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

“A two-and-a-half-thousand-year-old mystery behind what’s happening in the twenty-first century from politics to the economy to foreign affairs—all that and you’re the only one who knows about it?”

Goren’s response to Kaplan revealing the nature of his story is meant to reflect the reader’s perception of the book itself. As with many readers, Goren is skeptical that a lone man, or even two men, could have uncovered so significant a secret, especially pertaining to America’s security. She also expresses the rational skepticism that such events could be predicted thousands of years in advance, again establishing her as a rational third-party to Kaplan’s, and Jonathan Cahn’s, story.

“‘Why didn’t it hit me before?’ She shook her head back and forth in her amazement over not having recognized the name at the start. ‘So you’re not crazy after all,’ she said, almost apologetically. ‘Some would disagree with such a presumption,’ he answered. At that, her demeanor and tone became markedly less guarded.”

Kaplan’s profession and the fact that Goren recognizes his name lend credibility to his story and his position. Kaplan’s willingness to refer to himself as potentially insane also builds a rapport, both between Kaplan and Goren and between Cahn and the reader, as the character and author are acknowledging the difficulty that many readers will have accepting their story. As Goren’s guard lowers, so too is the reader’s meant to lower, allowing both Goren and the reader to become more receptive to the message Kaplan/Cahn must share.

“There was never a people for whom the authenticity of a written word meant so much. For them, it was a matter of life or death. You see, God spoke to them. He sent them words, prophetic messages of correction. Messages to save them from calamity. If they ignored such a message, the result would be catastrophic.”

The prophet’s assertion that the seal is of specific importance to Israel is reinforced into the present by holding up the Israelites desire for its authenticity. In other words, Kaplan and the reader are meant to trust the prophet’s message because it is drawn from the Israelites, who are used in this passage to further establish authenticity.