We are considering the prophetic period represented as the second gathering that is identified by the prophet Isaiah, and afterward by Sister White.
我们正在考察被称为“第二次聚集”的预言时期，这一称谓先由先知以赛亚指出，后来又由怀特姊妹确认。
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. Isaiah 11:10–13.
到那日，耶西的根要兴起，立作万民的旗号；外邦人必寻求他，他安息之所必大有荣耀。到那日，主必再一次伸手，第二次拯回他百姓中所余剩的人，就是那些留在亚述、埃及、巴忒罗、古实、以拦、示拿、哈马，以及众海岛的人。他必为列国竖立旗号，招聚以色列被逐的人，又从地的四方聚集分散的犹大人。以法莲的嫉妒必消散，犹大的敌人必被剪除；以法莲不再嫉妒犹大，犹大也不再扰害以法莲。以赛亚书 11:10-13。
When God’s last-day people are gathered a second time there is a unification among those disciples that was represented by the ten days that preceded Pentecost, and that Isaiah refers to as a time when, “The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.”
当上帝末世的子民再一次被招聚时，门徒之间会达成合一；这种合一由五旬节前的十天所象征，正如以赛亚所说，那将是这样的时候：“以法莲的嫉妒也必消散，犹大的仇敌必被剪除；以法莲不再嫉妒犹大，犹大也不再扰害以法莲。”
“Trials are to come upon God’s people and the tares are to be separated from the wheat. But let not Ephraim envy Judah any more, and Judah will no more vex Ephraim. Kind, tender, compassionate words will flow out from sanctified hearts and lips. It is essential that we be united, and if we all seek the meekness and the lowliness of Christ, we shall have the mind of Christ, and there will be unity of spirit.” Review and Herald, March 19, 1895.
试炼要临到神的子民，稗子要与麦子分开。但以法莲不再嫉妒犹大，犹大也不再害以法莲。慈爱、温柔、怜悯的话语将从成圣的心灵与口唇流露出来。我们务要合一；若我们都寻求基督的温柔和谦卑，我们就必有基督的心思意念，并且灵里就会合一。Review and Herald，1895年3月19日。
Unification is an element of the work Christ accomplishes when He gathers the one hundred and forty-four thousand a second time. That unity was represented by the ten days leading to Pentecost, and the six days of the Exeter camp meeting, and could have been accomplished from 1856 unto 1863, if those who had experienced the great disappointment of October 22, 1844, had not lost their way.
当基督第二次聚集那十四万四千人时，合一是祂所成就之工的一个要素。那种合一由五旬节前的十天和埃克塞特营会的六天所象征；如果那些在1844年10月22日经历大失望的人没有迷失方向，它本可以在1856年至1863年间得以实现。
“But in the period of doubt and uncertainty that followed the disappointment, many of the advent believers yielded their faith. Dissensions and divisions came in. . .. Thus the work was hindered, and the world was left in darkness. Had the whole Adventist body united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, how widely different would have been our history!
然而，在那场失望之后随之而来的怀疑与不确定时期，许多复临信徒放弃了他们的信心。纷争与分裂随之而来……于是这项工作受阻，世界被留在黑暗之中。倘若复临信徒全体都在上帝的诫命和耶稣的信心上合一，我们的历史将会何等大不相同！
“It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander forty years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land of Canaan, and establish them there a holy, healthy, happy people. But those to whom it was first preached, went not in ‘because of unbelief’ (Hebrews 3:19). Their hearts were filled with murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and He could not fulfill His covenant with them.
基督的降临如此延迟，并非出于神的旨意。神并未打算让祂的子民以色列人在旷野漂流四十年。祂曾应许要直接引领他们进入迦南地，并在那里使他们成为圣洁、健康、幸福的子民。然而，那些起初听见的人，却因“不信”而不能进去（希伯来书3:19）。他们的心充满了怨言、悖逆和仇恨，因此祂无法履行与他们所立的约。
“For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years.” Selected Messages, book 1, 68, 69.
“正是由于不信、埋怨和悖逆，古代以色列被挡在迦南地之外达四十年之久。同样的罪也延缓了现代以色列进入天上的迦南。在这两种情况下，错不在上帝的应许。使我们在这罪恶与忧伤的世界滞留了这么多年的，乃是那些自称属于主的子民当中的不信、世俗、缺乏奉献和纷争。” 《精选信息》第一册，第68、69页。
The descent of the second angel identified a scattering at the first disappointment that initiated the tarrying time, and then led to a period of six days at the Exeter camp meeting where unity upon the message was accomplished in advance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the message of the Midnight Cry at the conclusion of the meeting.
第二位天使的降临指出在第一次失望时发生的分散，这次失望开启了等候时期；随后又引向埃克塞特露营大会上为期六天的一段时间，在那里，众人就在这信息上达成了合一，此事先于大会结束时借着午夜呼声信息而来的圣灵的浇灌。
The descent of the third angel on October 22, 1844, identified a scattering at the great disappointment, and ushered in a period of education as the truths associated with the Most Holy Place were opened to God’s people. By 1849 the Lord was stretching His hand to gather his people together a second time, and by 1851, the 1850 chart was being presented. That chart represented the foundational message, and the very message that was to be lifted up before the world as an ensign.
1844年10月22日，第三位天使的降临标示出“大失望”时期的分散，并随着与至圣所有关的真理向上帝的子民开启，而引入了一个教育时期。到1849年，主伸出祂的手第二次聚集祂的子民；到1851年，1850年图表开始被展示。那张图表代表了根基性的信息，也就是要在全世界面前被高举为旌旗的信息。
The gathering a second time of the disciples by Christ began immediately at His descent, and the gathering of those in Exeter began during the period of the tarrying time. In the history of the rebellion of 1863, the gathering a second time began at least five years into the educational process that began when the light of the sanctuary was opened up in 1844. In 1848, Islam was then angering the nations. The second gathering is represented as a progressive work that is accomplished by the arrival of the ten days that preceded Pentecost, and also by the six days of the Exeter camp meeting, and should have been completed by 1856.
基督第二次聚集门徒在他降临之时便立即开始，而埃克塞特之人的聚集则始于等候时期。在1863年叛逆的历史中，第二次聚集至少是在那一教育进程开始后的五年才开始；该进程始于1844年，当圣所之光被开启之时。1848年，伊斯兰正在激怒列国。第二次的聚集被表述为一项渐进的工作，它随着五旬节之前十天的到来以及埃克塞特营会的六天而得以成就，并且到1856年就应该完成。
The work of gathering His people a second time is the closing work of the third angel, and it is accomplished by Christ’s hand.
第二次聚集祂子民的工作是第三位天使的收尾工作，并由基督亲手成就。
And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Mark 6:2.
安息日到了，他在会堂里开始教导；许多人听见，就都惊讶，说：这人这些事是从哪里来的？赐给他的是什么智慧，竟使这样的大能作为由他的手行出来？马可福音 6:2。
The scattering that occurs when the divine symbol descends initiates a testing process that ultimately manifests two classes of worshippers, and in so doing cleanses the temple.
当神圣的象征降临时所发生的分散，开启了一个试炼过程，最终使敬拜者分为两类，从而洁净了圣殿。
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 3:12.
他手里拿着簸箕，要彻底清理他的打谷场，把他的麦子收进仓里；至于糠秕，他要用不灭的火烧尽。马太福音3:12。
In that period God’s people are to take the message from the angel’s hand and eat it.
在那段时期，神的子民要从天使手中取过那信息，并把它吃下去。
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth. Revelation 10:1, 2.
我又看见另一位大能的天使从天上降下，身披云彩，头上有一道彩虹，脸仿佛太阳，双脚如火柱。他手里拿着一本展开的小书卷；他把右脚踏在海上，左脚踏在地上。启示录 10:1-2
At the arrival of the second angel on April 19, 1844, God’s people were scattered. They had been initially gathered with the fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation chapter nine, verse fifteen on August 11, 1840, but the Lord had held His hand over a mistake in the reckoning of some of the figures on the chart.
1844年4月19日第二位天使来临之时，上帝的子民分散了。他们起初因1840年8月11日《启示录》第九章第十五节的预言应验而聚集起来，但主曾遮盖了图表上某些数字推算中的一个错误。
“I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until His hand was removed.” Early Writings, 74.
“我已看见，1843年的图表乃是由主的手所指引，不可加以更改；其中的数字正如祂所要的那样；祂的手覆庇其上，并将其中某些数字里的一个错误隐藏起来，使人都不能看见，直到祂的手挪开为止。”《早期著作》，第74页。
The removal of His hand allowed Samuel Snow to identify the correct date for the vision that tarried.
祂收回了手，使塞缪尔·斯诺得以确定那迟延之异象的正确日期。
“Those faithful, disappointed ones, who could not understand why their Lord did not come, were not left in darkness. Again they were led to their Bibles to search the prophetic periods. The hand of the Lord was removed from the figures, and the mistake was explained. They saw that the prophetic periods reached to 1844, and that the same evidence which they had presented to show that the prophetic periods closed in 1843, proved that they would terminate in 1844.” Early Writings, 237.
那些忠心而失望的人们，虽然不明白他们的主为何没有来，却没有被留在黑暗中。他们再次被引导回到他们的《圣经》，去查考预言的时期。主的手从这些数字上移开了，错误也得到解释。他们看出，预言的时期一直延至1844年，而他们曾用来证明预言时期在1843年结束的同样证据，反而证实这些时期将于1844年终止。《早期著作》，第237页
The history of the first and second angels contains a line of waymarks associated with Christ’s hand. When He descended on August 11, 1840 and April 19, 1844 He had a message in His hand. It was His hand that directed the production and publication of the 1843 chart in May of 1842. It was His hand that sealed up a mistake in the figures on the chart. After the scattering of that first disappointment, Jeremiah sat alone because of Christ’s hand. Then He removed His hand, and thus unsealed the message of the Midnight Cry. The act of stretching His hand out to gather His people a second time occurred from the first disappointment unto the Exeter camp meeting, as the disciples were ultimately gathered together at Jerusalem for ten days in advance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At the arrival of the third angel on October 22, 1844 the Lord lifted up His hand.
第一位和第二位天使的历史，包含一系列与基督之手相关的路标。当祂在1840年8月11日和1844年4月19日降临时，祂手中带着信息。1842年5月，正是祂的手指引了1843年图表的制作与出版；也是祂的手封住了图表上数字中的一个错误。在那第一次失望后的分散期间，耶利米因着基督的手而独自坐着。随后祂挪开了祂的手，于是午夜呼声的信息得以解封。祂伸手第二次招聚祂的子民这一举动，发生在第一次失望到埃克塞特营会之间，正如门徒在圣灵浇灌之前预先在耶路撒冷一同聚集了十日。到了1844年10月22日第三位天使到来之时，主举起了祂的手。
And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. Revelation 10:5, 6.
我所看见那站在海上和地上的天使，向天举起手来，指着那活到永永远远、创造天和天上之物、地和地上之物、海和海中之物的起誓说，不再有时日了。启示录 10:5, 6.
From the first gathering on August 11, 1840 until October 22, 1844 the history of the first and second angels is marked by Christ’s hand. On October 22, 1844 the third angel descended and the little Millerite flock was scattered by the Great Disappointment. On that date Christ lifted His hand to heaven and swore that time would be no longer.
从1840年8月11日的首次聚会起，直到1844年10月22日，第一位与第二位天使的历史都由基督亲手标注。1844年10月22日，第三位天使降临，米勒派的小羊群因“大失望”而四散。那一天，基督举手向天起誓，时间将不再有。
The second gathering in the history of 1844 until 1863, began with Christ lifting up His hand, while also holding a message to be eaten in His hand. Then in 1849, He stretched forth His hand a second time to gather His scattered people. Those people had been gathered at the message of the Midnight Cry, and scattered when the event predicted did not happen. At the Exeter camp meeting Christ gathered His flock and unified them upon the message, as He had done in the ten days that preceded Pentecost. The Philadelphian Millerites left the Exeter camp meeting and repeated Pentecost. In 1856, Christ was outside of the movement that had transitioned into Laodicea, for Christ stands outside of a Laodicean’s heart and knocks, seeking an entrance.
1844年至1863年的历史中的第二次聚集，始于基督举起祂的手，同时祂手里拿着一则要吃的信息。随后在1849年，祂第二次伸出祂的手，要聚集祂分散的子民。这些人曾因“午夜呼声”的信息而被聚集，但当所预言的事件没有发生时，他们又被分散了。在埃克塞特营会上，基督聚集了祂的羊群，并使他们在这信息上合一，正如祂在五旬节前的那十天所做的一样。非拉铁非时期的米勒派信徒离开了埃克塞特营会，重演了五旬节。到了1856年，那个运动已转入老底嘉阶段，基督则在其外面；因为基督站在老底嘉人的心门外叩门，寻求进入。
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20.
看哪，我站在门口叩门；若有人听见我的声音并开门，我必进到他那里去，与他一同吃饭，他也与我一同吃饭。启示录 3:20
In 1856, Christ’s hand was knocking upon the Laodicean Millerite movement, but to no avail. In 1849, seven years earlier, He had begun to gather His people a second time, but doubt and uncertainty stopped the Philadelphian movement.
1856年，基督的手正向老底嘉的米勒派运动叩门，却徒劳无功。1849年，也就是七年前，他已开始第二次聚集他的子民，但怀疑与不确定使非拉铁非运动受阻。
“Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. But in the period of doubt and uncertainty that followed the disappointment, many of the advent believers yielded their faith. . . . Thus the work was hindered, and the world was left in darkness. Had the whole Adventist body united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, how widely different would have been our history!” Evangelism, 695.
如果复临信徒在1844年的大失望之后，坚定地持守他们的信心，并在上帝不断展开的护理中同心前行，接受第三位天使的信息，且靠着圣灵的能力向全世界宣扬，他们就会看见上帝的拯救；主也必大有能力地与他们同工，这工早已完成，基督也早已来到，接祂的子民去领受他们的赏赐。然而，在失望之后随之而来的怀疑与不确定时期，许多复临信徒放弃了他们的信心……于是这项工作受了阻碍，世界也被留在黑暗之中。倘若整个复临团体在上帝的诫命和耶稣的信心上合而为一，我们的历史将会何等截然不同！《布道论》，第695页。
On September 11, 2001 Christ gathered His last day people, who were thereafter scattered on July 18, 2020. On September 11, 2001 those who were gathered took the hidden book out of Christ’s hand and ate it. On July 18, 2020 they rejected the command represented by His uplifted hand, which identified that “time would be no longer.”
2001年9月11日，基督聚集了祂末日的子民；他们随后于2020年7月18日被分散。2001年9月11日，那些被聚集的人从基督的手中取出那本隐藏的书并吃了它。2020年7月18日，他们拒绝了祂举起的手所代表的命令，该命令指出“将不再有时间”。
The Philadelphian Millerites manifested no rebellion in their false prediction of 1843, for they acted upon all the light the Lord had revealed, but on July 18, 2020 the Laodiceans of the third angel’s movement rebelled against the light associated with His hand. After 1844, the Philadelphian movement of the first angel “in the period of doubt and uncertainty” “yielded their faith,” and became Laodiceans.
腓拉铁非时期的米勒派信徒在他们1843年的错误预言上并没有悖逆，因为他们是按着主所启示的一切亮光而行；但在2020年7月18日，第三天使运动中的老底嘉人却悖逆了与祂手有关的亮光。1844年之后，第一位天使的腓拉铁非运动在“疑惑与不确定的时期”“放弃了他们的信心”，并成为老底嘉人。
1856 represents that point of transition, typifying a point of transition for God’s people of the last days.
1856象征那个过渡点，预表末后的日子里上帝子民的一个过渡点。
Somewhere in the seven years between 1849 and 1856 the Philadelphian Millerite movement resisted the Lord’s hand that was stretching out to gather His people a second time, and the promise was that He would do more then, than He did in the past.
在1849年至1856年这七年间的某个时候，费城的米勒派运动抵挡了主那正伸出、要第二次聚集祂子民的手，而应许是：那时祂所做的将比从前更多。
“September 23d, the Lord showed me that he had stretched out his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people, and that efforts must be redoubled in this gathering time. In the scattering time Israel was smitten and torn; but now in the gathering time God will heal and bind up his people. In the scattering, efforts made to spread the truth had but little effect, accomplished but little or nothing; but in the gathering when God has set his hand to gather his people, efforts to spread the truth will have their designed effect. All should be united and zealous in the work. I saw that it was a shame for any to refer to the scattering for examples to govern us now in the gathering; for if God does no more for us now than he did then, Israel would never be gathered. It is as necessary that the truth should be published in a paper, as preached.” Review and Herald, November 1, 1850.
9月23日，主指示我，他已第二次伸出手来，要挽回他子民中的余民，并且在这聚集的时期必须加倍努力。在分散的时候，以色列被击打、被撕裂；但如今在聚集的时候，神要医治并缠裹他的子民。在分散之时，为传播真理所作的努力收效甚微，所成就的极少甚至几乎没有；但在聚集之时，当神已伸手要聚集他的子民，传播真理的努力将达到其预期的效果。众人都应在这工上同心合意，热心投入。我看见，如今处在聚集之时，却有人拿分散时期的事例来作为规范，是可耻的；因为若神如今为我们所做的不比那时更多，以色列就永不会被聚集。真理被刊登在报刊上，与被传讲一样必要。——《评论与先驱》，1850年11月1日。
Obviously, the Lord attempted to move His work forward in unity, but the unity had evidently broken down, and “in the period of doubt and uncertainty that followed the disappointment, many of the advent believers yielded their faith.” The Present Truth (later the Review and Herald) began to be published in 1849, and by 1851 the 1850 chart was available, but by 1856, the message of the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six was left unfinished. The message that was unsealed on October 22, 1844 occurred when the time prophecies of the twenty-three hundred years and the twenty-five hundred and twenty years concluded.
显然，主曾试图在合一中推进祂的工作，但这种合一显然已经破裂，而且“在失望之后随之而来的疑惑与不确定时期，许多再临信徒放弃了他们的信心。”《现今真理》（后来为《评论与先驱》）于1849年开始出版，至1851年时，1850年的图表已问世；但到了1856年，关于利未记二十六章“七个时期”的信息却被搁置未竟。1844年10月22日被启封的信息，是在二千三百年与二千五百二十年的时间预言结束之时发生的。
The Sabbath was the doctrine that shone above the other doctrines at that time, and for twelve years a testing process progressed until the last test arrived in 1856. That test was upon the Sabbath rest for the land, and it marked the end of a testing process that began with the Sabbath rest for men. The testing period bore the signature of Alpha and Omega. 1856 also represented an increase of knowledge upon the first foundational truth discovered by Miller, so it possessed the signature of Alpha and Omega at that level as well. The Sabbath truth being the sign of God’s sanctified people was represented as the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet, when the mystery of Christ in the believer, the hope of glory is fulfilled. The “seven times” was represented by the Jubilee Trumpet that was to be sounded on the Day of Atonement.
当时，安息日这项教义在众多教义中最为耀眼，为期十二年的考验过程持续推进，直到1856年最后的考验来到。那次考验是关于土地的安息，并标志着以人的安息日为起点的考验过程的结束。这个考验时期带有阿尔法和俄梅伽的印记。1856年也意味着关于米勒所发现的第一项根基性真理之知识有所增长，因此在那个层面上它同样带有阿尔法和俄梅伽的印记。安息日的真理作为神所成圣子民的记号，被象征为第七号的吹响；那时，“基督在信徒里面”的奥秘——荣耀的盼望——得以成就。“七次”则被表示为在赎罪日要吹响的禧年号角。
The seven years from 1856 unto 1863 represented the ten days in Jerusalem for the disciples, and the six days of the Exeter camp meeting for the Philadelphian Millerites, but, sadly, the period became the illustration of those who refuse to follow the Lord as He leads them through the transition period. The history of the first and second angels, which is the historical period of the Seven Thunders, identifies the Lord stretching His hand to gather His people a second time from April 19, 1844, and it illustrates an obedient response as the wise followed Christ into the Most Holy Place.
从1856年直到1863年的七年，象征门徒在耶路撒冷的十天，以及非拉铁非时期米勒派信徒在埃克塞特营会的六天；但可悲的是，这一时期却成了那些在主引领他们度过过渡时期时拒绝跟随之人的写照。第一与第二位天使的历史，也就是七雷的历史时期，表明自1844年4月19日起，主伸出祂的手第二次招聚祂的子民，并且它也展现了顺服的回应：智慧人跟随基督进入至圣所。
The history of the first Kadesh, which is the history of the third angel from 1844 unto 1863 identifies the Lord again stretching His hand to gather His people a second time, but in that history, rebellion is manifested. Now, for the third time, ever since July 2023, the Lord is again stretching forth His hand to gather His people a second time, and they will fulfill the second Kadesh as obedient Philadelphians, for the signature of truth identifies the three times as the beginning and ending representing obedient Philadelphians, and the middle example being disobedient Laodiceans.
第一次加低斯的历史，也就是从1844年直到1863年的第三位天使的历史，表明主再次伸出祂的手，第二次聚集祂的子民，但在那段历史中，悖逆显明出来。如今，自2023年7月以来，主第三次伸出祂的手，要第二次聚集祂的子民，他们将作为顺服的非拉铁非人，成就第二次加低斯，因为真理的印证把这三次指认为：起头与末尾代表顺服的非拉铁非人，而中间的例子是不顺服的老底嘉人。
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。
“Will the churches heed the Laodicean message? Will they repent, or will they, notwithstanding that the most solemn message of truth—the third angel’s message—is being proclaimed to the world, go on in sin? This is the last message of mercy, the last warning to a fallen world. If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God. Only those that are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him and keep His commandments.
教会会听从老底嘉的信息吗？他们会悔改呢，还是尽管那最庄严的真理信息——第三位天使的信息——正向全世界宣告，他们仍要在罪中前行？这是最后的怜悯信息，是给这堕落世界的最后警告。若上帝的教会变得不冷不热，它在上帝面前就不比那些被描绘为已经堕落、成了鬼魔的住处、各样污秽之灵的巢穴、并各样污秽可憎之鸟的巢穴的教会更蒙悦纳。那些曾有机会听见并接受真理、并与基督复临安息日会联合、自称为遵守上帝诫命的子民，却没有比名义上的教会有更多活力和对上帝的奉献的人，将同样确实领受上帝的灾殃，如同那些反对上帝律法的教会一样。唯有借着真理成圣的人，才会在基督为爱他并遵守他诫命的人所预备的天上住处中，构成那王室的家族。
“‘He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him’ [1 John 2:4]. This includes all who claim to have a knowledge of God, and to keep His commandments, but who do not manifest this by good works. They will receive according to their deeds. ‘Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him’ [1 John 3:6]. This is addressed to all church members, including the members of the Seventh-day Adventist churches. ‘Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother’ [1 John 3:7–10].
“凡说‘我认识祂’，却不遵守祂的诫命的，便是说谎的，真理也不在他里面。”[约翰一书 2:4] 这话包括一切自称认识上帝、并声称遵守祂诫命，却不以善行显明这一点的人。 他们将按着自己的行为受报。 “凡住在祂里面的，就不犯罪；凡犯罪的，是未曾看见祂，也未曾认识祂。”[约翰一书 3:6] 这话是对所有教会成员说的，也包括基督复临安息日会的成员。 “小子们哪，不要让人迷惑你们：行义的才是义人，正如祂是义的一样。犯罪的是属魔鬼的，因为魔鬼从起初就犯罪。为此，上帝的儿子显现出来，为要毁灭魔鬼的作为。凡从上帝生的，就不犯罪，因为祂的种住在他里面；他也不能犯罪，因为他是由上帝所生的。由此，上帝的儿女和魔鬼的儿女就显明出来：凡不行义的，就不属上帝；不爱弟兄的也不属上帝。”[约翰一书 3:7-10]
“All who claim to be Sabbath-keeping Adventists, and yet continue in sin, are liars in God’s sight. Their sinful course is counterworking the work of God. They are leading others into sin. The word comes from God to every member of our churches, ‘And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears’ [Hebrews 12:13–17].
凡自称为守安息日的复临信徒，却仍旧犯罪的人，在上帝眼中都是说谎的。他们罪恶的行径正在抵挡上帝的工作。他们正引导他人犯罪。上帝的话临到我们各教会的每一位成员：‘你们要为自己的脚把道路修直，免得那瘸腿的偏离正路，反要使它得医治。要追求与众人和睦，并要追求圣洁；若不圣洁，就没有人能见主。你们要谨慎，免得有人失落上帝的恩典；又恐怕有苦毒的根生出来扰乱你们，因此叫许多人被污秽；又恐怕有淫乱的，或如以扫那样不敬虔的，他为了一点食物便把长子的名分卖了。你们知道，他后来想要承受那祝福，却被弃绝；虽然流泪殷切地寻求，却找不着悔改的机会。’[希伯来书 12:13-17]
“This is applicable to many who claim to believe the truth. Rather than give up their lustful practices, they venture on in a wrong line of education under Satan’s deceiving sophistry. Sin is not discerned as sinful. Their very consciences are defiled, their hearts are corrupted, even the thoughts are continually corrupt. Satan uses them as decoys to lure souls to unclean practices which defile the whole being. ‘He that despised Moses’ law [which was the law of God] died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’ [Hebrews 10:28–31].” Manuscript Releases, volume 19, 176, 177.
这适用于许多自称相信真理的人。与其放弃纵欲的行径，他们在撒但迷惑人的诡辩之下，仍大胆沿着错误的教育道路前行。他们不把罪当作罪。连他们的良心都被玷污，心灵败坏，甚至心思意念也不断败坏。撒但把他们当作诱饵，引诱人的灵魂去行污秽之事，从而玷污整个人。“那轻视摩西的律法[即神的律法]的，凭两三个见证人的见证，都不蒙怜恤而死；你们想，那践踏神儿子、将那使他成圣之约的血当作不洁之物，并且亵慢施恩的灵的人，岂不更该受更重的刑罚吗？因为我们知道那位曾说：‘伸冤在我，我必报应’的主；又说：‘主要审判他的百姓。’落在永生神的手里，真是可怕的。”[希伯来书 10:28-31]。《手稿发布》，第19卷，第176、177页。