The probationary war of angels, that began with Lucifer in the third heaven represented in Revelation chapter twelve, typifies the probationary war of men and angels, that ends in the first heaven. When Satan and his angels were cast out of the third heaven, Satan opened a new battle front in the garden of Eden. As in the war of the third heaven with Lucifer, God also instituted a period of probation for mankind. The war in the first heaven that begins in earnest at the soon-coming Sunday law represents the end of probationary time for mankind.
启示录第十二章所描绘的那场天使的试炼之战,始于第三层天、由路西弗引发,预表了人类与天使的试炼之战,这场战争将在第一层天结束。当撒但和他的天使从第三层天被摔下时,撒但在伊甸园开辟了新的战线。正如第三层天里与路西弗的那场战争一样,神也为人类设立了一个试炼期。于即将到来的星期日法令之时正式开始的第一层天之战,标志着人类试炼期的结束。
In Revelation chapters twelve and thirteen the dragon, the beast and the false prophet are represented. Customarily, those three powers are understood to represent primarily past history of those three powers, but John was told to write the “things that will be,” and the entire book of Revelation speaks of the “last days,” so we are employing the biblical principle that the end is illustrated by the beginning, and applying the symbols of Revelation as present, not past truth.
在《启示录》第十二章和第十三章中,龙、兽和假先知被呈现出来。按惯例,人们通常认为这三种权势主要是代表它们的过去历史;然而,约翰却被吩咐要写“将要发生的事”,而整卷《启示录》都在论到“末后的日子”。因此,我们采用圣经的原则:以起初显明结局,并将《启示录》中的象征应用为当下的、而非过去的真理。
Satan has been identified in both the war he began in the third heaven, and the first battle that he brought to men in the garden of Eden as employing “hypnotism” to convey his corrupted communications in order to accomplish his warfare.
无论是在他在第三重天发动的战争中,还是在他在伊甸园向人类发动的第一场战斗中,撒但都被认定为使用“催眠术”来传达他败坏的信息,以达成其战争目的。
“Satan tempted the first Adam in Eden, and Adam reasoned with the enemy, thus giving him the advantage. Satan exercised his power of hypnotism over Adam and Eve, and this power he strove to exercise over Christ. But after the word of Scripture was quoted, Satan knew that he had no chance of triumphing.
撒但在伊甸园试探了头一个亚当,亚当与仇敌讲理,因此让他占了上风。撒但对亚当和夏娃施展了他的催眠术,他也竭力要把这种能力施加在基督身上。但经上的话一被引用,撒但便知道自己毫无得胜的机会。
“Men and women are not to study the science of how to take captive the minds of those who associate with them. This is the science that Satan teaches. We are to resist everything of the kind. We are not to tamper with mesmerism and hypnotism—the science of the one who lost his first estate and was cast out of the heavenly courts.” Mind, Character and Personality, 713.
男女不可研究如何控制与他们来往之人心智的科学。这就是撒但所教的科学。我们当抵制一切此类事物。我们不可涉足梅斯梅尔术和催眠术——那位失去起初地位而被逐出天庭者的科学。《心灵、品格与人格》,713。
The “science that Satan teaches” has been perfected by the globalist merchants, and is carried out through the “information super highway” in the “last days.” Satan is the father of lies, and the media giants, not only promote falsehoods, but they also screen out truth, they track those they deem as heretics, and they employ the most sophisticated form of hypnotism ever practiced in the history of planet earth. The war that began in the third heaven emphasizes this attribute of Satan’s warfare, in order that the faithful living when the war of the first heaven gets under way might be forewarned by foreknowledge. When we understand that the control center for the worldwide web, and the “information super highway” is managed and controlled in the United States, we have a view of what it means that the United States, calls fire down out of heaven and deceives the entire world. “Fire” in the book of Revelation represents a message.
“撒但所教导的‘科学’”已经被全球主义商人臻于完善,并且在“末后的日子”通过“信息高速公路”得以施行。撒但是说谎之父,而媒体巨头不仅宣扬谎言,也筛除真相;他们追踪他们视为异端的人,并采用地球历史上所施行过的最复杂的催眠术。起于第三层天的那场战争强调了撒但作战的这一特征,以便当第一层天的战争展开之时仍活着的忠信之人能因预知而蒙警戒。当我们明白万维网以及“信息高速公路”的控制中心由美国管理和掌控时,我们就能理解“美国叫火从天降下并迷惑全世界”是什么意思。《启示录》中的“火”象征一则信息。
The symbolism of Revelation chapter thirteen, and verse thirteen is drawn from the battle of mount Carmel where the prophets of Baal and the prophets of the groves, were unable to call fire down out of heaven to confirm that Baal and Ashtaroth were true gods. Baal, being a male deity and Ashtaroth a female deity represents the image of the beast, the unholy combination of church and state. They were the prophets of Jezebel, who was in an unholy relationship with Ahab. Those two prophetic witnesses of the image of the beast in the story of Mount Carmel, identify the role of the United States in first forming an image of the papal system in the United States, and thereafter in the world. The “fire” at Carmel was to be the evidence of who the true God really was. It represented a revelation from heaven identifying the true God, and the same issue exists when the United States calls fire down from heaven.
启示录第十三章第十三节的象征意义,取材自迦密山的争战;在那里,巴力的先知和“树林”的先知无法从天上降下火来,以证实巴力与亚斯他录是真正的神明。巴力为雄性神祇,亚斯他录为雌性神祇,代表着“兽的像”——教会与国家不圣洁的结合。他们是耶洗别的先知,而耶洗别与亚哈有着不圣洁的关系。迦密山故事中关于“兽的像”的这两项先知性见证,指出了美国的角色:先在美国境内形成教皇体制的形象,随后在全世界形成。迦密山上的“火”原本要作为谁才是真神的证据;它代表着来自天上的启示,用以指认真神。当美国从天上降下火来时,所面对的也是同样的问题。
In the book of Isaiah, the God who identifies the end from the beginning, addresses the very setting of Mount Carmel of old, and also the prophetic setting that is represented when the United States calls down fire out of heaven.
在以赛亚书中,那位自起初指明末后的神,论及正是古时迦密山的情景,也论及当美国使火从天上降下时所代表的预言性情景。
Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. Isaiah 41:21–27.
耶和华说:拿出你们的案由来;雅各的王说:拿出你们有力的理由。让他们拿出来,指示我们将要发生的事;让他们说明先前的事是什么,好让我们思量,知道它们的结局;或者把将要来的事告诉我们。把后来要发生的事显明出来,使我们知道你们是神;是啊,不论行善或作恶,好让我们惊惧,一同看见。看哪,你们本是虚无,你们的工作也是无有;拣选你们的人是可憎的。我从北方兴起一人,他就要来到;他从日出之地呼求我的名;他要践踏诸侯,如同践踏灰泥,又像陶匠踏泥。谁从起初宣告,使我们可以知道?谁从先前说明,使我们可以说:他是对的?的确,没有人报告,的确,没有人宣告,的确,没有人听见你们的话。我首先要对锡安说:看哪,看哪,他们!我要赐给耶路撒冷一位报好信息的人。以赛亚书 41:21-27。
In the war of the first heaven that gets under way at the soon-coming Sunday law, the United States, and also Satan himself, will be allowed to “produce” their “cause,” and they will call fire down from heaven in an attempt to prove that the god of Jezebel is the true God. The world will be forced to accept the mark of that god’s day of worship. The fire that is brought down from heaven, through the “information super highway” to all mankind is a work of “nought,” and he that chooses the message conveyed through that medium is an “abomination.”
在即将到来的“星期日法令”之际将展开的第一重天之战中,美国以及撒但本人将被允许“提出”他们的“理由”,他们要叫火从天上降下,企图证明耶洗别的神才是真神。全世界将被迫接受那位神的敬拜之日的印记。那从天上降下、并通过“信息高速公路”传给全人类的火,是“虚无”的作为;凡选择经由那媒介所传信息的人,是“可憎的”。
In that warfare the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and thereafter the great multitude, will be God’s witnesses in the argument of who is the true God. The messages conveyed from both sides of the war are represented as “fire.” All the nations will be gathered to determine who is the true God, and there will be two classes of witnesses in order to establish the “truth.”
在那场战争中,十四万四千人,其后还有那大群人,将在关于谁是真神的争论中作上帝的见证人。战争双方所传达的信息被表现为“火”。万国都将聚集起来,以判定谁是真神,并且将有两类见证人,以确立“真理”。
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Isaiah 43:9–12.
让万国都聚集,万民都集合:他们中间谁能陈明这事,并向我们指示先前的事呢?让他们带出自己的见证人,使他们得以被证明为正;或者让他们听见,就说:这是真的。耶和华说:你们是我的见证人,也是我所拣选的仆人,好使你们认识我、相信我,并明白我就是那一位。在我以前没有被造出来的神,在我以后也必不会有。我,我就是耶和华;除我以外没有救主。当你们中间没有别神的时候,我已经宣告、拯救并指示;所以耶和华说:你们是我的见证人,我是神。以赛亚书 43:9-12。
The final manifestation of Mount Carmel, has witnesses for Satan and witnesses for God. The demonstration is to prove who is the true God, but what are God’s faithful witnesses supposed to bear witness to?
在迦密山最终的显现中,既有为撒但作见证的人,也有为神作见证的人。这场显明是要证明谁才是真神,但神忠心的见证人应当为什么作见证呢?
Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Isaiah 44:6–9.
耶和华—以色列的王、他的救赎主、万军之耶和华如此说:我是首先的,我是末后的;除我以外并没有神。自从我设立古时的民以来,谁能像我这样宣告、说明,并且为我安排?将要临到的事和后来必成的事,让他们指示给人。你们不要害怕,也不要惊惶;从那时起我岂不是已经告诉你们,并且宣明吗?你们就是我的见证。除我以外还有神吗?没有,绝无别神;我不认识一个。制造雕刻偶像的人都属虚空;他们所喜悦的毫无益处;他们自己就是自己的见证,他们看不见,也不晓得,为要使他们蒙羞。以赛亚书 44:6-9。
The faithful in the final confrontation of Mount Carmel are to witness to the truth that God is the first and the last. He is the God that “appointed the ancient people,” in order to identify the “things that are coming.” God’s witnesses are to present the Revelation of Jesus Christ that is unsealed just before the final battle of Mount Carmel.
在迦密山的最终对峙中,忠信的人要见证这真理:上帝是首先的,也是末后的。他就是那位“立定古时之民”的上帝,为要指明“将要来的事”。上帝的见证人要呈现那在迦密山最后之战前被揭开的耶稣基督的启示。
Satan’s Mount Carmel message is represented as fire that comes down out of heaven.
撒但的迦密山信息被描绘为从天而降的火。
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Revelation 13:13.
他又行大奇事,甚至在人面前叫火从天降在地上,启示录 13:13。
The verse is describing the miracles that the United States accomplishes through the modern science of hypnotism that is conveyed to mankind on “the information super highway.” But the verse is also speaking to the appearance of Satan himself when he personates Christ.
这节经文描述了美国借助经由“信息高速公路”传播给人类的现代催眠科学所行的奇迹;但它也谈到撒但在冒充基督时的亲自现身。
“The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. The advent movement of 1840–44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God; the first angel’s message was carried to every missionary station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.
与第三天使的信息联合宣讲的那位天使,要以他的荣耀照亮全地。这里预言了一项范围遍及全球、具有非同寻常能力的工作。1840年至1844年的复临运动,是上帝大能荣耀的彰显;第一天使的信息被传到了世界上每一个宣教站,并且在一些国家里,所激起的宗教兴趣之浓,自十六世纪宗教改革以来在任何地方都未曾见过;然而,在第三天使最后警告之下所要兴起的强大运动,将要超过这一切。
“The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the ‘former rain’ was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the ‘latter rain’ will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. ‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.’ Hosea 6:3. ‘Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain.’ Joel 2:23. ‘In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.’ ‘And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:17, 21.
这工作将类似于五旬节那日的工作。正如在福音开传之初,圣灵倾降赐下“前雨”,使宝贵的种子萌发生长;照样,在其结束之时,也要赐下“后雨”,使庄稼成熟。“我们若竭力追求认识耶和华,就必认识他;他出来如晨光;他必临到我们,如同雨水,像降在地上的后雨和前雨。”何西阿书 6:3。“锡安的子民啊,你们要快乐,并因耶和华你们的神而欢喜;因他按公义赐给你们前雨,又要为你们降下雨水,就是前雨和后雨。”约珥书 2:23。“在末后的日子,神说:我要将我的灵浇灌凡有血气的。”“那时,凡求告主名的,都必得救。”使徒行传 2:17,21。
“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.’ Acts 3:19, 20.
福音的大工结束时,对上帝大能的彰显并不会比其开端时更少。在福音开端伴随早雨浇灌而应验的那些预言,必将在其结束时的晚雨中再次应验。这正是使徒彼得所盼望的“复兴的时候”。他曾说:“所以,你们当悔改并回转,使你们的罪得以涂抹,好叫那从主面前来的复兴的时候来到;祂也必差遣耶稣。”使徒行传3:19-20。
“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.” The Great Controversy, 611, 612.
神的仆人面容放光,闪耀着圣洁献身的光辉,将急速奔走各处,宣告从天而来的信息。借着成千上万的声音,这警告要在全地传出。神迹将被施行,病人将得医治,神迹奇事将伴随信徒。撒但也要作工,用虚假的奇事,甚至在人眼前使火从天降下。启示录13:13。于是,地上的居民都将不得不表明自己的立场。《大争战》,第611、612页。
When we reach the time when Satan calls fire down out of heaven, “the inhabitants of earth will be brought to take their stand.” In that time, God’s witness “will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given.” The work God’s witnesses accomplish “will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost,” when the “angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory.” At Pentecost, fire was the symbol of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and fire is also the symbol of the outpouring of Satan’s unholy spirit.
当我们临到撒但使火从天降下的时刻,“地上的居民将被置于必须表明立场的境地。”在那时,神的见证人“将迅速奔走各处,宣扬从天而来的信息。借着成千上万的声音,这警告将在全地传开。”神的见证人所要完成的工作“将与五旬节那一天的工作相似”,那时,“与第三位天使信息的宣讲联合的那位天使,要用他的荣耀照亮全地。”在五旬节,火是圣灵浇灌的象征;而火也同样是撒但邪灵浇灌的象征。
After John represents the one hundred and forty-four thousand and the great multitude in Revelation chapter seven, he identifies the opening of the seventh and final seal. The final or seventh seal represents the unsealing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the only prophecy in the book of Revelation that was to be unsealed just before probation closes. The seventh seal, the seven thunders and the Revelation of Jesus Christ are all symbols of the same truth, that is opened up just before probation closes. The Revelation of Jesus Christ emphasizes Christ’s character and creative power as the Alpha and Omega. The seven thunders identify the history where the one hundred and forty-four thousand are sealed, and the seventh seal identifies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the history when the two witnesses are resurrected and receive the creative power of the “truth” of God, that is conveyed from the Father, to the Son, to Gabriel, to the prophet unto those who choose to read, hear and keep the power contained therein.
在约翰于启示录第七章描绘了十四万四千人以及那许多、无人能数的群众之后,他指出第七个、也是最后一个印的开启。最后的、也就是第七印,代表耶稣基督之启示的启封,也代表启示录中唯一会在考验期结束前才被启封的预言。第七印、七雷以及耶稣基督的启示,都是同一真理的象征,这真理会在考验期结束前被开启。耶稣基督的启示强调基督作为阿尔法和俄梅伽的品格与创造大能。七雷指明十四万四千人受印的那段历史;而第七印则指明在两位见证人复活并领受神“真理”的创造性大能的那段历史中,圣灵的浇灌;这“真理”的能力是从父传给子,再传给加百列,再传给先知,直到那些选择阅读、聆听并持守其中所蕴含之能力的人。
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:1–5.
他揭开第七印的时候,天上约有半小时的寂静。我看见那站在神面前的七位天使,有七支号角赐给他们。又有一位天使拿着金香炉,来到祭坛前站立;有许多香赐给他,要同众圣徒的祷告一起,献在宝座前的金坛上。那香的烟与圣徒的祷告从天使手中一同升到神面前。天使拿着香炉,盛满坛上的火,投在地上,随即有声音、雷轰、闪电,和地震。启示录 8:1-5。
In the verses, “seven angels” “stood before God” with “seven trumpets.” Those seven trumpet angels have been correctly understood customarily to represent God’s judgments against Rome for the enforcement of Sunday worship. Pagan Rome, under Constantine, passed the first Sunday law in the year 321, and by the year 330, his empire was divided into east and west. From that point on the first four trumpets began to sound, and they represented the historical forces which were brought against his empire, and which by the year 476, left the city of Rome where it never again had another Roman ruling over the city, which was the symbol of Rome’s strength and glory. When the papacy passed the Sunday law at the Council of Orleans in the year 538, Mohammed was raised up to bring judgment against the Roman church, as represented by the fifth and sixth trumpets, which were also the first and second woe, and represented Islam. As correct as the traditional understanding of those trumpets are, they are defined in the passage where they are presented in Revelation nine as “plagues.”
在经文中,“七位天使”“站在神面前”,手拿“七个号筒”。这七位吹号的天使历来被正确地理解为,代表神因罗马强制推行星期日敬拜而降下的审判。异教罗马在君士坦丁统治之下,于321年颁布了第一道星期日法令;到330年,他的帝国分裂为东西两部分。从那时起,前四个号筒开始吹响,它们象征着向他的帝国发起攻势的历史力量;到了476年,这些力量使罗马城此后再无罗马人统治,而这座城市正是罗马力量与荣耀的象征。538年,当教皇制在奥尔良会议上通过星期日法令时,穆罕默德被兴起,要对罗马教会施行审判,这由第五、第六号所代表;这两号也是第一、第二样祸,代表伊斯兰。尽管对这些号筒的传统理解是正确的,但在启示录第九章呈现它们的经文中,它们被界定为“灾害”。
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Revelation 9:20, 21.
那些未被这些灾殃杀死的其余人,仍不悔改自己手所作的事,不停止敬拜鬼魔和金、银、铜、石、木的偶像;这些偶像不能看、不能听,也不能行走。他们也不悔改他们的凶杀、邪术、淫乱和偷窃。启示录9:20、21。
The perfect and final fulfillment of the seven trumpets is the seven last plagues of Revelation chapter sixteen. Even a casual survey of the prophetic characteristics of the seven trumpets of Revelation chapter nine demonstrates they possess parallel characteristics of the seven last plagues. The opening of the seventh seal takes place in the history when probation is about to close and the wrath of God, as represented by the seven last plagues, is about to be poured out.
七号完全而最终的应验,就是《启示录》第十六章的末后七灾。即使对《启示录》第九章七号的预言性特征作一次粗略的考察,也足以表明它们具有与末后七灾相对应的特征。第七印的开启发生在历史上的一个时刻:恩典时期将近结束,而上帝的忿怒(以末后七灾为代表)也将被倾倒出来。
When Christ, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, “opened the seventh seal” an angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was preceded by the unified prayer of the believers that were assembled in Jerusalem.
当基督作为犹大支派的狮子“揭开第七印”时,有一位天使拿着金香炉来到祭坛前站着;又有许多香赐给他,好叫他把这些香同众圣徒的祈祷一同献在宝座前的金坛上。那香的烟,连同众圣徒的祈祷,从天使的手中升到神面前。”五旬节圣灵的浇灌之前,聚集在耶路撒冷的信徒同心合意地祷告。
“A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work. There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing. A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.” Selected Messages, book 1, 121.
在我们中间,真正敬虔的复兴是我们一切需要中最大且最迫切的。为此而寻求,应当成为我们首要的工作。我们必须殷勤努力,得着主的赐福;这并不是因为上帝不愿将祂的福分赐给我们,乃是因为我们尚未预备好去领受。我们的天父把祂的圣灵赐给求告祂的人,比地上的父母把好东西给儿女还更乐意。然而,我们的本分是藉着认罪、自卑、悔改并恳切的祷告,去满足上帝应许将祂的福分赐给我们的条件。复兴只能作为祷告的回应而来。——《精选信息》第一册,121。
The opening of the seventh seal is identifying the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. The sealing is initiated by prayer, but not simply by the activity of prayer, but by a specific prayer. The specific prayer is identified in the book of Daniel, which is of course, also the book of Revelation.
第七印的揭开,表明对那十四万四千人进行盖印。盖印是由祷告发起的,但并非仅仅是祷告这一行为,而是由一个特定的祷告所引发。这个特定的祷告在《但以理书》中被指明,而《但以理书》当然也是《启示录》。
John in the Revelation and Daniel in his book, represent the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the “last days.” In the “last days” those who are to be God’s witnesses during the battle of the first heaven will bear witness to the prophecy that is unsealed just before probation closes. This is represented as the seventh seal in the verses we are now considering. The prayers that come to the angel with the “golden censer” are represented by Daniel’s prayer in chapter nine of his book. That prayer is a specific prayer, which was outlined by Moses in connection with the prophecy of the “seven times.” The prayer is two-fold, and Daniel places the context of his two-fold prayer in the terms of “the curse” and “the oath” of Moses. The books of Daniel and Revelation are the same book, and the same lines of prophecy that are in the book of Daniel are taken up in the book of Revelation.
《启示录》中的约翰和《但以理书》中的但以理,预表“末后的日子”中的十四万四千人。在“末后的日子”里,那些将在第一重天的争战期间作神见证人的人,将为那在恩典期结束之前被解封的预言作见证。这在我们现在所考察的经文中,被表示为第七印。呈到持“金香炉”的天使面前的祈祷,是以但以理在其书第九章的祷告为代表。那是一篇特定的祷告,是摩西就“七次”之预言所勾勒出的祷告。这个祷告具有双重性质,而但以理将其双重祷告的语境置于摩西的“咒诅”和“誓言”的框架之中。《但以理书》和《启示录》乃同一卷书,而《启示录》承接了《但以理书》中相同的预言脉络。
The prayer that brings about the outpouring of holy fire in the movement of the mighty angel of Revelation eighteen, is Daniel’s prayer of the “seven times.” It is the prayer that brought the angel Gabriel down from heaven to explain the prophecies to Daniel. At the conclusion of his prayer, which covers the first twenty verses of Daniel nine, Gabriel came down about the time of the evening oblation. The prayers that ascend that the angel with the golden censer receives are prayers that ascend as the sun is setting, in the evening of “the last days.”
在启示录第十八章那位大有权柄的天使的行动中,引发圣火浇灌的祷告,就是但以理的“七次”祷告。这是那使天使加百列从天而降、向但以理解释这些预言的祷告。在他的祷告结束时(涵盖但以理书第九章前二十节),加百列约在献晚祭的时候降临。那位拿着金香炉的天使所收纳的祷告,是在日落之际、在“末后的日子”的傍晚升上的祷告。
And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. Daniel 9:20, 21.
我正说话、祷告,承认我的罪和我民以色列的罪,并为我神的圣山在耶和华—我神面前陈明我的恳求;我正祷告的时候,就是我先前在异象中所见的那人加百列,奉命迅速飞来,约在献晚祭的时候,挨近我。但以理书9:20、21。
Daniel’s prayer was a confession of not only his sins, but also the sins of God’s people. His prayer is the blueprint of the prayer of repentance connected with the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six.
但以理的祷告是一篇认罪的祷告,不仅为他自己的罪,也为神子民的罪。他的祷告是与《利未记》二十六章的“七次”相关的悔改祷告的蓝图。
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. Leviticus 26:39–42.
你们所剩下的人必在仇敌之地因自己的罪孽而衰残消逝;也必因他们祖宗的罪孽,与他们一样衰残。若他们承认自己的罪孽和他们祖宗的罪孽,就是他们所犯、干犯我的过犯,并且承认他们曾与我作对;也承认我也与他们作对,把他们带到他们仇敌之地;那时,若他们未受割礼的心谦卑下来,并接受他们罪孽所当受的惩罚;我就要记念我与雅各所立的约,也要记念我与以撒所立的约,还要记念我与亚伯拉罕所立的约;我也要记念这地。利未记 26:39–42。
After Moses sets forth the punishment associated with the “seven times,” which he calls the “quarrel of” God’s “covenant,” he identifies what God’s people are to do if and when they become aware that they are slaves in the enemy’s land, such as Daniel was. They needed, as Daniel represented, to confess their sins, and also the sins of their fathers.
在摩西提出与“七次”有关的刑罚之后——他称之为神“约”的“争执”——他指出,当神的子民意识到自己像但以理那样在仇敌之地为奴时,他们应当如何行。他们需要,正如但以理所作的那样,承认自己的罪,也承认他们列祖的罪。
When this specific prayer is offered by those called to be the one hundred and forty-four thousand, the angel with the golden censer will take “the censer, and” fill “it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” The holy fire that represents the message of “truth” in contrast with the counterfeit message of “fire”, that the United States and Satan call down out of heaven, takes place in the hour of the “earthquake” that is the Sunday law.
当那些被呼召成为十四万四千人的人献上这特定的祷告时,拿着金香炉的天使就会拿起“香炉,并”,把“坛上的火盛满其中,投在地上;就有声音、雷轰、闪电和地震”。 代表“真理”信息的圣火,与美国和撒但从天上叫下的“火”这假冒的信息形成对照,它发生在“地震”的时刻,而这“地震”就是星期日法令。
In the book of Zechariah, we are informed that Zerubbabel laid both the foundation and the headstone of the temple in the history of the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem after the return from the slavery that Daniel was part of.
在《撒迦利亚书》中,我们得知:在从但以理也经历过的奴役中归回之后的重建圣殿与耶路撒冷的历史中,所罗巴伯既奠定了圣殿的根基,也安放了殿顶石。
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 4:6–10.
他回答我说:这是耶和华对所罗巴伯所说的话:不是倚靠势力,不是倚靠才能,乃是倚靠我的灵,这是万军之耶和华说的。大山哪,你算什么呢?在所罗巴伯面前,你必成为平地;他必把那顶石搬出来,在欢呼声中,人要喊着说:愿恩惠,愿恩惠临到它。耶和华的话又临到我说:所罗巴伯的手已经立了这殿的根基;他的手也必把它建成;你就知道万军之耶和华差遣我到你们这里来。谁藐视这日的事为小呢?他们看见所罗巴伯手中的线铊,就必欢喜;那七个就是耶和华的眼目,遍察全地。撒迦利亚书4:6-10。
Zerubbabel means “offspring of Babylon”, and is a symbol of the second angel’s message, which when combined with the message of the Midnight Cry, laid the “foundation” in the beginning movement of Adventism. Zerubbabel also represents the repetition of the second angel’s message in the ending movement of Adventism in the movement of Future for America, when the “headstone” is placed.
所罗巴伯意为“巴比伦的后裔”,象征第二位天使的信息;当它与“半夜呼声”的信息结合时,在复临运动之初奠定了“根基”。所罗巴伯也预表在复临运动的末期、在Future for America运动中,当“顶石”被安放之时,第二位天使信息的重复。
The world rejoiced over the two witnesses that had been slain in the valley of dead bones in the street that is the “information super highway.” When those two witnesses were brought back to life the world feared, and the heavens rejoiced. Zechariah, like all prophets, is identifying the “last days” when God’s people rejoice. Zechariah informs us that they rejoice at the resurrection of the two witnesses, when they see “those seven.” “Those seven” is the same Hebrew word translated as “seven times” in Leviticus twenty-six. The movement of the first angel placed the foundation stone of Moses’ seven times, and that “truth” is also to be the headstone of the movement of the third angel, in spite of its rejection in 1863.
全世界因那两位在枯骨之谷、那条就是“信息高速公路”的街道上被杀的见证人而欢喜。当那两位见证人复活时,世人惧怕,诸天欢腾。撒迦利亚像所有先知一样,指出神的子民欢喜的“末后的日子”。撒迦利亚告诉我们,他们在两位见证人复活时欢喜,就是当他们看见“那七个”的时候。“那七个”与利未记二十六章中被译为“七次”的希伯来词是同一个词。第一位天使的运动安放了摩西“七次”的奠基石,而那“真理”也必成为第三位天使运动的顶石,尽管它在1863年遭到拒绝。
When it is recognized and fulfilled, and acted upon with the appropriate two-fold prayer, the true fire will be cast to the earth, as it was at Pentecost.
当它被认识并实现,并以恰当的双重祈祷付诸行动时,真正的火就会被投到地上,正如五旬节时那样。
We will continue to address the opening of the seventh seal in the next article.
我们将在下一篇文章中继续探讨第七印的开启。