We are working through Isaiah chapter twenty-seven, for it establishes the context for the following chapters of Isaiah. Those following chapters identify the latter rain as the correct biblical methodology. The methodology, when recognized and employed, reveals the prophetic message that if accepted produces a corresponding experience.
我哋正研讀以賽亞書第二十七章,因為呢一章為以賽亞書其後各章奠定咗背景。其後嗰啲章節指出,晚雨乃係合乎聖經嘅正確方法論。呢種方法論,一旦被辨認並加以運用,就會顯明先知性嘅信息;而呢個信息若被接受,便會產生與之相應嘅經歷。
On September 11, 2001 the song that is to be sung unto the former covenant people of God, who are the Seventh-day Adventist people, is that they are being passed by as God’s people, for they have not brought forth the fruits that were intended by God for His vineyard to produce. The song was to be premised on the covenant relationship, represented by the vineyard which God had planted and also by their rejection of the stone of stumbling in 1863. They had become Laodicea in 1856, and for seven years, or “seven times”, or twenty-five hundred and twenty days, God sought entrance, but they closed the door against Him in 1863.
喺2001年9月11日,嗰首要向上帝先前立約嘅子民——即係第七日安息日會嘅人——所唱嘅歌,就係:佢哋正被越過,不再被視為上帝嘅子民;因為佢哋冇結出上帝原意要祂葡萄園所結嘅果子。呢首歌乃係建立喺立約關係之上;呢種關係,一方面由上帝所栽種嘅葡萄園所表徵,另一方面亦由佢哋喺1863年棄絕咗嗰塊絆腳石所表明。佢哋喺1856年已成為老底嘉,而喺其後七年,即「七次」,即二千五百二十日之間,上帝一直尋求進入,但佢哋喺1863年向祂關上咗門。
Since September 11, 2001 they are being bound into bundles in advance of being spewed fully out of His mouth at the Sunday law. The message to be sung to Adventism since September 11, 2001 is the Laodicean message, which is the message of the vineyard that contains the stumbling stone that crushes any who refuse to “see” and “taste” the precious stone. The promise to the Laodiceans in Isaiah’s passage is that any Adventist who chooses to accept this final warning, still has time to “take hold of” Christ’s “strength, that” they “may make peace with” Christ, for Christ is still willing “to make peace with” them. But at the cry at midnight, just before the soon-coming Sunday law, that opportunity is forever over.
自2001年9月11日起,他們正在被預先捆成一束一束,好在星期日法令之時,從祂口中被徹底吐出去。自2001年9月11日起,當向復臨運動唱出的信息,就是老底嘉的信息;這信息就是葡萄園的信息,其中包含那絆腳石,凡拒絕「看見」並「嚐到」那寶石的人,都必被其壓碎。以賽亞那段經文中給老底嘉人的應許乃是:任何一位復臨信徒,若選擇接受這最後的警告,仍然還有時間去「抓住」基督的「能力,使」他們「得與」基督「和好」,因為基督仍然願意「與」他們「和好」。但到了半夜的呼聲,就是那快將來到的星期日法令之前,那個機會便永遠結束了。
In the time period that began on September 11, 2001 God promised to make those who “in time past were not a people”, “a root out of a dry ground”, to “take root” “blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” What causes the root of Jesse to blossom and bud is the latter rain, for the root that is to blossom and bud is destined prophetically to be the ensign that is lifted up, and the ensign is the root of Jesse.
喺由2001年9月11日開始嘅嗰段時期之中,神應許要使嗰啲「從前唔算子民」嘅人,即係「出於乾地嘅根」,得以「扎根」,並且「開花發芽,令全地滿咗果子。」使耶西嘅根開花發芽嘅,乃係後雨;因為嗰要開花發芽嘅根,按住預言,注定要成為被豎立起嚟嘅大旗,而嗰大旗就係耶西嘅根。
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10.
到那日,必有耶西的根立作萬民的大旗;外邦人必尋求他;他安息之所必有榮耀。以賽亞書 11:10。
The latter rain caused the root of Jesse to blossom and bud beginning on September 11, 2001 and at the soon-coming Sunday law the root will fill the whole earth with fruit. The Sunday law in Isaiah chapter twenty-seven is the progressive history that is also represented in chapters one through three in the book of Daniel. The latter rain began to sprinkle when the nations were angered on September 11, 2001 with the release and then immediate restraint of Islam of the third Woe.
後雨使耶西的根自二〇〇一年九月十一日起開花發芽;及至那將快來臨的星期日法令之時,這根必以果子充滿全地。以賽亞書第二十七章中的星期日法令,乃是一段漸進展開的歷史;此歷史亦見於但以理書第一至第三章所表徵的內容。當二〇〇一年九月十一日列國發怒、第三樣災禍之伊斯蘭被釋放而後又立時受制止之時,後雨便開始灑下。
“‘The commencement of that time of trouble,’ here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the ‘latter rain,’ or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.” Early Writings, 85.
「此處所提到『那段患難時期的開始』,並不是指災殃開始傾倒之時,乃是指在災殃傾倒之前不久、基督仍在聖所中的一段短暫時期。當其時,正當救恩的工作將近結束之際,患難必臨到地上,列國也必發怒,然而仍會受到抑制,免得攔阻第三位天使的工作。就在那時,『晚雨』,即從主面前而來的復興,必降下,為要賜能力給第三位天使的大聲呼喊,並預備聖徒,使他們能在七最後災傾倒之時站立得住。」Early Writings, 85.
In the passage Sister White is clarifying that there is a short period when salvation is still open. The “time of trouble” she is addressing is distinct from the great time of trouble, that begins when probation fully closes. In Adventism it is rightly referred to as “the little time of trouble” in relation to the great time of trouble that begins when Michael stands up. The “little time of trouble” represents the period when national ruin begins at the soon-coming Sunday law, and continues until probation closes.
喺呢段文字入面,懷愛倫姊妹闡明,仍然有一段短暫時期,救恩之門尚未關閉。佢所論及嘅「患難時期」,有別於嗰個喺恩門完全關閉之時開始嘅大患難時期。喺復臨信仰入面,相對於米迦勒起來之時開始嘅大患難時期,呢段時期恰當地被稱為「小患難時期」。「小患難時期」象徵住一段時期:由即將來臨嘅星期日法令開始,國家嘅敗亡亦隨之展開,並一直延續,直到恩門關閉。
In the history from September 11, 2001 through to the Sunday law the final cleansing and judgment of Adventism is illustrated as occurring during the “sprinkling” of the latter rain. That period when the latter rain, which is also the “refreshing,” begins as a “sprinkling”, but progresses unto the full outpouring at the Sunday law. In that period, which begins when Islam of the third Woe makes the nations angry, the latter rain begins to fall, and some recognize the latter rain and receive it, and some do not recognize the latter rain. Some recognize that something is happening, but they don’t understand what it is, and brace themselves against it.
由2001年9月11日起,直到星期日法案為止呢段歷史,說明咗復臨信仰最終嘅潔淨同審判,乃係喺後雨「灑下」期間發生。嗰段時期,後雨——亦即「甦醒」——開始時係以「灑下」嘅形式臨到,但到咗星期日法案之時,就發展至完全嘅傾注。喺呢段時期之內,即係由第三樣災禍嘅伊斯蘭使列國發怒開始,後雨便開始降下;而有啲人認出後雨,並且領受佢,有啲人卻認唔出後雨。有啲人察覺到有事情正在發生,但佢哋唔明白究竟係乜嘢,於是就起來抗拒。
“Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.” Testimonies to Ministers, 506, 507.
「許多人喺好大程度上未能領受前雨。神如此為佢哋所預備嘅一切福惠,佢哋並冇全然得着。佢哋以為,所欠缺嘅,將會由後雨補足。當最豐盛嘅恩典被賜下之時,佢哋打算敞開心懷去領受。佢哋正犯緊一個可怕嘅錯誤。神喺人心裏藉着賜下祂嘅亮光同知識而開始嘅工作,必須不斷向前推進。每一個人都必須認識自己本身嘅需要。人心必須倒空一切污穢,並且被潔淨,好叫聖靈居住其中。早期門徒正係藉着認罪同離棄罪惡,藉着懇切嘅祈禱,同埋將自己獻畀神,預備好自己,迎接五旬節聖靈嘅澆灌。如今同樣嘅工作亦必須做,只係程度要更大。嗰時,人呢個代理者只需要求福氣,並等候主使關乎佢嘅工作得以完全。開始呢項工作嘅係神,而祂必完成祂嘅工作,使人在耶穌基督裏得以完全。但絕不可忽略前雨所代表嘅恩典。惟有按自己所已有嘅亮光而生活嘅人,先會領受更大嘅亮光。除非我哋每日都喺活出積極主動嘅基督徒美德上不斷長進,否則我哋就唔會認出聖靈喺後雨中嘅彰顯。後雨可能正降喺我哋四圍各人嘅心上,但我哋卻唔會察覺,亦唔會領受。」《傳道良助證言》,506、507頁。
The latter rain is now falling and there are those who recognize it and therefore receive it, and there are those who do not recognize it, and therefore do not receive it. The latter rain must be recognized to be received. The latter rain is not just an experience only, it is an experience that is produced by a message, but the message can only be received when the correct methodology is employed to establish the message. Without recognizing the methodology which establishes the message of the latter rain, it is virtually impossible to understand the prophetic lessons that are represented in the rise and fall of kingdoms set forth in the books of Daniel and Revelation.
現今後雨正在降下;有些人認出它,因此領受它;也有些人不認出它,因此不領受它。後雨必須先被認出,然後先能被領受。後雨不單只係一種經歷;它乃係由一個信息所產生嘅經歷,但呢個信息惟有喺採用正確方法論去建立嘅時候,先能被領受。若不認識嗰建立後雨信息嘅方法論,要明白《但以理書》同《啟示錄》中所陳明、藉諸國興衰所表徵嘅預言教訓,幾乎係不可能嘅。
The ensign that is lifted up to the world is identified by Isaiah as the “root of Jesse”, and in chapter twenty-seven those who “come of Jacob” “take root.” Those that are the “root of Jesse” are also identified there as “Israel,” and they are those who first blossom and bud, and thereafter fill the world with fruit. The laws of nature do not contradict the laws of prophecy, for it is the same Law-Giver that produced both nature and prophecy. Before a plant bears fruit, it must first come out of dormancy as evidenced by the buds, and thereafter the blossoms. Spiritual Israel, who is the “root of Jesse” receives a progressive outpouring of rain. It begins with a “sprinkling” and escalates to a full outpouring when the world is filled with the fruit presented by the ensign.
以賽亞指出,向世界豎立起來的旗號,就是「耶西的根」;而在第二十七章,那些「出於雅各的」要「扎根」。那些作為「耶西的根」的,也在那裏被稱為「以色列」;他們乃是首先開花發芽,繼而以果子充滿世界的人。 自然界的定律並不與預言的法則互相矛盾,因為制定自然與預言的,乃是同一位立法者。植物在結果子之前,必先從休眠中甦醒,其憑據先是芽苞,然後是花朵。屬靈的以色列,就是那「耶西的根」,領受雨水漸進的傾注;這始於「灑灌」,及至世界被那旗號所呈現的果子充滿之時,便升至完全的傾倒。
In Isaiah chapter twenty-seven, the starting point of the sprinkling of the rain is represented as taking place when the buds “shooteth forth.” When they first “shooteth forth,” the rain is identified as being poured out “in measure.” “In measure, when it shooteth forth.” On September 11, 2001 the sprinkling of the latter rain began to be poured out “in measure,” for at that time the wheat and tares, or the wise and the foolish were still mixed together.
喺《以賽亞書》第二十七章,雨水灑下嘅起始點,被描繪為喺嫩芽「發出」之時發生。當佢哋初次「發出」嘅時候,呢場雨被指明係「按量」傾倒出嚟。「發出嘅時候,你以量與之相爭。」到咗2001年9月11日,後雨嘅灑下開始「按量」傾倒出嚟,因為喺嗰個時候,麥子同稗子,即係智慧嘅同愚拙嘅,仍然混雜喺一齊。
“The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with his glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, whole-hearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of his Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God. God cannot pour out his Spirit when selfishness and self-indulgence are so manifest; when a spirit prevails that, if put into words, would express that answer of Cain,—‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ If the truth for this time, if the signs that are thickening on every hand, that testify that the end of all things is at hand, are not-sufficient to arouse the sleeping energy of those who profess to know the truth, then darkness proportionate to the light which has been shining will overtake these souls. There is not the semblance of an excuse for their indifference that they will be able to present to God in the great day of final reckoning. There will be no reason to offer as to why they did not live and walk and work in the light of the sacred truth of the word of God, and thus reveal to a sin-darkened world, through their conduct, their sympathy, and their zeal, that the power and reality of the gospel could not be controverted.” Review and Herald, July 21, 1896.
「上帝聖靈的大澆灌,就是那以祂的榮耀照亮全地的,必不會臨到,直至我哋成為一班得着光照、並且從經驗中知道與上帝同工係乜嘢意思嘅子民。當我哋全然、全心全意獻身於基督嘅服事之時,上帝就會以無限量嘅聖靈澆灌,承認呢一個事實;但只要教會中最大嘅一部分人仍然唔係與上帝同工嘅,呢事就唔會發生。當自私同自我放縱如此顯明;當一種心靈佔優勢,而若將之用言語表達出嚟,就會講出該隱嗰句回答——『我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎?』——上帝就不能澆灌祂嘅聖靈。若果現今嘅真理,若果四圍愈見密集、見證萬物嘅結局已經近在眼前嘅種種預兆,仍不足以喚醒嗰啲自稱認識真理之人沉睡嘅精力;咁,與所曾照耀之光成比例嘅黑暗,就必臨到呢啲心靈。到最後清算嘅大日,佢哋喺上帝面前,連一絲可以為自己冷淡辯解嘅藉口都冇。佢哋將冇任何理由可以提出,解釋點解佢哋唔按住上帝聖言之神聖真理嘅亮光去生活、行事、作工,因而未能藉着自己嘅行為、同情同熱心,向一個被罪惡黑暗所籠罩嘅世界顯明:福音嘅能力同真實性,係無可駁倒嘅。」《Review and Herald》,1896年7月21日。
Isaiah twenty-seven identifies the history of the beginning of the outpouring of the latter rain, when the root buds out of a dry ground, and then all the way through until the earth is filled with fruit. The chapter identifies that “in measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it.” When the latter rain is being measured as a “sprinkling”, Sister White states that the latter rain, “may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.”
以賽亞書第二十七章指出晚雨開始傾降之歷史,當根從乾地發芽,直至全地充滿果子。該章指出:「佢發出嘅時候,你必按度量與之爭辯。」當晚雨被量度為「灑灑零星」之時,懷愛倫姊妹說,晚雨「或者正降喺我哋四圍眾人嘅心上,但我哋卻不能辨識,也不能領受。」
In so doing she identifies a church that is mixed with those that recognize and others who do not recognize the falling of the rain. In the previous passage she identifies that when God pours the latter rain out without measure it marks when there is no longer a mixture of wise and foolish virgins by stating, “When we have entire, whole-hearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of his Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.”
她藉此指出一個教會,其中摻雜着一些承認雨水降下、另一些卻不承認的人。在前一段中,她指出:當上帝將晚雨無限量地傾降下來時,這就標誌着再沒有智慧童女與愚拙童女混雜的情形;她這樣說:「當我們全然、全心全意地奉獻自己為基督服務時,上帝必藉着無限量地傾降祂的靈來承認這一事實;但只要教會中最大部分的人還不是與上帝同工,這事就不會發生。」
The larger portion of the church, or the majority of the church, are represented in Matthew twenty-five as foolish virgins, for biblically “many” are called but “few” are chosen. The wise and the foolish are providentially separated at the crisis at midnight, that precedes the soon-coming Sunday law. The separation creates a people who can then receive the full outpouring of the Spirit in the latter rain and become the “nation that is born in a day”. Then the root of Jesse will be lifted up as an ensign and fill the world with fruit.
教會中較大嘅一部分,或教會中嘅大多數,在《馬太福音》第二十五章被表徵為愚拙嘅童女,因為按聖經所言,「被召嘅人多,選上嘅人少」。智慧嘅與愚拙嘅,按天意會喺半夜嘅危機中被分別出來;呢個危機先於即將來臨嘅星期日法。呢種分別造就出一班子民,使佢哋其後能夠領受聖靈喺晚雨中完全嘅傾降,並成為「一日而生嘅國民」。其後,耶西嘅根必被高舉作為大旗,並以果子充滿全地。
Isaiah twenty-seven identifies that when the latter rain began to be poured out “in measure”, on September 11, 2001, “thou will debate with it.” “In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it.” The event of September 11, 2001 became an immediate debate in the world and the church. To this very day–over twenty years later–there are still arguments against assigning those events to an act of Islam, as opposed to some form of a globalist conspiracy. The debate associated with the arrival of the sprinkling of the latter rain began on September 11, 2001, but the debates that are carried on in the world, are not the “debate” that is identified in God’s prophetic Word. The debate is about predictions such as the one that follows.
以賽亞書第二十七章指出,當後雨於二〇〇一年九月十一日開始「按量」傾倒出來之時,「你必與它辯論。」「按量,當它發出之時,你必與它辯論。」二〇〇一年九月十一日呢一件事,立即喺世界同教會當中引起爭論。直到今日——二十多年之後——仍然有人反對將嗰啲事件歸之於伊斯蘭所行嘅一個行動,而主張嗰係某種全球主義陰謀。與後雨灑落來臨相關嘅爭辯,係由二〇〇一年九月十一日開始;但喺世界上持續進行緊嘅爭論,並唔係神預言之話語所指出嘅嗰個「辯論」。呢個辯論,乃係關乎以下呢類預言。
“On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify their owners and builders. Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used. Those to whom these buildings belonged were not asking themselves: ‘How can we best glorify God?’ The Lord was not in their thoughts.
「有一次,我喺紐約市嘅時候,喺夜間異象中蒙召去觀看有建築物一層又一層噉向天而起。呢啲建築物都保證係防火嘅,並且係為咗榮耀佢哋嘅業主同建造者而興建。呢啲建築物越起越高,而當中所用嘅都係最昂貴嘅材料。嗰啲擁有呢啲建築物嘅人,並冇問自己:『我哋點樣先至能夠最好噉榮耀上帝?』主並不在佢哋嘅思想之中。」
“I thought: ‘Oh, that those who are thus investing their means could see their course as God sees it! They are piling up magnificent buildings, but how foolish in the sight of the Ruler of the universe is their planning and devising. They are not studying with all the powers of heart and mind how they may glorify God. They have lost sight of this, the first duty of man.’
我心裏想:「哦,但願嗰啲咁樣運用自己資財嘅人,能夠照住上帝所睇見嘅去看自己所行嘅路!佢哋堆積華美宏偉嘅建築物,然而,喺宇宙統治者眼中,佢哋嘅籌劃同設計係何等愚昧!佢哋並冇用盡心思意念一切嘅力量,去研究點樣可以榮耀上帝。佢哋已經失去咗對呢一點嘅看見──呢一點,乃係人首要嘅本分。」
“As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in gratifying self and provoking the envy of their neighbors. Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding down the poor. They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah.
「當呢啲巍峨高樓興建起嚟之時,業主就以野心勃勃嘅驕傲而歡喜,因為佢哋有金錢可以用嚟滿足自我,並惹起鄰舍嘅嫉妒。佢哋如此投放嘅金錢,有好多係藉着勒索、藉着壓榨窮人而得來。佢哋忘記咗,喺天上,每一宗商業交易都有帳目記錄;每一筆不義嘅交易,每一件詐騙嘅行為,都記錄喺嗰度。時候將到,人喺佢哋嘅詭詐同狂妄之中,必達到一個主所不容許佢哋越過嘅地步;到時佢哋就會知道,耶和華嘅忍耐係有限度嘅。」
“The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings and said: “They are perfectly safe.” But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.” Testimonies, volume 9, 12, 13.
「跟住喺我面前出現嘅景象,係一場火警嘅警報。人望住嗰啲高聳、而且被認為係防火嘅建築物,話:『佢哋絕對安全。』但係,呢啲建築物卻好似用瀝青造成咁樣,被烈火吞噬。消防車對阻止呢場毀滅毫無作用;消防員亦無法操作嗰啲消防車。」《證言》卷九,12、13。
The Adventist church immediately after September 11, 2001 sought to hide passages such as this from the world. How could this not be about New York City, and the enormously high buildings which the fire engines could not stop the ensuing fires? How could a passage such as this from the writings that the Adventist church professes to be written by a prophetess not be proclaimed from the rooftops after such a fulfillment as that?
喺2001年9月11日之後,基督復臨安息日會即刻試圖向世人隱藏諸如此類嘅段落。呢段話點可能唔係指向紐約市,以及嗰啲高聳入雲、連消防車都無法制止其後火勢蔓延嘅巨廈呢?而且,對於安息日會聲稱係由一位女先知所寫嘅著作當中,諸如此類嘅一段文字,喺有咗如此應驗之後,又點可能唔被喺屋頂上大聲宣告出來呢?
The arrival of the sprinkling of the latter rain, that marks the arrival of the prophetic “debate,” also identifies the final rebellion of Adventism, for it is there that they fully reject the clear and simple words of the one they identify as the prophetess to the remnant.
後雨灑降嘅來到,標誌住預言中「辯論」嘅來到;而呢一點亦都表明復臨信徒運動最後嘅背叛,因為正正喺嗰度,佢哋徹底拒絕咗嗰一位——佢哋自己認定為餘民之女先知——所講明白而簡單嘅說話。
“Satan is . . . constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.
「撒但……不斷將冒牌之物硬推進來——要使人離開真理。撒但最後一個欺騙,乃是要使上帝之靈的見證失去效力。『沒有異象,民就放肆』(箴言 29:18)。撒但必巧妙行事,用不同的方法,藉着不同的媒介,去動搖上帝餘民對真確見證的信心。
“There will be a hatred kindled against the Testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.” Selected Messages, book 1, 48.
「將會有一種對於《證言》的仇恨被煽動起來,那是屬撒但的。撒但運行的目的,是要動搖眾教會對《證言》的信心;原因就在於:若上帝之靈的警告、責備和勸勉被人留意聽從,撒但便不能如此暢通無阻地推行他的迷惑,並將人的靈魂捆綁於他的欺騙之中。」《信息選粹》卷一,48。
The prophetic binding of both the wheat and the tares began on September 11, 2001, with the rebellion against the Spirit of Prophecy, which marked the conclusion of a progressive rebellion that began against the Bible in 1863.
麥子與稗子二者在先知性意義上被捆綁,乃始於二〇〇一年九月十一日;當時人對預言之靈發動悖逆,這標誌着一場漸進式悖逆的終結,而該悖逆乃自一八六三年反抗聖經而起。
“We as a people profess to have truth in advance of every other people upon the earth. Then our life and character should be in harmony with such a faith. The day is just upon us when the righteous shall be bound like precious grain in bundles for the heavenly garner, while the wicked are, like the tares, gathered for the fires of the last great day. But the wheat and tares ‘grow together until the harvest.’” Testimonies, volume 5, 100.
「我哋作為一班子民,自稱比地上其他一切民族更早領受真理。咁我哋嘅生活同品格,就應當同呢種信仰相一致。公義嘅人要像珍貴嘅穀物一樣,被捆成捆,收聚入天上嘅倉裏;而惡人則要像稗子一樣,被收集起來,歸入末後大日嘅火中;呢一日如今已近在眼前。但麥子同稗子卻係『一齊生長,直到收割嘅時候。』」《證言》卷五,100。
How could Adventism ignore the following passage that states directly that when these buildings came down Revelation eighteen, verse one through three would be fulfilled?
復臨信徒點可能忽視以下呢段經文;呢段經文直接指出,當呢啲建築物倒下之時,〈啟示錄〉第十八章一至三節就會應驗?
“Now comes the word that I have declared that New York is to be swept away by a tidal wave? This I have never said. I have said, as I looked at the great buildings going up there, story after story, ‘What terrible scenes will take place when the Lord shall arise to shake terribly the earth! Then the words of Revelation 18:1–3 will be fulfilled.’ The whole of the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is a warning of what is coming on the earth. But I have no light in particular in regard to what is coming on New York, only that I know that one day the great buildings there will be thrown down by the turning and overturning of God’s power. From the light given me, I know that destruction is in the world. One word from the Lord, one touch of his mighty power, and these massive structures will fall. Scenes will take place the fearfulness of which we cannot imagine.” Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.
「如今竟有話說,係我曾宣稱紐約要被海嘯掃除嗎?我從來沒有這樣說過。我所說的,乃是當我看見那裏一座又一座高樓大廈層層興建起來之時,我說:『當主興起,使大地劇烈震動之時,將會出現何等可怕的景象!那時,《啟示錄》18:1–3 的話便要應驗。』《啟示錄》第十八章全章,乃是對將要臨到地上的事所發出的警告。但關於將要臨到紐約的事,我並沒有特別的亮光;我所知道的只是,有一天,那裏的高樓大廈必因上帝能力的翻轉傾覆而被拆毀。藉着所賜給我的亮光,我知道毀滅已在世上。主的一句話,祂大能的一下觸摸,這些龐大的建築物便會倒塌。那時將要出現的景象,其可怕程度是我們無法想像的。」《Review and Herald》,1906年7月5日。
The issue we are addressing here is not whether these passages were fulfilled on September 11, 2001, for they absolutely were, but the issue we are seeking to address is the “debate” that would begin at that time. The debate was over correct or incorrect methodology. The Adventist church began its rejection of the fourteen rules of prophetic interpretation of William Miller in 1863, and they have progressed to the point now where you cannot purchase a book of biblical study written by Adventist theologians that isn’t repeatedly endorsed by the theologians of apostate Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. From 1863 to 2001, and still today, the methodology that was originally represented by William Miller’s rules of prophetic interpretation were set aside for the methodology of Roman Catholicism and apostate Protestantism. The prophetic “debate” that began when Revelation eighteen, verses one through three were fulfilled was over true or false methodology.
我哋喺度所要處理嘅問題,並唔係呢啲經文係咪喺2001年9月11日應驗,因為佢哋的確已經應驗咗;我哋所尋求處理嘅問題,乃係嗰個喺當時開始嘅「辯論」。呢場辯論所關乎嘅,係方法論嘅正確與錯誤。復臨教會自1863年起,便開始拒絕威廉‧米勒有關預言解釋嘅十四條原則;而家佢哋已經發展到一個地步,甚至你根本買唔到一本由復臨派神學家所寫、而又唔係一再獲得背道新教同羅馬天主教神學家所推崇嘅聖經研究書籍。由1863年至2001年,直到今日仍然如此,最初由威廉‧米勒嘅預言解釋原則所代表嘅方法論,已被擱置,轉而採納羅馬天主教同背道新教嘅方法論。當《啟示錄》第十八章一至三節應驗之時所開始嘅預言性「辯論」,所爭論嘅正是真與假嘅方法論。
We will continue our consideration of the “debate” of chapter twenty-seven of Isaiah in the next article.
我哋將會喺下一篇文章繼續探討《以賽亞書》第二十七章呢場「辯論」。
“We should know for ourselves what constitutes Christianity, what is truth, what is the faith that we have received, what are the Bible rules—the rules given us from the highest authority.” The 1888 Materials, 403.
「我哋應當親自知道,乜嘢構成基督教,乜嘢係真理,乜嘢係我哋所領受嘅信仰,乜嘢係《聖經》嘅規則——即係由最高權威所賜畀我哋嘅規則。」《1888 Materials》,403。