MINUTES UNTIL MIDNIGHT

ISAIAH 21:1

A. "WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?"
  1. Historic setting of our text:
    1. Edom and Seir were the descendants of Esau
    2. The prophet Isaiah foresaw an invasion of their homeland
  2. But the context goes beyond the dangers faced by the Edomites:
    1. It focuses upon the night that will overtake the inhabitants of the world just prior to the second coming of Christ
    2. Note, please divine forecasts of the night that will overtake a sinful, pleasure made world just before the Son of man, the morning star will appear - Is. 60:1-2; Luke 21:25-26; James 5:1-9; Ezek. 7:19 B. "WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?"
  3. Who are God's watchmen?
    1. The prophets of the Bible - Ezek. 3:17
    2. The ministers of the gospel - Is. 62:6
  4. Whence comes the inquiry?
    1. From the thinking people that find themselves surrounded by dense darkness, caused by the strange behavior of men
    2. The physical science seems to have become the ever-present cause for alarm and insecurity - Luke 21:25-26 Quotation from a News Reporter who stood upon the ruins of Nekashakee in Japan Quotation from a prominent scientist about the potentials of the hydrogen bomb "Physical science is at the threshold of giving men the means of destroying themselves and the world they live in"
  5. The Bible speaks of four kinds of night:
    1. The night of ignorance and unbelief - Rom. 13:12. The people before the flood - the Jews when they rejected the light of the world
    2. The night of sin - what a night that is? That night that overtook the first parents; the night that overtook the mighty empire of Babylon; the night that overtook Judas, one of the disciples of the Lord
    3. The night of temptation and sorrow which comes to all mortals, sooner or later
    4. That night of eternal doom for all who reject God's mercy - Matt. 8:12; 22:13 C. "THE MORNING COMETH, AND ALSO THE NIGHT"
  6. I want you to note some startling Bible truths:
    1. God's people are never left to utter darkness; when gross darkness come over Egypt Israel had light in their dwellings - Ex. 10:23 Note what Paul says - I Thess. 5:1-6
    2. Their light is the word of God, Bible prophecy - Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19-21
  7. Think, dear friends, what would this confused and sin-sick world do without the Bible? What would you do in the hour of sorrow and death without the light of truth?
  8. God has a humble people to whom He has entrusted the light that will lighten every heart open for light and truth:
    1. The three angels message - Rev. 14
    2. The light of the everlasting gospel - Rev. 18:1-3
  9. An earnest appeal to this intelligent congregation:
    1. The sleeping saint
    2. The Christ-less ones
  10. The morning cometh and also the night:
    1. A message of hope
    2. A message of doom


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