Nebuchadnezzar represents the beginning of Adventism, the beginning of the United States, the beginning of the Protestant horn and the beginning of the Republican horn. Belshazzar represents the end of all these lines.
尼布甲尼撒象徵復臨運動嘅開始、美國嘅開始、新教之角嘅開始，以及共和黨之角嘅開始。伯沙撒象徵呢一切路線嘅終結。
Nebuchadnezzar represents the history of the first and second angels’ messages from 1798, through to 1844, and the beginning of God’s investigative judgment. His testimony parallels Daniel chapter one. Belshazzar represents the history of the third angel’s message from 1989, through to the Sunday law, and the beginning of God’s executive judgment. His testimony parallels Daniel chapters one through three.
尼布甲尼撒代表由1798年起，直到1844年，以及上帝查案審判開始之第一位同第二位天使信息嘅歷史。佢嘅見證與但以理書第一章互相平行。伯沙撒代表由1989年起，直到星期日法案，以及上帝執行審判開始之第三位天使信息嘅歷史。佢嘅見證與但以理書第一章至第三章互相平行。
Nebuchadnezzar marks the end of the “seven times” that came upon the northern kingdom of Israel in 1798, when his kingdom was restored unto him after living with the heart of a beast. His testimony continues until the opening of the investigative judgment at the end of the “seven times,” that came upon the southern kingdom of Judah in 1844. In his testimony the word “hour” represents the judgment hour message of the first angel, and then again, it represents the arrival of that message. The “hour” in his testimony marks both 1798, and 1844, which both represent the conclusion of the first indignation and the last indignation respectively.
尼布甲尼撒標誌住臨到以色列北國嘅「七期」喺1798年終結；嗰時，佢喺帶住獸心生活之後，佢嘅國復歸於佢。佢嘅見證一直延續，直到臨到猶大南國嘅「七期」喺1844年終結之時，即查案審判展開之際。喺佢嘅見證入面，「時辰」一詞代表第一位天使嘅審判時辰信息；其後，佢又再次代表呢個信息嘅來到。佢見證入面嘅「時辰」同時標誌1798年同1844年；呢兩個年份分別代表第一次惱怒同最後一次惱怒嘅終結。
Belshazzar’s end is marked by the mystical handwriting that equates to twenty-five hundred and twenty. The “seven times,” whether represented as an “hour,” a “scattering,” or “twenty-five hundred and twenty,” are a symbol of judgment. Nimrod’s judgment was a “scattering,” Nebuchadnezzar’s was “seven times,” and Belshazzar’s was twenty-five hundred and twenty. When Nebuchadnezzar judged the three worthies, he had the furnace heated “seven times,” above normal.
伯沙撒嘅結局，乃係由嗰神祕嘅手寫字所標誌；呢手寫字相等於二千五百二十。「七期」——無論係以「一時」、以「分散」，抑或以「二千五百二十」嚟表達——都係審判嘅象徵。寧錄所受嘅審判係「分散」，尼布甲尼撒所受嘅係「七期」，而伯沙撒所受嘅則係二千五百二十。當尼布甲尼撒審判嗰三位忠良嘅時候，佢吩咐將火爐燒熱到比平常高「七倍」。
The judgment of the “seven times” is marked at the arrival of the first message, and the arrival of the third message. The end of Millerite Adventism in 1863 begins with the rejection of the doctrine of the “seven times,” and one hundred and twenty-six years later in 1989, “the time of the end” for the history of the third angel arrived. One hundred and twenty-six is a symbol of the “seven times”; so the end of the movement of the first angel in 1863, until the beginning of the movement of the third angel in 1989, is bridged together by the “seven times” by the symbolic one hundred and twenty-six.
「七個時期」嘅審判，係喺第一個信息臨到之時，以及第三個信息臨到之時，作為標記。米勒派復臨運動喺1863年嘅終結，始於對「七個時期」教義嘅拒絕；而一百二十六年之後，即1989年，第三位天使歷史中嘅「末時」來到了。一百二十六乃係「七個時期」嘅象徵；因此，由1863年第一位天使運動嘅終結，直到1989年第三位天使運動嘅開始，乃藉着象徵性嘅一百二十六，由「七個時期」連結起來。
Yet the testimony of Belshazzar’s fall in Daniel chapter five, teaches that no one can see the judgment of the “seven times,” even though it is written upon the “wall”. For the Republican horn, the judgment is written on Thomas Jefferson’s “wall of separation of church and state” that is removed in chapter five of Daniel. For the true Protestant horn, the judgment is written on the two sacred charts that are hung upon the “wall” in order that those who read it may run. But in the blindness of Laodicea the words are indiscernible. In both cases, the words of judgment represent that both the true Protestant and Republican horns are weighed in the balances, and found wanting. The story of Belshazzar has a message for the Republican horn, representing the nations of the world.
然而，但以理書第五章所見證伯沙撒之傾覆，教導人：即使審判已寫在「牆」上，也無人能看明那「七期」的審判。對共和黨的角而言，那審判乃寫在托馬斯．傑斐遜所說政教分離的「牆」上；而這道牆在但以理書第五章中被除去。對真正的新教角而言，那審判乃寫在兩幅神聖的圖表上；這些圖表被掛在「牆」上，為要使讀的人可以奔跑。然而，在老底嘉的瞎眼之中，這些話語卻無法辨明。在這兩種情況中，這些審判的話都表明：真正的新教角和共和黨的角，都被放在天平裡稱過，顯出虧欠。伯沙撒的故事乃是向共和黨的角發出的信息，而這角代表世上的列國。
“In the history of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, God speaks to nations of today.” Signs of the Times, July 20, 1891.
「喺尼布甲尼撒同伯沙撒嘅歷史之中，上帝向今日嘅列國發言。」《Signs of the Times》，1891年7月20日。
The story of Belshazzar also has a message for the Protestant horn, representing the people of the world.
伯沙撒的故事亦都向新教之角傳達一個信息，呢角代表世上嘅人。
“In the history of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, God speaks to the people of today.” Bible Echo, September 17, 1894.
「喺尼布甲尼撒同伯沙撒嘅歷史之中，上帝向今日嘅人民說話。」《Bible Echo》，1894年9月17日。
The sin of Belshazzar represents the sin of both horns of the earth beast. The sin of either of the horns is found in their rejection of their foundational truths, while having full knowledge of those truths. The Republican horn is held accountable to the light of the Constitution, and the beginning history when that divine document was produced, but has since been progressively rejected. When the nation speaks as a dragon the symbolic wall of separation of church and state will have been removed. For the true Protestant horn, the light from the history of the first and second angels’ messages, when the foundations were established, has been progressively rejected, and will continue to be increasingly rejected, until the “wall” of God’s law will also, ultimately be rejected.
伯沙撒嘅罪，象徵地獸兩角共同嘅罪。兩角之中任何一角嘅罪，都在於佢哋明明充分認識自己根基性嘅真理，卻仍然拒絕呢啲真理。共和黨嗰一角，必須向《憲法》之光，以及嗰份神聖文獻制定之時起初嘅歷史負責；但呢啲自此一直被逐步棄絕。當呢個國家發聲如龍之時，政教分離嗰道象徵性嘅牆就會被拆除。至於真正嘅新教嗰一角，當根基被建立之時，第一位同第二位天使信息之歷史所發出嘅光，已經被逐步棄絕，而且仲會愈加被棄絕，直到上帝律法嗰道「牆」最終亦被棄絕。
“The prophet here describes a people who, in a time of general departure from truth and righteousness, are seeking to restore the principles that are the foundation of the kingdom of God. They are repairers of a breach that has been made in God’s law—the wall that He has placed around His chosen ones for their protection, and obedience to whose precepts of justice, truth, and purity is to be their perpetual safeguard.
先知喺呢度所描述嘅，係一班喺普遍離棄真理同公義嘅時代之中，尋求恢復嗰啲作為上帝國度根基之原則嘅子民。佢哋係修補上帝律法中所造成之破口嘅人——嗰道祂為保護祂所揀選嘅人而設立喺佢哋四圍嘅牆；而順服其中公義、真理同純潔之訓誡，乃係佢哋永遠嘅保障。
“In words of unmistakable meaning the prophet points out the specific work of this remnant people who build the wall. ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ Isaiah 58:13, 14.” Prophets and Kings, 677, 678.
先知用毫不含糊嘅說話，指出呢班修造城牆之餘民所要作嘅特定工作：「你若喺安息日掉轉你嘅腳步，不喺我聖日行你自己嘅喜好；又稱安息日為可喜樂嘅，稱耶和華嘅聖日為可尊重嘅；並且尊敬祂，不行自己嘅道路，不尋求自己嘅喜樂，也不說自己嘅閒話；咁樣，你就必以耶和華為樂；我必使你乘駕地嘅高處，又以你祖雅各嘅產業養育你：因為這是耶和華親口說的。」以賽亞書 58:13, 14。」《先知與君王》，677, 678。
The biblical methodology revealed by angels to William Miller, represents God’s prophetic laws, and unlike ancient Israel, modern Israel was to be the depositaries of not only the law of the Ten Commandments, but also the prophecies.
天使向威廉・米勒所啟示嘅聖經方法論，體現咗上帝預言嘅法則；而現代以色列唔同古代以色列，所託付佢哋保管嘅，唔單止係十誡嘅律法，亦包括預言。
“God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth. Christ declares to His followers: ‘Ye are the light of the world.’ To every soul that accepts Jesus the cross of Calvary speaks: ‘Behold the worth of the soul: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’” Nothing is to be permitted to hinder this work. It is the all-important work for time; it is to be far-reaching as eternity. The love that Jesus manifested for the souls of men in the sacrifice which He made for their redemption, will actuate all His followers.” Testimonies, volume 5, 455.
「上帝今日呼召祂的教會，正如祂昔日呼召古以色列一樣，要在地上作光。藉着真理那大能的利刃，藉着第一位、第二位、第三位天使的信息，祂已將他們從眾教會中、從世界中分別出來，帶到與祂自己一種神聖親近的關係之中。祂使他們成為祂律法的託付者，並將這時代偉大的預言真理交託給他們。正如交託給古以色列的神聖聖言一樣，這些也是要傳達給世人的神聖託付。啟示錄第14章的三位天使，代表那些接受上帝信息之光的人，並作為祂的使者出去，在全地四方發出警告。基督向祂的跟從者宣告：『你們是世上的光。』對每一個接受耶穌的靈魂而言，加略山的十字架都在說：『看哪，靈魂的價值：『你們往普天下去，傳福音給萬民聽。』』絕不可容許任何事攔阻這工作。這是今世最重要的工作；它的影響必延及永恆。耶穌為救贖世人而獻上自己所顯明的愛，必激勵祂一切的跟從者。」《教會證言》第5卷，455頁。
The “great truths of prophecy,” which were delivered by angels, and established through the work of William Miller, are “a sacred trust to be communicated to the world.” The law of the Ten Commandments, the laws of nature, the laws of health and the laws of prophetic study were given by the same Great Lawgiver, and to reject one Commandment is to reject them all. The rejection of the methodology given to William Miller began a progressive rebellion, that ultimately will lead to Adventism rejecting the seventh-day Sabbath.
由天使所傳遞、並藉威廉·米勒之工作而得以確立的「預言之大真理」，乃是「一項神聖的託付，要傳達給世人」。十誡之律法、自然律、健康之律，以及研習預言之法則，皆由同一位偉大的立法者所賜；拒絕其中一條誡命，就是拒絕全部。對賜予威廉·米勒之方法論的拒絕，開始了一場漸進的悖逆，最終必將導致復臨信仰拒絕第七日安息日。
“The Lord has a controversy with his professed people in these last days. In this controversy men in responsible positions will take a course directly opposite to that pursued by Nehemiah. They will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but they will try to keep it from others by burying it beneath the rubbish of custom and tradition. In churches and in large gatherings in the open air, ministers will urge upon the people the necessity of keeping the first day of the week. There are calamities on sea and land: and these calamities will increase, one disaster following close upon another; and the little band of conscientious Sabbath-keepers will be pointed out as the ones who are bringing the wrath of God upon the world by their disregard of Sunday.
「主在呢末後嘅日子，要同佢自稱屬佢嘅子民爭辯。在呢場爭辯之中，身負責任職位嘅人，所採取嘅路線，將會同尼希米所行嘅完全相反。佢哋不單止自己忽視同藐視安息日，仲要藉住將安息日埋沒喺風俗同傳統嘅瓦礫之下，試圖使別人都守唔到。喺各教會同露天嘅大型聚會之中，傳道人將會向民眾力陳守每週第一日嘅必要。海上同陸地都有災禍；而且呢啲災禍必會增加，一場災難緊接一場災難而來；而嗰小群憑良心守安息日嘅人，將會被指為因佢哋唔守星期日，致使上帝嘅忿怒臨到世界嘅人。」
“Satan urges this falsehood that he may take the world captive. It is his plan to compel men to accept errors. He takes an active part in the promulgation of all false religions, and will stop at nothing in his efforts to enforce erroneous doctrines. Under a cloak of religious zeal, men, influenced by his spirit, have invented the most cruel tortures for their fellow-men, and have inflicted the most awful sufferings upon them. Satan and his agents have the same spirit still; and the history of the past will be repeated in our day.
「撒但鼓吹呢個虛謊，為要將世界擄去。強逼人接受錯謬，乃係佢嘅計謀。喺一切假宗教嘅傳播之中，佢都積極參與；為咗把錯誤嘅教義強加於人，佢不擇手段。人喺宗教熱誠嘅外衣遮掩之下，受佢嘅靈所影響，竟為自己嘅同類發明出最殘酷嘅酷刑，又把最可怖嘅苦難加諸佢哋身上。撒但同佢嘅爪牙如今仍然存有同樣嘅靈；過去嘅歷史，喺我哋嘅時代將要重演。」
“There are men who have set their minds and will to accomplish evil; in the dark recesses of their hearts they have resolved what crimes they will commit. These men are self-deceived. They have rejected God’s great rule of right, and in its stead have erected a standard of their own, and comparing themselves with this standard they pronounce themselves holy. The Lord will permit them to reveal what is in their hearts, to act out the spirit of the master that controls them. He will let them show their hatred of his law in their treatment of those who are loyal to its requirements. They will be actuated by the same spirit of religious frenzy that goaded on the mob that crucified Christ; church and State will be united in the same corrupt harmony.
「有一啲人已經立定心意同意志，要成就邪惡；喺佢哋內心幽暗隱密之處，佢哋已經決定要犯下乜嘢罪行。呢啲人係自欺嘅。佢哋棄絕咗上帝偉大公義嘅法則，反而另立一個屬於自己嘅標準；並且以呢個標準嚟衡量自己，就宣稱自己係聖潔。主必容許佢哋顯露心中所存嘅，將嗰控制佢哋之主人嘅精神活現出嚟。祂要任由佢哋喺對待嗰啲忠於律法要求嘅人身上，顯明佢哋對祂律法嘅憎恨。推動當年將基督釘十字架嗰群暴民嘅，同樣嗰種宗教狂熱之靈，也必驅使佢哋；教會同國家將會喺同一種敗壞嘅和諧之中聯合起來。」
“The church of today has followed in the steps of the Jews of old, who set aside the commandments of God for their own traditions. She has changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant, and now, as then, pride, unbelief, and infidelity are the result. Her true condition is set forth in these words from the song of Moses: ‘They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?’” Review and Herald, March 18, 1884.
「今日嘅教會已經步上咗古時猶太人嘅後塵；佢哋為咗自己嘅遺傳，就將上帝嘅誡命擺埋一邊。佢已經更改咗律例，背棄咗永約；而家正如當時一樣，驕傲、不信同不忠就成為其結果。佢真實嘅情況，已經喺摩西之歌呢幾句說話入面表明出嚟：『佢哋行事敗壞，自己玷污自己；佢哋唔係佢嘅兒女，乃係乖僻彎曲嘅世代。愚昧無知嘅百姓呀，你哋就係咁樣報答耶和華嗎？佢唔係買贖你嘅父嗎？佢唔係造咗你，又堅立你嗎？』」《Review and Herald》，1884年3月18日。
The ultimate rejection of truth by Adventism occurs at the Sunday law, as Adventism repeats the history of ancient Israel, when “actuated by the same spirit of religious frenzy that goaded on the mob that crucified Christ; church and State will be united in the same corrupt harmony.” The progressive rebellion of Adventism is represented in Ezekiel chapter eight, with four escalating abominations, that prophetically mark the four generations of Adventism that began in 1863. The final abomination is when the leaders of Jerusalem bow down to the sun.
基督復臨安息日會對真理最終嘅棄絕，將會喺星期日法案之時發生；嗰時，基督復臨安息日會將重演古代以色列嘅歷史，正如「受同一種宗教狂熱之靈所驅使——呢種靈曾煽動群眾將基督釘十字架；教會同國家亦將聯合，達成同樣腐敗嘅和諧。」基督復臨安息日會漸進式嘅悖逆，喺以西結書第八章中有所表徵，其中有四重愈益升級嘅可憎之事，先知性噉標示出自1863年開始嘅基督復臨安息日會四代。最後一重可憎之事，就係當耶路撒冷嘅領袖向太陽下拜之時。
And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. Ezekiel 8:16–18.
祂又領我進入耶和華殿的內院；看哪，在耶和華殿的門口，廊子與祭壇中間，約有二十五個人，背向耶和華的殿，面向東方，向東敬拜日頭。祂對我說：「人子啊，你看見了嗎？猶大家行這些可憎之事，豈是小事嗎？他們在這裏所行的可憎之事，還不足夠嗎？因為他們使這地滿了強暴，又再惹我發怒；看哪，他們把枝條放在鼻前。所以，我也必以烈怒行事；我的眼必不顧惜，我也必不憐憫；他們雖然大聲在我耳中呼喊，我還是不聽。」以西結書 8:16–18。
The judgment that is brought about at that time is illustrated in the “hour” of Belshazzar’s judgment.
喺嗰時所施行嘅審判，乃係由伯沙撒受審判嗰個「時辰」作為預表。
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. Daniel 5:1–9.
伯沙撒王為他的一千大臣設擺盛宴，在那一千人面前飲酒。伯沙撒嚐了酒之後，就吩咐人將他父尼布甲尼撒從耶路撒冷殿中取出來的金銀器皿拿來，好叫王和他的大臣、后妃、嬪妾都用這些器皿飲酒。於是他們就把從耶路撒冷神殿中取出來的金器皿拿來，王和他的大臣、后妃、嬪妾便用這些器皿飲酒。他們飲酒，讚美那金、銀、銅、鐵、木、石所造的神。當時，忽然有人的手指出現，在王宮燈臺對面的粉牆上寫字；王看見那寫字的手的一部分。那時王的面色改變，心意驚惶，以致腰骨鬆脫，兩膝彼此相碰。王大聲呼叫，吩咐人把術士、迦勒底人和占卜的帶進來。王對巴比倫的哲士說，無論誰能讀這文字，把講解告訴我，必身穿紫袍，頸項戴金鏈，在國中位列第三。於是王的一切哲士都進來了，卻不能讀那文字，也不能把講解告訴王。於是伯沙撒王大大驚惶，面色又變了，他的大臣也都驚駭。 但以理書 5:1–9
In the “same hour” that Belshazzar’s judgment arrived, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were cast into the furnace that had been heated “seven times” hotter than normal.
正喺伯沙撒嘅審判臨到嘅「同一時刻」，沙得拉、米煞同亞伯尼歌被扔進嗰個比平常燒熱咗「七倍」嘅火爐之中。
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. Daniel 3:15–19.
如今你哋若已預備好，喺你哋一聽見角、笛、琴、瑟、琵琶、風笛，同各樣樂器嘅聲音，就俯伏敬拜我所立嘅像；若然如此，尚可；但你哋若不敬拜，就必即時被扔入烈火嘅窰中；有邊一位神能救你哋脫離我手呢？沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌回答王話：「尼布甲尼撒啊，喺呢件事上，我哋唔使回覆你。即或如此，我哋所事奉嘅神能夠將我哋從烈火嘅窰中救出嚟；王啊，佢亦必救我哋脫離你嘅手。即或不然，王啊，你當知道，我哋決不事奉你嘅神，也不敬拜你所立嘅金像。」當時尼布甲尼撒盛怒填胸，向沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌變了面色，因此發命，吩咐人把窰燒熱，比平常加熱七倍。Daniel 3:15–19.
The “hour” of judgment for Belshazzar is the same “hour” of judgment for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and in both lines “seven times” are represented as the symbol of that judgment. The three worthies are representing the two witnesses that ascend with clouds into heaven as the ensign in the “hour” of the great earthquake at the Sunday Law, and Belshazzar represents the judgment of national ruin that is brought upon the earth beast in the very same “hour.”
伯沙撒受審判的「時辰」，正是沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌受審判的同一「時辰」；而喺兩條脈絡之中，「七倍」都被表明為嗰個審判嘅象徵。呢三位忠貞之士所代表嘅，乃係嗰兩個見證人；佢哋喺星期日法案之時、喺大地震嘅「時辰」之中，作為旗號，乘着雲上升到天上；而伯沙撒所代表嘅，則係喺完全相同嘅「時辰」臨到地獸之上、使列國敗亡嘅審判。
We will continue our study of Belshazzar’s judgment in the next article.
我哋將會喺下一篇文章繼續研讀伯沙撒所受嘅審判。
“I am deeply exercised in mind in reference to the low standard of piety among our people. And when I think of the woes passed on Capernaum, I think of how much heavier will come the condemnation upon those who know the truth and have not walked according to the truth, but in the sparks of their own kindling. In the night seasons I am addressing the people in a very solemn manner, beseeching them to ask their own consciences; What am I? Am I a Christian, or am I not? Is my heart renewed? Has the transforming grace of God moulded my character? Are my sins repented of? Are they confessed? Are they forgiven? Am I one with Christ as he is one with the Father? Do I hate what I once loved? Do I now love what I once hated? Do I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus? Do I feel I am the purchased possession of Jesus Christ, and that every hour I must consecrate myself to his service?
「我心裏對於我哋子民敬虔標準之低，深感沉重憂慮。當我想到加百農所受嘅禍患之時，我就想到：嗰啲認識真理，卻唔按真理而行，反倒行喺自己所點起嘅火花之中嘅人，將要受嘅定罪，係何等更加沉重。喺夜間，我以極其莊嚴嘅方式向眾民講說，懇求佢哋捫心自問：我係乜嘢人？我係基督徒，定唔係基督徒？我嘅心有冇被更新？上帝使人改變嘅恩典，有冇塑造我嘅品格？我嘅罪有冇悔改？有冇承認？有冇蒙赦免？我與基督係咪合而為一，正如祂與父合而為一一樣？我係咪憎惡我從前所愛嘅？我而家係咪愛我從前所恨惡嘅？我係咪因認識我主基督耶穌為至寶，就看萬事如有損的？我有冇感到自己係耶穌基督所買贖嘅產業，並且每一個時辰都必須將自己奉獻畀祂嘅事奉？」
“We are standing upon the threshold of great and solemn events. The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the channels of the great deep. Prophecies are being fulfilled, and stormy times are before us. Old controversies which have apparently been hushed for a long time will be revived, and new controversies will spring up; new and old will commingle, and this will take place right early. The angels are holding the four winds, that they shall not blow, until the specified work of warning is given to the world; but the storm is gathering, the clouds are loading, ready to burst upon the world, and to many it will be as a thief in the night.
「我哋正站喺重大而嚴肅事件嘅門檻之上。全地必要被主嘅榮耀照亮，正如眾水遮蓋大淵嘅水道一樣。預言正在應驗，暴風雨般嘅時代已經擺喺我哋前頭。舊有嘅爭論，表面上似乎已經沉寂咗好長一段時間，將要再被挑起；而新嘅爭論亦將興起；新舊將彼此交雜，而且呢一切好快就會發生。天使正執持住四風，叫風唔吹，直至那指定嘅警告工作傳畀世人；但風暴正在聚集，雲層愈積愈重，隨時要向世界爆發；而對許多人嚟講，呢一切將會像夜間嘅賊臨到一樣。」
“Many smiled and would not believe when we told them, twenty and thirty years ago, that the Sunday would be urged upon all the world, and a law be made to compel its observance, and force conscience. We see it being fulfilled. All that God has said of the future will surely come to pass; not one thing will fail of all that he has spoken. Protestantism is now reaching hands across the gulf to clasp hands with papacy, and a confederacy is being formed to trample out of sight the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; and the man of sin, who, at the instigation of Satan, instituted the spurious sabbath, this child of papacy, will be exalted to take the place of God.
「二十年、三十年前，當我哋話畀人聽，星期日將會被推行到全世界，並且會制定律法，強迫人遵守，箝制良心之時，許多人都帶着笑意而唔肯相信。如今我哋睇見呢一切正喺度應驗。上帝所講論將來嘅一切，必定都要成就；祂所說嘅一件都唔會落空。現今，新教正伸手越過鴻溝，與教皇權握手；並且一個同盟正喺度形成，要將第四誡嘅安息日踐踏至不見蹤影；而那個罪人之子，受撒但唆使，設立咗呢個冒牌嘅安息日，呢個教皇權所生嘅兒子，將要被高舉，取代上帝嘅地位。」
“All heaven is represented to me as watching the unfolding of events. A crisis is to be revealed in the great and prolonged controversy in the government of God on earth. Something great and decisive is to take place, and that right early. If any delay, the character of God and his throne will be compromised. The armory of heaven is open; all the universe of God and its equipments are ready. One word has justice to speak, and there will be terrific representations upon the earth, of the wrath of God. There will be voices and thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes and universal desolation. Every movement in the universe of heaven is to prepare the world for the great crisis.
「在我看來，全天庭都在注視着諸般事件的展開。在上帝於地上政權之中那場重大而持久的爭戰裏，一場危機必要顯露出來。將有重大而具決定性的事發生，而且必須立刻發生。若有任何耽延，上帝的品格和祂的寶座都必受損害。天上的軍械庫已經開啟；上帝整個宇宙及其一切裝備都已預備妥當。公義只要發出一句話，地上便必出現上帝忿怒的可怖彰顯。必有聲音、雷轟、閃電、地震，以及普世的荒涼。天上宇宙中的一切行動，都是為要使世界為那場大危機作好準備。」
“Intensity is taking possession of every earthly element; and as a people who have had great light and wonderful knowledge, many of them are represented by the five sleeping virgins with their lamps, but no oil in their vessels; cold, senseless, with a feeble, waning piety. While a new life is being diffused and is springing up from beneath and taking fast hold of all Satan’s agencies, preparatory to the last great conflict and struggle, a new light and life and power is descending from on high, and taking possession of God’s people who are not dead, as many now are, in trespasses and sins. The people who will now see what is soon to come upon us by what is being transacted before us, will no longer trust in human inventions, and will feel that the Holy Spirit must be recognized, received, presented before the people, that they may contend for the glory of God, and work everywhere in the byways and highways of life, for the saving of the souls of their fellow-men. The only rock that is sure and steadfast is the Rock of Ages. Those only who build on this Rock are secure.
「強烈嘅勢頭正佔據住一切屬地嘅元素；而作為一班曾領受大光與奇妙知識嘅人，其中好多人正如那五個瞓着咗嘅童女，有燈，器皿裏卻冇油；冷淡、麻木，帶住微弱而漸趨衰殘嘅虔誠。當一種新嘅生命正被散播開去，並由下而生發，牢牢控制住撒但一切嘅工具，為最後嗰場巨大嘅衝突與爭戰作預備之時，另有一種新嘅亮光、生命同能力，正從上頭降下，並佔有神嘅子民──即嗰啲並未像現今許多人一樣死在過犯同罪惡之中嘅人。凡現今因着眼前所發生嘅事而看出快將臨到我哋身上之事嘅人，就唔會再信靠人為嘅發明，並且會覺得必須承認聖靈、領受聖靈，並將聖靈呈現喺眾人面前，使佢哋可以為神嘅榮耀而奮鬥，並喺人生各處嘅小路大路上作工，為要拯救佢哋同胞嘅靈魂。唯一穩妥堅固嘅磐石，乃係萬古磐石。惟有建造喺呢磐石上嘅人，先係穩妥。」
“Those who are carnally minded now, notwithstanding the warnings given of God in his word and through the testimonies of his Spirit, will never unite with the holy family of the redeemed. They are sensual, debased in thought, and abominable in the sight of God. They have never been sanctified through the truth. They are not partakers of the divine nature, have never overcome self and the world with its affections and lusts. These characters are all through our churches, and as the result the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die. There must be no indifferent testimony borne now, but a decided, pointed testimony, rebuking every impurity, and exalting Jesus. We must as a people be in the attitude of expectation, working and waiting and watching and praying.
「現今凡屬肉體心思的人，儘管上帝已在祂的話語中，並藉着祂聖靈的見證發出警告，他們也永不能與蒙救贖之聖潔家族聯合。他們屬情慾，思想卑污，在上帝眼中乃為可憎。他們從未藉着真理得以成聖。他們並非有分於上帝的性情，從未勝過自我，以及這世界連同其中的情慾與私慾。這等人遍佈我們的教會，因此教會便軟弱、病態，幾乎要死。現今所傳的見證，絕不可冷淡不關痛癢；乃必須是堅決而尖銳的見證，責備一切污穢，並高舉耶穌。我們作為一班子民，必須常存期待的態度，作工、等候、警醒、禱告。」
“This blessed hope of the second appearing of Christ needs to be presented often to the people, with its solemn realities; looking for the soon appearing of our Lord Jesus to come in his glory, will lead to the regarding of earthly things as emptiness and nothingness. All worldly honor or distinction is of no value, for the true believer lives above the world; his steps are advancing heavenward. He is a pilgrim and stranger. His citizenship is above. He is gathering the sunbeams of the righteousness of Christ into his soul, that he may be a burning and shining light in the moral darkness that has enshrouded the world. What vigorous faith, what lively hope, what fervent love, what holy, consecrated zeal for God is seen in him, and what a decided distinction between him and the world! ‘Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.’ ‘Watch ye therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.’ ‘Therefore be ye ready also; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments.’” Pamphlets, 38–40.
「基督第二次顯現呢個有福嘅盼望，需要時常向百姓陳明，連同其中莊嚴嘅現實；仰望我哋主耶穌快將喺祂嘅榮耀中降臨，必會使人看地上嘅事為虛空、為無有。一切屬世嘅尊榮或顯達都毫無價值，因為真實嘅信徒乃係活喺世界之上；佢嘅腳步正向天而進。佢係客旅，係寄居者。佢嘅國籍在上。佢正將基督公義嘅陽光收聚入自己嘅心靈，好叫佢喺籠罩世界嘅道德黑暗中，成為焚燒而照耀嘅明燈。喺佢身上所見嘅，係何等剛強有力嘅信心，何等活潑嘅盼望，何等熾熱嘅愛，何等聖潔、奉獻歸神嘅熱忱；而佢同世界之間，又有何等明顯嘅分別！『所以，你哋要時時警醒，常常祈求，使你哋得算配逃避呢一切將要臨到嘅事，並得以站立喺人子面前。』『所以，你哋要警醒，因為唔知道你哋嘅主喺乜嘢時辰來到。』『所以，你哋也要預備；因為喺你哋想不到嘅時辰，人子就來了。』『看哪，我來像賊一樣。那警醒、又看守自己衣服嘅有福了。』小冊子，38–40。」