Watchman, What of the Night that Cometh?*

In these times, the end times before the return of Jesus Christ, the spiritual watchman plays an important role. Isaiah was prophesying about the judgments against the nations when the Word of the LORD regarding watchmen came forth: "The burden of Duma. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? While Duma in this case refers to the nation of Esau, called Idumea, there is a spiritual application of this prophecy as well that goes beyond this specific nation. From the Apocrypha, 2 Esdras 6:7-9, Ezra wrote that during birth, when Jacob grabbed the heel of his twin Esau, a parting of the times occurred. Esau represented the end of the first world and time, while Jacob represented the coming of the second new world and time. Esau represented those things that were to pass away, the things of the flesh. The question here that was put to the watchman in these verses from Isaiah above was about the night that is coming. Jesus said: "I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:4-5). Jesus is no longer in the world, but He called us, who are still in the world, to be the light of the world. However, there is a night coming when no man can work. The prophet Ezekiel warned in another place that the watchman has a grave responsibility when he sees the sword coming. The watchman must blow the trumpet, sounding the alarm. If a man does not heed the alarm, then the watchman is not responsible for the blood of the man who ignored the warning. If the watchman fails to sound the alarm when he sees the sword coming upon the land, the blood of those whom he should have warned will be upon his hands (Ezek. 33:3-6). Jesus has called us to be watchmen. As He was telling His disciples of the events that would take place at the end of the age before His return, Jesus said: "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Mt. 24:33-36). Jesus also said that as happened in the days of Noah, the people thought that life would seemingly go on without change right up until the shocking moment when Noah was shut into the ark, and the earth was flooded, and those lives were lost. Jesus warned that as happened then, men will not expect that moment of terror to occur, even when they see signs of its approach. When He returns, Jesus said, at a moment men do not expect, some will be taken and some will be left. So Jesus told His disciples: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (v. 37-42). The word "watch" used by Jesus is written as the Greek word gregoreo meaning "arouse, refrain from sleep, be vigilant, watch, keep awake". Do not fall into the deception that everything will continue as it is now. This will not get you into the kingdom. Before His arrest and death, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane (meaning "oil press") to pray. "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mt. 26:36-41). Jesus had prophesied to His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem where He would be put to death. He told His disciples this night in the garden there in Jerusalem that He felt a very heavy burden in His heart, even to death. Yet they could not keep awake to pray for even an hour. The flesh is in charge when we are not watching. Is your spirit born again? Is it watching? As Jesus told His disciples about the end time signs in Luke 21, He said: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). Stay awake, be ready, be vigilant, not caught up in the cares of life, or even in some churches' agendas of success and prosperity. God does want His people to be well and prosper, but it is as our souls prosper, according to scripture. It is not about how many are in your church. This is how the world measures, not God. The apostle Paul called the elders of the church at Ephesus to gather to him. He knew that in his upcoming travels, he would be arrested and put in chains. This prophetic word had been given to him previously, and he also knew it directly from the Lord. He wanted to pass instructions to these elders, because he knew it was the last time he would meet with them in person. Paul said regarding what lay ahead of him: "But none of these things move me, neither I count my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify of the gospel of the grace of God...Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20:17-31). Paul spoke to these elders as a spiritual watchman, having faithfully warned them, and continuing to give a last warning here about spiritual wolves, and even those among the elders themselves who would try to draw disciples away to themselves speaking perverse things. He told them that because he has been a faithful watchman "I am pure from the blood of all men". These elders were to become the watchmen now. As watchmen, Paul commends them to God, "and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (v. 32). The apostle Peter also instructed the church: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:6-8). The devil is depicted here as a roaring lion. Only old, toothless lions roar while hunting. The young lions silently stalk their prey. Nevertheless, the instruction to us here is to "be vigilant", or continually watchful. We are to resist the devil in the faith (v. 9). God's desire is that we be made perfect, established, strengthened and settled through Him by Jesus Christ (v. 10). Spiritually, our citizenship is of the Kingdom of God, not of this world, so be transformed by the Word of God. Do not be conformed to this world, as we are seeing so many so-called Christians doing, instead of being the warning watchmen that God's Word requires us to be: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity." (1 Cor. 16:13-14). Do not conform to the divisive violence and hatred of the world, but do all with charity - warning others as faithful watchmen that the night is coming. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/24/21 message to the church. 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