The Day the Music Died

Joseph Herrin (02-15-09)

Ezekiel 26:11-13
"With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will slay your people with the sword; and your strong pillars will come down to the ground. Also they will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise, break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses, and throw your stones and your timbers and your debris into the water. So I will silence the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps will be heard no more.”

This passage of Scripture contains many images that Yahweh has been evincing in the minds of His people who listen intently for His voice in this hour. The Spirit has been testifying that the horsemen are coming, and this passage speaks of a multitude of horses and the resulting death and destruction. The Spirit of God has been speaking about a complete collapse of the American economy, and people escaping like Lot and his family from Sodom, having only the clothes on their backs. This passage speaks of an enemy taking away the riches, the merchandise, and the pleasant houses of a land.

This passage also speaks of the music of the land being silenced.

The music being silenced is particularly significant as the Spirit has brought this image to my mind recently, and has affirmed it in an unusual way. On February 9th, 2009 I received the following words in an e-mail from Andrew Eberly, a dear brother in the Lord.

Dear Joseph,

I will keep this brief, because I need to get to work, but I wanted to share this with you for discernment/testing. Upon waking this morning I had a short vision. I saw a large office building (sandstone color/texture) swaying back and forth and I knew it was an earthquake. I then heard the Lord say, "The fires will come first." I'm not sure of the geographic location or even if this is a literal word, but I know that the Lord is warning of a coming shaking very soon!
Then, as I was driving into work this morning praying, these words came into my mind, "Bye, bye, Miss America, bye bye." I vaguely remembered these being the lyrics to some song, but I wasn't sure. I thought, "Is the Lord speaking something here," and then I remembered that He had told me in the recent word that He gave me that America would be a nation no longer.
When I got into work, I decided to do a search on these words to see if it was in fact a song. I discovered that it was a 1971 song by Don McClean entitled, "American Pie." I read the lyrics and the 2nd stanza really stood out to me. It reads, "But February made me shiver, With every paper I'd deliver. Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step."
Could the Lord be signifying that something major will occur...
[End Excerpt]

The date that Andrew received these things was 2/9/2009. It is easy to observe the repetition of the numbers 2 and 9. E.W. Bullinger, in his book Number in Scripture shares that the number 2 denotes division, for any time a single entity is divided it must become no less than 2 parts. He also relates that the number 9 denotes divine judgment.

Nine

It is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter.

It is akin to the number six, six being the sum of its factors (3x3=9, and 3+3=6), and is thus significant of the end of man, and the summation of all man's works. Nine is, therefore,

THE NUMBER OF FINALITY OR JUDGMENT,

for judgment is committed unto Jesus as "the Son of man" (John 5:27; Acts 17:31). It marks the completeness, the end and issue of all things as to man—the judgment of man and all his works.

It is a factor of 666, which is 9 times 74.

The gematria of the word "Dan," which means a judge, is 54 (9x6).

"th orgh mou" (tee orgee mou), my wrath, = 999 (Heb 3:11).[Source: http://philologos.org/__eb-nis/nine.htm ]

The Lord has been testifying that America will be divided and great judgment is coming.

























The repetition of the numbers 2 and 9 denotes a double portion.

Revelation 18:6-8
"Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.' For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.”

The repetition of the numbers also signifies that what is coming will occur quickly.

Genesis 41:32
Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.

Andrew was careful to not set a date for the things to occur that he was hearing from the Lord. He sent me this information that I might test it, seeking a witness from the Lord. I prayed that God might provide a witness if He had something to speak through these things that Andrew was hearing, and I prayed in a very specific way.

I am familiar with the song American Pie, and I knew that it contains a line that is repeated that speaks of “the day the music died.” The song serves as a tribute to three musicians who all suddenly and tragically died in a plane crash. These men were J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. Don McLean refers to the day of the plane crash as the day the music died, for each of these men were up and coming musicians who had already scored very popular hits, and there was much anticipation that they would produce more music for many years to come. However, all the potential and promise of these men was cut-off in a single moment of time.




















As I considered Andrew’s words, I prayed and asked the Lord that if He were speaking through the things Andrew had asked me to test that He would affirm it by bringing me a further witness of the music dying. Three days later a Continental Express flight crashed as it was approaching Buffalo, New York and all aboard were killed. This was a parallel event to that which inspired Don McLean to write American Pie. Not only was there a fatal plane crash, but the news has been reporting on the identity of those onboard the flight who died. Among them were a number of musicians.

Susan Wehle, age 55, has been described as a Jewish Cantor at Temple Beth Am in Williamsville, NY. Before this she was the cantorial soloist at Temple Sinai in nearby Amherst for 9 ½ years. She also taught musical workshops.

Coleman Mellett, age 33 was an accomplished jazz guitarist. He was a touring member of trumpeter Chuck Mangione’s band. The group was to perform Friday night (February 13) at the Kleinhaus Music Hall with the Buffalo Philharmonic.

Gerry Niewood was a childhood friend of Chuck Mangione and had been making music with him since the two were children. Gerry Niewood played saxophone, clarinet and flute for some of the biggest names in pop music, including Peggy Lee, Simon and Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Frank Sinatra and Sinead O’Connor. He also played on the soundtracks for a number of movies, including A Bronx Tale, When Harry Met Sally and King of Comedy.

When I read about those who had perished in this flight, I was reminded of my prayer just a couple days previous to this event, that the Lord would provide a witness to the theme of the song American Pie. The parallels are unmistakable, and the Spirit is testifying that the music is about to silenced, and the sounds of celebration in America will be heard no more.

The other lines that Andrew noted are equally prophetic. Bad news will appear on the doorsteps of every American household. Men will stagger about until they feel that they cannot take one more step.

The Spirit of Christ recently showed me through two parallel events where different people experienced prophetic occurrences, that the location of the event bears much significance. In both instances the person was driving through a residential neighborhood and the understanding given to me by the Spirit was that what was experienced related to a person’s home life.

Similarly, the location of the crash of the Continental Connections flight is very symbolic. The plane came down in a residential neighborhood, crashing squarely into the center of a home, killing one man, while two women escaped with injuries. The results on the ground are symbolic of what will also occur in households throughout America. Some will perish, while some will escape with injury. The house was totally destroyed and all possessions were lost, and so too will millions of Americans lose all the accumulated possessions of a lifetime.

The neighborhood has been described as an idyllic, quiet community of great beauty and charm. Yet in a moment of time it was reduced to a fiery disaster scene. Two square miles have been sealed off around the crash site, and many residents were forced to leave their homes. The mother and daughter who escaped from the house that was hit did so wearing socks on their feet. So swift will be that which is coming that many people will have no time to prepare. They will look only to escaping with their lives.

The crash killed the man, destroyed the home, and left one a widow and another fatherless. The Psalmist writes prophetically of the judgment to fall upon the wicked.

Psalms 109:9-10
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.

There have been a myriad of significant multiples of 11 and 22 in this event. Jill Wielinski, the young woman who escaped the house into which the plane crashed was 22 years old. There were 44 passengers on board the plane. Among the passengers was Beverly Eckert, a 9-11 widow and activist. Susan Wehle, the Jewish Cantor was 55 years old. Coleman Mellett, the jazz guitarist was 33. Allison Des Forges, another victim who died in the crash, was a senior adviser for Human Rights Watch and she had testified at 11 trials at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She was 66 years old. Madeline Loftus, another who perished on the plane, played ice hockey where she had scored 11 goals in two seasons at St. Mary’s. Reporters interviewed her 22 year old brother Frankie. Rebecca Shaw, the flight’s first officer had flown 2,244 hours with the carrier.

As I have often reported on the number 11, its Biblical significance is that of disintegration and disorder.

Eleven

If ten is the number which marks the perfection of Divine order, then eleven is an addition to it, subversive of and undoing that order. If twelve is the number which marks the perfection of Divine government, then eleven falls short of it. So that whether we regard it as being 10 + 1, or 12 - 1, it is the number which marks disorder, disorganization, imperfection, and disintegration.
[Source: http://philologos.org/__eb-nis/eleven.htm ]

On 9-11 divine judgment brought forth disorder and disintegration suddenly, as planes crashed into the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. This was a warning call to America that she repent, but she has not wanted to repent. The same things that characterized Sodom before it was judged characterize America today.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.”

America has become sated upon material blessing, abundance of food, and has had careless ease. In this condition she has given herself to a pursuit of wickedness and has committed abominations while ignoring the plight of the poor and needy. Righteousness and justice have been despised. Yahshua described the day of the judgment of Sodom in the following way:

Luke 17:28-29
"It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”

Did not fire fall from the sky on the day of the plane crash in Buffalo? In a single moment the house it crashed into was destroyed and set ablaze. One on the ground was killed and two escaped with injury. It will be just the same on the day that the Lord is revealed.

Luke 17:30-35
"It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let not the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house go down to take them away; and likewise let not the one who is in the field turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two men in one bed; one will be taken, and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken, and the other will be left.”

Are we not seeing the same images in the events which are occurring? People are having to flee for their lives. They are having to go with only that which is on their backs, for to turn back would mean certain death.

Many are teaching fables about the day on which the Son of Man is revealed. They have adopted views of being raptured out of this earth, and are actually looking forward to that day. Can one not discern from the context of this passage that the Day of the Lord will not be the pleasant fairy tale that many have portrayed it to be. It is compared to the days of Noah and the days of Lot. When men are at ease, pursuing worldly things, and giving themselves to pleasure and abominations, then the Lord will be revealed in fiery judgment. This judgment must begin at the house of God, and it will be with difficulty that the righteous is saved. What then will become of the godless man and the sinner?

Amos 5:18-24
Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?”

“I hate, I despise your festivals, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Yes, this is the day which is at hand. What is coming will arrive as swiftly as fire falling from heaven. Abundant warnings have been given, but like the sons-in-law of Lot, the urgent requests to flee from the wrath of God have seemed to the people as jesting. Therefore, they will be as unprepared for what falls upon them as was the family in the home into which the plane crashed.

Genesis 19:14-15
And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, "Up, get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city." But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

It is significant that one who died in the Buffalo plane crash was a singer of religious songs. God will silence the songs of His people, for He takes no delight in that which is not accompanied with righteousness and justice. He will bring an end to the music which is heard in the land. Only when His people turn back to the paths of righteousness and justice will He once more have any regard for their songs. Then He will raise up righteous Psalmists after the pattern of David. These will offer to Him praises that arise from clean hands and a pure heart.

Isaiah 24:6-10
Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. The new wine mourns, the vine decays, all the merry-hearted sigh. The gaiety of tambourines ceases, the noise of revelers stops, the gaiety of the harp ceases. They do not drink wine with song; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of chaos is broken down; every house is shut up so that none may enter.

There are few trumpeters of greater renown than Chuck Mangione. It was members of his band that were killed. One was renowned for his skill on a stringed instrument. Another was a flute-player. Listen to the words written of the judgment to come to Babylon, that mystic land of idolatry and merchandising.

Revelation 18:21-22
"Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer.”

The horsemen are coming. Death and destruction are at hand. The sound of music will no longer be heard in the land.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
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Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063