We ended the last article with the following paragraph:
我们以如下段落结束了上一篇文章:
“The miracle-working power manifested through spiritualism will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than men. Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation excited against all who refuse to accept their testimony.” The Great Controversy, 589, 590.
通过招魂术所显现的行神迹的能力,将施加其影响,反对那些选择顺从上帝而不顺从人的人。来自诸灵的信息将宣称,上帝差遣他们去使拒绝遵守星期日的人认识他们的错误,并断言国家的法律应当当作上帝的律法来遵守。他们将哀叹世上极大的邪恶,并附和宗教教师的见证,称道德的败坏状态是由于对星期日的亵渎所造成的。将会对一切拒绝接受他们见证的人激起极大的愤怒。《善恶之争》,589, 590。
The “testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday,” is a waymark of the history that leads to the enforcement of the worship of the sun in the United States. Pat Robertson, the American televangelist and founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the Christian Coalition, ran for President of the United States in the Republican primaries in 1988. Robertson’s campaign focused on mobilizing conservative Christian voters and advocating for social and moral issues aligned with his evangelical beliefs. At the time of the end in 1989, in the history of the first of the eight final presidents, the leader and founder of the Christian Coalition ran for president. The presidential history of Reagan, typifies the history of the last Republican president.
“宗教教师的证词,认为道德败坏的状态是由对星期日的亵渎造成的”,这是通往在美国强制推行太阳崇拜之历史进程中的一个路标。美国电视布道家、基督教广播网(CBN)和基督教联盟的创始人帕特·罗伯逊,于1988年参加了共和党总统初选。罗伯逊的竞选重点在于动员保守派基督徒选民,并倡导与其福音派信仰相一致的社会和道德议题。在1989年的终结之时,在最后八位总统中的第一位的历史中,基督教联盟的领袖和创始人竞选总统。里根的总统史,代表了最后一任共和党总统的历史。
The judgments of God are about to produce the environment that fulfills the previous passage from The Great Controversy, and which parallels the work of the Christian Coalition. The Christian Coalition came about to address the moral and social problems that Sister White identifies are unsolvable by those who hold the reins of government. The Christian Coalition in the history of Reagan, represents a similar movement in the very near future. Prophetically the Christian Coalition was typified by the National Reform Movement during the Sunday law crisis connected with the Blair Bills in the 1880’s and 1890’s. The National Reform Movement was formed in 1888, and Sister White specifically addressed that movement in her writings.
上帝的审判即将造成一种环境,使《大争战》中先前那段话得以应验,并与“基督教联盟”的工作相呼应。基督教联盟的出现,是为了解决怀特姐妹指出那些掌握政权的人无法解决的道德和社会问题。在里根时代,基督教联盟代表着在不久的将来一个类似的运动。从预言的角度看,基督教联盟在与布莱尔法案相关、发生于19世纪80至90年代的星期日法案危机中,曾由“国家改革运动”所预表。国家改革运动成立于1888年,怀特姐妹在她的著作中还专门论及这一运动。
“A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world. The most momentous struggle of all the ages is just before us. Events which for more than forty years we have upon the authority of the prophetic word declared to be impending are now taking place before our eyes. Already the question of an amendment to the Constitution restricting liberty of conscience has been urged upon the legislators of the nation. The question of enforcing Sunday observance has become one of national interest and importance. We well know what the result of this movement will be. But are we ready for the issue? Have we faithfully discharged the duty which God has committed to us of giving the people warning of the danger before them?
一场大危机即将临到上帝的子民。一场危机也即将临到全世界。历代最重大的争战近在眼前。那些我们依据预言话语的权威在四十余年来宣告将要临到的事件,如今正发生在我们眼前。限制良心自由的宪法修正案之议题,已有人极力敦促国家立法者推动。强制守星期日的议题,已成为全国关注且至关重要的问题。对于这场运动将带来怎样的结果,我们非常清楚。然而我们是否已经为此做好准备?对于上帝托付给我们的职责——向人们警告他们面前的危险——我们是否已经忠心尽责?
“There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests. Any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages has steadily warred against liberty of conscience. Sunday observance owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to “the mystery of iniquity;” and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism.
在这场为强制执行星期日而发起的运动中,即便在参与者当中,也有许多人被这一举措将带来的结果所蒙蔽。他们没有看见,自己正是在直接打击宗教自由。许多人从未明白圣经安息日的主张,也不明白星期日制度所依凭的虚假根基。任何支持宗教立法的运动,其实都是向教皇制度作出的让步;而这个制度在许多个世纪里始终与良心自由为敌。星期日的遵守之所以作为所谓的基督教制度而存在,归因于“不法的奥秘”;而对其加以强制,实际上就是承认那些原则——它们正是罗马天主教的基石。当我们的国家竟至于背弃其政体原则而制定星期日法时,新教就在这一举动上与教皇势力携手;这无异于使那长期急切伺机、欲再次跃起而实行专制统治的暴政复活。
“The National Reform movement, exercising the power of religious legislation, will, when fully developed, manifest the same intolerance and oppression that have prevailed in past ages. Human councils then assumed the prerogatives of Deity, crushing under their despotic power liberty of conscience; and imprisonment, exile, and death followed for those who opposed their dictates. If popery or its principles shall again be legislated into power, the fires of persecution will be rekindled against those who will not sacrifice conscience and the truth in deference to popular errors. This evil is on the point of realization.
行使宗教立法权的国家改革运动一旦完全发展起来,将显露出与过去时代盛行的同样不容忍与压迫。那时,人类的会议僭取了上帝的特权,以其专制权力摧毁良心自由;凡反对其命令者,随之而来的是监禁、流放与死亡。若教皇制度或其原则再度被立法赋予权力,逼迫之火将再次被点燃,针对那些不愿为了迎合流行的谬误而牺牲良心与真理的人。这种罪恶即将成为现实。
“When God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we stand clear in His sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our power to bring it before the people? Can we be content to leave them to meet this momentous issue unwarned?
当上帝赐给我们光照,显明我们前面的危险时,若我们忽略尽我们所能的一切努力,将这光摆在众人面前,我们怎能在祂面前无可指摘呢?我们能甘心让他们在未受警告的情况下去面对这一重大问题吗?
“There is a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk of imprisonment, loss of property, and even of life itself, to defend the law of God, which is made void by the laws of men. In this situation worldly policy will urge an outward compliance with the laws of the land, for the sake of peace and harmony. And there are some who will even urge such a course from the Scripture: ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers…. The powers that be are ordained of God.’
我们面前有一场持续的斗争;为捍卫上帝的律法——这律法却被人的法律所废除——我们要冒坐牢、失去财产,甚至丧失生命的风险。在这种情况下,世俗的策略会为了和平与和谐,敦促人们在表面上遵从国家的法律。也有人会依据经文来主张这样的做法:“人人都当顺服在上掌权的……现有的权柄都是上帝所设立的。”
“But what has been the course of God’s servants in ages past? When the disciples preached Christ and Him crucified, after His resurrection, the authorities commanded them not to speak any more nor to teach in the name of Jesus. ‘But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ They continued to preach the good news of salvation through Christ, and the power of God witnessed to the message.” Testimonies, volume 5, 711–713.
“但在过去的世代里,神的仆人所走的是怎样的道路呢?当门徒在他复活之后宣讲基督并他钉十字架的时候,当局命令他们不可再说话,也不可奉耶稣的名教导人。‘但彼得和约翰回答他们说:在神面前,听从你们过于听从神,是否为正,你们自己判断吧。因为我们所看见、所听见的,不能不说。’他们仍继续传讲借着基督得救的福音,神的大能也为这信息作见证。” 《证言》第5卷,第711—713页。
The judgments of God are about to produce an environment in the social, economic and religious sphere within the United States, that produces the logic for religious leaders to begin to call for a revival of public morality, as was typified in the 1880’s and 1890’s, and then again in the history of the president who marked the time of the end in 1989. “A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world.” Sister White asks two questions, “When God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we stand clear in His sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our power to bring it before the people? Can we be content to leave them to meet this momentous issue unwarned?”
上帝的审判即将在美国的社会、经济和宗教领域形成一种局势,从而为宗教领袖开始呼吁公共道德的复兴提供理由,这正如19世纪80年代和90年代所体现的那样,并且在那位于1989年标志末时的总统的历史中也再次出现。“一场大危机正等候上帝的子民。一场危机正等候全世界。”怀特姐妹提出两个问题:“当上帝赐给我们亮光,指明摆在我们面前的危险时,如果我们忽视尽我们所能的一切努力把它摆在人们面前,我们如何能在祂眼中站立得正?我们能否甘心让他们在毫无警告的情况下去面对这一重大议题?”
What light has there been showing the dangers before us, and if there has been no light, how could a loving God hold His people accountable for not presenting a warning message, if they had never heard that warning message? Dear Reader, you will be held accountable for the light represented by these articles.
一直以来,有什么亮光向我们显明摆在我们面前的危险?若并无亮光,既然他们从未听过那警告的信息,慈爱的上帝又怎能因祂的子民没有发出警告的信息而追究他们的责任呢?亲爱的读者,你将为这些文章所代表的亮光负责。
The specific descriptions of the characteristics of the Democrat dragon power, the Republican false prophet power, the papal power, Islam and the Laodicean Adventist church, as well as literal Israel in these articles will be considered as hate speech by the powers that be, but they are the message from God’s Word that is established by the methodology of line upon line, and those lines are crying out that the judgments of God are about to increase and escalate in frequency.
这些文章中对民主党“龙”的势力、共和党“假先知”的势力、教皇权势、伊斯兰教和老底嘉的复临教会,以及字面的以色列之特征所作的具体描述,将会被当权者视为仇恨言论;但这些都是依据“一行接一行”的方法论所确立的上帝话语的信息,而这些“行”正在呼喊:上帝的审判即将加重,并且发生得越来越频繁。
Prophetically the Christian Coalition that came together in the history just prior to the time of the end in 1989, has a more significant application than simply the parallel to the 1880’s and the 1890’s. In the passage we just cited from Sister White she identifies spiritualism as one of two ways Satan takes the world captive, and then spends some words addressing the miracles that he will perform.
在预言上,曾在1989年末时来临之前不久的历史阶段中联合起来的基督教联盟,具有比仅仅与十九世纪八十年代和九十年代的平行更为重大的应用。在我们刚才所引述的怀爱伦姊妹那段文字中,她将招魂术界定为撒但将全世界掳去的两种方式之一,并且进一步论及他将要施行的神迹。
After the election of 1988, thus after the arrival of the Christian Coalition, there was a tremendous manifestation of satanic miracles in the realm of the dragon, the realm of the beast and the realm of the false prophet. It is important to align these phenomenon’s correctly, for they typify the arrival of Satan personating Christ after the soon coming Sunday law in the United States.
在1988年选举之后,也就是在基督徒联盟兴起之后,撒但的神迹异能在龙、兽与假先知的势力范围内出现了极其强烈的彰显。正确地厘定并对应这些现象极其重要,因为它们预表,在美国即将颁布的星期日法令之后,撒但将以冒充基督之姿来临。
In the realm of Catholicism, in the 1990’s the world watched as the apparitions of the so-called virgin Mary, with the accompanying miracles of bleeding statues of saints, miracles of apparitions in the sky, raining of flower petals from cloudless skies, and other absurd satanic miracles. Pilgrimages of thousands of people all around the world were carried out by the masses during those times, drawn into the delusions accomplished by these events. Books were written about them, journalists investigated, magazines such as Time and Newsweek illustrated these things on their front page.
在天主教界,20世纪90年代,全世界目睹了所谓的圣母玛利亚的显现,以及伴随而来的种种奇迹:圣徒雕像流血、天空中的显现、晴空降下花瓣,以及其他荒诞的撒旦式奇迹。那段时间,世界各地成千上万的人进行了朝圣活动,大批群众被这些事件造成的迷妄所吸引而陷入其中。关于这些事件的书籍相继问世,记者进行了调查,《时代周刊》《新闻周刊》等杂志还把这些事登上了封面。
In the realm of the dragon the Hindu statues of India manifested satanic miracles by the statues drinking spoons or glasses of drink offerings that were placed upon the statue’s mouths. The phenomenon that began in one small village in India spread, like the frogs of Egypt, across the whole country. The BBC television news did a commentary on the phenomenon, and as an afterthought the BBC reporter on television raised the question, “I wonder what would happen if we went to the London Museum tomorrow and offered one of the Hindu statues a glass of milk?” The next days evening news showed the very same reporter at the London Museum, and while the cameras rolled, he offered the large Hindu statue a glass of milk. When the glass touched the lips of the statue the milk was immediately sucked into the statue.
在龙的领域之中,印度境内的印度教神像彰显出撒但的奇事:当人把盛于勺或杯的供奉之饮品置于神像的口边,神像便将之饮下。这一现象起于印度的一个小村庄,遂如同埃及的青蛙一般,蔓延至全国各地。英国广播公司(BBC)电视新闻对此作了评论报道,而后,该电视记者又在镜头前随口发问:“倘若我们明天到伦敦博物馆,给某一尊印度教神像奉上一杯牛奶,会发生什么呢?”次日晚间新闻中,便见同一名记者身在伦敦博物馆;在镜头持续拍摄之时,他向一尊大型印度教神像奉上一杯牛奶。杯沿一触及神像的唇部,牛奶便立刻被吸入像内。
Within the spiritualism of the American Indian prophecies, the white buffalo known as “Miracle,” was born on August 20, 1994, on the farm of Dave and Valerie Heider near Janesville, Wisconsin. Miracle was born with white fur, and her birth was considered by some to be a fulfillment of a Native American prophecy. In various Native American traditions, the birth of a white buffalo is seen as a sacred and significant event, symbolizing unity, peace, and spiritual renewal. Miracle gained widespread attention and became a symbol of hope and spiritual significance for many people. The prophecy of the white buffalo is traced back, and directly associated with the most sacred relic of the native American’s spiritualistic religion, for it is in the initial story of the white buffalo, that the “piece pipe” was introduced into the culture.
在印第安人预言的灵性传统中,名为“Miracle”的白色水牛于1994年8月20日出生在威斯康星州詹尼斯维尔附近、Dave 和 Valerie Heider 的农场。Miracle 生来拥有白色皮毛,她的诞生被一些人视为一则美洲原住民预言的应验。在不同的美洲原住民传统中,白色水牛的诞生被视为神圣且重要的事件,象征着团结、和平与精神更新。Miracle 受到广泛关注,成为许多人心中希望与精神意义的象征。关于白色水牛的预言可被追溯,并且与美洲原住民灵性宗教中最神圣的圣物直接相关,因为正是在白色水牛的最初故事中,“piece pipe”被引入了这一文化。
In 1994, in the realm of the false prophet of apostate Protestantism, the Holy Laughter movement, also known as the Toronto Blessing, began in January 1994 at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church (now known as Catch The Fire Toronto) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was during a series of revival meetings led by pastors John and Carol Arnott that the phenomenon of uncontrollable laughter, along with other manifestations such as shaking, crying, and falling down, or imitating animals and the animals sounds (often referred to as being “slain in the Spirit” or “drunk in the Lord”), began to occur among congregants.
1994年,在背道之新教假先知的领域中,所谓“圣笑”运动(又称“多伦多祝福”)于1994年1月在加拿大安大略省多伦多的多伦多机场葡萄园教会(今称 Catch The Fire Toronto)开始。正是在由约翰与卡萝尔·阿诺特两位牧师带领的一系列复兴聚会中,会众中开始出现不可抑制的笑声,并伴随震颤、哭泣与倒地,或模仿动物及其叫声等其他现象(常被称为“被圣灵击倒”或“在主里醉了”)。
The laughter and other manifestations were attributed by participants to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, leading to the term “Holy Laughter” being used to describe the phenomenon. The revival meetings at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church attracted attention and visitors from around the world, leading to the spread of the movement to other churches and communities. People came from around the world to experience the laughter, and when they returned to their home churches, those churches would often then begin to manifest the same demonic manifestations.
参与者将笑声及其他诸般显现归因于圣灵的同在与作为,因此以“圣灵之笑”来指称这一现象。多伦多机场葡萄园教会的复兴聚会引起全球关注,吸引了来自世界各地的来访者,使此运动传播至其他教会与群体。人们从世界各地前来体验这种笑声,而当他们回到各自所属的本地教会时,那些教会往往也随之开始出现同样出于邪灵的显现。
Pat Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1960. CBN was one of the first television networks dedicated to Christian programming, and it played a significant role in the growth of the Christian broadcasting industry in the United States. Over the years, CBN has expanded its reach and influence through television, radio, and digital media, becoming one of the largest Christian media organizations in the world.
1960年,帕特·罗伯逊创立了基督教广播网(CBN)。CBN 是最早专注于基督教节目的电视网之一,并在美国基督教广播行业的发展中发挥了重要作用。多年来,CBN 通过电视、广播和数字媒体不断扩大其覆盖范围和影响力,成为全球最大的基督教媒体机构之一。
In 1988, he founded the Christian Coalition, and ran for the presidency of the United States. His beliefs are traced back to the National Reform Movement and the Lord’s Day Alliance. Both of those organizations began in 1888, and advocated for various social reforms based on Christian principles, including the prohibition of alcohol, women’s suffrage, and the observance of the Sabbath (Sunday) as a day of rest and worship. The movement was influenced by evangelical Protestantism and sought to establish a “Christian nation” guided by biblical principles. Robertson represented the same principles as both the National Reform Movement, and the Lord’s Day Alliance. For that reason, he also established Regent University.
1988年,他创立了基督教联盟,并竞选美国总统。他的信念可追溯至国家改革运动和主日联盟。这两个组织都始于1888年,主张基于基督教原则的各种社会改革,包括禁酒、妇女选举权,以及把安息日(星期日)作为休息与敬拜之日予以遵守。该运动受到福音派新教的影响,试图建立一个以圣经原则为指导的“基督教国家”。罗伯逊代表了与国家改革运动和主日联盟相同的原则。因此,他还创立了摄政大学。
Pat Robertson established Regent University in 1977, in agreement with the Catholic doctrine which William Miller so boldly opposed. Catholicism and apostate Protestantism employ a satanic biblical methodology that among other unsanctified fruits, produces the belief that there will be a thousand years of peace before Jesus actually returns. Robertson believes his university trains men and women to be those who will run Christ’s thousand-year government during the biblical Millennium. The term “regent” means, someone who acts as a representative or deputy for a ruler or monarch, who is out of the country.
帕特·罗伯逊于1977年创立了摄政大学,这与威廉·米勒曾大胆反对的天主教教义相一致。天主教与背道的新教采用一种撒但式的解经方法,在其诸多不圣洁的果子当中,其中之一就是产生这样一种信念:在耶稣真正再来之前将有一千年的和平。罗伯逊认为,他的大学训练男女,成为在圣经所述的千禧年期间管理基督千年政权的人。“regent”一词的意思是:在君主不在国内时,代为行使其权柄的代表或代理,即摄政者。
Before the time of the end in 1989, beginning at least by 1960, the modern counterparts of the organizations who were pushing for Sunday legislation in 1888, arrived into history. After 1989, satanic manifestations rocked all three elements of the religious realm of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Jesus always identifies the end of a thing with the beginning of a thing, and 1989, “the time of the end” in verse forty of Daniel eleven, begins a prophetic period that ends at the soon-coming Sunday law of verse forty-one. When that Sunday law arrives, Satan appears to “personate” Christ, and his crowning act of deception begins, with miracles and healings.
在1989年“结局之时”到来之前,至少自1960年起,曾在1888年推动星期日立法的各类组织之当代对应势力已登上历史舞台。1989年之后,撒但的显现震动了宗教领域中“龙、兽、假先知”这三大要素。耶稣一向以事物的起头来界定其终结,而1989年,即但以理书十一章四十节所称的“结局之时”,开启了一个先知性的时期,其终点是四十一节所述即将临到的星期日法令。当那星期日法令临到之时,撒但将现身,“冒充”基督;他那欺骗的加冕之举便由此开始,并伴随神迹与医治。
The history that begins that prophetic period identifies a work of an apostate Protestant movement, that leads to the Sunday law, which was typified by 1989, the beginning of that period. In 1989, the “wall” of “the iron curtain” came down, and at the end of this period the “wall of separation of Church and State” comes down. The beginning of the period marks the first two presidents of the eight final presidents. The beginning marks the papacy overcoming its enemy of atheism in the Soviet Union, and the last marks the papacy overcoming its enemy of Protestantism in the United States. The beginning identifies the first of those eight presidents (a Republican), joining hands with the antichrist of Bible prophecy, and the ending marks the last of those eight presidents joining hands with the antichrist of Bible prophecy. That first president is understood to be responsible for bringing down the wall, and the last is the one who will build the wall.
开启那个预言性时期的历史,指出了一个叛教的新教运动的作为,这一作为将导致星期日法令,而1989年——该时期的起点——对星期日法令作了预表。1989年,“铁幕”的“墙”倒塌,而在这个时期的末尾,“政教分离之墙”也会倒塌。这个时期的开端标出了最后八位总统中的前两位。开端标志着教皇权在苏联战胜其敌人——无神论;而末尾则标志着教皇权在美国战胜其敌人——新教。开端指出那八位总统中的第一位(共和党人)与《圣经》预言中的敌基督携手,而结尾则标志着那八位总统中的最后一位与《圣经》预言中的敌基督携手。那第一位总统被认为要为推倒那道墙负有责任,而最后一位将是建起那道墙的人。
In 1960, through to the time of the end in 1989, the modern National Reform Movement began. After the election, satanic miracles began. Before the Sunday law the final manifestation of the national reformers will raise their political head again. At the Sunday law, the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan. In advance of the Sunday law there will, of prophetic necessity, need to be judgments which not only remove the national prosperity of the United States, but those judgments will of prophetic necessity need to be so severe and fearful that the logic is put in place that allows for those in the final national reform movement, the Christian Nationalists, to be identifying the reason for those judgments, as the citizens who are desecrating what they call the Lord’s Day.
自1960年起,现代的国家改革运动开始,并延续至1989年的末时。选举之后,撒但的奇事开始显现。在星期日法令之前,国家改革派的最后一次显现将在政治上再度抬头。到了星期日法令之时,撒但奇妙作为的时候到了。在星期日法令之前,出于预言性的必然,需要有审判临到;这些审判不仅要除去美国的国家繁荣,而且,这些审判亦出于预言性的必然,必须严酷可畏到这样的地步:使一种逻辑得以确立,从而使最终之国家改革运动中的人——基督教民族主义者——能够将这些审判的原因界定为那些亵渎其所谓“主日”的公民。
We will continue this study in the next article.
我们将在下一篇文章中继续这项研究。
“If our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God cannot pour upon them His Spirit. They are unprepared to co-operate with Him. They are not awake to the situation and do not realize the threatened danger. They should feel now, as never before, their need of vigilance and concerted action.
如果我们的人继续保持他们一直以来那种没精打采的态度,上帝就不能将祂的灵浇灌在他们身上。他们没有预备好与祂合作。他们对形势并不警醒,也没有意识到逼近的危险。他们现在应该像从未有过那样,感到自己对警醒和一致行动的需要。
“The peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that His people should be far in advance of the position which they occupy today. But now, when the time has come for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people—the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our ministers who are giving the third angel’s message really understand what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct from the third angel’s message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time.
第三位天使之特殊工作的重要性尚未被认识到。上帝本意是祂的子民应当远远超前于他们今天所处的光景。但如今,到了他们该奋起行动的时候,他们却还有预备要做。当国家改革者开始鼓吹限制宗教自由的措施时,我们的领袖本应对局势保持警觉,并殷勤劳作以抵制这些努力。把光——也就是他们在此时所需要的现今真理——隐而不示,不让我们的百姓得着,这并非出于上帝的旨意。并非所有传讲第三位天使信息的传道人都真正明白这信息所包含的内容。有人把国家改革运动看得如此不重要,以至于他们认为没有必要多加留意,甚至觉得这样做是在把时间花在与第三位天使信息无关的问题上。愿主赦免我们的弟兄如此解释这正是为此时而预备的信息。
“The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers.
人民需要被唤醒,正视当下的危险。守望者正在沉睡。我们已经落后多年。让主要的守望者感受到谨慎自守的迫切必要,以免他们失去让他们看清危险的机会。
“If the leading men in our conferences do not now accept the message sent them by God, and fall into line for action, the churches will suffer great loss. When the watchman, seeing the sword coming, gives the trumpet a certain sound, the people along the line will echo the warning, and all will have opportunity to make ready for the conflict. But too often the leader has stood hesitating, seeming to say: ‘Let us not be in too great haste. There may be a mistake. We must be careful not to raise a false alarm.’ The very hesitancy and uncertainty on his part is crying: “‘Peace and safety.” Do not get excited. Be not alarmed. There is a great deal more made of this religious amendment question than is demanded. This agitation will all die down.’ Thus he virtually denies the message sent from God, and the warning which was designed to stir the churches fails to do its work. The trumpet of the watchman gives no certain sound, and the people do not prepare for the battle. Let the watchman beware lest, through his hesitancy and delay, souls shall be left to perish, and their blood shall be required at his hand.
如果我们各会议中的领袖们现在不接受上帝传给他们的信息,也不整队采取行动,众教会将遭受重大损失。守望者看见刀剑临到,若吹出确切的号声,各处的百姓就会响应这警告,人人都有机会预备迎战。然而,太多时候,领袖却踌躇不前,仿佛在说:“我们不要太匆忙。也许是弄错了。我们必须谨慎,免得发出虚惊。”他这种犹疑与不定实际上在呼喊:“平安稳妥。不要激动。不要惊慌。对这项宗教修正案的问题,人们渲染过度了。这场骚动终会平息。”于是他实际上否认了上帝所传来的信息,使原本要唤醒众教会的警告不能发挥作用。守望者的号角发不出确切的号声,人们也就不预备迎战。守望者当谨慎,免得因他的犹疑与迟延,使灵魂被遗弃而灭亡,他们的血要从他手中讨还。
“We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and, now that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will our people do their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard and in calling to the front those who have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God rather than man will be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy commandments are trodden underfoot?
多年来,我们一直关注是否会在我们这片土地上颁布星期日法;如今这场运动已迫在眉睫,我们要问:我们的人会在这件事上尽到本分吗?我们岂不能帮助高举旗帜,呼召那些珍视自己宗教权利与特权的人站到前线来?那时刻正迅速临近:那些选择顺从上帝而不顺从人的人将要感受到压迫之手。难道当上帝神圣的诫命被践踏在脚下时,我们还要缄默,从而羞辱上帝吗?
“While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation and view the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice and give the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show the people where we are in prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious liberty so long enjoyed.
当新教界在态度上向罗马作出让步之时,让我们振作起来,认清局势,并按其真实的意义审视摆在我们面前的争战。让守望者如今扬声,宣告这时候的现今真理信息。让我们向众人指出我们在预言历史中的位置,并力求唤起真正的新教精神,使世界觉醒,意识到长期享有的宗教自由特权的价值。
“God calls upon us to awake, for the end is near. Every passing hour is one of activity in the heavenly courts to make ready a people upon the earth to act a part in the great scenes that are soon to open upon us. These passing moments, that seem of so little value to us, are weighty with eternal interests. They are molding the destiny of souls for everlasting life or eternal death. The words we utter today in the ears of the people, the works we are doing, the spirit of the message we are bearing, will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death.
上帝呼召我们要警醒,因为末日临近。每逝去的一小时,天庭都在忙碌,预备地上的一班子民,使他们能在不久将要展现在我们面前的重大场景中尽上他们的一分。那些我们以为价值不大的流逝片刻,却承载着关乎永恒的重大利害。它们正在塑造灵魂的归宿,或为永生,或至永死。我们今日在众人耳中所说的话、我们所做的工、我们所传信息的精神,都将成为由生以至生的香气,或由死以至死的气味。
“My brethren, do you realize that your own salvation, as well as the destiny of other souls, depends upon the preparation you now make for the trial before us? Have you that intensity of zeal, that piety and devotion, which will enable you to stand when opposition shall be brought against you? If God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when you will be brought before councils, and every position of truth which you hold will be severely criticized. The time that so many are now allowing to go to waste should be devoted to the charge that God has given us of preparing for the approaching crisis.” Testimonies, volume 5, 714–716.
“我的弟兄们,你们可曾意识到,你们自己的救恩以及其他灵魂的命运,都取决于你们现在为摆在我们面前的试炼所作的预备?你们是否有那种炽热的热忱,那样的虔诚与献身精神,使你们在反对临到你们时仍能站立得住?若是上帝曾借着我说话,时候将到,你们将被带到各样的议会面前;你们所持守的每一个关于真理的立场都将受到严厉的批评。许多人如今任其虚掷的时间,本应奉献出来,用于履行上帝交给我们的托付,为逼近的危机作预备。”《证言》第五卷,第714至716页。