Questions about Watchmen

[leah777]

What is a Watchman?

Who appoints them?

How do they know they are Watchmen and that their belief that they are one comes from God?

[wingnut-]

Ezekiel 3:16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 

 

Hosea 9:8  The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim with my God; yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

[wingnut-]

22 minutes ago, leah777 said:

How do they know they are Watchmen and that their belief that they are one comes from God?

 

Test everything against scripture, there is no single thing we are warned more about in the last days than those who claim to be prophets and are not.

[Fidei Defensor]

 “In this matter a uniquely heavy responsibility rests on those to whom this message is given by the prophet: ‘He indeed will die in his sin, but I will require his blood at the hand of the watchman.’ fn27 For ‘watchmen’, that is, leaders of the people, have been appointed in the churches for this purpose, that they should be unsparing in their condemnation of sin. This does not mean that a man is entirely free from blame in this regard if, without being a ‘watchman’, he recognizes, but ignores, opportunities of warning and admonishing those with whom the exigencies of this life force him to associate–if he evades this duty for fear of offending them, because he is concerned for those worldly advantages, which are not in themselves discreditable, but to which he is unduly attached. There is a further reason for the infliction of temporal suffering on the good, as is seen in the case of Job–that the spirit of man may be tested, that he may learn for himself what is the degree of disinterested devotion that he offers to God.” (City of God, Book I, Chapter 9:The reasons why the good and the wicked are equally afflicted, Augustine of Hippo) 

[leah777]

25 minutes ago, Fidei Defensor said:

 “In this matter a uniquely heavy responsibility rests on those to whom this message is given by the prophet: ‘He indeed will die in his sin, but I will require his blood at the hand of the watchman.’ fn27 For ‘watchmen’, that is, leaders of the people, have been appointed in the churches for this purpose, that they should be unsparing in their condemnation of sin. This does not mean that a man is entirely free from blame in this regard if, without being a ‘watchman’, he recognizes, but ignores, opportunities of warning and admonishing those with whom the exigencies of this life force him to associate–if he evades this duty for fear of offending them, because he is concerned for those worldly advantages, which are not in themselves discreditable, but to which he is unduly attached. There is a further reason for the infliction of temporal suffering on the good, as is seen in the case of Job–that the spirit of man may be tested, that he may learn for himself what is the degree of disinterested devotion that he offers to God.” (City of God, Book I, Chapter 9:The reasons why the good and the wicked are equally afflicted, Augustine of Hippo) 

do you have any scripture to describe a watchman and how he is appointed and why please?

[leah777]

31 minutes ago, wingnut- said:

 

Test everything against scripture, there is no single thing we are warned more about in the last days than those who claim to be prophets and are not.

Watchmen are prophets?

Edited July 25, 2020 by leah777

[R. Hartono]

34 minutes ago, wingnut- said:

 

Test everything against scripture, there is no single thing we are warned more about in the last days than those who claim to be prophets and are not.

Yes, such as those YouTube prophets n prophecies, never tested n always fail ???

[wingnut-]

11 minutes ago, leah777 said:

Watchmen are prophets?

 

According to scripture, yes.  Ezekiel and Hosea both were prophets.  All the other mentions in scripture regarding watchman would be in reference to what we today would refer to as sentries, or guards, serving in a military fashion.  While their duties are similar in that a sentry reports or warns of danger, so the same is true of the prophet's role in that they specifically speak for God, and are chosen by God to deliver warnings to His people.

The measure of a prophet is also given in scripture in determining whether or not they actually speak for God.  One thing you should note concerning all the prophets of the past, they were not vague in their messages.  They warned about very specific dangers and what the consequences would be if it continued.  One other thing they never did, was to promote themselves as above the people to which they spoke, they were humble, and their grumbling was kept between them and God.

[leah777]

2 minutes ago, wingnut- said:

 

According to scripture, yes.  Ezekiel and Hosea both were prophets.  All the other mentions in scripture regarding watchman would be in reference to what we today would refer to as sentries, or guards, serving in a military fashion.  While their duties are similar in that a sentry reports or warns of danger, so the same is true of the prophet's role in that they specifically speak for God, and are chosen by God to deliver warnings to His people.

The measure of a prophet is also given in scripture in determining whether or not they actually speak for God.  One thing you should note concerning all the prophets of the past, they were not vague in their messages.  They warned about very specific dangers and what the consequences would be if it continued.  One other thing they never did, was to promote themselves as above the people to which they spoke, they were humble, and their grumbling was kept between them and God.

Thank you for explaining. The vagueness of some messages and hints has been unsettling me, as God, through His Prophets always speaks clearly and with great love.

[Fidei Defensor]

26 minutes ago, leah777 said:

do you have any scripture to describe a watchman and how he is appointed and why please?

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.“ (Hebrews 13:17, ESV) 

Edited July 26, 2020 by Fidei Defensor