All the prophets identify the end of the world.
眾先知都指出世界的終局。
“Each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us. ‘Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.’ 1 Corinthians 10:11. ‘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.’ 1 Peter 1:12. . . .
「古時每一位先知發言,與其說是為着他們自己的時代,不如說是為着我們的時代;因此,他們的預言對我們仍然生效。『他們遭遇這一切事,都要作為鑑戒;並且寫在經上,正是警戒我們這末世的人。』哥林多前書 10:11。『他們得了啟示,知道他們所傳講的一切事,不是為自己,乃是為你們;這些事如今藉着那些靠着從天上差來的聖靈向你們傳福音的人,報給你們;連天使也切望詳細察看這些事。』彼得前書 1:12……」
“The Bible has accumulated and bound up together its treasures for this last generation. All the great events and solemn transactions of Old Testament history have been, and are, repeating themselves in the church in these last days.” Selected Messages, book 3, 338, 339.
「聖經已經為呢末後嘅世代積聚並收藏咗佢嘅珍寶。舊約歷史中一切重大嘅事件同莊嚴嘅作為,都已經喺呢末後嘅日子於教會中重演,並且仍然喺度重演。」《Selected Messages》,卷3,338、339。
All the books of the Bible conclude in the book of Revelation.
聖經嘅所有書卷,都喺《啟示錄》入面作結。
“In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end.” Acts of the Apostles, 585.
「喺《啟示錄》裏面,聖經全部書卷都相遇,並且喺此終結。」《使徒行述》,585。
The final warning message for planet earth’s inhabitants is identified in Revelation eighteen.
畀地球居民最後嘅警告信息,喺《啟示錄》第十八章裏面被指明。
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Revelation 18:1–3.
此後,我看見另一位天使從天降下,握有大權;地也因他的榮耀發光。 他大聲呼喊,說:「巴比倫大城傾倒了!傾倒了!成了鬼魔的住處、各樣污穢之靈的巢穴,並各樣污穢可憎之雀鳥的牢籠。因為列國都喝了她淫亂大怒之酒;地上的君王與她行淫;地上的客商也因她奢華太過而發了財。」啟示錄 18:1–3
The phrase “Babylon the great” represents the Roman Catholic church and in Isaiah chapter twenty-three “Babylon the great” is represented as Tyre.
「巴比倫大城」呢個詞語代表羅馬天主教會,而喺《以賽亞書》第二十三章,「巴比倫大城」乃係以推羅為其表徵。
The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest. Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. Isaiah 23:1–18.
關於推羅的默示。 他施的船隻啊,你們要哀號;因為推羅已被毀滅,甚至冇房屋,冇入口可入;呢消息係從基提地向佢哋顯明。海島的居民啊,你哋當靜默;你這素來由經海而過的西頓商家所充裕的,如今也要止息。藉着大水,西曷的種子,就是河上的收成,作她的進益;她又作列國的市集。西頓啊,你當羞愧;因為海說了,就是海的保障說:「我冇經過產難,也冇生育兒女;我冇養育少男,也冇撫養處女。」埃及人聽見這風聲怎樣痛苦,他們聽見推羅的風聲也必照樣甚是傷痛。海島的居民啊,你哋要過到他施去;你哋要哀號。這豈是你們歡樂的城嗎?她的起源自上古,自太初便有;如今她自己的腳必帶她到遠方寄居。誰曾定下這計謀攻擊推羅呢?她本是賜冠冕的城,她的商家是王子,她的買賣人是地上尊貴的人。萬軍之耶和華定意如此,要玷辱一切榮耀的驕傲,使地上一切尊貴的人被藐視。他施的女兒啊,你要像河水一樣流過你的地;再冇約束了。耶和華已經向海伸手,震動列國;耶和華已經吩咐攻擊這商業之城,要毀滅她的保障。祂又說:「受欺壓的西頓居民哪,你這處女啊,你必不得再歡樂;起來,過到基提去;就算喺嗰度,你也不得安歇。」 看哪,迦勒底人之地;這民本來不成國,直到亞述人為住曠野的人立了她;他們建起她的高樓,興造她的宮殿;他使這地成為荒場。他施的船隻啊,你們要哀號;因為你們的保障被毀滅了。 到那日,推羅必被忘記七十年,照着一王的年日;七十年完了以後,推羅必像妓女所唱的歌一樣。你這被忘記的妓女啊,攞起琴來,周遊城中;巧奏樂曲,多唱詩歌,使人記念你。七十年完了以後,耶和華必眷顧推羅;她就仍得利錢,與地上萬國在全地的面上行淫。她的貨財和她的利錢必歸耶和華為聖;必不積攢,也不收藏;因為她的貨財必歸與那些住在耶和華面前的人,使他們食得飽足,衣着耐久。 以賽亞書 23:1–18。
Sister White writes: “All the great events and solemn transactions of Old Testament history have been, and are, repeating themselves in the church in these last days.”
懷愛倫姊妹寫道:「舊約歷史中一切重大嘅事件同莊嚴嘅作為,都已經喺末後呢啲日子喺教會之中重演,而且仍然正在重演。」
Isaiah twenty-three addresses the prophetic relationships of the United Nations, the Papacy, the United States and Islam. In order to recognize these truths certain symbols in the chapter must be defined by Inspiration. Once the symbols are defined, the sequence of events is fairly straightforward. The symbols in the chapter that need to be defined are:
以賽亞書二十三章論到聯合國、教廷、美國同伊斯蘭之間嘅先知性關係。要辨明呢啲真理,章中若干象徵必須藉着靈感加以界定。當呢啲象徵一經界定,事件嘅次序就相當清楚直接。章中需要界定嘅象徵有:
The Burden, Tyre, The harlot, The Assyrian, The land of the Chaldeans, Towers and Palaces, Tarshish, The Seed of Sihor, The Land of Chittim, Zidon, The Merchants City, The report of Egypt and the report of Tyre, The Howling, A Daughter, Seventy Years, The Days of One King, Forgetting, and Remembering
默示,推羅,妓女,亞述人,迦勒底人之地,樓臺與宮殿,他施,西曷的種子,基提地,西頓,商賈之城,埃及的風聲與推羅的風聲,哀號,一個女兒,七十年,一王的年日,忘記,與記念
The word “burden” in verse one identifies a prophecy of doom against the kingdom of Tyre.
第一節中「默示」一詞,指出係一個針對推羅國之災禍嘅預言。
Burden: H4853—From H5375; a burden; specifically tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire: – burden, carry away, prophecy, X they set, song, tribute.
默示:H4853——源自 H5375;負擔;特指貢物,或(抽象而言)搬運;比喻為言語,主要指災禍之宣告,特別是歌唱;心意、慾望:——默示、帶去、預言、X 他們設立、歌曲、貢物。
The burden of Tyre is one of many passages in the Bible where the final judgment of the Roman Catholic church is identified. A “burden” by use and definition is a prophecy, and primarily a prophecy of doom. There are eleven “burdens” in Isaiah and eight times the word is used to describe a burden carried on the shoulders. The eleven times the word “burden” is represented as prophecy of doom are Isaiah 13:1; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 30:6 and of course chapter twenty-three where we find the burden of Tyre. It is worthwhile to place all of Isaiah’s prophecies of doom together in order to evaluate which power is being represented in the last days. Eleven prophecies of doom are difficult to cover at one time, so I will give a brief definition of each doom prophecy to set the context for chapter twenty-three.
推羅的默示,乃係聖經中眾多指出羅馬天主教會最終審判之經文其中之一。「默示」按其用法同定義,乃係預言,並且主要係災禍之預言。以賽亞書中有十一個「默示」,而「默示」一詞亦有八次用嚟形容肩上所負之擔子。嗰十一次以「默示」表達為災禍預言之處,乃係以賽亞書 13:1;15:1;17:1;19:1;21:1, 11, 13;22:1;30:6,當然仲有第二十三章,我哋喺嗰度見到推羅的默示。將以賽亞一切災禍之預言一同擺列出嚟,以便評估末後日子所代表的是哪一個權勢,實在係有價值的。十一個災禍之預言難以一次盡述,所以我會先為每一個災禍預言作簡略界定,以設定第二十三章的背景。
In chapter thirteen the prophecy of doom against Babylon is modern Babylon at the end of the world, which is the whore of Rome that is also illustrated in chapter seventeen of the book of Revelation.
喺第十三章,對巴比倫所宣告嘅災禍預言,乃係指向世界末了嘅現代巴比倫,即係羅馬嘅淫婦;呢一點亦喺《啟示錄》第十七章有所描繪。
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:1–5.
拎住七個金碗嘅七位天使之中,有一位前嚟同我講,對我話:「你過嚟,我要將嗰坐喺眾水之上之大淫婦所要受嘅審判指示你看。地上嘅君王同佢行淫,住喺地上嘅人亦都因佢淫亂嘅酒沉醉。」我於是喺靈裏面被帶到曠野去;我就看見一個女人騎坐喺一隻朱紅色嘅獸上,嗰獸滿有褻瀆嘅名號,有七個頭、十隻角。嗰女人身穿紫色同朱紅色衣裳,又以金子、寶石同珍珠為妝飾,手裏拎住一個金杯,杯中盛滿咗可憎之物,同埋佢淫亂嘅污穢。佢額上寫住一個名號:奧祕哉!大巴比倫,淫婦同地上一切可憎之物之母。啟示錄 17:1–5。
I need to digress a little. The purpose of the study of the prophecy of Tyre is ultimately to align the prophetic history of the United States with that of the Seventh-day Adventist church. We will show that the government of the United States is one horn on the lamb-like beast of Revelation thirteen and that Protestantism that came out of the Dark Ages was the other horn. The horn of Protestantism became Millerite Adventism at the point the Protestants of the United States rejected the first angel’s message. When we have that in place, we will show that the history of the Protestant horn and the history of the Republican horn run parallel to one another and possess parallel prophetic characteristics. After all they are on the same beast representing that both horns are contemporary to one another. I will illustrate one example of this parallel of the horns of church and state in the United States. They both ‘forget’ in their own way.
我需要稍為岔開一下話題。研究推羅預言的目的,最終乃是要使美國的預言歷史與基督復臨安息日會的預言歷史相互對齊。我們將會指出,美國政府乃是啟示錄第十三章那有如羊羔之獸的一角,而從黑暗時代出來的新教則是另一角。當美國的新教徒拒絕第一位天使的信息之時,新教這一角便成為米勒派復臨運動。當這一點確立之後,我們將會說明,新教之角的歷史與共和黨之角的歷史乃是彼此平行,並且具備平行的預言特徵。畢竟,它們同在一隻獸之上,表明這兩角彼此同時代。我將舉出一個例子,說明美國教會與國家這兩角之間的這種平行。它們各自都以自己的方式「忘記」。
Isaiah twenty-three marks the prophetic point that the papal power is forgotten for seventy years, and in those seventy symbolic years men forget the papacy and why the Dark Ages are called the Dark Ages. The Protestant horn’s motto when they separated from the Catholic church was the Bible and the Bible alone. They forgot that the Bible informs us who the papacy really is. They forgot the message enshrined in the sacred document they were entrusted with, and professed to be the champion defenders of.
以賽亞書第二十三章標誌住一個預言性嘅時刻:教皇權勢要被遺忘七十年;而喺呢七十個象徵性嘅年日之中,人忘記咗教皇制度,亦忘記咗點解黑暗時代會被稱為黑暗時代。新教之角喺佢哋同天主教會分離之時,佢哋嘅座右銘乃是「惟獨聖經,惟獨聖經」。佢哋忘記咗,聖經其實向我哋揭示教皇制度真正係乜嘢。佢哋忘記咗嗰個被珍藏於佢哋所受託保管、並自稱為其英勇捍衛者之神聖文獻當中嘅信息。
“Those who become confused in their understanding of the word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist. There is no time now for us to assimilate with the world. Daniel is standing in his lot and in his place. The prophecies of Daniel and of John are to be understood. They interpret each other. They give to the world truths which everyone should understand. These prophecies are to be witness in the world. By their fulfillment in these last days, they will explain themselves.” Kress Collection, 105.
「凡喺對聖言嘅理解上陷入混亂、睇唔見敵基督之意義嘅人,必定會將自己置於敵基督嗰一邊。現今已經冇時間畀我哋去與世界同化。但以理正站喺佢所分得之分,同埋佢嘅位置上。但以理同約翰嘅預言係應當被明白嘅。佢哋彼此闡釋。佢哋將人人都應當明白嘅真理賜畀世界。呢啲預言要喺世界上作見證。藉住佢哋喺呢末後日子中嘅應驗,佢哋將會自行表明其意義。」Kress Collection, 105.
Likewise, the Republican horn representing the government of the United States was to be by the people and for the people, but the citizens of the United States have also forgotten the sacred document that they were entrusted with. That sacred document is the Constitution of the United States and the motto of the government that was designed to be for the people was the separation of church and state. They have forgotten the message of the Constitution they were entrusted with, and professed defenders of.
同樣,代表美國政府嘅共和之角,本應係民有、民治、民享;但美國公民亦都忘記咗佢哋所受託付嘅神聖文件。嗰份神聖文件就係《美國憲法》,而呢個原本設計為人民而立嘅政府,其宗旨乃係政教分離。佢哋忘記咗自己所受託付、並自稱為之辯護嘅《憲法》信息。
“And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured.
「並且要記住,羅馬所誇口的,乃是她從不改變。額我略七世與依諾增爵三世的原則,至今仍是羅馬天主教會的原則。她若只是有此權勢,便會如昔日數世紀一樣,以同樣的強力將之付諸實行。當新教徒提議在高舉星期日之事上接受羅馬的援助時,他們幾乎不知道自己在做甚麼。正當他們一心要達成自己的目的之際,羅馬所圖謀的,乃是要重新建立她的權勢,收復她失去的霸權。只要這原則一旦在美國確立:教會可以運用或控制國家的權力;宗教禮儀可以由世俗法律加以強制;簡而言之,教會與國家的權威要支配人的良心——那麼,羅馬在這個國家的得勝,便是確定無疑的。
“God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.” The Great Controversy, 581.
「上帝嘅話已經就臨近嘅危險發出警告;如果呢個警告被人置若罔聞,新教世界就只會喺為時已晚、無法逃脫網羅之時,先至明白羅馬真正嘅意圖。佢正靜靜噉增長勢力。佢嘅道理正喺立法機關、喺各教會、並喺人心之中發揮影響。佢正堆積起佢嗰啲高聳而巨大嘅建築;喺其中隱秘嘅深處,佢從前嘅迫害將會重演。佢暗中而不為人所疑噉鞏固自己嘅力量,好叫到咗佢出手嘅時候,可以推進自己嘅目的。佢所渴望嘅,只不過係有利嘅立足之地,而呢樣已經喺畀佢。 我哋好快就會睇見,亦都會感受到,羅馬因素嘅目的是乜。凡相信並順從上帝話語嘅人,因此就必招致羞辱同逼迫。」《善惡之爭》,581。
If you can locate any dictionary that was published before 1950, and look up “scarlet colored woman” or some variation of that phrase from Revelation seventeen, every one of those pre-1950 dictionaries identifies that the Roman Catholic church is the whore of Revelation seventeen. The United States, Revelation thirteen’s two-horned earth-beast forgets its past, whether it be the horn of Protestantism or the horn of Republicanism. Both of these institutions came about from the protest against the religious tyranny of the papacy and the political tyranny of the kings that supported her, or as the Bible says, the kings that “committed fornication” with her. Before we take up Isaiah twenty-three, we will briefly give an overview of the other ten times Isaiah identifies a ‘prophecy of doom,’ for all of the eleven “burdens” are just that.
如果你能夠搵到任何一本喺一九五〇年之前出版嘅字典,查考「朱紅色嘅女人」或者《啟示錄》第十七章入面呢一句話嘅任何變體,嗰啲一九五〇年之前嘅字典,無一不指出羅馬天主教會就係《啟示錄》第十七章所講嘅淫婦。美國,即係《啟示錄》第十三章嗰隻有兩角嘅地獸,忘記咗佢嘅過去,無論係新教主義之角,抑或共和主義之角。呢兩個制度都係因為反抗教皇制度嘅宗教暴政,同埋支持佢嘅列王之政治暴政而產生;或者照聖經所講,就係嗰啲同佢「行淫」嘅列王。喺我哋講解《以賽亞書》第二十三章之前,我哋會先簡略概述《以賽亞書》其餘十次所指出嘅「默示」,因為十一個「重擔」全都正正係如此。
Isaiah thirteen is the burden of Babylon in the “last days.” Babylon, though controlled and directed by the Catholic church in the last days is made up of three powers that lead the world to Armageddon in chapter sixteen of Revelation. In chapter thirteen’s prophecy of doom against modern Babylon there are three powers represented; Babylon, Lucifer and Assyria representing the beast (Assyria), the dragon (Lucifer) and the false prophet (Babylon). Assyria and Babylon are the two desolating powers God employed to punish ancient Israel and Assyria came first taking the northern ten tribes into captivity and thereafter Babylon took the southern two tribes of Judah.
以賽亞書第十三章乃係關乎「末後日子」巴比倫嘅默示。巴比倫,雖然喺末後日子受天主教會所操控同引導,卻係由三股勢力所組成;正係呢三股勢力,喺《啟示錄》第十六章帶領世界走向哈米吉多頓。喺第十三章對現代巴比倫所發出嘅毀滅預言之中,呈現咗三股勢力:巴比倫、路西弗同亞述,分別代表獸(亞述)、龍(路西弗)同假先知(巴比倫)。亞述同巴比倫乃係神用以懲治古代以色列嘅兩股荒涼毀滅之勢力;亞述先至,把北方十個支派擄去,之後巴比倫又把猶大南方兩個支派擄去。
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. Jeremiah 50:17, 18.
以色列係分散嘅羊;獅子把佢趕散:首先係亞述王吞滅咗佢;到末後,呢個巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒又打斷咗佢嘅骨頭。所以萬軍之耶和華——以色列嘅神——如此說:看哪,我必刑罰巴比倫王同佢嘅地,好似我刑罰亞述王一樣。耶利米書 50:17, 18.
First Assyria took the northern ten tribes of Israel into captivity and thereafter Babylon took the southern two tribes of Judah into captivity. Both of these captivities were fulfillment of Leviticus twenty-six’s “seven times.” The “seven times” of Leviticus was the very first “time prophecy” William Miller discovered, and it identifies that when Assyria captured the northern tribe it marked the beginning of a scattering that continued for twenty-five hundred and twenty years. That period began at their captivity in 723BC and ended at the “time of the end” in 1798. The southern tribes were taken by Babylon in 677BC, beginning the “seven times” against Judah which ended at the same point as the 2300-year prophecy of Daniel eight verse fourteen, on October 22, 1844. Assyria and Babylon fulfilled the same purpose of punishment against the rebellion of God’s people, but the punishment was first carried out by Assyria and then by Babylon.
首先,亞述把以色列北方十個支派擄去;其後,巴比倫又把猶大南方兩個支派擄去。這兩次被擄,都是《利未記》第二十六章所說「七倍」的應驗。《利未記》中的「七倍」,乃是威廉.米勒所發現的第一個「時間預言」;它指出,當亞述擄掠北方支派之時,便標誌着一場持續二千五百二十年的分散之開始。這段時期始於公元前723年他們被擄之時,終於1798年的「末時」。南方諸支派則於公元前677年被巴比倫擄去,從而開始了臨到猶大的「七倍」,並在與《但以理書》第八章第十四節之二千三百年預言相同的時點結束,就是1844年10月22日。亞述與巴比倫都成全了對上帝子民悖逆之懲罰的同一目的;然而,這懲罰首先由亞述施行,然後才由巴比倫施行。
In the prophetic relationship of the three powers in chapter thirteen Babylon is the image of Assyria, for she came after but did the same work against God’s people.
喺第十三章三個權勢之間嘅預言性關係之中,巴比倫乃係亞述嘅像,因為佢雖然後嚟先出現,卻對神嘅子民作出同樣嘅事。
In chapter fifteen, the burden against Moab is against the Protestant churches.
第十五章中,論摩押的默示乃是針對更正教各教會。
“This description of Moab represents the churches that have become like Moab. They have not stood at their post of duty as faithful sentinels. They have not cooperated with the heavenly intelligences by exercising their God-given ability to do the will of God, pressing back the powers of darkness, and using every power God has given them to advance truth and righteousness in our world. They have a knowledge of the truth, but they have not practiced what they know.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 4, 1159.
「對摩押嘅呢一番描述,正代表咗嗰啲已經變成好似摩押一樣嘅教會。佢哋冇有喺自己當盡本分嘅崗位上站立,作忠心嘅守望者。佢哋冇有運用上帝所賜畀佢哋、為要遵行上帝旨意嘅能力,去同天上嘅眾靈合作,抗拒黑暗嘅權勢,並且用盡上帝所賜嘅一切能力,喺我哋呢個世界推進真理同公義。佢哋對真理有知識,卻冇有實行自己所知道嘅。」《基督復臨安息日會聖經註釋》,第4卷,1159。
The Protestant church that has fallen is the church that continued to walk with the Lord when the rest of Protestantism fled at the second angel’s message. Moab is Adventism, the fallen Protestant horn.
已經墮落咗嘅更正教會,乃係當其餘更正教喺第二位天使嘅信息之下逃跑之時,仍然繼續與主同行嘅嗰個教會。摩押就係復臨主義,即係嗰隻已經墮落嘅更正教角。
Chapter seventeen is about Damascus, and it is identified as a city that is taken away. A city is a symbol of a kingdom and the kingdom that is taken away in the “last days” is the United States.
第十七章係關於大馬士革,並且指出佢係一座被除去嘅城。城係一個國度嘅象徵,而喺「末後的日子」被除去嘅國度,就係美國。
Chapter nineteen is the prophecy of doom against Egypt, representing the United Nations and the whole world.
第十九章乃係宣告埃及受審判之預言;埃及象徵聯合國以及全世界。
The next three prophecies of doom in chapter twenty-one are against the terrible desert land of the south, Dumah and Arabia. These three prophecies of doom identify Islam, in agreement with the three woes of Revelation 8:13.
第二十一章跟住落嚟嘅三個災禍預言,係指向南方可怕嘅曠野之地、度瑪同阿拉伯。呢三個災禍預言所指明嘅就係伊斯蘭,與《啟示錄》8:13 所記嘅三個禍相一致。
The prophecy of doom in chapter twenty-two portrays the separation of the Laodicean Adventists from the Philadelphian Adventists at the Sunday law.
第二十二章中所宣告的厄運預言,描繪咗喺星期日法令之時,老底嘉復臨信徒同非拉鐵非復臨信徒之間嘅分離。
And then in chapter thirty we find the burden of the beasts of the south, which is a second illustration of the rebellion of Laodicean Adventists. Bringing all the burdens of Isaiah together virtually addresses every prophetic player in the “last days.” I am selecting Isaiah twenty-three in order to demonstrate that the history of the United States, as the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy, reigns from 1798 to the Sunday law.
跟住喺第三十章,我哋見到「南方走獸的默示」,呢個係老底嘉復臨信徒背叛嘅第二個例證。將以賽亞書一切嘅默示彙集起來,實際上就係向「末後日子」每一個預言中嘅角色發言。我揀選以賽亞書第二十三章,為要顯明美國作為聖經預言中第六個國度,其歷史統治由1798年一直延續到星期日法案。
Because “each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us,” every prophetic utterance is addressing the events at the end of the world. This truth combined with the fact that “all the books of the Bible meet and end” in the book of Revelation, establishes the book of Revelation as the point of reference for aligning the prophetic testimony about the events at the end of the world.
因為「古時每一位先知發言,與其說係為咗佢哋自己嘅時代,不如說係為咗我哋嘅時代,所以佢哋嘅預言乃是對我哋仍然有效」,每一個先知性嘅宣告都係指向世界末時所發生嘅事件。呢個真理,再加上「聖經一切書卷都喺《啟示錄》之中匯合並終結」呢一個事實,便確立咗《啟示錄》作為對齊有關世界末時事件之先知見證嘅參照點。
In the seventeenth chapter of Revelation, we see the great whore that commits fornication with the kings of the earth and her final judgment.
喺《啟示錄》第十七章,我哋睇見嗰個同地上眾王行淫的大淫婦,以及佢最終所受嘅審判。
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Revelation 17:1, 2.
拎住七個碗嘅七位天使之中,有一位前來同我說話,對我話:「你嚟,我要將嗰坐喺眾水之上之大淫婦所要受嘅審判指畀你睇。地上嘅君王與佢行淫,住喺地上嘅人也都飲醉咗佢淫亂嘅酒。」啟示錄 17:1, 2
The prophets never contradict one another.
眾先知彼此之間從不互相矛盾。
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:32, 33.
先知嘅靈原是順服先知嘅;因為神唔係叫人混亂,乃是叫人和平。正如喺眾聖徒嘅各教會中一樣。哥林多前書 14:32, 33。
At the end of the world “the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters,” the great whore with “whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication,” the great whore that has made “the inhabitants of the earth” drunk “with the wine of her fornication;” is represented by Isaiah as the “harlot” who is forgotten for “the days of one king,” or seventy prophetic years. When the seventy years conclude Tyre “shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world.” Isaiah’s harlot is John’s great whore. Isaiah’s harlot and John’s whore represent the Roman Catholic church, for a woman is a symbol of a church in God’s Word.
喺世界嘅末了,「坐喺眾水之上之大淫婦所受嘅審判」,嗰大淫婦,「地上列王與她行淫」;嗰大淫婦又使「地上嘅居民」因「她淫亂之酒」而醉。以賽亞將她描繪為被忘記「一王嘅日子」,即七十個預言年嘅「妓女」。當七十年滿咗之後,推羅「就必與世上萬國行淫」。以賽亞所講嘅妓女,就係約翰所講嘅大淫婦。以賽亞嘅妓女同約翰嘅淫婦,都係代表羅馬天主教會,因為喺神嘅話語入面,婦人乃係教會嘅象徵。
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:22–33.
你們作妻子的,要順服自己嘅丈夫,如同順服主。因為丈夫係妻子嘅頭,正如基督係教會嘅頭;佢又係身體嘅救主。所以,教會怎樣順服基督,妻子也要怎樣凡事順服自己嘅丈夫。 你們作丈夫的,要愛你們嘅妻子,正如基督愛教會,為教會捨己;要用水藉着道把教會洗淨,成為聖潔,好叫佢可以獻給自己,作個榮耀嘅教會,毫無玷污、皺紋等類嘅病;乃係聖潔冇瑕疵。丈夫也當照樣愛妻子,如同愛自己嘅身子;愛妻子嘅,便係愛自己。從來冇人恨惡自己嘅身子,總係保養顧惜,正如主待教會一樣;因為我哋係佢身上嘅肢體,係佢嘅骨,佢嘅肉。 為呢個緣故,人要離開父母,與妻子連合,二人成為一體。呢個係極大嘅奧祕,但我係指着基督同教會說嘅。然而,你們各人都當愛妻子,如同愛自己一樣;妻子也當敬重佢嘅丈夫。以弗所書 5:22–33。
The apostle Paul identifies that the church of Christ is prophetically represented as a woman. Therefore, a woman in prophecy is a church, but Christ’s church is “holy and without blemish.” An unholy church is represented as an unholy woman, thus Isaiah identifies a harlot and John a whore. They represent the papacy as a whore and God’s church is a virgin.
使徒保羅指出,基督嘅教會喺預言中係以一個女人作為表徵。因此,預言中嘅女人就係教會;但基督嘅教會乃係「聖潔,冇有瑕疵」。唔聖潔嘅教會就以唔聖潔嘅女人作為表徵;因此,以賽亞指出一個娼妓,而約翰則指出一個淫婦。佢哋所代表嘅,乃係作為淫婦嘅教皇制度;而神嘅教會則係童貞女。
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2.
因為我以 神嘅嫉妒為你哋起嫉妒;因我已將你哋許配給一個丈夫,要把你哋如同貞潔嘅童女獻畀基督。哥林多後書 11:2
Not only is God’s church represented as a virgin, but she is espoused to only one husband. Tyre and John’s great whore commit fornication with the kings of the earth. The Catholic church has relations with several men, not one. Daniel informs us the kings are kingdoms.
神嘅教會唔單止被描繪為一個童貞女,並且佢只許配畀一位丈夫。推羅同約翰所講嘅大淫婦,都同地上嘅眾王行淫。天主教會同好幾個男人有關係,唔係淨係一個。但以理話畀我哋知,眾王就係諸國。
This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. Daniel 2:36–40.
這就是那夢;我哋要喺王面前講解那夢的意思。王啊,你是諸王之王;因為天上的 神已將國度、權柄、能力、尊榮都賜給你。凡世人所居住之處,田野的走獸同天空的飛鳥,祂都交在你手裡,使你掌管這一切。你就是這金的頭。喺你之後,必另興一國,不及你;又有第三國,就是銅的,必統治全地。第四國必堅強如鐵;鐵能打碎剋制百物,正如鐵打碎這一切,那國也必打碎壓制列國。Daniel 2:36–40.
In Daniel two, the kingdoms of Bible prophecy are identified and explained. As Daniel explains the dream to Nebuchadnezzar, he informs Nebuchadnezzar that he is the head of gold. The head of gold is a king, but a king represents a kingdom. The Roman Catholic church is the great harlot that commits fornication with all the kings of the earth at the end of seventy prophetic years. The kings are symbolic of men, and Tyre is an impure woman. A woman is a church, a whore is an unholy church; a man is a king and a king is a kingdom. A woman is a church and a king is a state. The unlawful relationship of these two entities represents spiritual fornication.
喺但以理書第二章,聖經預言中嘅諸國被指明並加以解釋。當但以理解夢畀尼布甲尼撒聽嘅時候,佢話畀尼布甲尼撒知,佢就係嗰個金頭。金頭係一個王,但王係代表一個國度。喺七十個預言年嘅末了,羅馬天主教會就係嗰個同地上眾王行淫嘅大淫婦。眾王係象徵男人,而推羅係一個污穢嘅婦人。婦人係一個教會,淫婦係一個唔聖潔嘅教會;男人係一個王,而王係一個國度。婦人係一個教會,而王係一個政權。呢兩個實體之間非法嘅關係,乃係屬靈嘅淫亂。
The Constitution of the United States is a divine document that enshrines the necessity of keeping these two entities separate. Though we are not yet finished with identifying Tyre as the Roman Catholic church, it seems appropriate at this point to address another symbol in Isaiah twenty-three that explains the symbolism of man and woman—church and state.
美利堅合眾國憲法乃是一份神聖嘅文件,將保持呢兩個實體彼此分離嘅必要性確立其中。雖然我哋對推羅作為羅馬天主教會嘅辨識尚未講完,但喺呢個時候,轉而論到以賽亞書二十三章中另一個象徵,似乎係恰當嘅;呢個象徵說明咗男人同女人——教會同國家——嘅象徵意義。
Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin. Isaiah 23:13.
看哪,迦勒底人之地;這民本來算不得甚麼,直到亞述人為住在曠野的人建立此地;他們築起其中的城樓,豎立其中的宮殿;他使這地荒涼。以賽亞書 23:13
In the verse, the Assyrian founded the land of the Chaldeans and set up both “towers” and “palaces.” The Assyrian is a symbol of Nimrod, and the Chaldeans represent the religious leaders of Babylon’s mystery religions. A “tower” is a symbol of a church. When Jesus set forth the parable of the vineyard, Sister White comments on the parable as follows:
喺呢節經文入面,亞述人建立咗迦勒底人之地,又設立咗「臺樓」同「宮殿」。「亞述人」乃係寧錄嘅表號,而「迦勒底人」則代表巴比倫奧祕宗教之中嘅宗教領袖。「臺樓」係教會嘅表號。當耶穌講出葡萄園嘅比喻之時,懷愛倫姊妹對呢個比喻有如下評述:
“In the parable the householder represented God, the vineyard the Jewish nation, and the hedge the divine law which was their protection. The tower was a symbol of the temple.” Desire of Ages, 596.
「喺呢個比喻入面,家主代表上帝,葡萄園代表猶太民族,而籬笆則代表作為佢哋保障嘅上帝律法。樓臺乃係聖殿嘅象徵。」《歷代願望》,596。
The Assyrian founded the land of the Chaldeans who set up a church (tower) and a “palace.” A “palace’ represents a “king” which in turn represents a kingdom. A kingdom is also represented as a city.
亞述人建立咗迦勒底人之地;佢哋設立咗一個教會(塔)同埋一座「宮殿」。一座「宮殿」象徵一位「王」,而「王」又象徵一個國度。國度亦可以用一座城嚟象徵。
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:4.
佢哋就話:「嚟呀,我哋要為自己建造一座城同一座塔,塔頂通天;我哋要為自己立名,免得我哋分散喺全地面上。」創世記 11:4。
The “tower” and “palace” that the Assyrian founded are the “city” and “tower” which Nimrod built.
亞述人所建立嘅「城樓」同「宮殿」,就係寧錄所建造嘅「城」同「塔」。
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.
佢哋嘅屍首要倒喺嗰大城嘅街上;按靈意嚟講,嗰城稱為所多瑪,又稱為埃及,我哋嘅主亦係喺嗰度被釘十字架。啟示錄 11:8
Inspiration informs us the “great city” in Revelation eleven represents the kingdom of France during the period of the French Revolution.
默示向我哋指出,《啟示錄》第十一章所講嘅「大城」,乃係指法國大革命時期嘅法蘭西王國。
“‘The great city’ in whose streets the witnesses are slain, and where their dead bodies lie, is ‘spiritually’ Egypt. Of all nations presented in Bible history, Egypt most boldly denied the existence of the living God and resisted His commands. No monarch ever ventured upon more open and highhanded rebellion against the authority of Heaven than did the king of Egypt. When the message was brought him by Moses, in the name of the Lord, Pharaoh proudly answered: ‘Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.’ Exodus 5:2, A.R.V. This is atheism, and the nation represented by Egypt would give voice to a similar denial of the claims of the living God and would manifest a like spirit of unbelief and defiance. ‘The great city’ is also compared, ‘spiritually,’ to Sodom. The corruption of Sodom in breaking the law of God was especially manifested in licentiousness. And this sin was also to be a pre-eminent characteristic of the nation that should fulfill the specifications of this scripture.
見證人被殺、而且佢哋嘅屍首躺臥喺其街上嘅「大城」,按「屬靈」嘅意義,乃係埃及。喺《聖經》歷史所記載嘅列國之中,埃及最公然否認永活上帝嘅存在,並抗拒祂嘅命令。從來冇一個君王,敢於好似埃及王咁樣,對天上嘅權柄作出更公開、更悖逆專橫嘅反叛。當摩西奉主嘅名向佢傳達信息嘅時候,法老驕傲噉回答話:「耶和華係邊個,使我聽從祂嘅聲音,容以色列人去呢?我唔認識耶和華,而且我必不容以色列人去。」出埃及記 5:2,A.R.V.。呢個就係無神論;而由埃及所預表嘅國家,亦會發出同樣對永活上帝權利要求嘅否認,並顯出同樣不信同抗命嘅精神。「大城」亦都按「屬靈」嘅意義,被比作所多瑪。所多瑪喺干犯上帝律法上嘅敗壞,尤其表現於放蕩淫亂之中。而呢種罪,亦都要成為嗰個應驗呢段經文所指明之條件嘅國家,一個極其顯著嘅特徵。
“According to the words of the prophet, then, a little before the year 1798 some power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the Bible. And in the land where the testimony of God’s two witnesses should thus be silenced, there would be manifest the atheism of the Pharaoh and the licentiousness of Sodom.
「照先知嘅話所言,喺1798年之前不久,必有一種出於撒但、具有撒但性情嘅勢力興起,要同《聖經》爭戰。而喺上帝兩個見證人之見證因此被噤聲之地,就必顯露法老嘅無神主義同所多瑪嘅淫亂放縱。 」
“This prophecy has received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of France. During the Revolution, in 1793, ‘the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.’—Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17. ‘France is the only nation in the world concerning which the authentic record survives, that as a nation she lifted her hand in open rebellion against the Author of the universe. Plenty of blasphemers, plenty of infidels, there have been, and still continue to be, in England, Germany, Spain, and elsewhere; but France stands apart in the world’s history as the single state which, by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced that there was no God, and of which the entire population of the capital, and a vast majority elsewhere, women as well as men, danced and sang with joy in accepting the announcement.’—Blackwood’s Magazine, November, 1870.” The Great Controversy, 269.
「呢個預言喺法國歷史中得到咗極其準確而顯著嘅應驗。喺1793年大革命期間,『世界第一次聽見一個由生於文明之中、受文明教育嘅人所組成嘅議會,自命有權統治歐洲最優秀國家之一,竟然齊聲高舉其共同嘅聲音,否認人靈魂所領受最莊嚴嘅真理,並一致棄絕對神明嘅信仰同敬拜。』——Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17。『法國係世界上唯一一個仍然存有確實記錄嘅國家,證明佢作為一個國家,曾公然舉手反叛宇宙嘅創造主。褻瀆者固然多有,不信神者亦多有,喺英國、德國、西班牙同其他地方,昔日如此,今日仍然如此;但法國喺世界歷史上獨樹一幟,作為唯一一個國家,藉其立法議會嘅法令,宣告並無上帝;而佢首都全體居民,以及其他地方嘅絕大多數人,無論男女,都歡欣跳舞歌唱,迎接呢個宣告。』——Blackwood’s Magazine, 1870年11月。」《善惡之爭》,269頁。
The “great city” in Revelation eleven was the nation of France that passed a “decree of her Legislative Assembly” pronouncing that there was no God. The decree was an expression of atheism as represented by the rebellion of Pharaoh. A great city is a kingdom, or a “nation” or a “state.” In Revelation eleven France consists of two symbols—Egypt and Sodom.
《啟示錄》第十一章所講嘅「大城」,就係法國;佢曾經通過「立法議會嘅法令」,宣告並無上帝。呢項法令乃係無神論嘅表現,正如法老嘅悖逆所代表嘅一樣。大城就係一個王國,或者一個「國家」或一個「政體」。《啟示錄》第十一章入面,法國由兩個象徵所構成——埃及同所多瑪。
We are informed, “This is atheism, and the nation represented by Egypt would give voice to a similar denial of the claims of the living God and would manifest a like spirit of unbelief and defiance. ‘The great city’ is also compared, ‘spiritually,’ to Sodom. The corruption of Sodom in breaking the law of God was especially manifested in licentiousness.”
我哋得知:「呢個就係無神論;而由埃及所代表嘅國家,亦都會發出類似嘅聲音,否認永生上帝所提出嘅要求,並且顯出同樣不信同悖逆嘅精神。」「嗰座大城」喺「屬靈上」亦都被比作所多瑪。所多瑪喺干犯上帝律法上嘅敗壞,特別表現喺淫逸放蕩之中。」
The great city or nation of France is symbolically represented by a nation (Egypt) and a city (Sodom.) Egypt “would give voice,” and the speaking of a nation represents statecraft, not churchcraft. Egypt was the state and Sodom was the church is the representation found in chapter eleven of Revelation
法國呢個大城,或呢個大國,喺象徵上係由一個國家(埃及)同一座城市(所多瑪)所代表。埃及「要發聲」;而一個國家嘅說話,所代表嘅乃係國政,而唔係教政。喺《啟示錄》第十一章所見嘅表徵,就係埃及代表國家,而所多瑪代表教會。
“The ‘speaking’ of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities.” The Great Controversy, 442.
「一個國家嘅『發言』,就係佢立法同司法機關嘅行動。」《善惡之爭》,442。
In Revelation eleven John sets forth the events of the French Revolution in prophetic symbolism. The actual Revolution provided ample historical evidence of the validity of John’s predictions in the chapter. John predicted, then the French Revolution fulfilled the prediction, and then in turn—both the prediction and the historical fulfillment of the prediction identify and parallel events at the end of the world, when once again a corrupt state is combined with a corrupt church. Of course, a bloodbath follows that unholy marriage. The kingdom of God is also a great city.
喺《啟示錄》第十一章,約翰以預言性象徵陳述法國大革命嘅事件。實際上,法國大革命提供咗充分嘅歷史證據,證明約翰喺該章所作預言嘅真確性。約翰先作出預言,然後法國大革命應驗咗呢個預言;而其後——無論係預言本身,抑或預言喺歷史中嘅應驗——都指明並平行於世界末時所發生嘅事件,屆時腐敗嘅國家將再次與腐敗嘅教會結合。當然,嗰場不聖潔嘅婚配隨之而來嘅,就係一場血腥屠殺。神的國同樣亦係一座大城。
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Revelation 21:10.
佢喺靈裏面帶我到一座又大又高嘅山,將嗰大城、聖耶路撒冷,指畀我睇;呢城係由神嗰度,從天而降。啟示錄 21:10。
“The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called ‘the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ Said the angel to John: ‘Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ ‘He carried me away in the spirit,’ says the prophet, ‘and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.’ Revelation 21:9, 10.” The Great Controversy, 426.
「此處所呈現之新郎的來臨,乃發生於婚筵之前。婚筵象徵基督承受祂的國度。聖城新耶路撒冷,乃是該國度的京城及其代表,因此被稱為『新婦,就是羔羊的妻』。天使對約翰說:『你到這裏來,我要將新婦,就是羔羊的妻,指給你看。』『我被聖靈感動,天使就帶我到一座高大的山,將那由神那裏從天而降的聖城耶路撒冷指給我看。』啟示錄 21:9, 10。」《善惡之爭》,426。
Nimrod’s rebellion is represented by his building a tower and a city, which typifies the combination of church and state at the end of the world, for all the prophets spoke of the end of the world. Nimrod’s rebellion was also a continuation of the rebellion of Lucifer whose desire was to take control of both God’s church and God’s state.
寧錄藉着建造一座塔同一座城嚟表現佢嘅背叛;呢件事乃係預表世界末了之時教會同政權嘅結合,因為眾先知所講論嘅都係世界嘅末了。寧錄嘅背叛,亦都係路西弗背叛嘅延續;路西弗所渴望嘅,乃係奪取對 神嘅教會同 神嘅國度兩者嘅控制。
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:12–14.
明亮之星,清晨之子啊,你何竟從天墜落!你這曾使列國衰敗的,何竟被砍倒在地上!你心裏曾說:我要升到天上;我要高舉我的寶座,在神眾星以上;我要坐在聚會的山上,在北方的極處;我要升到高雲之上;我要與至高者同等。以賽亞書 14:12–14。
As Isaiah reveals Lucifer’s secret heart-desires to be “like the most High,” he points out that Lucifer is seeking to be seated in two distinctly different chairs. He wishes to “exalt” his “throne above the stars of God” and to “sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”
正如以賽亞揭露路西弗內心隱秘嘅渴望,欲要「與至高者同等」,佢指出路西弗正尋求坐喺兩張截然不同嘅座位之上。佢想要將自己嘅「寶座高舉過於神眾星之上」,又要「坐喺聚會嘅山上,在北方嘅極處」。
The throne is a symbol of the king’s authority—or state authority and “the sides of the north” is God’s church.
寶座乃係君王權柄——或國家權柄——嘅象徵;而「北方的兩旁」乃係上帝的教會。
A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. Psalm 48:1–3.
可拉後裔嘅詩歌,亦係詩篇。耶和華係偉大,喺我哋 神嘅城中,喺佢嘅聖山上,大有可讚美。錫安山,大君王嘅城,位處北面,形勢秀美,為全地所喜樂。 神喺其中嘅宮殿中,顯明自己為避難所。詩篇 48:1–3
Jerusalem is “the city of the great King,” thus marking the political throne of God, and Jerusalem is also “the mountain of his holiness,” “on the sides of the north,” thus marking the religious throne of God. From the beginning Satan’s rebellion and warfare are portrayed within the context of his desire to rule over both God’s church and God’s state. Satan thereafter led in the rebellion of Nimrod and the land that he founded for the Chaldeans is represented as a land where Nimrod built both a tower and a city—church and state.
耶路撒冷乃是「大君王的城」,因此表明神政治上嘅寶座;而耶路撒冷亦都係「祂嘅聖山」,「在北方的兩旁」,因此表明神宗教上嘅寶座。自起初以來,撒但嘅悖逆同爭戰,都係喺佢渴望統治神嘅教會同神嘅國度呢個背景之下被描繪出嚟。此後,撒但帶領寧錄嘅叛逆;而佢為迦勒底人所建立之地,被描述為一個寧錄喺其中建造咗一座塔同一座城嘅地方——教會同國家。
Therefore, when Isaiah’s harlot and John’s great whore commit fornication with the kings of the earth, prophecy is marking that an unholy relationship takes place between the Roman Catholic church and the kings of the earth at the end of seventy prophetic years.
所以,當以賽亞書中嘅妓女同約翰所見嘅大淫婦與地上嘅眾王行淫嘅時候,預言乃係標示:喺七十個預言年嘅終結之時,羅馬天主教會與地上嘅眾王之間發生咗一種唔聖潔嘅關係。
Isaiah’s line of prophecy describes the judgment of the harlot Tyre in chapter twenty-three and John describes the same judgment with the symbol of a scarlet-colored woman who is identified as “Babylon the great.” A third witness to the same judgment of the same whore is as follows:
以賽亞喺第二十三章嘅預言線索,描述咗對淫婦推羅嘅審判;而約翰則以一個朱紅色嘅女人作為象徵,去描述同一個審判,並指出佢就係「大巴比倫」。至於對同一個淫婦、同一個審判嘅第三個見證如下:
“The woman (Babylon) of Revelation 17 is described as ‘arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness: . . . and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots.’ Says the prophet: ‘I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.’ Babylon is further declared to be ‘that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.’ Revelation 17:4–6, 18. The power that for so many centuries maintained despotic sway over the monarchs of Christendom is Rome.” The Great Controversy, 382.
啟示錄第17章入面嘅「女人」(巴比倫),被形容為「穿著紫色同朱紅色嘅衣服,用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾,手裡攞住金杯,杯中盛滿了可憎之物同她淫亂的污穢:……在她額上有名寫着說:奧祕哉!大巴比倫,作世上的淫婦和一切可憎之物的母。」先知又話:「我又看見那女人喝醉了聖徒的血和為耶穌作見證之人的血。」巴比倫進一步被宣告為「那大城,就是管轄地上眾王的。」啟示錄 17:4–6, 18。那一個喺咁多個世紀之中,對基督教世界嘅君王維持專制統治嘅勢力,就係羅馬。」《善惡之爭》,382頁。
Tyre is the Roman Catholic church in the “last days.” At that time the papacy will go forth and sing her seductive songs to the kings of the earth, thus leading the kings into the act of fornication, which is prophetically the combination of church and state.
推羅乃係「末後日子」嘅羅馬天主教會。到嗰時,教皇制度要出去,向地上眾王唱佢誘人的歌,因此引誘眾王行淫;按預言所指,呢就係教會同國家嘅結合。
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Isaiah 23:15.
到那日,推羅必被忘記七十年,照着一王的年日;七十年完了以後,推羅必如妓女所唱的歌。以賽亞書 23:15。
A king is a kingdom in Bible prophecy, so Tyre shall be forgotten during the time when a prophetic kingdom rules for seventy years.
喺聖經預言入面,王就係一個國度;因此,推羅必喺一個預言性國度統治七十年嘅期間被人遺忘。
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. Isaiah 23:15–17.
到那日,推羅必被忘記七十年,照着一王的年日一樣;七十年滿了以後,推羅必如妓女所唱的歌。你這被人忘記的妓女啊,攜起琴來,周遊城中;巧奏美樂,多唱詩歌,使人記念你。七十年滿了以後,耶和華必眷顧推羅;她就仍得雇價,與地上萬國、世上的列國行淫。以賽亞書 23:15–17。
During the days of one kingdom that rules for seventy prophetic years the Roman Catholic church will be forgotten. At the end of the seventy years, the papal power will “make sweet melody, sing many songs.” Prophetically a “song” represents “experience.”
喺一個統治七十個先知性年日之國度嘅日子之中,羅馬天主教會將會被人遺忘。到咗七十年嘅末了,教皇權勢必「彈奏美妙樂曲,多唱歌曲。」按先知性嘅象徵而言,「歌曲」代表「經歷。」
“Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are gathered the company that have ‘gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.’ With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, ‘having the harps of God,’ they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, ‘the voice of harpers harping with their harps.’ And they sing ‘a new Song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience—an experience such as no other company have ever had. ‘These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.’ These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as ‘the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation;’ they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have ‘washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’ ‘In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault’ before God. ‘Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.’ They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But ‘they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:14-17.” The Great Controversy, 648.
「在寶座前的水晶海上,那彷彿摻雜着火的玻璃海——因着上帝的榮耀而光輝燦爛——聚集了那班『勝了獸和獸像,並牠的印記,以及牠名字數目的人』。他們與羔羊同站在錫安山上,『拿着上帝的琴』;就是那從人間被救贖出來的十四萬四千人。又有聲音被聽見,好像眾水的聲音,又像大雷的聲音,乃是『彈琴的所彈的琴聲』。他們在寶座前唱『新歌』;這歌除了那十四萬四千人以外,沒有人能學。這是摩西和羔羊的歌——一首拯救之歌。除了那十四萬四千人之外,沒有人能學這歌;因為這是他們經歷的歌——是一種別的團體從未有過的經歷。『這些人是隨從羔羊,無論祂往哪裏去。』這些從地上、從活人中被提的人,被算為『獻與上帝和羔羊初熟的果子。』啟示錄15:2, 3;14:1-5。『這些人是從大患難中出來的;』他們曾經歷自有國以來未曾有過的艱難時期;他們忍受了雅各遭難時期的痛苦;在上帝審判最後傾倒之時,他們曾在沒有中保的情況下站立得住。但他們已蒙拯救,因為他們『曾用羔羊的血把衣裳洗白淨了。』『他們口中察不出謊言;因為他們在上帝面前是沒有瑕疵的。』『所以他們在上帝寶座前,晝夜在祂殿中事奉祂;坐寶座的要住在他們中間。』他們曾看見地因饑荒和瘟疫而荒涼,太陽有權柄用大熱灼傷人;他們自己也曾忍受痛苦、饑餓和乾渴。但『他們不再飢,不再渴;日頭和炎熱也必不傷害他們。因為寶座中的羔羊必牧養他們,領他們到生命水的泉源;上帝也必擦去他們一切的眼淚。』啟示錄7:14-17。」《善惡之爭》,648頁。
“‘In His temple doth everyone speak of His glory’ (Psalm 29:9), and the song which the ransomed ones will sing—the song of their experience—will declare the glory of God: ‘Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the ages. Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy.’ Revelation 15:3, 4, R.V.” Education, 308.
「『凡在祂殿中嘅,都述說祂嘅榮耀』(詩篇 29:9),而蒙救贖之人將要歌唱嘅詩歌——即佢哋經歷之歌——將要宣揚上帝嘅榮耀:『主 神——全能者啊,祢嘅作為偉大奇妙;萬世之王啊,祢嘅道路公義真實。主啊,誰敢不敬畏祢,不將榮耀歸與祢嘅名呢?因為只有祢是聖潔的。』啟示錄 15:3, 4, R.V.」《教育論》,308。
At the end of seventy prophetic years the papacy will “make sweet melody, sing many songs, that” she “mayest be remembered.” At the end of the kingdom that rules for seventy prophetic years the Roman Catholic church will remind the world of the experience of her past history. In that history she ruled as the moral authority in a relationship between her and the kings of Europe. That history is rightly identified as the Dark Ages, and all the darkness that might in any way be associated with the history where the Papacy ruled over the kings of Europe can be attributed to the very foundational action that produced all the following darkness. That action was the combination of church and state, the combination of the kings of Europe and the Catholic church. In a biblical marriage the man is to rule over the woman, but the fornication that took place in that history was upside down from the true order of the relationship of man and woman.
七十個先知性年期結束之時,教皇權將要「彈琴巧奏,多唱詩歌」,使她「可以被人記念」。那統治了七十個先知性年期之國度到了終局之時,羅馬天主教會必使世界想起她昔日歷史中的經歷。在那段歷史中,她以道德權威自居,處於她與歐洲列王之間的一種關係之中。這段歷史正可恰當地被稱為黑暗時代;凡一切在任何意義上可與教皇權統治歐洲列王之歷史相聯繫的黑暗,都可歸因於那產生其後一切黑暗之根本行動。那行動就是政教合一,就是歐洲列王與天主教會的結合。按聖經中的婚姻次序,男人當治理女人;然而,在那段歷史中所發生的淫亂,卻顛倒了男女關係之真實秩序。
At the end of seventy years there will be a great crisis when the kingdom of Bible prophecy that rules the world during the period of time when the Papacy is prophetically forgotten comes to a conclusion. The worldwide crisis produced by the collapse of that kingdom opens the door for the Catholic church to begin to inform the world that in order to navigate the troublous times produced by the collapse of that kingdom, the world must submit to the moral authority of the Roman Catholic church, as illustrated in the history of the Dark Ages.
七十年期滿之時,將有一場重大危機;當教皇制在預言中被遺忘之期間統治世界之《聖經》預言國度告終之際,這危機便會臨到。由該國度崩潰所引發之全球危機,為天主教會打開門路,使其開始向世人宣告:為要渡過因該國度崩潰而產生之艱難時期,世界必須順服羅馬天主教會之道德權威,正如黑暗時代之歷史所昭示者。
When the kingdom ends and the papacy sings the song of her past experience, an experience that historians label as darkness; so how could that dark history possibly be a message for the papacy to share with the kings of the earth that would convince them to commit fornication with her? In a great crisis why would the experience of the past ages, (her song) her experience before she was forgotten prophetically, provide the logic for the kings of the earth to accept the experience of darkness as the solution for their great crisis?
當國度終結,而教皇制度唱出她過往經驗之歌——一種歷史學家稱之為黑暗的經驗——那麼,這段黑暗歷史又怎可能成為教皇制度要與地上的君王分享的信息,並藉此說服他們與她行淫呢?在一場大危機之中,過去世代的經驗(她的歌),就是她在先知預言中被遺忘之前的經驗,為何會成為地上君王接受這種黑暗經驗作為解決他們重大危機之方案的理據呢?
“A large class, even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor, apprehend little danger from her power and influence. Many urge that the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion forbid a revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation. In the open pages of God’s Holy Word, light from heaven has been shed upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert and reject it.
「有一大班人,甚至包括嗰啲對羅馬教並無好感嘅人,都幾乎唔覺得佢嘅勢力同影響有乜嘢危險。好多人主張,中世紀所普遍存在嘅知識同道德黑暗,有利於佢教條、迷信同壓迫嘅蔓延;而近代更高嘅智識水平、知識嘅普遍傳播,以及宗教事務上日益增長嘅寬容精神,都使偏狹同暴政唔可能再復興。甚至連諗到喺呢個開明時代竟然會出現咁樣嘅景況,都會畀人譏笑。誠然,偉大嘅亮光——無論喺知識、道德,定係宗教方面——都正照耀住呢一代人。喺上帝聖言攤開嘅篇頁之中,從天而來嘅光已經照射到世界之上。但應當記住,所賜下嘅光越大,嗰啲曲解並拒絕呢光嘅人,佢哋嘅黑暗就越深。」
“A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world—those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power.
「以禱告嘅心研讀聖經,必會使新教徒看出教皇制度嘅真正本質,並且對佢生出憎惡而加以遠避;但許多人自以為有智慧,覺得自己毫無需要謙卑尋求上帝,以致得蒙引導進入真理。佢哋雖然以自己所謂嘅光照自誇,卻既不明白聖經,也不曉得上帝嘅大能。佢哋必須有某種方法去平息自己嘅良心,於是便尋求嗰啲最缺乏屬靈性、最不叫人自卑嘅事物。佢哋所渴望嘅,乃係一種忘記上帝嘅方法,卻又可以被當作記念祂嘅方法。教皇制度正好適合滿足呢一切人嘅需要。佢已經預備好迎合兩類人,幾乎包括全世界——一類係想靠自己嘅功德得救嘅人,另一類係想在罪中得救嘅人。呢度就係佢權勢嘅祕訣。」
“A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of the papacy. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success. In past ages, when men were without God’s word and without the knowledge of the truth, their eyes were blindfolded, and thousands were ensnared, not seeing the net spread for their feet. In this generation there are many whose eyes become dazzled by the glare of human speculations, ‘science falsely so called;’ they discern not the net, and walk into it as readily as if blindfolded. God designed that man’s intellectual powers should be held as a gift from his Maker and should be employed in the service of truth and righteousness; but when pride and ambition are cherished, and men exalt their own theories above the word of God, then intelligence can accomplish greater harm than ignorance. Thus the false science of the present day, which undermines faith in the Bible, will prove as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the papacy, with its pleasing forms, as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages.” The Great Controversy, 572.
「一個極大智識黑暗嘅時代,已經顯明有利於教皇制度嘅成功;將來亦必證明,一個極大智識光明嘅時代,同樣有利於佢嘅成功。喺往昔嘅世代,當人冇上帝嘅話語,又冇真理嘅知識之時,佢哋嘅眼睛被蒙蔽,成千上萬人受迷惑,睇唔見為佢哋腳前鋪設嘅網羅。喺呢一代,有許多人嘅眼睛畀人類推測嘅炫目光芒所迷惑,『嗰啲冒稱為科學嘅學問』;佢哋察覺唔到嗰網羅,便好似被蒙住眼一樣,輕易走入其中。上帝原意係要人嘅理智能力被視為從造物主而來嘅恩賜,並應當用於服事真理同公義;但當驕傲同野心被懷藏,當人將自己嘅理論高舉過於上帝嘅話語之上,咁樣,智識所能造成嘅禍害,就比無知更大。由此可見,現今呢種削弱人對聖經信心嘅虛假科學,將會如同昔日藉着扣留知識、喺黑暗時代為教皇制度嘅擴張開路一樣,同樣有效地為人接受教皇制度及其悅人嘅形式預備道路。」《善惡之爭》,572。
“Roman Catholics acknowledge that the change in the Sabbath was made by their church, and they cite this very change as evidence of the supreme authority of the church. They declare that by observing the first day of the week as the Sabbath, Protestants are recognizing her power to legislate in divine things. The Roman church has not relinquished her claim to infallibility; and when the world and the Protestant churches accept a spurious Sabbath of her creating, while they reject the Sabbath of Jehovah, they virtually acknowledge this claim. They may cite the authority for this change, but the fallacy of their reasoning is easily discerned. The papist is sharp enough to see that Protestants are deceiving themselves, willingly closing their eyes to the facts in the case. As the Sunday institution gains favor, he rejoices, feeling assured that it will eventually bring the whole Protestant world under the banner of Rome.
「羅馬天主教徒承認,安息日之更改乃由他們的教會所作;而他們正是援引這一更改,作為教會至高權柄的明證。他們聲稱,藉着遵守一週第一日為安息日,新教徒乃是在承認她於神聖之事上立法的權力。羅馬教會並未放棄其無謬之主張;當世人與新教各教會接納一個由她所創設的偽安息日,同時棄絕耶和華的安息日之時,他們實際上便是在承認這一主張。他們或可援引更改此日的權威,但其推理之謬誤卻極易辨明。教皇派人士足夠敏銳,能看出新教徒乃是在自欺,甘願對此事實閉目不見。隨着星期日制度愈益得人歡迎,他便歡喜雀躍,深信這終必使整個新教世界歸於羅馬的旗幟之下。」
“The change of the Sabbath is the sign or mark of the authority of the Roman church. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false Sabbath in the place of the true, are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded. The mark of the beast is the papal Sabbath, which has been accepted by the world in the place of the day of God’s appointment.
「安息日嘅更改,乃係羅馬教會權柄嘅記號或印記。凡明白第四條誡命嘅要求,而揀選以虛假嘅安息日代替真安息日去遵守嘅人,就係藉此向嗰惟獨下令更改之權勢表示敬拜。獸嘅印記,就係教皇制嘅安息日;呢個安息日已經被世人接納,用以取代上帝所指定嘅日子。」
“But the time to receive the mark of the beast, as designated in prophecy, has not yet come. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit Sabbath, and when the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast in their foreheads or in their hands.
「然而,領受獸之印記嘅時候,照預言所指定,尚未來到。考驗嘅時期仲未到。各教會之中都有真誠嘅基督徒,羅馬天主教會亦不例外。喺佢哋未曾得著亮光,並看明第四誡之義務以前,冇人會被定罪。但當嗰道強制推行冒牌安息日嘅法令頒布之時,又當第三位天使嘅大聲呼喊警告人不可拜獸同獸像之時,真假之間嘅界線就會清楚劃明。到嗰時,凡仍舊繼續違犯上帝律法嘅人,就會喺額上或手上領受獸之印記。
“With rapid steps we are approaching this period. When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal Sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy, which will end only in national ruin.” Bible Training School, February 2, 1913.
「我哋正以急速嘅步伐接近呢一個時期。當新教各教會與世俗政權聯合,去支持一個虛假嘅宗教,而佢哋嘅先祖曾因反對呢個宗教而忍受最猛烈嘅逼迫之時,咁教皇嘅安息日就必藉住教會同國家聯合嘅權柄而被強制推行。屆時將會有全國性嘅背道,而其結局只會係全國性嘅毀滅。」《Bible Training School》,1913年2月2日。
We have now touched upon five of the symbols we are seeking to identify before we fully address the chapter itself. A city is a kingdom in Bible prophecy and in Isaiah twenty-three there are two kingdoms that are closely related, but distinctly different. The first is the “crowning city” and the other is the “merchant city.” In the last days the power who is in control of the three-fold union of the dragon, beast and false prophet is the papacy. It is the kingdom that has the crown.
而家我哋已經觸及咗五個象徵;喺全面講論本章本身之前,我哋正尋求辨明呢啲象徵。喺聖經預言之中,城即係王國;而喺以賽亞書二十三章裏面,有兩個彼此關係密切、但又截然不同嘅王國。第一個係「加冕之城」,另一個係「商賈之城」。喺末後嘅日子,掌控由龍、獸同假先知所組成之三重聯盟嘅勢力,乃係教皇制。嗰就係擁有冠冕嘅王國。
“As we approach the last crisis, it is of vital moment that harmony and unity exist among the Lord’s instrumentalities. The world is filled with storm and war and variance. Yet under one head—the papal power—the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate. While he seeks to unite his agents in warring against the truth he will work to divide and scatter its advocates. Jealousy, evil surmising, evilspeaking, are instigated by him to produce discord and dissension.” Testimonies, volume 7, 182.
「當我哋臨近最後嘅危機之時,主所使用嘅各種器皿之間存有和諧同合一,乃係極其重要。世界充滿風暴、戰爭同紛爭。然而,在一個元首之下——即教皇權勢——眾民將要聯合起來,藉住主嘅見證人而敵擋上帝。呢種聯合乃係由嗰大叛教者所鞏固。當佢企圖聯合佢嘅代理人與真理爭戰之時,佢亦會設法分裂並驅散真理嘅擁護者。嫉妒、惡意猜疑、毀謗之言,都係由佢所煽動,為要製造不和同紛爭。」《證言》第7卷,182頁。
The kingdom with the crown is Tyre, which means, “a rock.” In this chapter Tyre represents the papacy that works to counterfeit Christ, for the papacy is antichrist. The word “anti” in antichrist means “in place of.” The papacy seeks to counterfeit Christ at every level, and the name Tyre means rock, for the papacy is a counterfeit of the “Rock of Ages.”
戴住冠冕嘅國就係推羅,意思係「磐石」。喺呢一章,推羅代表羅馬教廷;羅馬教廷致力假冒基督,因為羅馬教廷就係敵基督。「敵基督」之中嘅「敵」字,意思係「取代其位」。羅馬教廷喺每一個層面都企圖假冒基督,而「推羅」呢個名嘅意思係磐石,因為羅馬教廷乃係對「萬古磐石」嘅假冒。
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. Isaiah 23:8–11.
邊個曾向推羅,即加冕之城,出呢個謀略呢?佢嘅商人都係王子,佢嘅買賣人都係地上尊貴嘅人。呢事乃萬軍之耶和華所定意,為要玷污一切榮耀之驕傲,又使地上一切尊貴嘅人被藐視。 他施的女兒啊,你要流過你嘅地,如同河水一樣;不再有約束。 祂向海伸手,震動列國;耶和華已經吩咐攻擊呢商業之城,要毀滅其中嘅保障。以賽亞書 23:8–11。
We intend to show upon many witnesses that “the shaking of the kingdoms” is accomplished by God, through Islam. Islam is the power that angers the nations and is used to shake the nations. At this point we are identifying that the Lord has determined to bring into contempt “all the honorable of earth,” who are the “merchants” and “traffickers” whose “strong holds” are to be destroyed. The merchant city and the crowning city “have provoked the displeasure of heaven” and the Lord has purposed to destroy their “strong holds” and that represents the economy. The collapse of the economy occurs before the Sunday law in the United States, for before the Sunday law the citizens of the United States are demanding to be returned “to divine favor and temporal prosperity.” Their argument is that the judgments of God will not end until Sunday is “strictly enforced.” Several Bible witnesses agree that we are on the verge of a tremendous crash in the economy of the world. That crash occurs before the Sunday law, just as the crash of 1837, occurred before October 22, 1844.
我哋打算藉着眾多見證指出,「列國的震動」乃係上帝藉着伊斯蘭而成就。伊斯蘭就係激怒列國、並被用嚟震動列國嘅勢力。到呢一點,我哋所指出嘅係:主已經定意使「地上一切尊貴的人」受辱;佢哋就係嗰啲「商賈」同「販運者」,而佢哋嘅「堅固營壘」乃係要被毀滅。嗰商業之城同加冕之城「已經惹起天上嘅不悅」,主亦已定意毀滅佢哋嘅「堅固營壘」;呢個正係代表經濟。經濟嘅崩潰發生喺美國《星期日法》之前,因為喺《星期日法》之前,美國公民正要求得以恢復「上帝嘅眷顧同現世嘅昌盛」。佢哋嘅論據係:除非《星期日》被「嚴格執行」,否則上帝嘅審判必唔會止息。聖經中有幾位見證彼此一致,表明我哋正處於世界經濟巨大崩潰嘅邊緣。嗰次崩潰發生喺《星期日法》之前,正如1837年嘅崩潰,乃係發生喺1844年10月22日之前一樣。
“And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God’s commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors. It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity. Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will be repeated and upon grounds equally well established: ‘And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.’ 1 Kings 18:17, 18. As the wrath of the people shall be excited by false charges, they will pursue a course toward God’s ambassadors very similar to that which apostate Israel pursued toward Elijah.” The Great Controversy, 590.
「然後,那大迷惑人的者必說服眾人,叫他們相信,正是那些事奉上帝的人招致了這些災禍。那一等惹起天上不悅的人,必將自己一切的患難都歸咎於那些順從上帝誡命的人;因為後者對違命的人乃是不住的責備。人必宣稱,人因干犯星期日安息日而得罪了上帝;這罪已帶來種種災殃,而且這些災殃必不止息,直到人嚴格地被強制遵守星期日為止;又說,那些提出第四條誡命之要求的人,既如此破壞人對星期日的尊崇,便是擾亂百姓的人,攔阻他們恢復上帝的眷佑和今生的昌盛。這樣,古時加於上帝僕人身上的控告,必再度被提出,而且所憑的理由同樣站立得住:『亞哈見了以利亞,便對他說:「使以色列遭災的就是你嗎?」以利亞說:「使以色列遭災的不是我,乃是你和你父家;因為你們離棄了耶和華的誡命,去隨從巴力。」』列王紀上 18:17, 18。當百姓因虛假的控告而被激起忿怒時,他們對待上帝使者所採取的行徑,將與背道的以色列對待以利亞的行徑極其相似。」《善惡之爭》,590。
Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal and the priests of the grove on Mount Carmel represents the Sunday law. The message for the church was “choose this day whom you will serve.” When this history is repeated at the Sunday law the question is “which day are you going to choose, for the day you pick indicates whom you serve.” Before Mount Carmel the was three and a half years of severe drought. Before the Sunday law there is a series of Sunday laws, but they have not been “strictly enforced.” The principle associated with a Sunday law is that national apostacy is followed by national ruin. The example of that is Constantine in the year 321 passed a Sunday law and shortly thereafter the first four trumpets of Revelation chapter eight began to bring Western Rome to its conclusion by the year 476. The story of Constantine is important for it included a progressive exalting of Sunday, and simultaneous progressive restrictions on the seventh-day Sabbath. The progressive history reached its conclusion when the citizens were forced to observe Sunday or be persecuted for keeping the Sabbath. That is also the conclusion of the escalating Sunday legislation in the United States. One principle associated with Sunday worship enforcement is “national apostasy is followed by national ruin.” This principle means escalating Sunday law enforcements, produces an escalation of God’s judgments, before the actual Sunday law of Revelation thirteen verse eleven. Every enactment will bring a corresponding ruin. The judgments the citizens are accusing the Sabbath-keepers of producing are actually produced by the escalating enforcement of Sunday legislation. We have included a passage from The Great Controversy, which I titled Sunday Progression. I would recommend that you read that once again. It is in the category entitled The Spirit of Prophecy.
以利亞在迦密山上對抗巴力的先知同樹林中祭司,乃係主日法嘅預表。向教會所傳嘅信息係:「你哋今日要揀選所要事奉嘅。」當呢段歷史喺主日法之時重演,問題就係:「你將要揀選邊一日呢?因為你所揀選嘅日子,表明你所事奉嘅係邊一位。」 喺迦密山之前,有三年半嚴重嘅旱災。喺主日法之前,亦有一連串主日法,但佢哋尚未被「嚴格執行」。與主日法有關嘅原則係:國家性嘅背道,隨之而來嘅就係國家性嘅毀滅。呢個原則嘅例證,就係君士坦丁喺公元321年通過咗主日法,而唔耐之後,《啟示錄》第八章嘅頭四枝號就開始使西羅馬走向終局,直到476年。君士坦丁嘅歷史之所以重要,係因為其中包含咗對主日漸進式嘅高舉,以及同時對第七日安息日漸進式嘅限制。呢段漸進嘅歷史,到咗公民被迫遵守主日,或者因為守安息日而受逼迫之時,便達致其結局。呢一點,亦正係美國不斷升級之主日立法嘅結局。 與強制主日崇拜有關嘅一項原則係:「國家性嘅背道,隨之而來嘅就係國家性嘅毀滅。」呢個原則表示,在《啟示錄》十三章十一節所指實際嘅主日法來到之前,不斷升級嘅主日法執行,會產生上帝審判不斷升級嘅結果。每一次法令嘅頒布,都會帶來相應嘅毀滅。市民所指控守安息日之人帶來嘅審判,實際上乃係由不斷升級執行嘅主日立法所造成。我哋已經收錄咗《善惡之爭》裏面一段文字,我將之命名為〈主日嘅進程〉。我會建議你再讀一次。佢歸類喺〈預言之靈〉之下。
“God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that His people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath. Those who have been warned of the events before them are not to sit in calm expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves that the Lord will shelter His faithful ones in the day of trouble. We are to be as men waiting for their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but in earnest work, with unwavering faith. It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance. While men are sleeping, Satan is actively arranging matters so that the Lord’s people may not have mercy or justice. The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild and apparently Christian, but when it shall speak it will reveal the spirit of the dragon. It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty of conscience. We should search the Scriptures and be able to give the reason for our faith. Says the prophet: ‘The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.’” Testimonies, volume 5, 452.
「上帝已經啟示咗末後日子將要發生嘅事,好叫祂嘅子民可以預備好,企立得穩,抵擋反對同忿怒嘅風暴。嗰啲已經蒙警告、知道擺喺自己面前之事件嘅人,唔可以安然坐住等候將臨嘅暴風雨,以為主喺患難之日必庇護祂忠心嘅人,就藉此自我安慰。我哋應當好似等候主人嘅人一樣,唔係懶惰消極咁等候,乃係以懇切嘅工作,同毫不動搖嘅信心而等候。依家絕唔係容讓我哋嘅心思專注於次要之事嘅時候。當人沉睡嘅時候,撒但正積極部署,使主嘅子民得唔到憐憫或公義。主日運動現今正喺黑暗中推進。領袖們正隱藏真正嘅爭議所在,而好多參與呢場運動嘅人,自己都睇唔見呢股暗流正趨向何方。佢嘅聲稱溫和,而且表面上係基督教式嘅;但當佢一發言,就必顯露出龍嘅精神。我哋有責任盡我哋所能,去避免呢個所威脅嘅危險。我哋應當努力藉住喺民眾面前以正當嘅形象表明自己,從而消除偏見。我哋應當將真正爭論嘅問題擺喺佢哋面前,藉此提出最有效嘅抗議,反對一切限制良心自由嘅措施。我哋應當查考聖經,並且能夠講明我哋信仰嘅理由。先知話:『惡人必行惡;一切惡人都不明白,惟獨智慧人能明白。』」《教會證言》第5卷,452頁。
It is difficult to recognize the movement for Sunday legislation, for it is making its way in “darkness” and the papacy is “stealthily and unsuspectedly” “strengthening her forces to further her own ends.” It is a fact that the work to pass Sunday legislation in darkness is a central issue in the testing process of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. “None of the wicked shall understand” according to Daniel and Sister White. The “wicked” in Daniel are Matthew’s “foolish virgins,” who Sister White identifies as Laodiceans. The wise will understand the events that are now taking place, even if the history around us appears to contradict God’s word. Do we believe God’s word or what is happening around us? Yet we have been forewarned that the end would be as the days of Noah.
要辨認推動星期日立法嘅運動並唔容易,因為佢正喺「黑暗」中進行,而教皇制度正「暗中而不為人察覺地」「加強自己嘅勢力,以推進自己嘅目的」。事實上,喺黑暗中推動通過星期日立法嘅工作,乃係十四萬四千人受考驗過程中嘅一個核心問題。照但以理同懷愛倫姊妹所講,「惡人都不明白」。《但以理書》入面嘅「惡人」,就係《馬太福音》所講嘅「愚拙童女」;而懷愛倫姊妹指出,佢哋就係老底嘉人。智慧人必明白現今正在發生嘅事,就算我哋周圍嘅歷史表象似乎同上帝嘅話語相矛盾亦然。我哋究竟係相信上帝嘅話語,抑或相信我哋周圍正在發生嘅事?然而,我哋早已被預先警告,末時將會如挪亞嘅日子一樣。
“The world, full of rioting, full of godless pleasure, is asleep, asleep in carnal security. Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord. They laugh at warnings. The proud boast is made, ‘All things continue as they were from the beginning.’ ‘Tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.’ 2 Peter 3:4; Isaiah 56:12. We will go deeper into pleasure loving. But Christ says, ‘Behold, I come as a thief.’ Revelation 16:15. At the very time when the world is asking in scorn, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ the signs are fulfilling. While they cry, ‘Peace and safety,’ sudden destruction is coming. When the scorner, the rejecter of truth, has become presumptuous; when the routine of work in the various money-making lines is carried on without regard to principle; when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief.
世界充滿騷亂,充滿不敬虔嘅享樂,正沉睡,沉睡喺屬肉體嘅安穩之中。人將主嘅來臨遠遠推開。佢哋嘲笑警告。狂傲之人誇口話:「萬物與起初創造嘅時候仍是一樣。」「明日必和今日一樣,並且更加昌盛。」彼得後書 3:4;以賽亞書 56:12。我哋要更深陷於宴樂之中。但基督說:「看哪,我來像賊一樣。」啟示錄 16:15。正當世人輕蔑地問:「祂降臨的應許在哪裏呢?」嗰時,各樣預兆正喺度應驗。當佢哋喊着:「平安穩妥」嘅時候,突然嘅毀滅就臨到。當譏誚的人、棄絕真理的人變得狂妄自恃;當各種營利行業中例行嘅工作喺毫不顧念原則之下照常進行;當學生熱切尋求一切知識,唯獨唔尋求聖經嘅知識之時,基督就像賊一樣來到。
“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.
「世上一切都處於動盪不安之中。時代的徵兆不祥。將臨的事件,其陰影已先行投下。上帝的靈正在從地上撤回,而災禍接踵而來,無論海上或陸地皆然。有暴風、地震、火災、水災,以及各等兇殺。誰能洞悉未來?何處有安全?凡屬人間或地上的,沒有一樣可得確據。人們正迅速地歸附於自己所選擇的旗幟之下。他們躁動不安地等候並注視其領袖的動向。有一些人正在等候、注視,並為我們主的顯現而作工。另有一等人,則在那首位大叛道者的統率之下列隊而行。少有人全心全意相信:有一個地獄是我們當逃避的,也有一個天國是我們當得著的。」
“The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation’s hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut.
「危機正逐漸悄然臨到我哋。太陽仍然照耀諸天,循住佢一貫嘅軌道運行;穹蒼依然述說上帝嘅榮耀。人仍舊食飲,栽種建造,娶妻嫁女。商人仍然買賣交易。人彼此推擠,爭奪最高嘅地位。貪愛宴樂嘅人仍然蜂擁前往戲院、跑馬場、賭場。最強烈嘅興奮仍然瀰漫各處,然而恩典時期嘅時辰正迅速結束,每一個案件都快將要被永遠判定。撒但睇見自己嘅時候唔多。佢已經使出一切機關運作,為要叫人受欺騙、受迷惑、被俗務纏累、被迷住,直到恩典時期嘅日子結束,而憐憫之門永遠關閉。』
“Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives: ‘Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’ ‘Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.’” Desire of Ages, 635, 636.
莊嚴肅穆地,歷世歷代以來,我們的主從橄欖山向我們傳來這番警告的話:「你們要謹慎自己,恐怕你們的心,或因貪食、醉酒,並今生的思慮累住了,那日子就如同網羅忽然臨到你們。」「所以,你們要時常儆醒,常常祈求,使你們得算配逃避這一切將要發生的事,並得以站立在人子面前。」《歷代願望》,635, 636。
In chapter twenty-three of Isaiah Zidon is the United States and Tyre is the papacy. Tyre and Zidon were ancient contemporary Phoenician cities located on the Mediterranean coast. They were known for their maritime trade, wealth, and influence in the ancient world. Zidon and its “merchants” replenished Tarshish in the passage. Zidon’s merchants trafficked the “seed of Sihor,” which is “the harvest of a river,” and is the fruit “of the river,” and it is “her revenue,” for she is the “mart of nations.” All the prophets speak of the end of the world, so who is the mart of nations at the end of the world? It’s the USA.
喺《以賽亞書》第二十三章,西頓係美國,而推羅係教皇體制。推羅同西頓都係古代同時期嘅腓尼基城市,位於地中海沿岸。佢哋以海上貿易、財富,同埋喺古代世界嘅影響力而聞名。喺呢段經文入面,西頓同佢嘅「商家」使他施得以充裕。西頓嘅商家販運「西曷的種子」,即係「大河的收成」,亦即係「河的出產」;呢啲乃係「她的進項」,因為她係「列國的市場」。眾先知所講嘅都係世界嘅末了;咁喺世界嘅末了,邊一個係列國的市場呢?就係美國。
Sihor is a river in Egypt (likely the Nile delta) and is used to represent the wealth of the world, for Egypt is the world. Zidon’s “virgin daughter” represents the last generation of the USA, and she is oppressed from the martial law that accompanies the Sunday law and the national ruin that immediately follows. Those virgins of Zidon are rebuked by the question concerning Tyre saying, “is this your joyous city” (kingdom) that the USA rejoiced in? Is “this the kingdom “whose antiquity is of ancient days,” when according to the passage it was founded by Nimrod, just after the flood?
西曷乃埃及的一條河(很可能指尼羅河三角洲),並被用來象徵世界的財富,因為埃及就是世界。西頓的「處女女兒」代表美國最後一代,而她因那與星期日法案一同臨到的戒嚴,以及隨即而來的國家敗亡,受到壓迫。那些西頓的處女,藉着論到推羅的問題而受責備,說:「這是你們所歡樂的城麼」(國度),就是美國所歡喜的嗎?「這國是從古而有的」,按這段經文所言,乃是在洪水之後不久由寧錄所建立的嗎?
God has determined and “purposed” for “Tyre, the crowning city,” to punish her. The papacy’s punishment includes the collapse of the financial structure of the world, for “the Lord hath given” “a commandment against” “Zidon” “the merchant city,” (the United States.) His commandment “to destroy the strong holds,” or the economy of the United States is the Sabbath commandment, for national apostasy is followed by national ruin.
上帝已經定意並且「籌算」要懲罰「推羅,那加冠冕的城」。教皇制度所受的刑罰,包括世界金融結構的崩潰,因為「耶和華已經出令」攻擊「西頓」——「商賈之城」(即美國)。祂那「要毀滅保障」的命令,亦即要毀滅美國經濟的命令,乃是安息日的誡命;因為國家的背道,隨後而來的就是國家的敗亡。
The punishment of the papacy begins with the economic collapse of the entire world in response to the economy of the United States being destroyed. Zidon has a “house” associated with its economy, thus representing a financial structure that is destroyed, for you can no longer enter in. No more investments or profits from that “house,” for it is destroyed. The destruction takes place at the Sunday law, even though prior to the Sunday law there are already escalating judgments. When the collapse hits, the papacy, the USA with its merchant princes and honorable traffickers and the ships of Tarshish are going to “howl.”
教皇制度所受嘅刑罰,係由全世界嘅經濟崩潰開始,呢個崩潰係回應美國經濟被毀滅而發生。西頓有一個同其經濟相關聯嘅「房屋」,因此代表一個被毀滅嘅金融結構,因為你再不能進入其中。嗰個「房屋」唔再有投資,亦唔再有利潤,因為佢已經被毀滅。呢場毀滅發生喺星期日法令之時,雖然喺星期日法令之前,審判已經不斷加劇。當崩潰臨到之時,教皇制度、美國同其商界王子、尊貴嘅商賈,以及他施嘅船隻,都要「哀號」。
The location of “Tarshish” in the passage is associated with wealth in antiquity, and the ships of Tarshish in the Bible are the premier symbol of economic strength.
文中所提到「他施」之所在地,在古代乃與財富相聯;而《聖經》中他施的船隻,乃經濟實力之首要象徵。
For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 2 Chronicles 9:21, 22.
因為王嘅船隻與戶蘭嘅僕人一同往他施去;他施嘅船隻每三年一次來到,運來金、銀、象牙、猿猴同孔雀。所羅門王喺財富同智慧上勝過地上萬王。歷代志下 9:21, 22。
Ships represent economic strength, and Tarshish is the leading economic ship in Bible prophecy. The final generation of Tarshish, represented by the “daughter” of Tarshish is told to “pass through thy land as a river,” and what she finds is that her land has “no more strength,” and can no longer “rejoice” over the kingdom of Tyre. The strength they were looking for was the former economic strength of Zidon, but it was gone for the sea had spoken “saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins,” thus identifying the final generation of the sea, which is the peoples of the world lamenting the destruction of the economy of the world and at which point the people of the world wake up to the reality that they are the last generation of earth’s history, and its too late to prepare for eternal life.
船隻象徵經濟實力,而他施乃《聖經》預言中居首位的經濟船隻。由「他施的女兒」所代表的他施最後一代,被吩咐要「流行你的地,好像江河」;而她所發現的是,她的地「再沒有力量」,也不能再因推羅的國而「歡樂」。他們所尋找的力量,乃是先前西頓的經濟實力;但那力量已經消逝,因為海已發聲,「說:我沒有劬勞,也沒有生產,沒有養育男子,也沒有撫養處女」;藉此指明海的最後一代,就是世上的萬民,為世界經濟的毀滅而哀號;到那時,世人便醒覺自己乃是地上歷史的最後一代,而要為永生作準備,已經太遲了。
“Money will soon depreciate in value very suddenly when the reality of eternal scenes opens to the senses of man.” Evangelism, 62.
「當永恆景象嘅現實向人嘅感官展開之時,金錢嘅價值將會好快而且非常突然地貶低。」《佈道論》,62。
There are two “reports” or messages that cause pain to everyone in the passage. The first “report” concerns Egypt and the second “report” is Tyre. The report of Egypt is in the past tense for Isaiah says, “as at the report concerning Egypt,” thus showing that God had done something with Egypt prior to His destruction of Zidon (the USA.) What God did to Egypt, that also represents the “report” of Egypt, is that He destroyed Egypt in connection with the first time God entered into covenant with a chosen people. The two reports are the same “report.” The report of Egypt is the beginning and the report of Tyre is the ending. The Alpha and Omega has illustrated the covenant with the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the last days with the beginning history of that subject. The “report” concerning Egypt is the Red Sea deliverance when Pharaoh and his host were destroyed, which typifies the final deliverance of God’s people as represented by the “report” which is the “burden of Tyre.”
喺呢段經文入面,有兩個使各人都痛苦嘅「風聲」或信息。第一個「風聲」係關乎埃及,第二個「風聲」係推羅。關乎埃及嘅風聲係用過去式表達,因為以賽亞話:「好似聽見埃及嘅風聲一樣」;由此顯明,上帝喺毀滅西頓(美國)之前,已經喺埃及身上行咗一件事。上帝喺埃及所行嘅事,亦即係埃及嘅「風聲」所代表嘅內容,就係:當上帝第一次同一班被揀選嘅子民立約嘅時候,祂毀滅咗埃及。呢兩個風聲乃係同一個「風聲」。埃及嘅風聲係開始,推羅嘅風聲係終結。阿拉法同俄梅戛,已經藉住呢個題目起初嘅歷史,說明咗末後日子同十四萬四千人所立之約。關乎埃及嘅「風聲」,就係紅海嘅拯救;當時法老同佢嘅軍兵都被毀滅。呢件事預表上帝子民最後嘅拯救,正如由嗰作為「推羅嘅默示」嘅「風聲」所表明嘅一樣。
The power represented in the Bible that destroys the ships of Tarshish is Islam. The subject of Islam will be taken up later, so we will address the subject more fully at a later time. It is represented in the passage as “Chittim” an ancient word for Cyprus, and the passage says that the destruction of Zidon and Tyre is revealed from “Chittim.” The symbol of Islam includes a very specific illustration of the destruction of the United States in Bible prophecy.
《聖經》中所代表、摧毀他施船隻嘅勢力,就係伊斯蘭教。關於伊斯蘭教呢個題目,稍後將會再作論述,所以我哋會喺之後更全面咁處理呢個主題。經文中以「基提」嚟代表佢;「基提」係塞浦路斯嘅古稱,而經文指出,西頓同推羅嘅毀滅,係由「基提」顯明出嚟。伊斯蘭教呢個象徵,亦包含咗一幅非常具體嘅圖畫,說明《聖經》預言中美國嘅毀滅。
It is important to follow the days and years referenced in the book of Isaiah for they often identify the prophetic time of the passage that follows. Isaiah twenty-three follows the “burden” of the valley of vision in chapter twenty-two, that is preceded by chapter twenty-one that has three burdens,” and all three identify Islam. Before that chapter, in verse one of chapter twenty the setting of the prophetic history where the following prophecies of doom are identified in the following chapters.
跟從《以賽亞書》中所提及的日子與年歲,乃是重要的,因為它們往往標明其後經文所屬的先知性時間。《以賽亞書》第二十三章緊接第二十二章「異象谷的默示」之後;而在此之前的第二十一章有三個「默示」,三者都指認伊斯蘭。再往前,在第二十章第一節,則交代了先知歷史的背景,使其後各章所記的那些災禍預言得以被辨明。
In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it. Isaiah 20:1.
他珥探來到亞實突的那年,就是亞述王撒珥根差遣他來的時候;他攻打亞實突,並且攻取了它。以賽亞書20:1。
The word “Tartan” may be a name or it is most likely a title of a military leader. Tartan came to Ashdod, a city in Egypt and took it in the period of history when the Assyrians were progressively taking control of the world. Assyria typified Babylon. Both Assyria and Babylon were kingdoms that came from the north, kingdoms identified as “lions” that “scattered” God’s sheep and both receive the same punishment. Assyria was first Babylon was last.
「Tartan」呢個詞可以係一個名字,但更有可能係一個軍事領袖嘅稱號。喺亞述人逐步奪取世界控制權嘅歷史時期,Tartan 來到埃及嘅一座城亞實突,並將其攻取。亞述預表巴比倫。亞述同巴比倫都係由北方而來嘅國;佢哋都被稱為「獅子」,都曾「趕散」神嘅羊群,並且都領受同一樣嘅刑罰。亞述在先,巴比倫在後。
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. Jeremiah 50:17, 18.
以色列係分散嘅羊;獅子把佢趕散:首先係亞述王吞滅咗佢;到末後,呢個巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒又打斷咗佢嘅骨頭。所以萬軍之耶和華——以色列嘅神——如此說:看哪,我必刑罰巴比倫王同佢嘅地,好似我刑罰亞述王一樣。耶利米書 50:17, 18.
Prophetically they are both the “haughty Assyrian.”
按先知預言,佢哋兩者都係「狂傲嘅亞述人」。
“When Sennacherib, the haughty Assyrian, reproached and blasphemed God, and threatened Israel with destruction, ‘it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand.’ There were ‘cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains,’ from the army of Sennacherib. ‘So he returned with shame of face to his own land.’ [2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21.]” The Great Controversy, 512.
「當狂傲的亞述人西拿基立辱罵並褻瀆上帝,且以毀滅威嚇以色列時,『當夜,耶和華的使者出去,在亞述營中擊殺了十八萬五千人。』西拿基立軍中『所有大能的勇士和官長、將帥,都被剪除。』『他就滿面蒙羞,回到本地去了。』【王下 19:35;代下 32:21。】」《善惡之爭》,512。
The year that “Tartan came unto Ashdod” and “took it,” represents the progressive conquering of the world by the papal power as illustrated in the last six verses of Daniel eleven. The history of the Sunday law crisis, which is the “last days” of the investigative judgment, and which leads directly into the executive judgment, (the seven last plagues) is the historical setting represented by the “year” that Tartan came to Ashdod. With the context of that history in place Isaiah then gives three prophecies of doom concerning Islam, one concerning Laodicean Adventism and then the burden of Tyre. Chapter twenty-four is one of the classic examples of the seven last plagues that is followed by chapter twenty-five representing the final deliverance of God’s people, where we find God’s people expressing one of the most well-known statements during the great time of trouble.
「撻探來到亞實突」並且「攻取了那城」的那一年,乃象徵教皇權勢對世界之漸進征服,正如但以理書第十一章最後六節所表明。主日法危機的歷史,就是查案審判之「末後的日子」,並且直接引向執行審判(七大災),這歷史背景正是由撻探來到亞實突的那「一年」所代表。以賽亞在這段歷史背景確立之後,隨即提出三個關於伊斯蘭的災禍預言、一個關於老底嘉復臨運動的預言,然後是推羅的默示。第二十四章乃七大災的經典例證之一;其後第二十五章則代表上帝子民最終的拯救,在那裏我們見到上帝的子民於大艱難時期之中,發出其中一句最廣為人知的宣告。
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25:9.
到那日,人必說:「看哪,這是我們的神;我們素來等候祂,祂必拯救我們。這是耶和華;我們素來等候祂,我們必因祂的救恩歡喜快樂。」以賽亞書 25:9。
The one hundred and forty-four thousand are the wise virgins that waited for their Lord to come to the wedding, though He tarried in agreement with the parable of the ten virgins. They are not Laodiceans, they are Philadelphians. Up to this point this article has been setting the context.
嗰十四萬四千人,就係嗰啲聰明嘅童女;雖然主照住十個童女嘅比喻所講而遲延,佢哋仍然等候佢來赴婚筵。佢哋唔係老底嘉人,乃係非拉鐵非人。直到呢一點,本文一直都係喺度鋪陳背景。
In 1798, Napoleon took the pope captive delivering the prophetic deadly wound that is healed at the end of the world according to Revelation thirteen. At that point the United States took its place as the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy according to Daniel two, seven, eight and eleven and Revelation twelve, thirteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen. From that point on both the Republican horn of the United States and the Protestant horn (Adventism) have forgotten who the papacy is. 1798 is the first year that the nations of the rest of the world acknowledged the United States as a sovereign nation, and it is also the year the first angel’s message arrived in history.
1798年,拿破崙擄去教皇,施加了啟示錄第十三章所預言、並於世界末了得醫治之致命的傷。於是,美國便照着但以理書第二、七、八、十一章,以及啟示錄第十二、十三、十六、十七、十八章所啟示之聖經預言,取得其作為第六國度的地位。自此以後,美國的共和主義之角與新教之角(復臨信仰)都忘記了教皇制度是誰。1798年乃是世界其餘列國首次承認美國為主權國家的第一年,亦是歷史上第一位天使信息臨到之年。
The “motto” of a Protestant at that time was, “the Bible and the Bible only.” Protestants identify themselves as defenders of the Bible alone, and when Adventism took their mantel at the arrival of the second angel, they accepted that “motto,” and were afterward labelled the “people of the book.” They had been given, through the ministry of William Miller a set of rules that would, if properly employed open the Bible to the minds of all who wished to hear. Miller’s Rules of Prophetic Interpretation are what inspiration says we must study if we are to give the third angel’s message.
當時一個新教徒嘅「座右銘」係:「唯獨聖經,唯獨聖經。」新教徒認定自己係唯獨聖經嘅捍衛者;而當復臨信仰喺第二位天使來到之時承接咗佢哋嘅衣缽,亦接受咗呢個「座右銘」,此後便被稱為「屬於書卷嘅子民」。藉着威廉.米勒嘅事工,佢哋已經獲賜一套規則;若正確運用,便能向一切願意聆聽嘅人開啟聖經。米勒嘅預言解經規則,就係靈感所說、若我哋要傳揚第三位天使嘅信息便必須研讀嘅內容。
“Said Christ, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ Again he said, ‘I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.’ The light of truth is going forth like a burning lamp, and those who love the light will not walk in darkness. They will study the Scriptures, that they may know of a surety that they are listening to the voice of the true Shepherd, and not that of a stranger.
基督說:「若有人要跟從我,就當捨己,背起他的十字架,來跟從我。」他又說:「我是世界的光;跟從我的,就不在黑暗裏走。」真理之光正如明燈燃點發出光輝;凡愛光的人,必不在黑暗裏行走。他們必查考聖經,為要確實知道自己所聽從的,乃是真牧人的聲音,並非陌生人的聲音。
“Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology, Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation:
「凡從事宣講第三位天使信息的人,都是按照米勒長老所採用的同一方法查考聖經。在那本名為《預言與預言年代學觀點》的小冊子中,米勒長老提出以下簡明、明智而重要的聖經研究與詮釋原則:
“‘1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible; 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible.’
「1. 每一個字對聖經中所提出之題旨,都必須有其適當之指向;2. 全部聖經都是必要的,並且藉着殷勤運用與查考,都是可以明白的;3. 聖經中所啟示的一切,對那些憑信心祈求、毫不疑惑的人,沒有甚麼是不能或不會顯明的;4. 要明白教義,就當把一切關乎你所欲知道之題目的經文都彙集起來,然後讓每一個字都發揮其適當的影響;若你所形成的理論並無矛盾,你就不可能有錯;5. 聖經必須作為它自己的詮釋者,因為它本身就是自己的準則。若我倚賴一位教師為我解釋,而他只是揣測其意思,或因着他的宗派信條而想要它如此,或為要被人看為有智慧,那麼,他的揣測、意欲、信條或智慧,就是我的準則,而不是聖經。」
“The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth.
「以上乃呢啲規則其中一部分;而我哋研讀聖經嘅時候,都當留意所陳明嘅原則。」
“Genuine faith is founded on the Scriptures; but Satan uses so many devices to wrest the Scriptures and bring in error, that great care is needed if one would know what they really do teach. It is one of the great delusions of this time to dwell much upon feeling, and to claim honesty while ignoring the plain utterances of the word of God because that word does not coincide with feeling. Many have no foundation for their faith but emotion. Their religion consists in excitement; when that ceases, their faith is gone. Feeling may be chaff, but the word of God is the wheat. And ‘what,’ says the prophet, ‘is the chaff to the wheat?’
「真實嘅信心係建立喺聖經之上;但撒但用咗極多詭計去曲解聖經,並引進謬誤,所以凡要知道聖經實際上所教導嘅係乜嘢,就必須極其謹慎。當今呢個時代其中一個重大迷惑,就係過分著重感覺,並且喺忽視上帝話語清楚明白之宣告嘅同時,仍自稱誠實,只因嗰話語同感覺並不相符。好多人嘅信心並冇根基,不過係建立喺情緒之上。佢哋嘅宗教只係由激動構成;一旦激動止息,佢哋嘅信心亦就消失。感覺可以係糠秕,但上帝嘅話語乃係麥子。先知話:『糠秕怎能與麥子比較呢?』」
“None will be condemned for not heeding light and knowledge that they never had, and they could not obtain. But many refuse to obey the truth that is presented to them by Christ’s ambassadors, because they wish to conform to the world’s standard; and the truth that has reached their understanding, the light that has shone in the soul, will condemn them in the Judgment. In these last days we have the accumulated light that has been shining through all the ages, and we shall be held correspondingly responsible. The path of holiness is not on a level with the world; it is a way cast up. If we walk in this way, if we run in the way of the Lord’s commandments, we shall find that the ‘path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.’” Review and Herald, November 25, 1884.
「凡係從未得過、亦無法獲得亮光同知識嘅人,唔會因為冇留意呢啲而被定罪。但係,有好多人拒絕順從基督使者向佢哋所傳嘅真理,因為佢哋想迎合世界嘅標準;而嗰啲已經達到佢哋悟性之中、照耀過心靈嘅真理同亮光,喺審判之時必定要定佢哋嘅罪。喺呢末後嘅日子,我哋所領受嘅,係歷世歷代所照耀而累積起來嘅亮光,因此我哋亦要按此承擔相應嘅責任。聖潔之路並唔係同世界處於同一水平;呢係一條被修築起來嘅大道。若果我哋行喺呢條路上,若果我哋奔走喺主誡命之道,我哋就必發現,『義人嘅路好像發光的黎明,越照越明,直到日午。』」《Review and Herald》,1884年11月25日。
You can read in more detail about William Miller’s rules in the Article entitled William Miller under the Prophetic Keys category.
你可以喺〈先知性鑰匙〉類別之下、題為〈William Miller〉嘅文章入面,更詳細閱讀有關 William Miller 規則嘅內容。
In “our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth” within “Father Miller’s” rules of prophetic interpretation. The horn of Protestantism was given the sacred document we call the Bible, and also given the responsibility to defend and promote the principles contained therein, and the Protestant horn was also given a set of rules to rightly divide the sacred documents’ meaning and intent.
喺「我哋對聖經嘅研讀」之中,我哋眾人都當留意「米勒父老」所訂立、關乎先知預言解釋嘅原則。新教之角被賜予我哋稱為聖經嘅神聖文獻,亦同時被賦予責任,要維護並推廣其中所載嘅原則;而新教之角亦被賜下一套規則,好叫人能正確分解呢神聖文獻嘅意義同旨意。
The horn of Republicanism was given a sacred document we call the Constitution, and also given the responsibility to defend and promote the principles contained therein. The Republican horn was also given a set of rules to rightly divide the sacred documents’ meaning and intent. The rules given to rightly divide the Constitution is the Bill of Rights and it enshrines the most important purpose of the Constitution in the first rules of the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment listed in the Bill of Rights is the freedom of religion, expression, speech, and the press.
共和主義之角被賜予一份我哋稱為《憲法》嘅神聖文件,亦被賦予責任去捍衛並推廣其中所載嘅原則。共和主義之角亦被賜予一套規則,以正確分辨呢份神聖文件嘅意義同意旨。為正確分辨《憲法》而賜下嘅規則,就係《權利法案》;而《權利法案》喺其最初嘅條文之中,將《憲法》最重要嘅宗旨加以確立。載於《權利法案》之中嘅《第一修正案》,乃係宗教、表達、言論同新聞出版嘅自由。
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” U.S. Constitution, amend. I
「國會不得制定任何法律,去設立宗教,或禁止宗教自由實踐;亦不得剝奪言論自由,或新聞出版自由;亦不得剝奪人民和平集會,以及向政府請願以求申訴冤屈之權利。」《美國憲法》第一修正案
The Sunday law is an open attack against the first issue of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, which is eliminated at the Sunday law, thus marking the end of the Constitution, the end of the United States as the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy and the beginning of the persecution against those who are then proclaiming the third angel’s message in a loud cry. Those who are proclaiming the loud cry of the third angel and protesting against the destruction of the first Amendment and the Constitution are persecuted by those who were supposed to be upholding and applying the sacred rules, which defend the sacred document they were ordained to defend. This is an illustration of understanding and applying the parallel histories of the two horns of the lamb-like earth beast. The founding Fathers of the Constitution parallel Father Miller. The term Father used for Miller is used to designate a leader, not a popish priest. The Bible forbids calling men father who are professing to be spiritual guides. The Millerites are named after their father, as is often the case. To miss this distinction is to miss some of what the Elijah message means, when it turns the hearts of the fathers unto the children and vice-versa.
《星期日法》乃係對《憲法》首要條款嘅公開攻擊;該條款保障宗教自由,而宗教自由喺《星期日法》之下被廢除,因此標誌住《憲法》嘅終結、標誌住美國作為《聖經》預言中第六個國度嘅終結,並且標誌住對嗰啲當時正以大聲呼喊傳揚第三位天使信息之人嘅迫害之開始。凡宣講第三位天使之大聲呼喊、並抗議第一修正案同《憲法》遭受破壞嘅人,便受到嗰啲本應維護並施行神聖法則之人嘅迫害;而正係呢啲法則,乃為保護嗰份佢哋受委任去捍衛之神聖文件而設。呢一點說明咗,點樣理解並應用羔羊樣之地獸兩角嘅平行歷史。制定《憲法》嘅開國先賢,乃對應米勒父。用於米勒嘅「父」一詞,係用嚟指明一位領袖,並非指羅馬教廷式嘅神父。《聖經》禁止嗰啲自稱屬靈嚮導嘅人被稱為父。米勒派以佢哋嘅父而命名,呢種情況本屬常見。若忽略呢一個分別,便會錯失以利亞信息所包含嘅一部分意義,就係當佢使父親嘅心轉向兒女、兒女嘅心亦轉向父親之時。
The United States in Isaiah twenty-three is the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy and it remains so until it overturns its Constitution at the rapidly approaching Sunday law. The sixth kingdom rules for seventy prophetic years, which are the days of one king. The kingdom (a king is a kingdom) that ruled for seventy years was Babylon. During the seventy years the horn of the state was the government of Babylon and the horn of the church was the Chaldeans. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego represent the one hundred and forty-four thousand. Both horns and God’s people are represented in Daniel’s testimony. The seventy years of captivity in Babylon was the days of one king that Isaiah employs to identify that the prophetic history of the United States and the history of Adventism as 1798 until the Sunday law.
以賽亞二十三章中的美國,乃係聖經預言中第六個國度,並且一直維持如此,直到喺迅速臨近嘅星期日法案之時推翻其憲法為止。第六個國度統治七十個預言年,呢啲就係一王嘅日子。嗰個統治咗七十年嘅國度(王就係國度),乃係巴比倫。喺呢七十年期間,國家嘅角乃係巴比倫政府,而教會嘅角乃係迦勒底人。但以理、沙得拉、米煞同亞伯尼歌代表十四萬四千人。兩個角同埋上帝嘅子民,都喺但以理嘅見證中有所表徵。巴比倫七十年嘅被擄,乃係一王嘅日子;以賽亞正係藉此指明,美國嘅預言歷史同埋復臨運動嘅歷史,乃係由1798年直到星期日法案。
Identifying that the line of prophetic history for both horns of the United States allows us to consider the ending and beginning, with the two horn witnesses to identify the characteristic of the other horn. After all the horns were the same. In Daniel there were horns, some broken, with horns that grew out of the broken horn. Some horns in Daniel were not the same size as each other, coming up later than the other. Not so, with the two horns of the United States. Those two horns parallel each other through the same history and produce the same waymarks, though different from one another in terms of their purpose. There are caveats within the history that are also important to understand.
辨識出美國兩角之先知歷史脈絡,使我哋可以藉着呢兩個角見證人,從終局同起始去辨明另一個角嘅特徵。歸根究底,所有角原本都係一樣嘅。喺但以理書入面,有啲角被打斷,又有角從嗰被打斷嘅角生長出嚟。喺但以理書之中,有啲角彼此大小並不相同,而且出現得比另一個更遲。但美國嘅兩角並非如此。嗰兩個角喺同一段歷史之中彼此平行,並且產生相同嘅路標,雖然就其目的而言,二者彼此有別。喺呢段歷史之中亦有若干但書,同樣係必須明白嘅。
In the beginning of Adventism there was a change from the prophetic history represented by the church of Philadelphia unto the church of Laodicea. There must be therefore at the end a change from the prophetic history of Laodicea. The Revelation of Jesus Christ includes the light of this understanding and it is part of what is being unsealed at this time.
喺復臨運動嘅起初,所代表嘅預言歷史由非拉鐵非教會轉移到老底嘉教會;因此,喺末後,亦必定會有一個由老底嘉嘅預言歷史轉變出去嘅變化。耶穌基督嘅啟示包含咗對呢個理解嘅亮光,而呢亮光正係此時所被揭開嘅一部分。
And “after the end of seventy years” the pope will “sing” and the “forgotten” “harlot” will be remembered. She is “remembered” at the Sunday law, where the issue is between the worship of the sun, or the worship of the day that God’s law informed mankind to “remember.”
而「七十年完咗之後」,教皇必「唱歌」,而嗰個被「忘記」嘅「妓女」必被記念。佢喺星期日法令之時被「記念」,喺嗰度,所爭論嘅問題,乃係敬拜太陽,抑或敬拜上帝律法吩咐世人要「記念」嘅嗰一日。
In this article we have identified that the history of Babylon’s seventy-year rule typifies the history of the United States from 1798 until the Sunday law. In a previous article and often in Habakkuk’s Tables we identify that the captivity in and deliverance from Egypt, also typifies the history of the United States and God’s people. Those four histories of Babylon, Egypt, Adventism and the United States are not the only lines to bring upon these lines, but when we apply the rule of first mention to those four lines—it is absolutely amazing. I will close this article with one simple and partial illustration of what I mean, and what I intend to continue with when we further address the history of Isaiah twenty-three at a later time.
喺呢篇文章入面,我哋已經指出,巴比倫七十年統治嘅歷史,乃係預表美國由1798年直到星期日法案嘅歷史。喺之前一篇文章,以及喺《哈巴谷嘅 Tables》入面,我哋亦指出,被擄於埃及同埋從埃及得拯救,同樣預表美國同上帝子民嘅歷史。巴比倫、埃及、復臨信仰同埋美國呢四條歷史,並唔係唯一可以帶到呢啲線上面嘅脈絡;但當我哋將首次提及嘅原則應用喺呢四條線上面時——實在令人極其驚嘆。我會以一個簡單而局部嘅例證,作為呢篇文章嘅結束,去說明我嘅意思,以及我打算喺日後進一步論到以賽亞書二十三章嘅歷史時,繼續探討嘅內容。
The history of Babylon has a converted king at the beginning and a wicked king at the end. Doesn’t matter if it were Biden or Trump, for the book of Daniel teaches that it is God who sets up rulers and takes them down. What can be sure about either a Democrat or Republican leader at the time of the Sunday law is that they are a wicked leader. Nebuchadnezzar was Babylon, he was the tyrant of Babylon, willing to throw three good men into the fire. But he was eventually converted to Daniel’s God. Not so with the last leader Belshazzar. He was a wicked king. The United States in prophecy begins as a lamb, a symbol of Christ and His sacrifice for mankind. At the end the United States will speak as a dragon. The change from Christ to Satan in this line of history is represented by the difference of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.
巴比倫嘅歷史,開頭有一個悔改歸正嘅君王,結尾卻有一個邪惡嘅君王。無論係拜登定特朗普,都唔重要,因為《但以理書》教導我哋,立君王、廢君王嘅乃係上帝。至於喺星期日法案實施之時,無論係民主黨定共和黨嘅領袖,可以確定嘅係:佢都係一個邪惡嘅領袖。尼布甲尼撒就係巴比倫;佢係巴比倫嘅暴君,甘願將三個好人扔進火中。但最終,佢歸信咗但以理嘅上帝。最後嗰位領袖伯沙撒卻唔係咁;佢係一個邪惡嘅君王。預言中,美國起初如同羔羊,乃係基督同埋祂為人類所獻祭嘅象徵。到咗末後,美國就會講說話好似龍一樣。喺呢條歷史脈絡之中,由基督轉變為撒但,正係藉着尼布甲尼撒同伯沙撒之間嘅差異表明出嚟。
“Belshazzar had been given many opportunities for knowing and doing the will of God. He had seen his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar banished from the society of men. He had seen the intellect in which the proud monarch gloried taken away by the One who gave it. He had seen the king driven from his kingdom, and made the companion of the beasts of the field. But Belshazzar’s love of amusement and self-glorification effaced the lessons he should never have forgotten; and he committed sins similar to those that brought signal judgments on Nebuchadnezzar. He wasted the opportunities graciously granted him, neglecting to use the opportunities within his reach for becoming acquainted with truth. ‘What must I do to be saved?’ was a question that the great but foolish king passed by indifferently.” Bible Echo, April 25, 1898.
「伯沙撒曾經得着許多機會,可以認識並遵行上帝的旨意。他曾看見他的祖父尼布甲尼撒被逐離人群之外;他曾看見那位驕傲君王所自誇的聰明,被那賜予聰明的主奪去;他曾看見那王被趕出國位,與田野的走獸為伴。然而,伯沙撒對宴樂同自我榮耀的愛好,抹煞了那些他本不該忘記的教訓;他所犯的罪,與那招致尼布甲尼撒遭受顯著審判的罪相類。他浪費了那恩慈賜給他的機會,忽略了運用那擺在他手可及之處、使他得以認識真理的機會。『我當怎樣行才可以得救?』這個問題,這位偉大卻愚昧的君王竟漠然置之不理。」《Bible Echo》,1898年4月25日。
Notice that the wicked Belshazzar was the foolish king. He suffered the same judgment as his father Nebuchadnezzar, for both judgments were represented as the “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six. Nebuchadnezzar was in the fields living like a beast for twenty-five hundred and twenty days, which is seven biblical years and his son Belshazzar’s judgment which written on the wall represents twenty-five hundred and twenty as well. The difference was the judgment against Nebuchadnezzar converted him and made him a wise king, whereas Belshazzar’s judgment was upon the foolish king.
請留意,邪惡嘅伯沙撒乃係愚昧嘅王。佢所受嘅審判,與佢父親尼布甲尼撒所受嘅審判相同,因為呢兩個審判都被表述為《利未記》二十六章所講嘅「七期」。尼布甲尼撒喺田野間過住如獸一般嘅生活,共二千五百二十日,即係七個聖經年;而佢兒子伯沙撒寫喺牆上嘅審判,同樣亦代表二千五百二十。分別在於:臨到尼布甲尼撒嘅審判使佢悔改,並使佢成為一位有智慧嘅王;然而,臨到伯沙撒嘅審判,卻係加喺嗰位愚昧嘅王身上。
“To the last ruler of Babylon, as in type to its first, had come the sentence of the divine Watcher: ‘O king, . . . to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.’ Daniel 4:31.” Prophets and Kings, 533.
「臨到巴比倫最後一位統治者身上、正如在預表中臨到其第一位統治者身上一樣的,乃是那位神聖守望者所宣告的判語:『王啊,……有話對你說:你的國位離開你了。』但以理書 4:31。」《先知與君王》,533頁。
The handwriting on the wall for the last president is the first amendment which identifies the “wall” of separation of church and state, which the final foolish king does not understand. The “seven times” of Leviticus twenty-six represents a “scattering of the people” that is accomplished by the king of the north at the Sunday law. That scattering is the national ruin that follows the Sunday law. The sixth nation forgot the lessons of their founding fathers who penned the Constitution to protect not only from a corrupt church, but also from the tyrannical European kings that the corrupt woman slept with. The founding fathers represent those who rejected the papacy and the kings of Europe for they knew from their own experience after coming out of a scattering of twelve hundred and sixty years of papal darkness, that protections against that type of tyranny must be the center piece of their new Constitution. They were wise fathers, they were lamb-like, but not so with the last father, for he will speak as a dragon. The Fathers came out of a scattering and the son goes back into a scattering. The tyrant in both instances is the first papacy and the last papacy.
寫喺牆上、向最後一位總統所發嘅預兆,乃係第一修正案;呢條修正案指出政教分離之「牆」,而最後嗰位愚昧嘅王卻唔明白。利未記二十六章所講嘅「七倍」,代表喺星期日法之時由北方王所完成嘅「子民分散」。呢種分散,就係隨住星期日法而來嘅國家毀滅。第六個國家忘記咗其開國先賢嘅教訓;先賢曾立憲,為要防範嘅唔單止係敗壞嘅教會,亦都係嗰啲同敗壞婦人行淫嘅歐洲暴君君王。開國先賢所代表嘅,乃係嗰啲拒絕教皇權同歐洲列王嘅人;因為佢哋由親身經歷得知,喺走出一段長達一千二百六十年、由教皇制黑暗所造成嘅分散之後,防止呢一類暴政嘅保障,必須成為佢哋新憲法嘅核心。佢哋係有智慧嘅先父,佢哋如羊羔一般;但最後嗰位父親卻唔係咁,因為佢要講說話好似龍一樣。眾先父由分散之中出來,而個兒子卻回到分散之中。兩者當中嘅暴君,前者係最先嘅教皇權,後者係最後嘅教皇權。
The symbol of the judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar, the first king and the last king Belshazzar was the “seven times” scattering of Leviticus twenty-six. Nebuchadnezzar lived it, and Belshazzar had it written upon the wall as his epitaph the very night he died. The symbol of the Republican horn in the beginning was its escape from the king of the north’s bondage and the symbol of the Republican horn at its end is captivity brought about from the king of the north. The Sunday law is the “very night” that it dies as the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy. In all four illustrations, Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar, and the beginning and ending of the Republican horn the twenty-five twenty of Leviticus twenty-six, is the symbol represented at the beginning and the ending. That represents the signature of Alpha and Omega.
尼布甲尼撒,即第一位君王,與末後的君王伯沙撒所受審判嘅表號,就係利未記二十六章所講嘅「七倍」分散。尼布甲尼撒親身經歷咗呢件事;而伯沙撒,就喺佢死嘅當夜,有呢個表號寫喺牆上,成為佢嘅墓誌銘。共和國之角喺起初嘅表號,係佢逃離北方王嘅奴役;而共和國之角喺末後嘅表號,則係由北方王所帶來嘅擄掠。星期日法,就係佢作為《聖經》預言中第六個國度「死去嘅當夜」。喺呢四個例證之中——伯沙撒、尼布甲尼撒,以及共和國之角嘅起頭同終局——利未記二十六章嘅二十五二十,乃係喺開始同終結都被表明出嚟嘅表號。呢一點,就代表阿拉法同俄梅戛嘅印記。
The first “time prophecy” William Miller discovered was the twenty-five twenty of Leviticus twenty-six. It was the first stone in the foundation that Jesus laid through the work of Miller. It was also the first foundational truth that was set aside by Adventism in 1863. When all of Miller’s stones of truth were put into the foundation, those truths were represented on the two tables of Habakkuk, which are the 1843 and 1850 pioneer charts. Those two tables represent the covenant relationship between God and His denominated people just as the two tables of the Ten Commandments represented the covenant with ancient Israel.
威廉・米勒所發現嘅第一個「時間預言」,就係《利未記》二十六章嘅二千五百二十年。呢個係耶穌藉着米勒嘅工作所奠立之根基中嘅第一塊石頭。呢個亦都係復臨信仰喺1863年所擱置嘅第一項根基真理。當米勒一切真理嘅石頭都被安放喺根基之中時,呢啲真理就被表現在《哈巴谷書》嘅兩塊版上,即1843年同1850年嘅先驅圖表。嗰兩塊版,正如十誡嘅兩塊法版代表上帝與古代以色列所立之約一樣,亦都代表上帝與祂名下子民之間嘅立約關係。
At the end of Laodicean Adventism, when it is spewed out of the mouth of the Lord at the Sunday law, the handwriting on the wall is those two sacred pioneer charts. Charts which they are unable to read, for they refused to be benefitted by the warning message in their beginning of their history….
喺老底嘉復臨信仰嘅終局,當主喺星期日法案之時將佢從口中吐出去,牆上所寫嘅字,就係嗰兩幅神聖嘅先驅圖表。呢啲圖表,佢哋係讀唔明嘅,因為喺佢哋歷史嘅起頭,佢哋拒絕從嗰警告嘅信息當中得着益處……
The financial crisis of 1837 in the United States was a complex event triggered by a combination of economic factors, policies, and speculative activities.
1837年美國嘅金融危機,乃係一宗複雜嘅事件,由多種經濟因素、政策,以及投機活動交織而觸發。
Speculative Bubble: In the years leading up to 1837, there was a speculative boom in land and investments, driven in part by the westward expansion of the country. Land speculation, particularly in the western frontier, led to inflated land prices and excessive borrowing.
投機泡沫:喺1837年之前嗰幾年間,土地同投資方面出現咗一股投機繁榮,部分係由國家向西擴張所推動。土地投機,尤其係西部邊疆地區嘅土地投機,導致地價被炒高,並引發過度借貸。
Easy Credit and Speculative Lending: Banks and financial institutions were issuing large amounts of credit and loans, often without adequate collateral. This easy access to credit contributed to the speculative frenzy and increased the risks of financial instability.
寬鬆信貸與投機性放貸:銀行及金融機構正大量發放信貸與貸款,而且往往缺乏足夠抵押品。這種輕易取得信貸的情況助長了投機狂熱,並增加了金融不穩定的風險。
Overexpansion of Banks: Banks were expanding their operations rapidly, often issuing more paper money (banknotes) than they had specie (gold and silver) to back it up. This practice, known as “wildcat banking,” resulted in an overabundance of unregulated and unreliable currency in circulation.
銀行過度擴張:各銀行正迅速擴展其業務,往往所發行之紙幣(banknotes),超過其所持有可作支持之硬幣儲備(specie,即金銀)。此種做法稱為「wildcat banking」,導致市面上流通之貨幣過量,且多屬未受監管、並不可靠之貨幣。
Jackson’s Economic Policies: President Andrew Jackson’s policies played a role in exacerbating the crisis. He issued the Specie Circular in 1836, which required that public lands be purchased with hard currency (gold and silver) rather than paper money. This led to a rush to convert banknotes into specie, causing financial strains and bank failures.
積遜嘅經濟政策:總統安德魯.積遜嘅政策,喺加劇呢場危機方面起咗作用。佢喺1836年頒布《硬幣通告》(Specie Circular),規定購買公有土地必須以硬通貨(金銀)支付,而唔可以使用紙幣。呢項措施引發咗將銀行券爭相兌換成硬幣嘅風潮,造成金融緊張同銀行倒閉。
International Factors: The crisis in the United States was also influenced by international economic conditions. A slump in the British economy, a major trading partner of the United States, led to a reduction in demand for American goods and exports. This, in turn, affected American businesses and contributed to economic distress.
國際因素:美國嘅危機亦都受到國際經濟狀況所影響。作為美國主要貿易夥伴之一嘅英國,其經濟陷入衰退,導致對美國貨品同出口產品嘅需求減少。呢一點反過來影響咗美國企業,並加劇咗經濟困境。
Panic and Bank Runs: In May 1837, a series of financial shocks, including bank failures and credit contractions, led to a panic among investors and depositors. This panic triggered a wave of bank runs and a severe contraction of credit.
恐慌與銀行擠提:喺1837年5月,一連串金融衝擊,包括銀行倒閉同信貸收縮,引發咗投資者同存戶之間嘅恐慌。呢場恐慌觸發咗一波銀行擠提,並造成嚴重嘅信貸緊縮。
Contraction of Money Supply: As banks failed and credit tightened, the overall money supply in the economy contracted significantly. This contraction of money aggravated economic difficulties and deepened the recession. The combination of these factors led to a severe economic downturn, characterized by bank failures, unemployment, reduced consumer spending, and a general economic depression.
貨幣供應收縮:隨着銀行倒閉、信貸收緊,經濟體系中整體貨幣供應大幅收縮。貨幣供應嘅呢種收縮加劇咗經濟困難,並使衰退進一步加深。呢啲因素交織埋一齊,導致嚴重嘅經濟下滑,其特徵包括銀行倒閉、失業、消費者開支減少,以及整體經濟蕭條。
“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.” Life Sketches, 196.
「我哋對將來冇任何可懼怕嘅,除非我哋忘記咗主點樣帶領我哋,以及祂喺我哋過去歷史中所賜嘅教導。」《Life Sketches》,196。