We ended the last article with an unfinished consideration of the prophecies of Abram and Paul, that line upon line produce a 430-year period, made up of 30 years followed by 400 years. I suppose there are some out there in theology-land who may see the 30 years as a period that follows 400 years, but when generally addressed the thirty years are assigned to the beginning of the period. Is it 400 followed by 30, or 30 followed by 400? It is thirty followed by four hundred, for there are many witnesses, to establish a thirty-year period, connected to and followed by a second prophetic period.

我们在上一篇文章的结尾,尚未完成对亚伯兰和保罗之预言的思考:逐条推算,得出一个由30年接着400年构成的430年时期。我想,神学界有些人可能会把这30年看作跟在400年之后的一个阶段,但通常讨论时,这30年被放在该时期的起始。究竟是400年接30年,还是30年接400年?答案是先三十,后四百,因为有许多见证足以确立一个三十年的时期,并表明它与随后第二个预言时期相衔接。

Joseph was thirty years old when he began service for Pharaoh in Genesis 41:46. Then began seven years of plenty, that was followed by seven years of famine. Joseph, as a type Christ at thirty years old was followed by two periods of 2520 days. When Christ was thirty, there followed two periods of 1260, which together make up 2520; which in turn connects with seven times upon two kingdoms.

约瑟在三十岁时开始为法老效力(创世记41章46节)。随后开始了七个丰年,接着又是七个荒年。作为基督的预表,约瑟在三十岁之后接连经历了两个各为2520天的时期。当基督三十岁时,随后有两个各为1260的时期,合起来是2520;这又与临到两个国度的七个时期相连。

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reign for forty years as noted in 2 Samuel 5:4. David typifies Christ, and when Christ was thirty years old, He was baptized and then driven into the wilderness for forty days, and then after His resurrection which was typified by His baptism, He stayed and taught the disciples in person for forty days. At the cross, the destruction of Jerusalem was put off in mercy for forty years paralleling the forty years of dying in the wilderness at the beginning of their covenant history.

大卫登基时年三十岁,如《撒母耳记下》5:4所记,他在位四十年。大卫预表基督;当基督三十岁时,祂受了洗,随后被带到旷野四十天;而且,祂的受洗预表了祂的复活,复活之后,祂亲自与门徒同在并教导他们四十天。在十字架上,出于怜悯,耶路撒冷的毁灭被延后四十年,这与他们盟约历史之初在旷野倒毙的四十年相呼应。

Ezekiel was thirty years old when he was called to be a prophet in Ezekiel 1:1. I will not take time now to address the period that followed Ezekiel’s thirtieth year, but I will insert a brief AI-summary of established facts of how long his ministry was. “Ezekiel’s prophecies are among the most precisely dated in the Old Testament, with 13 specific dates provided throughout the book. These are all reckoned from the year of Jehoiachin’s exile (597 BCE as year 1), providing a clear chronological framework spanning about 22 years.”

以西结书1:1记载:以西结被召为先知时年三十岁。 我现在不打算讨论以西结三十岁之后的时期,但我会插入一段关于他事奉持续时间的既定事实的简短AI总结。 “以西结的预言属于旧约中日期标注最精确的内容之一,全书共提供了13个具体日期。这些日期都以约雅斤被掳之年为起点(以公元前597年为第一年),构成了一个大约跨越22年的清晰年代框架。”

Jesus was thirty years old when He was baptized and He then confirmed the covenant with many, for one week.

耶稣受洗时三十岁,随后他与许多人确认了盟约,为期一周。

Antichrist is governed by the pattern of Christ prophetically, and just as Christ was thirty years in preparation to take up his work as Heavenly High Priest, the prophetic period of thirty years of preparation, identified for the antichrist was from the removal of the “daily” in 508, through to 538. When the papacy was empowered as a counterfeit high priest, just as Christ was anointed with power at His baptism, for the 1260 years of the papal darkness would parallel Christ’s 1260 days of pure light from His baptism unto the cross, which aligns with the papacy’s deadly wound in 1798.

从预言上说,敌基督是按着基督的模式而行的;正如基督在承担天上大祭司的职分之前有三十年的预备,为敌基督所标出的三十年预备的预言时期,是从508年“常献”被除去起,直到538年。那时教皇制度被赋予权柄,充当假冒的大祭司;正如基督在祂受洗时受膏得能力一样,教皇制度的黑暗时期1260年将与基督从受洗到十字架的1260天纯粹的光明相平行,这与1798年教皇制度所受的致命伤相吻合。

None of these previous twofold periods that begin with a thirty-year period, predate Abram’s first step in his three-step covenant process. Therefore, Abram’s is the first mentioned, though it could only be that way, after it was confirmed by Paul’s second testimony. When Paul wrote his words the 400-year prophecy became a 430-year prophecy, that has the first 30 years set apart from the last period of time.

此前那些以一个三十年时期为开端的两段时期,没有一个早于亚伯兰在其三步立约过程中的第一步。因此,亚伯兰的这个两段时期是首先被提到的,不过,这只能在保罗的第二次见证加以证实之后才成立。当保罗写下这些话时,四百年的预言便成了四百三十年的预言,其中最初的三十年被从最后那段时期中分出来。

I contend based upon Christ’s character, as represented as Alpha and Omega, that in the covenant process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who are the omega to Abram and Pauls’ twofold prophecy of thirty years—followed by four hundred years must have its counterpart in the omega of the covenant history, which is the history of the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. A period of thirty years, followed by another distinct period must be fulfilled in a fashion which does not apply time, but fulfills Abram’s foundational 430 year prophecy. It would be nice if you read that previous statement again, and then return to this point and continue on.

我主张,基于基督的品格(他被称为“阿尔法”和“俄梅伽”),在十四万四千人的立约进程中——他们处于“俄梅伽”阶段——亚伯兰与保罗那关于“三十年——随后四百年”的双重预言,必须在立约历史的“俄梅伽”中有其对应,而这“俄梅伽”就是十四万四千人受印的历史。一个三十年的时期,随后另一个独立的时期,必须以一种不应用时间的方式来应验,却成全亚伯兰那基础性的四百三十年预言。最好你再读一遍前面的那句话,然后回到这里继续。

Jesus, Joseph, David and Ezekiel were all thirty years in preparation for a work that would typify God’s people in the last days. Ezekiel the prophet, Joseph typifying Christ the priest and David the king. Four symbols, but one of the symbols representing the Heavenly High Priest has a human and Divine representative. Those four witnesses all agree with Abram’s 30 years followed by a prophetic period.

耶稣、约瑟、大卫和以西结都经过三十年的预备,为一项将预表末后日子里神子民的工作做准备。以西结是先知,约瑟预表作为祭司的基督,而大卫为王。共有四个象征,但那代表天上大祭司的象征同时拥有人间代表和神性代表。这四位见证都与亚伯兰的三十年,以及随后的一段预言性的时期相一致。

Antichrist was thirty years in preparation, then empowered for 1260 years until she received her first death in 1798. She is the symbol of the second death, for she dies again when probation closes. The second death is eternal death. We serve a risen Savior, for Christ did not die for eternity, He did not die the second death. When the papacies’ deadly wound is healed, Revelation thirteen identifies that she will reign again for 42 months, which represents a prophetic period, without an element of time.

敌基督经过30年的预备,随后被赋予权柄长达1260年,直到1798年她经历第一次死亡。她是第二次死亡的象征,因为当恩典期结束时她会再次死亡。第二次死亡就是永死。我们所事奉的是复活的救主,因为基督并没有永远地死去,他没有经历第二次死亡。当教皇权的致命伤得医治时,启示录十三章指出她将再次掌权42个月,这代表一个预言性的时期,而非指字面的时间长度。

When she is resurrected at the Sunday law, the army which opposes her work are those who were resurrected at the end of the three and a half days of Revelation eleven. Two resurrected powers, both of which are ensigns, one of the seventh-day Sabbath and one of the sun—become the point of reference for the entire world, as mankind makes its final choice for life or death.

当她在星期日法令时被复活,反对她工作的军队,就是那些在《启示录》十一章的三天半结束时复活的人。两个复活的势力,二者都是旗号:一个以第七日安息日为旗号,一个以太阳为旗号——在人类作出关于生或死的最终抉择时,它们成为全世界的参照点。

At the Sunday law, the antichrist, who is also the beast, will represent the threefold union of the dragon, herself (the beast), and the false prophet. Those three powers will unite against God’s church, that is to be lifted up above all the mountains. God’s church triumphant is thirty years in preparation, not thirty literal years, but an established prophetic period which has thirty attached to it, and is still in force as a prophecy after the command in 1844, identifying that the application of prophetic time was no longer valid. It is simple to see that the thirty years represents a period of preparation for prophet, priest and king who as the church triumphant will represent the kingdom of glory. The four witnesses of Ezekiel, Christ, Joseph, and David represent the authority of God’s kingdom in the same period of time the papacy and the threefold union are leading the world to Armageddon.

当星期日法令出台时,敌基督,也就是那兽,将代表龙、她自己(即那兽)与假先知的三重联合。这三种权势将联合对抗上帝的教会;那教会要被高举在诸山之上。上帝的凯旋教会有三十年的预备期,并非字面意义的三十年,而是一个既定的先知性时期,与“三十”这一数目相连;即便在1844年的那道命令之后——那道命令表明预言时间的应用已不再有效——它仍作为预言而有效。不难看出,这三十年所表示的是先知、祭司与君王的预备期;他们作为凯旋的教会,将代表荣耀的国度。以西结、基督、约瑟和大卫这四位见证人,所代表的是上帝国度的权柄;而就在同一时期,教皇制度与那三重联合正引领世界走向哈米吉多顿。

The church triumphant is lifted up at the Sunday law in the United States and according to the testimony of the Old and New Testaments the covenant people who are the one hundred and forty-four thousand are to become a kingdom of priests.

在美国颁布周日法令时,凯旋的教会被高举;并且根据旧约和新约的见证,立约的子民,也就是那十四万四千人,将成为祭司的国度。

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5.

你们也像活石,被建造成属灵的殿,成为圣洁的祭司,为要借着耶稣基督献上蒙神悦纳的属灵祭物。彼得前书 2:5。

The priests were to be thirty years old when they began to serve in the temple, so there is a period of time before the Sunday law where a priesthood is prepared to serve as the first fruit wave offering. The priests, who are the one hundred and forty-four thousand, are represented as Levites in the purification process accomplished by the Messenger of the Covenant. There is a prophetic period that leads to the Sunday law, in which a purification process prepares a sanctified ministry for the latter rain time period. The preparation ends at the Sunday law, so the period of thirty represents the preparation of the priests, thus corresponding to the required age for a priest. Christ as High Priest began His ministry at 30, and because Joseph typifies Christ, he also began his service at thirty. The counterfeit Christ was 30 years in preparation, so we have three witnesses that a 30-year period represents the preparation of a priesthood.

按规定,祭司在圣殿中开始供职时必须年满三十岁;因此,在星期日法令之前有一段时期,用来预备一支祭司队伍,使他们作为初熟的摇祭来事奉。祭司,即那一百四十四千,在约的使者所完成的洁净过程中被象征为利未人。有一个引向星期日法令的预言时期,在此期间,借着洁净的过程,为晚雨时期预备一支成圣的事工。预备在星期日法令时结束,所以这三十年的时期代表祭司的预备,从而与祭司所要求的年龄相对应。基督作为大祭司在三十岁开始他的事工;而约瑟因预表基督,也在三十岁开始服事。假基督有三十年的预备,因此我们有三个见证,说明三十年的时期代表祭司职分的预备。

“The great issue near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.” Selected Messages, book 3, 385.

在眼前的重大考验将筛除那些不是上帝所任命的人;祂将拥有一支纯洁、真实、成圣、为晚雨预备好的传道队伍。精选信息,第3册,385。

Sister White teaches directly that whenever the church is pure, the Spirit of Prophecy is active. When the great issue weeds out the tares, you will have a sanctified ministry made up of Jesus and Joseph the priest who is both Divine and human, Jesus and Ezekiel the prophet, Jesus and David the king. Those who are prepared over a period symbolized by thirty years, are to be among the one-hundred and forty-four thousand and are represented as prophets, priests and kings. All three humans are biblical symbols of Christ’s work as prophet, priest and king, so the number thirty allows us to deduce that in each of these three categories that are produced by biblical symbols who were prepared for thirty years when brought together with Christ represent the combination of Divinity with humanity. Thus, those priests who are prepared over the symbolic thirty-year period are represented as the ensign of Divinity combined with humanity.

怀特姐妹直接教导说,只要教会纯洁,预言之灵就会活跃。当重大问题将稗子除去时,你们就会有一个成圣的事工,这事工由耶稣与祭司约瑟(他兼具神性与人性)、耶稣与先知以西结、耶稣与君王大卫所组成。那些在一个以三十年为象征的时期中受过预备的人,将在十四万四千人之中,并被表征为先知、祭司和君王。这三个人都是圣经中的象征,象征基督作为先知、祭司和君王的工作;因此,“三十”这个数字使我们可以推断:由圣经中“经三十年预备”这一象征所标示的这三类人,每一类与基督相联时,都代表神性与人性的联合。因此,那些在象征性的三十年期间受预备的祭司,被表明为神性与人性结合的标志。

The 42 months of the final papal blood bath takes place while Christ walks among men for 42 months in the person of His disciples. 42 months of bondage and oppression ending with deliverance, as represented by the 430 years of Abram’s twofold prophecy. Abram’s four hundred years ends at the Red Sea deliverance which is a classic biblical illustration of the close of probation, at the end of the pope’s symbolic 42 months.

最后一次教皇血腥屠杀的四十二个月,与基督借着祂的门徒在世人中间行走的四十二个月同时发生。四十二个月的奴役与压迫以拯救告终,这由亚伯兰双重预言中的四百三十年所代表。亚伯兰的四百年在红海的拯救中结束——那是圣经中关于恩典期结束的经典写照——发生在教皇象征性四十二个月的末尾。

The forty-two months represent the testing time from the Sunday law in the United States until human probation closes. Yet in those 42 months, following a thirty-year period of preparation, Christ is confirming the covenant in the person of the remnant. The antichrist counterfeit priest comes to his final end, right where Christ died in his line, which is right where Pharaoh, king of Egypt, died in his line. At Mount Carmel the prophets of Baal were slain, thus identifying the death of the false prophet at the Sunday law. At the Sunday law, you have a false prophet who is then slain, the dragon represented by Pharaoh, and the beast represented by the papacy. These are all represented at the Sunday law in conflict with God’s priests, kings and prophets. The church is purified just before the Sunday law and the gift of prophecy is restored—right where the false prophet dies. From then on, the battle is over the true or false prophetic message.

这四十二个月象征从美国的周日法令开始直到人类恩典期结束的考验时期。然而,在那四十二个月中,继一个为期三十年的预备时期之后,基督正在余民身上坚立那约。敌基督的伪祭司在基督于其那条线中死去之处走向最终结局,那也正是埃及王法老在其那条线中死去之处。在迦密山,巴力的先知被杀,从而表明在周日法令时假先知的死亡。在周日法令之时,有随后被杀的假先知,有由法老所代表的龙,还有由教皇权所代表的兽。这些都在周日法令时被显明,并与神的祭司、君王和先知相冲突。教会在周日法令之前不久被洁净,并且预言的恩赐就在假先知死去之处得以恢复。从那时起,争战就围绕着真或假的预言信息展开。

The symbolic 30-year period represents a period which precedes the Sunday law. The period is a preparation period for the priests, for Christ is their example in all things, for these are they who follow the Lamb. Within the first 30 years of Abram’s prophecy, the covenant was put in place, thus identifying that whatever the period of preparation for the priests represents it is the period where the Lord renews His covenant with the one hundred and forty-four thousand as typified by the alpha history of Abram. That period is a time of preparation for the priests who begin to serve at the Sunday law, at age thirty, when they are anointed with the Holy Spirit as was Christ at His baptism. One other truth that can be deduced from the alpha history of Abram, is that whatever the period represents that leads to the Sunday law, it has to be momentous, for the omega is always more powerful than the alpha. The Sunday law is the omega represented by October 22, 1844, the cross, Passover in Egypt and on and on.

那象征性的三十年时期代表一个先于星期日法令的阶段。这段时期是为祭司而设的预备时期,因为基督在一切事上都是他们的榜样,因为这些人是跟随羔羊的人。在亚伯兰预言的最初三十年内,约被立下,这就表明,无论祭司的预备时期所代表的是什么,它是主与十四万四千人更新祂的约的时期,正如亚伯兰的阿尔法历史所预表的一样。那段时期是祭司的预备时期;他们在星期日法令之时、三十岁的时候开始供职,那时他们像基督在受洗时一样,被圣灵膏抹。从亚伯兰的阿尔法历史还可以推知另一条真理:无论通向星期日法令的那段时期所代表的是什么,它必定是重大的,因为欧米伽总是比阿尔法更强大。星期日法令就是那欧米伽,而1844年10月22日、十字架、埃及的逾越节等等都曾预表它。

The Sunday law represents the end of the period represented by the thirty-year period. It has been prefigured by virtually every major salvational story, and it is also the end of the covenant history of a chosen people that began with Abram. With that type of prophetic weight of evidence concerning the end of the period, and the serious purpose of the period itself, what would be the starting point?

主日法令标志着三十年所代表的那段时期的结束。几乎每一个重要的救恩故事都以预表的方式指向它,它也标志着自亚伯兰开始的被拣选之民的圣约历史的终点。鉴于关于该时期终结有如此分量的预言性证据,而该时期本身又肩负严肃的目的,那么起点应当是什么呢?

There is a prophetic period represented by thirty years that upon a multitude of witnesses ends at the Sunday law. At that point there is a period that follows that is represented in various numerical values, and each of those periods set forth a testimony of a line of prophetic history that follows the Sunday law. Some of those periods are representing the internal line of church history, and some the external line of the world marching to Armageddon.

有一个以三十年为代表的预言时期,经由众多见证所证实,在星期日法令时结束。到那时,随后还有一段时期,用不同的数值来表示,而且这些时期各自呈现出一条在星期日法令之后的预言历史线的见证。其中有些时期代表教会历史的内部路线,有些则代表世界迈向哈米吉多顿的外部路线。

It is probably good at this juncture to remind ourselves that we reject the application of any time prophecies in the last days in terms of representing any identifiable dates, until the day and hour is announced at the end of the plagues. I will use Daniel chapter twelve to illustrate my point of no longer applying prophetic time. In chapter twelve there are three verses that identify prophetic time.

在此关头,或许有必要提醒自己:我们拒绝在末后的日子里把任何时间性的预言应用为可识别的具体日期,直到在灾殃结束时那日子和那时辰被宣告。我将以但以理书第十二章来说明我不再应用预言性时间的观点。在第十二章中,有三节经文指出了预言性的时间。

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Daniel 12:7.

我听见那穿细麻衣、站在河水之上的人,举起右手和左手向天,指着那活到永永远远的起誓说:要到一载、两载、半载;等他把圣民的权势打散完毕的时候,这一切事就都完毕了。但以理书12:7。

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Daniel 12:11.

从常献的祭被除掉、那使荒凉的可憎之物被设立的时候起,必有一千二百九十日。但以理书12:11。

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:12.

那等候而达到一千三百三十五日的人有福了。但以理书 12:12。

The Millerites had the correct understanding of each of these three verses. These three prophecies are part of the truths that represent the foundations. Yet the Millerite understanding of these verses was based upon applying the day for a year principle. Since “time is no longer,” these verses must possess another application, for all of the prophecies are speaking of the time period of the latter rain. These verses must have a latter rain understanding that does not employ time to create a message, and does not disagree with Millerite understanding of the verses. The correct Millerite view of the center verse of the three verses, (verse eleven), is that it represents a twofold period, which begins with a thirty-year period, followed by 1260 years. Verse eleven is identifying the thirty-year-period that precedes the Sunday law, as represented by the setting up of the abomination of desolation.

米勒派对这三节经文中的每一节都理解正确。这三则预言是构成根基之真理的一部分。然而,米勒派对这些经文的理解是建立在应用“一日当一年”原则之上的。既然“时间不再了”,这些经文必然还有另一种应用,因为所有的预言都在讲晚雨的时期。这些经文必须有一种关于晚雨的理解,不以时间来构成信息,也不与米勒派对这些经文的理解相矛盾。关于这三节经文中间的那一节(第十一节),米勒派的正确看法是:它代表一个两阶段的时期,先是三十年,其后是一千二百六十年。第十一节指出的是,在“设立那行毁坏可憎的”所代表的星期日法令之前的那三十年时期。

Daniel twelve is the chapter in God’s Word that sets forth the purification process of God’s people which occurs in the last days at the time of the end when a prophecy from the book of Daniel is unsealed. In verse eleven we find a prophecy that the pioneers correctly understood as a thirty-year period that leads into a 1260-year period. In chapter twelve, the three prophecies of verses seven, eleven and twelve are all sealed up until the time of the end. At the time of the end those three prophecies must be unsealed, for God’s Word never fails. In that very chapter, the clearest representation of the close of human probation in the Bible is set forth, so chapter twelve, is most certainly and more specifically identifying the end of Adventism, than the beginning of Adventism.

《但以理书》第十二章是神的话语中阐明神的子民在末后的日子、末时、当但以理书中的一个预言被解封之时所经历之洁净过程的章节。在第十一节,我们发现一个预言,先驱们正确地理解为一个引入一千二百六十年时期的三十年时期。在第十二章中,第七、十一、十二节的三个预言都被封住,直到末时。到了末时,这三个预言必须被解封,因为神的话从不落空。就在该章中,圣经对人类恩典期结束最清晰的描述被阐明;因此,第十二章与其说是在指出复临运动的开端,不如说无疑并且更具体地指认复临运动的结束。

Three prophecies in Daniel twelve were sealed up in the very passage of Scripture where sealing and unsealing finds its primary prophetic definition. Those three prophecies get unsealed in the history of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, for Alpha and Omega always illustrates the end of a thing, with the beginning of a thing. What is unsealed in chapter twelve’s three prophetic periods represents the final unsealing of God’s prophetic Word. That unsealing is set forth in Revelation chapter one when the Revelation of Jesus Christ is unsealed, just before the close of probation. Verse eleven of Daniel twelve is the counterpart to Abram and Paul’s first representation of a twofold prophecy that began with a thirty-year period.

《但以理书》第十二章中的三个预言,正是在那段对“封闭”和“解封”作出主要先知性界定的经文里被封闭的。 这三个预言在十四万四千人的历史中被解封,因为“阿尔法和欧米伽”总是以事物的开端来说明其结局。 第十二章三个预言时期所解封的内容,代表着上帝先知性话语的最终解封。 那次解封在《启示录》第一章中展现出来——就在恩典期结束之前,耶稣基督的启示被解封之时。 《但以理书》第十二章第十一节,与亚伯兰和保罗对一项起始于三十年时期的双重预言的首次表述相对应。

The three prophecies in Daniel twelve are symbolic periods that are unsealed at the final time of the end, and the unsealing leads to the final purification of God’s people. The first of those three prophecies is given by Christ Himself, and when He sets forth the prophecy He is standing on the water dressed in linen, identifying the end of a prophetic period represented as 1260 years, and defining the end of that period as the end of the scattering of the power of God’s people. God’s people in the latter days are the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and they have been scattered.

但以理书第十二章中的三段预言是象征性的时期,这些时期要在末时的最后时刻被揭开封印,而封印的揭开将引向神子民最终的洁净。那三段预言中的第一段是基督亲自赐下的;当他宣告这预言时,他身穿细麻衣,站立在水面上,指出一个以一千二百六十年所表征的预言时期的终点,并把该时期的终点定义为“打散圣民的权力”的结束。末后的日子里,神的子民就是那十四万四千人,他们已经被分散。

Not only is Christ standing on the water answering a question, the question begins with the words “How long?”. “How long?” is a prophetic symbol that is also asked of Jesus when in verse thirteen, of Daniel eight, the question is asked, “How long?”

基督不仅站在水面上回答一个问题,而且这个问题是以“要到几时?”这几个字开头的。“要到几时?”是一个预言性的象征;在《但以理书》第八章第十三节中,当提出这个问题时,也是在向耶稣发问:“要到几时?”

And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

有一人对那穿细麻衣、站在河水以上的人说:这些奇事的终了还要多久呢?

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Daniel 12:6, 7.

我又听见那位穿着细麻衣、在河水之上的人;他举起右手和左手向天,指着那永远活着的起誓说:要到一载、二载、半载;等他打散了圣民的权势的时候,这一切事就都要完毕了。 但以理书 12:6、7。

The question presented to Jesus, represented as the man in linen, in the vision of the Hiddekel river is, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?,” and in the vision of the Ulai river Jesus, represented as Palmoni (that certain saint) is asked, “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?”

在希底结河的异象中,耶稣被描绘为身穿细麻衣的人,向他提出的问题是:“这些奇事的结局要到几时?”而在乌莱河的异象中,耶稣被描绘为帕尔莫尼(那位特定的圣者),有人问他:“关于常献的祭和那使荒凉的过犯的异象,要到几时,以致圣所与军旅都被践踏?”

Sister White states that the visions given to Daniel by the banks of the great rivers of Shinar are now in the process of fulfillment, and in connection with both river visions, Jesus is asked the prophetic ‘question,’ which always produces the Sunday law as the ‘answer.’ Yet both answers are presented within the context of prophetic time, which ended in 1844. The pioneers correctly identified the answer to the question of chapter eight and the Ulai river vision, and they understood 1798 was when the scattering of the power of God’s people ended. But after 1844, when ‘time application’ of God’s prophetic Word ended, the prophetic question of “How long?” restates the pioneer understanding as ‘unto 2300 days then shall the sanctuary be cleansed at the soon-coming Sunday law’ and “all” the “marvels” in Daniel’s final vision will be accomplished, when the scattering of the holy people for three and a half symbolic days, ends.

怀爱伦姐妹指出,赐给但以理、在示拿大河两岸所显的异象,如今正在应验之中;并且在这两次与河有关的异象中,人都向耶稣提出那预言性的“问题”,而其“答案”总是表现为“星期日法令”。然而,这两个答案都是在预言时间的语境中给出的,而预言时间已于1844年结束。先驱者正确地认明了第八章乌莱河异象中那问题的答案,并明白1798年是上帝子民的权力被分散之事结束的时候。但在1844年之后,当上帝预言之道的“时间应用”结束时,“要到几时呢?”这一预言性问题就把先驱者的理解重述为“到二千三百日,圣所就必洁净,在即将来临的星期日法令之时”;并且,当圣民被分散三天半(象征性)的时期结束时,“但以理最后的异象”中的“所有”“奇事”都将成就。

The Hiddekel river vision of the last three chapters of Daniel and the Ulai river vision of chapters seven through nine are identified by Sister White as the “great rivers of Shinar.” All historical and biblical scholars identify that there are only two rivers, and they are both great rivers, that are associated with Shinar. Those two rivers are the Tigris (Hiddekel) and the Euphrates. The Ulai river is not the Euphrates of Shinar, it is a small man-made channel river in Persia, not Shinar. The Ulai river in the vision that contains the foundation and central pillar of Adventism is not located in Shinar, yet the prophetess identifies the Ulai as the Euphrates, one of the great rivers of Shinar.

但以理书最后三章的希底结河异象和第七至第九章的乌莱河异象,被怀特姐妹称为“示拿的大河”。所有历史学家和圣经学者都认定,与示拿相关的只有两条河,而且这两条都是大河:底格里斯河(希底结)和幼发拉底河。乌莱河并不是示拿的幼发拉底河,它是波斯的一条小型人工渠道河,而不在示拿。在那个包含复临主义的基础和中心支柱的异象中,乌莱河并不位于示拿,然而这位女先知却将乌莱称为幼发拉底河,即示拿的大河之一。

The Hiddekel vision presents the external history of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet leading the world to Armageddon, and the Ulai vision represents the work of Christ in combining His Divinity with man’s humanity. Prophetically inspiration uses the Ulai river as a second witness with the Euphrates River to identify the work that is accomplished by Christ in joining His Divinity with humanity.

希底结的异象呈现了龙、兽和假先知把世界引向哈米吉多顿的外在历史,而乌莱的异象则代表基督将其神性与人性结合的工作。在先知性的启示中,乌莱河被作为与幼发拉底河相对应的第二个见证,用以指认基督在使其神性与人性合一上所成就的工作。

The Euphrates and Tigris both began in Eden and run through the length of covenant history. When they flow into the central pillar of Adventism on October 22, 1844, the Euphrates is combined with the man-made Ulai canal to represent the combination of Divinity with humanity, that is accomplished by the exercise of faith in those represented as the one hundred and forty-four thousand. The Ulai represents a test upon the authority of God’s prophetic Word, for it places the authority of Ellen White identifying the Persian Ulai river as one of the great rivers of Shinar in contradiction with the world’s experts.

幼发拉底河和底格里斯河都起源于伊甸,并贯穿整个圣约历史。当它们在1844年10月22日汇入复临主义的中心支柱时,幼发拉底河与人造的乌莱运河相结合,以表征神性与人性的结合;这种结合是借着那些被表征为十四万四千人的人的信心而成就的。乌莱代表对上帝预言之道权威的一个考验,因为它使怀爱伦的权威——她将波斯的乌莱河认定为示拿的大河之一——与世上的专家相矛盾。

The symbol of the Ulai river represents a test over man’s word or God’s Word. Are men correct, or are the words set forth by Sister White, correct? Does the Ulai river represent a single river in Persia, or does it represent a prophetic river which consists of waters from Eden mingled with waters from men?

乌莱河的象征代表着一场关于人的话还是上帝话语的考验。究竟是人说得对,还是怀爱伦姊妹所阐述的话语对?乌莱河是指波斯境内的一条具体河流,还是指一条由来自伊甸的水与来自人的水相混合而成的预言性的河流?

There may be many options to this dilemma I have raised, but I will lay out some thoughts so you see my point. Are the worldly historians and theologians correct and Sister White is wrong? No one disputes that the “great rivers of Shinar” are the Tigris and Euphrates. So, when Sister White identifies the river Ulai in Persia as a great river of Shinar is she a false prophet? Or, is she a true prophet, who made a mistake? How many mistakes can a true prophet make before they cross the line and become a false prophet? Or, are the historians wrong? Or, is she actually correct? Or are the historians and Sister White both correct? I raised this dilemma for the purpose of using the explanation of the dilemma as an added point to the man who is in linen, standing upon the river, who is asked, “How long?” in both the vision of the Hiddekel and Ulai rivers.

对于我提出的这个两难,也许有许多应对之道,但我会陈述一些想法,让你明白我的观点。世俗的历史学家和神学家是对的,而怀特姊妹错了吗?关于“示拿的大河”指的是底格里斯河与幼发拉底河,这一点无人争议。那么,当怀特姊妹把波斯的乌莱河认定为示拿的一条大河时,她就是假先知吗?还是她是真先知,只是犯了一个错误?真先知在越过界线而成为假先知之前,可以犯多少错误?还是历史学家错了?或者她其实是对的?或者历史学家和怀特姊妹都对? 我提出这个两难,是为了将对该两难的解释,作为一个补充论点,指向那位身穿细麻衣、站在河上的人;在关于希底结河与乌莱河的异象中,都有人问他:“要到几时?”

In Daniel chapter eight, Daniel is at Susa, in Persia, and Susa is on the river Ulai that due to the agriculture industry includes the natural river and also a series of man-made aqueducts. As the Ulai flows down another one hundred and fifty miles or so, it connects with the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Tigris and Euphrates that began in Eden eventually join, and when they do merge, the Ulai River from Persia connects at the same point. When the Ulai River meets the marsh system of the Tigris at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates, the Ulai becomes part of the water that makes up the great rivers of Shinar. The historians are correct, and so too, is Sister White.

在《但以理书》第八章中,先知但以理在波斯的书珊;书珊位于乌莱河畔,这条河因农业需要,既有天然河道,也包括一系列人工引水渠。乌莱河再向下游流经约一百五十英里,就与底格里斯河和幼发拉底河的汇合处相连。起源于伊甸的底格里斯河和幼发拉底河最终汇合;当它们汇合时,来自波斯的乌莱河也在同一点接入。当乌莱河在底格里斯河与幼发拉底河的汇合处与底格里斯河的沼泽系统相遇时,乌莱河便成为汇成示拿地大河之水的一部分。历史学家是对的,怀爱伦姐妹也是对的。

When Sister White identifies the vision of the Ulai in chapter eight, she is identifying a river that is known for its man-made aqueduct system that joins the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which represent two periods’ of 2520 years, that concluded in 1798 and 1844.

当怀特姊妹在第八章指出乌莱河的异象时,她是在指认一条以其人工引水渠系统闻名的河,这一系统将底格里斯河与幼发拉底河连接起来;这两条河代表两个各为2520年的时期,分别在1798年和1844年结束。

An ancient name for the Tigris is the Hiddekel, and in relation to the Euphrates both rivers have been specifically located prophetically as being associated with Assyria and Babylon, who are also identified as two lions that were to chastise God’s sheep. Those two desolating powers prefigured the two desolating powers of pagan Rome and papal Rome, which are symbols of a man and a woman, or a church and a state. Pagan Rome was the man representing statecraft, and papal Rome is the impure woman of churchcraft. Assyria was the man and Babylon the woman in their prophetic relationship, thus identifying the Tigris as the man and the Euphrates as the woman.

底格里斯河的古名是希底结;与幼发拉底河相对应,这两条河在预言中被明确指认为与亚述和巴比伦相关,而亚述和巴比伦也被认定为将要管教神的羊群的两只狮子。那两种使地荒凉的权势预表了异教罗马和教皇罗马的两种荒凉权势,后者分别象征男人与女人,或教会与国家。异教罗马是代表治国术的男人,教皇罗马是不洁的、代表教权术的女人。按其预言性的关系,亚述是男人,巴比伦是女人,因此底格里斯河被视为男人,幼发拉底河被视为女人。

The Tigris River is the river of statecraft that reached to 1798, and the Euphrates of churchcraft reached to 1844. The Euphrates had to reach to 1844, for the message of 1844 was about Babylon, (the Euphrates) which fell again in 1844. As the Euphrates produced a waterfall in 1844, the Ulai river, which had also joined the confluence as a symbol of human works, combined with the other river’s water. The river of statecraft was damned up in 1798, when the civil authority was removed from the papal power. In that same year the United States begins to reign as the earth beast and sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy. The Tigris River is damned up in 1798, exactly where the state will eventually force the entire world to break down the dam, which now holds back the floods of papal persecution about to sweep over the world as an overwhelming flood. That wall, or dam is the wall of separation of church and state.

底格里斯河是象征治国术的那条河,其延续到1798年;而象征教会权术的幼发拉底河则延续到1844年。幼发拉底河必须延续到1844年,因为1844年的信息是关于巴比伦(幼发拉底河)的,而它在1844年再次倾倒。当天幼发拉底河在1844年形成一个瀑布之时,作为人类行为之象征、也已在汇合处并入的乌莱河,便与另一条河的水汇合。治国术之河在1798年被筑坝拦阻,那时教皇权的世俗权威被移除。同年,美国开始以圣经预言中的地兽与第六个王国的身份掌权。底格里斯河在1798年被筑坝拦阻,正是在那里,将来国家最终会迫使全世界拆除这道大坝;而这道大坝如今正拦住教皇迫害之洪流,那洪流即将如滔天大水般席卷全世界。那道墙,或者说大坝,就是政教分离之墙。

In 1844, both the Euphrates and Ulai identify the message of 1844 as the fall of Babylon, and also as the very work which Christ began in 1844, when, as the Messenger of the Covenant He purged the waters of Babylon and human works out of a people who were to enter into His sanctuary—a people who needed to be cleansed before they entered into the Most Holy Place. The final cleansing of those people was accomplished with the rain which poured out under the message of the Midnight Cry, and those rain drops of the Midnight Cry message were distilled from the waters of the Tigris, as the Millerites identified papal Rome and 1798, and as they identified the fall of Babylon and were cleansed in advance of the closed door by the message, or you might say—cleansed by the rain that came from the distilled waters of the Ulai, the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, as they presented the message of Daniel 8:14, and fulfilled the message of the Midnight Cry in advance of the opening of the antitypical Day of Atonement.

在1844年,幼发拉底河与乌莱河都将1844年的信息指认为巴比伦的倾倒,也指认为基督在1844年所开创的工作;那时祂作为立约的使者,将巴比伦之水与人的行为从一群将要进入祂圣所的子民中除净——这群子民在进入至圣所之前必须先被洁净。那些人的最终洁净,是借着在“半夜呼声”信息之下倾注而下的雨完成的;而“半夜呼声”的雨滴,是从底格里斯河之水所蒸馏而来。当米勒派认定教皇罗马与1798年、认出巴比伦的倾倒,并在关门之前藉着这信息得以洁净之时——或者说,藉着那从乌莱河、底格里斯河与幼发拉底河之蒸馏之水而降下的雨得以洁净——他们传扬但以理书8:14的信息,并在反型赎罪日开启之前应验了“半夜呼声”的信息。

When Christ is standing upon the waters of the Hiddekel in verse seven of chapter twelve of Daniel, He is standing on the waters of the Tigris, the waters of statecraft in the vision that outlines the final movements of human statecraft leading to the close of probation. He is standing there answering the question of the previous verse, just as in the vision of the Ulai River, the man in linen, who there is Palmoni, the Wonderful Numberer, provides an answer, to a question of the previous verse. In both instances the dialogue is heavenly dialogue between angels and Christ, and in both instances the question is, “How long?”

当基督在但以理书第十二章第七节站立在希底结的水面上时,祂是站在底格里斯河的水面之上;在那幅异象中,这水象征治国术,勾勒出人类治国术通向恩典时期结束的最后动向。祂就站在那里回答前一节的问题;正如在乌莱河的异象中,那位身穿细麻衣的人——在那里是帕耳摩尼、那位奇妙的数算者——也对前一节的问题给出答案。两处的对话都是天使与基督之间的天上对话,而两处所问的问题都是:“要到几时呢?”

The answer is unto 2300 days, in chapter eight and chapter twelve it is “a time, times, and an half.” The answer is understood as 2300 years and 1260 years, but in 1844 God placed a prohibition on the application of time within the prophetic message, for time is no longer. What is Palmoni the man clothed in linen’s answer for His final generation? The question of “How long?” has been shown upon many witnesses to identify the Sunday law as the answer to the question, so is the sanctuary cleansed at the Sunday law, and are “all these wonders” finished at the Sunday law? What are the “wonders” that are finished at the Sunday law, and when did those “wonders” start?

答案是到二千三百日;在第八章和第十二章则是“一个时候、两个时候、半个时候”。这个答案被理解为二千三百年和一千二百六十年,但在1844年,上帝对在预言信息中应用时间设下了禁令,因为不再有时间了。穿细麻衣的帕尔摩尼对他末后的世代有什么回答?“要到几时?”这个问题,借着许多见证已经被表明将星期日法令确定为该问题的答案,那么,圣所是在星期日法令时得以洁净吗?“这一切奇事”是在星期日法令时完成吗?那些在星期日法令时完成的“奇事”是什么?这些“奇事”是从何时开始的?

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

那时我但以理观看,见另有两个人站着,一个在河这岸,一个在河那岸。其中一人对那穿细麻衣、立在河水之上的人说:“这些奇事到末了还要多久?”

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Daniel 12:5–7.

我听见那穿细麻衣、在河水之上的人,当他向天举起右手和左手,指着那活到永远者起誓说:必有一载、二载、半载;及至打破圣民权柄的时候,这一切事就都应验了。但以理书12:5-7。

The symbolic question of “How long?” marks the Sunday law, and the angel asked not when was the Sunday law, but when was the end of the wonders. The “wonders” end at the Sunday law, so what are the wonders that lead to the Sunday law? Or to be more specific what are the “wonders” represented in the vision given by the Hiddekel, represented in chapters ten through twelve? If we can determine what the “wonders” are, we may find when the “wonders” start. In Daniel ten Gabriel specifically identifies what his purpose was in his interaction with Daniel during the vision.

“‘要到几时?’这一象征性的问题标志着星期日法令,而天使所问的并不是星期日法令是在什么时候,而是这些‘奇事’的终结是什么时候。‘奇事’在星期日法令时结束,那么,引向星期日法令的‘奇事’是什么呢?更具体地说,在希底结河所赐的异象中,也就是记载在第十至第十二章中的那些‘奇事’是什么?如果我们能确定这些‘奇事’是什么,就可能找到‘奇事’开始的时间。在但以理书第十章中,加百列明确指出他在异象期间与但以理互动的目的。”

Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. Daniel 10:14.

现在我来,是要使你明白你的百姓在末后的日子将要遭遇的事;因为这异象还关乎多日。但以理书 10:14。

Gabriel came to make God’s people understand what shall befall them in the latter days. To assume that the prophecies in Daniel twelve which were correctly understood by the Millerites, but to use that acknowledgement to deny the application of the chapter to the last days—is to defeat Gabriel’s stated purpose. Once Gabriel begins the prophetic narrative in verse one of chapter eleven on through to the third verse of chapter twelve, the history represented is the external prophetic details of how the dragon, the beast and the false prophet lead the world to Armageddon. There are passages within the chapter that describe God’s people being persecuted, but the history of chapter eleven is primarily an external revelation. This means that chapter ten and chapter twelve represent an alpha and an omega within Daniel’s final vision, for unlike chapter eleven they both describe an internal message identifying the sealing of the one-hundred and forty-four thousand. The middle chapter is the rebellion of mankind as represented by the king of the north, the pope of Rome, and the alpha chapter ten, along with the omega chapter twelve identify the internal experience of the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the latter days. All three chapters lead to the close of probation, the alpha chapter begins with the fear of God that separates two classes of worshippers, and by the end of the chapter Daniel is given a doubling of power, thus identifying the first and second angels’ messages. Chapter twelve is the omega chapter and it identifies the judgment message of the third angel.

加百列来,是要使神的子民明白在末后的日子将要临到他们的事。若承认米勒派正确理解了但以理书第十二章的预言,却借此否认该章在末后的日子的应用,就等于挫败了加百列所陈明的目的。自从加百列在第十一章第一节开始他的预言叙述,并一直延续到第十二章第三节,所呈现的历史是外在的先知性细节,说明龙、兽与假先知如何把世界带向哈米吉多顿。章中确有描述神子民受逼迫的段落,然而第十一章的历史主要是一种外在性的启示。这就意味着第十章与第十二章在但以理最后的异象中构成阿尔法与俄梅伽;与第十一章不同,它们都在描述一则内在的信息,指明十四万四千人的受印。中间的这一章描绘人类的叛逆,其代表为北方王、罗马教皇;而作为阿尔法的第十章与作为俄梅伽的第十二章,则指出末后时期十四万四千人的内在经历。这三章都通向恩典期的结束;阿尔法章节以使敬拜者分为两类的敬畏神为起点,到章末但以理得着加倍的力量,从而标明第一与第二天使的信息。第十二章是俄梅伽章节,它标明第三天使的审判信息。

Chapter eleven details mankind’s rebellion from the destruction of Jerusalem unto the close of probation, which according to Sister White is an illustration of the close of probation at the end of the world. Daniel eleven starts at the destruction of Jerusalem, for Daniel is one of those who were taken to Babylon in the threefold destruction of Jerusalem that typified the destruction of the same city in 70 AD, and then again in the latter days as represented by the world.

第十一章详细叙述了从耶路撒冷被毁直到恩典期结束的人类悖逆;按怀特姊妹的说法,这也是世界末了恩典期结束的一个例证。但以理书第十一章从耶路撒冷的毁灭开始,因为但以理是耶路撒冷三次毁灭期间被掳到巴比伦的人之一;而这三次的毁灭预表了该城在公元70年的毁灭,并且在末后的日子里又以全世界为代表而再次应验。

Two literal destructions of Jerusalem that took place on the same day of the year six hundred and sixty-five years apart. Those two destructions were of the city where the Ark was supposed to be located. Shilo possessed the same prophetic characteristics and represents the first destruction of a city where God’s presence was located, or was supposed to be located. When Sister White employs the destruction of Jerusalem as a symbol of the destruction of the latter days, she is commenting on Christ’s sermon on the destruction of Jerusalem.

耶路撒冷曾两次遭到实际的毁灭,这两次都发生在同一年的同一天,彼此相隔六百六十五年。 这两次毁灭都是针对那座被认为应当安放约柜的城市。 示罗具有同样的预言特征,并且代表第一次对一座有上帝同在、或本应有上帝同在的城市的毁灭。 当怀特姐妹将耶路撒冷的毁灭作为末后日子毁灭的象征时,她是在评论基督关于耶路撒冷毁灭的讲道。

Shilo, the destruction of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar and Titus are three witnesses of the latter days as represented by the destruction of God’s city. Shilo is the first angel’s message which teaches to fear God, something Eli did not do, and give Him glory, something Eli did not do, for the hour of His judgment is come. The second angel’s message is where we find a doubling as represented by Nebuchadnezzar and Titus. The third destruction of Jerusalem, in the latter days is at the close of probation, which is the close of judgment.

示罗,以及耶路撒冷在尼布甲尼撒和提图斯之下遭遇的毁灭,作为上帝的城被毁的代表,构成了末后日子的三个见证。示罗就是第一位天使的信息,教导人要敬畏上帝(以利没有这样做),并将荣耀归给祂(以利没有这样做),因为祂审判的时候已经到了。第二位天使的信息中,我们看见一个加倍的见证,由尼布甲尼撒和提图斯所代表。末后日子的第三次耶路撒冷毁灭,发生在恩典期结束之时,也就是审判结束之时。

Chapter eleven is the external history of the three angel’s messages. It is sandwiched between chapter ten’s vision of separation and three empowering touches that takes place on the twenty-second day of Daniel’s vision. This means that chapter twelve will also be about the internal story of what befalls God’s people in the latter days. It also means that the light within chapter twelve is twenty-two times more brilliant than the light in chapter ten.

第十一章是三位天使信息的外部历史。它夹在第十章的分离异象与发生在但以理异象第二十二天的三次使人得力的触摸之间。这意味着,第十二章也将讲述末后的日子里临到神子民的内在故事。这也意味着,第十二章中的光比第十章中的光明亮二十二倍。

In the vision of the Ulai, Christ was also asked “How long?” The previous twelve verses leading to the question in verse thirteen, were identifying external prophetic history representing important details about the powers of Bible prophecy. Those twelve verses were simply repeating and enlarging upon the history represented in chapter seven. The prophetic history set forth in those verses is repeated and enlarged upon in chapter eleven beginning in the time of the Medes and Persians. The last half of chapter eight and all of chapter nine is the representation of God’s last day people by the prophet Daniel. The vision of prophetic history found in the vision of the Ulai rivers three chapters, along with the representation of God’s people in the chapters by Daniel’s interaction with Gabriel, is the alpha to the omega of chapters ten through twelve.

在乌莱的异象中,有人也向基督发问:“要到几时?” 引出第十三节中这个问题的前十二节,是在界定外在的预言历史,呈现有关圣经预言中诸权势的重要细节。那十二节不过是在重复并扩大第七章所代表的历史。这些经文所阐明的预言历史,在第十一章中自玛代与波斯时期开始得到重复与扩大。 第八章的后半部分以及整个第九章,是先知但以理所代表的上帝末时子民的描绘。 在乌莱河异象的三个章节中所载的预言历史,连同在这些章节里通过但以理与加百列的互动所呈现的上帝子民的代表,乃是第十至第十二章的阿尔法到俄梅伽。

Because the Hiddekel is the omega and the Ulai the alpha, the power represented by the light that is unsealed in chapter twelve, when the time of the end is reached, is twenty-two times brighter than the vision which is the central pillar and foundation of Adventism. This being the case; the light of Daniel’s last vision is directly identified as light associated with God’s people in the latter days. When the angel asks the man clothed in linen, “How long?” to the end of these wonders, the wonders are those who shine as the stars forever and ever as Abram’s covenant history echoes of a command for Abram to look to the stars. The wonders in Daniel twelve is the transformation of human beings into the ensign of the one hundred and forty-four thousand.

因为希底结是俄梅伽,乌莱是阿尔法,当末时来到时,第十二章所解封之光所代表的能力,便比那作为复临信仰中心柱和根基的异象明亮二十二倍。既然如此,但以理最后一个异象的亮光就被直接认定为与末后日子里神子民相关的亮光。当那天使问那穿细麻衣的人:“这些奇事的结局要到几时呢?”这里所说的“奇事”,就是那些永永远远如星发光的人;这也呼应了亚伯兰之约的历史中吩咐他仰望众星的命令。但以理书第十二章中的“奇事”,乃是人类被改变,成为那十四万四千人的旌旗。

In an earlier point we identified that verse eleven of Daniel twelve identifies a prophetic period that consist of two periods, the first of which is thirty years. In order to place the proper emphasis on verse eleven, I went to verse seven; to show Christ’s direct involvement with the wonders He accomplishes among His people in the latter days.

我们先前指出,但以理书十二章十一节所提到的一个预言时期由两个阶段组成,第一阶段为三十年。为了突出第十一节的重要性,我转到第七节,以表明基督在末后的日子里在祂的子民中所成就的奇事上有直接的参与。

In returning to verse eleven I wish to remind you that chapter twelve is directly called the “latter days” by Gabriel. In the days of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, the days in which they are sealed and enter into covenant with God; according to the book of Daniel, there will be a message unsealed that will swell into a loud cry. That message is represented in chapter twelve by three distinct prophetic periods, that have already been defined by the Millerites, and thereafter endorsed by the Spirit of Prophecy. Those three periods do not represent time, for the very same angel who holds up both hands to heaven in chapter twelve, held up one hand to heaven in Revelation ten, and swore there would be time no longer. That pronouncement in 1844 means that the three prophetic periods in Daniel twelve are symbolic periods that are not meant to represent time.

回到第十一节,我要提醒你们,第十二章被加百列直接称为“末后的日子”。在那十四万四千人的日子里,也就是他们受印并与神立约的日子;按照《但以理书》的记载,将有一则被解封的信息,高涨成为“大呼喊”。这信息在第十二章中由三个截然不同的预言时期所代表,这三个时期早已由米勒派信徒界定,随后又得到“预言之灵”的认可。这三个时期并不代表时间,因为在第十二章向天举起双手的那位天使,在《启示录》第十章中举起一只手向天起誓,说不再有时间了。1844年的那项宣告意味着,《但以理书》第十二章中的三个预言时期是象征性的时期,并非用来代表时间。

Therefore, when the middle symbolic prophetic period in Daniel twelve is a twofold period that begins with thirty years in the very chapter that Michael stands up, then you know that the twofold period beginning with thirty years is the perfect fulfillment of Abram’s alpha prophecy. The omega of the time prophecy which begins covenant history in terms of a chosen people, reaches its perfect fulfillment in the same chapter which is the climax of Daniel’s testimony of what will befall God’s people in the last days.

因此,当但以理书十二章中居中的那个象征性预言时期,正是在米迦勒站起来的那一章里、以三十年开端的一个双重时期时,你就知道,这个以三十年起头的双重时期,就是亚伯兰的阿尔法预言的完全应验。那开启了选民之约历史的时间预言的俄梅戛,也在同一章里得到完全的应验;而这同一章,正是但以理关于末后之日神的百姓将要遭遇何事的见证之高潮。

At the time of the end, the book of Daniel is unsealed and the light produced seals God’s people. At the time of the end, the book of Daniel is unsealed and the light produced is represented by three prophetic periods within Daniel’s last chapter. That chapter is the omega of the three chapters that make up the Hiddekel vision, and the Hiddekel vision is the omega to the three chapters that represent the alpha of the river visions of Daniel. The rivers that began in Eden finally ended up with Daniel, and then God’s prophetic Word brought them to the Millerite movement of the first and second angel, the alpha movement of the three angels’ two movements. The 1290 years of verse eleven are the omega to Abram and Pauls’ 430-year prophecy.

在末时,但以理书被解封,所产生的亮光使神的子民受印。在末时,但以理书被解封,而所产生的亮光由但以理书最后一章中的三个预言时期所代表。那一章是构成希底结河异象之三章中的欧米伽,而希底结河异象则是代表但以理河上异象之阿尔法的三章的欧米伽。起于伊甸的诸河最终止于但以理,随后神的预言之道又将它们带到第一与第二天使的信息的米勒派运动——三位天使两次运动中的阿尔法运动。第十一节的一千二百九十年,是亚伯兰和保罗四百三十年预言的欧米伽。

Before we continue on in Daniel twelve and its connection to Abram’s prophecy it is good to remember who Paul was. Paul was not only the apostle to the Gentiles, but just as importantly he presented his message through God’s prophetic Word. More importantly than that, is that Paul was a dispensational prophet. A dispensational prophet is a prophet raised up to guide God’s people from one dispensation to another like unto Moses, from altar worship to sanctuary worship; John the Baptist; from the earthly sanctuary to the Heavenly Sanctuary. Paul recorded more information and rules of the application of the literal to the spiritual than all the other Bible authors combined, by far! He was raised up to explain the transition of literal to spiritual in the context of God’s covenant people.

在我们继续讨论但以理书十二章及其与亚伯兰预言的关联之前,最好先记住保罗是谁。保罗不仅是外邦人的使徒;同样重要的是,他是借着神的预言之道传达他的信息的。更重要的是,保罗是一位分时代的先知。分时代的先知是指神所兴起、引导祂的百姓从一个时代进入另一个时代的先知,像摩西那样,把人们从坛祭的敬拜带入圣所的敬拜;又像施洗约翰那样,把人们从地上的圣所引向天上的圣所。保罗关于如何把字义应用为属灵意义所记载的信息与原则,远远多于其他所有圣经作者的总和!神兴起他,就是要在关乎神约民的事上,阐明由字义到属灵的转变。

Paul is the connecting link between the covenant promises of Abraham’s chosen people, when that chosen people transitioned from literal to spiritual. If you are not settled into the role of who Paul was in covenant history, then you might not see how divinely fitting it is, that the first-time prophecy of God’s covenant people is a twofold time prophecy that begins with a 30-year period. One prophecy put in place by the father of the chosen people, and when they transition to a spiritual chosen people, a dispensational prophet was raised up to identify and explain that transition, and also to ratify Abram’s time-prophecy with a second witness from the New Testament aligned with the first witness from the Old Testament. Abram at the start, then Paul at the end typify the significance of the 1290 of the latter days.

当被拣选的子民从肉身转向属灵之时,保罗成为承前启后、连接以亚伯拉罕为始的被拣选子民之盟约应许的关键纽带。若你尚未弄清保罗在盟约历史中的角色,你可能就看不出这样一件何等合乎神圣安排的贴切之处:上帝之约子民的首个时间预言,是一个以三十年时期为起点的双重时间预言。其一由被拣选子民之父所设立;而当他们转变为属灵的被拣选子民时,神兴起一位时代性的先知来指认并阐明那次转变,并且以新约中的第二个见证与旧约中的第一个见证相一致,从而印证亚伯兰的时间预言。起初是亚伯兰,末了是保罗,这一首尾相应,预表了末后日子里“1290”的重要意义。

We will continue in the next article.

我们将在下一篇文章中继续。

“Zechariah’s vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God’s people in the closing scenes of the great day of atonement. The remnant church will then be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects; he has gained control even of many professing Christians. But here is a little company who are resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God. Men will be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine law.

撒迦利亚所见关于约书亚与天使的异象,在大赎罪日末后的场景中,对上帝子民的经历尤为切合有力。那时,余民教会将被带入严峻的试炼与患难之中。那些遵守上帝诫命并有耶稣信心的人,将感受到那龙及其势力的忿怒。撒但把世界都当作他的臣民;他甚至已经控制了许多自称为基督徒的人。然而,这里有一小群人正在抵抗他的至上权柄。若是他能把他们从地上除灭,他的得胜便算完全。正如他曾影响异教列国去毁灭以色列,同样,在不久的将来,他要煽动世上的邪恶权势去毁灭上帝的子民。人们将被要求服从违背上帝律法的人为法令。

“Those who are true to God will be menaced, denounced, proscribed. They will be ‘betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends,’ even unto death. Luke 21:16. Their only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer. As Joshua pleaded before the Angel, so the remnant church, with brokenness of heart and unfaltering faith, will plead for pardon and deliverance through Jesus, their Advocate. They are fully conscious of the sinfulness of their lives, they see their weakness and unworthiness; and they are ready to despair.

忠于上帝的人将会遭到威胁、被谴责并被取缔。他们将会“被父母、弟兄、亲属和朋友出卖”,甚至至死。路加福音21:16。他们唯一的盼望在于上帝的怜悯;他们唯一的防御将是祷告。正如约书亚在天使面前恳求一样,余民教会将以破碎的心和毫不动摇的信心,借着他们的中保耶稣,恳求赦免与拯救。他们深切意识到自己生活的罪恶,看见自己的软弱与不配;并且几乎要绝望了。

“The tempter stands by to accuse them, as he stood by to resist Joshua. He points to their filthy garments, their defective characters. He presents their weakness and folly, their sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer. He endeavors to affright them with the thought that their case is hopeless, that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations, and turn from their allegiance to God.

那试探者站在旁边控告他们,正如他曾站在旁边敌挡约书亚一样。他指着他们污秽的衣裳、他们有缺陷的品格。他罗列他们的软弱与愚昧、他们忘恩负义的罪、他们不像基督的样式——这一切都使他们的救赎主蒙羞。他竭力以这样的念头惊吓他们:他们的光景已经无望,他们玷污的污渍永远不会被洗去。他指望借此摧毁他们的信心,使他们屈从他的诱惑,转离对上帝的忠诚。

“Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God’s people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them, declaring, that by their sins they have forfeited divine protection, and claiming that he has the right to destroy them. He pronounces them just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God. ‘Are these,’ he says, ‘the people who are to take my place in heaven, and the place of the angels who united with me? They profess to obey the law of God; but have they kept its precepts? Have they not been lovers of self more than lovers of God? Have they not placed their own interests above His service? Have they not loved the things of the world? Look at the sins that have marked their lives. Behold their selfishness, their malice, their hatred of one another. Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them.’

“撒但对他引诱上帝子民所犯的罪了如指掌,并极力指控他们,宣称他们因自己的罪而丧失了神圣的保护,并声称他有权毁灭他们。他断言,他们和他一样,理应被排除在上帝的恩宠之外。‘这些人,’他说,‘就是要在天上取代我以及那些曾与我联合的天使的位置的人吗?他们自称遵行上帝的律法;但他们真的遵守了其中的诫命吗?难道他们不是爱自己过于爱上帝吗?难道他们没有把自身的利益置于事奉祂之上吗?难道他们不曾爱慕世上的事物吗?看看那些烙印在他们一生中的罪吧。看哪,他们的自私、他们的恶意、他们彼此的仇恨。上帝岂会将我和我的天使从祂面前赶逐,却去赏赐那些犯下同样罪的人吗?主啊,按公义,祢不能这样做。公义要求对他们宣判定罪。’”

“But while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have not given themselves up to be controlled by the satanic agencies. They have repented of their sins and have sought the Lord in humility and contrition, and the divine Advocate pleads in their behalf. He who has been most abused by their ingratitude, who knows their sin and also their penitence, declares: ‘The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan. I gave My life for these souls. They are graven upon the palms of My hands. They may have imperfections of character; they may have failed in their endeavors; but they have repented, and I have forgiven and accepted them.’

然而,虽然基督的跟随者犯了罪,他们并没有把自己交给撒但的势力辖制。他们为自己的罪悔改,并以谦卑与痛悔寻求主,而那位神圣的中保为他们代求。那位最被他们的忘恩负义所伤、既知道他们的罪也知道他们的悔改者,宣告说:“耶和华责备你,撒但哪!我为这些灵魂舍了命。他们铭刻在我的手掌上。他们或许在品格上有缺欠;他们在努力中也许失败过;但他们已经悔改,而我已经赦免并接纳了他们。”

“The assaults of Satan are strong, his delusions are subtle; but the Lord’s eye is upon His people. Their affliction is great, the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them; but Jesus will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire. Their earthliness will be removed, that through them the image of Christ may be perfectly revealed.

撒但的攻击猛烈,他的迷惑狡诈;但主的眼目看顾祂的子民。他们的苦难甚大,炉中的火焰似乎将要吞灭他们;但耶稣要领他们出来,如同在火中炼过的金子。他们属世的性情将被除去,使基督的形象借着他们得以完全显明。

“At times the Lord may seem to have forgotten the perils of His church and the injury done her by her enemies. But God has not forgotten. Nothing in this world is so dear to the heart of God as His church. It is not His will that worldly policy shall corrupt her record. He does not leave His people to be overcome by Satan’s temptations. He will punish those who misrepresent Him, but He will be gracious to all who sincerely repent. To those who call upon Him for strength for the development of Christian character, He will give all needed help.

有时主似乎忘记了祂教会所遭遇的危险,以及仇敌对她所造成的伤害。但上帝并没有忘记。在这世界上,没有什么比祂的教会更为上帝所珍爱。祂并不愿世俗的权谋玷污她的记录。祂不任凭祂的子民被撒但的试探所胜。祂必惩罚那些误表祂的人,但祂必向一切诚心悔改的人施恩。凡为培养基督化品格而向祂求力量的人,祂必赐下一切所需的帮助。

In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. With tears they will warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence. The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals. But the anguish and humiliation of God’s people is unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character lost in consequence of sin. It is because they are drawing nearer to Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Meekness and lowliness are the conditions of success and victory. A crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross.

在末时,神的子民要为这地所行的一切可憎之事叹息哀哭。他们流着泪,警告恶人,他们因践踏神圣律法而处在危险之中;并以难以言喻的忧伤,痛悔地在主面前谦卑自己。恶人会嘲笑他们的忧伤,讥讽他们郑重的呼吁。但神子民的痛苦与谦卑,正是无可置疑的证据,表明他们正在重新获得因罪而失去的品格力量与高贵。正因为他们更亲近基督,因他们的目光专注于祂完美的纯洁,所以他们才如此清楚地看出罪是何等极其可憎。温柔与谦卑是成功与得胜的条件。有荣耀的冠冕正等候那些在十字架脚前俯伏的人。

“God’s faithful, praying ones are, as it were, shut in with Him. They themselves know not how securely they are shielded. Urged on by Satan, the rulers of this world are seeking to destroy them; but could the eyes of God’s children be opened as were the eyes of Elisha’s servant at Dothan, they would see angels of God encamped about them, holding in check the hosts of darkness.

上帝那些忠心祷告的人,仿佛与祂一同被围在里面。他们自己并不知道自己被护卫得多么牢靠。受撒但驱使,这世界的统治者正图谋毁灭他们;但若上帝儿女的眼睛能像以利沙的仆人在多坍时的眼睛那样被开启,他们就会看见上帝的天使在他们四围安营,牵制黑暗的军旅。

“As the people of God afflict their souls before Him, pleading for purity of heart, the command is given, ‘Take away the filthy garments,’ and the encouraging words are spoken, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ Zechariah 3:4. The spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness is placed upon the tried, tempted, faithful children of God. The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb’s book of life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon’s roar. Now they are eternally secure from the tempter’s devices. Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin. A ‘fair miter’ is set upon their heads.

当神的子民在祂面前刻苦己心,恳求内心清洁时,就有命令发出:“除去他污秽的衣服”,又有安慰的话说:“看哪,我已使你的罪孽离开你,我要给你换上华美的衣服。”(撒迦利亚书 3:4)基督那无玷污的义袍披在那些经受试炼、受试探且忠心的神的儿女身上。那被藐视的余民披上荣耀的衣裳,从此不再被世界的败坏所玷污。他们的名字被保留在羔羊的生命册上,登记在历代忠信者之中。他们抵挡了那欺骗者的诡计;他们并未因龙的咆哮而转离忠心。如今他们永远不再受试探者的诡计所侵害。他们的罪都归到罪的起源者身上。一顶“洁净的冠冕”戴在他们头上。

“While Satan has been urging his accusations, holy angels, unseen, have been passing to and fro, placing upon the faithful ones the seal of the living God. These are they that stand upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Father’s name written in their foreheads. They sing the new song before the throne, that song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. ‘These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.’ Revelation 14:4, 5.

当撒但正竭力控告的时候,看不见的圣天使正穿梭往来,把永生神的印记印在忠心的人身上。这些人就是与羔羊一同站在锡安山上的人,额上写着父的名。他们在宝座前唱新歌;除了从地上被赎来的十四万四千人以外,没有人能学这歌。“这些人是无论羔羊往哪里去都跟随他的。这些人是从人间被赎出来的,作归给神和羔羊的初熟果子。在他们口中并没有诡诈,因为他们在神的宝座前是没有瑕疵的。”启示录14:4-5。

“Now is reached the complete fulfillment of the words of the Angel: ‘Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch.’ Zechariah 3:8. Christ is revealed as the Redeemer and Deliverer of His people. Now indeed are the remnant ‘men wondered at,’ as the tears and humiliation of their pilgrimage give place to joy and honor in the presence of God and the Lamb. ‘In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone that is written among the living in Jerusalem.’ Isaiah 4:2, 3.” Prophets and Kings 587–592.

“如今,天使的话得以完全应验了:‘大祭司约书亚啊,你和坐在你面前的同伴都要听,因为他们是令人惊奇的人;看哪,我要使我的仆人——枝子——出现。’撒迦利亚书3:8。基督被显明为祂百姓的救赎主和拯救者。如今,余民的确成为‘令人惊奇的人’,因为他们寄居生涯中的眼泪与羞辱,已让位于在神和羔羊面前的喜乐与尊荣。‘到那日,耶和华的枝子必华美荣耀;地的出产必为以色列逃脱的人显为优美可喜。并且,留下在锡安、存留在耶路撒冷的,凡在耶路撒冷活人之中被记名的,都必称为圣。’以赛亚书4:2、3。”先知与君王 587-592。