In the previous two articles addressing the private interpretation that claims that the United States has been typified by the “robbers of thy people” who “establish the vision” in Daniel chapter eleven verse fourteen we cited a passage from the pen of Ellen White which stated, “The members of the church will individually be tested and proved.” That proving, testing, sifting process which is represented as the Messenger of the Covenant in Malachi chapter three cleansing the silver and gold is now under way. In Malachi chapter three it identifies a purging.
喺前面兩篇論及一種私意解釋嘅文章之中，該解釋聲稱，美國已被但以理書第十一章第十四節所指「你本國中嘅強暴人」所預表，即嗰等「要建立異象」嘅人；我哋曾引用懷愛倫筆下一段話，話：「教會嘅成員將會逐一受到試驗同證明。」呢一個證明、試驗、篩選嘅過程，正如瑪拉基書第三章所表明、由立約之使者潔淨金銀所象徵者，現正進行中。喺瑪拉基書第三章，當中所指出嘅乃係一場潔淨。
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. Malachi 3:3, 4.
佢必坐低，如煉淨銀子同潔淨之人；佢必潔淨利未之子，熬煉佢哋，好似金銀一樣，使佢哋可以憑公義獻供物畀耶和華。嗰陣，猶大同耶路撒冷所獻嘅供物，必蒙耶和華悅納，好似古時之日、往年之時一樣。瑪拉基書 3:3, 4.
Those who hold to the idea that the United States is the symbol which establishes the vision have been unable or unwilling to understand that the message that was unsealed in July of 2023 is what purges the candidates to be among the one hundred and forty-four thousand. In the synagogue at Capernaum the final purging of the one hundred and forty-four thousand was typified.
凡持守「美國乃係建立異象之表號」呢一觀念嘅人，未能或不願明白：於二〇二三年七月被開啟之信息，正是潔淨那些有望列於十四萬四千人之候選者嘅工具。在迦百農嘅會堂之中，十四萬四千人最後嘅潔淨已被預表。
“Jesus told them plainly, ‘There are some of you that believe not;’ adding, ‘Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father.’ He wished them to understand that if they were not drawn to Him it was because their hearts were not open to the Holy Spirit. ‘The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.’ 1 Corinthians 2:14. It is by faith that the soul beholds the glory of Jesus. This glory is hidden, until, through the Holy Spirit, faith is kindled in the soul.
耶穌坦然對他們說：「你們中間有啲人係唔信嘅」；又加上說：「所以我曾對你們說過，若不是我父賜給他的，冇有人能到我這裏來。」祂要他們明白，若果他們冇有被吸引到祂那裏，乃是因為他們的心未曾向聖靈敞開。「然而屬血氣的人不領會 神聖靈的事，反倒以為愚拙，並且不能知道，因為這些事惟有屬靈的人才能看透。」哥林多前書 2:14。惟有藉着信心，心靈先能看見耶穌的榮耀。這榮耀乃是隱藏的，直到聖靈在心靈裏點燃信心，人才得以看見。
“By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus. They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice,—had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.
「藉着公開責備佢哋嘅不信，呢啲門徒同耶穌就更加疏離。佢哋大大不悅，並且想傷害救主，又要迎合法利賽人嘅惡意，於是就背向祂，帶着輕蔑離開祂。佢哋已經作出咗自己嘅選擇——取咗外表而冇內裏，得咗糠殼而失去子粒。佢哋嘅決定此後再冇逆轉；因為佢哋不再與耶穌同行。」
“‘Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner.’ Matthew 3:12. This was one of the times of purging. By the words of truth, the chaff was being separated from the wheat. Because they were too vain and self-righteous to receive reproof, too world-loving to accept a life of humility, many turned away from Jesus. Many are still doing the same thing. Souls are tested today as were those disciples in the synagogue at Capernaum. When truth is brought home to the heart, they see that their lives are not in accordance with the will of God. They see the need of an entire change in themselves; but they are not willing to take up the self-denying work. Therefore they are angry when their sins are discovered. They go away offended, even as the disciples left Jesus, murmuring, ‘This is an hard saying; who can hear it?’” The Desire of Ages, 392.
「『祂手裏拿着簸箕，要徹底揚淨祂的禾場，把麥子收在倉裏。』馬太福音 3:12。這是潔淨的時候之一。藉着真理的話，糠秕正從麥子中被分別出來。由於他們過於虛榮、自以為義，不肯接受責備；又因太愛世界，不願接納謙卑的人生，許多人就離開了耶穌。如今仍有許多人在作同樣的事。今日，眾人的心靈也正如當年迦百農會堂裏那些門徒一樣，正在受試驗。當真理被帶到人心裏時，他們便看見自己的生活並不符合上帝的旨意。他們看見自己需要有一番徹底的改變；但他們不願承擔那捨己的工作。因此，當他們的罪被揭露時，便發怒了。他們帶着冒犯之心離去，正如那些門徒離開耶穌一樣，發怨言說：『這話甚難，誰能聽呢？』」——《歷代願望》，392。
By “words of truth” the gold and silver of Malachi’s illustration of the final temple cleansing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand was represented.
藉着「真理的言語」，瑪拉基關於末後潔淨聖殿、即那十四萬四千人之比喻中的金與銀，便被表明出來。
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap. Malachi 3:1, 2.
看哪，我要差遣我的使者，在我前面預備道路；你們所尋求的主，必忽然進入他的殿；立約的使者，就是你們所喜悅的，快要來到。看哪，他必來到，這是萬軍之耶和華說的。只是，他來的日子，誰能當得起呢？他顯現的時候，誰能站立得住呢？因為他如煉淨銀子的火，又如漂布者的鹼。瑪拉基書 3:1, 2.
All the prophets, including Malachi are identifying the last days. In the first of these articles we cited, The 1888 Materials, page 403, where we are informed, “He who rests satisfied with his own present imperfect knowledge of the Scriptures, thinking this sufficient for his salvation, is resting in a fatal deception. There are many who are not thoroughly furnished with Scriptural arguments, that they may be able to discern error, and condemn all the tradition and superstition that has been palmed off as truth.” Those identified in the same passage “are not close Bible students,” who have “not studied to a purpose” the “passages of Scripture” where there exists “differences of opinion.” Those being addressed “do not read the Bible [in order] to appropriate the marrow and fatness to their own souls. They do not feel that it is the voice of God speaking to them. But, if we would understand the way of salvation, if we would see the beams of the Sun of righteousness,” they “must study the Scriptures for a purpose.”
眾先知，包括瑪拉基在內，都在指明末後的日子。在我們所引用的這一系列文章之第一篇中，我們引述了《1888 Materials》第403頁，其中告知我們：「那安於自己現今對聖經之不完全認識，以為這已足供自己得救的人，乃是安歇在一種致命的迷惑之中。有許多人並未充分具備聖經的論據，以致能分辨錯謬，並定罪一切被冒充為真理而兜售出來的傳統與迷信。」在同一段落中所指明的人，「不是切實查考聖經的人」；對於那些存在「意見分歧」的「經文段落」，他們「並沒有為着明確的目的去研讀」。那些被論及的人，「讀聖經，並不是［為要］把其中的骨髓與肥甘據為自己靈魂的分；他們並不覺得那是上帝向他們說話的聲音。然而，若我們要明白救恩之道，若我們要看見公義之日頭的光線」，他們「就必須為着一個目的而研讀聖經。」
The first article identified that one of the pieces of their misguided prophetic model is the passage from The Great Controversy, which records, “Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts.” The Great Controversy, 615. Their private interpretation claims this sentence is identifying “Romanism” as past history and “apostate Protestantism” as the modern world. After the grammatical evidence that the application they make on this sentence has been wrested from its correct meaning, they exhibited no public retraction of the false application. In fact they used the very passage to advertise their next zoom meeting. Yet we are informed that “We ought to impress upon all the necessity of inquiring diligently into divine truth, that they may know that they do know what is truth.” There was no effort to retract the false claim, which appears to be evidence that those promoting this false application are not “inquiring diligently” to “know what is truth.”
第一篇文章指出，佢哋嗰個誤入歧途嘅先知性模型其中一塊拼圖，係出自《善惡之爭》嘅一段話，記載道：「舊世界嘅羅馬教同新世界背道嘅新教，將會對一切尊崇上帝全部誡命嘅人，採取相似嘅手段。」《善惡之爭》，615頁。佢哋私下嘅解釋聲稱，呢一句係將「羅馬教」指認為過去歷史，而將「背道嘅新教」指認為現代世界。喺有語法上嘅證據證明佢哋加諸於呢一句之上嘅應用，乃係被扭離其正確意思之後，佢哋並冇公開撤回呢個錯誤嘅應用。事實上，佢哋仲用正正呢段經文去宣傳佢哋下一次嘅 Zoom 聚會。然而，我哋已蒙指示：「我哋應當使人人深深感受到，必須殷勤查考神聖真理，好叫佢哋知道自己所知道嘅，確實就係真理。」佢哋冇作出任何努力去撤回呢項錯誤聲稱；呢一點似乎正好證明，推動呢個錯誤應用嘅人，並唔係「殷勤查考」以致「知道甚麼係真理」。
From the beginning of this controversy, we have approached it as if it was more than simply a disagreement between truth and error over who the robbers of thy people represent, and I still hold that position. The articles on the book of Daniel had reached a point by number two hundred where the significance of verses thirteen to fifteen of Daniel eleven had been soundly set forth. The verses represent the history from 1989 unto the soon-coming Sunday law that exists in verse forty of Daniel eleven.
自呢場爭議一開始，我哋就一直以嚟都係以為，呢件事並唔單止係一場關乎「你民中的強暴人」究竟係指邊個嘅真理與謬誤之間嘅分歧；而我而家仍然持守呢個立場。關於《但以理書》嘅文章，寫到第二百號嘅時候，已經清楚而穩妥噉闡明咗《但以理書》十一章十三至十五節嘅意義。呢幾節經文所代表嘅，乃係由1989年開始，直到嗰條即將來臨、並存在於《但以理書》十一章四十節之中嘅星期日法案為止嘅歷史。
We have been identifying that history as the hidden history of verse forty. We have also identified that when Sister Whites states “the book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days,” that the hidden history of Daniel chapter eleven verse forty is “that portion of the prophecy of Daniel.” Verses thirteen through fifteen represent the prophetic truth which is unsealed in the last days. Those three verses are therefore also represented as both the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” and the “Seven Thunders” in the book of Revelation that is unsealed just prior to the close of probation. When Sister White refers to that “portion of the book of Daniel,” the passage where the statement is located states:
我哋一直指出，嗰段歷史就係第四十節所隱藏嘅歷史。我哋亦都已經指出，當懷愛倫姊妹話「那被封住的書卷並不是啟示錄，乃是但以理預言中關乎末後日子嘅嗰一部分」嘅時候，但以理書第十一章第四十節所隱藏嘅歷史，就係「但以理預言中嘅嗰一部分」。第十三至第十五節，代表喺末後日子被揭開封印嘅先知真理。因此，嗰三節亦都喺啟示錄嗰本喺恩門關閉之前、即將被揭開封印嘅書卷當中，被表述為「耶穌基督的啟示」同埋「七雷」。當懷愛倫姊妹提到但以理書「嗰一部分」嘅時候，載有該陳述嘅段落係咁講：
“Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation, that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it contains. The One who revealed these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who ‘hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.’
「不要有人以為，因為自己不能解明《啟示錄》中每一個表號的意思，便認定自己查考這卷書、務求明白其中所包含之真理的意義，乃是徒然的。那位將這些奧祕啟示給約翰的主，必使那殷勤尋求真理的人，先嘗天上之事的滋味。凡心靈向真理敞開、願意領受的人，必能明白其中的教訓，並必得著那應許給凡「聽見這預言的話，又遵守其中所記載之事」之人的福分。」
“In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.’ Daniel 12:4.” Acts of the Apostles, 584, 585.
「喺《啟示錄》入面，聖經全部各卷都喺呢度匯集並告終。呢度就係《但以理書》的補足。一卷係預言；另一卷係啟示。嗰本被封住的書並唔係《啟示錄》，而係《但以理》的預言中有關末後日子的嗰一部分。天使命令話：『但以理啊，你要隱藏呢話，封閉呢書，直到末時。』但以理書 12:4。」《使徒行述》，584，585。
The word “complement” means to bring to perfection. The portion of the book of Daniel that relates to the last days, which is unsealed at the time of the end, is made perfect when combined, “line upon line” with the “Revelation of Jesus Christ,” and “the Seven Thunders.” Those three representations are the message which is unsealed, and therefore represents the “words of truth” that are employed to “purge” the one hundred and forty four thousand in the final temple cleansing of Malachi, as represented in verses thirteen to fifteen of Daniel eleven. The verse in the middle is the verse where the current controversy is represented, and as such represents the identical controversy that confronted the Millerites in their prophetic history.
「complement」一詞，意思是使之臻於完全。〈但以理書〉中關乎末後日子的那一部分，乃是在末時被揭開印封的；當它與「耶穌基督的啟示」以及「七雷」，按着「一句接一句」結合起來時，便得以成全。這三種表述，就是那已被揭開印封的信息，因此也就代表了那被用來在〈瑪拉基書〉最後一次潔淨聖殿之時「煉淨」十四萬四千人的「真理的話語」；這事乃如〈但以理書〉十一章十三至十五節所表明的。當中的那一節，就是當前爭議所表明之處；因此，它所代表的，正是那在他們的預言歷史中曾臨到米勒派信徒的同一場爭議。
To claim the “robbers of thy people” in verse fourteen is the United States is a perfect parallel to the Protestants of Millerite history claiming that the robbers represented Antiochus Epiphanes. The controversy will purge the dross from the gold and silver, but the more important issue is that the controversy has been allowed to lead those represented by the Levites of Malachi chapter three to study more deeply than ever before God’s prophetic Word. The “dirt brush Man” of William Miller’s dream is now sweeping the counterfeit coins and jewels out of the room, in advance of His work in reassembling the genuine jewels into a perfect order which shines ten times brighter than the sun.
聲稱第十四節中「你本國的強暴人」乃係指美國，正如米勒派歷史中，新教徒聲稱那些強暴人乃係指安提阿古四世（Antiochus Epiphanes）一樣，完全係平行對應。呢場爭議將會把金銀中嘅渣滓煉淨；但更重要嘅問題係，呢場爭議已經被容許，引導嗰啲由瑪拉基書第三章利未人所代表嘅人，比以往任何時候都更深入研讀上帝嘅預言聖言。威廉・米勒夢中嗰位「掃塵者」如今正喺房間裏把假幣同假寶石掃出去，為着祂隨後將真正嘅寶石重新聚集、排列成完全秩序嘅工作作準備；而嗰等寶石所發出嘅光輝，較太陽仲要明亮十倍。
The controversy was allowed to take place to accomplish that very work, for we have been informed that, “God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep. Precious light has come, appropriate for this time. It is Bible truth, showing the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us to a diligent study of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the positions which we hold. God would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly searched, with prayer and fasting. Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth.”
容許呢場爭議發生，正是為咗成就嗰項工作；因為我哋已經得蒙指示，知道：「上帝必興起祂嘅子民；若其他方法都失效，異端就會進入佢哋中間，篩淨佢哋，將糠秕同麥子分開。主呼召一切相信祂話語嘅人，要從沉睡中醒起。寶貴嘅亮光已經嚟到，正切合呢個時候。呢亮光就係聖經真理，指明嗰啲正臨到我哋嘅危險。呢亮光應當引導我哋殷勤查考聖經，並且以最嚴謹嘅態度，審察我哋所持守嘅立場。上帝要真理一切嘅方面同立場，都被徹底而堅持不懈噉加以查究，並配以祈禱同禁食。信徒唔可以安於臆測同對何謂真理含糊不清嘅觀念之中。」
The “heresies” He allows and employs to arouse His sleeping saints are “old controversies.”
祂所容許並用以喚醒祂沉睡聖徒嘅「異端」，乃係「古老嘅爭論」。
“In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things which have been, will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising. But God’s people, who in their belief and fulfillment of prophecy have acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages, know where they stand. They have an experience that is more precious than fine gold. They are to stand firm as a rock, holding the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end.” Selected Message, book 2, 109.
「上帝嘅道喺歷史同預言之中，描繪咗真理與謬誤之間長久持續嘅爭戰。呢場爭戰至今仍在進行。從前所發生嘅事，將會重演。舊有嘅爭論會被重新挑起，而新嘅理論亦會不斷興起。但係，上帝嘅子民，喺佢哋對預言嘅相信同應驗之中，曾經喺傳揚第一、第二同第三位天使信息嘅工作上擔當角色，知道自己所站立嘅立場。佢哋有一種經驗，比精金更為寶貴。佢哋要堅定如磐石，將起初嘅確信持守到底。」《信息選粹》卷二，109。
The controversy over the “robbers of thy people” is an old controversy from the Millerite history, which is the “beginning of their confidence” that they are told to hold “steadfast to the end.” The “beginning of” the one hundred and forty-four thousand’s “confidence” is the foundational truths which are represented upon the 1843 and 1850 pioneer charts.
關於「你民中嘅強暴人」嘅爭論，乃係源自米勒派歷史中一場久遠嘅爭論；呢場爭論就係佢哋被吩咐要「堅守到底」嘅「確信起初」。「十四萬四千人」之「確信起初」，就係嗰啲基礎真理，而呢啲真理乃係喺1843年同1850年先驅圖表上所表明嘅。
“The enemy is seeking to divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a people to stand in these last days. His sophistries are designed to lead minds away from the perils and duties of the hour. They estimate as nothing the light that Christ came from heaven to give John for his people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to receive special attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science.
「仇敵正企圖使我哋弟兄姊妹嘅心思，偏離預備一班子民喺呢末後日子站立得住嘅工作。佢種種詭辯，乃係要引導人心離開當前嘅危險同責任。佢哋將基督從天上嚟賜畀約翰、為要賜畀祂子民嘅亮光，視為毫不足道。佢哋教導人話，現今擺喺我哋面前、即將發生嘅景象，並無重要到值得特別留意。佢哋使出於天上嘅真理失去效力，又奪去上帝子民以往嘅經驗，反而以一種虛假嘅科學取而代之。」
“‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.’
「耶和華如此說：你們當站在路上觀看，訪問古道，哪是美善的路，便行在其間。」
“Let none seek to tear away the foundations of our faith,—the foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work, by prayerful study of the Word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for the last fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a new way, and that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid. But this is a great deception. Other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid.
「不可讓任何人企圖拆毀我哋信仰嘅根基——呢啲根基乃係喺我哋工作開始之初，藉着以祈禱嘅心研讀聖言，同埋藉着啟示而奠立嘅。過去五十年，我哋一直都係喺呢啲根基之上建造。有人或者以為自己搵到一條新路，又以為自己能夠立下比已經奠立咗嘅更堅固嘅根基；但呢乃係極大嘅迷惑。因為除咗所已經奠立嘅根基以外，冇有人能夠另立根基。」
“In the past many have undertaken the building of a new faith, the establishment of new principles. But how long did their building stand?—It soon fell; for it was not founded upon the Rock.
「過去有許多人曾着手建造一種新嘅信仰，確立一套新嘅原則。但佢哋所建造嘅，能夠屹立幾耐呢？——好快就倒塌咗；因為嗰並唔係建立喺磐石上。」
“Did not the first disciples have to meet the sayings of men? Did they not have to listen to false theories, and then, having done all, to stand firm, saying, ‘Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid’?
「最初嘅門徒，豈唔係都要面對人嘅言論嗎？佢哋豈唔係都要聽見虛假嘅理論，然後喺作完一切之後，仍然站立得穩，話：『因為那已經立好嘅根基，此外冇有人能立別嘅根基。』？」
“So we are to hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. Words of power have been sent by God and by Christ to this people, bringing them out from the world, point by point, into the clear light of present truth. With lips touched with holy fire, God’s servants have proclaimed the message. The divine utterance has set its seal to the genuineness of the truth proclaimed.” Review and Herald, March 3, 1904.
「所以，我們應當將起初嘅確信堅持到底。上帝同基督已向呢班子民發出帶有能力嘅話語，一點一滴噉領佢哋從世界之中出來，進入現代真理嘅明光之中。上帝嘅僕人嘴唇既被聖火所觸，就宣告呢信息。神聖嘅言語已為所宣講之真理嘅真實性蓋上印記。」《Review and Herald》，1904年3月3日。
Jeremiah’s “old paths,” are the “foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work.” Those truths were founded “upon the Rock,” and in the Millerite history those foundational truths were the “present truth” message that was proclaimed in 1842, 1843 and 1844.
耶利米所講嘅「古道」，就係「我哋工作起初所立下嘅根基」。呢啲真理乃係建立喺「磐石」之上；而喺米勒派嘅歷史當中，嗰啲根基性嘅真理，就係喺1842、1843同1844年所宣講嘅「現代真理」信息。
“May God help you to receive the words that I have spoken. Let those who stand as God’s watchmen on the walls of Zion be men who can see the dangers before the people,—men who can distinguish between truth and error, righteousness and unrighteousness.
「願上帝幫助你領受我所說的話。凡站立錫安城牆上作上帝守望者的人，都當是能在百姓之前看見危險的人——能分辨真理與謬誤、公義與不義的人。」
“The warning has come: Nothing is to be allowed to come in that will disturb the foundation of the faith upon which we have been building ever since the message came in 1842, 1843, and 1844. I was in this message, and ever since I have been standing before the world, true to the light that God has given us. We do not propose to take our feet off the platform on which they were placed as day by day we sought the Lord with earnest prayer, seeking for light. Do you think that I could give up the light that God has given me? It is to be as the Rock of Ages. It has been guiding me ever since it was given. Brethren and sisters, God lives and reigns and works today. His hand is on the wheel, and in his providence he is turning the wheel in accordance with his own will. Let not men fasten themselves to documents, saying what they will do, and what they will not do. Let them fasten themselves to the Lord God of heaven. Then the light of heaven will shine into the soul-temple, and we shall see the salvation of God.” Review and Herald, April 14, 1903.
「警告已經發出：凡會擾亂我哋自從 1842、1843、同 1844 年信息臨到以來所一直建造之信仰根基嘅事物，一概都不可容許進來。我一直都在呢個信息之中；自此以來，我一直站喺世人面前，忠於上帝所賜俾我哋嘅亮光。我哋並無打算將雙腳離開嗰個平台；我哋嘅腳正係一日一日以懇切嘅祈禱尋求主、尋求亮光之時，被安置喺其上。你哋以為我會放棄上帝所賜俾我嘅亮光嗎？呢亮光必要如萬古磐石一樣。自從賜下以來，佢一直引導住我。弟兄姊妹，上帝今日仍然活着、掌權、並且作工。佢嘅手掌握住輪子；按住佢嘅護理，佢正照自己嘅旨意轉動呢輪。不要讓人依附文件，話自己要做乜，唔做乜；卻要讓佢哋依附天上嘅主上帝。咁樣，天上嘅亮光就必照進心靈嘅殿宇之中，而我哋就必看見上帝嘅救恩。」《Review and Herald》，1903 年 4 月 14 日。
The message that was proclaimed “in 1842, 1843, and 1844” is the message represented upon the 1843 pioneer chart. In May of 1842, three hundred 1843 charts were printed. Ellen White and the pioneers all gave testimony that the chart was a fulfillment of Habakkuk chapter two’s command to write the vision and make it plain upon tables. In that very history there were three hundred Millerite preachers, and SDA historians testify to the fact that they all employed the 1843 chart.
喺「1842、1843，同1844年」所宣講嘅信息，就係1843年先驅圖表所表達嘅信息。喺1842年5月，印製咗三百幅1843圖表。懷愛倫同各先驅都一致作見證，話呢幅圖表乃係應驗咗《哈巴谷書》第二章所吩咐「將呢異象明明寫在版上」嘅命令。就係喺嗰段歷史當中，有三百位米勒派傳道人；而基督復臨安息日會歷史學家亦為此事作證，指出佢哋全部都採用咗1843圖表。
What would possess a person to claim that the pioneer identification of Rome as the robbers of thy people, as represented upon the chart, is erroneous? What would possess someone to receive that claim? Yet, what possesses those of us that claim to accept the pioneer understanding that Rome is symbolized with the expression, “robbers of thy people,” and yet in reality not be able to defend that understanding for themselves?
乜嘢會驅使一個人聲稱，圖表上所表明、先驅者將羅馬認定為「你民中的強暴人」呢一點，係錯誤嘅？又乜嘢會驅使人接受呢一種聲稱？然而，至於我哋呢啲自稱接受先驅者之理解、認為羅馬乃係以「你民中的強暴人」呢一句說話作為象徵嘅人，點解其實竟然唔能夠親自為呢一個理解作出辯護呢？
In the first article we cited the following passage:
在第一篇文章中，我們曾引用以下經文：
“Whatever may be man’s intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light. As a people we are called individually to be students of prophecy. We must watch with earnestness that we may discern any ray of light which God shall present to us.” Testimonies, volume 5, 708.
「無論人喺智識上有幾大嘅進步，都唔好有一刻以為，自己唔需要為咗得著更大嘅亮光而徹底並持續不斷咁查考聖經。作為一班子民，我哋蒙召，要各人都成為預言嘅研讀者。我哋必須殷切警醒，好叫我哋能夠辨明上帝將要向我哋顯示嘅任何一道亮光。」《證言》卷五，708。
I claim the “light which God” is now presenting “to us” is that we have not fully awakened to our responsibility to personally understand the first fifteen verses of Daniel eleven, and that we have not understood that verses thirteen to fifteen of that same chapter represent the truths that accomplish the final purging and sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. If there were no heresies introduced in this very history it would provide evidence that we are wide awake. But this controversy proves otherwise.
我主張，神現今正向「我哋」所呈現嘅「亮光」，乃係：我哋尚未完全醒覺到自己有責任親自明白《但以理書》第十一章頭十五節；並且，我哋亦未明白，同一章第十三至十五節所代表嘅真理，乃係成就對十四萬四千人最後潔淨同印封嘅真理。倘若喺呢段歷史當中根本冇異端被引進，咁就足以證明我哋係完全警醒嘅；但呢場爭議卻證明事實並非如此。
“The fact that there is no controversy or agitation among God’s people should not be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound doctrine. There is reason to fear that they may not be clearly discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are started by investigation of the Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises which will set men to searching the Bible for themselves to make sure that they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition and worship they know not what. . ..
「上帝子民中間冇爭議或騷動呢一事實，唔應該被視為佢哋堅守純正道理嘅決定性證據。實在有理由擔心，佢哋未必能夠清楚分辨真理同錯謬。當人因查考聖經而冇引發任何新問題，當冇任何意見分歧興起，以致促使人親自查究聖經，好確定自己所持有嘅係真理，咁就會有許多人，如同古時一樣，固守遺傳，並且敬拜自己所不知道嘅。」
“God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep. Precious light has come, appropriate for this time. It is Bible truth, showing the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us to a diligent study of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the positions which we hold. God would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly searched, with prayer and fasting. Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God so that when the testing time shall come and they are brought before councils to answer for their faith they may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear.
「上帝必興起祂的子民；若其他方法無效，異端便會進入他們中間，藉此篩淨他們，把糠秕從麥子中分別出來。主呼召一切相信祂話語的人，要從睡夢中醒起。寶貴的亮光已經來到，正切合這時代所需。這乃是《聖經》的真理，顯明那正臨到我們面前的危險。這亮光應當引導我們殷勤查考《聖經》，並以最嚴謹的態度審察我們所持守的立場。上帝要一切真理的各方面與各立場，都在禱告與禁食中，被徹底而持續不懈地查究。信徒不應安於臆測和對何為真理之含糊不清的觀念。他們的信心必須穩固地建立在上帝的話語之上，使他們在考驗的時候來到、並被帶到議會面前為自己的信仰答辯時，能以溫柔、敬畏的心，說明自己所懷盼望的緣由。」
“Agitate, agitate, agitate. The subjects which we present to the world must be to us a living reality. It is important that in defending the doctrines which we consider fundamental articles of faith we should never allow ourselves to employ arguments that are not wholly sound.” Testimonies, volume 5, 708.
「要激發、激發、再激發。 我哋向世界所提出嘅題旨，對我哋自己必須係活生生嘅現實。喺維護我哋所視為信仰基本條文嘅教義時，極其重要嘅係，我哋絕不可容讓自己採用任何唔完全穩妥嘅論據。」《證言》卷五，708。
As we move forward in this consideration of the robbers of God’s people we will demonstrate that the argument upon verse fourteen of Daniel eleven between the Protestants and the Millerites is identical to the argument between the new and private interpretation that the United States, and not Rome, establishes the vision. The position that The Great Controversy uses the expression, “old world” to identify past history is a “supposition and ill-defined idea” and it is an illustration of an “argument that is not wholly sound.”
當我哋喺呢一項關於搶奪上帝子民之人嘅考察中繼續向前推進之際，我哋將要證明：圍繞但以理書十一章十四節而展開、基督新教徒同米勒派之間嘅爭辯，同新嘅、私意嘅解釋——即係異象係由美國而唔係由羅馬所建立——之間嘅爭辯，乃係完全相同。認為《善惡之爭》用「舊世界」一語嚟指明過去歷史嘅立場，乃係一種「假設同界定不清嘅觀念」，並且係一個「並非全然穩妥嘅論證」嘅例證。
Those who have used the passage to uphold their supposition that the Millerites were incorrect in identifying Rome as the robbers of thy people, should fulfill their Christian obligation and publicly retract their claim, for it is unsustainable grammatically and historically. For those sitting on the side-lines of this controversy, you are responsible to rightly divide the word of truth, for you have been called to be an individual who is a student of prophecy, not a follower of a man’s idea.
凡曾引用此段經文，去支持其臆斷，聲稱米勒派把羅馬認定為「你民中的強暴人」乃屬錯誤者，都應當盡其基督徒之本分，公開撤回其主張，因為此說在文法上及歷史上皆不能成立。至於那些在這場爭議中袖手旁觀的人，你們有責任按正意分解真理的道，因為你們所蒙的呼召，是要作一個研習預言的人，而不是跟從某一個人的見解。
Men wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction.
人曲解聖經，以致自取滅亡。
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:15–18.
並且要以我哋主嘅忍耐為得救；正如我哋所親愛嘅弟兄保羅，照着所賜畀佢嘅智慧，都曾經寫信畀你哋；佢喺一切書信上亦都係講論呢啲事；其中有啲難明嘅地方，嗰啲無學問、唔穩定嘅人強解，好似強解別的經書一樣，自取沉淪。親愛嘅人哪，你哋既然預先知道呢啲事，就當謹慎，免得畀惡人嘅錯謬引誘，就從自己堅固嘅地步上墮落。你哋卻要喺恩典同我哋主救主耶穌基督嘅知識上有長進。願榮耀歸畀佢，從今直到永遠。阿們。彼得後書 3:15–18。
Peter states that it is the “unlearned and unstable” who “wrest” the Scriptures “unto their own destruction.” In agreement with that fact is Sister White’s repeated warnings to us to study for ourselves. If we are not fulfilling our responsibility to be students of prophecy, we are determining our own destruction.
彼得指出，乃是「無學問、不穩定的人」把聖經「強解」，以致「自取滅亡」。與此相符，懷愛倫姊妹一再警告我哋要親自查考。若我哋唔履行自己作為預言研讀者嘅責任，我哋就係決定自己嘅滅亡。
It is the robbers of thy people who establish the vision, and Solomon identifies that where there is no vision the people perish.
建立異象的，乃係你民中嘅強暴之徒；而所羅門指出，冇異象，民就滅亡。
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18.
冇異象，民就放肆；惟遵守律法的，便為有福。箴言 29:18。
One of the definitions of “perish” is to be made naked. Where there is an incorrect understanding of the vision, it is based upon the fact that the symbol that establishes the vision is not understood, or incorrectly understood. To be among those who perish in Solomon’s warning is to secure the nakedness represented by the Laodiceans who are spewed out of the mouth of the Lord at the soon coming Sunday law. Why would we accept an idea that misrepresents the clear meaning of Sister White’s comments upon the old and new world, and that rejects the Millerite identification that it is Rome who establishes the vision, which was directly represented upon the 1843 chart, which represents the foundational truths of Adventism, and which is Christ, the Rock of Ages that is represented by all sacred illustration of the foundations?
「滅亡」其中一個定義，乃係被顯為赤身露體。凡對異象有錯誤理解之處，皆基於一個事實：即建立該異象嘅表號未被明白，或者被錯誤明白。喺所羅門嘅警告中，成為嗰啲滅亡之人之一，乃係使自己落喺老底嘉人所象徵嘅赤身露體之中；而老底嘉人，將會喺即將來臨嘅星期日法案之時，被主從祂口中吐出去。我哋點解要接受一種觀念，去歪曲懷愛倫姊妹關於舊世界同新世界之評語嘅清楚意思，並且拒絕米勒派嘅辨識——即係建立異象嘅乃係羅馬；呢一點曾直接表現喺1843年圖表之上，而該圖表乃代表復臨信仰嘅基礎真理，並且就係基督，萬古磐石；而一切關於根基嘅神聖圖解，所表徵嘅正係祂。
“But every building erected on other foundation than God’s word will fall. He who, like the Jews in Christ’s day, builds on the foundation of human ideas and opinions, of forms and ceremonies of man’s invention, or on any works that he can do independently of the grace of Christ, is erecting his structure of character upon the shifting sand. The fierce tempests of temptation will sweep away the sandy foundation and leave his house a wreck on the shores of time.
「但凡建立喺神話語以外任何根基之上嘅建築，都必倒塌。人若好似基督日子嘅猶太人一樣，把根基建立喺人嘅意念同見解之上，建立喺人所發明嘅形式同禮儀之上，或建立喺任何佢可以離開基督恩典而自行去做嘅工作之上，佢就係將自己品格嘅結構建造喺流沙之上。試探猛烈嘅風暴必將呢個沙土根基一掃而空，並使佢嘅房屋喺時間嘅岸邊成為廢墟。」
“‘“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, … Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.’ Isaiah 28:16, 17.
「『所以主耶和華如此說，……我必以公平為準繩，以公義為線鉈；冰雹必沖去謊言的避難所，大水必漫過藏身之處。』以賽亞書 28:16, 17。」
“But today mercy pleads with the sinner. ‘As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?’ Ezekiel 33:11. The voice that speaks to the impenitent today is the voice of Him who in heart anguish exclaimed as He beheld the city of His love: ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.’ Luke 13:34, 35 , R.V. In Jerusalem, Jesus beheld a symbol of the world that had rejected and despised His grace. He was weeping, O stubborn heart, for you! Even when Jesus’ tears were shed upon the mount, Jerusalem might yet have repented, and escaped her doom. For a little space the Gift of heaven still waited her acceptance. So, O heart, to you Christ is still speaking in accents of love: ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.’ ‘Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ Revelation 3:20; 2 Corinthians 6:2.
「但係今日，憐憫仍然向罪人呼求：『主耶和華說：我指着我嘅永生起誓，我唔喜悅惡人死亡，惟喜悅惡人離開所行嘅道而存活；你哋回轉，回轉離開惡道吧！以色列家啊，你哋何必死亡呢？』以西結書 33:11。今日向嗰啲不肯悔改嘅人說話嘅聲音，正係嗰一位嘅聲音；佢憂傷痛心，望住佢所愛嘅城，就呼喊話：『耶路撒冷啊，耶路撒冷啊，你常殺害先知，又用石頭打死奉差遣到你呢度來嘅人！我多次願意聚集你嘅兒女，好似母雞把小雞聚集喺翅膀底下，只係你哋不願意。看哪，你哋嘅家成為荒場，留給你哋。』路加福音 13:34, 35, R.V. 耶穌喺耶路撒冷所睇見嘅，乃係嗰個拒絕並藐視佢恩典之世界嘅象徵。頑梗嘅心啊，佢正係為你而哭！就算當耶穌嘅眼淚灑落喺山上嘅時候，耶路撒冷仍然仲有悔改、逃避其厄運嘅機會。天上所賜嘅恩賜，喺短短一段時候之內，仍然等候佢接受。照樣，心靈啊，基督而家仍然用慈愛嘅聲音對你說：『看哪，我站在門外叩門；若有聽見我聲音就開門嘅，我要進到佢那裏去，我與佢，佢與我，一同坐席。』『看哪，現在正是悅納的時候；看哪，現在正是拯救的日子。』啟示錄 3:20；哥林多後書 6:2。」
“You who are resting your hope on self are building on the sand. But it is not yet too late to escape the impending ruin. Before the tempest breaks, flee to the sure foundation. ‘Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.’ ‘Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.’ ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.’ ‘Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.’ Isaiah 28:16, R.V.; 45:22; 41:10; 45:17.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 150–152.
「你哋凡將盼望建立喺自己身上嘅，就係建造喺沙土之上。但而家仍然未算太遲，仲可以逃避快將臨到嘅毀滅。喺暴風驟雨爆發之前，快啲逃到嗰穩固嘅根基嗰度。『主耶和華如此說：看哪，我在錫安放一塊石頭作為根基，乃是經過試驗的石頭，是寶貴的房角石，是穩固的根基；信靠的人必不着急。』『地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救；因為我是神，再沒有別神。』『你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的神；我必堅固你，我必幫助你，我必用我公義的右手扶持你。』『你們必不蒙羞，也不抱愧，直到永永遠遠。』以賽亞書 28:16, R.V.; 45:22; 41:10; 45:17。」《福山寶訓》，150–152。
We will continue this study in the next article.
我哋將會喺下一篇文章繼續呢項研讀。