A CALL TO REPENTANCE
[The following article was sent on August 31, 2010 to 21 Christian churches throughout Butler county of Western Pennsylvania. The letter was submitted for publication by Pastor Jeff Harris. The Pastor wrote this article out of deep conviction by the Holy Spirit and based on a prophetic Word from the Lord given to Jonathon Cahn in 2005. One Editor sent the Pastor an Email with these words:
“We received your letter to the editor submission. My initial impressions are that it is too long for the letters section and also has a tone better suited to church on Sunday. This was the reaction from several other people in management here…Would you consider re-writing it so it is shorter, and more focused on public issues.”
The article was never allowed to be published. Meanwhile, not one church responded to the call. Almost a year later our nation is experiencing its worse economic and social turmoil in history. It’s not too late. There has never been a greater period in our nation’s history (and county) for the reverence and fear of God to penetrate our land and churches. This is a call to action.]
Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jew, talked about the future of America with radio talk show host, Sid Roth. Cahn discussed the specific signs or warnings that the Lord gives to a nation when He is calling it back to Him. Cahn believes America was given clear warnings on September 11, 2001. America did exactly what Israel did. When a nation no longer obeys the Word of God, it arrives some point in time at a crossroad or critical juncture. Here, the nation (and its people) must choose either restoration or self-destruction.
In the days of ancient Israel, the Bible tells us that the nation fell into a state of apostasy and apathy. God sent prophets to the nation. He warned the nation of impending judgment unless they turned back to Him. If the people would repent, their land would be restored. If the people refused, then God would allow an initial attack into the nation. But this attack would still be merciful and be limited in its devastation. The purpose was simply to call the nation to repentance and obedience. If the nation still refused to turn back to God, then there would be a “grace period.” The Bible tells us that northern Israel continued to depart from the Lord even after He allowed Assyria to attack. After this initial attack, the people ignored the warnings. They did not see the signs. Instead, they refused to be humbled and promised to rebuild. Then after a period of time northern Israel experienced a catastrophic calamity. God allowed the enemy to annihilate the land and the people were later taken into captivity. The key passage that Cahn spoke about is in Isaiah 9:10.
The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.” (NKJV)
The first sign of impeding judgment of a nation is the “rebuilding of the bricks with hewn stones.” This is exactly what happened after September 11, 2001. On the morning of September 12 Senate Majority Tom Daschle spoke to the nation from the Capitol in Washington D.C. He concluded his message to the nation using the first part of Isaiah 9:10. In this particular message, he said that “there is a passage in the Bible that speaks to us today. It says we will rebuild.”
But what Senator Daschle did not realize at the time is that this passage is in the context of God’s impending judgment of a nation. While Daschle intended it for hope and encouragement at a difficult moment in our nation’s history, the passage actually speaks in context of judgment. God used our government officials to warn us. Cahn also noted in his radio discussion that Daschle was not re-elected three years later. Interestingly, Daschle’s defeat later in 2004 marked the first time that a Senate party leader had lost a seat since 1952. It’s also interesting to note that one of the greatest stock market crashes in our nation’s history occurred seven years later. But this was not the only sign given to us. The same passage says the fallen bricks will be rebuilt with “hewn stones.” Several years after September 11 2001, a new foundation was placed with quarry stone. If you recall, the new name was given “Freedom Tower.” Quarry stones were used in temples and are a modern version of “hewn stones.” Look it up. Investigate it. We followed the exact pattern Israel did as recorded in Isaiah. But this is only the beginning.
Another sign of impending judgment of a nation is the “cutting down of a sycamore tree.” On September 11 2001, an unusual incident happened. Cahn called it a “freak event.” A steel beam from the north tower was thrown across the sky and it pierced a nearby tree. It was a western version of a sycamore tree. The people focused on it and even celebrated it. Many people even named it. But no one noticed the significance of it.
If this is not convincing enough, we later replaced the sycamore tree “with cedar.” The Hebrew word for cedar refers to a pine tree. By the end of 2003, a strange event happened. Pictures were taken of an object being lowered from a crane into the exact location of the original sycamore tree near Ground Zero pierced by the steel beam. The tree was a Pinaceae tree. The Pinaceae family of trees is known as the “pine family.” On September 11 2001 America replaced the sycamore tree with cedar.
This is why we need a time of repentance in Butler. Sound the alarm. For the next seven days humble yourself each day in your home and ask the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness. This is not a call to pray for a few minutes while your head is on the pillow. This is a call for deep cleansing and honest reflection. Get on your knees. Fall before the Lord Jesus Christ with humility and honesty. Pray also for a spirit of repentance and the fear of God to pour out on Butler. Pray for every spirit of addiction, stronghold and abuse to be broken. In addition, run to your place of worship each day during these seven days. If you have no place of worship, choose one. If the doors are locked, pray outside. If it’s raining, get wet. I join you in this call for a period of seven days of repentance in Butler by turning back to Lord Jesus Christ and the inerrant, uncompromising Word of God. It’s time for revival and an awakening of righteousness and obedience to sweep our community and our nation. It begins with one community. It begins with all of us.
Butler is a “diamond in the rough.” Butler has enormous potential hidden within her. It’s time for the diamonds to shine. So, sound the alarm. This is not a drill. On September 11 2001 the Lord gave clear warnings to all of us. The Christian Church fell asleep while America ignored the warnings. We must not allow on our watch to make the same mistakes as ancient Israel. The call begins now!
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” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)
(originally published August 31, 2010)
All Rights Reserved @ 2018