‘Go Set a Watchman’ sells over a million copies–but it is NOT doing the real ‘watchman’ duty

It has only been out about a week, but the novel Go Set a Watchman reportedly has sold over a million copies so far:

July 20, 2015

NEW YORK — Critics dismissed it as a rough draft for “To Kill a Mockingbird” and readers despaired over an aging, racist Atticus Finch.

But Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” is still a million seller.

HarperCollins announced today that “Go Set a Watchman” in its combined print, electronic and audio formats has sold 1.1 million copies in the U.S. and Canada, a figure which includes first-week sales and months of pre-orders. The publisher stunned the world in February when it revealed that a second novel was coming from Lee, who had long insisted that “To Kill a Mockingbird” would be her only book. http://www.toledoblade.com/Books/2015/07/20/Critic-proof-Harper-Lee-book-Go-Set-a-Watchman-already-million-seller.html

I debated for the past week if I should report about that particular book. The title seems to come from a statement in the Bible (Isaiah 21:6), but the content of the book is not like the Book of Isaiah. Here is what Amazon says about the novel:

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch—”Scout”—returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise’s homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town, and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past—a journey that can only be guided by one’s own conscience.

Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor, and effortless precision—a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context, and new meaning to an American classic.

While many are interested in fiction, most fail to realize that God has a set a watchman to warn the world and the end time descendants of Israel what is going to happen. Notice some items from the Hebrew scriptures:

6 For thus has the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees. (Isaiah 21:6)

2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ (Ezekiel 33:2-6)

17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 3:17-21)

4 The best of them is like a brier; The most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; The day of your watchman and your punishment comes; Now shall be their perplexity. (Micah 7:4)

At this news page, regular readers are aware that I declare what I see on a daily basis.

Here is something from the old Radio Church of God on the need for a watchman and the scriptures in Ezekiel:

We can’t ALL travel to all parts of the world TO WATCH world affairs. Through the prophecy of Ezekiel, God explains that WHEN this time was to come, God would call and choose a man to be the WATCHMAN to WATCH these world events — UNDERSTAND them — and WARN His people today identified as the United States and the British Commonwealth nations.

Did you ever NOTICE and UNDERSTAND this striking prophecy? “Son of man,” says God, “I have made thee a watchman unto the House of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth and GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME” (Ezek. 3:17). Most of you students already understand that our English-speaking peoples ARE “the House of Israel” of the 20th century. …

Now the man Ezekiel was a PROPHET. He wrote down the prophecy. But HE was not the “WATCHMAN” — and HE never delivered that warning. Notice, Ezekiel 3:1, 4-5. {1 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” … 4 Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel} His message and warning was to the House of ISRAEL — NOT Judah. But Ezekiel never went to or saw the House of Israel. He lived more than a hundred years AFTER their captivity. He was among the JEWISH captives, in Babylon. The House of ISRAEL had migrated northwest toward the British Isles before he wrote. He merely WROTE the prophecy.

The prophecy was not for HIS day. Prophecy is a history of FUTURE events — to happen AFTER it is written…a SPEAKER to SPEAK and PROCLAIM this warning, AT THE TIME when the event prophesied is about to happen. God is using THIS WORK to PROCLAIM this vital warning.

GOD IS USING THIS WORK AS HIS INSTRUMENT! This broadcasting and publishing work has become a very large worldwide operation. …

Yes, God has set us as His WATCHMEN. We DO watch world events! (Armstrong HW. Open Letter in Lesson 44 – Christ’s Return of the 58 Lesson Bible Correspondence Course. Ambassador College, October 1966).

While some will point out that these are writings from the Old Testament, they should consider that there are end time applications to many of the writings from the Hebrew prophets.

Why else cover world events and prophecy?

Notice what Jesus said in the New Testament:

31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:31-36)

Jesus said to WATCH AND PRAY and the watching did have to do with world events. Jesus most specifically was referring to world events as well as how we conduct our lives in Luke 21. A large amount of Jesus’ words in the New Testament (the Gospels and the Book of Revelation) have to do with future events–if they were not important, Jesus would not have spent as much time on such matters.

As far as prayer goes, it is vitally important. Those who would like to learn more about prayer should check out the free booklet Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf.

Notice something that the old Radio Church of God published about Luke and world news:

God has commissioned His Work to “WATCH” (Luke 21:36). He meant watch WORLD NEWS! …

THE LIVING Head of this Work has commanded us to WATCH and PRAY ALWAYS that we may be accounted worthy to escape all the terrifying conditions now quickly coming on this world (Luke 21:36). He was talking about WORLD CONDITIONS — world HAPPENINGS — world NEWS (Luke 21; Matthew 24; Mark 13). He was talking about the VERY soon-coming Great Tribulation. He offered us a chance to ESCAPE IT — not have to go through it. To take advantage of this ESCAPE-opportunity, He said we must “WATCH” as well as pray always. He meant watch the world happenings He was foretelling — events leading quickly right up to this Great Tribulation. (Armstrong HW. Open Letter in Lesson 44 – Christ’s Return of the 58 Lesson Bible Correspondence Course. Ambassador College, October 1966).

Because of Jesus’ admonishing to watch, you see news items on this page daily.

But is a watchman witness clearly needed today?

Yes.

Notice something else that Jesus said:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

Notice that Jesus said His gospel of the kingdom would be preached to the world as a witness, then the end would come. That end has not yet happened, so that message needs to continue to go out.

Since the rise of the Philadelphia era of the Church of God, through the old Radio then old Worldwide Church of God in the 20th century to those in the Continuing Church of God in the 21st century, this message has been going out.

How so?

We in the Continuing Church of God have reached people in over 220 countries and territories through this COGwriter.com website, over 215 countries/territories on our Bible News Prophecy and ContinuingCOG YouTube television channels, our Google campaign reaches millions of computers each month, our printed Bible News Prophecy magazine has been produced in seven languages (English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Kiswahli, German, Dholuo, and Tagalog languages) with others expected, we also put out booklets in multiple languages (including French), we have multiple websites in with materials in many languages, and I have been reaching millions on radio as a regular radio guest. And we have done this teaching biblical doctrine without the type of errors and compromises that Laodicean COG groups have.

Notice something from the old Worldwide Church of God on the work and the watchman:

THE MOST important work in the world cannot be done without freedom of the press!

What is that work?

It is the work of announcing that God will restore His Government to the whole earth! But before the Government of God is restored, it must first be announced! The good news of that announcement — the Gospel of the Kingdom of God — must be preached (Matthew 24:14) to all nations (Matthew 28:19). And the nations must choose whether they will want it or resist it.

In this day, God has made the MASS media available to accomplish His work. But reaching a mass audience with the good news of God’s soon-coming Government requires the freedom to PUBLISH. Notice Mark 13:10: “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Further, God lays a special duty on his messenger and Church to publicly disseminate certain warnings to certain nations.

Ezekiel 33:1-7 describes God’s charge upon the watchman. When the watchman sees “the sword” come upon the land — a prophetic symbol of military devastation — he must “blow the trumpet” or God will hold him personally responsible. This duty requires that a message warning about some very unpleasant events be published as far and as wide as possible to the latter-day descendants of ancient nations.

Similarly, when God charged the prophet Jeremiah with a message, he also had an affirmative duty from God to spread it to as wide an audience as possible. Jeremiah was given a message so important he could hardly contain himself: “But his [God’s] word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones…” (Jeremiah 20:9).

So God’s servants really have no choice as to exercising the right to publish their message freely. Their message is not for their personal benefit — but to the whole world! (Calikins J. FREE PRESS IN THE BIBLE? Was It Prophesied? Plain Truth magazine, May 1981)

The Bible itself also tells about a time when restrictions will be in place–so much so that it will be a famine of the word (Amos 8:11-12). We have already started to have restrictions (watch the short video Famine of the Word?), but more significant ones are coming.

Because we know this, we in the Continuing Church of God are leading the final phase of the work and are actively preparing for the short work that will be cut short (Romans 9:28, see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word). Thus, we need to do the watchman work now, while we can. For as Jesus said:

4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4, NIV)

Anyway, the newly popular novel Go Set a Watchman does not do that. Relatively few realize what God’s watchman should be doing today.

We in the Continuing Church of God “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, KJV).”

UPDATE 7/27/15: We now have a short-related video available related to this message titled Go, Set a Watchman.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 teaches “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come ” will be fulfilled and RCG is not the group doing this. Who is leading the final phase of the work? What did Herbert Armstrong and the old WCG teach about that and about prophets? Does Bob Thiel meet the criteria that the Bible and the old WCG set? What is the proof? What has the Continuing Church of God been doing? This is a sermonette length video.
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong?
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. There is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? What is the origin of this in France? What is prophesied to happen to them? A two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben and France and Prophecy.
Ten clues tying Belgium and Luxembourg with the tribe of Asher Who did some in Belgium and Luxembourg descend from?
Ten clues tying Zebulun with the Dutch Who did some in the Netherlands descend from?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. To see how CCOG has done so far, here are links to two sermons Continuing Church of God (CCOG) first year anniversary: What has been accomplished? and The Continuing Church of God: Two Years of Proclamation. Here is a written link to a version of that sermon in the Spanish language: Aniversario del primer año de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios: ¿Qué se ha cumplido?
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。 Here is a link to our Statement of Beliefs in Mandarin Chinese 继续神的教会的信仰声明.
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted toward Europe. It has materials in more than one language (currently it has English, Dutch, and Serbian, with links also to Spanish) and it is intended to have additional language materials added.
CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and others with a British-descended background.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent.