WATCH!
Are we not — one and all — all called to stand and watch? Which is to keep our eyes forever open, searching; and our ears permanently attentive, listening; and our hearts always alert, vigilant? Being those who know both the times and the seasons? Being those who stand in constant vigil upon the living walls of Jerusalem, watching both by day and by night?
For if we do stand and watch, are we not promised that we will find favour and standing in the eyes of God and man? For is it not written: “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.” Proverbs 8:34. And is a man who is blessed not one who has found favour and standing in the eyes of both God and man?
For are we not called to be a nation and a company of watchmen? Which are those who keep a constant watch, taking no rest? For is Israel not a type and a pattern of being a watchman and a trumpet unto and for all the nations? Which are all those who are called to watch, who stand on the tall rampart and the high gates so that at the first gleam of dawn, they may raise the trumpet? For has the Lord not said: “And I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' Jeremiah 6:17.
For do we not read of this deliberate and explicit appointment for the son of man in the book of Ezekiel? “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.” Ezekiel 3:17. For is it not written in Isaiah: “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves.” Isaiah 62:6.
And what precisely are we all called to watch for? And to warn our neighbour of? Is it not unto the first sign of morning that we are to turn and to cast our eyes and ears upon, and wait for expectantly? And of the morning, what is it to watch for the coming of the morning? Is it not to watch for the coming of the Son of Man? Which is to look to the east to the high hill from which our help comes? Psalm 121:1.
And of my soul, is it not unto thee, O LORD, that I lift up my soul? Psalm 25:1. For “My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130:6. For do we not read: “The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, and I said, 'Have you seen him whom my soul loves?'” Song of Songs 3:3.
And like the coming of the morning, shall the coming of the Son of Man not begin like the first gleam of dawn shining ever brighter until the full light of day? For is it not said that: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18. And just like the first sign of morning emerges as a glimmer of light in the east, shall the coming of the Son of Man not likewise also come from the east? “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27.
For is the great mandate of watching and being ready not also found in the pattern and the similitude of both the wise virgins and of the three wise men? Did they not all stand on the hills of Ephraim and look unto the times and the seasons for the first sign of the coming of the Son of Man? And at that first sign, did they not all joyfully declare, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God? “For there will be a day when watchmen on the hills of Ephraim call out, 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'" Jeremiah 31:6.
And for all those who stand on the rampart and watch, that they may raise their trumpet at the coming of the Lord, declaring unto all who shall take heed and hear, that the great day of the Lord has come, shall that not be the day when we shall all see with our own eyes Zion restored? “Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, they shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes when the LORD restores Zion.” Isaiah 52:8.
And when it comes to the pattern of watching, is Jesus Himself not the great watchman? The great intercessor? Who is even at the right hand of God, standing on the rampart of His Father’s high house, watching, making intercession for us? Ready to raise His trumpet at the sound of His Father’s command? Revelation 8:2. For does He not stand at His guard post? And station Himself on the rampart? And will He not keep watch to see what His Father will speak to Him? And how He may reply when asked? Habakkuk 2:1.
For shall He not be asked by His Father in heaven: “Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?" And shall this watchman then not say, "Morning comes but also night.” Isaiah 21:11-12. Which is “the morning” and “the night” that will come simultaneously upon all the earth at the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord (Acts 2:20). Which is at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Where “the morning” will be the “great result” for some of His grace extended. Which is the light reserved for the redeemed and the glorified. Whereas “the night” will be the “terrible result” for some of His wrath being poured out. Being the terrible and dark day of judgment for all on the earth who refused to accept the redemption and the glory of the light.
The Lord Jesus repeatedly emphasises the necessity of "watching" relative to His coming again. If we would take note of His specific words in Mark 13:33-37: "Take heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch therefore: for you know not when the master of the house comes, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all. WATCH."
And of such a time as this, and of the times and seasons, which is a time and a season to stand and watch, to be ready, shall we not all soon hear the sound of the great seventh trumpet sounding very soon? “Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; surely it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” Joel 2:1-2.
But for others, shall this not be a day of great joy? For the sounding of the seventh trumpet also signals God’s answer to the prayer, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. Which is the trumpet that announces the great day of the anointing of the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. Our God. Being the answer to prayer of God sweeping through all the earth finishing His mighty work of reclaiming all of creation from the thief and usurper, Satan.
Which is when the walls of Babylon will all come down. In a pile of rubble and ruin. And when the walls of Zion shall all go up. In glittering gold.
"You are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us WATCH and be sober."
I Thessalonians 5:5-6