The dry bones that are laying dead in the street, who hear the “voice” of the one who is crying in the wilderness, do so because the Comforter has come, in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send him. In the first disappointment of the Millerites, the Millerites came to understand that they were in the tarrying time of the virgin’s parable.
嗰啲躺喺街上、已經死咗嘅枯骨,之所以會聽見嗰位喺曠野呼喊者嘅「聲音」,乃係因為保惠師已經來到,應驗咗耶穌應許要差遣祂來。喺米勒派第一次失望之中,米勒派明白到,佢哋正處於童女比喻所講嘅遲延時期。
“The disappointed ones saw from the Bible that they were in the tarrying time, and that they must patiently wait the fulfillment of the vision. The same evidence which led them to look for their Lord in 1843, led them to expect him in 1844.” Spiritual Gifts, volume 1, 153.
「嗰啲失望的人從聖經看出,佢哋正處於遲延的時候,並且必須耐心等候異象的應驗。引導佢哋喺1843年仰望佢哋的主的同樣憑據,也引導佢哋預期祂會喺1844年來到。」《屬靈恩賜》卷1,153頁。
Those who have been typified by the Millerites repeat the experience of the first disappointment, and when they do, they must understand that they too, are in the tarrying time of the virgin’s parable. It is only the influence of the Comforter that allows them to see this truth. That recognition, brought about by the Comforter, is represented by the first prophecy that Ezekiel was instructed to proclaim to the valley of dry, dead bones.
嗰啲由米勒派所預表嘅人,會重演第一次失望嘅經歷;而當佢哋如此行嘅時候,佢哋必須明白,佢哋同樣正處於童女比喻之中嘅遲延時期。惟有保惠師嘅感化,先能使佢哋看見呢個真理。呢種由保惠師所促成嘅認識,乃係以以西結奉命向乾枯、死咗嘅骸骨之谷所宣告嘅第一個預言作為表徵。
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37:4–8.
祂又對我說:「你要向呢啲骸骨發預言,對佢哋講:你哋呢啲枯乾嘅骸骨啊,要聽耶和華嘅話。主耶和華對呢啲骸骨如此說:看哪,我必使氣息進入你哋裏面,你哋就要活過來。我必給你哋加上筋,令肉長上來,又用皮遮蔽你哋,將氣息放入你哋裏面,你哋就要活過來;你哋就知道我係耶和華。」於是我遵命發預言;正當我發預言嘅時候,就有響聲,看哪,有震動;啲骸骨就彼此連合,各按其骨。 我觀看,看哪,筋已生上,肉也長起,皮將佢哋遮蔽;只是佢哋裏面仲未有氣息。以西結書 37:4–8。
The “noise” represents the Holy Spirit. At that point the virgins need to recognize that they are in the tarrying time. The biblical instructions of what the disappointed must do when they recognize they are in the tarrying time is abundant. Jeremiah teaches they must never return to the “assembly of mockers,” which in the message to Philadelphia, is the synagogue of Satan. They must also separate the precious from the vile. The precious contrasted with the vile has a dual meaning.
「聲音」係代表聖靈。喺嗰個時候,童女必須認出自己正處於遲延嘅時期。聖經對於嗰啲失望咗嘅人,當佢哋認出自己正處於遲延嘅時期之時所必須做嘅事,有極多教訓。耶利米教導話,佢哋絕不可返回「褻慢人嘅會中」;而喺寫畀非拉鐵非嘅信息裏面,呢個就係撒但嘅會堂。佢哋亦都必須將寶貴嘅同卑賤嘅分別出嚟。寶貴同卑賤相對,具有雙重意義。
I learned for myself this prophetic distinction years ago, when I made an application of William Miller’s dream. I correctly defined the jewels as truths of God’s word, and the spurious jewels as corrupted doctrines. Thereafter, it was pointed out to me that James White had also made an application of William Miller’s dream, and in his application, he identified the jewels as God’s faithful people, and the spurious jewels as the false professors of truth. When I investigated what James White had taught about the dream, I realized we were both correct. The jewels can represent God’s faithful, and the counterfeit jewels, the unfaithful, but the jewels can also represent the truths of God’s word and the counterfeit jewels can be false doctrines. James White applied Miller’s dream to the history that James White was then living in, but I had approached the dream as the history of the last days. Together the two applications identify that men become what they believe, and should they choose to hold to erroneous doctrines, they will be swept out the window by the dirt brush man, along with the doctrines they have become associated with. We are what we eat.
多年前,當我將威廉.米勒的夢作出一種應用之時,我親自學會了這種先知性的區分。我正確地將寶石界定為上帝話語中的真理,而贗品寶石則界定為敗壞了的教義。此後,有人向我指出,雅各.懷愛倫也曾對威廉.米勒的夢作出應用;而在他的應用之中,他將寶石認定為上帝忠心的子民,將贗品寶石認定為虛假的真理承認者。當我查考雅各.懷愛倫關於這夢所教導的內容時,我便明白我們二人都是正確的。寶石可以代表上帝忠心的人,而假冒的寶石則代表不忠心的人;但寶石也可以代表上帝話語中的真理,而假冒的寶石則可以代表錯誤的教義。雅各.懷愛倫是將米勒的夢應用於他當時所生活的歷史之上,但我卻是把這夢視為末後日子的歷史。這兩種應用合在一起,顯明人會成為自己所相信的;而若他們選擇持守錯誤的教義,他們就必連同自己所依附的那些教義,一併被那拿塵掃的人從窗戶掃出去。我們就是我們所吃的。
When the disappointed find they are in the tarrying time, according to Jeremiah they are to separate the precious from the vile.
當失望嘅人發覺自己正處於延遲嘅時期之中,照耶利米所講,佢哋就要將寶貴嘅同卑賤嘅分別出嚟。
“How is it that men who are at war with the government of God come into possession of the wisdom which they sometimes display? Satan himself was educated in the heavenly courts, and he has a knowledge of good as well as of evil. He mingles the precious with the vile, and this is what gives him power to deceive. But because Satan has robed himself in garments of heavenly brightness, shall we receive him as an angel of light? The tempter has his agents, educated according to his methods, inspired by his spirit, and adapted to his work. Shall we co-operate with them? Shall we receive the works of his agents as essential to the acquirement of an education?” Ministry of Healing, 440.
「嗰啲與上帝政權交戰嘅人,點解竟會擁有佢哋有時所表現出嚟嘅智慧呢?撒但自己曾喺天庭受教育,佢對善與惡都有所認識。佢將寶貴嘅同卑賤嘅混雜埋一齊,而呢一點正係畀佢有能力去迷惑人嘅原因。但撒但既然披上咗天上光輝嘅衣袍,我哋就可以將佢當作光明嘅天使去接受嗎?試探者有佢嘅代理人,按住佢嘅方法受教育,受佢嘅靈所激發,又適合做佢嘅工作。我哋可以同佢哋合作嗎?我哋可以接受佢代理人嘅作為,視之為獲得教育所必需嘅嗎?」《服務真詮》,440。
The precious and vile represents truth and error. It also represents two classes of men.
寶貴與卑賤,象徵真理與謬誤;亦象徵兩類人。
“‘Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.’ The ‘great house’ represents the Church. In the Church will be found the vile as well as the precious. The net cast into the sea gathers both good and bad.” Review and Herald, February 5, 1901.
「然而,神堅固的根基立住了,上面有這印記:主認識誰是屬祂的人。又說:凡稱呼基督之名的人,總要離開不義。可是在一個大戶人家裏,不但有金器銀器,也有木器瓦器;有作貴重用途的,也有作卑賤用途的。」這「大戶人家」乃是代表教會。在教會裏,卑賤的與寶貴的都會存在。撒在海裏的網,聚攏好壞各樣的魚。」《Review and Herald》,1901年2月5日。
Jeremiah was instructed that if he would return, he needed to separate from the foolish virgins, and he must also separate from the erroneous teachings of the foolish virgins. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are those who come into perfect unity. Jeremiah is representing the work that those called to be sealed by Ezekiel’s second message of the four winds must accomplish, if they are to be God’s “mouth,” when the vision speaks. The vision spoke in Millerite history when the judgment arrived, and it speaks in the history of the one hundred and forty-four thousand when the earth beast speaks, and the judgment of the third woe arrives. Then those who have accomplished the work identified by Jeremiah are lifted up as God’s watchmen.
耶利米蒙吩咐,若他要回轉,就必須從愚拙的童女中分別出來,也必須與愚拙童女嘅錯謬教訓分離。一百四十四萬四千人,乃係那些進入完全合一之人。耶利米所代表嘅,乃係那些蒙以西結四風第二道信息呼召受印的人所必須完成嘅工作;如此,當異象發言之時,他們先能成為神嘅「口」。當審判來到之時,異象曾在米勒派嘅歷史中發言;及至地獸發言、第三樣災禍嘅審判臨到之時,異象亦在一百四十四萬四千人嘅歷史中發言。那時,凡完成了耶利米所指明之工作的人,就被高舉為神嘅守望者。
When the Lord sends the Comforter to awaken the disappointed from their death, He identifies a work of purification they must accomplish if they are to be His spokesmen in the Sunday law crisis. Isaiah agrees with Jeremiah’s counsel.
當主差遣保惠師去喚醒那些失望的人,使他們從死亡中甦醒之時,祂指出一項他們必須成就的潔淨工作;若他們要在星期日法令危機之中作祂的代言人,就必須完成這工作。以賽亞與耶利米的勸勉一致。
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:7–9.
那報佳音、傳平安、報美福、傳救恩,對錫安說:「你的 神作王了!」這人的腳蹤在山上何等佳美!你的守望者必揚起聲來;他們必同聲歌唱;因為耶和華歸回錫安的時候,他們必親眼看見。耶路撒冷的荒場啊,要發聲歡呼,一同歌唱;因為耶和華安慰了他的百姓,救贖了耶路撒冷。以賽亞書 52:7–9。
Those that “bringeth good tidings” and who “publish peace and salvation” lift up “their voices together,” for they “shall see eye to eye.”
嗰啲「報佳音」同埋「傳揚平安與救恩」嘅人,必「同聲揚聲」,因為佢哋「必親眼一同看見」。
“A few others were shown me as joining their influence with those I have mentioned, and together they do what they can to draw off from the body and cause confusion; and their influence brings the truth of God into disrepute. Jesus and holy angels are bringing up and uniting God’s people into one faith, that they may all have one mind and one judgment. And while they are being brought into the unity of the faith, to see eye to eye upon the solemn, important truths for this time, Satan is at work to oppose their advancement. Jesus is at work through His instruments to gather and unite. Satan works through his instruments to scatter and divide. ‘For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.’
我又見到另外有幾個人,將佢哋嘅影響力同我先前所提到嗰啲人聯合起來,一齊盡其所能,使人離開身體,並造成混亂;而佢哋嘅影響,使上帝嘅真理蒙受羞辱。耶穌同聖天使正喺度興起並聯合上帝嘅子民,使佢哋喺一個信仰裏面合而為一,叫眾人都同有一個心思、一個判斷。當佢哋被帶進信仰嘅合一,以致喺現今時代呢啲莊嚴而重大的真理上看法一致之際,撒但就正喺度作工,敵擋佢哋嘅前進。耶穌藉着祂所使用嘅器皿作工,為要招聚並聯合;撒但則藉着佢所使用嘅器皿作工,為要分散同分裂。「因為,看哪,我必發命,將以色列家分散在列國中,好像用篩子篩穀一般;連一粒最細嘅穀粒,也不落在地上。」
“God is now testing and proving His people. Character is being developed. Angels are weighing moral worth, and keeping a faithful record of all the acts of the children of men. Among God’s professed people are corrupt hearts; but they will be tested and proved. That God who reads the hearts of everyone, will bring to light hidden things of darkness where they are often least suspected, that stumbling blocks which have hindered the progress of truth may be removed, and God have a clean and holy people to declare His statutes and judgments.
「上帝現今正在試驗並考驗祂的子民。品格正在被塑造。天使正在衡量道德上的價值,並忠實記錄世人一切的行為。在上帝自稱屬祂的子民當中,有敗壞的心;但他們必被試驗,也必被證明。那位鑒察各人內心的上帝,必將黑暗中隱藏的事顯明出來,就是那些往往最少被人疑及之處的事,好叫那些攔阻真理進展的絆腳石得以除去,並使上帝得着一班潔淨而聖潔的子民,去宣講祂的律例和典章。」
“The Captain of our salvation leads His people on step by step, purifying and fitting them for translation, and leaving in the rear those who are disposed to draw off from the body, who are not willing to be led, and are satisfied with their own righteousness. ‘If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!’ No greater delusion can deceive the human mind than that which leads men to indulge a self-confident spirit, to believe that they are right and in the light, when they are drawing away from God’s people, and their cherished light is darkness.” Testimonies, volume 1, 332, 333.
「我哋救恩嘅元帥一步一步帶領佢嘅子民,潔淨佢哋,並使佢哋配得變化升天;而嗰啲傾向離開身體、唔願意受帶領、並且以自己嘅義為滿足嘅人,就被留喺後面。『所以你裏頭嘅光若黑暗了,嗰黑暗係何等大呢!』冇任何迷惑比呢一種更能欺騙人心:就係使人放縱一種自恃嘅心靈,以為自己係啱嘅、係喺光中,然而佢哋卻正離開神嘅子民,而佢哋所珍愛嘅光,其實係黑暗。」《證言》卷一,332,333。
The phrase “bringeth good tidings” is repeated twice in the passage of Isaiah to identify the history of the Midnight Cry, as does the verses that lead to Isaiah’s description of the unity that is accomplished when the precious is separated from the vile.
以賽亞書呢段經文中,「報佳音」呢一句重複出現兩次,乃係為咗指明午夜呼聲嘅歷史;而引到以賽亞描述當寶貴的與下賤的分別出來之時所成就之合一嘅那些經文,亦同樣如此。
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. Isaiah 52:1, 2.
錫安哪,醒起,醒起;披上你嘅能力;耶路撒冷,聖城啊,著上你華美嘅衣裳;因為從今以後,未受割禮嘅同不潔淨嘅,必不再進入你中間。耶路撒冷啊,抖落塵土;起來坐下;錫安被擄嘅女子啊,解開你頸項上嘅鎖鏈。以賽亞書 52:1, 2
Jeremiah represents those in the first disappointment, that recognize they are in the tarrying time. Isaiah commands those same persons to “awake, awake.” They awake and ultimately arrive to a point where there will no longer be any uncircumcised and unclean in God’s church, for they will have accomplished the work of separating the precious and the vile. “The Lord would have his church purified, before his judgments shall fall more signally upon the world.”
耶利米代表嗰啲處於第一次失望之中、並且認明自己正身處延遲時期嘅人。以賽亞吩咐同樣呢一班人要「興起,興起」。佢哋就興起,並且最終達到一個地步,神嘅教會之中將不再有未受割禮嘅同埋不潔淨嘅人,因為佢哋已經完成咗將寶貴嘅同下賤嘅分別出來嘅工作。「主願意祂嘅教會先被潔淨,然後祂嘅審判先會更顯著地臨到世界。」
“We are rapidly nearing the close of this earth’s history. The end is very near, much nearer than many suppose, and I feel burdened to urge upon our people the necessity of seeking the Lord earnestly. Many are asleep, and what can be said to arouse them from their carnal slumber? The Lord would have his church purified, before his judgments shall fall more signally upon the world.
「我哋正迅速逼近呢個世界歷史嘅終局。結局已經非常近,比許多人所料想嘅近得多;我深感負擔,要敦促我哋嘅子民切切尋求主。許多人仍在沉睡,而要講乜嘢,先可以使佢哋從屬肉體嘅昏睡中醒覺過來呢?主願意祂嘅教會先得潔淨,然後祂嘅審判先會更顯著地臨到世界。」
“‘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: 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.’
「『祂來臨之日,誰能當得起呢?祂顯現之時,誰能站立得住呢?因為祂如煉淨之人的火,又如漂布之人的鹼;祂必坐下,如煉淨銀子的,又如潔淨人的;祂必潔淨利未之子,熬煉他們像金銀一樣,使他們可以公義獻供物給耶和華。』」
“Christ will remove every pretentious cloak. No mingling of the true with the spurious can deceive him. ‘He is like a refiner’s fire,’ separating the precious from the vile, the dross from the gold.
「基督必除去一切虛飾嘅外衣。真與假嘅任何混雜,都唔能夠欺騙佢。『祂如煉淨之人的火,』將寶貴嘅同卑賤嘅分開,將渣滓同金子分別出嚟。」
“Like the Levites, God’s chosen people are set apart by him for his special work. Every true Christian bears priestly credentials. He is honored with the sacred responsibility of representing to the world the character of his Heavenly Father. He is to heed well the words, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’
「好似利未人一樣,上帝所揀選嘅子民,乃係由祂分別出來,歸祂作特別嘅工作。每一個真實嘅基督徒都帶有祭司嘅憑據。佢蒙尊榮,承擔神聖嘅責任,向世人表明佢天父嘅品格。佢應當切切留心呢句話:『所以你哋要完全,正如你哋在天上嘅父完全一樣。』」
“‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
「但向你哋敬畏我名嘅人,必有公義嘅日頭出現,其翅膀有醫治之能;你哋必出嚟跳躍,如同欄中嘅肥牛犢。你哋必踐踏惡人;因為喺我施行呢事嘅日子,佢哋必成為你哋腳掌下嘅灰塵,呢係萬軍之耶和華所講嘅。」
“‘Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and the judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.’” Review and Herald, November 8, 1906.
「你哋當記念我僕人摩西嘅律法,就係我喺何烈山為全以色列所吩咐佢嘅律例同典章。看哪,耶和華大而可畏之日未到以前,我必差遣先知以利亞到你哋嗰度去。佢必使父親嘅心轉向兒女,兒女嘅心轉向父親,免得我來咒詛遍地。」《Review and Herald》,1906年11月8日。
Those that hold to false doctrines will be separated in the history that begins with the “voice” crying in the wilderness. Those who refuse to allow the creative power of God to produce a personal sanctified experience, will be separated from the “gold” in the history that begins with the “voice” crying in the wilderness. They will remain as Laodiceans, right at the point where Laodicea transcends into Philadelphia.
凡持守錯誤道理的人,必在那段以於曠野呼喊之「聲音」開始的歷史中被分別出來。凡拒絕讓上帝創造的大能在自己身上產生個人聖化經驗的人,必在那段以於曠野呼喊之「聲音」開始的歷史中,從「金子」之中被分別出來。他們仍會停留在老底嘉的狀態,正正在老底嘉過渡進入非拉鐵非的關口上。
The work of separating the precious from the vile is almost totally the work of the messenger of the covenant who comes suddenly to purify the sons of Levi, but we must participate.
將寶貴的從卑賤的當中分別出來,幾乎完全係那位忽然來到、要潔淨利未子孫之立約使者嘅工作;但我哋必須有分參與。
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:12–15.
所以,我親愛嘅,正如你哋一向常常順服,不但在我同在嘅時候,就係我如今不在嘅時候,更加要恐懼戰兢,作成你哋自己得救嘅工夫。因為係神喺你哋裏面運行,使你哋立志同行事,為要成就祂嘅美意。凡所行嘅,都不要發怨言,起爭論;使你哋無可指摘,純全無偽,作神無瑕疵嘅兒女,喺彎曲悖謬嘅世代中,喺其中好似明光照耀於世。腓立比書 2:12–15。
Jeremiah was told to separate the precious from the vile if he desired to be God’s spokesman in the coming judgment. The fact that Jeremiah was hearing God’s counsel to him, demonstrated the presence of the Comforter was already available if he chose to take up the work.
耶利米若渴望喺將臨嘅審判中作神嘅代言人,就被吩咐要將寶貴嘅同卑賤嘅分別出嚟。耶利米既然聽見神向佢所發嘅勸誡,就顯明保惠師嘅同在早已可供佢領受,只要佢揀選承擔呢項工作。
“The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership, a joint operation. There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant sinner. This is necessary for the formation of right principles in the character. Man is to make earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to perfection. But he is wholly dependent upon God for success. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works. Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his power from God. On the one side there is infinite wisdom, compassion, and power; on the other, weakness, sinfulness, absolute helplessness.
「得救嘅工作乃係一種合作嘅事,一項共同進行嘅運作。上帝同悔改嘅罪人之間必須有協作。呢樣對於喺品格中形成正確原則乃係必要嘅。人必須懇切努力,去勝過一切攔阻佢達到完全嘅事;但佢喺成功上卻係全然倚賴上帝。單靠人自己嘅努力並不足夠。若冇神聖能力嘅幫助,一切都毫無功效。上帝作工,人亦作工。抗拒試探必須由人去作,而人所需嘅力量,必須從上帝而嚟。一邊係無限嘅智慧、憐憫同能力;另一邊則係軟弱、有罪,同絕對嘅無助。 」
“God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot help us without our consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the powers and faculties given to man. Of ourselves, we are not able to bring the purposes and desires and inclinations into harmony with the will of God; but if we are ‘willing to be made willing,’ the Saviour will accomplish this for us, ‘Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 10:5.” Acts of the Apostles, 482.
「上帝願意我哋能夠自我克制。但若冇我哋嘅同意同合作,祂就唔能夠幫助我哋。神聖嘅靈係藉住賜予人嘅能力同才幹而運行。我哋靠自己,並冇能力使我哋嘅宗旨、意願同傾向與上帝嘅旨意和諧一致;但如果我哋『願意被造成願意』,救主就必為我哋成就呢事,『將各樣嘅計謀,各樣攔阻人認識上帝而自高之事,一概攻破了;又將人所有嘅心意奪回,使它都順服基督。』哥林多後書 10:5。」《使徒行述》,482。
The three and a half days of Revelation eleven, when the dry bones are dead in the street, is a symbol of a “wilderness,” and a “wilderness” represents the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. At the end of the scattering of the three and a half days, those called to be among the one hundred and forty-four thousand are to “awake” and “shake off the dust.” Sister White says “The Lord would have his church purified, before his judgments shall fall more signally upon the world.”
啟示錄十一章所講嘅三日半,當枯骨死喺街上之時,乃係「曠野」嘅表號;而「曠野」乃代表利未記二十六章所講嘅「七期」。喺呢三日半分散期結束之時,凡蒙召要列於十四萬四千人之中嘅人,都要「醒起」並且「抖落塵土」。懷姊妹話:「主願意祂的教會先被潔淨,然後祂的審判纔更顯著地臨到世界。」
In connection with a “purified church” she references Jeremiah’s separation process that removes the “precious from the vile.” She also connects it with Malachi chapter three, where a messenger prepares the way for the messenger of the covenant. The messenger that prepares the way is Isaiah’s “voice crying in the wilderness.” The messenger of the covenant is Christ, who is preparing to enter into covenant with the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who “like” “the Levites,” “are set apart by him for his special work.” She then identifies them as priests, and quotes Jesus who says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
關於「被潔淨的教會」,她提到耶利米所說的分別過程,就是把「寶貴的和下賤的」分開。她也把這件事與《瑪拉基書》第三章聯繫起來,在那裏,有一位使者為立約的使者預備道路。那位預備道路的使者,就是以賽亞所說「在曠野呼喊的聲音」。立約的使者乃是基督;祂正預備與那十四萬四千人立約,他們「像」「利未人」一樣,「被祂分別出來,作祂特別的工作。」接着,她又指出他們是祭司,並引用耶穌的話說:「所以,你們要完全,像你們在天上的父完全一樣。」
There is a purification process that is marked at the end of the period of the tarrying time, for the Lord has a special work for the one hundred and forty-four thousand to accomplish, and He will have a purified church before “his judgments shall fall more signally upon the world.” His judgments are already in the world, but at the Sunday law, “God’s destructive judgments” begin to fall.
喺延遲嘅時期結束之際,有一個潔淨嘅過程被標明出嚟,因為主有一項特別嘅工作要交畀嗰十四萬四千人去完成,而且喺「祂嘅審判要更顯著地降喺世界之上」之前,祂必定會有一個被潔淨嘅教會。祂嘅審判而家已經喺世界之中,但到咗星期日法令之時,「上帝毀滅性嘅審判」就開始降下。
Those judgments are a “time of mercy for those who have never known the truth.” But there is no mercy in those judgments for those who would not enter into the necessary purification process. The “judgments,” which “fall more signally” identify judgments that are signs. They represent a signal, and the Holy Spirit uses the chaos and confusion accomplished by those judgments, to mark a distinction between those who keep “the spurious rest day” and those who “conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord,” for this is the only way the “world can be warned.” The judgments that are signals are the backdrop that the Holy Spirit uses to direct God’s children that are still in Babylon, to recognize the ensign of the one hundred and forty-four thousand.
嗰啲審判乃係「畀從未認識真理之人嘅憐憫時期」。但對於嗰啲唔肯進入所必需之潔淨過程嘅人而言,喺嗰啲審判之中並無憐憫。嗰啲「審判」既然「更顯著地降下」,就表明乃係帶有記號性質嘅審判。佢哋代表一個訊號;而聖靈就藉住嗰啲審判所造成嘅混亂與困惑,去標明嗰啲守「虛假安息日」嘅人,同嗰啲「憑良心守主之安息日」嘅人之間嘅分別;因為呢個乃係「世界可以受警告」嘅唯一途徑。嗰啲作為訊號嘅審判,正係聖靈所使用嘅背景,好叫仍然喺巴比倫之中嘅上帝兒女,得以辨認十四萬四千人嘅旌旗。
But Sister White doesn’t simply reference Malachi chapter three, she also includes the closing verses of the book of Malachi chapter four, and once again references the “voice” that was to prepare the way for the messenger of the covenant. Those closing verses are not about the preparation for the messenger of the covenant, they are about remembering the law of Moses, and the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice versa. The “voice” first prepares for Christ, as the messenger of the covenant, to suddenly come to His temple and purify His disappointed people who have been awakened, that they might accomplish the work of the ensign. Then Malachi addresses another aspect of the work of the “voice.”
但懷愛倫姊妹並唔單止提到《瑪拉基書》第三章;佢亦引用咗《瑪拉基書》第四章結尾嗰幾節,並再次提到嗰個要為立約之使者預備道路嘅「聲音」。嗰幾節結尾經文並唔係講為立約之使者作預備;佢哋所講嘅,乃係記念摩西嘅律法,以及使父親嘅心轉向兒女,兒女嘅心轉向父親。「聲音」首先係為基督——作為立約之使者——預備,好叫祂忽然來到祂嘅殿中,潔淨祂嗰班已被喚醒、卻曾經失望嘅子民,使佢哋可以完成旗幟嘅工作。然後,瑪拉基又講到「聲音」工作嘅另一個層面。
He “shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,” and He will do this work in relation to the law given at Horeb. Elijah, who is also Isaiah’s “voice,” will identify the sins of God’s people. It is part of the purification process. There is only one definition of sin, that being the transgression of the law given at Horeb. John the Baptist was Elijah, and his work included that very element.
佢「必使父親嘅心轉向兒女,兒女嘅心轉向父親」,而且佢要喺同何烈所頒賜嘅律法有關之事上作成呢項工作。以利亞,即亦即係以賽亞所講嘅「聲音」,將要指出神子民嘅罪。呢係潔淨過程嘅一部分。罪只有一個定義,就係違犯喺何烈所頒賜嘅律法。施洗約翰就係以利亞,而佢嘅工作亦包括嗰一個要素。
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
當那些日子,施洗約翰出來,在猶太的曠野傳道,說:「你們應當悔改,因為天國近了。」這人就是先知以賽亞所說的,他說:「在曠野有人聲喊着說:預備主的道,修直他的路。」這約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服,腰束皮帶;他的食物是蝗蟲和野蜜。那時,耶路撒冷、猶太全地,並約但河一帶地方的人,都出去到他那裏,在約但河裏受他的洗,承認他們的罪。他見許多法利賽人和撒都該人來受洗,就對他們說:「毒蛇的種類!誰指示你們逃避將來的忿怒呢?」
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:1–12.
所以,你們要結出與悔改相稱的果子來;不要自己心裏說:我們有亞伯拉罕作我們的父。因為我告訴你們,神能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起子孫來。現在,斧子已經放在樹根上;凡不結好果子的樹,就砍下來,丟在火裏。我實在是用水給你們施洗,叫你們悔改;但那在我以後來的,能力比我更大,我就是給他提鞋也不配;他要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。他手裏拿着簸箕,要徹底揚淨他的場,把麥子收在倉裏;只是糠秕要用不滅的火燒盡。馬太福音 3:1–12。
John the Baptist came to the “wilderness” of the three and a half days of Revelation eleven, for all the prophets are speaking more of the last days, than the days in which they lived. He brought a message to repent from sin, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand, just as the Revelation of Jesus Christ is opened up when “the time is at hand.” John the Baptist illustrates the work of the “voice,” for according to Jesus, he was also Elijah that was to come.
施洗約翰來到《啟示錄》第十一章嗰三日半嘅「曠野」;因為眾先知所講論嘅,更多係末後嘅日子,過於佢哋自己所生活嘅日子。佢帶來一個信息,叫人從罪中悔改,因為天國近了;正如當「時候近了」,《耶穌基督的啟示》就被揭開一樣。施洗約翰說明咗「聲音」嘅工作;因為照耶穌所講,佢亦都係那將要來嘅以利亞。
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:13–15.
因為眾先知同律法都係講預言,直到約翰為止。你哋若肯領受,呢人就係那要來的以利亞。有耳可聽的,就應當聽。馬太福音 11:13–15。
Jesus identifies that the prophetic identity of John the Baptist was a test. He states directly, “if ye will receive it”. Then Jesus encourages His disciples to receive it by saying, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Let him hear what? Let him hear who the voice is that comes to the final wilderness of the Bible, and prepares the way for the messenger of the covenant to prepare the one hundred and forty-four thousand to do a special work during a time of the signal judgments of God.
耶穌指出,施洗約翰嘅先知性身分乃係一個試驗。佢直接講:「你哋若肯領受,」然後耶穌又以呢句話鼓勵佢嘅門徒去領受:「有耳可聽的,就應當聽。」應當聽乜嘢呢?應當聽見嗰把聲音究竟係邊一位;嗰把聲音來到《聖經》最後嘅曠野,並為立約之使者預備道路,好叫佢預備嗰十四萬四千人,在上帝發出顯著審判嘅時候,去作一項特別嘅工作。
John wore “a raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” His “meat” was the message of Islam, for the word “locusts” represents Islam, and honey is the word of God, that was sweet in his mouth. The sweet message he ate was about the “wild” Arabian ass, the very first symbol of Islam in the Scriptures. The sweet message of the wild Arabian ass of Islam, which is also represented by “locusts” was also woven into his raiment, for camel’s are another symbol of Islam. It is not a wresting of the word “locusts” to use it as a symbol of Islam, even if the food John ate was referencing the locust tree, and not the insects. The word “locusts” is a symbol of Islam, and John was not representing the eating of any physical food, his diet was a symbol of the prophetic message he had eaten.
約翰穿着「駱駝毛的衣服,腰束皮帶;他的食物是蝗蟲和野蜜。」他的「食物」乃是伊斯蘭的信息,因為「蝗蟲」一詞象徵伊斯蘭,而蜜乃是神的話,在他口中是甘甜的。他所吃的甘甜信息,是關乎那「野」的阿拉伯野驢;這乃是聖經中伊斯蘭最早的象徵。這關乎伊斯蘭之阿拉伯野驢的甘甜信息,也就是同樣由「蝗蟲」所表徵的,亦編織在他的衣服裏,因為駱駝也是伊斯蘭的另一個象徵。即使約翰所吃的食物所指的是蝗蟲樹,而不是昆蟲,把「蝗蟲」用作伊斯蘭的象徵,也並不是曲解這話。 「蝗蟲」一詞乃是伊斯蘭的象徵,而約翰並不是在表徵吃任何物質的食物;他的飲食乃是他所吃下之預言信息的象徵。
His girdle was the “prophecy” represented in Habakkuk. That prophecy brings together the first disappointment, the tarrying time of the virgins, and the foundations of Adventism as represented upon the sacred charts. Habakkuk was the prophetic girdle that bound all those truths together.
佢嘅腰帶就係《哈巴谷書》所表徵嘅「預言」。呢個預言將第一次失望、童女遲延嘅時期,以及喺神聖圖表上所表明之復臨運動嘅根基,總括聯繫埋一齊。《哈巴谷書》乃係嗰條預言性嘅腰帶,將所有呢啲真理都束結埋一齊。
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:3, 4.
因為這異象有一定嘅日期,到咗終局必定顯明,決不虛謊;雖然遲延,仍要等候;因為它必然來到,決不遲延。看哪,自高自大的人,心不正直;惟義人必因信得生。哈巴谷書 2:3, 4
The prophetic message that bound together as a girdle the messages that make up the warning of the “voice,” is the parable of the virgins in relation to the vision that tarried, but would speak. The vision of the Midnight Cry produces a distinction between the vile, whose “soul is lifted up” and the precious, who are justified by faith. Justification by faith is the girdle the “voice” wears.
將構成那「聲音」警告之各信息束結如帶子的先知性信息,乃是童女的比喻,並且與那遲延、卻終必發言的異象有關。午夜呼聲的異象,使那心靈自高自大之卑賤者,與那因信稱義之寶貴者,顯出分別。因信稱義,乃是那「聲音」所束的帶子。
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Isaiah 11:5.
公義必作祂腰間的帶;信實必作祂脅下的帶。以賽亞書 11:5。
When the “voice crying in the wilderness” of the disappointment arrived, after the disappointment of July 18, 2020, his message was the same message that it had been since September 11, 2001. That message from Elijah to come, to the waiting disappointed dead dry bones is, that Islam is the “signal judgments,” that provide the backdrop for God’s other children in Babylon to learn righteousness.
當失望嘅「喺曠野呼喊嘅聲音」臨到之時,即係喺2020年7月18日嘅失望之後,佢嘅信息仍然係自2001年9月11日以來一直所傳講嘅同一個信息。呢個由將要來臨嘅以利亞向嗰啲等候中、失望嘅、死咗而枯乾嘅骸骨所發出嘅信息,就係:伊斯蘭乃係「表號性嘅審判」,為要成為背景,使神喺巴比倫中其他嘅兒女可以學習公義。
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:7–9.
義人嘅路係正直;至正直嘅主啊,你衡量義人嘅途徑。耶和華啊,我哋喺你審判嘅道上等候你;我哋心靈所渴想嘅,乃係你嘅名,同埋對你嘅記念。我嘅心喺夜間切慕你;我裏面嘅靈必切切尋求你:因為當你嘅審判臨到地上,世上嘅居民就學習公義。以賽亞書 26:7–9
John the Baptist, who was Elijah to come, is the “voice” in the “wilderness” of the three and a half days of Revelation chapter eleven. His work includes identifying the fourth and final generation of Adventism, whose souls are lifted up and who are trusting in the spiritual heritage of their fathers, but sense that the wrath of God is about to come. They are the fourth generation, for they have fully manifested into a generation that is just the opposite of Christ. They are the generation of vipers, but they still point to their father Abraham, to argue that they are actually the generation of the Lamb. The generation of the Lamb are Peter’s chosen generation, they are those who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
施洗約翰,就是那將要來的以利亞,乃是《啟示錄》第十一章所述三日半之「曠野」中的「聲音」。佢嘅工作包括指出復臨運動第四代、亦即最後一代;佢哋心高氣傲,倚靠列祖屬靈嘅產業,卻又感覺到上帝嘅忿怒快要臨到。佢哋係第四代,因為佢哋已經完全顯明為一個同基督恰恰相反嘅世代。佢哋係毒蛇嘅種類,然而佢哋仍然指住佢哋嘅祖宗亞伯拉罕,辯稱自己其實係羔羊嘅世代。羔羊嘅世代就係彼得所講蒙揀選嘅族類;佢哋乃係無論羔羊往哪裏去都跟隨佢嘅人。
John obviously presented the sins of those who came to hear his message, for they repented and were baptized. He also informed them that there is One who would follow him, that would thoroughly purge His floor. That Person is the messenger of the covenant, He is “the dirt brush man” who sweeps the counterfeit coins and jewels out the window and restores the original jewels, that then shine ten times brighter than they did when William Miller was directed by angels in the work of assembling the original jewels in the movement of the first angel.
約翰顯然揭示咗嗰啲前來聽佢信息之人嘅罪,因為佢哋悔改並且受咗浸。佢亦都話畀佢哋知,有一位要喺佢之後嚟,要徹底揚淨祂嘅禾場。嗰位就係立約之使者,祂係「掃塵之人」,將假冒嘅錢幣同珠寶掃出窗外,並恢復原來嘅珠寶;而呢啲珠寶其後所發出嘅光輝,比起威廉·米勒喺第一位天使運動中奉天使指引從事聚集原來珠寶之工作嘅時候,明亮咗十倍。
John the Baptist was direct in his denunciation of the Laodicean Adventist’s confidence in their father Abraham, for Elijah to come was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice versa. The principle of biblical application of the first and the last is represented in that work, but so too, is the remedy for those who find themselves in a scattered condition, in the enemies’ land, dead in the wilderness. They must recognize their sins, and the sins of their fathers and repent. In conjunction with recognizing their sins and the father’s sins, they must also admit that they had not been walking with the Lord during the period of the wilderness of three and a half days. Furthermore, they must admit that God was not walking with them during that history.
施洗約翰直截了當地斥責老底嘉復臨信徒對他們祖宗亞伯拉罕所懷之倚靠;因為那將要來的以利亞,乃是要使父親的心轉向兒女,兒女的心轉向父親。聖經中首與末之應用原則,正表現在這項工作之中;同時,這亦顯明了那些發現自己處於分散之境、身在仇敵之地、死於曠野之人所得的補救之道。他們必須承認自己的罪,和他們列祖的罪,並要悔改。與承認自己的罪及父輩的罪同時,他們也必須承認,在那三日半的曠野時期之中,他們並沒有與主同行。此外,他們還必須承認,在那段歷史之中,上帝也沒有與他們同行。
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.
你哋中間餘剩嘅人,必因自己嘅罪孽喺仇敵之地消磨衰殘;又要因佢哋列祖嘅罪孽,同佢哋一同消磨衰殘。佢哋若承認自己嘅罪孽,同埋佢哋列祖嘅罪孽,並承認佢哋干犯我嘅過犯,即係佢哋怎樣與我反對而行;又承認我也與佢哋反對而行,把佢哋帶到仇敵之地;咁樣,若佢哋未受割禮嘅心謙卑下來,並且甘心接受自己罪孽所受嘅刑罰;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,也要記念我與亞伯拉罕所立嘅約;我也要記念呢地。利未記 26:39–42。
The curse was because they didn’t remember the sabbaths of the land.
呢個咒詛乃係因為佢哋冇記念嗰地嘅安息年。
John the Baptist, who was Elijah to come, typified the “voice” in the wilderness of Revelation eleven’s three and a half days. He would direct the dead dry bones to “remember” Moses’ law at Horeb, and if they did, then the messenger of the covenant would “remember” the covenant of their fathers. But only if they confessed their sins, the sins of their fathers, and more humbling, they were to specify the trespasses “they trespassed against” God.
施洗約翰,就是那將要來的以利亞,預表咗《啟示錄》第十一章三日半之中曠野裏嘅「聲音」。佢要引導嗰啲死咗嘅枯骨去「記念」何烈山上摩西嘅律法;佢哋若然如此,立約嘅使者就會「記念」佢哋列祖之約。但唯有喺佢哋承認自己嘅罪、佢哋列祖嘅罪,並且更卑微地,具體指出佢哋「得罪」神嘅過犯之時,先至會如此。
They would also need to admit that they had been walking “contrary” to God, and that God had been walking “contrary” to them.
佢哋亦都必須承認,佢哋一直係「與」神「作對」而行,而神亦都一直係「與」佢哋「作對」而行。
They would also need to recognize that they were the dead dry bones in the street of Revelation eleven, for they had to admit that God had brought them into the enemy’s land, and the enemy’s land is death.
佢哋亦都必須承認,自己就係《啟示錄》第十一章街上嗰啲枯乾嘅死骨,因為佢哋不得不承認,神曾經將佢哋帶到仇敵之地,而仇敵之地就係死亡。
According to John the Baptist, they would also need to answer the question of who the “voice” crying in the “wilderness” is, for John asked, “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
照施洗約翰所言,佢哋亦都需要回答一個問題:究竟邊個就係喺「曠野」呼喊嘅「聲音」;因為約翰問道:「誰指示你們逃避將來的忿怒呢?」
We will continue these subjects in the next article.
我哋將會喺下一篇文章繼續討論呢啲題目。
“The minister of God is commanded: ‘Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.’ The Lord says of these people: ‘They seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness.’ Here is a people who are self-deceived, self-righteous, self-complacent, and the minister is commanded to cry aloud and show them their transgressions. In all ages this work has been done for God’s people, and it is needed now more than ever before.” Testimonies, volume 5, 299.
上帝嘅僕人受命:「你要大聲呼喊,不可止息;揚起你嘅聲音,好像號筒,向我嘅百姓說明他們嘅過犯,向雅各家指出他們嘅罪惡。」主論到呢等人話:「他們天天尋求我,樂意明白我嘅道,好像行義嘅國民一樣。」呢度所講嘅,乃係一班自我欺騙、自以為義、自滿自足嘅人,而主嘅僕人受命要大聲呼喊,向他們指出自己嘅過犯。歷代以來,呢項工作一直都為上帝嘅子民而作;而家比以往任何時候都更需要。——《教會證言》第5卷,299頁。