There are four direct references in the Bible re:
The Fourth Watch of the Night
This is a Bible viewpoint that we are now in the "fourth watch of the night" - chronologically
and prophetically. We are in the time when we should be truly
"watching." Please watch these Bible verses about the "fourth
watch" with me.
Exodus 14
24And it came to
pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth upon the host
of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and
discomfited the host of the Egyptians.
In our Exodus verse, the
Egyptians are the world of today - in Antitype. We live in the time of
the overthrow of Satan's empire. RcB
Matthew 14
24But
the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves;
for the wind was contrary.
25And
in the
fourth watch of the
night he came unto them, walking upon the sea.
26And
when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled,
saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.
27But
straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is
I; be not afraid....
32And
when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.
33And
they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou
art the Son of God.
and SEE:
Mark 6 48And
seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto
them, about
the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them,
walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them:
49but
they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a
ghost, and cried out;
50for
they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with
them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not
afraid.
51And
he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they
were sore amazed in themselves;
SEE also:
John 6 16...And it
was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18And the sea was
rising by reason of a great wind that blew.19When therefore
they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they
behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat:
and they were afraid. 20But he saith unto
them, It is I; be not afraid. 21They were willing
therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat
was at the land whither they were going.
HOW DISTRESSED are the Truth groups to see the rising tide of the sea of anarchy by reason of the great world war in it's two phases and it's aftermath?
This is reflected in Pastor Russell's remarks re: Matt. 14:25-32,
"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Learn that I am a spirit being, no longer visible to human sight. I thus reveal myself by the lamp of the Word to the eyes of thine understanding, that as in coming days I shall walk upon the stormy sea of the world's unparalleled trouble, thou needst not fear, but "Be of good cheer." Remembering that it is I, be not afraid.
HOW THIS REMINDS us of Habakkuk 3:17, rejoicing during the time when although the Church is gone, the Worthies have not appeared yet...
3 17For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls:
AND IT REMINDS US of Luke 21 and how Jesus would come amidst trouble and thick darkness, when the state of Israel would renew in 1948!
And might we determine "furlongs" refers to time? e.g. The "1600 furlongs" of Rev. 14?
One more reference to the fourth watch:
I Samuel 11:11
11And
it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three
companies; and they came into the midst of the camp
in the morning
watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it
came to pass, that they that remained were scattered, so that not
two of them were left together.
12And
the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign
over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
13And
Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for
to-day Jehovah hath wrought deliverance in Israel.
14Then
said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and
renew the kingdom there.
15And
all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king
HERE the Antitypical Ammonites are scattered at the time Jah saves Israel to "renew the kingdom" for "all the people". RcB
Psalm 90 Provides evidence regarding the time of the destruction of
nations, followed by the resurrection.
-
Resurrection referenced verse 3,
- Night Watch referenced verse 4,
- Time of Trouble referenced verse 7
Psalm 90
1Lord,
you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2Before
the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth
and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
3You
turn man to destruction; and say, Return, you children of men.
4For
a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is
past, and as a watch in the night.
5You
carry them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the
morning they are like grass which grows up.
6In
the morning it flourishes, and grows up; in the evening it is cut
down, and wither.
7For
we are consumed by your anger, and by your wrath are we troubled.
8You
have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light
of your countenance.
9For
all our days are passed away in your wrath: we spend our years as
a tale that is told.
10The
days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason
of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor
and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11Who
knows the power of your anger? even according to your fear, so is
your wrath.
12So
teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to
wisdom.
13Return,
O LORD, how long? and let it repent you concerning your servants.
PLUS:
- Length of a Generation:* verse 10
- Admonition to do the math: verse 12
-
In regards to The Lord's Return: verse 13
*We recall the Lord Jesus said "this generation shall not pass
until all these things be accomplished" once the budding of the
fig tree occurred, which we believe is the founding of the State
of Israel in May of 1948.
Adding 70 years to that yields May of 2018 (16 months away at the
time of this writing.) Adding 80 years brings us to the year
2028.
Here's a reference to the 2nd and 3rd watch
Luke 12
37Blessed
are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find
watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and
make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.
38And
if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and
find them so, blessed are those servants .
39But
know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour
the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his
house to be broken through.
40Be
ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man
cometh.
Matthew 24:43
refers the the watch of the night where the master
of the house failed to watch for the thief like presence of the
Lord... verse 32 refers to the leaves of the fig tree.
We see That Servant praised... 1874-1878 This refers to the four
stage binding of the adversary Bro. Johnson wrote about. This is
exciting. Please feel free to add and comment.
Yours in Truth,
RcB
P.S. This
study is thanks to Bro. John J. Hoefle who held to the Truth presented
by the Star Members faithfully to the end. His article is found HERE:
http://epiphanybiblestudents.com/blog/2015/7/21/no-18-the-third-watch
P.P.S. There's a pretty thorough Jewish based study on Exodus 12:42 from whence we get
"Watch-Night"...
“It
is a night of vigils to YHVH for having brought them out from the land
of Egypt; this night is for YHVH, of vigils to the sons of Israel
throughout their generations.”
Here is the Young’s Literal translation:
Exodus 12:4242 night
of watchings it is to Jehovah, to bring them out from the land of
Egypt; it is this night to Jehovah of watchings to all the sons of
Israel to their generations.
