The probationary war of angels, that began with Lucifer in the third heaven represented in Revelation chapter twelve, typifies the probationary war of men and angels, that ends in the first heaven. When Satan and his angels were cast out of the third heaven, Satan opened a new battle front in the garden of Eden. As in the war of the third heaven with Lucifer, God also instituted a period of probation for mankind. The war in the first heaven that begins in earnest at the soon-coming Sunday law represents the end of probationary time for mankind.

由《啟示錄》第十二章所表徵、始於第三層天之路錫甫的試驗性戰爭,乃預表人與天使之試驗性戰爭,而此戰爭將終結於第一層天。當撒但和他的使者被逐出第三層天之時,撒但便在伊甸園開闢了新的戰線。正如在第三層天與路錫甫的戰爭中一樣,上帝也為人類設立了一段試驗時期。那將隨着即將來臨的星期日法令而真正開始於第一層天的戰爭,乃代表人類試驗時期的終結。

In Revelation chapters twelve and thirteen the dragon, the beast and the false prophet are represented. Customarily, those three powers are understood to represent primarily past history of those three powers, but John was told to write the “things that will be,” and the entire book of Revelation speaks of the “last days,” so we are employing the biblical principle that the end is illustrated by the beginning, and applying the symbols of Revelation as present, not past truth.

喺《啟示錄》第十二章同第十三章,龍、獸同假先知都被表明出嚟。通常,呢三種權勢主要被理解為代表佢哋過去嘅歷史;但約翰係被吩咐要寫下「將來必成的事」,而且《啟示錄》全書都係講到「末後的日子」,所以我哋採用聖經嘅原則──終局乃由起頭作說明──並且將《啟示錄》嘅象徵應用為現今嘅真理,而唔係過去嘅真理。

Satan has been identified in both the war he began in the third heaven, and the first battle that he brought to men in the garden of Eden as employing “hypnotism” to convey his corrupted communications in order to accomplish his warfare.

撒但無論喺佢於第三層天所發動嘅戰爭之中,抑或喺伊甸園裡帶畀人類嘅第一場爭戰之中,都被指出係運用「催眠術」嚟傳達佢敗壞咗嘅信息,以成就佢嘅爭戰。

“Satan tempted the first Adam in Eden, and Adam reasoned with the enemy, thus giving him the advantage. Satan exercised his power of hypnotism over Adam and Eve, and this power he strove to exercise over Christ. But after the word of Scripture was quoted, Satan knew that he had no chance of triumphing.

「撒但曾在伊甸園試探第一個亞當,而亞當竟與仇敵講理,於是便給了他可乘之機。撒但向亞當同夏娃施展佢催眠嘅能力,而呢種能力,佢亦竭力想向基督施展。但當聖經嘅話被引用之後,撒但就知道自己絕無得勝嘅機會。 」

“Men and women are not to study the science of how to take captive the minds of those who associate with them. This is the science that Satan teaches. We are to resist everything of the kind. We are not to tamper with mesmerism and hypnotism—the science of the one who lost his first estate and was cast out of the heavenly courts.” Mind, Character and Personality, 713.

「無論男女,都唔應該研究點樣擄掠與佢哋來往之人心思嘅學問。呢一種學問係撒但所教導嘅。我哋要抗拒一切呢類嘅事。我哋唔可以沾手催眠術同迷魂術——呢種學問,乃係出於嗰位失去自己起初地位、並被逐出天庭者。」《心智、品格與人格》,713。

The “science that Satan teaches” has been perfected by the globalist merchants, and is carried out through the “information super highway” in the “last days.” Satan is the father of lies, and the media giants, not only promote falsehoods, but they also screen out truth, they track those they deem as heretics, and they employ the most sophisticated form of hypnotism ever practiced in the history of planet earth. The war that began in the third heaven emphasizes this attribute of Satan’s warfare, in order that the faithful living when the war of the first heaven gets under way might be forewarned by foreknowledge. When we understand that the control center for the worldwide web, and the “information super highway” is managed and controlled in the United States, we have a view of what it means that the United States, calls fire down out of heaven and deceives the entire world. “Fire” in the book of Revelation represents a message.

撒但所傳授嘅「科學」,已經由全球主義嘅商賈加以臻於完善,並且喺「末後嘅日子」藉着「資訊高速公路」被執行出嚟。撒但乃係謊言之父,而傳媒巨頭唔單止宣揚虛假,佢哋亦都篩走真理,追蹤佢哋視為異端嘅人,並且運用地球歷史上所曾施行過最精密嘅催眠形式。喺第三層天所開始嘅戰爭,強調咗撒但爭戰呢一方面嘅特徵,為要使到當第一層天嘅戰爭展開之時仍然存活嘅忠信之人,能夠因預先嘅知識而先受警告。當我哋明白到,全球互聯網同埋「資訊高速公路」嘅控制中心,乃係由美國管理同控制,我哋就能看見,美國從天上叫火降下,並迷惑全世界,究竟係乜嘢意思。《啟示錄》入面嘅「火」,代表一個信息。

The symbolism of Revelation chapter thirteen, and verse thirteen is drawn from the battle of mount Carmel where the prophets of Baal and the prophets of the groves, were unable to call fire down out of heaven to confirm that Baal and Ashtaroth were true gods. Baal, being a male deity and Ashtaroth a female deity represents the image of the beast, the unholy combination of church and state. They were the prophets of Jezebel, who was in an unholy relationship with Ahab. Those two prophetic witnesses of the image of the beast in the story of Mount Carmel, identify the role of the United States in first forming an image of the papal system in the United States, and thereafter in the world. The “fire” at Carmel was to be the evidence of who the true God really was. It represented a revelation from heaven identifying the true God, and the same issue exists when the United States calls fire down from heaven.

《啟示錄》第十三章,尤其第十三節之象徵,乃取材自迦密山上的爭戰;當時巴力的先知與亞舍拉的先知,不能從天上求下火來,以證明巴力與亞斯她錄乃真神。巴力作為男性神祇,而亞斯她錄作為女性神祇,乃代表獸像,就是教會與國家之不聖潔結合。他們乃耶洗別的先知;耶洗別與亞哈處於一種不聖潔的關係之中。於迦密山故事裏,這獸像的兩個先知性見證,指出美國先在美國境內形成教皇制度之像,其後又在全世界形成此像之角色。迦密山上的「火」,本是用來作為辨明誰才是真神的憑據;它代表從天而來之啟示,表明真神是誰。當美國從天上叫火降下來之時,所涉及的乃是同一個問題。

In the book of Isaiah, the God who identifies the end from the beginning, addresses the very setting of Mount Carmel of old, and also the prophetic setting that is represented when the United States calls down fire out of heaven.

喺《以賽亞書》入面,嗰位從起初指明末後嘅上帝,向住昔日迦密山嘅境況發言;亦都向住當美國從天上降火下來之時所代表嘅預言性處境發言。

Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. Isaiah 41:21–27.

耶和華說:你們要呈上你們嘅案件;雅各嘅王說:你們要提出你們有力嘅理由。叫佢哋提出嚟,向我哋指示將要發生嘅事;叫佢哋說明先前嘅事係乜嘢,好使我哋可以思想,知道事情最終嘅結局;或者向我哋宣告將來嘅事。你們要指示此後將要臨到嘅事,好使我哋知道你們係神;你們或者降福,或者降禍,叫我哋都驚惶,一同觀看。看哪,你們算不得甚麼;你們所作嘅都係虛無;揀選你們嘅,乃係可憎惡嘅。我從北方興起一人,佢必來到;佢從日出之地必求告我嘅名;佢必踐踏王侯,好像踐踏灰泥,又像窯匠踹泥一樣。誰從起初指明這事,使我哋可以知道呢?誰從先前說明,使我哋可以說:佢係公義嘅呢?誠然,冇一個指示;誠然,冇一個說明;誠然,冇一個聽見你們嘅話。首先向錫安說:看哪,看哪,佢哋在這裡;我必賜一位報好信息嘅使者給耶路撒冷。以賽亞書 41:21–27。

In the war of the first heaven that gets under way at the soon-coming Sunday law, the United States, and also Satan himself, will be allowed to “produce” their “cause,” and they will call fire down from heaven in an attempt to prove that the god of Jezebel is the true God. The world will be forced to accept the mark of that god’s day of worship. The fire that is brought down from heaven, through the “information super highway” to all mankind is a work of “nought,” and he that chooses the message conveyed through that medium is an “abomination.”

喺即將來臨嘅星期日法令開始實施之時,第一層天上所展開嘅爭戰之中,美國,以及撒但自己,都會被容許「陳明」佢哋嘅「案件」;佢哋亦會叫火從天降下,企圖證明耶洗別之神先至係真神。世界將被迫接受嗰位神之敬拜日子嘅印記。嗰從天降下、藉着「資訊高速公路」臨到全人類嘅火,乃係「虛無」嘅工作;凡揀選經由嗰媒介所傳達之信息者,便係「可憎惡」嘅。

In that warfare the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and thereafter the great multitude, will be God’s witnesses in the argument of who is the true God. The messages conveyed from both sides of the war are represented as “fire.” All the nations will be gathered to determine who is the true God, and there will be two classes of witnesses in order to establish the “truth.”

喺嗰場爭戰之中,十四萬四千人,以及其後嘅大群眾,將會成為上帝喺「邊一位先至係真神」呢場爭辯之中嘅見證人。戰爭雙方所傳達嘅信息,都以「火」嚟象徵。萬國都要被召集起嚟,以判定邊一位先至係真神;而且將會有兩類見證人,為要確立「真理」。

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Isaiah 43:9–12.

任憑萬國聚集,任憑眾民會合;他們中間有誰能宣告這事,並將先前的事指示我們呢?任憑他們提出見證人,好叫他們得稱為義;或者任憑他們聽見,便說:這是真的。耶和華說:你們是我的見證人,是我所揀選的僕人,為要使你們知道、信我,又明白我就是那位。在我以前沒有神被造,在我以後也必沒有。我,惟有我是耶和華;除我以外,並無救主。我曾宣告,我曾拯救,我曾顯明;在你們中間並沒有別神。所以你們是我的見證人。耶和華說:我就是神。以賽亞書 43:9–12。

The final manifestation of Mount Carmel, has witnesses for Satan and witnesses for God. The demonstration is to prove who is the true God, but what are God’s faithful witnesses supposed to bear witness to?

迦密山最後嘅顯現,有為撒但作見證嘅見證人,亦有為上帝作見證嘅見證人。呢個彰顯乃係要證明邊一位先至係真神;但上帝忠心嘅見證人本應為乜嘢作見證呢?

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Isaiah 44:6–9.

以色列的王耶和華,以色列的救贖主萬軍之耶和華如此說:我是首先的,我是末後的;除我以外,再沒有神。誰能像我,宣告這事,陳明它,並為我把它安排妥當呢?自從我設立古時的民以來,將要來的事,和必成的事,讓他們向他們說明吧。你們不要恐懼,也不要害怕;我豈不是早已從那時告訴你,並且宣告了嗎?你們就是我的見證。除我以外,豈有神嗎?誠然沒有磐石;我不知道一個。製造雕刻偶像的,盡都虛空;他們所喜愛的,毫無益處;他們自己就是見證;他們看不見,也不知道,好叫他們蒙羞。以賽亞書 44:6–9。

The faithful in the final confrontation of Mount Carmel are to witness to the truth that God is the first and the last. He is the God that “appointed the ancient people,” in order to identify the “things that are coming.” God’s witnesses are to present the Revelation of Jesus Christ that is unsealed just before the final battle of Mount Carmel.

喺迦密山最後對決之中忠心嘅人,必須為真理作見證:神係首先嘅,亦都係末後嘅。祂就係嗰位「立定古時之民」嘅神,為要指明「將要來嘅事」。神嘅見證人,必須陳明《耶穌基督的啟示錄》——就係喺迦密山最後爭戰之前啱啱被揭開封印嘅啟示。

Satan’s Mount Carmel message is represented as fire that comes down out of heaven.

撒但嘅迦密山信息,乃以從天降下嘅火嚟表徵。

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Revelation 13:13.

佢又行大奇事,甚至在人眼前,叫火從天降在地上,啟示錄 13:13。

The verse is describing the miracles that the United States accomplishes through the modern science of hypnotism that is conveyed to mankind on “the information super highway.” But the verse is also speaking to the appearance of Satan himself when he personates Christ.

呢節經文所描述嘅,係美國藉着現代催眠術嘅科學,經由「資訊高速公路」傳達畀人類而施行嘅神蹟。但呢節經文同時亦都係指向撒但親自顯現、假冒基督嗰陣時嘅情況。

“The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. The advent movement of 1840–44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God; the first angel’s message was carried to every missionary station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.

「那與第三位天使的信息一同宣告的天使,要以他的榮耀照亮全地。這裏所預言的,乃是一項遍及全球、具有異常能力的工作。1840至1844年的復臨運動,乃是上帝權能之榮耀彰顯;第一位天使的信息被傳到世界各地每一個傳道站,在某些國家所引起的宗教關注之高,自十六世紀宗教改革以來,為任何地方所未曾見;然而,這一切都要被第三位天使最後警告之下那強而有力的運動所超越。」

“The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the ‘former rain’ was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the ‘latter rain’ will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. ‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.’ Hosea 6:3. ‘Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain.’ Joel 2:23. ‘In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.’ ‘And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:17, 21.

「呢項工作將會同五旬節嗰日嘅工作相似。正如喺福音開展之時,藉住聖靈嘅澆灌,賜下『秋雨』,使寶貴嘅種子發芽生長;照樣,喺福音結束之時,亦要賜下『春雨』,使莊稼成熟。『我哋務要認識耶和華,竭力追求認識祂;祂出現確如晨光,祂必臨到我哋像甘雨,像滋潤田地嘅春雨秋雨。』何西阿書 6:3。『錫安嘅子民哪,你哋要歡喜,因耶和華—你哋嘅 神歡喜;因祂賜給你哋合宜嘅秋雨,為你哋降下甘霖,就係秋雨、春雨,和先前一樣。』約珥書 2:23。『神說:喺末後嘅日子,我要將我嘅靈澆灌凡有血氣嘅。』『到嗰時,凡求告主名嘅,就必得救。』使徒行傳 2:17, 21。」

“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.’ Acts 3:19, 20.

「福音嘅偉大工作喺結束之時,所彰顯上帝能力嘅表現,決不應少於其開始之時所標誌出嚟嘅能力彰顯。嗰啲喺福音開端之時、藉着早雨嘅澆灌而得應驗嘅預言,亦都要喺福音結束之時、藉着晚雨而再次應驗。呢度所講嘅,就係使徒彼得所仰望嘅『甦醒嘅時候』;佢曾說:『所以你們當悔改歸正,使你們的罪得以塗抹,這樣,那安舒的日子就必從主面前來到;主也必差遣所預定給你們的基督耶穌降臨。』使徒行傳 3:19, 20。」

“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.” The Great Controversy, 611, 612.

「上帝的僕人,面容因神聖的奉獻而發光照耀,必急速往來各處,宣講那從天上而來的信息。藉着成千上萬的聲音,遍及全地,警告必被傳出。神蹟必被施行,病人必得醫治,並且必有異能奇事隨着信的人。撒但也施行作為,藉着虛假的奇事,甚至在人面前叫火從天降下。啟示錄 13:13。如此,地上的居民便被帶到要表明自己立場的地步。」《善惡之爭》,611, 612。

When we reach the time when Satan calls fire down out of heaven, “the inhabitants of earth will be brought to take their stand.” In that time, God’s witness “will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given.” The work God’s witnesses accomplish “will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost,” when the “angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory.” At Pentecost, fire was the symbol of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and fire is also the symbol of the outpouring of Satan’s unholy spirit.

當我哋去到撒但從天上降火落嚟嘅時候,「地上嘅居民就會被帶到要表明自己立場。」喺嗰時,上帝嘅見證人「將要急速往來各處,宣告從天而來嘅信息。藉着成千上萬嘅聲音,全地都要發出呢個警告。」上帝嘅見證人所成就嘅工作,「將會類似五旬節嗰日嘅工作」,當嗰位「聯同第三位天使信息一同宣告嘅天使,要以自己嘅榮耀照亮全地。」喺五旬節,火係聖靈澆灌落嚟嘅象徵;而火亦都係撒但邪靈澆灌落嚟嘅象徵。

After John represents the one hundred and forty-four thousand and the great multitude in Revelation chapter seven, he identifies the opening of the seventh and final seal. The final or seventh seal represents the unsealing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the only prophecy in the book of Revelation that was to be unsealed just before probation closes. The seventh seal, the seven thunders and the Revelation of Jesus Christ are all symbols of the same truth, that is opened up just before probation closes. The Revelation of Jesus Christ emphasizes Christ’s character and creative power as the Alpha and Omega. The seven thunders identify the history where the one hundred and forty-four thousand are sealed, and the seventh seal identifies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the history when the two witnesses are resurrected and receive the creative power of the “truth” of God, that is conveyed from the Father, to the Son, to Gabriel, to the prophet unto those who choose to read, hear and keep the power contained therein.

約翰喺《啟示錄》第七章描繪咗十四萬四千人同大群人之後,便指出第七個、亦即最後一個印嘅揭開。最後一個印,即第七印,象徵《耶穌基督嘅啟示》被解開,亦即《啟示錄》中唯一一個注定要喺恩門關閉之前不久被解開嘅預言。第七印、七雷同《耶穌基督嘅啟示》都係同一真理嘅象徵,而呢個真理正係喺恩門關閉之前不久被開啟出嚟。《耶穌基督嘅啟示》強調基督作為阿拉法同俄梅戛之品格同創造大能。七雷指出十四萬四千人受印嗰段歷史;而第七印則指出聖靈喺兩個見證人復活、並領受上帝「真理」之創造大能嗰段歷史中嘅澆灌;呢種大能係由父傳到子,再傳到加百列,再傳到先知,直至傳畀嗰啲選擇去讀、去聽、並遵守其中所包含之大能嘅人。

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:1–5.

及至佢揭開第七印嘅時候,天上寂靜,約有半個鐘頭。我見到嗰七位企喺神面前嘅天使;有七枝號筒賜咗畀佢哋。又有另一位天使嚟到,企喺祭壇旁邊,攞住個金香爐;又有許多香賜咗畀佢,叫佢同眾聖徒嘅祈禱一同獻喺寶座前嘅金壇上。嗰香嘅煙,同眾聖徒嘅祈禱,從天使手中一同升到神面前。天使拎起香爐,盛滿咗祭壇上嘅火,掟喺地上;隨即有聲音、雷轟、閃電,同埋地震。啟示錄 8:1–5。

In the verses, “seven angels” “stood before God” with “seven trumpets.” Those seven trumpet angels have been correctly understood customarily to represent God’s judgments against Rome for the enforcement of Sunday worship. Pagan Rome, under Constantine, passed the first Sunday law in the year 321, and by the year 330, his empire was divided into east and west. From that point on the first four trumpets began to sound, and they represented the historical forces which were brought against his empire, and which by the year 476, left the city of Rome where it never again had another Roman ruling over the city, which was the symbol of Rome’s strength and glory. When the papacy passed the Sunday law at the Council of Orleans in the year 538, Mohammed was raised up to bring judgment against the Roman church, as represented by the fifth and sixth trumpets, which were also the first and second woe, and represented Islam. As correct as the traditional understanding of those trumpets are, they are defined in the passage where they are presented in Revelation nine as “plagues.”

喺經文裏面,「七位天使」拎住「七枝號」,「企喺上帝面前」。呢七位吹號嘅天使,一向都被正確噉理解為代表上帝因強制守星期日崇拜而向羅馬所施行嘅審判。異教羅馬喺君士坦丁統治之下,於主後321年頒布咗第一條星期日法;到主後330年,佢嘅帝國已經分裂為東、西兩部。由嗰個時候開始,頭四枝號就開始吹響;佢哋代表嗰啲被帶嚟攻擊佢帝國嘅歷史勢力,而到主後476年,羅馬城再冇任何一位羅馬人統治者管轄呢座城;呢座城本來就係羅馬力量同榮耀嘅象徵。當教皇制喺主後538年奧爾良會議頒布星期日法之時,穆罕默德被興起,向羅馬教會施行審判;呢件事由第五同第六枝號所表徵,亦即第一樣同第二樣災禍,並且代表伊斯蘭。傳統上對呢啲號筒嘅理解固然正確,但喺《啟示錄》第九章佢哋被呈現出嚟嗰段經文之中,佢哋被界定為「災殃」。

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Revelation 9:20, 21.

其餘未曾被這些災所殺的人,仍不悔改自己手所作的,以致不敬拜鬼魔,和那些金、銀、銅、石、木的偶像;這些偶像不能看,不能聽,也不能行走。 他們也不悔改自己的兇殺、邪術、淫行,和偷竊。啟示錄 9:20, 21

The perfect and final fulfillment of the seven trumpets is the seven last plagues of Revelation chapter sixteen. Even a casual survey of the prophetic characteristics of the seven trumpets of Revelation chapter nine demonstrates they possess parallel characteristics of the seven last plagues. The opening of the seventh seal takes place in the history when probation is about to close and the wrath of God, as represented by the seven last plagues, is about to be poured out.

七號嘅完全而最終嘅應驗,就係《啟示錄》第十六章所記載嘅七最後之災。即使只係粗略檢視《啟示錄》第九章七號所具備嘅預言特徵,亦足以顯示佢哋同七最後之災具有相對應嘅特徵。第七印嘅揭開,係發生於恩門將要關閉、並且以上帝嘅忿怒——即由七最後之災所表徵——將要傾倒出嚟之時代歷史當中。

When Christ, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, “opened the seventh seal” an angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was preceded by the unified prayer of the believers that were assembled in Jerusalem.

當基督作為猶大支派的獅子,「揭開第七印」嘅時候,有一位天使前來,企喺祭壇旁邊,手持金香爐;又有許多香賜畀佢,叫佢同眾聖徒嘅祈禱一同獻喺寶座前嘅金壇上。那香嘅煙,同眾聖徒嘅祈禱,從天使手中一同升到神面前。」五旬節聖靈嘅澆灌,乃係先由聚集喺耶路撒冷嘅信徒同心合意嘅禱告所預備。

“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.” Selected Messages, book 1, 121.

「我哋中間若有真正敬虔嘅復興,乃係我哋一切需要之中最重大、亦最迫切嘅需要。尋求呢件事,應當成為我哋首要嘅工作。我哋必須懇切努力,以求得主嘅福氣;唔係因為上帝唔願意將祂嘅福氣賜畀我哋,乃係因為我哋尚未預備好去領受。比起地上嘅父母樂意將美物賜畀自己嘅兒女,我哋在天上嘅父更樂意將祂嘅聖靈賜畀凡求祂嘅人。但藉住認罪、自卑、悔改同懇切祈禱,去履行上帝所應許要將祂嘅福氣賜畀我哋之條件,乃係我哋應盡嘅本分。復興只可期望係對祈禱嘅回應而臨到。」《信息選粹》卷一,121。

The opening of the seventh seal is identifying the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. The sealing is initiated by prayer, but not simply by the activity of prayer, but by a specific prayer. The specific prayer is identified in the book of Daniel, which is of course, also the book of Revelation.

第七印嘅揭開,乃係指明十四萬四千人嘅受印。呢個受印係由禱告所啟動,但並唔單係藉住禱告呢一種活動,而係藉住一個特定嘅禱告。呢個特定嘅禱告喺《但以理書》之中被指明;而《但以理書》當然亦都係《啟示錄》。

John in the Revelation and Daniel in his book, represent the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the “last days.” In the “last days” those who are to be God’s witnesses during the battle of the first heaven will bear witness to the prophecy that is unsealed just before probation closes. This is represented as the seventh seal in the verses we are now considering. The prayers that come to the angel with the “golden censer” are represented by Daniel’s prayer in chapter nine of his book. That prayer is a specific prayer, which was outlined by Moses in connection with the prophecy of the “seven times.” The prayer is two-fold, and Daniel places the context of his two-fold prayer in the terms of “the curse” and “the oath” of Moses. The books of Daniel and Revelation are the same book, and the same lines of prophecy that are in the book of Daniel are taken up in the book of Revelation.

《啟示錄》中嘅約翰,同埋但以理書中嘅但以理,乃係代表「末後日子」中嗰十四萬四千人。喺「末後日子」,嗰啲要喺第一層天爭戰期間作上帝見證人嘅人,將要為嗰喺恩門關閉之前不久被揭開封印嘅預言作見證。呢一點,正係由我哋而家所考察經文中嘅第七印所表徵。嗰啲隨着「金香爐」去到天使面前嘅禱告,乃係由但以理書第九章中但以理嘅禱告所表徵。嗰個禱告乃係一個特定嘅禱告,係摩西就「七期」嘅預言所概述嘅禱告。呢個禱告係雙重嘅,而但以理以摩西所講嘅「咒詛」同「誓言」之語,安置佢呢個雙重禱告嘅語境。《但以理書》同《啟示錄》乃係同一本書,而《但以理書》中嘅同一啲預言線索,亦喺《啟示錄》中被接續起嚟。

The prayer that brings about the outpouring of holy fire in the movement of the mighty angel of Revelation eighteen, is Daniel’s prayer of the “seven times.” It is the prayer that brought the angel Gabriel down from heaven to explain the prophecies to Daniel. At the conclusion of his prayer, which covers the first twenty verses of Daniel nine, Gabriel came down about the time of the evening oblation. The prayers that ascend that the angel with the golden censer receives are prayers that ascend as the sun is setting, in the evening of “the last days.”

喺《啟示錄》第十八章嗰位大力天使運動之中,帶來聖火傾注嘅祈禱,就係但以理「七次」嘅祈禱。呢個祈禱曾使天使加百列由天降下,向但以理解明預言。喺佢嘅祈禱結束之時——即但以理書第九章首二十節所涵蓋嘅禱告完結之際——加百列約於晚祭嘅時候降下。嗰啲上升、並由手持金香爐嘅天使所領受嘅祈禱,乃係喺日頭西沉之際、即「末後日子」嘅黃昏所上達嘅祈禱。

And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. Daniel 9:20, 21.

我仲喺度講說、祈禱,承認我嘅罪同我民以色列嘅罪,並為我神嘅聖山喺耶和華我神面前獻上懇求嘅時候;係呀,我正喺祈禱中講說之際,我先前在異象中所見嘅那人加百列,奉命迅速飛來,約在晚祭嘅時候摸着我。 Daniel 9:20, 21.

Daniel’s prayer was a confession of not only his sins, but also the sins of God’s people. His prayer is the blueprint of the prayer of repentance connected with the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six.

但以理嘅祈禱唔單止係承認自己嘅罪,亦都係承認神子民嘅罪。佢嘅祈禱,正係同《利未記》二十六章「七倍」有關之悔改禱告嘅藍圖。

And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. Leviticus 26:39–42.

你們中間所剩下的人,必因自己嘅罪孽喺仇敵之地消亡;亦必因佢哋列祖嘅罪孽,同列祖一同消亡。佢哋若承認自己嘅罪孽,同埋佢哋列祖嘅罪孽,就係佢哋干犯我嘅過犯,並且承認自己與我反對而行;以致我亦與佢哋反對而行,把佢哋帶到仇敵之地;佢哋若果未受割禮嘅心因此謙卑下來,又甘心接受自己罪孽嘅刑罰,我就要記念我與雅各所立嘅約,也要記念我與以撒所立嘅約,並且我與亞伯拉罕所立嘅約,我都要記念;我也要記念這地。利未記 26:39–42。

After Moses sets forth the punishment associated with the “seven times,” which he calls the “quarrel of” God’s “covenant,” he identifies what God’s people are to do if and when they become aware that they are slaves in the enemy’s land, such as Daniel was. They needed, as Daniel represented, to confess their sins, and also the sins of their fathers.

摩西陳明與「七倍」相關嘅刑罰之後——佢稱之為神「約嘅爭辯」——就指出,倘若神嘅子民察覺自己正如但以理一樣,喺仇敵之地作奴僕,佢哋當如何行:佢哋必須如但以理所代表嘅一樣,承認自己嘅罪,亦都承認佢哋列祖嘅罪。

When this specific prayer is offered by those called to be the one hundred and forty-four thousand, the angel with the golden censer will take “the censer, and” fill “it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” The holy fire that represents the message of “truth” in contrast with the counterfeit message of “fire”, that the United States and Satan call down out of heaven, takes place in the hour of the “earthquake” that is the Sunday law.

當呢一個特定嘅禱告由嗰啲蒙召作為十四萬四千人嘅人獻上之時,嗰位攞住金香爐嘅天使就會攞起「香爐,又用壇上嘅火盛滿了,倒在地上;隨即有聲音、雷轟、閃電、地震。」呢聖潔嘅火,係代表「真理」信息,與美國同撒但從天上降落、嗰冒牌嘅「火」信息成為對比;呢件事發生喺「地震」嘅時辰,就係星期日法案之時。

In the book of Zechariah, we are informed that Zerubbabel laid both the foundation and the headstone of the temple in the history of the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem after the return from the slavery that Daniel was part of.

喺《撒迦利亞書》入面,我哋得知:喺聖殿同耶路撒冷喺但以理所屬嗰次奴役之後、由被擄之地歸回以後重建嘅歷史當中,所羅巴伯立下咗聖殿嘅根基,同時亦安放咗殿頂石。

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 4:6–10.

他就回答我說:「這是耶和華指示所羅巴伯的話,說:不是倚靠勢力,不是倚靠才能,乃是倚靠我的靈,這是萬軍之耶和華說的。大山哪,你算甚麼呢?在所羅巴伯面前,你必成為平地;他必歡呼著抬出殿頂石,喊著說:『恩惠,恩惠歸與這殿頂石。』」 耶和華的話又臨到我,說:「所羅巴伯的手立了這殿的根基,他的手也必完成這工;你就知道萬軍之耶和華差遣我到你們這裏來了。誰藐視這日的事為小呢?這七眼乃是耶和華的眼目,遍察全地;他們看見所羅巴伯手拿線鉈,就必歡喜。」撒迦利亞書 4:6–10。

Zerubbabel means “offspring of Babylon”, and is a symbol of the second angel’s message, which when combined with the message of the Midnight Cry, laid the “foundation” in the beginning movement of Adventism. Zerubbabel also represents the repetition of the second angel’s message in the ending movement of Adventism in the movement of Future for America, when the “headstone” is placed.

所羅巴伯意思係「巴比倫之後裔」,並且係第二位天使信息嘅象徵;呢信息同午夜呼聲嘅信息結合之時,就喺復臨信仰起初嘅運動中奠定咗「根基」。所羅巴伯亦代表第二位天使信息喺復臨信仰末後運動中嘅重演,就係喺 Future for America 呢場運動中,當「頂石」被安放嘅時候。

The world rejoiced over the two witnesses that had been slain in the valley of dead bones in the street that is the “information super highway.” When those two witnesses were brought back to life the world feared, and the heavens rejoiced. Zechariah, like all prophets, is identifying the “last days” when God’s people rejoice. Zechariah informs us that they rejoice at the resurrection of the two witnesses, when they see “those seven.” “Those seven” is the same Hebrew word translated as “seven times” in Leviticus twenty-six. The movement of the first angel placed the foundation stone of Moses’ seven times, and that “truth” is also to be the headstone of the movement of the third angel, in spite of its rejection in 1863.

世人因那兩個見證人在「資訊高速公路」這條街上、在死人骸骨之谷中被殺而歡喜快樂。當那兩個見證人被帶回生命之時,世人就懼怕,諸天卻歡欣。撒迦利亞與眾先知一樣,乃是在指出上帝子民歡喜的「末後的日子」。撒迦利亞告訴我們,當他們看見「那七個」之時,就是在那兩個見證人復活之際,他們便歡喜。「那七個」與《利未記》二十六章中譯作「七次」的希伯來字乃是同一個。第一位天使的運動安放了摩西「七次」的房角石,而那個「真理」也必須成為第三位天使運動的頂石,儘管它在1863年被拒絕。

When it is recognized and fulfilled, and acted upon with the appropriate two-fold prayer, the true fire will be cast to the earth, as it was at Pentecost.

當呢件事被認明、得以成全,並且以相應嘅雙重禱告付諸實行之時,真正嘅火就必被投擲到地上,正如喺五旬節所發生嘅一樣。

We will continue to address the opening of the seventh seal in the next article.

我哋將會喺下一篇文章繼續論述第七印嘅揭開。