“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.

我们应当亲自知道,是什么构成了基督教,什么是真理,我们所领受的信仰是什么,圣经的规条是什么——那是从至高权威赐给我们的规条。 《1888资料》,403。

For several years Future for America has identified that the seven churches of Revelation not only represent the history of modern Israel from the time of the apostles until the end of the world, but that the seven churches also represent ancient Israel from the time of Moses until the stoning of Stephen. The pioneers of Adventism did not teach this truth, but they understood and employed the principles that establish this truth. Jesus identifies the end from the beginning and ancient Israel represents modern Israel. Therefore, any truth that is part of the prophetic characteristics of modern Israel also existed in ancient Israel.

数年来,Future for America 指出,《启示录》中的七个教会不仅代表从使徒时代直到世界的末了的现代以色列的历史,也代表从摩西时代直到司提反被石头打死的古代以色列。复临运动的先驱并未教导这项真理,但他们理解并运用了确立这真理的原则。耶稣从起初指明末后的事,古代以色列代表现代以色列。因此,凡属于现代以色列预言性特征的任何真理,在古代以色列中也同样存在。

Before Millerite history the traditional Christian view of the seven churches was that they represented the actual churches in Asia minor during the time of John. The traditional view also understood that the counsel to the individual churches may also be understood to represent specific counsel to various churches throughout Christian history, and also that the very same counsel and warnings is for individual Christians. They also understood that the seven churches represent seven periods of church history from the time of the disciples until the end of the world. These perspectives pre-dated the Millerite history. Those four recognitions of the seven churches that make up the traditional view that pre-dated William Miller were and are based upon the “historicist” interpretation of the Bible. It is that methodology that God’s angels led William Miller to adopt.

在米勒派历史之前,传统的基督教观点认为,七个教会代表约翰时期小亚细亚实际存在的教会。传统观点还认为,给各个教会的劝勉也可以理解为在整个基督教历史中对不同教会的具体劝勉,并且同样的劝勉和警告也是给个别的基督徒的。他们还认为,七个教会代表从使徒时代直到世界的末了的教会历史的七个时期。这些看法早于米勒派历史。那些构成传统观点并早于威廉·米勒的关于七个教会的四项认识,过去和现在都是基于对圣经的“历史主义”解释。正是这种方法论,上帝的天使引导威廉·米勒采用了它。

“The seven churches of Asia is a history of the church of Christ in her seven forms, in all her windings and turnings, in all her prosperity and adversity, from the days of the apostles down to the end of the world. The seven seals are a history of the transactions of the powers and kings of the earth over the church, and God’s protection of his people during the same time. The seven trumpets are a history of seven peculiar and heavy judgments sent upon the earth, or Roman kingdom. And the seven vials are the seven last plagues sent upon Papal Rome. Mixed with these are many other events, woven in like tributary streams, and filling up the grand river of prophecy, until the whole ends us in the ocean of eternity.

亚西亚的七个教会,是基督教会在其七种形态中的历史,展现她一切的曲折与转变、所有的兴衰与患难,从使徒的日子直到世界的末了。七印是地上权势与君王针对教会所行之事的历史,以及神在同一时期对他子民的保守。七号是降临在地上,或罗马王国的七个特殊而沉重的审判的历史。七碗则是降在教皇罗马的末后的七个灾殃。与这些交织在一起的还有许多其他事件,如同支流般被编织其间,充盈了这条宏大的预言之河,直到这一切最终使我们归入永恒的海洋。

“This, to me, is the plan of John’s prophecy in the book of Revelation. And the man who wishes to understand this book, must have a thorough knowledge of other parts of the word of God. The figures and metaphors used in this prophecy, are not all explained in the same, but must be found in other prophets, and explained in other passages of Scripture. Therefore it is evident that God has designed the study of the whole, even to obtain a clear knowledge of any part.” William Miller, Miller’s Lectures, volume 2, lecture 12, 178.

“在我看来,这就是约翰在《启示录》中的预言纲要。凡想要明白这本书的人,必须对上帝话语中其他部分有透彻的认识。这一预言中所用的象征和比喻,并非都在本书中得到解释,而必须在其他先知的书卷中寻得,并在圣经的其他经文中予以阐明。因此,很明显,上帝的安排是要人研究整体,方能对任何部分有清楚的认识。” 威廉·米勒,《米勒讲演集》,第2卷,第12讲,第178页。

Sister White agrees with and upholds the “historicist” view held by Miller, but she added a deeper insight to the book of Revelation than Miller saw, for Miller had not recognized the sanctuary as it truly is. He understood the sanctuary to be the earth. Sister White recognized that when Jesus presented the predictions represented in the book of Revelation, that Christ was doing so in conjunction with His work as the heavenly High Priest.

怀爱伦姐妹赞同并坚持米勒所持的“历史主义”观点,但她对《启示录》的洞见比米勒更深,因为米勒没有按其本来面目认识圣所。他把圣所理解为地球。怀爱伦姐妹认识到,耶稣在呈示《启示录》中所表达的预言时,是与他作为天上大祭司的工作相结合的。

When John turns and sees Christ, He is walking among the candlesticks in priestly garments, and the candlesticks are located in the holy place, and therefore in the history after His ascension, but before He moved into the Most Holy Place in 1844. Miller could not have understood the significance of this reality. Neither would have Tyndale, Luther or John Wycliffe or any of the early reformers. Truth is progressive, shining brighter and still brighter unto the perfect day.

当约翰转过身看见基督时,祂穿着祭司的衣服,在灯台中间行走;这些灯台位于圣所,因此这是在祂升天之后、但在祂于1844年进入至圣所之前的历史时期。米勒不可能理解这一现实的意义;廷德尔、路德或约翰·威克里夫,乃至任何早期的改革者,也不会。真理是渐进的,光越照越明,直到完全的日子。

“The great principle so nobly advocated by Robinson and Roger Williams, that truth is progressive, that Christians should stand ready to accept all the light which may shine from God’s holy word, was lost sight of by their descendants. The Protestant churches of America,—and those of Europe as well,—so highly favored in receiving the blessings of the Reformation, failed to press forward in the path of reform. Though a few faithful men arose, from time to time, to proclaim new truth and expose long-cherished error, the majority, like the Jews in Christ’s day or the papists in the time of Luther, were content to believe as their fathers had believed and to live as they had lived. Therefore religion again degenerated into formalism; and errors and superstitions which would have been cast aside had the church continued to walk in the light of God’s word, were retained and cherished. Thus the spirit inspired by the Reformation gradually died out, until there was almost as great need of reform in the Protestant churches as in the Roman Church in the time of Luther. There was the same worldliness and spiritual stupor, a similar reverence for the opinions of men, and substitution of human theories for the teachings of God’s word.” The Great Controversy, 297.

罗宾逊和罗杰·威廉姆斯郑重倡导的那项伟大原则——真理是渐进的,基督徒应当随时准备接受从上帝的圣言中所照耀的一切亮光——却被他们的后代所忽视了。美洲的新教各教会——欧洲的也是如此——虽然蒙受宗教改革的诸多恩惠,却没有在改革的道路上继续前行。尽管不时有少数忠心的人站出来,宣告新的真理并揭露长期沿袭的错误,大多数人却像基督时代的犹太人或路德时期的天主教徒一样,满足于像他们的祖辈那样去信、那样去活。因此,宗教又一次堕落为形式主义;而那些若是教会继续行在上帝话语的光中本该被抛弃的错误和迷信,反而被保留下来并倍加珍视。于是,由宗教改革所激发的精神逐渐消退,直到新教诸教会对改革的需要几乎与路德时代的罗马教会同样迫切。那时同样充斥着世俗与属灵沉睡,对人的意见抱有类似的敬重,并以人的理论取代上帝话语的教训。《伟大的争论》,第297页。

If the fact that truth develops progressively throughout history is not recognized, then the significance of any new light in this final generation may very well be impossible to recognize. Once a person ceases to understand the progressive nature of “truth,” they automatically begin to rely upon traditions, customs and fallen human guidance.

如果不承认真理在历史进程中逐步发展的这一事实,那么这最后一代中出现的任何新的光明的意义就很可能无法被认识。一旦一个人不再理解“真理”的渐进性,他们便会自然而然地开始依赖传统、习俗以及堕落的人类引导。

The methodology that Miller employed is a waymark that runs through the entire prophetic line which presents a testimony of the development of biblical truth that began with the apostles. Yet in the waymark represented by Miller, we find a beginning that demands a counterpart at the end. Most never understand these realities, but not so with Satan.

米勒所采用的方法论,是贯穿整个预言线路的一个路标,它见证了始于使徒的圣经真理的发展。然而,在米勒所代表的这个路标中,我们看见一个开端,它要求在末端有一个相应的对应点。大多数人从未明白这些现实,但撒但却不然。

Satan has resisted the truth and its development from his rebellion in heaven onward. When it reached the point in history that the reformers began to distinctly understand how to study the Bible, Satan did as he always does and he introduced counterfeits. The historical evidence of his work of counterfeiting the truth identifies that Jesuits such as Ribera and Louis de Alcazar focused their counterfeit methodology specifically against the book of Revelation. The corrupted methodology that is called “preterism” began in the second and third centuries with two primary representatives of that false methodology. One was Eusebius of Caesarea (260–339), and Victorinus of Pettau (died circa 304). Both of these early historical figures promoted the methodology suggesting the book of Revelation was fulfilled during the time of the Roman Empire by such historical figures as the infamous emperor Nero.

撒但自他在天上背叛以来,一直抵挡真理及其发展。当历史发展到宗教改革者开始清楚地明白如何研读圣经的时候,撒但一如既往,便引入了假冒之物。历史证据表明,他假冒真理的工作体现在耶稣会士里贝拉和路易·德·阿尔卡萨等人身上,他们将其伪造的方法论专门针对《启示录》。被称为“过去论”的这种败坏的方法论在二、三世纪便已开始,并有两位主要代表:该撒利亚的优西比乌(260—339)与佩陶的维克托里努(约304年卒)。这两位早期历史人物都倡导这种方法,主张《启示录》已在罗马帝国时期应验,其应验者包括臭名昭著的尼禄皇帝等历史人物。

In the nineteenth century John Darby (1800–1882) from the United Kingdom introduced another satanic methodology which was also inserted to the foot notes of the Trojan horse Bible called the Scofield Reference Bible which we have previously identified. “Dispensationalism” is a theological framework that divides history and God’s interaction with humanity into distinct periods, or ‘dispensations,’ in which God administers His plan in different ways. I note this at this point for this is one of the falsehoods that was introduced to the movement of Future for America by voices from the same area Darby had propagated his satanic ideas. Darby’s ideas that attacked Future for America were accompanied by the philosophy of the so-called modern-day “woke” movement which promotes the same anarchy represented by the French Revolution and the same licentiousness represented by Sodom and Gomorrah.

十九世纪,来自英国的约翰·达比(1800—1882)引入了另一种撒但的“方法论”,这种方法论也被插入到我们先前已经指出的那本被称为《司科菲尔德参考圣经》的“特洛伊木马圣经”的脚注中。“时代论”是一种神学框架,它把历史以及上帝与人类的互动划分为若干彼此区别的时期,或称“分期”,在这些分期中上帝以不同的方式施行祂的计划。我在此提出这一点,因为这是由来自达比曾传播其撒但思想的同一地区的声音引入“美国未来”运动的谬论之一。达比那些攻击“美国未来”的观念,伴随着所谓当代“觉醒”运动的哲学;该运动鼓吹与法国大革命所代表的同样的无政府状态,以及与所多玛和蛾摩拉所代表的同样的放纵淫乱。

Today the theologians of modern Adventism employ a system of dissecting the truths of the Bible based upon a two-fold system of biblical interpretation they employ to undermine and deny both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. They identify men as either experts in biblical languages or as experts in biblical history. Thus, the theologians of Adventism today control the minds of Laodicean Adventism either by interpreting God’s Word based upon a fallen man’s understanding of history or fallen man’s understanding of language. These modern manifestations of error which have been often used to attack the message you are now reading will be addressed further in these articles when we consider the symbolism of the French Revolution. Satan is alive, and he knows his time is short. The last rule of Miller’s rules, number fourteen concludes with the following paragraph.

今天,现代复临主义的神学家采用一种剖析圣经真理的方法——这是一套两方面的圣经诠释体系,他们用它来削弱并否认圣经和预言之灵。他们把人分为圣经语言专家或圣经历史专家。因此,今日复临主义的神学家,要么依据堕落之人对历史的理解,要么依据堕落之人对语言的理解来解释上帝的话语,从而控制老底嘉式复临主义的思想。这些现代的谬误表现常被用来攻击你现在所阅读的信息;当我们考察法国大革命的象征意义时,这些文章中还将进一步论及。撒但仍然活着,并且他知道自己时候不多。米勒的规则中最后一条,即第十四条,以如下段落作结。

“The divinity taught in our schools is always founded on some sectarian creed. It may do to take a blank mind and impress it with this kind, but it will always end in bigotry. A free mind will never be satisfied with the views of others. Were I a teacher of youth in divinity, I would first learn their capacity and mind. If these were good, I would make them study the Bible for themselves, and send them out free to do the world good. But if they had no mind, I would stamp them with another’s mind, write bigot on their forehead, and send them out as slaves!” William Miller, Miller’s Works, volume 1, 24.

“我们学校所教授的神学,总是建立在某种宗派的信条之上。把一颗空白的心灵按这一套去灌输,也许尚可,但终究必然走向偏执。自由的心灵绝不会满足于他人的观点。若我是教青年神学的教师,我会先了解他们的资质与心智。若这二者都好,我会让他们自己研读《圣经》,然后自由地走出去,去造福世界。可若他们没有自己的心智,我就把他人的思想烙在他们身上,在他们额头上写上‘偏执者’,再把他们当作奴隶送出去!” 威廉·米勒,《米勒文集》,第1卷,第24页。

In the period just after John the Revelator lived, and in the days of the Reformation, Satan was actively producing false prophetic methodology to confuse and destroy true biblical analysis. What is sometimes missed in these historical facts is that all those satanic methodologies were aimed directly at no other book than the book of Revelation. That was the subject of each of these promoters of satanic confusion. The book of Revelation has always been Satan’s target. Satan knows it is the book of Revelation that he must war against. When we recognize this fact, we can then recognize another unseen reality, that is obscured by another significant truth.

就在《启示录》的作者约翰去世后不久的时期,以及宗教改革的年代,撒但积极制造虚假的预言方法论,以混淆视听并摧毁对圣经的真正解读。人们在这些历史事实中有时忽略的一点是,所有那些撒但的种种方法无一不是直接针对《启示录》这一卷书,而非其他任何书卷。那正是这些鼓吹撒但式混乱之人所一再着墨的主题。《启示录》一直是撒但的攻击目标。撒但知道他必须竭力对抗的正是《启示录》。当我们认识到这一事实时,我们就能认识到另一种不易看见的现实,而这现实又被另一条重要的真理所遮蔽。

The false methodology of the Jesuits was intended to prevent a clear understanding that the pope of the Roman church is the antichrist of Bible prophecy. Every single Protestant reformer came to recognize and identify this truth. Therefore, when the accurate history of men such as Ribera and Louis de Alcazar have been publicly presented in the past through word and publication the history men such as Ribera and Louis de Alcazar was used for the purpose of demonstrating the satanic efforts to prevent a correct understanding of the “man of sin.” The written or spoken testimonies exposing the purpose of the introduction of these satanic methodologies are correct as far as they go, but Satan was attempting to cover up more than simply the biblical proofs that identify the antichrist as the pope of Rome.

耶稣会的虚假手法旨在阻止人们清楚地认识到,罗马教会的教皇就是圣经预言中的敌基督。每一位新教改革者都认识并认定了这一真理。因此,当过去通过口述和出版物公开呈现Ribera与Louis de Alcazar等人的准确历史时,这些历史被用来表明撒但的努力,旨在阻止人们正确理解“那不法的人”。那些以书面或口头形式揭露这些撒但手段被引入之目的的见证,就其所及而言是正确的,但撒但企图掩盖的不仅仅是将罗马的教皇认定为敌基督的圣经证据。

There are truths in the book of Revelation that have been covered up with the confusion produced by these false systems of biblical interpretation that are outside the subject of the man whose number is six, six, six. One of those truths is most definitely the truth represented when the seven churches are understood in their fullest development. There are truths located within the seven churches that speak directly to the history that got under way on September 11, 2001 and ends in the Sunday law crisis. Satan has been seeking to keep this light buried, and he invented the satanic methodologies to obscure several gems of truth located in the book of Revelation, not only the identification of the pope of Rome as the antichrist.

《启示录》中有一些真理,已被那些与“那位数目是六六六的人”这一主题无关的谬误圣经解释体系所造成的混乱所掩盖。其中一条真理无疑是:当按七个教会的最完全发展来理解时所显明的那一真理。七个教会之中蕴含的真理,直接指向一段自2001年9月11日开启、并以主日法令危机告终的历史。撒但一直设法将这道亮光埋没,并且发明了撒但式的方法,来遮蔽《启示录》中若干真理的瑰宝,不仅仅是将罗马教皇识别为敌基督这一项。

Before “the man of sin” was revealed in 538, men such as Eusebius and Victorinus attacked the book of Revelation in an attempt to obscure the rise of the papal power. Later in history Christ fulfilled His promise to Thyatira and brought forth the morning star of the reformation (Wycliffe), and Satan thereafter brought forth two prominent historical figures to champion and carry on his satanic work. The long-drawn-out war over the development of truth that reaches its climax when the secret of the book of Revelation is unsealed, (just before the close of probation) includes light from the seven churches that Miller never recognized, nor did Sister White, but it can be easily shown that both Miller and the Spirit of Prophecy uphold the new light, for new light never contradicts old light.

在538年“那不法之人”被显露之前,像优西比乌和维克多里努这样的人曾攻击《启示录》,企图掩盖教皇权势的兴起。后来在历史上,基督成就了祂对推雅推喇的应许,兴起了宗教改革的晨星(威克里夫);此后撒但又兴起两位显著的历史人物,来拥护并延续他那撒但的工作。围绕真理发展而进行的这场旷日持久的战争,将在《启示录》的奥秘被开启之时(就在恩典期结束之前)达到高潮;其中包括来自七个教会的亮光,而米勒从未认识到,怀爱伦姐妹也未认识到。但很容易表明,米勒和预言之灵都维护这道新光,因为新光从不与旧光相矛盾。

“It is a fact that we have the truth, and we must hold with tenacity to the positions that cannot be shaken; but we must not look with suspicion upon any new light which God may send, and say, Really, we cannot see that we need any more light than the old truth which we have hitherto received, and in which we are settled. While we hold to this position, the testimony of the True Witness applies to our cases its rebuke, ‘And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.’ Those who feel rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, are in a condition of blindness as to their true condition before God, and they know it not.” Review and Herald, August 7, 1894.

我们确实拥有真理,这是事实;对于那些不可动摇的立场,我们必须坚守不放。然而,对于上帝可能赐下的任何新亮光,我们不可带着怀疑的眼光去看,并且说:‘说真的,我们看不出自己还需要比迄今所领受并已持守的旧有真理更多的亮光。’当我们坚持这种立场时,那位真实见证者的见证就把责备临到我们身上:‘却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。’那些自觉富足、家业兴隆、毫无所缺的人,在上帝面前对于自己的真实光景乃处于瞎眼的状态,而他们却不自知。——《评论与先驱》,1894年8月7日。

The primary test for new light is whether it contradicts established truth, and whether it upholds the foundational truths.

检验新见解的首要标准,是看它是否与既定真理相矛盾,以及是否维护根本真理。

“When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth. No after suppositions, contrary to the light God has given are to be entertained. Men will arise with interpretations of Scripture which are to them truth, but which are not truth. The truth for this time, God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught us what is truth. One will arise, and still another, with new light which contradicts the light that God has given under the demonstration of His Holy Spirit.” Selected Messages, book 1, 162.

“当上帝的大能为何为真理作见证时,那真理就必永远确立为真理。凡其后提出的臆测,若与上帝所赐的亮光相违背,都不应被采纳。必会有人兴起,提出他们对圣经的诠释;这些诠释在他们看来是‘真理’,却并不是真理。对于现今这个时期的真理,上帝已经赐给我们,作为我们信仰的根基。祂亲自教导我们何为真理。会有一个又一个人兴起,宣称新的亮光,但这些新的亮光与上帝借着祂圣灵的明证所赐的亮光相矛盾。” 《精选信息》,第一册,162。

Satan has had the book of Revelation as his target of attack from the time John recorded the messages contained therein. Jesus said:

自从约翰记录下其中的信息以来,撒旦一直把《启示录》作为他攻击的目标。耶稣说:

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Matthew 13:16, 17.

但你们的眼睛有福了,因为看见;你们的耳朵也有福了,因为听见。我实在告诉你们,许多先知和义人想要看你们所看的,却没有看见;想要听你们所听的,却没有听见。马太福音 13:16-17。

The blessing attached to seeing and hearing is the blessing of understanding the message of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. When John represented those in the “last days” who see and hear the message he fell down to worship the angel Gabriel, who immediately informed John not to do it.

与看见和听见相连的祝福,就是明白耶稣基督启示的信息的祝福。当约翰代表那些在“末后的日子”里看见并听见这信息的人时,他就俯伏要敬拜天使加百列;加百列立刻告诉约翰不要这样做。

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Revelation 22:8, 9.

我约翰看见了这些事,也听见了。既听见又看见之后,我就俯伏在那指示我这些事的天使脚前要拜他。他却对我说:不要这样做!我与你、你的弟兄众先知,以及那些遵守这书上话语的人,同为仆人;你要敬拜神。启示录 22:8-9。

Gabriel and John are both created beings, who are only to worship the Creator. Many prophets and righteous men, including angels have desired to “see” and “hear” the message of the Midnight Cry when it is repeated at the end of the world.

加百列和约翰都是受造之物,只应当敬拜造物主。许多先知和义人,以及天使,都渴望在世界的末了,当“午夜呼声”的信息再次响起时,能够“看见”并“听见”它。

“Christ said, ‘Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them’ [Matthew 13:16, 17]. Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844.

基督说:“你们的眼睛有福了,因为看见了;你们的耳朵也有福了,因为听见了。我实在告诉你们,曾有许多先知和义人想要看你们所看见的,却没有看见;想要听你们所听见的,却没有听见。”[马太福音 13:16-17] 能看见1843年和1844年所显明之事的眼睛有福了。

“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.

“信息已经传达了。在重复这信息上不应有任何拖延,因为时代的预兆正在应验;末后的工作必须完成。短时间内将会完成一项伟大的工作。按着上帝的安排,很快将有一条信息发出,并将高涨成为大呼喊。那时但以理要站在他所分定的位置上,作见证。” 《手稿发布》第二十一卷,第437页。

What righteous men (John) and their fellow servants (angels) desired to see was the final fulfillment of the Midnight Cry at the end of Adventism when the earth would be lightened by God’s glory. That final manifestation of power in the latter rain is brought about by the unsealing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

义人(约翰)和他们同作仆人的(天使)所渴望看见的,是在复临主义末期、当地要因神的荣耀而发光之时,“半夜呼声”的最终应验。那在晚雨中的最终能力彰显,是由揭开“耶稣基督的启示”之封印而成就的。

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:10–13.

论到这救恩,那些预言将要临到你们的恩典的先知,早已殷勤寻求查考;他们查考那在他们里面的基督之灵所指示的是何时、怎样的时候,因为这灵预先作见证,说明基督将要受的苦难,和随后要显明的荣耀。他们蒙了启示,知道他们所服事的这些事不是为自己,乃是为我们;这些事如今借着从天上差来的圣灵,由向你们传福音的人已经报给你们;这些事连天使也渴望细察。所以,要束上你们心中的腰,谨慎自守,把盼望完全放在耶稣基督显现时要带给你们的恩典上。彼得前书 1:10-13。

The prophets, righteous men and angels have desired to live in the time when the “grace” or the power of God, is poured out during the final fulfillment of the Midnight Cry. That “grace,” which is God’s creative power is brought to men when the Revelation of Jesus Christ is unsealed. Satan knows that the avenue to convey the creative power of God unto His people is accomplished by the message that is unsealed in the book of Revelation, and it has therefore been his supreme effort to confuse, suppress and cover up the light contained in the book of Revelation. That light is not simply the identification of the man of sin, for that truth has been fully documented by all the Protestant reformers centuries ago.

先知、义人和天使都渴望生活在这样一个时期:当“恩典”,或者说神的大能,在“半夜呼喊”最终应验之时被浇灌下来。那“恩典”,就是神的创造大能,当耶稣基督的启示被解封时就临到人间。撒但知道,将神的创造大能传达给祂子民的途径,是借着《启示录》中被解封的信息而成就的,因此,他竭尽全力去混淆、压制并掩盖《启示录》里所包含的光。那光并不只是对“那大罪人”的识别,因为那一真理在几个世纪以前就已被所有的新教改革者详尽阐明。

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. Revelation 1:10–19.

当主日,我被圣灵感动,听见在我后面有大声音,如吹号,说:“我是阿尔法和俄梅伽,是首先的、末后的。你所看见的,当写在书上,寄给在亚西亚的七个教会,就是以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非、老底嘉。” 我转过身来,要看是谁发声与我说话;既转过来,就看见七个金灯台。灯台中间有一位好像人子,身穿及足的长衣,胸间束着金带。他的头与发皆白,如白羊毛,如雪;眼目如同火焰;脚好像在炉中锻炼光明的铜;声音如同众水的声音。他右手拿着七星,从他口中出来一把两刃的利剑,面貌如同烈日放光。 我一看见,就仆倒在他脚前,像死了一样。他用右手按着我,说:“不要惧怕!我是首先的,我是末后的,又是那存活的;我曾死过,现在又活了,直活到永永远远。阿们!并且拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙。你要把所看见的事、现在的事,并将来必成的事都写出来。” 启示录1:10-19。

While Adventism upheld the “historicist” methodology they recognized that all the churches of Revelation two and three are repeated in the final church. Unfortunately, at the end of the nineteenth century Satan was already closing Adventism’s eyes to the sacred methodology, the protection of, and the practice of being an essential part of their responsibility as “the depositaries of the great truths of prophecy.” Even as the methodology was being set aside in Adventism, there were still those who applied the sacred methodology. We use the book, Story of the Seer of Patmos as a witness to the fact that applying all the churches to the history of Laodicea is a valid application of prophecy. The following are excerpts from that book that make the point I am referring to.

当复临运动坚持“历史主义”的方法论时,他们也认识到,启示录第二章和第三章中的所有教会都将在末后的教会中重演。不幸的是,到了十九世纪末,撒但已经使复临运动对那神圣的方法论、以及对其护卫与实行,逐渐变得视而不见——而这些本是他们作为“预言伟大真理的保管者”所负职责的要义。即使这套方法论在复临运动中正被搁置之时,仍有人运用这神圣的方法论。我们以《拔摩岛先见的故事》一书为见证,证明将一切众教会应用于老底嘉的历史,是对预言的一种正当应用。以下摘录自该书,以说明我所指的要点。

“It should be remembered that, as the experience of Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, will be repeated in the last church before the second coming of Christ, so the history of Thyatira will have its counterpart in the last generation.” Stephen N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos, 69.

“应当记得,正如以弗所、士每拿和别迦摩的经历将在基督再来之前的末后教会中重演,同样,推雅推喇的历史也必在末后一代应验。” 斯蒂芬·N·哈斯克尔,《拔摩岛先见的故事》,第69页。

Haskell correctly points out that the experience of the first four churches is repeated, or as he says, “will have its counterpart in the last generation.”

哈斯克尔正确地指出,前四个教会的经历会重演,或如他所说,“将在末后一代中有其对应。”

“He applied the test, but all pointed forward to the year 1843 as the time when the world must welcome its Saviour. The condition of the people at the first advent of Christ was now repeated.” Stephen N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos, 75.

“他采用了那项检验,但一切都指向1843年,作为世界必须迎接其救主的时刻。基督初次降临时人们的状况,如今又重演了。”Stephen N. Haskell,《拔摩岛先见的故事》,第75页。

Haskell was speaking of William Miller identifying 1843 as the Second Coming of Christ, and identifies that the conditions of the first advent was repeated in the time of the Millerites. Haskell was correct, and Sister White confirms that Miller himself was represented by John the Baptist.

哈斯克尔谈到威廉·米勒将1843年认定为基督再临之年,并指出,基督第一次降临时的情形在米勒派时期得到重演。哈斯克尔是正确的,怀特姐妹也证实米勒本人被施洗约翰所代表。

“As John the Baptist heralded the first advent of Jesus and prepared the way for His coming, so William Miller and those who joined with him proclaimed the second advent of the Son of God.” Early Writings, 229.

“正如施洗约翰宣告耶稣的第一次降临,并为祂的到来预备道路,同样,威廉·米勒和那些与他一同的人宣告了上帝之子的第二次降临。”《早期著作》,229。

Haskel even identifies that during the history of Pergamos, (the third church representing the compromise of Christianity with idolatry), the history of Sardis, the fifth church was repeated.

哈斯克尔甚至指出,在别迦摩的历史当中(第三个教会,代表基督教与偶像崇拜的妥协),撒狄(第五个教会)的历史被重演。

“There was a time in the history of Pergamos, when Christianity thought Paganism was dead; but in reality, the religion which was apparently vanquished, had conquered. Paganism baptized, stepped into the church. In the days of Sardis this history was repeated.” Stephen N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos, 75, 76.

“在别迦摩的历史上,有一段时期,基督教以为异教已经死去;但实际上,那看似被征服的宗教反而得胜了。异教受了洗,踏入了教会。在撒狄的日子,这段历史又重演了。” 斯蒂芬·N·哈斯克尔,《拔摩岛先见的故事》,第75、76页。

Sardis was the church of the Reformation that woke up and protested against the satanic fallacies of the papacy, but before their work was finished, they had already began returning to Rome. They thought as did the church of Pergamos that papalism was dead, but in reality, it was still living. Haskell also identifies that upon the remnant church shines “the accumulated rays of all past ages.”

撒狄是宗教改革时期的教会,它觉醒起来,抗议教皇制度的撒旦谬论,但在他们的工作尚未完成之前,就已经开始回归罗马。他们像别迦摩教会一样认为教皇主义已经死了,但实际上它仍然活着。哈斯克尔还指出,照耀在余民教会之上的是“历代积累的光辉”。

“Upon this last church—the remnant,—shine the accumulated rays of all past ages.” Stephen N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos, 69.

“历代所积累的光芒照耀在这末后的教会——余民——之上。” 斯蒂芬·N·哈斯克尔,《拔摩岛先见的故事》,第69页。

I am not suggesting that Haskell recognized that the progressive history represented by the seven churches, was also fulfilled in the history of ancient Israel, but he certainly upholds that truth when he writes that “the accumulated rays of all past ages” “shine” upon “the last church.” Ancient Israel is included in the “rays of” “past ages.” And though he upholds the principles necessary to recognize the symbolism of the seven churches in ancient Israel’s history, I am uncertain how deeply he recognized the parallels represented in those symbols. I am also certain he did not recognize an even more important aspect of the histories represented by the seven churches, an aspect we are leading to.

我并不是在暗示哈斯克尔认识到,七个教会所代表的渐进历史也在古代以色列的历史中得到了应验;但当他写道“历代累积的光芒”“照耀”在“末后的教会”之上时,他无疑支持了这一真理。古代以色列也包含在“过去各世代的光芒”之中。尽管他坚持了那些足以使人识别七个教会在古代以色列历史中象征意义的原则,我不确定他在多大程度上认识到那些象征所呈现的平行对应。我也确信,他并未认识到七个教会所代表的那些历史中一个更为重要的方面——一个我们正要谈到的方面。

We will address this truth in our next article.

我们将在下一篇文章中讨论这一真相。