Watches in the Night
Luke 12:38 "Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief comes, he would not have permitted his house to be broken into.
James Schucker
The biblical text doesn’t explicitly divide the day into formal “watches” the way it does the night. However, Jewish and broader Near Eastern practice commonly treated the day as having three watches, paralleling the night. This is inferred from military and priestly duty cycles, though the search results don’t directly address day watches.
Because your question pairs day and night, the historically solid part is the night watches, which are explicitly attested.
🌙 Night Watches in Ancient Israel
Before Roman influence (Old Testament period): 3-night watches
The Hebrew system divided the night into three watches:
First watch – “beginning of the watches” (sunset to ~10 PM)
Middle watch – referenced in Judges 7:19 (~10 PM to ~2 AM)
Morning watch – mentioned in Exodus 14:24 and 1 Samuel 11:11 (~2 AM to sunrise)
This is the system used in the Old Testament.
After Roman influence (New Testament period): 4-night watches
Under Roman rule, the Jews adopted the four‑watch system, each about three hours:
Evening (6–9 PM)
Midnight (9 PM–12 AM)
Rooster crowing (12–3 AM) Not counted as a Legitimate Jewish watch.
Dawn (3–6 AM)
This is reflected in Mark 13:35.
Daniel 7:1 In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
Ancient Israel – Night Watches
Daniel 7:2 Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I watched and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea. 3Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I [1934] watched [2370] [1st watch of the day [2370]] until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.
5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
6Next, as I [1934] watched [2370] [2nd watch of the day] another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7After this, as I [1934] watched [2370] [3rd watch of the day] in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying— dreadful and extremely strong— with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days
THE VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS BEGINS
Daniel 7:9 As I continued [1934] to watch [2370] [1260=1799 1st watch of the night]→ thrones were set in place,... [Jesus refers to this in Matthew 19:28 “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ”]→ …and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. [Note V 25-26 the court gets convened 1799]
11Then I kept [1934] watching [2370] [1290=1829 Miller predicts 1843 – 2nd night Watch] because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As [5705] I continued to watch [2370] the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.
1843 BCE sanctuary cleansed–finished 2300 days. It was in 458 BCE that the command to restore the temple was given. -458 + 2300 + 1 (crossing the 0 year) = 1843. But this is Not counted as a Legitimate Jewish watch. This is watch # 2.5 It is a Roman watch. Legitimate Hebrew watches start with the Hebrew word 1934 followed by 2370. This watch starts with 5705 followed by 2370]
Note: If the resurrection does not begin until the Lord returns, why does Jesus give a parable indicating that it does: Luke 12:35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. 38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.” See: When is the Marriage of the Lamb.
Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days
Night Watches correspond to Finishing the Temple
13In my vision in the night I continued [1934] to watch [2370] [1335=1874 3rd Watch] and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. [By 1914 ‘Christian’ Europe, the beast had conquered 84% of the surface of the Earth.] 14And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
In the words of Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.”
In the words of Revelation 11:15 “Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” 16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying: “We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19Then the temple →{Note it was Finished}← of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.”
Daniel requests Interpretation
15I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. 16I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things:
Gets Short two-part Interpretation
17‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever — yes, forever and ever.’
Daniel Sees The Son of Man Coming in the Clouds
Daniel 7:19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast [Rome] which was different from all the others— extremely terrifying— devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell— the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others [Papacy rising in 539] with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. 21As I remember watching this horn [Papacy] was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them [for 1260 Years–539-1799] 22until the Ancient of Days arrived [in 1799] and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom. [in stages 1878, 1914, 1948, and maybe 2033, 2037, and 2043?]
Daniel 7:23 This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast [Rome] is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. [tribes-nations of Europe] Heruli, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Allemanni, Anglo Saxons, Franks, Burgundians, Visigoths, Suevi, and Vandals.] After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. [Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Lombards] 25He [The Pope] will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time. [1260 Years–From 539 to 1799]
Daniel 7:26 But the court will convene [Note that V25 & 26 places this event timewise at 1799 the end of the 1260 years.] and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. Revelation 11:15 His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
Daniel 7:28 Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”
Blessing In Christ Jesus
Jim Schucker – jimschucker@gmail.com
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