Ezekiel 33:5, commentary and pictures

When the watchman sees danger coming and sounds the trumpet, each hearer decides his own fate: to ignore the sound and be lost leaves the guilt on himself, while to heed it saves his life. No one can shift that choice to another, for each must search and obey for himself, and being misled by ministers or neighbors gives no excuse. To heed is to return to obedience to God's plain word, open the heart to Christ and the Holy Spirit to cleanse it from sin and selfishness, and use and share every ray of light sent. Those set as watchmen today bear even greater responsibility than ancient watchmen, and if they warn faithfully they free themselves from guilt even when the wicked refuse to turn, but if they neglect or delay, the blood of the lost is required at their hand. That warning must be given at once, plainly and loudly with a certain sound of reproof rather than smooth words of peace.

Hearing Brings Personal Responsibility

When the watchman sees the sword coming and blows the trumpet to warn the people, the outcome rests on each hearer. Whoever hears the sound and refuses to act, and is taken away, bears his own guilt, and his blood is upon his own head. Whoever heeds the warning and acts on it saves his life and delivers his soul. Individual responsibility decides the result, for each must choose for himself. No one can obey for a neighbor, another's neglect does not excuse neglect, no other man can save the hearer or answer for him, and even a minister cannot pay the ransom for deceived souls, since Christ alone gave His life to save them and give another trial to return to loyalty.

Those who permit themselves to be deceived are not excused for neglecting to search the Word of God for themselves and committing their souls to a minister. When God sends faithful messengers to warn church members, to feed them with pure truth and call them to search the Scriptures and obey for themselves, those who hear and refuse to examine and obey are left without excuse. This holds even when ministers and shepherds mislead them, wrest the Scriptures, teach human commandments, oppose the messengers, warn the people against doing what God commands, and stand in the way of obedience. Those who take Satan's side and work to justify sin must bear the penalty of sin, and their loss is their own fault, while those who listen and obey escape.

Taking warning means returning to loyalty and obedience to a plain Thus saith the Lord. It means letting the Holy Spirit come into the heart and abide there, expelling Satan and selfishness and unholy lust from the soul temple. It means opening the door of the heart to Jesus to receive richest blessing, purification, and fellowship with the Father and the Son. It also means receiving whatever light God sends by His word, His ministers, and other agencies, putting it to the best use and passing it along to church and world so its full force is felt. By so taking warning and using the light, hearers deliver their souls, are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and fortified by truth, are fitted to prepare for the coming conflict and the great issues ahead, to stand in the day of trouble and in the great crisis before them, and to reject Satan's delusions instead of being left to stumble in darkness unprepared and not knowing what is before them.

The trumpet warning that must give a certain sound, a clear alarm the people can hear so they realize their danger and do the work required at the present time, is sounded by a watchman appointed to alert the people, and is carried and passed along by God's human messengers with warning, reproof, and instruction to enlighten His people. If the watchman gives the warning and a wicked person does not turn from his way, the person remains answerable for his own iniquity and the watchman has fulfilled his duty. Rejecting or working against their message of mercy repeats the Jews' rejection of Christ.

Watchmen Must Warn Faithfully

Ministers are watchmen unto the house of Israel today, as the ancient watchmen were upon the walls of Jerusalem, and upon the walls of Zion now the salvation of souls depends on their fidelity. Their solemn charge is rightly to understand and explain the word of God and to warn every man from God, teaching every man in all meekness and wisdom. Their responsibility is even greater than in the prophet's day because their light is clearer and their privileges and opportunities are greater. To meet it they must not conform to the practices of the world, must contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, must stay spiritually minded and closely connected with God, and must live very near to God to hear His word at His mouth and be impressed by His Spirit. They must not be sleepy sentinels with benumbed spiritual senses who see and realize no danger, but when they see the sword coming must sound the trumpet note of warning.

The watchman who sounds the warning has fulfilled his duty and delivered his own soul, even when the warning has no good effect. If the wicked person warned does not turn from his way but refuses to heed and dies in his iniquity, his guilt and loss are his own and he remains answerable for his own iniquity. The one who gave the warning is then no longer partaker in that sin and is no longer answerable for that blood. He that takes warning preserves his life and delivers his soul, while he that hears and refuses bears responsibility for his own death.

A watchman who fails to warn, delays, neglects, gives up his watch, or stands by at ease while people perish is accountable, and God will require their blood at his hand. The charge requires discernment, firmness, and faithful correction of wrongdoing and evils rather than ease or neglect, with protest and prayer against harmful movements. Faithful warning requires living very near to God to hear His word and be impressed by His Spirit, lest through unfaithfulness the watchman lose his own soul and the souls of those who hear him. Condemnation will be proportionate to misleading influence, and in the scene of the plagues those who were not warned will blame ministers for failing to warn them of the coming hour, while the unfaithful ministers suffer God's wrath.

Those entrusted with sacred responsibility, especially ministers appointed as watchmen, must stay alert to dangers threatening the spiritual life, health, and prosperity of God's people and must speak out to warn others against dishonoring God. They must watch over souls because those who watch must give an account. This work belongs not only to ministers but to canvassers, who as watchmen are to warn people of danger and awaken those asleep to the message of salvation through Christ and obedience to God's law. It belongs also to teachers and other workers whose conduct and influence affect the young, who must give faithful warning rather than sometimes serve the enemy's purposes, and to faithful God-fearing people who must warn the church and confront danger before it takes hold, since neglect can leave a damaging condition that years of work may not repair.

The warning must be given immediately when danger threatens, and clearly, plainly, loudly, and with a certain sound that people can recognize and prepare by. When danger is seen, watchmen united in spiritual discernment must sound the trumpet more clearly and loudly so the people can be warned. It means plain testimonies of reproof that show transgressions and sins rather than smooth things and cries of peace. A leader's hesitation and uncertainty can prevent the warning from doing its work and leave souls unprepared, and confusion about what constitutes that certain sound leaves people unsure what warning to follow.

The chapter is to be studied in connection with Christ's command and commission to His followers, including medical missionary work as part of the work He commanded. Its warning principle calls for all to be alerted to the approaching day of the Lord so none are left without warning. Ministers must stay focused on the third angel's message and not let side issues hinder the truth's work of converting souls. The alarm for religious liberty is to be sounded and then the work left to God, and in places like Battle Creek faithful watchmen must not stand by while others face temptation but must actively warn and help young helpers, patients, believers, and unbelievers.