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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.”
    “But then America was turning back to God?”
    “No. America was not turning back to God. It was a spiritual revival that never came. And even the appearance of turning back was short-lived. It had no real root. There was no real change of heart or course, no searching of ways, no questioning if something could be wrong, no repentance. So it couldn’t last. And it wasn’t long before the moment was lost and things began to return to a form of normalcy. The calls for prayer would fade away, the rush and clamor of daily life would resume, the spiritual searching would be abandoned, and the superficial again embraced. The name of God would again be withdrawn from the public square, and most of those who had suddenly flocked to houses of worship would cease their flocking. The nation would resume its departure from God and its rejection of His ways, only now with increased speed.”
    “So how did America’s response to 9/11 compare with Israel’s response in Isaiah 9:10?”
    “It was the same. From one commentary…”
    “Commentary?”
    “The commentaries are writings on the Bible explaining the meaning, verse by verse.”
    “But not the Bible.”
    “Not the Word of God, but commentary on the Word of God.”
    “So you study the commentaries?” I asked, surprised at the idea of it.
    “I have.”
    “I just didn’t picture a prophet studying the…”
    “And why not?” he replied. “Is God not able to speak through such things?”
    “I guess He is…”
    “One commentary on Isaiah 9:10 describes how the people of ancient Israel viewed their national calamity:
    “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. 1
    “Take those same words and bring them into the twenty-first century, and you have a description of post-9/11 America.”
    “So then it would mean that in the wake of 9/11, America only responded to the immediate and obvious situation, to the destruction caused by the calamity and to the danger it threatened…but never considered that there could be anything deeper…no significance behind the obvious.”
    “‘The bricks have fallen… but …’ That was the point. Another commentary on the ancient vow puts it this way:
    “The people, declared the prophet, did not take this calamity as a judgment from God but hardened their hearts and declared: ‘The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycamores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.’” 2
    “Then America was shutting off the alarm…”
    “Yes…silencing the alarm meant to awaken it.”
    “Did anyone realize it?”
    “Some…while others sensed something more…something deeper…but couldn’t put their finger on exactly what it was. But the alarm had sounded. The nation was in danger. Its bricks had fallen. Its stones were loosening. And it was only the beginning. ‘The bricks have fallen’ is only the opening of the ancient vow. There was more of the mystery to unfold. It’s what happened after 9/11 that would prove even more ominous.”

    It was then that he opened his right hand, exposing the next seal.
    “The seal of the Fourth Harbinger,” he said as he handed