Islam of the third woe arrived into prophetic history on September 11, 2001, and it was immediately restrained. At that time the latter rain began to fall, but it was “measured”.
第三禍嘅伊斯蘭於二〇〇一年九月十一日進入預言歷史,並且即時受到抑制。喺嗰個時候,後雨開始降下,但係係「經過量度」嘅。
In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up. Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof. When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favour. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:6–13.
到祂發芽生長嘅時候,祢必與之爭辯;喺東風吹襲之日,祂止住自己猛烈嘅風。因此,雅各嘅罪孽必因此得潔淨;除去佢罪嘅全部果效,就係當佢使祭壇上一切石頭都變成打碎咗嘅灰石一樣,以致亞舍拉同偶像都唔再豎立。然而,堅固城必變為荒涼,居所必被撇下,成為如同曠野;牛犢必喺嗰度食草,也必喺嗰度躺臥,並吃盡其中嘅枝子。當其中嘅枝條枯乾,就必被折斷;婦女前來,把它哋點火焚燒;因為呢係毫無悟性嘅百姓;所以,造佢哋嘅必不憐憫佢哋,塑造佢哋嘅也不施恩予佢哋。到嗰日,耶和華必從大河水道直到埃及小河,逐一擊打摘取;以色列子民啊,你哋必一個一個被收集。到嗰日,必有大號角吹響;嗰啲喺亞述地將要滅亡嘅人,同埋喺埃及地被趕散嘅人,都必前來,在耶路撒冷嘅聖山上敬拜耶和華。以賽亞書 27:6–13。
The “day of the east wind” identifies the arrival of the latter rain, and also Islam of the third woe. It also marks the beginning of the history where the “iniquity of Jacob is purged.” The day of the east wind arrived on September 11, 2001, and at that point the judgment of the living commenced. The judgment of the living is the closing work of the third angel, and it is there that the removal of the sins of the one hundred and forty-four thousand began. That is what Isaiah means when he wrote, “By this.”
「東風之日」表明後雨嘅來臨,亦都表明第三樣災禍之伊斯蘭。佢亦都標誌住「雅各嘅罪孽得蒙除淨」呢段歷史嘅開始。東風之日喺2001年9月11日來到,而喺嗰個時候,對活人嘅審判就開始咗。活人嘅審判乃係第三位天使工作嘅收結之工,而喺嗰度,十四萬四千人之罪被除去嘅工作開始咗。呢個就係以賽亞寫「藉此」所指嘅意思。
The words leading up to, “By this,” are, “In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou will debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.” “By this,” is identifying the specific testing truths that purge the sin from those represented as Jacob. Those truths include the event (9/11), which marks the arrival of the latter rain. Those truths include the definition of the latter rain as “a message,” and the “message” is Islam. It includes the truth that “the east wind” is Islam of the third Woe, and it includes the prophetic characteristic of Islam’s subsequent restraint (stayeth).
喺「因此」之前嘅話語係:「祂發苗滋長嘅時候,必按量與之相爭;喺東風嘅日子,祂止住祂猛烈嘅風。」呢個「因此」,係指明嗰啲特定嘅試驗真理;正係呢啲真理,將罪孽從嗰啲被表徵為雅各嘅人身上潔除。呢啲真理包括嗰件事件(9/11),呢件事件標誌住晚雨嘅來到。呢啲真理包括對晚雨嘅界定,乃係「一個信息」,而呢個「信息」就係伊斯蘭。亦包括「東風」乃係第三樣災禍嘅伊斯蘭,並且包括伊斯蘭其後被抑制(止住)嘅先知性特徵。
The test itself is represented by the “debate,” which began on September 11, 2001. Jeremiah, when representing the first disappointment, was counseled to “return” unto God and separate the precious from the vile. The “fruit” of the testing message produces two classes of worshippers.
呢一場試驗本身,乃由「辯論」所表徵;這場辯論始於二〇〇一年九月十一日。耶利米在代表第一次失望之時,蒙勸勉要「歸回」上帝,並將寶貴的與下賤的分別出來。這試驗信息的「果子」產生了兩等敬拜的人。
The judgment of the foolish is represented as “when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.” Isaiah is referencing the pronouncement against those who turn things upside down in chapters twenty-eight and twenty-nine. They are those who cannot understand the sealed book. The work (fruit) of the wicked is to be esteemed as potter’s clay.
愚昧人所受嘅審判,乃以此表明:「當他使祭壇上一切石頭好像被打碎嘅白堊石一樣,亞舍拉同日像都必不得立起。」以賽亞喺度所指嘅,係第二十八章同第二十九章裏面,對嗰啲顛倒是非之人所發出嘅宣告。佢哋就係嗰啲唔能夠明白封住之書嘅人。惡人嘅工作(果子),當被看為窰匠嘅泥。
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? Isaiah 29:14–16.
所以,看哪,我必在這百姓中行一件奇妙的事,就是一件奇妙非常、令人驚異的事;因為他們智慧人的智慧必然消滅,聰明人的聰明必被隱藏。那些深藏謀略、要向耶和華隱匿其計謀的人有禍了;他們在黑暗中行事,說:誰看見我們呢?誰知道我們呢?你們把事顛倒,豈可看作窰匠的泥呢?被造之物豈可論造它的說:他沒有造我?受塑之物豈可論塑造它的說:他沒有聰明?以賽亞書 29:14–16。
The work of the wicked will be as potter’s clay, and in chapter twenty-seven their work is portrayed in a similar fashion, as chalkstones that are beaten asunder. Chalk or potter’s clay is easily beaten into powder, and the symbol of the work of making “all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder,” and including the work of tearing down “the groves and images,” so that they “shall not stand up,” is the work represented by the reformation of king Josiah. In the final revival and reformation, represented by the reformation of Josiah, the Adventist corporate structure will be desolate, for “the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness.” All their works, meaning the thousands of churches, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and office buildings around the world, will be prophetically beaten into worthless powder.
惡人嘅工作必如窯匠嘅泥;而喺第二十七章,佢哋嘅工作亦以類似嘅方式被描繪,猶如被打碎嘅白堊石。白堊石或者窯匠嘅泥,都好容易被擊打成粉末;而「使祭壇一切嘅石頭好似打碎嘅白堊石」呢個象徵,以及拆毀「樹林同偶像」嘅工作,叫佢哋「不得再立起來」,所代表嘅,正係約西亞王改革嘅工作。喺最後嘅復興同改革之中,即係由約西亞改革所預表嘅復興同改革,復臨信徒嘅整體組織結構將要荒涼,因為「堅固城必變為荒場,居所必被撇下,離棄如同曠野。」佢哋一切嘅工程,亦即遍佈全世界數以千計嘅教會、學校、學院、大學、醫院同辦公樓宇,喺預言上都要被擊打成毫無價值嘅粉末。
The membership will also be desolate, for those “people of no understanding” will be as “withered” “boughs” that “shall be broken off” “and set on fire,” for “he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.”
會眾亦必荒涼,因為那些「無知識的民」必如「枯乾」的「枝子」,「必被折斷」,「被點火焚燒」;因為「造他們的,必不憐憫他們;塑造他們的,也不向他們施恩。」
When the separation that is accomplished by the testing message is complete, the second voice of Revelation chapter eighteen, calls God’s other flock out of Babylon, for in that day “it shall come to pass” “that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.”
當由試驗信息所成就嘅分別完成之後,《啟示錄》第十八章嘅第二個聲音,就要將上帝其餘嘅羊群從巴比倫呼召出嚟;因為到咗嗰日,「事情必然成就」:「必有大號吹響;嗰啲在亞述地將要滅亡嘅人,以及嗰啲在埃及地被趕散嘅人,都要前來,在耶路撒冷嘅聖山敬拜耶和華。」
The passage (Isaiah twenty-seven, verses eight through thirteen) we are considering, identifies the prophetic history that began on September 11, 2001, and illustrates the testing and purification of those who will ultimately call God’s other flock out of Babylon. The opening verses of the same chapter, identify a song that is to be sung during that very history.
我哋而家所考慮嘅呢段經文(以賽亞書二十七章八至十三節),指出咗嗰段喺二○○一年九月十一日開始嘅預言歷史,並且闡明嗰啲最終要將上帝其餘嘅羊群從巴比倫呼召出來之人所要經歷嘅試驗同潔淨。同一章開首嘅經文,亦指出有一首歌要喺正正嗰段歷史期間被唱出。
In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him? Isaiah 27:2–7.
到那日,你們要向這葡萄園歌唱:「有一個出產紅酒的葡萄園。 我—耶和華是看守它的;我必時刻澆灌它;免得有人損害它,我必晝夜看守。 我心中並無烈怒;惟願荊棘蒺藜在陣上與我交戰!我就必踐踏它們,把它們一同焚燒。 不然,讓他持住我的能力,使他與我和好;他必與我和好。 雅各所出來的,必要扎根;以色列必開花發芽,並且使地面滿了果子。 他擊打他,豈像擊打那些擊打他的人嗎?他被殺戮,豈像那些被他所殺戮的人之被殺戮嗎?」以賽亞書 27:2–7。
The song of the vineyard is the song that first identifies God’s people as a vineyard which He had loved and cared for. It then presents a promise of acceptance for any who would wish to take hold of Christ’s righteousness. It then identifies the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, represented by two phases of rain. The first phase of rain brings the blossoms and buds to life, and the second phase fills the earth with fruit.
葡萄園之歌,乃係首先將上帝的子民指明為一個葡萄園,就是祂所愛護、所看顧的。其後,它提出一個蒙悅納的應許,賜給一切願意持守基督公義的人。跟住,它指出聖靈澆灌的應許,乃以兩個階段的雨來表徵。第一階段的雨使花朵與嫩芽甦醒生發,第二階段則使全地充滿果實。
The song of the vineyard is the song that identifies the period of time when God is passing by a former chosen people, while entering into covenant with a new chosen people. Verses eight and onward, are simply repeating and enlarging upon the opening verses of the chapter. The first verse of the chapter identifies the same event that is identified as the “day of the east wind” in verse eight.
葡萄園之歌,乃係一首指出嗰段時期嘅歌:當神越過一個從前蒙揀選嘅民,同時又與一個新蒙揀選嘅民立約。由第八節起往後嘅經文,只不過係重複並闡明本章開首幾節嘅內容。本章第一節所指出嘅同一事件,就係第八節所稱為「東風之日」嘅事件。
In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. Isaiah 27:1.
到那日,耶和華必用祂沉重、巨大而有力的刀,刑罰利維坦,就是那快行的蛇;又刑罰利維坦,就是那彎曲的蛇;並要殺海中的龍。以賽亞書 27:1。
The dragon is Satan, but in a secondary sense it was pagan Rome.
那條龍就是撒但;但從次一層意義而言,它也指異教羅馬。
“Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome.” The Great Controversy, 439.
「因此,龍固然首先代表撒但,但從次一層意義上說,它亦是異教羅馬的象徵。」《善惡之爭》,439。
The ten kings of pagan Rome, in chapter seven of Daniel, and in chapter twelve of Revelation represent the ten kings of Revelation seventeen–in the last days.
但以理書第七章所記載異教羅馬嘅十王,以及啟示錄第十二章所記載嘅十王,乃係代表末後日子啟示錄第十七章所說嘅十王。
“Kings and rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of antichrist, and are represented as the dragon who goes to make war with the saints—with those who keep the commandments of God and who have the faith of Jesus.” Testimonies to Ministers, 38.
「君王、統治者同埋官長都已經喺自己身上加上敵基督嘅印記;佢哋被描繪為嗰條龍,出去同聖徒爭戰——即係嗰啲遵守上帝誡命、又持守耶穌真道嘅人。」《給傳道人的證言》,38頁。
Verse one of Isaiah 27 is identifying the beginning of the judgment of the dragon, which began at the day of the east wind, on September 11, 2001. The judgment of the kings of the earth, and their globalist merchant partners, is accomplished when the financial structure of the earth is destroyed by an “east wind”, in the midst of the “seas”.
以賽亞書第二十七章第一節所指出的,乃是龍受審判之開始;此審判始於東風之日,就是二〇〇一年九月十一日。地上眾王及其全球主義的商賈夥伴所受的審判,乃是在地上的金融體系於「海」中被「東風」毀滅之時成就的。
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. Psalms 48:4–7.
看哪,眾王聚集,一同經過。佢哋一看見,就都驚奇;佢哋驚惶,急忙逃跑。戰兢喺嗰度抓住佢哋;疼痛臨到佢哋,好似生產嘅婦人一樣。你用東風打破他施的船隻。詩篇 48:4–7
Isaiah chapter twenty-seven, verses one through seven, is repeated and enlarged upon in verses eight through thirteen. It identifies that in “the day of east wind” the kings and merchants of the earth are going to be confronted with fear, and their fear escalates through history from that point onward. That fear identifies the illogical and hasty movements of the progressive globalists of planet earth ever since September 11, 2001, as they push their agenda further and more aggressively, than what would be logically expected. Satan, and his representatives, for the merchants and kings of the earth (the globalists), as symbols of the dragon, know their time is short.
以賽亞書第二十七章一至七節,喺八至十三節之中重複提述,並且加以發揮。呢段經文指出,喺「東風之日」,地上嘅君王同商賈將要面對懼怕,而自嗰一刻起,佢哋嘅懼怕喺歷史進程之中不斷加劇。呢種懼怕顯明,自二○○一年九月十一日以來,地球上嗰啲進步全球主義者所作出嘅種種不合邏輯而倉促嘅行動;當佢哋以比按理所能預期更進一步、更具侵略性嘅方式推進自己嘅議程之時,呢種懼怕就昭然若揭。撒但,以及佢嘅代表,即地上嘅商賈同君王(全球主義者),作為大龍嘅象徵,知道自己嘅時候無多。
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Revelation 12:12.
所以,諸天與住在其中的,你們都要歡喜。地與海的居民有禍了!因為魔鬼帶着大怒下到你們那裏,因他知道自己的時候不多了。啟示錄 12:12
The day of the east wind, that produced the economic crisis in 2001, that has only gotten worse, no matter what the globalist media attempts to claim, is the issue that confronts the world at the point when the dragon knows his time is short. He then escalates his movements for control of the entire earth, and he does so when “Woe” (the third Woe) is brought upon “the inhabiters of the earth and sea.”
東風之日,就是引發了二〇〇一年經濟危機的那一日;而那場危機一直只有愈演愈烈,無論全球主義媒體企圖作何宣稱,皆不能改變此實情。這正是在那條龍知道自己的時候不多之際,擺在世界面前的問題。於是,他便加緊推進其掌控全地的行動;而他如此行,正是在「禍哉」(第三樣禍)臨到「地與海的居民」之時。
The arrival of Islam of the third Woe (the east wind), on September 11, 2001, produced an economic disaster that has forced the globalists to accelerate their efforts to force a one world government upon planet earth. Yet Islam continues to fulfill its role. Perhaps the most serious revelation of Islam as a symbol of Bible prophecy is found in the first reference to Islam.
第三個禍災(東風)之伊斯蘭教於二〇〇一年九月十一日到來,造成了一場經濟災難,迫使全球主義者加速其將單一世界政府強加於地球之上的努力。然而,伊斯蘭教仍然繼續履行其角色。也許,作為聖經預言象徵之伊斯蘭教,最嚴重的啟示乃見於對伊斯蘭教的首次提及。
And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. Genesis 16:11, 12.
耶和華的使者又對她說:「看哪,你已經懷孕,必生一個兒子;你要給他起名叫以實瑪利,因為耶和華已聽見你的苦情。他為人必像野驢;他的手要攻擊各人,各人的手也要攻擊他;他必住在眾弟兄的對面。」創世記 16:11, 12.
God’s Word never fails. As Islam continues to produce pain as a woman in travail, some who might even accept that Islam is identified in Bible prophecy, have not yet wrapped their mind around the obvious fact in the two verses. Some might understand that it is Islam that brings every man on planet earth together in order to oppose a common enemy, and this is of course true. Yet the last phrase in the verse is the more serious truth. The world was shaken by September 11, 2001, and it has recently been shaken again by this year’s October 7 attack of Hamas against Israel. But no one is willing to see that the spirit of warfare and sudden destruction is “in the presence of all” of Ishmael’s brethren.
神嘅話語永不落空。當伊斯蘭持續如同產難中的婦人一般產生痛苦之際,有啲人甚至可能接受伊斯蘭喺聖經預言中被指明,卻仍未真正明白呢兩節經文中顯而易見嘅事實。有啲人可能明白,正是伊斯蘭使地上每一個人聯合起來,為要對抗一個共同嘅敵人,而呢一點當然係真嘅。然而,經文中最後一句先係更為嚴重嘅真理。世界曾因2001年9月11日而震動,近來又因今年10月7日哈馬斯對以色列嘅襲擊再次震動。但冇人願意看見,戰爭與忽然毀滅嘅靈乃是在以實瑪利一切弟兄「面前」。
What kind of destruction will be carried out when there is a surprise attack carried out by such Islamic nations as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Brunei and Bahrain? The spirit of Ishmael is in “all his brethren,” and the warfare that has so far been produced with the third Woe from countries such as Afghanistan or Iraq, will be quite different when the prophecy of Ishmael is fully fulfilled. How many nuclear bombs does Pakistan have?
當沙特阿拉伯、阿拉伯聯合酋長國、卡塔爾、科威特、文萊同巴林等伊斯蘭國家發動突襲之時,將會施行何等的毀滅呢?以實瑪利的靈乃在於「他所有的弟兄」之中;而迄今由阿富汗或伊拉克等國家所引發、與第三樣災禍有關的戰爭,當以實瑪利的預言得以完全應驗之時,將會截然不同。巴基斯坦有幾多枚核彈呢?
The prophetic characteristic of Islamic warfare as demonstrated in the first and second Islamic Woes is sudden, surprise attacks. Are there enough finances in the affluent Islamic nations to secretly secure or produce weaponry that would be more sophisticated, and lethal, than fuel laden jets, car bombs, burning tires, rape and knives? Is God’s Word to be believed?
正如第一同第二個伊斯蘭災禍所顯示,伊斯蘭戰爭所具有嘅先知性特徵,就係突如其來、出其不意嘅攻擊。喺富裕嘅伊斯蘭國家當中,是否有足夠嘅財力,可以暗中取得或生產比裝滿燃料嘅噴射機、汽車炸彈、燃燒中嘅輪胎、強姦同刀械更加先進、更加致命嘅武器呢?神嘅話語,是否應當被相信呢?
All the jewels of Miller’s dream become testing truths in the last days, if nothing more than the reality that those truths have been rejected and prophecy identifies they will be restored. But some of those jewels, such as the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary and Islam of the third Woe, identify predictions that are fulfilled only in the very last days. One represents the work of Christ in the Most Holy Place, certainly a present testing truth, and the other identifies the message of the Midnight Cry, which again is a present testing truth.
米勒之夢中所有的寶石,在末後的日子都成為試驗人的真理,縱然單憑一個事實——那些真理曾被棄絕,而預言指出它們必被恢復——已足以如此。然而,其中有些寶石,例如基督在天上聖所中的工作,以及第三樣災禍中的伊斯蘭,所指明的乃是一些惟有在最末後之日才得應驗的預言。一者代表基督在至聖所中的工作,這無疑是當前試驗人的真理;另一者則指明半夜呼聲的信息,而這同樣是當前試驗人的真理。
The thread that weaves together the Millerite movement and the time of the end in 1989, which in turn introduces the movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, is the “seven times,” that was Miller’s first jewel and the first to be set aside as Adventism left the old paths. One hundred and twenty-six years from the rebellion of 1863, to the time of the end in 1989, represents the “seven times.” The twenty-five hundred and twenty was divided into two periods of twelve hundred and sixty, and a tenth or a tithe of twelve hundred and sixty, is one hundred and twenty-six. The stone the builders rejected is so long that it connects the first and last movements of the three angels. In so doing it identifies that the truth of the “seven times” is also a present testing truth, and that it is the truth that becomes no longer simply the foundation stone, but the head of the corner.
將米勒派運動與一九八九年末時聯繫起來、並進而引介十四萬四千人運動的那條線索,乃是「七次」,這正是米勒最先所得的寶石,也是復臨運動離開古道之時首先被擱置的真理。由一八六三年的背叛至一九八九年的末時,共一百二十六年,乃是代表「七次」。二千五百二十被分為兩段一千二百六十,而一千二百六十的十分之一,或一成,便是一百二十六。匠人所棄的石頭延伸如此之長,以致它將三天使信息最先與最後的運動連接起來。如此,它表明「七次」的真理同樣是現今受考驗的真理,並且這真理不再僅僅成為根基石,乃是房角的頭塊石頭。
We will now leave off our consideration of the increase of knowledge in the Millerite movement, represented by the Ulai River vision in the book of Daniel and turn our attention to the vision of the Hiddekel River, that represents the increase of knowledge, in the movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand.
我哋而家要暫且停止對米勒派運動中知識增長嘅考察;呢一點係由《但以理書》中烏萊河嘅異象所表徵。依家我哋要將注意力轉向希底結河嘅異象;呢個異象所代表嘅,乃係十四萬四千人運動中知識嘅增長。
We will begin next by considering the four generations of Adventism that span the one hundred and twenty-six years from 1863 to 1989.
接住落嚟,我哋會開始考察復臨主義嘅四代人;呢四代橫跨由1863年至1989年之一百二十六年。
We will start that study in the next article.
我哋將會喺下一篇文章開始呢項研究。
And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
第六年,六月初五日,我坐喺我屋企,猶大嘅眾長老坐喺我面前;嗰度主耶和華嘅手臨到我身上。我觀看,見有一個形狀,樣貌好似火;由佢腰以下,有火;由佢腰以上,有光輝嘅樣貌,彷彿光耀嘅精金。佢伸出一隻手嘅形狀,捉住我頭上一綹頭髮;靈就將我提起,喺地與天之間,把我喺神嘅異象中帶到耶路撒冷,去到朝北嘅內門門口;嗰度就係惹動忌邪之像嘅座位,呢像惹動忌邪。看哪,以色列神嘅榮耀喺嗰度,正如我喺平原所見嘅異象一樣。佢對我講:「人子啊,而家你舉目向北觀看。」我就舉目向北觀看,看哪,在祭壇門口嘅北邊,入口之處有呢惹動忌邪嘅像。佢又對我講:「人子啊,以色列家喺呢度所行嘅,你睇唔睇見?就係佢哋所行呢極大嘅可憎之事,使我遠離我嘅聖所;但你再轉過去,仲要見到更大嘅可憎之事。」於是佢帶我到院門口;我觀看,看哪,牆上有一個窿。
Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth. He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 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 8:1–18.
於是他對我說:「人子啊,現在你要挖牆。」我挖了牆之後,看哪,有一道門。他又對我說:「你進去,看他們在這裏所行邪惡可憎的事。」於是我進去觀看;看哪,各樣爬物的形像、可憎的走獸,以及以色列家一切的偶像,都畫在四圍的牆上。在這些像前,站着以色列家中的七十個長老,沙番的兒子雅撒尼亞也站在他們中間;各人手裏拿着香爐,香煙的濃雲往上升。 他對我說:「人子啊,以色列家的長老各人在自己圖像的暗室裏所行的,你看見了嗎?因為他們說:『耶和華看不見我們;耶和華已經離棄這地。』」他又對我說:「你再轉過來,還要看見他們所行更大的可憎之事。」於是他領我到耶和華殿朝北的門口;看哪,在那裏有婦女坐着,為搭模斯哀哭。他對我說:「人子啊,你看見這事嗎?你再轉過來,還要看見比這些更大的可憎之事。」 他又領我進入耶和華殿的內院;看哪,在耶和華殿的門口、廊子和祭壇中間,約有二十五個人,背向着耶和華的殿,面向東方,向着東方敬拜太陽。他對我說:「人子啊,你看見這事嗎?猶大家在這裏行這些可憎之事,還算是小事嗎?因為他們使這地滿了強暴,又再三惹我發怒;看哪,他們把枝條送到鼻前。因此,我也必以烈怒行事;我的眼必不顧惜,我也不憐憫;他們雖然大聲呼求入我耳中,我還是不聽他們。」以西結書 8:1–18