The Watchman’s Charge: Ezekiel’s Commission and the Burden of Silence

The prophet Ezekiel’s commission serves as one of the most sobering and detailed explanations of prophetic responsibility in the Bible. It outlines the foundational principle that those who know God’s word and His coming judgment have an inescapable duty to warn others. This concept of the Watchman is highly relevant to those anticipating The Lord’s Return and seeking to understand their role in the last days.

The Clear Warning from God

Ezekiel, exiled in Babylon, was given a distinct role by God: to be a spiritual sentinel over the people of Israel, regardless of their willingness to hear. God did not mince words about the stakes involved:

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” (Ezekiel 3:17, KJV)

The commission established a principle of judgment that operates entirely on whether the warning was delivered, not whether the warning was heeded.

The Law of the Watchman

The Law of the Watchman, as detailed in Ezekiel 3 and later reinforced in Ezekiel 33, defines the prophet’s responsibility under two distinct scenarios:

Scenario	The Watchman’s Duty (Ezekiel 3:18-19, KJV)	The Outcome of the Wicked
Warning Delivered	“If thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn… he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”	The wicked man bears his own guilt because the principle of the Law was upheld—he was warned. The watchman is innocent.
Warning Withheld	“When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman… But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned… his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”	The wicked man still dies in his iniquity, but the watchman is held accountable for the unheeded warning, bearing the guilt of his silence.

Application to The Lord’s Return

This principle moves beyond ancient Israel and applies directly to the final prophetic phase of history. Just as a physical wall-watchman warns of an approaching military sword, the modern spiritual watchman must warn of the approaching Sword of Divine Judgment at Christ’s return.

1. A Principle of Righteousness: This is a core requirement of God’s Law governing relationships—you must not allow your neighbor to walk blindly into danger if you hold the key to their safety.
2. The Final Message: The end-times message, often symbolized by the three angels’ messages in Revelation, is the ultimate fulfillment of the Watchman’s charge—a final, global warning that calls the world to worship the Creator and heed the hour of His judgment.
3. The Burden of Knowledge: For those who study prophecy and believe in The Lord’s Return, the knowledge itself carries a moral burden. The Watchman’s principle states that understanding the prophetic timeline removes the option of passive silence.

The commission of Ezekiel stands as an enduring command: the warning must be given, the trumpet must be sounded, and the message of God’s coming judgment must be clearly and boldly proclaimed.