The Millerite movement was represented in Isaiah chapter seven by a sixty-five year prophecy, that began in 742 BC. Those sixty-five years that took place in the history of Isaiah represent the sixty-five years from 1798 until 1863. Alpha and Omega will always portray the end, with the beginning. The sixty-five year prophecy identifies the curse of seven times against the northern and the southern kingdoms of Israel. The first seven times against the northern kingdom began in 723 BC, nineteen years after Isaiah presented the prediction to king Ahaz. The last seven times against the southern kingdom, began at the end of the sixty-five years in 677 BC.

米勒派运动在以赛亚书第七章中,被一个始于公元前742年的、为期六十五年的预言所代表。以赛亚时期发生的那六十五年,代表1798年至1863年的六十五年。阿尔法和俄梅伽总是用起初来描绘结局。这项六十五年的预言指明了临到以色列北国和南国的“七次”咒诅。针对北国的第一次“七次”始于公元前723年,那是在以赛亚向亚哈斯王提出这项预言之后十九年。针对南国的最后一次“七次”,始于这六十五年结束之时,即公元前677年。

The first curse of seven times against Ephraim ended in 1798, which was the time of the end when the vision of the Ulai River of chapters eight and nine of Daniel was unsealed. It prophetically marked both the arrival of the first angel’s message and the prophetic beginning of the Millerite movement. The last curse of seven times against Judah ended in 1844, which was the arrival of the third angel’s message. Nineteen years later in 1863, the sixty-five years represented in the beginning of the prediction marked the end of the Millerite movement, and the beginning of the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church. Seven years prior to 1863, in 1856, James White began to identify that the Millerite movement had ceased to be the church of Philadelphia and had become the church of Laodicea. His grandson, when writing Ellen White’s biography, writes about the history of 1856, and the Laodicean message.

针对以法莲的第一次“七次的咒诅”在1798年结束,那时正是末时,也就是但以理书第八、九章中乌莱河异象被开启之时。它在预言上既标志着第一位天使信息的到来,也标志着米勒派运动的预言性开端。针对犹大的最后一次“七次的咒诅”在1844年结束,也就是第三位天使信息的到来。十九年后的1863年,预言开端所提到的六十五年期届满,标志着米勒派运动的结束,并标志着老底嘉的基督复临安息日会的开始。早在1863年前七年,即1856年,怀雅各就开始指出,米勒派运动已不再是非拉铁非教会,而成了老底嘉教会。他的孙子在撰写怀爱伦的传记时,记述了1856年的历史以及老底嘉的信息。

“The Laodicean Message

老底嘉的信息

“The Sabbathkeeping Adventists had taken the position that the messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 pictured the experience of the Christian church down through the centuries. It was their conclusion that the message to the Laodicean church applied to those they now termed nominal Adventists, those who had not accepted the seventh-day Sabbath. In a short editorial in the Review of October 9, James White raised some thought provoking questions that he introduced by stating:

守安息日的复临派信徒认为,《启示录》第二章和第三章致七个教会的信息,描绘了基督教会历代以来的经历。他们得出的结论是,给老底嘉教会的信息适用于他们现在称为“名义上的复临信徒”的人,即那些尚未接受第七日安息日的人。在10月9日《评论》上的一篇短社论中,詹姆斯·怀特提出了一些发人深省的问题,并以如下陈述引出:

“The inquiry is beginning to come up afresh, ‘Watchman, What of the night?’ At present there is space for only a few questions, asked to call attention to the subject to which they relate. A full answer, we trust, will soon be given.—Review and Herald, Oct. 9, 1856.

这个询问又被重新提出:“守望者啊,夜里如何?”目前篇幅所限,只能提出几个问题,以引起人们对其所涉主题的注意。我们相信,很快就会给出完整的答复。——《评论与先驱报》,1856年10月9日

“Of the eleven questions he asked, it is the sixth that zeroed in on the Laodiceans.

在他提出的十一个问题中,直指老底嘉人的是第六个问题。

“6. Does not the state of the Laodiceans (lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot) fitly illustrate the condition of the body of those who profess the third angel’s message?—Ibid.

6. 老底嘉人的光景(温吞,不冷也不热)岂不正好说明自称信奉第三位天使信息者的整体状况吗?——同上

“The last question lays the matter open:

最后一个问题把事情挑明了:

“11. If this be our condition as a people, have we any real grounds to hope for the favor of God unless we heed the ‘counsel’ of the True Witness? I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:18–21.—Ibid.

11. 若我们作为一个群体的光景真是如此,除非我们听从那位'真见证者'的'劝告',我们还有什么真实的根据可以盼望蒙上帝的恩惠呢?我劝你向我买在火中炼过的金子,使你可以富足;又买白衣穿上,使你赤身的羞耻不显出来;又用眼药抹你的眼睛,使你能看见。凡我所爱的,我就责备管教;所以你要发热心,也要悔改。看哪,我站在门外叩门:若有听见我声音就开门的,我要进到他那里去,我与他、他与我一同坐席。得胜的,我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐,正如我得了胜,在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般。启示录3:18-21。-同上。

“It is clear that the truth of the matter was just dawning on the mind of James White. The next issue of the Review carried a seven-column presentation of the seven churches, under that title. In his opening remarks he declared:

很明显,詹姆斯·怀特这才开始意识到事情的真相。下一期的《Review》以“七个教会”为题刊登了一篇长达七栏的论述。在他的开篇语中,他宣称:

“We must agree with some modern expositors that these seven churches should be understood as representing seven conditions of the Christian church, in seven periods of time, covering the ground of the entire Christian age.—Ibid., Oct. 16, 1856.

我们必须同意一些现代解经家的看法:这七个教会应当被理解为在七个时期中代表基督教会的七种状况,涵盖整个基督教时代。——同上,1856年10月16日。

“He then took up the prophecy, dealing with each church separately. Coming to the seventh, the Laodicean, he declared:

他随后开始讲解这预言,逐一论及各教会。说到第七个,也就是老底嘉教会时,他宣称:

“How humbling to us as a people is the sad description of this church. And is not this dreadful description a most perfect picture of our present condition? It is; and it will be of no use to try to evade the force of this searching testimony to the Laodicean church. The Lord help us to receive it, and to profit by it.—Ibid.

这对这间教会的悲哀描述,何等使我们这个群体谦卑。而这可怕的描述,不正是我们目前状况最准确的写照吗?确是如此;并且,试图逃避这番针对老底嘉教会、严厉而透彻的见证的力量,都是徒劳的。愿主帮助我们领受它,并从中得益处。——同上

“After he devoted two columns to the Laodicean church, his closing remarks made a strong appeal:

在他用两栏篇幅论及老底嘉教会之后,他的结语发出了强有力的呼吁:

“Dear brethren, we must overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, or we shall have no part in the kingdom of God. . . . Lay hold of this work at once, and in faith claim the gracious promises to the repenting Laodiceans. Arise in the name of the Lord, and let your light shine to the glory of His blessed name.—Ibid.

亲爱的弟兄们,我们必须胜过世界、肉体和魔鬼,否则我们就无分于神的国。……立刻着手这工,并凭信心领受神向悔改的老底嘉人所赐的恩典应许。奉主的名起来,使你们的光照耀,归荣耀于祂的圣名。——同上

“The response from the field was electrifying. Wrote G. W. Holt from Ohio on October 20:

来自一线的反响令人振奋。10月20日,来自俄亥俄州的G. W. Holt写道:

“Yes, I do believe that we who are in the third message with the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are the church this language is addressed to; and we cannot be too soon in applying for tried gold and white raiment, and eyesalve, that we may see.—Ibid., Nov. 6, 1856.

是的,我的确相信,我们这些在第三条信息中,遵守神的诫命并有耶稣信心的人,就是这番话所针对的教会;而且我们应当尽快求那经火炼成的金子、白衣和眼药膏,好使我们能看见。——同上,1856年11月6日。

“From the Northeast a new voice was heard on the subject, that of Stephen N. Haskell, of Princeton, Massachusetts. As a first-day Adventist he had begun to preach at the age of 20; now three years later he was in the third angel’s message. A thorough Bible student, after having seen White’s brief initial editorial introducing the question of the seven churches, he chose to write an extended piece for the Review:

在这一主题上,来自东北部传来了一个新的声音——来自马萨诸塞州普林斯顿的斯蒂芬·N·哈斯克尔。作为一名第一日复临派信徒,他在20岁时就开始传道;如今三年之后,他已接受第三位天使的信息。作为一位扎实的圣经研读者,在看到怀特为引介七个教会问题而写的简短首篇社论之后,他决定为《评论》撰写一篇长文:

“The subject referred to has been one of deep interest to me for some months past. . . . I have for some time been led to believe that the message to the Laodiceans belongs to us; i.e., to those who believe in the third angel’s message, from many reasons which I consider to be good. I will mention two.—Ibid.

所提及的主题在过去几个月里一直令我深感兴趣……有一段时间以来,我被引导相信,给老底嘉人的信息是属于我们的;即属于那些相信第三位天使信息的人,这是基于许多我认为充分的理由。我将提两点。——同上。

“This he does, devoting two columns to his conclusions. As he closed he declared:

他确实这么做了,并为他的结论专门用上了两栏篇幅。在结束时,他宣称:

“A theory of the third angel’s message never, no never, will save us, without the wedding garment, which is the righteousness of the saints. We must perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.—Ibid.

仅有第三位天使信息的理论,若没有婚筵的礼服——就是圣徒的义——决不能,断不能救我们。我们必须在敬畏主中,使圣洁得以完全。——同上

“As James White continued his editorials on the message to the Laodicean church the concepts the Sabbathkeeping Adventists were now reading in the Review were startling, but on thoughtful, prayerful consideration they were seen to be applicable. The letters to the editor showed quite general agreement and indicated that a revival was under way. That the stirring message was not the outgrowth of excitement was attested to by the first article in Testimony No. 3, published in April, 1857, titled Be Zealous and Repent. It opens, “The Lord has shown me in vision some things concerning the church in its present lukewarm state, which I will relate to you.”—1T, p. 141. In this Ellen White presented what was shown to her of Satan’s attacks on the church through earthly prosperity and possessions.” Arthur White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, volume 1, 342–344.

当詹姆斯·怀特继续撰写有关给老底嘉教会之信息的社论时,守安息日的复临信徒如今在《评论》上所读到的观念令人震惊,但经过深思与祈祷,他们看出这些观念是适用的。寄给编辑的来信显示出相当普遍的一致,并表明一场复兴正在进行。那振奋人心的信息并非一时激动的产物,这一点由1857年4月出版的《证言》第3号中的首篇文章所证明,题为《要热心,也要悔改》。其开头写道:“主在异象中向我显示了一些关于教会目前不冷不热状态的事,我要把这些告诉你们。”——《证言》卷一,第141页。其中文章呈现了怀爱伦所见:撒但如何借着世俗的繁荣与财物来攻击教会。亚瑟·怀特,《怀爱伦:早年时期》,第1卷,342—344页。

The Millerite movement began prophetically as the Philadelphian church, and in 1856 it became the Laodicean church. Seven years later the movement ended, and the Seventh-day Adventist church began as the Laodicean church and will remain so, until it is spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. The movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand came out of the fold of the Laodicean church, just as the Millerite movement came out of the fold of the church of Sardis. The movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand parallels the Millerite movement in that the first movement changed from Philadelphia to Laodicea and the last movement changes from Laodicea to Philadelphia. The point of transition from Philadelphia unto Laodicea in Millerite history is specifically marked as 1856, so the point of transition must also be marked in the last movement, for God never changes. The point of transition is identified in Revelation eleven with the two prophets that are slain in the streets.

米勒派运动在预言的层面上起初是非拉铁非教会,并于1856年成为老底嘉教会。七年后,该运动结束;基督复临安息日会作为老底嘉教会开始,并将一直如此,直到被主从口中吐出去。十四万四千人的运动从老底嘉教会的阵营中出来,正如米勒派运动曾从撒狄教会的阵营中出来一样。十四万四千人的运动在这一点上与米勒派运动相呼应:第一个运动从非拉铁非变为老底嘉,最后一个运动则从老底嘉变为非拉铁非。在米勒派的历史中,从非拉铁非到老底嘉的转折点被明确标定为1856年;因此,在最后一个运动中也必须标出这一转折点,因为上帝从不改变。这个转折点在启示录第十一章中,借着那两位在街上被杀的先知而被指明。

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:7, 8.

他们作完见证的时候,那从无底坑里上来的兽必与他们交战,并且得胜,把他们杀了。他们的尸首要倒在那大城的街上;那城按着灵意叫所多玛和埃及,就是我们的主被钉十字架之处。启示录 11:7, 8。

The last movement would die, then stand and thereafter be resurrected as the ensign. In so doing it would align with the Republican horn. The Republican horn forms an image to the beast, and the beast that it forms the image of is addressed in Revelation seventeen, and that beast is identified as the fifth head that received a deadly wound, that would be resurrected as the eighth head. It would be resurrected as the eighth that was of the seven.

最后的运动将死去,然后站立起来,随后被复活,成为旗帜。如此一来,它将与共和的角一致。共和的角为那兽立了一个像,而它为之立像的那兽在《启示录》第十七章中有所论及;那兽被认定为那个受了致命伤的第五个头,将作为第八个头复活。它将作为那原属七者的第八被复活。

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Revelation 17:11.

那曾在、今不在的兽,他自己是第八个,却是那七个中的一个,并且要归于沉沦。启示录 17:11。

The Republican horn would form an image of that beast, and it therefore would be killed and then resurrected. When it was resurrected it would be the eighth head that was of the seven previous heads. The Protestant horn, rides upon the same earth beast as the Republican horn and would need to possess the same prophetic dynamics. The transition from Philadelphia to Laodicea in the Millerite movement prefigures the transition from the Laodicea to Philadelphia in the last movement.

共和主义的角将塑造那兽的像,因此它会被杀死,然后复活。它复活之后,将成为第八个头,却又属于先前七个头之中的一个。新教的角与共和主义的角一样,同样骑乘在那只地兽之上,并且需要具备相同的预言性运作模式。米勒派运动中从非拉铁非到老底嘉的转变,预表了末后的运动中从老底嘉到非拉铁非的转变。

When the last movement received a deadly wound on July 18, 2020, it died as Laodicea. When, as represented in Revelation eleven it transitioned to Philadelphia, it would represent the eighth church, that is of the seven. The death in the year 2020, was paralleled by the Republican horn, for since the time of the end in 1989, there had been six presidents. The sixth president received a deadly wound, that will be healed in 2024. That head will then be the eighth head of the United States since the time of the end in 1989, and it will be of the seven. Both horns were the sixth that becomes the eighth. This truth is a large part of the message of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that is unsealed just before the close of probation.

当最后的运动在2020年7月18日受了致命的伤时,它作为老底嘉而死去。当它按启示录第十一章所代表的那样转入非拉铁非时,它就会代表第八个教会,也就是那七个中的一个。2020年的这场死亡,与共和党之角相呼应,因为自1989年的末时以来,已经有六位总统。第六位总统受了致命的伤,那伤将在2024年得医治。那头随后将成为自1989年末时以来美国的第八个头,并且它是那七个中的一个。两只角都是第六个,后来成为第八个。这一真理构成了耶稣基督的启示的信息的重要部分,而这信息是在恩典期结束之前被开启的。

For this reason, it is important to be clear about the Millerite history that typifies our current history. Sister White confirmed James White’s application of Laodicea upon the movement in 1856, so this is not an application that is derived by human logic. Seven years before the Seventh-day Adventist church was legally connected with the Republican horn, it was identified by inspiration as the Laodicean church. This means there has never been one day in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist church when it was anything other than naked, poor, blind, miserable and wretched. This prophetic reality provides the context and justification for recognizing the four escalating abominations of Ezekiel chapter eight as the four generations of Adventism.

因此,清楚认识那预表我们现今历史的米勒派历史就很重要。怀特姐妹在1856年证实了詹姆斯·怀特把老底嘉应用于这场运动,因此这并非凭人类逻辑推导出来的应用。在基督复临安息日会在法律上与共和之角发生联系的前七年,它就已借着启示被认定为老底嘉教会。这意味着,在基督复临安息日会的整个历史中,从来没有一天它不是赤身、贫穷、瞎眼、可怜又悲惨的。这一预言性的现实,为把以西结书第八章中四个层层升级的可憎之事认作复临运动的四代,提供了背景与根据。

When the Millerite history is approached from the structure of Isaiah seven’s sixty-five years, it is to be recognized that the prophecy of the seven times is the prophetic umbrella that covers the entire history of the Millerite movement. In 1856, the message to the Laodicean church became present truth for Millerite Adventism. The one who presents the message of Laodicea was not James or Ellen White, it was the Faithful and True Witness.

若从以赛亚书第七章所说的“六十五年”的结构来研究米勒派的历史,就会认识到,“七次”的预言是一个覆盖整个米勒派运动历史的预言性总框架。1856年,给老底嘉教会的信息成为米勒派复临主义的现今真理。宣讲老底嘉信息的并不是詹姆斯·怀特或怀爱伦,而是那位忠信真实的见证人。

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:14–22.

你要写信给老底嘉教会的天使:阿们者、那忠信真实的见证者、神创造之始,这样说:我知道你的作为,你不冷不热;但愿你或冷或热。你既是温吞的,不冷不热,我就要把你从我口中吐出。你说:“我富有,产业增多,毫无所需”,却不晓得你是困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤裸的。我劝你向我买在火中炼过的金子,使你可以富足;又买白衣穿上,免得你赤裸的羞耻显露;并买眼药抹你的眼睛,使你能看见。凡我所爱的,我就责备并管教;所以你要热切,也要悔改。看哪,我站在门口叩门;若有人听见我的声音就开门,我要进到他那里,与他同席,他也与我同席。得胜的,我要赐他与我同坐在我的宝座上,正如我已经得胜,并与我父同坐在他的宝座上。有耳可听的,就应当听圣灵向众教会所说的话。启示录 3:14-22。

The True Witness identifies that if any man would “hear” His voice, He would come in and “sup with him.” If Laodicea would open the door, Christ would come in and sup with them. If Christ is allowed to enter, he brings a message, for the symbolism of eating represents the reception of a message. The message can be generalized as simply the Laodicean message, but that is a shallow consideration of what the message He offers represents. In 1856, Hiram Edson set forth a series of eight articles that contained the prophetic information that expands the understanding of the very first “time prophecy” the angels of God led William Miller to recognize and proclaim. In those eight articles, Edson correctly identifies the sixty-five years of Isaiah seven.

真实的见证者指出,若有人“听见”他的声音,他就要进来,与他“一同坐席”。若老底嘉肯开门,基督就要进来,与他们一同坐席。若允许基督进入,他就会带来一则信息,因为进餐的象征意义代表领受信息。这则信息可以笼统地称为老底嘉的信息,但那是对他所提供的信息所代表之意义的肤浅看法。1856年,海勒姆·爱德森发表了一组共八篇的文章,其中包含预言信息,这些信息拓展了对上帝的天使曾引导威廉·米勒认识并宣告的第一条“时间预言”的理解。在那八篇文章中,爱德森正确地界定了以赛亚书第七章中的六十五年。

The beginning of Miller’s work was the discovery of the seven times, and seven years before the movement named after his service was to end, a deeper revelation of that very prophecy was offered to Millerite Adventism. It was offered in the same year they were identified by inspiration as Laodiceans. Prophetically, twenty-five hundred and twenty days later in 1863, Miller’s first discovery of prophetic time was rejected. The Laodicean message for the Advent movement arrived in 1856, and the Lord knocked on the door eight times, with eight articles to see if He could find entrance. At the ending of the movement, the True Witness wished to sup together with His people by dining upon the very first message of time from the beginning of the movement. His people refused to eat, and seven years, or twenty-five hundred and twenty prophetic days later, His people shut the door that had been opened with the key of David that had been placed into the hand of William Miller. They returned to an old Samaritan prophet who fed them a lie, sealing their fate to die between an ass and a lion.

米勒事工的开端,是他对“七次”的发现;而在以他的事工而得名的那场运动结束前七年,关于那同一预言更深的启示被赐给了米勒派复临运动。就在他们被启示指认为老底嘉人的同一年,这启示被赐下。按预言的计算,到二千五百二十天之后的1863年,米勒关于预言时间的首次发现被弃绝了。给复临运动的老底嘉信息于1856年来到,主藉着八篇文章叩门八次,看他是否能得以进入。到了这场运动将近结束时,诚实的见证人愿与他的子民一同坐席,所要享用的,正是这运动开端的第一条时间信息。他的子民却不肯吃;七年之后,也就是二千五百二十个预言日之后,他的子民把那扇门关上了——那扇门曾用大卫的钥匙打开,而这把钥匙曾被交在威廉·米勒的手中。他们又回到一位撒玛利亚的老先知那里;他用谎言喂养他们,使他们的结局被定——要死在驴与狮子之间。

In 1856, the Protestant horn was in the crisis of the valley of vision, for where there is no vision, the people perish. In 1856, the Republican horn was also in a crisis.

1856年,新教的号角处于异象之谷的危机之中,因为没有异象,百姓就灭亡。1856年,共和党的号角也处于危机之中。

1856, marked a continuation of the violent conflict known as Bleeding Kansas, the Kansas-Missouri Border War. The struggle was over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free state or a slave state. The conflict included violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.

1856年,标志着被称为“流血的堪萨斯”的堪萨斯—密苏里边境战争的暴力冲突继续上演。这场斗争围绕着堪萨斯将以自由州还是蓄奴州的身份加入联邦展开。冲突包括支持奴隶制与反对奴隶制的定居者之间的暴力对抗。

On May 22, 1856, a violent incident also occurred in the United States Senate chamber, when Congressman Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery advocate from South Carolina, brutally attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with his cane. Sumner had delivered an anti-slavery speech titled The Crime Against Kansas, which deeply offended Brooks. The caning incident highlighted the growing tensions between North and South over the issue of slavery.

1856年5月22日,美国参议院议场也发生了一起暴力事件:来自南卡罗来纳州、主张奴隶制的众议员普雷斯顿·布鲁克斯用手杖残忍地袭击了马萨诸塞州参议员查尔斯·萨姆纳。萨姆纳此前发表了一篇题为《针对堪萨斯的罪行》的反奴隶制演讲,这深深冒犯了布鲁克斯。此次手杖殴打事件凸显了南北在奴隶制问题上的紧张关系日益加剧。

In 1856, the Republican Party was founded as a response to the political turmoil caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, which produced the growing opposition to the spread of slavery into new territories. The party’s first national convention was held in Philadelphia, and John C. Fremont was chosen as their first presidential candidate in the 1856 election.

1856年,共和党作为对1854年通过的《堪萨斯—内布拉斯加法案》所引发政治动荡的回应而成立。该法案引发了对奴隶制向新领地扩张日益增长的反对。该党的第一次全国代表大会在费城举行,约翰·C·弗里蒙特在1856年选举中被选为其首位总统候选人。

The Kansas-Nebraska Act organized the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the settlers in those territories to decide whether they would allow slavery within their borders. This concept, known as “popular sovereignty,” effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery north of the 36°30’ parallel in the Louisiana Territory. The act had a profound impact on the issue of slavery in the territories. It reignited sectional tensions because it opened the possibility that slavery could expand into areas that were previously considered free soil, such as Kansas. The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act led to a rush of pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers into the Kansas Territory, each hoping to influence the outcome of the popular sovereignty vote. This competition for control of the territory led to violent clashes and a period of lawlessness known as Bleeding Kansas in 1856.

《堪萨斯—内布拉斯加法案》设立了堪萨斯和内布拉斯加两个领地,并允许这些领地的定居者自行决定是否在其边界内允许奴隶制。这一被称为“人民主权”的理念实际上废除了1820年的《密苏里妥协》,后者曾禁止在路易斯安那领地北纬36度30分线以北实行奴隶制。该法案对领地中的奴隶制问题产生了深远影响。它重新点燃了地区间的紧张关系,因为它打开了奴隶制可能扩张到先前被视为自由土地的地区,例如堪萨斯。《堪萨斯—内布拉斯加法案》的通过导致支持奴隶制和反对奴隶制的定居者蜂拥进入堪萨斯领地,双方都希望影响人民主权投票的结果。这种对领地控制权的竞争引发了暴力冲突,并在1856年出现了一段无法无天的时期,被称为“流血堪萨斯”。

The presidential election of 1856 was a significant political event. It featured a three-way race between Democrat James Buchanan, Republican John C. Fremont, and former President Millard Fillmore of the American Party. James Buchanan won the election and became the 15th President of the United States.

1856年的总统选举是一件重大的政治事件。它是一场由民主党人詹姆斯·布坎南、共和党人约翰·C·弗里蒙特,以及美国党籍前总统米勒德·菲尔莫尔参与的三方角逐。詹姆斯·布坎南赢得了这次选举,成为美国第15任总统。

James Buchanan’s presidency is primarily known for its failure to effectively address the growing tensions and divisions between the North and the South, ultimately culminating in the outbreak of the American Civil War shortly after he left office. His presidency is often viewed as one of the least successful presidency in American history, due to these significant failures in leadership and crisis management.

詹姆斯·布坎南的总统任期主要因未能有效应对南北之间日益加剧的紧张关系与分裂而为人所知,这些矛盾最终在他卸任不久后以美国内战的爆发而告终。由于在领导力和危机管理方面存在重大失误,他的总统任期常被视为美国历史上最不成功的总统任期之一。

The infamous Dred Scott Decision in 1857, declared that slaves whether enslaved or free were not citizens and could not sue in federal courts. It also declared that Congress could not prevent slavery in the territories of the United States. The Democrat Buchanan publicly endorsed the pro-slavery Dred Scott Decision.

1857年臭名昭著的德雷德·斯科特案判决宣布,奴隶无论仍被奴役还是已经自由,都不是公民,不能在联邦法院提起诉讼。它还宣称,国会不得在美国领地禁止奴隶制。民主党人布坎南公开支持这项支持奴隶制的德雷德·斯科特判决。

Not only did the pro-slavery position of the Democrat Buchanan allow tensions to escalate into Civil War, but his inability to manage the economics of the country led to the Panic of 1857, which was one of the greatest economic downturns in American history prior to the great depression. The Panic of 1857 resulted in a severe economic depression that lasted several years. Businesses and banks closed, unemployment increased and the stock market declined.

民主党人布坎南支持奴隶制的立场不仅使紧张局势升级为南北战争,而且他对国家经济管理不力,导致了1857年恐慌,这在大萧条之前是美国历史上最严重的经济衰退之一。1857年恐慌导致了持续数年的严重经济萧条。企业和银行倒闭,失业增加,股市下跌。

During Buchanan’s presidency the Southern states began their process of seceding from the Union, and they broke away in response to the election of the Republican Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. Buchanan took a passive approach to the secession crisis, arguing that the federal government lacked the authority to forcibly prevent secession. This lack of decisive action allowed the secession movement to gain momentum. His lack of strong leadership and his reluctance to take decisive action to address the secession crisis contributed to the South’s perception that it could leave the Union without facing military opposition.

在布坎南担任总统期间,南方各州开始了脱离联邦的进程;他们的脱离是对1860年共和党人亚伯拉罕·林肯当选的回应。布坎南对这场脱离危机采取了被动的做法,认为联邦政府无权以武力阻止脱离。这种缺乏果断行动使脱离运动势头增强。他缺乏强有力的领导,又不愿采取果断行动来应对这场脱离危机,从而助长了南方的看法:他们可以在不遭到军事反对的情况下脱离联邦。

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln the first Republican president, was elected. On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed and issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This executive order had a significant impact on the Civil War as it turned the conflict into a struggle not only to preserve the Union, but also to end slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved individuals. It applied specifically to Confederate-held territory, where the Union had limited authority. As Union forces advanced and gained control over Confederate territory, the proclamation was enforced, and enslaved people in those areas were set free. The Emancipation Proclamation was a crucial step toward the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States and paved the way for the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed and ratified on December 6, 1865.

1860年,亚伯拉罕·林肯当选为美国第一位共和党籍总统。1863年1月1日,林肯总统签署并颁布了最终的《解放奴隶宣言》,宣布在邦联控制地区的所有被奴役者将被解放。这一道行政命令对内战产生了重大影响,使这场冲突不再仅仅是为了维护联邦,也成为结束奴隶制的斗争。《解放奴隶宣言》并未立即解放所有被奴役的人。它专门适用于邦联控制的地区,而联邦在这些地区的权力有限。随着联邦军队推进并控制邦联领土,宣言得到执行,这些地区的被奴役者被解放。《解放奴隶宣言》是美国最终废除奴隶制的关键一步,并为《美国宪法》第十三条修正案的通过铺平了道路,该修正案于1865年12月6日通过并获批准。

The Republican horn from the 1850’s onward was in the crisis of the issue of slavery. Two primary divisions in the country represented by two primary classes of political thought. A separation process began in 1856 as anti and pro slavery groups moved into the Kansas territory in attempt to uphold their views of slavery, at the very time Philadelphia was being separated from Laodicea. Democrats were pro-slavery and Republicans were anti-slavery.

自19世纪50年代起,共和党的角一直陷入奴隶制问题的危机。 全国分成两个主要阵营,分别代表两种主要的政治思想。 1856年,一场分离进程开始:支持与反对奴隶制的群体迁入堪萨斯领地,试图维护各自对奴隶制的立场;恰在此时,非拉铁非正与老底嘉分离。 民主党人支持奴隶制,而共和党人反对奴隶制。

In 1856, Bleeding Kansas represented a microcosm of the impending war. In that year a pro-slavery Democrat was elected as head of the Republican horn, and his ineffective leadership became the symbol of an ineffective presidency, until these recent last days. He preceded the first Republican president that was forced to clean up the mess left by Buchanan’s presidency.

1856年,“流血的堪萨斯”代表了即将到来的战争的一个缩影。那一年,一位支持奴隶制的民主党人被选为共和党号角的领袖,而他无效的领导成为无效总统任期的象征,直到最近的这些最后日子。他先于第一位共和党总统,而后者被迫收拾布坎南总统任期留下的烂摊子。

By 1863, the Republican horn made the most significant executive order in the history of the earth beast of Revelation thirteen. The executive order was addressing slavery. One paragraph of the proclamation states, “That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.” Though the resolution of the problem of slavery was historically incomplete at that point, the essence of the Constitution is recognized when Lincoln wrote, “all persons held as slaves within any state … shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

到了1863年,共和之角颁布了《启示录》第十三章所述地上兽历史上最重大的行政命令。这项行政命令针对奴隶制。该宣言中的一段写道:“在公元一八六三年一月一日,凡在任何州或该州指定部分内被作为奴隶拘禁的所有人,而其人民届时正在反叛美利坚合众国者,皆自彼时起、此后并永远自由;美利坚合众国行政政府,包括其陆海军当局,将承认并维护此等人士之自由,并且在他们为获得实际自由所作的任何努力中,不会对这些人或其中任何一人采取任何压制行为。”虽然在那时,奴隶制问题的解决在历史上仍不完整,但当林肯写下“凡在任何州被拘为奴之人……皆自彼时起、此后并永远自由”之语时,宪法的本质得到了承认。

Lincoln was returning to the foundational principle expressed in the Constitution, which identifies that “all men are created equal.” Lincoln was returning to the foundational truths at the same time the Protestant horn was rejecting its foundational prophecy, which is the prophecy of slavery. Therefore, at the very time the Republican horn was making its most significant “executive order” in history concerning slavery, the Protestant horn made the most significant executive order in its prophetic history concerning the prophecy of slavery, represented by Moses’ oath and curse. The Republican horn chose to return to the foundations, the Protestant horn chose to reject its foundation and return to those it had been instructed to never return unto.

林肯正在回归宪法所表达的根本原则,即“人人生而平等”。林肯在回归这些根本真理的同时,新教的角却在拒绝其根基性的预言,也就是关于奴隶制的预言。因此,正当共和党的角在历史上就奴隶制发布其最重要的“行政命令”之时,新教的角也在其预言性的历史中就关于奴隶制的预言发布了最重要的行政命令,而这一预言由摩西的誓言与咒诅所代表。共和党的角选择回到根基之处,而新教的角则选择拒绝其根基,回到它被指示永不可再返回的那些对象。

In 1863, the Republican horn had been divided into two camps, as was ancient Israel’s kingdom divided in the time of Jeroboam and Rehoboam. In 1863, the Protestant horn became legally attached to the Republican horn, as represented by Jeroboam’s two altars at Bethel and Dan. The two horns move through history in parallel to each other, and the history of 1863, especially represents the history of the last days.

1863年,共和角被划分为两个阵营,正如古代以色列王国在耶罗波安与罗波安时期被分裂一样。1863年,新教角在法律上与共和角相连,正如耶罗波安在伯特利和但所立的两座祭坛所象征的那样。这两只角在历史中彼此并行,而1863年的历史尤其代表了末世的历史。

Millerite history is repeated in the history of the one hundred and forty-four thousand with a few prophetic caveats. One of those caveats is that the target audience in Millerite history was first those outside the movement, and thereafter the movement itself. In the movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand the two voices of Revelation eighteen, identify two target audiences, but those targets are in reverse of Millerite history. The first target is God’s people and the second voice is God’s other flock, that are still in Babylon.

米勒派的历史在十四万四千人的历史中被重演,但也带有几项预言方面的注意事项。其中一项是:在米勒派的历史里,目标受众首先是运动之外的人,随后才是运动本身。在十四万四千人的运动中,启示录十八章的两个声音界定了两个目标受众,但这些目标的顺序与米勒派历史相反。第一个目标是神的子民,第二个声音所指的是神的另一群羊,他们仍在巴比伦中。

Another prophetic caveat is that though both histories transcend from one church unto another, the Millerites moved from Philadelphia to Laodicea, and the mighty movement of the third angel moves from Laodicea unto Philadelphia. This identifies that the Millerites went from the sixth unto the seventh church and the one hundred and forty-four thousand go from the seventh church unto the eighth church, which is of the seven.

另一个先知性的警示是:虽然这两段历史都从一个教会过渡到另一个教会,米勒派是从非拉铁非转到老底嘉,而第三位天使的强大运动则从老底嘉转到非拉铁非。这就表明,米勒派是从第六个教会进入第七个教会,而十四万四千人则从第七个教会进入第八个教会——即第八,却属那七中之一。

The Republican horn began its movement from a pro-slavery nation unto an anti-slavery nation in the history surrounding 1863. The crisis of that history established two political parties that are the same antagonists in these “last days.” Just as the first Republican president from that history was assassinated just days after the war ended, the last Republican president was symbolically assassinated and left in the street as dead while the world rejoiced. He was assassinated, not just days after the Civil War ended, but just before the final civil war begins.

共和党之角在1863年前后的历史中,开始从一个支持奴隶制的国家转向一个反对奴隶制的国家。那段历史的危机确立了两个政党,而这两个政党在这些“末后的日子”里仍是相同的对手。正如那段历史中的第一位共和党总统在战争结束后几天即遭暗杀一样,最后一位共和党总统在全世界欢庆时遭到象征性的刺杀,被弃于街头,仿佛已死。他被刺杀,不是在内战结束后几天,而是在最后一场内战开始之前。

The first Republican president was preceded by the most ineffective president of American history, and the last Republican president will be preceded by the same. The ineffectiveness of the Democratic president that preceded the first Republican president precipitated the crisis that evolved into the civil war, and the same ineffectiveness is now taking place. The Democratic president that precedes the last Republican president managed the economy in such a fashion that it produced the greatest economic crash in American history up until that point in time. The two horns run parallel unto the Sunday law. In 1863, the first generation of both horns began, and for both horns the fourth and final generation will be facing the east, and bowing down to the sun.

第一位共和党总统之前,是美国历史上最无能的总统;而最后一位共和党总统之前也将是同样无能的总统。在第一位共和党总统之前的那位民主党总统的无能,引发了演变成内战的危机,如今同样的无能正在发生。在最后一位共和党总统之前的那位民主党总统以那样的方式管理经济,以至于造成了截至当时美国历史上最大的一次经济崩盘。两只角并行直至星期日法令。1863年,两者的第一代都开始了;而对两只角而言,第四代也是最后一代将面向东方,向太阳下拜。

The Elijah message is always accompanied with the judgments of God confirming the message of warning. The society of the world is now living as the people before the flood. They are eating, drinking and expecting the globalist techno-giants to solve any problem that might arise. God’s Word is identifying that the world is now on the verge of a tremendous crisis.

以利亚的信息总是伴随着神的审判,以此印证那警告的信息。如今世界的人类社会正像洪水以前的人们那样生活;他们吃喝,并指望全球主义的科技巨头解决任何可能出现的问题。神的话语指出,世界如今正处在一场巨大危机的边缘。

“‘What of the night?’ Do I discern the import of these messages? Do I understand the place they occupy in the closing work of the great remedial system? Am I so familiar with the ‘sure word of prophecy’ that I can see in the events transpiring around me positive evidence that the coming King is even at the door? Do I sense the responsibility that rests upon me, in view of the light God has given? Am I using every talent entrusted to me as his steward, in well-directed effort to rescue the perishing? or am I lukewarm and indifferent, partly mixed up with a wicked world, using the means and ability God has given me, largely in self-gratification, caring more for my own ease and comfort than for the advancement of his cause? Am I by my course strengthening ‘the conviction that has been gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, and are following in the path of worldlings’?

“夜里如何?”我是否领会这些信息的要义?我是否明白它们在伟大救赎计划最后阶段中所占的位置?我是否对“更确的预言”如此熟悉,以至于能在我周围正在发生的事件中看出确凿的证据,表明那即将来临的君王已近在门口?鉴于上帝所赐的亮光,我是否意识到落在我身上的责任?作为他的管家,我是否正使用托付给我的每一种才干,作出有针对性的努力去拯救将要灭亡的人?还是我不冷不热、漠不关心,部分地与邪恶的世界相混杂,把上帝赐给我的资源与能力多半用在自我满足上,比起推进他的事业,我更在乎自己的安逸与舒适?我是否因自己的行径而强化了“在世上日益增长的一种确信:基督复临安息日会发出不清晰的号角声,正沿着世俗之人的道路前行”?

“We hear the footsteps of an approaching God to punish the world for their iniquity. The end of time is close upon us. The world’s inhabitants are being bound in bundles to be burned. Shall you be bound up with the tares? Do you realize that every year thousands and thousands and ten times ten thousand souls are perishing, dying in their sins? The plagues and judgments of God are already doing their work, and souls are going to ruin because the light of truth has not been flashed upon their pathway.” General Conference Daily Bulletin, April 1, 1897.

我们听见上帝逼近的脚步声,祂要因世人的罪孽惩罚这世界。末时已迫在眉睫。世上的居民正被捆成一捆一捆,要被焚烧。你会与稗子一同被捆起来吗?你可知道,每年有成千上万、十万之数的灵魂正在灭亡,死在他们的罪中吗?上帝的灾殃和审判已经在施行,而灵魂正走向灭亡,因为真理的光尚未照耀在他们的道路上。总会每日公报,1897年4月1日。

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 26:9.

夜间,我以心灵渴慕你;是的,我里面的灵清晨寻求你;因为当你的审判施行在地上时,世上的居民便学习公义。以赛亚书 26:9。