The books of Daniel and Revelation are the same book, just as assuredly as the Old Testament and the New Testament are the same book. Just before probation closes the Revelation of Jesus Christ is unsealed.
但以理书和启示录是同一本书，这一点像旧约和新约是同一本书一样确凿无疑。就在恩典期结束之前不久，耶稣基督的启示被揭开封印。
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. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 22:10–13.
他又对我说：“不要封住这书上预言的话，因为时候近了。不义的，叫他仍旧不义；污秽的，叫他仍旧污秽；义的，叫他仍旧行义；圣洁的，叫他仍旧圣洁。看哪，我必快来；我的赏赐在我，要照各人所行的，报给各人。我是阿尔法和欧米伽，是初也是终，是首先的也是末后的。” 启示录 22:10-13
The biblical “rule of first mention,” which includes the truth that the end of a thing is illustrated by the beginning of a thing, emphasizes the significance of the first three chapters of the book of Daniel, for they are the first truth mentioned in the book that is the books of Daniel and Revelation. Jesus is Alpha and Omega, so the beginning of the book that is the books of Daniel and Revelation, must represent the truth which is unsealed at the end. At one level then, the truth which is unsealed is the everlasting gospel of the angels of Revelation fourteen.
圣经的“首次提及原则”，其中包含这样一个真理：一件事的结局由其开端所说明，因此强调《但以理书》前三章的重要性，因为它们是这本书——即《但以理书》和《启示录》——中首先被提及的真理。耶稣是阿尔法与俄梅伽，所以这本书——即《但以理书》和《启示录》——的开头，必定代表在末时被解封的真理。于是，在某一层面上，那被解封的真理就是《启示录》十四章中天使所传的永远的福音。
The Revelation of Jesus Christ that is introduced in the first verse of chapter one of Revelation, is the message that is to be conveyed to the churches when the “time is at hand,” and the time that is “at hand” in chapter one of Revelation, must be the same time that is “at hand,” just before probation closes in chapter twenty-two of Revelation.
《启示录》第一章第一节所介绍的耶稣基督的启示，就是在“时候近了”之时要传达给诸教会的信息；而《启示录》第一章所说的“时候近了”，必定与《启示录》第二十二章中、就在恩典期结束之前所说的“时候近了”是同一时间。
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 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 1:1-3.
耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。约翰便将神的道和耶稣基督的见证，凡自己所看见的，都证明出来。念这书上预言的和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都有福了；因为时候近了。启示录 1:1-3。
The message that is the final message, which is unsealed just before probation closes, when “the time is at hand,” is the latter rain message of the second angel and Midnight Cry. It is the truth connected with the “hidden history” of the Seven Thunders. It is the revelation of “the eighth being of the seven”, and the golden thread that weaves all these precious revelations together into the beautiful garment of Christ’s righteousness is the “precious” “seven times,” of Leviticus twenty-six. Daniel chapter one, and then again, Daniel chapters one through three, is that message. The “secret” of chapter two, is also that message.
那末后的信息，就是在“时候近了”、恩典期结束之前才被解封的信息，是第二位天使和半夜呼声的晚雨信息。它是与“七雷”的“隐藏历史”相连的真理。它是对“属那七个中的第八个”的启示；而把这一切宝贵启示编织在一起，成为基督义袍那美丽衣裳的那根金线，就是利未记二十六章中那“宝贵的”“七次”。但以理书第一章，以及再一次、第一至第三章，都是那信息。第二章中的“奥秘”，也同样是那信息。
Chapter one of Daniel represents the first angel’s message, and just as all the prophetic waymarks of all three angels’ messages are represented in the first angel’s message of chapter fourteen of Revelation; all the prophetic waymarks of all three messages are represented in chapter one, of Daniel. Those elements are the three-step testing process, which in Daniel chapter one, represents a dietary test, that is followed by a visual test, which leads to a litmus test. Chapter one, when considered in relation to chapters two and three, represents the dietary test, and chapter two the visual test, and chapter three the litmus test. The three angels’ messages of Revelation fourteen, and Daniel chapters one through three, provide four witnesses to the three-step testing process.
但以理书第一章代表第一位天使的信息；正如启示录第十四章第一位天使的信息中包含了三位天使所有信息的全部预言路标一样，三条信息的所有预言路标也都体现在但以理书第一章中。这些要素就是三步的试验过程：在但以理书第一章中，首先是饮食的试验，随后是视觉的试验，最后导向试金石式的试验。把第一章与第二章、第三章联系起来看，第一章代表饮食的试验，第二章代表视觉的试验，第三章代表试金石式的试验。启示录第十四章的三位天使的信息与但以理书第一至第三章，一同为这三步试验过程提供了四个见证。
Chapters four and five of Daniel represent a very profound line of prophetic history. The line produced by those two chapters, contains at least six distinct prophetic lines. One of those prophetic lines, begins in the year 723 BC, and continues through to the Sunday law. Another of the six lines represents the history of 1798, through to the Sunday law, and in that line, three lines of prophecy are simultaneously represented; the line of the earth beast (the United States), then the line of the Protestant horn and also the line of the Republican horn. Together they establish a fifth line in the beginning of the prophetic line of the United States. That line marks the unsealing of chapters seven, eight and nine of Daniel in 1798. At the ending of the prophetic line of the United States, a sixth line is produced, which marks the unsealing of chapters ten, eleven and twelve in 1989.
《但以理书》第四章和第五章代表了一条极为深刻的预言历史线。由这两章所形成的这条线，至少包含六条彼此独立的预言线。其中有一条预言线始于公元前723年，并一直延续到星期日法令。另有一条则代表从1798年一直到星期日法令的历史；在那条线中，同时呈现三条预言线：地兽（美国）的线、新教之角的线，以及共和主义之角的线。它们共同在美国这条预言线的开端确立了第五条线。那条线标志着1798年《但以理书》第七、八、九章的解封。在美国这条预言线的结尾，又产生第六条线，它标志着1989年《但以理书》第十、十一、十二章的解封。
The beginning of the prophetic line of the earth beast, as represented by Daniel chapter four, is marked by the symbol of the “seven times,” and the ending of the prophetic line of the earth beast is also marked by the symbol of the “seven times.” The beginning and ending of the period of history that is represented by the unsealing of chapters seven, eight and nine is also marked by the symbol of the “seven times.” The beginning and ending of the period of history that is represented by the unsealing of Daniel chapters ten, eleven and twelve is also marked by the “seven times.”
《但以理书》第四章所代表的地兽的预言线，其开端以“七期”的象征为标志，其终结也同样以“七期”的象征为标志。由第七、第八、第九章的解封所代表的历史时期的起点和终点，也都以“七期”的象征为标志。由《但以理理书》第十、十一、十二章的解封所代表的历史时期的起点和终点，也以“七期”为标志。
The ending of the period of history that began when Daniel chapters seven, eight and nine were unsealed at “the time of the end” in 1798, was 1863. The beginning of the period of history that began when Daniel chapters ten, eleven and twelve was unsealed at “the time of the end” was 1989. From 1863, to 1989 equates to one hundred and twenty-six years. One hundred and twenty-six years is a tenth, or a tithe, of twelve hundred and sixty years. The number one hundred and twenty-six is therefore a symbol of the twelve hundred and sixty years, that represent the “wilderness,” which in turn is a symbol of the twenty-five hundred and twenty years of the “seven times.”
1798年，在“末时”，但以理书第七、八、九章被揭开封印，由此开启的一段历史，其结束是在1863年。至于在“末时”但以理书第十、十一、十二章被揭开封印而开启的那段历史，其起点是1989年。从1863年到1989年，共一百二十六年。一百二十六年是一千二百六十年的十分之一，也就是什一。因此，“一百二十六”这个数字象征“一千二百六十年”；而“一千二百六十年”代表“旷野”，“旷野”又象征“七次”的二千五百二十年。
This reality identifies that in the history of the earth beast, in the movement of the first angel at the beginning, and then at the movement of the third angel at the ending, are both marked at their beginnings and endings with the “seven times.” And the period of time between those two movements which binds them together is also represented by the “seven times.”
这一现实指出，在地上之兽的历史中，起初第一位天使的运动，以及在结尾时第三位天使的运动，其开始与结束都以“七次”为标记。而连结这两次运动之间的那段时期也同样以“七次”来表征。
Without applying the biblical methodology of “line upon line,” this type of revelation is impossible to see and understand, for without that methodology the sealed book, could be given to one who was educated in the art of theology, and then he could be asked for an explanation of what the book that was sealed meant. His pride of opinion would lead him to point out that the sealed book cannot be understood, for it was sealed. You could then take that sealed book and give it to one of the flock that is controlled and neutered by that enlightened one, and the flock that has become comfortable dining on the theologian’s dishes of fables, would decline from making an application of the sealed book, for they know full well that only those that are members of the theological Sanhedrin have been appointed to decide what truth is.
若不运用圣经“律上加律”的方法论，这样的启示就不可能看见并明白，因为没有那种方法论，这本封着的书就可能被交给一个受过神学教育的人，然后请他解释这本封着的书是什么意思。他在见解上的骄傲会促使他指出，这本封着的书无法理解，因为它是封着的。然后你可以把那本封着的书交给那位自以为开明的人所控制并被阉割的羊群中的某一个人，而那群已经习惯于吃神学家端出的寓言菜肴的羊群，会拒绝把这本封着的书付诸应用，因为他们深知，唯有神学公会的成员才被指定来裁定什么是真理。
“‘Stay yourselves, and wonder, cry ye out, and cry; they are drunken but not with wine; they stagger; but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men delivered to one that is learned saying, read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned.’
你们暂且止步，且当惊奇；呼喊吧，呼号吧；他们醉了，却不是因酒；他们踉跄，却不是因浓酒。因为主已经将沉睡的灵浇灌在你们身上，封闭了你们的眼目；先知和你们的首领，就是先见，他都遮蔽了。你们一切的异象，对你们都如同一本封住的书上的话；人把它交给一个有学问的人，说：请读这个；他却说：我没有学问。
“‘Wherefore the Lord saith, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouths, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts afar from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work, and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potters clay; for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not, or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?’
因此主说：因为这百姓用口亲近我，用嘴唇尊敬我，心却远离我；他们对我的敬畏，不过是人的规条所教导的。所以，看哪，我要施行奇妙的作为，显出奇事，使他们智慧人的智慧必灭绝，聪明人的聪明必被隐藏。那些深藏计谋、想把他们的谋算向耶和华隐藏的人有祸了！他们的作为在黑暗里行，并且说：“谁看见我们？谁知道我们？”你们把事颠倒了！岂可把陶匠当作泥土？受造之物岂可论造他的说：“他没有造我”？成形之物岂可论塑造他的说：“他没有聪明”？
“Every word of this will be fulfilled. There are those who do not humble their hearts before God, and who will not walk uprightly. They hide their true purposes, and keep in fellowship with the fallen angel, who loveth and maketh a lie. The enemy puts spirit upon the men whom he can use to deceive those who are partially in the dark. Some are becoming imbued with the darkness that prevails, and are setting the truth aside for error. The day pointed out by prophecy is come. Jesus Christ is not understood. Jesus Christ is to them a fable. At this stage of the earth’s history, many act like drunken men. ‘Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry; they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes. The prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.’ A spiritual drunkenness is upon many who suppose they are the people who shall be exalted. Their religious faith is just as is represented in this Scripture. Under its influence, they cannot walk straight. They make crooked paths in their course of action. One and then another, they reel to and fro. They are looked upon by the Lord with great pity. The way of truth they have not known. They are scientific schemers, and those who could and should have helped, because of a clear spiritual eyesight, are themselves deceived, and are sustaining an evil work.
这话的每一句都必应验。有人不在神面前谦卑自己的心，也不肯正直行走。他们隐藏自己真正的意图，与那喜爱谎言、编造谎言的堕落的天使为伍。仇敌使一种灵临到那些他可以利用的人，好去迷惑那些半在黑暗中的人。有些人正被盛行的黑暗所浸染，把真理撇在一边而拥抱谬误。预言所指明的日子已经来到。耶稣基督并不被人明白。耶稣基督在他们看来不过是一个寓言。在地球历史的这个阶段，许多人举止如同醉汉。“你们要止步而惊奇；你们要呼喊，再呼喊；他们醉了，却不是因酒；他们摇摇晃晃，却不是因浓酒。因为主已将沉睡的灵浇灌在你们身上，闭塞了你们的眼睛；他遮盖了先知和你们的首领，就是先见。”一种属灵的醉酒临到许多自以为自己是将被高举之民的人。他们的宗教信仰正如这段经文所描绘的那样。在这种影响之下，他们无法直行；他们在所行的路上开出弯曲的路径。一个又一个地，他们东倒西歪。主怜悯地看着他们。他们不认识真理的道路。他们是自诩科学精明的谋划者；而那些本可以、也本该因属灵眼目清明而伸出援手的人，自己却受了迷惑，反而在支持一项邪恶的工作。
“The developments of these last days will soon become decided. When these spiritualistic deceptions are revealed to be what they really are,—the secret workings of evil spirits,—those who have acted a part in them will become as men who have lost their minds.
这末后日子的事态发展很快就会定局。当这些招魂术的骗局被揭露出其真实面目——乃是邪灵暗中的作为——那些参与其事的人将变得如同失去理智的人。
“‘Wherefore the Lord saith, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, who seeth us, and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay; for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it. He had no understanding?’
‘所以主说：因为这百姓用口亲近我，用嘴唇尊敬我，心却远离我；他们对我的敬畏，不过是人的训诲所教导的。所以，看哪，我要在这百姓中施行奇妙的作为，甚至奇妙又令人惊异的作为；因为他们智慧人的智慧必消灭，谨慎人的聪明必被隐藏。祸哉，那些竭力把自己的谋算向主隐藏的人！他们的作为在暗中行，并且说：谁看见我们？谁知道我们？你们把事颠倒了，竟把陶匠看作泥土；作品岂可指着造它的说：他没有造我？受造之物岂可指着塑造它的说：他毫无聪明？’
“It is presented to me that in our experience we have been and are meeting this very condition of things. Men who have had great light and wonderful privileges have taken the word of leaders who think themselves wise, who have been greatly favored and blessed by the Lord, but who have taken themselves out of the hands of God and placed themselves in the ranks of the enemy. The world is to be flooded with specious fallacies. One human mind, accepting these fallacies, will work upon other human minds, who have been turning the precious evidence of God’s truth into a lie. These men will be deceived by fallen angels, when they should have stood as faithful guardians, watching for souls, as they that must give an account. They have laid down the weapons of their warfare, and have given heed to seducing spirits. They make of no effect the counsel of God and set aside his warnings and reproofs, and are positively on Satan’s side, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
对我所显明的是，在我们的经历中，我们过去已经并且现在仍在遇到这种情形。那些曾领受大光与奇妙特权的人，听信那些自以为有智慧的领袖之言；这些领袖曾大蒙主的恩宠与赐福，却把自己从上帝的手中抽离，加入了敌营。世界将被似是而非的谬论所淹没。一个人的心思一旦接纳这些谬论，便会影响别人的心思；而那些人一直把上帝真理宝贵的证据扭曲成谎言。这些人将被堕落的天使所欺骗；他们本该像必须交账的人那样，作为忠心的守望者，为灵魂警醒看守。他们已经放下了争战的兵器，反而留心引诱人的灵。他们使上帝的劝告失去功效，搁置他的警戒和责备，分明站在撒但一边，留心那引诱人的灵和鬼魔的道理。
“Spiritual drunkenness is now upon men who ought not to be staggering as men under the influence of strong drink. Crimes and irregularities, fraud, deceit, and unfair dealing fill the world, in accordance with the teaching of the leader who rebelled in the heavenly courts.
如今，那些本不该像受烈酒影响而踉跄的人，却陷入了属灵的醉酒。罪行与种种不法乱象、诈骗、欺骗和不公不义的行径充斥着世界，合乎那位在天庭叛逆的首领的教导。
“History is to be repeated. I could specify what will be in the near future, but the time is not yet. The forms of the dead will appear, through the cunning device of Satan, and many will link up with the one who loveth and maketh a lie. I warn our people that right among us some will turn away from the faith, and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and by them the truth will be evil spoken of.” Battle Creek Letters, 123–125.
历史将重演。我本可以具体说明不久的将来会发生什么，但时候尚未到。借着撒但的诡计，死者的形象将会显现，许多人将与那喜爱并编造谎言者联合。我警告我们的百姓，就在我们中间将有人离弃真道，听从引诱人的邪灵和鬼魔的道理，以致真道就因他们的缘故被毁谤。巴特尔克里克书信，123-125。
Daniel chapter one, representing the message of the first angel of Revelation fourteen, aligns with the beginning history of the earth beast. Daniel chapters one, two and three representing the messages of all three angels in Revelation fourteen, aligns with the ending of the United States. Nebuchadnezzar represents the history of the first angel, and the first chapter of Daniel. Belshazzar represents the history of the third angel, and the first three chapters of Daniel.
但以理书第一章，代表启示录第十四章第一位天使的信息，与地兽起始的历史相一致。但以理书第一、二、三章，代表启示录第十四章三位天使的信息，与美国的终局相一致。尼布甲尼撒代表第一位天使的历史，并对应但以理书第一章。伯沙撒代表第三位天使的历史，并对应但以理书第一、二、三章。
“To the last ruler of Babylon, as in type to its first, had come the sentence of the divine Watcher: ‘O king, . . . to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.’ Daniel 4:31.” Prophets and Kings, 533.
“那位神圣的守望者的判辞已经临到巴比伦的末代君王，正如它曾以预表的方式临到其首任君王一样：‘王啊，……这话是对你说的：你的国位离开你了。’（但以理书4:31）” 《先知与君王》，第533页。
We will continue our study of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in the next article.
我们将在下一篇文章中继续我们对尼布甲尼撒和伯沙撒的研究。
“Belshazzar, awed by this representation of God’s power, showing that they had a witness, though they knew it not, had had great opportunities of knowing the works of the living God, and His power, and of doing His will. He had been privileged with much light. His grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, had been warned of his danger in forgetting God and glorifying himself. Belshazzar had a knowledge of his banishment from the society of men, and his association with the beasts of the field; and these facts, which ought to have been a lesson to him, he disregarded, as if they had never occurred; and he went on repeating the sins of his grandfather. He dared to commit the crimes which brought God’s judgments upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was condemned, not alone that he himself was doing wickedly, but that he had not availed himself of opportunities and capabilities, if cultivated, of being right.” Testimonies to Ministers, 436.
伯沙撒因这一次上帝权能的显现而心生敬畏；这说明他们虽然自己不知，却有见证人在场。他原本有大好机会可以认识永生上帝的作为和祂的大能，并遵行祂的旨意。他曾蒙赐许多亮光。他的祖父尼布甲尼撒曾因忘记上帝并荣耀自己之危险而受过警告。伯沙撒知道尼布甲尼撒曾被逐离人群，与田野的走兽为伴；然而这些本应成为他教训的事实，他却置若罔闻，仿佛从未发生；他仍继续重复他祖父的罪行。他竟敢犯下那些曾使上帝的审判临到尼布甲尼撒的罪行。他被定罪，不仅因为他自己作恶，还因为他没有善用那些若加以培养便可使他行在正道上的机遇与能力。给教牧人员的证言，436。