The Role of the Watchman

Well, brethren, just what was the role of a watchman in ancient times? What was a watchman supposed to do? Well, a watchman was to warn of danger from the watchtower, oftentimes, to keep the people and the property safe in a village, a town, a city. They were to sound the alarm if there was a threat, if there was danger. They were to check out anything of a suspicious nature to be certain of any threat. Of course, not to become paranoid about things, but realistically alert to real danger. They were to point out ways to protect the people, and then they were to take measures to do so. It was an active role, a very active role, not a passive one. And obviously, they were not to fall asleep on the job. A watchman was to watch. Now, some years ago, there was a series of Beyond Today broadcasts. There were also some articles that were put out in regard to the role of the watchman. I found those programs very intriguing. I wanted to share some of that information with you today.

So the title is, The Role of the Watchman. How does God use the role of a watchman to warn and to teach today? What does it mean for the work of God today, as this world comes ever closer to the day of the Lord? Christ is coming back, and before He does, the day of the Lord will occur, a full year of God's wrath, that is going to be poured out upon a people who have not repented other sins. Even though they've had two witnesses warning them and being watchmen themselves, they're a rebellious house and they are not going to repent. And so God's wrath will be poured out before Christ's return.

Who are God's watchmen today? It's vital that we understand the answer to these questions, because times are going to become ever more tense as we draw nearer to the return of Jesus Christ. Now, we don't know when Christ is returning. I don't know. I don't presume to know. I don't want to come across as someone who's crying wolf when the wolf is not at the door, so to speak. But we know this. We know we're closer now than we've ever been to the return of Jesus Christ. And we do live in perilous times, and hopefully we can see that. Again, we don't know how many years it's going to be, but we know it's coming and it's closer now than it's ever been. What happens in Syria? What happens in Israel? What happens in the Middle East? Maybe what even happens in North Korea in the next few years, months? It could possibly have a profound effect on the coarser direction, which leads to the fulfillment of many biblical prophecies. We just don't know. So we have to be ever watchful. We have to be ready, because we don't know the day or the hour when Christ is returning. And we certainly don't know the day of our death, either. And death can come suddenly upon any of us. Anyone, no matter what their age. So we have to be prepared.

Turn with me to Ezekiel 3, verse 17. Let's read together Ezekiel 3, verse 17. God says, Son of Man, speaking of Ezekiel, the prophet, Son of Man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore, hear a word from my mouth and give them warning from me. Here is one of the most intriguing metaphors used by God in all of prophecy. It is repeated in chapter 33 for emphasis. It sets the stage for the prophet's ministry to the divided houses of Judah and of Israel. Ezekiel was appointed as God's watchman, as God's prophet to watch over his people and to bring a message and a warning from God himself. Just as ancient towns and villages would appoint a watchman, or several watchmen, to warn the people and keep them safe, God has sent his prophets throughout the ages to warn the people to rescue them and keep them safe from harm.

But what about today? Who are God's prophets today? Who are God's watchmen today? God's watchmen today. Again, the watchman was a very key figure in ancient society.

In the ancient world of agrarian societies, farming communities, there were large watchtowers often placed overlooking the fields, overlooking a vast area because people needed to be warned. If an enemy was approaching, the quicker they knew, the better. So, in these agricultural societies, in the weeks before the crops were ripening toward harvest, men would stand watch, they would guard the fields because that was a common practice, to destroy the fields or to raid the fields, to steal the food, and thereby gain an advantage and perhaps lay siege on a town or city or village. They would also guard the fields from animals, from wolves and other such predators that would make off with some of their livestock.

You might remember a couple weeks ago I talked about Gideon and the Midianites, and how the Midianites were there to destroy the crops. They were there to oppress God's people.

When the community's basic food stores were at stake, the Watchman role was critical to the town's people. Now, we also find several references in Scripture to a watcher mounting the city walls in times of stress to survey the scene outside the fortifications. He was situated on a spot from which he could monitor clearly all approaches to the town. If a threat appeared, he would sound a warning, oftentimes blowing a trumpet, and the town would shut its gates and they would prepare for battle.

You can also imagine the watcher standing vigil at other times. Sometimes the watchman would circulate through the people, observing the daily life of the city, because sometimes there would be spies who would infiltrate, as we know. From the Bible, it talks about various spies that were sent out. So a watchman would watch the activity in the streets and in the markets. He knew the people, he knew their work, he knew their habits, he knew their lifestyle, and if something didn't look right, then he would investigate it. And if his position was near the city gates, he would also observe the business of the city, how it was transacted by its officials.

The watchman became keenly aware of anything that was suspicious. Again, maybe somebody coming in trying to do business and trying to cause havoc within the city. No wonder God uses the role of the watchman to illustrate the job of the prophets that he sent to comment on society's behavior, as well as to deliver messages of warning and instruction. So prophets were set as watchmen. All prophets played some role as a watchman to the children of Israel. So focusing on the Old Testament prophets helps us understand the full meaning of the symbolism as a watchman. So we're going to talk about a few different prophets today.

We noted at the outset in Ezekiel 3, verse 17, where God told the prophet Ezekiel to warn Israel of its sins and its impending punishment, saying, Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore, hear a word from my mouth and give them warning from me. This is what God did.

He sent someone to warn the people. Notice it is God's message, not Ezekiel's message or any other prophet's message. It is always God's message. God sent Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Naham, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai. He sent all of them to bring his message. They weren't there representing themselves. They were sent to represent God. The warning comes from God in language, phrased to fit the situation and designed to bring people to repentance. So let's keep that firmly in mind that the prophets were sent to bring God's message of repentance, that all people everywhere need to repent. That is God's message to this world.

Continuing in Ezekiel 3, verses 18 and 19, 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 some wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

Yet if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, in his sin, but you have delivered your soul because you have faithfully delivered God's message.

Now I'll remember back in the 60s and 70s, there was a powerful message going out to the world. Mr. Armstrong was on radios a number of times a day. People would hear his clear voice preaching a warning message, and God was calling quite a few people back in those days. More and more people were responding at that time than we see today. Ministers were inundated with requests to visit. A lot was happening. It's a different world today. You know, we don't have those same clear channels of radio that we once had. There's just so many more channels today, and on TV it's the same thing.

So many more channels. It's just more difficult to get that kind of a clear message out. But God was sending a powerful message out at that time, and God was calling people. In fact, many of us are here today. I came in the 70s, and it was largely because of that powerful message that was being preached to the world.

It was a warning message. And it was a vital message, and I'm very glad that I responded to that message back when I was a teenager. It's changed my life dramatically. It's changed your life. The prophet had the duty to deliver the sobering message. Unless the citizens of Israel and Judah acknowledged their sins and turned from them and repented and began again to obey God's law, they would die in their sins. So I'm grateful for that message that was given, a message of repentance.

That's how I looked at it. I did repent of my sins, and I basically turned my life over to God and became his servant because of a message that was being brought by an individual. I'm not saying Mr. Armstrong was a prophet. God knows exactly what he was. He was certainly an instrument that preached a clear message from the Bible, and many people were affected by it. I don't put Mr. Armstrong on any pedestal. He's human. He was frail. He made his sin. In fact, I'm sure we've reaped the consequences of some of that over the years.

So I just know that God's word is true, and the Bible is true, and God has not given up on his people. God is continuing to work with his people and work with the church and work with the world. And the prophecies in the Bible are going to be fulfilled. It all will come to pass, as God has intended. Ultimately, it's all going to come to pass.

So it is important that you and I listen to God's warning message today, because there's still a message going out. And you hear it every Sabbath, for one thing. That's one of the reasons I would think you come to church. Because God does instruct us on the Sabbath day. It is a sanctified day, made holy and set apart. And whenever words that are true are spoken from here, then God is behind that. You know, God's not behind anything that isn't spoken true. And sometimes people have gotten up here and said things that should not have been said.

And God allowed that to happen in some cases. So we have to be careful that we follow the true words of God. Not any man, but words that God has spoken through whatever human instrument He may use. People can go astray. They do go astray. Ministers have gone astray. So we have to be discerning people. All of us have to be discerning people. And we need to follow people as they follow Christ. Now let's go to verse 20 here in Ezekiel chapter 3, verse 20.

Let's explain another aspect of this message. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity. So sometimes righteous people, they do go astray. And I lay a stumbling block before him. God allows a temptation to go out, and a person allows himself to stumble. He didn't have to stumble. It was his choice. We're free moral agents. We do get to decide whether we're going to obey and follow God or not. So God says, again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Remember, the wages of sin is death. If we don't repent of our sins, we're going to die. And that's speaking about an eternal death, ultimately, if we don't repent of our sins. 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. Nevertheless, if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning, because he listened and he acted upon that warning. Also, you will have delivered your soul.

So again, it's possible for people to go either way. They can listen to God's message. They can repent of their sins, and they can become obedient, faithful servants of God.

Or they can decide not to listen to God's message and pay the consequences.

And if the message isn't given, then those who were sent forth to give the message, they're the ones that are in trouble as well. So it is important that we understand our role, because I firmly believe God is still speaking to this world. God's message is still going out, and it is still a clear message. And for those whom God is calling, the message is there.

So the prophet or the watchman needed to give adequate warning. He needed to give instruction and positive teaching. The righteous could then understand the consequences of turning from the right path. This could help motivate him to stay firm. So one of the reasons I come to church is I want to stay on the right track. I want to continue down the path. You know, I've been attending church for over 40 years, and one of the reasons is because I need to stay on the right path. I need to continue to be faithful. I need to continue to do what needs to be done.

So every Sabbath, God's Word is taught, and we should listen, and we should take heed, and we should react to the message. We should keep our lives on track.

So we get the sense that a part of the prophet's message was showing the people how to live and maintain their faith. And again, I'm not a prophet. I don't claim to be a prophet. I do believe I'm a messenger to some degree. I'm a minister. I have a role to play. I'm a pastor.

So God's message was not just a strident message focused only on pointing out people, their sins, or their problems. The goal was to set to help people stay on the right track, to maintain their righteousness, to continue on that path that leads to eternal life.

There are great benefits in hearing God's Word and following it, obeying it.

So we might ask ourselves, this message that Ezekiel brought, was it this message that was delivered to the house of Israel, was it really delivered to the house of Israel then at that time? Did Ezekiel deliver this warning message to Israel? Well, brethren, consider this. Ezekiel was among the captives from the nation of Judah that was taken to Babylon during the first siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC. He was a contemporary of Daniel. Remember, Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they were all captives in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. And so he was a contemporary of Daniel. The nation of Israel, the northern ten-tribe kingdom, had been taken away captive into Assyria and Medea more than 120 years earlier, back around 700-714 BC. Around that time, that's when they were taken into captivity. The house of Israel had been carried off primarily. I mean, there were a few people still, of course, living there, but the bok had gone into captivity as God had prophesied. The house of Israel was to hear the message, but their sins had already caused them to go into captivity. They had already been punished. So it leaves us with the question, is there to be a future fulfillment of this prophecy? Was it intended to go to the modern descendants of the house of Israel living in different lands at a future time?

Well, I think you know the answer is yes.

The question, then, is when would these prophecies apply to Israel, and when would they be delivered? Ezekiel was among the Jewish captives near Babylon, and we have no indication that he went to the northern tribes of Israel in his day. At that time, they were migrating northwest from Assyria and Media, so he didn't go to those nations to give that message at that time. The answer must be that God's message has a direct application to the modern descendants of these ancient people. Now, we believe that we are descended from these people. Ephraim and Manasseh, the United States, Great Britain, Canada, English-speaking peoples, we are these descendants that were the lost tribes of Israel that were scattered.

So let's look closer at what a watchman is to do by bringing in what Isaiah tells us about those who would preach the Gospel of Peace. Isaiah was another prophet. The role of a watchman is not limited to speaking only about the sins and problems of the society. The watchman was also charged with proclaiming good news about salvation. And that is the message that the United Church of God brings to the world. We proclaim the good news about salvation to the world. We also proclaim that there are difficult times coming ahead. We give a well-rounded message to God's people and also to the world. So notice in Isaiah 52, let's go to Isaiah chapter 52, and we'll read verses 7 through 10. Isaiah 52 verses 7 through 10, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring glad tidings of good things, who proclaim salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. Your 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. God hasn't done that yet, has He? He hasn't brought back Zion. He hasn't fulfilled that promise, that prophecy, in regard to Jerusalem. There are many prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. In Isaiah 58 verse 1, Isaiah says, cry aloud and spare not. Lift up your voice like a trumpet. This is God to Isaiah. Lift up your voice like a trumpet. Show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. So it is a warning message to repent from sin, to turn to God, to repent, to become righteous, and to be spared, because God will spare His people that are faithful to Him.

So the watchmen are to lift up their voices. They are to sing together, and then we are all to see eye to eye. We are to be unified and obeying and following God.

It says, break forth into joy. Sing together. You waste places of Jerusalem. So Jerusalem was laid waste back in those days, back when Nebuchadnezzar came into Jerusalem, and then also in 70 AD. He was laid waste. For the Lord has comforted His people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. There are still fulfillment or prophecies that need to be fulfilled in regard to Jerusalem. To Jerusalem and the land of Israel, God says the watchmen will hold a vigil day and night for the peace of the people. Notice that in Isaiah chapter 62. Let's go to Isaiah chapter 62. Isaiah 62 we'll read verses 6 through 11. Isaiah chapter 62 verses 6 through 11.

Okay, verse 6 of chapter 62 of Isaiah. I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem. They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the eternal do not keep silent and give him no rest till he establishes and till he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. You see, that really hasn't been fulfilled yet, has it? Many people, they don't hold Jerusalem in high esteem at all. Maybe we do as God's people, but many, many people throughout the earth do not. That has not been fulfilled. So that will be fulfilled when Christ returns.

There will be a new day. Christ will reign. Jerusalem will be restored. That time is coming. So here we see the watchmen role given to a group of people charged with a prayer vigil for the well-being of Israel. These people, by their presence and prayers, seek to keep the city from suffering the ravaging effects of evil. These passages in Isaiah paint an image of godly people who are given unique vision into the world of today and the world to come. They understand the universal application of the gospel of the kingdom of God. They see that God will bring that kingdom to earth and will offer salvation not just to Israel but also to all nations. They see the reuniting of the tribes of Israel in the Promised Land as the beginning of the times of restoration of all things that are spoken of by Peter in Acts chapter 3. I think we'll go to that a little bit later. They also have insight into the world at the end of this age. They see the dark gathering clouds on the world's horizon that spell the end of Satan's reign as the god of this world and the author of all that's evil. Now, we as a people believe that Satan exists. We believe that he's real. We have a booklet on the back table that talks about Satan the devil and what he's doing. We believe that he is a roaring lion, that he is seeking whom he may devour, that he is our enemy, that he is the adversary, that he is the destroyer. We do have a unique vision. Most people on earth don't see things the way we see things, and that's because God has not opened their mind at this time. God has not called them. God has not shown them this vision. Now, some people have a much clearer vision than others. They don't have to necessarily be members of the Church of God at this point to know some of these things, because there are people out there who certainly do. But to have as much understanding as God has given us, I mean, it's a tremendous blessing to understand about the Sabbath, for one thing. The Sabbath is a sign between God and his people. It's a very important sign. And frankly, most people don't observe the Sabbath. They don't believe that the Seventh-day Sabbath is still sanctified, set apart, and a day that ought to be observed. They're deceived. They don't get that. That's a major part. It's not the only part. It's not necessarily the most important part, but it is an important part, surely. So we see all degrees of deception in the world today. We see people that are in total darkness. We see people that are deceived a lot more than others all along the spectrum. And so we should just be blessed, just consider ourselves very blessed, to know as much as we do know and understand that God has given us this knowledge and this truth, and that we can come here every Sabbath and learn more, and be taught by God. And we can open our Bible every day. And we have God's Spirit dwelling in us. And God can give us understanding and help us know what the Bible says, what it teaches us. So Satan is the God of this world, but Satan is not going to be on the throne too much longer.

I mean, it is too much longer, yes. A day is too much longer. The point is, Christ is coming back, and He's going to knock Him off His throne for good, bind Him for a thousand years. He'll still never be back on that throne. He will create havoc after a thousand years, but then He'll be cast into outer darkness. He will be dealt with. So it is important that we as God's people learn to mount the walls of society to a point, and shout a warning to any who will hear. Okay, that is part of our job as watchmen. We are told to give an answer for the reason of the hope that lies within us. Okay, this is a very important message that you've been entrusted with.

And if somebody has questions, somebody you know that you come in contact with, and they have questions, then you need to answer those questions. You need to be able to go to the Bible and explain what God teaches, what God's Word is. You need to be able, if they're receptive, be ready to answer. If someone has a genuine desire, you know, you need to be able to step in and give them the answers that they're looking for straight from the Bible. And all of us have that responsibility. So this watchman is not just for the Beyond Today three presenters. Yes, they have a job that they're doing. The Beyond Today presenters, the telecast. To me, that's a powerful message. If you haven't listened to many of those, you should go and watch and listen to some of these. They're powerful messages. They're straight out of the Bible. They're hard-hitting. They really don't pull a lot of punches. In many cases, they're strong messages. They're limited in the sense that a lot of people don't even know we exist. Okay, they're limited in that a lot of people aren't tuning in. And so we have a limited impact in this world. When God's ready, I believe more and more people will come to know who we are.

Our job is to preach the warning. That's why I'm grateful that we have a telecast. That's why I'm grateful that we do as much as we do. We have Kingdom of God seminars.

We're trying to do what we can to fulfill the commission of the watchman. And I'm grateful to be a part of an organization who feels that way. That we need to do as much as we possibly can. Of course, there's a balance in all of this, and we need to seek a proper balance from God to show us how we spend the money that we have that God has given to us through God's people, who are generous and who donate, and others who also help out. So it is important that we do pray for God's guidance, for His direction, for His leadership, so that we can fulfill this commission that we have as best we possibly can.

The Beyond Today magazine is a powerful magazine. It has powerful messages. And when God calls someone, He can bring them into contact with that message in a variety of ways. He could use you to do that. God could use you. He could. He has before. He's used people. Oftentimes, many people end up coming to church because of the example of a friend or a relative, someone else. In fact, I think that's still number one in terms of people actually coming along and developing, and probably even more so true today, when we don't have as clear a message and as going out.

It's a more diluted message in some ways because of just the society that we live in today.

So it is, in a sense, it's even more important that we do our part in being willing to give an answer, not being ashamed of what we believe, but very willing to share what we've been given, and to do it in a respectful and a proper way, asking God for guidance and direction. But certainly being willing to give an answer if someone is receptive and wants to hear more.

So I believe that the Church of God is, in large part, the watchman today. The Church of God. We, as God's people, need to be watchmen. We need to warn God's people. We need to give a message that implores them to repent of their sins.

We should be crying aloud and sparing not and lifting up our voices like trumpets, showing people their transgressions and their sins, asking God to show us how to do that, most effectively. Because we can also turn a lot of people off, and that's not really what God wants either. He wants us to have a godly balance, which, you know, that's seeking that balance and finding that balance is something that we should all seek. This message includes teaching that will show any who listen the way to personal peace in their life. I've had personal peace in my life.

I've had tremendous peace over the years. You know, God has just richly blessed me and so many of us here, all of us to some degree or another. He's given us great peace, this message that we have. It's changed our lives. It will show the true teaching of God and the way to salvation. God's Word has all the answers. It's also a message of how one can choose to escape the time of judgment that God will bring on the world.

There is a way of escape for many people who will be faithful to God in these last days. God is going to protect many of His people. Others will be martyred. We know that. It goes both ways. We don't know exactly where we're going to come out in all of this. All we can do is do our part and strive to obey God and serve Him as best we can. So God charges this group to watch for the safety of the city and its citizens. The Church of God acts as the watchman today.

All of us. We're all part of the Church of God. These special servants understand the dangers of this present world. They see the dark clouds gathering on the world's horizon, and they're moved to proclaim a warning message to all who will hear.

The tithes and offerings that we generously give and freely give and are so willing to give. Part of that goes to preaching the Gospel message. That's important. Part of it goes to serving our congregations, serving the widows and the fatherless and others, and helping in various ways with good works programs and life nets and other such things. That certainly is fine for you to donate to worthy causes, to check them out, and to do what you can do to help out in this world. 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 a better world?

Putting a number of scriptural commands and principles together, it becomes clear that today's true Christians are meant to shoulder this grave responsibility now in these last days. We are to share in the role of standing vigil like a watchman of old, not falling asleep on the job, but being very active in fulfilling our role as a part of the body of Christ, as a part of the firstfruits who are to proclaim a message, a message of light.

You know, this is a dark world that we live in. We're to come out of the darkness into God's marvelous light and we're to share that with others. So we should be watchmen like the watchmen of old, diligent, vigilant, wanting to protect and to look out for each other. Also, it talks about there will come a time when people will sigh and cry over the sins of this world, and they'll be protected because of that attitude and because of that approach. Ezekiel was said as a watchman to the house of Israel. We saw that in Ezekiel chapter 3.

God told, or He took Ezekiel in a vision back to Jerusalem to observe the lifestyle of those Jews who were left behind when Nebuchadnezzar captured the city and took many captive to Babylon. So He took him to Jerusalem in vision. Not that he was there physically after he had gone into captivity, but in vision.

It seems that the majority of the populace had not learned from the many warnings to change their wicked ways. In Jerusalem, the people still continued to worship false gods. See, not everyone was carried captive.

Some survived that captivity. But still, they hadn't learned their lesson. They were still a rebellious people. They continued to worship false gods and keep strange customs. Today, that goes on in modern Israel as well. There are many strange customs that are kept, like Easter bunnies.

Those are strange. Christmas trees. It's pretty strange. These are strange customs that are still kept in modern Israel today. It was going on back there. God brought him in vision. God repeatedly called Israel a rebellious people. And we know that most people aren't going to listen to our warning message. Most people aren't going to listen to the two witnesses when they preach powerfully from Jerusalem for three and a half years. They are watchmen as well. And we're all a part of this. Let's go to Ezekiel 9 and consider what it says here in Ezekiel 9 about those who have learned to sigh and cry over this world and the direction that it's going today. Ezekiel 9, verse 1. Ezekiel 9, verse 1.

Then he, God, called out 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. Now again, this is in vision. Ezekiel is in vision. Suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle axe in his hand. Excuse me. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer's inkhorn at his side. They went in and 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. You see, these were actually angels. These six beings were angels. And he called to the man or the angel clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side. They looked like men. They were manifested in shape of men, but they were actually angels.

And the Eternal said to him in verse 4, 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. There are many abominations that go on on the earth today. People breaking God's commandments left and right. Just think about all of God's commandments and how they're broken so much in today's society, here in modern Israel and around the world.

I mean, people are lying, they're stealing, they're committing adultery.

They're coveting. They're jealous. They're envious. All of this is going on. You know, they don't honor their parents in so many cases. You know, they don't observe the Sabbath day. That's one of God's commandments. So these laws are being broken left and right.

And it is an abomination in God's sight. Verse 5, To the others, he said in my hearing, Go after him through the city and kill, and do not let your eyes spare, nor have any pity. Okay, there's a time coming when God is going to pour out his wrath. And this is talking about that day.

Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women, but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark. Okay, there will be some who will have a mark.

And I will begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Then he said to them, Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out. And they went out and they killed in the city. So it was that while they were killing them, I was left alone, and I fell on my face and cried out and said, Ah, Lord God, will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out your fury on Jerusalem?

Okay, Ezekiel sighed and cried for what was happening and what he saw in vision, what he knew was going to come upon the earth.

Then he said to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great.

Okay, God's word has been around for a long time, but people have not turned to God. They have rebelled against God. They are a rebellious people. They continue to be a rebellious people, and Satan has deceived the whole world. The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see. See, they blame God for the shape that they're in. They blame God instead of taking responsibility themselves for their sin, which has caused all the problems and has caused God to act in such a violent way.

You know, God loves people. It is not God's nature to be that way, but God is a just God. The wages of sin is death.

People need to repent. The gift of God is eternal life. It comes through Jesus Christ. Our Lord, the truth has been revealed to us.

We need to proclaim that to the world so that whoever will repent will be spared.

We have a job to do to get behind the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, to do what we can do ourselves in making sure that those with whom we come in contact, if they have a desire to know the truth, they were there to help them. We just never know how God might use us.

So, they say the Lord is forsaken the land. The Lord does not see, but we know God sees all things. God is omnipotent. He's all powerful. He's all mighty. He sees all things.

And as for me also, my eye will neither spare nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds. Now, God will have pity on those who will repent.

See, that's the difference. God does have pity on those who are repentant, those who are of a repentant mind and a repentant heart. God does have pity on them, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.

Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, I have done as you have commanded me.

So there are those who will sigh and cry about the abominations of the earth. Those who see what's happening and are distraught, are affected by what they see.

And they do what they can to help others repent and change themselves. Those who sigh and cry will be spared.

God will spare them. He will put a mark on their foreheads. He will protect them.

Those who prayed from a heart sick with grief over the state of society were granted this mark that protected them from God's judgment, the Day of the Lord.

What was their distinguishing feature? It was their active concern for the moral and ethical condition of the society. They were true watchmen.

They were tuned in.

They knew what was happening. They had clear vision.

They saw what was happening, and they truly sighed and cried in their hearts because of all the destruction. Ezekiel was that way. Moses was that way. Remember, Moses didn't want God to start all over with him. He said, blot me out, rather than start all over again. Spare some of these people. And God did spare the ones that were, at least some of the ones that were more repentant. He spared. Others, he didn't spare at that time. You can read the account in the Bible.

God wants us to be like Moses. He wants us to be like Ezekiel.

Like the prophets of old Jeremiah. He wants us to be like the disciples, Peter and Paul, who dedicated their whole lives to serving God and to serving God's people. That's what God is looking for.

So does this describe you? Does it describe you? Or are you someone who sighs and cries over the abominations of the earth? Or have you allowed yourself to be infected and affected by Satan and his deception?

You know, we're to come out of all types of sin.

I mean, this is a rebellious people.

Some people believe that homosexuality is just an alternative lifestyle.

It's just an alternate lifestyle. There's nothing wrong with it. That's the way God made people.

That's not the way it is. You know, God clearly shows in the Bible that that is an abomination. And so we shouldn't be lulled to sleep as watchmen. We should read the Bible and know what it says. It says that sodomites will not be in the kingdom of God.

It also says, hormongers won't be those who commit adultery or heterosexual illicit sex. They also won't be in God's kingdom. It works both ways. It's all sin. It's all sin. And it all needs to be repented of.

Every bit of it, whether it's homosexual or heterosexual, if it's sin, it's sin. It all needs to be repented of.

So we do need to be able to see clearly so that we are not lulled to sleep and that we are true watchmen upon this earth.

Do we see the world through God's eyes and understand how far people have strayed from His righteousness and His commands?

If so, then we have a duty to help others understand what is coming when God sets His hand in judgment upon the nations.

Today, America and Great Britain stand at a crossroads to a large degree. For more than 200 years, they have dominated the world in virtually every area of life and in every arena to a large degree.

The sun never set on the British Empire. Just a small island on the face of the earth had tremendous power because God was blessing them. They were Abraham's descendants, and they were being blessed. And after World War II, they lost the pride of their power to a large degree.

They lost their empire.

The United States stepped in. We've been the great superpower for many, many years, but we're also losing the pride of our power. We're trillions of dollars in debt now. Trillions of dollars. Instead of being a nation that is solvent, we're trillions of dollars in debt. We're borrowing from the Chinese. We're borrowing instead of just being able to— yes, we do still lend and give money away, like there's no tomorrow, but eventually it's all going to come to roost.

It's all going to come crashing down. I don't know how it's all going to happen, but I believe the Bible shows it will happen.

America's dominant power is under siege from many sectors. God warns us through the message of the prophets that sins will demand a day of reckoning. This is a rebellious house today, just as it was back in Ezekiel's time.

People cannot continue worshiping the false gods of materialism and just blindly stumbling along in their own self-righteousness and expect their affluent standards of living to continue. We're in a very affluent society today. Will it go on forever? No.

It's coming down. It's going to fall.

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. Just like the Roman Empire faded from power, we are going to also fade from power. God calls on America and Great Britain to wake up, to acknowledge their sins and repent before national calamity descends upon them.

They are to turn to God to become the watchman, really, on this earth. That's what we should be doing as a nation.

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. This was back in around 700 BC. He pointed to neighboring states that had fallen and said, You are no better than they are.

He rebuked those who did not want to hear a message of doom to those who attacked their homes with the finest luxury goods. I'm sorry, to those who stocked their homes with the finest luxury goods and gourmet foods, they trusted in their affluence. Again, they thought this was a sign of God's blessing, all this material wealth.

We should not trust in materialism.

Again, we should realize that we have it because God is gracious, God is good, God blesses us in many, many respects. But one day it's all going away.

Those who grieve and sigh and cry over society's sins are called to a unique role. They are part of God's elect. They are called to this duty of proclaiming the announcement of the Kingdom of God.

That message includes the good news of Christ's return to restore all things. So let's see that in Acts 3. God is going to restore all things. Acts 3.

Acts 3, verse 19.

Acts 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, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things. Christ is now at the right hand of God. He's in the third heaven, the right hand of the Father, but He's coming back to restore all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all of His holy prophets since the world began. Again, the Bible has the answers.

The prophets have spoken. The truth is revealed in this book. We need to know this book very well.

The message contains a warning to repent and to receive God's blessings or ignore the warning and face the judgment of God. It is a double-edged message. It's plain spoken. It's also full of hope.

There is destruction coming upon those who will not repent, but there is deliverance for those who do repent. And eternal life in God's kingdom.

Fulfilling this role does require courage.

It does require perseverance. And most of all, it requires a love for people. We are to be known by our love for each other. That's how we are to be known. So we should sigh and cry over what's going to happen in the future.

And we should not be lulled to sleep by the good times. You know, we have lots of good times. And I'm grateful for them, by the way.

I'm thankful for these good times. And I don't know how long they're going to continue, but I'm going to continue to be grateful for them as long as they last.

But my salvation is not in the good times.

My salvation is in God and His eternal kingdom. And that's where we all need to look. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be added to us.

We don't really have time to go into Jeremiah, but Jeremiah was looked upon as the doomsday prophet, because he brought a message from God.

And it was a message that, the house of Judah, you're going into captivity, because you are a rebellious house, and you are not repenting of your sins. For 40 years, he preached that message.

He was thrown in a dungeon. He was ridiculed. He was scorned.

I'll just read Jeremiah 6, verses 17-19. Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, Listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not listen. Therefore, I hear you nations. 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 they have rejected it. So first of all, we need to heed the watchmen. God's word reveals what's going to happen. God is our watchman, ultimately. He's watching out for us. He's delivering us. We need to heed that cry from God himself, first and foremost. And then we need to be a part of fulfilling the role of the watchmen in a united way, doing as much as we can to help this world at this time. And a long, and a long, for Christ's return. And it's going to get difficult before Christ returns.

So we do need to be awake, brethren. We do need to watch. We do need to take heed.

You know, in Luke chapter 21, it tells us to watch. Let's go there and read this verse, Luke 21. It talks about the end times, things that are going to happen.

And it tells us to watch, therefore, and be prepared. I didn't put this in my notes, but I thought it would be good to turn to this. I believe it's in Luke 21.

Yes, verse 36. Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. Now, we're not in it just to save our skins, but let's face it, if we can save our skins and still do everything else God wants us to do, that's quite all right.

God says, watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. Get yourself right with God first, then you can help others. So repent of your own sins and walk in righteousness before God.

Our world is moving toward the time of global cataclysm. Again, we don't know will it happen in my time? Will I still be alive? I don't know. I don't know if I will or not. I don't know if anyone here will be. Frankly, we don't know. We don't know the truth. We don't know the day. We don't know the hour. We don't know the year. At this time, we don't anyway.

We've guessed. We speculated. We've been wrong in the past.

We need to be careful that we don't do that.

But I know this. We do need to draw near to God because He will draw near to us and He will help us no matter what happens in the future.

Revelation 16 describes a future moment when people will be caught up in events, engineered through what is referred to as the Beast and the False Prophet.

The former is a political leader of compelling personality that's going to come on the world scene. He will have tremendous ability.

The other will be a religious leader unlike any in modern times. Together, they will convince armies to move toward Jerusalem, to fight Christ at His coming. Will we be alive to see all that happen? Who knows?

But, brethren, I know this. This is a time for the watchmen to mount the walls and sound a clear, unmistakable, warning message of the dangers of facing, not just the dangers that face, not just the English-speaking peoples of the world, but the entire world. For God so loved the world, He gave His own Son. He's concerned about the whole world, not just about the descendants of Abraham and so forth. It's time to make known the hope of the coming Kingdom of God. So we should be praying fervently, faithfully, day in and day out for the return of Jesus Christ.

This is a time for the watchmen to again be alert and to be on high alert. We'll conclude in Isaiah 52, verse 7, where it says, well, let's go to Isaiah chapter 52, verse 7, as we conclude the sermon today.

Isaiah chapter 52, verse 7, 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. Verse 8, Your watchmen shall lift up their voices with their voices they shall sing together, for they shall see eye to eye. When the Eternal brings back Zion, Christ is coming back. Jerusalem will be restored.

Israel will be restored to greatness to some degree.

That time is coming.

Isaiah's message stands bright and clear today.

Christ is coming back.

Those who preach the Gospel are considered faithful people who are doing their part as watchmen. God does reign. We should lift up our voices. We should sing together.

God's praises, for God is good and God is great. So, brethren, let's all take our place on the walls of our society in which we live today here in the United States of America and around the world as firstfruits of God. Let's take our place on the walls. Let's work for the Kingdom of God. Let's be true watchmen. Let's pray.

Thy will be done. Thy Kingdom come.