华里斯（Arthur Wallis）在他的《雨从天降》（Rain from Heaven）一书中说：「复兴来临前的日子通常会出现一个重要的信心元素。」而这种信心，是由那些我们可以称为「城墙上的守望者」所激发出来的。

在圣经的时代，守望者晚间站在耶路撒冷的城墙，以便在发现敌人行?时可以通报。这些守望者也是最先看到黎明、同时在黎明的曙光中评估情况的人，他们所做的，是在城里面的人所做不到的。

耶路撒冷有它的守望者，现代教会也有。他们是观察者、先知和代祷勇士，他们不断守望，向我们报告他们的发现。我不认为自己属于这群特别得到恩待的人，但我认识很多这样的人。他们好像古代的以利亚一样，告诉我他们看见「一小片云……不过如人手那样大」横过天空，就知道很快我们将会看见从未遇上的大雨涌至。（参王上十八44）我相信他们，因为我的灵见证他们所说的话。

著名的复兴领袖芬尼（Charles Finney）讲述新泽西（New Jersey）一个妇人的故事，说：那妇人感到神即将赐下复兴给她的市镇，她于是鼓励教会领袖组织一些特别的聚会，但是被他们拒绝了，所以她只好自行安排。她找来一个木匠为她造了一些座位好让大家在她家里聚会，但是在木匠的工作还没有完成以前，神的灵就已经降临在他们当中。这个妇人怎能那么肯定圣灵会降临呢？只因为她是守望者──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.