It has come to my attention that the book, “The Harbinger,” by Jonathan Cahn has a lot of false teaching in it. Today we have access to so much information in the form of books, television, news, internet, and many other sources. We need to be careful what we read and listen too. We need discernment to know if the message is Biblical, or if it goes against the Bible. These are the only two possibilities, and we have to be extra careful today. If you will click on the link below, it will take you to an article by Christine Pack called, “A Commentary on the Harbinger: A Warning About the Harbinger. This article explains what is wrong with this teaching.
http://www.solasisters.com/2012/06/commentary-on-harbinger.html
Perhaps you have read this book and got all excited thinking the author is really on to something. What we find is that he has added extra-Biblical teaching to it.
Another good review is by Tim Challies. He is a wonderful Christian and reviews many books to help us with our discernment.
You can read his article below called, “The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future.
http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-ancient-mystery-that-holds-the-secret-of-americas-future
hatchcreek.com Bible blog 
JOSE J. BERNAL SAYS:
Rafael has copied and pasted what you read here and tried to defame me and Pastor and Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, calling us Kabbalists, promoters of the Zohar, and trying to convince people that The Harbinger, The Harbinger Decoded, The Truth About The Harbinger (my book), and The Harbinger Companion and Study Guide promote the Occult and mysticism, when they do not.
I should know. I’ve known Rabbi Cahn for over ten years. He is not a Jewish Mystic or Occultist, or Kabbalist, nor is he a Gnostic. He is a Messianic Jewish believer in the Messiah of Israel and teaches mainline Judeo-Christian teachings, that is teachings based upon the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. By God’s grace, calling, and election in the Lord Yeshua/Jesus, I teach at the Arise and Shine Academy at the Beth Israel Jerusalem Center in Wayne, NJ, where Rabbi Cahn shepherds.
Neither he nor I are any of the mischaracterizations that this crank by the name of Rafael calls us. I would caution everyone to be discerning and remember that it is the wolf in sheep’s clothing who attack the sheep. Sheep do not attack sheep. Wolves attack sheep. When you see someone who says he is a Christian attack another Christian or other Christians repeatedly by accusing him/them as Rafael does of something that he/they do not involve himself/themselves in, you know who you are dealing with. There is only one accuser of the brethren before God, and his servants make it a pretense to appear as ministers of light, when they are actually ministers of darkness and all falsehoods. Of course, as in the other discussions, the accuser of the brethren manifests himself in his servant Rafael to bear false witness, confuse the body, cause dissension, and bear false witness.
I challenge Rafael to present one shred of evidence that Rabbi Cahn or I are any of the things he claims we are without knowing us. This is the rantings of a maniac. He makes up a quote of an imaginary ex-member or visitor to Beth Israel who just about parrots what he says, and actually thinks that anyone is going not to see through this sophstry! Amazing. We are dealing with a fool or worse a raving lunatic.
I have repeatedly told Rafael that neither Pastor Cahn or myself belief any of the nonsense he posts and claims we believe, but he keeps copying and pasting it all over the place. This is call defamation, and in the face of evidence contrary to it, it is nothing short of libel and bearing false witness against not just a neighbor, but against a brother/brethren. This is a breach of one of God’s commandments.
Everyone will note that I do write anything personal regarding this person, yet he without knowing either Rabbi Cahn or myself, has posted and reposted this canard on Amazon.com at the instigation of another who encourages him to do it, and hides behind his shadow. Everyone will note that I only post this to defend both Rabbi Cahn and my character inasmuch as this slanderer has appeared here to defame us without cause, and without knowing who we are. Thank you.
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SAFEARMSREVIEW SAYS:
Jose, The only reason I bring up the zohar is that it has many heretical statements & beliefs presented in it. Now what does this have to do with Cahn? In his teaching “The Zohar Speaks” Cahn quotes the zohar a lot in this teaching.
Just let me ask how biblical are these statements that Cahn made in this teaching?
Cahn “”In the Gulgalta… sit thousand of myriad of worlds. And from the Gulgalta drips dew and… the dew fills the world and the dead will awaken in the world to come as the dew comes forth. The dew is the lights of the ancient one. The light of the ancient one comes from Gulgalta and as it touches, the dead comes to life. From Gulgalta is the light of God bringing life from the dead…”
Lets look at the problems…
1. “in the gulgalta sit thousand of myriads of worlds…”
* Where in scripture is this taught? I cannot find it in the Old Testament or the New Testament or any implied passage. btw what does this have to do with Yeshua, repenting, salvation or living in accordance with Hashem’s word? Scripture states His kingdom is not of this world & there is record in scripture of other worlds with people needing salvation.
2. “And from the Gulgalta drips dew… the dew fills the world and the dead will awaken in the world to come as the dew comes forth…”
* There is NO mention of any ‘dew’ that will fill the world or awaken the dead in scripture. This is gnostic – it gives power which is ascribed to the created, a location on creation and NOT the Creator. Again no mention in scripture at all but we do see similar themes in pagan teachings, hence the red flag when I watched & heard Cahn say this.
3. “The dew is the lights of the ancient one.”
* There is only one light & that is the Mashiach, the light of the world who was in the beginning. Even in the new jerusalem we do not see dew or lights as there is only the glory/light of Hashem that lights everything. In new age teachings (which are really old age pagan ways) do we see this type of terminology. These lights are misleading, not biblical and not beneficial in any way, shape or form for the believer today. Our strength, hope & peace comes the from Him and its not in the form of dew or lights. So you can see why I question this from Cahn.
4. “The light of the ancient one comes from Gulgalta and as it touches, the dead comes to life.”
* NEVER is this found in scripture – never do we see where this happening OT or NT or in the writings of the prophets. Please provide in context scriptural references for this and the prior problem areas because I cannot find any support for such wording, except in new age writings.
5. “From Gulgalta is the light of God bringing life from the dead…”
* BRINGING LIFE FROM THE DEAD?!@?!? Again no teaching from scripture supports this in the way it presented in the Zohar (mind you Cahn only quoted a small part, the rest is worse).
6. “The resurrection of the dead and redemption of the world. And they speak, they say it all will come, the power of all this miracle of all…this will come from a sacred thing, a sacred place and this place, this thing where the mercy of God is stored, all the mercy of God pours out from this place and that is where all the resurrection will come, all the blessings come from this place, this thing. What is it? Very strange. They call it the Gulgalta, this holy mystical thing.”
* Scripture states that God’s mercy is NOT ‘stored’ anywhere or that it pours out from a ‘place’. Phrases similar to this are seen in druidic & early false/pagan god writings, so you can see why I am very concerned about Cahn (or anyone else using such things). When did it become ok to use pagan theology to help explain what is plainly seen in scripture? By using these things Cahn, IMHO, is only mudding the clear water of Hashem’s word.
7. “The rabbis are saying `From Gulgalta is all the mercy of God you could ever need…. From Gulgalta the forgiveness of donai is poured out to the world. From Gulgalta comes the redemption of the universe.”.. This is from Rabba Zohar 1, 28b.”
* Scripture states VERY clearly that the universe is not in need of redemption; only people are redeemed (bought with a price which is Yeshua’s death on the cross). These ‘rabbis’ that wrote the zohar are so far from the truth its not even funny. Yeshua is seen rebuking the religious leaders like these for adding to and taking away from Hashem’s word = repent or perish was His message.
Again please support these phrases from Cahn with in context scriptures from the OT, NT & writings of the prophets. IF you cannot THEN these are dangerous statements that have elements of new age teachings, gnosticism & ways that are in conflict with Hashem and His word. I should remind you that He states we are not supposed to worship or follow the way of the pagans to worship or follow the Creator. Neither are we to use the way of teaching that the pagan’s use to teach about Hashem. These rabbis who wrote the Zohar rejected the Messiah and continued in false teaching, so why would any godly man or woman want to quote from such a source, especially in light of the things I pointed out, which are in in direct conflict with the scriptures?
BTW Cahn from what I have read stated his teachings are not influenced from the zohar but here is the passage that comes from Idra Rabba, Zohar 3:128b…
“In the Gulgalta sit thirteen thousand myriads of worlds which move on feet and lean on them. And from that Gulgalta dew drips upon Him who is outside, and fills his head every day…. And from that dew which He who sits outside shakes from His head, the dead will awaken in the World to Come, as it is written, ‘For a dew of light is Thy dew, and the earth shall bring forth the shades (Isa. 26:19). That dew is the light of the pale glow of the Ancient One. And from that dew exist the supernal saints, and it is the manna which they grind for the righteous in the World to Come. And that dew drips down to the field of Sacred Apples…”
So Jose you can see while I totally agree that the world and especially America needs to repent. However the scriptures state that 2/3rds will fall away & that Hashem will have a small remnant that are on the narrow road that leads to salvation & that the broad road with many leads to destruction. The statement made by Cahn that the world can be saved is lacking when we look at the truth found in scripture.
Jose you say you have known Cahn for over ten years & that he is not a kabbalist or gnostic, then why did he quote the zohar and its obvious gnostic passages? Why is it similar to esoteric pagan writings? Why are there no scriptures that support any of it in Cahn’s “The Zohar Speaks” as I pointed out? If Cahn is not a kabbalist they why did he state in the teaching “”I found it in the mystical writings, Jewish writing of the Zohar..”?
I honestly want to know.
With that said I have throughly enjoyed some of Cahn’s teachings, especially on bride and bridegroom & how it parallels with the feasts of the Lord = great stuff. However I feel Cahn is going down a dangerous road – one that he cannot back up with scripture. If his message is only supported by zohar and other dangerous writings then it is not a teaching I want for me or my family. I hope you understand.
Now since you know Cahn has he issued an apology for his “The Zohar Speaks” message? Did he ask forgiveness for teaching from such aberrant material? If he has then I would like to see this to put my mind at ease (as we have all done something in the past we were not proud of).
I look forward to your reply Jose.
P.S. I posted info that came from the video of Cahn’s teaching “The Zohar Speaks” & the scripture which are not rantings. I have posted facts & quotes from Cahn & presented my questions so this is not slander, just seeking answers.
I’m just wondering why Cahn IF he is not a gnostic THEN why is he using such heretical sources?
BTW this is NOT an instance of brother against brother but confronting a teacher who is using very questionable material. Since no answer has been given one-on-one, the next step is bringing out in the open for a simple and easy way of settling the matter for all to see.
SAR
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JOSE BERNAL SAYS: Dear SafeArmsReview,
Thank you for presenting your objections to the Zohar and to it use by Christians. I repeat what I have said before, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn does not believe in the writings contained within the Book of Zohar. Nor is he a Gnostic. Gnostic involved the suppression of mystery, not its discovery. Gnosticism has aberrant teachings pertaining to the Person and deity of Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah. No Jonathan Cahn does not believe or teach Gnosticism.
There are phrases in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) which parallel those of the Community of Qumran, such as Teacher of Righteousness, and sons of light, but that does not mean that the teachings and Scriptures of the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) support or its teachings support or mirror those of the Essenes of Qumran.
The use of the Book of Zohar, which is an encyclopedic medieval work, has many passages that unwittingly bear witness that there had to be a suffering Messiah, and it cryptically illustrates many of the truths contained in the Gospel, such as Ha Shem is a Trinity, that the Angel of the Presence also known as the Angel of the Lord is G-d, that God has a Son, and many other incredible teachings that Modern Rabbinical Judaism eschews; but was once taught by Second Temple Judaism.
Now this does not mean that because it contains these things that the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) and Christianity – which in its truest form is Biblical Judaism completed because it has the Messiah – well, it does not mean that because the Book of Zohar contains all of these things that the teachings of the New Testament are heretical. It just unwittingly supports the truths of the Gospel. This is how Rabbi Cahn used this material.
He did not use it to support what the Zohar says, but to use what it says as a hostile witness (the rabbinical writings) of the Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah. This is common in Apologetics, and in Law, where one uses material from a hostile witness to support a belief or stance that other person disagrees with. This method and the material Rabbi Cahn uses in this tape you allude to has been referenced and used to support the Gospel and Yeshua’s Messiaship for centuries. It is not new with Rabbi Cahn. He is simply following in the tradition of great biblical expositors who came before him who were Jewish and had knowledge of these, such as Edersheim, Schonfield, and many others, and today Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira is one who uses these at length in his new book titled, The Return of the Kosher Pig, to show without equivocation that the writings of the rabbis of Judaism support that Yeshua IS the Promised Messiah. This is the context in which this material is used. This is not understood by people who have little or no background into Judaism, and that is where the confusion lies.
The teaching on the video dealt with the fact that this amazing passage from the Zohar bears witness that from the place of execution where the Messiah was put to death, where He surrendered His life for us all, from that very place, called Golgotha, there would come life, the resurrection from the dead, and living waters. The Gospels record that near the place of execution was a garden that had a tomb in it hewn into solid rock that had never been used, and there is where they lay the body of the Messiah. It also says that from there the Messiah rose from the dear on the third day.
The use of this material is simply for Apologetics purposes and does not in any way indicate any belief in these writings. Thank you for your candor.
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SAFEARMSREVIEW SAYS:
Thanks for the reply but I noticed you offered no scriptures or examples from scripture whatsoever.
I have never seen this version of apologetics you speak of & more importantly I do not see it in scripture. Taking this logic further means I can quote the satanic bible to support the scriptures as long as there is some type of similarity? That is beyond lacking IMHO and dangerous to those who new to the faith. Scripture states we are to not do things that cause bretheren to stumble but I guess that does not apply here? I noticed there was no warning about the dangers of the Zohar either or was that not recorded?
As for saying basically if a parallel exists that justifies its use? I see no scriptures supporting such ways; to use pagan way/s to teach about Hashem or His ways. Can you please point me to scriptures where this is done & promoted as a viable way to teach? Please include in context scriptures from both OT & NT.
You said the “Zohar, which is an encyclopedic medieval work” is not an accurate statement as an encyclopedia is a book or collection of facts. In the case of the Zohar has many false teachings & errors. It contains heretical passages that is proved beyond a doubt (unless you discount numerous bible scholars).
If the Zohar is ok for believers then why do we see this about the Zohar… “Rabbi Shimon says in the Zohar that if you learn Kabbalah from someone who is not a true Kabbalist, someone who is not a Rabbi with all the merit, authorization, the documents and the rabbinical and kabbalistic ordination to teach, then that individual brings Darkness into the world – a darkness beyond what we can imagine.”
This warning lead a reasonable person to think that using the Zohar without proper supervision is dangerous, especially for those weak or new to the faith. This is akin to using a divination board but only for ‘good reasons’. You obviously don’t see the present danger in doing this. Just because one can do something does not mean they should. This is not something a good shepherd would allow his flock to be exposed to IMO.
How come we don’t see this same warning about Hashem’s word? Scripture states over and over again that His word is life and a blessing, not something to be feared or can become darkness beyond all imagination.
While I see you put some time in your reply, I find it lacking due to the fact that none of my questions were answered nor were your answers supported with scripture. The end result is that if a person cannot support their stance, position or beliefs with in context scriptures then something is wrong.
With that said, you have proved to me that the use of the Zohar is not in best interest to believers and your using this info when it should not be used at all. The truth stands for itself and there is no need to support it with any “hostile witnesses”. Again no examples in scripture for this in the OT or NT so I personally don’t see the need to do it today.
Remember the Father and His word are the same yesterday, today & forever.
Please reconsider this and pass it on to Cahn; I have already seen too many ignorant believers get sucked into false teaching & worse via similar works.
Thanks for your position; there is no need to reply further
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SafeArmsReview: I highly commend you in taking a firm stand and defending your position as well as the INERRANT WORD OF GOD. Thank you for your input. I am sure that many christians who read it will derive great benefits from what you have shared. Many thanks and Shalom Brother in Yeshua!
P.S. If your schedule permits read the following article below at your earliest convenience:
FOR A MORE IN DEPTH STUDY OF ACTS 17:22-31 READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WRTTEN BY
R.K. McGREGOR WRIGHT, TH.M.,PH.D. “PAUL’S PURPOSE AT ATHENS AND THE PROBLEM OF COMMON GROUND” PARTS 1,2,& 3.
The Link is as follows: dtl.org/apologetics/wright/athens.
THE ABOVE ARTICLE BY DR. WRIGHT REFUTES THE ERRONEOUS DOCTRINES THAT ARE BEING PROPAGATED BY JOSE BERNAL(AND JONATHAN CAHN) AS QUOTED BELOW:
“It is precisely as Paul had done at Athens, and as he does throughout his letters, where he teaches and quotes directly from pagan sources to support the point he wants to make in promoting the Gospel that these teachers of God’s Word have used, continue to use, and will continue to use all of the relevant extra-biblical sources as hostile witnesses – not false witnesses, as is implied in SafeArmsReview’s comments in the last two entries to this discussion. This does not any way indicate that any of these born again expositors, theologians, and Messianic Rabbis agree or believe the writings of the Zohar; they are using parts of them, NOT ALL PARTS, but just the parts that relate in support of the Gospel and what the Gospel narratives teach about the life of Yeshua the Messiah”.
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SafeArmsReview: I highly commend you in taking a firm stand and defending your position as well as the INERRANT WORD OF GOD. Thank you for your input. I am sure that many christians who read it will derive great benefits from what you have shared. Many thanks and Shalom Brother in Yeshua!
P.S. If your schedule permits read the following article below at your earliest convenience:
FOR A MORE IN DEPTH STUDY OF ACTS 17:22-31 READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WRTTEN BY
R.K. McGREGOR WRIGHT, TH.M.,PH.D. “PAUL’S PURPOSE AT ATHENS AND THE PROBLEM OF COMMON GROUND” PARTS 1,2,& 3.
The Link is as follows: dtl.org/apologetics/wright/athens.
THE ABOVE ARTICLE BY DR. WRIGHT REFUTES THE ERRONEOUS DOCTRINES THAT ARE BEING PROPAGATED BY JOSE BERNAL(AND JONATHAN CAHN) AS QUOTED BELOW:
“It is precisely as Paul had done at Athens, and as he does throughout his letters, where he teaches and quotes directly from pagan sources to support the point he wants to make in promoting the Gospel that these teachers of God’s Word have used, continue to use, and will continue to use all of the relevant extra-biblical sources as hostile witnesses – not false witnesses, as is implied in SafeArmsReview’s comments in the last two entries to this discussion. This does not any way indicate that any of these born again expositors, theologians, and Messianic Rabbis agree or believe the writings of the Zohar; they are using parts of them, NOT ALL PARTS, but just the parts that relate in support of the Gospel and what the Gospel narratives teach about the life of Yeshua the Messiah”.
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