The Night Watches in Scripture

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Nighttime in Scripture is divided into four three-hour periods called "watches." In Mark 13:3535Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: (Mark 13:35) they are all four mentioned; namely, "even," "midnight," "cockcrowing," and "morning." According to our way of reckoning time, "even," or the evening watch, is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; the midnight watch, from 9 p.m. to midnight; cockcrowing, from 12 M to 3 a.m., and morning watch, from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Again, in the New Testament, the Lord in Mark 13 outlines to some of His disciples what was to befall His faithful remnant from the destruction of the temple by Titus in A.D. 70 till they should see "the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." That whole period of time was covered symbolically by the four watches of verse 35. He said, "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning." The Lord came, the light of the world, but was rejected from the very beginning of His ministry. In these four watches of Mark 13, Jesus scanned the long night of His absence, looking forward to the bright morn when "The Sun of righteousness [shall] arise with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:22But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2).
We find a most significant word of the Lord in Luke 12:3838And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12:38). "If He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants." He mentions neither the first watch nor the fourth, but refers His coming to the second or the third watch. This we know is spoken to those who are to be with loins girded about and lights burning, and who shall be blessed when their Lord shall return from the wedding and shall find them watching. This indeed should be true of the Church, as well as each one of us individually, till He comes for us.
In Revelation 2 and 3 there is, we believe, the prophetic outline of the Church on earth; and it has become for us in its closing days here largely a historical one. It has often been pointed out that in the first three periods of this outline; namely, Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, there is no mention whatever of the Lord's coming for the Church. These three marked the early days of the Church from the apostles' time down through the reign of Constantine, when the persecution of the Christians by the world ceased, and the world professedly accepted Christianity. During this time we have the first watch, or "even," of Mark 13:3535Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: (Mark 13:35). In Luke 12:3838And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12:38), as mentioned above, the Lord does not speak of this first watch.
However, beginning with the fourth church, Thyatira, and including the three following, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, He specifically calls the attention of each one to His coming. So it appears evident that these four churches must all continue simultaneously on earth till the Lord comes and takes His own to glory.
With the rise of Thyatira, Rev. 2:18-2918And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:18‑29), we see the development of Catholicism during the so-called dark ages. Then later, in these middle ages, the testimony of Protestantism began, represented by Sardis. But Sardis soon grew cold and formal, so that the Lord said to her in Rev. 3:11And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1), "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." Thus Catholicism and Protestantism, especially in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, were aptly signified by the darkness of the second, or midnight, watch of Mark 13:3535Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: (Mark 13:35).
During this dark period, the hope of the Lord's coming for His bride was lost sight of almost entirely by the Church. That blessed hope again began to stir deeply the hearts of believers in various places early in the nineteenth century, or about 135 years ago. In Matt. 25:66And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6) our Lord Himself foretold how the Holy Spirit would bring about this revival: "At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." It would be. He said, "at midnight." The result of this awakening was Philadelphia, of whom the Lord said, "Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name." Rev. 3:88I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8).
Finally, along with Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia, has appeared Laodicea, the last of the seven churches of Rev. 1:1111Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11). The Lord, who is the faithful and true witness, says that Laodicea is neither cold nor hot; and because she is "lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth" (Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)). He does not even exhort her to repent, as He had exhorted Sardis, though He does solemnly warn her.
In Luke 12:3838And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12:38) the Lord had said He would come for His Church either in the second watch, which represented Thyatira and Sardis as they were during the dark ages before the revival of the blessed hope of His coming, or else He would come in the third watch when their responsibility to Him has become so much greater because of that revival, and when Philadelphia and Laodicea are now included with them to make up the whole professing church during that watch. In other words, it would appear that the present condition of Thyatira and Sardis after the second watch or midnight of the middle ages, along with Philadelphia and Laodicea, mark-all four of them-the third watch, or cockcrowing, of Mark 13:3535Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: (Mark 13:35). They bear the dim light of testimony committed to the Church just before the dawn of the fourth, or morning watch. They immediately precede the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Sun of righteousness.
In Mark 6:35-5635And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42And they did all eat, and were filled. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. 45And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. 53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. (Mark 6:35‑56) there is a striking typical view of the whole time from the Lord's first coming as Israel's Messiah till His return in the fourth watch, which the passage particularly mentions. Concerning this, another has said, "It was one of the great signs of the Messiah that He would satisfy His poor with bread, as you may remember in Psalm 13211Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. 13Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations. 14For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 15The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. 19Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron: 20Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. 21Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. 1O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: 8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: 9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: (Psalm 135:11‑136). The Lord ought to have been thus recognized; but He was not. Accordingly... the people, instead of being gathered to the Lord, as to their King, have been for a season, at least, put aside.... He has departed from Israel for a time, and gone on high to take the place of intercession. And while the Lord is there, the disciples are exposed to all the storms and fluctuations of this lower scene.... He has left the Jews for the time. He is also away from His disciples. But in the midst of the contrariety of all things around them, He comes again. 'About the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them.' v. 48." And verses 54-56 are "a little picture of what will be the consequence of the Lord's return to the earth.... Whatever there is of human woe, wretchedness, weakness, sickness in the world will all flee before the presence and touch of the Son of God." W. K.
May we never forget that in order to sustain and encourage the weary watcher, the Lord graciously promises the overcomer in each of the last four churches that He will come with His blessing before the morning, or fourth watch.
"The gloomy night will soon be past,
The morning will appear;
The harbinger of day at last
Each waiting eye will cheer.
"Thou Bright and Morning Star, Thy light
Will to our joy be seen;
Thou, Lord, wilt meet our longing sight,
Without a cloud between."
At the very beginning of the second watch the blessed Lord said to the individual overcomer then, "I will give him the morning star." Rev. 2:2828And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:28). Now we are at the other end of the "gloomy night." How very near His coming must be! At the close of that third watch He says. "Behold, I come quickly." Rev. 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11). When He comes, may He find us truly watching. "We have the prophetic word made surer, to which ye do well taking heed, (as to a lamp shining in an obscure place) until the day dawn and the morning star arise in your hearts." 2 Pet. 1:1919We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19);