There are ‘thirteen’ references to dates in the book of Ezekiel; six address Jerusalem, six address Egypt and one Tyre. All the references are set within the context of rebellion, which the number ‘thirteen’ symbolizes. The year after Ezekiel’s wife died from a stroke, marking the beginning of the third siege, Ezekiel was commanded to speak against Egypt, identifying that it would be desolate for forty years.
《以西結書》之中,有「十三」處提及日期;其中六處關乎耶路撒冷,六處關乎埃及,一處關乎推羅。所有呢啲提及,皆置於悖逆嘅語境之中,而數目「十三」正象徵悖逆。以西結嘅妻子因中風離世之後一年,亦即第三次圍困開始之時,以西結奉命發言攻擊埃及,指出埃及必荒涼四十年。
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. Yet thus saith the Lord God; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. Ezekiel 29:12–14.
我必使埃及地喺荒涼之地中成為荒涼;佢嘅城喺已被毀壞嘅城中,必荒涼四十年;我又要將埃及人分散喺列國之中,驅散喺各地。主耶和華如此說:滿了四十年,我必從埃及人所分散到嘅萬民中,將佢哋招聚返嚟;我必使埃及被擄嘅人歸回,帶佢哋返到巴忒羅地,就係佢哋寄居之地;佢哋喺嗰度必成為低微嘅國。以西結書 29:12–14。
The siege began in 587 BC, when Ezekiel was commanded to speak. In verse ‘seventeen’, 571 BC identifies that Egypt will be given to Babylon for services rendered. Bible chronologists suggest 567 BC unto 527 BC as the forty-year period identified in the verses, and from the initial message of judgment proclaimed in 587 BC until verse seventeen’s pronouncement in 571 BC that the Lord had given Egypt into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, we find a ‘seventeen-year’ period.
圍城喺公元前587年開始,當時以西結奉命發言。第「十七」節標示嘅時間係公元前571年,當中指出埃及將會賜畀巴比倫,作為其效勞所得嘅報酬。聖經年代學者認為,經文所指出嘅四十年時期係公元前567年至公元前527年;而由公元前587年最初宣告審判信息之時起,直到第十七節喺公元前571年宣告主已將埃及交喺尼布甲尼撒手中為止,我哋見到當中有一段「十七年」嘅時期。
Nebuchadnezzar’s army fought a long, difficult campaign against Tyre (the siege lasted about 13 years, roughly 586–573 BC). The soldiers worked extremely hard (every head was made bald and every shoulder rubbed bare from carrying loads), yet they received no significant wages or spoil from Tyre itself. Because of this unprofitable labor, God determined to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as compensation (“wages”) for the work his army did against Tyre.
尼布甲尼撒嘅軍隊攻打推羅,經歷咗一場漫長而艱鉅嘅戰役(圍城大約持續咗十三年,約於主前586至573年)。士兵極其勞苦(人人頭都磨到禿晒,個個肩膀都因負重而擦損),但係佢哋並冇從推羅本身得到乜嘢可觀嘅工價或者擄物。因着呢場無利可圖嘅勞役,神定意將埃及賜畀尼布甲尼撒,作為佢軍隊攻打推羅所作之工嘅報酬(「工價」)。
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. Luke 10:7.
你哋要住喺同一間屋裏,食佢哋所供畀你哋嘅,飲佢哋所供畀你哋嘅;因為工人得工價,係應當嘅。唔好由呢家搬到嗰家。路加福音 10:7。
Nebuchadnezzar therefore took Tyre first, and after the thirteen-year siege he was given Egypt. Before he took Tyre, he took Jerusalem in 586 BC; then he accomplished a siege of thirteen years against Tyre, and thereafter Egypt. Jerusalem was taken in 586 BC, and the siege of Tyre began in 586 BC and went unto 573 BC. The number thirteen is associated with the United States.
尼布甲尼撒因此先攻取咗推羅,經過十三年嘅圍城之後,佢獲賜埃及。喺攻取推羅之前,佢已經喺公元前586年攻取咗耶路撒冷;隨後,佢完成咗對推羅長達十三年嘅圍城,之後再攻取埃及。耶路撒冷喺公元前586年被攻取,而對推羅嘅圍城喺公元前586年開始,一直持續到公元前573年。十三呢個數字同美國有關聯。
Sister White informs us that Jerusalem in the book of Ezekiel represents the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church, and Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the north represents the papal power in the latter days. In the historical illustration of chapter twenty-nine, the latter-day robbers of thy people representing papal Rome, conquers three entities in the chapter. First he takes Jerusalem, then Tyre and finally Egypt.
懷愛倫姊妹話畀我哋知,以西結書入面嘅耶路撒冷,係代表老底嘉嘅基督復臨安息日會;而北方王尼布甲尼撒,則係代表末後日子教皇嘅權勢。喺第二十九章呢個歷史性嘅預表之中,末後「你本國中嘅強暴人」所代表嘅教皇羅馬,喺本章征服咗三個實體:首先佢攻取耶路撒冷,跟住推羅,最後係埃及。
Judgment begins at the house of God and the horn of Protestantism in the United States is first conquered in advance of the Sunday law. The horn of apostate Protestantism in the United States includes the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church that represents the “former” covenant people who are passed by as was ancient Israel in the year 34 and as were the Protestants in 1844. The passing by of those former covenant people of God in 34 and 1844 is represented in the prophetic history of the twenty-three-hundred-year prophecy of Daniel 8:14. Judgment begins with the house of God and the horn of Protestantism is judged in advance of the horn of Republicanism.
審判由上帝嘅家開始,而美國更正教嘅角喺星期日法令之前首先被征服。美國背道更正教嘅角包括老底嘉式嘅基督復臨安息日會;呢個教會代表被越過嘅「先前」嘅立約子民,正如古以色列喺34年,以及更正教徒喺1844年被越過一樣。上帝先前嘅呢啲立約子民喺34年同1844年被越過一事,喺但以理書8:14所載二千三百年預言嘅預言歷史中有所呈現。審判由上帝嘅家開始,而更正教嘅角先於共和主義嘅角受審判。
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17.
因為時候到了,審判必須由神的家起首;若是先由我哋起首,噉嗰啲唔順從神福音嘅人,佢哋嘅結局將會點樣呢?彼得前書 4:17
The first mention of the judgment of Egypt is located in the first verse of chapter twenty-nine, and the last date mentioned in connection with Egypt by Ezekiel is in verse ‘seventeen’ of the same chapter. The chapter identifies modern Rome first overcoming the horn of Protestantism and then Tyre, which represents the horn of Republicanism that is overcome at the soon-coming Sunday law. When Tyre (the United States) is conquered by Nebuchadnezzar at the Sunday law, Egypt is also given into his hands. At that point the deadly wound of papacy is healed. Not only is the papacy’s deadly wound then healed, but Ezekiel informs us this happens during the period of the latter rain.
《以西結書》入面,第一次提到對埃及嘅審判,係喺第二十九章第一節;而以西結就埃及所提到嘅最後日期,係同章第十七節。呢一章指出,現代羅馬先勝過新教主義呢隻角,跟住再勝過推羅;推羅所代表嘅,乃係共和主義呢隻角,而呢隻角將會喺快將來到嘅星期日法案之下被制伏。當推羅(美國)喺星期日法案之時被尼布甲尼撒征服,埃及亦都被交喺佢手中。到嗰個時候,教皇制度嘅死傷就得醫治。不單止教皇制度嘅死傷喺嗰時得醫治,而且以西結仲叫我哋知道,呢件事係發生喺晚雨時期之中。
In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 29:21.
到那日,我必使以色列家嘅角發芽;我亦必使你喺佢哋中間開口發言;佢哋就必知道我係耶和華。以西結書 29:21。
Jacob and Israel
雅各同以色列
Isaiah identifies that Israel buds out, blossoms and fills the whole earth with fruit. It is rain that brings about the three steps of budding, blossoming and fruit bearing, and according to Isaiah, the latter rain arrives when the “rough wind” is stayed. He further identifies that during the period of budding, blossoming and fruit-bearing the sins of Jacob are to be purged, and the Hebrew word translated as “purged” is atoned for.
以賽亞指出,以色列要發芽、開花,並且以果子充滿全地。使發芽、開花同結果呢三個步驟得以成就嘅,乃係雨水;而照以賽亞所講,當「狂風」止息嘅時候,後雨就臨到。佢又進一步指出,就喺發芽、開花同結果呢段時期之中,雅各嘅罪孽要被除掉;而譯作「除掉」嘅希伯來字,意思乃係得蒙贖罪。
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. Isaiah 27:8, 9.
當佢發出嫩枝嘅時候,你必按分量與之爭辯;東風吹嘅日子,佢止住自己猛烈嘅風。所以,雅各嘅罪孽必因此得潔除;除去佢罪過嘅全部果效,就係當佢使祭壇上一切石頭好似打碎咗嘅灰石咁樣,亞舍拉同偶像都唔得再立起。以賽亞書 27:8, 9
When the four winds (his rough wind) of strife are restrained, the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand begins, and the wise and wicked of Adventism are ultimately separated, and all of this is accomplished in the “day of the east wind.” The sealing time began with a sprinkling at 9/11 and it ends with a full outpouring at the Sunday law when the earth is then filled with fruit. The sealing time is a progressive purification and purging in agreement with Malachi three. But in the seventeen-year period represented by the beginning and ending dates of Ezekiel twenty-nine, the conquering of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy occurs as represented by Jerusalem, a symbol of the horn of Protestantism—the church—and Tyre, a symbol of the horn of Republicanism—the state. Just after the end of the thirteen-year siege of Tyre, the conquering of the seventh kingdom of ten kings represented by Egypt takes place. The three conquerings of Jerusalem, Tyre and Egypt occur when “the horn of the house of Israel” buds forth and is given an opening of the mouth.
當紛爭嘅四風(祂嘅暴風)受到抑制時,十四萬四千人嘅受印工作就開始,復臨運動中嘅智慧人同惡人最終會被分開,而呢一切都會喺「颳東風嘅日子」成就。受印時期喺9/11以點滴嘅澆灑開始,並喺星期日法令之時,以全然嘅澆灌結束,到嗰時大地就會充滿果實。受印時期係一個逐步潔淨同煉淨嘅過程,與《瑪拉基書》第三章相符。但喺《以西結書》第二十九章嘅起訖日期所代表嘅十七年間,聖經預言中嘅第六個國會被征服;呢個國以耶路撒冷同推羅為代表,耶路撒冷象徵新教主義嘅角——教會,而推羅象徵共和主義嘅角——國家。推羅為期十三年嘅圍城一結束,由埃及代表、由十王組成嘅第七個國隨即被征服。對耶路撒冷、推羅同埃及嘅三次征服,都發生喺「以色列家嘅角」萌發並得以開口嘅時候。
The dumbness of both the priest Ezekiel and the priest Zacharias ends at the Sunday law, when the United States and Balaam’s ass both speak. The Lord gives the house of Israel the “opening of the mouth” at the Sunday law. Jacob’s sins have then been purged and his name is changed to the house of Israel. The message they proclaim is represented by the third witness of prophetic dumbness represented by Daniel, who is then given the message of Daniel chapter eleven, which is also the vision of Habakkuk that then ‘speaks and does not lie.’ Ezekiel, Zacharias and Daniel align with the proclamation of the loud cry of the third angel, as does Jeremiah in chapter fifteen where he is promised to be God’s mouth if he would rebound from the first disappointment.
祭司以西結同祭司撒迦利亞嘅啞口狀態,都喺星期日法令之時結束;到嗰時,美國同巴蘭嘅驢都開口說話。主喺星期日法令之時,賜以色列家「開口說話」。到嗰時,雅各嘅罪已經得潔淨,佢嘅名字亦改為以色列家。佢哋所宣告嘅信息,由預言性啞默嘅第三位見證者所象徵,而呢位見證者由但以理代表;但以理隨即獲賜《但以理書》第十一章嘅信息,而呢個信息亦即哈巴谷嘅異象,到嗰時就會『發言,並不說謊』。以西結、撒迦利亞同但以理,都同第三位天使大聲呼喊嘅宣告相對應;第十五章中嘅耶利米亦一樣,佢喺嗰度蒙應許,只要佢從第一次失望中重新振作,就可以作上帝嘅口。
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. Jeremiah 15:18, 19.
點解我嘅痛苦長久不息,我嘅創傷又無法醫治,拒絕痊癒呢?你於我豈可全然如說謊者,又如無常之水嗎?所以耶和華如此說:你若回轉,我就使你歸回,使你站立喺我面前;你若將寶貴的從卑賤的之中分別出來,你就必作我的口。任憑他們歸向你,你卻不可歸向他們。耶利米書 15:18, 19.
Jesus illustrates the end with the beginning and at 9/11 the sprinkling brought forth buds and the plant of Jacob began to grow, and ultimately when the iniquity of Jacob is purged, the house of Israel will speak. The budding out at 9/11 that was accomplished by the rain is typifying a budding out at the end of the sealing time, when the “horn” of the house of Israel buds out, right where the horns of apostate Protestantism and Republicanism are overcome by Nebuchadnezzar.
耶穌以起頭說明結局;喺 9/11,灑水使嫩芽發出,雅各嘅植物就開始生長;到最終,當雅各嘅罪孽被除淨之時,以色列家就必發聲。喺 9/11 藉着雨水所成就嘅發芽,乃係預表印封時期終結之際嘅一次發芽;嗰時,以色列家嘅「角」要發芽生出,正正就喺背道嘅新教同共和主義嘅角被尼布甲尼撒勝過之處。
At that point the false horn of Protestantism is contrasted with the true horn of Protestantism as typified by Aaron’s rod that budded in distinction to the other rods of the tribes of Israel. The two dates in chapter twenty-nine of Ezekiel identify the history of the lifting up of the ensign of the one hundred and forty-four thousand at the soon-coming Sunday law.
喺嗰個時候,新教嘅假角就同新教嘅真角形成對比;真角係由亞倫發芽嘅杖所預表,而呢根杖有別於以色列各支派其餘嘅杖。《以西結書》第二十九章中嘅兩個日期,標明咗喺即將來臨嘅星期日法令之時,高舉十四萬四千人嘅旌旗嗰段歷史。
The process of the budding, blooming and filling the earth with fruit began at the sprinkling of the latter rain on 9/11, just as the Pentecostal season began with Christ breathing a few drops upon His disciples that led to Pentecost when the full outpouring took place. The budding of 9/11 at the beginning of the purging of Jacob (the supplanter), which is the sealing time, typified the budding of the house of Israel (the overcomer) at the Sunday law. The budding at the end is marking a distinction between the former covenant people and the one hundred and forty-four thousand, just as the outpouring of fire on Mount Carmel made a distinction between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The distinction is represented by a class who are prophetically ashamed for a counterfeit peace and safety message, and the other class are prophetically joyful, and they will never be ashamed.
萌芽、開花,並以果實遍滿全地嘅過程,始於9/11晚雨灑降之時,正如五旬節時期始於基督向祂嘅門徒吹送幾滴雨水,繼而喺五旬節迎來全面嘅傾降一樣。9/11嘅萌芽發生喺雅各(奪位者)被潔淨嘅開端,亦即受印嘅時期,預表咗以色列(得勝者)家喺星期日法令之時嘅萌芽。末後嘅萌芽標示出昔日嘅立約子民同十四萬四千人之間嘅分別,正如迦密山上傾降嘅火,將先知以利亞同巴力嘅眾先知區分開。呢個分別體現喺兩類人身上:一類人按預言因假冒嘅平安穩妥信息而蒙羞,另一類人則按預言歡欣喜樂,而且佢哋永遠都唔會蒙羞。
The Six Dates of Egypt
埃及嘅六個日期
Ezekiel identifies four other dates associated with Egypt, and two of those dates mark the eleventh year, and the other two dates mark the twelfth year of the captivity.
以西結另外列出四個與埃及有關嘅日期,其中兩個屬於被擄後第十一年,另外兩個則屬於被擄後第十二年。
The Siege of the Eleventh Year
第十一年嘅圍困
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword. Ezekiel 30:20, 21.
第十一年正月初七日,耶和華嘅話臨到我,話:人子啊,我已經打斷咗埃及王法老嘅膀臂;看哪,佢唔會被包紮醫治,唔會用布纏裹,使佢有力揸住刀。以西結書 30:20, 21.
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? Ezekiel 31:1, 2.
十一年三月初一日,耶和華嘅話臨到我,話:「人子啊,你要對埃及王法老同埋佢嘅眾民講:你喺偉大之中,可比邊個呢?」以西結書 31:1, 2
In the eleventh year of the captivity, Egypt and Pharaoh’s arms are broken, and Babylon’s arms are strengthened in chapter thirty. In the eleventh year in chapter thirty-one, the fall of Egypt and its impact upon the world are identified.
第三十章記述,喺被擄嘅第十一年,埃及同法老嘅膀臂被折斷,而巴比倫嘅膀臂得以堅固。第三十一章同樣記述第十一年嘅事,揭示埃及嘅傾覆及其對世界嘅影響。
The Twelfth Year & Jerusalem’s Fall
第十二年與耶路撒冷的陷落
The two dates in the twelfth year are located in Ezekiel thirty-two.
第十二年入面嗰兩個日期,見於《以西結書》三十二章。
And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers. Thus saith the Lord God; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net. Ezekiel 32:1–3.
到咗第十二年、十二月初一,耶和華嘅話臨到我,話:「人子啊,你要為埃及王法老作起哀歌,對佢講:你喺列國中好似少壯獅子,又如海中嘅大魚;你衝出江河,用腳攪渾眾水,使江河污濁。」主耶和華如此說:「所以我要用我嘅網,藉住多民嘅會眾撒喺你身上;佢哋必用我嘅網將你拉上嚟。」以西結書 32:1–3。
It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. Ezekiel 32:17, 18.
又喺第十二年,嗰月十五日,耶和華嘅話臨到我,話:人子啊,你要為埃及嘅眾民哀號,將佢同有名之列國嘅女子,一齊拋落地嘅深處,同嗰啲下坑嘅人一同落去。以西結書 32:17, 18
Pharaoh and His Multitude
法老同佢嘅群眾
In chapter thirty-one’s pronouncement upon Egypt, the final verses state:
喺第三十一章對埃及嘅宣告之中,末後幾節如此說:
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen. To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 31:16–18.
我使列國因他傾覆之聲而震動;當我將他同嗰啲落坑嘅人一齊拋落陰間嘅時候,伊甸一切樹木、利巴嫩中蒙揀選同最美好嘅、凡飲水嘅,都必喺地嘅深處得安慰。佢哋亦都同佢一齊落到陰間,去到嗰啲畀刀所殺嘅人嗰度;又有嗰啲作過佢膀臂嘅,曾住喺列國中、佢蔭下嘅人。你喺榮耀同偉大上,喺伊甸眾樹之中究竟與誰相似呢?然而你必同伊甸眾樹一齊被帶到地嘅深處;你必躺臥喺未受割禮嘅人中間,同嗰啲畀刀所殺嘅人一樣。主耶和華說,這就是法老和佢一切嘅群眾。以西結書 31:16–18。
In chapter thirty-two’s pronouncement upon Egypt, the final verses repeat and enlarge upon chapter thirty-one and include a parallel ending statement.
在第三十二章針對埃及所作嘅宣告中,最後幾節重述並進一步闡述第三十一章嘅內容,亦包含一句相呼應嘅結語。
For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 32:32.
因我使我嘅威嚇臨到活人之地;法老同佢一切嘅群眾,必與那些被刀殺嘅人一同躺臥喺未受割禮者中間。呢係主耶和華說嘅。以西結書 32:32。
The Seventeen years of Chapter Twenty-nine
第二十九章嘅十七年
The dates located in the seventeen-year period represented in chapter twenty-nine identify Nebuchadnezzar conquering Egypt, and a forty-year period of desolation of Egypt. Forty represents a wilderness, typifying the thousand years that the earth is desolate.
第二十九章所代表嗰十七年期間入面所標示嘅日期,指出尼布甲尼撒征服埃及,以及埃及四十年荒涼嘅時期。四十象徵曠野,預表地上荒涼嘅一千年。
I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. Jeremiah 4:23–27.
我觀看大地,睇見佢混沌空虛;又觀看諸天,佢哋全無光。 我觀看群山,睇見佢哋震動;眾岡嶺都搖來搖去。 我觀看,睇見無人存在;天上嘅飛鳥也都逃去。 我觀看,睇見肥美之地變成曠野;其中所有城邑,都因耶和華嘅臨在,同埋佢猛烈嘅怒氣,被拆毀。 因為耶和華如此說:全地必然荒涼;然而,我卻不將佢毀滅淨盡。耶利米書 4:23–27。
At the end of Ezekiel twenty-nine’s forty years of the desolation of Egypt, the final resurrection of the wicked and their ultimate destruction are set forth.
喺以西結書第二十九章所述嘅埃及荒涼四十年期滿之際,惡人最後嘅復活,以及佢哋最終嘅毀滅,都被揭示出嚟。
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Isaiah 24:17–22.
地上嘅居民啊,恐懼、陷坑、羅網都臨到你。到嗰日,逃避驚恐之聲嘅,必跌入陷坑;從陷坑中間上來嘅,必被羅網纏住;因為高處嘅窗戶開咗,地嘅根基震動。大地全然破裂,大地徹底崩解,大地猛烈搖動。大地必東搖西晃,好似醉漢一樣,又必被挪去,好似草棚一樣;其中嘅過犯壓重喺其上;佢必傾倒,不再起來。到嗰日,耶和華必懲罰高處之上嘅天軍,同埋地上嘅列王。佢哋必被聚集,好似囚犯被聚集喺坑中,又必被囚喺監牢裡;過咗多日,佢哋必被察看。以賽亞書 24:17–22。
The message of Ezekiel that is brought together by the six dates associated with Egypt is identifying the earthly dragon power’s ultimate destruction, which begins at the soon-coming Sunday law and continues on through to the final destruction of the wicked Egyptians at the end of the millennium.
以西結嘅信息由與埃及相關嘅六個日期串連起來,指出地上龍權勢嘅最終毀滅;呢場毀滅由即將來臨嘅星期日法令開始,一直延續,直至千禧年結束時,邪惡嘅埃及人最終被毀滅。
In the prophetic testimony the beast and the false prophet reach their end at the lake of fire, which represents the Second Coming of Christ, but the dragon power’s lake of fire destruction is at the end of the millennium.
喺預言嘅見證之中,獸同假先知嘅結局,乃係到火湖嗰度;呢火湖乃係表徵基督第二次降臨,但龍嘅權勢所受火湖嘅毀滅,卻係喺千禧年嘅末了。
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19:20, 21.
嗰隻獸畀擒住咗;同佢一齊畀擒住嘅,仲有嗰假先知,就係曾經喺獸面前行神蹟,用呢啲神蹟迷惑咗嗰啲受咗獸印記同敬拜獸像嘅人。佢哋兩個都活活畀掟入燒住硫磺嘅火湖裏。其餘嘅人,就畀嗰位騎馬者口中所出嘅劍殺咗;空中一切飛鳥都食飽咗佢哋嘅肉。啟示錄 19:20, 21.
The beast and false prophet end prophetically at the second return of Christ, but the dragon meets his fate one thousand years later at the third return of Christ.
獸同假先知喺預言上,喺基督第二次再來之時終結;但龍卻要到一千年之後、喺基督第三次再來之時,先至遭遇牠嘅結局。
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Revelation 20:1–3.
我又看見一位天使從天降下,手裡攞住無底坑嘅鑰匙,同一條大鏈。佢捉住嗰條龍,就係古蛇,名叫魔鬼,又叫撒但,將佢綑綁一千年;又將佢掟落無底坑,關閉起來,並且加上印封,使佢唔可以再迷惑列國,直至嗰一千年滿咗;之後,佢必須暫時被釋放。啟示錄 20:1–3
The Eleventh and Twelfth Years
第十一年同第十二年
The ‘seventeen’-year period set forth in Ezekiel twenty-nine’s two dates began in the tenth year of the captivity and ended in the twenty-seventh year. The messages of chapters thirty and thirty-one were set forth in the eleventh year, and the two dates set forth in chapter thirty-two were given in the twelfth year of the captivity. The seventeen-year period that began in the tenth year, roughly at the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem, was followed by the two Egyptian messages of the eleventh year set forth in chapters thirty and thirty-one. Together the two messages of the eleventh year represent a message just prior to the Sunday law. The other two Egyptian messages of the twelfth year occurred at or shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
《以西結書》第二十九章所列嘅兩個日期,標示出一段「十七」年嘅時期,由被擄第十年開始,到第二十七年結束。第三十章同第三十一章嘅信息係喺第十一年發出嘅,而第三十二章所列嘅兩個日期,則同屬被擄第十二年。呢段十七年嘅時期始於第十年,大約正值耶路撒冷被圍困之初;緊隨其後嘅,係第三十章同第三十一章所載、於第十一年發出嘅兩篇關於埃及嘅信息。第十一年嘅呢兩篇信息,一同代表喺星期日法令之前不久發出嘅一道信息。另外兩篇第十二年關於埃及嘅信息,則係喺公元前586年耶路撒冷被毀之時,或喺其後不久發出嘅。
The message of Christ’s coming is proclaimed as part of the Midnight Cry message that changes to the loud cry message at the Sunday law. Two messages of Egypt are proclaimed before the Sunday law and two messages of Egypt are proclaimed at or just after the Sunday law. The doubling of the messages that are given in the same year, during the siege that culminates at the destruction of Jerusalem and the other two messages at the Sunday law, typifies the second angel’s message, where there is always a doubling.
基督再臨嘅信息,係作為半夜呼聲信息嘅一部分而宣揚嘅;到星期日法令頒布時,半夜呼聲信息就轉為大呼聲信息。喺星期日法令頒布之前,會宣揚兩道關於埃及嘅信息;喺星期日法令頒布之時或緊接其後,亦會宣揚兩道關於埃及嘅信息。喺最終以耶路撒冷被毀告終嘅圍城期間,同一年內所傳出嘅信息成雙出現,星期日法令頒布時嘅另外兩道信息亦係如此;呢種成雙出現嘅模式,預表第二位天使嘅信息,而第二位天使嘅信息總係成雙出現。
A second message is always followed by the third message.
第二個信息之後,必定跟住第三個信息。
“By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order, and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel’s message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things that have been and the things that will be.” Selected Messages, book 2, 104, 105.
我哋要藉着筆墨同聲音,宣揚呢個宣告,表明佢哋嘅次序,以及嗰啲引領我哋去到第三位天使信息之預言嘅應用。冇第一同第二,就唔可能有第三。我哋要藉着出版刊物同講論,將呢啲信息傳畀世界,並喺預言歷史嘅脈絡之中,指出已經發生嘅事,同埋將要發生嘅事。」《信息選粹》卷二,104, 105。
At the third message the door of probation is closed. Probation closes for the United States at the Sunday law and probation closes for the world when Michael stands up. Both closed doors represent a third message that is always preceded by the second message that is always a twofold message.
到第三道信息時,寬容之門就會關閉。美國嘅寬容時期會喺星期日法令頒布時結束,而全世界嘅寬容時期則會喺米迦勒站起來時結束。呢兩道已關閉嘅門都代表第三道信息;第三道信息之前總會先有第二道信息,而第二道信息總係一道雙重信息。
The empowerment of the second angel is accomplished when it is joined by the message of the Midnight Cry. The two messages pronounced upon mankind, as represented by Ezekiel’s pronouncements upon Egypt in chapters thirty and thirty-one, identify when the message of the Midnight Cry joins the second angel, and the two messages of chapter thirty-two are identifying the empowerment of the third angel in the loud cry.
當半夜呼聲嘅信息與第二位天使聯合時,第二位天使就得著能力。以西結喺《以西結書》第三十章同第三十一章對埃及所作嘅宣告,表徵向人類宣告嘅兩道信息;呢兩道信息指明半夜呼聲嘅信息喺何時與第二位天使聯合,而第三十二章嘅兩道信息,則指明第三位天使喺大呼聲中得著能力。
Ezekiel’s wheels of the complex interplay of human events identify the last warning for mankind, which is the third angel’s warning, and the third angel is made up of the first and second angels’ warnings. The Midnight Cry before the Sunday law and the loud cry after the Sunday law are represented by Ezekiel’s four dates that fall within the ‘seventeen’ years of chapter twenty-nine’s alpha and omega dates that align with the hidden history of Daniel eleven verse forty, as represented in verses eleven through sixteen of the same chapter.
以西結嘅輪體現出人間事件之間複雜嘅相互作用,並指明向人類發出嘅最後警告,即第三位天使嘅警告;而第三位天使係由第一位同第二位天使嘅警告所構成。星期日法令之前嘅半夜呼聲,同星期日法令之後嘅大呼聲,係由以西結嘅四個日期所代表;呢四個日期落喺第二十九章阿拉法同俄梅戛日期之間嘅‘十七’年內,而呢啲日期與《但以理書》第十一章第四十節嘅隱藏歷史相對應,正如同一章第十一至十六節所呈現嘅一樣。
In Daniel chapter ten, Daniel, as with Ezekiel, is made dumb. Daniel’s dumbness is brought about in the middle of three touches; the first and third touches came from the angel Gabriel and the middle touch was the touch of Christ. Daniel, as with Peter between Caesarea-Philippi and the cross, is in the middle. In the middle Peter saw the glorified Christ, as did Daniel in chapter ten. The middle of the three angels is the second message, which is a combination of two messages.
喺《但以理書》第十章,但以理同以西結一樣,被整到啞口無言。但以理嘅啞口無言,係喺三次觸摸嘅中間發生;第一次同第三次嘅觸摸係由天使加百列而嚟,而中間嗰次觸摸就係基督嘅觸摸。但以理,好似彼得由該撒利亞腓立比去到十字架之間一樣,係處於中間。喺中間,彼得見到得榮耀嘅基督,但以理喺第十章亦都係咁樣見到。三位天使之中間嘅信息,就係第二位天使嘅信息,而呢個信息乃係兩個信息嘅結合。
5th Day of the 4th Month & 1844
第四月第五日與 1844 年
In Ezekiel chapter one, verses one and two, Ezekiel is at the fifth day of the fourth month, which aligns with the middle of the seventh month movement in 1844. Ezekiel is midway between April 19 and October 22, 1844, just as was Samuel Snow, the messenger of the Midnight Cry in 1844, when he presented his first clear view of the message in Boston, 93 days after April 19 and 93 days before the door closed on October 22, 1844. Samuel Snow was in Boston on July 21, 1844, midway in the seventh month movement, unaware that he was prophetically standing with Peter at the Mount of Transfiguration, Ezekiel in the thirtieth year of the seventeenth Jubilee cycle and Daniel’s second touch during the looking glass vision of chapter ten.
喺《以西結書》第一章第一、二節,以西結身處嘅時間係四月初五,對應於1844年七月運動嘅中段。以西結正處於1844年4月19日同10月22日之間嘅中點,正如1844年午夜呼聲嘅信使撒母耳·斯諾,喺波士頓首次清楚闡述自己對呢個信息嘅理解時一樣:當日係4月19日之後93日,亦係1844年10月22日門關閉之前93日。1844年7月21日,撒母耳·斯諾身在波士頓,正值七月運動嘅中段,卻唔知道自己喺預言上,正與變像山上嘅彼得、身處第十七個禧年週期第三十年嘅以西結,以及喺第十章嘅鏡子異象中第二次蒙觸摸嘅但以理一同站立。
Tyre
推羅
Before we return to the dating of Ezekiel’s six references of Jerusalem, we should first identify the one date that was proclaimed against Tyre.
喺我哋返去查考以西結六次提及耶路撒冷嘅日期之前,我哋應當先辨明嗰一個向推羅所宣告嘅日期。
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and it shall become a spoil to the nations. And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the Lord. For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
第十一年,正月初一日,耶和華嘅話臨到我,話:「人子啊,因為推羅攻擊耶路撒冷話:『哈,嗰作眾民門戶嘅已經破碎啦;佢轉歸我;家下佢既然荒涼,我就必得充盈。』所以主耶和華如此話:『推羅啊,看哪,我與你為敵,必使多國上來攻擊你,正如海使波浪湧上嚟一樣。佢哋必毀壞推羅嘅城牆,拆毀佢嘅樓臺;我亦必刮淨佢身上嘅塵土,使佢成為淨係得番磐石頂一樣。佢必在海中成為曬網之處,因為呢話係我講嘅,』主耶和華話,『佢必成為列國嘅掠物。佢喺田野間嘅居民必被刀劍殺戮;佢哋就知道我係耶和華。』因為主耶和華如此話:『看哪,我必使巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒,就是列王之王,從北方率領馬匹、戰車、馬兵、軍隊,同埋許多人民,來攻擊推羅。』」
He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee. And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers. By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach. With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground. And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water. And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
佢必用刀劍殺戮你田野上嘅女兒;又必築壘攻擊你,堆起土山攻擊你,舉起盾牌攻擊你。佢必設立攻城器械攻擊你嘅城牆,又必用斧頭拆毀你嘅樓臺。因佢馬匹眾多,佢哋所揚起嘅塵土必遮蓋你;當佢從你城門進入,好似人進入被攻破之城嘅時候,因騎兵、車輪同戰車嘅響聲,你嘅城牆必震動。佢必用馬蹄踐踏你一切街道;必用刀劍殺戮你嘅人民;你堅固嘅柱像必倒在地上。佢哋必搶奪你嘅財富,擄掠你嘅貨物;拆毀你嘅城牆,毀壞你華美嘅房屋;又將你嘅石頭、木材同塵土拋在水中。我必使你歌唱嘅聲音止息;你琴瑟嘅聲音也不再聽見。我必使你成為如磐石頂一樣;你必成為曬網之處;你不得再被建造;因為主耶和華如此說:這是我耶和華所說的。
Thus saith the Lord God to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee? Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee. And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure. For thus saith the Lord God; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee; When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living; I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 26:1–21.
主耶和華對推羅如此說:你傾覆嘅聲音響起、你中間有人受傷呼喊、又有殺戮喺你中間施行嘅時候,眾海島豈唔震動嗎?嗰時海上一切君王都要離開佢哋嘅寶座,除去佢哋嘅外袍,脫低佢哋繡花嘅衣裳;佢哋要以戰兢為衣,坐喺地上,時刻戰抖,因你驚駭。佢哋必為你作起哀歌,對你講:你者素來有航海之民居住、享負盛名嘅城,又在海中強盛,你同你嘅居民向一切住喺其中嘅人施行威嚇,依家何竟毀滅!你傾覆嘅日子,眾海島必要戰抖;是呀,海中嘅群島因你離去而驚惶。 因為主耶和華如此說:當我使你成為荒涼嘅城,像無人居住嘅城邑一樣;當我使深淵漫上你,大水遮蓋你;當我使你與嗰啲下坑嘅人同下去,歸到古時之民嗰度,又使你安置喺地嘅深處、喺自古荒涼之地,同嗰啲下坑嘅人一齊,以致你不再有人居住;而我卻要喺活人之地設立榮耀;我必使你成為可驚之物,你就不再存在;人雖尋找你,卻永遠再尋你不見。這是主耶和華說的。以西結書 26:1–21。
The message of Tyre was proclaimed the year that Jerusalem was destroyed, and it represents the overthrow of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy at the soon-coming Sunday law. At the Sunday law, the United States (Tyre) prophetically rejoices because it has overthrown Jerusalem, which Sister White identifies as the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church, which Ezekiel calls the “gates of the people.” Tyre identifies that Jerusalem “was” the gates of the people in the past tense. A “gate” is a church prophetically.
推羅嘅信息,係喺耶路撒冷被毀嗰年宣告嘅;而呢個信息,表徵住《聖經》預言之中第六個國度,喺即將來臨嘅星期日法案之下被傾覆。到咗星期日法案之時,美國(推羅)喺預言上歡喜快樂,因為佢已經傾覆咗耶路撒冷;而懷愛倫姊妹指出,耶路撒冷就係老底嘉時期嘅基督復臨安息日會,亦即以西結所稱嘅「萬民之門」。推羅指出,耶路撒冷「曾經」係萬民之門,呢個用法係過去式。喺預言之中,「門」就係指教會。
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Genesis 28:17–19.
佢就驚懼,話:「呢個地方何等可畏!呢度唔係別的,乃是神的殿,亦是天的門。」雅各清早起身,將佢枕住嘅嗰塊石頭立作柱子,將油倒在柱頂上。佢就給那地方起名叫伯特利;但那城起初名叫路斯。創世記 28:17–19。
The word “Bethel” means house of God, and Tyre rejoices that it has forced the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church to accept the enforcement of the worship of the sun. But in spite of the misguided celebration of those enforcing the worship of the sun, God through Ezekiel states, “I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers.”
「伯特利」一詞嘅意思係「上帝嘅家」,而推羅因自己已迫使老底嘉嘅基督復臨安息日會接受強制推行太陽崇拜而歡欣。然而,儘管強制推行太陽崇拜嘅人妄自慶賀,上帝仍然藉住以西結宣告:「推羅啊,我必與你為敵,並要使許多國家起來攻擊你,就如大海湧起波浪一樣。佢哋必摧毀推羅嘅城牆,拆毀佢嘅城樓。」
The “walls of Tyrus” represent the protection of Tyrus. A “wall” is the symbol of the Ten Commandments.
「推羅嘅牆」代表推羅嘅保護。「牆」係十誡嘅象徵。
“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.” Prophets and Kings, 677.
「先知喺呢度描寫一班子民:當普遍離棄真理同公義嘅時候,佢哋正尋求恢復嗰啲作為上帝國度根基嘅原則。佢哋就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之民而設立嘅牆;而順服其中關於公義、真理同純潔嘅訓詞,就要成為佢哋永遠嘅保障。」《先知與君王》,677。
God’s law is a wall of protection, but walls in the plural represent the two principles that ‘protected’ and produced the prosperity and success of Tyrus, a symbol of the Republican horn of the United States.
上帝嘅律法係一道保護牆,但複數形式嘅「牆」則代表兩項原則;呢兩項原則「保護」咗推羅,並促成佢嘅繁榮同成功,而推羅則係美國共和主義之角嘅象徵。
“‘And he had two horns like a lamb.’ The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as ‘coming up’ in 1798. Among the Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. Their views found place in the Declaration of Independence, which sets forth the great truth that ‘all men are created equal’ and endowed with the inalienable right to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity. The oppressed and downtrodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land with interest and hope. Millions have sought its shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth. …
「『而且佢有兩隻角,好似羊羔咁。』呢對似羊羔嘅角,表明青春、純真同溫柔,恰如其分噉代表咗美國嘅性格;當美國喺1798年以『興起』嘅姿態呈現畀先知睇見之時,正係如此。最早逃往美洲、為咗避開王權嘅壓迫同祭司階層嘅不容忍而尋求庇護嘅基督徒流亡者之中,有好多人立志要喺公民自由同宗教自由呢個廣闊根基之上建立政府。佢哋嘅主張喺《獨立宣言》之中得到表述;宣言闡明咗呢一項重大真理:『人人生而平等』,並且被賦予不可剝奪嘅權利,就係『生命、自由,同埋追求幸福』。而《憲法》則保障人民享有自治之權,規定由人民投票選出嘅代表負責制定同執行法律。宗教信仰自由亦都獲得賦予,人人都獲准按照自己良心嘅指引去敬拜上帝。共和政體同新教主義成為呢個國家嘅基本原則。呢啲原則就係佢力量同繁榮嘅秘訣。遍及整個基督教世界之中受壓迫、受踐踏嘅人,都懷住關注同盼望轉向呢片土地。數以百萬計嘅人尋求嚟到佢嘅海岸,而美國亦已興起,躋身地上最強大嘅國家之列。…」
“The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The ‘speaking’ of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak ‘as a dragon’ and exercise ‘all the power of the first beast’ plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns ‘causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast’ indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy.
象徵中嗰如羊羔嘅角同埋龍嘅聲音,指出由此所代表之國家,其所宣稱者同其所實行者之間,有一種極其顯著嘅矛盾。該國之「說話」,乃指其立法同司法當局嘅行動。藉住呢啲行動,佢將會否定自己所提出、作為其政策基礎嘅嗰啲自由同和平原則。預言話佢要「好似龍咁說話」,又要施行「頭一個獸所有嘅權柄」,清楚預告咗,嗰由龍同豹形獸所代表嘅列國曾經表現出嚟之不容異己同逼迫之精神,將會有所發展。而嗰句話——有兩角嘅獸「叫地和住在地上的人拜頭一個獸」——表明呢個國家嘅權柄,將會運用於強制推行某種遵守之事,而呢件事本身就係一種向教皇制表示敬拜嘅行動。
“Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this government, to the genius of its free institutions, to the direct and solemn avowals of the Declaration of Independence, and to the Constitution. The founders of the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of secular power on the part of the church, with its inevitable result—intolerance and persecution. The Constitution provides that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ and that ‘no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.’ Only in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the nation’s liberty, can any religious observance be enforced by civil authority. But the inconsistency of such action is no greater than is represented in the symbol. It is the beast with lamblike horns—in profession pure, gentle, and harmless—that speaks as a dragon.” The Great Controversy, 441, 442.
「呢種行動,會係直接違背呢個政府嘅原則,違背其自由制度嘅精神,違背《獨立宣言》明確而莊嚴嘅宣告,亦都違背《憲法》。國家嘅締造者有智慧噉設法防範教會運用世俗權力,因為其無可避免嘅結果,就係唔容異己同迫害。《憲法》規定:『國會不得制定有關確立宗教嘅法律,或者禁止宗教自由實踐;』並且規定:『合眾國屬下任何官職或公職資格,永不可要求任何宗教測試。』只有公然違反呢啲保障國家自由嘅防線,先至可能由民事權力強制推行任何宗教禮儀。然而,呢種行動所表現出嚟嘅矛盾,同象徵中所描繪嘅並無二致。嗰獸有如羊羔嘅角——外表上純潔、溫柔、無害——說話卻好似龍一樣。」《善惡之爭》,441,442。
The foundation of the United States is represented by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution which represent Protestantism and Republicanism respectively. The “walls” of protection and prosperity are Republicanism and Protestantism, and at the Sunday law the principles of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are overturned, for Nebuchadnezzar “shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.”
美利堅合眾國嘅根基,係由《獨立宣言》同埋《憲法》所表徵;兩者分別代表新教主義同共和主義。嗰啲保護同繁榮嘅「牆」,就係共和主義同新教主義;而到咗星期日法案之時,《獨立宣言》同《憲法》兩者嘅原則都被推翻,因為尼布甲尼撒「必設攻城器械攻擊你嘅城牆,又用斧頭拆毀你嘅城樓。」
At the Sunday law all the “towers” are broken down, and a tower is a symbol of a church whose foundational philosophy is represented by an effort of man to save himself. Speaking of Nimrod, the great rebel, and his tower, we are informed in Prophets and Kings, “When the tower had been partially completed, a portion of it was occupied as a dwelling place for the builders; other apartments, splendidly furnished and adorned, were devoted to their idols. The people rejoiced in their success, and praised the gods of silver and gold, and set themselves against the Ruler of heaven and earth.” At the Sunday law Tyrus rejoices that Jerusalem has been overthrown, but national apostasy is followed by national ruin, and the king of the north will then overthrow the walls and towers of the United States.
喺星期日法令頒布之時,所有「高塔」都會被拆毀;塔象徵一個教會,而呢個教會嘅根本哲學理念,體現喺人企圖靠自己得救嘅努力之中。論到大叛逆者寧錄同佢嘅塔,《先知與君王》告訴我哋:「當塔建成咗一部分之後,其中一部分就用作建造者嘅住所;其他房間則陳設豪華、裝飾華麗,專門用嚟供奉佢哋嘅偶像。眾人為自己嘅成功而歡喜,讚美金銀所造嘅眾神,並且與天地嘅主宰為敵。」喺星期日法令頒布之時,推羅因耶路撒冷已遭傾覆而歡喜;但舉國背道之後,隨之而來嘅就係國家嘅毀滅,而北方王屆時就會摧毀美國嘅城牆同高塔。
We will begin to take up the six dates of Jerusalem in Ezekiel in the next article.
我哋將會喺下一篇文章開始論述以西結書中耶路撒冷嘅六個日期。