"THE NIGHT IS COMING . . ."
Awareness of the Upcoming Spiritual Night.
INTRODUCTION - DAY AND NIGHT TIMES
The environment: Daytime or nighttime? Have you ever stopped to think about the type of spiritual environment the church of Jesus is presently facing on the earth? I am not vaguely referring to the general environment of spiritual warfare that is ragging around us. Most Christians know that mankind has been continually struggling "against principalities and powers above" since Adam and Eve; see Ephesians 6:12. The aspect of the environment that I am looking for is that of a spiritual day or night. Are we presently living in a spiritual daytime period or nighttime period? Is this environment soon to change?
A time cycle. The existence of two phases in a full spiritual time cycle is not a new concept. Just as we have a physical day and night on the earth to define a standard cycle of time (24 hours), God also uses the words "day" and "night" to define the environment surrounding a spiritual cycle of time! Jesus often used this analogy to indicate the relative spiritual phase in which He and His listeners were facing! This is what Jesus is talking about when He says in John 9: 4 of the KJV: "I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." The NIV has a fairly similar translation of the original Greek when it says: "As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."
The spiritual week! As you know, we have seven physical cycles of times to form a "working" week on the earth. Could God also have assigned a spiritual working week made out of seven periods of "days and nights?" I believe that we have been through more than one spiritual time cycle since the start of mankind. If I was to study this issue in depth, I may well find out seven spiritual cycles appointed for mankind's present "age" history! Aside from the seven physical days of creation, God may again be working to fully complete His redemption of the created world. Where are we in that spiritual week? Some of the seven spiritual cycles of time could be such as:
a.The brief spiritual day after the completion of creation, followed by the night of the fall of Adam and Eve into sin and the judgement through the global flood;
b.The day of God choosing a people in Abraham (Israel) to shine through blessings in the world, followed by the night of captivity in Egypt;
c.The day of God shining through the Law given through Moses, followed by the night of the people rejecting living by just the Law, prophets and judges;
d.The day of a physical king after God's heart, David, followed by the night of captivity in Babylon and no kings;
e.The day of the 3.5 years of public ministry of the King of the Jews, Jesus, at His first coming, followed by the night of His arrest, suffering, death;
f.The day of Holy Spirit appearing at Pentecost, shining directly and through the church age, followed by the night of the Antichrist;
g.The spiritual day of the Second Coming including the millennium followed by the night of Satan's Gog & Magog final battle!
THE PROPHECY OF THE UPCOMING NIGHT
Jesus prophesied about the nighttime! Most of us have read John 9:4 many times without realizing that Jesus was prophesying in the last part of this verse when He said in the NIV: "Night is coming, when no one can work." The future tense of the verb indicates that the sentence was a prophecy. Furthermore, if the last portion of verse 4 is a prophecy, does it have a near and far fulfilment?
The questions. The following are some more questions which may come to mind about John 9:4b. Has mankind already seen the fulfilment of that prophetical night? Is there more than one fulfilment to that prophecy? What does it mean to "work?" Who is the person who cannot work? Did Jesus include Himself as part of the "no one?" What is the "night?" Was Jesus under a spiritual environment of night when He said these words? Is the "body" of Christ exempt from an earthly presence within a spiritual night period? Note that the body of Christ can either be the physical body of Jesus at His first coming or allegorically be the church. At some point (when in the night), is it possible for the Righteous to be unable to work spiritually for the cause of the kingdom of God? Are present day Christians really in the night and nearing midnight or is this the Sunset period nearing the night?
As we will see, John 9: 4b was fulfilled in the earthly days of the first coming of Jesus. Furthermore, the prophecy has a far fulfilment that will come to pass in the end days of His earthly "body," the church! The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25: 1-13 indicates the presence of a nighttime at the end of the age where the virgins are not working! Note that the parable is prophetical in that the introduction verse uses a verb in the future tense. Matthew 25: 1 says: "The kingdom of heaven shall be likened to . . ." It is important to note that Jesus used the present tense in His other parables, except for this one!
Clarification of Terms. Before we start looking into this prophetical aspect of a spiritual night, we need to clarify the meaning of the word. We must be careful to set our mind properly when reading from the Bible such words as day, night, light and darkness! Night is not necessarily a synonym of darkness nor is a day synonym of Light. You can have light in the night!
To express to idea of a time period, the Bible uses the words: day, night or hour. To express the idea of an element of working power, the Bible uses the words: light or darkness. Yes, darkness is usually prevalent during the night; however, you can also have the presence of some form of light such as a moon, stars or lamps during the night. Similarly, light is usually prevalent during daytime; however, you can also have the presence of darkness during that period, if hiding from the light!
PS, Light always rules over darkness! Furthermore, as an element of power, light always rules over darkness. It does not matter if we are in a period of day or of night. If light is allowed to shine, it expels the darkness! This is what God says in Genesis 1:15-18 of the KJV: "15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good."
Spiritual Light creates a daytime environment. The sun is indeed the source of life, fighting against the tendency to cool off and die. It is also the primary source that expels the earthly darkness that would exist otherwise! Similarly, spiritual Light can deliver any person from spiritual darkness and bring life. God has indeed sent the Light of His son to expel the darkness in our souls! 2 Corinthians 4:6 says in the KJV: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."Even though we are sinners and lost in darkness, we can be made children of Light through Jesus Christ! Acts 26:18 says in the KJV: ".... To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE "SUN" IS WHAT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT OF DAYTIME! WHAT IF THE SPIRITUAL SUN WAS TO TURN DARK (MT 24:29)? WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATION ON THE RIGHTEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS?
The light that is hidden in a house! Jesus often told His disciples to let the light shine publicly so that others may see it and glorify the father in heaven. While the "sun" is shining, we are not to hid the direct or reflected light in a bushel. However, this rule would change if the "sun" was to turn black! Would God eventually not restrain darkness anymore? See 2 Thessalonians 2: 7 and Luke 12: 35-38. As recorded in Matthew 25: 1-13, it will be night in the end; the kingdom of God will be like 10 virgins hiding in their house with their lamps, during the night! This is a major change to what they probably were doing during the daytime. Do you know when to shine and when you should not publicly shine, "when no one can work?" You should shine when you should, and you should not shine when you should not "work!" Watch out for disobedience in either ways!
THE NEAR FULFILMENT OF JOHN 9:4b - FROM DAY TO NIGHT
The good & shining Worker. When we look at the prophecy of John 9:4b, we need to recognize who really is the originator of the "bright" works. Scripture is clear that all good works come from God! As Jesus clarifies in Matthew 19:17, only God the father is good! Jesus acknowledges this truth in the context of John chapter 9. John 9: 3-4 says in the KJV: "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day . . ."
Obviously the hand of God is extended through all of His workers! Jesus came as a servant to fulfil the will of the Father. Notwithstanding, the prophecy applies not only to Jesus but also to all other working people. Jesus did not say in verse 4: "The night cometh when I cannot work!" Furthermore, John 9: 4 says in the NASB: "We must work the works of Him who sends Me, as long as it is day . . . " Note that the "we" is also used in the NIV & NRSV but not in KJV which says "I must work . . ." Is this a critical difference? No, I don't believe it is a problem! Both translations can be true. Using the English word "we" is also acceptable as we know that Jesus was not the only one working during His first coming. He sent 70 disciples in pairs to preach Repentance & Good News and to perform miracles! See Luke 10: 1-20. Scripture also records that He had sent His twelve apostles in pairs! We must realize that believers do not have their own source of mighty works! It is not the believer who is the originator of the work but God who performs it through His son and the Holy Spirit. This is why the servant performs works such as teaching, making disciples and baptizing IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON (JESUS) AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matthew 28:19)!
Note that the workers publicly work during the day! The works of God are most evident during the daytime. Scripture generally assumes that the spiritual work is done during the daytime! Many parables reflect that. Even the life of Jesus on earth reflected a specific period of daytime to do the father's mighty business.
To work for a while, during the day! Note that Jesus had a time where He worked and also a time where He did not work. Jesus' outward daytime light was to be at work for just a little while! It was not to be forever, without interruptions or a change in the environment! Indeed, there was a change to come. There was a nighttime to come! John 9:4 specifies that the work had a duration and that it was limited to the day period. It says in the KJV: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 12:35 also says in the NIV "Then Jesus told them, 'You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.' "
What are the works? The works are towards others, a public ministry! This is what Jesus did as recorded in John chapter 9. The witness testified of the work when he said in John 9:30. "He has opened my eyes . . ." Works can include:
a.Teaching;
b.Prophesying;
c.Miracles; and or
d.Etc.
Daytime power! The characteristic of a daytime is that light publicly shines through victories over evil! It was indeed daytime during the public ministry of Jesus, for a while! Satan and his followers could not and were not allowed to resist His public shining during the "day!" Evil could not:
a.trick Him! Satan often tried to tempt Jesus. Matthew 4:1 confirms this. Satan would also use the religious leaders to try to trap Jesus in His words. See Matthew 22:15.
b.resist his authority in casting evils out of people! Jesus and His followers performed many miracles! As stated in Mark 1:27, Jesus commanded unclean spirits during His public ministry!
c.kill Him before His time! While it was day, Satan could not kill Jesus even though evil people tried to do so in Nazareth when they tried to through Him off a cliff. Read Luke 4:28-30.
The near fulfilment of "the night" during Jesus earthly walk! Jesus was a prophet whose prophecy in John 9:4b came to pass during His earthly lifetime. During the first coming of Jesus, there was a spiritual time period of day in the world and a spiritual time period of night! John 14:19 says in the NKJV: "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more . . ." Do you know when the period of day and of night were during the first coming of Jesus? Did the night start when Jesus was on the cross? Was it when He was gone and dead for three days? Was it when Satan entered Judas? Was the power of darkness starting when the crowd moved to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane?
The end of His major public miracles and ministry. Jesus forecasted His period of no shining and of Satan having his "hour" of darkness, the night! Jesus forecasted the upcoming night in different ways. He told His disciples three times that He would stop His shining, suffer and die! He was to be given unto the darkness through suffering and dying! Read Luke 8:31, 9:30-32 & 10:32-34 or the account in Matthew and Mark.
The follower rejects the idea of a night! Peter rejected the idea of no more shining, of Jesus suffering and dying! Mark 8:32 recorded it. Matthew 16:21-22 says in the NIV: "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!' "
Satan's "fair time" of power. Would God allow Satan to have an "hour" of power over the Righteous Jesus? Indeed the prince of this world was coming upon the body of Jesus with his darkness, even if he had nothing (no darkness) in Him! John 14:30 says in the KJV: "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." There was a "physical" world entry of Satan. He entered the son of perdition for his time of action! Luke 22: 3 says in the KJV: "Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve."
Would God really allow Satan to have his period of night while Jesus was still there? Jesus prayed that Satan's "hour" would pass! Mark 14:35, 41-42 in the KJV says that Jesus "prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. . . . it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand." Jesus declared Satan's hour of power, of darkness! Luke 22:53 says in the KJV: "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
No powerful shining anymore, for a while! Jesus stopped His powerful "shining," His restraining of the evil influences, for a while! It was to be so! As stated in Matthew 26:53, He could have called angels! In the situation stated in Matthew 26:54-56, He could have escaped the arresting crowd like in Nazareth! He could have rebuked the "religious" leaders during the trial recorded in Mark 14:53-65. He could have done a miracle and come down the cross during His crucifixion indicated in Mark 15:32.
The falling away of the disciples! Not only did the world reject the light and God allowed the night period, even His disciples forsook Him. Peter even denied Him! Matthew 26:56 says in the KJV of the disciples: "Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." Matthew 26:74-75 says in the KJV about Peter: "Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."
Pray! The night became a time of temptation very dangerous for the early disciples. Many disciples failed because they had failed to recognize the upcoming "night" and they did not earnestly pray? The result: Forsaking or falling! Yet Jesus had told them! Luke 22:40 says in the KJV: "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." Will we fail when the night comes again? Luke 21:36 says in the NKJV: "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." Will you stand or fall when you go through the shadow of the valley of death?
Physical sign of the "night." God the father even confirmed the reality of the spiritual night through physical signs! Did you ever notice that Jesus was arrested at night? Did you ever stop to think about the meaning of Luke 23:44 that says in the KJV: "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour."
How about the end of the age? Do you think God will again give physical signs to confirm another period of spiritual night taking place? Have you ever stopped to think about Matthew 24:29 which says in the NKJV: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven . . ." Do you know what the sun, the moon and the stars represent?
Resurrection & ascension. Someone else is the "sun." Darkness did not rule over the Light forever! Jesus was eventually victorious over the darkness! However, the darkness was not permanently taken out of the world, yet! There was another spiritual time cycle starting following the ascension of Jesus to heaven. Someone else still had to come into the world and outwardly shine! The public daylight ministry was now to be done by the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost. Furthermore, the followers of Jesus would again be involved in publicly reflecting the powerful light of God's word! NOTE that Jesus did not directly and publicly shine again in the world when He rose up. He only revealed Himself to the disciples, not to the worldly crowd!
It is now daytime again because of the Light of the Holy Spirit! Could it be that there is another night to come so to have John 9:4 be true again? What do you think?
THE FAR FULFILMENT OF JOHN 9:4b
The different beliefs about the night. There are all kinds of beliefs about John 9:4b. However, not all beliefs are true! Indeed, there are many deceptions in these last days! So, concerning John 9:4b, which statement is your belief and which statement is true? I believe that:
1-The night stated in John 9:4 applied only to the first coming of Jesus on earth!
2-We are now in the night because of the awful corruption in the world!
3-The night will be when the church is raptured!
4-The night is soon to come where Christians will not be able to publicly work for the cause of the kingdom of God!
Deception 1 - The night stated in John 9:4 applied only to the first coming of Jesus on earth! If this belief is true, how come the parable of the ten virgins is in the context of a night! See Matthew 25:1-13. Furthermore, Jesus said that His return would be during the night! Luke 12: 35-38 says: "guirded and your lamps burning .... if he should come in the second watch (9-12 PM), or come in the third watch . . . " There are many more verses about the night prior to the return!
a.Luke 12:39 "Like a thief in the night!"
b.Luke 11:5 (praying during the night?) "Have a friend and go to him at midnight . . . "
c.Luke 17:34 "I tell you, in that night there will be . . ."
Deception 2 - We are now in the night because of the awful corruption in the world! If this belief is true, how could Christians be working, considering that Jesus said in John 9:4 that "no man can work" during the night! Corruption by itself has nothing to do with a night. It is the shortage of light that gives power to darkness! There was also great corruption during the first coming of Jesus; yet there was a daytime period while Jesus PUBLICLY shun as the sun!
Deception 3 - The night will be when the church is raptured! Does the righteous need to be gone so to have a period of night? Jesus was still on earth when the night came! Could the church still be on earth when the night comes? Can Christians still shine without the presence of a public spiritual "sun?" Yes, the church could still shine by using lamps instead of direct rays from the "Holy Spirit sun!" The virgins will be waiting in the night for their Lord!
The truth - The night is coming when no Christian can publicly work! Could God ask a Christian not to publicly shine with power? Could God ask a Christian to flee and rest during the night? Could God allow His church to suffer at the hand of evil? Yes, I believe so!
The Hymn. This knowledge of a coming night is not new. Other Christians in the past knew of this. There is a hymn about working while it is day, before the night comes! It is entitled: "Work, for the night is coming!" By Annie L. Coghill, 1836-1907 and Lowell Mason, 1792-1872. It says:
Work, for the night is coming. Work thro' the morning hours; Work while the dew is sparking; Work' mid springing flow'rs. Work when the day grows brighter; Work in the glowing sun. Work, for the night is coming, When man's work is done.
Work, for the night is coming. Work thro' the sunny noon. Fill brightest hours with labor; Rest comes sure and soon. Give ev'ry flying minute something to keep in store. Work, for the night is coming, When man's work is no more.
Work, for the night is coming, Under the sunset skies. While the bright tints are glowing, Work, for daylight flies. Work till the last beam fadeth, Fadeth to shine no more. Work while the night is dark'ning, When man's work is o'er.
THE PATTERN IN THE FULFILMENT
The pattern repeats itself! In the end time, the body of Christ will follow the same pattern of events as for His first coming! NOTE: While present on the earth, Jesus went through a period of day and of night! What would make the end-time church so special so as not to go through similar trial in the last hour? Think about the events mentioned in the following table. Could it repeat itself in the end of this age?
| EVENTS | 1 ST COMING | CHURCH AGE |
| Daylight shining starts | Public Ministry - Empower with Holy Spirit. | Pentecost - Inward Spirit bearing His fruit. |
| The public works | Preaching repentance (Luke 13:1-5), teaching, prophecies, miracles, etc. | Same - Repent (Revelation 2 & 3). Adding to the church daily. |
| Prophecy of the night | "I will suffer & die" | The hour of trial is coming. You will suffer Great persecution! |
| Followers' denial of the night | Disciples saying: "Never! Jesus, you'll be safe from any power of evil / darkness!" | Many Christians saying: "Never! We will be gone before the son of perdition enters the world and lead the crowd against the body of Christ!" |
| Light recognition / testimony. | Triumphal entry in Jerusalem. Mt 21:9 | Revival - Bright sunset! |
| Entry of son of perdition | Satan enters Judas. | Satan enters Antichrist. |
| Shining stops - THE NIGHT | Gethsemane arrest - Letting the power of darkness! | The hour of trial starting (Revelation 3:10)! |
| Falling away! | Disciples forsook & denied Him! | The apostasy, a great falling away! |
| World anger. | Anger at Jesus: Crucify Him! | Public anger at believers! |
| Physical world sign! | Darkness for 3 hours! Luke 23:44-45. | Sun turns black . . . Matthew 24:29. |
| The body's victory | Resurrection & ascension | Transformation - the Rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 2 Thessalonians 2: 3. |
CONCLUSION
John 9: 4 is a prophecy which had a near fulfilment and points to a far fulfilment. God will repeat the pattern of events in the upcoming time period of spiritual night.
What will be the consequences for believers? To prepare or not to prepare?
I believe that the world is presently in a global spiritual daytime period that will soon be replaced by a night time. Furthermore, I believe that we are now in a sunset phase of this spiritual time and it is near completion.
SUNSET MINISTRIES
Aim and history. Since 1992, God has put many people on my path to prepare me for what He has progressively been revealing through His Holy Spirit. I believe that I am not the only one receiving and accepting this message to have pure hearts and to prepare for the "night!" As a step of obedience to the Lord, to "feed His sheep," I was compelled to start "Sunset Ministries" by the end of 1996.
Sunset Ministries aims at helping believers recognize the time in which we live. It also aims at preparing the church for effective work while it is day and also at preparing them for the night "when no man can work," where the "virgins" will rest and use personal lamps against the global darkness (Matthew 25:1-13). This idea of a night may be scary for some. However, I believe that if you are in "the house" and prepared with your lamp & a supply of oil, there is nothing to fear! Indeed, this present earthly life shows us that it is wise to prepare for nights so not to fear the enemies who would desire to interfere in the "resting" period! Furthermore, this upcoming night is not forever as it will be expelled by the brightness of the son of God appearing on the horizon!
Preparation Strategy. Christians need to be busy working while it is daytime. However, the "night" is the next phase that Christians also need to prepare for. To effectively accomplish this aim, Sunset Ministries has divided its ministry strategy into three areas:
a."Part 1- Awareness of the Upcoming Night." To inform the body of Christ of the spiritual night coming. It provides an awareness of the night coming upon the world where all of mankind will be tempted, including professing believers (Revelation 3:10).
b."Part 2 - To prepare or not to prepare? What will be the consequences?"This aspect of the ministry tries to highlight the different outcomes in which Christians will be during the night time. Will you be deceived, unprepared or ready for His protection? Will you be "counted worthy to escape" (Luke 21:36)?
c."Part 3 - How do I prepare spiritually and physically?" This aspect of the ministry provides practical knowledge and tools to prepare for the night.
For further info, contact Mario through E-mail at: mario.gaulin@sympatico.ca .
By Mario Gaulin.
May 20, 1997 (Updated on 1 Mar 99)