It is essential in understanding the message that is being unsealed in the book of Revelation, to recognize the roots, development and significance of the Protestant Reformation. Three primary lines within the history of that Reformation address the Bible, and the correct methodology to be used in studying the Bible and also that the chosen messengers through that history are waymarks of that history. As always is the case Satan attempted to hide the King James Bible with several counterfeits, and he sought to hide the correct methodology for understanding the Bible with several counterfeits and he also sought to hide the correct messengers (waymarks) that were raised up along the way in that history.

要理解《启示录》中正被揭开的信息,认识宗教改革的根源、发展与意义至关重要。在那场改革的历史中,有三条主要线索:一是关于圣经,二是关于研读圣经应当采用的正确方法,三是关于那段历史中所拣选的使者——他们是那段历史的路标。一如既往,撒但企图用若干假冒的版本来掩盖《钦定版圣经》,又企图用若干虚假的方法来遮蔽理解圣经的正确方法,并且还企图以假使者来遮盖在那段历史进程中被兴起的那些拣选的使者(这些使者就是那段历史的路标)。

“But Satan was not idle. He now attempted what he has attempted in every other reformatory movement—to deceive and destroy the people by palming off upon them a counterfeit in place of the true work. As there were false Christ’s in the first century of the Christian church, so there arose false prophets in the sixteenth century.” The Great Controversy, 186.

但撒但并未闲着。他现在企图做他在其他每一次改革运动中都做过的事——以假充真,把赝品强加给他们,以代替真正的工作,从而欺骗并毁灭民众。正如在基督教会的第一世纪有假基督一样,十六世纪也兴起了假先知。《大争战》,第186页。

In the Millerite history from 1840 through 1844 the mantle of Protestantism, (which is one of two horns on the earth-beast that is the United States), Millerite Adventism became the Protestant horn. At the same time, the churches who had previously professed to be Protestant became apostate Protestantism, or as the Millerites identified them, “the daughters of Rome.” When the Protestants rejected the first angel’s message in 1843, they fell and the Millerites carried on with the mantle of Protestantism. The Millerite history was the climax of God’s work in bringing His “church in the wilderness” up to the full understanding of the Word of God.

在1840年至1844年的米勒派历史中,新教的衣钵(它是那地上兽——美国——所具的两个角之一)由米勒派复临运动承接,米勒派成为了新教的那只角。与此同时,先前自称为新教的诸教会则成了背道的新教,正如米勒派所称,他们是“罗马的女儿”。当新教徒在1843年拒绝第一天使的信息时,他们就堕落了,而米勒派则继续承担新教的衣钵。米勒派的这段历史,是神将祂“旷野中的教会”带到对神话语完全理解之工作的高潮。

The opening of the investigative judgment brought the test of the law of God and especially the Sabbath. To proclaim the third angel’s message required a church that upheld the law of God, which had been buried under papal traditions and customs during the Dark Ages. Christ brought the Protestants to the history of 1840 to 1844 and presented the test of Elijah, of whom William Miller was typified, and when the Protestants rejected Miller’s message they returned to Rome. The test of the first angel’s message as delivered by Miller was typified by Elijah at Mount Carmel.

查案审判的开启带来了对上帝律法的考验,尤其是安息日。要宣讲第三位天使的信息,就需要一间高举并维护上帝律法的教会;而在黑暗时代,这律法被教皇的传统和习俗所掩埋。基督带领新教徒进入1840年至1844年的历史,并把以利亚的考验摆在他们面前;威廉·米勒被视为以利亚的预表。当新教徒拒绝米勒的信息时,他们便回到罗马教会。米勒所传第一位天使信息的考验,正由迦密山上的以利亚所预表。

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21.

以利亚来到众民面前,说:你们在两种意见之间徘徊要到几时呢?若耶和华是神,就跟从他;若巴力是神,就跟从他。众民却没有一句话回答他。列王纪上 18:21。

In 1840, when confronted with the message of Elijah, represented by Miller and the first angel, the Protestants chose Baal!

1840年,当面对由米勒和第一位天使所代表的以利亚的信息时,新教徒选择了巴力!

The Protestant Reformation was an unsealing of the truths of the Bible that began with the “morning star,” which was promised to be given during the history represented by the church of Thyatira. The direct attack against the Bible began centuries earlier and is clearly presented in The Great Controversy, especially with the history of the Waldensians. In 1930, Benjamin Wilkerson published the book, Our Authorized Bible Vindicated. The book documents the warfare against the sacred original texts that were ultimately used to translate the King James Bible and the various satanic counterfeit texts that were and still are promoted by Catholics, apostate Protestantism and Laodicean Adventists. The warfare began well before the history of the Waldensians, but they are the waymark and symbol of those who gave their lives to testify to the importance of the correct manuscripts that were ultimately translated into the 1611 King James Bible.

宗教改革是对圣经真理的揭开封印,始于那颗“晨星”,这“晨星”曾应许要在推雅推喇教会所代表的历史时期赐下。对圣经的直接攻击早在数个世纪之前就已开始,并在《大争战》中有清楚的呈现,尤其是在关于瓦勒度派的历史中。1930年,本杰明·威尔克森出版了《我们的钦定本圣经的辩护》一书。该书记载了那场针对神圣原始手稿的争战——这些手稿最终被用来翻译《钦定版圣经》——以及由天主教、背道的新教界以及老底嘉的复临信徒过去并仍在推崇的各式撒但伪造文本。这场争战早在瓦勒度派的历史之前就已开始,但他们是那些为见证正统手稿之重要性而献身之人的路标与象征;这些手稿最终被译成1611年的《钦定版圣经》。

The production of the King James Bible in 1611 went through a very specific translation process. The process of translating and publishing the Bible was accomplished through seven steps of production. It also took seven years to accomplish, and seven biblical years is twenty-five hundred and twenty days. That is of course the same number of prophetic days in which Jesus confirmed the covenant with many in fulfillment of Daniel nine. In the center of that sacred week Christ was crucified, and of course Christ crucified is the center of the Bible. Those seven steps to produce the pure Word of God were as follows.

1611年《英王钦定本圣经》的编纂经历了一个非常具体的翻译流程。翻译并出版这部圣经的过程是通过七个制作步骤完成的。这项工作也历时七年才完成;而按圣经的历法,七年是二千五百二十天。这当然与耶稣为应验《但以理书》第九章而与多人坚定盟约时所对应的先知性天数相同。在那神圣的一周的中间,基督被钉十字架;而钉十字架的基督当然也是圣经的中心。为产生神纯正话语的那七个步骤如下。

  1. FIRST: Initial Translation by Individuals: Around 50 translators were divided into six committees, each responsible for different sections of the Bible. These individuals worked on translating from the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) into English.

    第一:个人初译:约50名译者被分成六个委员会,每个委员会负责圣经的不同部分。这些译者从原文语言(希伯来语、亚兰语和希腊语)翻译成英语。

  2. SECOND: Committee Review: After each committee completed their translation of a section, the work was reviewed by the committee members themselves. This allowed for collective input and correction of errors.

    第二:委员会审阅:各委员会完成某一部分的翻译后,该工作由委员会成员自行审阅,从而汇集集体意见并纠正错误。

  3. THIRD: General Committee Review: The individual committee translations were then submitted to a larger group of scholars, referred to as the General Committee. This committee consisted of representatives from each of the six translation committees. They reviewed the entire work, comparing and harmonizing the different committee translations.

    第三:总委员会审查:各委员会的译稿随后提交给一个更大规模的学者团体,即总委员会。该委员会由来自六个翻译委员会的代表组成。他们审阅了整部作品,对不同委员会的译稿进行比较与协调。

  4. FOURTH: Additional Review and Revision: The General Committee’s revised version was sent back to the individual committees for further review and refinement. This iterative process helped ensure that the translation was consistent and accurate.

    第四:附加审阅与修订:总委员会修订后的版本被送回各个委员会,供进一步审阅和完善。这个迭代过程有助于确保译文的一致性和准确性。

  5. FIFTH: Final Review and Approval: Once the individual committees completed their revisions, the final draft was submitted to the General Committee for a final review and approval.

    第五:最终审查与批准:各个委员会完成修订后,最终稿提交给总委员会,以供最终审查和批准。

  6. SIXTH: Royal Approval and Publication: The approved translation was then presented to King James I for his approval.

    第六:王室批准与出版:经批准的译本随后呈交给詹姆斯一世国王以供他批准。

  7. SEVENTH: Once he granted his royal approval, the translation was published in 1611 as the King James Version (Authorized Version) of the Bible.

    第七:在他予以御准后,该译本于1611年作为《圣经》的钦定版(授权版)出版。

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. Psalms 12:6, 7.

耶和华的话语是纯净的话语,像在土炉中熬炼过的银子,七次炼净。耶和华啊,你必保守他们,你必从这世代起,直到永远保全他们。诗篇 12:6、7。

In the warfare of Satan against God’s word, and against the waymarks represented by the various messengers of that unfolding history and of the correct methodology to be used in rightly dividing His Word the King James Bible of 1611, is a waymark that is specifically identified in Psalm twelve. None of the various counterfeit Bibles that have been produced through corrupted Catholic manuscripts meets the criteria of Psalm twelve. The purification process that took seven steps and the period of twenty-five hundred and twenty days identify that the King James Bible is God’s “pure words.” God promises to keep the King James Bible as His pure Word forever, and He therefore promises to uphold the methodology of “historicism” that was employed by the Protestant reformers, including William Miller.

在撒但与神话语为敌,并与那些由逐步展开的历史中的诸位使者以及用于按着正意分解祂话语的正确方法论所代表的路标为敌的这场争战中,1611年的《钦定版圣经》是一个在诗篇第十二篇中被明确指出的路标。凡是依靠被败坏的天主教手稿制作出来的各类伪造的圣经版本,无一符合诗篇第十二篇的标准。那经历七次的炼净过程,以及二千五百二十日的时期,都表明《钦定版圣经》就是神“纯净的言语”。神应许永远保守《钦定版圣经》作为祂纯净的话语,因此祂也应许维护新教改革者(包括威廉·米勒)所采用的“历史主义”方法论。

In the fourteenth century John Wycliffe, who is identified as “the morning star of the Reformation” in the book The Great Controversy was used by God to translate the Bible into a language that even a common man would understand. He is the messenger that marks the waymark of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

在十四世纪,约翰·威克里夫(在名为《The Great Controversy》的书中被称为“宗教改革的晨星”)被上帝使用,将《圣经》翻译成连普通人也能理解的语言。他是标志新教改革开端的使者。

“The great movement that Wycliffe inaugurated, which was to liberate the conscience and the intellect, and set free the nations so long bound to the triumphal car of Rome, had its spring in the Bible. Here was the source of that stream of blessing, which, like the water of life, has flowed down the ages since the fourteenth century. Wycliffe accepted the Holy Scriptures with implicit faith as the inspired revelation of God’s will, a sufficient rule of faith and practice. He had been educated to regard the Church of Rome as the divine, infallible authority, and to accept with unquestioning reverence the established teachings and customs of a thousand years; but he turned away from all these to listen to God’s holy word. This was the authority which he urged the people to acknowledge. Instead of the church speaking through the pope, he declared the only true authority to be the voice of God speaking through His word. And he taught not only that the Bible is a perfect revelation of God’s will, but that the Holy Spirit is its only interpreter, and that every man is, by the study of its teachings, to learn his duty for himself. Thus he turned the minds of men from the pope and the Church of Rome to the word of God.

威克里夫所发起的伟大运动,旨在解放良心与理智,使久被拴系在罗马凯旋战车上的诸国得以自由,其泉源在于圣经。这里是那股祝福之流的源头,它如同生命的活水,自十四世纪以来长流不息。威克里夫以毫无保留的信心接受圣经,视之为上帝所默示、启示其旨意的话语,并且是信仰与实践充足的准则。他曾受教育,将罗马教会视为神圣而无误的权威,并以毫无质疑的敬畏接受千年来既定的教义与习俗;但他却转离这一切,去聆听上帝的圣言。这正是他敦促百姓承认的权威。他宣称,真正唯一的权威不是教会藉教皇发言,而是上帝藉着祂的话语发声。他又教导说,圣经不仅是上帝旨意的完全启示,圣灵也是其唯一的诠释者,并且人人都当藉着研读其中的教训,亲自明白自己当尽的本分。于是,他使人的心思从教皇和罗马教会转向上帝的话语。

“Wycliffe was one of the greatest of the Reformers. In breadth of intellect, in clearness of thought, in firmness to maintain the truth, and in boldness to defend it, he was equaled by few who came after him. Purity of life, unwearying diligence in study and in labor, incorruptible integrity, and Christlike love and faithfulness in his ministry, characterized the first of the Reformers. And this notwithstanding the intellectual darkness and moral corruption of the age from which he emerged.

威克里夫是宗教改革家中最伟大的人物之一。在智识的广博、思维的清晰、维护真理的坚定以及为之辩护的勇气方面,后来者能与他相匹者寥寥。生活的纯洁、在学习与劳作中的不倦勤勉、不受玷污的正直,以及在其事工中基督般的爱与忠诚,构成了这位宗教改革先驱的鲜明特征。而这一切,尽管他所出身的时代充斥着智识的黑暗与道德的腐败,仍然如此。

“The character of Wycliffe is a testimony to the educating, transforming power of the Holy Scriptures. It was the Bible that made him what he was. The effort to grasp the great truths of revelation imparts freshness and vigor to all the faculties. It expands the mind, sharpens the perceptions, and ripens the judgment. The study of the Bible will ennoble every thought, feeling, and aspiration as no other study can. It gives stability of purpose, patience, courage, and fortitude; it refines the character and sanctifies the soul. An earnest, reverent study of the Scriptures, bringing the mind of the student in direct contact with the infinite mind, would give to the world men of stronger and more active intellect, as well as of nobler principle, than has ever resulted from the ablest training that human philosophy affords. ‘The entrance of Thy words,’ says the psalmist, ‘giveth light; it giveth understanding.’ Psalm 119:130.” The Great Controversy, 93, 94.

威克里夫的品格,正是圣经具有教化并改变人心之大能的明证。正是圣经造就了他。为把握启示中的重大真理而付出的努力,会为人的一切心智机能注入新鲜与活力。它拓展心智,使悟性更敏锐,并使判断力更加成熟。研读圣经能使每一个思想、情感和志向高尚起来,这是任何其他学问都做不到的。它赐下目标的坚定、忍耐、勇气和刚毅;它陶冶品格,使灵魂成圣。恳切而恭敬地研读圣经,使学生的心思直接与那无限的心智相接,将为世界带来智力更强、更为活跃、并且原则更高尚的人才,这远胜过人类哲学所能提供的最精良训练所产生的结果。“‘你的言语一进入,’诗人说,‘就发出光;它赐下悟性。’诗篇119:130。” 《大争战》,第93、94页。

Following the testimony concerning John Wycliffe in The Great Controversy, Sister White provides a list of faithful reformers (waymarks), that ultimately reaches the reformer John Knox. She identifies a significant question posed to John Knox from Mary the Queen of Scotland.

在《善恶之争》中关于约翰·威克里夫的见证之后,怀爱伦姐妹列出了一份忠实的改革者(路标)名单,最终指向改革者约翰·诺克斯。她指出了苏格兰女王玛丽向约翰·诺克斯提出的一个重要问题。

“John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the church, to feed upon the truths of God’s Word, and the teaching of Wishart had confirmed his determination to forsake the communion of Rome, and join himself to the persecuted reformers. . . .

约翰·诺克斯已经背离教会的传统与神秘主义,转而以上帝话语的真理为粮;而威沙特的教导则坚定了他离弃与罗马教会共融,并加入受迫害的改革者行列的决心……

“When brought face to face with the queen of Scotland, in whose presence the zeal of many a leader of the Protestants had abated, John Knox bore unswerving witness for the truth. He was not to be won by caresses; he quailed not before threats. The queen charged him with heresy. He had taught the people to receive a religion prohibited by the State, she declared, and had thus transgressed God’s command enjoining subjects to obey their princes. Knox answered firmly:—‘As right religion received neither its origin nor its authority from princes, but from the eternal God alone, so are not subjects bound to frame their religion according to the tastes of their princes. For oft it is that princes, of all others, are the most ignorant of God’s true religion. If all the seed of Abraham had been of the religion of Pharaoh, whose subjects they long were, I pray you, madam, what religion would there have been in the world? And if all in the days of the apostles had been of the religion of the Roman emperors, I pray you, madam, what religion would there have been now upon the earth? … And so, madam, you may perceive that subjects are not bound to the religion of their princes, although they are commanded to give them reverence.’

当约翰·诺克斯被带到苏格兰女王面前时——在她的面前,许多新教领袖的热忱都已减退——他仍然毫不动摇地为真理作见证。他不为恩宠所动;也不为威胁所惧。女王指控他为异端。她宣称,他教导百姓接受国家所禁止的宗教,因此违背了上帝命令臣民顺服君王的诫命。诺克斯坚定地回答:“正当的宗教的起源与权威都不来自君王,而是唯独来自永恒的上帝;因此,臣民并不受约束要按照君王的喜好来决定他们的宗教。因为君王往往比众人更不了解上帝的真宗教。若是亚伯拉罕的后裔都信奉他们长期所臣服的法老的宗教,请问陛下,世上还会有什么宗教?又若在使徒的日子里,人人都信奉罗马皇帝的宗教,请问陛下,如今世上还会有什么宗教?……因此,陛下,您当明白,臣民并不受制于君王的宗教,尽管他们被命令要向君王表示尊敬。”

“Said Mary, ‘You interpret the Scripture in one way, and they [the Romish teachers] interpret it in another; whom shall I believe, and who shall be judge?’

玛丽说:“你以一种方式解释《圣经》,而他们[罗马天主教的教师]又以另一种方式解释;我该相信谁?由谁来作裁判?”

“‘You shall believe God, who plainly speaketh in his Word,’ answered the reformer; ‘and farther than the Word teaches you, ye shall believe neither the one nor the other. The Word of God is plain in itself, and if in any one place there be obscurity, the Holy Ghost, who never is contrary to himself, explains the same more clearly in other places, so that there can remain no doubt but unto such as are obstinately ignorant.’ Such were the truths that the fearless reformer, at the peril of his life, spoke in the ear of royalty. With the same undaunted courage he kept to his purpose, praying and fighting the battles of the Lord, until Scotland was free from popery.” The Great Controversy, 250, 251.

改革者回答说:“你们当信上帝,他在他的话语中已明明说话;凡超出上帝话语所教导你们的,无论哪一方,你们都不可相信。上帝的话语本身是清楚的;若某处有晦暗,圣灵——他绝不与自己相矛盾——便会在别处更清楚地加以解释,因此除了那些顽梗无知的人之外,不会留下任何疑惑。”这些就是那位无畏的改革者冒着生命危险在王室面前所说的真理。他以同样无畏的勇气坚持他的宗旨,祷告并为主争战,直到苏格兰脱离了教皇制度。 《大争战》,250、251。

The interaction between the reformer and the queen highlights the third thread in the reformation history that identifies Satan’s effort to counterfeit the Bible, the reformers and the methodology of biblical study. John’s answer to the Queen was that the correct methodology is “historicism” which is premised upon a line of prophetic history being explained by the Holy Spirit with another line of prophetic history.

改革者与女王之间的互动凸显了宗教改革史中的第三条线索,这条线索揭示了撒但企图伪造《圣经》、改革者以及圣经研究方法论的图谋。约翰对女王的回答是,正确的方法论是“历史主义”,其前提是:由圣灵借着另一条预言历史的线索来解释一条预言历史的线索。

The light had been opened in the darkness. Wycliffe and the early reformers all the way through the Millerite history employed a method of biblical study labelled “historicism.” The history of the biblical method of Bible study is often overlooked, but is essential to recognize if one truly will see the significance of the rules of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller and thereafter by Future for America.

在黑暗中,光已经开启。威克里夫和早期的改革者,一直到米勒派时期,都采用了一种被称为“历史主义”的圣经解经方法。这种圣经研读方法的历史常被忽视,但若要真正看出米勒以及其后“美国的未来”所采纳的预言解释规则的重要性,就必须认识这段历史。

There are only two churches Sister White identifies as God’s denominated people. That being ancient Israel and the Seventh-day Adventist church.

怀爱伦姐妹认定为上帝所命名的子民的教会只有两个:古代以色列和基督复临安息日会。

“The reasons why we are denominated people of God are to be repeated and repeated. Deuteronomy 4:1–13” Manuscript Releases, volume 8, 426.

“我们被称为上帝的子民的原因,应当一再重申。申命记 4:1-13” 《手稿发布》,第8卷,第426页。

The church of the apostles,’ the church in the wilderness during the papal darkness were never called God’s denominated people, for the term (meaning to be named) represents a church that is given the responsibility of being the depositaries of God’s law, and with Adventism they were also to be the depositaries of God’s prophetic truths.

使徒时代的教会,以及在教皇黑暗时期身处旷野的教会,从未被称为上帝所命名的子民,因为这一称谓(意为被命名)指的是蒙托付成为上帝律法保管者之责任的教会,而在复临信仰中,这一教会也要成为上帝预言真理的保管者。

“God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth.” Testimonies, volume 5, 455.

上帝在今天像祂昔日呼召古代以色列那样,呼召祂的教会在世上作光。借着真理的大斧——第一、第二、第三位天使的信息——祂使他们与各教会并与世界分别开来,使他们得以与祂有神圣的亲近。祂使他们成为祂律法的保管者,并将这一时期的重大预言真理托付给他们。正如托付给古代以色列的神圣圣言一样,这些也是要传达给世界的神圣托付。启示录十四章的三位天使,代表那些接受上帝信息之光,并作为祂的使者出去,在普天之下发出警告的人。证言,第五卷,第455页。

William Miller represented the chosen messenger to open God’s prophetic truths, and when those truths led a people to the open door of the Most Holy Place in 1844, God then opened up the law of God. Wycliffe is a waymark in opening up the Bible and producing the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, but he is also a waymark of God’s work to establish “the great truths of prophecy.” John Wycliffe was the morning star identified in the history of the twelve-hundred and sixty year rule of the papacy. His work began in the fourteenth century, then in the seventeenth century another waymark of that prophetic line was the production of the King James Bible in 1611. On that line we ultimately reach the waymark of Miller’s rules of prophetic interpretation. Miller is a waymark in that line of truth, and so are his rules. His rules give witness to a waymark at the end of Adventism represented by the publication of Prophetic Keys.

威廉·米勒是上帝所拣选用以开启祂预言真理的使者;当这些真理在1844年把一群人引到至圣所的敞开之门前时,上帝随后又开启了祂的律法。威克里夫在开启圣经并促成宗教改革开端方面是一个路标,但他也是上帝为确立“预言的大真理”这项工作的一个路标。约翰·威克里夫在教皇制一千二百六十年统治的历史中被认作那颗晨星。他的工作始于十四世纪,随后在十七世纪,那条预言线路上的另一处路标是1611年《钦定版圣经》的问世。沿着那条线,我们最终抵达米勒的预言解释规则这一路标。米勒是那条真理线上的一个路标,他的规则也是。他的这些规则为复临运动末期的一个路标作见证,这个路标以《预言钥匙》的出版为代表。

If we do not understand that Miller’s rules were a waymark in a line of prophetic history representing the work to preserve the original and correct texts of the Bible and also the work of the opening up the true understanding of the Bible, which required that the reformers were led to understand and employ the sacred methodology of study called “historicism,” we lack the information necessary to recognize prophetic truths associated with the work of presenting and preserving the light of the third angel at the end of Adventism. For this reason, it is important to take a small survey of that line of history.

如果我们不明白,米勒的规则是预言历史线上的一个路标,它标志着两项工作:保存圣经原始且正确文本的工作,以及开启对圣经真实理解的工作;而要开展后一项工作,改革者必须被引导去理解并运用一种称为“历史主义”的神圣研究方法,那么我们就缺乏识别那些与复临运动末期传扬并保守第三位天使信息的亮光之工作相关的预言真理所必需的信息。因此,有必要对那条历史线作一次简要的回顾。

The only genuine definition of the word “Protestant” is to protest Rome. If a church ceases to protest Rome, it is no longer Protestant and it then becomes a daughter of Rome, as did the Protestants who rejected the first angel’s message. The premier understanding that became the “motto” of the Protestants that came out of the Catholic church was “the Bible and the Bible alone.” Yet history attests to the fact that the Bible needed to be rightly divided.

“‘新教徒’一词唯一真正的定义,就是抗议罗马。若一个教会停止抗议罗马,它就不再是新教,而成了罗马的女儿,正如那些拒绝第一位天使信息的新教徒一样。从天主教会出来的新教徒的首要认识,并成为他们‘座右铭’的是‘唯独圣经’。然而,历史也见证了一个事实:圣经需要被按正意分解。”

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15, 16.

要竭力使自己在神面前蒙称许,作一个不必羞愧的工人,准确分解真理的道。但要远避亵渎而虚浮的闲谈,因为这些会使人更加不敬虔。提摩太后书 2:15-16

The method of biblical study that the Protestants were led to use in their efforts to rightly divide the word of truth is “historicism.” That method was a specific and serious target for Satan to attack, and attack he did.

新教徒在努力按着正意分解真理的道时,被引导去使用的圣经研究方法是“历史主义”。这种方法成为撒但刻意且猛烈攻击的目标,而撒但确实对其发动了攻击。

“We should know for ourselves what constitutes Christianity, what is truth, what is the faith that we have received, what are the Bible rules—the rules given us from the highest authority.” The 1888 Materials, 403.

我们应当自己知道:什么构成基督教,什么是真理,什么是我们所领受的信仰,圣经的准则是什么——那是最高权威赐给我们的准则。《1888文稿》,403页。

The undermining of the biblical methodology used by the Reformers all the way to and including William Miller is specifically identified as beginning in the fifteenth century with a Jesuit scholar named Francisco Ribera (1537–1591), who is credited with popularizing the futurist interpretation. He wrote a commentary on the book of Revelation that proposed a futuristic interpretation of the prophecies, distancing them from the historical context. Ribera invented this methodology for the purpose of resisting the truth which the methodology of historicism always produced. That truth was that the pope of Rome is the antichrist of Bible prophecy.

对宗教改革者(一直到并包括威廉·米勒)所采用的圣经方法论的削弱,被明确指出始于十五世纪,起因于一位名叫弗朗西斯科·里韦拉(1537—1591)的耶稣会学者,他被认为普及了未来主义的诠释。他为《启示录》撰写评注,提出对这些预言的未来主义解释,使之与其历史语境保持距离。里韦拉发明这种方法论,是为了抵制历史主义方法论一贯得出的真理。这个真理就是:罗马教皇是圣经预言中的敌基督。

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it can be documented that Protestantism knew that Ribera’s false methodology was satanic and unsound. The Protestants in that history wrote books and tracts opposing the “profane and vain babblings” of the Jesuit scholar. But in 1909, the Trojan horse, the Scofield Reference Bible was published, and the references inserted into the footnotes of the Bible were based upon the teachings of Ribera and another Jesuit named Manuel Lacunza (1731–1801). Lacunza wrote under the pen name Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra, and published a book titled The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty. As Ribera before him, the book was a direct attack upon the fulfillment of the prophecies in the book of Revelation.

在十七、十八世纪,有文献可证,新教界认识到里贝拉的虚假方法是撒旦式且站不住脚的。当时的新教徒撰写书籍和小册子,反对这位耶稣会学者的“亵渎而虚妄的空谈”。然而,1909年,这匹“特洛伊木马”——《司可菲尔德参考圣经》——出版了,而插入圣经脚注中的参考注释是以里贝拉以及另一位名为马努埃尔·拉昆萨(1731—1801)的耶稣会士的教导为依据。拉昆萨以笔名“胡安·约萨法特·本·以斯拉”写作,并出版了一本名为《弥赛亚在荣耀与威严中的降临》的书。正如他之前的里贝拉一样,这本书直接攻击了《启示录》中预言的应验。

Satan knew the message he needed to cloud with confusion was the final warning message that comes from the book of Revelation. Incorporating the profane and vain babblings of the two Jesuit priests into the references within the Scofield Reference Bible allowed Satan to lead apostate Protestants into accepting the Jesuit methodologies, thus blinding them to the truth. Satan accomplished by introducing several Catholic prophetic models which removed the possibility to clearly identify who the antichrist of Bible prophecy is. It was not a difficult deception for Satan, for the Protestants had already returned to the Roman church with their rejection of Miller’s message in 1843.

撒但知道他要以混乱加以遮蔽的信息,就是来自《启示录》的末后警告信息。将两位耶稣会神父那亵渎而虚妄的胡言掺入《司可福参考圣经》中的参考注释,就使撒但得以引导背道的新教徒去接受耶稣会的方法,从而使他们对真理失明。撒但通过引入若干天主教的预言模式而达成了这一点,这些模式使人无法清楚辨认圣经预言中的敌基督是谁。这对撒但来说并不是难以施展的欺骗,因为新教徒在1843年拒绝米勒的信息时就已经回到罗马教会了。

There have been several books and articles published through the years that document Satan’s attack upon the Bible, that began in the first few centuries after Christ was crucified. That attack reached a point where counterfeit manuscripts were introduced to produce counterfeit Bibles. Satan also attacked the reformers that were raised up to uphold God’s word while they lived and even after those Reformers died.

多年来,已有若干书籍和文章出版,记录了撒但对《圣经》的攻击,这种攻击始于基督被钉十字架后的头几世纪。那场攻击发展到一个地步,有人引入伪造的抄本,以此制作伪造的《圣经》。撒但也攻击那些被兴起来维护神的话语的宗教改革家,无论他们在世之时,还是在他们去世之后。

Just consider how modern Seventh-day Adventist historians and theologians treat the subject of William Miller. It is as if they dug up his bones and cast them into the Mississippi River.

不妨想想现代基督复临安息日会的历史学家和神学家是如何对待威廉·米勒这个话题的。简直仿佛他们把他的遗骨掘出,抛入密西西比河。

“William Miller was disturbing Satan’s kingdom, and the arch-enemy sought not only to counteract the effect of the message, but to destroy the messenger himself. As Father Miller made a practical application of Scripture truth to the hearts of his hearers, the rage of professed Christians was kindled against him, even as the anger of the Jews was excited against Christ and his apostles. Church-members stirred up the baser classes, and upon several occasions enemies plotted to take his life as he should leave the place of meeting. But holy angels were in the throng, and one of these, in the form of a man, took the arm of this servant of the Lord, and led him in safety from the angry mob. His work was not yet done, and Satan and his emissaries were disappointed in their purpose.” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 4, 219.

“威廉·米勒正在扰乱撒但的国度,那位大仇敌不但要抵消这信息的影响,还要将传信者置于死地。米勒老先生把圣经真理切实应用到听众的心里时,自称基督徒的人对他怒火中烧,正如当年犹太人对基督及其使徒所激起的怒气一样。教会成员煽动下层粗鄙之辈,并且有好几次,敌人密谋要在他离开聚会地点时取他性命。但圣天使也在人群之中,其中一位以人的形象,挽着这位主仆的手臂,平安地引领他脱离愤怒的暴民。他的工作尚未完成,撒但及其爪牙的图谋落空了。” 《预言之灵》第四卷,第219页。

Look at how those same two categories of Adventism (theologians and historians) have downplayed and covered up the validity of the rules of Miller, which Sister White informs us will be used by all who actually proclaim the three angel’s messages.

看看复临运动中的这两类人(神学家和历史学家)如何淡化并掩盖米勒原则的有效性;怀特姐妹告诉我们,凡真正宣讲三位天使的信息的人都将使用这些原则。

“Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology, Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:—

从事宣讲第三位天使的信息的人,正按照米勒老先生所采用的同样方法查考圣经。在一本题为《预言观与预言年代学》的小册子中,米勒老先生为研读和解释圣经提出了如下既简明又明智且重要的原则:

“[Rules one through five quoted.]

[已引用第1至第5条规则。]

“The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth.” Review and Herald, November 25, 1884.

以上是这些规则的一部分;在我们研读《圣经》时,我们都应当留意并遵循所阐明的原则。《评论与先驱》,1884年11月25日。

Without reviewing the three threads of the line of prophetic history associated with the development and establishment of God’s Word it is impossible to see the significance of a major testimony to uphold William Miller as the messenger that was typified by Elijah in his presentation of the message, and as Moses in the promise of Miller being raised up in the resurrection of the righteous, and as Elisha in his willingness to leave his farm and serve the Elijah message. Sister White identifies all three of the biblical heroes as typifying William Miller, who is now treated by modern Adventist theologians and historians as if he was simply some “poor farm boy” from the eighteenth century.

若不回顾与上帝话语的发展与确立相关的预言历史脉络中的三条线索,就无法看出一项重要见证的意义:这见证支持将威廉·米勒视为那位使者——在他传讲信息的呈现上,他由以利亚所预表;在关于米勒将在义人复活时被复活的应许上,他如同摩西;而在他愿意离开自己的农场去服事以利亚信息这一点上,他又如以利沙。怀特姐妹指出,这三位圣经英雄都预表了威廉·米勒;然而如今的复临派神学家和历史学家却待他如同不过是十八世纪的一个“贫穷的农家男孩”。

William Tyndale was one of the many reformers raised up in this line of prophetic history. If I might say it this way, his ‘mission statement’ against the pope’s ambassadors he interacted with was, “I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of the Scriptures than you do.” William Miller was the farm boy, who drove the plow and fulfilled Tyndale’s prophecy.

威廉·丁道尔是这条预言历史线上兴起的众多改革者之一。若可以这样说,他针对与他接触的教皇使者的“使命宣言”是:“我必使驾犁的男孩比你更懂圣经。”威廉·米勒就是那个农家男孩,他驾着犁耕地,并应验了丁道尔的预言。

This introduction has been greatly simplified in terms of all the history that could be brought to bear in support of what we have presented up until now. We will now consider some signatures of Alpha and Omega in order to lead back to the consideration of Miller as a waymark and a messenger.

就所有可以用来支持我们迄今所呈现内容的历史而言,这篇引言已经大大简化。现在我们将考察一些阿尔法和欧米伽的记号,以便把讨论引回到将米勒视为路标与使者的考量。

The book of Daniel is the beginning of a book that consists of two books. The end of that book is the book of Revelation. Though they are two distinct books, together they represent one book.

《但以理书》是由两本书组成的一本书的开端。那本书的结尾是《启示录》。虽然它们是两本不同的书,但合在一起,它们代表一本书。

Years ago, I had a public interaction with a well-known Seventh-day Adventist theologian who worked at the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The theologian was attempting to correct my understanding of the last six verses of Daniel eleven, and also my understanding of the “daily” in the book of Daniel. In our interaction which took place over a period of time, for it consisted of his producing an article which I responded to, which he then answered back, and then of course I returned my thoughts, and so on and so forth. In the interaction he informed me that in the committee he worked in at the General Conference, he was considered the expert on the book of Daniel, and that a coworker of his was considered the resident expert on the book of Revelation. In our interactions he did not want to address points in the book of Revelation, but rather refer them to his colleague. He wanted to keep the discussion in the book of Daniel alone.

多年前,我与一位知名的基督复临安息日会神学家有过公开的交流,他在基督复临安息日会总会的圣经研究所工作。这位神学家试图纠正我对《但以理书》第十一章最后六节的理解,以及我对《但以理书》中“常献的”的理解。我们的交流持续了一段时间:他先撰写了一篇文章,我作出回应,他再回复,随后我又提出进一步的看法,如此往复。在交流中,他告诉我,在他于总会所任职的委员会里,他被视为《但以理书》方面的专家,而他的同事则被认为是《启示录》方面的常驻专家。在我们的交流中,他不愿就《启示录》中的要点发表意见,而是把这些问题转交给那位同事。他希望讨论只限于《但以理书》。

Sister White is clear that Daniel and Revelation are one book. At that level they represent the Bible, which is one book made up of two books, the old and the new. Sister White also comments on the Jewish church, that only considers the old book to be the one book, and she also comments on those who disregard the old book for they only understand or are only willing to understand the new book. Her inspired testimony is that if you only accept the new, then you reject the old, and vice versa. For the theologian to claim he was the expert of Daniel, but not of Revelation is repeating the Jewish concept of only accepting the Old Testament, and we know where that narrow view led the Jews. Taking either side of the issue; accepting the old and not the new, or accepting new, but not the old is to reject the entire testimony.

怀特姐妹明确指出,《但以理书》和《启示录》是一卷书。在这个层面上,它们代表整本圣经;而圣经作为一本书,由两部分组成:旧约与新约。怀特姐妹也论及犹太教会,它只把旧约视为唯一的一本书;她也谈到那些轻视旧约的人,因为他们只理解,或只愿意理解新约。她受感的见证是:只接受新约就是拒绝旧约,反之亦然。某位神学家自称是《但以理书》的专家,却不是《启示录》的专家,这不过是重复只接受旧约的犹太式观念,而我们知道这种狭隘的观点把犹太人带到了何处。在这个问题上选择任何一边——接受旧而不接受新,或接受新而不接受旧——都是在拒绝整全的见证。

“The Saviour inquired of his disciples if they understood these things. They answered, ‘Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.’ In this parable, Jesus presented before his disciples the responsibility of those whose work it is to give to the world the light which they have received from him. The Old Testament was all the Scripture then in existence; but it was not written merely for the ancients; it was for all ages and for all people. Jesus would have the teachers of his doctrine diligently search the Old Testament for that light which establishes his identity as the Messiah foretold in prophecy, and reveals the nature of his mission to the world. The Old and the New Testament are inseparable, for both are the teachings of Christ. The doctrine of the Jews, who accept only the Old Testament, is not unto salvation, since they reject the Saviour whose life and ministry was a fulfillment of the law and the prophecies. And the doctrine of those who discard the Old Testament is not unto salvation, because it rejects that which is direct testimony of Christ. Skeptics begin with discounting upon the Old Testament, and it takes but another step to deny the validity of the New, and thus both are rejected.

救主问他的门徒,他们是否明白这些事。他们回答说:“是的,主啊。”他又对他们说:“所以,凡受教归入天国的文士,就像一个家主,从他库里拿出新旧的东西来。” 在这个比喻中,耶稣向门徒呈现了那些以把从他那里所领受的光传给世界为己任之人的责任。当时现存的一切经文只有旧约;但它并非仅为古人而写,而是为历世历代、为一切人而写。耶稣要那些传讲他教训的人殷勤查考旧约,从其中寻得那光,证实他就是先知所预言的弥赛亚,并显明他对世界的使命之本质。旧约与新约不可分割,因为二者都是基督的教训。只接受旧约的犹太人的教义并不能使人得救,因为他们拒绝了那位其生平与事工应验了律法和先知预言的救主;而那些抛弃旧约者的教义也不能使人得救,因为它拒绝了对基督的直接见证。怀疑论者起初轻视旧约,再进一步便否认新约的有效性,于是二者都被弃绝。

“The Jews have little influence over the Christian world in showing them the importance of the commandments, including the binding law of the Sabbath, because in bringing forth the old treasures of truth, they throw aside the new ones in the personal teachings of Jesus. On the other hand, the strongest reason why Christians fail to influence the Jews to accept the teachings of Christ as the language of divine wisdom, is because, in bringing forth the treasures of his word, they treat with contempt the riches of the Old Testament, which are the earlier teachings of the Son of God, through Moses. They reject the law proclaimed from Sinai, and the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, instituted in the garden of Eden. But the minister of the gospel, who follows the teachings of Christ, will gain a thorough knowledge of both the Old and the New Testament, that he may present them in their true light to the people an inseparable whole—the one depending upon and illuminating the other. Thus, as Jesus instructed his disciples, they will bring forth from their treasure ‘things new and old.’” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 2, 255.

犹太人在向基督教世界显示诫命的重要性(包括具有约束力的安息日律法)方面影响甚微,因为他们在拿出旧有的真理珍宝时,把耶稣亲自教导中的新宝藏弃置一旁。相反,基督徒之所以未能影响犹太人,使其把基督的教训视为神圣智慧的言语,最主要的原因在于:他们在拿出他话语的宝藏时,却轻视旧约的丰富,而这正是神子借着摩西较早所赐的教训。他们拒绝在西奈山颁布的律法,以及在伊甸园中设立的第四条诫命之安息日。但那遵行基督教导的福音传道人,将会对旧约与新约都获得透彻的认识,好把它们以其真实的面目呈现给人们,作为一个不可分割的整体,彼此相依、互相阐明。于是,照着耶稣教导门徒的方式,他们会从自己的宝库中带出“新旧的东西”。《预言之灵》第二卷,第255页。

The previous counsel has another application for Laodicean Adventists. To profess to believe the Bible in its entirety, both the Old and the New Testaments, yet reject the Spirit of Prophecy is the identical ditch of accepting only one testimony. Two witnesses are required to establish truth, so it is impossible to establish truth with one witness, and if any attempt to do so they are rejecting both witnesses, they are basing their faith upon what is referred to as ‘half-truths.’

先前的劝告对老底嘉式的复临信徒还有另一种应用。自称完全相信整本圣经——无论旧约还是新约——却拒绝“预言之灵”,这和只接受单一见证是同样的错误。确立真理需要两位见证人,因此仅凭一位见证人不可能确立真理;若有人试图这样做,他们就是在拒绝这两位见证人,把自己的信仰建立在所谓的“半真理”之上。

I will now repeat a question that was in one of the initial articles that have been coming out since July, 2023. The question is, “What new light has come out of Adventism since 1863?” The answer is simply, “None.”

我现在要重述一个问题,这个问题曾出现在自2023年7月以来陆续发表的最初几篇文章之一中。问题是:“自1863年以来,复临派出了什么新的亮光?”答案很简单:“没有。”

The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 7, 971.

《但以理书》和《启示录》是一体的。一本是预言,另一本是启示;一本是封着的书,另一本是展开的书。约翰听见雷声所说的奥秘,但他奉命不可将其写出。《基督复临安息日会圣经注释》,第七卷,第971页。

The Alpha and Omega therefore identifies that Daniel is the first and Revelation the last. Daniel represents the beginning and Revelation represents the end of Adventism.

因此,“阿尔法与欧米伽”表明:《但以理书》为首,《启示录》为终。《但以理书》代表复临主义的开始,而《启示录》代表复临主义的结束。

“Revelation is a sealed book, but it is also an opened book. It records marvelous events that are to take place in the last days of this earth’s history. The teachings of this book are definite, not mystical and unintelligible. In it the same line of prophecy is taken up as in Daniel. Some prophecies God has repeated, thus showing that importance must be given to them. The Lord does not repeat things that are of no great consequence.” Manuscript Releases, volume 9, 8.

启示录是一卷封住的书,但也是一卷开启的书。它记录了将在这地球历史的末后的日子发生的奇妙事件。这本书的教训是明确的,并非神秘莫测、难以理解。其中延续了与《但以理书》中相同的预言脉络。上帝重复了一些预言,这表明必须重视它们。主不会重复那些无关紧要的事。《手稿发布集》第9卷,第8页。

In the beginning of Adventism, in the very verses that are the central pillar of Adventism, the verses that were unsealed in 1798; Jesus introduced Himself as “Palmoni,” the Wonderful Numberer. At the end of Adventism, Jesus introduces Himself as “Alpha and Omega,” the wonderful linguist—the Word of God. For this reason, the beginning of Adventism and the first angel’s message was “hung upon time.” At the end of Adventism, the third angel’s message will be hung upon His Word.

在复临运动的开端——就在那成为复临运动中心柱石、并于1798年被解封的经文中——耶稣自称“Palmoni”,即“奇妙的数算者”。在复临运动的末期,耶稣则自称“阿尔法和俄梅戛”,那位奇妙的语言学家——上帝的道。因此,复临运动的开端和第一位天使的信息是奠基在时间上的;到了复临运动的末期,第三位天使的信息将奠基在祂的话语上。

The beginning and ending of Adventism take place during the history of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy, therefore they occur during the beginning and ending of the United States. The prophetic history of the United States is the history of the two horns of Republicanism and Protestantism. At the conclusion of that history those two horns will have changed from a lamb to a dragon. Republicanism will change to a democracy and Protestantism will change to apostate Protestantism. When the cup of probationary time for the United States begins to come to its close, as is happening right now, the two horns of apostate Republicanism and apostate Protestantism will form an image to the beast, thus merging church and state into one horn that speaks as a dragon. But God will not be left without a witness, for in the process of bringing a conclusion to the United States, He will raise up the genuine horn of Protestantism to protest both the image of the beast in the United States, and thereafter the image of the beast that confronts the entire world. The raising up of the Protestant horn at the end of the United States will be accomplished within the same historical structure as was the Protestant horn raised up in the beginning of the United States. A former covenant people will be passed by, and a new people will become the new covenant people. There is nothing new under the sun.

复临运动的开始与结束发生在圣经预言的第六个王国的历史时期,因此,它们发生在美国的兴起与终结之时。美国的预言历史,就是共和主义与新教这两只角的历史。在那段历史的终结,这两只角将从羔羊变为龙。共和主义将变为民主政体,而新教将变为背道的新教。当美国的恩典期之杯开始将满、临近结束之时(正如现在所发生的),背道的共和主义与背道的新教这两只角将立起兽像,于是政教合一,合而为一只说话如龙的角。然而,神并不会使自己无见证,因为在结束美国的过程中,祂要兴起真正的新教之角,去抗议美国的兽像,随后也要抗议那临到全世界的兽像。美国终局时新教之角的兴起,将在与美国开端时新教之角被兴起相同的历史结构中完成。先前的约民将被越过,新的子民将成为新的约民。日光之下并无新事。

When we use the time prophecies understood and presented in the Millerite history to evaluate the Alpha and Omega, we find they are one in the same. Every time prophecy begins with a history when the prophecy is proclaimed, and that history always typifies the history when the prophecy is fulfilled.

当我们用米勒派历史中所理解并阐述的时间预言来评估阿尔法与欧米伽时,我们发现二者本是一体。每一个时间预言都始于该预言被宣告时的那段历史,而那段历史总是预表该预言应验之时的历史。

The history of the twenty-three hundred year prophecy began on the third decree in 457 BC and ended at the third angel’s message on October 22, 1844. Leading up to, but before the arrival of the third decree the work of erecting the temple and Jerusalem was accomplished. In like manner the history, leading up to the arrival of the third angel, the foundational truths of the Millerite temple was established.

二千三百年预言的历史始于公元前457年的第三道法令,并在1844年10月22日第三位天使的信息时结束。在第三道法令到来之前的预备阶段,建造圣殿和耶路撒冷的工作已经完成。同样地,在通向第三位天使到来的那段历史中,米勒派圣殿的基础真理得以确立。

In 1798, the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy that began in 723 BC with the scattering of the northern ten tribes was fulfilled. That prophecy identified two periods of twelve hundred and sixty years, marking the trampling down of the literal temple and literal Jerusalem by literal pagan Rome, that was followed by twelve hundred and sixty years of papal Rome trampling down the spiritual city and temple. The prophecy began with the destruction of the northern kingdom and the scattering of the kingdom’s citizens. Half way through the prophecy in 538, marks the end of the trampling down of God’s people by pagan Rome, the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy and produces the scattering of God’s church into the wilderness of the Dark Ages. The end of that time prophecy in 1798 marks the end of the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy. The scattering of the northern ten tribes, and of the Christian church that fled into the wilderness represents the gathering of those destined to become the horn of Protestantism. Waymarks are often represented by opposites and a scattering can represent a gathering, just as Elijah represents John the Baptist. In the same prophetic confrontation Elijah does not die, and John the Baptist does.

公元前723年因北方十个支派被分散而开始的二千五百二十年预言,在1798年应验了。该预言指出两个一千二百六十年的时期:首先是历史上的异教罗马对有形的圣殿与有形的耶路撒冷的践踏,随后是一段一千二百六十年的时期,教皇罗马对属灵的城和圣殿加以践踏。这个预言始于北国的毁灭及其国民的分散。在538年这个预言的中点,标志着作为圣经预言中第四国度的异教罗马对神子民的践踏终结,并导致神的教会被分散到黑暗时代的旷野。这段时间预言在1798年的结束,标志着圣经预言中第五国度的终结。北方十个支派的分散,以及逃入旷野的基督教会的分散,代表了那些注定要成为新教那只角之人的聚集。路标常常以相反的事物来呈现,分散也可以代表聚集,正如以利亚代表施洗约翰。在同一场预言性的对峙中,以利亚并未死亡,而施洗约翰却死了。

In 677 BC the southern tribe of Judah, (also identified as the glorious land in the Scriptures) was scattered for twenty-five hundred and twenty years, ending on October 22, 1844. That prophecy was identifying the trampling down of God’s people, who Daniel identifies as the “host” in Daniel 8:13, 14.

公元前677年,南方的犹大支派(在圣经中也称为“荣美之地”)被分散了二千五百二十年,直到1844年10月22日结束。那项预言是在指出对上帝子民的践踏,而但以理在但以理书8:13、14中称他们为“军旅”。

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, 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? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:13, 14.

于是我听见有一位圣者说话,另有一位圣者对那位说话的圣者说:“这关乎常献之祭和那使荒凉的过犯,使圣所与军旅被践踏的异象,要到几时呢?”他对我说:“到二千三百日;然后圣所就必洁净。”但以理书 8:13、14。

The twenty-three hundred year prophecy which ended at the same time as the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy that began in 677 BC was identifying the trampling down of the sanctuary as identified in Daniel 8:13, 14. The prophecy of the scattering of Judah in 677 BC was preceded by three attacks from Nebuchadnezzar and that prophecy ended on the arrival of the third message on October 22, 1844.

那项两千三百年的预言与始于公元前677年的两千五百二十年预言同时结束,所指的是但以理书8:13、14所述的对圣所的践踏。公元前677年关于犹大被分散的预言之前,尼布甲尼撒曾发动了三次进攻,而该预言在1844年10月22日第三个信息到来时结束。

The two twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecies ending respectively in 1798 and 1844 identify the forty-six years of building the Millerite temple foundation. Moses was forty-six days in receiving instructions on building the temple, Herod’s temple remodeling in the time of Christ took forty-six years, which ended the year of Christ’s baptism. From the baptism He went to the wilderness for forty days, and when He returned, he cleansed the temple the first time and the quibbling Jew’s wanted to know by what authority He did such a thing.

分别在1798年和1844年结束的两项二千五百二十年的预言,指明了为米勒派圣殿奠基的四十六年时期。摩西用了四十六天领受关于建造圣殿的指示;在基督的时候,希律对圣殿的重修耗时四十六年,并在基督受洗的那一年结束。受洗之后,他到旷野四十天;回来后,他第一次洁净圣殿,而那些好争辩的犹太人想知道他凭什么权柄做这样的事。

And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. John 2:13–22.

犹太人的逾越节近了,耶稣上耶路撒冷去。他在殿里看见有人卖牛、羊、鸽子,还有兑换银钱的人坐在那里。于是他用几条细绳做成一条鞭子,把他们都从殿里赶出去,连羊和牛也赶走;又把兑换银钱人的银钱倒出来,推翻了桌子;并对卖鸽子的说:把这些东西拿走,不要把我父的家当作买卖的地方。门徒就想起经上所记:“我为你的殿的热心吞噬了我。”于是犹太人回答他说:你既做这些事,要给我们显什么神迹呢?耶稣回答说:你们拆毁这殿,我三日内要把它重建起来。犹太人说:这殿建造了四十六年,你三天就要把它重建起来吗?但他所说的是他身体这殿。等他从死里复活以后,门徒就想起他曾对他们说过这话,便信了圣经,也信了耶稣所说的话。约翰福音 2:13-22。

The Millerite temple was erected in forty-six years from 1798 at the conclusion of the first twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy and ended forty-six years later at the fulfillment of the second twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy in 1844. Those forty-six years began with the arrival of the first angel and ended with the arrival of the third angel, for Christ said His temple would be raised up in three days. If you are unwilling to see these facts it is because of two primary problems beyond the problems that may exist in an unwilling and unconverted heart. The first problem is you are unwilling to approach the prophetic Word from the perspective that history repeats. You are not a historicist. The other problem is an inability to apply symbolic words that have been recorded within the Word of God by the Word of God. The beginnings of all these prophecies identify the end, and they always identify much more than simply histories which repeat.

米勒派的圣殿自1798年起,用四十六年建立起来:起点是第一个二千五百二十年预言的结束,终点是四十六年后的1844年,即第二个二千五百二十年预言应验之时。那四十六年始于第一位天使的到来,终于第三位天使的到来,因为基督说,祂的殿将于三日之内被建立起来。若你不愿意看见这些事实,那是因为,除了不愿且未悔改之心本身可能存在的问题之外,还有两个主要问题。其一,你不愿以历史重演的视角来对待预言的话语;你不是历史主义者。其二,你无法运用神的话语中由神的话语自己所记录的象征性词句。所有这些预言的开端都指明结局,而且它们所指明的总是远不止历史的重复本身。

The Bible says we are a temple for the Holy Spirit and the body temple is made up of forty-six chromosomes. The scientists who study those forty-six chromosomes inform us that the twenty-three male chromosomes and the twenty-three female chromosomes are wrapped around a protein that is shaped as a cross.

圣经说我们是圣灵的殿,而身体的殿是由四十六条染色体组成的。研究这四十六条染色体的科学家告诉我们,来自男性的二十三条染色体和来自女性的二十三条染色体缠绕在一种呈十字形的蛋白质周围。

In Daniel twelve there are three connected time prophecies, the first is referencing the scattering of the power of the holy people, which represents the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. The scattering of the power of the holy people that was fulfilled by them was twenty-five hundred and twenty years, yet in Daniel twelve it only references the last half of that period. It portrays Daniel as not understanding what was meant by the pronouncement.

在《但以理书》第十二章中有三个彼此关联的时间预言;第一个是指圣民权柄被分散,这代表《利未记》二十六章中的“七个时期”。圣民的权柄被分散这一应验持续了二千五百二十年,然而在《但以理书》第十二章中只提到了那一时期的后半段。这表明但以理并不明白这项宣告的含义。

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. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? Daniel 12:7, 8.

我听见那穿细麻衣、站在河水以上的人,当他举起右手和左手向天,指着那永活者起誓说:要到一载、二载、半载;等他打散圣民的权势,这一切事就都完毕了。我听见,却不明白,便说:我主啊,这些事的结局将如何呢?但以理书 12:7、8。

Daniel twelve is illustrating the message that is unsealed at the time of the end, which was 1798. In the passage Daniel represents William Miller, the primary symbol of the wise in that history. Miller was first led to the twenty-five hundred and twenty year prophecy of Leviticus twenty-six, and in verses seven and eight he represents the wise who must reconcile the truth that the twenty-five hundred and twenty year scattering is most definitely identified as God’s scattering of His people.

但以理书十二章阐明了在末时启封的信息,而末时就是1798年。在这段经文中,丹尼尔代表威廉·米勒,他是那段历史中“智慧人”的主要象征。米勒起初被引导到利未记二十六章的二千五百二十年预言;在第七节和第八节中,他代表那些必须调和这样一项真理的智慧人:这二千五百二十年的分散,毋庸置疑地被认定为上帝将祂的百姓分散的作为。

And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass. Leviticus 26:18, 19.

你们因这一切的事若还不听从我,我就要按着你们的罪加七倍惩罚你们。我必打破你们权势的骄傲;又使你们的天像铁,你们的地像铜。利未记 26:18, 19.

The “pride” of ancient Israel was when they were allowed to reject God as their king and choose a human king. Their pride, which precludes a fall (Proverbs 16:18) was their desire to be like all the idolatrous kingdoms around them. Removing first the northern kingdom and then the southern kingdom was the scattering of the power (king) in 723 BC and 677 BC respectively.

古代以色列的“骄傲”是在他们被允许拒绝上帝作他们的王,并选择一位人作王的时候。他们的骄傲——按箴言16:18所说,阻止跌倒——就是他们想要像周围所有拜偶像的列国那样。先除去北国,后除去南国,乃是对权柄(王)的分散,分别发生在公元前723年和公元前677年。

Miller represented the wise who understood the increase of knowledge that was unsealed in the previous verses of Daniel twelve, and in verses seven and eight he is represented as not understanding the connection of twelve hundred and sixty years with the twenty-five hundred and twenty years of the scattering of God’s people. Daniel is representing God’s people at the end of Adventism, as well as Miller at the beginning of Adventism. At the end of Adventism, the same dilemma exists, for as Adventism set aside Miller’s understanding of the “seven times” they were forced to only identify the twelve hundred and sixty years as the Dark Ages. The wise at the end had a similar problem to resolve as Daniel and Miller illustrate. Why is the terminology of Leviticus twenty-six employed to illustrate three and a half times instead of seven times?

米勒代表那些明白但以理书十二章前面经文中被解封的“知识增长”的智慧人;然而在第七、八节里,他又被描绘为不明白一千二百六十年与神子民被分散的二千五百二十年之间的关联。但以理在代表复临运动末期的神的子民,正如米勒在代表复临运动初期的神的子民一样。到了复临运动的末期,同样的困境依然存在,因为当复临运动把米勒对“七次”的理解搁置时,他们被迫只把一千二百六十年认定为黑暗时期。末时的智慧人也有类似的问题需要解决,正如但以理和米勒所示。为什么采用利未记二十六章的术语来说明“三年半”而不是“七次”?

Miller never fully reconciled this dilemma, but in 1856 the last “new prophetic light” was presented in a series of six articles that were never concluded identifying the seven times as representing three and a half years of pagan Rome trampling down God’s literal Israel, followed by three and a half years of papal Rome trampling down spiritual Israel. Seven years later Adventism outright rejected all of the light of the seven times, preparing the dilemma for the wise at the time of the end in 1989, when, as described in Daniel eleven, verse forty, the countries representing the former Soviet Union were swept away by the papacy and the United States.

米勒从未完全化解这一困境,但在1856年,最后一次“新的预言亮光”通过一套六篇的系列文章提出,该系列从未完结,其中将“七个时期”界定为:先是异教罗马用三年半的时间践踏上帝肉身的以色列民,随后教皇罗马又用三年半的时间践踏属灵的以色列民。七年后,复临运动断然拒绝了关于“七个时期”的一切亮光,为1989年末时的智慧人预备了这一困境;那时,正如《但以理书》十一章四十节所描述的,前苏联阵营的诸国被教皇权与美国所席卷。

The first light given to Miller was rejected in 1863, and the last light on the subject was given by Hiram Edson in those six articles. Those articles were discontinued and seven years (times) later the power of modern Israel was set aside in order to imitate the idolatrous churches that had a few years before been correctly identified as the daughters of Babylon. The seven times of Leviticus twenty-six as a prophetic doctrine became the stone of stumbling, and the pride of ancient Israel as represented by their desire to have Saul rule over them as king was repeated. Jesus represents the end with the beginning.

赐给米勒的第一道亮光在1863年被弃绝,而关于该主题的最后一道亮光则由海勒姆·埃德森在那六篇文章中给出。那些文章被停止刊载,七年(七次)之后,现代以色列的权能被搁置,为了去效法那些拜偶像的教会,而这些教会在几年前已被正确地认定为巴比伦的众女儿。作为一种预言教义,利未记二十六章中的“七次”成了绊脚石;而古代以色列的骄傲——体现于他们渴望让扫罗作王统治他们——也再度重演。耶稣用起初来代表结局。

The book of Daniel also identifies a twelve hundred and ninety year prophecy along with a thirteen hundred and thirty-five year prophecy that both begin at the taking away of “the daily” in 508. The taking away of “the daily” represents the removal of pagan Rome’s resistance to the rise of the papal power in 538. There was a thirty-year transition period before the papal power was placed upon the throne of the earth in 538, then the remaining twelve hundred and sixty years ends in 1798. The thirty years of transition from one kingdom to the next identifies the final years of papal rule that lead to the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy being placed on the throne of the earth in 1798. The beginning of the twelve hundred and ninety year prophecy identifies a transition from one kingdom of Bible prophecy unto the next kingdom of Bible prophecy, as does the ending of that prophecy.

但以理书还指出,有一项一千二百九十年的预言,以及一项一千三百三十五年的预言,这两项都始于公元508年“常献的”被除去之时。“常献的”的被除去代表异教罗马对教皇权力在公元538年兴起的阻力被清除。在公元538年教皇权力被立于地上的宝座之前,有一个为期三十年的过渡期;随后其余的一千二百六十年在1798年结束。从一个国度过渡到另一个国度的这三十年,标示出教皇统治的最后几年,这些年导致圣经预言的第六个国度于1798年被立于地上的宝座。一千二百九十年预言的起点标示出从圣经预言中的一个国度过渡到下一个国度,该预言的终点亦是如此。

The thirteen hundred and thirty-five year prophecy that began at the removal of “the daily” in 508 ends in 1843.

始于508年“the daily”被除去之时的一千三百三十五年的预言在1843年结束。

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. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:11, 12.

从除掉常献的祭,并设立那使荒凉的可憎之物的时候,必有一千二百九十日。等候并来到一千三百三十五日的,那人便为有福。但以理书12:11、12。

The prophecy of thirteen hundred and thirty-five years ended in 1843, and Daniel says those that “waited” when that prophecy would be fulfilled would be blessed. Sister White says it this way.

一千三百三十五年的预言在1843年结束,而但以理说,在那预言应验的时候,凡“等候”的人都要蒙福。怀特姐妹是这样说的。

“Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844.

那些曾看见1843年和1844年所见之事的眼睛有福了。

“The message was given. And there should be no delay in repeating the message, for the signs of the times are fulfilling; the closing work must be done. A great work will be done in a short time. A message will soon be given by God’s appointment that will swell into a loud cry. Then Daniel will stand in his lot, to give his testimony.” Manuscript Releases, volume 21, 437.

“这则信息已经发出。而重申这信息不应有任何拖延,因为时代的征兆正在应验;结束的工作必须完成。在短时间内将成就一项伟大的工作。不久,按着上帝的安排,将赐下一道信息,并将发展成为大声呼喊。那时,但以理将站在他所当站的位置上,作见证。” 《手稿发布》,第21卷,第437页。

Therefore, the beginning of the thirteen hundred and thirty-five year prophecy identifies a transition from the religion of paganism unto the religion of papalism, thus identifying a transition from Protestantism unto Millerite Protestantism.

因此,一千三百三十五年预言的开端标志着宗教从异教转向教皇主义,从而标志着从新教转向米勒派新教。

Those Adventists that reject the foundational truths of Adventism, reject all the time prophecies the Millerites presented, even the twenty-three hundred years of Daniel 8:14. They may very well deny this fact, but it can be logically shown that this fact is true, but my point now is different, so I will leave that off for now as we attempt to bring this article to a conclusion.

那些拒绝复临信仰根本真理的复临信徒,拒绝米勒派所提出的一切时间预言,甚至包括但以理书8:14所说的二千三百年。他们很可能会否认这一事实,但从逻辑上可以证明这一事实确实成立。不过我现在的重点并不在此,因此在我们试图将本文收尾之际,姑且按下不表。

The scattering of the “glorious land” of Judah in 677 BC represents the trampling down of the “host” in Daniel 8:13, 14, and points to the establishment of the modern glorious land, the United States. The twenty-three hundred years of the same verses began in 457 BC, and represents the trampling down of the “sanctuary.”

公元前677年,犹大"荣美之地"的分散,代表但以理书8:13、14中对"军兵"的践踏,并指向现代"荣美之地"美国的建立。同一段经文中的二千三百年始于公元前457年,代表对"圣所"的践踏。

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, 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? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:13, 14.

于是我听见有一位圣者说话,另有一位圣者对那位说话的圣者说:“这关乎常献之祭和那使荒凉的过犯,使圣所与军旅被践踏的异象,要到几时呢?”他对我说:“到二千三百日;然后圣所就必洁净。”但以理书 8:13、14。

677 BC and 457 BC are dates connected by the relationship of God’s people and God’s sanctuary. God brought both the host and the sanctuary back together at the same time on October 22, 1844. The two hundred and twenty years between 677 BC and 457 BC symbolize a period when God establishes a waymark representing an increase of light. On October 22, 1844 the light of the third angel arrived, the light of the sanctuary began to shine and a host was there to proclaim the light.

公元前677年与公元前457年,是由上帝的子民与上帝的圣所之间的关系联系起来的日期。1844年10月22日,上帝使子民与圣所同时重新相合。公元前677年至公元前457年之间的二百二十年,象征着上帝设立一个代表亮光增加的路标的时期。1844年10月22日,第三位天使的光来到,圣所之光开始照耀,并且有一群子民在那里宣讲这光。

In the prophetic line which identifies the three-fold warfare that Satan and Christ engaged in, the King James Bible of 1611 was produced. Exactly two hundred and twenty years later in 1831, William Miller published his message for the first time:

在那条指出撒但与基督所进行的三重争战的预言脉络中,1611年的《钦定版圣经》问世。恰好二百二十年后的1831年,威廉·米勒首次发表了他的信息:

“For nine years William Miller was convinced that he ought to give his message to the churches; but he waited, hoping that some recognized authority would proclaim the glad news of a soon-coming Saviour. In thus waiting, he but proved the truth of the message; there was a name that they lived, but they were fast dying. In 1831 Miller gave his first discourse on the prophecies.” Steven Haskell, The Seer of Patmos, 77.

九年来,威廉·米勒深信自己应当把他的信息传给各教会;但他一直等待,盼望有某位公认的权威来宣告那位即将到来的救主的喜讯。在这样的等待中,他反而证明了这信息的真实性;他们名为活着,却快要死了。1831年,米勒发表了他首次关于预言的讲道。史蒂文·哈斯克尔,《帕特莫斯的先见》,77。

God protected the sacred and correct original texts used to produce the Bible. He then produced His Bible in 1611. He then raised up a messenger that would employ the rules located, derived and established within the Bible to produce the message of the first angel. In 1831, Miller’s message was formalized as was the message in Christ’s history formalized by John the Baptist, as the message has been formalized in every reformatory movement. The message of Miller, the first angel’s message announcing the opening of the judgment is directly upheld by the application of the prophetic time period of two hundred and twenty years. It was the message of warning at the beginning of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy—the United States.

上帝保护了用于成就《圣经》的神圣而正确的原始文本。随后,他在1611年使他的《圣经》问世。接着,他兴起了一位使者,这位使者将运用在《圣经》中被发现、推导并确立的规则,提出第一位天使的信息。1831年,米勒的信息被正式确立,正如在基督的历史中由施洗约翰所正式确立的信息一样;在每一次改革运动中,信息都是这样被正式确立的。米勒的信息——宣告审判开启的第一位天使的信息——是通过应用两百二十年的预言时间而得到直接支持的。那是在《圣经》预言中第六个王国——美国——开端时的警告信息。

In 1996, the ministry of Future for America began, and the message of the third angel that had been unsealed in 1989, the message identifying the healing of the deadly wound of the papacy and the soon coming Sunday law was published in a magazine titled, The Time of the End. The message at the end of Adventism had been formalized just as the message at the beginning had been formalized. In the beginning the message was hung upon time and represented a further development of the truths contained within God’s Word. In 1996, two hundred and twenty years after the birth of the United States in 1776, the message at the end of Adventism was formalized and represented a further development of the three angels’ messages.

1996年,“Future for America”的事工开始了;而那于1989年被开启的第三位天使的信息——指出教皇权致命伤得以医治以及即将来临的星期日法令——发表于一本名为《The Time of the End》的杂志上。复临运动末期的信息已经被正式确立,正如起初的信息也曾被正式确立一样。起初,这信息以时间为依托,并代表了对上帝话语中所包含真理的进一步发展。1996年,即自1776年美国成立后二百二十年之际,复临运动末期的信息被正式确立,并且代表了对三位天使的信息的进一步发展。

As we address the parallel history of the Republican horn and the Protestant horn in the history of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy it must be understood who the Protestant horn is and who it is not.

当我们在圣经预言所述的第六个王国的历史中讨论共和主义之角与新教之角的平行历史时,必须明白新教之角所代表的是谁,以及不代表谁。

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15, 16.

要竭力使自己在神面前蒙称许,作一个不必羞愧的工人,准确分解真理的道。但要远避亵渎而虚浮的闲谈,因为这些会使人更加不敬虔。提摩太后书 2:15-16