Daniel eleven verse twenty-four identifies the period which pagan Rome would rule supremely with the word “time.” A “time” represents 360 years in prophetic application, and those years began at the most famous naval battle of ancient history, the battle of Actium in 31 BC. There were other naval battles that were larger and strategically more sophisticated, but Actium was the most iconic naval battle through its association with Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Similar in historical significance to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in fulfillment of Daniel 11:40, and the Twin Towers of 9/11 in fulfillment of Revelation eighteen; for when God chooses the historical events to fulfill His prophetic Word, He does so in a fashion that reaches the attention of the largest possible audience.

但以理書十一章二十四節用「一載」呢個詞,指出異教羅馬掌握至高統治權嘅時期。喺預言嘅應用上,「一載」代表三百六十年,而呢啲年數係由古代歷史上最著名嘅海戰——主前31年亞克興海戰——開始。歷史上亦曾有其他規模更大、戰略上更精密嘅海戰,但由於同馬克安東尼同埃及妖后克麗奧佩脫拉有關聯,亞克興海戰成為最具象徵性嘅海戰。其歷史意義,正如柏林圍牆倒塌應驗但以理書十一章四十節,以及九一一事件嘅雙子塔應驗啟示錄十八章一樣;因為當上帝揀選歷史事件去應驗祂嘅預言之話語時,祂總會以一種足以吸引最大可能觀眾注意嘅方式去成就。

And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. Daniel 11:23, 24.

與他立約之後,他必行詭詐;因為他必上來,並且以寡少之民成為強盛。他必安然進入本省最肥美之地;他必行他列祖和他列祖之祖所未曾行的事;他必將擄物、掠物和財寶散給他們;是的,他必圖謀攻擊保障,直到時候。Daniel 11:23, 24.

Uriah Smith concludes his observations of the league between Rome and the Maccabees of verse twenty-three by commenting upon the small people of the verse.

烏利亞‧史密夫在總結他對第二十三節中羅馬與馬加比人結盟一事嘅觀察時,評述咗該節所提到嘅「少民」。

“At this time the Romans were a small people, and began to work deceitfully, or with cunning, as the word signifies. And from this point they rose by a steady and rapid ascent to the height of power which they afterward attained.

「當時羅馬人不過係一個細小嘅民族,並且開始以詭詐行事,或者照呢個詞語所表達嘅意思,係以狡猾嘅手段行事。由呢一點開始,佢哋以穩步而迅速嘅上升,達到咗後來所取得嘅權勢高峰。」

“[Verse twenty-four quoted].

「[引述第二十四節]」

“The usual manner in which nations had, before the days of Rome, entered upon valuable provinces and rich territory, was by war and conquest. Rome was now to do what had not been done by the fathers or the fathers’ fathers; namely, receive these acquisitions through peaceful means. The custom, before unheard of, was now inaugurated, of kings’ leaving by legacy their kingdoms to the Romans. Rome came into possession of large provinces in this manner.

「喺羅馬時代之前,列國通常要進佔寶貴嘅省份同富饒嘅疆土,都係藉住戰爭同征服。如今,羅馬要行一件列祖同列祖之祖都未曾行過嘅事;就係藉住和平嘅方式,接受呢啲所得之地。從前聞所未聞嘅慣例,如今就此開創:諸王以遺贈嘅方式,將佢哋嘅國留畀羅馬人。羅馬就係以呢種方式,取得大片省份。」

“And those who thus came under the dominion of Rome derived no small advantage therefrom. They were treated with kindness and leniency. It was like having the prey and spoil distributed among them. They were protected from their enemies, and rested in peace and safety under the aegis of the Roman power.

「凡如此歸入羅馬統治之下的人,也從中得着不少益處。他們蒙受恩待與寬容。這就如同獵物與擄物分給他們一般。他們得蒙保護,免受仇敵侵害,並在羅馬權勢的庇蔭之下,安然享有和平與穩妥。

“To the latter portion of this verse, Bishop Newton gives the idea of forecasting devices from strongholds, instead of against them. This the Romans did from the strong fortress of their seven-hilled city. ‘Even for a time;’ doubtless a prophetic time, 360 years. From what point are these years to be dated? Probably from the event brought to view in the following verse.” Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 272, 273.

「對於呢節經文後半部分,Newton 主教提出咗一個意思:即係由保障營壘之中設立預示性嘅謀略,而唔係針對營壘而設。羅馬人正正就係喺佢哋嗰座有七山之城嘅堅固堡壘之中咁樣行。『甚至到一時』;無疑係指一個先知性嘅時期,即三百六十年。呢啲年數應該由邊一點開始計算呢?大概係由下一節所顯示嘅事件開始。」Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 272, 273.

Smith continues and identifies the battle of Actium in 31 BC as the starting point for the three hundred and sixty years. After quoting verse twenty-five Smith states the following.

史密斯接住繼續指出,主前31年亞克興之戰乃係嗰三百六十年嘅起點。引用咗第二十五節之後,史密斯陳述如下。

“By verses 23 and 24 we are brought down this side of the league between the Jews and the Romans, BC 161, to the time when Rome had acquired universal dominion. The verse now before us brings to view a vigorous campaign against the king of the south, Egypt, and the occurrence of a notable battle between great and mighty armies. Did such events as these transpire in the history of Rome about this time? — They did. The war was the war between Egypt and Rome; and the battle was the battle of Actium. Let us take a brief view of the circumstances that led to this conflict.

「藉着第23同24節,我哋被帶到猶太人同羅馬人立約(主前161年)之後嘅時期,即係羅馬已經取得普世統治權嘅時候。現今擺喺我哋面前嘅呢一節,叫我哋見到一場針對南方王——埃及——嘅強而有力嘅戰役,以及一次由龐大而強盛嘅軍隊交鋒嘅顯著戰事。喺大約呢個時期嘅羅馬歷史當中,呢啲事件係咪真係發生過呢?——的確發生過。呢場戰爭,就係埃及同羅馬之間嘅戰爭;而呢場戰役,就係亞克興戰役。容我哋簡略睇一睇引致呢場衝突嘅背景。」

“[Marc] Antony, Augustus Caesar, and Lepidus constituted the triumvirate which had sworn to avenge the death of Julius Caesar. This Antony became the brother-in-law of Augustus by marrying his sister, Octavia. Antony was sent into Egypt on government business, but fell a victim to the arts and charms of Cleopatra, Egypt’s dissolute queen. So strong was the passion he conceived for her, that he finally espoused the Egyptian interests, rejected his wife, Octavia, to please Cleopatra, bestowed province after province upon the latter to gratify her avarice, celebrated a triumph at Alexandria instead of Rome, and otherwise so affronted the Roman people that Augustus had no difficulty in leading them to engage heartily in a war against this enemy of their country. This war was ostensibly against Egypt and Cleopatra; but it was really against Antony, who now stood at the head of Egyptian affairs. And the true cause of their controversy was, says Prideaux, that neither of them could be content with only half of the Roman empire; for Lepidus having been deposed from the triumvirate, it now lay between them, and each being determined to possess the whole, they cast the die of war for its possession.” Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 273.

「安東尼([Marc] Antony)、奧古斯都該撒(Augustus Caesar)同利必達(Lepidus)組成咗三頭同盟;呢個同盟曾經起誓,要為尤利烏斯・該撒(Julius Caesar)之死報仇。安東尼迎娶咗奧古斯都嘅姊妹屋大維婭(Octavia),因此成為奧古斯都嘅內兄弟。安東尼奉命到埃及辦理政務,卻墮入埃及放蕩女王克麗奧佩脫拉(Cleopatra)嘅權術同媚惑之中。佢對她所生嘅情慾極其強烈,以致最終擁護埃及方面嘅利益,為咗討克麗奧佩脫拉歡心而棄絕自己嘅妻子屋大維婭,又為咗滿足她嘅貪欲,一省復一省咁賞賜畀她;並且喺亞歷山大城(Alexandria)而唔係喺羅馬舉行凱旋慶典;又喺其他各方面都如此冒犯羅馬人民,以致奧古斯都毫不費力就能夠帶領佢哋全心投入一場對抗呢個國家仇敵嘅戰爭。呢場戰爭表面上係針對埃及同克麗奧佩脫拉;但實際上卻係針對安東尼,因為佢而家已經掌握埃及政務嘅首權。至於佢哋爭端嘅真正原因,Prideaux 話,係因為兩人都唔能夠滿足於只擁有羅馬帝國嘅一半;因為利必達既然已經被逐出三頭同盟,帝國而家就只係由佢哋兩人相爭,而雙方都決意要全盤據有,於是就以戰爭嚟擲下決定其歸屬嘅骰子。」——Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 273.

Prophetically the battle of Actium identifies the Sunday law, for it represented the third conquering of the three geographical obstacles which established pagan Rome’s “universal dominion,” as Smith describes it. As with pagan Rome, it was when the third obstacle of papal Rome was driven from the city of Rome that the “universal dominion” of papal Rome began in 538. Those two witnesses address the Sunday law where and when modern Rome overcomes both the sixth and seventh kingdoms of Bible prophecy, and in doing so, overcomes its third obstacle; thus, establishing “universal dominion” for forty-two symbolic months.

按預言而言,亞克興海戰表徵星期日法,因為正如 Smith 所描述,它代表住征服嗰三個地理障礙之中嘅第三個,從而建立咗異教羅馬嘅「普世統治」。正如異教羅馬一樣,當教皇羅馬嘅第三個障礙被逐離羅馬城之時,教皇羅馬嘅「普世統治」就喺 538 年開始。嗰兩個見證人指出星期日法所處之地同埋所發生之時,就係現代羅馬勝過聖經預言之中第六同第七個國度,並且藉此勝過佢第三個障礙;從而建立持續四十二個象徵性月份嘅「普世統治」。

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Revelation 13:5.

又有口賜給牠,能說誇大褻瀆的話;又有權柄賜給牠,可以任意而行四十二個月。啟示錄 13:5

Rome Against Egypt

羅馬敵擋埃及

The prophetic dynamics of the war of Augustus of Rome, against Egypt and Cleopatra was motivated by the rebellion of Marc Antony, and those prophetic dynamics must of prophetic necessity represent the prophetic dynamics that are represented at the Sunday law.

羅馬嘅奧古斯都攻打埃及同克麗奧佩脫拉之戰,其預言性嘅動力,乃係由馬克安東尼嘅背叛所促成;而呢啲預言性嘅動力,按照預言上嘅必然性,必須代表喺星期日法案當中所呈現嘅預言性動力。

At Actium Rome conquered Egypt, a power which consisted of an alliance between a rebellious man and an unholy woman. The alliance of Antony and Cleopatra is the combination of church and state. At Actium, Augustine’s Rome conquered a power represented by an unholy combination of church and state.

喺亞克興海戰,羅馬征服咗埃及;呢一個勢力,乃係由一個悖逆嘅男人同一個唔聖潔嘅女人結盟而成。安東尼同克麗奧佩脫拉嘅聯盟,就係教會同國家嘅結合。喺亞克興海戰,奧古斯丁嘅羅馬征服咗一個由教會同國家唔聖潔結合所代表嘅勢力。

Image of the Beast

獸像

Cleopatra represents a corrupted church aligned with Antony, a symbol of Rome. Cleopatra was the ruler over their relationship, as represented by Uriah Smith, when he stated that Antony “fell a victim to the arts and charms of Cleopatra, Egypt’s dissolute queen.” The alliance of church and state represented by Antony and Cleopatra identified Cleopatra as the power ruling in the relationship; so, the combination of church and state represented by their relationship meets the definition of the image of the beast—which is the combination of church and state with the woman in control of the relationship. Actium typified the soon-coming Sunday law.

克麗奧佩脫拉代表一個敗壞咗、並與安東尼結盟嘅教會;安東尼乃係羅馬嘅象徵。正如烏利亞‧史密夫所指出,克麗奧佩脫拉喺佢哋嘅關係之中居於統治地位;佢話安東尼「成為咗克麗奧佩脫拉——埃及放蕩女王——之權術與媚惑嘅犧牲品。」由安東尼同克麗奧佩脫拉所代表嘅政教聯盟,表明克麗奧佩脫拉乃係嗰段關係中掌權嘅勢力;因此,由佢哋之關係所代表嘅政教合一,正符合獸像嘅定義——即政教結合,而婦人操控嗰段關係。亞克興海戰乃係將快將來臨嘅星期日法預表出嚟。

Augustus, represents the papal power conquering the United States at the soon-coming Sunday law. Marc Antony is the Republican horn of the earth beast and Cleopatra is the Protestant horn. Antony and Cleopatra come together and speak as a dragon at the soon-coming Sunday law. Both Cleopatra and Antony are symbols of a dragon power, and when they are fully joined together at the Sunday law—they speak as a dragon.

奧古斯都,象徵教皇權勢喺即將來臨嘅星期日法案之時征服美國。馬克・安東尼係地獸嘅共和黨角,而克利奧帕特拉係新教角。安東尼同克利奧帕特拉喺即將來臨嘅星期日法案之時走埋一齊,並且如龍咁發聲。克利奧帕特拉同安東尼兩者都係龍權勢嘅象徵;當佢哋喺星期日法案之時完全聯合埋一齊——佢哋就如龍咁發聲。

Dragons

Both Greece and Egypt prophetically represent a dragon power, and Antony also represented a dragon power. Egypt was the south in Daniel eleven and Greece was the west. Egypt was taken by Ptolemy I after Alexander’s kingdom divided into four parts. Ptolemy I then became the first prophetic king of the south and Cleopatra was the last Ptolemaic ruler in Egypt. Ptolemy was born in Macedon, the birth place of Alexander the Great.

希臘同埃及喺預言上都象徵一種龍嘅權勢,而安東尼亦都代表龍嘅權勢。喺〈但以理書〉第十一章,埃及係南方,而希臘係西方。亞歷山大嘅國分裂成四部分之後,埃及被托勒密一世取得。於是,托勒密一世就成為預言中第一位南方王,而埃及最後一位托勒密王朝統治者乃係克麗奧佩脫拉。托勒密生於馬其頓,即亞歷山大大帝嘅出生地。

Macedon was in northern Greece, and claimed their ancestral origins were from Greek mythical heroes. The southern Greek city-states considered the Macedonians as more barbaric than the Hellenists of southern Greece. The Macedonians were a monarchy, and the southern city-states (poleis) like Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, etc., were in southern and central Greece and the Aegean islands. These poleis often had democratic, oligarchic, or mixed governments, while Macedon was a centralized monarchy with a strong royal dynasty (the Argeads). Still, they were all Hellenists, and when Rome came into history, they labelled the Hellenists Greek. Cleopatra was the last Ptolemaic ruler, which represented the northern kingdom’s monarchial tribe of Greeks from the area of Macedon, or northern Greece.

馬其頓位於希臘北部,並聲稱其祖先源出於希臘神話英雄。希臘南部各城邦認為,馬其頓人比起希臘南部的希臘化民族更為野蠻。馬其頓實行君主制;而雅典、斯巴達、底比斯、哥林多等南部城邦(poleis),則位於希臘南部、中部及愛琴海諸島。這些城邦往往採取民主制、寡頭制或混合政體;馬其頓則是中央集權的君主國,並擁有強而有力的王朝(阿吉德王朝)。然而,他們全都是希臘化民族;及至羅馬進入歷史舞台時,便將這些希臘化民族稱為希臘人。克麗奧佩脫拉是最後一位托勒密王朝的統治者,這代表了來自馬其頓地區、即希臘北部之希臘人、屬於北方王國的君主支派。

King of the South

南方王

Cleopatra was the final ruler of the Ptolemaic kingdom that began with Ptolemy I when Alexander’s kingdom divided into four. At the battle of Actium the Ptolemaic kingdom, the literal king of the south, reached its end. The next king of the south would be spiritual Egypt, represented by atheistic France during the French Revolution history.

克麗奧佩脫拉乃是托勒密王朝最後一位統治者;此王朝始於亞歷山大之國分裂為四之時的托勒密一世。及至亞克興之戰,托勒密王國——那字義上的南方王——便告終結。其後下一位南方王,乃是屬靈的埃及,在法國大革命的歷史中由無神論的法國所表徵。

And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:8.

佢哋嘅屍首要倒臥喺嗰大城嘅街上;按屬靈嘅意思,呢城稱為所多瑪同埃及,我哋嘅主亦喺嗰度被釘十字架。啟示錄 11:8。

Literal Egypt was the literal king of the south as related to the division of Alexander’s kingdom, but spiritual Egypt is represented as the king of the south by the prophetic attributes of Egypt, not a literal direction.

按住亞歷山大帝國分裂之後嘅局勢而言,字面上嘅埃及確係字面上嘅南方王;但屬靈上嘅埃及之所以被表徵為南方王,乃係根據埃及喺預言中所具有嘅屬性,並非指字面上嘅方位。

South and West

南方與西方

Cleopatra being the last Ptolemaic ruler of the kingdom was prophetically a twofold power of Greek (west) and Egypt (south), whereas; the next, and then spiritual king of the south would be France, also a twofold power represented in Revelation eleven as Egypt and Sodom. The licentiousness of Sodom aligns with the licentiousness of Cleopatra of the west, and Cleopatra of the south aligns with the atheism of Egypt. The last literal king of the south’s twofold nature aligned with the first spiritual king of the south.

作為該國最後一位托勒密王朝統治者,克麗奧佩脫拉在預言上乃係一種雙重權勢,即希臘(西方)同埃及(南方);然而,下一位、亦即屬靈上嘅南方王,將會係法國,同樣係一種雙重權勢,在《啟示錄》第十一章中被表徵為埃及同所多瑪。所多瑪嘅淫逸,與西方之克麗奧佩脫拉嘅淫蕩相符;而南方之克麗奧佩脫拉,則與埃及嘅無神論相符。最後一位字面上嘅南方王之雙重性質,與第一位屬靈上嘅南方王相對應。

The battle of Actium was the unholy alliance of Antony’s dragon of Rome and Cleopatra’s dragon of the south and west. Antony and Cleopatra represent a church and a state, so the conquering of Actium by Augustus of Rome, represents a conquering where Rome prevails over an unholy twofold union typifying the image of the beast. Three hundred and sixty years later, in fulfillment of Daniel 11:24, Constantine divided Rome into east and west, leaving the woman of Rome in the west and moving the man of Rome to the east. A conquering of south and west typified the division of east and west after a “time” of three hundred and sixty years, at the battle of Actium. In an earlier encounter Antony was given eastern Rome and Augustus the west, so Actium brought together east and west, but only for a “time.”

亞克興之戰,乃係安東尼所代表之羅馬龍,與克麗奧佩脫拉所代表之南方與西方之龍所結成嘅不聖聯盟。安東尼與克麗奧佩脫拉分別代表教會同國家,因此,羅馬之奧古斯都征服亞克興,乃係象徵羅馬勝過一個不聖嘅雙重聯合;呢個聯合乃預表獸像。三百六十年之後,應驗但以理書 11:24,君士坦丁將羅馬分為東西兩部,留下羅馬嘅婦人於西方,並將羅馬嘅男人遷往東方。南方與西方被征服,預表喺三百六十年嘅一個「時」之後,東西分裂;此事早於亞克興之戰已被預示。喺更早一次嘅交會之中,安東尼得着東羅馬,而奧古斯都得着西方,因此,亞克興使東西合而為一,然而只維持一個「時」。

31 BC and 330

主前31年同330年

Jesus always illustrates the end with the beginning, so the conquering of Actium in 31 BC typifies the division of the empire into east and west in 330. Actium of 31 BC was the alpha of the omega in the 360 years that concluded in 330. Both 31 BC and 330 typify the soon-coming Sunday law as represented in verse sixteen and forty-one of Daniel eleven.

耶穌總是以起頭說明終局,因此,主前31年阿克提烏姆之征服,乃預表公元330年帝國分裂為東西兩部分。主前31年的阿克提烏姆,乃是在以公元330年為終點之360年間,那俄梅戛的阿拉法。主前31年與公元330年二者,均預表那將要迅速來到、並如但以理書第十一章第十六節及第四十一節所表徵之星期日法令。

Another Symbol

另一個象徵

Antony of Rome, aligned with Cleopatra of the south and of the west represents a threefold alliance within their twofold union of the image of the beast. The cross also aligns with the Sunday law, and therefore with Actium and 330. At the cross a twofold union of church and state is represented by the Jews (corrupted church) joining with Rome (state) to murder Christ. The third party in the union at the cross is represented by Barabbas, a false Christ, whose name means “son of the father.” Barabbas is symbolically a false prophet when contrasted with Christ as the true prophet. Rome was Antony, and Cleopatra of the south and west represented the Jews and Barabbas.

羅馬的安東尼,與南方及西方的克麗奧佩脫拉結盟,乃係喺獸像之雙重聯合之內所呈現嘅一個三重同盟。十字架亦與星期日法相對應,因此亦與亞克興同 330 相對應。喺十字架之上,教會與國家嘅雙重聯合,乃由猶太人(敗壞咗嘅教會)聯合羅馬(國家)去謀殺基督而表明出嚟。喺十字架上呢個聯合之中嘅第三方,乃由巴拉巴所代表;巴拉巴係一個假基督,佢嘅名字意思係「父之子」。巴拉巴喺象徵上乃係一個假先知,當佢與基督作為真先知相對照之時更見分明。羅馬就係安東尼,而南方同西方嘅克麗奧佩脫拉則代表猶太人同巴拉巴。

The cross also aligns with Elijah on Mount Carmel where the choice was over who was the true or false prophet. The false prophet then was a twofold symbol consisting of the prophets of Baal and the priests of the grove. Baal is a male deity and the priests of the grove represented Ashtaroth, a female deity. The Jews at the cross were Ashtaroth, the female deity and Barabbas, the counterfeit of the Man of Sorrows, was the male deity Baal.

十字架亦都同以利亞喺迦密山上所面對嘅情況相呼應,當時所要作出嘅抉擇,乃係邊一位先係真先知、邊一位係假先知。當時嘅假先知,乃係一個雙重嘅象徵,包括巴力嘅先知同樹林神壇嘅祭司。巴力係男性神祇,而樹林神壇嘅祭司所代表嘅,乃係亞斯他錄,一位女性神祇。喺十字架之下嘅猶太人,就係亞斯他錄呢位女性神祇;而巴拉巴,呢位「憂患之子」嘅冒牌頂替者,就係男性神祇巴力。

Cleopatra was both the queen of the south and the queen of the west. Antony was the image of Rome, part of the threefold triumvirate sworn to avenge the assassination of Julius. Julius death by twenty-three wounds represented the papacies deadly wound in 1798, in fulfillment of verse forty of Daniel eleven. Augustine at Actium represents the healing of that deadly wound. The wound is healed when Antony and Cleopatra die. Antony and Cleopatra represent the image of the beast in the United States that is a threefold prophetic entity, consisting of the earth beast and its two horns. Antony is one part and Cleopatra represents the other two parts. Whether it is Antony’s Rome, or Cleopatra’s Egypt and Greece, they die together at the Sunday law when the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy ends. Prophetically Cleopatra in relation to Antony is the mixture of church craft and statecraft, with the church craft seducing and controlling the statecraft.

克麗奧佩脫拉既係南方王,亦係西方王。安東尼乃係羅馬嘅形像,屬於為報復猶流被刺殺而起誓嘅三重執政同盟之一部分。猶流因二十三處傷而死,乃預表教皇權於1798年所受嘅致命傷,應驗但以理書十一章四十節。奧古斯丁於亞克興之役,代表嗰致命傷嘅醫治。當安東尼同克麗奧佩脫拉死去之時,嗰傷口就得醫治。安東尼同克麗奧佩脫拉,代表美國入面獸像,乃一個三重嘅預言實體,由地獸及其兩角所組成。安東尼係其中一部分,而克麗奧佩脫拉代表另外兩部分。無論係安東尼嘅羅馬,抑或克麗奧佩脫拉嘅埃及同希臘,佢哋都喺星期日法令之時一同滅亡,亦即聖經預言中第六國終結之時。按預言而論,克麗奧佩脫拉相對於安東尼,乃係教會權術與國家權術嘅混合,而教會權術則引誘並控制國家權術。

The Second Death Typified

第二次的死所預表的事

At another prophetic level Cleopatra’s relation to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony represents two times that the church craft of Cleopatra is in a relationship with the statecraft of the Roman Empire. She was left by Julius in 1798 at her first symbolic death, in fulfillment of verse forty of Daniel eleven; and then she comes to her end with none to help, at Actium in fulfillment of verse forty-five of Daniel eleven. Verse forty is the alpha of her first deadly wound that is to be healed and the omega of verse forty-five is where she receives her second and final death.

喺另一個先知性嘅層面上,克麗奧佩脫拉同尤利烏斯·凱撒以及馬克·安東尼之間嘅關係,代表住克麗奧佩脫拉呢種教會權術,兩次同羅馬帝國嘅國家權術結合。喺佢第一次象徵性死亡之時,即1798年,尤利烏斯離棄咗佢,應驗咗《但以理書》第十一章第四十節;其後,喺亞克興海戰,佢走到自己嘅結局,無人幫助,應驗咗《但以理書》第十一章第四十五節。第四十節係佢第一次致命傷、將要得醫治之事嘅阿拉法;而第四十五節嘅俄梅戛,就係佢領受第二次同最終死亡之處。

As with the four Roman powers of verse sixteen through twenty-two, Cleopatra as a biblical symbol has more than one meaning, based upon the context. Julius left her in 1798 when kingly support was removed, and then her deadly wound is healed at the Sunday law, but the ten kings of Revelation seventeen ultimately destroy her with fire, when she meets her second and final death.

正如第十六至二十二節所講嘅四個羅馬勢力一樣,作為聖經象徵嘅克麗奧佩脫拉,按住上下文而有多過一重意義。當王權嘅支持被除去之時,尤利烏斯喺1798年離開咗佢;及至星期日法案之時,佢致命嘅傷口又得醫好;但《啟示錄》第十七章嘅十王,最終要用火將佢毀滅,當時佢要遭遇佢第二次、亦係最後一次嘅死亡。

Cleopatra is a symbol of the twofold nature represented by the atheism of Pharoah’s Egypt, and the religious philosophy of Greece. Her twofold nature represents the statecraft of Egypt and the church craft of Greece. Greek religious philosophy is represented by the Greek goddess Athena, who was enshrined as a statue in her temple, called the Parthenon. Athena is the symbol of wisdom, and as a woman she represents a religion of human education, in contrast with Divine education.

埃及法老之埃及嘅無神論,同埋希臘嘅宗教哲學,所代表嘅雙重性質,乃係由克麗奧佩脫拉作為象徵。佢嘅雙重性質,代表埃及嘅治國權術,同埋希臘嘅教會權術。希臘宗教哲學,係由希臘女神雅典娜所代表;佢以雕像形式供奉喺其神廟之中,該廟名為 Parthenon。雅典娜乃智慧嘅象徵,而作為女人,佢代表一種屬於人類教育嘅宗教,與神聖教育相對。

The two horns of the United States are Republicanism and Protestantism, which were typified in France by Egypt and Sodom. Egypt is statecraft and Sodom is church craft; thus, Republicanism aligns with Egypt and Protestantism with Sodom. Republicanism is Egypt and Protestantism is Sodom and Greece. The symbol of human education is the Greek goddess Athena, whose temple was the Parthenon that finds its modern twin in Nashville, Tennessee’s Parthenon temple. The symbol of the corrupt church that aligns with the Republican horn in the United States at the Sunday law is represented as Cleopatra, Ashtaroth, Salome and Sodom.

美國嘅兩角乃係共和政體同更正教,喺法國就由埃及同所多瑪所預表。埃及係國家權術,所多瑪係教會權術;因此,共和政體對應埃及,而更正教對應所多瑪。共和政體就係埃及,而更正教就係所多瑪同希臘。人類教育嘅象徵乃係希臘女神雅典娜;佢嘅神廟就係巴特農神廟,而其現代嘅對應則見於田納西州納什維爾嘅巴特農神廟。嗰個喺星期日法案之時與美國共和角聯合嘅敗壞教會,其象徵乃以克利奧帕特拉、亞斯她錄、莎樂美同所多瑪嚟表明。

Cleopatra portrays the atheism of Pharoah and the religion of the Greeks. The religion that accompanies the philosophy of atheism is the worship of Greek education. Jesus always illustrates the end with the beginning and the tree in the garden that was forbidden to eat was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, typifying the religion of Greek philosophy that Sister White calls, “higher education.” It identifies and emphasizes Cleopatra’s Greek religion of wisdom as the corrupted and counterfeit of true education in the great controversy between Christ and Satan.

克麗奧佩特拉表徵法老嘅無神主義同埋希臘人嘅宗教。伴隨住無神哲學而嚟嘅宗教,就係對希臘教育嘅崇拜。耶穌一向都係以起頭說明結局;而園中那棵被禁止食用嘅樹,乃是分別善惡樹,預表希臘哲學嘅宗教;懷愛倫姊妹稱之為「高等教育」。喺基督同撒但之間嘅大爭戰中,呢一點指出並強調克麗奧佩特拉嗰種希臘智慧宗教,乃係真教育之敗壞而且偽冒嘅對立物。

Nashville, Tennessee is called the “Athens of the south,” and Cleopatra was the last literal queen of the south. The last queen of the south typified the next and first spiritual king of the south, fulfilled by atheistic France. Atheistic France typifies the United States, where in Nashville, Tennessee, “Athens of the south” the Parthenon temple for the goddess Athena is symbolically represented. The temple is located at 2500 West End in Nashville. The number twenty-five represents the closed door of Matthew twenty-five’s three parables. Cleopatra as both the queen of the “south” and “west” comes to her “end” in Athens of the south.

田納西州納士維素有「南方雅典」之稱,而克麗奧佩脫拉乃最後一位字義上嘅南方女王。最後嘅南方女王,預表下一位、亦係第一位屬靈嘅南方王,應驗於無神論嘅法國。無神論法國又預表美國;喺田納西州納士維,即「南方雅典」,象徵性地呈現咗雅典娜女神嘅帕德嫩神廟。呢座神廟位於納士維 West End 2500 號。二十五呢個數字,代表《馬太福音》第二十五章三個比喻中嘅關門。克麗奧佩脫拉作為「南方」同「西方」嘅女王,喺南方雅典嚟到佢嘅「終局」。

With these considerations of Actium, Cleopatra, Augustus and Antony we return to verse twenty-four through verse thirty of Daniel eleven. Perhaps, the vaguest part of the passage is when they speak lies at one table.

鑑於以上對亞克興、克麗奧佩脫拉、奧古斯都與安東尼之考量,我們回到但以理書十一章二十四節至三十節。或許,呢段經文最含糊不清之處,就係「他們同席說謊」之時。

And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Daniel 11:27.

這兩個王都心懷惡計,同席說謊;然而這事必不亨通,因為到了所定的時候,結局才會來到。 但以理書 11:27。

The time appointed in the verse is 330, the end of the “time” of verse twenty-four. The time appointed represents the Sunday law for the United States and it also represents the close of human probation for the world. Before the Sunday law the two kings, whose hearts were to do mischief will speak lies to one another at one table. Before the Sunday law of verses sixteen and forty-one of Daniel eleven, two kings will speak lies at one table, but their lies do not prosper. Who are the two kings that speak lies to one another? Before we answer that thought, I will remind us of some symbolism we have previously addressed in this series.

經文中所指定嘅時間係330,即係第二十四節所講「時候」嘅終結。所指定嘅時間代表美國嘅星期日法案,亦都代表全世界人類恩典時期嘅終止。喺星期日法案之前,嗰兩個心懷惡計嘅王,要喺同一張筵席上彼此說謊。喺《但以理書》第十一章第十六節同第四十一節所指嘅星期日法案之前,兩個王要喺同一張筵席上說謊,但佢哋嘅謊言並不亨通。彼此說謊嘅兩個王係邊兩個呢?喺回答呢個問題之前,我要提醒大家,我哋喺呢個系列之前已經論及過一啲象徵。

The four Roman rulers represent a variety of prophetic symbols depending on what context they are considered. Though Roman rulers, as a symbol they essentially represent the prophetic history of ancient Judah as they transitioned from the Seleucid domination into the domination of the Romans.

四個羅馬統治者,按其所置身之不同語境,代表各樣先知性象徵。雖然他們是羅馬統治者,但作為象徵而言,他們本質上乃是代表古代猶大之先知性歷史,當猶大由塞琉古王朝的統治過渡至羅馬人的統治之時。

Pompey was a general and the next three Roman rulers were all Caesars. Julius in relation to Augustus represented two threefold unions with the two triumvirates, the first unofficial, the second official. All four rulers represent the Sunday law in certain contexts. Pompey conquered the glorious land, Julius, represented by twenty-three stab wounds is the first angel, for he is the first Caesar, and he typifies the third angel, which was Tiberias. Tiberias at the cross, which is the Sunday law is also represented by twenty-three, for twenty-three represents the at-one-ment; and the cross is a most essential part of the work of Christ in combining His Divinity with our humanity. So, Julius and Tiberias are the first and third message, represented by twenty-three.

龐培乃一位將軍,而其後三位羅馬統治者皆為凱撒。尤利烏斯相對於奧古斯都而言,藉着兩個三重聯合來作代表,即兩次三頭同盟:第一次為非正式,第二次為正式。在某些語境之下,這四位統治者都代表星期日法。龐培征服了榮美之地;尤利烏斯由二十三處刀傷所表徵,乃第一位天使,因他是第一位凱撒,並且他預表第三位天使,而這第三位天使乃是提庇哩亞。提庇哩亞在十字架之時——而十字架乃是星期日法——亦由二十三所代表,因二十三代表合一之贖;而十字架乃基督工作中極其重要的一部分,藉此祂將自己的神性與我們的人性結合起來。因此,尤利烏斯與提庇哩亞乃第一與第三信息,均由二十三所代表。

Julius was not the romantic figure he is often portrayed as in Hollywood lore; he was a ruthless man bent on power. Tiberias was worse than Julius, for his vileness is even addressed in the verse, for the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet is twenty-two and the first letter is one. The alpha is smaller than the omega and Tiberias’ vileness is located in verse twenty-two, which is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and in between the two vile persons represented by Julius and Tiberias was Augustus. Augustus represents the height of the glory of Rome’s power and prestige. As the opposite of the first and third message he is represented by the letter thirteen, which is a symbol of rebellion. Augustus secured his kingdom by subduing the rebellion of Antony and Cleopatra, the most famous rebellion of Rome’s history.

喺荷里活嘅傳說之中,Julius 往往被描繪成一個充滿浪漫色彩嘅人物;然而,佢並唔係咁樣,佢乃係一個一心醉心於權勢、冷酷無情嘅人。Tiberias 比 Julius 更加惡劣,因為經文甚至提到佢嘅卑劣;希伯來字母表最後一個字母係二十二,第一個字母係一。Alpha 比 omega 細,而 Tiberias 嘅卑劣係位於第二十二節,即希伯來字母表最後一個字母;而喺 Julius 同 Tiberias 呢兩個卑劣人物所代表者之間,乃係 Augustus。Augustus 代表住羅馬權勢同威望榮耀嘅高峰。作為第一同第三信息嘅相反,佢由字母十三所代表;十三乃係悖逆嘅象徵。Augustus 藉着平定 Antony 同 Cleopatra 嘅叛亂而鞏固自己嘅國度;呢一次叛亂,乃係羅馬歷史上最著名嘅叛亂。

Augustus is the Roman power who conquered the third obstacle and in doing so he represented the Sunday law, and the Roman power who reigns during the forty-two symbolic months of Revelation thirteen’s chapter of rebellion. When placed before the Sunday law Pompey is both 1798 and 1989, making Pompey a symbol of Antiochus Magnus ending the fourth Syrian War from 219 unto 217 BC, in fulfillment of verse ten of chapter eleven. Julius Caesar is then aligned with verses eleven and twelve and the battle of the borderline, the battle of Raphia in 217 BC. There Julius is also Antiochus Magnus, and Augustus Caesar is also Antiochus Magnus in verse fifteen’s battle of Panium. Then in verse sixteen Tiberias is the Sunday law, but he is not Antiochus Magnus, for there he is Pompey, for Jesus always illustrates the end with the beginning. The verse marks the end of the Seleucid Empire typifying the end of the United States as the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy.

奧古斯都乃係征服咗第三個障礙嘅羅馬勢力,而喺此事上,佢代表主日法,亦即係喺《啟示錄》第十三章背道篇幅所象徵之四十二個月期間掌權嘅羅馬勢力。當置於主日法之前,龐培同時係1798年同1989年,因而使龐培成為安提阿古·馬格努斯於主前219年至217年間結束第四次敘利亞戰爭嘅象徵,以應驗第十一章第十節。然後,凱撒·猶流就同第十一節同第十二節,以及邊境之戰——即主前217年拉菲亞之役——相對應。喺嗰度,猶流亦係安提阿古·馬格努斯,而奧古斯都·凱撒喺第十五節帕尼烏姆之戰中亦都係安提阿古·馬格努斯。到咗第十六節,提比里亞斯就係主日法,但佢並唔係安提阿古·馬格努斯,因為喺嗰度佢係龐培;因為耶穌總係以起頭說明末後。呢一節標誌住塞琉古帝國嘅終結,預表美國作為《聖經》預言中第六個國度嘅終結。

There are more alignments to be made of the four Roman rulers, and the line represents the hidden history of verse forty. The Maccabean line of verse twenty-three also illustrates the hidden history of verse forty. Then in verses twenty-four, the story of pagan Imperial Rome is represented by a time—three hundred and sixty years. The line of Roman history represented from verse twenty-four through to verse thirty is also an illustration of the hidden history of verse forty. It ends in verse thirty-one when the subject changes from pagan to papal Rome. Pagan Rome is still in the verse, but there it is not represented as the fourth kingdom of Bible prophecy, but as the political power that placed the papacy on the throne in 538. In 538 the papacy passed a Sunday law, so verse thirty-one is aligning with verses sixteen and forty-one. Verse twenty-four introduced the battle of Actium and the history associated with the line.

羅馬四位統治者之間,尚有更多對應需要確立,而那條線代表第四十節嘅隱藏歷史。第二十三節中馬加比嘅線,亦說明咗第四十節嘅隱藏歷史。其後喺第二十四節,以一段時期——三百六十年——嚟表述異教帝國羅馬嘅歷史。由第二十四節直到第三十節所表述嘅羅馬歷史線,同樣亦係第四十節隱藏歷史嘅說明。呢條線喺第三十一節結束,因為主題由異教羅馬轉為教皇羅馬。異教羅馬仍然喺經文當中,但喺嗰度佢唔再被表述為《聖經》預言中嘅第四國,而係被表述為喺538年將教皇制安置於寶座之上嘅政治勢力。喺538年,教皇制頒布咗星期日法,因此第三十一節係同第十六節同第四十一節相對應。第二十四節引入咗亞克興之戰,以及與呢條線相關嘅歷史。

Verse twenty-four is identifying when pagan Rome began to rule supremely for three hundred and sixty years, and then in verse thirty-one papal Rome begins to rule supremely for twelve hundred and sixty-years. The beginning and ending of the line bear the signature of Christ, the Alpha and Omega. In the verses we have the history of Marc Antony, Cleopatra and Augustus Caesar. In verse sixteen pagan Rome conquered the Seleucid Empire in 65 BC, and then Judah in 63 BC. The third obstacle of Actium in 31 BC identified the end of the kingdom of Egypt, as typified by the first obstacles of the Seleucid’s in 65 BC. Once again, we find the signature of the First and the Last. 65 BC was the first of three obstacles and it represented the conquering of the king of the north and 31 BC represented the third of three obstacles and it represented the conquering of the king of the south. Judah, as the middle obstacle of the three obstacles, was having a civil war within the walls of Jerusalem when Pompey arrived in 63 BC. The second obstacle is a symbol of rebellion.

第二十四節指出,異教羅馬係喺三百六十年期間開始取得至高統治權;然後喺第三十一節,教皇羅馬開始喺一千二百六十年期間取得至高統治權。呢條線嘅起頭同結尾,都帶有基督嘅印記,祂係阿拉法,亦係俄梅戛。喺呢幾節經文之中,我哋見到馬克安東尼、克利奧帕特拉同奧古斯都凱撒嘅歷史。喺第十六節,異教羅馬於主前65年征服咗塞琉古帝國,然後於主前63年征服猶大。主前31年亞克興之第三個障礙,標誌住埃及國度嘅終結,正如主前65年塞琉古人嘅第一個障礙所預表嘅一樣。我哋再次見到首先同末後者嘅印記。主前65年係三個障礙之中嘅第一個,佢代表對北方王嘅征服;而主前31年代表三個障礙之中嘅第三個,佢代表對南方王嘅征服。猶大作為三個障礙之中間嘅障礙,當龐培於主前63年到達之時,正喺耶路撒冷城牆之內發生內戰。第二個障礙乃係悖逆嘅象徵。

In 538, the third obstacle for papal Rome was driven out of the City of Rome. That obstacle was the Goths, and there the fifth kingdom of Bible prophecy began; right where the fourth kingdom ended. And just as the fourth kingdom began at its third obstacle, the kingdom of Egypt was defeated, as had been typified in the first obstacle of the Seleucid kingdom. This identifies that the prophetic testimony found in verses twenty-four through to verse thirty, represent a line that is also to be located in the hidden history of verse forty. For this reason, it is essential to consider the various prophetic relationships that are represented by Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Pompey and Augustus Caesar.

喺538年,教皇羅馬嘅第三個障礙被逐出羅馬城。嗰個障礙就係哥特人;而聖經預言中嘅第五個國度亦喺嗰度開始——正正喺第四個國度終結之處開始。並且,正如第四個國度係喺佢嘅第三個障礙之時開始,埃及國亦被擊敗,正如呢件事早已喺塞琉古國第一個障礙中作為預表顯明出嚟一樣。呢一點指出,喺第二十四節直到第三十節所見嘅預言見證,乃係一條同樣可以喺第四十節隱藏歷史中定位嘅脈絡。基於呢個原因,仔細考慮馬可安東尼、克利奧帕特拉、尤利烏斯凱撒、龐培同奧古斯都凱撒所代表嘅各種預言關係,乃係至為重要。

So is the vaguest part of the passage of verse twenty-four unto thirty, when they speak lies at one table?

因此,由第二十四節到第三十節呢段經文中最含糊不清嘅部分,是否就係佢哋同席說謊嘅時候呢?

And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Daniel 11:27.

這兩王心懷惡計,同席說謊;然而這計謀必不亨通,因為到了所定的時候,結局方到。但以理書 11:27。

Uriah Smith identifies the two kings as Marc Antony and Augustus Caesar.

烏利亞.史密夫指出,呢兩位王就係馬克.安東尼同奧古斯都.凱撒。

“Verse twenty-seven quoted

「第二十七節引述了」

“Antony and Caesar were formerly in alliance. Yet under the garb of friendship they were both aspiring and intriguing for universal dominion. Their protestations of deference to, and friendship for, each other, were the utterances of hypocrites. They spoke lies at one table. Octavia, the wife of Antony and sister of Caesar, declared to the people of Rome at the time Antony divorced her, that she had consented to marry him solely with the hope that it would prove a pledge of union between Caesar and Antony. But that counsel did not prosper. The rupture came; and in the conflict that ensued, Caesar came off entirely victorious.” Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 276.

「安東尼同凱撒從前原是結盟的。然而,在友誼的外衣之下,他們二人都圖謀並營求普世的統治權。他們彼此所表白的恭敬與友好之辭,都是偽君子的言語。他們在同一席上說謊。安東尼的妻子、亦即凱撒的姊妹奧克塔維亞,在安東尼與她離婚之時,向羅馬人民宣告,她之所以同意嫁給他,純粹是盼望此婚姻可以成為凱撒與安東尼之間聯合的憑據。但那計謀並未亨通。決裂終於來到;而在隨後發生的衝突中,凱撒獲得了完全的勝利。」烏利亞·史密夫,《但以理書與啟示錄》,276。

When Octavia identified that her marriage to Antony was as a pledge of union, it identified the marital alliance which had been typified earlier in chapter eleven with the Hellenistic-era marriage of Berenice to the Seleucid king Antiochus II Theos around 252 BC. Berenice was the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Octavia and Berenice represent diplomatic marriages or prophetically, treaties. Verses five through ten identify the history of the diplomatic marriage between the southern and northern kingdoms, and when Marc Antony and Octavian, later known as Augustus Caesar, arranged the marriage, they also divided the kingdom into east and west.

當屋大維婭指出她與安東尼嘅婚姻乃係作為聯合嘅憑據之時,呢一點表明咗婚姻同盟;而呢種同盟,早已喺第十一章中,藉住希臘化時期約於公元前252年,貝勒尼琪下嫁塞琉古王安條克二世·提阿斯一事,預表咗出嚟。貝勒尼琪乃係托勒密二世·費拉德爾甫斯嘅女兒。屋大維婭同貝勒尼琪所代表嘅,乃係外交婚姻;或者就預言而言,乃係條約。第五至第十節指出南方同北方諸國之間外交婚姻嘅歷史;而當馬克·安東尼同屋大維安——後來稱為奧古斯都·凱撒——安排呢場婚姻之時,佢哋亦都將王國分為東、西兩部分。

The Pact of Brundisium (40 BC) was a negotiated settlement between Marc Antony and Octavian (later Augustus) to resolve tensions in the Second Triumvirate after near-civil war. It involved dividing Roman territories (Antony east, Octavian west) and was sealed by Antony’s marriage to Octavia (Octavian’s sister). In 39 BC the original five-year Triumvirate term expired, Antony sailed to Italy with 300+ ships that were initially denied to land at Brundisium, so they ultimately docked at Tarentum. Octavian met him there after prolonged mediations produced by an unwillingness of Antony’s army to fight with Octavian’s army and vise versa. Octavia played a key mediating role, persuading Antony to support Octavian against Sextus Pompey. They renewed the Triumvirate for another five years (to 32 BC), with Antony providing Octavian 120 ships in exchange for promised troops (which Octavian later withheld).

布倫迪西烏姆協定(主前40年)乃馬克·安東尼與屋大維(後來稱奧古斯都)之間經談判達成之和解安排,旨在於幾近內戰之後,化解第二次三頭同盟內部之緊張局勢。其內容包括分割羅馬領土(安東尼治東方,屋大維治西方),並以安東尼迎娶屋大維之妹屋大維婭為締結之印證。至主前39年,原定為期五年之三頭同盟任期屆滿,安東尼率三百餘艘船隻駛往意大利,起初不獲准於布倫迪西烏姆登岸,故最終改泊於塔倫圖姆。屋大維其後亦前往該處與之會面,此乃經長時間斡旋方得促成,因安東尼之軍隊不願與屋大維之軍隊交戰,反之亦然。屋大維婭在其中擔當關鍵之調停角色,勸服安東尼支持屋大維對抗塞克斯圖斯·龐培。他們遂將三頭同盟再續五年(至主前32年),由安東尼供予屋大維一百二十艘船,以換取所應許之軍隊(惟屋大維後來並未履行)。

In 32 BC there was an open break between the two antagonists. Relations had deteriorated through propaganda, Antony’s eastern focus (with Cleopatra), and Octavian’s consolidation in the west. Octavian rejected later conference proposals from Antony before Actium.

公元前32年,呢兩個對立者之間出現咗公開決裂。由於宣傳攻勢、安東尼將重心放喺東方(連同克麗奧佩脫拉),以及屋大維喺西方鞏固勢力,雙方關係已經惡化。喺亞克興海戰之前,屋大維拒絕咗安東尼其後提出嘅會議建議。

In the diplomatic marriage with the king of the north (Antiochus) and the king of the south (Ptolemy), it was the southern king that supplied the bride, with the diplomatic marriage of Antony (the east) and Octavian (the west); the bride was supplied by the west. Both diplomatic marriages failed and the supplier of the daughter or sister was ultimately victorious over the power who broke the treaty.

喺北方王(安提阿古)同南方王(托勒密)之間嘅政治聯姻之中,係南方王提供新娘;而喺安東尼(東方)同屋大維(西方)嘅政治聯姻之中,則係西方提供新娘。兩次政治聯姻都失敗咗,而提供個女兒或姊妹嗰一方,最終都勝過咗嗰個破壞盟約嘅勢力。

The Testimony of Three

三者的見證

At the end of the Seleucid Empire there was a third treaty where lies were spoke at one table. This occurred in the context of the Fifth Syrian War (202–195 BC), when Antiochus III Magnus exploited the weakness of the Ptolemaic Kingdom after Ptolemy IV Philopator’s death in 204 BC. Ptolemy V Epiphanes (Ptolemy V) ascended the throne as a child (around age 5–6), leaving Egypt under regents and vulnerable to internal chaos, native revolts, and external threats.

到塞琉古帝國末期,曾有第三次條約,雙方在同一席上說謊。此事發生於第五次敘利亞戰爭(公元前202—195年)嘅背景之下;當時,安條克三世(Antiochus III Magnus)喺公元前204年托勒密四世·菲洛帕托爾(Ptolemy IV Philopator)死後,乘托勒密王國衰弱而加以利用。托勒密五世·埃皮法內斯(Ptolemy V Epiphanes,Ptolemy V)喺孩童時期(約五至六歲)登基,以致埃及由攝政者掌權,並且易受內部混亂、本地叛亂及外來威脅所侵。

Antiochus Magnus had already invaded and seized much of the Ptolemaic territories in Coele-Syria, Palestine, and Asia Minor after victories like the Battle of Panium (200 BC). Rather than fully conquering Egypt (which risked Roman intervention, as Rome was pressuring him to stay out of certain areas), he pursued a diplomatic marriage alliance as a “protector” figure. In 197/195 BC, as part of the peace treaty ending the war, Antiochus Magnus betrothed and then married his young daughter Cleopatra I Syra (also called Cleopatra Syra) to the child Ptolemy V (the marriage took place in 193 BC at Raphia; Ptolemy was 16, Cleopatra 10).

安提阿古·馬古斯在帕尼烏姆戰役(Battle of Panium,公元前200年)等勝利之後,早已入侵並奪取托勒密王朝在科勒敘利亞、巴勒斯坦及小亞細亞嘅大部分領土。佢並無選擇徹底征服埃及(因為咁樣會冒住引發羅馬干預嘅風險;當時羅馬正向佢施壓,要佢唔好染指若干地區),反而以「保護者」嘅姿態,尋求以外交婚盟達成目的。喺公元前197/195年,作為結束戰爭嘅和平條約之一部分,安提阿古·馬古斯先將自己年幼嘅女兒克麗奧佩脫拉一世·敘拉(Cleopatra I Syra,亦稱 Cleopatra Syra)許配畀年幼嘅托勒密五世,之後再正式成婚(婚禮於公元前193年喺拉斐亞舉行;托勒密當時16歲,克麗奧佩脫拉10歲)。

This was framed as a generous gesture: Antiochus positioned himself as an ally and “protector” of the young king, securing peace while retaining gains in Asia. The marriage gave him indirect influence over Egypt through his daughter (he hoped she would remain loyal to her Seleucid roots and act as a pro-Syrian voice in the Ptolemaic court). The ploy backfired for Cleopatra sided with her husband and Egypt, not her father, undermining Antiochus’s long-term control. This mirrors the Pact of Brundisium (40 BC) and related to Roman events in several ways.

呢件事被包裝成一項慷慨之舉:安提阿古將自己塑造成那位年幼君王嘅盟友同「保護者」,一方面確保和平,另一方面又保住自己喺亞洲所得嘅利益。呢場婚姻使佢藉住自己個女,得以對埃及施加間接影響(佢原本希望佢仍然忠於佢塞琉古嘅根源,並且喺托勒密宮廷中成為親敘利亞嘅代言者)。然而,呢個詭計適得其反,因為克利奧帕特拉站喺佢丈夫同埃及嗰邊,而唔係站喺佢父親嗰邊,從而削弱咗安提阿古長遠嘅控制。呢件事同布倫迪西烏姆條約(主前40年)互相呼應,並且喺幾方面同羅馬事件有關。

Just as Antony married Octavia (sister of Octavian) to bind rival powers after near-war, Antiochus used his daughter’s marriage to Ptolemy V to formalize a temporary peace and territorial division (Seleucids kept conquests in the north, Ptolemy retained Egypt the south).

正如安東尼迎娶屋大維亞(屋大維之妹),以便喺幾近爆發戰爭之後將彼此敵對嘅勢力綑綁起來;安提阿古亦藉住將自己個女嫁畀托勒密五世,去正式確立一時嘅和平同領土分割(塞琉古王朝保有北方所征服之地,托勒密仍保留南方埃及)。

Antiochus acted as a de facto guardian over the child-king Ptolemy V (via family ties), similar to how Octavian (and the Triumvirate) positioned themselves amid power vacuums or rivalries. In both cases, the “stronger” figure (Antiochus/Octavian) sought leverage over a vulnerable counterpart through kinship. Both arrangements brought short-term stability but ‘did not prosper’ long-term due to underlying distrust—Cleopatra favored Egypt (undermining Antiochus), while Antony’s eastern focus (Cleopatra VII) led to the breakdown with Octavian.

安提阿古藉着家族關係,實際上充任幼王托勒密五世嘅監護人;呢一點,與屋大維(以及第二次三頭同盟)喺權力真空或彼此競爭之中所擺出嘅位置相似。喺兩種情況之下,嗰位「較強者」(安提阿古/屋大維)都試圖藉着親屬關係,對脆弱嘅對方取得制衡之勢。兩種安排都帶來短暫嘅穩定,然而長遠而言都「不得亨通」,因為背後存在根深蒂固嘅猜疑——克麗奧佩脫拉偏向埃及(從而削弱安提阿古),而安東尼對東方嘅關注(克麗奧佩脫拉七世)則導致佢與屋大維決裂。

Ptolemy V’s minority under regents parallels the instability after Julius Caesar’s death (leading to the Triumvirate’s formation and power struggles). The marriage of Berenice to Antiochus marked the beginning of the Seleucid Empire’s history in Daniel eleven, and the marriage of Antiochus Magnus daughter to the Egyptian child king, marked the ending of the Seleucid Empire. The ending of the marriage of Marc Antony to Octavia marked the ending of the Ptolemaic kingdom. The ending of Judah as God’s covenant people took place at the cross, and that Judean kingdom began with the Maccabees and the league they made with Rome. All of these prophetic lines are represented within the narrative of Daniel chapter eleven, and they all align with the hidden history of verse forty. Beginning in verse five we have the treaty of Berenice, that leads to Antiochus the Great and the treaty of his daughter Cleopatra Syra, that takes place in the history of the Maccabees of verse twenty-three. The Maccabees become part of the line based upon their rebellion against Antiochus Epiphanes, one of the last of the Seleucid Dynasty.

喺攝政者監護之下嘅托勒密五世年幼執政,與尤利烏斯‧凱撒死後所出現嘅動盪局勢相對應(並導致三頭同盟嘅形成及權力鬥爭)。貝勒尼基嫁畀安提阿古,標誌住《但以理書》第十一章所記塞琉古帝國歷史嘅開始;而安提阿古‧大帝嘅女兒嫁畀埃及年幼君王,則標誌住塞琉古帝國嘅終結。馬可‧安東尼與屋大維婭婚姻嘅終結,標誌住托勒密王國嘅終結。猶大作為上帝立約子民嘅終結,發生喺十字架之上;而嗰個猶太王國則始於馬加比同佢哋與羅馬所立嘅同盟。呢一切先知性嘅脈絡,都表現喺《但以理書》第十一章嘅敘事之中,並且全都與第四十節所隱藏嘅歷史相吻合。由第五節開始,我哋見到貝勒尼基嘅條約,並由此引向安提阿古大帝,以及佢女兒克利奧帕特拉‧西拉嘅條約;呢啲都發生喺第二十三節馬加比人嘅歷史之中。馬加比人之所以成為呢條脈絡嘅一部分,乃係基於佢哋對安提阿古‧伊皮法尼嘅反叛;而佢乃係塞琉古王朝末後幾位君王之一。

Antiochus Epiphanes is the Antiochus who was in Egypt in 168 BC near Alexandria during the Sixth Syrian War. Antiochus Epiphanes had invaded Egypt and was on the verge of capturing Alexandria. The Ptolemaic rulers appealed to Rome for help. Rome sent Popillius Laenas (with just a small entourage—no army) to deliver an ultimatum from the Senate; Antiochus must immediately withdraw from Egypt and Cyprus, or face war with Rome. When Antiochus received the letter and asked for time to consult his advisors, Popillius—described as stern and imperious—took his walking stick and drew a circle in the sand around the king’s feet. He then declared, “Before you step out of that circle, give me a reply to lay before the Senate.”

安提阿古四世以彼芬尼,乃係主前168年、第六次敘利亞戰爭期間,喺埃及亞歷山大附近嘅嗰位安提阿古。安提阿古四世以彼芬尼曾入侵埃及,並且幾乎就要攻陷亞歷山大。托勒密王朝嘅統治者向羅馬求援。羅馬遂差遣波比流·拉埃納斯前往(隨行者僅屬一小隊侍從——並無軍隊),傳達元老院所發出嘅最後通牒;安提阿古必須即時由埃及同塞浦路斯撤兵,否則就要面對同羅馬開戰。當安提阿古接過書函,並要求時間同自己嘅謀士商議之時,波比流——被形容為嚴峻而專橫——就攞起自己嘅手杖,喺王腳邊嘅沙地上劃咗一個圈。然後佢宣告:「喺你踏出呢個圈之前,畀我一個答覆,好叫我帶去呈交元老院。」

The implication was clear; Antiochus could not leave the circle without committing to Rome’s demands—crossing it without agreement would mean war. Stunned and humiliated, Antiochus hesitated briefly but then agreed to comply, withdrew his forces from Egypt, and returned to Syria. This bold act of diplomacy (backed by Rome’s growing reputation for power) forced the retreat without a battle, showcasing Rome’s emerging dominance in the eastern Mediterranean. It’s widely cited as an origin for the phrase “drawing a line in the sand” (though it was literally a circle).

其中所含之意十分明顯;安提阿古若不承諾接受羅馬之要求,便不能離開那個圈——若未經同意而越過,便意味着戰爭。安提阿古既震驚又受辱,短暫遲疑之後,終於同意遵從,從埃及撤回其軍隊,並返回敘利亞。此一大膽之外交行動(並有羅馬日益增長之強權聲望作後盾)無須交戰便迫使其撤退,彰顯了羅馬在東地中海新近形成之支配地位。此事亦常被引述為英語片語 “drawing a line in the sand” 之來源(雖然當時實際上畫的是一個圈)。

Antiochus Epiphanes also became the Protestant understanding of the power that exalts himself, falls and establishes the vision in verse fourteen of Daniel eleven.

安提阿古四世(Antiochus Epiphanes)亦成為新教對但以理書十一章第十四節中那自高自大、傾倒列國,並確立異象之權勢的理解。

And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. Daniel 11:14.

當其時,必有許多人興起攻擊南方王;你民中嘅強暴人也必自高自大,要應驗那異象;但他們終必傾倒。 但以理書 11:14。

Antiochus IV Epiphanes reigned 175–164 BC, and was the eighth of thirteen Seleucid kings. He sought to impose Hellenistic culture and unify his empire under Greek religious practices. He plundered the Temple in 169 BC, banned Jewish practices (circumcision, Sabbath observance, Torah study), and forced sacrifices to pagan gods. In December 167 BC he erected a pagan altar (to Zeus) on top of the Jewish altar of burnt offerings in the Temple and sacrificed a pig, along with other profane acts. The desecration was the final straw for observant Jews, who saw it as the ultimate violation of the Temple’s sanctity and God’s law. It sparked immediate resistance when Mattathias (a priest from Modein) refused a Seleucid officer’s order to sacrifice to pagan gods and killed an apostate Jew and the officer, then fled to the hills with his sons (the future Maccabees). This ignited guerrilla warfare and revolt from 167–160 BC which aimed to restore Jewish worship, leading to the rededication of the Temple (Hanukkah) in 164 BC under Judas Maccabeus.

安提阿古四世以彼芬尼在主前175至164年在位,乃十三位塞琉古王之中第八位。他力圖推行希臘化文化,並以希臘宗教禮儀使其帝國歸於一統。主前169年,他劫掠聖殿,禁止猶太人的宗教實踐(割禮、守安息日、研習妥拉),並強迫人向異教諸神獻祭。主前167年12月,他在聖殿中猶太人的燔祭壇之上豎立了一座異教祭壇(獻與宙斯),又獻上一頭豬,並行出其他褻瀆之事。這種玷污對嚴守信仰的猶太人而言,成了忍無可忍的最後一擊;他們視之為對聖殿神聖與上帝律法最終極的踐踏。當瑪他提亞(來自摩丁的一位祭司)拒絕一名塞琉古官員要他向異教諸神獻祭的命令,殺死了一名背道的猶太人和那官員,隨後與其眾子(即後來的馬加比家族)逃往山地時,這便即刻激起了反抗。此事點燃了主前167至160年的游擊戰與起義,其目的是恢復猶太人的敬拜,並最終在主前164年,由猶大·馬加比帶來聖殿的重新奉獻(修殿節)。

At the beginning and ending of the Seleucid Empire there was a significant treaty represented by a diplomatic marriage that possessed the element of division of either east and west, or north and south. As the Seleucid Empire waned Antiochus Epiphanes becomes the symbol of the rising Roman power, and the focus of the Maccabean’s indignation. Later in history he becomes the counterfeit of the prophetic symbol that establishes the vision. The power in verse twenty-two of chapter eleven is broken when the prince of the covenant was broken.

喺塞琉古帝國嘅開端同終結,都有一項重大的盟約,以一場外交婚姻作為表徵,當中帶有東與西,或北與南分裂嘅因素。當塞琉古帝國衰微之際,安提阿古‧伊皮法尼成為興起中之羅馬勢力嘅象徵,亦成為馬加比人義憤所集中針對嘅對象。其後喺歷史之中,佢成為嗰建立異象之先知性象徵嘅仿冒者。第十一章第二十二節所講嘅權勢被打破,乃係喺立約之君被打破之時發生。

And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. Daniel 11:22.

必有氾濫嘅軍兵喺佢面前被沖沒,並且被折斷;立約嘅君亦必如此。但以理書 11:22。

Antiochus Epiphanes’ reign ended in 164 BC, almost two hundred years before Christ, “the prince of the covenant” was “broken” at the cross. What we wish to note here is that the Seleucid Empire began and ended with a diplomatic treaty marriage where the deceit between the two parties is a matter of the historical record. During the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Maccabean revolt began, which typified the American Revolution. In the history of the Maccabees their struggle to throw off the Seleucid power included a significant treaty with Rome. The verse that identifies the treaty directly identifies Rome as working deceitfully, or telling lies at the treaty table.

安提阿古四世以彼芬尼在主前164年結束其統治,距離基督、「立約之君」在十字架上被「折斷」,幾乎有二百年之久。我們在此所要指出的是:塞琉古帝國之開始與終結,皆以一場外交條約婚姻為標誌,而雙方之間的詭詐,乃是歷史記錄中明載之事。 在安提阿古四世以彼芬尼統治期間,馬加比起義開始了,這乃是美國革命的預表。在馬加比的歷史中,他們為擺脫塞琉古勢力而作的鬥爭,包含了一項與羅馬所立的重要條約。那節直接指出該條約的經文,也直接指出羅馬是在詭詐行事,或是在締約之席上說謊。

And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. Daniel 11:23.

與他結盟之後,他必行詭詐;因為他必上來,並且只藉着少數人而成為強盛。Daniel 11:23.

Every prophetic line that precedes the time of the end in verse forty contains a broken treaty. Uriah Smith commenting on verse thirty’s “them that forsake the holy covenant” records the following:

凡喺第四十節所講嘅末時之前嘅每一條預言脈絡,都包含一份被破壞咗嘅盟約。烏利亞‧史密夫喺註釋第三十節「離棄聖約的人」時,記下如下:

“‘Indignation against the covenant;’ that is, the Holy Scriptures, the book of the covenant. A revolution of this nature was accomplished in Rome. The Heruli, Goths, and Vandals, who conquered Rome, embraced the Arian faith, and became enemies of the Catholic Church. It was especially for the purpose of exterminating this heresy that Justinian decreed the pope to be the head of the church and the corrector of heretics. The Bible soon came to be regarded as a dangerous book that should not be read by the common people, but all questions in dispute were to be submitted to the pope. Thus was indignity heaped upon God’s word. And the emperors of Rome, the eastern division of which still continued, had intelligence, or connived with the Church of Rome, which had forsaken the covenant, and constituted the great apostasy, for the purpose of putting down ‘heresy.’ The man of sin was raised to his presumptuous throne by the defeat of the Arian Goths, who then held possession of Rome, in A.D.538.” Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, 281.

「『向盟約發憤怒;』即係指聖經,即盟約之書。羅馬曾經完成咗一場呢種性質嘅革命。征服羅馬嘅赫魯利人、哥特人同汪達爾人,接受咗亞流派信仰,並成為天主教會嘅敵人。查士丁尼頒令立教皇為教會之首同異端之糾正者,尤其係為咗剷除呢種異端。聖經好快就被視為一部危險嘅書,唔應該俾平民閱讀;一切有爭議嘅問題,都要提交教皇裁決。於是,對神話語嘅羞辱就咁樣層層加上。羅馬諸帝,當中東部疆域仍然延續嘅一支,亦與背棄盟約、構成大背道嘅羅馬教會互通聲氣,或者默許其所為,目的係要鎮壓『異端』。罪人之子,係藉住公元538年擊敗當時佔有羅馬嘅亞流派哥特人,而被扶上佢僭妄嘅寶座。」烏利亞·史密夫,《但以理書與啟示錄》,281。

Verse five of Daniel eleven identifies the line of history where the king of the south provides a diplomatic bride as a symbol of a treaty that was thereafter broken by the king of the north. The retaliation of the king of the south typified the retaliation of Napoleon’s spiritual king of the south against the papal king of the north in 1798. The broken treaty of verses five through nine typified Napoleon’s broken treaty of Tolentino, which typified Putin’s claim of a broken treaty by NATO. The retaliation of Napoleon typified the retaliation of Putin against the Ukraine in 2014. Verse ten’s retaliation of Antiochus Magnus ending the fourth Syrian War aligns with Napoleon in 1798 and also Putin in 2014. Following verse fifteen’s battle of Panium n 200 BC, Antiochus arranged a diplomatic marriage with the hidden intent of taking Egypt under his command without employing military boots on the ground. Antiochus Magnus throne was passed to his son, who was assassinated which brought Antiochus Magnus’s youngest son, Antiochus Epiphanes to the throne. His actions in implementing Greek customs and religion brought about the Maccabean revolt, that led to the deceitful treaty with Rome in verse twenty-three. Verse twenty-four introduces pagan Rome and identifies Antony and Augustus’s table of lies. In verse thirty pagan Rome enters into dialogue with the papal church, who are noted as them that had broken the holy covenant.

《但以理書》第十一章第五節指出一條歷史脈絡:南方王提供一位外交新娘,作為一項條約的象徵,而該條約其後被北方王破壞。南方王的報復,預表了一七九八年拿破崙所對應之屬靈南方王,向教皇制北方王所施行的報復。第五至第九節所記那被破壞的條約,預表拿破崙被破壞的《托倫蒂諾條約》,而此又預表普京所聲稱被北約破壞的條約。拿破崙的報復,預表了普京於二〇一四年對烏克蘭所施行的報復。第十節中安提阿哥·馬格努斯結束第四次敘利亞戰爭的報復,與拿破崙於一七九八年的行動相呼應,也與普京於二〇一四年的行動相呼應。繼第十五節所記公元前二〇〇年帕尼烏姆之戰後,安提阿哥安排了一場外交婚姻,暗藏意圖,要在不動用地面軍靴的情況下,將埃及置於他的指揮之下。安提阿哥·馬格努斯的王位傳給了他的兒子;其子遭暗殺,遂使安提阿哥·馬格努斯最年幼的兒子安提阿哥·伊皮法尼斯登上王位。他推行希臘風俗與宗教的作為,引發了馬加比起義,並導致第二十三節中與羅馬所立的詭詐條約。第二十四節引入異教羅馬,並指出安東尼與奧古斯都那張謊言的桌子。第三十節中,異教羅馬與教皇教會展開對話;後者被指為那些背棄聖約的人。

Verses twenty-four to thirty is the testimony of pagan Rome and verses thirty-one to forty provide the testimony of papal Rome. Every line of Daniel eleven verse one on through verse forty represents a line of prophecy that is applied in the hidden history of verse forty. The line of the Seleucid kingdom, the line of the Ptolemaic kingdom, the line of the Judean kingdom of the Maccabees, the line of pagan Rome and the line of papal Rome all illustrate the history of 1989 unto the Sunday law. Each of those lines identify a broken treaty as a major element of the history.

第二十四至三十節乃係異教羅馬嘅見證,而第三十一至四十節則提供教皇羅馬嘅見證。由但以理書十一章一節直到第四十節嘅每一行,都代表一條預言線,而呢啲預言線都應用喺第四十節嘅隱藏歷史當中。塞琉古王國嘅線、托勒密王國嘅線、馬加比時期猶大王國嘅線、異教羅馬嘅線,同埋教皇羅馬嘅線,全都說明由1989年直到星期日法案嘅歷史。每一條線都指出,一項被破壞嘅盟約乃係呢段歷史中一個主要元素。

It is Rome that establishes the vision of Daniel eleven, and both pagan and papal Rome’s prophetic treaties of deceit are marked as progressive and as occurring before Rome ruled supremely for their respective and distinct prophetic periods. Both powers marked the beginning of the prophetic period of supremacy as beginning when their third obstacle was overcome. Before the soon coming Sunday law in the United States there will be a treaty of deceit between two powers. Four times the two powers have been the kings of the south and the north, once between the glorious land of Judah and Rome, once between two parts of the Roman triumvirate and once between pagan and papal Rome. In both deceitful treaties concerning Rome it amounted to a treaty between one half of the Roman empire, whether Antony of the east, Augustus of the west, or pagan Rome of the east and papal Rome of the west. Four treaties of deceit between the kings of the north and south, two between the kings of the east and west and one between the soon-to-be king of the north and the glorious land.

係羅馬確立咗但以理書第十一章嘅異象,而異教羅馬同教皇羅馬嗰啲帶有詭詐嘅先知性盟約,都被標示為循序漸進,並且都係發生喺羅馬喺各自獨特嘅先知時期中取得至高統治之前。呢兩個勢力都標示出,佢哋至高權柄嘅先知時期,乃係喺佢哋第三個障礙被除去之時開始。喺美國即將來臨嘅星期日法之前,兩個勢力之間將會有一個詭詐嘅盟約。兩個勢力曾經四次成為南方王同北方王:一次係喺猶大榮美之地同羅馬之間;一次係喺羅馬三頭同盟嘅兩個部分之間;又一次係喺異教羅馬同教皇羅馬之間。喺兩個關乎羅馬嘅詭詐盟約之中,實際上都係羅馬帝國一半同另一半之間嘅盟約,無論係東方嘅安東尼、西方嘅奧古斯都,抑或東方嘅異教羅馬同西方嘅教皇羅馬。南方王同北方王之間有四個詭詐嘅盟約;東方王同西方王之間有兩個;而即將成為北方王者同榮美之地之間有一個。

This concludes our initial presentation of the book of Daniel. The Panium series represents the conclusion of the series on the book of Daniel, which is the introduction to the hidden history of verse forty which we will continue to consider in the next article.

至此,我哋對《但以理書》嘅初步講解告一段落。Panium 系列乃係《但以理書》系列嘅總結,而呢個總結同時亦係對第四十節隱藏歷史嘅引言;我哋將會喺下一篇文章繼續加以探討。