Most of us see a continual degradation of the moral fiber of this nation. The same can be said for most other countries as well. Even in Russia many people long for a return to the old Soviet Union because its police state held a strong damper on crime and other injustices. Jesus Christ, Paul and the Old Testament prophets all reminded us to watch and pray for deliverance from the evils about to befall the earth. Were they talking about the days we are living in?

Ezekiel and other prophets had much to say about what many feel applies to our day and the rest of this era. I would encourage you to read all of Ezek 5, 6, and 7 but let's turn to Ezek 5:12 for an example.

Ezek 5:12-13 (NKJV) 'One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. {13} 'Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest upon them, and I will be avenged; and they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken <it> in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them.

Today I want to discuss the subject of watching world events and praying about them.

The gospels describe an occasion where Jesus was talking to his disciples about terrible days to come.

Luke 21:7-36 (NKJV) So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign <will there be> when these things are about to take place?" {8} And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am <He>,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. {9} "But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end <will not come> immediately." {10} Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. {11} "And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. {12} "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute <you>, delivering <you> up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. {13} "But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. {14} "Therefore settle <it> in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; {15} "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. {16} "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put <some> of you to death. {17} "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. {18} "But not a hair of your head shall be lost. {19} "By your patience possess your souls. {20} "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. {21} "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. {22} "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. {23} "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. {24} "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. {25} "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; {26} "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. {27} "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. {28} "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." {29} Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. {30} "When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. {31} "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. {32} "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. {33} "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. {34} "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. [What is a snare? A snare is a trap. It springs very quickly - before its victim can get away.] {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Yes, we must continually watch world events, associate them to the sequence described in these verses, and pray that we may escape the end-time dangers.

Rev 3:1-5 (NKJV) "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. {2} "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. {3} "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. {4} "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. {5} "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

For you era-believers, the Sardis era is admonished to watch and strengthen the areas in which they are weak so that they will not die from the imperfections God finds in them. For those of you who believe that the churches of Rev. 2 and 3 apply to today's church, the same principle exists. How much time do we have to correct these areas of imperfections?

Mark 13:32 (NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Our progress will not be without Satan trying to pull us down. Paul warns us to beware of ministers and others who preach and believe what is not in the Bible. Many of these KNOW that their preaching is contrary to the Bible but they have rationalized their way around the truth and now speak what is easy on the ears in order to gain power, and to attract listeners and donations. Paul warned us of this when he wrote in Acts:

Acts 20:29-32 (NKJV) "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. {30} "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. {31} "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. {32} "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

He encouraged the same thing in his writings to the Corinthians:

1 Cor 16:13 (NKJV) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Why did these Christians need to be encouraged in these matters? Because tough, difficult, trying times were coming. Tough, difficult, trying times are coming on us too. In fact, they seem to be occurring today, and not just those in the Middle East.

1 Pet 4:7-8 (NKJV) But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. {8} And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

Notice that Peter, knowing of difficult times ahead, encouraged his readers to be serious and watchful in their prayers. Do we just talk about the increasingly difficult times we live in or do we pray about the times ahead?

Paul stressed and expanded the same theme when he wrote to the Ephesians:

Eph 6:10-18 (NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. {11} Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities [people in high government positions or offices who are influenced by Satan], against powers [powers which can be influenced by Satan - like the FBI, IRS, BATF, etc.], against the rulers of the darkness of this age [remember that Satan rules the world today], against spiritual <hosts> of wickedness in the heavenly <places> [Satan even rules the affairs up in the air - but not in God's Heaven]. [We argue and quarrel and threaten others but unknowingly and unfortunately we are being motivated by Satan.] {13} Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {14} Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, {15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; {18} praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

Notice the words of Paul to Timothy:

2 Tim 4:3-5 (NKJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, <because> they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; {4} and they will turn <their> ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. {5} But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

We must all endure afflictions and watch. Satan wants to derail us and he has plenty of his ministers out there to carry out his wishes. Don’t be swayed or entangled by their messages. The key is prayer and vigilance.

We must not be asleep to the spiritual significance of world events. We must watch and be serious. We must not let that day come as a thief in the night.

1 Th 5:6-8 (NKJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as others <do>, but let us watch and be sober. {7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. {8} But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and <as> a helmet the hope of salvation.

Faith and love does not include retaliation motivated from a spirit of hate, does it?

What can we learn from the experience of Paul and other ministers?

I hope every minister and every person who is in a position to teach others will read these verses very carefully. There have been many offenses generated by ministers, and those ministers have the victim's blood on their own head. At the same time, the sacrifices of these men need to be shared and appreciated by all of us. How many of these trials we just read have we met?

Even Jesus Christ could not keep his disciples from sleeping instead of watching and praying.

Mark 14:32-41 (NKJV) Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." {33} And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. {34} Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, <even> to death. Stay here and watch." {35} He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. {36} And He said, "Abba, Father, all things <are> possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You <will>." {37} Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? {38} "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed <is> willing, but the flesh <is> weak." {39} Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. {40} And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. {41} Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Are we also sleeping instead of watching and praying as the world moves to disaster?

Many of the American people are asleep to our national dangers. Communist China is buying large numbers of submarines and other naval ships from Russia to destroy the US Navy in the Western Pacific. Russia itself seems ready for a supra-nationalistic government with its threats against Israel, Alaska, eastern Europe. The U.S. is acting like a silly courter with potential enemies as it tries to buy peace. North Korea and Iran continue on their quest for nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver them. Japan considers nuclear weapons to counter North Korean and Chinese military threats. The war against terrorism continues in Iraq and now in Lebanon and Gaza. Venezuela, a major U.S. oil supplier, buys military planes and rifles from Russia, to threaten pro-American democratic Latin American governments. America cuts defense spending except in Iraq, closes bases, then sells the land upon which they were built so they can not be available in case of an emergency. Hundreds of bases have been closed. More are to follow. There is still no national draft or program to train each American high school graduate for military service and thereby establish a pool of trained personnel in case of a national emergency. America seems to be unknowingly bent on national suicide. Remember what we just read in Eph 6:12? "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities. [People in high government positions or offices.]" We complain a lot about Presidential, Congressional and Court decisions but it is not just these people who are our enemy. It is Satan who influences and manages these officials. He is our enemy. Can you even imagine the impact of national suicide on our lives and the lives of your loved ones? Much of the American public is misled or sleeping and could very well die before it wakes up, but Satan is wide awake and working. God predicted the fate of Israel long ago. The fate of nations run amok in moral depravity is well documented, but most in the U.S. public aren't looking or listening. Even with recent bank failures, they are too involved in pleasurable pastimes to consider that everything they have could be lost. Pray America will wake up and repent.

But someone else is watching. God, from his throne, can see the advent of prophesy in world affairs. He is watching the direction we are moving. Remember how he watched and punished Nebuchadnezzar?

Dan 4:13-17 (NKJV) "I saw in the visions of my head <while> on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. {14} He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches. {15} Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, <Bound> with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And <let> him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth. {16} Let his heart be changed from <that of> a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him. {17} 'This decision <is> by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

The Most High does rule in the kingdom of men. Is this important to you and does it make you fear - or are you watching and praying?

Zec 1:8-11 (NKJV) I saw [he was watching] by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him <were> horses: red, sorrel, and white. {9} Then I said, "My lord, what <are> these?" So the angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what they <are>." {10} And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These <are the ones> whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth." {11} So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly."

Are you resting quietly while the red horse of war stalks the earth, unnoticed by the sleeping and uncaring public? Or are you watching and praying about potential and on-going wars and great potential difficulties for all mankind?

Ezek 3:17 (NKJV) "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:

This verse is obviously addressed to Ezekiel but are we fulfilling our duty as watchman by being alert to what is going on? Do we use the facts we learn as watchmen in warning others about the dangers around us and as a basis for our prayers?

Ezek 33:2-9 (NKJV) "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 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 <man> shall 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.

How expressive are you concerning the dangers in this world? When you see society sleeping about oncoming dangers, do you express your concern and point out why you are concerned? Do you express concern when government and international leaders go down a path which the Bible shows to be dangerous? To do so, you must be aware of what's going on and what your Bible says about it. Or do you pretend to not know by demonstrating you are sleeping too?

Hosea 9:8 (NKJV) The watchman of Ephraim <is> with my God; But the prophet <is> a fowler's snare in all his ways; Enmity in the house of his God.

This verse compares the status of a watchman with a false prophet. Notice that the watchman is with Hosea's God but that the false prophet's goal is simply to snare people like a hunter snares a fowl - they just step into the snare and that's the end. If you research the words "prophet" and "fowler's snare" you'll arrive at the same interpretation of these words I have given you. We will be much more effective as watchmen than as prophets. We are commanded to watch. We are not commanded to prophesy.

Again, let me read from our opening scripture today:

Luke 21:36 (NKJV) "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Are we worthy to escape? Are we watching?

Luke 12:37-40 (NKJV) "Blessed <are> those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down <to eat>, and will come and serve them. {38} "And if he should come in the second watch [9 to midnight], or come in the third watch [midnight to 3 AM], and find <them> so, blessed are those servants. {39} "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. {40} "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Mark 13:33-37 (NKJV) "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. {34} "<It is> like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. {35} "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming; in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning; {36} "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. {37} "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

We read Luke's record of the Olivet prophesy. Now I want to read Matthew's recording of the Olivet prophesy - a scripture we are all familiar with. As we read it, concentrate on the necessity to watch and pray and not sleep:

Mat 24:3-43 (NKJV) Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what <will be> the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" {4} And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. {5} "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. {6} "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all <these things> must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. {8} "All these <are> the beginning of sorrows. {9} "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. {10} "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. {11} "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. {12} "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. {13} "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. {14} "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. {15} "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), {16} "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. {17} "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. {18} "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. {19} "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! {20} "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. {21} "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. {22} "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. {23} "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here <is> the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe <it>. {24} "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. {25} "See, I have told you beforehand. {26} "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; <or> 'Look, <He is> in the inner rooms!' do not believe <it>. {27} "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. {28} "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. {29} "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. {30} "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. {31} "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. {32} "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer <is> near. {33} "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors! {34} "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. {35} "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. {36} "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. {37} "But as the days of Noah <were>, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. {38} "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage [the world was asleep to the danger they were in], until the day that Noah entered the ark, {39} "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. {40} "Then two <men> will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. {41} "Two <women will be> grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. {42} "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. {43} "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Peter addressed the attitude of people in Noah's day in 2 Peter 3:

2 Pet 3:1-7 (NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in <both of> which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), {2} that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, {3} knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, {4} and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as <they were> from the beginning of creation." {5} For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, {6} by which the world <that> then existed perished, being flooded with water. {7} But the heavens and the earth <which> are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The book, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" was written in 1788 by Edward Gibbon. In previous years it was widely read. Apparently it isn't today....but then the sixties generation has rejected everything from the past generations in exchange for their "new age" knowledge. The book sets forth five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died. These are:

The oft-heard warning that "history repeats itself" has an ominous meaning in the light of this book.

The average age of the world's great civilizations has been about 200 years. These nations progressed through this sequence:

With the establishment of GAT, the World Trade Organizaion, other protective treaties, and the public's dependence on public money, the U.S. has entered the final step.

Thirty years ago the U.S. was 200 years old. This cycle is not inevitable. IN A DEMOCRACY, IT SHOULD DEPEND ON ITS CITIZENS - INCLUDING US.

In conclusion, let me repeat two scriptures from Paul:

1 Cor 16:13 (NKJV) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Sermon given by Wayne Bedwell

October 11, 2008

Copyright 2008, Wayne Bedwell