WATCHMAN WHAT OF THE NIGHT? GIVE HOPE IN THE DARK NIGHT!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Beginning of a serious on “Expecting the Rapture.”)
It would be very helpful if you would read and study: MATTHEW 24, MARK 13, LUKE 21, 2 TIMOTHY 3 before teaching this lesson. We have the tendency to bypass study and Bible reading. If you are weak and ill-prepared in God’s word you will always we anemic in the power of God. You owe me, you owe God and you owe yourself to read the scriptures listed above. Do not take the coward’s way, read what God’s word warns us.
I have read as of 2016 there were 33,000 distinct denominations. In has been predicted by 2025 there will be 55,000 denominations. Every one of them is right and most think they have more light than the other groups. Then sad to say many of these groups think their light is the only way. They teach the other groups are HELL BOUND. One Bible? 55,000 denominations? (Well, some groups have written their own truth.) It is with a broken heart I tell you many splits are because people can’t seem to get along with other groups and their conflicts tear down unity and we build exclusive not inclusive groups. If we can’t say I am sorry? Or I forgive? We just start a new group with a fancy name?
C.H. SPURGEON penned these words many years ago. THE TIME WILL COME WHEN INSTEAD OF SHEPHERDS FEEDING SHEEP, THE CHURCH WILL HAVE CLOWNS ENTERTAINING THE GOATS.
WE ARE ENTERING INTO “A SEASON KNOWN AS THE TIME OF SORROW!” WE WANT TO LAY A FOUNDATION FOR THIS SERIES ON THE END OF TIME: THE HORSES ARE COMING… WE MUST GIVE HOPE, NOT FEAR… FEAR IS NOT OF GOD… NOTHING CATCHES GOD BY SURPRISE.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
The time ripens for God to usher in the RAPTURE and the 7 years of TRIBULATION. When all this starts to happen WE NEED TO BE ALERT AND READY… Stand up on your feet God knows what He is doing. We must not be caught off guard. Help is on the way. The final chapter is happening before our eyes. We play no guessing the date games, we just see the signs of the time.
TENDER MERCIES WILL BE EXTEND TO THOSE THAT ARE FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT TO GOD’S PLAN.
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THERE WILL BE NO MORE PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL BAIL-OUTS?
COME LET US REASON TOGETHER AND SEARCH THE TRUTH WITHOUT COMPROMISE. LET US SEEK DEEP WORSHIP AND BE STUDENTS OF THE END TIME. WE MUST MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US.
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Few remember S&H Green stamps or yellow TOPS stamps. You got stamps at the stores and gas stations. You saved the stamps, licked them and placed them in stamp books. When you collected enough stamps you went to the local redemption store and redeemed your stamps for gifts.
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, eating, drinking and marrying… I FEEL THIS GREAT URGENCY TO WARN EVERYONE THE RAIN IS COMING, THE JUDGMENT IS FALLING ON THE USA AND OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. Few are heeding the warning. My heart breaks. Redeem the time, buy it back… it is HIGH TIME. There is a sense of SPIRITUAL URGENCY. Can we not see the hands on the clock? Do we understand and know how late it is? Time as we know it is limited. Time is speedily running out. Be alert! Wake up! Jesus is coming again. Again, can you hear the cry? We are so focused on materialism and physical happiness we can’t see the forest for the trees. We must heed the Biblical and spiritual warnings from the Holy Spirit. Please don’t get so absorbed and tired in taking care of all your day to day obligations that you lose track of the time and fall asleep… Like the 5 foolish virgins and while we doze off we become oblivious to God’s warnings. Make the most of every opportunity you have. Sound the alarm! BE READY! BE PREPARED! DON’T MISS IT! We live and walk in evil and desperate times!
Where are our priorities? Where are we spending our time, our talents, our energy, our efforts and our money?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
HEAR ME? WE NEED SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT… WHAT IS A WATCHMAN IN THE BIBLE? LOOK OUT? SAFE GUARD --- BUT REAL WATCHMEN ARE MUCH MORE THAN EYES AND EARS. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL ASPECT …. GOD’S SPIRITUAL WATCHMEN WERE TO WARN OF UNFAITHFULNESS AND BACKSLIDING. Backsliding is habitual.
Ezekiel 33:2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
Watchmen in the Bible were more than just a GUARD. Watchmen were to stand on the walls and in the towers on the wall and they were to WARN the people of impending danger approaching. Watchmen were to be responsible to avoid SURPRISE ENEMY ATTACKS.
We need DISCERNMENT in our nation, in our families and in our churches. NOT ALL WOLVES ACT LIKE WOLVES. A good wolf is sneaky and subtle. Wolves learn to act like sheep or they learn to act like a shepherd. Remember the TROJAN HORSE… a hollow horse to conceal the enemy and undermine to the downfall … Rarely does our enemy knock on the door and introduce himself for what he really is… A RATTLESNAKE TO KILL… SATAN DISGUISES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT OR MAYBE PLEASURE for a season.
CAN WE HEAR THE URGENT, DESPERATE PLEA OF ISAIAH? WE ARE IN A SEASON OF DEEP TROUBLE! WE WILL BE RAZED, UTTERLY DESTROYED… GOD’S JUDGMENT IS SURE… BUT GOD HAS A PLAN…
The USA is in the same pickle as Israel in Isaiah’s day. MORAL DECAY? COMPROMISE? SIN? NO SHAME? Open borders? Terrorism? EXTERNAL THREATS? INTERNAL THREATS? BOOMING ENCOMONY? PROSPERITY? ENTERTAINMENT? PLEASURE SEEKING? POWERS ARE SHAKING? WARS?
Remember Abraham, Sarah and Hagar… Hagar had the flesh son named ISHMAEL… ISHMAEL HAD A SIXTH SON NAME DUMAH (DO-ma.) Dumah is associated with BURDEN, against, Edom (Edomite’s were bitter haters from Esau.)
Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
The Assyrian empire was cruel to Israel. Violence and cruelty reigned, compromise and lawlessness dominated. ALL HOPE WAS GONE--- Beside all of this with Assyria, there was the Midianites and the Edomite’s…
GOD HEARD THE DESPERATE CALL AS HIS PEOPLE CRIED OUT FOR HELP. GOD HAS A SPIRITUAL “SENTINEL,” LOOKING OUT FOR HIS PEOPLE. GOD WILL GUARD HIS REMNANT …
WE SERVE A GOD THAT HAS A PLAN, HE WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE US. WE SERVE A GOD OF HOPE EVEN WHILE WALKING THROUGH DARK NIGHTS. THE DARKEST HOUR IS JUST BEFORE DAWN? SUDDENLY A MORNING STAR APPEARS AND ANNOUNCES GOD HAS HOPE, PEACE AND JOY… WHEN IT SEEMS EVIL WILL WIN.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
There has been many dark nights of crying all night… no hope. GOLIATH bred fear 2x’s a day for 40 days. The dark night distorts… In comes a prepared young man --- his paradigm has shifted. But God… The strong giant falls in the morning. Goliath’s own sword removes his head. We have hope.
David’s son is dying. David begs God to heal his son? His son dies! But God… David asks for food. I can’t bring my son back, but I will go to be with him… but God. We have hope.
Many dark days and nights as HAMAN hated God and God’s people. Haman threatened Mordecai! God has ESTHER working from the inside. But God. We have hope.
The Red Sea before God’s people? Pharaoh’s army raising dust behind? But God! We have hope.
40 years of negativity in the desert… BUT GOD SAYS CROSS THE JORDAN RIVER, THE PROMISE LAND IS BEFORE YOU. We have hope.
After Paul’s shipwreck death seemed to loom--- THE SNAKE LATCHED ONTO PAUL’S HAND… this is a sure death? BUT GOD! We have hope.
CONCLUSION: We have hope. We walk in blessed assurance that Jesus died for us. The 7 years coming on this world will be THE GREAT TRIBULATION. Current, prayed up and ready Christians have nothing to fear. God is in control. We have hope. As the world goes into a paradigm or pattern change the dead in Christ shall rise up first and we that are alive and remain will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye to EVER BE WITH THE LORD. We are looking forward to and expecting the rapture of the church. If you have fear and worry you need an honest spiritual evaluation and searching.
Hear this: If a lady is married to a soldier serving in a war zone and he writes home and says: Baby I will be home in a month, 3 days and seven hours. She should be excited? If she writes back, Honey, please don’t come home. Can you volunteer for another year or two? One of two things has happened. 1. She didn’t love him in the first place? Or 2. She has been unfaithful to him while he is gone.
Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The longer Jesus tarries the more people will be in hell?
This is a lesson to prepare our hearts to look forward and be prepared and ready for the coming of the Lord. Many parts to this lesson will follow.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
5 wise? 5 foolish? Are you ready? Are you earnestly trying to get others ready? If fear is crushing you come to the altar and trust God’s plan. Wish we were all ready! Love says Jesus, I love you and I am ready for your coming? Confess! Repent! Be faithful!
This lesson is laying a foundation on the signs of the time preparing us to be aware and ready of the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
