The Lord showed me something very interesting this morning that I would like to share with this community. As I was listening to a video about the timing of the rapture, I had an epiphany of sorts related to how God sees a distinction between Watchers and Watchmen. The difference is really quite simple, but I had never thought about it before or seen it so clearly. A watchman/watchwoman understands that they have been called to warn others about the coming judgment of Daniel’s 70th week, as described in places like Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation. Not that the watchman is not also watching for and longing for the rapture in itself, to be in the presence of our Savior and done with this world. He is. But the faithful watchman cannot be content to merely watch. He has to try to warn the people, partly because he knows their blood will be on his hands if he does not, but more importantly because he cares about the future of those people and does not want them to be overtaken by the danger. For the watchman, the nearness of the rapture not only represents the imminent return of Jesus in the air for His Bride, but also equates to the nearness of the wrath of God upon an unsuspecting world. It is not enough to get excited when he sees news headlines that tell him another piece of the prophetic puzzle has fallen into place. There is a calling and responsibility to try to warn people, even if they choose not to heed the warning. For those reading this who believe God has called you to be a Watchman/Watchwoman in these final hours, I exhort you in the Name of Jesus to embrace the most critical aspect of that calling. Warn the people of the coming danger in truth and love! P.S.--not all of the dynamics of Ezekiel's call to be a Watchman unto Israel exactly apply to the call of the watchmen here at the time of the end, but, imho, the basic concept is very similar. Here is the passage that I'm sure all of you are familiar with describing the role of the Watchman from Ezekiel 33: 1-9. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will [a]save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ 7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked manshall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Not sure how it is in other parts of the country but where I live people are in a hurry and when I witness to them I just keep it simple and share just the Gospel message and not mention the rapture or tribulation is up ahead unless they seem to have the time to talk. I look at it this way, if they get saved ... then they are ready for the rapture and they will be pleasantly surprised when the rapture happens. I also don’t use Bible tracts from a church because they tend to stamp their church name on the back of them. Far to many people will turn the tract over and once they see Baptist Church or Independent Bible Church, etc. they immediately give it back to me because it turns them off and they say they don’t want it. So I buy my tracts directly from the distributor so people will take them to read. If they ask where I go to church, I say I don’t (which is true since there isn’t a good sound church near me). I just tell them I read my Bible and listen to certain preachers on tv, radio, internet. I feel once they get saved, the Holy Spirit will then guide them to Bible Church. With distance relatives, former neighbors, co-workers across the U.S. I witnessed to them all through letters at Christmas time back in 2011-2014 and mentioned end time events with what is going to happen to Damascus, Syria, G/M war and the NWO will rise with the AC taken control of everything and how their freedoms will be taken away and they will face dark days of famine, plagues, crime will increase, etc. out of 38 letters 6 wrote back to say they believe and the others I didn’t hear anything more from them. I leave it all to the Lord to work on their hearts and just continue to pray for them. Perhaps they will remember what was said and become tribulation saints? My next door neighbor last year wanted to know why I didn’t attend the condo meeting. I replied its not important enough to waste to 2 hrs of my time listening to what repairs/remolding they want to do. I have a mansion that is out of this world and Jesus is coming soon. You can have one too if you call on Jesus and ask Him to take away your sins and to be your personal Savior. Do you see those big mountains over there and there and I pointed to them - the Bible says every island and every mountain will be moved out of place, then there are the massive earthquakes - we are on a fault line and there are the 100 lb hailstones ... think about that damage. He called me nuts. He said I’m smart and have common sense in other things but crazy with this Bible talk. He believes heaven is right now here on this earth and then when he dies, he just doesn’t exist anymore. He said he doesn’t want me to depress him with any more Bible talk. Again great thoughts and distinctions. Indeed watchers vs watchmen! Bless the expressions of your heart and your love Geri7. Indeed some are overtaken and compelled to share the gospel and the love of Christ boldly, which is something I greatly admire! Some teach, some inspire, some let the witness of their lives and love of God do their speaking. God supplies us all with different giftings and unique ways to express and share them. TR Yes, I agree all in the body of Christ have their unique talents to serve the Lord. I really admire all those who can teach in class rooms, preach from a pulpit in large churches or packed out stadiums and those who can sing and play a musical instrument. Their reward is so great in heaven!
