What is a Watchman?
Throughout history, there are certain “set” times when God highlights specific themes, previously held in relative obscurity, and releases a fresh revelation of their full intent. Today, as trials and tribulations escalate, the term to “Watch” and the role of the “Watchman” is such a theme. God is marking the somewhat hidden ancient call and role of the watchman and bringing the into the forefront of hearts and minds of Christians seeking the Lord in these days of accelerating adversity. The loss of the full understanding of this function, personally and corporately, has catapulted the world into an ever-increasing conflict between good and evil. Now is the time of restoration. Below, the biblical characteristics of a watchman is reviewed to lay foundations for those who are being called into this reality today as God prepares His bride for His return.
Overview
There is a distinctive call to “Watch” today as end-time prophetic events unfold. As we will see, the term “Watch” is not simply praying, worshiping, and declaring. There is a diligent searching the horizon for the concerns of God, understanding His will, declaring His will/word, and acting. A distinctive concern for watchmen is the moral and ethical condition of society. The church today is being called to be a beacon of light in ever increasing darkness as Jesus exhorted, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” Mt. 5:16. Isaiah prophesied the relentless call of “Watchmen” in Isaiah 62:6, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth,” Isaiah 62:6-7. Interestingly, these very words were spoken in Jewish synagogues around the world on 9/11/2001. God was prophesying His answer to the gruesome attacks that opened a significant gate of lawlessness and terror upon the earth.
The call of the watchmen was to be relentless until “Jerusalem is made a praise in the earth,” which depicts the time of Jesus’ millennial rule and reign on the earth. Though we are all called to be “Watchmen,” this mandate and call is being ushered forth to those who will receive it and carry it. God is now preparing a company of “Watchmen” who have received the vision and understanding of the import to build community, connect and intentionally collaborate across their cities, regions, nation, and now the nations. Isaiah prophesies the time when, “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,” Is 52:8. This process is now underway. Watchmen are being called to connect and build a community that will prepare an awakened, alert, and ready bride. These are basic distinctive of Watchmen.
Overview
There is a distinctive call to “Watch” today as end-time prophetic events unfold. As we will see, the term “Watch” is not simply praying, worshiping, and declaring. There is a diligent searching the horizon for the concerns of God, understanding His will, declaring His will/word, and acting. A distinctive concern for watchmen is the moral and ethical condition of society. The church today is being called to be a beacon of light in ever increasing darkness as Jesus exhorted, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” Mt. 5:16. Isaiah prophesied the relentless call of “Watchmen” in Isaiah 62:6, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth,” Isaiah 62:6-7. Interestingly, these very words were spoken in Jewish synagogues around the world on 9/11/2001. God was prophesying His answer to the gruesome attacks that opened a significant gate of lawlessness and terror upon the earth.
The call of the watchmen was to be relentless until “Jerusalem is made a praise in the earth,” which depicts the time of Jesus’ millennial rule and reign on the earth. Though we are all called to be “Watchmen,” this mandate and call is being ushered forth to those who will receive it and carry it. God is now preparing a company of “Watchmen” who have received the vision and understanding of the import to build community, connect and intentionally collaborate across their cities, regions, nation, and now the nations. Isaiah prophesies the time when, “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,” Is 52:8. This process is now underway. Watchmen are being called to connect and build a community that will prepare an awakened, alert, and ready bride. These are basic distinctive of Watchmen.
Intimacy with God
- Worshipers and Lovers of Jesus: In order to stand as a watchman, foundations of worship and prayer and intimacy with the Lord are critical in order to know and discern what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. We are thankful for the House of Prayer movement that has prepared solid foundations for Watchmen to now arise in a trained, unrelenting, faith-filled stance before the Lord. Jude is a book that describes the contending of watchmen against the darkness that would cause the body of Christ to go astray. Jude 20-25 describes the stance:
- Jude 20-23, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
- Also expressed in 1 John 4:17-19, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” (Col 2:6-10, 2 Cor 13)
- Luke 12:37 promises “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come in and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch,and find them so, blessed are those servants.”
- Jude 20-23, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
Build Community through Relationship
- Strong Builders: Watchmen today have learned the value of collaboration and cooperation. Watchmen know the import of working through relationships both in and between ministries. Understanding how to build a culture of honor, lest the “wall be broken down,” is vital for watchmen to function.
- 1 Peter 2:5 expresses the concept of building well, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
- Daniel 11:32b: “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
- Neh 4:19-20, “Then I said to the nobles, the rulers and the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
- As relationship is vital, watchmen value life-giving communication: As watchmen, there is a vital need to communicate. As such, there is great need to know the heart and will of the Father. Watchmen are to give both warning and rejoicing/announcements/blessing but they are not to join in with the accuser. One leads to life, the other leads to death. Watchmen guard their tongue and use it to speak the purposes of God which will always lead to life, even if it is a warning.
- Isaiah 58:9, 11-12 exhorts and promises, “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness…The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones…Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”
- Issue Warning: Ezek 3:17 “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.”
- Titus 3:1-2 “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
- Are Connected with each other
- Is. 52:7-8 “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; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion”
Relentless in their Call
- Relentless: Watchmen are relentless in their pursuit of the Lord and as such are discerners of the times.
- Habakkuk 2:1 “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.”
- Isaiah 62:6-7, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
- Isaiah 21:8b “O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, and I am stationed every night at my guard post.”
- 1Chron 12:32a, “Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”
- Daniel 2:21-23, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. ‘I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand.’”
- Daniel 7:21-22 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”
When Nehemiah re-built the walls of Jerusalem, families worked together through relationship utilizing an effective communication system. Families were positioned and set into position. As they were positioned, a communication system was created to help guard, defend, and keep their work. Nehemiah 4:19-20 states, “Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.’” Additionally, these families were given tools to build and weapons to defend themselves, v. 13.
So it is today, watchmen are being called to build their ramparts and connect across the nations. Families today represent churches, ministries, prayer groups, houses of prayer that are committed to community and corporate prayer. They also represent the Habakkuk 2:1 verbiage ramparts, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” Scriptures prophetically declare this end-time mandate for relational strength and communication.
Watchmen across the nations will see “Eye to eye,” when Jesus returns. We are now in the preparation stages for this process to emerge. As relationships build and ramparts connect, prayer walls across the nations will catalyze the emergence of the ready and alert bride to truly be a “House of prayer for all nations,” Is. 56:7.
This call of the watchmen will transpire across the timeline of God’s end-time plan. Those called into this movement will be part of His plan in preparing an alert and ready bride who is connected and communicating across the nations. There is coming a time when a cry will be heard at midnight, “Behold the bridegroom is coming go out and meet him,” Mt. 25:6. Where is the cry coming from? The bible does not say, but very possibly it may be coming from the watchmen who are watching in the night across the nations of the earth. At the very least, they will have oil in their lamps with wicks trimmed and ready for they have heeded the words, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming,” Mt. 25:13.
So it is today, watchmen are being called to build their ramparts and connect across the nations. Families today represent churches, ministries, prayer groups, houses of prayer that are committed to community and corporate prayer. They also represent the Habakkuk 2:1 verbiage ramparts, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” Scriptures prophetically declare this end-time mandate for relational strength and communication.
- Isaiah 52:8-10 “Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye whenthe Lord brings back Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem 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. (Also Ezek 1:20-28)
Watchmen across the nations will see “Eye to eye,” when Jesus returns. We are now in the preparation stages for this process to emerge. As relationships build and ramparts connect, prayer walls across the nations will catalyze the emergence of the ready and alert bride to truly be a “House of prayer for all nations,” Is. 56:7.
This call of the watchmen will transpire across the timeline of God’s end-time plan. Those called into this movement will be part of His plan in preparing an alert and ready bride who is connected and communicating across the nations. There is coming a time when a cry will be heard at midnight, “Behold the bridegroom is coming go out and meet him,” Mt. 25:6. Where is the cry coming from? The bible does not say, but very possibly it may be coming from the watchmen who are watching in the night across the nations of the earth. At the very least, they will have oil in their lamps with wicks trimmed and ready for they have heeded the words, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming,” Mt. 25:13.
