The Millerite movement was represented in Isaiah chapter seven by a sixty-five year prophecy, that began in 742 BC. Those sixty-five years that took place in the history of Isaiah represent the sixty-five years from 1798 until 1863. Alpha and Omega will always portray the end, with the beginning. The sixty-five year prophecy identifies the curse of seven times against the northern and the southern kingdoms of Israel. The first seven times against the northern kingdom began in 723 BC, nineteen years after Isaiah presented the prediction to king Ahaz. The last seven times against the southern kingdom, began at the end of the sixty-five years in 677 BC.
米勒派運動,在《以賽亞書》第七章中,乃由一個始於主前742年的六十五年預言所預表。這六十五年在以賽亞歷史中所發生的事,乃代表從1798年至1863年的那六十五年。阿拉法與俄梅戛總是將終局連同起始一併描繪。這六十五年預言指出,那臨到以色列北國與南國之「七倍」咒詛。那臨到北國的第一個「七倍」,始於主前723年,即在以賽亞向亞哈斯王宣告這預言之後十九年。那臨到南國最後一個「七倍」,則在六十五年期滿之時,即主前677年開始。
The first curse of seven times against Ephraim ended in 1798, which was the time of the end when the vision of the Ulai River of chapters eight and nine of Daniel was unsealed. It prophetically marked both the arrival of the first angel’s message and the prophetic beginning of the Millerite movement. The last curse of seven times against Judah ended in 1844, which was the arrival of the third angel’s message. Nineteen years later in 1863, the sixty-five years represented in the beginning of the prediction marked the end of the Millerite movement, and the beginning of the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church. Seven years prior to 1863, in 1856, James White began to identify that the Millerite movement had ceased to be the church of Philadelphia and had become the church of Laodicea. His grandson, when writing Ellen White’s biography, writes about the history of 1856, and the Laodicean message.
對以法蓮嘅第一個「七倍」咒詛喺1798年結束;嗰時正係末時,亦即但以理書第八章同第九章烏萊河異象被開啟封印嘅時候。喺預言上,呢一點既標誌住第一位天使信息嘅來到,亦標誌住米勒派運動喺預言上嘅開始。對猶大嘅最後一個「七倍」咒詛喺1844年結束;嗰就係第三位天使信息嘅來到。十九年之後,即1863年,喺呢個預言起頭所代表嘅六十五年,標誌住米勒派運動嘅終結,同老底嘉嘅基督復臨安息日會教會嘅開始。喺1863年之前七年,即1856年,James White 開始指出,米勒派運動已經唔再係非拉鐵非教會,而係成為咗老底嘉教會。佢嘅孫喺撰寫 Ellen White 傳記嘅時候,曾論到1856年嘅歷史,同埋老底嘉嘅信息。
“The Laodicean Message
「致老底嘉教會的信息」
“The Sabbathkeeping Adventists had taken the position that the messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 pictured the experience of the Christian church down through the centuries. It was their conclusion that the message to the Laodicean church applied to those they now termed nominal Adventists, those who had not accepted the seventh-day Sabbath. In a short editorial in the Review of October 9, James White raised some thought provoking questions that he introduced by stating:
守安息日嘅復臨信徒一向持守一個立場,認為《啟示錄》第二章同第三章中畀七個教會嘅信息,描繪咗基督教會歷世歷代嘅經驗。佢哋因此得出結論:畀老底嘉教會嘅信息,乃係應用於佢哋當時所稱為有名無實嘅復臨信徒,即係嗰啲未有接受第七日安息日嘅人。喺十月九日《Review》上一篇簡短嘅社論入面,雅各·懷特提出咗一啲發人深省嘅問題;佢喺引入呢啲問題時,先咁樣講:
“The inquiry is beginning to come up afresh, ‘Watchman, What of the night?’ At present there is space for only a few questions, asked to call attention to the subject to which they relate. A full answer, we trust, will soon be given.—Review and Herald, Oct. 9, 1856.
「而家又重新開始有人提出呢個詢問:『看守的人哪,黑夜如何?』目前只容許提出幾個問題,藉此引起人對其所關涉之主題的注意。我哋深信,完整的答覆不久便會提出。」——《Review and Herald》,1856年10月9日。
“Of the eleven questions he asked, it is the sixth that zeroed in on the Laodiceans.
「喺佢所提出嘅十一個問題當中,第六個問題正正針對老底嘉人。」
“6. Does not the state of the Laodiceans (lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot) fitly illustrate the condition of the body of those who profess the third angel’s message?—Ibid.
「6. 老底嘉人嘅景況(不冷不熱,亦非冷亦非熱),豈唔係恰如其分噉說明咗嗰班自稱宣講第三位天使信息之人整體嘅情況嗎?——同上」
“The last question lays the matter open:
「最後呢個問題將事情完全揭開:」
“11. If this be our condition as a people, have we any real grounds to hope for the favor of God unless we heed the ‘counsel’ of the True Witness? I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:18–21.—Ibid.
「11. 若呢個就係我哋作為一個子民嘅景況,除非我哋留心真實見證者嘅『勸告』,否則我哋仲有任何真正嘅根據去盼望上帝嘅恩眷嗎?我勸你向我買經火試煉嘅金子,叫你可以富足;又買白衣穿上,叫你赤身嘅羞恥唔至顯露;又用眼藥擦你嘅眼睛,叫你可以看見。凡我所愛嘅,我就責備管教;所以你要發熱心,也要悔改。看哪,我站在門外叩門;若有任何人聽見我嘅聲音就開門,我要進到佢那裏去,我要同佢一同坐席,佢也要同我一同坐席。得勝嘅,我要賜佢在我嘅寶座上與我同坐,正如我得了勝,在我父嘅寶座上與佢同坐一般。啟示錄 3:18–21。——同上。」
“It is clear that the truth of the matter was just dawning on the mind of James White. The next issue of the Review carried a seven-column presentation of the seven churches, under that title. In his opening remarks he declared:
「顯然,事情嘅真相當時先至啱啱喺雅各‧懷特嘅心思中開始明朗起來。《Review》下一期以〈七個教會〉為題,刊載咗一篇橫跨七欄嘅論述。喺佢嘅開場白中,佢宣告:」
“We must agree with some modern expositors that these seven churches should be understood as representing seven conditions of the Christian church, in seven periods of time, covering the ground of the entire Christian age.—Ibid., Oct. 16, 1856.
「我哋必須同意一啲近代解經家所講,呢七個教會應當被理解為代表基督教會喺七個時期之中嘅七種景況,涵蓋整個基督教時代嘅全程。——同上,1856年10月16日。」
“He then took up the prophecy, dealing with each church separately. Coming to the seventh, the Laodicean, he declared:
「跟住,佢就攞起呢個預言,逐一論到各個教會。去到第七個,即老底嘉教會,佢宣告說:」
“How humbling to us as a people is the sad description of this church. And is not this dreadful description a most perfect picture of our present condition? It is; and it will be of no use to try to evade the force of this searching testimony to the Laodicean church. The Lord help us to receive it, and to profit by it.—Ibid.
呢個教會呢一段令人憂傷嘅描述,對我哋作為一群子民嚟講,係何等令人謙卑。呢幅可怕嘅圖畫,豈唔正係我哋現今景況最完全嘅寫照嗎?的確係;而我哋若想逃避呢一份針對老底嘉教會之嚴厲見證嘅力量,必定毫無益處。願主幫助我哋領受呢見證,並且從中得益。——同上
“After he devoted two columns to the Laodicean church, his closing remarks made a strong appeal:
「喺用咗兩欄篇幅論到老底嘉教會之後,佢喺結語中作出咗一個強而有力嘅呼籲:」
“Dear brethren, we must overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, or we shall have no part in the kingdom of God. . . . Lay hold of this work at once, and in faith claim the gracious promises to the repenting Laodiceans. Arise in the name of the Lord, and let your light shine to the glory of His blessed name.—Ibid.
「親愛的弟兄們,我們必須勝過世界、肉體同魔鬼,否則就必不能在上帝的國裏有分……要立刻着手呢項工作,並且憑着信心領受那賜給悔改之老底嘉人嘅恩慈應許。要奉主嘅名起來,叫你哋嘅光照耀,歸榮耀畀祂可稱頌嘅聖名。——同上」
“The response from the field was electrifying. Wrote G. W. Holt from Ohio on October 20:
「工場上嘅回應,令人振奮不已。」G. W. Holt 於10月20日自俄亥俄州寫道:
“Yes, I do believe that we who are in the third message with the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are the church this language is addressed to; and we cannot be too soon in applying for tried gold and white raiment, and eyesalve, that we may see.—Ibid., Nov. 6, 1856.
「係的,我的確相信,我哋呢班處於第三位信息之中、持守上帝誡命同耶穌真道嘅人,就係呢番說話所針對嘅教會;而且我哋實在愈早去求那經過試煉的金子、白衣同眼藥愈好,好叫我哋能看見。——同上,1856年11月6日。」
“From the Northeast a new voice was heard on the subject, that of Stephen N. Haskell, of Princeton, Massachusetts. As a first-day Adventist he had begun to preach at the age of 20; now three years later he was in the third angel’s message. A thorough Bible student, after having seen White’s brief initial editorial introducing the question of the seven churches, he chose to write an extended piece for the Review:
「喺東北部,關於呢個題目,有一把新嘅聲音被聽見,就係來自馬薩諸塞州普林斯頓嘅 Stephen N. Haskell。佢作為守第一日嘅復臨信徒,喺二十歲時已經開始傳道;而家三年之後,佢已經進入咗第三位天使嘅信息之中。佢係一位徹底研讀聖經嘅人;喺睇過懷特就七間教會問題所寫嘅簡短初步編按之後,佢決定為《Review》寫一篇較長嘅文章:」
“The subject referred to has been one of deep interest to me for some months past. . . . I have for some time been led to believe that the message to the Laodiceans belongs to us; i.e., to those who believe in the third angel’s message, from many reasons which I consider to be good. I will mention two.—Ibid.
「所提及嘅呢個題目,喺過去幾個月以來,一直都係我深切關注嘅事……我有一段時間一直被引導去相信,畀老底嘉人嘅信息係屬於我哋嘅;即係話,係屬於嗰啲相信第三位天使信息嘅人;基於好多我認為充分嘅理由。我會提到其中兩點。——同上。」
“This he does, devoting two columns to his conclusions. As he closed he declared:
「佢如此行,用兩欄篇幅嚟陳述佢嘅結論。喺結束之際,佢宣告:」
“A theory of the third angel’s message never, no never, will save us, without the wedding garment, which is the righteousness of the saints. We must perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.—Ibid.
「若冇婚筵禮服,即係聖徒的義,單單有第三位天使信息的理論,永遠、永遠都唔能夠救我哋。我哋必須喺敬畏主之中成全聖潔。——同上」
“As James White continued his editorials on the message to the Laodicean church the concepts the Sabbathkeeping Adventists were now reading in the Review were startling, but on thoughtful, prayerful consideration they were seen to be applicable. The letters to the editor showed quite general agreement and indicated that a revival was under way. That the stirring message was not the outgrowth of excitement was attested to by the first article in Testimony No. 3, published in April, 1857, titled Be Zealous and Repent. It opens, “The Lord has shown me in vision some things concerning the church in its present lukewarm state, which I will relate to you.”—1T, p. 141. In this Ellen White presented what was shown to her of Satan’s attacks on the church through earthly prosperity and possessions.” Arthur White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, volume 1, 342–344.
當占士.懷特繼續發表他關於給老底嘉教會之信息的社論時,當時守安息日的復臨信徒在《Review》上所讀到的觀念,確是令人震驚;然而,經過深思與禱告的考量之後,人們看出這些話確實是適用的。寄給編輯的來信顯示出相當普遍的一致認同,並表明一場復興正在展開。至於這番激勵人心的信息並非由一時激動而生,則可由《證言》第3號的第一篇文章得到印證;該文於1857年4月出版,題為〈當熱心,也要悔改〉。文章一開始便說:「主在異象中將一些關於教會現今不冷不熱狀態的事指示我,我要向你們述說。」——1T, p. 141。於此,愛倫.懷特陳述了她所蒙指示,看見撒但如何藉着地上的昌盛與財產來攻擊教會。』亞瑟.懷特,《Ellen G. White: The Early Years》,第1卷,342–344頁。
The Millerite movement began prophetically as the Philadelphian church, and in 1856 it became the Laodicean church. Seven years later the movement ended, and the Seventh-day Adventist church began as the Laodicean church and will remain so, until it is spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. The movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand came out of the fold of the Laodicean church, just as the Millerite movement came out of the fold of the church of Sardis. The movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand parallels the Millerite movement in that the first movement changed from Philadelphia to Laodicea and the last movement changes from Laodicea to Philadelphia. The point of transition from Philadelphia unto Laodicea in Millerite history is specifically marked as 1856, so the point of transition must also be marked in the last movement, for God never changes. The point of transition is identified in Revelation eleven with the two prophets that are slain in the streets.
米勒派運動在預言上乃係以非拉鐵非教會開始,並且於1856年成為老底嘉教會。七年之後,該運動結束,而基督復臨安息日會則以老底嘉教會開始,並將一直保持如此,直到從主口中被吐出去。十四萬四千人嘅運動係從老底嘉教會嘅羊圈中出嚟,正如米勒派運動係從撒狄教會嘅羊圈中出嚟一樣。十四萬四千人嘅運動與米勒派運動互相平行,因為前一個運動由非拉鐵非轉變為老底嘉,而最後一個運動則由老底嘉轉變為非拉鐵非。喺米勒派歷史當中,由非拉鐵非轉到老底嘉嘅轉折點,明確標記為1856年;因此,喺最後嘅運動當中,呢個轉折點亦都必須被標明,因為上帝從不改變。呢個轉折點喺《啟示錄》第十一章中,藉住那兩個在街上被殺嘅先知而被識別出嚟。
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:7, 8.
及至佢哋作完見證之後,嗰隻從無底坑上來嘅獸,必向佢哋爭戰,並且勝過佢哋,將佢哋殺了。佢哋嘅屍首必倒喺嗰大城嘅街上;按屬靈嘅意思,嗰城稱為所多瑪,又稱為埃及,我哋嘅主亦曾喺嗰度被釘十字架。啟示錄 11:7, 8.
The last movement would die, then stand and thereafter be resurrected as the ensign. In so doing it would align with the Republican horn. The Republican horn forms an image to the beast, and the beast that it forms the image of is addressed in Revelation seventeen, and that beast is identified as the fifth head that received a deadly wound, that would be resurrected as the eighth head. It would be resurrected as the eighth that was of the seven.
最後嗰場運動會死去,然後站立起來,之後復活成為旗號。如此一來,佢就會同共和黨嘅角對齊。共和黨嘅角為獸做成一個像,而佢所做成其像嘅嗰隻獸,喺《啟示錄》第十七章被提及;嗰隻獸被指認為第五個頭,曾受過致命傷,並且將會復活成為第八個頭。佢將會復活成為嗰出於七者之一嘅第八。
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Revelation 17:11.
那先前有、如今沒有的獸,就是第八位;牠亦是出於那七位,並且要歸於沉淪。啟示錄 17:11。
The Republican horn would form an image of that beast, and it therefore would be killed and then resurrected. When it was resurrected it would be the eighth head that was of the seven previous heads. The Protestant horn, rides upon the same earth beast as the Republican horn and would need to possess the same prophetic dynamics. The transition from Philadelphia to Laodicea in the Millerite movement prefigures the transition from the Laodicea to Philadelphia in the last movement.
共和黨嘅角將會為嗰隻獸造成一個像,因此佢亦必被殺,然後再復活。當佢復活嘅時候,佢就係第八個頭,乃係出於先前七個頭之一。新教嘅角,騎喺同一隻地獸之上,與共和黨嘅角一樣,因此亦必須具備同樣嘅預言動態。米勒派運動中由非拉鐵非轉為老底嘉,乃預表末後運動中由老底嘉轉為非拉鐵非。
When the last movement received a deadly wound on July 18, 2020, it died as Laodicea. When, as represented in Revelation eleven it transitioned to Philadelphia, it would represent the eighth church, that is of the seven. The death in the year 2020, was paralleled by the Republican horn, for since the time of the end in 1989, there had been six presidents. The sixth president received a deadly wound, that will be healed in 2024. That head will then be the eighth head of the United States since the time of the end in 1989, and it will be of the seven. Both horns were the sixth that becomes the eighth. This truth is a large part of the message of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that is unsealed just before the close of probation.
當最後嘅運動喺2020年7月18日受咗致命傷嘅時候,佢就以老底嘉嘅身分死去。當佢正如《啟示錄》第十一章所表明,轉變成為非拉鐵非嘅時候,佢就會代表第八個教會,即係出於七者之中嘅嗰一個。2020年嗰次死亡,與共和黨嘅角互相平行;因為自1989年末時以來,已經有六位總統。第六位總統受咗致命傷,呢個傷將會喺2024年得醫治。到時,嗰個頭就會成為自1989年末時以來美國嘅第八個頭,而且佢係出於七者之中。兩個角都係由第六變成第八。呢個真理,乃係《耶穌基督嘅啟示》之信息中一個好大嘅部分,而呢個啟示係喺恩門關閉之前不久先至被揭開封印。
For this reason, it is important to be clear about the Millerite history that typifies our current history. Sister White confirmed James White’s application of Laodicea upon the movement in 1856, so this is not an application that is derived by human logic. Seven years before the Seventh-day Adventist church was legally connected with the Republican horn, it was identified by inspiration as the Laodicean church. This means there has never been one day in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist church when it was anything other than naked, poor, blind, miserable and wretched. This prophetic reality provides the context and justification for recognizing the four escalating abominations of Ezekiel chapter eight as the four generations of Adventism.
因此,清楚明白那預表我哋現今歷史嘅米勒派歷史,乃是重要嘅。懷愛倫姊妹喺1856年確認咗雅各·懷愛倫將老底嘉套用喺呢場運動之上,因此,呢並唔係一個由人嘅邏輯推導出嚟嘅應用。喺基督復臨安息日會依法同共和黨之角發生聯繫之前七年,佢已經藉着靈感被指明為老底嘉教會。呢意味着,喺基督復臨安息日會嘅歷史當中,從來冇一日,佢係唔係赤身、貧窮、瞎眼、困苦、可憐嘅。呢個先知性嘅現實,為認定以西結書第八章中四個逐步升級嘅可憎之事,就是復臨信仰四個世代,提供咗背景同依據。
When the Millerite history is approached from the structure of Isaiah seven’s sixty-five years, it is to be recognized that the prophecy of the seven times is the prophetic umbrella that covers the entire history of the Millerite movement. In 1856, the message to the Laodicean church became present truth for Millerite Adventism. The one who presents the message of Laodicea was not James or Ellen White, it was the Faithful and True Witness.
當從以賽亞書第七章六十五年嘅結構去考察米勒派歷史時,就必須認識到,七期嘅預言乃係覆蓋米勒派運動全部歷史嘅先知性遮蓋。到咗1856年,對老底嘉教會嘅信息成為咗米勒派復臨信徒嘅現代真理。傳講老底嘉信息嗰一位,並唔係雅各.懷特或者懷愛倫,而係嗰位忠信真實嘅見證者。
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:14–22.
你要寫信畀老底嘉教會的使者,話:那阿們、那忠信真實的見證、神創造萬有之元始的,如是說:我知道你的行為;你也不冷也不熱;我巴不得你或冷或熱。你既如溫水,也不冷也不熱,所以我必從我口中把你吐出去。因為你說:我是富足,已經發了財,一樣都不缺;卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。我勸你向我買火煉的金子,叫你可以富足;又買白衣穿上,叫你赤身的羞恥不露出來;又用眼藥擦你的眼睛,叫你能看見。凡我所愛的,我就責備管教;所以你要發熱心,也要悔改。看哪,我站在門外叩門;若有聽見我聲音就開門的,我要進到他那裏去,我與他,他與我,一同坐席。得勝的,我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐,正如我得了勝,在我父的寶座上與他同坐一般。有耳的,就應當聽聖靈向眾教會所說的話。啟示錄 3:14–22。
The True Witness identifies that if any man would “hear” His voice, He would come in and “sup with him.” If Laodicea would open the door, Christ would come in and sup with them. If Christ is allowed to enter, he brings a message, for the symbolism of eating represents the reception of a message. The message can be generalized as simply the Laodicean message, but that is a shallow consideration of what the message He offers represents. In 1856, Hiram Edson set forth a series of eight articles that contained the prophetic information that expands the understanding of the very first “time prophecy” the angels of God led William Miller to recognize and proclaim. In those eight articles, Edson correctly identifies the sixty-five years of Isaiah seven.
嗰位真實嘅見證者指出,若有人願意「聽」祂嘅聲音,祂就要進到裏面,同佢「一同坐席」。若老底嘉肯開門,基督就要進去,同佢哋一同坐席。若准許基督進入,祂就帶來一個信息,因為進食呢個表號係代表領受一個信息。呢個信息可以概括地稱為老底嘉信息,但若只係咁樣理解祂所提供之信息所代表嘅意義,便流於膚淺。喺1856年,Hiram Edson 提出一系列共八篇文章,其中包含咗先知性資料,進一步擴展咗對神嘅使者引導 William Miller 去認識並宣講之第一個「時間預言」嘅理解。喺呢八篇文章當中,Edson 正確指出咗以賽亞書第七章嘅六十五年。
The beginning of Miller’s work was the discovery of the seven times, and seven years before the movement named after his service was to end, a deeper revelation of that very prophecy was offered to Millerite Adventism. It was offered in the same year they were identified by inspiration as Laodiceans. Prophetically, twenty-five hundred and twenty days later in 1863, Miller’s first discovery of prophetic time was rejected. The Laodicean message for the Advent movement arrived in 1856, and the Lord knocked on the door eight times, with eight articles to see if He could find entrance. At the ending of the movement, the True Witness wished to sup together with His people by dining upon the very first message of time from the beginning of the movement. His people refused to eat, and seven years, or twenty-five hundred and twenty prophetic days later, His people shut the door that had been opened with the key of David that had been placed into the hand of William Miller. They returned to an old Samaritan prophet who fed them a lie, sealing their fate to die between an ass and a lion.
米勒工作嘅開始,乃係對「七期」嘅發現;而喺嗰場以佢嘅事奉命名嘅運動將要結束之前七年,對嗰一個預言更深一層嘅啟示,被提供畀米勒派復臨信徒。呢一個啟示,正正係喺佢哋藉着默示被指明為老底嘉人嘅同一年所賜下。按預言計算,二千五百二十日之後,即喺1863年,米勒最初對預言時間嘅發現被拒絕。賜畀復臨運動嘅老底嘉信息喺1856年臨到;主敲門八次,並以八篇文章,看看佢可唔可以得着進入。喺呢場運動結束之時,真見證者願意同佢嘅子民一同坐席,藉着享用呢場運動起初最初嘅時間信息嚟進餐。佢嘅子民拒絕進食;而喺七年,即二千五百二十個預言日之後,佢嘅子民關上咗嗰扇曾經藉着放喺威廉・米勒手中之大衛鑰匙而被打開嘅門。佢哋回轉歸向一個古老嘅撒馬利亞先知;嗰先知餵養佢哋嘅係謊言,並且封定咗佢哋嘅命運,使佢哋死喺驢同獅子之間。
In 1856, the Protestant horn was in the crisis of the valley of vision, for where there is no vision, the people perish. In 1856, the Republican horn was also in a crisis.
喺1856年,新教嘅角正處於異象之谷嘅危機之中,因為冇異象,民就放肆。喺1856年,共和黨嘅角亦都同樣處於危機之中。
1856, marked a continuation of the violent conflict known as Bleeding Kansas, the Kansas-Missouri Border War. The struggle was over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free state or a slave state. The conflict included violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.
1856年,乃被稱為「流血的堪薩斯」之激烈衝突——即堪薩斯—密蘇里邊境戰爭——持續之年。這場鬥爭所爭議者,乃堪薩斯究竟將以自由州抑或奴隸州之身分加入聯邦。該衝突包括支持蓄奴與反對蓄奴之定居者之間的暴力衝突。
On May 22, 1856, a violent incident also occurred in the United States Senate chamber, when Congressman Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery advocate from South Carolina, brutally attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with his cane. Sumner had delivered an anti-slavery speech titled The Crime Against Kansas, which deeply offended Brooks. The caning incident highlighted the growing tensions between North and South over the issue of slavery.
1856年5月22日,美國參議院議事廳內亦發生了一宗暴力事件:來自南卡羅來納州、支持蓄奴制的國會議員普雷斯頓.布魯克斯(Preston Brooks),以手杖殘暴地襲擊來自麻薩諸塞州的參議員查爾斯.薩姆納(Charles Sumner)。薩姆納此前曾發表一篇題為〈對堪薩斯的罪行〉(The Crime Against Kansas)的反奴隸制演說,深深觸怒了布魯克斯。這宗杖擊事件突顯出南北雙方在奴隸制問題上的緊張局勢日益加劇。
In 1856, the Republican Party was founded as a response to the political turmoil caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, which produced the growing opposition to the spread of slavery into new territories. The party’s first national convention was held in Philadelphia, and John C. Fremont was chosen as their first presidential candidate in the 1856 election.
喺1856年,共和黨成立,作為對1854年通過嘅《堪薩斯—內布拉斯加法案》所引起之政治動盪嘅回應;而該法案促成咗社會上日益增長、反對奴隸制度擴展到新領土嘅聲浪。該黨首次全國代表大會喺費城舉行,而約翰·C·費利蒙則喺1856年選舉中被選為該黨首位總統候選人。
The Kansas-Nebraska Act organized the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the settlers in those territories to decide whether they would allow slavery within their borders. This concept, known as “popular sovereignty,” effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery north of the 36°30’ parallel in the Louisiana Territory. The act had a profound impact on the issue of slavery in the territories. It reignited sectional tensions because it opened the possibility that slavery could expand into areas that were previously considered free soil, such as Kansas. The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act led to a rush of pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers into the Kansas Territory, each hoping to influence the outcome of the popular sovereignty vote. This competition for control of the territory led to violent clashes and a period of lawlessness known as Bleeding Kansas in 1856.
《堪薩斯—內布拉斯加法案》設立咗堪薩斯同內布拉斯加兩個領地,並容許該等領地內嘅居民自行決定,佢哋嘅疆界之內係咪容許奴隸制度。呢個概念稱為「人民主權」,實際上廢除咗一八二〇年嘅《密蘇里妥協案》;該妥協案原本禁止喺路易斯安那領地北緯三十六度三十分以北地區實行奴隸制度。呢項法案對領地內奴隸制度嘅問題產生咗深遠影響。由於佢打開咗奴隸制度可能擴展至先前被視為自由土地之地區嘅可能性,例如堪薩斯,因此再次激化咗南北之間嘅緊張局勢。《堪薩斯—內布拉斯加法案》獲得通過之後,大批支持奴隸制度同反對奴隸制度嘅移民湧入堪薩斯領地,各自都希望影響人民主權投票嘅結果。呢場對領地控制權嘅爭奪,導致咗暴力衝突同一段無法無天嘅時期;呢段時期喺一八五六年被稱為「流血堪薩斯」。
The presidential election of 1856 was a significant political event. It featured a three-way race between Democrat James Buchanan, Republican John C. Fremont, and former President Millard Fillmore of the American Party. James Buchanan won the election and became the 15th President of the United States.
1856年嘅總統選舉係一場重要嘅政治事件。是次選舉形成三方角逐,參選者分別係民主黨嘅詹姆斯·布坎南(James Buchanan)、共和黨嘅約翰·C·弗里蒙特(John C. Fremont),以及美國黨嘅前總統米勒德·菲爾莫爾(Millard Fillmore)。最終,詹姆斯·布坎南勝出選舉,成為美利堅合眾國第十五任總統。
James Buchanan’s presidency is primarily known for its failure to effectively address the growing tensions and divisions between the North and the South, ultimately culminating in the outbreak of the American Civil War shortly after he left office. His presidency is often viewed as one of the least successful presidency in American history, due to these significant failures in leadership and crisis management.
詹姆斯・布坎南嘅總統任期,主要因未能有效處理北方與南方之間日益加深嘅緊張局勢同分裂而為人所知,最終喺佢離任後不久導致美國內戰爆發。由於喺領導同危機處理方面有呢啲重大失誤,佢嘅總統任期常被視為美國歷史上最不成功嘅總統任期之一。
The infamous Dred Scott Decision in 1857, declared that slaves whether enslaved or free were not citizens and could not sue in federal courts. It also declared that Congress could not prevent slavery in the territories of the United States. The Democrat Buchanan publicly endorsed the pro-slavery Dred Scott Decision.
1857年臭名昭著嘅德雷德.斯科特裁決宣稱,奴隸,無論仍受奴役抑或已獲自由,都唔係公民,亦唔可以喺聯邦法院提出訴訟。該裁決又宣稱,國會唔可以喺美國各領地禁止奴隸制度。民主黨人布坎南公開支持呢項擁護奴隸制度嘅德雷德.斯科特裁決。
Not only did the pro-slavery position of the Democrat Buchanan allow tensions to escalate into Civil War, but his inability to manage the economics of the country led to the Panic of 1857, which was one of the greatest economic downturns in American history prior to the great depression. The Panic of 1857 resulted in a severe economic depression that lasted several years. Businesses and banks closed, unemployment increased and the stock market declined.
民主黨人布坎南支持奴隸制度的立場,不單止任由緊張局勢升級而演變成南北戰爭,而且佢無能力管理國家經濟,導致咗1857年恐慌;喺美國歷史上,喺大蕭條之前,呢次係其中一次最嚴重嘅經濟衰退。1857年恐慌引發咗一次持續數年嘅嚴重經濟蕭條。商業機構同銀行倒閉,失業增加,股市下跌。
During Buchanan’s presidency the Southern states began their process of seceding from the Union, and they broke away in response to the election of the Republican Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. Buchanan took a passive approach to the secession crisis, arguing that the federal government lacked the authority to forcibly prevent secession. This lack of decisive action allowed the secession movement to gain momentum. His lack of strong leadership and his reluctance to take decisive action to address the secession crisis contributed to the South’s perception that it could leave the Union without facing military opposition.
喺布坎南任內,南方各州開始咗佢哋脫離聯邦嘅進程;而佢哋之所以分離,係回應共和黨人亞伯拉罕・林肯於1860年當選。面對分離危機,布坎南採取咗被動嘅態度,主張聯邦政府並無權柄以武力強行阻止分離。呢種缺乏果斷行動嘅情況,令分離運動得以增長其聲勢。佢缺乏強而有力嘅領導,又唔願意採取果斷行動去應對分離危機,促成南方形成一種觀感,以為自己可以脫離聯邦,而毋須面對軍事上嘅對抗。
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln the first Republican president, was elected. On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed and issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This executive order had a significant impact on the Civil War as it turned the conflict into a struggle not only to preserve the Union, but also to end slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved individuals. It applied specifically to Confederate-held territory, where the Union had limited authority. As Union forces advanced and gained control over Confederate territory, the proclamation was enforced, and enslaved people in those areas were set free. The Emancipation Proclamation was a crucial step toward the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States and paved the way for the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed and ratified on December 6, 1865.
1860年,第一位共和黨籍總統亞伯拉罕・林肯當選。1863年1月1日,林肯總統簽署並頒布最後的《解放宣言》,宣告凡在邦聯控制領土內一切被奴役的人都要得自由。此行政命令對南北戰爭產生了重大影響,因為它使這場衝突不僅成為一場為維護聯邦而戰的鬥爭,也成為一場為終結奴隸制度而戰的鬥爭。 《解放宣言》並沒有即時釋放所有被奴役的人。它具體適用於邦聯所控制的領土,而聯邦在那些地方的權力有限。隨着聯邦軍隊推進並取得對邦聯領土的控制,這項宣言便得以執行,而那些地區被奴役的人也獲得自由。《解放宣言》是美國最終廢除奴隸制度的一個關鍵步驟,並為《美國憲法》第十三條修正案的通過鋪平了道路;該修正案於1865年12月6日獲通過並完成批准。
The Republican horn from the 1850’s onward was in the crisis of the issue of slavery. Two primary divisions in the country represented by two primary classes of political thought. A separation process began in 1856 as anti and pro slavery groups moved into the Kansas territory in attempt to uphold their views of slavery, at the very time Philadelphia was being separated from Laodicea. Democrats were pro-slavery and Republicans were anti-slavery.
自一八五〇年代起,共和黨之角正處於奴隸制度問題嘅危機之中。國內兩個主要分裂,乃由政治思想上兩個主要類別所代表。自一八五六年起,一個分離嘅過程開始了;當時反奴隸制與親奴隸制兩派人馬進入堪薩斯領地,企圖維護各自對奴隸制度嘅立場;而就在同一時候,非拉鐵非正從老底嘉之中被分離出來。民主黨係親奴隸制,共和黨係反奴隸制。
In 1856, Bleeding Kansas represented a microcosm of the impending war. In that year a pro-slavery Democrat was elected as head of the Republican horn, and his ineffective leadership became the symbol of an ineffective presidency, until these recent last days. He preceded the first Republican president that was forced to clean up the mess left by Buchanan’s presidency.
喺1856年,「流血堪薩斯」象徵住即將臨到之戰爭嘅縮影。喺嗰一年,一位支持蓄奴制度嘅民主黨人被選為共和黨角嘅領袖;而佢無能嘅領導,直到近來呢末後嘅日子,都成為無效總統任期嘅象徵。佢先於第一位共和黨總統而出現;嗰位總統被迫收拾布坎南總統任內所遺留下來嘅殘局。
By 1863, the Republican horn made the most significant executive order in the history of the earth beast of Revelation thirteen. The executive order was addressing slavery. One paragraph of the proclamation states, “That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.” Though the resolution of the problem of slavery was historically incomplete at that point, the essence of the Constitution is recognized when Lincoln wrote, “all persons held as slaves within any state … shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”
到咗1863年,共和黨嗰隻角發出咗《啟示錄》第十三章中地獸歷史上最重要嘅行政命令。呢項行政命令係針對奴隸制度。一段公告如此寫道:「That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.」雖然喺嗰個時候,奴隸制度呢個問題嘅解決喺歷史上仍然未算完整,但當林肯寫下「all persons held as slaves within any state … shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free」之時,憲法嘅本質就已經得到承認。
Lincoln was returning to the foundational principle expressed in the Constitution, which identifies that “all men are created equal.” Lincoln was returning to the foundational truths at the same time the Protestant horn was rejecting its foundational prophecy, which is the prophecy of slavery. Therefore, at the very time the Republican horn was making its most significant “executive order” in history concerning slavery, the Protestant horn made the most significant executive order in its prophetic history concerning the prophecy of slavery, represented by Moses’ oath and curse. The Republican horn chose to return to the foundations, the Protestant horn chose to reject its foundation and return to those it had been instructed to never return unto.
林肯當時正回歸《憲法》所表達嘅根本原則,就係指出「人人生而平等」。林肯喺回歸呢啲根本真理嘅同時,新教之角卻正喺度拒絕佢自己根本嘅預言,即係奴役嘅預言。因此,正當共和黨之角就奴役問題作出其歷史上最重要嘅「行政命令」之時,新教之角亦就其預言歷史中關於奴役之預言——由摩西嘅誓言同咒詛所代表——作出最重大嘅行政命令。共和黨之角選擇回歸根基;新教之角卻選擇棄絕自己嘅根基,轉而回到嗰啲佢曾被吩咐永不可再歸向嘅根基。
In 1863, the Republican horn had been divided into two camps, as was ancient Israel’s kingdom divided in the time of Jeroboam and Rehoboam. In 1863, the Protestant horn became legally attached to the Republican horn, as represented by Jeroboam’s two altars at Bethel and Dan. The two horns move through history in parallel to each other, and the history of 1863, especially represents the history of the last days.
到咗1863年,共和黨呢隻角已經分裂成兩個陣營,正如古代以色列嘅國喺耶羅波安同羅波安嘅時代被分裂一樣。到咗1863年,新教呢隻角喺法律上同共和黨呢隻角結連咗,正如耶羅波安喺伯特利同但所設立嘅兩座壇所表徵嘅一樣。呢兩隻角喺歷史進程中彼此平行而行,而1863年嘅歷史,尤其表徵末後日子嘅歷史。
Millerite history is repeated in the history of the one hundred and forty-four thousand with a few prophetic caveats. One of those caveats is that the target audience in Millerite history was first those outside the movement, and thereafter the movement itself. In the movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand the two voices of Revelation eighteen, identify two target audiences, but those targets are in reverse of Millerite history. The first target is God’s people and the second voice is God’s other flock, that are still in Babylon.
米勒派嘅歷史,喺十四萬四千人嘅歷史中再次重演,不過附帶幾項先知性嘅保留。其中一項保留就係:喺米勒派歷史裏面,信息所針對嘅對象,首先係運動之外嘅人,其後先至係運動本身。喺十四萬四千人嘅運動當中,《啟示錄》第十八章嘅兩把聲音,指出兩個受眾對象;但呢兩個對象嘅次序,卻與米勒派歷史相反。第一個對象係上帝嘅子民,第二把聲音所針對嘅,乃係上帝另外嘅羊群,佢哋仍然喺巴比倫之中。
Another prophetic caveat is that though both histories transcend from one church unto another, the Millerites moved from Philadelphia to Laodicea, and the mighty movement of the third angel moves from Laodicea unto Philadelphia. This identifies that the Millerites went from the sixth unto the seventh church and the one hundred and forty-four thousand go from the seventh church unto the eighth church, which is of the seven.
另一個先知性嘅警誡係:雖然兩段歷史都係由一個教會過渡到另一個教會,然而米勒派係由非拉鐵非轉到老底嘉,而第三位天使嘅大能運動則係由老底嘉轉到非拉鐵非。呢一點表明,米勒派係由第六個教會去到第七個教會;而十四萬四千人則由第七個教會去到第八個教會,就係嗰屬於七者之一。
The Republican horn began its movement from a pro-slavery nation unto an anti-slavery nation in the history surrounding 1863. The crisis of that history established two political parties that are the same antagonists in these “last days.” Just as the first Republican president from that history was assassinated just days after the war ended, the last Republican president was symbolically assassinated and left in the street as dead while the world rejoiced. He was assassinated, not just days after the Civil War ended, but just before the final civil war begins.
共和黨呢隻角喺大約一八六三年前後嘅歷史之中,開始由一個支持奴隸制度嘅國家轉向一個反對奴隸制度嘅國家。嗰段歷史嘅危機建立咗兩個政治黨派,而呢兩個黨派正正就係呢啲「末後日子」當中彼此對立嘅同一敵手。正如嗰段歷史中第一位共和黨總統喺戰爭結束後僅僅數日就遭到暗殺,最後一位共和黨總統亦喺象徵意義上被暗殺,並且被留喺街上,如同死咗一樣,當時全世界都歡騰快樂。佢被暗殺,唔係喺南北戰爭結束後僅僅數日,而係喺最後嘅內戰開始之前。
The first Republican president was preceded by the most ineffective president of American history, and the last Republican president will be preceded by the same. The ineffectiveness of the Democratic president that preceded the first Republican president precipitated the crisis that evolved into the civil war, and the same ineffectiveness is now taking place. The Democratic president that precedes the last Republican president managed the economy in such a fashion that it produced the greatest economic crash in American history up until that point in time. The two horns run parallel unto the Sunday law. In 1863, the first generation of both horns began, and for both horns the fourth and final generation will be facing the east, and bowing down to the sun.
第一位共和黨總統之前,乃是美國歷史上最無能的一位總統;而最後一位共和黨總統之前,也將同樣如此。那位在第一位共和黨總統之前的民主黨總統,其無能促成了後來演變為南北戰爭的危機;而同樣的無能,現今正再次上演。那位在最後一位共和黨總統之前的民主黨總統,以那樣的方式治理經濟,致使美國歷史截至當時為止出現了最大的一次經濟崩潰。這兩角一直平行發展,直到星期日法案。1863年,兩角的第一代同時開始;而對這兩角而言,第四代、亦即最後一代,將面向東方,向太陽下拜。
The Elijah message is always accompanied with the judgments of God confirming the message of warning. The society of the world is now living as the people before the flood. They are eating, drinking and expecting the globalist techno-giants to solve any problem that might arise. God’s Word is identifying that the world is now on the verge of a tremendous crisis.
以利亞的信息總是伴隨着上帝的審判,以證實那警告的信息。現今世上的社會正如洪水以前的人一樣生活。他們吃喝,並且指望那些全球主義的科技巨擘去解決任何可能出現的問題。上帝的話語正指出,世界如今已臨近一場巨大的危機邊緣。
“‘What of the night?’ Do I discern the import of these messages? Do I understand the place they occupy in the closing work of the great remedial system? Am I so familiar with the ‘sure word of prophecy’ that I can see in the events transpiring around me positive evidence that the coming King is even at the door? Do I sense the responsibility that rests upon me, in view of the light God has given? Am I using every talent entrusted to me as his steward, in well-directed effort to rescue the perishing? or am I lukewarm and indifferent, partly mixed up with a wicked world, using the means and ability God has given me, largely in self-gratification, caring more for my own ease and comfort than for the advancement of his cause? Am I by my course strengthening ‘the conviction that has been gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, and are following in the path of worldlings’?
「『夜間如何?』我有冇辨明呢啲信息嘅意義?我有冇明白佢哋喺呢個偉大補救制度最後工作中所佔嘅地位?我對『更確嘅預言』係咪已經熟悉到,可以喺我周圍所發生嘅事上,睇見明確嘅證據,知道將臨嘅君王已經近在門口?鑒於上帝所賜畀我嘅亮光,我有冇感受到落喺我身上嘅責任?我有冇以管家嘅身分,運用所託付畀我嘅每一樣才幹,作出方向正確嘅努力,去拯救將亡嘅人?抑或我係不冷不熱、漠不關心,部分地同邪惡嘅世界混雜,將上帝所賜畀我嘅資源同能力,大半用喺滿足自我之上,對自己嘅安逸舒適,比對推進祂嘅聖工更加着緊?我嘅行事為人,係咪正在加強『一種已經喺世上漸漸形成嘅信念,就係基督復臨安息日會所吹出嘅號聲並不確定,並且正行走喺屬世之人嘅道路上』呢?」
“We hear the footsteps of an approaching God to punish the world for their iniquity. The end of time is close upon us. The world’s inhabitants are being bound in bundles to be burned. Shall you be bound up with the tares? Do you realize that every year thousands and thousands and ten times ten thousand souls are perishing, dying in their sins? The plagues and judgments of God are already doing their work, and souls are going to ruin because the light of truth has not been flashed upon their pathway.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, April 1, 1897.
「我哋聽見上帝臨近嘅腳步聲,祂要因世人嘅罪孽而懲罰呢個世界。末時已經迫近我哋。世上嘅居民正被捆成捆,預備焚燒。你會唔會同稗子一齊被捆起嚟?你有冇意識到,每一年都有成千成千、千千萬萬嘅靈魂正在沉淪,在自己嘅罪中死去?上帝嘅災殃同審判已經開始發揮作用,而靈魂正走向滅亡,因為真理之光尚未照耀喺佢哋嘅道路上。」《General Conference Daily Bulletin》,1897年4月1日。
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9.
我心夜間羨慕你;我裏面嘅靈切切尋求你:因為你嘅審判臨到地上嘅時候,世上嘅居民就學習公義。以賽亞書 26:9