Jesus spoke of our need to work the works of God during the daytime, and also of the night that is coming during which no one will be able to work (John 9:4).

The above passage from Isaiah sets forth the burden of the Holy Spirit in the present hour. There is a morning coming and there is a night coming. If we have a heart to seek the Lord, to find what His attitude is, what He intends to do, what shortly will come to pass in the earth, then the Lord invites us to return to Him.

In this brief article we shall think of the "morning" as referring to the time of blessing that is upon us now and also of that greater morning when the Lord returns and the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth. We shall view the "night" as the age of moral horrors, of temptation, of tribulation, that is to follow the present, "latter-rain" revival.

The Lord Jesus will not be harmed by the calamities that are ahead. If we will come along with Him we too will be able to dance with Him at midnight on the waters of tribulation.

Because thou hast kept [observed carefully; guarded] the word of my patience, I also will keep [watch carefully; guard] thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

The term keep, used twice in the above verse, means to imprison under strict observation and control (Acts 4:3, for example). If we will observe carefully, guard, control the word of Christ's endurance He will guard, control, and watch over us carefully throughout the night that is coming, as He did the children of Israel throughout the seven years of famine and throughout the plagues that fell on Egypt.

The Lord Jesus keeps (guards) us from the evil one (John 17:15). If we will exercise patience and endurance to the end of our life, we will be saved.

It is our understanding that the story of Joseph and Israel, from the time that Joseph dreamed his dreams until the day that Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea, is one marvelous portrayal of the events that will take place from the present hour until the moment the Lord Jesus appears and delivers His saints from the power of death.

The pattern of events can be viewed in three major aspects: (1) the preparation of a deliverer; (2) a period of blessing and a period of tribulation; and (3) judgment and redemption.

The preparation of "deliverers" has been going on for some years now. It always has been true in God's Kingdom that He prepares His saints for what is ahead.

The time of blessing, corresponding to the "morning" of Isaiah 21:12, is at hand. The time of tribulation and temptation, corresponding to the "night" of Isaiah 21:12, soon will come to the earth.

Finally, judgment and redemption, the greatest "morning" of all, will visit the earth with the return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints and the elect angels.

To be continued.