2024.08.15 World Young Adult Conference
Theme: The Watchman Who Prepares in Advance (Isaiah 62:6–12)
Message 2: Watchman Who Prepares for the Age – Young Adults of the Monarchical Era (Esther 4:1–16)
Introduction
The work of God’s kingdom – the throne (40 days) → 24/25/00/300%/secret
Bartizan – Journey – Guidepost
→ The absolute bartizan of the three courtyards
The overall theme of this conference has been “Watchman Who Prepares in Advance.”
Every year, as we hold the World Young Adults Conference, we gain strength. We also enjoy various festivals and give presentations. However, because your time is limited, you must prepare with a calm heart.
What must you prepare? I will give two lectures in a row. In this second lecture, although each of you has personal difficulties, the truth remains: you are watchmen who prepare for the age. You are not simply remnants preparing for the future — you are watchmen who go beyond that.
In the first lecture, we looked at watchmen who guarded biblical history.
What is the thing that the older generation most easily overlooks? If you do not prepare now, you will end up the same way. I’m not saying all older believers are like this — in fact, because of them you are receiving answers. But generally speaking, when they fail to hold on to what Christ has given, they inevitably end up living by the ways of the world. They have no choice — they must live in the world. But by living according to worldly methods, their core naturally shifts.
It may sound lofty to say they have fallen into Genesis 3, 6, and 11, but in reality, this is what happens: life becomes increasingly difficult. It is as if this (worldly method) becomes the main subject. Even when going to church, instead of hearing God’s voice and His amazing works, people mostly hear about urgent physical concerns.
We don’t intentionally choose to live by the ways of the world — it just happens. But do you know what a completely heretical group like Shincheonji says in criticism of today’s traditional churches? They point at us and say, “They don’t live the life of faith — they live for the flesh!” Of course they are wrong, but we must admit there are lessons even in the words of those who are wrong.
They have even gone as far as to say something extreme — that pastors in Korean churches have not studied theology. Instead, they studied “humanology” — human-centered learning — knowing only about people and not about God. While it is a serious problem for anyone to be deceived by such falsehood, it is also a problem if we ourselves fail to hold on to the truth. We must know exactly what is wrong — both in the enemy and in ourselves.
If you trace this problem back to its root, you find yourself in Judaism, where the gospel began. Judaism was focused on keeping the law but did not understand what original sin was. Original sin means that humanity has been separated from God, fallen into destruction, and become slaves to Satan. God has provided only one way of salvation — Christ — the lifeline of salvation. He tells us to believe this because we cannot obtain or create salvation ourselves.
But the idea of “being saved by faith” made no sense to them. They thought, “Shouldn’t you live correctly to be saved?” Of course we should live rightly — but everyone has problems. The Jews pointed at those problems and criticized. So when Christ came and said He would forgive their sins, they thought, “How can You forgive sins? You need to repent yourself!” To an unbeliever, the Pharisees’ words sounded more reasonable.
This is how spiritual disaster struck the nation of Israel. The Bible records only the disasters that befell them — and the few who survived when they realized the gospel. Despite such clear revelation, they lost hold of all things spiritual. That is why you must not miss this point while you are still young.
The work of God’s kingdom (40 days – the throne) → Bartizan / Journey / Guidepost
After Jesus declared, “It is finished,” He called the disciples to the Mount of Olives. There, for 40 days, He spoke about this. Why do we lose hold of this? If something is important, we must not miss it — and He spoke about it for 40 days.
The disciples could not fully understand it at the time. If a spiritual problem comes, and you don’t even know why it is happening, what will happen to you when you become an adult? You will be shaken. And when you are shaken, you will start blaming the church, or attacking others when they make mistakes, or criticizing your spouse when family problems arise.
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave an incredible message. In one word, it was this: the throne — how it comes, and how to set your eyes upon it. He told them to build an unshakable bartizan in their hearts, to journey with that bartizan, and to set up key bartizans in various places to save each era — these are the guideposts. In Acts 1:8, He explained it in detail.
If you lose hold of this, you will never make it.
Introduction – The Ends of the Earth (5000 tribes)
Why did Jesus specifically say “to the ends of the earth”? We must listen carefully to His words and set our direction accordingly. Paul understood “the ends of the earth” to mean going as far as Spain — and that was fine. But for us today, the ends of the earth means the places we cannot reach.
We must open our eyes to the 5000 tribes that remain unreached. The 237 nations can be reached — even if we ourselves don’t go, there are missionaries there. But these 5000 tribes are covered in darkness and are shaking the entire world. If we don’t go, the Nephilim will completely consume them. The great powers have taken over these tribes and use them at will.
This is the reality you must quickly discern.
1. David – 1 Samuel 17:1–47
David received more than one or two answers from God, but let us look at one specific example. He stood as a witness before King Saul — this is the kind of blessing you must catch.
When Goliath attacked Israel, he proposed a challenge — a condition for battle. In history, some wars break out suddenly, but often conditions are set first. Most commonly, it is over disputed land: “That land belongs to us — give it to us or we will attack.” This is happening now between Ukraine and Russia — “Donbas belongs to us because our people live there.”
Goliath’s condition was to avoid wasting manpower and resources: “Let’s fight one-on-one. If I lose, we Philistines will serve you; if you lose, you serve us.” And he mocked Israel for 40 days. Not a single person stepped forward to fight — not even King Saul. Even offering wealth and his daughter in marriage to the man who would defeat Goliath changed nothing.
David came, bringing food from his father to his brothers, and heard Goliath’s mockery. He decided on his own to fight. When he told his brothers, they scolded him harshly: “You arrogant boy!” When he told the commander, the man reluctantly passed the message to Saul.
Saul was incredulous: “He is a warrior and you are just a youth.” But David replied, “The Lord rescued me from the paw of the lion and the bear; He will rescue me from this Philistine who defies Him. Let me go.” Saul agreed, though even his armor did not fit David.
David ran to the battlefield with only a sling and a staff. Goliath scoffed: “Do you think I am a dog, coming at me with sticks?” But David made a crucial confession of faith:
“You come against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, whom you have defied. I will prove that life and victory are in the hand of the Lord, and all the earth will know that the Lord is God.”
Before Goliath could react, David slung a stone that struck his forehead. Then, without a sword of his own, he took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. Carrying the head, David went before the king. Saul, astonished, asked, “Whose son are you?” — not because he didn’t know, but because the feat was so remarkable. David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”
This is the kind of blessing God has prepared for you — to stand before kings and save the 5000 tribes.
2. Obadiah – 1 Kings 18:1–15
Because of Obadiah, Elijah survived. Because of him, Elisha arose, and the Dothan Movement took place. In the midst of an overwhelming crisis, Obadiah hid 100 prophets that King Ahab had ordered to be killed — an incredible act.
It is still a mystery how Ahab did not find out. Could he truly have been ignorant? Or did he know and choose not to act? The Bible gives no clear answer. Perhaps one day in heaven we can ask Obadiah directly.
3. Elisha – 2 Kings 2:9–11
Elisha, in my view, did something even greater than the Dothan Movement. What you must hold onto is this:
“Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” He was not asking for Bethel or Jericho, but for double the spiritual power Elijah had.
If this prayer is established in you now while you are young, you will surely save the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes. This gathering here is not man-made or accidental — God is raising remnants worldwide. You must open your eyes to see it.
4. Babylon – Daniel 1:8–9; Esther 2:10; 4:1–16
In Babylon, all the Israelites taken captive rose to high positions. Two verses are particularly important. In Daniel 1:8, Daniel “resolved” — he set his heart. You must be such people. Decide firmly; God will do the rest.
In Esther 2:10, Mordecai told Esther, who had become queen, “Do not reveal that you are a Jew.” Strangely, in Esther 4, when the Jews were about to be annihilated, Mordecai told her, “Now, reveal that you are a Jew.” He added, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther replied, “If I perish, I perish.” This is historical fact. Whenever the church faces difficulty, remember: for such a time as this — you are called to save.
Conclusion – Even Now
Your most important task is always the same: enjoy prayer (the covenant diagram) even now. This is both the beginning and the conclusion. Many people lose hold of it. It is right to pray when a problem arises, but more important is to see the world from within prayer.
When a great crisis comes — even something like a terminal diagnosis — yes, pray then. But far more important is to have already gained strength through prayer before the crisis comes. That is the greater preparation.