After reading Terry James’ book review on Rapture Ready of The Harbinger by
Jonathan Cahn, I was inspired to download it to my eReader. My wife and I were just a day or two from leaving town for a much needed vacation and I thought this would be great to read while basking in the sun on the beach. I wasn’t disappointed. I’ll just say up front that Terry was right and I truly enjoyed it.
When we got back in town this past week-end, I began reading other reviews that had come out while we were gone, and have been quite surprised at what some have had to say. There has been some mild criticism and then there has been some criticism that has gone way beyond mild … tar and feathers come to mind.
We are all entitled to our opinion, so I fault no one for stating theirs. However, in some cases the phrase, “Get a life” comes to mind. Maybe I’m wrong, although I don’t think I am, but some of the reviews completely missed the point. The one simple truth of the entire book is that “We are being warned and need to repent.”
It was made very clear in the beginning of the book that Mr. Cahn was using a “novel” (pardon the pun) approach to tell a spiritual truth. In other words, he simply used fiction to state facts. Now tell me, what is wrong with that? So it doesn’t line up with someone’s preconceived ideas of a parable, so what? Cannot God use this means to warn us?
Some indicate that The Harbinger is antithetical to the Bible and is trying to replace it with lies and fairy tells from a witches brew. Sorry again, in this instance, I just don’t see it.
Look folks many of us need to get our heads out of our rear-ends and stop nit-picking everything the Lord is trying to tell us and just listen to what He is saying in whatever manner He chooses to say it. Even in my own experience of writing articles, every now and then, someone emails me who just wants to nit-pick at something I wrote while missing the message of the article. The phrase comes to mind, “They’re so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good.” We need to humble our hearts and stop being so self-righteous.
If The Harbinger had been a book that I felt was actually a detriment to the Lord’s work, I would simply have stop reading it, tossed it in the trash and moved on. If I felt it were satanically inspired, I would probably advance a warning, but again, I don’t think it is. I do feel that God wants to get a message to those of us in the United State of America, and He used this method to do so. Sometimes, it is much wiser to stop talking, and listen. Is it possible that some are so in love with their own opinions they refuse to hear the truth?
Please understand I am not down on those who sincerely want to advance a warning of material that is not of God. I have read other very critical reviews of other books that deserved to be said, but in my opinion this book does not fall in that classification.
Is it possible that jealousy could be an issue? I mean, here is a man that wrote his first book, and it has been widely accepted.
Now just because it has been widely accepted doesn’t mean that it is of God. However, I feel that in this case the Lord has over-ridden the will of those who would normally not endorse it, and through Satan’s own followers made it an enticement for the masses to read. What are the chances of the New York Times endorsing anything of God? We all know that answer, but God overrode the New York Times and their cohorts. Again, I emphasize, popularity does not mean a book is of God. Actually, it’s usually the opposite. We must examine the material. After examining the material, I am reminded of one passage in particular.
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” (Mark 9:38-40)
Is there really any difference in Jonathan Cahn’s book The Harbinger and the articles I write? Is there really any difference in his book and the articles you or someone else writes? The intent of our articles is to proclaim a message to those who will listen, not to replace the Bible. If God will not use a man to write a book and give His message, why would He use any of us to write an article and give His message? You say, “It’s all about the content. The content must be of God.” Exactly! And in my opinion, the content of The Harbinger is of God.
For what it’s worth, that’s my two cents worth.
Grant Phillips
My articles are posted at “Pre-Rapture Commentary” http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com and many are also posted at “Rapture Ready” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
