Heed the Warning of the Watchman

In ancient times, it was a common practice to have a watchman who looked over a city, a village, or perhaps even the crops of a small community. Just what was the role of a watchman? Well, it was the watchman's job to give a warning if the city or village or crops were being threatened in any way, of course, to intervene as he could as well. Oftentimes, there would be a watchtower on one of the city walls where the watchman would have his post. The watchman was critical to the safety of the city, of the crops, of the livestock, perhaps, of a village or a community.

Now, we might ask ourselves, how does God use the role of a watchman to warn and to teach us today?

Does God use a watchman today? What does it mean for the work of God today as this world comes even closer to the Day of the Lord and the return of our Savior Jesus Christ? We're going to be observing trumpets on Thursday. The seventh trumpet shall sound, and Christ will return.

Who are God's watchmen today? It's vital that we understand the answer to these questions. As events grow increasingly tense in a rapidly changing world, we just don't really know what we're going to hear when we wake up in the morning and turn on the TV set for Fox News or CNN or whatever it is you listen to. We really don't know. Perhaps someday soon we'll hear about a strike on Syria, and then we may hear about a retaliation toward Israel. And who knows where that could lead? It could escalate very quickly. We just don't know what's going to happen.

In the next several days, months, or years, it could have a very profound effect on the course or direction in leading to fulfillment of many of the Bible prophecies that we read about.

So we do live in a very volatile world. We know that there are certain prophecies that will be fulfilled. God has given us these prophecies. We know that there are some very tumultuous and cataclysmic times that will come upon the earth before the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, the return of Jesus Christ. So today's sermon is entitled, Heed the Warning of the Watchmen.

Heed the Warning of the Watchmen. And to heed does not mean just to listen, but to heed means to actually do something about it. We know the Scripture tells us we are not to be hearers only, but we are to be doers. So the watchman has something to say. We should listen to him, and we should heed his warning. Now, some years ago, I think maybe in 2007, Mr. Darris McNeely gave a couple of Beyond Today telecasts on this subject about the watchman and the role of the watchman. There were also a couple articles that were written in the Good News magazine around that time. Now, let's go to Ezekiel chapter 3, and let's consider what God says to Ezekiel in regards to being a watchman. Ezekiel chapter 3. Ezekiel chapter 3, let's read verse 17.

Ezekiel chapter 3 verse 17. Speaking to Ezekiel, he says, Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. So Ezekiel the prophet was considered a watchman. You are a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore, hear a word from my mouth and give them warning from me. This was a message from God himself. Ezekiel was just the spokesman. He was the messenger. When I say to the wicked, you shall surely die, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life. That same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. So the watchman would be held responsible if he didn't do his job. If he didn't proclaim that people needed to repent of their sins and people needed to draw close to God, then he would be held accountable for that.

Yet, in verse 19, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, and in other words, a temptation before him, and he shall die because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. So this is a man who did not repent of his sin. This was a man who sinned and was going in that direction. Nevertheless, if you warn the righteous man that the righteous man should not sin, and he does not sin because he listens to the message, he heeds the message, he does something about it, he resists temptation, and he does that which is right and good. He shall surely live because he took warning. Also, you will have delivered your soul.

So that's quite a message to the watchman, to Ezekiel. No doubt, Ezekiel was driven to do his job to be a prophet, as was Jeremiah, who was called the doomsday prophet. There were times when Jeremiah really didn't want to do his job, but he knew he had to do his job because he would be held accountable as well. So this is one of the most intriguing metaphors used by God in all of prophecy. That is, the prophet as a watchman. It is repeated in chapter 33, for example, and we're not going to take the time to go there. It's very similar to what we've read here, but it is a repeat for emphasis that God wants us to understand the message of the watchman and the warning of the watchman. It sets the stage for Ezekiel's ministry to the divided houses of Judah and Israel.

So the watchman was a key figure in ancient society. In the ancient world of agrarian societies, large watchtowers were often placed overlooking the fields. There in the weeks that the crops were ripening toward harvest, men would stand watch. They would guard the fields from animals or from thieves who would make off with the crops because the community's basic food stores were at stake, and the watchman's role was critical for the well-being of the townspeople and of the farmers and so forth. So we find in the Bible several references in Scripture to a watcher or a watchman mounting the city walls in times of stress, in times of possible warfare or some kind of danger. They would go on the outside of the walls to survey the scene outside the fortifications. The watchman was situated on a spot from which he could monitor also the approaches to the town. If a threat appeared, he would sound a warning, oftentimes a trumpet blast, and the town would shut its gates, and it would then prepare for battle. You can also imagine the watcher or the watchman standing vigil at other times, observing daily life, just being there in case something were to develop. The watchman could see much of the activity in the streets and in the markets.

The watchman came to know the people. Oftentimes, these were rather small communities. He knew the people. He knew their work. He knew their habits. He knew their lifestyle. He knew what they might be doing at any certain given time of the day. If his position was near the city gate, he could also observe the business of the city that was transacted by its officials at the city gate. So the watchman became keenly aware of what was going on. And, of course, if there were suspicious characters or suspicious situations developing, he would be on high alert. No wonder God uses the role of the watchman to illustrate the job of the prophets that he sent to comment, first of all, on the behavior of the society. Were they pleasing to God or were they sinning against God? That was one of his main jobs. How were the people behaving? Also, he was to deliver messages of warning and instruction. Focusing on the Old Testament prophets helps us understand the full meaning of the symbolism of a watchman. Now, we saw in Ezekiel 3 verses 17 through 20 or 21 that a watchman would be held accountable for doing his job. He was to deliver God's message. He was to tell people the laws of God. And what sin was, sin was the breaking of those laws. Sin is the transgression of those laws. So he was to pronounce that and he was to announce when he would see things going the wrong direction, which he often did. And God would tell him, tell these people to repent of their wicked ways. Tell them to return to me. That was the job of the prophets. That was the job of the watchman. And we see that at times the watchman could even motivate people to stay firm to the faith. A choice that would vindicate the prophets' work. It would make it all worthwhile when the prophet would see people heed the warning. So it wasn't just a strident message that the prophet was sent to give. It wasn't just a negative message about sin and about turning from sin. It was also a very positive message about following God and obeying God and serving God and doing those things that were pleasing to God.

The prophet was to show the benefits. There are blessings in keeping God's commandments. God's Word shows that there are curses for disobedience and there are blessings for obedience. And it was the prophet's job to reiterate these things to the people.

Now we might ask, in Ezekiel's case, did he deliver the warning message to the house of Israel? Well, it's interesting to consider that Ezekiel was among the captives from the nation of Judah taken to Babylon during the first siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC.

I believe there were two other sieges before Jerusalem fell.

So Ezekiel was a contemporary of Daniel. He was in captivity near Babylon. The nation of Israel, the northern ten-tribe kingdom, had been taken away captive into Assyria and Media more than 120 years earlier. The house of Israel was to hear the message, but their sins had already caused them to go into captivity. Now it is possible that part of this message was to go to some in Judah as well, because oftentimes it's used interchangeably. And we can't be certain that it was only to the house of Israel, but it does say that the message was to the house of Israel, who had been taken captive some 120 years earlier. So it leaves us with the question, is there to be a future fulfillment of this prophecy? Because God doesn't do anything for no reason. So is there to be a latter fulfillment? We know that prophecy is often dual. There is oftentimes an earlier prophetic fulfillment and then a latter one just before the return of Christ.

And that is most likely exactly what this message that Ezekiel brings. In fact, there are many prophetic verses in the book of Ezekiel showing that he's talking about Christ's return and the millennial reign of Christ. He's speaking of the kingdom of God to come. So this message was surely for a time even yet in the future. It's certainly for us. We are to heed the words of the Lotchmen. We are to heed the prophet Ezekiel's words, and we are to repent of our sins as well. We should take these things seriously. We should study them. We should live by every word of God, including Ezekiel's words, to the children of Israel, because we are indeed the spiritual children of Israel today. So the answer must be that God's message does have a direct application to the modern descendants of these ancient peoples. Ezekiel was among the Jewish captives near Babylon. There is no indication that he went to the northern tribes of Israel in his day.

Now, we might ask ourselves again, what will the Watchmen say? Let's look closer at what a Watchman is to do by bringing in what Isaiah the prophet tells us about those who preach the gospel of peace. Isaiah is a very, very uplifting book. Isaiah has a lot to say that's very, very positive about God's kingdom, about the Messiah, about the return of Jesus Christ, and the establishment of the government and kingdom of God. The role of a Watchman is not limited to speaking only about the sins and problems of society, but the Watchman was also charged with proclaiming good news about salvation. Let's see this here in Isaiah 52. Isaiah 52. As we approach these holy days, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Last Great Day, it's good to review these scriptures in regard to a Watchman and what God is doing with a Watchman today. In Isaiah 52, verse 7, here it says, "...how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaim salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns, your Watchman shall lift up their voices. With their voices they shall sing together." This is a very uplifting picture here of Watchmen lifting up their voices together in these end days. Watchmen shall lift up their voices. With their voices, they shall sing together. For they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion." When God restores Jerusalem, it's going to be an extremely uplifting, positive, gorgeous, beautiful time when Christ's kingdom is established here on this earth. And there will be Watchmen who will lift up their voices. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, can you imagine all of them lifting up their voices seen eye to eye because they are among the firstfruits. They will be resurrected in the first resurrection and there will be many Watchmen and no doubt you will likely be among them.

Think of that, lifting up your voice with Ezekiel and Jeremiah and Isaiah and Daniel and Hosea and Joel and Amos and Obadiah and the prophets of old because we too are called to be Watchmen today. The Church of God is to be a Watchman. The firstfruits are to be Watchmen. We have a responsibility not only to heed the voice of the Watchmen, but to be the Watchmen. It is important that we understand that. Not only are we to heed the voice of the Watchmen, we are to join in and be the voice of the Watchmen. We'll see that as we go along here.

Bring forth into joy. Sing together. You waste places of Jerusalem because this world is going to be devastated. Jerusalem is going to be devastated. There will be waste places all around the earth. For the Lord has comforted His people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. When everything is as dark as could possibly be, Christ is coming back. Christ is coming back to keep this whole earth from being wiped out, all peoples being wiped off the face of the earth. Christ is coming back then, and that is going to be a glorious time. People will see the salvation of God. They're going to fight against Christ. Many of them, the enemies of Christ, will fight against Him. But that rebellion will be quickly put down, and then people will see the salvation of the Eternal. Things will begin to change dramatically for the better. So it is going to get very dark before the dawn, before Christ's return, but it is good to know that the dawn is coming. Christ is returning.

To Jerusalem and the land of Israel, God says the watchman will hold a vigil day and night for the peace of the people. There will be a vigil held day and night. Let's see this in Isaiah 62. Isaiah 62.

Isaiah 62. We're going to see here that there will be a group of people who will be charged basically with a prayer vigil for the well-being of Israel, for the well-being of God's people. Isaiah 62.6. I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem. Isaiah 62.6. They shall never hold their peace day or night. In other words, they're going to be on the job day and night. There will be shifts. There will be watchmen continually watching for the welfare of Jerusalem and for God's people. They shall never hold peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord do not keep silent. Continue to talk about God. Those of you who are children of God, continue to talk about God. Do not keep silent and give him no rest until he establishes until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. To me, this tells us that there is a people now living on the earth who are to be continually offering up prayers for the return of Jesus Christ and for the establishment of the government and kingdom of God. Christ came and He gave us a motto prayer. He said, "'Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'" He's saying we need to fervently pray this prayer and give God no rest until He sends His Son back.

We who understand what God is doing, we are to collectively go to God in prayer. We are to individually go to God in prayer. And we are to pray faithfully and fervently, "'Thy kingdom come.'" God wants us to get involved. He wants us to be like Joseph. Joseph was a man who was very dedicated to God. Mr. Morello talked about the example of Joseph. We need to follow the example of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph, and we need to be like them. And Daniel, who prayed three times a day and prayed fervently for God's kingdom to be established and for the people of Israel to be free. To be free at last. Free through the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the government and kingdom of God, the truth of God will make us free.

So, getting back here to Isaiah 62, verse 7, And give him no rest till he establishes and till he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The Lord is sworn by his right hand and by the arm of his strength. Surely I will no longer give your grain as food for your enemies, and the sons of the foreigners shall not drink your new wine for which you have labored. But those who have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord. Those who have brought it together shall drink it in my holy courts.

Go through the gates, prepare the way for the people, build up and build up the highway, take out the stones, and lift up a banner for the peoples. Indeed, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world, say to the daughter of Zion, Surely your salvation is coming. Behold, his reward is with him and his work before him, and they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the eternal, and you shall be called sought out, a city not forsaken. We are to be that new Jerusalem in the sense that we are to be God's church today, God's people today, and we will be a people who will be redeemed when Christ returns. Those of us who are in the grave will be resurrected first, and those of us who are alive will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, and we shall be redeemed no longer physical and fleshly, now born of spirit, no longer capable of sin. We will have no desire to sin. We will be like God, as the Scripture says. We will see Christ as he is, and we will be like him. So that is a marvelous time that is coming.

In the meantime, we are to pray for these days. We are to pray for this time, this return of Christ, to this earth, and God's government and kingdom being established. These passages in Isaiah paint an image of godly people who are given a unique vision into the world of today and the world to come. I do believe that we do have a unique vision. Those of us who have been a part of the church for very long at all, we have a unique vision. We don't see things as most people do, because we have understanding, we've been educated, we have knowledge, and so we look at things differently. We see things differently. We see news items a bit differently. We wonder how it's going to apply to biblical prophecy. And we long for the return of Christ and the establishment of the government and the kingdom of God. And just as importantly, we sigh and cry for the abominations that we see on the earth today. When we listen to the radio or tune in to news on TV, we should sigh and cry when we hear about all the heartache that so many people are suffering with because of man's inhumanity to man and what we are doing to each other because of sin.

It is sin that is causing all the problems here on this earth.

So we are to be a unique people with a unique vision.

When we look at the world today and when we consider the world to come, we understand the universal application of the gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God. That's why we preach it so faithfully and fervently with our kingdom of God seminars, with our Beyond Today telecast going out many, many times a year discussing this very thing, the return of Christ, the establishment of God's kingdom and the kingdom of God, and also crying aloud and sparing not and telling people in this world about their sins. If you haven't been listening to the Beyond Today telecast, I would encourage you to do that because there are some very strong messages that are being put out there. And if you'll pick up the Good News magazine or booklets, you will see it is a strong message. It is not a weak message. Maybe not. Most people aren't yet tuned into that message, but it's nevertheless still a very strong message. And one day this strong message will no doubt it will bring some notoriety upon us.

The time is not yet. The time is not here. But who knows how long it will be before we are better known? Certainly when the two witnesses are here on the earth, people will come to understand that there were a people on earth who understood these things, that two witnesses are prophesying about and explaining and describing and teaching people about. So they will certainly get the attention of the world if we don't manage to do that before the two witnesses come on the scene. So we do have a unique vision. We see the reuniting of the tribes of Israel in the Promised Land is just the beginning of the times of restoration that's spoken of by Peter in Acts chapter 3. Now we'll go there. We're not going to go there right now. We'll turn to that Scripture a bit later. Brethren, we are to be a people, the elect of God, the firstfruits who have insight into the world at the end of the age. We are to have insight. We should see things much differently than most people do. We see the dark gathering clouds on the world's horizon that spell the end of Satan's reign. Satan is now the God of this world, that his reign is numbered. His days are numbered. When we keep the Day of Atonement, we picture Satan being bound by Christ, not able to influence for a thousand years.

That'll be awesome because Satan has been loose for a good many years now, and it'll be nice to put him away where he belongs. So we do look at things differently. We are a people who, frankly, need to mount the walls of society and shout a warning to any who are willing to listen.

Now collectively, we have that responsibility as the Church of God. We in the United Church of God believe that's our commission. Our commission is to cry aloud, and spare not, and lift up our voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. That is something we believe we need to be doing, and we are doing that. Hopefully, God will give us greater strength in the days ahead so that more people will listen, and more people will respond to that message. But we do believe that we do have this commission, and we are striving to fulfill that commission as a church, as a people. Individually, I believe we also need to consider what we can do individually. If there is someone out there who is receptive and needs to have a warning message, perhaps you are the one to give it to them. Now you'll have to use wisdom in how you approach it if you're to be successful. But if indeed there is somebody that God may be calling that you come in contact with, then are you going to be a watchman for them? Or are you just going to miss an opportunity to give an answer of the hope that lies within you? Scripture tells us we should be ready to give an answer. I don't think we need to go door-to-door. I don't think we need to preach on the street corners. But I do believe that when someone that we know comes in contact with us and is asking questions or seems to be somewhat responsive, then we really should be able to give them the nourishment that they're looking for. Now there may not be anyone like that in your life. I don't know. I frankly don't know if God's calling anyone around you, anyone in your family, anyone that you might work with. There's no way to know. But I do know that we are told to be ready to give an answer. So to me, that means give an answer if the opportunity arises. And don't shrink back. Don't be timid. And know your Bibles well enough so that you can actually go into the Bible and say, well, this is what the Scripture says. So you ought to be a part of this watchman yourself, this end-time watchman. I think we all need to take some responsibility and not just leave it up to the other person. It is easy to just say, well, that's the job of the Beyond Today team. Well, it is their job. And I believe they're trying to fulfill that job. But in a smaller way, you could also make a difference. So let's certainly be willing to share with people that we're going to keep God's Holy Days. That's what we're doing. We observe the Sabbath. It's not just some vacation that we take off every year and keep. It is God's Holy Days. And if they ask you about it, then tell them a little bit more. And if they continue to press you and ask until they get argumentative, until it's obvious that they're just trying to pick a fight, then be willing to let them know the reason of the hope that lies within you. Why you do what you do. Now, certainly God is sovereign, and He is going to bring a time of judgment on the world to prove that He alone is God. You know, you read that over and over, so that you will know that I am the Eternal. Now, God really does want people to come to know who He is. Now, He's biting His time, but there's a day coming when He's no longer going to be biting His time.

It's going to be very obvious that God is acting in miraculous ways. So, I know we look forward to that time. In the meantime, we need to do our part as God's people to proclaim the Word of God.

Now, this message includes teaching that will show any who listen the way to peace and prosperity in their lives. It will show the true teaching of God and the way to salvation. Now, we had a brand new family come to church in Tulsa today. They just heard about us, like a week or two ago, on the Internet. And it was actually a couple with a grandson, and it was the grandson's mother who was the one that came to them and said, we really ought to be keeping the Sabbath on Saturday, not Sunday. And so, her father got on the Internet and started looking for Sabbath-keeping churches. And he called me this earlier in the week. He was there today. And he left with about six or seven or eight booklets. And he said he was going to start tithing. And he seemed very genuinely interested. So, it'll be interesting to see all that pans out. But God is not finished working with people. He's not done.

It's not a work is being done. So, don't think that there isn't a single thing going on, because people are being changed. Some people's lives are being changed dramatically, and will continue to be changed because the watchman is doing his job. The watchman needs to continue to do his job. There are many aspects of the watchman. Certainly, the two witnesses will be perhaps the greatest of all watchmen. God charges this group today to watch for the safety of the city and its citizens for Israel, for the whole world, in a sense. These special servants, the firstfruits, understand the dangers in the present world. They see the dark clouds again that are gathering around us, and we are moved to proclaim a warning message to all who will hear us. That is our job, to get the message out. You know, we've been going down to Aida now for several months, and we've had a few. A couple, one or two or three. It's quite a few man hours that we're putting into this, but we're doing our job. You know, we're trying to make a difference, and it is making a difference with some people. Not a lot of people. We'd like to see the whole building filled with people other than our church members. We've seen a few come.

I'd like to see a whole lot more. Maybe if we just continue to be faithful, God will bring the blessings in due time. You know, I was thinking if just one new family would show up every month, like this couple that talked to me, just one a month. I mean, we would begin to grow rapidly again. You know, it wouldn't take that much to make a huge difference. And if they would start coming every week, then we would really have something on our hands. You know, back in the 60s, that was happening. I mean, ministers were getting responses, and every week they were getting three or four or five requests. I mean, God was certainly more active in calling people at that time. Now, we may see a return of that. I hope we do. I think it'll be very exciting. I think it would be something that we could all certainly appreciate in a great way. I don't know if that's going to happen or not. Time will tell. But let me ask you, do you see yourself in this group of watchmen? Do you see yourself as a watchman? Is there a role for you among those who watch today's world and yearn to make it better? Now, of course, we are to be watchmen who are balanced. We're not supposed to be kooks. I mean, there are some people who, you know, they're crazy. And they don't really see the balance in what I'm saying today, and they go overboard. I'm not suggesting that we go overboard. I'm suggesting we do what the Bible says we ought to do. That's all.

So do you see yourself in this group of watchmen? Is there a role for you among those who watch today's world and yearn to make it better? Putting a number of scriptural commands and principles together, it becomes clear that today's Christians are meant to shoulder this grave responsibility now in the last days. We are called now as first-roots to make a difference in these last days. We are indeed to be a part of that watchman's message. You are to be a part of that watchman's message. First, you are to heed the message yourself. Repent of your sins and act as God would have you in a righteous way. Set a good example for others around you. That is the first thing that you can do. The other thing you can do is to help spread the message as God allows and as God gives you opportunity. We are to share in the role of standing vigil like a watchman of old and showing the way forward through the suffering and evil in much of our world today. There is a lot of suffering out there. When you help someone else, you also preach a very important message of love and compassion.

So that's also a good thing, and people see that.

Now, I mentioned that we are also to be a people who sigh and cry over what we see on the earth today. That's a very important part of having the right attitude as a watchman. Ezekiel was set up as a watchman to the house of Israel. God took Ezekiel's vision back to Jerusalem to observe the lifestyle of those Jews who were left behind when Nebuchadnezzar captured the city and took many captives to Babylon. It seems that the majority of the populace had not learned from the many warnings to change their wicked ways. In Jerusalem, the people continued to worship false gods in strange customs completely different from what God had given their forefathers. Violence in Jerusalem was an everyday occurrence. While in the temple, in the heart of the city and the place representative of the presence of God, Ezekiel saw six men, undoubtedly not men but angels, as we read further, six men approached each carrying a battle axe. One of the angels had a rider's inkhorn. They all came and stood beside the altar. Let's go to Ezekiel 9. And let's continue the story here about these six angels. Ezekiel 9. It's a fascinating story, a prophecy, frankly, of what is yet to happen. Ezekiel 9, verse 1, Then he called in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his battle axe in his hand. A shattering weapon, in my margin says, a shattering weapon, a battle axe in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a rider's inkhorn at his side. They went in and they stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub where it had been to the threshold of the temple. And he, God, called to the man clothed with linen who had the rider's inkhorn at his side. And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it. To the others, he said in my hearing, go after him through the city and kill. Do not let your eyes spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women, but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the elders who were before the temple. So again, this is a prophecy of yet what is to happen before Christ returns. If you read the book of Revelation, you see some devastating plagues that will come upon the earth. Because there will be a difference between those who sigh and cry. They will have a mark upon them.

They will be protected while others will be killed. This is what the Bible says.

So it is important that we have this kind of attitude and approach. We should be moved by the sins that we see in the world today. We should not be duped into thinking like the people of this world. Right now we have a president who endorses gay marriage. God says homosexuality is a sin.

That's what the scripture says. That's what the watchman tells the world.

Abortion is another matter. Abortion is murder. Abortion is a sin. And yet, people say it's some kind of choice. Not good, not bad. It's just a choice. That's not what the scriptures tell us. It says we are murdering innocent babies. And children might be divorced.

So this is the message of the watchman. The watchman is to come out strongly for the truth of God. And there are many other sins. Sexual immorality, whether it's homosexual or heterosexual, it's all sin. And it's against God's law. It's one of the commandments of God. So these are things that all of us should learn to hate. And we should hate that the world makes it laughable. You know, it's easy for us to get drawn in the way the world looks at things. The world is very permissive. Very, very permissive. It permits just about anything. And the young people of today, frankly, the young generation, the teenagers of today, the young adults of today, they've pretty much given up their minds. They've given over their minds to a large degree, to this way of thinking, this permissive way of thinking, that homosexuality is just an alternative lifestyle. It's just a different lifestyle. Right or wrong, it's just a different way of living. You know, we should accept it. That's what we're finding. If you have your eyes open, you should see that. That's where this world is going. It's getting worse and worse. You know, there are marriages now of homosexual couples. In some states, it's legal. You know, it's a sad state of affairs. You should sigh and cry because this is destroying America. It's destroying our land. It's destroying this world, frankly, when we turn against God and say, it's blatant ways. How much longer can God put up with it? So Ezekiel was said as a watchman to tell the people to turn from their wicked ways.

You know, God will spare those who have this kind of an approach and kind of an attitude. Those who sigh and cry and learn to hate sin. God of Whores sin, we must also learn to hate sin.

So what was the distinguishing feature of those who would be protected? It was their active concern for the moral and ethical condition of the society. Not that they were self-righteous, but simply they were striving to be righteous. That's all. They were striving to be righteous. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We know that none of us attain to the complete righteousness of God. We are yet sinners. We still struggle against our flesh. We're still weak. We're still frail. But thankfully, God grants us repentance. And we don't feel good about these things when we commit them. We see them as they are. We admit our sins. And we look for repentance, as David looked for repentance after he was faced with his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, the Hittite, and so forth. That's the kind of attitude God is looking for. We must hate sin. We must hate the consequences of sin. Sin is destroying the earth.

Today, America and Great Britain stand at a crossroads. For more than 200 years, they have dominated the world in virtually every arena of life. As Great Britain retreated from its empire after World War II, America was there to take its place. There was a time when the British Empire did not... the sun did not set on the British Empire. It was so powerful, it was so huge, and it was coming from a little island. Amazing, miraculous, incredible. It was God's blessing because of Abraham, because of Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and even Manasseh. And so, today, we see America as the only real superpower, and yet we see America losing the pride of its power, the strength of its power. America's dominant power is under siege in many sectors. No longer are we... no longer can we really afford to be a lender. We are now a borrower. We are trillions of dollars in debt. It is a sad, sad state of affairs economically here in the United States today. So, who knows when this will bring us to our knees? People cannot continue worshiping the false gods of materialism and self blindly stumbling along in their own righteousness and expect their affluent standard of living to continue. That's what we expect. We've come... it's an entitlement to us to have a two-car garage, maybe a three-car garage, or even a four-car garage.

These are entitlements. This is our young people that are graduating high school and college. They believe they're entitled to all these things. It's going to be a huge disappointment for a lot of people in the days ahead.

God's Word confirms that there will be an accounting. The lesson of history is that any people who corrupt their moral core will eventually fade from power. God calls on America and Great Britain to wake up. We are to wake up. We are to acknowledge our sins and we are to repent before national calamity sets upon us. Now, this is a message that the United Church of God teaches. This is a message that we believe. The message is going out there. It's not a real powerful message at this point. Perhaps someday it will become more powerful. In the book of Amos, Amos the prophet walked into the city of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, and he boldly told the king and city leaders to repent or face captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. God had prophesied about the Assyrians. He pointed to neighboring states that had fallen, and he told them, you are no better than they were. Frankly, we are no better either than many who have gone before us and have fallen before us.

He rebuked those who did not want to hear a message of doom.

To those who stocked their homes with the finest luxury goods in gourmet foods, trusting in their affluence, believing that this affluence was a blessing from God. This was a sign of God's blessing. We're rich, so God must be happy with us. God must be pleased. No, God is blessing us because we are descendants of a man who was faithful, a man who was righteous. And God is loving and compassionate and merciful and gives us many blessings we don't deserve. But eventually, there is a reckoning. There is an accountability for this. Amos came to them. He told them not to trust in materialism. He told them that they should be believing for the affliction of Joseph. Let's see that in Amos 6. The affliction of Joseph.

Amos 6.

Amos 6. Verse 6. Amos 6. Verse 6. He was preaching again in a very rich time in the land. It was a prosperous time. Verse 6. He talks about those who drink wine from bowls. There was so much wine, you didn't need a cup. You just get a big bowl. Drink all you wanted. There was so much abundance and anoint yourselves with the best ointments. But you are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Of course, Joseph was afflicted when he was tossed into prison. But Joseph remained faithful through all of it. Joseph was afflicted a number of times in his life because of Potiphar's wife, as Mr. Morales mentioned. But Joseph was faithful through it all. And so we've been blessed because of Joseph and his willingness to do what is right. He says in verse 7, Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who recline at banquet shall be removed. The Lord God is sworn by himself. The Lord God of hosts says, I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his palaces.

It was those who, the descendants of Jacob, who had turned against God, who were not listening to God, who were not heeding the warnings of the watchmen. So those who grieve and sigh and cry over the sins of mankind are called to a unique role today. They are part of God's elect. They are called to the duty of proclaiming the announcement of the kingdom of God. Again, that message includes the good news of Christ's return to restore all things. Now we see this in Acts chapter 3. Told you we would go there. Acts chapter 3, where it talks about the restoration of all things. Acts chapter 3. Acts chapter 3 verse 19, Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus Christ to his preach to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all of his holy prophets since the world began.

God has been speaking to the prophets for a long time now. God has sent them as watchmen to us.

The message contains a warning to repent and to receive God's blessings or ignore the warning and face the judgment of God. God's judgment is coming upon the earth. It's called the day of the Lord. It's cataloged many, many times in the Bible. It is coming. There will be a year of God's wrath poured out upon this earth. Plague after plague after plague will be poured out because of the sins of mankind and because of the refusal to repent of those sins. Fulfilling this role requires courage, this double-edged message of hope and yet also of some very difficult times prior to Christ's return in the establishment of God's government. The judgment of God upon the earth is coming. So, fulfilling this role does require courage. It requires perseverance. And most of all, it requires a love for God's people and for all of mankind. For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, we too must learn to love the world. It is not a happy thing to see people die. God certainly does not rejoice if the sins are at the death of the wicked. We should not either. In Jeremiah chapter 6, Jeremiah tells us to return to God here in Jeremiah chapter 6.

Jeremiah was a man who was greatly persecuted for the message that he brought, the message that he was called to bring, a message that he didn't always want to bring, but he knew that he would be held accountable if he didn't do it because he was the watchman to the house of Judah. Jeremiah chapter 6 verse 16, stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it. Then you will find rest for your soul. So he's talking about the true path, God's path. But they said, we will not walk in it. We won't go down that path. Also, I set watchmen over you saying, listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, we will not listen. Therefore, hear you nations and know, O congregation, what is among them. Behold, O earth, behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded my words, nor my law, but rejected it. That's very plain, isn't it? It's because of rejection of God's laws. It's because of the transgression of God's laws that God is going to judge the earth. It's because of sin. We are told to come out of sin, and these holy days that we keep, keep us ever mindful of God's plan of salvation. Certainly coming out of sin is an integral part of that plan. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is an integral part of that plan. The return of Christ is an integral part. The binding of Satan is an integral part. The establishment of God's government on the earth for a thousand years is an integral part. And the great white throne judgment period is an integral part of God's plan. We keep God's holy days. Certainly the sacrifice of Christ to begin these days is ever important. So we understand much more than the world understands, because we keep God's days. We keep His holy days. This Thursday we're going to go to church. We're not going to go to school. We're not going to go to work. We're going to go to church, because we understand these things. And we have a commission and a calling to fulfill. Today's watchmen, frankly, they're spoken about in the New Testament.

In fact, Christ told His disciples to watch. Let's go to Mark 13. Mark 13, Luke 21 and Matthew 24 are all prophecies of what is to come before Christ returns. If we go to Mark 13, we could go any of these places, and we would read essentially the same thing. But in Mark 13, notice how the Greek word gregoreo is used. It's the word translated watch. This word means to keep awake, to watch, and to take heed. Through neglect or laziness, we could let down and be overcome with sin, or a sudden calamity could overwhelm us spiritually. So we have to be watching. We have to be vigilant.

Notice in Mark 13, in Jesus' prophecy of the end time, that He urges His disciples six different times to watch and to take heed. Six times in this chapter. To watch during the times leading to His second coming. Now, actually, this is in the context of His death, His crucifixion. He was telling them to pay attention to watch. Let's see that. Actually, we'll get into that in Mark 14. This is a case where He's telling them to watch in regard to His second coming. Let's see that in Mark 13, beginning in verse 5. For many will come in My name, saying, I am He, and will deceive many.

Many will profess Christ. They will profess that Jesus is the Christ, that He is the Messiah, but they will deceive many. In fact, I understand there was a so-called prophet who was prophesying certain things to happen yesterday.

That men would die, that three leaders in the Church of God would die, and that people would begin flocking to Him and to His organization. Now, as far as I know, that hasn't happened. I haven't heard, I haven't gotten any word that that prophecy was fulfilled. So, He is a false prophet. He is prophesied falsely, and He should be labeled a false prophet. And people should quickly leave Him behind, but unfortunately, some won't, because they continue to be deceived. Many will come in My name. They will be deceived. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled, for such things must happen.

But the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrow, but watch out for yourselves. He's saying, look out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them, and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. So in verse 5, I guess we didn't read verse 5, here it says, Jesus answered them when they ask, with a sign of these things that are coming, how will they be fulfilled?

And Christ said, take heed that no one deceives you. Take heed. Listen. Watch and take heed that no one deceives you. And then in verse 9, but watch out for yourselves. And then again, in verse 23, if we'll go to verse 23, but take heed, see I have told you all things beforehand. Take heed. Listen. Be warned. And then again, in verse 33, and also it gives the parable of the fig tree that talks about obviously watching as well.

It doesn't use the word, but we are to watch the signs of the times and what's happening around us. In verse 33, it says, take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. And then in verse 35, watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning.

Thus coming suddenly he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to you all, watch. Watch. Take heed. Pay attention. Listen. Stay awake. That's what we are told to do six times in Mark chapter 13. And then in Mark chapter 14, just before Christ is taken, it shows the weakness of the flesh here, because Christ is in the garden of Gethsemane.

He's with the disciples, Peter, James, and John. And in verse 34, he says to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. He said, stay here and watch. Take heed. Watch. He went a little further and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him, because again, he was flesh. He was a fleshly human being.

He suffered in the same way that we suffer, the same type of emotions, the same weaknesses to some degree, not sins, but human weakness, frailty. And he said, Abba, Father, take... or Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. He did not look forward to the idea of being crucified. He knew what was coming. He knew that he would be disfigured beyond recognition. He knew the prophecies. He knew what was to happen. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will, whatever it is, I'm going to do it, God.

You know that. But humanly, he was not relishing the idea. Then he came and he found them sleeping. He found his disciple sleeping, and he said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Now we're all flesh, and we have that weakness. Of course, we also have God's Spirit. Later on, you see Peter was much stronger then, and the apostles were much stronger when they had God's Spirit.

So when we utilize God's Spirit, we will be much, much stronger than when we don't. If we quench the Spirit of God, then we will be weak, like Peter and like John and like James were here. Watch and pray. Again he went away, and he prayed again, and when he returned, he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.

And he came the third time and said to them, are you still sleeping? Are you still resting? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See my betrayer as at hand.

Judas Iscariot immediately came on the scene while he was still speaking to betray him.

So the disciples were weak. They were fleshly. They were weak. We have to fight that as well. With God's help, we can be overcomers. With God's help, we can have courage. We can have strength.

We can preach powerful sermons like Peter did on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit came upon him.

We can give an answer powerfully, and God will give us the words to say. So don't worry about it. Just prepare yourself now to be ready to give an answer and trust God that he will bring those words to your mouth. By prayer and righteous living, we stay tuned into Jesus Christ. By following His example, we abide with Him.

Now, brethren, in Revelation 16, it describes a massive end-time deception perpetrated by Satan the devil and his demons.

At that time, Satan is going to work through human instruments. We call them the beast and the false prophet.

The beast and the false prophet will gather leaders of the earth to battle against God, to gather themselves at Armageddon, and they will fight against God.

Notice in Revelation 16, I think, verse 16. Let's go to Revelation 16. In this context, we see that Christ is going to return when the beast and the false prophet are stirring people up and they're coming against Him at Armageddon.

Revelation 16.

Verse 16.

And they gathered themselves together to a place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Let's see, that's...

Well, notice verse 15. Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches.

I'm coming as a thief. Blessed are you who watch and keep his garments. Lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

As God's watchman, we are to be clothed with humility, and we are to be clothed with righteousness.

If we are clothed with humility and righteousness, we need not be ashamed. We will not be naked in the end times.

So, brethren, we are to be God's watchman today.

Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments.

Jesus Christ pronounces a blessing for those who, during mankind's darkest moment, are found watching, are found vigilant, and are found crying aloud.

Living a righteous, godly life, the natural byproduct of this close relationship with God, is being alert to religious deception. Believe me, brethren, there will be great deception yet come upon this earth in great ways. When the beast and the false prophet are here, there will be deception unlike any deception ever before. It will be strong delusion. And many people have been deceived in the past. So, we must be strong. We must be close to God so that we will not be deceived.

And the way to be strong is to be watching, is to be vigilant, is to be a watchman.

Our world is moving toward this time of global cataclysm. It's coming upon the earth. How soon? We don't know, but certainly soon. We need to be preparing ourselves now. Revelation 16 describes a future moment when people will be caught up in events engineered through the beast and the false prophet. Of course, the beast is a political leader of compelling personality and charisma and ability. And then the false prophet is going to be able to work signs and wonders. People will be deceived. He will be a religious leader, unlike any that we've ever seen. Together, they're going to convince armies to move toward Jerusalem to fight Christ at His coming. Brethren, this is a time for the watchman to mount the walls and to sound a clear, unmistakable warning message of the dangers that now face us here in America, all English-speaking people on the earth, and frankly, the entire world.

We are to be a watchman to the children of Israel, first and foremost, but also to this entire earth. It is a time to make known the hope of God's coming kingdom.

Now, Isaiah's message that we read earlier stands bright and clear today. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns.

Your watchmen shall lift up their voices with their voices they shall sing together. We should sing together in a united way. We are to be united as Christ returns. Instead of disintegrating, let us become more and more united as watchmen, fulfilling the commission that God has given us.

Only then will we see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion, when Christ returns. Only then will we see eye to eye when we become united in these things. So, brethren, let's take our place on the walls as God's watchman today. Let's work for the kingdom of God and let's pray for his speedy arrival.