought ways to defend your changing views based on the original languages. However, unless you are a true biblical language scholar – then like most seminary students who have 4-6 semesters of Greek and 2-4 semesters of Hebrew, the depth of knowledge of the subtleties of the languages was not enough to make theological shifts of this magnitude.

      Concerning your question about how could one not be a Covenant Theologian if they just read the Word of God. First, though I realize that wasn’t your intention – that was condescending to the extreme. We both know that some of the greatest Bible scholars of the past century have been committed dispensationalists Secondly, it is dispensationalists who are the true covenant theologians because the covenants we focus on are explicitly stated biblical covenants (Abrahamic Covenantn, Mosaic Covenant, Land Covenant, Davidic Covenant and New Covenant) – whereas, Covenant Theology is built on THEOLOGICAL covenants that are imposed upon the Scriptures and PRESUMED to exist based on theological deductions, rather than exegetical inductive conclusions.

      This isn’t the forum for debating this – and I fully understand Covenant Theology – I have studied it extensively, so we can just leave it as it is. I don’t want to debate the two systems here.

  72. Brother David, after hearing your critique of Jonathan Cahn’s books, I see one issue that you should work on: You believe that the Lord’s second coming could happen ANY TIME and BEFORE the Great Tribulation.

    I think the Lord might catch all of us off-guard if His will is for us to go through this fire of Tribulation and and at the very end of this testing period (which He might cut short) all things happen at one moment, the moment of His second coming.

    God bless all who are prepared to go through the Great Tribulation!

    • Aubrey,

      Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I have considered the Pre-Wrath and Post-Trib positions for over 25 years and find that there are several significant issues. I don’t have time to get into a lengthy debate on this – and we won’t persuade one another in this forum anyway. But for the sake of the readers I will make a few salient points.

      1. Some things in the Bible are a mystery. However, what you’re suggesting is not.

      2. I agree that everyone should always be living as if the Lord could return at any moment – beyond that, how does one prepare for the Tribulation? The expectation for the way believers should live does not depend on going through the Tribulation.

      3. Many believers around the world are already facing some of the types of things that will happen during the Tribulatiion, but the difference is that they are experiencing the wrath of man and the evil schemes of the Adversary – not the wrath of God which will be unleashed during the Tribulation (I will return to the wrath of God issue later).

      4. You wrote, “I think the Lord might catch all of us off-guard if His will…” – which means either you’re not sure about the Lord’s will on the matter or you believe he might change His mind.

      5. Daniel’s 70 weeks are given in the context of an Old Testament era, when the church was still a mystery. In your view, the 70th week is still future (and I agree with this point) – but it is a return to an OT-like era (the temple will be rebuilt, sacrifices will begin again, God will be dealing with Israel again directly, etc. This is mitigates against the church being on the earth during the Tribulation period.

      6. I believe we are presently in the Church Age – which began on the Day of Pentecost and ends with the Rapture. The Church is the Body of Christ, and Paul makes it clear that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile – so God doesn’t treat Jew or Gentile differently during the present age. However, during the Tribulation God is once again dealing directly with the Jews as Jews – which is evidenced by multiple things, with one example being the sealing of 144,000 Jews – Jews who have come to faith in their Messiah – and who, by being sealed for a specific purpose, based solely on their ethnicity, mitigates against the church being on earth during this time.

      7. In the context of discussing the fears of the Thessalonian believers because they were being taught by false teachers that they were already in the Tribulation, Paul wrote that “we” – meaning the church, have not been appointed to wrath – meaning the wrath of God. Since it is the Lamb of God who who breaks all the seals of the scroll, unleashing the 21 judgments of the wrath of God, we have the promise that we will be preserved from that.

      8. John was told by the Lord himself in the message to one of the seven churches of Revelation, which are all representative of various types of churches of all generations, that they would be preserved from the “hour of trial” which is to come upon on all the earth.

      9. The church is not mentioned in the Book of Revelation between chapters 4 and 18.

      I could add more points, but this answer is already long enough and provides a significant basis for understanding that the Rapture of the church will be prior to the Tribulation – or at least consider that it is at least a biblically defensible concept. If I’m wrong, then believers will know it almost immediately with the revelation of the “man of lawlessness” and the confirmation of a seven-year peace treaty between Israel and her enemies. If that happens, true believers will do what they’ve always done when faced with severe persecution. In theory, we should not have to make significant changes in the way we live our lives – we will serve the Lord; we will cling to His Word; we will walk by faith, we will evangelize the lost and disciple new believers. We should be doing all this now – genuine believers would continue to do it whether they enter the Tribulation – as will those who are saved during the Tribulation.

      • Thank you, Brother David, for spending the time to write the above lengthy reply. The Jews were wrong in their theology in their understanding of the OT when the Lord came the first time. Be prepared to find ourselves wrong in our understanding of the NT or the whole Bible as far as the Lord’s second coming is concerned.

        I do have my conviction and I am prepared for the worst which is the best in the One who had gone through the worst in the cross.

        Peace in Him!

        • Aubrey,

          1. Not all the Jews got it wrong.
          2. Jews that got it wrong rejected the clear literal understanding of Isaiah 53 – and today, many refuse to discuss it.
          3. Jews that got it wrong had bought into the righteousness taught by the Pharisees.
          4. Jews that got it wrong became politically beholden to the Roman Empire.
          5. Jews that got it wrong refused to recognize that Messiah came to be a political and military leader – but first and foremost their spiritual leader.
          6. A good number of Jews did get it right.
          7. After Pentecost, thousands got it right.
          8. God has given us the tools we need to get it right as Christians – so I do believe that those who love the Lord and His Word, who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and who long for His appearing have it far more right than many of the Jews did in the first century.
          9. We also have MUCH for detailed theological information that fills in the gaps and deepens our understanding, and so I think you sell spiritually minded godly believers short in their understanding of what is coming.

          I’m not suggesting we have it all worked out – but neither are we completely blind.

  73. I went to a home-based church today that spoke about Jonathan Cahn, after watching a few of his videos I came from ‘research’ to this site, thank you for your research and Biblically supported facts. I’m just confused on where to go from here. I am truly searching for the real truth. I grew up in a Russian-immigrant church (Pentecostal/Southern Baptist), my parents and grandparents were persecuted for believing in Christ, many killed other imprisoned. When my parents moved to the US they raised us how their parents raised them… but growing up in America is a totally different culture and almost a different God. Although I believe in Jesus Christ and still attend church, I am grasping at who is really preaching the truth. With so many voices speaking for or against certain denominations, I try to read the Bible on my own and really live by the word, but I want to do more for Christ. I’ve recently been following Francis Chan and his outreach in San Fransisco and what he preaches really resonates with what my parents taught me, and how they first believed. He seems to be devoted to the truth and not afraid to preach it. His most recent sermons are based on John 17:20-21 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” He calls for a one-ness of the church, between different teachings and denominations, that if we all came together and had the same one-ness that the world would believe that Jesus is Christ. You seem like reliable source, do you have any insight? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5iRNoe0SbU
    Thank you very much in advance.

  74. Have you considered the fact that there may be some things you do not know. See:

    http://articles.faithwriters.com/reprint-article-details.php?article=30926

    • Ethel,

      I’m not sure why you felt sarcasm was the best way to engage someone you don’t know for the first time.

      Yes – I would be the very first to admit that there is far more that I do not know than what I do know.

      However, I do know what I have written here and I have documented it clearly – which is something that Jonathan Cahn has not done at all in his book.

      Of course, the question you pose could be turned around, as well.

      My book on The Harbinger, which also deals with the issue of the Shemitah, is the only book-length treatment of this subject, in general – and is thoroughly documented.

      I do know that America is ripe for judgment. I also know it is not appropriate to mishandle the Word of God or cherry-pick and misrepresent historical facts in order to make that point.

    • Ethel,
      Did the Bible Code actually predict the nobel peace prize for Obama etc. or did it discover it after it happened?

      • Doug, that’s a good question.

        The whole thing with Bible codes is just nonsense. Ultimately, you can make them say about whatever you want – and you’re right, they never use them for predicting.

        • Dave
          The Bible Code doesn’t line up with how God predicts. It reminds me of omen seekers. I believe there are hidden mysteries in the Bible. When discovered they bring Christ/Messiah into greater clarity. They edify His salvation plan. No one can gainsay them.
          I’ve had synchronicities and coincidences that began when I started to believe. Depending on how I look at them are they teaching me about God and Christ or is the devil setting me up to distract me at some later date by appealing to my ego?
          The Bible Code reminds me of Harold Campings predictions. He broke Hebrew letter/numbers into one multiple of his choice. He could have broke the multiples to prime numbers or used every possible multiple. If he did and they all came out the same there was still the possibility the meanings he gave the numbers were only one of many meanings or incorrect.
          In other words — there was too much wiggle room.
          The Bible Code methods have too much wiggle room.

  75. when i follow biblical principals in my stewardship i am blessed. in turn, if i go against it’s teachings, i suffer consequences for not respecting biblical wisdom. bible principals are in play for all the world to see. what if he is right about the bible principals that this nation has gone against? the message is right whether you think so or not. i have read your webpage and responses. you need not reply but think and do as you wish. the bible trumps all that men may say and we are watching the God of the bible be true, and every man a liar.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbCIPFktGWU&feature=youtu.be

    • Andrea,

      My problem is not with the Lord or His Word. I completely accept both – as do many others who disagree with Jonathan Cahn’s conclusions.

      I have demonstrated numerous insurmountable problems that his theories have.

      You have not address any of my concerns. If you’re able to defend his conclusions and avoid his many problems – especially the biblical ones.

      I fully agree that America and humanity is deserving of judgment – and that a call to repentance is in order.

      I’m sure we will have to agree to disagree about Jonathan Cahn.

  76. as to the person who said there is no rapture. The prophecies of Daniel and Revelations point out that that at the end of the last week of Daniel’s seventy weeks of years Jesus will return to earth and put an end to the anti christ. Also we know that the beginning of the tribulation is when the anti christ makes a peace treaty with Israel. Daniel 9:27

    So we know that seven years to the day Jesus will come back to earth to set foot on the mount of olives.

    An angel points out to Daniel that blessed are they that wait the 1335 days, when the messiah arrives at the end of the tribulation.

    http://biblehub.com/daniel/12-12.htm

    When the disciples ask Jesus about his return for them he tells them no man knows the day or the hour not even the angels or himself but the father only.

    My question to you is if the exact day second coming of Jesus (the end of the seven years) can be calculated by several reference points to the exact day, then what day is Jesus speaking about when he says he will return for his disciples at a day which no one but God will know. Is he speaking about his return at eh end of the seven year tribulation?
    The people in the tribulation calculate the exact day of the end of the seven years since they could know the exact date the peace treaty was signed. Daniel 9:27 people in the tribulation know that after the mid point of the seven years that after 1335 days that the messiah would return, as the angel pointed out. This exact day is used as a focus of hope. Like a countdown.
    So the exact day second coming of Jesus at the end of the seven years will be known by many many people from these two reference points.

    As to his return for his diciples Jesus said none, not even him or angels would know that day. Is the second coming of Jesus at the end of the seven year period and the day jesus returns like a thief in the night the same day? Do thieves make appointments? Is Jesus speaking on only one date in both verses? The point is Jesus and the prophets prove that their is indeed a return of Jesus that can be calculated down to the exact date (the end of the seven years), and a return of Jesus for his disciples that will come like a thief in the night (a unknown day) that can not be calculated to the exact date. One is the second coming where he steps on the earth and the other one in the clouds when he takes his bride away in keeping with the jewish wedding tradition (that he alluded to in his parables and also in only the father knowing) Yes Virginia there is a rapture…

  77. Thank you for your article about the “Mystery of the Shmitah”. I’ve been kind of obsessed with this whole blood-moon tetrad thing and the Harbingers, etc. In fact, so much so that I have neglected God’s Word on all of this. So I’ve gone back to His Word, His Truth, and to sincere prayer. I believe He led me to this article. I still like Jonathan Cahn…he’s so lively and he does urge the unsaved to turn to Jesus. But I will now put my efforts into doing His work while there is still time and not worrying about if I have enough food to last a year. 🙂

  78. Personally I think anything predicted usually doesn’t happen. All through the ages people have predicted things that didn’t happen. Be careful! If the Lotd wants it will happen and if not it won’t. What is time to God? So pray for humanity – that’ll help

  79. For some reason all the ” ” do not have the quotes between them, the conversation between Bakker and Biltz is blank as well. 🙁 One thing I would like to know and can’t find is who wrote the Forward in his books. Can anyone let me know please? Thanks.

    • Deborah,

      I just looked at the article and everything is displaying correctly for me.

      Perhaps you need to update your browser – or maybe try a different one.

      As for the forewords to the books, the only one with a foreword is Mark Biltz’s book – which was Joseph Farah, founder of WND.

  80. I dont understand? Has God got a special covenant with the USA like Israel? Is Isiah 9.10 relevant or only speaking about Israel? where is the evidence the bible writers, esp the magnificent Isaiah knew of america. If anyone breaks the moral code of the Creator there will be consequences…so…?…and…?

  81. SAME COMMENT WITHOUT TYPOS

    Dear David

    Thank you for your brilliant article. As I am better with numbers than with theology I observed that starting to step backwards from the Year 2001 in 7 year steps will never lead me to the year 1929, the year of the great economic depression. Your chart showing non-predictable 5 – 10 year long periods seems to affirm that.

    We used to be intoctrinated in church that America is the “client nation” of the world, without ever being told that on the other side America was deeply steeped in Freemasonry.

    Generally said: The harmfulness of the buzzword “bestseller” has been totally underestimated ever since it’s inception and still has the power to neutralize minds that are controlled by herd mentality.

    Thanks again your your article,
    Gerald

  82. Thank you for this well-written, insightful article! I have warned my church to beware of these “new” prophecies disguised as “new” revelations from God. Christians better understand God’s revealed Word (the Bible) before looking for answers elsewhere. God has given us everything we need to be make it through the difficult times we are experiencing.

    God bless you.

    Marvin Osborn

  83. Dear David,

    thanks for your review. I am a lecturer in empirical research methods at a Christian university, and have written a comprehensive empirical and statistical evaluation of Cahn’s hypothesis, using GDP and stock market data, in order to verify or rebut his claims. The report can be downloaded at https://www.dropbox.com/s/tl40tsanm6i5aaf/Cahn%20shemitah%20research%20report.pdf?dl=0. I would appreciate your feedback.

    Best regards,
    Adrian

    • Thanks, Adrian.

      This is some impressive analysis.

  84. I was starting to believe Cahn’s arguments until I really looked into the Shemitah cycles he is pushing. They don’t add up. His own video states that the Shemitahs are concurrent 7-year cycles:

    1967-1973
    1974-1980
    1981-1987
    1994-2000
    2001-2007

    The problem is that if he is truly going on a concurrent 7-year cycle, the Shemitahs (based on his original starting point of his argument)should be:

    1967-1973
    1974-1980
    1981-1987
    1988-1994
    1995-2001
    2002-2008

    He ignored the years that would cause his argument to fail. When asked why he doesn’t highlight the 1994 Shemitah year in his book/video, he said it was because the crash in that Shemitah was a bond market crash and he was using “different metrics”.

    See the video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMMGlJuuFlU), start at around 12 minutes and keep going to listen to how he tries to deflect the attention from the 1994 Shemitah year. His answer to the presenter shows agreement that 1994 is a Shemitah year, yet in his own graphic in that same video, he uses 1994 as the beginning of a new cycle and not an actual Shemitah year.

    To me, this is the most blatant deception of his entire argument.

    • “Concurrent” may be the wrong word, but you get the idea.

    • Faith,

      Yes, you’ve picked up on one of many, many problems – and you’re exactly right.

    • Dear Faith:

      While I don’t claim to be an expert regarding the stock or bond market, I do know something about the Jewish calendar and it’s very important that you understand this very important point. The agricultural new year always begins in late summer/early fall. The Shemitah is observed in accordance with the agricultural year, not the religious one (which starts in the spring). So, in other words, the Shemitah will touch on two years on the Gregorian calendar with one year more dominant than the other. Here is the run-down on the years in question that you mentioned:

      Shemitah begins September 1972, ends September 1973
      Shemitah begins September 1979, ends September 1980
      Shemitah begins September 1986, ends September 1987
      Shemitah begins September 1993, ends September 1994
      Shemitah begins September 2000, ends September 2001
      Shemtiah begins September 2007, ends September 2008

      So, as you can see, the Shemitah touches on both 2000 and 2007, not just 2001 and 2008 so Jonathan Cahn was within the bounds of the Shemitah years on the video you cited.

      It’s the same as when you discuss dates on the Jewish calendar. You will hear some say Elul 29 is on the 12th, others will say it is on the 13th this particular year. So why the apparent discrepancy? Who’s right? Answer: Both are. Days on the Jewish calendar begin at sundown so Elul 29 starts at sundown on the 12th and extends to sundown on the 13th, the dominant day being September 13th on our Gregorian calendar.

      Rabbi Cahn wasn’t looking at the bond market when he wrote his book but, as it turns out, 1994 ended up being a significant year in the financial and economic realm after all, which is what the Shemitah is all about. Instead of looking at him with suspicion, can’t you see that he was actually being very honest in leaving out the 1994 bond market massacre when he first wrote his book?

      There is nothing to see here folks. Jonathan Cahn has always been very honest and up front about his findings and there is no discrepancy.

      Hope that helps.

      God bless,
      Laura

      • As I demonstrate unequivocally in my two books, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? and my newest book, Biblical Guide to the Shemitah and the Blood Moons, Jonathan Cahn has unapologetically mishandled Scripture, misrepresented historical facts and manipulated data / statistics in order to bolster his theories and give the impression that they are unassailable.

        As the following document shows, when tested against rigorous statistical analysis by someone who actually knows what they are doing, the effects of the supposed Shemitah have no statistical significance – a far cry from the supposed crashes and judgments Cahn claims.

        http://bit.ly/1LNdeKE

        Furthermore, as I demonstrate in both my article and my book, The Harbinger (a work of fiction), has many more footnotes documenting sources than The Mystery of the Shemitah (a non-fiction book)with only a few footnotes related to the dozens and dozens of fact claims. And beyond this, a search of specific phrases in his book in the context of dealing with financial data in some cases are almost word for word identical to related Wikipedia articles – and even Wikipedia states on its website that it is not to be considered an authoritative or reliable source.

        And even more unbelievable, Cahn is a regular guest of Jim Bakker on his show, a man who went to prison for what he did related to Heritage USA – wrote a book titled “I was Wrong” and yet, now is selling geodesic dome houses on his 700 acre property in Missouri so that people can survive the Tribulation. Seriously. On every program, he takes at least 20% of the 60 minutes to hawk survival food – and in one particular segment, while trying to sell one particular product for making cake, he has the audacity and unmitigated gall to say something to the effect, “You can party while the world if falling apart.” Again, seriously.

        And in July, Jonathan Cahn was a keynote speaker at a dominionist conference, put on by the man who made the “7 Mountains” teaching popular.

        There is no end to this – and it’s beginning to get difficult to not start questioning motives – although I am still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. At the very least, if he is sincere, he is sorely deceived – and taking millions of people along with him in the process.

        And finally, the Shemitah has no connection to America or any other country besides Israel. And even at the height of her apostasy God did not bring judgments or warnings on a seven year cycle.

        Cahn’s theories are as far removed from Scripture as possible when it comes to the Shemitah.

        I could go on and on.

        If you’re interested, you can go to The Berean Call website (http://www.thebereancall.org) and view my two keynote sessions at the conference this past weekend in which I dealt specifically with this issue as well as the Blood Moons – which is an equal sham.

        I do want to say this, however: America is ripe for judgment – and that judgment could well be underway. However, the Lord could return today or in October or next year. We need to be ready every moment of everyday. And if the rapture or something else major should happen next month, which it could, it will not be because Cahn & Co. are right, which they clearly are not, but rather because we are in the last days.

      • Dear Laura,

        you may also want to seriously consider the implications of my research report on Cahn’s Shemitah, which uses GDP and stock market data in order to verify his claims. The report can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/1LNdeKE.

        Results:
        – Basically no statistically significant correlations between Shemitah time periods and GDP downturns. Most Shemitah years or Elul-Tishri quarters had actually positive GDP growth.

        – In particular, no chance to correlate Shemitah year GDP figures to spiritual or moral developments. Most GDP depressions during Shemitah years or times were before WW II.

        – Even though Shemitah years or time periods showed on average slightly more negative stock market changes, the explanatory power (or coefficient of determination) of Shemitah versus non-Shemitah time periods was one percent or less! Meaning, there is a lot of random variation in the data that cannot be explained by a month or quarter being in the Shemitah or not. 99 percent of stock market variation must be attributed to other explanatory factors. That is way too much.

        Also, it makes you see how deceptive Cahn’s book is: selectively pushing confirming facts, and deliberately omitting a whole host of disconfirming facts. I give several specific examples for this.

        Blessings,
        Adrian

        • Dear Adrian:

          While I do not have the time to go into any of the details of your analysis at this time, when I do, I plan on writing somewhat of a lengthy response.

          God bless,
          Laura

          • It might be instructive to watch my keynote addresses at The Berean Call conference last weekend – which are available online for free.

          • Laura, I am looking forward to that.

            Adrian

        • Dear Adrian,

          As you’re aware, my recent post to Faith was to clarify any misconceptions she or anyone else may have regarding the Hebrew vs. the Gregorian calendar concerning the Shemitah years and that Jonathan Cahn was completely accurate in his citations, which no one would dispute. All that remains true.

          I read your analysis as carefully as I could but what I see is a repeated admission by you that there IS some type of phenomenon during the Shemitah years, even if you’re not willing to concede that it’s the Shemitah at work. This makes you a “hostile witness”. Your results reveal that there is, indeed, a distinct difference in what occurs in the Shemitah, Elul-Tishri time parameters and the non-Shemitah Elul-Tishri time parameters, falling precisely in line with Rabbi Jonathan’s book. You then, of course, seek to downplay and minimize the revelation. In all these things, you only uphold the truth of The Mystery of the Shemitah.

          If there is nothing significant going on, then any aberration in time would level out. But instead, what you inadvertently reveal is that there is definitely a distinction within the time-frame of the Shemitah from all the non-Shemitah years, and that it holds up over the course of many, many years, not just one or two Shemitahs. You also demonstrate that it is not something that occurs on an annual cycle, but once in seven years. So how do you explain the seven year distinction? What phenomenon is behind a cycle of seven years? The seven year distinction in your results is not just any seven year period, but the very ones that just happens to specifically occur around the time of the biblical Shemitah. So, again, you’re proving what you’ve set out to disprove.

          But you are not alone in this. Analysts (with all due respect) with much more knowledge of the financial world than you have affirmed the reality of the seven-year cycle, independently of and without even knowing of The Mystery of the Shemitah. It has been affirmed by financial analyst Robert Prechter of the Elliot Wave, among many other financial analysts and Wall Street publications.

          Just recently, a report came out by a respected statistician that confirmed the reality of the seven-year pattern behind the financial system and linked to the biblical Shemitah, upholding that the phenomenon found in The Mystery of the Shemitah is true and, in fact, goes back well into the 19th century. See:

          http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/48068/shmittah-market-trends-point-to-really-bad-crash-in-september/#s86zCXgfobIV3GAV.97

          The mere fact that in the last forty years, there have been five major long-term peaks and descents in the S&P 500 (1973, 1980, 1987, 2000, and 2007) and that every one of these happened around or within the biblical year of the Shemitah ALONE is something your arguments can’t touch… or that there has been a crash either of the financial realm, economic realm, stock or bond market, converging with the biblical Shemitah in EVERY ONE OF THE LAST SEVEN CYCLES. Your attempts to dismiss it mean nothing. And again, this has been confirmed by analysts with more far more financial expertise than you.

          So my question is… Why is it that you, for the most part, avoided the most obvious and center of The Mystery of the Shemitah, namely, the two Wall Street collapses that each held the title of being the greatest point crashes in the history of the stock market??? These two are the most recent, the most glaring, and the most apparent examples given… and yet you never specifically deal with it, except to lump it in with the other examples or data.

          Aside from the briefest of mentions, you avoid any statistical analysis of the astounding odds of the two greatest Wall Street point crashes in history up to their respective times, namely 2001 and 2008, that “just so happen” to take place in the year of the Shemitah… and not just during the year of the Shemitah, but at the peak, climactic period of the Shemitah, on the exact appointed day of the Shemitah, Elul 29, the ancient biblical day when the financial realm is wiped clean, the particular biblical day that comes up only once in seven years, each taking place exactly seven biblical years apart from each other, down to the year, month, week, day, hour, minute, and second. To reiterate, this didn’t just happen once but twice and it happened after 9/11, at the time the symbol of our financial strength, namely, the Trade Towers, fell. But you speak of it in your report as almost an after thought. Lord knows I’m no mathematician, but even I know that the odds are astronomical. How anyone could dismiss this or even downplay it is beyond me. Jonathan Cahn didn’t make any of this up. What he said happened really did happen and it should grab anyone’s attention.

          So what accounts for that glaring omission? It sounds to me like you’ve got your own form of cherry-picking going on here. If there was nothing else presented but what happened in 2001 and 2008, as was in the case of The Harbinger, that would be more than enough. So tell us now, what is your statistical explanation for this? Did Jonathan make up the fact that not one but each of the two took place on the exact once-in-seven-year appointed day of the Shemitah, ordained by God? Are you going to try to say that this is “statistically insignificant”?

          No, you had good reason to avoid dealing with it, didn’t you?

          You will undoubtedly protest and respond with more statistical and co-efficient contention. But no amount of interpolation, variables, or co-efficients will, in the slightest way, touch the magnitude and reality of this phenomenon.

          One of the strongest arguments for a truth is made by a hostile witness. I can’t say if you started out hostile to the phenomenon of the Shemitah, but you certainly are now. And yet you have only, without intending to, upheld and proven the very thing you claim to disprove, i.e. that the phenomenon of the Shemitah is real. Whether it manifests more in this cycle or not, it still remains a phenomenon. And there are many in the financial and statistical world that have confirmed this… along with you, even though it was unwittingly on your part.

          Now, for some other apparent misconceptions in your analysis that need to be clarified:

          1. You argue as if the Shemitah was presented as something that must manifest systematically, dogmatically, and in all its components, cycle after cycle. Rabbi Jonathan has never presented any such thing. Just the opposite. He has been very clear to state that the Shemitah is a biblical pattern that CAN manifest and in any of its components, and does not do so devoid of other external modifying factors, and that it CAN, at times, manifest as a sign of judgment. Your arguments and conclusions are based on a flawed premise and are, therefore, erroneous.

          2. You argue that the Shemitah cannot always be tied to judgment or national sin. The problem is Jonathan has never said any such thing, only that it CAN, at times, manifest as such. The Shemitah had nothing to do with national judgment for centuries in Israel, that is, until she was taken into Babylonian captivity for 70 years so the land could rest. Then it had everything to do with judgment.

          3. One example of the flawed premises which lead to erroneous and misleading results is that you quoted from The Mystery of the Shemitah but presented the information as if Jonathan is saying that the Shemitah must always nullify the gains of the previous seven years. But again, he never said any such thing. His definition of the Shemitah was based on its ancient observance. He shows that in the case of the collapse that began in 2007/2008, the results were indeed the case. But he never argues that this is a must or a systematic constant. And yet then you go through a whole series of statistics to argue against it, as if you proved something, which is totally misleading and proves nothing.

          4. Your approach, in many ways, resembles someone claiming to debunk Elijah or the virgin Mary. You could run a statistical analysis of the reported miracles in each of their lives and find that they only occur over a few days out of the thousands of days of their lifespans. Your results would be the same and you could easily proclaim that you have proven that the idea of any significant phenomenon is false, based on the minuscule and “statistically insignificant” ratio that would appear. Statistics and such arguments may obscure far more than reveal, as is the case with your analysis.

          Please be careful in using words like ‘deceptive,’ etc. It’s something that, unfortunately, David tends to fall into, against his better judgment. It undermines your stand and any appearance of objectivity. Because someone does not use your arguments against his presentation doesn’t make anything deceptive. You are free to disagree with something without restoring to what becomes slanderous against a minister of God.

          Your work is largely based on straw man arguments, building on very faulty premises, which cause your conclusions to be erroneous. It’s nothing more than “garbage in, garbage out.”

          I know this is a long post, but so was your analysis, and I think this is a very necessary rebuttal so everyone can look at the arguments for themselves and make up their own minds.

          Laura

          P.S. I did view the two lectures David did during the Berean Call conference – twice – and would like to deal with some of those issues in a separate post, if I may.

          • There are two major problems:

            1. The Bible does not connect the Shemitah to anything outside the nation of Israel as part of the Law of Moses.
            2. The Shemitah cycles over time have no statistical significance – even if blips do occur on roughly 7-year cycles. There is zero resemblance to Sabbath year cycles in ancient Israel – and God didn’t even subject Israel to seven year collapse cycles. Furthermore, the supposed collapses are neither collapses by any stretch of the imagination nor do they even fall specifically on Shemitah days, except in 2001 and 2008 – and even those were not in the top ten in terms of percentage, which is the ONLY thing that matters.

            The entire things is completely bogus biblically, historically and statistically. Unfortunately, people are so deceived by this that this train is going to keep going – and it’s very likely that this could become a self-fulfilling prophecy because this whole thing has rattled the financial markets, the preppers and survivalists in addition to the church.

            It is extremely sad and even more disturbing.

          • Dear Laura,

            I do not mention the Elul 29 2001/08 correlations because I do consider these two quite stunning, very likely acts of God. I enjoyed several parts of the Harbinger book, but when I saw the Shemitah claim about historic cycles, I felt that this claim was very wide and general, and required some in-depth verification. That was my motivation to write the paper. Is my approach critical? Yes, always, with everything. Whatever survives a critical and robust check has truly been verified. Now, you make some strong judgments about my omission of 2001 and 2008, because you were not aware that I did not go out to disprove Cahn, but that I sought to verify or falsify his Shemitah theory.

            The problem is: if one plays enough with numbers, one will always find „something“. A guy somewhere online invented a 9 year cycle and „proved“ it with world disasters and major events happening every 9 years for the past 100 years. He did this just for fun, to show the problem with Cahn’s approach. This is why some interesting means differences are not enough to prove such a major point.

            For this reason, we must use reasonably stringent criteria in evaluating Cahn’s hypothesis. Now Cahn is actually quite clever: he says something may happen during the Shemitah, or not. It may be positive of negative, judgment or blessing. However, he makes the argument that Shemitah years have consistently been key economic turning points. You downplay the detail of the argument he seeks to make, and ambiguity would indeed be his friend, making it harder to verify or rebut this views. But in research, you need to have a clear hypothesis in order to test a claim. Therefore, Cahn needs a clear hypothesis. Otherwise, his claim becomes: economic/financial downturns may or may not occur during Shemitah years, and they may or may not occur during any other times. Shemitah years may have positive or negative growth, as may all other years. With that kind of a hypothesis, you are saying everything and nothing at all.

            However, Cahn clearly claims a significant and fairly systematic economic and financial effect, and I have cited his book to that extent. He is making thousands of people believe that something will happen in late 2015 because of this. This is more than just a soft claim of some possibility. No, Cahn establishes a spiritual theory. This is what must be investigated. He especially claims stronger economic judgment since 1973, the legalizing of abortion. Even though you say that I misread Cahn on this, your statements are not in fact true, and I will repeat my quote from my paper:

            The Shemitah forms an underlying pattern and dynamic that…will manifest in a specific way. Its manifestations may vary in form but will exhibit consistent characteristics, operate through a consistent dynamic, and produce consistent repercussions. (p.63)

            and

            We have witnessed an amazing correlation. In the past four decades of modern history the economic and financial realms of America and the world have followed the ancient mystery that ordains economic cessation and financial collapse taking place according to a seven-year cycle. (p.114)

            And there are other relevant quotes.

            Cahn’s own words would therefore seem to contradict your statement: „You argue as if the Shemitah was presented as something that must manifest systematically, dogmatically, and in all its components, cycle after cycle. Rabbi Jonathan has never presented any such thing. Just the opposite.„

            The same with this example:

            You say: „you quoted from The Mystery of the Shemitah but presented the information as if Jonathan is saying that the Shemitah must always nullify the gains of the previous seven years. But again, he never said any such thing.“

            Cahn says:

            It [the Shemitah] acts as an economic and financial leveler, wiping out that which has been allowed to build up in the preceding years, nullifying imbalance. (p.66)

            The Shemitah brings about the wiping away of what has been built up. (p.197)

            In the past four decades of modern history the economic and financial realms of America and the world have followed the ancient mystery that ordains economic cessation and financial collapse taking place according to a seven-year cycle. (p.114)

            The terms wiping away or out, or cleaning the slate, are literally repeated dozens if not more times throughout his book as a direct effect of the Shemitah, and clearly in connection with the wiping out of national financial accounts, and in connection to economic and financial crashes. He constantly talks about the Shemitah „causing“ this and that crash or economic or political change. „Causing“ is a very strong word.
            All of this very very strongly begs the question which misrepresentations or misquotations you are in fact charging me with? Did you, in fact, read Cahn’s book at all? Also, his statements seem to strongly and primarily attribute economic and financial crashes to the Shemitah. I have not seen him give much credence to other effects, although he would not rule them out.

            Regarding the results: as you can tell, I did not seek to hide either positive or negative outcomes. The GDP data are almost entirely bad news for the Shemitah theory, but with Dow Jones data, there are several significant means differences. Now, it becomes slightly more technical to understand what a significant means difference really is:

            1. There is a difference

            2. This difference is not just due to high variation, but representative (i.e. statistically significant)

            3. This difference is due to a systematic effect that explains a significant proportion of that difference (and the variation that underlies it)

            4. This difference is evident as a historical pattern that can be logically related to spiritual conditions (poor morality = economic downturn).

            So, for some of the stock market data (not GDP), conditions 1) and 2) were met. But, the problem is: what is a means? A means is an average of lots of figures, both positive and negative. For Shemitah periods, the means was lower. But, it was not consistently lower. Also, for proving key economic turning points, the overall means was higher, although by a fairly low margin.

            So, the average stock market change for Shemitah time periods was lower. However, there were many highs and lows. Some very low lows, some intermediate, some high. Which also relates to the complete impossibility to connect this to moral judgment. Please don’t diminish Cahn’s argument about the Shemitah being about blessing or judgment, because that is the central theme of his book, his videos, his messages and sermons, everything. The inability to establish a coherent and systematic connection between a morality index (which Cahn does not provide apart from the 1973 abortion argument) and the Shemitah-related changes is a key problem for his entire hypothesis.

            Secondly, the average Shemitah change value, even though lower than non-Shemitah times, does not in fact have a systematic explanatory value. This is exactly related to the fact that the pattern has not been systematic. The figures have just, on average, been lower than other times, but without exhibiting a systematic trend (or even without systematically being stronger economic turning points, either positive or negative). There is therefore not argument that this is not related to other factors, including random variations. Unless of course, one absolutely wants the theory to be true at all cost, which may possibly include people like yourself?

            The conclusion is therefore: economic/financial downturns may or may not occur during Shemitah years, and they may or may not occur during any other times. Shemitah years may have positive or negative growth, as may all other years. In regards to one indicator, Shemitah years have had lower averages, but without a systematic pattern. Therefore, no Shemitah effect can be shown from the data, other than occasional lower averages which may be related to a whole host of other factors.

            If you think that I am being too strict consider this: It is easy to play around enough with statistics to find „evidence“ for what one wants to prove. The hard thing is to try to disprove one’s point, and then find that it is hard or impossible to disprove (and therefore true). (BTW by deception I mean the systematic and apparently deliberate attempt to withhold disconfirming information to one’s theory).

            The „respected statistician“ you cite is simply a mathematician somewhere who ran an ANOVA (I had read this report). But he did not in fact perform these tests in order to prove a systematic effect, he only compared the means values of different years. Anyone who has read my report should know what that proves, and what it cannot prove. I won’t repeat myself. You call him reputable, etc. Do you know him personally? Did he even run a Welsh Anova to account for unequal variances where that was the case? Did he check for heteroscedasticity, which can ruin ANOVA test results? Did he evaluate the coefficient of determination, which is especially needed when large sample sizes greatly limit the meaningfulness of an ANOVA? If he ends up publishing a peer-reviewed paper on his findings that is accepted by others in his field, that would help Cahn’s cause more than the rather cursory report written about him. There is a statistics book that explains the difference between a test result that is „significant“ but without any practical meaning. Any honest quantitative analysis will distinguish between the two, which is what I did.

            Likewise, the “financial experts” you cite have in fact little specific to say on the matter. Even a cursory review of economic cycles shows many contradictory theories about cycles and their lengths. You may be referring to the 7-11 year jugular fixed investment cycle? The article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_supercycle on the Elliott wave does not mention a clear 7 year cycle theory (compare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_cycle). In fact, the Elliott wave theory does not seem to specify a specific year cycle, but rather looks at different wave patterns and a whole range of cycles, longer and shorter (see http://www.elliottwave.net/educational/basictenets/basics1.htm). I do not claim to be a financial expert at all, but I fail to see where your financial experts are that have established an accepted theory of 7 year cycles, proven by hard data.

            Now, the business cycles mentioned in my paper are not too far (on average) from 7 years, they averaged 5.8 years, and differ widely in duration. This is based on actual data, not a theory. This is in fact the most likely reason why average change values during Shemitah years have been lower than during other years: a 7 year cycle bears some relation to the average cycle length. When started at the right time together with a downturn, it may have on average lower values than the average of all other years. But try the same with a 5, 6 or 8 year cycle, and you may get even better results.

            Do you at all understand what I am trying to get here? You can play around with 5-8 year cycles for a long weekend and „find“ a theory of 5, 6, 7 or 8 year cycles, depending where and how you start them. But do the cycles have a meaningful pattern behind them that relates to anything moral or spiritual? If not, then they prove nothing of significance for us believers do be concerned about.

            And we have not even touched the exegetical points. Israel was not even exiled at the beginning or end of a Shemitah year that we know of. According to Shemitah logic, the southern US states should have received economic judgment every 7 years for the unblical and evil practice of slavery. All of this should have started when the US became a nation and made a convenant with God as Cahn states. If the underlying exegesis were correct, then with the establishment of the covenant, the spiritual judgment or blessing mechanism of the Shemitah should automatically have started. And so on.

            Christians are among the most gullible people on this planet. What are our standards for verifying facts before we subscribe to new teachings? What do you believe I have been called by people and what judgments about my spiritual condition they make on forums and other places when I even suggest that there may be disconfirming evidence to the theory of a person they seem to worship or blindly follow (which Cahn would probably and hopefully object to)? Does anybody out there care to verify what they believe before they believe it? What I have been reading these days makes me despair.

            Having written this extremely lengthy reply, I am left to wonder which points in your critique against me have in fact any substance at all to them, especially considering that I made no attempt to avoid talking about statistical results that showed the potential beginnings of Shemitah effect (but nothing systematic or sufficiently substantial). But that is ok. Just that David James will kill me for turning a blog into a PhD thesis…

            Best regards and all the best for surviving the upcoming end of the Shemitah,
            Adrian

          • Meaning, my paper did not seek to examine the 2001/08 crashes as unique incidents, but the Shemitah cycle claim extending over several decades or over a century. Of course the chances of a major stock crash occurring exactly on Elul 29 are nearly zero. But to then extent this into an exegetical and empirical claim toward a systematic 7 year cycle effect is a whole different matter.

  85. I have a law degree and was a Vice President of a major Wall Street firm until I retired 17 years ago to preach the gospel. I bought my first stock in the sixties.Cahn’s stuff is factually inaccurate. These books are almost science fiction and people are not taking the time to analyse what is being said. Scriptures are taken out of context and some of the things being promoted remind one of the Gnostics who had a “deeper knowledge”.

    I am also a charasmatic . Believe it or not there are many in my stream that reject all of this nonsense but are not surprised to see people peddling fear. I am confident markets will go up and down. It won’t be because of some secret mystery discover by salesmen. I am confident regardlessof what happens the predictors will find a way to find an event somewhere in the world during September or October to justify another book or television appearance. I doubt there will be any accountability.

    Be encouraged that I am an eye witness that people around the world are seeing Jesus Christ lifted up and are not giving the slightest thoughts to moons or the economic situation in the U.S. May our eyes be open to the glorious gospel again in this country Thank you David for your willingness to be a Berean on this subject.

    • I agree that this isn’t going to go away. Cahn was just on Sid Roth’s program a couple of days ago – and says the collapse is beginning.

      The absolute nonsense that people are buying into is astounding. It has zero connection to what the Bible says – but because an ethnically Jewish Christian is saying it, they give credence to it because he must have special insight.

      Making statements like this will undoubtedly cause some to think that I’m Antisemitic – but nothing could be further from the truth. I have Jewish friends – and love the Jewish people and believe that Israel has a future in God’s program (which Cahn never talks about). Our daughter-in-law has a Jewish father and a Gentile mother.

      During this present church age, Paul said there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ – but the two have become “one new man” – so in the sight of God, Jonathan Cahn is not a Jew spiritually, but rather he is a Christian. “Messianic Jew” is not a biblical concept.

      I have even read one recent article that raised the question as to whether he might be one of the two witnesses of Revelation. What utter nonsense.

  86. David,

    I watched both of your lectures at the Berean Call conference twice and am now watching it for a third time.

    I had already heard/read most of what was presented a hundred times before but not all of it. All I can say, in a nutshell, is that I wouldn’t want to be you on Judgment Day with all the half truths and level of harshness that was presented.

    The thing I see time and time again is that you jump to too many conclusions by failing to consider all the facts. I’ll give you one example that I don’t think I’ve ever written on before, either publicly or in private emails with you, but had noticed in your book, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction?, quite a while ago, and it bears pointing out.

    When you were discussing the Shemitah and asked the audience if their debts were wiped away during the 2007/2008 financial crisis/sub-prime fiasco, you compared apples with oranges. You made a valiant attempt to discredit it by pointing out that people were “upside down” with their homes/mortgages instead of experiencing the freedom that the Shemitah brought when it came to the people as a blessing. But this is the whole point of Jonathan’s argument. When the Shemitah shows up as a curse/judgment, people may be forced AWAY from their homes, just like they were during the Babylonian captivity. You’re only thinking of it in terms of being a blessing, not how it manifests itself as a curse. You haven’t considered all the facts in your argument. Then you insult people like me for “giving him a[n alleged] pass” because we’re “not thinking”!

    Regarding Jonathan Cahn’s Zohar message you focused on during the conference, you have been informed on many previous occasions that this was an apologetic series and that this series of teachings are available for purchase on the Hope of the World website so you could confirm this for yourself and get a fuller grasp of what was being taught. I purchased the teaching for myself and found Rabbi Cahn’s explanation to be 100% truthful. Since you were armed with that knowledge, the burden of proof falls on you to explain why it is you believe the “apologetic” argument is a moot one. As far as I’m aware, nothing was ever even so much as mentioned about this anywhere… not in either editions of your book on The Harbinger, not on your website, not on any radio interview, nor during the conference. Would you PLEASE explain why this doesn’t matter?

    Rabbi Cahn was clear that the rabbis “unwittingly” spoke of Golgotha (which you just glossed over) so he wasn’t elevating them to the level of Moses or any of the prophets, as you keep insisting. Jonathan Cahn further explained this in radio interviews he did back in 2012, one of those interviews being cited in your book. Rabbi Jonathan labeled the rabbis, who wrote the kabbalah, “hostile witnesses”. He knows they’re unbelievers and only informed others to listen to the rabbis on this one very small point… that life comes from Golgotha (i.e. Jesus Christ), not on everything they taught or wrote.

    Do you know how easy it would be for me to discredit you by playing one short sound-bite of you telling people to judge a book by its cover? I could really run with that if I wanted to but it wouldn’t be right so I would never dream of doing it.

    This is the exact reason why I take your critiques on ANYONE with a huge grain of salt. I have the background information on Jonathan’s Zohar message and so do you. Why you insist on withholding important information such as this is beyond my capability to understand. So when it comes to anything negative you say about Mark Biltz, Jim Bakker, etc., I can’t help turn a deaf ear because I don’t know what you’re adding or leaving out, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It’s easy to place others in a more positive or negative light by adding or withholding information. Politicians do it all the time and the person with the microphone has the power to twist information and change history as they please (as was done during the conference) but it doesn’t please the LORD when one sins by bearing false witness against another.

    And last but not least, just because Jonathan accepts invitations to certain events does not make him a “dominionist”. He’s not one. I know this for a fact. Your “support” for linking him to dominionism was very weak and would be like labeling the apostle Paul a Zeus worshiper for speaking at Mars Hill. Just as we all need to take the whole counsel of God into account before interpreting a passage of scripture or making any proclamations about God, so it is with people. People say things that can be easily misconstrued (just like God’s Word), and we need to be careful to take all the facts into account when making judgment calls on others. This is why I have so much difficulty with someone doing a few hours of so-called “research” on another person and think they know enough about them to critique what it is they believe. It’s especially bad when they have wide influence. That is in, no way, enough time to get to know the person as a whole and it could easily lead to bearing false witness. I, myself, have been labeled “Word of Faith”, a “feminist”, and “unteachable” by a man who could care less about getting to know me as a person before spewing such non-sense. And it’s this man’s continual, habitual practice to do “discernment” in this way. I know he has me pegged wrong so how can I trust him when discussing others… even if he has what appears to be condemning sound bites?

    I’m not implying that you (or others) do these things intentionally but this is why it’s important to be so careful when making judgment calls on others and their teaching. Every one of us will give an account for every idle word.

    I could say so much more about what was said at the conference but this will suffice.

    My spirit groaned within me as I watched your presentations and I’m sure God is grieved by it too.

    So Sincerely Grieved,

    Laura

    • Laura,

      We clearly disagree at the most fundamental level – and I am not the only one. There are good and godly Bible teachers on both sides of this issue.

      I have carefully considered your arguments for over three years – and I think you are mistake – sincere, but mistaken nonetheless.

      Jonathan Cahn’s arguments lack biblical, historical and statistical support.

      I stand by everything I have written and said.

      Just a point about the Zohar – in that message he cites Moses and then Daniel and then the rabbis – presenting them as being on equal footing, with equal authority, being equally inspired. When discussing the rabbis, he says something to the effect, “The Holy Spirit just got in there.” He doesn’t know that at all – it is pure speculation. And by equating them with true prophets and making no distinction between what they taught and what was taught by and through Moses and Daniel is an egregious mistake.

      I don’t intend to get into a protracted debate with you – and I’m only letting your comments through in order to be fair.

      I am prepared to give an answer to the Lord for everything I have said and done in regard to this issue.

      • Just one comment for now, Dave. Regarding Jonathan saying, “The Holy Spirit just got in there”, I must ask… where does truth originate? With Satan, with man, or with God? If truth can be found in an unlikely place like The Zohar, you must give all the glory to God for leading people to the truth.

        Unbelievers can speak truth, at times, but that truth does not come from them. It comes from God and even though they’re unbelievers, they can still be used of God for His purposes. So I would say that Jonathan Cahn had every right to make that statement even though I wouldn’t recommend the Zohar (i.e. Kabbalah) to anyone as a source of truth. And neither would Jonathan Cahn. I know this for a fact. It’s just plain old wrong to charge him with elevating the rabbis to the level of Moses and the other prophets when he clearly used the word “unwittingly” and was doing an apologetic series. It’s bearing false witness against him.

        • Laura,

          You may choose to call me a liar – but the fact remains that in the very same breath he lists Moses, Daniel and the rabbis as equally communicating truth. He absolutely does elevate what they did – and he says “listen to the rabbis on this point.”

          I fully understand the use of a hostile witness but this goes beyond that. At the very least he was extremely careless – and he was trying to reveal something no one had seen before – and he actually says that when he says that perhaps this is the first time this has ever been taught.

          It is nothing at all like Paul on Mars Hill. That is a red herring. Paul quotes from their prophets and then immediately points out that how they were wrong, whereas Cahn quotes from the rabbis and proceeds to point out how they were right.

          Unfortunately, you’re blindly defending the indefensible.

          • You know for a fact, David, that Jonathan didn’t point out that the rabbis were wrong in his Zohar message, how exactly? Did you purchase the teaching and listen to it in its fullness or are you just making an assumption based on a minute portion of the teaching found on YouTube? As I said before, I purchased the CD and I can tell you that Jonathan Cahn most certainly said they were wrong for rejecting the Messiah but showed how, even though they rejected Him, they still upheld Him “unwittingly”.

            As I recall the story in Acts about Mars Hill, they had something erected to the “Unknown God” and Paul affirmed their view that there is a God they knew nothing about! So you can’t say the apostle Paul didn’t affirm ANYTHING they believed. He used it as a spring-board to present Jesus to them. Jonathan Cahn did the equivalent by pointing out that the rabbis had one thing right – that life comes from Golgotha, i.e. Jesus Christ, and he was right.

            Whatever nefarious meaning you’re placing on Jonathan’s other comments about revealing something that no one had ever seen before or that it was the first time it was ever taught… well, I’m not surprised that you’re placing another evil spin on it.

            Laura

          • Laura, we’ve been through this all before.

            The issue isn’t the Zohar message in isolation – it is one small part of a much bigger problem – and you know that.

            First, it was his ministry that put up that segment to stand in isolation on YouTube – so that is what everyone had access to.

            Secondly, he absolutely and undeniably did elevate the mystical rabbis to the level of Moses and Daniel in the very next breath.

            Thirdly, he has positioned himself as a revealer of mysteries that no one has ever seen before in the Scriptures – that is his MO – that is his “hook” all the time. The line about no one having ever said this before is precisely how he always positions himself and many otherwise discerning evangelicals have bought into this hook, line and sinker and have checked their brains at the door in the process.

            Fourthly, he actually incorporates a Jewish mystical rabbi into his story line in The Harbinger to reveal the meaning of one of the clay disks and one of the harbingers. This is not a random literary device but reflects and is consistent with the way he thinks and approaches things in general.

            As someone who deals with matters of apologetics every day, I completely understand the process – and it isn’t that difficult to recognize when someone goes off the rails in trying to build support for their argument – and you tend to go off the rails just as much as he does when you try to defend him – and defend the indefensible.

            Again, we’ve been through all of this before – and the only reason I’m allowing your comments to post is to demonstrate to others who are following this thread of comments or those who stumble onto it for the first time will be able to see just how easy it is to be sucked into this vortex of Cahn’s teaching, but also how easy it is to legitimately respond to his claims and to those who try to defend him.

            This isn’t rocket science.

  87. This is in response to David’s September 8, 2015, 5:09pm post…

    And there it is…

    I knew Rabbi Jonathan would get the blame for what’s happening in the financial markets now. I didn’t write on it publicly but I predicted, about a year ago, that if things began to tank at this time, he (and other select watchmen who are warning) would get the blame. Never mind that so many financial experts worth their salt have been warning people to get out of the stock market and get into hard assets. So many of them have wondered why it has taken this long for the bubble to “pop”. People are now just starting to wake up to what’s really going on, partly because of the GOOD work that Jonathan Cahn is doing. And, once again, it bears reminding that there are many financial analysts who have affirmed that what Jonathan writes is very statistically significant.

    I’m a pre-tribulationist myself so I don’t believe believers will go through the tribulation but that doesn’t mean we won’t have to go through some hard times before the tribulation begins. So I say God bless Jonathan Cahn for warning people so they can take some precautionary measures to protect themselves and their loved ones and potentially minister to others during the hard times and, hopefully, draw them to Christ, if there is still time.

    How do you know that God isn’t moving people to stock up on necessities to leave for those who will be left behind? I’ve thought of this and plan on going the extra mile to strategically place necessary Biblical information in my cupboards where my food is for those who will desperately need it, IF the tribulation is just around the corner. I will leave it there until the day I move or am raptured. Either way, it’s a win-win and, if nothing happens, I can still eat my investment. Why is this looked upon as evil?

    I hope and pray that God will protect Jonathan Cahn and his family from these types of influences against him if/when things start to get really difficult. What’s been going on in the financial and economic realm is NOT his fault. He is not responsible for central banking nor did he have anything to do with Quantitative Easing or the fact that the baby boomers are all going to be retiring soon or any of the other factors that are in place to break the system… and soon! The timing is ultimately in God’s hands, not his or any man’s so to attempt to place blame on him is non-productive.

    I would caution you, David… Don’t “shoot” the messenger or work to turn the masses against him. That work will be burned at the Bema Seat and you will regret it.

    Laura

    • He absolutely does bear responsibility for much of the rattling of the financial markets for those who are connecting it to the Shemitah – a completely unbiblical theory.

      Of course he doesn’t influence the big market issues – but he does affect what many within the Christian community are doing in response to the markets.

      It is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

      Could God’s judgment be coming? Yes – but not for the reasons that Jonathan Cahn is teaching.

      His theories are unbiblical and ahistorical from beginning to end.

  88. Both sides sound believable. Not sure what to believe. Very intelligent comments on this subject. I guess that’s why there are so many religions. Even bible scholars differ. With the way things are in this world I wouldnt rule Cahn out. I think he truly truly believes what he is warning. If he is not sincere then God forgive. He will have hell to pay. Life will go on good or bad. If it gets really bad then. believers will keep on believing with even more faith. For the non believers God have mercy on there souls. If life goes on as usual we are getting further and further away from God and what pleases him as whole population in the world. Sooner or later he isn’t going to let it continue. So continue to love your lord. There is no doubt that there lot of evil out there

    • Pamela,

      What we need to do is compare what I say and what Jonathan Cahn says against the Word of God.

      I think I have shown conclusively in my books that there is very little that is biblical in even the most cursory way about Cahn’s theories.

      He has just made up many things that have zero biblical support.

      As just one small example, the passage in Isaiah chapter 9, leading up to verse 10, is perhaps the single most important Messianic Kingdom passages in the entire Old Testament – and Isaiah 9:10 cannot be understood or applied correctly unless the context of the passage is discussed. However, Cahn takes verse 10 in complete isolation with no reference at all to the preceding verses. The most fundamental principle of biblical interpretation is that any verse or passage can only be understood in context and he wrote an entire book on a single passage without a single mention of the preceding verses. This is an egregious error – and I am baffled that anyone can defend this indefensible issue in good conscience.

    • Pamela,

      no serious conservative Christian academic or economist is subscribing to Cahn’s theory. No, Cahn is not about to win a nobel prize for developing an amazing new economic or financial cycle theory with even remotely predictive capabilities. His success is based on a mix of populist theology and populist, US-centered reading of economic history, targeted at people who are either unable or unwilling to truly verify his fact claims in-depth.

      His theory meets a deep emotional need within dissatisfied conservative circles who are fed up with the spiritual state of the US and hope for quick judgment (BTW I have nothing against God’s judgment, quick or slow). Due to this deeply held emotional need, those who deeply subscribe to his teachings will not be dissuaded even by a wealth of disconfirming evidence, both exegetical and empirical.

      That is the situation we are looking at.

      Best,
      Adrian

      • I should add: even so, Cahn has a very significant and important message of repentance and sanctification to bring, and that is worth hearing and supporting.

        But don’t easily subscribe to wider spiritual theories such as the Shemitah, and especially not to the underlying interpretation of Old Testament scriptures.

  89. Yes David if Cahn is wrong, I agree that it could end up being self fulfilling. Cahn has spread the warning far and wide.

  90. Laura,
    How has the advice to go to hard assets worked out over the last several years? The advice to go to hard assets has been an unmitigated disaster to those that went that way. Are you aware of what commodity prices have done?I don’t think most of the big money mangers have heard of Cahn but many conservative Christians bought into Harbinger thinking and made decisions based on fear.

    I have a Christian friend who gives investment advice. He is grieved at the number of people who went to gold and sold pretty much everything else after reading the Harbinger. He know what they would have had if they had not panicked and what they have now. They are responsible for their own decisions but Cahn’s books and media appearances surely have had influence. What would it take for you to be convinced that Cahn might have gotten it wrong? I am not being sarcastic.

    • Dear John:

      When I said, “Never mind that so many financial experts worth their salt have been warning people to get out of the stock market and get into hard assets”, I was in no way giving out any financial advice. The guys I consider “worth their salt” are the guys who understand how the economy works, will tell it like it is, and don’t candy-coat anything. But, of course, from what I’ve heard, these same guys are vilified and told they’re nuts simply for telling the truth. Not surprising. Same old story.

      I’ve been hearing the whole “buy silver and gold, commodities, hard assets, etc” pitch for many, many years, LONG before “Cahn” or The Harbinger came along. People have said that, if the economy tanks at this time, Cahn will probably get the credit. No, it’s more like… he will get the blame. There’s no glory in that but will only be a heavy cross for him to bear.

      Let me ask you one question though. Can you please cite for me where it says in The Harbinger or The Mystery of the Shemitah, for that matter, that people should sell all they have in order to buy gold? Or where Jonathan Cahn gives any financial advice in either of those books or anywhere else? Jonathan has never told people to invest in anything but the kingdom of God. The only thing he has warned about is the stock market and how shaky it is but, from what I’m hearing from financial experts is that he has very good reason to do so. It’s been propped up with fiat currency and the bubble will, someday, burst and that day of reckoning is getting closer and closer. Telling someone to get/stay in the stock market would be like telling them to board a plane that has been repaired with duct tape. It will, eventually, fall apart and when it does, the results will be disastrous.

      Do you know when I will believe that Cahn MIGHT be wrong? When religious hypocrites stop stalking him in order to find fault in him and pin everything in the book on him. You just blamed him for people’s bad financial decisions, advice that Jonathan Cahn never gave to anyone. I see him continually getting beaten and battered with the most bizarre arguments over nothing, like this whole Zohar issue, which shouldn’t be an issue at all. He has had very good explanations for every charge leveled against him about that but it never satisfies David or guys in his own camp. You know the old saying, “Pick your battles”? I don’t see that happening with Jonathan Cahn. Anything and everything false is pinned on him, the latest being dominionism, that this small band of religious leaders think they can get away with and people just follow along because David sounds like he knows of what he speaks. But some of the things that come out of his mouth make my jaw drop to the floor. Scrutinize David and what he is presenting as you do Jonathan Cahn. Don’t take anything for granted and don’t consider personalities. I didn’t and I don’t regret it.

      I know this is a spiritual thing because it’s so very bizarre. I’ve been in the thick of spiritual battles in my own life myself and what has happened to Jonathan Cahn and is continuing to happen has all the same markings. I’ve lived it and I know what I’m talking about. You might think it’s unrelated but it’s a tell-tale sign that Jonathan Cahn is being persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

      I know Jonathan Cahn personally and can vouch for his character. He is one of the most honest and humble men I’ve ever known. There is nothing about him that causes me suspicion and he’s always had solid answers to my many, many questions. I’m not embarrassed by him in the least. I will stand with him unless and until the LORD leads me otherwise.

      I hope this helps answer your comments/questions.

      Laura

      • I couldn’t agree more – test all things. Compare what I’ve been saying against both the Word of God and against what Jonathan Cahn has been saying. I completely stand by anything I’ve said or written and welcome any and all challenges.

      • Laura,
        I know Jonathan personally too on a few occasions. I have observed him not personally also a long time. His humble appearance has helped him with his image. I believe the same reason he became a popular preacher is the same thing driving his grandstanding with the Shemitah. I believe he spends more energy on his own image than loving the brethren and I believe he is wrong. I believe he has a weakness for getting attention. I don’t see a problem with having weakness until it crosses certain lines.
        I agree that some of Jonathan’s critics attacks are not to the point and or partly wrong.
        The Harbinger relevant facts are about 5-10 pages — not enough to write a best seller. That’s why Jonathan had to invent a fiction popularizing it. His critics couldn’t write a book just about the content of his books so they also wrote about his character and public image. I see nothing wrong with that if it’s true.
        There’s plenty of good info here debunking the Shemitah so I don’t need to go into it. The Shemitah is in my opinion where he went too far but it is the direction he’s been headed for a long time Laura.
        Just remember a lot of people were attacking Harold Camping too before he was proven wrong. Some of the attacks were ridiculous or just people spouting off their opinion but that doesn’t mean it was satan attacking Harold for his spiritual revelations.

        • Dear Doug,

          If Jonathan were doing what Harold Camping did, I would back away from supporting and defending him. But, the fact of the matter is, Harold Camping made firm predictions on firm dates. Rabbi Jonathan did no such thing. Even David has called him a “non-date-setting date-setter”, admitting that he is NOT setting dates for anything so whether anything happens this coming Elul 29 or not doesn’t discredit him in the least and people like me can still be very comfortable supporting his work and defending him. All he has said is that there is a “great shaking” coming but he is in good company with so many others who are saying the same thing, Christian and non-Christian alike. So there will be NO proving him wrong even if nothing significant happens on Elul 29. Plus, these outrageously ridiculous attacks are not just coming from the general public. They’re coming from very well-respected religious leaders who pride themselves on context who are failing miserably to keep Jonathan in context. That is something I never expected. I’m fine with constructive criticism but this has been anything but constructive.

          You’ve touched on motives of the heart and only God can judge that. The only thing you’ve proven is that Jonathan is known to be humble. In my dealings with him, I would wholeheartedly agree with that assessment. It’s not just an image.

          The Harbinger was originally written in fact form and it was over 200 pages long so to say that the relevant facts would only take about 5-10 pages is incorrect and presumptuous on your part. He decided to write it in narrative form in order to reach more people for Christ.

          God bless,
          Laura

          • Well, this is certainly interesting. Chris Rosebrough was against Jonathan Cahn’s theories about The Harbinger before he had him on his program and then set himself against Cahn’s critics – but, on today’s program he was brutal against Cahn concerning the Shemitah.

            So, Cahn lost a major early proponent who has finally recognized that this is all totally bogus.

            http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2015/09/jonathan-cahn-moves-the-shemitah-goal-post.html

          • Hi Laura.
            The relevant facts of “The Harbinger” are what relates to 9/11 and Isaiah 9:10. I could summarize it in about 5 pages. To me it makes a good point that because of its sin the US is likely to lose it’s military and economic dominance. The beam hit the tree where the US was dedicated. 2 politicians quoted the passage about the sycamore and quarried stones and the sycamore was replaced and a quarried “stone of defiance” was put in. Wall Street was started by the buttonwood/sycamore agreement… It’s a very interesting nugget of truth.

            I see Jonathan as a little kid. He discovered something fascinating. I believe he’s using it to satiate his childish narcissism in unseemly ways. Perhaps he has an insatiable appetite for attention.
            I know a man who comes off arrogant in public debate but is humble and compassionate. Judgment wise what’s the difference between you saying Jonathan is humble and me disagreeing? He appears humble to you but only God can judge the heart. I believe I was not judging Jonathan’s heart but discerning.
            I believe I spoke/wrote from discernment and not hatred or love.

            I don’t hate Jonathan because I discern his narcissism. I look at him and at myself. I realize that if I had the opportunities at certain times in my life I’d have done the same as him. I also realize I am no better of myself. I thank our father in heaven I can learn from Jonathan’s mistake before I write a book on a nugget of truth our father in heaven showed me.
            Meanwhile I’ll make enough mistakes of my own anyways. Just as Jonathan judges that “”God” exposes the roots of a nation before judging it” so “judgment begins in the house of God”. So, if Jonathan is in it Jonathan will be scourged as the rest of us, receive his judgment and repent. Otherwise he’s just an actor telling others to do what he isn’t.

            If you love him why not pray he repents (if you can see what’s being exposed) instead of defending/enabling him? Perhaps some of these educated brethren speaking against Jonathan’s works are pharisee hypocrites — perhaps not. Either way they made knowledgeable points exposing error’s in Jonathan’s works and the way he is behaving publicly.
            If I pray for him it is from selfish motivation but what i pray, if our father in heaven brings it about, would draw attention to Messiah. I don’t know if Jonathan’s gone too far but if not something can happen that will take the reproach of his way from the brethren or at least break him inside so he repents.
            You seem to have more faith for him than I do. I don’t see much evidence in his favor but all things are possible through Messiah.
            I see him behaving like a naughty kid who needs discipline.

    • This is in response to David’s post of 12:03 pm on September 9, 2015 at 12:03 pm on the Zohar

      You’re right, David. We’ve been though all this before. But it’s like you expect Jonathan to be separated from his Jewish heritage. It should be no surprise that he acts and writes with Jewish “flavor” since he IS Jewish. And so is Jesus, his Messiah!

      And may I remind you that the Jewish mystical rabbi in The Harbinger got it WRONG! Jonathan was proving that he doesn’t put any stock in these things. How this just slips by you is beyond me.

      Very, very bizarre indeed.

      • Seriously? No – The Harbinger does NOT present the Jewish mystical rabbi in anything close to a negative light. The following is copied directly from chapter 22 – so let the reader decider who has misrepresented what The Harbinger says:

        “The writing on the seal was in a language I had never seen before. But I remembered the words of the prophet that day we first met on the bench, when he took the seal to examine it.

        He said it was Hebrew, but a different form of Hebrew—Paleo-Hebrew, an older version.” “And did you know anybody who could read Paleo-Hebrew?”

        “No. But I knew someone who studied Hebrew from biblical and rabbinical writings. I looked up the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet, then transcribed each of the letters into its modern Hebrew equivalent. Then I made a trip to Brooklyn. That’s where my friend was, an Orthodox Jewish man who ran a little bookstore, in back of which was a study, a library of all sorts of mystical Hebrew writings. That was his passion—finding meaning in mystical Hebrew literature. I figured he’d be the right one. When I told him the purpose of my coming, he closed up the shop and led me to the back room. We sat down at a bare wooden table surrounded by bookcases. He put on his reading glasses and began examining the transcription.

        After a few moments of silence, he began deciphering it: “‘Baruch,’ he said. ‘It means, blessed. It’s the word that begins most Hebrew prayers. “‘Yahu or Yah. It’s the sacred name of God, so sacred I shouldn’t be saying it, but so I did. So, Blessed of God.

        “‘Ben.—It means, the son. Blessed of God is the son. “‘Neri means light and Yahu, again, the name of God. So the light of God. “‘Ha Sofer, ‘the one who declares or the declarer.’ “‘So what is it saying?’ I asked.” “‘It’s saying: “Blessed of God is the son of the Light of God, the declarer.”’

        “‘And what is that supposed to mean?’ I asked.

        “‘How should I know?’ he replied. ‘You’re the one who gave it to me.’ “‘But what do you think it means?’

        “‘It sounds like a blessing for a righteous man, a child of the light.’

        “‘And the declarer…the declarer of what?’

        “‘How I should know the declarer of what?’

        “‘Have you ever come across anything like that before in your studies?

        “‘I’ve come across many Hebrew blessings, but I don’t remember anything quite like this. You copied it from an inscription?’

        “‘Yes.’ “‘Maybe from an amulet or something?’

        “‘Something.’”

        “‘An inscription with a Hebrew blessing is not such a strange thing. It’s a blessing. So you have a blessing.’

        “‘But what does it mean?’

        “‘It means you’re a blessed man.’

        “And that’s all he gave me.”

        “So what did you make of it?” she asked.

        “I didn’t know what to make of it. The translation really didn’t give me anything to go on. It didn’t seem to have anything to do with anything.”

        Cahn, Jonathan (2011-09-03). The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future (pp. 239-241). Charisma House. Kindle Edition.

        • Yes, David, SERIOUSLY! You didn’t go far enough, AS USUAL. This is so typical of you!!! And this is in no way an isolated case.

          The Hebrew mystic in The Harbinger ends up getting so mystical that he misses the obvious.

          You only quoted up to pp. 241. Read the rest. Noriel explains what he believes the seal says based on what the Jewish mystical rabbi told him but it’s WRONG.

          On pp. 242, Noriel tells the prophet that he believes that the seal says “Blessed of God is the son of God’s light, the declarer” and below is the prophet’s response and a portion of that exchange:

          “Who told you it said that?”

          “A friend. A friend who specializes in mystical Hebrew writings.”

          “Did you ever look in a mirror”, he asked “and not realize that the man staring back at you was your own reflection?”

          “I don’t know…maybe. Why?”

          “Because you’re doing it now.”

          “What do you mean?”

          “It’s possible to become too mystical and miss the obvious”.

          “Then that’s not what it says?”

          “If you took it piece by piece and with no context, it could be understood to mean that. But that’s not what it says.”

          “Then what?”

          What your friend translated as Blessed of God is the Hebrew Baruchyahu from the Hebrew baruch, blessed and Yahu, the Lord.”

          “But that’s almost the same thing.”

          “But it’s not a blessing. It’s not even a sentence.”

          “Then what is it?”

          “It’s a name.”

          “A name?”

          “The name of a person… a person named Baruch”

          Cahn, Jonathan (2011-09-03). The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future (pp. 242). Charisma House. Kindle Edition.

          and it goes on from there.

          I’m not going to quote the whole section. Look it up for yourself. You have been told this before but you continually dig your heels in and fail to look at context time and time again. This is why I do not trust you!!! You present yourself as a man of discernment, and yet you can’t discern something as simple and clear as this? You’re totally off on this and it’s very shameful that you keep making this false accusation, amongst others, against your BROTHER in the LORD! Like I said before, very, very bizarre but this is one of the key markings of the enemy’s attacks. And he will use any willing party to help him “accuse the brethren”. He’s an “equal opportunity employer”. He’ll use believer and non-believer alike and because you haven’t been careful enough to keep Rabbi Cahn in context, everything has gotten blown way out of proportion… and Satan loves it to be so.

          So, now when it comes to Zohar, to further respond to your last post on it, you didn’t show the whole segment during the conference that Hope of the World uploaded to Youtube, which gives the context and explains that it was an apologetics message. Here’s the link:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82wU1XKonl0

          How many would know this without me now pointing it out unless they took the time to watch it for themselves since you either refused to play certain portions or were so busy talking over Jonathan while putting your own “spin” on what he was saying about the rabbis, namely, that they do not have the truth, and that they were “unwitting” hostile witnesses?

          Regarding him elevating the rabbis to Moses and Daniel because he mentioned them in the same context is bogus. That would be like saying because someone quotes Josephus as evidence for Jesus as the Messiah, in a sentence that also speaks of the witness of Isaiah and Micah, it means that the speaker is actually elevating the writings of an historian to the level of God’s Word. It just doesn’t stand the test. This argument is way over the top.

          Regarding this charge of him being a revealer of mysteries and the line about no one ever having had said this before… just and FYI. Here’s the context. He was simply amazed to find the link to Golgotha in the rabbinic writings and didn’t believe it had come out before, at least not that he was aware of. That’s a BIG difference.

          On the apologetics front, the apostle Paul went much further by using pagan hymns to the pagan god, Zeus, quoting from it on Mars Hill as evidence for his argument. Of course, you would deny that you would ever be guilty of doing such a thing had you been living in Paul’s day but you’re using these same tactics today. There is no doubt in my mind that you would be playing clips of Paul from Mars Hill, to condemn him with your “support” that he lifts up Zeus to the level of Jesus!

          I do appreciate that you’re allowing my comments through. I think it’s healthy for everyone to hear out both sides of an argument so they can make as educated a decision as possible regarding their position on a given issue. But it hardly proves that you are correct. I’m sure there are many out there who are reading this, not wanting to get involved, who would agree with me and reject any negative comments by you that those who endorse Jonathan Cahn have been blindly following his teaching or have “checked their brains at the door”.

          I don’t really care what others think of me. I only care about what God thinks and it’s Him I will give an account to.

          Laura

          • Dear David:

            Thank you for posting my last comments, those dated September 9, 2015 at 7:30 pm. I truly appreciate it.

            David, my brother in the LORD, can’t you see that you missed it – really botched it – regarding Jonathan Cahn, even in the simplest of matters, completely twisting Jonathan’s words and actions? You pride yourself on being an honest discerner but what you’ve been involved in is anything but discerning, even in the simple things, like this example of the Hebrew mystic in Jonathan’s book. Are you ready to finally come to a place where you will take a good look inward at yourself and see how you’ve had knee-jerk reactions toward him to continually place him in as negative a light as possible, even when there was nothing there?

            Jonathan was being honest in every single instance he defended himself. There were no games being played here. You just have to listen and take to heart what we say and not just dismiss it as though we are untrustworthy or lying. We are not. I am so grieved over all this. We are family, the family of God, and we should act like it.

            I know you have a lot on your plate but this will be no excuse come Judgment Day. You need to own this and apologize publicly for your slander. I would love nothing more than to forgive and so would Jonathan Cahn, but you must own up to what you’ve done and apologize – publicly – for slandering him in so many ways.

            May God give you strength to do the right thing.

            Laura

          • Laura,

            I don’t plan on getting into yet another protracted debate with you, but I will briefly note several things:

            1. No – I haven’t missed it or botched it – not by a long shot – and there are a lot of good Bible teachers who agree. You don’t agree with them, but that simply means it’s just as likely or more so that you are the one who is wrong. We could go tit-for-tat on this all day long and it would prove nothing, however.

            2. For some reason, you seem to think that if I were to just look inwardly and examine my heart that I would see the light and agree with you. However, I’ve told you numerous times and I’ll say it again – that I have and continue to look inwardly and examine my heart concerning what I have said and written concerning Jonathan Cahn, and I continue to believe I am right – and as time goes by I continue to be more convinced not less – and he is the precise reason for this. The latest confirmation that I have been correct all along is the movie, The Harbinger Man. This is so bad it is a almost a caricature of itself and the title sounds like a parody – so bad I can’t believe he isn’t overwhelmingly embarrassed by it. Furthermore, in the trailer, he is explicitly identified as a prophet based on a passage in Numbers.

            3. I have never said you were untrustworthy or lying – but I will say confidently that you are sadly and profoundly mistaken – as well as apparently blinded to the real truth of what is going on. You continue to defend the indefensible.

            4. I have no idea what being busy has anything to do with Judgment Day – but your continual insistence that I’m going to pay for my actions presumes to know how God is going to deal with all of us regarding this matter, and the fact is that you have no idea – you’re just guessing – and what’s worse, you’re trying to intimidate me into backing down. If I come to the conclusion I’m wrong, I will back down and apologize – and no threats will be necessary. On the other hand, until I am persuaded by the Spirit of God – not you or anyone else – then no amount of intimidation will be sufficient.

            5. I am not and have not been guilty of slander. I reject that notion as being complete nonsense.

            6. You have always come across as if you’re positioning yourself as the objective and impartial arbiter of this dispute, but nothing could be further from the truth. You are way too close and enmeshed in this and are anything but objective and impartial. What you deem to be the right thing and what is the right thing are not necessarily the same thing. I am continually trusting the Lord for the strength to do the right thing – and, of course, I could admonish you the same way you have me – but that is unlikely to prove productive, either – and would be just as presumptuous as you have been all along.

  91. Is it legal or moral to spread negative rumours? Isn’t the USA struggling enough same as the UK
    It’s ok for Cahn to make money and write a best seller, he’s ok, what about working people and small business
    Do they need this??
    Second
    What has Israel got to do with 21c USA? No one will convince me that the ancient prophets had any idea of the USA

  92. Cahn certainly caught the attention of a lot of people. I no he caught mine in the Harbinger. Didn’t read The Shemitah. Didn’t have to. Got all the info hear. With that being said if I had money in the stock and me being christian he would have me worried. with his warnings. He sounds so believable. I don’t no enough about the bible and all the things he talks about to decifer. So I am glad for this site. Mayb he sounds to believable. One man throwing people into a whirlwind and scaring them. The average christian will believe him if they don’t no better.

    • Pamela,

      What makes this far, far worse are his repeated appearances on the Jim Bakker program. Jim Bakker is simply using him for a prop to hawk his survivalist and prepping supplies – which sometimes are even sitting on the tables right beside them during the shows. Jim Bakker is by his own admission someone who used to believe in a pretribulational rapture and yet now believes in a posttribulational rapture – meaning that the church is going to go through the tribulation and experience God’s wrath.

      Cahn refuses to take a public position on the rapture – won’t discuss it at all – and yet sits by and allows himself to be used and abused by Bakker who devotes around 20% of his program to selling this stuff. In one program with Rick Joyner, Bakker actually is advertising cake mix and literally tells the audience that they can have a party while the world is falling apart. What sort of maniacal and twisted mind does this.

      Furthermore, even though he went to prison in the late 1980s for what he was doing at Heritage USA, Bakker now has a 700 acre property in Missouri, and is now putting up an selling geodesic dome survivalist houses on that property that he is selling to create a community to survive the tribulation. This is shameless, reckless and nothing less than peddling the Word of God for a profit. The man is a fraud and a false teacher and yet Jonathan Cahn has said publicly on more than one occasion that it is his second home.

      And to top it all off, Cahn is now starring in a movie, produced by Joseph Farah and WND about in his own life story while he is still alive – a movie with the ridiculous and self-promoting and super-hero-sounding title The Harbinger Man.

      This has become the theater of the absurd – and shows no signs of slowing down. And it will not stop even if nothing happens this weekend or in the days and weeks to follow. I’m still willing to accept that Jonathan Cahn is sincere and wanting to do what’s right – although with every passing day this becomes harder to believe – but the simple fact is that others have built an entire industry around his theories and have made him and his work their cash cow – including both WND and Charisma media.

      • Brother David,
        I’m in perfect agreement with you on that score, it is very shameful for the Rabbi to be appearing on this impostor’s TV show to hawk his books and other products, but I believe you should at least try to remember: this is a man who did not grow up in anything approaching a Christian traditonal culture.

        Living in Israel-Jerusalem for many years, I have personally known Jewish Rabbis just like him, when they come to the Lord, and they flatly refused to become involved with Christian politics of any variety.

        This brother in Christ has over and over again testified that wherever he’s gone throughout the world..and he’s been to a lot of other countries besides just America….that no matter where he’s gone, in what ever church or religion denomination, that he just does not see that he has a dog in this fight!

        And while I would not even so much as hint that you harbor any Anti-Semitism whatsoever…I know this. But, as a proud Jew myself who came to believe in Y’shua, I can tell you this one thing about all of us Jews: we are all very much aware of the terrible fact that Anti-Semitism isn’t any local side effect of a dirty war over a patch of land smaller than the little nation of Wales over here in Europe, its everywhere from Malaysia to Morocco, and its arrived here in Europe and there in America too.
        I assure you, where a Jewish person stand on the Christian political spectrum says nothing about their visceral beliefs, any more than what you might feel about the man’s political leanings who sales you a new car, or about a Muslim towtruck driver who rescues you when you got stranded on the road heading to a seminar to teach something you’ve invested your whole life in learning!
        I know that’s just the way he feels about Christians and their innumerable denominations in general because he is a Jew.Punkt slut, as we say in Swedish.
        its something I believe you might have overlooked, which is that he is a Messianic believer in Y’shua, and he is not a Christian in the way you think of it.
        That’s one of the greatest heresies in Modern Evangelic Christianity: what Christians teach about the Jews and their demand that every Jew who wants to be saved must be a Christian in order to believe in Y’shua!
        Well, I quite regularly have fellowship with many Christians here in Sweden: we all have the gift of the Holy Spirit, and We all do enjoy the presents of the Lord together, but while they expect to go to heaven when the Lord returns,that’s not me. My main focus in upon the city of Jerusalem: I know I’m going to Jerusalem in order to become part of God’s soon coming kingdom on earth.
        I realize that I’m sorta letting the cat out of the bag, because this isn’t talked about or discussed with Christians too much, but that’s the main difference between Christians who follow Y’shua, and Messianic Jews who also follow the same Lord. But different destinies.

        So, please cut him some slack ok?

        • Axel,

          Biblically you are completely contradicting the apostle Paul, once a Pharisee of the Pharisees – once a teacher of the Law – righteous as much as possible with regard to the righteousness the Law could provide (which it couldn’t) – and he wrote in Ephesians chapter 2 that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, but rather the two become one new man. In the present church age of Christianity, there is biblically no such thing as a Messianic Jew.

          I’m not Antisemitic in the least – our daughter-in-law’s father is Jewish and her mother is Gentile.

          God still has a plan for national Israel in the future and the Jewish people. All the promises he made to them through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and all the prophets will be fulfilled. But for the ethnic Jews of the present age, all those who believe in Christ are not Jews in the sight of God – they are Christians.

  93. There have been frauds like this in every era of the Church; leading people away from a clear understanding of the Word of God, and substituting their own “doctrine.” Jesus warned His followers about it—Paul repeated the warning several times, because, evidently this problem with false teaching was there even in the first century. One must test everything like this against the teaching of the Word of God. I appreciate the forum that has been created here that assists people in doing just that.

  94. Hi David,

    I wonder if you have ever considered that the United States of America is actually one of the Lost Tribes of the house of Israel, namely, Ephraim, the Big brother or leader the Western European nations?

    There’s well over a hundred years of scholarly and or, historical research presenting this very thing: Namely, that the modern nations of the West are in fact the ancestors of Jacob.

    If so, wouldn’t this be the real reason not only for America’s great wealth and blessings above all other modern nations, but also God’s special Judgment specially upon this single nation, as shown in the accounts of the Harbinger?
    As with most other Jews, I too have what you might call a native knowledge of all things Jewish as my natural heritage.
    So when I read this Jewish Rabbi’s book, it seemed very plain to me just how much he was actually referencing from the Torah, which might escape some non-Jewish readers or listeners.
    And in my opinion, what his book accomplished was totally amazing in the way he used the prophecies of Isaiah to cast an accurate,VERY DETAILED prophetic template which fits America like a OJ’s glove once really did fit him.
    Indeed, the best thing about the book, was not so much that he cast America as ancient Israel, but that he unknowingly confirmed and independently proved that America MUST indeed be THE modern ancestor of that ancient nation of Israel!

    After reading your critique of his book, it seems to me, that after everything was said and done, in the end this was your only actual problem with the book: that it can’t be true about America because America is not Israel.
    But yet, that is precisely what the very arresting and eyewateringly real facts set down in the Harbinger shows about the nation of America!!!

    • Yes, I have considered it – I have studied it and found it to be completely wrong both biblically and historically. And, I’ve also found that the only groups who steadfastly hold to it are cults like the Mormons, the Worldwide Church of God and those who hold to the Two House theory.

      If you think that is my only actual problem with the book, then you didn’t pay any attention to the majority of my critique – because Jonathan Cahn does not hold to America being one of the lost tribes. So, that had absolutely nothing to my critique of his theories. I only mentioned it because others like the Mormons were misunderstanding what he was saying because he was providing fodder for their unbiblical theories.

  95. First I would like to address Adrian.

    Dear Adrian:

    I haven’t forgotten about you and I feel as though I owe you an apology. I did something I’ve been complaining about regarding how Jonathan has been handled and that is to judge your view of what happened in 2001 and 2008 based on, of all things… silence! Your words appeared to me as an “after thought” but I was wrong and I am sincerely sorry for making that assumption. It was a huge blind-spot on my part and I ask that you please forgive me for that.

    I will have to address the other issues later, Lord willing, as there is soooo much there to sift through and, as you can see, I’m getting bombarded from various angles but I felt I, first and foremost, owed you an IMMEDIATE and PUBLIC apology… at least for that.

    Blessings!
    Laura

    • Dear Laura,

      I have only come across two responses to my article and posts: either ravingly positive and grateful, or immediately dismissive and critical of my (apparently appalling) spiritual condition. You likewise seemed at least quite ready to judge my personal motives etc. I was getting used to it.

      What you now post represents a positive and highly unexpected turn in the way the whole Shemitah debate is handled. There now seems to be the prospect that one takes each other seriously. Thank you indeed for your words. Just simply the way the whole Shemitah debate unfolds, on this page and elsewhere, can teach one a whole lot about relationship and the power of words. We could all learn a lesson about humility. The very fact that you don’t call me a carnal person because I dared to undertake a factual verification of Cahn’s claims places you in the top 10 percent of his followers I have encountered. It makes one ponder about the state of conservative Christianity.

      I really empathize with you in feeling that since there are some significant means differences between Shemitah and non-Shemitah times, that I actually proved something in favor of the Shemitah. I do. Before you start to make confident assertions on this matter, I would invite you rather into a conversation where we systematically look at this together.

      All the time I deal with my (Christian) PhD students who seek to investigate a certain matter, often spiritual questions. They then feel they can tackle the matter with a certain approach. I then make them take a step back, and eventually they start to realize that things are often not as easy or simple as they imagined. Then they get confused and frustrated. But at that point, they are actually at a really good starting point, and together we can start to brainstorm what all factors need to be considered, and how something can or cannot be verified through research.

      Blessings,
      Adrian

      • Adrian,

        And as you have noted, there is a difference between a statistical blip and the biblical Shemitah – which wiped out everything. Furthermore, God never, ever judged Israel or brought calamity upon that nation on a seven year cycle – even when they were in the deepest sin. The ONLY judgment related to the Shemitah / Sabbath year was the 70-year Babylonian captivity – the length of which was due to the fact that Israel had failed to observe the Sabbath for 70 cycles.

        However, the Shemitah itself was never a sign of judgment – and was only forced upon the only nation required to observe it. And all of this was after hundreds of years of disobedience and only happened hundreds of years AFTER Israel knew they were supposed to be observing the Shemitah – or that judgment might ensue if they failed to do so.

        In sharp contrast, Cahn is now claiming this has been in operation for at least a century in America – but with zero forewarning – with even the stock market plunges in 2001 and 2008 only be connected to the Shemitah in hindsight.

        I stand completely amazed that normally biblically thinking believers have become so utterly blinded to the utter nonsense of Cahn’s theories.

        I just came across an interview with Sid Roth in which he finally states that he has no position whatsoever on the timing of the Rapture relative to the Tribulation – which is precisely why he is able to sit at a table on the Jim Bakker Show with survival food in front of him – and be an accomplice to selling “snake oil” with Jim Bakker in order to survive the Tribulation (since Bakker became post-trib many years ago).

        This is the worst kind of peddling fear – and worse, peddling the Word of God.

  96. This is in response to David’s post dated September 11, 2015 at 12:31 am:

    David,

    Which Bible teachers agree that you got the Jewish mystical rabbi charge right and that there’s no need to apologize? Do you SERIOUSLY believe you don’t owe Jonathan Cahn an apology for THIS one particular matter that even YOU and OTHERS reading these posts know, deep down, that you CLEARLY got wrong? No apology? No retraction? Nothing???

    You’re constantly charging me with trying to defend the indefensible when you’re the one with no defense here.

    I think that says it all!

    If you’re wearing too many hats, David, you won’t be able to do all things well and at least some of your work will suffer. Accusing a brother falsely is a very serious offense in the mind of God and there will be no good excuse for it when you stand before God. This is what being busy has to do with Judgment Day. You’re just more prone to missing important facts. How can you not know this???!!!

    Where do you see intimidation or threats in my words? I’m not your judge. God is. How is it that I’ve threatened you? I’m trying desperately to HELP you and you can only see it as a threat? The only thing threatening you is the truth but you should NEVER be afraid of the truth. It will set you free. You’re not fighting me. You’re fighting God’s conviction.

    You are my brother in the LORD and I do love you as a brother in Christ. This pains me that you think I’m trying to somehow hurt you rather than help you.

    Laura

    • Laura,

      The issue with the mystical rabbi is a single tiny one in the much, much larger scheme of things – and taken by itself would be no big deal. It’s part of a pattern that permeates so much of what Cahn does. Yes, you’re right, the prophet in the book brings some correction to the character Nouriel – but, the rabbi is largely presented in a positive light – and as a potential source of at least insight into what is going on. Your attempt to spin it is as being all negative simply doesn’t align with the narrative and incorporating him as a literary device. So, I did not clearly get it wrong. Jonathan Cahn consistently positions himself as a revealer of mysteries that no one has seen before. He positions himself as a prophet as is clear from the parallels between himself and Nouriel in the book and affirmed by the quote from Numbers in The Harbinger Man. There is nothing for me to apologize for in this regard.

      And, no, I’m not fighting God’s conviction at all. I have carefully considered the charges by you and others – and found them desperately wanting.

      I could just as easily suggest that your ongoing need to defend the indefensible is actually the result of you fighting God’s conviction. So, will you please just drop this attempt at manipulation – and intimidation by continual warnings of God’s judgment.

      I’m very, very much aware of the responsibility I and others have taken upon ourselves in exposing this entire mess for what it is – and which will be shown to all in due time.

      Have you even considered telling your friend Jonathan just how utterly bad the idea of The Harbinger Man is – the problem of starring in his own movie that sets him up as being almost a superhero with such a foolish title – particularly because it explicitly presents him as a prophet in the trailer by quoting from Numbers. This completely undermines the hollow protests that you all have been proclaiming from the beginning that he isn’t a prophet and doesn’t see himself as one. I just wish you could come to grips with the reality of this situation.

    • Jonathan Cahn can claim all he wants that he’s not date-setting – and others can try to defend him against the charge of date-setting, but he is without question engaging in “soft date-setting” in this video.

      He first argues for a Jubilee in the time-frame of 1917 – and then 1967 – which points to the next one coming up:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQJVh-sU2cU

      The fact is, that no one knows when the Jubilee is since it was likely stopped after the Assyrian invasion in 722 B.C. – and almost certainly with the Babylonian Captivity beginning in 606 B.C.

      In The Mystery of the Shemitah, he acknowledges that (in order to keep critics at bay) – but then in the next sentence says that no matter whether it is an actual Jubilee or not, the nation of Israel experienced what amounted to a Jubilee.

      He does everything he can to have it both ways by trying to avoid being charged with date-setting – and yet immediately turning it around and doing everything but hard date-setting in order to bolster his theories.

      This is some of the worst kind of double-speak.

      Furthermore, in another segment on Sid Roth, Cahn is clearly identified as a prophet and as one giving revelation in the advertisement starting at the 16:40 mark in the following video:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1121&v=oqTKWyu8tig

      You have said that if he were date-setting that you would stop supporting him – and yet you have no problem with him continually being promoted as a Jewish prophet in the mold of the Jewish prophets in the Old Testament in this advertisement – or with what is tantamount to date-setting. For some reason, you are being blinded by his disclaimers.

      Furthermore, his theories have become joined at the hip to the Blood Moons craze started by Mark Biltz – through his continual appearances on Jim Bakker who also has Biltz almost as often, through his book The Mystery of the Shemitah, through having Biltz speak at his church and through appearances with Mark Biltz on TBN. And Mark Biltz has said publicly that if the Tribulation does not start this month it cannot and will not start for another seven years. And he, too, like Jonathan Cahn refuses to take a position on the rapture – which allows him to also be an accomplice to Jim Bakker’s scams with survival and prepping products including geodesic dome houses to survive the Tribulation – which is reminiscent of what he went to prison for related to his Heritage USA scams.

      This is all just appalling – and yet your support is unwavering – and you say that I’m the one you don’t trust.

      There is none so blind as the one who will not see.

  97. David,

    Chris Rosebrough was NEVER a proponent of The Harbinger so I would EXPECT him to disagree with Shemitah, even come out strongly against it.

    Chris did a show with Jonathan Cahn two years ago because he saw that his character was being smeared, that he was being falsely accused of teaching things he never taught/saying things he never said. That is what they discussed. They have ALWAYS disagreed upon the doctrinal issues in The Harbinger and Jonathan has always been fine with that so this false notion that Jonathan just wants to squash people who go after The Harbinger is another false accusation. Chris and Jonathan are two brothers who have some strong doctrinal disagreements but Chris Rosebrough was able to separate out the doctrinal from the personal and I think it would be wise for you (and others) to re-listen to that program. It can be found at:

    http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2013/09/04/

    Laura

    • Well, his tone in this recent segment is anything but conciliatory – and far more than just about doctrine.

      • David,

        I listened to Chris Rosebrough’s September 11th show that you cited and, I have to say, I was disappointed but not surprised.

        I believe it was very unwise of Chris to come out so strongly to debunk anything happening on Elul 29 two days before the date in question just because the markets were closed. The 9/11 terror events adversely affected the markets and there are many things that can happen to affect the markets without the stock market being open such as a major terror event, a natural disaster, political upheaval, etc.

        Chris also falsely accused Jonathan of “moving the goal post” when nothing could be further from the truth. He did no such thing. Just because something is new to Chris does not mean it is new. When Jonathan discussed the “days of awe”, for instance, he was adding information to that which he already revealed, not changing anything. So, yes, I think it would be in order for Chris to retract that statement and even apologize to Jonathan Cahn for it. Chris is one who does “discernment” in the way others do, i.e. by playing sound bites but, at least, sometimes (as in the case of Jonathan Cahn anyway) failing to take all the steps necessary to ensure that falsehood and lies are not spread, so it’s not fool-proof. I don’t think he means to do this but it can easily happen when one is not careful.

        Just because Chris did this show on Friday, does that automatically mean that he retracts his September 4, 2013 show he did with Jonathan Cahn, a show Chris himself said was the most important hour of radio he’s ever done? I highly doubt it.

        It would appear, on the surface, that nothing happened yesterday but Jeff Berwick, founder of The Dollar Vigilante, wrote the following very interesting article on the events that took place yesterday that COULD have a very adverse affect on the markets. It may not, but it may, and we just have to watch. But, even if, in the end, it is determined as not having any real significant adverse affect on the markets/economy, Jonathan Cahn has always been very careful to state that “nothing has to happen” on Elul 29 or even in this cycle so it really doesn’t matter. I just thought this article was interesting and some food for thought:

        https://www.dollarvigilante.com/blog/2015/09/13/eurozone-collapses-borders-erected-across-europe-on-shemitah-end-day.html

        Laura

        P.S. I will be sending these comments off to Chris Rosebrough to give him a chance to correct himself and not be judged for his idle words.

        • Cahn has said many times “if the pattern of 2001 and 2008 holds….” – and he thus goes right up to the edge of date-setting – but is smart enough to avoid falling over the brink entirely.

          And, despite his many denials of date-setting, the way he has set up the context of his words, he has left the entire world with the impression that he is date-setting because his equivocations are over-shadowed by the majority of what he says.

          Furthermore, the Shemitah and Blood Moon theories have merged and become joined at the hip because of him including it in his book, joint appearances with Biltz etc. – and Biltz said about a year ago that “we have one year to prepare” – and in the next breath, “if the Tribulation doesn’t start until next September, it can’t start for another seven years.” This is a sort of date-setting combined with reverse date-setting.

          Cahn has allowed himself to be pulled into this vortex of Bakker and Biltz – and does shows with Bakker with survival products sitting on the desk in front of him. He is an accomplice to date-setting, fear-mongering and peddling the Word of God. It is impossible for him to be exonerated or extracted from this scam unless he simply withdraws, repudiates and apologizes – but that isn’t going to happen and you simply act like you’re ignoring it all in order to defend him.

          This is all horrendous – some have spent their life-savings to survive the tribulation because of all this. I’ve received an email from someone asking what to do because some family members have done this.

          Some market analysts – like Berwick – have even been swept into this hysteria.

          And the cottage industry that has been built around this man – with the most recent deplorable example being The Harbinger Man – continues to grow. I don’t know how long it will take people to wake up – and I don’t know how many people will be disgusted – but I’m reading more and more. The wave of people turning on the Word of God because of these failed prophecies/predictions by this revealer of mysteries is heart-breaking.

          Beyond this, God’s timing is always precise – and yet Cahn gets a pass. He said the collapse had begun with the stock market plunges of several weeks ago – but they didn’t happen Friday or today – and the way he has covered his bets, if things happen in 3 or 4 weeks, then he will still get to say he’s right. This is not the way God does things – not at all.

          And, yet, you refuse to acknowledge that his theories are unbiblical, they don’t match any biblical pattern – and that they are totally made up – biblically, historically and statistically.

          You no longer have any defense in defending the indefensible – but you won’t admit it.

          You have been hounding me for three years to admit I’ve been wrong – but as each month passes I’ve been proven right. When are you going to admit that you’re the one whose been wrong?

          You keep bringing up Judgment Day to me – and the account I will have to give to God. What about you?

          You have repeatedly said that I need to examine mine own heart in this – which I have done continually. What about you?

          Even though we disagree on some things, Chris Rosebrough got it right on this one.

          • David,

            The word “if” is a conditional word that means “maybe it will, maybe it won’t”. I don’t see a problem.

            If Jonathan Cahn is responsible for everything Mark Biltz and Jim Bakker says and does than the same would hold true for you so it’s time to turn the microscope.

            How many people know that Jimmy DeYoung, the man whose show you make WEEKLY appearances on, teaches that it’s possible to take the mark of the beast and be saved, at least for a time, during the tribulation period? Because you go on his show, that means you teach that too and allow yourself to be sucked into that. I also once (a few years ago) heard Jimmy DeYoung put a date on the rapture… within 5 years! I’m not sure he’s ever repudiated that statement and that was more of a hard-date-setting.

            Just a year ago Jeff Berwick was an agnostic. He said he now believes in God even though it’s not very logical, in his mind, to do so but he can’t help himself. And it’s all because of The Harbinger and Shemitah. I’ve written to him to give him the gospel. I don’t know if he has come to faith in Christ yet, but I’m praying that he will. He’s been told on various occasions that he’s “nuts” but people go to him because he’s earned their trust due to being right. And I don’t think that people who are, at least, LOOKING at this year for financial collapse (esp when considering that even Adrian Zenz admitted that what happened in 2001 and 2008 were likely acts of God), should be considered kook-balls. We have very good reason to do so.

            That’s funny that you say I’ve been “hounding” you for three years when you’ve been hounding Jonathan Cahn for nearly four. That’s a very hypocritical statement, all things considered. You can sure dish it out but you can’t take it.

            Chris Rosebrough is entitled to his opinion. That is not an issue with me. The problem is that he said that Jonathan Cahn “moved his goal post” when he did not.

            Laura

          • But God’s Shemitah is not an “if” – it is precise to the day. Even Cahn argues on the one side things happened to the minute because of the Shemitah (which they didn’t) – and yet when it comes to giving himself wiggle room, it could be weeks ahead of time or weeks after the fact. He continually tries to have it both ways.

            As far as Biltz and Bakker are concerned – it’s not a matter of a few things. Bakker is a snake oil salesman and Cahn is helping him. Biltz is a Judaizer.

            As far as the mark of the beast is concerned, this past week, Jimmy took about 20 minutes to lay out the biblical case for his view on this – and it will be made available – and can possibly be accessed even now. There are solid biblical reasons for his conclusions – even if I’m not ready to commit 100% to the view. He lays it out exegetically and logically. The basic idea is that if everyone must have the mark to buy or sell – or die, then if no one can repent, then there would be no one to survive the tribulation and populate the millennial kingdom. Again, it’s not without its difficulties – but all of the relevant passages must be considered. I know other extremely conservative and solid believers who also accept this understanding.

            I realize it is controversial – and may even sound heretical at first blush, but his method for arriving at his conclusion hold the Word of God in highest regard, takes it dead seriously, and is systematic, logical and biblical, based on the text alone.

            Someone may come to different conclusions, but it is not because they take the Word of God more seriously than Jimmy.

            Concerning the Rapture happening within the next five years – I believe that – and have believed it for 30 years. So did the Apostles Paul and Peter. So, we’re in good company – and it isn’t anything approaching hard date-setting.

            You’re grasping at straws to maintain your defense of Jonathan Cahn.

            I don’t see that this discussion with you has any upside – or that you’re going to come to more biblical conclusions or accept that Jonathan Cahn has it completely wrong. You’ve dug a hole – and you’re deeply emotionally embedded in this.

            You’re wrong – and none of your ongoing argument is helping build your case – and the longer you go the weaker your argument looks.

  98. David,

    Because Jonathan had a fictional character led astray for awhile in his novel by a Jewish mystical rabbi is not a good enough reason to believe he lifts up those things that led the fictional character astray.

    I don’t doubt that you believe Jonathan lifts up these things based on all your so-called “evidence”, but it’s only a mirage you’re seeing. You never get close enough to examine it well enough. You see it from afar and then jump… because it’s deceptive and looks like it’s really there. If people are standing where you’re standing, they will see it too but for those of us who’ve decided to get more “up close and personal”, it dissipates and we know there is no substance there at all.

    I’ve been watching you do this for over three years and any legitimate criticisms you might have are tainted by these overblown knee-jerk reactions. You see something that you think you CAN go after Jonathan for and you’re all over it – PRONTO. No background checking, no nothing. Just hit him (and his supporters) with it to… what? Get us scrambling in all directions to get you an answer? I yawn.

    Laura

    • Laura,

      And you’re avoiding all the many, many problems.

      I don’t raise every problem to the same level of seriousness. Some are rather incidental and by themselves are fairly insignificant – and if that were all there were, then none of this would have become an issue in the first place.

      However, you fail to acknowledge even the most egregious errors.

  99. Thank you, Adrian.

    Will get back to you later, Lord willing, when I have more time.

    Blessings,
    Laura

  100. In the year 44 Theudas declared himself messiah and walked into the desert with 400 people they were all beheaded.In the year 80 Ben Zakkai expected the messiah.There were many others and a frenzy of end time date setters in the year 1000. This year goes down as one of the most pronounced states of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back on Jan 1, 1000 AD. Countless others too many to mention, but I will mention Christ’s Coming and Judgment at 8:00 AM October 19, 1533; Michael Stiefel (1486-1567) with Martin Luther, and taken into Luther’s home when he had not given away all possessions. There are another 100 until…

    The True Light Church of Christ made its claim to fame by incorrectly forecasting the return of Jesus. A number of church members had quit their livelihoods ahead of the promised advent.

    1973

    A comet that turned out to be a visual disappointment, nonetheless, compelled one preacher to announce that it would be a sign of the Lord’s return.

    1975

    The Jehovah’s Witnesses were back at it in 1975. The failure of the forecast did not affect the growth of the movement. The Watchtower magazine, a major Witness periodical, has over 13 million subscribers.

    1975

    Armageddon, 1975; Jehovah’s Witnesses; (Various publication, cited in Newsweek Oct. 15, 1984)

    1977

    We all remember the killer bee scare of the late 70’s. One prophecy prognosticator linked the bees to Rev 9:3-12. After twenty years of progression and the bees are still in Texas, I’m beginning to think of them as the killer snails.

    1979

    Sept. 10, 1979; Walter M. Simmons; (Booklet: The Day of the Lord, 1978, The final warning sign: June 28, 1967) “Therefore, adding the 12 years, 75 days to the June 28, 1967 date ends on September 10, 1979.” (p. 24).

    1981

    Lindsey boldly declared that “The Rapture” would occur before Dec. 31, 1981, based on Christian prophesy, astronomy and a dash of ecological fatalism. He pegged the date to Jesus’ promised to return to Earth a generation after Israel’s rebirth. He also made references to the “Jupiter Effect,” a planetary alignment that occurs every 179 years, that would supposedly lead to earthquakes and nuclear plant meltdowns

    There was Y2k, the bird flu all sorts of things and now we have the latest incarnation THE HARBINGER, THE SHEMITTAH — Jonathon follows a long tradition of date setters and end time prophecies

    Why not leave it to God, He made DNA of which one strand can fill all the libraries, now thats genius

    Don’t you think He knows what He’s doing???

  101. And I agree with David on this. If people were gullible enough to be so affected by the Harbinger that they sold up everything is very very sad. People did the same thing when they joined David Koresh group.

    Im not saying Cahn is anything like that, but he’s obviously been very persuasive with many people. It is a folly to date set because if it doesn’t happen, which I don’t believe it will, then you end up with egg all over your face! Even if Cahn really believed in his analysis, why wouldn’t he be more circumspect about it, maybe saying, “Hey y know theres a good chance abc may happen, but don’t bet your shirt on it, it may not” which is as good as saying nothing in many ways

    One thing that can be said of God is that he is totally unpredictable. Who would believe that †he jewish people would establish the state of Israel after having been oppressed by one off the worlds greatest military machines, the nazis. And yet they themselves were beaten down in what seemed a short time. Yeshuah himself did the unexpected many times

    Who can know the mind of God, it has been said many times. Those that try to read it are destined to fail!

  102. After having read both the Harbinger and Mystery of the Shemitah by Rabbi Cahn, I came to the conclusion that you have asserted…both of the texts have many, many errors both historical and biblical. For me, the biggest challenge to believing Jonathan Cahn is my faith in the infallibility of the Word of Almighty God.

    If Rabbi Cahn is the man to whom God has revealed these ‘mysteries’, everything he had to say would perfectly line up with the Word of God and be supported by historical facts.

    Because I have read both books and have carefully listened to Jonathan Cahn speak on various television broadcasts about the Harbinger, I am concerned and am asking the question. Was the Harbinger fictionalized because it’s suggestions and assertions could NEVER be supported by the Bible or by historical facts?

    • No – that wasn’t why he used fiction as a vehicle. He maintains that it is 90% fact and everything is real in essence.

      This is confirmed by his many interviews – and more specifically The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment – which is a documentary presenting the same information minus the fictional format.

      And, of course, The Mystery of the Shemitah is non-fiction.

      So, ultimately, there’s no where to hide when this all falls apart – which is essentially has with the passing of Elul 29 yesterday.

      • Nothing has “fallen apart”, David. From the beginning, Jonathan VERY CLEARLY stated that NOTHING has to happen in any given cycle and has EVEN stressed that when we try to place God in a “box”, He tends to get out of it.

        Furthermore, his main focus has been on what happened HISTORICALLY rather than on speculation.

        Let’s remember… even secular sources have confirmed the pattern.

        • His disclaimers ring hollow – and more and more people are finally seeing through the charade.

          Your defenses also ring hollow. You’re bringing nothing new to the table – so there’s nothing more you can say to convince me.

          The only thing that will convince me is when Jonathan Cahn stops mishandling the Word of God, stops misrepresenting historical facts, and stops manipulating data and statistics.

          More and more people are coming forward with analysis – and sooner or later his theories are going to collapse under the weight of the mounting evidence against his theories – and as time passes I believe more and more are going to realize what has been happening.

          I believe we’re in the last days, that repentance is in order, that being prepared for the Lord’s return is the right response and that judgment could be around the corner. But you cannot accomplish God’s purposes doing things this way. We’re nearly four years on – and I keep hearing of all the impact his work is having – but I look around and don’t see the evidence.

          History is going to show very clearly that you’ve been on the wrong side of this – and the house of cards is beginning to crumble.

          Even David Reagan, who was one of his strongest supporters with The Harbinger doesn’t buy into the Shemitah. And he’s come out even more strongly against the Blood Moon craze.

  103. Well, it looks like another date setting fad has come and gone. We need to stay in the Word of God for truth.

  104. I’d encourage readers to read the book MISTAKES WERE MADE BUT NOT BY ME. It describes people who become so invested in a man or an idea that nothing can persuade them that they were wrong. I have found it helpful in listening to people with diverse views on many issues.

    If someone claims they have discovered a mysterious pattern related how God acts and it is date related and it doesn’t happen the person was wrong.. Selling books to convince people their is a pattern and the saying ” you can’t keep God in a box” if it doesn’t happen seems to defeat the reason for writing the book. .How is that person ever accountable to anyone but themselves.? They are not and therefore will keep speaking and writing as long as people listen.

    • Exactly right – and I believe the number of godly people who are thinking biblically is already beginning to drop off. And think this is only going to escalate over the next few weeks.

      This isn’t about scoffers and mockers – this is about serious students of the Word of God.

      Unfortunately, some people are going to be turned into scoffers and mockers by this fiasco. This is the greatest tragedy – just like it was with Camping.

  105. Cahn has greatly helped to stir an unhealthy and unbliblical hype. He has helped others to profit financially from this hype in very unwholesome ways. Now we need to wait for the blood moon date to pass, and then we may have a 7 year respite from this craze.

    The whole dynamics over the last days and weeks serve to show how unbiblical and unhealthy such anticipation-stirring and related hypes over Jewish dates and feasts are. Almost makes one forget the positive underlying biblical significances of these feasts.

    • Unfortunately, Adrian, you are correct.

      You are just one of many who have begun to show up here who are speaking out against Cahn.

      If Laura would take time to read down through the comments here and elsewhere, she would realize that there has been an definite uptick in comments – and none of them are people I know – they have just found the ABI site through Google searches – and when they compare what I’ve written – including in the comments – and what others are beginning to say, it is resonating with them that Cahn’s theories are completely bogus.

      And, it’s obvious that these are not skeptics and mockers – but, rather, almost all of them are sincere, conservative Christians who take the Bible seriously and who are not at all happy about the elaborate, fanciful and almost entirely made-up theories.

      I know many are sincere in their defense of Cahn, but he and Charisma and WND – and other promoters like Jim Bakker, TBN, etc. have just pushed this way, way beyond the limits of credibility.

      When will people ever learn?

      • As a matter of interest and further to comments on the Shemittah I post a link of the last 100 years dow Jones. There was a crash in 1929 from 5200 to 779, the largest drop I can see
        It was in Aug
        the next big drop Dec ’37, 8 years later
        the next Oct 39 2 years later
        then April 46 then May 56, April 59 and so on
        Track it yourselves

        where are the 7 year cycles?

    • Unfortunately, Adrian, when it passes people will cherry pick events to try to say something happened.
      People in hypnotic states never admit they are being controlled by something stronger than them. They always make up excuses. In Harold Camping’s favor (too late though) he finally admitted he’d been wrong after his grand finale failed.

  106. Hi David,

    Recently my son (13) came to me and told me we needed to go to the bank and withdrawal all we had and buy some food. He goes to a baptist school and that is what his teacher had done so it had to be correct. Since that day I have been teaching the past few Wednesday nights at my Bible study about failed prophecy… I am reading your book and will be presenting the true word of God and your arguements tomorrow. I grew up in a loving home with a mom that was truly a God seaking/fearing women. However, she bought into prophetic failures time and time again and all it did for me growing up was scare me, frighten me, and then made me weary of listening to true Biblical prophecy when nothing ever happened. What must the world think of Christians??? Fighting among ourselves over issues that are clearly defined in scripture. Not good. In any case, thanks for your evaluation and keeping me grounded. I get it. Keep up the good work brother and may the Lord come back soon when the Father sends Him to come get us.

    Randy

    • Thanks, Randy.

    • Randy,

      May the Lord bless you as you seek to help people understand the truth.

      As you can see by reading through the comments, more and more people who take the Word of God seriously are coming here as they seek answers for the doubts and questions they have about Cahn’s and Biltz’s work.

      This is encouraging – and it serves as a very strong argument that it isn’t just a bunch of cranks, skeptics and mockers who think these guys have it completely wrong.

  107. This is in response to David James’ post dated September 14, 2015 at 9:17 pm:

    David,

    The only thing these examples with Jimmy DeYoung prove is that there is quite the double standard going on.

    Do you really expect me to believe that if Jonathan Cahn or someone he is associated with said you could take the mark of the beast and still be saved, that you would give THEM the benefit of the doubt and wait a whole 3+ years for them to exegete it out while refraining from bashing them all over the internet and radio? No, Mr. “Judge a Book By Its Cover” would look at that and IMMEDIATELY react to it in accordance with your “first blush” impression as has been your habit when it comes to Jonathan Cahn, since you have proven yourself to be a “respecter of persons” over and over again.

    I find it most interesting that you’re more concerned about those who have stored food for the tribulation rather than calling out those who are influencing others to believe that it may be “okay” to take the mark of the beast. Storing up food will HELP you in a crisis… ANY crisis, but taking a risk by taking the mark may cost you eternity. That is a much worse gamble and the two don’t even compare.

    You may not have considered something else. Most, if not all, conservative Bible scholars teach that Christ’s second coming will be fulfilled literally. Why? Because His first coming was fulfilled very literally and I’ve heard Jimmy DeYoung, for instance, say, on many occasions, that Christ was:

    Crucified on Passover
    Buried on Unleavened Bread
    Raised on First Fruits
    The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost

    So, in other words, he’s using an HISTORICAL example to make a case for the literal fulfillment of that which is predicted in scripture about Christ’s second coming. And we know that there are feasts, the fall feasts, that have yet to be fulfilled. Jimmy’s HISTORICAL teaching would naturally lead people to, at least, look at the Feast of Trumpets for the timing of the rapture since, he says, that is the next event on the prophetic calendar. He can protest all he wants that this is not what he is doing but just by making historical observations about Christ’s first coming, it could be argued that he is also making predictions/prophecies of his own regarding the timing of the rapture. If you ask him when the LORD will rapture His church, he would say, “At any moment,” but Feast of Trumpets comes around once a year so there IS a possibility that the LORD COULD rapture his church then, right? That leaves him with only one answer and that is, “Maybe it will happen that day, maybe it won’t. I don’t know”.

    Jonathan, from what I remember, never even mentioned 2015 early on (or in The Harbinger). It was others who did the math and started to ask him about it. It deserved an answer but his answer has always been the same as Jimmy DeYoung’s (regarding the timing of the rapture) and that is – “It can happen at that time or may not happen at that time. I don’t know”.

    When these two things are compared and examined closely, there’s no difference in the form of teaching. If Jonathan Cahn is guilty of “soft-date-setting” then so is Jimmy DeYoung and many Bible scholars. So, I guess it’s time to either lay off Jonathan Cahn since he did NOT make any predictions – or you need to start persecuting others for making the same types of predictions as Jonathan Cahn.

    You can’t have it both ways.

    Laura

    • Oh, Laura – it is so wearisome dealing with you because you simply won’t listen and you won’t learn.

      I’m only continuing to allow your comments to post because every time you do, you dig yourself deeper into a hole and demonstrate how weak and feeble your attempts are to defend the indefensible – and also how poor your understanding of the issues are.

      1. There is no comparison between Jimmy’s position on the mark of the beast and Cahn’s theories. Jimmy’s views are based exclusively on the text and the context – while Cahn completely ignores the context in both The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah. Cahn doesn’t even reference the preceding literary context of Isaiah 9:10 with even a single sentence in the entire book – even though those verses constitute the single most important Messianic Kingdom passage in the entire Old Testament. Jimmy builds his view by dealing with all the relevant passages – and Cahn deals with none of them in anything approaching a responsible way – not at all. Even if someone comes to different conclusions than Jimmy, he forces his critiques to come up with an equally valid exegetical response by understanding both the text and his arguments – whereas Jonathan Cahn just makes things up out of thin air.

      2. Although you profess to be Pre-trib, you seem to know very little about the view from an exegetical perspective. You quite simply just don’t know what you’re talking about at all. Have you even studied this view to any depth? If you have, then you know that even if Christ returns on the Feast of Trumpets, that does not mean that the Rapture is on the Feast of Trumpets. The Tribulation period, Daniel’s 70th week is exactly seven years long, to the day. Which means that if the 2nd Coming is on the Feast of Trumpets, then the Antichrist must confirm the seven-year peace treaty with Israel (Dan 9:27) – and all reputable Pre-trib Bible teachers know that the clock starts ticking on that day – and therefore the day of Christ’s return is exactly seven years later – and at the exact mid-point day of the Tribulation the Antichrist breaks the treaty, kills the two witnesses, enters the temple and declares himself to be God (2 Thess 2). Therefore, the rapture must occur some indeterminate length of time prior to the signing of the peace treaty because there must be some time for a world leader with global influence and authority to rise to power so that he can both confirm and enforce the treaty with Israel. This will likely happen in the days, weeks and perhaps months after the rapture, in the aftermath and chaos that will ensue. This is extremely basic Pretrib theology concerning the rapture and I’m amazed that you’re not aware of this – as, again, this is widely understood and taught by Pre-trib Bible prophecy teachers.

      So, once again, your lack of understanding is causing you to level empty and completely wrong accusations – and in this case, suggesting the Jimmy is date-setting like Cahn has – and nothing could be further from the truth.

      Again, you just have no idea what you’re talking about.

      So, can I and Jimmy expect an apology from you as you so frequently and incessantly demand from us?

      If I had you trying to defend me, I would ask you to cease and desist because you’re consistently doing more harm than good for your own case and for Jonathan Cahn’s.

      On the other hand, you’re making my case for me every time you post – so feel free to continue.

      • David,

        I will reiterate what I have said on previous posts. I truly appreciate your posting my comments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to express my opinion/say.

        Regarding your point #1, I dealt with all this hermeneutic stuff on my review on Amazon for your book, The Harbinger: Fact or Fiction? under my pen-name Ladybug but, to reiterate, The Harbinger is a mere APPLICATION of Isaiah 9:10, not a hermeneutic (but it should be noted that Jonathan DOES, very responsibly, explain the hermeneutic). Jonathan focused on all the necessary scriptures to make his case. It was completely unnecessary for him to get into the surrounding verses that just don’t apply because, while Jonathan believes in the coming Messianic Kingdom, The Harbinger isn’t about the Messianic Kingdom, its focus is on judgment… the judgment of one nation, America. How can you miss this?!

        And now for Point #2, you insult me again and assume I know nothing of the pre-trib position when, in fact, I have studied it and FULLY understand everything you said about it. However, you’re missing something very critical. Suppose you’re wrong about the Second Coming taking place on the Feast of Trumpets? What if the Second Coming takes place, instead, on the Day of Atonement… the very BLOODY and SOBERING Day of Atonement when Christ destroys all His enemies with the sword of His mouth? The possible schedule for the fall feasts being fulfilled COULD go like this (but may not):

        Feast of Trumpets (possible date for the rapture but it doesn’t have to be – He can do it at any time)

        Day of Atonement (Second Coming)

        Feast of Tabernacles (Christ sets up His Millennial Kingdom)

        Remember that there is a 10-day period in between Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement known as the “days of awe” and the rapture taking place on Trumpets would still fit nicely, especially if the anti-christ is already waiting in the wings. Getting us (and the “restrainer”) “out of here” could very quickly move him up to world power since there will have been a crisis that just took place all over the world, i.e. the rapture, that needs an immediate response and a sort of “coming together” that would probably take very little effort. The confirming of the peace treaty with Israel could very well happen on the Day of Atonement of the same year as the rapture.

        –OR–

        If you’re right and Second Coming takes place on the Feast of Trumpets, why can’t the rapture still take place on the Feast of Trumpets and the kick-off of the tribulation happen a whole year later, on the following Feast of Trumpets? You said yourself that it could happen even months afterwards and a year is just 12 months later.

        The church age itself was kicked off with a feast day, namely, Pentecost, so maybe God has this thing set up with the feast days as bookends for the church/grace age. The church BEGAN with a feast day and may just END with one too. I’m not saying He will do it that way, but it’s very possible.

        So it sounds to me like you’re making predictions in the OPPOSITE direction which is even WORSE than I originally thought. And, if so, you’re basically telling Jesus he CANNOT rapture His church on the Feast of Trumpets. I don’t think He got that memo. If you hold to this, this is firm date-setting for something NOT happening. Fact is, Jesus can rapture His church at ANY time, including ON the Feast of Trumpets if He wishes, no matter what you believe.

        But if you deny that you are firm date-setting for something NOT happening, then I go back to my argument in my last post from yesterday, that Jimmy’s (and your) argument match Jonathan’s in that you’re all saying something COULD happen at respective times but doesn’t have to.

        You’ve backed yourself into a corner and it doesn’t turn out well for you either way. I’m only sorry that I have to be the one to bring this out.

        Laura

        • Unbelievable.

          I’m more than happy to allow your comments through since you’re one of Cahn’s most ardent and outspoken supporters – and every time you post your comments just show how weak your position is – and this time, how you entirely missed the whole point of everything.

          You’re so completely wrong you can’t even spot your own illogical and unsubstantiated ramblings.

          This is taking a lot more of your time than it is mine.

        • Unless anyone doubts that Jonathan Cahn is more than simply applying Isaiah 9:10 – and the passages concerning the Shemitah, the following was just published on Charisma – his publisher:

          “The mystery of Shemitah is about the events happening in America and around the world that were predicted thousands of years ago. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, author of The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah, says that these revelations are based on the Torah and other ancient Scriptures. To unlock these mysteries, one needs to know the five keys of Shemitah.”

          • David,

            You make no sense. You’re grasping at straws. Fact is, 9/11 happened during a Shemitah year so it’s all intertwined while still being distinct issues. I know you’ve always had a hard time separating fact from fiction even though the general public, for the most part, hasn’t, and you’re having trouble understanding this too, but Isaiah 9:10 hermeneutically is ABOUT Israel. Jonathan made that clear. It’s just that these SIGNS are showing up in America. That’s it. Isaiah 9:10 regarding America, as laid out in The Harbinger, is JUST an application. You added nothing new by citing what Charisma had to say.

            And, by the way, anything others have to say about what they believe Jonathan has said/taught or who they believe he is (i.e. a prophet) does NOT make Jonathan guilty of anything or accountable. Each one will be held accountable for the things they do and/or say. It doesn’t necessarily mean he agrees with it. You’ve made it painfully clear that it’s okay for YOU to disagree with someone and still have ties with them but no one else is allowed unless they have your approval. But I decided, long ago, to toss that memo. One thing has nothing to do with the other and, because Jonathan chooses to believe the best about someone else (and probably has more accurate information than you do), it doesn’t mean his message is incorrect. As I said before, your attacks on ANYONE or ANYTHING mean nothing to me. If you said the sky is blue, I’d have to run outside to be sure it didn’t change color. That’s how much I trust your judgment. You bashed Jonathan for no good reason and this is your way of life and so-called “ministry”. I went to the source and put Jonathan through my own tough questioning and he passed with flying colors every time. I did it with you too. But you failed miserably and Jonathan’s other most outspoken critics wouldn’t even correspond with me. They ran like scared children and cut me off from making comments on their websites.

            You think you see evil and – bash, bash, bash – without going to the source to check anything or get fuller information for good measure. Your issues are much more concerning to me than anything you’ve pointed out about Jonathan. When you delve into someone’s life, ANYONE’s life, since we are ALL sinners and limited, you’re going to find questionable things, and you’re more prone to take off running with them when you don’t take the time to ask THEM to explain the things you believe are questionable. Start doing that and maybe we’ll get somewhere. But, if not, then I will continue to turn a deaf ear to all your many accusations.

            I’m guessing that you would probably prefer to get off this subject and get everyone’s attention on other issues that don’t make you squirm so much, but since I got a non-answer from you yesterday, I’m going to attempt this again. I’m still waiting for an answer to my question… Do you, David, or do you not believe Jesus can rapture His church on the Feast of Trumpets? If you say, “Yes, He can”, knowing full-well that Trumpets speaks of Christ’s return (and the rapture is most certainly a type of “return”, a return for His bride), then your argument matches Jonathan’s in that you’re saying something COULD happen at the appointed time that speaks of Christ’s return but doesn’t have to. But if you say, “No, He can’t”, then you’re setting a date for something NOT happening.

            Fact of the matter is, you’re just as “guilty” of setting dates based upon history and, from what I can tell, you’re a lot more firm in your date-setting than Jonathan Cahn ever was. He only speculated. He did not say, “Thus saith the LORD” and was clear that he was not saying “Thus saith the LORD” from the very beginning – the earliest interviews. Many people speculate about what will happen based upon what they see in scripture, just like Jonathan has, but you won’t see them getting beaten over the head as people understand they are speculating. The only difference is that Jonathan is more widely known because of the popularity of his books. However, you seem pretty firm about your DATE-SETTING predictions. So if you end up being wrong, what would that make you? Your own prediction better be “spot on”.

            What I would like to know, since Jonathan was grilled for the same thing, is if YOU are saying “Thus saith the LORD” when you predict that the Tribulation will start on Feast of Trumpets or are you only speculating? I really want to know so I’m not guilty of bearing false witness against you as to what you actually teach.

            You’ve so convinced yourself that God doesn’t act according to the Jewish calendar today but on what basis? Just because He doesn’t require WE, who are in Christ, observe it? That doesn’t automatically mean He can’t or doesn’t. We are not to judge each other regarding such things (Col 2:16) in either direction and that includes God Himself. May I remind you that he rested on the 7th day LONG before the law of Moses was ever given.

            I look forward to an answer to my question, which deserves an answer.

            Laura

          • You still seem so confused about the timing of the rapture, tribulation and second coming that it makes it difficult and time-consuming to give you an answer that you will understand.

            But, I will try one more time – and then no more.

            1. Once the treaty is signed by Israel and put into effect by the Antichrist (Dan 9:27), then the clock starts ticking – and date-setting for the exact day of the 2nd coming can and must be done. It will be seven years to the day – 1260×2 = 2520 days.
            2. There is a gap of indeterminate length – days, weeks or months between the rapture and the confirmation of this treaty.
            3. We have no idea when the rapture will occur – so there can be no date-setting.
            4. Could the rapture occur and the Feast of Trumpets? Perhaps – but it isn’t necessary.

            So, by trying to read date-setting or inverse date-setting into my response is because you’re either being obtuse or intentionally foolish.

            Charisma is Cahn’s publisher – and they are joined at the hip. You’re trying to tell me that he can’t ask them to stop making statements like that? Please.

            If I asked my publisher to be more careful and not make statements that can’t be misconstrued, they would stop immediately.

            He is completely responsible for what he has started and for all the ripple effects.

            The reason he is so “misunderstood” is because he incessantly states things in a particular way.

            Of course, anyone can be misunderstood once or twice – but when hundreds, thousands and millions of people conclude that he is saying a particular thing, then it should become obvious that it is due to the way he is phrasing things – or because he’s actually saying the things he and you say he isn’t.

            He refuses to own it – and you are one of his enablers.
            2.

      • David,
        I find the events of tribulation and wrath in Revelation hard to focus on – Who goes through what? I’d appreciate it if you can point me to some good literature.

        • Doug,

          Jimmy DeYoung’s book – Revelation: A Chronology does a very good job of laying out the events of Revelation.

          One thing to keep in mind is that although the general flow, and particularly the judgments are chronological – there are also interludes, as well as flash-forwards and flashbacks in the book.

          It is entirely made up of visions – and they are not always sequential in terms of how the events will unfold in the future.

          Hope this helps.

  108. It’s easy, there are no clear 7 year cycles!

    See my detailed analysis also of the Dow Jones at http://bit.ly/1LNdeKE

  109. What happened on this 3rd Shemitah, September 13/14 reminds me of a plaque I recently observed on a friend’s fence post in the mountains of North Carolina:

    On September 13, 1837, absolutely nothing happened on this spot.

  110. I am watching the Jim Bakker show live, days after the Shemitah now: http://jimbakkershow.com/watch-us-live/

    What they are saying and how they are scaring people into buying food now is an incredible hoax. The newsfeed line is saying “Stock markets are crashing! Buy food now!” When the Dow increased 1.4 percent yesterday!

    They are peddling open lies. If Cahn appears one more time on that show I will very likely have to stop giving him the benefit of the doubt that I have been doing so far. No person of some integrity will make themselves any part of such a thing. This is completely indefensible!

    Adrian

    • Adrian,

      You’re exactly right.

      I’ve bent over backwards for nearly four years to try to keep from impugning Jonathan Cahn’s motives.

      In the past three weeks I’ve done a 45 minute interview, a 60 minute interview and a 90 minute interview on the Shemitah and the Blood Moons (which have become “joined at the hip”) – and whenever a host has strayed into suggesting something about motive I’ve said that I don’t get into that with Jonathan Cahn – even though I have challenged Jim Bakker – who is nothing more than a snake oil salesman, a huckster and scam artist – and I have no problem naming names when it comes to him and those like him.

      However, as you have suggested, there’s little wiggle room left for trying to keep Jonathan Cahn’s motives – and thus his integrity intact.

      The jig is early up with him, Biltz and others.

      When I wrote about the Blood Moons last year I made the statement in my article (which is on this site) that Hagee will have a very difficult time walking back his statement, “something is about to change.”

      He could have and should have said, “Something MAY change.”

      As it is, he is going to be just another false prophet – and has sold a ton of books to gullible people.

      The backlash has begun and I’m seeing article after article and getting more and more emails and comments from conservative Bible-believing Christians – not scoffers, skeptics and mockers – who are now stepping forward – people who had given Cahn and Biltz the benefit of the doubt.

      Yes, the last lunar eclipse is yet to come on the 28th – but it is only about 40-60% visible in Israel – and thus will not be red at all which can only occur with totality – and so the entire hyped-up craze will be shown for what it is.

      And since the Feast of Trumpets has passed, based on Biltz’s theories the Tribulation cannot start for another seven years at the end of the current Shemitah cycle – because the 2nd Coming of Christ will likely occur on the Feast of Trumpets – meaning that the signing of the peace treaty with Israel (Dan 9:27) must occur 7 years earlier – likely on the Feast of Trumpets – and that is what will kick off the Tribulation.

      That doesn’t mean the Rapture will occur on the Feast of Trumpets because there is an indeterminate length of time (though probably no longer than a few weeks or months) between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation.

      So, my concern is that the false teachers have now actually precipitated the “falling away” that they were supposedly trying to avert. That’s what happens when there is false teaching of this nature – no matter how sincere they might be. When you’re wrong about biblical truth and the way the Lord Jesus does things, it never turns out well for the people who believe it.

    • If he never appears on it I’ll still see him as I always have — wrong. To me this thing with him is to expose him to people who love truth and don’t know him up close. It was over 20 years ago I wrote him that he was giving people the good feelings of salvation without the love and commitment Christ and the disciples had for one another. I likened him to a harlot who gives all the good feelings of sex without the commitment of marriage and children. It isn’t JUST the doctrinal mistakes. I don’t believe he loves the brethren. I believe he is more enamored with the attention he’s getting and his image than the long term eternal effect he’s having on people.

  111. “The clergy are, practically, the most irresponsible of all talkers.

    [“Evangelical Teaching: Dr. Cumming,” The Westminster Review, 1885.]”
    ― George Eliot

  112. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGiuWlLRgnQ

    RWW News: Bakker: Store Food In Secret Because Baby-Eating Neighbors Will Come For It

    • That about sums up the methods of this “ministry”.

      Selling food in exchange for “donations” rather than the usual way may be a way to avoid tax? Maybe we should alert the IRA to this scam?

      • If they ask for donations in exchange for the food, then the most they can legally do, it would seem, is have a suggested donation amount – but, if someone would call them and ask for it for say a $10 donation – then they would have to honor that request.

        Otherwise, it is a sale – not a donation – and therefore must be reported to the IRS as a business transaction, not a tax-deductible gift to a non-prophet – er, uh, non-profit organization.

        I realize that ministries have done this for years – even good and reputable ones, but it seems to me that this isn’t right.

        I presently have only two books, but when I take them to churches, I say that the suggested donation is $10 more or less. And if that is too much, then $5 is fine – or less than that if that is too much.

        I have to be willing to give them away – and I am willing to do that – if people cannot afford, or simply do not wish to give a donation.

        If and when it gets to the point that I cannot afford to do that, and I have more books or begin to sell other books – then I must actually sell them and report those sales to the IRS and pay taxes on the profits and also report sales tax.

        As far as I know, there is no other way to do it.

        I’m completely at a loss to understand how Laura and others can somehow continue to defend Jonathan Cahn, when he’s predicting an impending stock market crash – another “shaking” as he puts it – with some of these products sitting on the table in front of him.

        I find it extremely interesting that he has publicly refused to take a position on the timing of the rapture relative to the tribulation, and yet calls a post-tribber’s program (Jim Bakker) his “second home.”

        For someone who knows the Bible as well as Cahn does – and who has undoubtedly studied eschatology a great deal, it is almost 100% certain that he has a view that he favors, even if he’s not completely certain – and I suspect that it is either Pre-wrath or Post-trib, because if he suspected Pre-trib, he would likely state it, because I don’t know anyone who is Pre-trib who would not put it out there.

        So, at the very least, it is almost certain that he is not Pre-trib – which is precisely why he can go on Bakker’s program.

        I also find it EXTREMELY interesting and quite convenient that Bakker used to be staun chly Pre-trib, but switched prior to launching a thinly veiled infommercial (thanks to another commenter for this observation, which is exactly right) made possible by Post-trib theology.

        Absolutely shameless on Bakker’s part – and on the part of anyone who helps him scam innocent people, almost all certainly believers, out of $1000s of their hard-earned money.

        Bakker is peddling the Word of God – and fleecing the flock – and he couldn’t do it to this degree without the help of Jonathan Cahn and Mark Biltz.

        However, Bakker is smart enough to know that the backlash against them is building like a tidal wave – and I have to wonder just how long it will be until he drops them like hot potatoes.

        Furthermore, it’s not just a scam, it’s a very lucrative scam. I was reading something yesterday, that this food that he’s hawking is much, much more expensive through him than it is through other outlets.

        There could literally be hell to pay for what he is doing to God’s people.

  113. John Kilpatrik on the Jim Bakker show live just now:

    He is giving the example of Lazarus and the rich man. If people don’t listen to “The Rabbi” (the main way J. Cahn is referred to on the program), they are like the rich man in the parable. It will be too late for them. Abraham says, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them”.

    Kilpatrik: “I believe Rabbi (Cahn) is a modern day prophet”. Explains more.

    Moral of the story: If you don’t listen to “The Rabbi”, who is a prophet as in the parable, it will be too late for you.

    Thankfully, there is a special on bulk food, the “New bulk sampler bundle”, with added buckets if you give more donations. The sampler is only a $2,500 “donation”. That’s great, because two days ago they were telling people that the stock markets were crashing(*) and they were running out of supplies rapidly, because things were going down the drain quickly and they would have to stop shipments any day. What a relief…

    Jim Bakker wraps it up succinctly: You cannot just stand on the Word and do nothing, because faith without works is dead, so ACT and BUY OUR FOOD!!

    (*) Footnote: Dow Jones up 1.4% that day, and up 0.8% yesterday

    • I just read the following comment following today’s article on Charisma. It nails it exactly.

      If your speculation leads many of your followers (that is indeed what they are) to make rash decisions and predict doom and judgment for a specific time of the year, one is irresponsible not to actively and vocally denounce and stop it. Some would point to disclaimers Cahn made here and there. They are intentionally as “effective” (and low key) as the disclaimers on late night real estate infomercials when they spend most of the time dazzling you with incredible prospects and examples of success and near the end issue a quiet disclaimer that most will not notice about the fact that there is no guarantee and that one should not expect these results to be typical.

  114. David, Laura is never going to get it. She is caught up in this like a cult. Point is a lot of people could write a book about Gods wrath. But most. people. have more common sense than to scare the people of this world. Cahn is no more of a prophet than you or me.

  115. This is in response to David’s September 17th 2015 at 8:51 pm post:

    Thank you for answering my question, David.

    Now compare your response:

    4. Could the rapture occur and the Feast of Trumpets? Perhaps – but it isn’t necessary.

    to Jonathan Cahn’s continual response with yours when asked:

    Could the pattern repeat and something happen during this Shemitah, on Elul 29, or during the Shemitah’s wake period? Perhaps – but it isn’t necessary.

    This proves my point that there is NO difference in your approach regarding the rapture vs. Jonathan Cahn’s approach on something happening on Elul 29, this Shemitah or wake period and that he has done NO date-setting. If he is guilty of date-setting, so are you.

    Laura

    • You just refuse to see it. There is zero comparison.

      He has said repeatedly, “If the pattern of 2001 and 2008 holds, something will happen.”

      Well, he’s wrong, because even though the stock market crashed of 2001 and 2008 happened on Elul 29, biblically they had NOTHING to do with the Shemitah. Furthermore, they weren’t even in the top ten based on percentages – which is the only thing that matters.

      He’s teamed up with Mark Biltz who says that the Tribulation MUST start this month or it can’t start for seven years.

      I once again post what was said earlier about infommercials – his approach is nothing more than an infommercial. He throws in a brief disclaimer as a side note and then proceeds to tell why “This is it!”

      If your speculation leads many of your followers (that is indeed what they are) to make rash decisions and predict doom and judgment for a specific time of the year, one is irresponsible not to actively and vocally denounce and stop it. Some would point to disclaimers Cahn made here and there. They are intentionally as “effective” (and low key) as the disclaimers on late night real estate infomercials when they spend most of the time dazzling you with incredible prospects and examples of success and near the end issue a quiet disclaimer that most will not notice about the fact that there is no guarantee and that one should not expect these results to be typical.

      I keep making multiple important points – particularly his egregious appearances on Jim Bakker – who is scamming his listeners – to the point that it makes it difficult to not question Bakker’s spiritual condition. At the very least, when he can joke about using his cake mix to make a cake for a party while the world is crumbling during the Tribulation his conscience is completely and utterly seared. Either Jonathan Cahn is incredibly foolish or he is incredibly evil just like his pal Bakker. There is no reasonable explanation for this being his “second home.”

      Have you gone after your friend about this? Have you even brought it up? Are you defending him on this?

      There was a time when it was possible to reason with you – but you are so emotionally caught up in this – and have dug the hole so deep, it will be almost impossible to extract yourself.

      When you’ve dug yourself into a hole, it’s best to stop digging.

      • David,

        You said,

        ‘He has said repeatedly, “If the pattern of 2001 and 2008 holds, something will happen.”’

        Do you not know what the meaning of the word “if” is? As stated before, it’s a CONDITIONAL word.

        This is bizarre and feels very Clinton-esque. It’s very reminiscent of when he said, ‘It depends upon what the meaning of the word “is” is.’

        “If” means, “Maybe it will, maybe it won’t.”

        If the pattern DOES hold, something will happen. If it DOESN’T hold, nothing will happen. We will just have to wait and see.

        Even a preschooler can understand this.

        This is UNBELIEVABLE that you cannot grasp this very simple concept!

        Laura

        • Now you’re just being silly. You honestly thin you I don’t understand the grammatical construction? Seriously?

          You still miss the most obvious problem. The construction is based on an entirely flawed, unbiblical premise – namely, that 2001 and 2008 don’t form a biblical pattern.

          The Bible doesn’t record a single time when God caused Israel’s economy to suffer a hit supernaturally on a 7-year cycle. I challenge you to find once instance. It’s not there.

          Therefore, the stock market drops in those years do not and cannot be a biblical pattern.

          And, yet, Cahn wrote an entire book on the premise that something WOULD happen on September 13-14 of this year – OR it cannot happen until 2022. There is no other way to interpret his book. If this weren’t the case there would be no basis for the book. How can you not grasp this very simple concept?

          And you still haven’t answered my questions about him aiding and abetting a known scam artist to foist yet another scam on innocent people. Jonathan should be utterly ashamed of himself.

          So, just keep on coming back and posting – you look more foolish each time – and only continue to demonstrate to anyone following this how weak your arguments are – and that you continue to try to defend the indefensible.

          • Cahn writes an entire book making (in his view) strong exegetical and empirical arguments for a 7 year Shemitah pattern (albeit based on selective data presentation). He draws thousands of readers into this supposed pattern, gets over 2.500 reviews on Amazon from people who were absolutely captivated by the patterns he shows in his book. Has thousands of Facebook followers, several of whom post about withdrawing everything from bank accounts, preparing for worst disasters. He posts emergency preparation sheets that get hundreds or thousands of hits.

            Then he says, BTW, nothing may happen, God is not in a box.

            God is indeed not in a box, but the Shemitah teaching creates a box and then suggests that God biblically operates through it, or is very likely to, and we would be wise to anticipate something very major.

            The result: Cahn followers are now interpreting things such as the Chile earthquake or the Japan flooding as a Shemitah shaking, which actually contradicts Cahn’s own exegetical point – since Chile or Japan have certainly no contract with God according to the logic. People go off into all kinds of tangents, and overinterpret anything that happens these days, just because it is the hot Shemitah season.

            Does Cahn correct or stop this, explaining that the Shemitah shaking must be based on an Israel-like covenant with a nation? No, he posts any random world disaster such as Japan or Brazil’s junk credit rating on his FB. Then people wonder (on FB and other forums which I read): why is God judging Chile/Japan/Brazil and not the US? Does anybody correct this confusion? No, it is all part of stirring the hype and somehow keeping the Shemitah momentum going while the month of Tishri has not yet passed. The Bakker show happily continues the scam game, because the Shemitah “wake” period stretches like rubber if need be.

            The spiritual fruit of this irresponsible hype is very evident, and every sane person standing by and looking own is shaking their heads. Cahn’s followers/disciples suck up every word he says or posts without appropriate critical distance or reflection. After all the pot stirring of the past months and years, we are in a season of spiritual superstition of the highest grade.

            “Nothing may happen, but look what God has done pretty much systematically over the past 125 years or so. It could be really really big. Who knows.”

            Who knows indeed!

            Then when somebody like me systematically seeks to nail and examine his hypothesis, Cahn’s followers say: you are doing him injustice, he never put God in a box. He didn’t say it. He mentions a systematic wiping out, collapse or the like about a few dozen times or more, but oh no, there is no fixed hypothesis that one can evaluate or verify. It is all fluid. Concise verification is not warranted, because God is not in a box. Right.

            This reminds me of postmodern relativism: when you try to nail its contradictions, they say: No, we didn’t say or mean that this way, one can see it differently, and by the way, the context just changed. It is like shifting sand, true or not true depending on the occasion or what is convenient. Quite the contrast to God’s absolute truth and promises.

          • Adrian,

            This is one of the best, concise and profound critiques I have seen. It is unassailable – and yet I’m sure that Laura, who seems to pride herself on biblical knowledge and her ability to reason, will reject this, as well.

    • Here is a link to someone who I assume is the pastor speaking at a Messianic congregation – who is even a Cahn supporter, who understands that Cahn has created what I call a “secondary Israel theology” when he disagrees with Cahn whom he believes is saying that America is the Israel – which is precisely what he has done.

      And, if Cahn is NOT suggesting that something was going to happen on THIS Shemitah or in its wake, then why did he write an entire book make exactly that case?

      It’s almost like the little boy who tells a fib with his fingers crossed behind his back – and then when he’s caught he says, “Just kidding!”

      Laura, there is NOTHING you can say that will persuade me I’m wrong about this.

      The only thing that will change my mind is when he stops mishandling the Word of God, stops misrepresenting Scripture and stops manipulating data and statistics to make his points.

  116. David,

    Don’t read into my “silence” if I don’t answer for awhile. I have other things to do and corresponding with you – someone who is having trouble understanding the simplest of concepts – is just getting wackier and wackier and is EXTREMELY frustrating.

    Best I take a break for awhile.

    Laura

  117. Laura vs David round 34

    • I know quite a few people are following this thread – and while I understand this isn’t a popularity contest, I would be interested to know how many here agree or disagree with her – and their reasons.

      • I believe Laura wants to be vindicated in liking Jonathan Cahn. None of us like having our noses rubbed in the dirt.
        Of all the people who blindly accept at least she is using her reasoning abilities even if she is not correct in everything. She has intestinal fortitude to come here and debate. I believe this is a characteristic of Jesus in her. We are not only dealing with intellectual issues but spiritual ones that are not always resolved intellectually.
        Some of your digs against her are unkind in my opinion. Our knowledge tends to make us look more spiritual than we are. I became aware years ago that I was using knowledge pridefully to subtly mock people who I didn’t know I was mocking and they didn’t know they were being mocked. The process of educational institutions makes us more susceptible to hypnotic states. Knowledge puffs up. Love edifies. Pride comes before a fall. Watch when we think we are standing lest we fall.
        I like you and where you are coming from David in your expose but in my opinion I agree with Joann you go too far unnecessarily in some areas. However the points about Jim Bakker etc are excellent points even if un necessarily. I think a little of your pride may be showing through and you should go easier on the girl.
        I’m only answering cause you asked but I don’t see clearly enough yet to take the splinter out of your eye cause I have similar logs or splinters in my own I’m barely being healed of at this moment.
        May you both experience God’s grace is my hope.

        • So I believe some of the digs may cause her to react and dig herself in deeper rather than being gently pulled out.

          • i understand your concerns – but I’ve been trying to gently pull her out for three years.

            On the other hand, my stronger statements may not be helpful – although they were actually an alternate attempt after a long time of being more reserved had failed miserably.

        • Doug,

          I sincerely appreciate your concerns and your admonitions – concerning pride and arrogance in the way I have responded to Laura.

          This entire situation with her has been going on for three years now. She is not a newcomer to this game – and we have exchanged countless private emails in addition to what has been posted here and in connection with other articles.

          She is on a mission – and has teamed up with others and has definitely gotten in more than her fair share of digs – and much worse.

          In the process, at one point she was in league with a member and teacher at Jonathan Cahn’s church who has launched unbelievable tirades against me and others who disagree with Jonathan Cahn. At one point he characterized us as persecuting Jonathan Cahn, and compared us to 1) the Pharisees persecuted and killed Jesus, 2) the Spanish Inquisition persecuted and killed Jews and Christians and 3) every government regime that has persecuted and killed Christians throughout history.

          I had corresponded with him for many months until he just became so vicious and unreasonable in his public attacks that I finally contacted Jonathan Cahn (someone with whom I exchanged many emails early on in this process, trying to persuade him personally that he was wrong at several points – but he would not listen) – and the reason I did so was because I assumed that he was not aware that someone was defending him in the way this man was. I made the decision to not respond to him anymore or allow his comments to post here until he changes his ways and approach to this entire issue. He has his own platform for his tirades – but I’m not going to give him another one here. (And I know for certain that he is following this thread because he has emailed me more than once in connection with comments that are being made – but I will not acknowledge him any longer until he begins acting responsibly (and I’m fairly sure that this comment will prompt another email from him).

          You are correct that I did make some strong statements to Laura – but as much as anyone can know their own heart (which can be very deceptive) I don’t believe I did it because I was puffed up with knowledge and pride, but it was for the purpose of demonstrating that she was guilty of many of the same things she has accused me and others of – and so that she would at least back down some in her relentless responses.

          I finally decided recently that all of this was pointless and getting neither of us anywhere and finally decided to no longer allow her increasingly long comments to post. I told her this in a private email and have also corresponded with her privately when she came after me again for a comment I made here to another person.

          Although I have been accused of censorship for not allowing certain comments to post, the fact that I’m talking about this publicly and given the many negative comments I have allowed through for anyone to read demonstrates that this isn’t the case and that I’m not afraid of being attacked publicly – or for someone to challenge me by bringing responses against my views.

          You could be right that I went further than appropriate and was less than kind in some responses and I’m taking that to heart. I will try to be more careful in the future – although I have definitely exercised restraint given the very long history to the entire backstory. This has been a very long and arduous journey in trying to expose some very wrong teaching that has affected millions – and the purveyors of this teaching continue to try to push their story – having missed the Shemitah and now extending the window for another year.

          It will be interesting to see what Hagee, Biltz, Cahn & Co. try to cover their soft date-setting if and when nothing happens in connection with the final lunar eclipse passes this evening with nothing happening.

          • Hi Dave,
            I’m sure Jonathan and his friends will say something did happen. Things are always happening to cherry pick from. In a hypnotic state we never admit we are wrong. We always make up excuses.

            Thanks for your explanation. I was not aware of postings previous to and other than this blog.

            You did or did not go further than appropriate. May be is an excuse. We have the ability to observe our self objectively and know. I often went too far talking with my wife. I hypnotically reacted to pressure. Recently I caught my self ready to react. I thought – ‘Self, she moved her pawn forward. Don’t play chess today.’
            We all to some degree from the fall are hypnotically subject to environment/external forces (some of which we internalize).
            I have learned much and there is much to learn.

          • Doug, I do understand that it is difficult to remain objective in a volatile situation. Again, I appreciate your admonishments and will make every effort to be more careful in how I word things.

          • I also appreciate your love for truth and than you for responding to my response.

  118. well nothing happened
    You can always count on one thing it seems, for 99% predictions to not come to pass
    Now Cahn says its up to God blah blah blah
    well why didn’t he say that first up?

    • To be fair, he has issued disclaimers.

      To be honest, he always then goes on to point to the Shemitah as a principle that e claims has been operating in the U.S. – which is completely unbiblical at its core.

      Even if there has been a 7-year pattern – which is highly debatable, it is not because of the Shemitah. Biblically it cannot be in any way, shape or form.

  119. I have been following this thread for the past weeks–I find it interesting. Some of the arguments strike me as very similar to British Israelism. I have written to you before, on another topic, but this one seems to have a life of its own. People always want a sign (or two), but Jesus told them in no uncertain terms what sign they would get.

    • Brad,

      To be fair, Jonathan Cahn would not hold to any form of British Israelism – but your assessment is exactly right nonetheless.

      The proof of the similarity is that The Harbinger has actually been used in Mormon conferences and cited by Mormon theologians in order to support their theories concerning America – which are not significantly different than those of the Worldwide Church of God of Herbert W. Armstrong which explicitly held to British Israelism.

      Of course one can indict someone else for having their work hijacked by another for their own purposes – and yet, I have never heard Cahn clarify anything or even hint that he could have worded things better or that he approached this in a wrong way such that it could so easily be misappropriated by a cult for their own purposes.

      Furthermore, while Cahn does not hold to Replacement theology in any form – and has said so explicitly, he has developed what I have termed “Parallel Theology” and “Secondary Israel Theology” because both of his major books have elevated America to a place where it has at least been perceived by many that God is dealing with America in ways that the Bible makes clear are reserved exclusively for his chosen people, Israel.

      And even if he denies that he has done so, the way he has expressed things in his books and interviews has left many with precisely this impression because I have seen it all over the internet for the past nearly four years. Some of Cahn’s staunch supporters have become livid over me holding him accountable for this saying he can’t be held responsible for what others believe he is saying, but that is just nonsense.

      If I wrote a book about salvation and the Mormons were using it to support their own completely unbiblical theology of salvation, then the onus would be upon me to publicly acknowledge that I had wrongly written things in such a way that they could be so easily misunderstood and misappropriated – and I would also need to rewrite those sections in my book so that there would be no way for them to be so easily misunderstood.

      However, rather than doing this, he has just dug in his heels further.

      • Not only did he fail to eschew any theological affinity with Mormonism, but didn’t Cahn also appear on TV with people such as Glenn Beck–a noted Mormon–as though all was essentially hunky-dory in their respective doctrinal views? Is it so unreasonable for us to expect Cahn to inject an occasional “Just so we’re clear, Glenn, I don’t hold with all your LDS ‘becoming gods’ nonsense, you know…” or somesuch?

        Did Cahn do that? He didn’t, did he? Nope, it was all smiles and book promotions.

        Incidentally, David, I don’t see where you were in any way derogatory, sarcastic, abusive or otherwise “unloving” in any of your responses to Laura or anyone else. In fact, it seemed to me you were “pulling punches” at certain times. Frankly, I’m amazed at your patience.

        Sometimes people don’t seem to take into account that this is a more-or-less public forum, and when you deal with false doctrine and other erroneous statements from someone who relentlessly refuses to see the weakness of their own position, your response must be direct, unambiguous, and forceful, lest you be seen as accepting the person’s errors.

        It’s for the good of the lurkers.

        And David, lest I be mistaken for a “DJ groupie”, there are certainly a couple of things that I could disagree with you about. But at least I could count on an honest exchange of ideas from you. I appreciate that.

        • Chas,

          Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.

          I hope I don’t have any mindless groupies 🙂

          And, just to be fair, I’m quite confident that Jonathan Cahn would consider Mormonism a cult – and he has no Mormon connections (as I’ve been accused of suggesting). However, the way he has worded much of The Harbinger, the Mormons have gone so far as to use his book as a reference in at least on of their conferences in 2012 – and has been cited favorably by a Mormon historian. And, yet, as with all of the things he denies saying, he has refused to even acknowledged that he could have worded things a bit differently so as to not be so ambiguous that he would so easily be misunderstood.

          It would be like me writing on salvation – and then be extensively cited by the Mormons when teaching salvation because my language so closely matches theirs that it could be used for support. At the very least it would be incumbent upon me to restate things in such a way that there could be no confusion. Of course, anyone’s work can be misappropriated – but to be so ambiguous that it could be used by a cult so easily is a serious problem.

          • David…

            I didn’t mean to imply that Cahn was OK with Mormonism either. I doubt that he is, but how much importance does he place on the distinctions between it and biblical Christianity?

            Cahn apparently doesn’t realize that when he appears with a well-know Mormon like Glenn Beck–on Beck’s own program no less–an agreement on essential views is implied unless one or the other specifically states otherwise. But in the circles that Cahn (and some others who should know better) move in, such central issues as doctrine are being glossed over in the interest of some kind of perverted “unity”. It’s like a kind of media ecumenism. “Gotta get the message out! Doctrine? Nature of God? Salvation? Who cares about that divisive stuff? People gotta know about my iffy prophecies! NOW!!”

            “Or, at least before September passes.”

            “When can I be on again, Glenn?”

            It should be entertaining to see how they spin this in the coming months.

  120. dose Cahn still plan on doing that movie?

    • It should already be out – or will be soon. The trailer is available for viewing.

  121. Found this website and article when asking on google “Do Christians have to observe the Shemittah?” Finally found something that made sense. I started to read “The Harbinger” and had a problem with someone taking a scripture seemingly out of context and making a book out of it. Never did witness in my spirit and was glad to find someone who could explain the fallacy of the book. Seems like these days, when someone gets a “word” from the Lord, they make a book out of it. Thanks for your helpful exegesis on the subject. Keep up the gook work.
    Regard,
    Tim

    • Thanks, Tim.

      And, no, Christians do not have to observe the Sabbath Day – but are free to worship God on the day of their choice by virtue of being in Christ – as per Hebrews chapter 3.

  122. Hi Doug. Regarding Mishlei (“Proverbs”) 30:4. It is the only verse in GoD’s Revealed Words (the BIBLE) I as an Orthodox, then Conservative rabbi couldn’t explain away.

    Only Holy Spirit could come up with a verse like that!

    And only He could convince me to accept Jesus as Messiah in 1999 and accept Him as my LoRD in 2015 using that one verse. Thanks for the memories.

    • UnOrthodox Rabbi,
      Rabbi Simon at my parents temple Oheb Shalom tried to dissuade me over 30 years ago. I asked him (led by our father in heaven) that exact question Prov 30:4. He invited me for a few private chats after that. I don’t know what effect I had but I believe he knew.

      Thank you for posting this. Are you one of the Rabbis I’ve asked this of? I was having some days of despair and your post has encouraged and strengthened me.