“So in searching the field and digging for the precious jewels of truth, hidden treasures are discerned. Unexpectedly we find precious ore that is to be gathered and treasured. And the search is to be continued. Hitherto very much of the treasure found has lain near the surface, and was easily obtained. When the search is properly conducted every effort is made to keep a pure understanding and heart. When the mind is kept open and is constantly searching the field of revelation, we shall find rich deposits of truth.

「因此,當我哋搜尋田地、掘尋真理寶貴嘅珠寶之時,隱藏嘅珍寶便會被辨識出嚟。我哋會出乎意料噉發現寶貴嘅礦藏,係應當被收集並珍藏嘅。而且,呢個搜尋係要繼續落去。直到而家為止,所發現嘅好多珍寶都係近於地表,因此容易取得。當搜尋按正確嘅方式進行時,便會竭盡一切努力去保守純正嘅悟性同埋內心。當心思保持開放,並且不斷搜尋啟示嘅田野時,我哋就必定會發現真理豐富嘅礦脈。」

Old truths will be revealed in new aspects, and truths will appear which have been overlooked in the search. Mighty truths have been buried beneath the sophistry of error, but they will be found by the diligent searcher. As he finds and opens the treasure house of the precious jewels of truth, it is no robbery; for all who appreciate these jewels may possess them, and then they too have a treasure house to open to others. He who imparts does not deprive himself of the treasure; for as he examines it that he may present it in such a way as to attract others, he finds new treasures. . . .

「古老嘅真理將會喺新嘅層面上被啟示出嚟,而喺尋索之中曾被忽略嘅真理亦將會顯現。有力嘅真理一直被埋藏喺錯謬詭辯之下,但殷勤尋求嘅人必會將之尋得。當佢發現並打開真理寶貴珍珠嘅寶庫時,呢並唔係搶奪;因為凡珍視呢啲珍珠嘅人都可以擁有佢哋,而如此,佢哋自己亦有一個寶庫可以向別人打開。嗰位分授嘅人並唔會因此失去自己嘅寶藏;因為當佢查考呢啲寶藏,好叫自己能夠以吸引他人嘅方式將之呈現出嚟時,佢就發現新嘅寶藏……」

“Those who stand before the people as teachers of truth are to grapple with great themes. They are not to occupy precious time in talking of trivial subjects. Let them study the Word, and preach the Word. Let the Word be in their hands as a sharp, two-edged sword. Let it testify to past truths and show what is to be in the future.

「嗰啲喺眾民面前作為真理教師站立嘅人,應當處理重大嘅題旨。佢哋唔應該將寶貴嘅時間用喺談論瑣碎嘅題目上。要叫佢哋研讀聖言,並傳講聖言。要叫聖言喺佢哋手中成為一把鋒利、兩刃嘅劍。要叫聖言為過去嘅真理作見證,並顯明將來必有嘅事。」

Increased light will shine upon all the grand truths of prophecy, and they will be seen in freshness and brilliancy, because the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will illuminate the whole.” Manuscript Releases, volume 1, 37–40.

「更多嘅亮光將會照耀一切偉大嘅預言真理;佢哋將會顯得清新而輝煌,因為公義之日嘅明亮光線將會照亮全體。」《Manuscript Releases》,第1卷,37–40頁。

I believe that I have now placed enough prophetic representations in place with the previous articles to have a good point of reference as we begin to proceed through the book of Revelation. If you are reading these articles online, I would hope you understand that the articles are in sequence by date. I understand that there are those following the articles that are familiar with most of what I am sharing, and I offer to them my apologies for all the redundancy. I have been trying to give enough biblical support for the truths we are handling, that someone new to the principles that Future for America employs will understand and stay engaged, though they might lack some of the familiarity with these concepts that many of us already know.

我相信,藉着先前幾篇文章,我如今已經鋪陳了足夠嘅先知性預表,作為我哋開始繼續研讀《啟示錄》時一個良好嘅參照點。若果你係喺網上閱讀呢啲文章,我盼望你明白,呢啲文章係按日期順序排列嘅。我明白,跟隨閱讀呢啲文章嘅人當中,有啲對我所分享嘅大部分內容都已相當熟悉;對於當中所有重複之處,我向佢哋致歉。我一直努力為我哋所處理嘅真理提供足夠嘅聖經根據,好叫嗰啲對 Future for America 所採用嘅原則尚屬陌生嘅新讀者,都能夠明白並持續投入,雖然佢哋對呢啲概念未必具備我哋許多人早已擁有嘅熟悉程度。

There are some very powerful truths, which until recently I had never recognized that have been opened in the book of Revelation. I could simply set the truths out there in the public domain without trying first to build a premise of prophetic support before I share them, but the truths are so new and so serious that I have not been willing to share without some foundation upon which to place the truths, which I believe are represented as the unsealing of Revelation that happens just before probation closes.

喺《啟示錄》入面,有一啲極其有力嘅真理,直到最近我先至從未察覺,而家已經被開啟出嚟。我本來可以只係將呢啲真理直接擺喺公開領域之中,未先建立一個具先知性支持嘅前提就將佢哋分享出嚟;但係呢啲真理既咁新,又咁嚴肅,以致我一直都唔願意喺未有某種根基去承托呢啲真理之前就將佢哋分享出嚟;而我相信,呢啲真理正係由《啟示錄》嘅開印所表徵,而呢件事就發生喺恩門關閉之前。

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:10, 11.

佢又對我講:「不可封住呢書上預言嘅話,因為時候近了。不義嘅,任佢仍舊不義;污穢嘅,任佢仍舊污穢;公義嘅,任佢仍舊公義;聖潔嘅,任佢仍舊聖潔。」啟示錄 22:10, 11.

Jesus set forth a principle about teaching the truth, that I believe applies here. The principle is set within the identification of the work of the Holy Spirit.

耶穌提出咗一個關於教導真理嘅原則,我相信呢個原則喺呢度同樣適用。呢個原則係置於對聖靈工作嘅辨識之中。

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16:8–16.

及至祂來了,就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判,自己責備自己:為罪,是因他們不信我;為義,是因我往父那裏去,你們就不再見我;為審判,是因這世界的王已經受了審判。我還有許多事要告訴你們,只是你們現在不能擔當。及至那真理的靈來了,祂要引導你們進入一切的真理;因為祂不是憑自己說的,乃是把祂所聽見的都說出來,並要把將來的事告訴你們。祂要榮耀我,因為祂要將受於我的告訴你們。約翰福音 16:8–16。

When Christ stated, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now,” it upholds my conviction that there is now much to share, but there should first be a logical premise to build those truths upon. That being said, the previous verses identify the three angels’ messages as represented by the Holy Spirit reproving “the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” Those three messages are the final warning message, so this passage identifying the work of the Holy Spirit is an important testimony, for it emphasizes that the message is progressively understood, and it is only understood by those who possess the oil of the Holy Spirit. John, in the book of Revelation represents that very truth when he identifies that he is a Sabbath worshipping Seventh-day Adventist at the end of the world.

當基督說:「我還有好些事要告訴你們,但你們現在擔當不了」,這就印證了我的確信:現今確有許多事要分享,但首先必須有一個合乎邏輯的前提,作為建立那些真理的根基。話雖如此,前面的經文指出,三天使的信息乃由聖靈責備「世人,為罪、為義、為審判」所表徵。那三重信息乃是最後的警告信息,因此,這段經文表明聖靈工作的內容,乃是重要的見證;因它強調,這信息乃是逐步被明白的,而且惟有那些擁有聖靈之油的人,才能明白。約翰在《啟示錄》中正是表明了這個真理,因他指出自己乃是在世界末了守安息日敬拜的基督復臨安息日會信徒。

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. Revelation 1:10.

當主日,我被聖靈感動,聽見在我後面有大聲音如吹號一般。啟示錄 1:10。

Seventh-day Adventists at the end of the world who will understand the unsealed message in Revelation will do so because they are “in the Spirit.” In the context of the parable that we have been told “illustrates the experience of the Adventist people,” John is a wise virgin, for he has the oil of the Spirit. He represents the wise virgins at the end of the world, who hear a great voice “behind” them. The “voice from behind” him is the Alpha and Omega as identified in the very next verse, and the voice informs him to return to the old paths and walk therein.

到世界末時,明白《啟示錄》中那已開啟印封之信息的基督復臨安息日會信徒,乃係因為佢哋「在靈裏」。喺我哋所被告知「說明復臨信徒經驗」嘅比喻之語境當中,約翰乃係一個聰明的童女,因為佢有聖靈嘅油。佢代表世界末時嗰啲聰明的童女;佢哋聽見喺佢哋「後面」有大聲音。喺下一節經文中,佢「後面」嘅「聲音」被指明為阿拉法同俄梅戛,而呢個聲音通知佢,要回到古道,行在其間。

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, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Jeremiah 6:16.

耶和華如此說:你們當站喺路上察看,訪問古道,哪一條係善道,便行喺其間;咁樣,你哋嘅心靈就必得安息。但佢哋卻說:我哋唔行喺其中。耶利米書 6:16。

The “rest” Jeremiah refers to is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the latter rain. In the next verse Jeremiah provides a second illustration of the foolish virgins who refuse to return to the foundations of Adventism (the old paths) and walk therein.

耶利米所指嘅「安息」,乃係喺後雨期間聖靈嘅傾注。喺下一節,耶利米提出第二個例證,說明嗰啲愚拙嘅童女拒絕回歸復臨信仰嘅根基(古道),並行喺其中。

Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Jeremiah 6:17.

我又設立守望的人監察你哋,話:要聽角聲。佢哋卻話:我哋唔聽。耶利米書 6:17。

When John hears the voice behind him directing him to the old paths or the foundations of Adventism, the voice he hears is as a trumpet. That voice is conveyed through the “watchmen” that God set over Adventism. Father Miller was the watchman that blew the warning trumpet at the beginning of Adventism during the proclamation of the first angel announcing the opening of the judgment. But John specifically represents those who proclaim the third angel’s message announcing the close of the judgment. He represents those who return to the foundations that God erected through the work of Miller.

當約翰聽見他後面有聲音指引他歸回古道,或復歸復臨信仰的根基時,他所聽見的聲音如同號筒。這聲音乃是藉着上帝所設立、看守復臨信仰的「守望者」所傳達的。米勒父老乃是在復臨運動開始之時、於宣講第一位天使宣告審判開始的信息期間,吹響警告號筒的守望者。然而,約翰特別表徵那些宣講第三位天使信息、宣告審判結束的人。他表徵那些歸回上帝藉着米勒工作的建立之根基的人。

We have repeatedly shown through the years, (and it can be found in Habakkuk’s Tables), that the first angel’s message “fear God” is to convict of sin, and that the second angel’s message is where righteousness is manifested and the third identifies judgment. These are the three steps of the three angels and also the three steps of the work of the Holy Spirit. Those three steps are also represented by the three Hebrew letters that make up the Hebrew word that is translated as “truth.” In the passage from John sixteen, Jesus is speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding God’s people into “all truth,” while also showing them “things to come.” Yet Jesus states that He has “many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”

多年以來,我哋一再指出,(而且呢一點可以喺《哈巴谷的表》入面搵到,)第一位天使的信息「敬畏上帝」乃係要使人知罪;第二位天使的信息,乃係公義得以彰顯之處;而第三位天使的信息則表明審判。呢三者就係三位天使的三個步驟,亦都係聖靈工作的三個步驟。呢三個步驟,同樣由組成希伯來文中被譯作「真理」一詞的三個希伯來字母所表徵。喺《約翰福音》第十六章嗰段經文入面,耶穌講到聖靈的工作,乃係引導上帝的子民進入「一切的真理」,同時又將「將來的事」指示佢哋。然而,耶穌卻講明,祂「還有好些事要告訴你們,但你們現在擔當不了。」

I hope you have understood some of the significance of the Hebrew word translated as “truth.” For we have just began to apply that symbol to our study. In the first three verses of Revelation one the communication process between God and man is identified. It is identified even before the Revelation identifies the three-fold nature of the godhead. It finds a second witness in the last verses of Revelation and in so doing, based upon applying “line upon line” it produces more light.

我希望你已經明白咗一啲被譯作「真理」呢個希伯來字所具有嘅意義。因為我哋而家先至啱啱開始將呢個象徵應用到我哋嘅研讀之中。喺《啟示錄》第一章頭三節,上帝同人之間嘅溝通過程已被指出。甚至喺《啟示錄》指出神格三重本質之前,呢一點已經被指出。佢喺《啟示錄》最後幾節之中搵到第二個見證;而且藉住咁樣,根據「命上加命」嘅應用,就產生更多亮光。

Then when we add Genesis 1:1–2:3, we find a third witness and another prophetic line to lay upon the previous two lines at the beginning and ending of Revelation.

然後,當我哋加上《創世記》1:1–2:3,我哋就發現第三個見證同另一條預言線,可以鋪喺《啟示錄》開頭同結尾先前嗰兩條線之上。

Then we add the last promise in the Old Testament identifying the Elijah to come, and we have four prophetic lines.

然後我哋再加上舊約最後一個應許,指明那將要來的以利亞,咁我哋就有四條預言的線索。

Then we add the first chapter of the New Testament and we have five lines to put together the ultimate message found in the Bible when applying the principle of Alpha and Omega to all the lines. If we would finish off the five lines we have already identified, by applying the principle across the board to those five lines, then we should expect to see the end of Matthew and the end of John testifying to the same information that all five of the “first and last” prophetic lines that we are considering.

跟住我哋加上《新約》嘅第一章,咁樣,當我哋將阿拉法同俄梅戛嘅原則應用喺所有線路之上時,就有五條線可以拼合起嚟,構成《聖經》入面所見嘅終極信息。倘若我哋將已經辨認出嚟嘅五條線完成,即係將呢個原則全面應用喺嗰五條線之上,咁我哋就應當預期睇見《馬太福音》嘅結尾同《約翰福音》嘅結尾,都為住同一個信息作見證;而呢個信息,正正就係我哋所考察嘅五條「首先與末後」先知性線路全部所見證嘅。

The message that is being unsealed is established in the book of Revelation, so it is the reference point for the other lines, in agreement with Sister White informing us that “all the books of the Bible meet and end in Revelation.” The message of the first three verses of the book of Revelation identify the process God uses to transmit His word to John to write out and send to the churches. The first book of the New Testament, as already noted, sets forth the lineage of Jesus Christ and it starts with a very informative point.

呢個正被揭開印封嘅信息,係建立喺《啟示錄》呢卷書之上,所以佢就成為其他各條線索嘅參照點,亦都同懷愛倫姊妹所話嘅一致:「聖經所有書卷都喺《啟示錄》裏面匯合,並且喺嗰度終結。」《啟示錄》頭三節所傳達嘅信息,指出上帝用嚟將祂嘅話傳遞畀約翰、叫佢寫出嚟並送畀眾教會嘅過程。正如先前已經指出,新約嘅第一卷書陳明咗耶穌基督嘅家譜,而佢一開始就提出咗一個極有啟發性嘅要點。

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1.

亞伯拉罕的後裔,大衛的子孫,耶穌基督的家譜。馬太福音 1:1。

Jesus ended his direct interaction with the quibbling Jews by silencing them with the subject of “the son of David,” a subject that could have only been understood by the Jews if they had understood the biblical principle of beginning and ending. They didn’t, and most Adventists don’t. Anyone who wishes to argue against the principle of history repeating demonstrates that they do not understand that ancient Israel typifies modern Israel, and their unwillingness to believe that principle, is the identical unwillingness at the end of ancient Israel to understand the same principle. Jesus represented that principle in His final riddle to the Jews by directing them to the riddle of how David’s Lord, could also be David’s son?

耶穌以「大衛的子孫」呢一個題目,使嗰啲好爭辯嘅猶太人啞口無言,從而結束咗祂同佢哋直接嘅交鋒;而呢一個題目,只有喺猶太人明白聖經中關於起頭同結局嘅原則之下,先至可能被佢哋明白。佢哋並唔明白,而大多數復臨信徒亦都唔明白。凡係想要反對歷史重演之原則嘅人,都顯明佢哋唔明白古代以色列乃係現代以色列之預表;而佢哋唔肯相信呢一個原則,正正就係古代以色列去到末後之時,唔肯明白同一原則嗰種完全一樣嘅唔情願。耶穌喺祂向猶太人所提出最後一個謎語當中,就藉着引導佢哋去思想呢一個謎語,表明咗呢一個原則:大衛的主,點可能同時又係大衛的子孫呢?

John chapter one, identifies that in the beginning the Word was with God, and the Word is God and the Word created all things. This of course aligns with the other lines we are referring to. And if we then consider the last words in the gospel of John, we see Peter, after hearing Jesus describe how he would die, asking Jesus what would happen to the apostle John.

《約翰福音》第一章指出,太初有道,道與神同在,道就是神;萬物都是藉着道而造的。這當然與我們所提及的其他線索相互一致。若我們再思想《約翰福音》末了的話,便會看見彼得在聽見耶穌講述他將會如何死之後,問耶穌,使徒約翰將會怎樣。

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 21:21–25.

彼得見到他,就對耶穌說,主啊,這人將來如何呢?耶穌對他說,我若要他留到我來的時候,與你何干?你跟從我吧。於是這話就在弟兄中間傳開了,說那門徒不會死;其實耶穌並沒有對他說,他不會死,只是說,我若要他留到我來的時候,與你何干?這就是那為這些事作見證、並且記下這些事的門徒;我們也知道他的見證是真的。耶穌所行的事,還有許多別的;若是一一都寫出來,我想,所要寫的書,就是世界本身也容不下了。阿們。約翰福音 21:21–25。

Peter wanted to know how John would die, or even if John would die. The answer is repeated twice in the passage when Jesus stated it and then John restated, “If I will that he [John] tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” John did live to Jesus’ Second Coming.

彼得想知道約翰將會如何死,甚至約翰是否會死。呢段經文中,主耶穌講出答案,而約翰其後又重述一次,前後重複咗兩次:「我若要他[約翰]等到我來的時候,與你何干?」約翰確實活到耶穌第二次降臨。

You can only see or hear that “truth” if you believe in the repetition of history, and also that the history that is to be repeated, does so at the end of the world. The end of the world is where John was when he wrote the book of Revelation. The last book in John’s gospel agrees with the other lines of beginning and ending for it places John in the history of the events leading to the Second Coming where he, representing those who proclaim the final warning message, sends that message to the churches.

只有當你相信歷史會重演,並且相信將要重演嘅歷史乃係喺世界嘅末了發生,你先至能夠看見或聽見嗰個「真理」。約翰寫《啟示錄》嘅時候,佢所處之地,就係世界嘅末了。約翰福音中最後一本書與其他關於起頭同結局嘅脈絡彼此一致,因為佢將約翰安置喺引向第二次降臨之各樣事件嘅歷史當中;喺嗰度,佢作為嗰啲宣講最後警告信息之人嘅代表,將嗰信息送達眾教會。

“In the days of the early Christians, Christ came the second time. His first advent was at Bethlehem, when He came as an infant. His second advent was at the Isle of Patmos, when He revealed Himself in glory to John the Revelator, who ‘fell at His feet as dead’ when he saw Him. But Christ strengthened him to endure the sight, and then gave him a message to write to the churches of Asia, the names of which are descriptive of the characteristics of every church.

喺早期基督徒嘅日子,基督第二次嚟到。祂第一次降臨係喺伯利恆,當時祂以嬰孩嘅身分嚟到。祂第二次降臨係喺拔摩海島,當時祂喺榮耀中向啟示者約翰顯現;約翰一見到祂,就「仆倒在祂腳前,像死了一樣」。但基督使佢剛強,能夠忍受呢個異象,然後賜畀佢一個信息,要佢寫信畀亞細亞嘅眾教會;呢啲教會嘅名字,乃係描寫每一個教會之特徵。

The light that Christ revealed to His servant the prophet is for us. In His revelation are given the three angels’ messages, and a description of the angel that was to come down from heaven with great power, lightening the earth with his glory. In it are warnings against the wickedness that would exist in the last days, and against the mark of the beast. We are not only to read and understand this message, but to proclaim it with no uncertain sound to the world. By presenting these things revealed to John, we shall be able to stir the people.Manuscript Releases, volume 19, 41.

基督向祂僕人先知所啟示嘅亮光,係賜畀我哋嘅。在祂嘅啟示之中,賜下咗三位天使嘅信息,亦描述咗嗰位要帶住大權柄從天降下、以自己嘅榮耀照亮全地嘅天使。其中有關於末後日子將會存在之邪惡嘅警告,亦有關於獸之印記嘅警告。我哋唔單止要閱讀並明白呢個信息,仲要以毫不含糊嘅聲音向世界宣講。藉着陳明呢啲向約翰所啟示嘅事,我哋就能夠喚醒眾民。」《Manuscript Releases》卷19,41。

The end of the gospel of John identifies the communication process as in Revelation’s first three verses, by locating John prophetically in the history of the Second Coming. Thus, using Jesus’ first “second coming” (Patmos) to illustrate His last “second coming.” It connects perfectly with the other lines we are considering, for it represents John at the end of the world, on Patmos where he receives the Revelation of Jesus Christ. What about the end of the book of Matthew?

《約翰福音》嘅結尾,藉住喺基督第二次降臨嘅歷史中,以先知性嘅方式安置約翰,指出咗同《啟示錄》頭三節一樣嘅傳達過程。因此,乃係用耶穌第一次「第二次降臨」(拔摩島)嚟說明祂最後一次「第二次降臨」。呢一點同我哋所考察嘅其他線索完全吻合,因為佢描繪出約翰喺世界嘅末了,身處拔摩島,在那裏領受耶穌基督嘅啟示。咁《馬太福音》嘅結尾又如何呢?

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:16–20.

於是,十一個門徒往加利利去,到耶穌約定他們去的一座山上。他們見了他,就拜他;然而還有人疑惑。耶穌進前來,對他們說:「天上地下所有的權柄,都賜給我了。所以,你們要去,使萬民作我的門徒,奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗,凡我所吩咐你們的,都教訓他們遵守。看哪,我就常與你們同在,直到世界的末了。阿們。」馬太福音 28:16–20。

In the passage all power is given to Jesus, and this would of course be His creative power. And then He gives a commandment to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and also the Holy Spirit that moved upon the water in Genesis one, and the seven spirits that are before the throne of God. This passage identifies that Christians are to recognize the three persons of the heavenly trio as three distinct entities. The end of Matthew adds to the lines as the other six do.

喺呢段經文入面,一切權柄都賜咗畀耶穌,而呢個當然就係佢創造嘅權能。跟住,佢頒下命令,要奉父、子,同埋喺《創世記》第一章運行喺水面上嘅聖靈,以及喺神寶座前嘅七靈之名施洗。呢段經文表明,基督徒應當承認天上三一之中嘅三位格,乃係三個各自有別嘅實體。《馬太福音》嘅結尾,正如其餘六處一樣,為呢幾句話增添印證。

“Christ has made baptism the sign of entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He has made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Before man can find a home in the church, before passing the threshold of God’s spiritual kingdom, he is to receive the impress of the divine name, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6.

「基督已使浸禮成為人進入祂屬靈國度嘅記號。祂已將此定為一項明確嘅條件,凡願意被承認為服從父、子、聖靈權柄之下嘅人,都必須遵守。人喺教會中得著家園之前,喺跨過上帝屬靈國度嘅門檻之前,必須領受神聖名字嘅印記:『耶和華我哋的義。』耶利米書 23:6。」

“Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan, and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They have obeyed the command, ‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate, … and touch not the unclean thing.’ And to them is fulfilled the promise, ‘I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’ 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.

「浸禮乃係對世界一項極其莊嚴嘅棄絕。凡奉父、子、聖靈三重聖名受浸嘅人,喺其基督徒生命一開始之際,就公開宣告佢哋已經離棄撒但嘅服役,並且成為王室家族嘅成員、天上君王嘅兒女。佢哋已經順從咗呢條命令:『你們務要從他們中間出來,與他們分別;……不要沾不潔淨的物。』而且喺佢哋身上,呢個應許得以應驗:『我要收納你們;我要作你們的父,你們要作我的兒女。這是全能的主說的。』哥林多後書 6:17, 18。」

“As Christians submit to the solemn rite of baptism, He registers the vow that they make to be true to Him. This vow is their oath of allegiance. They are baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thus they are united with the three great powers of heaven. They pledge themselves to renounce the world and to observe the laws of the kingdom of God. Henceforth they are to walk in newness of life. No longer are they to follow the traditions of men. No longer are they to follow dishonest methods. They are to obey the statutes of the kingdom of heaven. They are to seek God’s honor. If they will be true to their vow, they will be furnished with grace and power that will enable them to fulfill all righteousness. ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’” Evangelism, 307.

「當基督徒順服接受莊嚴嘅浸禮時,祂便記錄佢哋向祂所立、要忠於祂嘅誓願。呢個誓願就係佢哋效忠嘅誓詞。佢哋係奉父、子、聖靈嘅名受浸。咁樣,佢哋就與天上三大權能聯合。佢哋立志棄絕世界,並遵守上帝國度嘅律法。從今以後,佢哋要喺生命嘅新樣中行事。佢哋唔再跟從人嘅遺傳;唔再採用詭詐嘅手段。佢哋要順服天國嘅律例;要尋求上帝嘅榮耀。若果佢哋忠於自己所立嘅誓願,就必得着恩典同能力,使佢哋能夠盡諸般嘅義。『凡接待祂的,祂就賜佢哋權柄,作上帝的兒女,就是信祂名的人。』」《佈道論》,307。

Jesus illustrates the end by the beginning in His Word, for He is the Word, and He is the Alpha and Omega.

耶穌喺祂嘅道中,以起初說明終局,因為祂就係道,並且祂係阿拉法同俄梅戛。

Bringing these seven lines together builds a very detailed picture of the communication process between God and man, with many other critical and important truths set forth and established by the other “lines” witnesses. Seven “lines” of prophecy representing the Alpha and Omega. But what about the book of Malachi?

將呢七條線索結合起來,便構成咗一幅極其詳盡嘅圖畫,描繪神與人之間嘅交通過程;而許多其他關鍵而重要嘅真理,亦藉着其他作為見證嘅「線」被陳明並確立。預言嘅七條「線」,代表阿拉法同俄梅戛。但《瑪拉基書》又如何呢?

Malachi’s book is a scathing rebuke against the unfaithful priests in Adventism. It opens with the identification of two classes of worshippers in Adventism at the end of the world.

《瑪拉基書》乃係對復臨信仰中不忠嘅祭司所發出嚴厲嘅責備。佢一開始就指出,喺世界末時嘅復臨信仰之中,有兩等敬拜者。

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob. Malachi 1:1, 2.

耶和華藉瑪拉基傳給以色列之耶和華話語的默示。耶和華說:我曾愛你們。你們卻說:你在何事上愛我們呢?耶和華說:以掃不是雅各的哥哥嗎?然而我卻愛雅各。瑪拉基書 1:1, 2.

Malachi further informs us that the two classes of worshippers at the end of the world are two classes of priests.

瑪拉基進一步話畀我哋知,喺世界末了嘅時候,嗰兩等敬拜者乃係兩等祭司。

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Malachi 2:1, 2.

如今,祭司啊,呢條誡命係畀你哋嘅。萬軍之耶和華說:你哋若不聽從,若不放在心上,將榮耀歸與我嘅名,我就必使咒詛臨到你哋,亦必咒詛你哋嘅福分;我已經咒詛咗,因為你哋不將者事放在心上。瑪拉基書 2:1, 2.

The beginning of Malachi is typifying the Laodicean and Philadelphian message with two classes of priests. The priests are commanded to “hear.” John represents the priests that do hear, and a priest represents God’s covenant chosen people. They are already cursed and will be cursed again if they do not “hear” and “they do not” or “will not” “lay it to heart.”

瑪拉基書嘅開頭,係藉住兩類祭司,預表老底嘉同非拉鐵非嘅信息。祭司被吩咐要「聽」。約翰代表嗰啲確實肯聽嘅祭司,而祭司則代表神按聖約所揀選嘅子民。佢哋已經受咗咒詛;如果佢哋唔「聽」,又唔將呢件事「放在心上」,或者「唔肯」將之「放在心上」,就必再受咒詛。

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:5–10.

你哋亦都好似活石,被建造成為一所屬靈的殿,成為聖潔的祭司職分,藉着耶穌基督獻上屬靈的祭物,為神所悅納。所以經上亦有記着說:「看哪,我把所揀選、所寶貴的房角石,安放在錫安;信靠他的人,必不至於羞愧。」所以,對你哋這信的人而言,他是寶貴的;但對那些悖逆的人而言,「匠人所棄的石頭,已成了房角的頭塊石頭」,又是「絆腳的石頭,叫人跌倒的磐石」;他們既不順從,便在這道上絆跌;他們這樣,也是被派定的。惟有你哋是被揀選的族類,是君尊的祭司職分,是聖潔的國度,是屬神的子民,為要叫你哋宣揚那召你哋出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。你哋從前不是子民,現在卻是神的子民;從前未曾蒙憐恤,現在卻蒙了憐恤。彼得前書 2:5–10。

The priests are God’s chosen people who are tested by the “corner stone” in the foundation of the temple. The corner stone is what all the other foundation stones are aligned with, and also it is the stone that bears the weight of the entire temple. Miller’s corner stone was the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. The corner stone or the stone that the builders rejected is a true story of the building of the temple, which is described very specifically in the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy. One point about the first stone that was rejected is that it was set aside after it was rejected, and from that point on the builders of the temple would regularly trip over the cornerstone, that had been set aside within their work area. It was a stone of stumbling.

祭司乃是上帝所揀選、並在聖殿根基中藉着那「房角石」受試驗的子民。房角石乃是一切其餘根基石所據以對齊之石,同時亦是承受整座聖殿重量之石。米勒的房角石乃是《利未記》二十六章中的「七次」。房角石,或那匠人所棄的石頭,乃是關於建造聖殿的一個真實故事;這故事在預言之靈的著作中有極為明確的描述。關於那塊首先被棄絕的石頭,有一點值得注意:它在被棄絕之後,便被擱置一旁;自那時起,建造聖殿的人就在他們的工作範圍內,時常被那塊被擱置的房角石絆倒。它乃是一塊絆腳石。

In Malachi God informs the wicked priests, also known as the foolish Laodicean virgins that he is going to and already has “cursed” them. He curses them for they will not “hear” and “lay” the Elijah message to their hearts. The Elijah message turns the fathers’ hearts to the children and the children’s hearts to the fathers. Turning their hearts represents hearing the Elijah message of fathers and children, which is the principle of first and last. Hearing the message of the first and last is not enough, it must be laid upon the heart. To accept the message of Elijah is to lay it to your heart. If a priest will not hear that principle, he will be cursed.

喺《瑪拉基書》入面,神告知嗰啲邪惡嘅祭司,即係亦都被稱為愚拙嘅老底嘉童女,祂將要並且已經「咒詛」咗佢哋。祂咒詛佢哋,因為佢哋唔肯「聽」,亦唔將以利亞嘅信息「放」喺心上。以利亞嘅信息使父親嘅心轉向兒女,兒女嘅心轉向父親。佢哋心嘅轉向,乃係表示聽見關乎父親同兒女嘅以利亞信息,呢個就係首先同末後嘅原則。單單聽見首先同末後嘅信息並不足夠,仲必須將佢放喺心上。接受以利亞嘅信息,就係將佢放喺你心上。若有祭司唔肯聽從呢個原則,佢就必受咒詛。

They brought the curse upon themselves when in 1863 they began the process of rejecting the very first foundational truth Miller discovered and have done nothing but continue that rejection to this very day. But even though the progressive curse began in 1863, (for they are already cursed), the curse that is in the future tense, takes place when they are spewed out of the mouth of the Lord at the Sunday law. The beginning of Malachi illustrates the end, for the end represents the last warning given to the wise and foolish priests. The wise and foolish in Malachi are represented as Esau and Jacob. The elder brother representing the covenant through the birthright of being the first born, contrasted with a younger brother. The elder being the first and the younger being the last.

佢哋喺1863年開始拒絕米勒所發現嘅第一個根基真理嘅進程之時,就已經把咒詛招到自己身上;而且直到今日,佢哋所做嘅,無非係繼續呢種拒絕。然而,雖然呢種漸進嘅咒詛係喺1863年開始嘅(因為佢哋已經受咒詛),但嗰個以將來時態表達嘅咒詛,乃係喺主於星期日法案之時將佢哋從口中吐出去嘅時候發生。瑪拉基書嘅開頭說明結局,因為結局代表向聰明同愚昧祭司所發出嘅最後警告。瑪拉基書中嘅聰明同愚昧,乃係以以掃同雅各為表徵。哥哥藉着長子名分所代表嘅約,與弟弟形成對比。哥哥為先,弟弟為後。

In Malachi both Esau and Jacob are Laodicean Adventists but the last eventually heard the “voice” of the Lord, repented and had his named changed to Israel. The elder, the first did not hear. Jacob heard the voice of the Lord the night he dreamed and saw angels ascending and descending upon the ladder, representing Christ. Jacob represents Laodicean Adventists at the end of the world who are converted from Laodiceans unto Philadelphians when they experience the first three verses of Revelation one, as illustrated by John and Jacob’s dream of the ladder of ascending and descending angels. That experience marks the beginning of Jacob’s conversion into Israel, the Philadelphian. The ending of Jacob’s conversion story is when he wrestles with Christ at Penuel. Thus Jacob’s birthright story begins in the first three verses of Revelation chapter one when the unsealing of the final warning message is taking place and it ends in the time of the seven last plagues, during the time of trouble.

喺《瑪拉基書》入面,以掃同雅各都係老底嘉嘅復臨信徒;但後者最終聽見咗主嘅「聲音」,悔改,並且改名為以色列。至於長子、首先出生嗰個,卻冇有聽見。雅各喺嗰一夜作夢、看見天使喺梯上上去落嚟之時,聽見咗主嘅聲音;嗰梯乃係象徵基督。雅各代表世界末時嘅老底嘉復臨信徒;當佢哋經歷《啟示錄》第一章頭三節所描述嘅事,好似約翰同雅各所作關於天使上去落嚟之梯嘅夢所表明咁,就由老底嘉人轉變成為非拉鐵非人。嗰個經歷標誌住雅各轉變成以色列——即非拉鐵非人——嘅開始。雅各轉變故事嘅終局,係佢喺毘努伊勒與基督摔跤之時。因此,雅各長子名分嘅故事,開始於《啟示錄》第一章頭三節,就係最後警告信息被揭開封印之時;而佢嘅終結,則喺七大災嘅時期,即艱難嘅時候。

All four sets of beginnings and endings, “line upon line” give testimony to the message of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The question is whether the foolish priests will hear or not hear.

四組嘅開始同終結,皆「命上加命,令上加令」,一同為耶穌基督嘅啟示之信息作見證。問題只在於,嗰啲愚昧嘅祭司究竟會聽,抑或唔聽。

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3.

讀者同聽見呢預言之話語、又遵守其中所記載之事的人,乃有福的:因為日期近了。啟示錄 1:3。

The wise priests who hear what the Spirit says to the churches, hear the message of Elijah. Miller was Elijah, and some heard, but others refused.

凡聽見聖靈向眾教會所說之話嘅智慧祭司,都聽見以利亞嘅信息。米勒就係以利亞;有啲人聽見咗,但另有啲人卻拒絕。

“Thousands were led to embrace the truth preached by William Miller, and servants of God were raised up in the spirit and power of Elijah to proclaim the message. Like John, the forerunner of Jesus, those who preached this solemn message felt compelled to lay the ax at the root of the tree, and call upon men to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Their testimony was calculated to arouse and powerfully affect the churches and manifest their real character. And as the solemn warning to flee from the wrath to come was sounded, many who were united with the churches received the healing message; they saw their backslidings, and with bitter tears of repentance and deep agony of soul, humbled themselves before God. And as the Spirit of God rested upon them, they helped to sound the cry, ‘Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.’” Early Writings, 233.

「成千上萬的人被引領去接受威廉.米勒所傳講的真理,上帝的僕人亦被興起,以以利亞的心志和能力宣講這信息。正如耶穌的先驅約翰一樣,那些傳這嚴肅信息的人,深感必須把斧子放在樹根上,並呼籲人結出與悔改相稱的果子。他們的見證足以喚醒眾教會,並有力地影響他們,顯明其真實的品格。當那要人逃避將來忿怒的嚴肅警告被傳開之時,許多與教會聯合的人接受了這醫治的信息;他們看見自己的退後,便以悔改的苦淚和心靈深切的痛苦,在上帝面前自卑。當上帝的靈臨到他們身上時,他們便幫助發出這呼聲:『應當敬畏上帝,將榮耀歸給祂;因祂施行審判的時候已經到了。』」《早期著作》,233。

Miller was typified by both Elijah and John the Baptist, for John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ’s first coming and Miller prepared the way for Christ to come to the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary on October 22, 1844. Malachi directly identifies John and Miller’s work.

米勒乃由以利亞同施洗約翰二者所預表;因為施洗約翰為基督第一次降臨預備道路,而米勒則為基督於1844年10月22日進到天上聖所之至聖所預備道路。瑪拉基直接指明施洗約翰同米勒之工作。

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: 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. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:1–6.

看哪,我必差遣我的使者,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?因為他如煉淨之人的火,又如漂布之人的鹼;他必坐下如煉淨銀子的,潔淨人的那一位,並要潔淨利未的子孫,熬煉他們像金銀一樣,使他們可以按公義獻供物給耶和華。那時,猶大和耶路撒冷所獻的供物,必蒙耶和華悅納,像古時之日,又像上古之年一樣。萬軍之耶和華說:「我必臨近你們,施行審判;我必速速作見證,敵擋行邪術的、犯姦淫的、起假誓的、虧負雇工工價的、欺壓寡婦和孤兒的、屈枉寄居者之權利的,並那些不敬畏我的人。因我耶和華是不改變的,所以你們雅各之子沒有滅亡。」瑪拉基書 3:1–6。

As the ‘watchman’ for his history, Miller’s work represented raising the foundations of the temple. His work in the beginning must illustrate a work that represents the finishing of the temple. That final work requires another watchman to give the trumpet a certain sound. Miller and the message of the first angel announced the opening of judgment, and the watchman who Miller typifies at the end of Adventism will announce the close of judgment.

作為其歷史中嘅「守望者」,米勒嘅工作乃係重建聖殿根基。佢起初所作嘅工,必須預表一項代表聖殿完成嘅工作。嗰最後嘅工作,需要另一位守望者吹出確定嘅號聲。米勒同第一位天使嘅信息宣告審判嘅開始,而米勒所預表、喺復臨運動末後出現嘅守望者,將要宣告審判嘅結束。

In Malachi the Lord promises to bring judgment “against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me.” Those that are being identified here are those who “fear not” “the Lord of hosts.” William Miller is the messenger of the first angel which calls for men to “fear God.” Rejecting the foundations is to reject the fear of God.

喺《瑪拉基書》入面,主應許要施行審判,「攻擊行邪術的、犯姦淫的、起假誓的、虧負僱工之工價的、欺壓寡婦同孤兒的、屈枉寄居的,並不敬畏我的。」呢度所指明嘅,乃係嗰啲「不敬畏」「萬軍之耶和華」的人。威廉·米勒乃係第一位天使嘅使者,呼召世人要「敬畏上帝」。棄絕根基,就係棄絕對上帝嘅敬畏。

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 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. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and 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. Malachi 4:1–6.

看哪,那日將到,必如火爐焚燒;凡狂傲的,和一切作惡的,都必如碎秸;那將到的日子必把他們燒盡,萬軍之耶和華說,必不給他們留下根,也不留下枝。惟有你們敬畏我名的人,必有公義的日頭升起,其翅膀有醫治之能;你們必出來跳躍如圈裡的肥牛犢。你們必踐踏惡人;因在我施行這事的日子,他們必在你們腳掌之下成為灰塵;這是萬軍之耶和華說的。你們當記念我僕人摩西的律法,就是我在何烈山為以色列眾人所吩咐他的律例典章。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們那裡去。他必使父親的心轉向兒女,兒女的心轉向父親,免得我來咒詛遍地。瑪拉基書 4:1–6。

  • The beginning of the Bible (Genesis) and the end of the Bible (Revelation).

    聖經嘅開頭(《創世記》)同聖經嘅結尾(《啟示錄》)。

  • The beginning of the Old Testament (Genesis) and the end of the Old Testament (Malachi).

    舊約嘅開端(《創世記》)同舊約嘅結尾(《瑪拉基書》)。

  • The beginning of the New Testament (Matthew) and the end of the New Testament (again Revelation).

    新約嘅開端(《馬太福音》)同埋新約嘅結束(同樣係《啟示錄》)。

  • The beginning of John’s testimony (the gospel of John) and the end of John’s testimony (again Revelation).

    約翰見證嘅開始(《約翰福音》),同埋約翰見證嘅終結(再者,《啟示錄》)。

  • The beginning of Malachi and the end of Malachi.

    瑪拉基書的開始與瑪拉基書的結束。

  • The beginning of Matthew’s gospel and the end of Matthew’s gospel.

    《馬太福音》嘅開頭,同埋《馬太福音》嘅結尾。

  • The beginning of John’s gospel and the end of John’s gospel.

    《約翰福音》的開頭同《約翰福音》的結尾。

  • The beginning of the four gospels and the end of the four gospels.

    四福音書的開頭與四福音書的結尾。

When we remove the prophetic beginnings or endings that are referenced more than once, it equals eight prophetic lines that are to be brought together and placed upon the first three verses of Revelation. What about the end of Genesis?

當我哋將嗰啲被引用多過一次嘅預言性起頭或結尾刪除之後,就等於有八條預言線要匯集埋一齊,並放喺《啟示錄》頭三節之上。咁《創世記》嘅結尾又如何呢?

Genesis chapter fifty ends with the death of Joseph.

《創世記》第五十章以約瑟之死作結。

So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:26.

約瑟死了,享年一百一十歲;人就把他薰裹了,停在埃及的棺木裏。創世記 50:26。

Chapter forty-eight identifies the death of Jacob. The death of Jacob being first in chapter forty-eight leading to the death of Joseph in chapter fifty’s closing verses place the signature of the Alpha and Omega upon the last three chapters of Genesis as the ending of the book of Genesis.

第四十八章指出雅各之死。雅各之死首先喺第四十八章出現,而約瑟之死則置於第五十章結尾幾節,呢一前一後,將阿拉法與俄梅戛嘅印記加蓋於《創世記》最後三章之上,作為《創世記》全書嘅終結。

Those two deaths are used as symbols of the beginning and ending of Israel’s captivity in Egypt. In the beginning, Jacob’s body is taken back to be buried with his fathers, and when Moses comes out of Egypt, he brings Joseph’s body to be buried in the burial place of his fathers.

嗰兩次死亡被用作象徵以色列喺埃及被擄嘅開始同終結。喺開始嘅時候,雅各嘅遺體被帶返去,與佢列祖同葬;及至摩西出埃及嘅時候,佢帶住約瑟嘅骸骨出去,要葬喺佢列祖嘅葬地。

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. Exodus 13:19.

摩西把約瑟的骸骨一同帶去;因為約瑟曾鄭重地叫以色列子孫起誓,說,上帝必定眷顧你們;你們要把我的骸骨從這裏一同帶上去。出埃及記 13:19。

The ending of Genesis is the last three chapters. In chapter forty-eight Jacob (Israel) pronounces blessings upon his twelve sons that are directly identified as prophecies of what happens to those twelve tribes in the “last days” of the investigative judgment.

《創世記》嘅結尾係最後三章。喺第四十八章,雅各(以色列)向佢十二個兒子宣告祝福;呢啲祝福明確被指出係預言,講到喺查案審判嘅「末後日子」中,嗰十二個支派將會發生嘅事。

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Genesis 49:1, 2.

雅各召集他眾子,說:「你們都聚集,我好把你們日後所必遭遇的事告訴你們。雅各的兒子們,你們要聚集而聽;要聽從你們父親以色列的話。」創世記 49:1, 2.

In the “last days” of the investigative judgment the Lord promises to gather his twelve sons, who are represented as the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the book of Revelation. These are they who John represents in the book of Revelation. They are gathered by a call from Jacob, a call from their beginning history that they are told to “hear,” and “hearken” unto. In the last days, those typified by Jacob’s sons “hear” a message and “hearken” or as John says “keep” those things that are written therein. It’s a call from the father to the children, it is the Elijah message. Those called are called the “son[‘s] of Jacob,” and are also to “hearken unto Israel” their father.

喺查案審判嘅「末後日子」,主應許要招聚佢十二個兒子;呢十二個兒子喺《啟示錄》入面象徵為十四萬四千人。呢班人就係約翰喺《啟示錄》所描繪嘅人。佢哋係藉住雅各所發出嘅呼召而被招聚;呢個呼召出自佢哋起初嘅歷史,並且佢哋被吩咐要「聽」,要「留心聽從」。喺末後日子,由雅各眾子所預表嘅人「聽」見一個信息,並且「留心聽從」,或者如約翰所講,「遵守」其中所寫嘅事。呢係父親向兒女所發出嘅呼召;呢就係以利亞嘅信息。蒙召嘅人被稱為「雅各嘅眾子」,並且亦都要「聽從以色列」——佢哋嘅父。

Esau and Jacob in Malachi represent the wise and foolish virgins. The call is from their father Jacob and their father Israel, identifying that when the last call is made everyone is a Laodicean Adventist and the choice is placed into their own hands whether to be a son of Jacob the deceiver or Israel the overcomer. What allows them to make a choice is the creative power within the message. If the message is read, heard and kept, then through the identical creative power that brought all things into existence they will be changed unto a son of Israel. To refuse to hear, is to retain the experience of Jacob, the deceiver.

瑪拉基書中的以掃與雅各,乃係代表聰明童女與愚拙童女。呢個呼召係出自佢哋嘅父雅各,同埋佢哋嘅父以色列,表明當最後嘅呼召發出之時,人人都係老底嘉時期嘅復臨信徒,而抉擇亦被交喺佢哋自己手中:究竟要成為詭詐者雅各之子,抑或得勝者以色列之子。使佢哋能夠作出抉擇嘅,乃係信息之中所包含嘅創造大能。若然呢個信息被閱讀、被聽聞、並被遵守,咁樣,藉着那使萬有得以存在之同一嘅創造大能,佢哋就必被改變,成為以色列之子。拒絕去聽,就係保留雅各——即詭詐者——嘅經歷。

The gathering call by Jacob, which is also the gathering call of the message that is unsealed in Revelation is an important symbol to understand. The “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six teaches that there is no gathering, unless there is previously a scattering. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are those who were scattered in advance of the calling. This truth is repeatedly identified in the Bible.

雅各所發出嘅召聚呼聲,亦即係《啟示錄》中嗰已被揭開之信息嘅召聚呼聲,乃係一個必須明白嘅重要象徵。《利未記》二十六章所講嘅「七倍」,教導我哋:若非先有分散,就唔會有召聚。嗰十四萬四千人,就係喺呼召之前已先被分散嘅人。呢個真理喺聖經中一再被指出。

Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. Jeremiah 31:10.

列國啊,你哋要聽耶和華嘅話,並要傳揚到遠處嘅海島,說:那分散以色列嘅,必招聚佢,又必看守佢,好像牧人看守自己嘅羊群一樣。耶利米書 31:10。

The covenant that is renewed with the one hundred and forty-four thousand includes the promise that God will write his law upon our hearts. But those who have this creative act performed for them by the Lord have been previously scattered.

與十四萬四千人所重申的約,包括神要將祂的律法寫在我們心上的應許。但那些由主為他們施行這創造之工的人,先前乃是分散了的。

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:14–19.

耶和華嘅話又臨到我,話:「人子啊,你嘅弟兄,你嘅弟兄,就係你嘅親屬,同埋以色列全家,都係耶路撒冷嘅居民曾對佢哋講:『你哋遠離耶和華吧!呢地係賜畀我哋作產業嘅。』所以你要說:『主耶和華如此說:我雖然將佢哋遠遠趕到列國中,雖然將佢哋分散喺各邦,然而喺佢哋所到嘅列邦中,我還要作佢哋暫時嘅聖所。』所以你要說:『主耶和華如此說:我必從萬民中招聚你哋,從你哋所分散到嘅列國中聚集你哋,又要將以色列地賜畀你哋。佢哋必到嗰度,也必從其中除掉一切可憎之物同一切可厭惡之事。我要賜畀佢哋同一個心,也要將新靈放喺你哋裏面;又要從佢哋肉體中除掉石心,賜畀佢哋肉心。』」以西結書 11:14–19。

More is to be said about the gathering of the one hundred and forty-four thousand in relation to the “scattering,” but we first need to bring together the consideration of the signature of Alpha and Omega in these nine references we are considering.

關於十四萬四千人之聚集,同「分散」嘅關係,仲有更多要講;但我哋首先需要將我哋而家所考慮嘅呢九處經文當中,阿拉法與俄梅戛之印記嘅論述綜合起來。

Two classes are represented in the last three chapters of Genesis. A class of rebels and a class of the wise. Both classes hear a voice that says this is the way walk ye in it, but one class refused to hearken to the trumpet and walk in the old paths. The class of rebels in Genesis forty-eight through fifty are represented by the thirteenth tribe.

創世記最後三章描繪咗兩等人:一等係悖逆嘅人,一等係有智慧嘅人。兩等人都聽見有聲音話:「這是正路,要行在其間」,但其中一等人拒絕聽從號筒嘅聲音,亦唔肯行喺古道之中。創世記第四十八章至第五十章所代表嗰等悖逆嘅人,乃係由第十三支派所表徵。

At the beginning of ancient Israel there were thirteen tribes and at the beginning of modern Israel there were thirteen disciples. The one disciple that is distinguished from the other twelve disciples, (as was Ephraim distinguished from the other tribes) are both symbols of rebellion. Sister White directly calls Judas a foolish virgin.

喺古代以色列起初,有十三個支派;喺現代以色列起初,亦有十三個門徒。嗰一個同其餘十二個門徒有所分別嘅門徒,(正如以法蓮同其餘支派有所分別一樣,)兩者都係悖逆嘅象徵。懷姊妹直接稱猶大為一個愚拙嘅童女。

“There have been and always will be tares among the wheat, the foolish virgins with the wise, those who have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. There was a covetous Judas in the church Christ formed on earth, and there will be Judases in the church in every stage of her history.” Signs of the Times, October 23, 1879.

「麥子中間一直有、並且將來也必常有稗子;愚拙的童女與智慧的童女同在;那些燈雖有、器皿裏卻沒有油的人也同在。基督在地上所建立的教會中有一個貪財的猶大;而在教會歷史的每一個階段中,也都必有猶大。」Signs of the Times, October 23, 1879.

Judas Iscariot was a foolish virgin; he was a tare and if a foolish virgin, then also a Laodicean.

加略人猶大乃是愚拙的童女;他是稗子,而若他是愚拙的童女,便亦是老底嘉人。

“The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

「由愚拙的童女所代表之教會景況,亦被稱為老底嘉的景況。」《Review and Herald》,1890年8月19日。

Joseph’s two sons both received a blessing from Jacob in chapter forty-eight of Genesis, and from that point on they are referred to as “half tribes.” Half tribes or not, they were still tribes. Judas Iscariot was replaced by Matthias in order to fill in the twelfth place formerly held by Judas Iscariot. Judas was a disciple, and in this sense—there were thirteen disciples at the end of ancient Israel, just as there were thirteen tribes at the beginning.

喺《創世記》第四十八章,約瑟嘅兩個兒子都從雅各領受咗祝福,自嗰時起,佢哋就被稱為「半支派」。無論係半支派與否,佢哋仍然係支派。猶大·伊斯加略由馬提亞取代,好填補從前由猶大·伊斯加略所佔據嘅第十二個位置。猶大原本係門徒;就呢個意義而言——古代以色列喺末後有十三個門徒,正如佢喺起初有十三個支派一樣。

Joseph’s son Ephraim (the thirteenth tribe) became the symbol of the rebellion when the northern ten tribes rallied in support of Jeroboam and divided the kingdom into ten northern tribes and two southern tribes. Why do I identify Ephraim the son of Joseph as the symbol of rebellion instead of his brother Manasseh? The rebellion associated with Ephraim begins in chapter forty-eight, before Jacob blesses his twelve sons. In chapter forty-eight Jacob first blesses Joseph’s two sons. Because Manasseh was the first-born Joseph expects that the first blessing of his sons should go upon Manasseh, and Joseph rebels against Jacob choosing Ephraim.

約瑟的兒子以法蓮(第十三支派)喺北方十個支派擁護耶羅波安、將王國分裂為北方十個支派同南方兩個支派之時,成為咗嗰場悖逆嘅象徵。點解我認定約瑟嘅兒子以法蓮,而唔係佢嘅兄弟瑪拿西,係悖逆嘅象徵呢?與以法蓮有關嘅悖逆,喺雅各祝福佢十二個兒子之前,早於第四十八章就已經開始。喺第四十八章,雅各首先祝福約瑟嘅兩個兒子。由於瑪拿西係長子,約瑟便以為佢兒子所得嘅首個祝福應當臨到瑪拿西身上;然而,當雅各揀選以法蓮時,約瑟就背逆雅各。

The beginning of Ephraim as a representative of God’s elect possesses a testimony of rebellion, and the end of Ephraim is Leviticus twenty-six’s scattering of “seven times” from 723 BC through to 1798. In 723 BC the northern ten tribes, the kingdom of Ephraim, (also known as Israel) received a deadly wound as a kingdom of Bible prophecy. That deadly wound began a time prophecy that concluded with the papal power and its kingdom receiving a deadly wound in 1798. The deadly wound of the papal power in 1798 typifies the final fall of Babylon when the king of the north will “come to his end with none to help” in Daniel eleven verse forty-five. The rebellion and fall of Babylon in the last days was typified by the rebellion and fall of the papal power in 1798, which in turn was typified by the rebellion and fall of the kingdom of Ephraim (Israel) in 723 BC, which was typified by Joseph’s rebellion to his father’s prophetic inspiration as identified in the end of Genesis.

以法蓮作為上帝選民之代表,其起始帶着悖逆嘅見證;而以法蓮嘅結局,乃係《利未記》二十六章所說「七倍」嘅分散,由公元前723年一直延續到1798年。喺公元前723年,北方十個支派,即以法蓮之國(又稱以色列),作為聖經預言中嘅一個國度,受咗致命嘅傷。嗰個致命嘅傷開始咗一段時間預言,並喺1798年以教皇權勢及其國度受致命之傷而告終。教皇權勢喺1798年所受嘅致命之傷,預表末後巴比倫最終嘅傾覆,嗰時北方王必照《但以理書》十一章四十五節所言,「到了他的結局,必無人能幫助他」。末後巴比倫嘅悖逆同傾覆,乃由1798年教皇權勢嘅悖逆同傾覆所預表;而後者又由公元前723年以法蓮國(以色列)嘅悖逆同傾覆所預表;再往前,則係由《創世記》末了所指出、約瑟對其父先知啟示之悖逆所預表。

The rebellion that Ephraim is a symbol of started with his father’s rebellion (Joseph) against his father (Jacob). It ultimately leads to the rebellion of the ten northern tribes, which leads to the “scattering represented” as “seven times” in Leviticus twenty-six. The period of the time the northern kingdom was scattered is divided into two periods. One ending in the year 538, the next period ending in 1798, and all pointing to the message that is unsealed just before probation closes in the book of Revelation. That message identifies the final fall of Babylon. At each waymark of Ephraim’s prophetic history rebellion is marked. Just as is the rebellion of the thirteenth disciple, Judas Iscariot. This is two of the witnesses that identify the number thirteen as a symbol of rebellion. But none of these sacred truths can be recognized if a person isn’t standing on the foundations of Adventism that were built upon the first truth Miller discovered and the first truth discarded by Adventism.

以法蓮所象徵嘅背叛,始於佢父親(約瑟)對佢父親(雅各)嘅背叛。呢種背叛最終導致北方十個支派嘅背叛,而呢又引向《利未記》二十六章所表明為「七次」嘅「分散所代表」之事。北國被分散嘅時期分為兩段:第一段喺公元538年結束,下一段喺1798年結束,而全部都指向《啟示錄》中喺恩門關閉之前不久被揭開封印嘅信息。嗰個信息指出巴比倫最後嘅傾倒。喺以法蓮預言歷史嘅每一個路標之上,背叛都被標明;正如第十三個門徒加略人猶大嘅背叛一樣。呢兩者乃係見證,指出十三呢個數字乃係背叛嘅象徵。但若一個人唔係站立喺復臨信仰嘅根基之上——而呢些根基乃係建立喺米勒所發現嘅第一個真理,以及其後被復臨信仰所棄絕嘅第一個真理之上——咁就冇可能辨認呢一切神聖嘅真理。

The ending of Genesis agrees with all the other lines that we have been considering. In summation:

《創世記》嘅結尾,與我哋一直所考慮嘅其餘各條線索完全一致。總括而言:

In the beginning the heavenly trio of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit witnessed the creation of the heavens and earth that was accomplished by the Son, who is also the Word. The Word became the channel of communication from the Father, to mankind, and the Word is the only avenue for mankind to communicate with the Father. The Father’s message was given by the Son to the angel Gabriel, who replaced Lucifer (the light bearer) after Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven. Gabriel receives the light, or message and delivers it to a prophet, who is the holy created being assigned with passing the message from the Father to the fallen created family. The message given to the prophet is written out and then conveyed to mankind. At every step in the communication process the message is holy, and for this reason the prophets, who are fallen human beings are to be holy. At the point that the holy message is transferred into the hands of fallen humanity, humanity has the potential of handling a holy message with unsanctified hands. Thus, the light of the holy message produces both light and darkness. When the message is received by those in the family of fallen man it contains the identical creative power that created all things, which is the power that justifies that being. The beginning of the communication process illustrates the end of the communication process. Therefore, if the message is heard, read and kept, the message recreates fallen mankind into the image of the Son.

起初,天上由父、子、聖靈所組成之三一見證了天地的創造;而這創造乃是由子成就的,子亦即道。道成為父與人類之間交通的管道,而道亦是人類與父交通的唯一途徑。父的信息由子傳給天使加百列;加百列是在路錫甫於天上背叛之後取代路錫甫(那光之擔負者)的。加百列領受那光,或信息,並將之傳遞給一位先知;先知乃是被指派將父的信息由聖潔之受造者傳給墮落受造家族的聖潔受造者。賜給先知的信息被寫下來,然後傳達給人類。在整個傳達過程的每一步中,信息都是聖潔的;因此,那些身為墮落人類的先知也當是聖潔的。當這聖潔的信息被轉交到墮落人類手中之時,人類便有可能以未經成聖的手來處理聖潔的信息。因此,這聖潔信息之光既產生光明,也產生黑暗。當這信息被墮落人類家族中的人領受時,其中含有那創造萬有之同一的創造大能,就是使那人稱義的能力。傳達過程的起頭說明了傳達過程的結局。所以,若這信息被聽見、被閱讀、被遵守,這信息就使墮落的人類照着子的形像被重新創造。

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3.

讀者同聽見呢預言之話語、又遵守其中所記載之事的人,乃有福的:因為日期近了。啟示錄 1:3。

John illustrates fallen mankind in the “last days” of the investigative judgment who hear a voice behind them and turn around to receive the message that leads to the past. Those that receive and make the message not a part of their life, but exclusively their life, are there and then justified. To be justified is to be made holy. When those who read and hear the message sent from the Father, accept the message and are made holy, it is through the creative power within the message. The creative power accomplishes the work of justifying men, when men believe as did Abraham. The message instructs them to turn and listen to the voice behind, which leads to the old paths, which are the foundational truths. The message guides them into all truth and as they walk the old paths, they are walking on the path of the justified.

約翰描繪咗喺查案審判「末後的日子」之中墮落的人類;佢哋聽見後面有聲音,便轉過身來,領受嗰引向過去嘅信息。凡領受並且唔係只將呢個信息成為自己生命嘅一部分,而係單單以之為自己全部生命嘅人,就喺當時當地被稱義。被稱義即係被成為聖潔。當嗰啲閱讀並聽見由父所差來之信息嘅人,接受呢個信息而被成為聖潔時,乃係藉住信息裏面嘅創造大能。當人如阿伯拉罕一樣相信之時,呢種創造大能就成就使人稱義嘅工作。呢個信息指示佢哋轉身,聆聽後面嘅聲音;呢聲音引領佢哋歸向古道,亦即係根基性嘅真理。呢個信息引導佢哋進入一切真理之中;當佢哋行走古道之時,佢哋所行走嘅,就係稱義之人嘅道路。

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:18–27.

但義人嘅路,好像黎明嘅光,越照越明,直到日午。惡人嘅道,卻如幽暗;自己都唔知因何絆跌。我兒,要留心聽我嘅言語,側耳聽我嘅說話。都唔好使佢哋離開你嘅眼目;要存記喺你心中。因為凡尋得佢哋嘅,就得着生命,又得醫全體嘅良藥。你要保守你嘅心,勝過保守一切;因為生命嘅泉源,由心而出。你要除掉邪僻嘅口,棄絕乖謬嘅嘴。你嘅眼目,要向前正看;你嘅眼皮,也要直觀前方。要修平你腳下嘅路,堅定你一切嘅道。不可偏向右,也不可偏向左;要使你嘅腳離開邪惡。箴言 4:18–27。

Those justified by the message conveyed walk on the path that represents an ever-increasing light, but that very light makes the path of the wicked correspondingly darker. Light separates from darkness. The creative power that commanded for there to be light in the beginning produces the same effect upon mankind at the end as light did in the beginning. The class that refuses to hear the voice behind, and therefore choose to walk the darkened path “stumble” at his Word, for they stumble on the foundation stone, the old tried stone. The voice is Alpha and Omega, and when the justified hear those words and incline their hearts unto those words they keep those words in the midst of their hearts, for the Alpha and Omega turns their hearts to the fathers, (the past) and the hearts of the fathers point to the end.

凡藉所傳信息稱義的人,乃行走在一條表徵光明愈增愈盛的道路上;然而,正是那光,使惡人的路相應地顯得更加黑暗。光明與黑暗乃彼此分別。那在起初命有光的創造大能,到了末時臨到人類身上時,所產生的果效,與光在起初所產生的果效乃是相同的。那一等拒絕聽從後面之聲,因而選擇行走黑暗之路的人,便在祂的道上「絆跌」;因他們乃是在那根基石上絆跌,就是那古時所試驗過的石頭。那聲音乃是 Alpha 與 Omega;當稱義的人聽見那些話,並使心傾向那些話時,他們便將那些話存在心中,因為 Alpha 與 Omega 使他們的心轉向列祖,(過去),而列祖的心則指向末後。

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.

義人之路乃是正直;至正直者啊,你衡量義人之途。耶和華啊,我們在你審判之道中等候你;我們心裏所羨慕的,乃是你的名,並對你的記念。我夜間以心靈切慕你;我裏面的靈也必清早尋求你:因你審判臨到地上的時候,世上的居民便學習公義。以賽亞書 26:7–9

God weighs, or He judges, those who walk the path of the just, and He does so in the “last days” when His judgments are in the land. The just are those who have waited for the Lord in fulfillment of the tarrying time in the parable of the ten virgins. The desire of those walking the path of increasing knowledge, is for a greater and greater understanding of God’s name, His character. Those who have waited for their Lord, are those that proclaim the final warning message, for they are those who proclaim the Midnight Cry, which is of course the first internal message of Revelation eighteen that is followed by the second, external message.

上帝衡量,或說祂審判,嗰啲行走喺義人之路上嘅人;而祂係喺「末後的日子」、即當祂的審判臨到地上之時,咁樣行事。義人,就係嗰啲等候主嘅人,呢乃係應驗十個童女比喻之中延遲的時候。嗰啲行走喺知識日增之道路上嘅人,佢哋所渴想嘅,乃係對上帝的名、即祂的品格,有愈來愈深嘅認識。嗰啲等候佢哋的主嘅人,就係宣告最後警告信息嘅人;因為佢哋就係宣告午夜呼聲嘅人,而午夜呼聲當然就係《啟示錄》第十八章第一個內部信息,隨後就有第二個外部信息。

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Revelation 18:1–4.

此後,我看見另一位天使從天降下,掌有大權;地也因他的榮耀發光。 他大聲呼喊,聲音強而有力,說:大巴比倫傾倒了!傾倒了!成了鬼魔的住處、各樣污穢之靈的巢穴,並各樣污穢可憎之雀鳥的籠。 因為列國都喝了她淫亂大怒之酒,地上的君王與她行淫,地上的客商也因她奢華太過就發了財。 我又聽見從天上有另一個聲音說:我的民哪,你們要從那城出來,免得與她一同有罪,也免得受她所受的災殃。 啟示錄 18:1–4

When the angel of Revelation eighteen descended on September 11, 2001, the Seventh-day Adventist church refused its final call to return to the old paths. It then ceased to be the horn of true Protestantism in the United States. At that point a testing process began for those who chose to take the message of that strong voice and eat it, as typified by John when the angel of Revelation ten descended at the beginning of Adventism on August 11, 1840. The spiritual nation that had taken the mantle of true Protestantism when the first angel’s message was rejected, then followed in the footsteps of apostate Protestantism at the beginning of Adventism.

當啟示錄第十八章嘅天使喺2001年9月11日降臨之時,基督復臨安息日會拒絕咗佢最後返回古道嘅呼召。自此,佢喺美國就唔再係真正新教嘅角。由嗰一刻開始,對於嗰啲選擇接受並吃下嗰強聲信息嘅人,一個試驗嘅過程就開始咗;正如喺1840年8月11日,當啟示錄第十章嘅天使喺復臨運動開始之時降臨,約翰所預表嘅一樣。嗰個喺第一位天使信息被拒絕之時承接咗真正新教外袍嘅屬靈國度,隨後就在復臨運動開始之時,跟隨咗背道新教嘅腳蹤。

The true Protestant horn was then given to those who accepted the message in the little book that was in the angel’s hand in Revelation ten. The testing process at the beginning of Adventism from 1840 through 1844 represents a testing process at the end of Adventism from September 11, 2001 until the Sunday law in the United States. Within the first history of 1840 to 1844, and the testing process that began on September 11, 2001, marks a dispensational transition from the former body of believers who held the mantle of Protestantism, unto a new body of believers who take the mantle of true Protestantism.

真正嘅新教角,當時係賜咗畀嗰啲接受《啟示錄》第十章中天使手裏小書之信息嘅人。由1840年至1844年復臨運動起初嘅考驗過程,預表由2001年9月11日起直到美國星期日法案為止、復臨運動末後嘅考驗過程。喺1840年至1844年嘅第一段歷史之內,以及由2001年9月11日開始嘅考驗過程,都標誌住一個時代性嘅轉換:由先前承擔新教衣缽嘅信徒群體,轉移到一個承接真正新教衣缽嘅新信徒群體。

More important to our consideration of the path of the justified is that within that history there is a disappointment that marks the beginning of the tarrying time. The faithful wait for their Lord in that time, which ends with the unsealing of the message of the Midnight Cry. That testing process at the beginning of Adventism ended when the message of the Midnight Cry concluded on October 22, 1844. The testing process at the end concludes for those represented by John at the Sunday law in the United States. The message of the Midnight Cry at the end, will conclude just as at the beginning, and in the beginning of Adventism the message of the Midnight Cry was unsealed in advance of the close of the testing process. The message of the Midnight Cry at the beginning is now being unsealed at the end.

對於我哋考慮稱義之人所行之路,更為重要嘅係:喺嗰段歷史當中,有一場失望,標誌住耽延時期嘅開始。忠心嘅人喺嗰段時期等候佢哋嘅主,而呢段時期乃以半夜呼聲信息嘅開啟而告終。復臨運動起初嗰個試驗嘅過程,喺1844年10月22日半夜呼聲嘅信息結束之時就完結咗。末後嗰個試驗嘅過程,對於由約翰所代表嘅人嚟講,乃喺美國嘅星期日法案之時結束。末後嘅半夜呼聲信息,將會同起初一樣而結束;而喺復臨運動開始之時,半夜呼聲嘅信息係喺試驗過程結束之前預先被開啟嘅。起初嘅半夜呼聲信息,依家正喺末後被開啟。

The justified wise virgins enter into covenant with God when the wicked foolish virgins enter into a covenant of death.

稱義嘅智慧童女,正當惡嘅愚拙童女立死亡之約嘅時候,就與神立約。

To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:12–16.

他曾對他們說:「這就是安息,你們可以使疲乏的人得安息;這就是舒暢。」然而他們不肯聽。於是,耶和華的話臨到他們,就是律上加律,律上加律;例上加例,例上加例;這裡一點,那裡一點;叫他們前去,反倒仆倒,並且跌碎,落在網羅之中,被纏住。 所以,你們這些褻慢的人,就是轄管住在耶路撒冷這百姓的,當聽耶和華的話。因你們曾說:「我們與死亡立約,與陰間結盟;橫流的鞭災經過的時候,必不臨到我們;因我們以謊言為避所,在虛假以下藏身。」所以,主耶和華如此說:「看哪,我在錫安放一塊石頭為根基,是試驗過的石頭,是寶貴的房角石,是穩固的根基;信靠的人必不着急。」以賽亞書 28:12–16。

The justified take the holy message of the Midnight Cry to the church and thereafter they proclaim the message of the second voice as they call mankind out of Babylon.

稱義嘅人將半夜呼喊呢個神聖嘅信息帶畀教會,之後,當佢哋呼召世人離開巴比倫嘅時候,佢哋就宣講第二個聲音嘅信息。

“So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. The second angel’s message is, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ And in the loud cry of the third angel’s message a voice is heard from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.’” Review and Herald, December 6, 1892.

「所以,在向世界發出警告嘅最後工作中,向眾教會發出咗兩個截然不同嘅呼召。第二位天使嘅信息係:『巴比倫大城傾倒了,傾倒了!因為她叫萬國都喝她淫亂大怒之酒。』而喺第三位天使信息嘅大呼聲之中,有聲音從天上傳來,話:『我嘅民哪,你哋要從那城出來,免得與她一同有罪,受她所受嘅災殃;因她的罪惡滔天,她的不義 神已經想起來了。』」《Review and Herald》,1892年12月6日。

Those who come out of Babylon and join those walking on the path of the just are accepted into the fold through the water of baptism that is represented by the name of the heavenly trio. The justified, whether it is those who are currently hearing the message delivered to John on Patmos, or those who thereafter are called out of Babylon are all justified by receiving the Holy Spirit. That combination of the Holy Spirit’s divinity and man’s humanity was accomplished, as set forth as an example when Christ took upon himself human nature. The one hundred and forty-four thousand were represented upon two witnesses, the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve disciples. The wicked are represented by the thirteenth tribe and the thirteenth disciple. Both “thirteens” in either illustration were called to be priests unto God, and those who reject that calling are represented by Esau, while his younger brother Jacob represents those who accept the calling. Esau and Jacob both represent Laodicean Seventh-day Adventists at the end of the world. One class accepts the holy message conveyed through the prophet’s writings and is changed unto Israel, while Esau retains his name.

凡從巴比倫出來、並加入那些行走在義人道路上的人,都是藉着由天上三一之名所表徵的浸禮之水,被接納進入羊圈。凡稱義的人,無論是現今聽見那傳給拔摩島上的約翰之信息的人,或是其後從巴比倫被召出來的人,都是藉着領受聖靈而稱義。聖靈之神性與人的人性之結合,乃是藉着基督取了人性時所立為榜樣而成就的。一十四萬四千人,乃藉着兩個見證人來表明:雅各的十二個兒子和十二個門徒。惡人則由第十三支派和第十三門徒來表徵。兩個比喻中的兩個「十三」,原都是蒙召作神的祭司;凡拒絕這呼召的人,便由以掃所表徵,而他的弟弟雅各則表徵那些接受這呼召的人。以掃與雅各二者都表徵末世的老底嘉時期基督復臨安息日會信徒。其中一等人接受藉先知著作所傳達的神聖信息,並被改變成為以色列;而以掃則仍保留他的名字。

There is of course much more in these nine lines of Alpha and Omega, for this was simply a brief summation of beginnings and endings in God’s Word.

當然,呢九行有關阿拉法同俄梅戛嘅內容,所包含嘅遠遠更多,因為呢啲不過係對神話語之中開端與終結嘅一個簡略總述。

Nine lines of history, representing prophetic histories from the creation to the Second Coming. All nine of these prophetic lines of beginnings and endings are directly connected to the first three verses of Revelation chapter one. Those three verses identify that the Revelation of Jesus Christ, that is unsealed just before probation closes, is a manifestation of God’s creative power. What other power could construct such a complex inter-woven testimony from a variety of witnesses, who provided their testimony from the time of Moses until the time of John the Revelator?

九條歷史線,代表由創造直到第二次降臨嘅預言歷史。呢九條關於起頭同終結嘅預言線,全都直接同《啟示錄》第三章頭三節相連。嗰三節指出,耶穌基督嘅啟示,即係喺恩門關閉之前啱啱被解開封印嘅啟示,乃係上帝創造大能嘅彰顯。除咗呢一種能力之外,仲有乜嘢能力可以由多位見證人所提供、由摩西嘅時代直到啟示者約翰嘅時代嘅見證,建構出如此複雜而彼此交織嘅證詞呢?

Take off your shoes, for this is holy ground.

除低你嘅鞋,因為呢度係聖地。