The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America's Future

by Jonathan Cahn

“Was God behind it?” I asked. “Man was behind it,” he answered. “Evil men were behind it. Up to that point they had been restrained. But that restraint would have its limits. As with the attack on ancient Israel, an attack would now be allowed on American soil.” “But it was planned by evil men,” I countered. “It was evil.” “Yes,” he replied, “but God can cause that which is evil to work for good.” “But what good?” “The sounding of an alarm to wake up a sleeping nation, to change its course, to save it from judgment.”

“On 9/11 people were asking, ‘Where was God?’” “Where was God?” he said, as if surprised by the question. “We drove Him out of our schools, out of our government, out of our media, out of our culture, out of our public square. We drove Him out of our national life, and then we ask, ‘Where is God?’”

He was there with those who lost their loved ones and is still there to heal the broken and comfort those who mourn. He was there with those who gave their lives so others could live, shadows of Him. And He was there, as well, with all the countless others who would have perished that day if not for the countless turns of details and events that saved them. And for those who perished…those who were with God in life are now with Him in eternity. For these, it was not a day of national calamity but of release. He was with them and is with them.”

The real danger was not outside its gates but within them. When the nation turned from God, it lost its protective covering. Apart from a return to God there would be no safety. But by the time they realized it, it would be too late. The chance was lost.”

“Two of the nine you already know, the Breach and the Terrorist. These form the context. As for the other seven, one is of stone; the other is fallen. One ascends. One is alive; the other once was. One speaks of what is; and the other speaks of what would be.”

“No one had to say it. It was as if almost everyone had some sort of sense about it, even if they couldn’t put it into words. It was as if the nation had unconsciously heard a silent voice calling it to be still and to return to the foundation.” “The voice of God?” “Yes, and for a moment, America appeared to be responding. The rush and clamor of its culture were stilled. Wall Street came to a standstill. Hollywood grew silent. Throughout the nation there was a noticeable and massive turning away from the superficial and to the spiritual. Even the name of God was taken out of the closet and publicly proclaimed from Capitol Hill to New York City. Multitudes sang “God Bless America” and gathered for prayer. America’s houses of worship overflowed with throngs of people seeking to find solace. In those first few days and weeks after 9/11, it seemed as if there might be a true national turning, a changing of course, an awakening—even a spiritual revival.”

“There is no way for the people to ignore the obvious disaster. Yet they choose not to recognize its deeper meaning…they do not respond to God. They only respond (inadequately) to the threatening situation.

It’s God’s nature, His essence. Don’t forget that, through all this, don’t forget that. Judgment is His necessity, but His nature and essence—His heart—is love. He’s the one always calling out to the lost to be saved.”

“What would happen, Nouriel, if a gardener tried to remove a weed from his garden by cutting off its leaves?” he asked. “The leaves would grow back,” I replied. “And if he cut off its stem…” “It would sprout another.” “His efforts would be doomed to fail. You can’t solve a problem by dealing with its symptoms…its manifestations. You have to deal with the cause behind it. In the case of the gardener, the cause lies hidden beneath the surface, in the roots. So even if he solves one problem, another will reappear…and another…and another…until he finally deals with the underlying problem…the root.”

“The attempt of a nation to defy the course of its judgment, apart from repentance, will, instead, set in motion a chain of events to bring about the very calamity it sought to avert.”

You can’t solve a spiritual problem with a military or political solution.

It was the dark bronze statue of George Washington that stands on Wall Street facing the New York Stock Exchange.

“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself hath ordained.

“If America upholds God’s eternal standards and follows His unchanging ways, then it will be blessed with His favor…His protection…His prosperity…. But if America should depart from the ways of God, if it should disregard His eternal standards, then the smiles of heaven, the blessings of God, will be withdrawn—its prosperity, its protection, and its powers would be taken away. He’s giving a warning to the nation: The day America turns away from God will be the day that begins the removing of its blessings.”

“September 11—the removal of America’s protection, the economic collapse, the failing of American prosperity.” “And each blessing would be removed on a site connected to that first inaugural day, the day of the warning, Ground Zero at St. Paul’s—the nation’s ground of consecration—and the crash of the New York Stock Exchange at Federal Hall—the site of America’s foundation—where the warning was given.” “That statue of Washington,” I said, “standing right in front of the New York Stock Exchange, it’s a memorial, a witness of the day the warning was given, right in front of the New York Stock Exchange, the symbol of America’s prosperity…as it collapsed.” “A silent witness that the smiles of Heaven were being withdrawn.” We walked out the courtyard and stood by the gate. “Look around, Nouriel,” said the prophet as he pointed toward Ground Zero. “When the calamity struck, all of these buildings, all the buildings surrounding Ground Zero, were either destroyed or badly damaged, all the buildings except for one. There was only one building that escaped the calamity virtually untouched. It was called the miracle of 9/11.” “And that building…” “Was the stone sanctuary where America had been committed to God, St. Paul’s Chapel. It was another silent witness pointing the nation back to its foundation.” “How did it happen,” I asked, “that it was spared?” “It was a single object,” he said, “a tree.” “Not the…” “The Sycamore…the Sycamore of Ground Zero.” “The Harbinger.” “The Sycamore ...

“Was it irrevocable? Is it possible that God could have been merciful instead?” “Merciful instead? Nouriel, do you still not understand Him? God’s will is that none should perish. Judgment isn’t His desire…but His necessity. The good must bring evil to an end, or else it would cease to be good. And yet His mercy is still greater than judgment. His heart always wills for redemption. And therein lies the hope.”

You see, the one who wills for judgment is man, not God. The heart of God wills for salvation. Greater than His judgments are His compassions.”

“The smiles of heaven cannot remain on a nation that disregards the ways of God. If America turns away from God, its blessings will likewise be removed and replaced with judgment.”

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

“The call of repentance is for the righteous and unrighteous, the godly and ungodly alike. If the righteous had been the lights they were called to be, the nation would never have fallen as it did.”

“And what about those called by His name,” I asked, “the believers? They also need to repent?” “They need to be the first to repent.” “From what?” “From their apathy, from their complacency…their compromises with darkness…their omissions…their serving of other gods…their sins committed in secret…their withholding of life…and their failure to fulfill their call.” “Their call?” “To be the light of the world.”

And there’s no sin so deep that His love is not deeper still.”

‘All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes.’ It’s from the Book of Proverbs. That’s human nature. So be careful of the image that appears in your own eyes. Beware of the good Nazi.” “The good Nazi? And what’s that supposed to mean?” “The Nazis sent millions to their deaths out of pure hatred and evil. Can you think of a people more evil than that? And yet do you think most of them saw themselves as evil?” “No.” “And why not?” he asked. “Because they compared themselves and measured themselves by the standards they themselves created. Each, in his own eyes, was a good Nazi, a moral Nazi, a decent Nazi, a religious Nazi, and a Nazi no worse than the next. For by seeing themselves in their own eyes, they became blind. But their judgment would come in the form of destruction, and their sins would be exposed before the world.” “But there’s a big difference between the Nazis and most people.” “The principle is the same. You can never judge yourself by your own standards and your own righteousness, but only in light of His righteousness.”

Cross of Ground Zero, a sign of faith and hope in the midst of the calamity, a sign again calling to a nation to return. But not only to a nation…a sign calling each to return.”

“But you haven’t mentioned the word religion even once.” “Because it’s not about religion; it’s about love. That’s the meaning of the sign, the overcoming of the infinite judgment by the infinite love.” “The love of God.” “The love of God. For God is love, and the nature of love is what?” “To give?” I replied. “Yes, to give of itself, to put itself in the place of the other even if it means that by so doing it must sacrifice itself. So if God is love, then what would the ultimate manifestation of love be?” “I don’t know.” “The giving of Himself…God giving Himself to bear the judgment of those under judgment if, by so doing, it would save them. Love puts itself in the place of the other. So then the ultimate manifestation of love would be…” “God putting Himself in our place.” “In our life, in our death…in our judgment.” “As in Jesus?” I asked, “As in the crucifixion?” “The ultimate manifestation,” said the prophet, “the infinite sacrifice…to bear an infinite judgment, in which all sins are nullified and all who partake of it are set free…forgiven…saved…an infinite redemption in which judgment and death are overcome.” “Death overcome…the resurrection.” “Death overcome by life, and the judgment by His love…redemption, new life…the new birth…in which no sin so great, no soul so far away, and no darkness so deep, that the love of God isn’t deeper, longer, and greater still.”

“But this is all…I wasn’t born with it, or raised in it, and I’m not religious.” “Being religious has nothing to do with it,” he said. “There’s no religion in heaven, only love. It’s the heart, Nouriel. And you couldn’t have been born into it to begin with, only born again into it. And it can’t happen without you choosing it.”

the Hope of Israel. Yeshua is Hebrew for God is Salvation, or God is Deliverance…Protection…Rescue…Freedom…Refuge…and Safety. In the Day of Judgment, there’s no safe ground…no salvation, except in Him who is salvation.” “So how does one become saved?” “‘You cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are born again.‘ Those are His words.” “And how does one become born again?” “By receiving…by letting go…by letting the old life end and a new one begin. By choosing…by believing…by faith, Nouriel…by surrendering your doubts…by opening your heart to receive…to contain the uncontainable.”

“Anywhere, any place, alone or with others, wherever you are. It takes place anywhere, for it takes place in the heart.” “And at any time?” “No, Nouriel,” he said. “It doesn’t take place at any time. It only takes place at one time.” “What one time?” “Now…” said the prophet. “Now is the only time in which it can happen. As it is written, ‘Now is the time of salvation,’ never tomorrow, only now.” “But if we were talking tomorrow, it could still happen then.” “Yes, but only when then has become now, and tomorrow is today. But when it does, you may not be there.”

“It’s too big a decision not to,” he said. “I would have to see to believe.” “No, Nouriel, you have to believe in order to see and to find what you’re searching for.”

“How do you think Moses felt when he was called, or Jeremiah…or Mary…or Peter? Do you think any of them felt remotely adequate? It wasn’t about them. And it’s not about you. It’s about Him. All you have to do is go where He sends you.”