Waiting in Wisdom: The Watchman’s Posture

By Russell J. Schmidt

"Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog… and say, ‘I am against you.’” — Ezekiel 38:2

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” — Matthew 24:42

Every year, as the Feast of Trumpets approaches, the air thickens with anticipation. The shofar’s blast echoes through prophecy circles, stirring hope, urgency, and sometimes a touch of impatience. Could this be the year? Will the trumpet sound and the Bride be caught up?

But the seasoned watchman knows better than to chase dates. He watches not just the calendar—but the conditions.

Ezekiel 38 speaks of a time when Israel dwells securely, in unwalled villages. Today, Israel is anything but unwalled. The scars of October 7th still linger. The fences are higher. The vigilance is stronger. And the peace required for Gog’s invasion remains elusive.

So we wait—not passively, but prayerfully. Not with fear, but with discernment. The Antichrist will not emerge from a vacuum; he will rise from chaos, welcomed by a world desperate for order. That moment is not yet. But it is coming.

Like David between the gates, we sit in tension—between longing and wisdom, between prophecy and patience. The watchman’s posture is not one of panic, but of purpose. He scans the horizon, not to escape, but to prepare.

Reflection:

Are you watching with wisdom, or worrying with weariness?

Are you preparing your heart, or just your calendar?

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to wait with wisdom. Let me be a watchman who sees clearly, discerns rightly, and lives ready—not for a date, but for Your divine timing. Amen.