A watch is for telling the time. This one that I wish to speak about, however, tells about eternity also.
Bible time was different from ours. It was divided into watches, that is, periods of three hours. The Four Watches into which the night was divided are all mentioned in one verse, Mark 13:35—Even, Mid-night, Cock-crowing, Morning. What can we learn from them?
EVENING (Ex. 12:6)—From 6 p.m. till 9 p.m.-called also “The First watch.” The paschal lamb was slain in the evening. This tells us of the Lord Jesus, who “when the fullness of the time was come” (Gal. 4:4) came forth to die. In “the end of the world He appeared to put away sin.” (Heb. 9:26.) The Lamb of God has died. His blood has been shed. Redemption has been accomplished. You have nothing to do; nothing to wait for. Only just to believe on Him; to claim Him as your own.
MIDNIGHT (Ex. 12:29)—From 9 p.m. till 12 a.m.-The Second watch. The judgment fell at mid-night, at an hour when the people least expected it. Egypt was asleep. So will the world be when its judgment suddenly falls. (1 Thess. 5:3, Luke 17:27.) Sinners will be asleep in sin, enjoying themselves in forgetfulness of God, when like a thief in the night, the judgment will come. What an awakening awaits the ungodly. “Flee from the wrath to come.” (Luke 3:7.)
COCK-CROWING (Luke 22:60)—From 12 a.m. till 3 a.m-The Third watch. This is said to be the name given to the bugle call of the Roman soldier for arousing the camp. To us the cock-crowing call is “Surely I come quickly.” Are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus? Only those who know Him as their Saviour now can welcome Him then.
MORNING (Isa. 21:12)—From 3 a.m. till 6 a.m.-The Fourth watch. We read, “In the Fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them.” (Matt. 14:25.) “The morning cometh.” (Isa. 21:12.) The coming of the Lord Jesus for His people will bring the morning. His own word is, “I am the bright and Morning Star.” Happy are they who can say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
ML-04/20/1980