Church of God News

August 18, 2015

BETWEEN THE LINES

A watchman among us
Exclusive: Joseph Farah offers readers preview of film about Rabbi Jonathan Cahn

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. …” – Joel 2:28

Up until 2012, when Jonathan Cahn’s New York Times best-selling book “The Harbinger” came out, most people thought of me as a political guy. That’s what I wrote about in what may be the world’s only column written six days a week. Politics dominated my commentary.

Something changed dramatically in 2012…

The change in my direction was the direct result of my close encounter with Jonathan Cahn, an anointed teacher, rabbi, preacher, counselor and watchman. …

Here was Jonathan Cahn, a guy most Americans had never heard of, coming out of nowhere to deliver a powerful, controversial message just like the prophets of old. He did it with power and conviction. And he quickly emerged as one of the biggest and most courageous voices in American Christianity. Suddenly, he was being invited to speak in Washington and all over the country. There was clearly a hunger for this message.It was more than just a best-selling book. And his followup, “The Mystery of the Shemitah,” was more than just a best-selling second book. What Jonathan Cahn delivered to America was a completely new way of thinking about the direction of our country and how our problems were related to the nation’s turn from God. …

After hearing Jonathan’s core message, one I had heard and read a thousand times before, it suddenly had new meaning for me. What is that core message?

It has to do with what God said to Solomon at the dedication of the first Temple. God knew the children of Israel would stumble again, as they had so many times before. He provided a prescription in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Wow!

There are two nations in the history of the world founded on promises from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – Israel and the United States of America.

If that prescription would work for Israel, it stands to reason it would work for America…I have produced a new movie about his life, called “The Harbinger Man.”

It is coming out in October. Our plan is for a limited theatrical release, to show it in churches and to release it simultaneously on DVD. http://www.wnd.com/2015/08/a-watchman-among-us/#wKkF96tyjUIU7jY1.99

Let me try to address some matters related to Jonathan Cahn and prophecy.

Yes, the USA is referred to as having God’s people in scripture.  And yes, short of national repentance, the USA is doomed.  Some Catholics, some Protestants, some secularists, and most in the COGs realize this.  The COG has cited 2 Chronicles 7:14 for decades and applied it to the USA (e.g. Armstrong HW. Modern Romans, 1975)  Jonathan Cahn is not unique in that way.

While Jonathan Cahn has some points right, he has several that are wrong.

Messianic Jew Jonathan Cahn is perhaps best known for his book The Harbinger.  He also popularized the so-called end of the Shemitah year.  According to him that is to happen next month.   I looked into this before and DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN THE SHEMITAH YEAR, thus I believe any claims based upon that are irrelevant. Some specifics on calculations related to the ‘Shemitah year’ are in the article The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance.

However, I will agree that the U.S. stock market sometimes faces crises near the time of the Fall holy days and stock markets may well face problems in September or October of 2015.  (More on September 2015 can be found in the video The ‘Harbinger’ and September 2015; more on October/November 2015 can be found in the video Alternative to the US Dollar in the Fall of 2015?).

Jonathan Cahn also was one who popularized the idea that the four blood moons of 2014 and 2015 had significant prophetic significance. Specifically related to at least one of them, Jonathan Cahn asked, “GLOBAL COLLAPSE?”  While there can always be problems, global collapse per se is not tied to the past three blood moons nor the next one.

We have had three of the four blood moons so far, and nothing as significant as Jonathan Cahn and certain others implied happened on those dates (see Blood Moons and Prophecy and/or watch Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015).

Earlier this year, Jonathan Cahn made a claim about the Temple:

“We know that end-time prophecy cannot be fulfilled without the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem,” Cahn, a Messianic Jewish rabbi in New Jersey, told WND. http://www.wnd.com/2015/03/holy-altar-constructed-for-third-jewish-temple/#Gs1xLRbW86qKo2Rk.99

Jonathan Cahn’s “The Harbinger” and his other book “The Mystery of the Shemitah” are flawed (here is a link with some information related to him: Pat Robertson declared ‘Harbinger’ author as God’s prophet; is he right about 2015?). Also, his contentions about a temple must be rebuilt in this age are also biblically wrong (see Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?).

In an interview Pat Robertson said of Jonathan Cahn:

God…has ordained this young man as His prophet…Jonathan…

Is Jonathan Cahn God’s prophet as Pat Robertson stated?

No, he is not.

Jonathan Cahn does not meet the New Testament criteria, plus his misunderstanding of various matters disqualifies him (to learn more about prophets, please see the article How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God and/or watch the video also titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God).

While the Bible tells of the moon turning to blood, this is an event that happens years AFTER the start of the Great Tribulation, which cannot possibly start before 2019 (and more likely later).  Jonathan Cahn’s ideas about the Shemitah and Temple are also wrong.  Blood moons were not a sign that the Great Tribulation could begin in 2014 or 2015. There are simply too many additional biblically-required signs that Jesus listed in Matthew 24 that cannot occur between now and then.

But it is true that there is an expected ‘blood moon’ on September 28, 2015. But that is not going to be global collapse–even if there are stock market problems in parts of the world.

As far as a watchman goes, Jonathan Cahn has some points that are wrong, that should make all wary of following him.  But God does use watchmen (see Go, Set a Watchman).

Truly a lot is happening, and some prophecy watchers see some of it, but the end is not yet (cf. Matthew 24:6).

Some items of related interest may include:

The ‘Harbinger’ and September 2015 Are you aware of many events that are to happen in 2015? These expected events include the end of military operation Jade Helm, a claimed end to a Shemitah year by Jonathan Cahn, Pope Francis speaking before US Congress, Pope Francis speaking before the United Nations, a planned UN proposal to recognize the State of Palestine, and the fourth of four ‘blood moons’ of 2014 & 2015.
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement.” Does it have any relevance for Christians today? What is the Jubilee? Is fasting healthy?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to a sermon titled The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work.
Jade Helm, Captivity, and Prophecy Jade Helm 15 is scheduled by the US Army Special Operations Command to be held from July 15 – September 15, 2015. Some are concerned that this is a prelude to martial law and imprisonment of American political dissidents by the Obama Administration. Is there anything to this? Will the USA be one day taken captive? If so, by whom? What does the Bible teach about conspiracies like Jade Helm?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here are links to a two-part sermon series: What are Some of the Parts of Satan’s Plan? and Satan’s Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video of related interest could be Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? A YouTube video is available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis would seem to be number 112–if he is that one–and if so, he is to reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist?
Will You Be Deceived by Antichrist? 1964 article by David Jon Hill, originally published in the old Good News magazine.
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis I is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis I be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? This is a YouTube video.
The Last Pope Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Why might Pope Francis be the last pope? What happens if he is? Biblical and other prophecies help explain what to expect.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roman”? This 186 page book provides information and answers.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of the printed book which is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.
Blood Moons and Prophecy There are four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?