This weekend while in a service, I was dwelling on a word released by prophet Jeremiah Johnson, “The Year of the Watchmen”. He shared a word God had been speaking to him for 2019 out of Isaiah 56:9-12; he said, “God begins to rebuke the watchmen of Israel for their failure in fulfilling their assignment to the nation. I believe that in 2019, God has revealed to me that He is going to begin to deal with the watchmen (prophets, leaders and intercessors) who are failing their assignments in their various nations of the earth.”

Isaiah 56:9-12 (TPT)
“All you wild beasts, come and devour, you wild animals of the forest. Blind watchmen, all of them! They have no revelation knowledge; they’re like dumb dogs that don’t even bark — dreaming, sleeping, devoted to slumber. They’re greedy dogs that never eat enough. And the shepherds have no discernment; they follow their own desires. Every last one of them seeks his own profit. Each one says, ‘Let’s get wine and liquor and have a party! And tomorrow, more of the same, except even better!'”

He then shared the 10 Indictments that God has against His watchmen from this passage:

1. The watchmen are blind.
2. The watchmen know nothing.
3. The watchmen are dumb dogs unable to bark.
4. The watchmen are dreamers lying down.
5. The watchmen love to slumber.
6. The watchmen are greedy dogs.
7. The watchmen are never satisfied.
8. The watchmen are shepherds without understanding.
9. The watchmen have turned to their own way.
10. The watchmen enjoy unjust gain.

With what the Lord has been revealing to me regarding the events of this day and age and His deep longing for His sons and daughters to awaken to that for which they were created, I began digging deep within myself as a watchman asking the Lord to check me. Oh, Lord, let there be nothing in me that would provoke You to have any indictment against me!!! I then began praying for His watchmen when the preacher during the service I was in started to speak about 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is probably one of the most notably referenced verses in the Bible when things are tough. He shed a new light on the verse that I feel is so timely in the awakening that God is wanting to bring forth.

(AMP) “And if MY people, who are called by MY Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

God does not say here, “if those sinners who know not of Me”, or “those who call themselves by My name will humble themselves, pray, and seek My face.” He says, “MY PEOPLE, who are CALLED BY MY NAME.” This in and of itself abolishes the false doctrine and deception instilled in much of the Body of Christ that it’s all the sinner’s fault what is happening to our nation. His demand is not an expectation that the world in sin would be the one to come to Him and petition Him to turn things around; it’s HIS PEOPLE! No, this does not absolve the world of their sins and responsibility to give an account to God for such things. However, it is the responsibility and expectation He has of His people to stand up against anything that opposes Him and to fall to their knees on behalf of their nation and people in Repentance. It is to hold their post and perform their God-given commission of warning the people of impending danger, sounding the alarm, and coming before the King of Kings, waging war on inaction.

I went to the altar praying and interceding for the watchmen in this hour to awaken and arise. I then heard Him say, “It’s time to come out of the trenches!”

I was then taken into a vision where I was lifted above the United States and was looking down upon it as if it were a map. I saw darkness begin to surround the country and a thick black line appeared to outline the United States and grow darker. When the entire nation was outlined, God began to show me the designated gateways and portals in the spirit realm all around the country; but they suddenly began to glow black as ink would bleed on a piece of paper when water is poured out upon it. Darkness started to infiltrate the gateways and overthrow them. God’s indictment against the watchmen holds true in this time and hour. They once stood at their command post guarding the gateways from and closing them to all demonic infiltration; and opening the portals completely to Heaven. Eventually these watchmen began to fall from their high posts because of the ten reasons in Isaiah 56; and the enemy saw an opportunity to take advantage of in an effort to gain the upper hand. 

Then He said, “These watchmen have cast down their God-given keys of authority to open and shut, having given in to the forces of darkness seen at a distance. Their inaction gave way for darkness to invade through these portals. Demonic forces from all over the earth have seen the vulnerability of the nation and are flocking to America to take advantage of the abandoned and weak gateways. There is demonic congestion in many gateways from the amount of principalities trying to wedge themselves in through the narrow gates; so much so that many Heavenly/angelic forces are being caught behind this hindrance.

All of this is being allowed to go on as some gatekeepers sit at the doorway, heavily slumbering. The keys to shut the demonic realm lay unused and the keys to unlock the Heavenly realm remain forgotten. Many gatekeepers have grown weary of the warfare and upholding that which is right and pure. Many have been stationed at their posts for ages and have grown weary maintaining their post alone because they have failed to train up the successors to help carry the weight of the call. They have even failed to station guards along the wall. Some have also refused to partner with the next generation of gatekeepers because they are stuck on one method and anticipation of My movements; instead of realizing that the warfare tactics must change as what Holy Spirit is doing changes in this day. 

It is time to awaken and stop allowing indifference to lull the gatekeepers asleep! I say to you gatekeepers, ‘Do not be deceived for one moment to think that you are not responsible for what is taking place in your land! Your inaction has welcomed the realm of hell into your nation and invited in demonic forces from all across the earth to invade your borders. The shroud of darkness and congestion of evil shoving its way through your doors has blocked much of the Heavenly assistance that you so desperately need. Indeed, the Prince of Persia has blocked My way.

AWAKE AND ARISE to your posts and beckon Heaven to come to your aid! Take up your keys of authority in your hands again! DESERTION IS NOT AN OPTION! PASSIVITY IS NOT AN OPTION! INDIFFERENCE IS NOT AN OPTION! SLUMBERING IS NOT AN OPTION! Jonah failed at his attempt in all of these things. It’s TIME FOR THE RECOMMITTAL!  Cleanse yourselves of all unrighteousness, for I require pure and clean eyes. Yes, I require a Righteous Watchman to guard your walls so that every level of demonic activity attempting to come at you will be exposed from afar off!'”

Ezekiel 22:23-31 (AMP)
“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; BUT I FOUND NO ONE. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.”

Our land is overrun with evil on a grand scale; much like what we read in this passage from Ezekiel 22, especially if you read the entire chapter. Most incriminating, I believe is the flippant mass murder of our most vulnerable, His Little Ones. We must not leave God gazing out upon our soil and our churches only to find complacent, impotent, slumbering, indifferent deserters who have abandoned their God-ordained posts and destiny! We cannot leave Him saying that He found NO ONE! May a deep and great conviction come upon the hearts of His watchmen in this hour that would awaken all out of drunken, apathetic stupors; and to join together to awaken each other.