The prophetic line which illustrates the testing represented by the formation of the image of the beast in the United States runs parallel with the three waymarks that represent the line of the Constitution. They run parallel to each other and they contribute specific information that addresses the other line. How is it that those who pass the image of the beast test will then be prepared to walk in the light that proceeds from the throne-room of God, during the time of persecution that begins at the Sunday law in the United States? What is it about the test of the formation of the image of the beast that seals the wise virgins into an experience which allows them to navigate through the period of persecution that begins at the Sunday law, when national apostasy is followed by national ruin, and Satan begins his marvelous works?
喺美國，說明獸像形成所代表之考驗嘅預言路線，係同代表憲法路線嘅三個路標並行嘅。兩者彼此平行，並且各自提供特定嘅資訊，以回應另一條路線。點解嗰啲通過獸像之考驗嘅人，隨後就能夠預備好，喺美國星期日法開始所引發嘅逼迫時期當中，行喺從上帝寶座室發出嘅光中？獸像形成之考驗究竟有乜嘢，使智慧嘅童女被印證進入一種經驗之中，讓佢哋能夠穿越由星期日法開始、當國家背道之後緊接着國家敗亡、而撒但亦開始施行其奇異作為之逼迫時期呢？
“It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect.” Testimonies, volume 9, 16.
「當屬上帝的子民在地上仍然存活之時，天上的榮耀與昔日迫害之重演交織並現；他們所要經歷的是何等景況，實在無法以言語充分表達。 他們將行在由上帝寶座發出的光中。 藉着天使，天與地之間將有不斷的交通。 而撒但被惡天使環繞，自稱為上帝，並要施行各樣神蹟，若能的話，連選民也要迷惑。」《證言》卷九，16。
Sister White comments on the message Christ presented in the synagogue in Capernaum recorded in John chapter six. Her comments are in The Desire of Ages, in the chapter titled The Crisis in Galilee. There she emphasizes that Christ made no effort to prevent the rebellion that occured in John six, though He knew full well He would lose more disciples then than at any other time in His ministry among men.
懷愛倫姊妹就約翰福音第六章所記載基督喺迦百農會堂所傳嘅信息作出評論。佢嘅評論載於《歷代願望》〈加利利的危機〉一章。喺嗰度，佢強調，基督並冇作出任何努力去阻止約翰福音第六章所發生嘅背叛，雖然佢十分清楚知道，喺嗰次事件中，佢所失去嘅門徒，會比佢在人間傳道期間任何其他時候都更多。
“When Jesus presented the testing truth that caused so many of His disciples to turn back, He knew what would be the result of His words; but He had a purpose of mercy to fulfill. He foresaw that in the hour of temptation every one of His beloved disciples would be severely tested. His agony in Gethsemane, His betrayal and crucifixion, would be to them a most trying ordeal. Had no previous test been given, many who were actuated by merely selfish motives would have been connected with them. When their Lord was condemned in the judgment hall; when the multitude who had hailed Him as their king hissed at Him and reviled Him; when the jeering crowd cried, ‘Crucify Him!’—when their worldly ambitions were disappointed, these self-seeking ones would, by renouncing their allegiance to Jesus, have brought upon the disciples a bitter, heart-burdening sorrow, in addition to their grief and disappointment in the ruin of their fondest hopes. In that hour of darkness, the example of those who turned from Him might have carried others with them. But Jesus brought about this crisis while by His personal presence He could still strengthen the faith of His true followers.
當耶穌提出那使祂許多門徒退去的試驗真理之時，祂早已知道祂話語所必致的結果；然而，祂有一個憐憫的旨意要成全。祂預見，在試探的時辰，祂每一個所愛的門徒都要受到嚴峻的考驗。祂在客西馬尼的痛苦，祂所遭受的出賣與釘十字架，對他們而言，必成為極其艱鉅的試煉。倘若先前沒有給予這樣的考驗，許多只受自私動機驅使的人，便會與他們聯結在一起。當他們的主在公堂中被定罪；當那曾擁戴祂為王的群眾向祂發出噓聲，並辱罵祂；當那譏誚的群眾呼喊：「把祂釘十字架！」——當他們屬世的雄心落空之時，這些只求己益的人，藉着否認他們對耶穌的效忠，除了他們因自己最珍愛的盼望幻滅而有的憂傷與失望之外，還會給門徒帶來一種苦澀、重壓心頭的憂患。在那黑暗的時刻，那些離開祂之人的榜樣，原可能把別的人也一同帶走。但耶穌卻在這場危機來到之時，仍藉着祂親自同在，得以堅固祂真實跟從者的信心。
“Compassionate Redeemer, who in the full knowledge of the doom that awaited Him, tenderly smoothed the way for the disciples, prepared them for their crowning trial, and strengthened them for the final test!” The Desire of Ages, 394.
「滿有憐憫的救贖主，在完全知道那等候着祂之厄運的情況下，仍溫柔地為門徒鋪平道路，使他們為其最重大的考驗作好準備，並堅固他們去面對最後的試煉！」《歷代願望》，394頁。
The Sunday law is the final test where character is manifested. Before the final test Christ, who never changes, allows a test by which His people’s eternal destiny will be decided. It is a test they must pass before they are sealed, and before their probation closes at the Sunday law. It is a prophetic test that prepares the wise virgins “for their crowning trial, and strengthens them for the final test!” Their “crowning trial” is their crowning test, for the wise virgins are those who are “purified, made white and tried.” The final test is their crowning trial, and in that testing time, the wise virgins “will walk in light proceeding from the throne of God”. What is it within the testing process represented as “the formation of the image of the beast” that prepares the wise virgins for the crowning trial and allows them to walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. What is the light that proceeds from the throne of God?
星期日法乃係顯明品格嘅最後考驗。喺最後考驗之前，永不改變嘅基督容許一場考驗，藉此決定祂子民永恆嘅命運。呢係一場佢哋必須通過嘅考驗，先至可以喺被蓋印之前，並且喺佢哋恩典時期於星期日法之下結束之前，得以站立得住。呢係一場預言性嘅考驗，預備聰明嘅童女「迎接佢哋加冕前最嚴峻嘅試煉，並使佢哋有力量應付最後嘅考驗！」佢哋嘅「加冕前最嚴峻嘅試煉」就係佢哋最重要、最終極嘅考驗，因為聰明嘅童女就係嗰啲「被潔淨、變為雪白，且被試驗」嘅人。最後嘅考驗就係佢哋加冕前最嚴峻嘅試煉；而喺嗰段受試驗嘅時期，聰明嘅童女「必行喺由上帝寶座所發出嘅光中」。喺呢個以「獸像嘅形成」作為表徵嘅考驗過程之中，究竟係乜嘢預備聰明嘅童女去迎接加冕前最嚴峻嘅試煉，並使佢哋能夠行喺由上帝寶座所發出嘅光中？嗰由上帝寶座所發出嘅光，究竟係乜嘢？
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:1–5.
羔羊揭開第七印嘅時候，天上寂靜，約有半個鐘頭。我看見那站在神面前嘅七位天使；有七枝號筒賜畀佢哋。又有另一位天使來，站喺祭壇旁邊，攞住金香爐；有許多香賜畀佢，叫佢同眾聖徒嘅祈禱一同獻喺寶座前嘅金壇上。那香嘅煙同眾聖徒嘅祈禱，從天使手中一同升到神面前。天使攞起香爐，盛滿咗祭壇上嘅火，掟喺地上；就有聲音、雷轟、閃電，同地震。啟示錄 8:1–5。
In the last days, in the period where the parable of the ten virgins is being fulfilled and the one hundred and forty-four thousand are being sealed, the seventh seal is unsealed and it identifies fire being cast to the earth in answer to the prayers of the saints. The fire that is cast down in the final and perfect fulfillment of the parable of the ten virgins is the message of the midnight cry, as typified by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Exeter camp meeting, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which was there represented as fire. Notice Sister White’s commentary on the message of the midnight cry.
喺末後嘅日子，即係十童女嘅比喻正被應驗、十四萬四千人正被蓋印嘅時期，第七印被揭開；呢一印指出，因應聖徒嘅祈禱，有火被拋落到地上。喺十童女比喻最終而完全應驗之時所降下嘅火，就係半夜呼喊嘅信息；正如以埃克塞特營會聖靈嘅澆灌所預表，又如五旬節聖靈嘅澆灌一樣；喺嗰度，聖靈乃係以火作為表徵。請留意懷愛倫姊妹對半夜呼喊信息嘅評述。
“Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel’s message, which shows the way into the most holy place. I saw that as the Jews crucified Jesus, so the nominal churches had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no knowledge of the way into the most holy, and they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there. Like the Jews, who offered their useless sacrifices, they offer up their useless prayers to the apartment which Jesus has left; and Satan, pleased with the deception, assumes a religious character, and leads the minds of these professed Christians to himself, working with his power, his signs and lying wonders, to fasten them in his snare.” Early Writings, 259–261.
「拒絕了第一個信息的人，便不能從第二個信息得益；他們也沒有從半夜的呼聲得益；這呼聲原是要預備他們，叫他們憑着信心，與耶穌一同進入天上聖所中的至聖所。並且，由於他們拒絕了先前那兩個信息，他們的悟性便被蒙蔽到一個地步，以致在指示通往至聖所之路的第三位天使信息中，再也看不見半點亮光。我看見，正如猶太人把耶穌釘十字架，照樣，徒有其名的眾教會也把這些信息釘了十字架；因此，他們對那通往至聖所的道路毫無認識，也不能從耶穌在那裏的代求中得着益處。他們像猶太人一樣，獻上他們那毫無功效的祭物；他們也把自己那毫無功效的祈禱獻到耶穌已經離開了的聖所間隔；撒但因這迷惑而歡喜，便裝作宗教的樣式，將這些自稱為基督徒之人的心思引向自己，並運用他的能力、神蹟和虛假的奇事，把他們牢牢繫在他的網羅之中。」《早期著作》，259–261。
In the Millerite history the test of the message of the midnight cry “was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.” The message of the midnight cry that is now being developed is also represented as the testing of the formation of the image of the beast. They are both the test that leads to the close of probation where character is manifested. When the Millerites entered into the Most Holy Place by faith, their faith was once again tested. The faith of the one hundred and forty-four thousand will be tested at the Sunday law, but they are promised that they will be safe, for they will walk “in the light proceeding from” the seventh seal, which was opened when the message of the midnight cry began to be unsealed in July of 2023.
喺米勒派嘅歷史入面，半夜呼喊信息嘅試驗，「係要預備佢哋，藉着信心，同耶穌一齊進入天上聖所嘅至聖所。」而家正被展開嘅半夜呼喊信息，同樣亦被表明為對獸像形成之試驗。兩者都係引向恩門關閉之試驗；喺嗰時，品格便顯明出嚟。當米勒派藉着信心進入至聖所之後，佢哋嘅信心再一次受到試驗。十四萬四千人嘅信心將會喺星期日法令之時受到試驗；但佢哋蒙應許必得平安，因為佢哋將要行喺「由」第七印「所發出之光」中；而第七印，乃係喺二〇二三年七月，當半夜呼喊信息開始被揭開之時打開嘅。
The message that was unsealed at that time is established through the methodology of line upon line, which is the methodology of the latter rain. The latter rain began to sprinkle in 2001, and the final testing of Adventism began. In July of 2023 the final period in the testing process that concludes at the Sunday law began when the message of the midnight cry, which is also the latter rain, which is also the increase of knowledge that is produced when the seventh seal is removed, and is also the unsealing of the seven thunders as well as the Revelation of Jesus Christ. All the lines that represent an unsealing of prophetic light are identified as being unsealed in the hidden history of verse forty of Daniel chapter eleven.
當時被揭開封印嘅信息，係藉着「一行又一行」呢種方法論而被建立；呢正係晚雨嘅方法論。晚雨喺2001年開始灑下，而復臨信仰所要面對嘅最後試驗亦由此開始。到2023年7月，呢個試驗過程中最後嘅一段時期開始；而呢個過程將會喺星期日法令之時告終。嗰時，午夜呼聲嘅信息——亦即晚雨，亦即當第七印被除去時所產生嘅知識增長，亦即七雷嘅開封，以及耶穌基督嘅啟示——開始發出。所有代表先知亮光被開封嘅各條線，都被指明係喺但以理書第十一章第四十節嘅隱藏歷史中被開封。
In that hidden history the line of the Constitution’s three primary waymarks is represented. It is the line when church and state come together to form the image of the beast. It contains a prophetic line that addresses the presidents of the United States which illustrate the dynamics of the political struggles that occur in the history of the Republican horn of the earth-beast. That line includes the parallel histories of both major political parties of the United States. That line is closely related to the horn of apostate Protestantism from its beginning in 1844, until it usurps the control of the civil government at the Sunday law.
喺嗰段隱藏嘅歷史當中，呈現咗《憲法》三個主要路標嘅脈絡。呢條脈絡，就係教會同國家聯合起來，形成獸像之時嘅路線。當中包含一條先知性嘅脈絡，論到美國歷任總統；而呢啲總統說明咗喺地獸之共和黨角歷史之中所發生嘅政治鬥爭動態。呢條脈絡亦包括美國兩大主要政黨彼此平行嘅歷史。呢條脈絡，同背道之新教嗰隻角有密切關係，從1844年開始，直到佢喺星期日法案之時篡奪民政政府嘅控制權為止。
The prophetic role of apostate Protestantism includes the witness of the Hasmonaean Dynasty as a symbol of apostate Protestantism. In the backdrop of the line of the horn of apostate Protestantism you also have the line of the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church. From the line of Laodicean Adventism you have the line of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. That hidden history also has the line of Islam of the third woe. Russia has a line, the United Nations has a line and of course, the papal power has a line.
背道嘅新教喺預言中所擔當嘅角色，包括哈斯蒙尼王朝所作為背道新教之象徵嘅見證。喺背道新教之角嘅路線背景之中，你同時亦見到老底嘉嘅基督復臨安息日會之路線。由老底嘉復臨信仰嘅路線，又引出十四萬四千人嘅路線。嗰段隱藏嘅歷史，同樣亦包含第三樣災禍之伊斯蘭嘅路線。俄羅斯有一條路線，聯合國有一條路線，而當然，教皇權亦有一條路線。
If a student of prophecy applies himself as a Berean living in the last days, he will feed upon the lines that are identified in the hidden history of verse forty. The student of prophecy will take the book out of the angel’s hand and eat it. Then when the final test of the Sunday law arrives, he will not only have come to understand the message of the midnight cry that was unsealed, but he will fully understand how the image of the beast was formed in the United States.
如果一個研習預言嘅學生，以一個活喺末後日子嘅庇哩亞人之態度專心致志，佢就必以第四十節隱藏歷史中所標明嘅各條線索為糧。研習預言嘅學生必從天使手中將嗰書卷攞過嚟食落去。到咗星期日法嘅最後考驗臨到之時，佢唔單止會明白嗰已被揭開封印之半夜呼聲嘅信息，並且亦會完全明白獸像係點樣喺美國形成。
The light of the seventh seal proceeds from the throne and in the context of the parable of the ten virgins it is the message of the midnight cry. The message of the midnight cry is what prepares the wise virgins for the period when the persecutions of the past are repeated.
第七印嘅光乃係由寶座發出；而喺十個童女嘅比喻嘅語境之中，佢就係半夜嘅呼聲呢個信息。半夜嘅呼聲呢個信息，正係使聰明嘅童女為住昔日嘅迫害再次重演嘅時期作好預備。
“In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.” Testimonies to Ministers, 31.
「回顧我哋過去嘅歷史，走過每一步進展，直到達到我哋現今所處嘅地位，我可以話：讚美上帝！當我睇見上帝所成就嘅事，我心裏充滿驚奇，並且對基督作為領袖滿有信心。對於將來，我哋冇任何可懼怕嘅；除非我哋忘記咗主點樣帶領我哋，以及祂喺我哋過去歷史中所賜嘅教訓。」《傳道人證言》，31。
The Lord is leading His people in the testing process that began in July 2023. His leading included opening up the prophetic word in relation to the hidden history of verse forty. That history identifies how the image of the beast is formed in the United States, and of course much more than simply that element of end-time events. When we find ourselves in the crowning trial at the Sunday law, when the persecutions of the past are beginning to repeat, we “have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”
主正喺自二○二三年七月開始嘅試驗過程中引領祂嘅子民。祂嘅引領包括開啟嗰與第四十節隱藏歷史有關嘅先知之言。嗰段歷史指出，獸像係點樣喺美國形成；當然，所涉及嘅遠遠唔止末時事件中呢一個元素。當我哋喺星期日法案之下置身於嗰頂峰嘅考驗之中，當過去嘅迫害開始重演之時，我哋「對將來冇乜可怕，除非我哋忘記咗主點樣引領我哋，以及祂喺我哋過去歷史中對我哋嘅教導。」
At the Sunday law the “past history” will be repeated in the period of the formation of the image of the beast in the United States. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has unsealed the final message and led His people to the hidden history of verse forty. There He taught His people to not simply understand His prophetic word, but also the privilege and responsibility to attain an experience qualified to be among those of His people who were to be His representatives in the final crisis.
喺星期日法案之時，喺美國形成獸像嘅時期，「過去嘅歷史」將會重演。猶大支派嘅獅子已經揭開咗最後嘅信息，並且帶領祂嘅子民去到第四十節所隱藏嘅歷史。喺嗰度，祂教導祂嘅子民，唔單止要明白祂嘅預言之道，亦都要領受嗰種經驗所附有嘅特權同責任，好使佢哋有資格成為祂子民中嗰啲要喺最後危機之中作祂代表嘅人。
One of the prophetic characteristics of those people is that they know how to walk by the light proceeding from the throne. That light is the light of the hidden history of verse forty, which describes in minute detail the religious, political, social and economic dynamics involved in erecting the image of the beast in the United States. The light which is recognized concerning this sacred history is produced through the application of line upon line, from here a little and there a little, and it is the light that describes the history when the persecutions of the past are once again initiated.
其中一項屬於那班人嘅先知性特徵，就係佢哋曉得點樣憑住從寶座發出嘅光而行。嗰光就係第四十節所隱藏之歷史嘅亮光；呢段歷史以極其細緻嘅方式，描述喺美國建立獸像之時所涉及嘅宗教、政治、社會同經濟動態。對呢段神聖歷史所領受並承認嘅亮光，乃係藉着「律上加律，例上加例，呢度一點，嗰度一點」嘅應用而產生；而呢亮光所描繪嘅，正係昔日嘅迫害再一次被啟動之時嘅歷史。
Those who understand the increase of knowledge are the wise, and the increase of knowledge is upon the formation of the image of the beast, and the wise will understand the history of the formation of the image of the beast in the world in advance of the arrival of that history. Jesus, as Alpha and Omega, always illustrates the end of a thing with the beginning of a thing.
明白知識增長的人，就是智慧人；而知識的增長乃關乎獸像的形成；智慧人必在那段歷史臨到世界之前，預先明白獸像在世界上形成的歷史。耶穌作為阿拉法與俄梅戛，總是以一件事的起頭來闡明那件事的終局。
It is worth noting that the passage where Sister White identifies that God’s people will walk in light proceeding from the throne is the conclusion of the first chapter in Testimonies, volume nine. The chapter begins on page eleven, so the chapter begins at nine-eleven and it ends describing the Sunday law. It describes the period where the image of the beast is formed and the one hundred and forty-four thousand are manifested, but only if you have the faith to see that chapter in such a fashion.
值得注意嘅係，懷愛倫姊妹指出上帝嘅子民要行喺由寶座發出之光中嘅嗰段經文，乃係《證言》第九卷第一章嘅結語。該章由第十一頁開始，所以呢一章係喺九—十一開始，而佢嘅結尾就係描述星期日法案。佢描述咗獸像被造成、以及十四萬四千人被顯明出嚟嘅時期，但前提係你必須有信心，先能夠以呢種方式去睇見嗰一章。
Being the first section of volume nine, it opens with that identification, and employs the title, For the Coming of the King. It is clearly referencing not only the Second Coming of Christ, but also the parable of the ten virgins, for the section title then quotes Paul.
作為第九卷嘅第一部分，佢以嗰個標識作為開端，並採用《為王嘅來臨》呢個題目。呢個顯然唔單止係指向基督第二次來臨，亦都係指向十個童女嘅比喻，因為該部分嘅標題隨後引用咗保羅。
“Section 1—For the Coming of the King
「第一節——為君王的來臨」
“‘Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.’ Hebrews 10:37.”
「『仲有少時，嗰位將要來的必定要來，並不遲延。』希伯來書 10:37。」
The following two verses are left off, but they contribute to the light in the passage.
以下兩節經文雖然被省略了，但它們對這段經文所啟示的亮光有所補充。
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:37–39.
因為還有一點點時候，那要來的就來，並不遲延。只是義人必因信得生；他若退後，我心裡就不喜歡他。但我們卻不是那些退後以致沉淪的人，乃是那些有信心以致靈魂得救的人。希伯來書 10:37–39。
Paul was referring to Habakkuk where the faithful wise virgins are contrasted with those who Paul says “draw back unto perdition.” Habakkuk said it this way:
保羅所指嘅係《哈巴谷書》，其中忠信而有智慧嘅童女，與嗰啲保羅所講「退後以致沉淪」嘅人形成對比。哈巴谷係咁樣講嘅：
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4.
看哪，自高自大的人，心不正直；惟義人必因信得生。哈巴谷書 2:4。
Habakkuk’s tarrying time is the tarrying time of the ten virgins, and the chapter of the coming King, in connection with Paul’s words from Hebrews, identifies the perfect fulfillment and application of this chapter in the period of the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. That period began on September 11, 2001 and ends at the Sunday law, which is Laodicean Adventism’s last crisis, which in the parable of the ten virgins is the manifestation of character at the Sunday law. The last paragraphs of the chapter address the Sunday law, and the chapter begins by addressing September 11, 2001.
哈巴谷嘅遲延時期，就係十個童女嘅遲延時期；而《那將要來的王》呢一章，連同保羅喺《希伯來書》入面所講嘅話，一同指出呢一章喺十四萬四千人受印時期之中嘅完全應驗同應用。嗰段時期係由2001年9月11日開始，直到星期日法令為止；而星期日法令就係老底嘉復臨信仰最後嘅危機，亦即喺十童女嘅比喻之中，於星期日法令時品格嘅顯明。呢一章最後幾段係論到星期日法令，而呢一章一開始就係論到2001年9月11日。
“The Last Crisis
「最後嘅危機」
“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.
「我哋正活喺末時。迅速應驗嘅時代徵兆宣告基督嘅降臨已經近在眼前。我哋所處嘅日子係嚴肅而重要嘅。上帝嘅靈正逐漸而確實地由地上撤回。災殃同審判已經臨到嗰啲藐視上帝恩典嘅人。陸地同海上嘅災禍、社會動盪不安嘅狀況、戰爭嘅警號，都係不祥之兆。呢一切都預示住極其重大之事件將要來臨。」
“The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.
邪惡的勢力正在聯合起來，並且鞏固其陣營。它們正在增強力量，為那最後的大危機作準備。我們的世界不久將要發生重大的變化，而最後的行動將會迅速展開。
“The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.
世界現今嘅情況顯示，艱難危急嘅時代已經迫在眉睫。每日嘅報章都充滿咗種種跡象，表明喺不久嘅將來將會有一場可怕嘅衝突。膽大妄為嘅劫掠案件頻頻發生。罷工屢見不鮮。偷竊同兇殺到處都在進行。被鬼魔附著嘅人奪去男人、女人同幼小兒童嘅性命。人已經沉迷於罪惡，各樣邪惡之事盛行。
“The enemy has succeeded in perverting justice and in filling men’s hearts with the desire for selfish gain. ‘Justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.’ Isaiah 59:14. In the great cities there are multitudes living in poverty and wretchedness, well-nigh destitute of food, shelter, and clothing; while in the same cities are those who have more than heart could wish, who live luxuriously, spending their money on richly furnished houses, on personal adornment, or worse still, upon the gratification of sensual appetites, upon liquor, tobacco, and other things that destroy the powers of the brain, unbalance the mind, and debase the soul. The cries of starving humanity are coming up before God, while by every species of oppression and extortion men are piling up colossal fortunes.
「仇敵已經成功歪曲公義，並使人心充滿自私圖利之慾。『並且公平轉而退後，公義站在遠處；誠實在街上仆倒，正直也不得進入。』以賽亞書 59:14。在大城市中，有千千萬萬的人活在貧窮困苦之中，幾乎缺乏食物、居所與衣服；而在同樣的城市裏，卻有人所得的過於心所能願，生活窮奢極侈，把金錢花費在華美陳設的房屋上、個人的妝飾上，或更惡劣地，用於滿足肉體情慾，耗於酒、煙，以及其他摧毀腦力、使心智失衡、並敗壞靈魂之物。飢餓人類的呼號正在上達於上帝面前；然而人卻藉着各樣欺壓與勒索，積聚龐大無比的財富。」
“On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify their owners and builders. Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used. Those to whom these buildings belonged were not asking themselves: ‘How can we best glorify God?’ The Lord was not in their thoughts.
有一次，我身處紐約市，在夜間異象之中，有聲呼召我去觀看：有樓宇一層又一層地拔起，直向天際。這些樓宇都保證為防火建築；它們被建造起來，乃是為要榮耀其業主和建造者。這些樓宇越建越高，而且其中所用的，都是最昂貴的材料。那些擁有這些樓宇的人，並沒有問自己：「我們怎樣才能最好地榮耀上帝呢？」主並不在他們的心思之中。
“I thought: ‘Oh, that those who are thus investing their means could see their course as God sees it! They are piling up magnificent buildings, but how foolish in the sight of the Ruler of the universe is their planning and devising. They are not studying with all the powers of heart and mind how they may glorify God. They have lost sight of this, the first duty of man.’
「我心裏想：『噢，但願嗰啲咁樣運用自己資財嘅人，能夠照住上帝所睇見嘅方式去睇清自己所行嘅路！佢哋堆積起宏偉華麗嘅建築物，然而喺宇宙統治者眼中，佢哋嘅籌劃同設計係何等愚昧。佢哋並冇用盡心靈同思想一切嘅力量，去思考自己可以點樣榮耀上帝。佢哋已經失去咗呢一點——人首要嘅本分。』」
“As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in gratifying self and provoking the envy of their neighbors. Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding down the poor. They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah.
「當呢啲巍峨嘅建築物拔地而起之時，業主就以野心勃勃嘅驕傲而歡喜，因為佢哋有金錢可以用嚟滿足自我，並激起鄰舍嘅嫉妒。佢哋咁樣投入嘅金錢，有好多係藉着苛索、藉着榨取窮人而得來嘅。佢哋忘記咗：喺天上，每一宗商業交易都有賬目被記錄；每一宗不義嘅交易，每一件欺詐嘅行為，都記錄喺嗰度。時候將要來到，人喺佢哋嘅詭詐同狂妄之中，必達到一個主唔容許佢哋越過嘅地步；到時，佢哋就要知道，耶和華嘅寬容係有界限嘅。」
“The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings and said: ‘They are perfectly safe.’ But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.
「跟住喺我眼前出現嘅景象，乃係一場火警嘅警報。人望住嗰啲高聳、據稱防火嘅建築物，話：『呢啲係絕對安全嘅。』但係，呢啲建築物卻被燒毀，彷彿係用瀝青造成一樣。消防車對於制止呢場毀滅，毫無作用。消防員亦無法操作嗰啲消防機器。」
“I am instructed that when the Lord’s time comes, should no change have taken place in the hearts of proud, ambitious human beings, men will find that the hand that had been strong to save will be strong to destroy. No earthly power can stay the hand of God. No material can be used in the erection of buildings that will preserve them from destruction when God’s appointed time comes to send retribution on men for their disregard of His law and for their selfish ambition.
「我蒙指示，當主所定嘅時候來到，若驕傲、自負、有野心之人嘅心仍然毫無改變，人就必發現：嗰隻一向有大能施行拯救嘅手，也必有大能施行毀滅。地上任何權勢都不能攔阻上帝嘅手。當上帝所指定、要因人藐視祂嘅律法同佢哋自私嘅野心而向人施行報應嘅時候來到，任何用於建造樓宇嘅材料，都不能使其免於毀滅。」
“There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God’s word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them.
「就算喺教育家同政治家當中，真正明白構成現今社會狀況之根本原因嘅人，亦為數不多。嗰啲掌握政權嘅人，無力解決道德敗壞、貧窮、赤貧，以及罪案日益增多呢啲問題。佢哋徒然掙扎，想要使商業運作建立喺更穩固嘅基礎之上。若果世人肯更加留意上帝聖言嘅教訓，就必能搵到解決使佢哋困惑之種種問題嘅方法。」
“The Scriptures describe the condition of the world just before Christ’s second coming. Of the men who by robbery and extortion are amassing great riches, it is written: ‘Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.’ James 5:3–6.
《聖經》描述基督第二次降臨之前、世界的景況。論到那些藉着搶奪和勒索積聚巨額財富的人，經上記着說：「你們在這末世積攢財寶。看哪，工人給你們收割了田地，你們虧欠他們的工錢，這工錢有聲音呼叫；並且那收割之人的冤聲，已經入了萬軍之主的耳了。你們在世上享美福，好宴樂，使自己心裏快活，如同宰殺的日子一樣。你們定了義人的罪，把他殺害；他也不抵擋你們。」雅各書 5:3–6。
“But who reads the warnings given by the fast-fulfilling signs of the times? What impression is made upon worldlings? What change is seen in their attitude? No more than was seen in the attitude of the inhabitants of the Noachian world. Absorbed in worldly business and pleasure, the antediluvians ‘knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away.’ Matthew 24:39. They had heaven-sent warnings, but they refused to listen. And today the world, utterly regardless of the warning voice of God, is hurrying on to eternal ruin.
「但有邊個會讀懂呢個時代迅速應驗之兆頭所發出嘅警告呢？呢啲警告喺屬世之人身上造成咗乜嘢印象呢？喺佢哋嘅態度上又見到乜嘢改變呢？實在同挪亞時代世界居民嘅態度所顯出嘅，並無分別。洪水以前的人，專心沉迷於世務同宴樂，『不知不覺洪水來了，把他們全都沖去。』馬太福音 24:39。佢哋曾得着從天而來嘅警告，卻拒絕聽從。今日，世人對上帝警告之聲全然漠不關心，正急速奔向永遠嘅滅亡。」
“The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place.
世界被戰爭嘅精神所激動。〈但以理書〉第十一章嘅預言，幾乎已經達到完全應驗。預言中所講嘅患難景象，不久就要發生。
“‘“Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof…. Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate…. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.’ Isaiah 24:1–8.
「『看哪，耶和華使地空虛，變為荒涼；又將地翻轉，分散其中的居民……因為他們干犯律法，更改典章，背了永約。所以，咒詛吞滅大地，住在其上的都受荒涼……擊鼓之樂止息，歡樂人的喧聲終止，琴瑟的喜樂止息。』以賽亞書 24:1–8。」
“‘Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come…. The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down, for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.’ ‘The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.” Joel 1:15–18, 12.
「哀哉，這日子！因為耶和華的日子臨近了；這日子來到，好像從全能者而來的毀滅……種子在土塊下朽爛；倉廩荒涼，穀倉拆毀，因為五穀枯乾。牲畜何等哀鳴！牛群困惑，因為沒有草場；羊群也受了淒涼。」 「葡萄樹枯乾，無花果樹衰殘；石榴樹、棕樹、蘋果樹，連田野一切的樹木，也都枯乾；因為歡樂從世人中間衰殘了。」約珥書 1:15–18, 12。
“‘I am pained at my very heart; … I cannot hold my peace, because thou has heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled.’ Jeremiah 4:19, 20.
「我心在我裏面痛苦；……我不能靜默不言，因為我嘅心哪，你已經聽見號角之聲，同埋爭戰嘅警號。毀壞接連毀壞被宣告，因為全地都荒廢咗。」耶利米書 4:19, 20。
“‘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.’ Verses 23–26.
「我觀看地，不料，地是空虛混沌；我觀看天，天也無光。我觀看大山，不料，盡都震動；小山也都搖來搖去。我觀看，不料，無人居住；空中的飛鳥也都逃去。我觀看，不料，肥田變為曠野；其中的一切城邑在耶和華面前，因祂的烈怒，都被拆毀。」第23－26節。
“‘“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7.
「唉！因為那日為大，無日可比；這乃是雅各遭難的時候；但他必從其中得救。」耶利米書 30:7。
“Not all in this world have taken sides with the enemy against God. Not all have become disloyal. There are a faithful few who are true to God; for John writes: ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Revelation 14:12. Soon the battle will be waged fiercely between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. Soon everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain.
「並非世上所有人都已站在仇敵一邊與上帝為敵。並非所有人都已變為不忠。仍有忠心嘅少數人，對上帝保持真誠；因為約翰寫道：『聖徒的忍耐就在此；他們是守上帝誡命和耶穌真道的。』啟示錄 14:12。好快，事奉上帝的人同唔事奉祂的人之間，將會展開激烈嘅爭戰。好快，凡可震動嘅都要被震動，叫那不可震動的仍然存留。」
“Satan is a diligent Bible student. He knows that his time is short, and he seeks at every point to counterwork the work of the Lord upon this earth. It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God’s people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God’s tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12–18. They are to take their stand on the living word: ‘It is written.’ This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely. Those who have broken their covenant with God will in that day be without God and without hope.
「撒但乃係一個勤力研讀聖經嘅學生。佢知道自己嘅時候唔多，並且佢喺每一點上都設法對抗主喺呢個地上所作嘅工作。當屬天嘅榮耀同昔日迫害嘅重演交織埋一齊之時，嗰啲仍然活喺地上之上帝子民所要經歷嘅情況，實在係無法充分形容。佢哋將要行喺由上帝寶座發出嘅光中。藉着天使，天同地之間將會有不斷嘅交通。而撒但被惡天使環繞，並自稱為上帝，將要行各樣神蹟，若可能，連選民也要迷惑。上帝嘅子民唔會喺行神蹟之中找到自己嘅安全，因為撒但會仿冒嗰啲將要被行出嚟嘅神蹟。上帝受過試煉、經過考驗嘅子民，將會喺《出埃及記》31:12–18 所講嘅記號之中找到佢哋嘅能力。佢哋要站穩喺活潑嘅聖言之上：『經上記着說。』呢個係佢哋唯一可以穩固站立嘅根基。嗰啲違背咗自己與上帝所立之約嘅人，到嗰日就會無上帝，亦都無指望。」
“The worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard for the fourth commandment, since this is the sign of God’s creative power and the witness to His claim upon man’s reverence and homage. The wicked will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down the Creator’s memorial and to exalt the institution of Rome. In the issue of the conflict all Christendom will be divided into two great classes, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compel all, ‘both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,’ to receive the mark of the beast, yet the people of God will not receive it. Revelation 13:16. The prophet of Patmos beholds ‘them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God,’ and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Revelation 15:2.
上帝嘅敬拜者，將會特別因着佢哋對第四條誡命嘅重視而顯明出嚟；因為呢條誡命乃係上帝創造大能嘅記號，亦係祂要求人向祂存敬畏同崇敬之權利嘅見證。惡人則會因着佢哋致力拆毀創造主嘅紀念，並高舉羅馬所設立嘅制度，而顯明出嚟。喺呢場爭戰所關涉嘅問題上，整個基督教界都要分成兩大類：一類係守上帝誡命同耶穌真道嘅人；另一類係敬拜獸同獸像，並接受佢印記嘅人。雖然教會同國家將會聯合佢哋嘅權勢，強迫所有人，「無論大小、貧富、自主的、為奴的」，都接受獸嘅印記；然而，上帝嘅子民必不接受。啟示錄 13:16。拔摩海島上嘅先知望見「那些勝了獸和獸的像，並牠名字數目的人，都站在玻璃海上，拿着上帝的琴」，唱摩西同羔羊之歌。啟示錄 15:2。
“Fearful tests and trials await the people of God. The spirit of war is stirring the nations from one end of the earth to the other. But in the midst of the time of trouble that is coming,—a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation,—God’s chosen people will stand unmoved. Satan and his host cannot destroy them, for angels that excel in strength will protect them.” Testimonies, volume 9, 11–17.
「可怕嘅考驗同試煉正等候住上帝嘅子民。戰爭嘅靈正喺地極此端到彼端攪動列國。但係喺將要臨到嘅患難時期之中——就係自有國以來未曾有過嘅患難時期——上帝所揀選嘅子民必站立得穩，毫不動搖。撒但同佢嘅軍旅唔能夠毀滅佢哋，因為大有能力嘅天使必保護佢哋。」《證言》卷九，11–17。
The one hundred and forty-four thousand, who are “God’s tried and tested people” His “chosen people” “will stand unmoved” when “the persecutions of the past” are repeated. The light they will “walk in” is the light of the message of the seventh seal, which is the midnight cry, which is the light identifying the formation of the image of the beast.
嗰十四萬四千人，乃係「上帝經過試驗並證實嘅子民」、祂「所揀選嘅子民」；當「昔日嘅迫害」再次重演之時，佢哋「必站立得穩，毫不動搖」。佢哋所要「行喺其中」嘅光，就係第七印信息之光，亦即半夜呼喊之光，亦即指出獸像形成嘅光。