“Watchman, what of the night?” leaps from the pages of Scripture as a cry for help that was sounded in the times of Isaiah the prophet. The Assyrian Empire , the ISIS of that day, was stretching a nightmarish specter over the hearts and minds of God’s people. This ancient, impassioned question echoes the fears in our own hearts today as the terrorists of the 21st century in Syria have rapidly spread their violence and lawlessness through the Middle East. As I write this article, the radical Islamists are even seeking to extend their dreaded influence around the globe and even into our own beloved land. This cry to the watchman in Isaiah is addressed to the prophets, the wise, the leaders, the men and women of insight and resource: “What about this increasing darkness in our world? What is happening to us? Watchman, do you have an answer for us?”
Our world is undergoing cataclysmic changes: unprecedented climate fluctuation, earthquakes, tsunamis, economic uncertainty and recession, plagues and mass migrations of people groups fleeing death and intimidation by terrorist organizations. On and on the list continues of events and conditions that drastically are rewriting the story of our earth and making our futures seem perilous and uncertain. Sadly across the world, men and women of all nations and religions clamor for reassurance. As in the time of Isaiah, “Watchman, what of the night?” is the question many people have in their hearts today.
Let us examine the brief answer offered by Isaiah’s watchman: “The morning comes, and also the night.” This response surprises us and seems contrary to natural laws, and to human experience. Never did the night and the morning arrive at the same time. The watchman seems confused, and not able to make up his mind about which is coming, the night or the day.
The Morning Star
One of the names referring to Jesus in the Bible is the “bright and morning star” (Rev 22:16). If Jesus lives in our hearts, there is always hope for a breakthrough no matter how late in the night or dark the circumstances appear to be around us.
The morning star is often seen as the brightest light in the dark sky, announcing the arrival of the dawn. However there is something unique about the morning star. The earliest astronomers called the planet Venus the morning star. But surprisingly enough, at certain times of the year Venus is also the “evening star,” announcing the approaching night. Isn’t it amazing how the very same sign in the sky can signal the approaching night, as well as herald of the coming morning?
I recently read an article by the Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, which has greatly impacted me and encouraged me. He wrote “In my experience, there are two types of Christians who, although they both read the very same Bible, have very different perspectives. Many Christians – often western – read the prophecies of the Bible about the future and see a rather devastating message of darkness, gloom, and decay awaiting the church and the world. However, if you visit some home churches of China you would hear a completely different message. A brother from China recently told me: “In China we are so excited, because the prophetic word promises us that the whole earth will be covered by the knowledge of the glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea!” He clearly was expecting global revival!”
“Not long ago, ” Dr. Bühler goes on to say, “we visited a large church movement in Nigeria, which is actively training young Christians in prayer and academics to become the future leaders of their country. In some Latin American countries, like Guatemala, more than 50% of the population have become born-again believers. These are churches filled with hope for what God can do!?”
According to this Christian leader and much travelled ambassador of Christ, some believers are “evening star Christians,” and some are “morning star Christians.” Reading the same Bible, some believers focus mainly on the darkness predicted, while others are filled with faith and optimism. The truth is that the watchman in Isaiah saw both. He was enough of a realist to see the night coming, but the first of the two phrases that passed his lips was to announce the coming of the morning.
The God of Hope
We need to remember that one of the three main messages the church carries is hope (1 Cor. 13:13). Hope does not disappoint (Rom. 5:5), and it provides an anchor for our souls (Heb. 6:19). God is called a God of hope (Rom. 15:13), which means He identifies His own character with hope. Therefore, we should never give up our confession of hope (Heb. 10:23). No matter what the newspapers, political pundits, and even end-times experts might be telling you, never give up your hope!
In light of believers’ calling to give hope, consider the words the watchman answered some 2,700 years ago in the time of Isaiah — “The morning comes and also the night!” The watchman chose HOPE and inverts the natural order of nightfall and dawn. Yes, though darkness is spreading across the world in many places, I see morning coming. The world is shaking and insecurity is increasing on many levels. But, there remains one rock solid reality that cannot be shaken and that is the Kingdom of God! His Kingdom will be the dawning of a brand new eternal day. A “great, getting up morning” in the words of the spiritual.
As the Babylonian, Egyptian, and Assyrian armies pressed in against the Kingdom of Israel, the prophet Isaiah brought a message of hope. In a time when powerful empires threatened the sovereignty of his homeland, and with moral decay spreading throughout Israel, Isaiah found comfort and courage in the promised Messiah. “The government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” (Isaiah 9:6–7). Supreme authority is given in heaven and on earth to Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul understood that every “throne, dominion, principality and authority” (Col 1:16) are under His sovereignty and need to serve His purposes.
Kingdom Expansion
But Isaiah saw something that is even more exciting! He not only revealed the aforementioned attributes of our Savior, but also boldly stated that His Kingdom will miraculously expand and grow forever: “Of the increase of His government there is no end.” Therefore, it did not surprise me to hear from Dr. Bühler that Christians in Lebanon in the midst of ISIS causing havoc in the name of Islam, are seeing the churches full of men with long beards and women in burkas who are seeking Jesus. They also reported that a wonderful move of God is taking place among Muslim refugees.
From another mission leader, Dr. Bühler even heard of underground church growth in Saudi Arabia and in Iran, where a historic revival is taking place. The ICEJ director’s son, who attends a Bible school in Germany, reported a few weeks ago that in one evening service at their camp nine Syrian refugees gave their lives to Jesus! A pastor from Berlin also shared with us that several churches in his city are packed with refugees coming to Christ.
It is true that at times God will shake a nation (and its Supreme Court may I add), and even our lives, in order to accomplish His purposes. The prophet Haggai prophesied a great and final shaking which will come “once more” over the entire world and even the heavenlies. But the ultimate result will be that God will build His temple: “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, […] and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. […] ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts …” (Haggai 2:6–9). The New Testament also reveals the church as triumphant, greeting her bridegroom as a beautiful and spotless bride. True, some will yield to peer pressure, temptation, and the deceitful allure of this world. But it is the grace of God which can carry us through and make us overcomers!
No darkness can stop the Kingdom of God! On the contrary, often it is darkness that He uses as His vehicle to come to our rescue (Ps. 18:4-12). The prophet Daniel saw that even in a time when unprecedented trouble and darkness come “…such as never was since there was a nation,” there will be those “who are wise” and who “shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:1-3).
In closing I want to encourage YOU. As the darkness grows around us, it is not a time to despair, but to let our light shine before men. The only unshakable entity is – and will be – the Kingdom of God, so let us surrender completely to our King and listen and obey Him. His Kingdom and His righteousness in His WORD and CHURCH will steady us and give us great courage and hope. Many people will come into His Kingdom even in these end times; there is hope for the church in every nation. There is great hope for you and me as believers. Since the morning comes to break through all darkness, make a resolution today to be a morning star Christian.
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