The word harbinger has moved into the vernacular as a meaningful part of the conversation concerning the traumatic events of September 11, 2001, commonly known as 9-11.  This word is now associated with the shemitah (sabbatical) year, or the seventh year in the cycles of years.

The theory of the harbinger is based upon a certain passage found in Yesha'yahu 9:   

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 9:8-10

ADONAI sent a word into Ya`aqov, and it has lighted upon Yisra’el. 9 And all the people shall know, even Ephrayim and the inhabitant of Shomeron, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, 10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

As has been well-documented, this verse has been adopted as mantra from the United States since September 12, 2001, being read into the Congressional Record and restated in substance by George Bush, B.H. Obama, Tom Daschle, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, et al. The notion that we will rebuild and come back stronger is the essence of the statement, and Obama so endorsed the final beam in the new tower that sits where the World Trade Center formerly stood upon its completion. 

Therefore, we are, as a matter of scriptural truth, Yisra’el. 

Remember the birthright of Yisra’el?  This birthright passed from Yisra’el over Yoceph, the yachiyd, to his sons, Ephrayim (the great company of nations) and to Menashsheh (a great nation); yet Ephrayim would rule over Menashsheh - see Bere’shiyth 49.

Yes, we are Yisra’el, and Ephrayim who is holding the birthright.  What does Yesha’yahu say will occur?

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 28:1-4

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephrayim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! 2 Behold, ADONAI has a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephrayim, shall be trodden under feet: 4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looks upon it sees, while it is yet in his hand he eats it up.

This tempest of hail and a destroying storm which comes on the drunkards of Ephrayim, happens in the Spring. However, this judgment is a selective judgment:

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 28:5-6

In that day shall YAHUAH TSEVA’OT be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the remnant of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

Therefore, we conclude, that we are Yisra’el; yet we are also Babel – a house within a house.   

The name Yisra’el is a name which was given to Ya’akov by YAHUAH.  However, the name that was given to him was of course in Hebrew:

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 32:28

And he said, Your name shall be called no more Ya’aqov, but יִשְׂרָאֵל: for as a prince have you power with ELOHIYM and with men, and have prevailed.

This name יִשְׂרָאֵל has been interpreted as Yisra’el, yet I remain convinced that initially this name was not Yisra’el, but Yashar’el – the righteous of YAH. The name Yisra’el emerged after the division of the kingdom, where the Northern Kingdom was called יזרעאל (Yitzra’el). 

Given these circumstances, does the scriptural verse relate to Yashar’el, or Yitzra’el?  Given its historical setting and the application of the events that are called harbingers, it is reasonable that the reference is to Yitzra’el – i.e., the remnant of the Northern Kingdom.  This means that America is Yitzra’el – the Northern Kingdom - for purposes of the prophetic discussion here.