華里斯（Arthur Wallis）在他的《雨從天降》（Rain from Heaven）一書中說：「復興來臨前的日子通常會出現一個重要的信心元素。」而這種信心，是由那些我們可以稱為「城牆上的守望者」所激發出來的。

在聖經的時代，守望者晚間站在耶路撒冷的城牆，以便在發現敵人行?時可以通報。這些守望者也是最先看到黎明、同時在黎明的曙光中評估情況的人，他們所做的，是在城裡面的人所做不到的。

耶路撒冷有它的守望者，現代教會也有。他們是觀察者、先知和代禱勇士，他們不斷守望，向我們報告他們的發現。我不認為自己屬於這群特別得到恩待的人，但我認識很多這樣的人。他們好像古代的以利亞一樣，告訴我他們看見「一小片雲……不過如人手那樣大」橫過天空，就知道很快我們將會看見從未遇上的大雨湧至。（參王上十八44）我相信他們，因為我的靈見證他們所說的話。

著名的復興領袖芬尼（Charles Finney）講述新澤西（New Jersey）一個婦人的故事，說：那婦人感到神即將賜下復興給她的市鎮，她於是鼓勵教會領袖組織一些特別的聚會，但是被他們拒絕了，所以她只好自行安排。她找來一個木匠為她造了一些座位好讓大家在她家裡聚會，但是在木匠的工作還沒有完成以前，神的靈就已經降臨在他們當中。這個婦人怎能那麼肯定聖靈會降臨呢？只因為她是守望者──是神的守望者。

There is a vital faith element which is always in evidence in the days preceding a revival," says Arthur Wallis in his book Rain from Heaven, and the stimulus for that faith is provided by those whom we may call "the watchmen on the walls".

In Bible times watchmen stood on the walls of Jerusalem during the night so that they could report any signs of enemy activity. These watchmen were also the first to see the dawn and in its light assess the situation in a way that those in the city could not.

Just as Jerusalem had its watchmen, so too does the modern-day Church. They are the seers, the prophets, the intercessors, who are constantly on watch and report to us their findings. I do not regard myself as one of this favoured group, but I do know many who are. They tell me that like Elijah of old they see "a cloud the size of a man's hand" scudding across the heavens and know that soon we shall see a deluge such as we have never seen before. I believe them, for my own spirit witnesses to what they say.

Charles Finney tells the story of a woman in New Jersey who felt that God was about to send revival to her town. She encouraged the leaders to arrange some special meetings and when they refused she went ahead herself, getting a carpenter to make seats so that she could have meetings in her house. He had hardly finished before the Spirit of God fell upon the community. How could this woman have been so sure? She was a watchman - a watchman of God.