The Mystery of the Shemitah

[just-me]

Hi everybody.

My sister sent me a DVD entitled The Mystery of the Shemitah by Jonathan Cahn that I just finished watching and I'm just wondering if anybody else here has watched it or read the book by the same name and if so, then what did you think about it? If somebody else has already asked this question, then please provide me a link me to that thread. Thank you.

It is a good book. The only thing I had a problem with, in the book, is that the author used the "Jewish civil calendar" rather than the Biblical calendar. Jonathan Cahn is a half year off of the true beginning of the year in Exodus 12. The year begins at Abib/Nisan 1 during the new moon, not Tishri/Ethanim.

 

[ember]

Cahn claims (and it would seem the whole foundation of his book rests on this) the founding fathers even as far back as the Puritans and the Pilgrims, that their intention was to establish a new Israel, and that God may not have accepted it as a covenant, but the founders wanted to make a covenant with God and saw it that way.

yeah...basically making himself a mind reader of dead people

I'm not making fun...I think it is serious business to state God told me and now I am telling you

Prophets were to be stoned if their words did not come true

The thing is, a well read or informed person could absorb the news and fly around the web and come up with a pretty solid explanation of where the world is headed

For that matter, I firmly believe there are/will be consequences for making marriage inclusive of same sex couples

These things will occur as day follows night because God has set the foundations and His order is what counts...not the world systems or the deviant mind set of minorities for whom Romans 1 was written before they were born

I honestly do not care if homosexuals receive the same benefits as honorably married people or have a ceremony to celebrate their sin

The sin I see at the center, is defining marriage as something other than what God says it is in the very act of creation itself

I also think that a couple adopting children into that type of union is an outrage

Anyway, I guess that topic is sidestepping the op but there you have it

 

[Is]

I find the headlines on some of these articles to be disturbing in and of themself. Such as the one following:

Jonathan Cahn Unlocks Thousands of Years of Mystery


Do you understand that would make him a prophet on par with Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the other major prophets in the OT?

Does the NT gift of prophecy line up with that? Is Cahn a prophet? or is he feeding off the headlines and wars and rumors of wars around the globe because I am not a prophet but I can pretty well put together the road the word is on and come up with some interesting messages



As the world waits to see what the end of a seven-year biblical cycle known as theShemitah may bring this fall, New York Times best-selling author Rabbi Jonathan Cahn issued a warning to prepare for economic calamity, war in the Middle East or even worse.
"I will state a warning which I have stated before," Cahn told hundreds of people gathered at the Prophecy in the News conference in Orlando, Florida, this weekend. "Whether it comes in this time parameter of the Shemitah or the year following or not, I believe a great shaking is going to come to this land and to the world that will involve the collapsing of the American economy ... and the removal of its blessings and prosperity.

READ THE REST HERE

Easy to be a prophet after the fact, eh?

 

[ember]

"I will state a warning which I have stated before," Cahn told hundreds of people gathered at the Prophecy in the News conference in Orlando, Florida, this weekend. "Whether it comes in this time parameter of the Shemitah or the year following or not, I believe a great shaking is going to come to this land and to the world that will involve the collapsing of the American economy ... and the removal of its blessings and prosperity.
"Whether it begins with the economic realm or not, I believe it's going to be bigger than the economic realm and it may have the effect of famine or cutting off infrastructure for a time. The shaking doesn't have to take place in the Shemitah (year), but I believe we need to be ready."

IMO, the above is just vague enough to cover Cahn whether or when anything happens

That, is not Biblical prophecy...sorry, it just isn't

More like a good reporter covering the news who comes to the almost foregone conclusion we are in big heaps o trouble in the US...no worries, Canada is a close neighbor

 

[ember]

Easy to be a prophet after the fact, eh?

as I just said above...so yeah for sure

 

[Is]

yeah...basically making himself a mind reader of dead people

I'm not making fun...I think it is serious business to state God told me and now I am telling you

Prophets were to be stoned if their words did not come true

The thing is, a well read or informed person could absorb the news and fly around the web and come up with a pretty solid explanation of where the world is headed

For that matter, I firmly believe there are/will be consequences for making marriage inclusive of same sex couples

These things will occur as day follows night because God has set the foundations and His order is what counts...not the world systems or the deviant mind set of minorities for whom Romans 1 was written before they were born

I honestly do not care if homosexuals receive the same benefits as honorably married people or have a ceremony to celebrate their sin

The sin I see at the center, is defining marriage as something other than what God says it is in the very act of creation itself

I also think that a couple adopting children into that type of union is an outrage

Anyway, I guess that topic is sidestepping the op but there you have it

And they will be judged on an individual basis.

 

[just-us-2]

I read the book and also read The Harbinger. There seems to be a lot of material to think about in both books and they make for interesting reading. However, I am convinced that as real Christians we should be more concerned with a right relationship with God personally and not be overly concerned with things like the Shemita, the pre-tribulation "rapture" and making all kinds of warm fuzzies for those who choose to live in sin (yeah, I mean gay marriage, living together outside of marriage, and such). That is not to say we cannot have an interest in the subject of the "shemita" for instance, I just mean that there is so much more that is vitally important than to figure out the date as near as possible of Yeshua Messiah's return. The condoning of sin the way professing Christians are doing nowadays makes me gag!

 

[posthuman]

You need to read David James's "The Harbinger Fact or Fiction?" I believe you would have a different outlook.

that's the same man that wrote the article i linked to on page 1.
i'm not really familiar with Cahn, and haven't read either of his books. i thought James' article sounded reasonable though.

i couldn't find a .pdf of the full 'Fact or Fiction?' book, but here is an abridged version of the review by James:

http://prophecytoday.com/pdf/harbinger_book_review.pdf

just putting it out there - i haven't read Cahn's books or watched his videos or anything; can't say i have an 'informed opinion' about the subject. but i find it helpful to read critical assessments of even things i agree with, so i hope by sharing these everyone can come to better understanding

 

[Is]

IMO, the above is just vague enough to cover Cahn whether or when anything happens

That, is not Biblical prophecy...sorry, it just isn't

More like a good reporter covering the news who comes to the almost foregone conclusion we are in big heaps o trouble in the US...no worries, Canada is a close neighbor

I believe a great shaking is going to come to this land and to the world that will involve the collapsing of the American economy ... and the removal of its blessings and prosperity.................."Whether it begins with the economic realm or not, I believe it's going to be bigger than the economic realm and it may have the effect of famine or cutting off infrastructure for a time.

A shaking is coming to the whole world one day!, not just America.

 

[posthuman]

I did just send this link to my sister so that she gets to hear both sides of the story. Thanks again.

you're welcome! i'm glad to have been useful, even though i really don't have the knowledge base to comment intelligently on the topic in general

 

[ember]

that's the same man that wrote the article i linked to on page 1.
i'm not really familiar with Cahn, and haven't read either of his books. i thought James' article sounded reasonable though.

i couldn't find a .pdf of the full 'Fact or Fiction?' book, but here is an abridged version of the review by James:

http://prophecytoday.com/pdf/harbinger_book_review.pdf

just putting it out there - i haven't read Cahn's books or watched his videos or anything; can't say i have an 'informed opinion' about the subject. but i find it helpful to read critical assessments of even things i agree with, so i hope by sharing these everyone can come to better understanding

I'm bothered by Cahn's denial of a direct link between Israel of old and the US when his writing says otherwise

The author deniesthat he is arguing for a direct connection between Israel and America and maintains that the passage onlydemonstrates a pattern of God’s judgment. Likewise, he concludes that recent eventsin America, beginning with 9/11, areonly parallels to that specific pattern. Yet, in multiple places the book gives the very clear impression that these are morethan simply parallels and that a direct connection does exist. Based on what is clearly stated in the book, it is difficult toconclude that this is not precisely what Cahn intended to convey at the time. The following are just a few of the numerousexamples.

I certainly agree about weighing both sides and that is a good idea and good to mention

 

[just-me]

I read the book and also read The Harbinger. There seems to be a lot of material to think about in both books and they make for interesting reading. However, I am convinced that as real Christians we should be more concerned with a right relationship with God personally and not be overly concerned with things like the Shemita, the pre-tribulation "rapture" and making all kinds of warm fuzzies for those who choose to live in sin (yeah, I mean gay marriage, living together outside of marriage, and such). That is not to say we cannot have an interest in the subject of the "shemita" for instance, I just mean that there is so much more that is vitally important than to figure out the date as near as possible of Yeshua Messiah's return. The condoning of sin the way professing Christians are doing nowadays makes me gag!

I agree with you, but Shemitah is in the 7th month every 7 years and so each year is the feast of tabernacles. This (the feast of tabernacles) is to be observed today as a rehearsal for the millennial reign of Christ, and during those 1000 years. Every church, worldwide, should be rehearsing for the reign of Christ Jesus. Tabernacles will be observed for those 1000 years, mainly for edification such as we have never experienced before. This edification is related to what you said, so I would also endorse that Shemitah is not to be taken as something separated from your explanations.

 

[just-us-2]

I agree with you, but Shemitah is in the 7th month every 7 years and so each year is the feast of tabernacles. This (the feast of tabernacles) is to be observed today as a rehearsal for the millennial reign of Christ, and during those 1000 years, and every church worldwide should be rehearsing for the reign of Christ Jesus. Tabernacles will be observed for those 1000 years, mainly for edification such as we have never experienced before. This edification is related to what you said, so I would also endorse that Shemitah is not to be taken as something separated from your explanations.

I agree with your statements concerning rehearsal for the feast of tabernacles - it is one of those more important things I think should be thought about.

 

[ember]

As the majority of Gentiles do not practice nor are they even aware, of Jewish festivals or practices, why would God proceed to blow the trumphet (so to speak) using that sort of symbolism?

Interesting that a Jewish man brings all of this up...I believe God's promises to Israel are still in effect...I don't believe that the Gentiles have surplanted Israel or that we are spiritual Israel, so I am not trying to do anything but take a look at Cahn's claims

 

[ember]

OK I'm kind of taking over the thread with all my posts so I will stop for now, but this topic engendered interest in me in particular because of this thread here that was started a couple of days ago

 

[Is]

I need to make a correction. In my post #8, I said

In Cahn's book the Harbinger he tried to make the point that the Founding Fathers going as far back as the Puritans and the Pilgrims had it in their minds to creat a New Israel on American shores, so even though God didn't make a covenant with America the founding Father's in a sense wanted to make a covenant with God and that America is only the second nation in history that was dedicated to God from the begining.

I meant to say Shemitah, not Harbinger.

 

[purgedconscience]

OK I'm kind of taking over the thread with all my posts so I will stop for now, but this topic engendered interest in me in particular because of this thread here that was started a couple of days ago

No need to go and thanks for explaining what spurred your interest.

 

[Is]

I agree with you, but Shemitah is in the 7th month every 7 years and so each year is the feast of tabernacles. This (the feast of tabernacles) is to be observed today as a rehearsal for the millennial reign of Christ, and during those 1000 years. Every church, worldwide, should be rehearsing for the reign of Christ Jesus. Tabernacles will be observed for those 1000 years, mainly for edification such as we have never experienced before. This edification is related to what you said, so I would also endorse that Shemitah is not to be taken as something separated from your explanations.

Christians should be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles? I would expect this from a Judaizer, not a Christian! Colosians 2:16

 

[crossnote]

My question, since the Levitical system has been put on HOLD during the Church age, why would God be operating according to the time table of the Feasts? Wouldn't that kick in again after the rapture when God deals again directly with Israel?

 

[purgedconscience]

you're welcome! i'm glad to have been useful, even though i really don't have the knowledge base to comment intelligently on the topic in general

You have been useful. I always like to hear from both sides of any discussion and then to take it all before God to see if either side is correct. Of course, we need to always have a working knowledge of God's Word ourselves from which we can draw some discernment as well. In this case, I'm not overly familiar with Cahn's views and I'm certainly not the type to be swept away with the latest wind of doctrine that comes swirling down the pike. I can understand the concerns of some here and their passion. There do seem to be a lot of folks who are immediately swept away with the latest wind and that is why I asked my opening question...not so much for my own protection, but moreso to potentially help protect my sister. I primarily read the Bible and I very rarely ever read other peoples' books. In fact, even though I didn't finish reading The Harbinger, it's probably the only book other than the Bible that I've picked up in at least the last 10 years or so.