Biblical Oddities: The Watchers

In Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, tells us of a dream that troubled him. During the dream a “watcher” appears:

Daniel 4:13: “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;”

This watcher says a number of things and then concludes with this:

Daniel 4:17: “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

Everyone is familiar with the angels – a group of supernatural beings that go around doing the will of God. When people think of angels they usually think of guardian angels, who watch over God’s people.

But who, exactly, are the watchers? Notice that verse 17 clearly states that Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity was by the decree of the watchers. They decreed it so that people might know that God is the one who appoints kings and deposes them. In other words, the king’s insanity was done for the glory of God by the watchers. These watchers apparently have great power, since they can enact binding decrees and then carry them out.

As far as I can tell, this is the only chapter in the Bible that mentions the watchers. In Revelation, however, we find this unusual creature:

Revelation 4:8: “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

The four beasts were said to be “full of eyes”. Could they be the watchers?

It’s impossible to say, but it’s interesting to think about. There is apparently a council of “holy ones” that has great power and that does things on behalf of the glory of God. We know that angels watch over God’s people and battle the forces of darkness, but they may do more than that.

We are used to the idea of people taking the initiative to do something for the glory of God, but it’s a bit jarring to think that angels might do the same thing. We tend to think of angels as a race of robots, who only act when God tells them to act and who has no will or imagination of any kind. Yes, the angels clearly act when God tells them to act – but is it possible that, in some cases, they may take the initiative? Might there be more to them than we think?