It is essential in understanding the message that is being unsealed in the book of Revelation, to recognize the roots, development and significance of the Protestant Reformation. Three primary lines within the history of that Reformation address the Bible, and the correct methodology to be used in studying the Bible and also that the chosen messengers through that history are waymarks of that history. As always is the case Satan attempted to hide the King James Bible with several counterfeits, and he sought to hide the correct methodology for understanding the Bible with several counterfeits and he also sought to hide the correct messengers (waymarks) that were raised up along the way in that history.
要明白《啟示錄》中正在被揭開印封嘅信息,認識更正教宗教改革嘅根源、發展同埋重要意義,乃係不可或缺。喺嗰場改革嘅歷史之中,有三條主要脈絡涉及聖經,以及研讀聖經時所應採用嘅正確方法論;並且,喺嗰段歷史中所揀選嘅使者,亦都係嗰段歷史嘅路標。正如一向如此,撒但曾試圖以幾種偽冒本去隱藏《英王欽定本聖經》,又試圖以幾種偽冒嘅方法去掩蓋明白聖經嘅正確方法論;同時,佢亦試圖隱藏喺嗰段歷史進程中一路被興起嘅正確使者(路標)。
“But Satan was not idle. He now attempted what he has attempted in every other reformatory movement—to deceive and destroy the people by palming off upon them a counterfeit in place of the true work. As there were false Christ’s in the first century of the Christian church, so there arose false prophets in the sixteenth century.” The Great Controversy, 186.
「但撒但並沒有閒着。佢而家嘗試去做嘅,正係佢喺每一次改革運動之中都曾經嘗試過嘅事——用冒牌貨頂替真實嘅工作,藉此欺騙並毀滅上帝嘅子民。正如喺基督教會第一世紀有假基督出現,照樣,喺十六世紀亦興起咗假先知。」《善惡之爭》,186頁。
In the Millerite history from 1840 through 1844 the mantle of Protestantism, (which is one of two horns on the earth-beast that is the United States), Millerite Adventism became the Protestant horn. At the same time, the churches who had previously professed to be Protestant became apostate Protestantism, or as the Millerites identified them, “the daughters of Rome.” When the Protestants rejected the first angel’s message in 1843, they fell and the Millerites carried on with the mantle of Protestantism. The Millerite history was the climax of God’s work in bringing His “church in the wilderness” up to the full understanding of the Word of God.
喺 1840 至 1844 年嘅米勒派歷史當中,新教呢件外衣(即係屬於地上之獸——美國——兩角之一),米勒派復臨運動成為咗新教之角。與此同時,嗰啲先前自稱為新教嘅眾教會,就變成咗背道嘅新教;或者照米勒派對佢哋嘅稱呼,就係「羅馬嘅眾女」。當新教徒喺 1843 年拒絕第一位天使嘅信息之時,佢哋就跌倒咗,而米勒派則繼續承擔新教呢件外衣。米勒派嘅歷史,乃係上帝將祂「曠野中嘅教會」帶到對上帝聖言完全明白之工作嘅高潮。
The opening of the investigative judgment brought the test of the law of God and especially the Sabbath. To proclaim the third angel’s message required a church that upheld the law of God, which had been buried under papal traditions and customs during the Dark Ages. Christ brought the Protestants to the history of 1840 to 1844 and presented the test of Elijah, of whom William Miller was typified, and when the Protestants rejected Miller’s message they returned to Rome. The test of the first angel’s message as delivered by Miller was typified by Elijah at Mount Carmel.
查案審判嘅展開,帶來咗上帝律法嘅考驗,尤其係安息日。要宣告第三位天使嘅信息,就必須有一個高舉上帝律法嘅教會;呢律法喺黑暗時代之中,曾被埋沒於教皇制度嘅傳統同習俗之下。基督將更正教徒帶到1840年至1844年呢段歷史,並擺出以利亞嘅考驗;威廉.米勒乃係其預表。當更正教徒拒絕米勒嘅信息之時,佢哋就返回羅馬。由米勒所傳達嘅第一位天使信息之考驗,乃由迦密山上嘅以利亞所預表。
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21.
以利亞前來到眾民那裏,說:「你們在兩種意見之間搖擺不定,要到幾時呢?若耶和華是神,就當跟從祂;若巴力是神,就當跟從巴力。」眾民一言不答。列王紀上 18:21
In 1840, when confronted with the message of Elijah, represented by Miller and the first angel, the Protestants chose Baal!
到咗1840年,當面對由米勒同第一位天使所代表、以利亞嘅信息之時,新教徒揀選咗巴力!
The Protestant Reformation was an unsealing of the truths of the Bible that began with the “morning star,” which was promised to be given during the history represented by the church of Thyatira. The direct attack against the Bible began centuries earlier and is clearly presented in The Great Controversy, especially with the history of the Waldensians. In 1930, Benjamin Wilkerson published the book, Our Authorized Bible Vindicated. The book documents the warfare against the sacred original texts that were ultimately used to translate the King James Bible and the various satanic counterfeit texts that were and still are promoted by Catholics, apostate Protestantism and Laodicean Adventists. The warfare began well before the history of the Waldensians, but they are the waymark and symbol of those who gave their lives to testify to the importance of the correct manuscripts that were ultimately translated into the 1611 King James Bible.
基督新教宗教改革,乃係對聖經真理嘅一次開啟,而呢個開啟係由「晨星」開始;呢顆「晨星」曾應許要賜下於推雅推喇教會所代表嘅歷史時期之中。對聖經嘅直接攻擊,早於幾個世紀之前已經開始,並且喺《善惡之爭》之中有清楚嘅闡述,尤其係藉着瓦典西人嘅歷史更加明顯。1930年,本傑明·威克遜出版咗《Our Authorized Bible Vindicated》一書。該書記錄咗針對神聖原始經文嘅爭戰;呢啲原始經文最終被用作翻譯《英王欽定本聖經》,同時亦記錄咗天主教、背道嘅新教,以及老底嘉復臨信徒所推崇、並且至今仍然推崇嘅各種撒但偽造經文。呢場爭戰喺瓦典西人嘅歷史之前好耐就已經開始,但佢哋乃係路標,亦係嗰啲為見證正確抄本之重要性而獻出生命之人嘅象徵;而呢啲正確抄本最終被譯成1611年《英王欽定本聖經》。
The production of the King James Bible in 1611 went through a very specific translation process. The process of translating and publishing the Bible was accomplished through seven steps of production. It also took seven years to accomplish, and seven biblical years is twenty-five hundred and twenty days. That is of course the same number of prophetic days in which Jesus confirmed the covenant with many in fulfillment of Daniel nine. In the center of that sacred week Christ was crucified, and of course Christ crucified is the center of the Bible. Those seven steps to produce the pure Word of God were as follows.
一六一一年《英王欽定本聖經》嘅編製,經歷咗一個極其特定嘅翻譯程序。翻譯同出版聖經嘅過程,係透過七個製作步驟完成嘅。呢項工作亦歷時七年先至完成,而七個聖經年份即係二千五百二十日。呢個數目,當然就係耶穌為咗應驗《但以理書》第九章,向許多人堅立盟約所涉及嘅同一個先知性日數。喺嗰個神聖七日之週嘅中心,基督被釘十字架;而被釘十字架嘅基督,當然亦係整本聖經嘅中心。為咗產生神純正嘅話語而經歷嘅嗰七個步驟如下。
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FIRST: Initial Translation by Individuals: Around 50 translators were divided into six committees, each responsible for different sections of the Bible. These individuals worked on translating from the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) into English.
第一:由個別人士作初步翻譯:約有五十位譯者被分成六個委員會,各自負責聖經不同部分。這些人士從原文語言(希伯來文、亞蘭文及希臘文)翻譯成英文。
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SECOND: Committee Review: After each committee completed their translation of a section, the work was reviewed by the committee members themselves. This allowed for collective input and correction of errors.
第二:委員會審閱:各委員會完成某一部分之翻譯後,該項工作便由委員會成員自行審閱。此舉使眾人得以共同提供意見,並更正錯誤。
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THIRD: General Committee Review: The individual committee translations were then submitted to a larger group of scholars, referred to as the General Committee. This committee consisted of representatives from each of the six translation committees. They reviewed the entire work, comparing and harmonizing the different committee translations.
第三:總委員會審核:其後,各個委員會嘅譯稿被提交畀一個由更多學者組成、稱為「總委員會」嘅較大群體。呢個委員會由六個翻譯委員會各自派出代表組成。佢哋審閱整項工作,對照並協調各委員會唔同嘅譯文。
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FOURTH: Additional Review and Revision: The General Committee’s revised version was sent back to the individual committees for further review and refinement. This iterative process helped ensure that the translation was consistent and accurate.
第四:進一步審閱與修訂:總委員會修訂後之版本,被發還各個分委會作進一步審閱與潤飾。此反覆修訂之過程,有助於確保譯文前後一致,並且準確無誤。
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FIFTH: Final Review and Approval: Once the individual committees completed their revisions, the final draft was submitted to the General Committee for a final review and approval.
第五:最後審核及批准:各個委員會完成其修訂之後,最終草稿便提交總委員會作最後審核及批准。
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SIXTH: Royal Approval and Publication: The approved translation was then presented to King James I for his approval.
第六:御准與頒行:獲批准之譯本,隨後呈交詹姆斯一世王御覽,以俟其批准。
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SEVENTH: Once he granted his royal approval, the translation was published in 1611 as the King James Version (Authorized Version) of the Bible.
第七:佢一經賜下御准,該譯本便於1611年出版,名為《英王欽定本聖經》(King James Version/Authorized Version)。
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. Psalms 12:6, 7.
耶和華的言語,是純淨的言語;如同銀子在地上的爐中煉過,精煉七次。耶和華啊,你必保守它們;你必保護它們脫離這世代,直到永遠。詩篇 12:6, 7。
In the warfare of Satan against God’s word, and against the waymarks represented by the various messengers of that unfolding history and of the correct methodology to be used in rightly dividing His Word the King James Bible of 1611, is a waymark that is specifically identified in Psalm twelve. None of the various counterfeit Bibles that have been produced through corrupted Catholic manuscripts meets the criteria of Psalm twelve. The purification process that took seven steps and the period of twenty-five hundred and twenty days identify that the King James Bible is God’s “pure words.” God promises to keep the King James Bible as His pure Word forever, and He therefore promises to uphold the methodology of “historicism” that was employed by the Protestant reformers, including William Miller.
喺撒但攻擊上帝嘅話語,並攻擊由嗰段逐步展開嘅歷史之中各位使者所代表嘅路標,以及攻擊正確分解祂話語所應採用之正確方法論嘅爭戰當中,《一六一一欽定本聖經》乃係一個喺《詩篇》第十二篇當中被特別指明嘅路標。凡係藉住被敗壞嘅天主教抄本而製作出嚟嘅各種冒牌聖經,冇一本符合《詩篇》第十二篇嘅準則。嗰個經過七個步驟嘅潔淨過程,以及二千五百二十日嘅時期,都指明《欽定本聖經》就係上帝嘅「純淨言語」。上帝應許要永遠保存《欽定本聖經》作為祂純淨嘅話語,因此,祂亦都應許維護由新教改革家——包括威廉.米勒——所採用嘅「歷史主義」方法論。
In the fourteenth century John Wycliffe, who is identified as “the morning star of the Reformation” in the book The Great Controversy was used by God to translate the Bible into a language that even a common man would understand. He is the messenger that marks the waymark of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
十四世紀時,約翰.威克里夫在《善惡之爭》中被稱為「宗教改革的晨星」;上帝使用他把《聖經》譯成連平民百姓都能明白的語言。他就是標示新教宗教改革開端之路標的那位使者。
“The great movement that Wycliffe inaugurated, which was to liberate the conscience and the intellect, and set free the nations so long bound to the triumphal car of Rome, had its spring in the Bible. Here was the source of that stream of blessing, which, like the water of life, has flowed down the ages since the fourteenth century. Wycliffe accepted the Holy Scriptures with implicit faith as the inspired revelation of God’s will, a sufficient rule of faith and practice. He had been educated to regard the Church of Rome as the divine, infallible authority, and to accept with unquestioning reverence the established teachings and customs of a thousand years; but he turned away from all these to listen to God’s holy word. This was the authority which he urged the people to acknowledge. Instead of the church speaking through the pope, he declared the only true authority to be the voice of God speaking through His word. And he taught not only that the Bible is a perfect revelation of God’s will, but that the Holy Spirit is its only interpreter, and that every man is, by the study of its teachings, to learn his duty for himself. Thus he turned the minds of men from the pope and the Church of Rome to the word of God.
威克里夫所倡導嗰場偉大運動,原是要釋放良心同理智,並使長久以來被縛喺羅馬凱旋車上嘅列國得自由;而其泉源乃在於《聖經》。喺呢度,就係嗰道福澤之流嘅源頭;自十四世紀以來,佢好似生命之水一樣,歷世歷代流淌不息。威克里夫以絕對嘅信心接受聖經,視之為上帝旨意所默示嘅啟示,亦係信仰同實踐之充分準則。佢曾受教育,要將羅馬教會視為神聖、無誤嘅權威,並以毫不置疑嘅敬畏,接受一千年來所確立嘅教訓同習俗;然而,佢離開咗呢一切,轉而聆聽上帝神聖嘅聖言。呢個先至係佢所敦促人民承認嘅權威。佢宣告,真正唯一嘅權威,並唔係由教皇代言嘅教會,而係上帝藉着祂嘅話語所發出嘅聲音。而且,佢教導人唔單止《聖經》係上帝旨意之完備啟示,亦都教導人聖靈係其唯一嘅詮釋者,並且每一個人都應當藉着研讀其中嘅教訓,親自明白自己當盡嘅本分。如此,佢使人嘅心思從教皇同羅馬教會轉向上帝嘅話語。
“Wycliffe was one of the greatest of the Reformers. In breadth of intellect, in clearness of thought, in firmness to maintain the truth, and in boldness to defend it, he was equaled by few who came after him. Purity of life, unwearying diligence in study and in labor, incorruptible integrity, and Christlike love and faithfulness in his ministry, characterized the first of the Reformers. And this notwithstanding the intellectual darkness and moral corruption of the age from which he emerged.
「威克里夫乃宗教改革家中最偉大者之一。在才智之廣博、思想之清晰、堅守真理之剛毅,以及捍衛真理之勇敢各方面,後來者鮮有能與之比肩。生活純潔、孜孜不倦於研讀與勞苦、不受腐化之正直品格,以及他在事奉中所彰顯基督般的愛心與忠誠,乃這位首位改革家的特徵。儘管如此,他卻是從那個他所出之時代的理智黑暗與道德敗壞之中興起的。」
“The character of Wycliffe is a testimony to the educating, transforming power of the Holy Scriptures. It was the Bible that made him what he was. The effort to grasp the great truths of revelation imparts freshness and vigor to all the faculties. It expands the mind, sharpens the perceptions, and ripens the judgment. The study of the Bible will ennoble every thought, feeling, and aspiration as no other study can. It gives stability of purpose, patience, courage, and fortitude; it refines the character and sanctifies the soul. An earnest, reverent study of the Scriptures, bringing the mind of the student in direct contact with the infinite mind, would give to the world men of stronger and more active intellect, as well as of nobler principle, than has ever resulted from the ablest training that human philosophy affords. ‘The entrance of Thy words,’ says the psalmist, ‘giveth light; it giveth understanding.’ Psalm 119:130.” The Great Controversy, 93, 94.
「威克里夫嘅品格,乃係聖經教化同改造能力嘅見證。使佢成為今日所是嘅,正係聖經。竭力領會啟示中偉大真理嘅努力,會將新鮮同活力賦予人一切嘅官能。佢擴闊心思,磨利悟性,使判斷趨於成熟。研讀聖經所能使每一個思想、感情同志向變得高尚,係任何其他學問所不能及嘅。佢使人志向堅定,賜人忍耐、勇氣同剛毅;佢潔淨品格,使心靈成聖。人若以懇切而敬畏嘅態度研讀聖經,叫學者嘅心思直接與無限者嘅心意接觸,便能為世界造就出心智更堅強、更活潑,原則亦更高尚嘅人物,遠非人類哲學所能提供之最優秀訓練所產生者可比。詩人話:『你嘅言語一解開,就發出亮光,使愚人通達。』詩篇 119:130。」《善惡之爭》,93, 94。
Following the testimony concerning John Wycliffe in The Great Controversy, Sister White provides a list of faithful reformers (waymarks), that ultimately reaches the reformer John Knox. She identifies a significant question posed to John Knox from Mary the Queen of Scotland.
喺《善惡之爭》中論到約翰.威克里夫嘅見證之後,懷愛倫姊妹列出一系列忠心嘅宗教改革家(路標),最終去到改革家約翰.諾克斯。佢指出,蘇格蘭女王瑪利亞曾向約翰.諾克斯提出一個重要嘅問題。
“John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the church, to feed upon the truths of God’s Word, and the teaching of Wishart had confirmed his determination to forsake the communion of Rome, and join himself to the persecuted reformers. . . .
「約翰・諾克斯已經離棄咗教會嘅傳統同神秘主義,轉而以神聖言嘅真理為糧;而威沙特嘅教導更加堅定咗佢嘅決心,使佢離開羅馬教會嘅團契,歸附受逼迫嘅改革者……」
“When brought face to face with the queen of Scotland, in whose presence the zeal of many a leader of the Protestants had abated, John Knox bore unswerving witness for the truth. He was not to be won by caresses; he quailed not before threats. The queen charged him with heresy. He had taught the people to receive a religion prohibited by the State, she declared, and had thus transgressed God’s command enjoining subjects to obey their princes. Knox answered firmly:—‘As right religion received neither its origin nor its authority from princes, but from the eternal God alone, so are not subjects bound to frame their religion according to the tastes of their princes. For oft it is that princes, of all others, are the most ignorant of God’s true religion. If all the seed of Abraham had been of the religion of Pharaoh, whose subjects they long were, I pray you, madam, what religion would there have been in the world? And if all in the days of the apostles had been of the religion of the Roman emperors, I pray you, madam, what religion would there have been now upon the earth? … And so, madam, you may perceive that subjects are not bound to the religion of their princes, although they are commanded to give them reverence.’
「當約翰.諾克斯被帶到蘇格蘭女王面前,與她當面相對之時,許多新教領袖在她面前原有的熱忱都已消減;然而,約翰.諾克斯卻毫不動搖地為真理作見證。他不會被柔情籠絡,也不因威嚇而畏縮。女王控告他犯了異端之罪。她宣稱,他教導百姓接受國家所禁止的宗教,因此違犯了上帝命令臣民順服君王的誡命。諾克斯堅定地回答說:『正如真正的宗教既不是從君王而來,也不是從君王得其權柄,乃是單單出於永恆的上帝;照樣,臣民也沒有義務按着君王的喜好來塑造自己的宗教。因為君王往往比其他人更無知於上帝真實的宗教。倘若亞伯拉罕的全體後裔都信奉法老的宗教——而他們長久以來原是法老的臣民——那麼,我請問你,夫人,世上還會有甚麼宗教呢?若使徒時代的人都信奉羅馬皇帝的宗教,那麼,我請問你,夫人,如今地上還會有甚麼宗教呢?……因此,夫人,你可以看出,臣民並沒有義務隨從君王的宗教,雖然他們確是奉命要向君王表達敬重。』」
“Said Mary, ‘You interpret the Scripture in one way, and they [the Romish teachers] interpret it in another; whom shall I believe, and who shall be judge?’
馬利亞說:「你以一種方式詮釋聖經,而他們〔羅馬教的教師〕又以另一種方式詮釋;我當信誰?又誰可作審判者呢?」
“‘You shall believe God, who plainly speaketh in his Word,’ answered the reformer; ‘and farther than the Word teaches you, ye shall believe neither the one nor the other. The Word of God is plain in itself, and if in any one place there be obscurity, the Holy Ghost, who never is contrary to himself, explains the same more clearly in other places, so that there can remain no doubt but unto such as are obstinately ignorant.’ Such were the truths that the fearless reformer, at the peril of his life, spoke in the ear of royalty. With the same undaunted courage he kept to his purpose, praying and fighting the battles of the Lord, until Scotland was free from popery.” The Great Controversy, 250, 251.
「『你哋當信上帝,因為祂喺祂嘅聖言裏面已經清楚曉諭;除咗聖言所教導你哋嘅以外,你哋就唔應當信呢一個,亦唔應當信嗰一個。上帝嘅聖言本身就係清楚明白嘅;若喺某一處有晦澀之處,聖靈——祂決不會自相矛盾——就會喺別處更清楚噉加以解明,以致除咗嗰啲頑梗無知嘅人之外,再冇任何可疑之處。』改革家如此回答;呢啲就係嗰位無畏嘅改革家,冒住生命危險,向君王耳邊所講嘅真理。佢亦以同樣毫不畏懼嘅勇氣,堅守自己嘅宗旨,禱告並爭戰,打主嘅仗,直到蘇格蘭脫離教皇制度。」《善惡之爭》,250、251。
The interaction between the reformer and the queen highlights the third thread in the reformation history that identifies Satan’s effort to counterfeit the Bible, the reformers and the methodology of biblical study. John’s answer to the Queen was that the correct methodology is “historicism” which is premised upon a line of prophetic history being explained by the Holy Spirit with another line of prophetic history.
改革者同女王之間嘅互動,突顯咗宗教改革歷史中第三條線索;呢條線索辨明撒但點樣企圖偽冒《聖經》、改革者,以及研讀《聖經》嘅方法論。約翰對女王嘅回答係:正確嘅方法論乃係「歷史主義」;呢種方法係建基於一條先知歷史嘅脈絡,藉住聖靈以另一條先知歷史嘅脈絡嚟加以闡明。
The light had been opened in the darkness. Wycliffe and the early reformers all the way through the Millerite history employed a method of biblical study labelled “historicism.” The history of the biblical method of Bible study is often overlooked, but is essential to recognize if one truly will see the significance of the rules of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller and thereafter by Future for America.
光已經喺黑暗中被開啟。由威克里夫同早期改革家開始,一直貫穿到米勒派歷史,佢哋都採用咗一種被稱為「歷史主義」嘅聖經研究方法。呢種聖經研經方法本身嘅歷史,往往被人忽略;但如果人真係要明白米勒以及其後 Future for America 所採納嘅先知預言解釋規則之重要意義,就必須認識呢段歷史。
There are only two churches Sister White identifies as God’s denominated people. That being ancient Israel and the Seventh-day Adventist church.
懷姐妹所指明、屬於上帝所命名之民的教會,只有兩個:其一是古代以色列,其二是基督復臨安息日會。
“The reasons why we are denominated people of God are to be repeated and repeated. Deuteronomy 4:1–13” Manuscript Releases, volume 8, 426.
「我哋之所以被稱為上帝子民嘅理由,係要一再重複,再三重申。申命記 4:1–13」《文稿發表》卷8,426。
The church of the apostles,’ the church in the wilderness during the papal darkness were never called God’s denominated people, for the term (meaning to be named) represents a church that is given the responsibility of being the depositaries of God’s law, and with Adventism they were also to be the depositaries of God’s prophetic truths.
「使徒時代嘅教會」,以及喺教皇黑暗時期曠野中嘅教會,從未被稱為神所命名之民;因為呢個詞語(意思即係被命名)係指一個教會被賦予責任,成為神律法嘅保管者;而隨住復臨信仰,佢哋亦都要成為神預言真理嘅保管者。
“God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth.” Testimonies, volume 5, 455.
「上帝喺今日呼召祂嘅教會,正如祂呼召古代以色列一樣,要喺地上作光。藉住真理呢把大能嘅利器,並藉第一、第二同第三位天使嘅信息,祂已將佢哋從各教會同世界中分別出嚟,為要帶領佢哋進入與祂自己神聖而親密嘅關係之中。祂使佢哋成為祂律法嘅託付者,又將呢個時代偉大嘅預言真理交託畀佢哋。正如交託畀古代以色列嘅聖言一樣,呢啲都係要傳達畀世界嘅神聖託付。〈啟示錄〉第十四章嘅三位天使,代表嗰啲接受上帝信息之光嘅子民;佢哋作為祂嘅使者出去,將警告傳遍全地。」《證言》卷五,455頁。
William Miller represented the chosen messenger to open God’s prophetic truths, and when those truths led a people to the open door of the Most Holy Place in 1844, God then opened up the law of God. Wycliffe is a waymark in opening up the Bible and producing the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, but he is also a waymark of God’s work to establish “the great truths of prophecy.” John Wycliffe was the morning star identified in the history of the twelve-hundred and sixty year rule of the papacy. His work began in the fourteenth century, then in the seventeenth century another waymark of that prophetic line was the production of the King James Bible in 1611. On that line we ultimately reach the waymark of Miller’s rules of prophetic interpretation. Miller is a waymark in that line of truth, and so are his rules. His rules give witness to a waymark at the end of Adventism represented by the publication of Prophetic Keys.
威廉‧米勒代表那位被揀選、用以開啟上帝預言真理的使者;而當那些真理於1844年引領一班子民來到至聖所的敞開之門時,上帝隨後便開啟了上帝的律法。威克里夫乃是開啟聖經並產生更正教改革開端的一個路標,但他同時亦是上帝建立「預言之重大真理」之工作的路標。約翰‧威克里夫乃是在教皇權一千二百六十年統治歷史中所指明的晨星。他的工作始於十四世紀;其後到了十七世紀,該預言路線上的另一個路標,乃是1611年《英王欽定本聖經》的出版。在那條路線上,我們最終抵達米勒之預言詮釋規則這一個路標。米勒在那條真理的路線上是一個路標,而他的規則亦然。他的規則為復臨運動終結時的一個路標作見證;那路標乃由《Prophetic Keys》的出版所表徵。
If we do not understand that Miller’s rules were a waymark in a line of prophetic history representing the work to preserve the original and correct texts of the Bible and also the work of the opening up the true understanding of the Bible, which required that the reformers were led to understand and employ the sacred methodology of study called “historicism,” we lack the information necessary to recognize prophetic truths associated with the work of presenting and preserving the light of the third angel at the end of Adventism. For this reason, it is important to take a small survey of that line of history.
如果我哋唔明白,米勒嘅原則乃係預言歷史路線上一個里程碑,代表咗保存聖經原有而正確文本嘅工作,亦都代表咗開啟對聖經真正理解嘅工作;而呢項工作要求改革家被引導去明白並運用嗰種稱為「歷史主義」嘅神聖研經方法,我哋就缺乏所必需嘅資料,去辨認喺復臨運動末期、同傳揚並保存第三位天使之光嘅工作有關嘅預言真理。基於呢個緣故,對呢條歷史路線作一個簡略嘅回顧,乃係重要嘅。
The only genuine definition of the word “Protestant” is to protest Rome. If a church ceases to protest Rome, it is no longer Protestant and it then becomes a daughter of Rome, as did the Protestants who rejected the first angel’s message. The premier understanding that became the “motto” of the Protestants that came out of the Catholic church was “the Bible and the Bible alone.” Yet history attests to the fact that the Bible needed to be rightly divided.
「Protestant」呢個詞唯一真正嘅定義,就係抗議羅馬。若果一個教會停止抗議羅馬,佢就唔再係新教,而係成為羅馬嘅女兒;正如嗰啲拒絕第一位天使信息嘅新教徒一樣。嗰啲由天主教會出嚟嘅新教徒,所達致並成為其「座右銘」嘅首要認識,乃係「惟獨聖經,且只有聖經」。然而,歷史證明,聖經必須按正意分解。
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15, 16.
你當竭力在神面前得蒙悅納,作無愧的工人,正意分解真理的道。只是要躲避褻瀆虛浮的空談;因為這等言語必進到更不敬虔的地步。提摩太後書 2:15, 16.
The method of biblical study that the Protestants were led to use in their efforts to rightly divide the word of truth is “historicism.” That method was a specific and serious target for Satan to attack, and attack he did.
新教徒喺努力按正意分解真理之道時,被引導去採用嘅聖經研究方法,乃係「歷史主義」。呢種方法正正係撒但攻擊嘅一個明確而嚴重嘅目標,而佢亦的確發動咗攻擊。
“We should know for ourselves what constitutes Christianity, what is truth, what is the faith that we have received, what are the Bible rules—the rules given us from the highest authority.” The 1888 Materials, 403.
「我哋應當親自知道,何謂基督教,何謂真理,何謂我哋所領受嘅信仰,何謂聖經嘅規條——即係由最高權威賜畀我哋嘅規條。」《1888 Materials》,403。
The undermining of the biblical methodology used by the Reformers all the way to and including William Miller is specifically identified as beginning in the fifteenth century with a Jesuit scholar named Francisco Ribera (1537–1591), who is credited with popularizing the futurist interpretation. He wrote a commentary on the book of Revelation that proposed a futuristic interpretation of the prophecies, distancing them from the historical context. Ribera invented this methodology for the purpose of resisting the truth which the methodology of historicism always produced. That truth was that the pope of Rome is the antichrist of Bible prophecy.
由改革家一直沿用至威廉.米勒(William Miller)時期嘅聖經釋經方法之被削弱,明確被指認為始於十五世紀,一位名叫法蘭西斯科.里貝拉(Francisco Ribera,1537–1591)嘅耶穌會學者;佢被認為係將未來派詮釋普及化嘅人物。佢曾撰寫《啟示錄》註釋,提出以未來觀點解釋預言,使之脫離其歷史背景。里貝拉發明呢一套方法,目的正係要抗拒歷史主義方法一向所產生嘅真理。嗰個真理就係:羅馬教皇就係聖經預言中嘅敵基督。
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it can be documented that Protestantism knew that Ribera’s false methodology was satanic and unsound. The Protestants in that history wrote books and tracts opposing the “profane and vain babblings” of the Jesuit scholar. But in 1909, the Trojan horse, the Scofield Reference Bible was published, and the references inserted into the footnotes of the Bible were based upon the teachings of Ribera and another Jesuit named Manuel Lacunza (1731–1801). Lacunza wrote under the pen name Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra, and published a book titled The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty. As Ribera before him, the book was a direct attack upon the fulfillment of the prophecies in the book of Revelation.
有文獻可證,於十七及十八世紀,新教明知 Ribera 嗰套錯謬嘅方法論乃屬撒但,且毫無健全根據。當時嘅新教徒撰寫書籍同小冊子,反對呢位耶穌會學者嘅「褻瀆而虛妄嘅空談」。但到咗 1909 年,木馬——《Scofield Reference Bible》——出版,而插入聖經頁下注釋之中嘅參考資料,乃係根據 Ribera 同另一位名叫 Manuel Lacunza(1731–1801)嘅耶穌會士之教訓。Lacunza 以 Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra 為筆名,出版咗一本名為《The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty》嘅著作。正如佢之前嘅 Ribera 一樣,呢本書乃係對《啟示錄》預言之應驗所發動嘅直接攻擊。
Satan knew the message he needed to cloud with confusion was the final warning message that comes from the book of Revelation. Incorporating the profane and vain babblings of the two Jesuit priests into the references within the Scofield Reference Bible allowed Satan to lead apostate Protestants into accepting the Jesuit methodologies, thus blinding them to the truth. Satan accomplished by introducing several Catholic prophetic models which removed the possibility to clearly identify who the antichrist of Bible prophecy is. It was not a difficult deception for Satan, for the Protestants had already returned to the Roman church with their rejection of Miller’s message in 1843.
撒但知道,佢需要用混亂去蒙蔽嘅信息,乃係出自《啟示錄》嘅最後警告信息。將嗰兩位耶穌會神父褻瀆而虛浮嘅空談,納入《司可福參考聖經》之內各處註釋嘅參照資料當中,使撒但得以引領背道嘅新教徒接受耶穌會嘅方法論,從而使佢哋對真理視而不見。撒但藉着引進幾種天主教嘅預言模式,成就咗呢件事;呢啲模式消除了人清楚辨認《聖經》預言中敵基督者係邊一位嘅可能性。對撒但嚟講,呢並唔係一個困難嘅迷惑,因為新教徒早已喺1843年拒絕米勒信息之時,藉此回歸羅馬教會。
There have been several books and articles published through the years that document Satan’s attack upon the Bible, that began in the first few centuries after Christ was crucified. That attack reached a point where counterfeit manuscripts were introduced to produce counterfeit Bibles. Satan also attacked the reformers that were raised up to uphold God’s word while they lived and even after those Reformers died.
多年以來,已有若干書籍與文章刊行,記錄撒但對聖經所發動的攻擊;這攻擊始於基督被釘十字架後最初幾個世紀。那攻擊後來發展到一個地步,就是有人引入偽造的抄本,以製造偽造的聖經。撒但也攻擊那些被興起來維護神話語的宗教改革者,不但在他們生前如此,甚至在那些改革者去世之後也是如此。
Just consider how modern Seventh-day Adventist historians and theologians treat the subject of William Miller. It is as if they dug up his bones and cast them into the Mississippi River.
只要想一想,現代基督復臨安息日會嘅歷史學者同神學家係點樣對待威廉.米勒呢個題目,就可見一斑。佢哋簡直就好似掘起咗佢嘅骸骨,然後將之拋入密西西比河一樣。
“William Miller was disturbing Satan’s kingdom, and the arch-enemy sought not only to counteract the effect of the message, but to destroy the messenger himself. As Father Miller made a practical application of Scripture truth to the hearts of his hearers, the rage of professed Christians was kindled against him, even as the anger of the Jews was excited against Christ and his apostles. Church-members stirred up the baser classes, and upon several occasions enemies plotted to take his life as he should leave the place of meeting. But holy angels were in the throng, and one of these, in the form of a man, took the arm of this servant of the Lord, and led him in safety from the angry mob. His work was not yet done, and Satan and his emissaries were disappointed in their purpose.” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 4, 219.
「威廉.米勒正撼動撒但的國度,而那大仇敵不但企圖抵消這信息的功效,並且更要毀滅這位傳信息的人。當米勒父老把聖經真理實際應用於聽眾的心靈時,自稱為基督徒的人便向他燃起忿怒,正如猶太人向基督及其使徒所激起的怒氣一樣。教會的會友煽動那些下層卑劣之徒;又有好幾次,仇敵圖謀要在他離開聚會之處時取他的性命。但聖天使在群眾之中,其中有一位化作人的形狀,挽着這位主的僕人,領他平安脫離那憤怒的暴民。他的工作尚未完成;撒但和牠的差役在牠們的圖謀上都落了空。」《預言之靈》,第四卷,219。
Look at how those same two categories of Adventism (theologians and historians) have downplayed and covered up the validity of the rules of Miller, which Sister White informs us will be used by all who actually proclaim the three angel’s messages.
請留意,正正係呢兩類復臨運動人士(神學家同歷史學家),點樣將米勒之規則嘅有效性淡化並掩蓋起來;然而懷愛倫姊妹話畀我哋知,凡真正在宣講三位天使信息嘅人,都必會運用呢啲規則。
“Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology, Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:—
「凡參與宣講第三位天使信息的人,都是依照米勒長老所採取的同一方法查考聖經。米勒長老在一本名為《預言與預言年代觀》的小冊子中,提出以下簡明、明智而重要的研經與釋經規則:—」
“[Rules one through five quoted.]
「[引用第一至第五條規則。]」
“The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth.” Review and Herald, November 25, 1884.
「上述只係呢啲規則之一部分;而我哋研讀聖經嘅時候,都應當留意所陳明嘅原則,如此必然有益。」Review and Herald, November 25, 1884.
Without reviewing the three threads of the line of prophetic history associated with the development and establishment of God’s Word it is impossible to see the significance of a major testimony to uphold William Miller as the messenger that was typified by Elijah in his presentation of the message, and as Moses in the promise of Miller being raised up in the resurrection of the righteous, and as Elisha in his willingness to leave his farm and serve the Elijah message. Sister White identifies all three of the biblical heroes as typifying William Miller, who is now treated by modern Adventist theologians and historians as if he was simply some “poor farm boy” from the eighteenth century.
若不回顧與上帝聖言之發展及建立有關、先知歷史脈絡中的三條線索,就不可能看出那一重大見證的意義:這見證乃是要維護威廉‧米勒,確認他在傳揚信息時,乃是由以利亞所預表的使者;又如同摩西一樣,體現在那關於米勒將要於義人復活中被興起之應許上;並且如同以利沙一樣,顯明於他甘願離開自己的農場,去服事那以利亞信息之事上。懷愛倫姊妹指出,這三位聖經中的英雄都預表威廉‧米勒;然而,現代復臨信徒的神學家與歷史學家如今對待他,卻彷彿他不過是十八世紀某個「可憐的農家子弟」而已。
William Tyndale was one of the many reformers raised up in this line of prophetic history. If I might say it this way, his ‘mission statement’ against the pope’s ambassadors he interacted with was, “I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of the Scriptures than you do.” William Miller was the farm boy, who drove the plow and fulfilled Tyndale’s prophecy.
威廉.丁道爾乃係喺呢條先知歷史脈絡中被興起嘅眾多改革家之一。若容我咁樣講,佢對佢所接觸嘅教皇使節所宣告嘅「使命宣言」係:「我要使嗰個扶犁耕田嘅男孩,比你更明白聖經。」威廉.米勒就係嗰個喺農場長大、扶犁耕田,並應驗咗丁道爾預言嘅男孩。
This introduction has been greatly simplified in terms of all the history that could be brought to bear in support of what we have presented up until now. We will now consider some signatures of Alpha and Omega in order to lead back to the consideration of Miller as a waymark and a messenger.
呢篇引言已經大大簡化咗,冇將所有可以用嚟支持我哋到目前為止所提出之內容嘅歷史資料盡都引述出嚟。依家我哋要考察阿拉法同俄梅嘎嘅一啲印記,好帶返我哋去重新思考米勒作為一個路標同一位使者。
The book of Daniel is the beginning of a book that consists of two books. The end of that book is the book of Revelation. Though they are two distinct books, together they represent one book.
但以理書乃係一本由兩卷書構成之書嘅開端;嗰書之終結,乃係啟示錄。雖然佢哋係兩卷各自分明嘅書,然而合埋一齊,卻代表一本書。
Years ago, I had a public interaction with a well-known Seventh-day Adventist theologian who worked at the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The theologian was attempting to correct my understanding of the last six verses of Daniel eleven, and also my understanding of the “daily” in the book of Daniel. In our interaction which took place over a period of time, for it consisted of his producing an article which I responded to, which he then answered back, and then of course I returned my thoughts, and so on and so forth. In the interaction he informed me that in the committee he worked in at the General Conference, he was considered the expert on the book of Daniel, and that a coworker of his was considered the resident expert on the book of Revelation. In our interactions he did not want to address points in the book of Revelation, but rather refer them to his colleague. He wanted to keep the discussion in the book of Daniel alone.
多年前,我曾經同一位著名嘅基督復臨安息日會神學家有過一次公開嘅交流;佢喺基督復臨安息日會總會聖經研究所工作。呢位神學家當時試圖糾正我對《但以理書》第十一章最後六節嘅理解,以及我對《但以理書》中「常獻的祭」嘅理解。 我哋之間嘅交流持續咗一段時間,因為整個過程包括:佢先發表一篇文章,我作出回應;之後佢再答覆我,而我當然又再提出自己嘅看法,如此往復。在呢次交流當中,佢告訴我,喺佢於總會任職嘅委員會裏面,佢被視為《但以理書》方面嘅專家,而佢一位同工則被視為《啟示錄》方面嘅常駐專家。 喺我哋嘅交流之中,佢唔願意處理《啟示錄》入面嘅論點,反而要將嗰啲論點轉交畀佢嘅同事。佢希望將討論只係局限喺《但以理書》之內。
Sister White is clear that Daniel and Revelation are one book. At that level they represent the Bible, which is one book made up of two books, the old and the new. Sister White also comments on the Jewish church, that only considers the old book to be the one book, and she also comments on those who disregard the old book for they only understand or are only willing to understand the new book. Her inspired testimony is that if you only accept the new, then you reject the old, and vice versa. For the theologian to claim he was the expert of Daniel, but not of Revelation is repeating the Jewish concept of only accepting the Old Testament, and we know where that narrow view led the Jews. Taking either side of the issue; accepting the old and not the new, or accepting new, but not the old is to reject the entire testimony.
懷愛倫姊妹清楚指出,但以理書與啟示錄乃是一本書。喺呢個層面上,佢哋代表聖經;而聖經乃係一本書,由兩卷書組成——舊同新。懷愛倫姊妹亦曾論到猶太教會,指出佢只將舊嘅嗰卷書視為嗰一本書;佢亦論到嗰啲忽視舊嘅嗰卷書嘅人,因為佢哋只明白,或者只願意明白,新嘅嗰卷書。佢受默示嘅見證乃係:如果你只接受新嘅,就係拒絕舊嘅;反之亦然。神學家若聲稱自己係但以理書嘅專家,卻唔係啟示錄嘅專家,就係重複猶太人只接受舊約嘅觀念;而我哋知道,呢種狹隘嘅觀點將猶太人帶到乜嘢地步。無論喺呢個問題上取邊一邊——接受舊而唔接受新,或者接受新而唔接受舊——都係拒絕全部嘅見證。
“The Saviour inquired of his disciples if they understood these things. They answered, ‘Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.’ In this parable, Jesus presented before his disciples the responsibility of those whose work it is to give to the world the light which they have received from him. The Old Testament was all the Scripture then in existence; but it was not written merely for the ancients; it was for all ages and for all people. Jesus would have the teachers of his doctrine diligently search the Old Testament for that light which establishes his identity as the Messiah foretold in prophecy, and reveals the nature of his mission to the world. The Old and the New Testament are inseparable, for both are the teachings of Christ. The doctrine of the Jews, who accept only the Old Testament, is not unto salvation, since they reject the Saviour whose life and ministry was a fulfillment of the law and the prophecies. And the doctrine of those who discard the Old Testament is not unto salvation, because it rejects that which is direct testimony of Christ. Skeptics begin with discounting upon the Old Testament, and it takes but another step to deny the validity of the New, and thus both are rejected.
「救主問佢啲門徒,佢哋係咪明白呢啲事。佢哋回答話:『係,主啊。』於是佢對佢哋講:『所以,凡受教歸入天國嘅文士,就好似一個家主,從佢嘅庫藏裏面拎出新舊嘅嘢。』喺呢個比喻裏面,耶穌擺喺門徒面前嘅,係嗰啲工作乃係要將自己從佢領受嘅光賜俾世界之人所負嘅責任。當時存在嘅全部聖經都係舊約;但舊約唔單止係為古時嘅人而寫,亦係為萬世萬代同萬民而寫。耶穌要教導佢教義嘅教師殷勤查考舊約,去尋求嗰啲光,藉此確立佢就係先知預言所講嘅彌賽亞,並啟示佢對世界使命嘅性質。舊約同新約係不可分割嘅,因為兩者都係基督嘅教訓。猶太人只接納舊約嘅教義,唔能夠使人得救,因為佢哋拒絕咗嗰位救主;而佢嘅生平同職事,正正就係律法同先知預言嘅應驗。至於嗰啲丟棄舊約之人嘅教義,亦唔能夠使人得救,因為佢拒絕咗嗰為基督作直接見證嘅內容。懷疑論者首先係貶抑舊約,而再行一步,就會否認新約嘅效力,於是兩者都被棄絕。」
“The Jews have little influence over the Christian world in showing them the importance of the commandments, including the binding law of the Sabbath, because in bringing forth the old treasures of truth, they throw aside the new ones in the personal teachings of Jesus. On the other hand, the strongest reason why Christians fail to influence the Jews to accept the teachings of Christ as the language of divine wisdom, is because, in bringing forth the treasures of his word, they treat with contempt the riches of the Old Testament, which are the earlier teachings of the Son of God, through Moses. They reject the law proclaimed from Sinai, and the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, instituted in the garden of Eden. But the minister of the gospel, who follows the teachings of Christ, will gain a thorough knowledge of both the Old and the New Testament, that he may present them in their true light to the people an inseparable whole—the one depending upon and illuminating the other. Thus, as Jesus instructed his disciples, they will bring forth from their treasure ‘things new and old.’” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 2, 255.
「猶太人對基督教世界幾乎冇乜影響力,未能向佢哋顯明誡命的重要性,包括安息日嗰條具約束力嘅律法;因為當佢哋攞出真理古舊嘅寶藏時,卻將耶穌親自教訓中那些新嘅寶藏擺埋一邊。另一方面,基督徒之所以未能有力地影響猶太人,使佢哋接受基督嘅教訓為神聖智慧之言,最有力嘅原因,就係當佢哋攞出祂話語嘅寶藏時,竟輕看舊約中嘅豐富寶藏;而舊約正係神兒子藉着摩西所賜較早期嘅教訓。佢哋拒絕咗從西乃山所宣告嘅律法,同埋第四條誡命中嘅安息日,即喺伊甸園中所設立嘅安息日。但凡跟從基督教訓嘅福音傳道人,必會對舊約同新約都獲得透徹嘅認識,好叫佢能夠按其真實嘅光景將兩者呈現畀眾人,顯明佢哋乃係一個不可分割嘅整體——彼此相依,互相闡明。咁樣,正如耶穌所教導祂嘅門徒,佢哋就會從自己嘅庫藏中,拿出『新同舊嘅東西』。」《預言之靈》卷二,255。
The previous counsel has another application for Laodicean Adventists. To profess to believe the Bible in its entirety, both the Old and the New Testaments, yet reject the Spirit of Prophecy is the identical ditch of accepting only one testimony. Two witnesses are required to establish truth, so it is impossible to establish truth with one witness, and if any attempt to do so they are rejecting both witnesses, they are basing their faith upon what is referred to as ‘half-truths.’
前述嘅勸勉,對老底嘉時期嘅復臨信徒,亦有另一層應用。若自稱全然相信《聖經》,無論《舊約》抑或《新約》,卻拒絕先知之靈,呢就正正係只接受一個見證嘅同一個陷阱。真理必須憑兩個見證先得以確立,所以單憑一個見證,真理係唔可能被確立嘅;若有人企圖如此行,佢哋就係同時拒絕咗兩個見證,並且將自己嘅信仰建立喺所謂「半真理」之上。
I will now repeat a question that was in one of the initial articles that have been coming out since July, 2023. The question is, “What new light has come out of Adventism since 1863?” The answer is simply, “None.”
我而家要重述一個自 2023 年 7 月以來所發表嘅最初幾篇文章之一入面提出過嘅問題。呢個問題就係:「自 1863 年以來,復臨信仰之中究竟出現咗乜嘢新亮光?」答案其實好簡單:「一樣都冇。」
“The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 7, 971.
「但以理書同啟示錄原為一體。一者係預言,另一者係啟示;一者係封住嘅書,另一者係展開嘅書。約翰聽見雷聲所發出嘅奧祕,但佢奉命不可將之寫下。」《基督復臨安息日會聖經註釋》,第7卷,971頁。
The Alpha and Omega therefore identifies that Daniel is the first and Revelation the last. Daniel represents the beginning and Revelation represents the end of Adventism.
因此,阿拉法與俄梅戛表明:但以理係首先,而啟示錄係最後。但以理代表復臨信仰嘅開始,而啟示錄代表復臨信仰嘅終結。
“Revelation is a sealed book, but it is also an opened book. It records marvelous events that are to take place in the last days of this earth’s history. The teachings of this book are definite, not mystical and unintelligible. In it the same line of prophecy is taken up as in Daniel. Some prophecies God has repeated, thus showing that importance must be given to them. The Lord does not repeat things that are of no great consequence.” Manuscript Releases, volume 9, 8.
「《啟示錄》係一卷封住咗嘅書,但同時亦係一卷打開咗嘅書。佢記錄咗喺呢個世界歷史末後日子將要發生嘅奇妙大事。呢卷書嘅教訓係明確嘅,唔係神秘而難以明白嘅。其中所採取嘅,乃係同《但以理書》一樣嘅預言脈絡。有啲預言,上帝重複咗,藉此表明佢哋係必須加以重視嘅。主唔會重複嗰啲毫無重大意義嘅事。」《文稿發表》卷九,8。
In the beginning of Adventism, in the very verses that are the central pillar of Adventism, the verses that were unsealed in 1798; Jesus introduced Himself as “Palmoni,” the Wonderful Numberer. At the end of Adventism, Jesus introduces Himself as “Alpha and Omega,” the wonderful linguist—the Word of God. For this reason, the beginning of Adventism and the first angel’s message was “hung upon time.” At the end of Adventism, the third angel’s message will be hung upon His Word.
喺復臨運動嘅起初,就係喺嗰啲作為復臨運動核心支柱、並於1798年被揭開封印嘅經文之中,耶穌以「Palmoni」——奇妙嘅計數者——嚟介紹自己。喺復臨運動嘅末了,耶穌以「Alpha and Omega」——奇妙嘅語言者,即 神嘅道——嚟介紹自己。正因如此,復臨運動嘅起初同第一位天使嘅信息,乃係「懸於時間之上」;喺復臨運動嘅末了,第三位天使嘅信息將要懸於祂嘅道之上。
The beginning and ending of Adventism take place during the history of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy, therefore they occur during the beginning and ending of the United States. The prophetic history of the United States is the history of the two horns of Republicanism and Protestantism. At the conclusion of that history those two horns will have changed from a lamb to a dragon. Republicanism will change to a democracy and Protestantism will change to apostate Protestantism. When the cup of probationary time for the United States begins to come to its close, as is happening right now, the two horns of apostate Republicanism and apostate Protestantism will form an image to the beast, thus merging church and state into one horn that speaks as a dragon. But God will not be left without a witness, for in the process of bringing a conclusion to the United States, He will raise up the genuine horn of Protestantism to protest both the image of the beast in the United States, and thereafter the image of the beast that confronts the entire world. The raising up of the Protestant horn at the end of the United States will be accomplished within the same historical structure as was the Protestant horn raised up in the beginning of the United States. A former covenant people will be passed by, and a new people will become the new covenant people. There is nothing new under the sun.
基督復臨安息日會嘅開始同結束,都發生喺《聖經》預言中第六個國度嘅歷史時期,因此亦都發生喺美國嘅開始同結束之中。美國嘅預言歷史,就係共和主義同新教主義兩角嘅歷史。到嗰段歷史結束之時,呢兩角將會由羔羊變成龍。共和主義將會變成民主政制,而新教主義將會變成背道嘅新教主義。當美國恩 probation 寬容時期嘅杯開始走向終結之際——正如而家所發生緊嘅一樣——背道嘅共和主義同背道嘅新教主義呢兩角,將會為獸做成一個像,因此將教會同國家合而為一,成為一隻如龍說話嘅角。然而,上帝並唔會冇見證人,因為喺使美國走向終局嘅過程中,祂必興起真正嘅新教之角,去抗議美國之中獸嘅像,並且其後抗議嗰個面對全世界嘅獸嘅像。喺美國末期興起新教之角,將會喺與美國開端之時興起新教之角相同嘅歷史結構之內完成。先前嘅立約子民將被越過,而一班新嘅子民將成為新嘅立約子民。日光之下,並無新事。
When we use the time prophecies understood and presented in the Millerite history to evaluate the Alpha and Omega, we find they are one in the same. Every time prophecy begins with a history when the prophecy is proclaimed, and that history always typifies the history when the prophecy is fulfilled.
當我哋運用米勒派歷史中所明白並提出嘅時間預言,去評估阿拉法同俄梅戛嘅時候,我哋就會發現,佢哋原來係同一回事。每一個時間預言都始於一段宣告該預言嘅歷史,而呢段歷史總係預表嗰預言得以應驗之時嘅歷史。
The history of the twenty-three hundred year prophecy began on the third decree in 457 BC and ended at the third angel’s message on October 22, 1844. Leading up to, but before the arrival of the third decree the work of erecting the temple and Jerusalem was accomplished. In like manner the history, leading up to the arrival of the third angel, the foundational truths of the Millerite temple was established.
二千三百年預言嘅歷史,始於公元前457年第三道諭令,終於1844年10月22日第三位天使嘅信息。喺第三道諭令來到之前、但為其鋪路嘅過程中,建造聖殿同耶路撒冷嘅工作已經完成。照樣,喺第三位天使來到之前、為其來臨作準備嘅歷史進程中,米勒派聖殿嘅基礎真理亦已被建立。
In 1798, the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy that began in 723 BC with the scattering of the northern ten tribes was fulfilled. That prophecy identified two periods of twelve hundred and sixty years, marking the trampling down of the literal temple and literal Jerusalem by literal pagan Rome, that was followed by twelve hundred and sixty years of papal Rome trampling down the spiritual city and temple. The prophecy began with the destruction of the northern kingdom and the scattering of the kingdom’s citizens. Half way through the prophecy in 538, marks the end of the trampling down of God’s people by pagan Rome, the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy and produces the scattering of God’s church into the wilderness of the Dark Ages. The end of that time prophecy in 1798 marks the end of the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy. The scattering of the northern ten tribes, and of the Christian church that fled into the wilderness represents the gathering of those destined to become the horn of Protestantism. Waymarks are often represented by opposites and a scattering can represent a gathering, just as Elijah represents John the Baptist. In the same prophetic confrontation Elijah does not die, and John the Baptist does.
喺1798年,始於公元前723年、隨着北方十個支派被分散而開始嘅二千五百二十年預言,應驗咗。呢個預言指出兩段一千二百六十年嘅時期,標誌住有形嘅聖殿同有形嘅耶路撒冷被有形嘅異教羅馬踐踏;其後再有一千二百六十年,教皇羅馬踐踏屬靈嘅城同聖殿。呢個預言始於北國被毀、國中居民被分散。喺預言中途、即538年,標誌住異教羅馬——聖經預言中第四國——踐踏上帝子民嘅終結,並導致上帝嘅教會被分散到黑暗時代嘅曠野之中。呢段時間預言喺1798年結束,標誌住聖經預言中第五國嘅終結。北方十個支派嘅分散,以及逃入曠野嘅基督教會之分散,代表嗰啲註定要成為新教之角者嘅聚集。路標往往以相反之事嚟表達;分散可以代表聚集,正如以利亞代表施洗約翰一樣。喺同一場先知性對抗之中,以利亞冇死,而施洗約翰卻死咗。
In 677 BC the southern tribe of Judah, (also identified as the glorious land in the Scriptures) was scattered for twenty-five hundred and twenty years, ending on October 22, 1844. That prophecy was identifying the trampling down of God’s people, who Daniel identifies as the “host” in Daniel 8:13, 14.
喺主前677年,南方支派猶大(喺聖經中亦被指明為榮美之地)被分散咗二千五百二十年,直到1844年10月22日結束。呢個預言所指出嘅,乃係上帝子民被踐踏;但以理喺《但以理書》8:13, 14 將佢哋稱為「軍旅」。
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:13, 14.
其時,我聽見有一位聖者說話;又有另一位聖者問那說話的聖者說:「這關於常獻的燔祭、以及那使荒涼的罪過,將聖所與軍旅都交付人踐踏的異象,要到幾時呢?」他對我說:「直到二千三百日;然後聖所就必得潔淨。」但以理書 8:13, 14
The twenty-three hundred year prophecy which ended at the same time as the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy that began in 677 BC was identifying the trampling down of the sanctuary as identified in Daniel 8:13, 14. The prophecy of the scattering of Judah in 677 BC was preceded by three attacks from Nebuchadnezzar and that prophecy ended on the arrival of the third message on October 22, 1844.
由公元前677年開始嘅二千五百二十年預言,同時亦有一個喺同一時候結束嘅二千三百年預言;呢個預言所指明嘅,乃係但以理書8:13, 14所辨識出嚟對聖所嘅踐踏。關於公元前677年猶大被分散嘅預言,之前已有尼布甲尼撒三次攻擊作為先聲;而呢個預言乃係喺1844年10月22日第三位信息來到之時結束。
The two twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecies ending respectively in 1798 and 1844 identify the forty-six years of building the Millerite temple foundation. Moses was forty-six days in receiving instructions on building the temple, Herod’s temple remodeling in the time of Christ took forty-six years, which ended the year of Christ’s baptism. From the baptism He went to the wilderness for forty days, and when He returned, he cleansed the temple the first time and the quibbling Jew’s wanted to know by what authority He did such a thing.
兩段各長二千五百二十年、分別終止於1798年與1844年嘅預言,指出咗米勒派聖殿根基建造嘅四十六年。摩西用咗四十六日領受建造聖殿嘅指示;基督時代希律對聖殿嘅重修歷時四十六年,而呢段時期喺基督受浸嗰年結束。由受浸之後,祂到曠野去四十日;及至祂返嚟,第一次潔淨聖殿,嗰啲吹毛求疵嘅猶太人就想知道,祂憑乜嘢權柄作呢樣事。
And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. John 2:13–22.
猶太人嘅逾越節近了,耶穌就上耶路撒冷去。佢喺殿裏見到有人賣牛、羊、鴿子,又有兌換銀錢的人坐喺度。耶穌就用繩子做成鞭子,把眾人連羊帶牛都趕出殿外,又把兌換銀錢之人的銀錢倒出來,推翻他們嘅桌子;又對賣鴿子的人說:「把這些東西拿去;不要把我父的殿當作買賣的地方。」他的門徒就想起經上記着說:「我為你殿所發的熱心,把我吞滅了。」因此,猶太人回答他說:「你既作這些事,還顯甚麼神蹟給我們看呢?」耶穌回答說:「你們拆毀這殿,我三日內要再建立起來。」猶太人便說:「這殿建了四十六年,你三日內就再建立起來嗎?」但耶穌這話是以他的身體為殿。及至他從死人中復活之後,門徒就想起他曾說過這話,便信了聖經和耶穌所說的話。約翰福音 2:13–22。
The Millerite temple was erected in forty-six years from 1798 at the conclusion of the first twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy and ended forty-six years later at the fulfillment of the second twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy in 1844. Those forty-six years began with the arrival of the first angel and ended with the arrival of the third angel, for Christ said His temple would be raised up in three days. If you are unwilling to see these facts it is because of two primary problems beyond the problems that may exist in an unwilling and unconverted heart. The first problem is you are unwilling to approach the prophetic Word from the perspective that history repeats. You are not a historicist. The other problem is an inability to apply symbolic words that have been recorded within the Word of God by the Word of God. The beginnings of all these prophecies identify the end, and they always identify much more than simply histories which repeat.
米勒派嘅聖殿,由1798年第一個二千五百二十年預言終結之時開始建造,歷時四十六年;又喺四十六年之後,即1844年第二個二千五百二十年預言應驗之時結束。呢四十六年,由第一位天使嘅來到開始,直到第三位天使嘅來到而終結,因為基督曾說,祂嘅聖殿要喺三日之內被建立起來。你若不願意看見呢啲事實,乃係因為有兩個主要問題,除此之外,或者仲有一顆不願順服、未曾悔改之心所存在嘅問題。第一個問題,係你不願意從歷史重演嘅角度去領受先知嘅聖言。你並唔係歷史派解經者。另一個問題,係你無能力用神嘅話語本身,去應用嗰啲記錄喺神話語之中嘅象徵性詞語。所有呢啲預言嘅起頭都指明結局,而且所指明嘅,從來都唔止係單單重演嘅歷史。
The Bible says we are a temple for the Holy Spirit and the body temple is made up of forty-six chromosomes. The scientists who study those forty-six chromosomes inform us that the twenty-three male chromosomes and the twenty-three female chromosomes are wrapped around a protein that is shaped as a cross.
聖經說,我們乃是聖靈的殿;而這身體的殿乃由四十六條染色體構成。研究這四十六條染色體的科學家告訴我們,二十三條男性染色體與二十三條女性染色體,乃是纏繞在一種呈十字架形狀的蛋白質之上。
In Daniel twelve there are three connected time prophecies, the first is referencing the scattering of the power of the holy people, which represents the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. The scattering of the power of the holy people that was fulfilled by them was twenty-five hundred and twenty years, yet in Daniel twelve it only references the last half of that period. It portrays Daniel as not understanding what was meant by the pronouncement.
喺《但以理書》第十二章入面,有三個彼此相連嘅時間預言;第一個係指向聖民權能被分散,呢一點代表咗《利未記》二十六章所講嘅「七期」。佢哋所應驗嘅聖民權能被分散,歷時二千五百二十年;然而喺《但以理書》第十二章,所提及嘅只係呢段時期嘅後半段。經文將但以理描繪為唔明白呢項宣告所指嘅意思。
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? Daniel 12:7, 8.
我聽見那身穿細麻衣、站在河水以上的人,向天舉起右手和左手,指着那活到永永遠遠的起誓,說:要到一載、二載、半載;及至他把聖民的權勢打散淨盡,這一切事就都應驗了。我聽見這話,卻不明白;於是我說:我主啊,這些事的結局將會如何呢?但以理書 12:7, 8。
Daniel twelve is illustrating the message that is unsealed at the time of the end, which was 1798. In the passage Daniel represents William Miller, the primary symbol of the wise in that history. Miller was first led to the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy of Leviticus twenty-six, and in verses seven and eight he represents the wise who must reconcile the truth that the twenty-five hundred and twenty year scattering is most definitely identified as God’s scattering of His people.
但以理書第十二章係圖解嗰個喺末時被解開封印嘅信息;所謂末時,乃係一七九八年。喺呢段經文當中,但以理預表威廉・米勒,亦即嗰段歷史中「智慧人」嘅主要象徵。米勒首先被引導去明白利未記第二十六章之二千五百二十年預言;而喺第七同第八節,佢代表嗰啲智慧人,必須使以下真理彼此吻合:呢二千五百二十年嘅分散,毫無疑問,正係上帝對祂子民嘅分散。
And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass. Leviticus 26:18, 19.
你哋若仍然唔肯為呢一切聽從我,我就要因你哋嘅罪,加七倍懲罰你哋。我要打碎你哋權勢嘅驕傲;又要使你哋嘅天如鐵,你哋嘅地如銅。利未記 26:18, 19。
The “pride” of ancient Israel was when they were allowed to reject God as their king and choose a human king. Their pride, which precludes a fall (Proverbs 16:18) was their desire to be like all the idolatrous kingdoms around them. Removing first the northern kingdom and then the southern kingdom was the scattering of the power (king) in 723 BC and 677 BC respectively.
古代以色列嘅「驕傲」,乃係當佢哋被容許棄絕 神作佢哋嘅王,而揀選一位屬人嘅王之時。佢哋嗰種會導致敗亡嘅驕傲(箴言 16:18),就係渴望好似四圍一切拜偶像嘅列國一樣。先除去北國,後除去南國,分別就係喺主前723年同主前677年對其權勢(王)嘅分散。
Miller represented the wise who understood the increase of knowledge that was unsealed in the previous verses of Daniel twelve, and in verses seven and eight he is represented as not understanding the connection of twelve hundred and sixty years with the twenty-five hundred and twenty years of the scattering of God’s people. Daniel is representing God’s people at the end of Adventism, as well as Miller at the beginning of Adventism. At the end of Adventism, the same dilemma exists, for as Adventism set aside Miller’s understanding of the “seven times” they were forced to only identify the twelve hundred and sixty years as the Dark Ages. The wise at the end had a similar problem to resolve as Daniel and Miller illustrate. Why is the terminology of Leviticus twenty-six employed to illustrate three and a half times instead of seven times?
米勒代表了有智慧的人;這些人明白但以理書第十二章前面經文中所揭開、知識增長的事。而在第七、第八節中,他卻被描繪為不明白一千二百六十年與神子民被分散之二千五百二十年之間的關聯。丹以理所代表的,既是復臨運動起始時期的米勒,也是復臨運動末後時期的神子民。在復臨運動的末後,同樣的困境依然存在;因為當復臨運動撇棄了米勒對「七次」的理解,他們便被迫只將一千二百六十年認定為黑暗時代。末後有智慧的人,也有一個與丹以理和米勒所顯示者相似、需要解決的問題。為何要採用利未記第二十六章的術語,來說明三次半,而不是七次呢?
Miller never fully reconciled this dilemma, but in 1856 the last “new prophetic light” was presented in a series of six articles that were never concluded identifying the seven times as representing three and a half years of pagan Rome trampling down God’s literal Israel, followed by three and a half years of papal Rome trampling down spiritual Israel. Seven years later Adventism outright rejected all of the light of the seven times, preparing the dilemma for the wise at the time of the end in 1989, when, as described in Daniel eleven, verse forty, the countries representing the former Soviet Union were swept away by the papacy and the United States.
米勒從未徹底調和這一兩難局面;然而到了1856年,最後一道「新的預言亮光」以一連六篇、卻始終未有完結的文章形式被提出,指出「七期」乃象徵三年半之異教羅馬踐踏上帝字面上的以色列,其後接續三年半之教皇羅馬踐踏屬靈的以色列。七年之後,復臨信仰公然棄絕了關於「七期」的一切亮光,從而為末時的智慧人預備了這一兩難局面;到了1989年,正如但以理書第十一章第四十節所描述,代表前蘇聯的各國被教皇權與美國掃除淨盡。
The first light given to Miller was rejected in 1863, and the last light on the subject was given by Hiram Edson in those six articles. Those articles were discontinued and seven years (times) later the power of modern Israel was set aside in order to imitate the idolatrous churches that had a few years before been correctly identified as the daughters of Babylon. The seven times of Leviticus twenty-six as a prophetic doctrine became the stone of stumbling, and the pride of ancient Israel as represented by their desire to have Saul rule over them as king was repeated. Jesus represents the end with the beginning.
最初賜予米勒嘅亮光,喺1863年被拒絕;而關於呢個題目最後嘅亮光,則係希蘭‧埃德森喺嗰六篇文章之中所賜下嘅。嗰啲文章被停刊,而七年(七期)之後,現代以色列嘅權柄被擱置一旁,為要效法嗰啲拜偶像嘅教會;而喺幾年前,呢啲教會已經被正確指出為巴比倫嘅眾女。利未記二十六章所講嘅七期,作為一項先知性教義,成為咗絆腳石;而古代以色列嘅驕傲——即佢哋渴望由掃羅作王統治佢哋——亦再次重演。耶穌以起頭表明末後。
The book of Daniel also identifies a twelve hundred and ninety year prophecy along with a thirteen hundred and thirty-five year prophecy that both begin at the taking away of “the daily” in 508. The taking away of “the daily” represents the removal of pagan Rome’s resistance to the rise of the papal power in 538. There was a thirty-year transition period before the papal power was placed upon the throne of the earth in 538, then the remaining twelve hundred and sixty years ends in 1798. The thirty years of transition from one kingdom to the next identifies the final years of papal rule that lead to the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy being placed on the throne of the earth in 1798. The beginning of the twelve hundred and ninety year prophecy identifies a transition from one kingdom of Bible prophecy unto the next kingdom of Bible prophecy, as does the ending of that prophecy.
《但以理書》亦指明了一個一千二百九十年嘅預言,並一個一千三百三十五年嘅預言;兩者都係由公元508年「常獻的」被除去之時開始。「常獻的」被除去,代表異教羅馬對教皇權勢於公元538年興起之阻力被挪開。在教皇權勢於公元538年被安置喺地上寶座之先,有一段三十年嘅過渡時期;其後餘下嘅一千二百六十年,就喺1798年終結。由一個國度轉移到下一個國度嘅呢三十年過渡期,亦標示出教皇統治末後嘅歲月,並引向《聖經》預言中第六個國度於1798年被立於地上寶座。一千二百九十年預言嘅起點,表明由《聖經》預言中一個國度轉移到下一個國度;而該預言嘅終點亦同樣如此。
The thirteen hundred and thirty-five year prophecy that began at the removal of “the daily” in 508 ends in 1843.
由公元508年「常獻的祭」被除去之時開始的一千三百三十五年預言,於1843年終結。
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:11, 12.
由除掉常獻的燔祭、並設立那行毀壞可憎之物的時候起,必有一千二百九十日。那等候並且到了那一千三百三十五日的,這人便為有福。Daniel 12:11, 12.
The prophecy of thirteen hundred and thirty-five years ended in 1843, and Daniel says those that “waited” when that prophecy would be fulfilled would be blessed. Sister White says it this way.
一千三百三十五年嘅預言喺1843年完結,但以理話,嗰啲喺呢個預言應驗之時「等候」嘅人,必然有福。懷愛倫姊妹係咁樣講嘅。
“Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844.
「在1843年同1844年看見了所看見之事的眼睛,是有福的。 」
“The message was given. And there should be no delay in repeating the message, for the signs of the times are fulfilling; the closing work must be done. A great work will be done in a short time. A message will soon be given by God’s appointment that will swell into a loud cry. Then Daniel will stand in his lot, to give his testimony.” Manuscript Releases, volume 21, 437.
「呢個信息已經賜下;而且喺重申呢個信息嘅事上,唔應當有任何耽延,因為時代嘅徵兆正喺應驗;收尾嘅工作必須完成。喺短時間內,將有一項偉大嘅工作要成就。按住上帝嘅指定,呢個信息快將被傳出,並且要高漲成為大聲呼喊。到時,但以理要喺佢自己嘅分上站立,作出佢嘅見證。」《Manuscript Releases》,第21卷,437。
Therefore, the beginning of the thirteen hundred and thirty-five year prophecy identifies a transition from the religion of paganism unto the religion of papalism, thus identifying a transition from Protestantism unto Millerite Protestantism.
因此,一千三百三十五年預言嘅起始,標示出由異教主義嘅宗教轉移到教皇主義嘅宗教;同樣,亦標示出由新教轉移到米勒派新教。
Those Adventists that reject the foundational truths of Adventism, reject all the time prophecies the Millerites presented, even the twenty-three hundred years of Daniel 8:14. They may very well deny this fact, but it can be logically shown that this fact is true, but my point now is different, so I will leave that off for now as we attempt to bring this article to a conclusion.
凡拒絕復臨信仰根基真理嘅復臨信徒,也就拒絕咗米勒派所提出嘅一切時間預言,甚至連但以理書 8:14 嘅二千三百日年也一併拒絕。佢哋或者大可以否認呢一個事實,但從邏輯上可以證明,呢一個事實確然成立;不過我而家所要指出嘅重點並唔係呢一方面,所以暫且擱下,俾我哋嘗試將呢篇文章作一個總結。
The scattering of the “glorious land” of Judah in 677 BC represents the trampling down of the “host” in Daniel 8:13, 14, and points to the establishment of the modern glorious land, the United States. The twenty-three hundred years of the same verses began in 457 BC, and represents the trampling down of the “sanctuary.”
主前677年猶大「榮美之地」嘅分散,表徵但以理書8:13、14所講對「軍旅」嘅踐踏,並指向現代榮美之地——美國——嘅建立。同樣經文所講嘅二千三百年,係由主前457年開始,並表徵對「聖所」嘅踐踏。
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:13, 14.
其時,我聽見有一位聖者說話;又有另一位聖者問那說話的聖者說:「這關於常獻的燔祭、以及那使荒涼的罪過,將聖所與軍旅都交付人踐踏的異象,要到幾時呢?」他對我說:「直到二千三百日;然後聖所就必得潔淨。」但以理書 8:13, 14
677 BC and 457 BC are dates connected by the relationship of God’s people and God’s sanctuary. God brought both the host and the sanctuary back together at the same time on October 22, 1844. The two hundred and twenty years between 677 BC and 457 BC symbolize a period when God establishes a waymark representing an increase of light. On October 22, 1844 the light of the third angel arrived, the light of the sanctuary began to shine and a host was there to proclaim the light.
公元前677年同公元前457年,乃係藉着上帝子民與上帝聖所之間嘅關係而彼此相連嘅日期。上帝喺1844年10月22日,同一時間將軍旅同聖所一併帶返埋一齊。公元前677年同公元前457年之間嗰二百二十年,象徵一段時期;喺呢段時期之中,上帝設立一個路標,表明亮光有所增加。喺1844年10月22日,第三位天使嘅亮光臨到,聖所嘅亮光開始照耀,並且有一支軍旅喺度宣告呢亮光。
In the prophetic line which identifies the three-fold warfare that Satan and Christ engaged in, the King James Bible of 1611 was produced. Exactly two hundred and twenty years later in 1831, William Miller published his message for the first time:
喺指出撒但與基督所參與之三重爭戰嘅預言線上,《1611年英王欽定本聖經》被刊行。正正相隔二百二十年之後,喺1831年,威廉・米勒首次發表佢嘅信息:
“For nine years William Miller was convinced that he ought to give his message to the churches; but he waited, hoping that some recognized authority would proclaim the glad news of a soon-coming Saviour. In thus waiting, he but proved the truth of the message; there was a name that they lived, but they were fast dying. In 1831 Miller gave his first discourse on the prophecies.” Steven Haskell, The Seer of Patmos, 77.
「九年之久,威廉.米勒深信自己應當將他的信息傳給眾教會;然而他一直等候,盼望有某位公認的權威人士會宣告救主快來的喜訊。他這樣等候,反倒證明了這信息的真實;他們有名是活着,其實卻正在迅速衰亡。1831年,米勒發表了他關於預言的第一篇講論。」Steven Haskell, The Seer of Patmos, 77.
God protected the sacred and correct original texts used to produce the Bible. He then produced His Bible in 1611. He then raised up a messenger that would employ the rules located, derived and established within the Bible to produce the message of the first angel. In 1831, Miller’s message was formalized as was the message in Christ’s history formalized by John the Baptist, as the message has been formalized in every reformatory movement. The message of Miller, the first angel’s message announcing the opening of the judgment is directly upheld by the application of the prophetic time period of two hundred and twenty years. It was the message of warning at the beginning of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy—the United States.
上帝保守了用以產生《聖經》的神聖而正確的原始文本。其後,祂於一六一一年產生了祂的《聖經》。祂又興起了一位使者,運用那位於《聖經》之內被尋見、被引申並被確立的規則,產生了第一位天使的信息。於一八三一年,米勒的信息被正式確立,正如基督歷史中的信息藉着施洗約翰被正式確立一樣,也正如每一次改革運動中的信息都曾被正式確立一樣。米勒的信息,就是宣告審判開始的第一位天使的信息,乃是直接藉着二百二十年這段先知性時間期間的應用而被支持的。這乃是《聖經》預言中第六個國度——美國——開始之時的警告信息。
In 1996, the ministry of Future for America began, and the message of the third angel that had been unsealed in 1989, the message identifying the healing of the deadly wound of the papacy and the soon coming Sunday law was published in a magazine titled, The Time of the End. The message at the end of Adventism had been formalized just as the message at the beginning had been formalized. In the beginning the message was hung upon time and represented a further development of the truths contained within God’s Word. In 1996, two hundred and twenty years after the birth of the United States in 1776, the message at the end of Adventism was formalized and represented a further development of the three angels’ messages.
喺1996年,Future for America 嘅事工開始咗,而喺1989年已經被解開封印嘅第三位天使信息——即指出教皇權致命創傷嘅痊癒,以及主日法即將來臨嘅信息——以一本名為《The Time of the End》嘅雜誌出版咗。復臨信仰終末時期嘅信息,正如起初時期嘅信息一樣,已被正式確立。起初,呢個信息係懸繫於時間之上,並且代表住對上帝聖言所包含之真理嘅進一步發展。喺1996年,即美國於1776年誕生之後二百二十年,復臨信仰終末時期嘅信息被正式確立,並且代表住對三位天使信息嘅進一步發展。
As we address the parallel history of the Republican horn and the Protestant horn in the history of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy it must be understood who the Protestant horn is and who it is not.
當我哋論及聖經預言第六國歷史之中,共和黨角同新教角嘅平行歷史時,必須明白邊一個係新教角,亦都必須明白邊一個唔係新教角。
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15, 16.
你當竭力在神面前得蒙悅納,作無愧的工人,正意分解真理的道。只是要躲避褻瀆虛浮的空談;因為這等言語必進到更不敬虔的地步。提摩太後書 2:15, 16.