We first see that the New Testament clearly states that the mystery of God is Christ.  It is the same God in both the Old and New Testaments, and He never changes.  In the books of the Old Testament, we can see descriptions of Christ. Combining the Old and New Testaments, we can clearly see how Christ was described in the example of Abraham sacrificing Issac.  Second, we see that the seven bowls of plagues begin with the opening of the temple in heaven where the ark of the covenant is kept, and the clearly stated plagues of the first bowl.  Third, we talk about the disasters from the second bowl to the fifth bowl. Comparing them with the disasters from the second to the fifth trumpets, we see similar parts, but they obviously increase the intensity of the disasters and also saw the human nature. Human was hardened and unrepentant, and we also give an Old Testament example in this aspect.  Finally, in the tribulation of the sixth bowl, we see the Battle of Armageddon, which is indeed the final battle for the Fake Trinity. Although the true final battle is after the Millennium Kingdom, there is only Satan at that time who is involved.

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1. God’s wrath and mystery

​”Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy;

For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.””(Revelation 15:1-4)

When it comes to the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, the content is clearly stated, and it does not refer to the songs composed by Moses before.  The scriptures also clearly say that God’s wrath will be fully exhausted only in the last seven bowls of plague!  We have shared before, “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.”(Revelation 10:7) At that time, the mystery of God will be completed. So what is the mystery of God, that is, the good news that was preached to His servants the prophets?  We first see that the word mystery is used many times by Paul. The verses in it say, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”(Romans 16:25-26) “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”(Ephesians 3:6) He even stated more clearly, “…a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”(Colossians 2:2-3)

In the Old Testament era, only the Israelites were the chosen people, but those who obeyed the LORD in their hearts were also counted. As the scripture says, “If an alien sojourns among you and observes the Passover to the LORD, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its ordinance, so he shall do; you shall have one statute, both for the alien and for the native of the land.”(Numbers 9:14) This can also be seen in other scriptures such as Solomon’s prayer, ““Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.”(1 Kings 8:41-43) God has always been the God of those who obey Him.

It is impossible for us to talk about all the scriptures related to Christ in the Old Testament. Now we will take an example of Abraham offering Isaac and see how the Old Testament books mention Christ in this example. First, “He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.””(Genesis 22:2) This is what God requires.  Finally, “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.”(Genesis 22:13) Here, it is the ram that was substituted for Isaac, so the concept of substitution is mentioned here.  In the New Testament, it is Jesus Christ who was substituted for us and became the scapegoat!  Otherwise, no one would have a chance to be saved.

Let’s look at it from Isaac’s perspective for the same event, “Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”(Genesis 22:9-10) Isaac was no longer very small at that time, but he let his father bind him on the altar. We see that Isaac trusted his father even to the point of death.  This is just like what the New Testament says, that Christ Jesus “…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:7-8) Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that Isaac in this case typified Christ.

Of course, in this matter, we also see Abraham’s faith that “…he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.”(Romans 4:17) “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.”(Hebrews 11:17-19) God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and Abraham did so. The sacrifices were all sacrifices of death, so Abraham knew that offering Isaac would cause Isaac’s death, thus he also knew that Isaac would die by doing so. But if there are descendants of Issac, then Isaac must live, which is why Abraham believed that God could raise people from the dead.  Finally, Isaac did not really die, so it was just as a type, because what God wanted to introduce at this time was the concept of substitution, rather than letting Isaac die and be resurrected. This would have to wait until Jesus in the New Testament, who died and was resurrected. Live forever.  No wonder “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.””(Genesis 22:14) So here it is said that we must position ourself on the mountain of the Lord, then God will provide for us for sure.

Both the God in the Old and New Testaments are the same, and He never changes. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”(Galatians 6:7) God loves the world and has prepared salvation for us, but He also made it clear, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) We cannot deceive ourselves that in the New Testament we can only talk about love without mentioning that He is also a righteous God. We must preach God’s love and at the same time let people understand His righteousness. It is very clear in the content of the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the Lamb, “…You alone are holy; …Your righteous acts have been revealed.”(Revelation 15:4) From the Book of Revelation, we can see God’s final judgment, which is really not what we want.  We do not want to be those who do not believe, for “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”(Hebrews 3:13-14) We must have an ear that can hear. We know, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17) Not having a hearing ear will affect our salvation, because we will not be able to see what God has done. People have free will, and God has no choice but let us make wrong decisions. This is a terrible situation!

2. The beginning and the first bowl of the Seven Bowls

“​Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works,

O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.” After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”(Revelation 15:1-16:2)

We have shared before that the opening of the temple is for judgment, so I won’t go into details.  The plague of the first bowl was just the beginning, as had been warned before, “…they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”(Revelation 14:11) Even with this warning, people still do this.  We have shared before that besides the ark of the covenant in heaven, apart from the table where the showbread was placed, there were also every other utensil in the tabernacle.  The purpose of this table was to be dedicated to God, and in heaven the physical table was replaced by practical actions.  Because the things on earth were to reflect the things in heaven, it is clear, “According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.”(Exodus 25:9)

We see that the appearance of the temple is for judgment and the beginning of the seven bowls. We also see that no one can enter the temple at that time.  When the tabernacle was set up in the Old Testament, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”(Exodus 40:34-35) This happened twice when Solomon’s temple was built, once after the priests carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord into the Holy of Holies, and after they left the Holy of Holies, “…the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.”(2 Chronicles 5:13-14) “Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’S house.”(2 Chronicles 7:1-2)

At the time to rebuild the temple after returning, we did not see the glory of the Lord filling the temple.  Why is this? In fact, they rebuilt it as described in the Bible, but it took a lot of time, from the time when King Cyrus of Persia laid the foundation of this temple in February of the second year (see Ezra 3:8-12) to “This temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.”(Ezra 6:15) And in the meantime, “…the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?””(Haggai 1:3 -4) Compared with the previous two situations where God was filled with the glory of God, it is indeed incomparable.

3. The second to fifth bowls

“​The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.”(Revelation 16:3-11)

We first compare the second bowl with the second trumpet, “The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.”(Revelation 8:8-9) This second bowl of plague is somewhat similar to the second trumpet plague, only more serious!  In the same way, if you compare, you will know that the third bowl is more serious than the third trumpet. People cannot survive without water, and they must drink the bloody water. No wonder it is said, “…they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”(Revelation 16:6)

During the fourth trumpet, one-third of the sun, moon and stars are darkened, but the fourth bowl is for the sun to roast people with fire. It seems like a contradiction, but in fact there is no contradiction. From the perspective of current technology, all it takes is the presence of God. During that period of time, it was enough for Him to control the nuclear reaction on the sun. God is the Almighty God, and this was really a trivial matter to Him.  We see that people’s hearts are really hard and they still do not repent of what they have done. They only see the things in front of them but forget the root cause. Just like what is said in the Book of Jeremiah, “Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, “As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune. But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine.””(Jeremiah 44:15-18) God preserved them before this, but they did not realize. They think that they know themselves and think that what they did in the past is right until God punishes them for their sins, because “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”(Ecclesiastes 3:1) It’s not God Who has any problem, it’s us who cause problems.

Finally, “…Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the entire remnant of Judah …together with Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah⁠— and they entered the land of Egypt (for they did not obey the voice of the LORD) and went in as far as Tahpanhes.”(Jeremiah 43:5-7), although Jeremiah warned them before, “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to set My face against you for woe, even to cut off all Judah. And I will take away the remnant of Judah who have set their mind on entering the land of Egypt to reside there, …”(Jeremiah 44:11-12)

On the fifth trumpet, “He (the fifth  angel) opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.”(Revelation 9:2) But now the kingdom of the beast is in total darkness, but people’s hearts are more hardened, blasphemous and unrepentant. It really cannot be said that God has not given people the opportunity to repent.

4. The sixth bowl

“​The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.”(Revelation 16:12-16)

The first thing we want to say is that the three unclean spirits are a fake trinity. We have discussed this in detail in “1100 Two beasts coming up from the sea and from the earth – Revelation (10) .” Those who are interested in this topic can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/,” click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this short article.

From this we can see that the Lord has not returned yet, because He still says that He comes like a thief.  Here you can see again that Revelation 14:6-20 mentioned in the last “1021” is an outline of the judgment that will occur in the future, because it mentions the Son of Man in the clouds, which has not yet been occurred in time.  In the later books of Revelation, it is true that the exact time of Jesus’ return is not mentioned.

​​​​​​​​​​Finally we see the battle of Armageddon, which is indeed the last battle for the Fake Trinity, because then “…the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet …these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.”(Revelation 19:20) Satan was also captured, and the thousand-year kingdom began (see Revelation 20:1-6). The last war was after the thousand-year kingdom, only Satan is involved after he is released. After he came out, he deceives the nations on the earth and people surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire comes down from heaven and consums them.  The devil who deceives them is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were.  They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  (See Revelation 20:7-10)

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 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

我们首先来看看教会中童身的十四万四千人是指什么人，为什么这时必须要用灵意解经？对基督徒而言，不是每个人都能这样的在天上，有些基督徒要受的是白色大宝座的审判，有些没有走上成圣之路的基督徒、甚至不能在新天新地时进入新耶路撒冷城。第二，经文谈到了未来所要行的审判的大纲，这是圣经的一个写法，先有大纲才说详情，在经文中又再一次强调了圣徒的忍耐。最后我们谈到了可存到永远的事工，和分辩绵羊和山羊到底是如何执行的。

1. 教会和童身      

『我又观看，见羔羊站在锡安山，同他又有十四万四千人，都有他的名和他父的名写在额上。我听见从天上有声音，像众水的声音和大雷的声音，并且我所听见的好像弹琴的所弹的琴声。他们在宝座前，并在四活物和众长老前唱歌，仿佛是新歌；除了从地上买来的那十四万四千人以外，没有人能学这歌。这些人未曾沾染妇女，他们原是童身。羔羊无论往哪里去，他们都跟随他。他们是从人间买来的，作初熟的果子归与神和羔羊。在他们口中察不出谎言来，他们是没有瑕疵的。』(启示录 14:1-5)       

我们在『2093 看天开了，宝座和四活物 – 启示录 (4) 』就详细的分享过，说明为什么四活物和二十四位长老都是代表教会的，因此这里讲的十四万四千人是从教会来的，不像以色列人受印的也是十四万四千人，『我听见以色列人各支派中受印的数目有十四万四千。』(启示录 7:4) 从神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来讲(圣经的一致性)，在启示录中不是也显示出神是公平的吗？看！受印的以色列人和教会中的人是一样多，而以色列人各支派中受印的人又是一样多，一万二千人。因为一万二千乘十二是十四万四千，所以我们会说这些数目是和十二支派的「十二」有关。        

这十四万四千人绝对和这经文中说得不同，『此后，我观看，见有许多的人，没有人能数过来，是从各国、各族、各民、各方来的，站在宝座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕树枝，大声喊著说：「愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的神，也归与羔羊。」』(启示录 7:9-10) 我们分享过，这些人已在基督台前受过审判得到了在天上的奖赏，所以这经文对他们绝对是很适当的，『因为我们众人必要在基督台前显露出来，叫各人按著本身所行的，或善或恶受报。』(哥林多后书 5:10)   

对基督徒而言，不是每个人都是这样的在天上。我们以前分享过，有些基督徒要受的是白色大宝座的审判(参启示录 20:11-13)，在白色大宝座前受审判这也是在基督台前，所以对那些要受白色大宝座的基督徒而言，那节经文对他们也是对的。我们也在『2087 模成耶稣的形像及实行』中的『5. 一次得救就永远得救是否公平？』分享过，有些没有走上成圣之路的基督徒，甚至不能在新天新地时进入新耶路撒冷城。对这个题目有兴趣的人可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。       

有人提到了那十四万四千人是童身，我们就看看「未曾沾染妇女」是什么意思？彼得是结过婚的，如经文所说，『难道我们没有权柄娶信主的姊妹为妻，带著一同往来，仿佛其余的使徒和主的弟兄，并矶法(彼得)一样吗？』(哥林多前书 9:5) 彼得难道不配得在那十四万四千人中间吗？所以要能有不矛盾，这里非得用灵意解经不可，未曾沾染妇女的人不是指没有结婚或是没有和妇女发生性关系的人，是指对主忠贞不二的人，最后生前能隔绝世界的诱惑，这和结婚与否没有关系，这是指如彼得般的人。     

又说那些人是初熟的果子归与神和羔羊，那初熟的果子是谁呢？是指基督。就像经文所说，『但基督已经从死里复活，成为睡了之人初熟的果子。』(哥林多前书 15:20) 基督徒是要模成耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29)。在那十四万四千人，经文说，『在他们口中察不出谎言来，他们是没有瑕疵的。』(启示录 14:5) 这是指百分之百模成耶稣形像的人才会在神眼中没有瑕疵，才会是归与神和羔羊的初熟的果子。所以并不是每个基督徒都会在那十四万四千人中的，虽然有人说基督徒都有份，但只是人的教导，和圣经的事实不合，只是从人的角度去安慰人！经文说得很清楚，『凡从神生的，就不犯罪，因神的道存在他心里；他也不能犯罪，因为他是由神生的。』(约翰一书 3:9) 他们怎么会有谎言而犯罪呢？     

那么可能有人会问，圣经不是明说，『你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，借著耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。』(彼得前书 2:5) 只要我们来主面前不都是建造灵宫的活石吗？是的，基督徒是要走上成圣之路，要模成耶稣的形像，那在生前模成耶稣形像的那一部份就成为建造灵宫的活石，其余的部份就会被抛弃。但神很公平，『…多给谁，就向谁多取；多托谁，就向谁多要。』(路加福音 12:48) 因为我们不知道神给我们究竟多少，要多少，我们只能如保罗般，『…我不是以为自己已经得著了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向著标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。』(腓立比书 3:13-14)      

这里又说到这十四万四千人能唱「新歌」，有人就说这是「新人唱的歌」，基督徒不都全是新人吗？你看，基督徒是『不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。』(罗马书 12:2) 又说，『若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。』(哥林多后书 5:17) 所以每个基督徒都会唱这新歌，这也是安慰人，不是圣经的说法。新约的和合本只提到新歌两次，另一次也在启示录，就是，『…四活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，…他们唱新歌，说：…』(启示录 5:8-9) 很清楚的说明新歌的内容。一次就是这里说的那十四万四千人唱的，没有说到新歌的内容。至于何人能列在那十四万四千人中，只有神知道，我们只能如前述的保罗般，向著标竿直奔。

2. 未来所要行的审判的大纲       

『我又看见另有一位天使飞在空中，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人，就是各国、各族、各方、各民。他大声说：「应当敬畏神，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了！应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的。」又有第二位天使接著说：「叫万民喝邪淫、大怒之酒的巴比伦大城倾倒了，倾倒了！」又有第三位天使接著他们，大声说：「若有人拜兽和兽像，在额上或在手上受了印记，这人也必喝神大怒的酒；此酒斟在神忿怒的杯中纯一不杂。他要在圣天使和羔羊面前，在火与硫磺之中受痛苦。他受痛苦的烟往上冒，直到永永远远。那些拜兽和兽像，受牠名之印记的，昼夜不得安宁。」圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守神诫命和耶稣真道的。』(启示录 14:6-12)       

我们看那第一位天使所宣告给全世界的，即使是审判的时间到了，神仍然给世界的人一个机会，愿意看到人人悔改而敬拜祂。第二位天使预告了巴比伦的大城会倾倒。然后第三位天使警告大家不要拜兽和兽像，也不要在额上或在手上受了兽的印记，否则后果不堪设想。最后再一次的强调了圣徒的忍耐，就和这经文所说的是一致的，『掳掠人的，必被掳掠；用刀杀人的，必被刀杀。 圣徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。』(启示录 13:10) 也就是耶稣所说的，『并且你们要为我的名被众人恨恶，惟有忍耐到底的必然得救。』(马太福音 10:22, 马可福音 13:13)

3. 可存到永远的事工       

『我听见从天上有声音说：「你要写下：从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了！」 圣灵说：「是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，做工的果效也随著他们。」我又观看，见有一片白云，云上坐著一位好像(G3664)人子，头上戴著金冠冕，手里拿著快镰刀。又有一位天使从殿中出来，向那坐在云上的大声喊著说：「伸出你的镰刀来收割！因为收割的时候已经到了，地上的庄稼已经熟透了。」那坐在云上的，就把镰刀扔在地上，地上的庄稼就被收割了。又有一位天使从天上的殿中出来，他也拿著快镰刀。又有一位天使从祭坛中出来，是有权柄管火的，向拿著快镰刀的大声喊著说：「伸出快镰刀来！收取地上葡萄树的果子，因为葡萄熟透了。」那天使就把镰刀扔在地上，收取了地上的葡萄，丢在神忿怒的大酒醡中。那酒醡踹在城外，就有血从酒醡里流出来，高到马的嚼环，远有六百里。』(启示录 14:13-20)      

从今以后，不是指那个时间点以后，而是指耶稣上十字架而完成了救恩后，那时才会赐下圣灵，圣灵告诉我们有可以存到永远的事情，虽然圣经没有明说是那些事情，但神借著圣灵要我们去做的事情都是可以存到永远的，是圣灵开始的。        

那位戴著金冠冕的是人子，不只是好像而已，没有说过天使有戴金冠冕的。这字 G3664 出现过 47 次，在启示录就出现了 22 次，其意义可由启示录中典型的例子中看出。『脚好像(G3664)在炉中锻炼光明的铜，声音如同众水的声音。』(启示录 1:15) 脚看起来真是像锻炼光明的铜一般，但说的仍是那脚。这字和上次谈的那经文不同，『 我看见兽的七头中，有一个似乎(G5613)受了死伤，那死伤却医好了…』(启示录 13:3) 我们上次谈过那里的 G5613 真是说「似乎」，那头从来就没有死透过。至于祂会在白云上，这和使徒行传中说的是一致的，『…他们正看的时候，他就被取上升，有一朵云彩把他接去，便看不见他了。…「加利利人哪，你们为甚么站著望天呢？这离开你们被接升天的耶稣，你们见他怎样往天上去，他还要怎样来。」』(使徒行传 1:9-11)        

这经文是指祂再来的时候，庄稼(真基督徒)成熟了，是收割的时候了，这时也有一位从殿中出来的天使传递给祂讯息，为什么有这需要呢？难道人子自己不知道，还需要那一位天使告诉祂吗？是的，祂不知道，因这是在时间里面，在时间里面是有一个次序的，父差遣子，子不去圣灵不来。在时间中，耶稣说得很清楚，『但那日子、那时辰，没有人知道，连天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟独父知道。』(马太福音 24:36)        

同时，另外一位从殿中出来的天使也是拿著快镰刀，那另一天使是祭坛管火(审判)的，告诉那拿著快镰刀去收取地上葡萄树的果子，很可怕的血流六百里。这不就是，『当人子在他荣耀里，同著众天使降临的时候，要坐在他荣耀的宝座上。万民都要聚集在他面前。他要把他们分别出来，好像牧羊的分别绵羊山羊一般；把绵羊安置在右边，山羊在左边。』(马太福音 25:31-33) 那时，『这些人(山羊)，要往永刑里去；那些义人(绵羊)，要往永生里去。』(马太福音 25:46，并请参马太福音 25:34-45) 神是很公平的。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

       我們首先來看看教會中童身的十四萬四千人是指什麼人，為什麼這時必須要用靈意解經？對基督徒而言，不是每個人都能這樣的在天上，有些基督徒要受的是白色大寶座的審判，有些沒有走上成聖之路的基督徒、甚至不能在新天新地時進入新耶路撒冷城。第二，經文談到了未來所要行的審判的大綱，這是聖經的一個寫法，先有大綱才說詳情，在經文中又再一次強調了聖徒的忍耐。最後我們談到了可存到永遠的事工，和分辨綿羊和山羊到底是如何執行的。

1. 教會和童身

       『我又觀看，見羔羊站在錫安山，同他又有十四萬四千人，都有他的名和他父的名寫在額上。我聽見從天上有聲音，像眾水的聲音和大雷的聲音，並且我所聽見的好像彈琴的所彈的琴聲。他們在寶座前，並在四活物和眾長老前唱歌，彷彿是新歌；除了從地上買來的那十四萬四千人以外，沒有人能學這歌。這些人未曾沾染婦女，他們原是童身。羔羊無論往哪裏去，他們都跟隨他。他們是從人間買來的，作初熟的果子歸與神和羔羊。在他們口中察不出謊言來，他們是沒有瑕疵的。』(啓示錄 14:1-5)

       我們在『2093 看天開了，寶座和四活物 – 啓示錄 (4) 』就詳細的分享過，說明為什麼四活物和二十四位長老都是代表教會的，因此這裏講的十四萬四千人是從教會來的，不像以色列人受印的也是十四萬四千人，『我聽見以色列人各支派中受印的數目有十四萬四千。』(啓示錄 7:4) 從神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的來講(聖經的一致性)，在啓示錄中不是也顯示出神是公平的嗎？看！受印的以色列人和教會中的人是一樣多，而以色列人各支派中受印的人又是一樣多，一萬二千人。因為一萬二千乘十二是十四萬四千，所以我們會說這些數目是和十二支派的「十二」有關。

        這十四萬四千人絕對和這經文中說得不同，『此後，我觀看，見有許多的人，沒有人能數過來，是從各國、各族、各民、各方來的，站在寶座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕樹枝，大聲喊着說：「願救恩歸與坐在寶座上我們的神，也歸與羔羊。」』(啓示錄 7:9-10) 我們分享過，這些人已在基督台前受過審判得到了在天上的獎賞，所以這經文對他們絕對是很適當的，『因為我們眾人必要在基督台前顯露出來，叫各人按着本身所行的，或善或惡受報。』(哥林多後書 5:10)

     對基督徒而言，不是每個人都是這樣的在天上。我們以前分享過，有些基督徒要受的是白色大寶座的審判(參啓示錄 20:11-13)，在白色大寶座前受審判這也是在基督台前，所以對那些要受白色大寶座的基督徒而言，那節經文對他們也是對的。我們也在『2087 模成耶穌的形像及實行』中的『5. 一次得救就永遠得救是否公平？』分享過，有些沒有走上成聖之路的基督徒，甚至不能在新天新地時進入新耶路撒冷城。對這個題目有興趣的人可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

       有人提到了那十四萬四千人是童身，我們就看看「未曾沾染婦女」是什麼意思？彼得是結過婚的，如經文所說，『難道我們沒有權柄娶信主的姊妹為妻，帶着一同往來，彷彿其餘的使徒和主的弟兄，並磯法(彼得)一樣嗎？』(哥林多前書 9:5) 彼得難道不配得在那十四萬四千人中間嗎？所以要能有不矛盾，這裏非得用靈意解經不可，未曾沾染婦女的人不是指沒有結婚或是沒有和婦女發生性關係的人，是指對主忠貞不二的人，最後生前能隔絕世界的誘惑，這和結婚與否沒有關係，這是指如彼得般的人。

     又說那些人是初熟的果子歸與神和羔羊，那初熟的果子是誰呢？是指基督。就像經文所說，『但基督已經從死裏復活，成為睡了之人初熟的果子。』(哥林多前書 15:20) 基督徒是要模成耶穌的形像(參羅馬書 8:29)。在那十四萬四千人，經文說，『在他們口中察不出謊言來，他們是沒有瑕疵的。』(啓示錄 14:5) 這是指百分之百模成耶穌形像的人才會在神眼中沒有瑕疵，才會是歸與神和羔羊的初熟的果子。所以並不是每個基督徒都會在那十四萬四千人中的，雖然有人說基督徒都有份，但只是人的教導，和聖經的事實不合，只是從人的角度去安慰人！經文說得很清楚，『凡從神生的，就不犯罪，因神的道存在他心裏；他也不能犯罪，因為他是由神生的。』(約翰一書 3:9) 他們怎麼會有謊言而犯罪呢？

     那麼可能有人會問，聖經不是明說，『你們來到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成為靈宮，作聖潔的祭司，藉着耶穌基督奉獻神所悅納的靈祭。』(彼得前書 2:5) 只要我們來主面前不都是建造靈宮的活石嗎？是的，基督徒是要走上成聖之路，要模成耶穌的形像，那在生前模成耶穌形像的那一部份就成為建造靈宮的活石，其餘的部份就會被拋棄。但神很公平，『…多給誰，就向誰多取；多託誰，就向誰多要。』(路加福音 12:48) 因為我們不知道神給我們究竟多少，要多少，我們只能如保羅般，『…我不是以為自己已經得着了，我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前的，向着標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裏從上面召我來得的獎賞。』(腓立比書 3:13-14)  

     這裏又說到這十四萬四千人能唱「新歌」，有人就說這是「新人唱的歌」，基督徒不都全是新人嗎？你看，基督徒是『不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。』(羅馬書 12:2) 又說，『若有人在基督裏，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。』(哥林多後書 5:17) 所以每個基督徒都會唱這新歌，這也是安慰人，不是聖經的說法。新約的和合本只提到新歌兩次，另一次也在啓示錄，就是，『…四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前，…他們唱新歌，說：…』(啓示錄 5:8-9) 很清楚的說明新歌的內容。一次就是這裏說的那十四萬四千人唱的，沒有說到新歌的內容。至於何人能列在那十四萬四千人中，只有神知道，我們只能如前述的保羅般，向著標竿直奔。

2. 未來所要行的審判的大綱

       『我又看見另有一位天使飛在空中，有永遠的福音要傳給住在地上的人，就是各國、各族、各方、各民。他大聲說：「應當敬畏神，將榮耀歸給他，因他施行審判的時候已經到了！應當敬拜那創造天、地、海和眾水泉源的。」又有第二位天使接着說：「叫萬民喝邪淫、大怒之酒的巴比倫大城傾倒了，傾倒了！」又有第三位天使接着他們，大聲說：「若有人拜獸和獸像，在額上或在手上受了印記，這人也必喝神大怒的酒；此酒斟在神忿怒的杯中純一不雜。他要在聖天使和羔羊面前，在火與硫磺之中受痛苦。他受痛苦的煙往上冒，直到永永遠遠。那些拜獸和獸像，受牠名之印記的，晝夜不得安寧。」聖徒的忍耐就在此，他們是守神誡命和耶穌真道的。』(啓示錄 14:6-12)

        我們看那第一位天使所宣告給全世界的，即使是審判的時間到了，神仍然給世界的人一個機會，願意看到人人悔改而敬拜祂。第二位天使預告了巴比倫的大城會傾倒。然後第三位天使警告大家不要拜獸和獸像，也不要在額上或在手上受了獸的印記，否則後果不堪設想。最後再一次的強調了聖徒的忍耐，就和這經文所說的是一致的，『擄掠人的，必被擄掠；用刀殺人的，必被刀殺。 聖徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。』(啓示錄 13:10) 也就是耶穌所說的，『並且你們要為我的名被眾人恨惡，惟有忍耐到底的必然得救。』(馬太福音 10:22, 馬可福音 13:13)

3. 可存到永遠的事工

       『我聽見從天上有聲音說：「你要寫下：從今以後，在主裏面而死的人有福了！」 聖靈說：「是的，他們息了自己的勞苦，做工的果效也隨着他們。」我又觀看，見有一片白雲，雲上坐着一位好像(G3664)人子，頭上戴着金冠冕，手裏拿着快鐮刀。又有一位天使從殿中出來，向那坐在雲上的大聲喊着說：「伸出你的鐮刀來收割！因為收割的時候已經到了，地上的莊稼已經熟透了。」那坐在雲上的，就把鐮刀扔在地上，地上的莊稼就被收割了。又有一位天使從天上的殿中出來，他也拿着快鐮刀。又有一位天使從祭壇中出來，是有權柄管火的，向拿着快鐮刀的大聲喊着說：「伸出快鐮刀來！收取地上葡萄樹的果子，因為葡萄熟透了。」那天使就把鐮刀扔在地上，收取了地上的葡萄，丟在神忿怒的大酒醡中。那酒醡踹在城外，就有血從酒醡裏流出來，高到馬的嚼環，遠有六百里。』(啓示錄 14:13-20)

        從今以後，不是指那個時間點以後，而是指耶穌上十字架而完成了救恩後，那時才會賜下聖靈，聖靈告訴我們有可以存到永遠的事情，雖然聖經沒有明說是那些事情，但神藉著聖靈要我們去做的事情都是可以存到永遠的，是聖靈開始的。

        那位戴著金冠冕的是人子，不只是好像而已，沒有說過天使有戴金冠冕的。這字 G3664 出現過 47 次，在啓示錄就出現了 22 次，其意義可由啓示錄中典型的例子中看出。『腳好像(G3664)在爐中鍛煉光明的銅，聲音如同眾水的聲音。』(啓示錄 1:15) 腳看起來真是像鍛煉光明的銅一般，但說的仍是那腳。這字和上次談的那經文不同，『 我看見獸的七頭中，有一個似乎(G5613)受了死傷，那死傷卻醫好了…』(啓示錄 13:3) 我們上次談過那裏的 G5613 真是說「似乎」，那頭從來就沒有死透過。至於祂會在白雲上，這和使徒行傳中說的是一致的，『…他們正看的時候，他就被取上升，有一朵雲彩把他接去，便看不見他了。…「加利利人哪，你們為甚麼站着望天呢？這離開你們被接升天的耶穌，你們見他怎樣往天上去，他還要怎樣來。」』(使徒行傳 1:9-11) 

        這經文是指祂再來的時候，莊稼(真基督徒)成熟了，是收割的時候了，這時也有一位從殿中出來的天使傳遞給祂訊息，為什麼有這需要呢？難道人子自己不知道，還需要那一位天使告訴祂嗎？是的，祂不知道，因這是在時間裏面，在時間裏面是有一個次序的，父差遣子，子不去聖靈不來。在時間中，耶穌說得很清楚，『但那日子、那時辰，沒有人知道，連天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟獨父知道。』(馬太福音 24:36) 

        同時，另外一位從殿中出來的天使也是拿著快鐮刀，那另一天使是祭壇管火(審判)的，告訴那拿著快鐮刀去收取地上葡萄樹的果子，很可怕的血流六百里。這不就是，『當人子在他榮耀裏，同着眾天使降臨的時候，要坐在他榮耀的寶座上。萬民都要聚集在他面前。他要把他們分別出來，好像牧羊的分別綿羊山羊一般；把綿羊安置在右邊，山羊在左邊。』(馬太福音 25:31-33) 那時，『這些人(山羊)，要往永刑裏去；那些義人(綿羊)，要往永生裏去。』(馬太福音 25:46，並請參馬太福音 25:34-45) 神是很公平的。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

Let’s first take a look at the 144,000 people who have not been defiled with women. What does this mean? Why is it necessary to interpret the Bible spiritually at this time?  For Christians, not everyone can be in heaven like them. Some Christians will be judged by the great white throne. Some Christians who don’t embark on the path of sanctification cannot even enter New Jerusalem. Second, the scripture talks about the outline of the judgment that will be carried out in the future. This is one way of writing in the Bible. When adequately, the outline is given first before the details are given. The scripture once again emphasizes the patience of the saints.  Finally we talked about ministry that lasts forever and how discerning the sheep from the goats actually is actually carried out.

1. The Church and virginity

“​Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”(Revelation 14:1-5)

We have shared in detail in “1093 Look at heavens opened, throne and four living creatures – Revelation(4)”, explaining why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders represent the church, so the fourteen mentioned here The forty-four thousand came from the church, unlike the Israelites who were sealed, also 144,000. “I heard that the number of the Israelites who were sealed was 144,000 from each tribe.”  ” (Revelation 7:4) In terms of consistency in what God tells us through the Bible (the consistency of the Bible), doesn’t it also show that God is fair in the Book of Revelation?  look!  There were as many Israelites who were sealed as there were in the church, and there were equally as many who were sealed among the tribes of Israel, twelve thousand.  Since twelve thousand times twelve is one hundred and forty-four thousand, we would say that these numbers are related to the “twelve” of the twelve tribes.

These 144,000 people are definitely different from those people said in this scripture, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”” (Revelation 7:9-10) We have shared that these people have been judged in front of the seat of Christ and received their reward in heaven, so this scripture is absolutely appropriate for them, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”(2 Corinthians 5:10)

For Christians, not everyone is like those in heaven.  We have shared before that some Christians will be judged by the Great White Throne (see Revelation 20:11-13). Being judged before the Great White Throne is also before the seat of of Christ, so for those Christians who will be judged by the Great White Throne, that verse is true for them too.  We also discussed in “5. Is it fair that once you are saved you are saved forever?” of “1087 Conforming to the image of Jesus and its practice” that some Christians who don’t 

embark on the path of sanctification will not even be able to enter the city of New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth.  Those who are interested in this topic can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

Someone mentioned the Bible clearly says that those 144,000 people were those who have not been defiled with women. What does this mean? Peter was married, as the scripture says, “Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas (Peter)?”(1 Corinthians 9:5) Wasn’t Peter worthy to be among the 144,000?  Therefore, the Bible in this case must be interpreted spiritually, if there is no contradiction to the fact that Peter was married. A person who has never been defiled with a woman does not mean a person who has not been married or has had sexual relations with a woman. It refers to a person who is loyal to the Lord and can be eventually separated from the world. The temptation of the world has nothing to do with whether you are married or not. It refers to people like Peter.

It is also said that those who are the first fruits belong to God and the Lamb. Who are the first fruits?  It refers to Christ.  As the scripture says, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”(1 Corinthians 15:20) Christians are to be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29).  Of the 144,000, the scripture says, “And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”(Revelation 14:5) This means that those who are 100% conformed to the image of Jesus will be blameless in the eyes of God, and will be the first fruits attributed to God and the Lamb.  Therefore, not every Christian will be among the 144,000. Although some people say that Christians are all involved, it is just human teachings that are inconsistent with the facts of the Bible. It is only comforting people from a human perspective!  The scriptures make it very clear, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”(1 John 3:9) How could they lie and sin?

Then someone may ask, doesn’t the Bible clearly say, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 2:5) As long as we come to the Lord, aren’t we living stones for building a spiritual house?  Yes, Christians must embark on the road to sanctification and be conformed to the image of Jesus. The part that was conformed to the image of Jesus during his lifetime will become the living stone for building the spiritual palace, and the rest will being discarded. God is very fair, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”(Luke 12:48) Because we don’t know how much God has given us or how much He wants, we can only be like Paul, “…I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

It is mentioned here that these 144,000 people can sing “new songs.” Some people say that this is a “song sung by new people.” Aren’t all Christians new people?  You see, Christians “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2) And it is also said, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”(2 Corinthians 5:17) By these verses and new song means the song sung by new people, those can thus conclude that every Christian will sing this new song. Such a conclusion violates what the Bible says that the new song can be only sung by the 144,000. Thus, such a thinking is just a comforting thing, not a biblical statement.  The Union Version of the New Testament only mentions the new song twice, and the other time is in these verses, “…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, …And they sang a new song, saying, …”(Revelation 5:8-9), which clearly explains the content of the new song. In here, the new song sung by the 144,000 people is without given the content. As for who can be listed among the 144,000, only God knows. We can only run straight towards the goal like Paul mentioned above.

2. The outline of the judgment to come

“And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”(Revelation 14:6-12)

We look at what the first angel announced to the whole world. Even if the time of judgment has come, God will still give the people of the world a chance and is willing to see everyone repent and worship Him.  The second angel foretold the fall of the great city of Babylon.  Then the third angel warned everyone not to worship the beast or his image, nor to receive the mark of the beast on their foreheads or hands, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.  Finally, the endurance of the saints is once again emphasized, which is consistent with what this scripture says, “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”(Revelation 13:10) This is what Jesus said, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”(Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13)

3. A ministry that lasts forever

“​And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like (G3664) a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”(Revelation 14:13-20)

‘From now on’ does not mean after that point in time, but after Jesus went to the cross and completed salvation. Only then will the Holy Spirit be given. The Holy Spirit tells us that there are things that can last forever, although the Bible does not clearly say those things. However, the things God wants us to do through the Holy Spirit can last forever since they are started by the Holy Spirit.

The one wearing the golden crown is the Son of Man. It’s not just an appearance. It’s not said that any angel wears a golden crown.  This word G3664 appears 47 times, and it appears 22 times in the Book of Revelation. Its meaning can be seen from the typical examples in the Book of Revelation. ” His feet were like (G3664) burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.” (Revelation 1:15) The color of feet really do look like bronze tempered with light, but it still talks about the feet themselves.

This word G3664 is different from the scripture we talked about last time, “I saw one of his heads as if (G5613) it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. …”(Revelation 13:3) We discussed in detail the word G5613 there, it really says “it seems” and we know that head was never really dead.  As for Him being on a white cloud, this is consistent with what is said in the Book of Acts, “…while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. …“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.””(Acts 1:9 -11)

This scripture refers to the time when He comes again, the crops (true Christians) are mature and it is time to harvest. At this time, there is also an angel coming out of the temple to deliver a message to Him. Why is this necessary?  Doesn’t the Son of Man Himself know it, and does He need an angel to tell Him?  Yes, He doesn’t know, because this is within time, and there is an order within time. The Father sends the Son, and the Holy Spirit will not come unless the Son goes.  Within the time, Jesus made it very clear, ““But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36)

At the same time, another angel came out of the temple also holding a sharp sickle. The other angel was the one in charge of fire (judgment) at the altar. He told the angel with the sharp sickle to collect the fruit of the vines on the ground. The terrible blood flow was two hundred miles.  Isn’t the same as this, “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33) At that time, “These (goats) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (sheep) into eternal life.”(Matthew 25:46, and see Matthew 25:34-45) God is very fair.

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

首先我们来看看从海中来的兽，当我们把这兽和撒但比较时，就能看到撒但是作头的，而这兽强调的是牠的能力，并从但以理书说明这兽会有十角七头。我们看到龙给了牠的，不是有些像神将一切都给了子吗？我们看到这兽虽不是死透了，但那死伤却超自然的医好了，这不是有些像主耶稣死后三日复活吗？众人也因此拜这兽和撒但。一个极大的不同是复活后的耶稣只显给一些预先拣选的人看，然后传福音给万民，使他们在信心中信主，而这兽是唯恐众人不知道有超自然事情的发生，去迷惑众人。我们再看那从地上来的兽是在讲假先知，那假先知能行大奇事，是从海中来的这兽的同伴，要众人拜这兽，这不有些像圣灵荣耀耶稣吗？所以说牠们三个是伪三位一体，是和三位一体的神很像的去迷惑众人。这不是撒但一向的技俩吗？扭曲真实的事情，好去迷惑众人。  

1. 从海中来的兽        

我们上次没有说明，为什么『…那时龙就站在海边的沙上。』(启示录 12:17) 因为牠是在等待从海中上来的兽和从地中上来的兽，所以龙会在那里。我们就在下面分享两个兽及龙的情景，在时间中是先有撒但被摔在地上，才会有相应地上发生的祸害。在祸害中，先是有从海中上来的兽，才接著会有从地中上来的兽。我们等会儿会看见这次序是很重要的！       

『我又看见一个兽从海中上来，有十角七头，在十角上戴著十个冠冕，七头上有亵渎的名号。我所看见的兽，形状像豹，脚像熊的脚，口像狮子的口。那龙将自己的能力、座位和大权柄都给了牠。我看见兽的七头中，有一个似乎受了死伤，那死伤却医好了。全地的人都希奇跟从那兽，又拜那龙，因为牠将自己的权柄给了兽，也拜兽说：「谁能比这兽，谁能与牠交战呢？」又赐给牠说夸大亵渎话的口，又有权柄赐给牠，可以任意而行四十二个月。兽就开口向神说亵渎的话，亵渎神的名并他的帐幕，以及那些住在天上的。又任凭牠与圣徒争战，并且得胜。也把权柄赐给牠，制伏各族、各民、各方、各国。凡住在地上、名字从创世以来没有记在被杀之羔羊生命册上的人，都要拜牠。凡有耳的，就应当听！掳掠人的，必被掳掠；用刀杀人的，必被刀杀。 圣徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。』(启示录 13:1-10)       

首先我们把这兽和龙比较，『…有一条大红龙，七头十角，七头上戴著七个冠冕。』(启示录 12:3) 我们知道『大龙就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，…』(启示录 12:9) 所以有「七头十角」或「十角七头」的都代表是由撒但而来的，这里的叙述是「头」在前，且头上带著冠冕，所以看到撒但是要作头的，仍有十角，是表示牠是有能力的。    

我们再看那海中上来的兽，『…有十角七头，在十角上戴著十个冠冕，七头上有亵渎的名号。』(启示录 13:1) 这时是「角」在前，强调的是这兽的能力，所以冠冕是带在角上。牠的七头上有亵渎的名号，显然不是很神来的，牠的所作所为全是为了自己。我们可以看到牠有暂时的权柄，可以亵渎在天上的，并在全地上暂时得胜，『凡住在地上、名字从创世以来没有记在被杀之羔羊生命册上的人，都要拜牠。』(启示录 13:8)       

这里没说为什么是「七头」和「十角」，但和旧约中但以理书的描述是相同的。『但以理说：「我夜里见异象，看见天的四风陡起，刮在大海之上。有四个大兽从海中上来，形状各有不同，头一个像狮子，…「又有一兽如熊，就是第二兽，…「此后我观看，又有一兽如豹，…这兽有四个头，又得了权柄。「其后，我在夜间的异象中观看，见第四兽甚是可怕，…这兽与前三兽大不相同，头有十角。』(但以理书 7:2-7) 我们看到海中上来的兽有著这前三个兽的综合身体，所以我们必须作整体的比较。但以理书中的这段经文提到的头加起来正好是七个头，因第三个兽有四个头，而有十角在第四个兽上，因此整体有七头十角，所以整体来说是和启示录说得相同。        

我们看到『…那龙将自己的能力、座位和大权柄都给了牠(海中上来的兽)。』(启示录 13:2) 这不是有些像神将一切都给了子吗？在大使命中，『耶稣进前来，对他们(十一门徒)说：「天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。」』(马太福音 28:18) 的确，在时间中，父将一切都给子了，且『大卫被圣灵感动，说：『主(神)对我主(耶稣基督)说：你坐在我的右边，等我使你仇敌作你的脚凳。』(马可福音 12:36)        

我们再看这从海中来的兽的经文，『我看见兽的七头中，有一个似乎(G5613)受了死伤，那死伤却医好了。全地的人都希奇跟从那兽，又拜那龙，因为牠将自己的权柄给了兽，也拜兽说：「谁能比这兽，谁能与牠交战呢？」』(启示录 13:3-4) 这字 G5613 出现了 492 次，在启示录中的 65 次中，典型的意义可从这经文中看出，『我(约翰)一看见，就仆倒在他脚前，像(G5613)死了一样。…』他用右手按著我说：「不要惧怕！…』(启示录 1:17) 约翰不是真正死了，只是好像死了，所以这兽不是死透了，但那死伤却医好了，这的确是在说在人不能，显然是超自然的事情，难怪全地的人都希奇跟从那兽，并拜那兽，这些经文也给了那拜龙的原因。        

这只能说是类似耶稣的三天死后复活，那时耶稣死了三天，是真正死透了。这些且有一个极大的不同，耶稣在最后的晚餐中说，『有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。』(约翰福音 14:21) 在使徒行传中彼得说得很清楚，耶稣的复活、『不是显现给众人看，乃是显现给神预先所拣选为他作见证的人看，就是我们这些在他从死里复活以后，和他同吃同喝的人。』(使徒行传 10:41) 『他吩咐我们传道给众人，证明他是神所立定的，要作审判活人死人的主。众先知也为他作见证，说：『凡信他的人，必因他的名得蒙赦罪。』』(使徒行传 10:42-43) 现在没有一个基督徒看过耶稣的死而复活，基督徒必须活在信心中，而那兽深怕众人不知道有超自然的事情在牠身上发生，可以用这样的事去迷惑众人。        

这里又讲了四十二个月，和那一千二百六十天讲的是同一件事情，也就是说神任凭那兽在地上横行的四十二个月，暂时得胜，同时也是神保守教会的一千二百六十天，以三十天为一月，正好是四十二个月。这也是耶稣预言的，『因为那时必有大灾难，从世界的起头直到如今，没有这样的灾难，后来也必没有。若不减少那日子，凡有血气的，总没有一个得救的；只是为选民，那日子必减少了。』(马太福音 24:21-22) 所以那日子是不能太长的！我们看到最后得胜的是教会，『…因为羔羊婚娶的时候到了，新妇(教会)也自己预备好了，就蒙恩得穿光明洁白的细麻衣。」 这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。』(启示录 19:7-8)

2. 从地中来的兽       

『我又看见另有一个兽从地中上来，有两角如同羊羔，说话好像龙。牠在头一个兽面前，施行头一个兽所有的权柄，并且叫地和住在地上的人，拜那死伤医好的头一个兽。又行大奇事，甚至在人面前，叫火从天降在地上。牠因赐给牠权柄在兽面前能行奇事，就迷惑住在地上的人，说：「要给那受刀伤还活著的兽做个像。」又有权柄赐给牠，叫兽像有生气，并且能说话，又叫所有不拜兽像的人都被杀害。牠又叫众人，无论大小、贫富，自主的、为奴的，都在右手上或是在额上受一个印记。除了那受印记、有了兽名或有兽名数目的，都不得作买卖。在这里有智慧。凡有聪明的，可以算计兽的数目；因为这是人的数目，他的数目是六百六十六。』(启示录 13:11-18)        

我们看见了这兽也是从撒但来的，虽然牠看起来像羊羔很温柔，却说话像龙。牠在地上的目的是要众人拜那从海中来的兽，这不是有些像『他(真理的圣灵)要荣耀我，因为他要将受于我的告诉你们。』(约翰福音 16:14) 神任凭这兽有权柄，能行大奇事，能叫火从天降在地上如约伯记 描述撒但的能力般，『他(报信的)还说话的时候，又有人来说：「神从天上降下火来，将群羊和仆人都烧灭了；惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。」』(约伯记 1:16) 那人看到超自然的现象就以为一定是神做的，当我们继续看约伯记时，我们就会知道这火是由撒但而来。这就是耶稣所说的，『那时，若有人对你们说『基督在这里』，或说『基督在那里』，你们不要信。因为假基督、假先知将要起来，显大神迹、大奇事。倘若能行，连选民也就迷惑了。』(马太福音 24:23-24) 所以约翰会『…看见三个污秽的灵，好像青蛙，从龙口、兽口并假先知的口中出来。』(启示录 16:13)       

我们看到了那假先知是如何控制众人的，『除了那受印记、有了兽名或有兽名数目的，都不得作买卖。』(启示录 13:17) 我们看见那些不愿意如此做的基督徒，要生活下去都很困难，必须要神保手，难怪主耶稣会说，『并且你们要为我的名被众人恨恶，惟有忍耐到底的，必然得救。』(马可福音 13:13) 那假先的工作是强迫性的，而海中的兽是透过假先知工作的，因为那假先知是要人拜兽。这就类似耶稣基督是以圣灵的形式内住在基督徒身上，现在真正工作在我们身上的是圣灵，但圣灵是当我们最后在信中心甘情愿时才会工作，就像在启示录提到的老底嘉教会一样，『看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。』(启示录 3:20)    

我们也看到这次序在时间中和神的设定是类似的，先有龙，然后是从海中上来的兽，才有地上的兽。在耶稣道成肉身的时间里，是有一个次序的，父差遣子，而子不去，圣灵不来。而牠们三个则是同时存在，所以牠们是伪三位一体，是和三位一体的神很像的去迷惑众人。这不是撒但一向的技俩吗？扭曲真实的事情一点点，好去迷惑众人。在创世记中，牠引诱夏娃时不是用对错相杂的话吗？ (参创世记 3:1-7) 在约伯记中，牠对提幔人以利法所说的不也用的是对错相杂的话吗？(参约伯记 4:12-21)      

至于说到，『在这里有智慧(G4678)。凡有聪明(G3563)的，可以算计兽的数目；因为这是人的数目，他的数目是六百六十六。』(启示录 13:18) 这字 G3563 只在启示录出现二次，另一次是在『智慧(G4678)的心(G3563)在此可以思想。那七头就是女人所坐的七座山。』(启示录 17:9) 这不能给我们足够多的资料了解这字的意义，必须要从其他的经文中看。在此处，它的意义很清楚的是如以下的三个典型的经文所说。『不要效法这个世界，只要心意(G3563)更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。』(罗马书 12:2) 和『我若用方言祷告，是我的灵祷告，但我的悟性(G3563)没有果效。』(哥林多前书 14:14) 及『「谁曾知道主的心(G3563)去教导他呢？」 但我们是有基督的心(G3563)了。』(哥林多前书 2:16) 在关于六百六十六这数目，有许多的说法，我只能说现在我不知道如何说才是圣经讲的，也许有一天我能了解！

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

        首先我們來看看從海中來的獸，當我們把這獸和撒但比較時，就能看到撒但是作頭的，而這獸強調的是牠的能力，並從但以理書說明這獸會有十角七頭。我們看到龍給了牠的，不是有些像神將一切都給了子嗎？我們看到這獸雖不是死透了，但那死傷卻超自然的醫好了，這不是有些像主耶穌死後三日復活嗎？眾人也因此拜這獸和撒但。一個極大的不同是復活後的耶穌只顯給一些預先揀選的人看，然後傳福音給萬民，使他們在信心中信主，而這獸是唯恐眾人不知道有超自然事情的發生，去迷惑眾人。我們再看那從地上來的獸是在講假先知，那假先知能行大奇事，是從海中來的這獸的同伴，要眾人拜這獸，這不有些像聖靈榮耀耶穌嗎？所以說牠們三個是偽三位一體，是和三位一體的神很像的去迷惑眾人。這不是撒但一向的技倆嗎？扭曲真實的事情，好去迷惑眾人。

1. 從海中來的獸

        我們上次沒有說明，為什麼『…那時龍就站在海邊的沙上。』(啓示錄 12:17) 因為牠是在等待從海中上來的獸和從地中上來的獸，所以龍會在那裏。我們就在下面分享兩個獸及龍的情景，在時間中是先有撒但被摔在地上，才會有相應地上發生的禍害。在禍害中，先是有從海中上來的獸，才接著會有從地中上來的獸。我們等會兒會看見這次序是很重要的！

       『我又看見一個獸從海中上來，有十角七頭，在十角上戴着十個冠冕，七頭上有褻瀆的名號。我所看見的獸，形狀像豹，腳像熊的腳，口像獅子的口。那龍將自己的能力、座位和大權柄都給了牠。我看見獸的七頭中，有一個似乎受了死傷，那死傷卻醫好了。全地的人都希奇跟從那獸，又拜那龍，因為牠將自己的權柄給了獸，也拜獸說：「誰能比這獸，誰能與牠交戰呢？」又賜給牠說誇大褻瀆話的口，又有權柄賜給牠，可以任意而行四十二個月。獸就開口向神說褻瀆的話，褻瀆神的名並他的帳幕，以及那些住在天上的。又任憑牠與聖徒爭戰，並且得勝。也把權柄賜給牠，制伏各族、各民、各方、各國。凡住在地上、名字從創世以來沒有記在被殺之羔羊生命冊上的人，都要拜牠。凡有耳的，就應當聽！擄掠人的，必被擄掠；用刀殺人的，必被刀殺。 聖徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。』(啓示錄 13:1-10)

        首先我們把這獸和龍比較，『…有一條大紅龍，七頭十角，七頭上戴着七個冠冕。』(啓示錄 12:3) 我們知道『大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，…』(啓示錄 12:9) 所以有「七頭十角」或「十角七頭」的都代表是由撒但而來的，這裏的敘述是「頭」在前，且頭上帶著冠冕，所以看到撒但是要作頭的，仍有十角，是表示牠是有能力的。

     我們再看那海中上來的獸，『…有十角七頭，在十角上戴着十個冠冕，七頭上有褻瀆的名號。』(啓示錄 13:1) 這時是「角」在前，強調的是這獸的能力，所以冠冕是帶在角上。牠的七頭上有褻瀆的名號，顯然不是很神來的，牠的所作所為全是為了自己。我們可以看到牠有暫時的權柄，可以褻瀆在天上的，並在全地上暫時得勝，『凡住在地上、名字從創世以來沒有記在被殺之羔羊生命冊上的人，都要拜牠。』(啓示錄 13:8)

        這裏沒說為什麼是「七頭」和「十角」，但和舊約中但以理書的描述是相同的。『但以理說：「我夜裏見異象，看見天的四風陡起，颳在大海之上。有四個大獸從海中上來，形狀各有不同，頭一個像獅子，…「又有一獸如熊，就是第二獸，…「此後我觀看，又有一獸如豹，…這獸有四個頭，又得了權柄。「其後，我在夜間的異象中觀看，見第四獸甚是可怕，…這獸與前三獸大不相同，頭有十角。』(但以理書 7:2-7) 我們看到海中上來的獸有著這前三個獸的綜合身體，所以我們必須作整體的比較。但以理書中的這段經文提到的頭加起來正好是七個頭，因第三個獸有四個頭，而有十角在第四個獸上，因此整體有七頭十角，所以整體來說是和啓示錄說得相同。

        我們看到『…那龍將自己的能力、座位和大權柄都給了牠(海中上來的獸)。』(啓示錄 13:2) 這不是有些像神將一切都給了子嗎？在大使命中，『耶穌進前來，對他們(十一門徒)說：「天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。」』(馬太福音 28:18) 的確，在時間中，父將一切都給子了，且『大衞被聖靈感動，說：『主(神)對我主(耶穌基督)說：你坐在我的右邊，等我使你仇敵作你的腳凳。』(馬可福音 12:36)

        我們再看這從海中來的獸的經文，『我看見獸的七頭中，有一個似乎(G5613)受了死傷，那死傷卻醫好了。全地的人都希奇跟從那獸，又拜那龍，因為牠將自己的權柄給了獸，也拜獸說：「誰能比這獸，誰能與牠交戰呢？」』(啓示錄 13:3-4) 這字 G5613 出現了 492 次，在啓示錄中的 65 次中，典型的意義可從這經文中看出，『我(約翰)一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像(G5613)死了一樣。…』他用右手按着我說：「不要懼怕！…』(啓示錄 1:17) 約翰不是真正死了，只是好像死了，所以這獸不是死透了，但那死傷卻醫好了，這的確是在說在人不能，顯然是超自然的事情，難怪全地的人都希奇跟從那獸，並拜那獸，這些經文也給了那拜龍的原因。

        這只能說是類似耶穌的三天死後復活，那時耶穌死了三天，是真正死透了。這些且有一個極大的不同，耶穌在最後的晚餐中說，『有了我的命令又遵守的，這人就是愛我的；愛我的必蒙我父愛他，我也要愛他，並且要向他顯現。』(約翰福音 14:21) 在使徒行傳中彼得說得很清楚，耶穌的復活、『不是顯現給眾人看，乃是顯現給神預先所揀選為他作見證的人看，就是我們這些在他從死裏復活以後，和他同吃同喝的人。』(使徒行傳 10:41) 『他吩咐我們傳道給眾人，證明他是神所立定的，要作審判活人死人的主。眾先知也為他作見證，說：『凡信他的人，必因他的名得蒙赦罪。』』(使徒行傳 10:42-43) 現在沒有一個基督徒看過耶穌的死而復活，基督徒必須活在信心中，而那獸深怕眾人不知道有超自然的事情在牠身上發生，可以用這樣的事去迷惑眾人。

        這裏又講了四十二個月，和那一千二百六十天講的是同一件事情，也就是說神任憑那獸在地上橫行的四十二個月，暫時得勝，同時也是神保守教會的一千二百六十天，以三十天為一月，正好是四十二個月。這也是耶穌預言的，『因為那時必有大災難，從世界的起頭直到如今，沒有這樣的災難，後來也必沒有。若不減少那日子，凡有血氣的，總沒有一個得救的；只是為選民，那日子必減少了。』(馬太福音 24:21-22) 所以那日子是不能太長的！我們看到最後得勝的是教會，『…因為羔羊婚娶的時候到了，新婦(教會)也自己預備好了，就蒙恩得穿光明潔白的細麻衣。」 這細麻衣就是聖徒所行的義。』(啓示錄 19:7-8)

2. 從地中來的獸

       『我又看見另有一個獸從地中上來，有兩角如同羊羔，說話好像龍。牠在頭一個獸面前，施行頭一個獸所有的權柄，並且叫地和住在地上的人，拜那死傷醫好的頭一個獸。又行大奇事，甚至在人面前，叫火從天降在地上。牠因賜給牠權柄在獸面前能行奇事，就迷惑住在地上的人，說：「要給那受刀傷還活着的獸做個像。」又有權柄賜給牠，叫獸像有生氣，並且能說話，又叫所有不拜獸像的人都被殺害。牠又叫眾人，無論大小、貧富，自主的、為奴的，都在右手上或是在額上受一個印記。除了那受印記、有了獸名或有獸名數目的，都不得作買賣。在這裏有智慧。凡有聰明的，可以算計獸的數目；因為這是人的數目，他的數目是六百六十六。』(啓示錄 13:11-18)

        我們看見了這獸也是從撒但來的，雖然牠看起來像羊羔很溫柔，卻說話像龍。牠在地上的目的是要眾人拜那從海中來的獸，這不是有些像『他(真理的聖靈)要榮耀我，因為他要將受於我的告訴你們。』(約翰福音 16:14) 神任憑這獸有權柄，能行大奇事，能叫火從天降在地上如約伯記

描述撒但的能力般，『他(報信的)還說話的時候，又有人來說：「神從天上降下火來，將羣羊和僕人都燒滅了；惟有我一人逃脫，來報信給你。」』(約伯記 1:16) 那人看到超自然的現象就以為一定是神做的，當我們繼續看約伯記時，我們就會知道這火是由撒但而來。這就是耶穌所說的，『那時，若有人對你們說『基督在這裏』，或說『基督在那裏』，你們不要信。因為假基督、假先知將要起來，顯大神蹟、大奇事。倘若能行，連選民也就迷惑了。』(馬太福音 24:23-24) 所以約翰會『…看見三個污穢的靈，好像青蛙，從龍口、獸口並假先知的口中出來。』(啓示錄 16:13) 

       我們看到了那假先知是如何控制眾人的，『除了那受印記、有了獸名或有獸名數目的，都不得作買賣。』(啓示錄 13:17) 我們看見那些不願意如此做的基督徒，要生活下去都很困難，必須要神保手，難怪主耶穌會說，『並且你們要為我的名被眾人恨惡，惟有忍耐到底的，必然得救。』(馬可福音 13:13) 那假先的工作是強迫性的，而海中的獸是透過假先知工作的，因為那假先知是要人拜獸。這就類似耶穌基督是以聖靈的形式內住在基督徒身上，現在真正工作在我們身上的是聖靈，但聖靈是當我們最後在信中心甘情願時才會工作，就像在啓示錄提到的老底嘉教會一樣，『看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。』(啓示錄 3:20)

     我們也看到這次序在時間中和神的設定是類似的，先有龍，然後是從海中上來的獸，才有地上的獸。在耶穌道成肉身的時間裏，是有一個次序的，父差遣子，而子不去，聖靈不來。而牠們三個則是同時存在，所以牠們是偽三位一體，是和三位一體的神很像的去迷惑眾人。這不是撒但一向的技倆嗎？扭曲真實的事情一點點，好去迷惑眾人。在創世記中，牠引誘夏娃時不是用對錯相雜的話嗎？ (參創世記 3:1-7) 在約伯記中，牠對提幔人以利法所說的不也用的是對錯相雜的話嗎？(參約伯記 4:12-21)

    至於說到，『在這裏有智慧(G4678)。凡有聰明(G3563)的，可以算計獸的數目；因為這是人的數目，他的數目是六百六十六。』(啓示錄 13:18) 這字 G3563 只在啓示錄出現二次，另一次是在『智慧(G4678)的心(G3563)在此可以思想。那七頭就是女人所坐的七座山。』(啓示錄 17:9) 這不能給我們足夠多的資料瞭解這字的意義，必須要從其他的經文中看。在此處，它的意義很清楚的是如以下的三個典型的經文所說。『不要效法這個世界，只要心意(G3563)更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。』(羅馬書 12:2) 和『我若用方言禱告，是我的靈禱告，但我的悟性(G3563)沒有果效。』(哥林多前書 14:14) 及『「誰曾知道主的心(G3563)去教導他呢？」 但我們是有基督的心(G3563)了。』(哥林多前書 2:16) 在關於六百六十六這數目，有許多的說法，我只能說現在我不知道如何說才是聖經講的，也許有一天我能瞭解！

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, let’s take a look at the beast from the sea. When we compare this beast with Satan, we can see that Satan is the head, and this beast emphasizes its power, and explains from the book of Daniel why the beast has ten horns and seven heads.  We see what the dragon gave the beast all it has, isn’t it a bit like God giving everything to the Son?  We see that although the beast was not completely dead, its wounds were supernaturally healed. Isn’t this a bit like the Lord Jesus’ resurrection three days after his death?  Therefore the people worship the beast and Satan.  A huge difference is that after the resurrection, Jesus only appeared to some pre-selected people, and then preached the Gospel to all nations through those persons, so that all nations would believe in the Lord through faith. However, this beast was lest people not know that something supernatural was happening, so it deceived everyone. Second, let’s look at the beast from the earth which is the false prophet. The false prophet can do great wonders and is the companion of the beast from the sea. He wants everyone to worship the beast. Isn’t this a bit like the Holy Spirit glorifying Jesus?  Therefore, the three of them are a pseudo-trinity, and they are very similar to the Trinity God to confuse people.  Isn’t this Satan’s usual tactic?  Distorting the truth in order to confuse people.

1. The beast from the sea

“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”(Revelation 13:1-10)

 ​

We did not explain last time why the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. It is because the dragon was waiting for the beast that comes up from the sea and the beast that comes up from the earth.  We will share below the scene of the two beasts and the dragon. In time, Satan was thrown to the ground first, and only then did the corresponding disasters occur on the ground.  Among the troubles, first there is the beast that comes up from the sea, and then there is the beast that comes from the earth.  We will see later that this order is important too!

First we compare this beast with the dragon by this verse,”…a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.”(Revelation 12:3) We know that “…the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, …”(Revelation 12:9) So there are “seven heads and ten horns” or “ten horns and seven heads” means that it comes from Satan. The description here is that the “head” is in front, and there is a crown on the head, so we see that Satan is the leader and still has ten-horn power. 

Let us now look at the beast that came up from the sea, “…having ten horns and seven heads, and on the ten horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names.”(Revelation 13:1) At this time, the “horns” are in front, emphasizing the power of the beast, so the crown is placed on the horns.  It has a blasphemous names on its seven heads, which obviously says that it not from God, and everything it does is for itself.  We can see that it has temporary authority to blaspheme those in heaven and temporary victory over all the earth, as said in this verse, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”(Revelation 13:8)

There is no explanation here as to why the beast has “ten horns” and “seven heads”, but in a way it has the same description as in the book of Daniel of the Old Testament.  “Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”(Daniel 7:2-7) We saw that the beast that came up from the sea had the combined body of first three beasts, so we must make an overall comparison. The heads mentioned in these verses of the book of Daniel add up to exactly seven heads, since the third beast has four heads. The description of ten horns come from the fourth one since it has ten horns. So overalls, the beasts in the book of Daniel have seven heads and ten horns. Thus the beast comes up from the sea has ten horns and seven heads.

We see that “...the dragon gave him (the beast coming up from the sea) his power and his throne and great authority.”(Revelation 13:2) Isn’t this a bit like God giving everything to the Son?  In the Great Commission, “…Jesus came up and spoke to them (the Eleven), saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”(Matthew 28:18) Indeed, in the time setting, the Father gave everything to the Son, and “David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord (God) said to my Lord (Jesus Christ), “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”’”(Mark 12:36)

Regarding the beast from sea, the verses says, “I saw one of his heads as if (G5613) it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?””(Revelation 13:3-4) This word G5613 appears 492 times, 65 times in the book of Revelation. The typical meaning of this word can be seen from this verse, “When I (John) saw Him, I fell at His feet like (G5613) a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; …”(Revelation 1:17) John was not really dead, but seemed to be dead, so one of the beast head was not completely dead, but the fatal wounds was healed. This is indeed saying that it is impossible for humans, and it is obviously a supernatural thing. No wonder people all over the earth were astonished and followed the beast and worshiped the beast. These scriptures also gave the reason for worshiping the dragon.

This can only be said to be similar to Jesus’ resurrection after three days of death. At that time, Jesus died for three days and was truly dead.  There is a great difference between these. Jesus said in the Last Supper, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.””(John 14:21) In the book of Acts, Peter made it very clear that the resurrection of Jesus was “not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.”(Acts 10:41) “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.””(Acts 10:42-43) Now no Christian has seen the death and resurrection of Jesus and Christians must live in faith. To the opposite, the beast is afraid that people will not know that something supernatural is happening to it. So it can use things like this to confuse people.

Here we talk about another forty-two months, which is the same thing as the one thousand two hundred and sixty days. That is to say, the forty-two months that God allowed the beast to roam rampant on the earth, temporarily prevailed, and at the same time, God protected the church one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is exactly forty-two months with thirty days as one month. This is what Jesus predicted, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”(Matthew 24:21-22) So those days cannot be too long!  We see that it is the church that finally prevails, “…for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”(Revelation 19:7-8)

2. The beast from the earth

 ​”Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”(Revelation 13:11-18)

We have seen that this beast from earth also comes from Satan. Although it looks like a lamb who is gentle, it speaks like a dragon.  Its purpose on earth is to make people worship the beast from the sea. Isn’t this something like, “He (Holy Spirit) will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”(John 16:14) God gave this beast authority to do great wonders, and to cause fire to come down from heaven to the earth, the same as the description in the book of Job regarding the power of Satan, “While he (the messenger) was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.””(Job 1:16) When the messenger saw the supernatural phenomenon, he thought it must be from God. When we continue to read the book of Job, we will know that the fire actually came from Satan.  This is what Jesus said, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”(Matthew 24:23-24) This is why John “…saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.”(Revelation 16:13)

We have seen how the false prophet controlled everyone, “…no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”(Revelation 13:17) We can see that those Christians who are unwilling to do this have a hard time living and must have God’s protection. No wonder the Lord Jesus would say, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”(Mark 13:13) The work of the false prophet is compulsive, and the beast of the sea works through the false prophet, because the false prophet wants people to worship the beast.  This is similar to how Jesus Christ indwells Christians in the form of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who really works on us now, but the Holy Spirit will only work when we are finally willing in faith, just like what is mentioned in the book of Revelation mentions the church in Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20)

We also see that this order in time is similar to God’s setting. First there was the dragon, then the beast that came up from the sea, and then the beast on the earth.  During the time when Jesus became flesh, there was a sequence. The Father sent the Son, but if the Son did not go, the Holy Spirit would not come.  And the three of them exist at the same time, so they are a pseudo-trinity, and they are very similar to the Trinity God to confuse people.  Isn’t this Satan’s usual tactic?  Distort the truth a little bit to confuse people.  In the book of Genesis, didn’t he tempt Eve with a mixture of right and wrong?  (See Genesis 3:1-7) In the book of Job, doesn’t it also use a mixture of right and wrong when speaking to Eliphaz the Temanite?  (See Job 4:12-21)

As for saying, “Here is wisdom (G4678). Let him who has understanding (G3563) calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”(Revelation 13:18) This word G3563 only appears twice in the book of Revelation. The other time is in the verse, “Here is the mind (G3563) which has wisdom (G4678). The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.”(Revelation 17:9) This does not give us enough information to understand the meaning of this word. We must look at other scriptures.  Here its meaning is clear as stated in the following three typical verses. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (G3563), so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2) and “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind (G3563) is unfruitful.”(1 Corinthians 14:14) and “For who has known the mind (G3563) of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind (G3563) of Christ.”(1 Corinthians 2:16) There are many opinions about the number six hundred and sixty-six. I can only say that now I don’t know how to say what the Bible means, which isn’t said clearly there. Maybe one day I will understand!

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

3099 第七号的开端和在其中的教会 – 启示录 (9) (旋风著)

首先我们来看看第七位天使吹号带来的第三样灾祸，第三样灾祸是大灾祸，包括了末了的七碗之灾。救恩的计划的确是以爱为旌旗，但不要忘了神是有公义的神，有白色大宝座的审判，我们要甘心情愿的走上成圣之路，因而会有信心的行为。第二，我们谈到在七号中的教会和撒但的作为，说到要从「神借著圣经告我们是一致的」来看圣经，也谈到了为什么说启示是按著次序写的。因在这时已在讲将来要发生的事，所以就有了两个异象简述它们，我们就阐明了这两个异象所指是和教会及撒但有关。第三，我们看见了会如约伯记般的，先有天上的争战才会有地上相应的行动。我们看到神的能力绝对大于撒但的权势，在天上的争战中，不必神亲自动手，只要米迦勒同他的使者就够摔下撒但和牠的跟随者了。我们也看到撒但的角色和弟兄为什么会胜过牠。最后我们简述了因撒但被摔在地上而引起地上灾难的开端，和撒但所用攻击教会的方法，及看到了神用祂自己的方法保守教会。

1. 第七位天使吹号带来的第三样灾祸        

『第七位天使吹号，天上就有大声音说：「世上的国，成了我主和主基督的国；他要作王，直到永永远远。」在神面前，坐在自己位上的二十四位长老，就面伏于地敬拜神，说：「昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊，我们感谢你！因你执掌大权作王了。外邦发怒，你的忿怒也临到了，审判死人的时候也到了；你的仆人众先知和众圣徒，凡敬畏你名的人，连大带小得赏赐的时候也到了；你败坏那些败坏世界之人的时候也就到了。」当时，神天上的殿开了，在他殿中现出他的约柜，随后有闪电、声音、雷轰、地震、大雹。』(启示录 11:15-19)       

在这之前经文说，『第二样灾祸过去，第三样灾祸快到了。』(启示录 11:14) 所以第七位天使吹号带来的是第三样灾祸，只是第三样灾祸是大灾祸，其中包括了七碗之灾，也就是末了的七灾，所以经文会说，『我又看见在天上有异象，大而且奇，就是七位天使掌管末了的七灾，因为神的大怒在这七灾中发尽了。』(启示录 15:1) 以后还有许多事情要发生，之后，『世上的国，成了我主和主基督的国；他要作王，直到永永远远。』这些都是在时间里面发生的事情，难怪二十四位长老只说，『昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊，我们感谢你！』而没提到永在。        

的确，在救恩计划中神是以爱为旌旗，希望每一个人都走向成圣之路，不是仅仅得救。没有一个人在成圣之路的路上不会跌倒的，祂又赐给我们悔改之路说，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义；我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，他的道也不在我们心里了。』(约翰一书 1:9-10) 真正的悔一定会带来改的行动，所以悔改都是一起讲的。请注意，神是看内心而不是看外表的，所以『你要保守你心，胜过保守一切，因为一生的果效，是由心发出。』(箴言 4:23)    

但神也是公义的神，有白色的大宝座的审判，就像经文所说，『我又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的(耶和华)，从他面前天地都逃避，再无可见之处了。我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭著这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。』(启示录 20:11-12) 经文说，『原来，在神面前不是听律法的为义，乃是行律法的称义。没有律法的外邦人，若顺著本性行律法上的事，他们虽然没有律法，自己就是自己的律法。』(罗马书 2:13-14) 要到白色大宝座审判的基督徒是看他信心的行为，没有听过福音的外邦人应和没有律法的外邦人同例！           

神给了每一个人机会，但很显然不是每一个人用了这机会，经文说得很清楚，『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:16-18) 这个机会是给非基督徒和基督徒两者的，基督徒如底马般是会堕落的，今日的非基督徒也可能是明日的基督徒，所以我们仍然要行大使命，因为我们不知道会如何，只有神知道，所以大使命是基督徒的职责，『…使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，…』(马太福音 28:19-20) 所以人的受洗只是开端，要走上成圣之路，信祂名的基督徒，也要因信心的行为得奖赏。        

我们提过，这经文很明显的说天上是有约柜的，难怪建造会幕时，地上的约柜是要照著天上的样式造的，所以会说，『又当为我造圣所，使我可以住在他们中间。制造帐幕和其中的一切器具，都要照我所指示你的样式。』(出埃及记 25:8-9)我们以前分享过，天上除了有约柜外，还有其他的，就不再这里多分享了。至于闪电、声音、雷轰常常是神显现前发生的，如这经文所述的，『到了第三天早晨，在山上有雷轰、闪电和密云，并且角声甚大，营中的百姓尽都发颤。摩西率领百姓出营迎接神，都站在山下。』(出埃及记 19:16-17) 我们看到了神要显现时的威严。请注意这里没有讲到地震，因为经文说得很清楚，『万军之耶和华必用雷轰、地震、大声、旋风、暴风，并吞灭的火焰，向他讨罪。』(以赛亚书 29:6) 所以地震是用来讨罪的，此时还加上了大雹，因此殿中约柜的显现是因讨罪而来，这我们可从这经文中看出，『我听见有大声音从殿中出来，向那七位天使说：「你们去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上！」』(启示录 16:1)

2. 第七号中的妇人和撒但       

『天上现出大异象来：有一个妇人，身披日头，脚踏月亮，头戴十二星的冠冕。她怀了孕，在生产的艰难中疼痛呼叫。天上又现出异象来：有一条大红龙，七头十角，七头上戴著七个冠冕。牠的尾巴拖拉著天上星辰的三分之一，摔在地上。龙就站在那将要生产的妇人面前，等她生产之后，要吞吃她的孩子。妇人生了一个男孩子，是将来要用铁杖辖管万国的；她的孩子被提到神宝座那里去了。妇人就逃到旷野，在那里有神给她预备的地方，使她被养活一千二百六十天。』(启示录 12:1-6)     

我们首先要确信旧约和新约都是一位神，原则都是一样的，我们要从圣经的一致来看圣经，是神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，不是字句上的，我们曾经在『2096 于宏洁的新人门训  –  不合乎圣经的地方  (1) 』中的『2. 圣经的一致性是指神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的』，看过这一点，并举了有明显的矛盾的一个例子，且说明了神要借著这明显的矛盾告诉我们什么，在这里就不多了，有兴趣的人可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。简言之，旧约是叙述在以色列人中过去已发生的事，里面也提到许多超自然的事情，但不是都是神迹，因为撒但也能行超自然的事，只有神做的超自然的事才叫做神迹，新约也是如此。新约的启示录基本上是讲在一个原则下，未来将要发生的事，新约的救恩的计划说明了神如何给人一个机会。     

的确，圣经是全世界发行最多的书，是个神迹没错，但不是因为它是在讲以色列人的历史，而是要从新旧约是同一位神的观点来看，这样就不会讶异为什么圣经会是全世界发行最多的书了，因为大使命已说得很清楚要使万民作祂的门徒，而且经文又说，『…信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。但我说，人没有听见吗？诚然听见了。「他们的声音传遍天下，他们的言语传到地极。」』(罗马书 10:17-18) 没有圣经是全世界发行最多的书，怎么可能使万民作祂的门徒，言语传到地极呢？今日又有卫星通讯和网路，能传道在任何一个能接受卫星通讯的地方，因此是能透过网路传到地极的。但要注意，撒但也会利用网路传播似是而非的观念，对错相杂的话语如同古蛇引诱夏娃般，所以看网路一定要分辩，要不中了仇敌的诡计还以为在为神做事呢！        

从圣经的一致性来看，前面的灾祸都是按著次序来的，所以从神的角度看，整本启示录都应该是按著次序讲的。换个角度来看，启示录是要让人看懂，就像经文所讲，『念这书上预言的和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，…』(启示录 1:3) 如果看都看不懂，怎么遵守呢？当我们相信启示录是按著次序写的时候，就可以看到许多以前不懂的事情。神不会故意让我们看不懂的，要不跟本就不会启示我们！所以从人的角度看，就有人说启示录的某些部份是插话，不能看不懂就说是插话，或是因为和人主观的看法不同，就说某些次序是不可能的！甚至于改变圣经的话语去配合自己的想法。但因为人有自由意志，可以自己决定自己的看法，这是勉强不得的。        

有人就可能会问，圣经为什么不干脆就明说启示录是按著次序写的？你想这样会有用吗？路加福音不是明说，『这些事我既从起头都详细考察了，就定意要按著次序写给你。』(路加福音 1:3) 不是还是有很多不同的看法吗？如果我们真正相信，『耶和华说：「我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。』(以赛亚书 55:8-9) 就不会从人的角度来看圣经！要照圣经的角度看事情，「读出来」神借著圣经要告诉我们什么，而不是读进去自己的想法。      

所以启示录是照著次序写的，这段经文是在叙述第七号中发生的事。经文说，『龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守神诫命，为耶稣作见证的。…』(启示录 12:17) 看这妇人的儿女是什么，就知道这妇人指的是教会，而且关于她的描述是大有荣耀的，这是神对教会的看法。所以这时在灾中还有教会，说明教会不可能在灾前被提，有人说到的灾前被提不是事实，不过这会让人觉得舒服。            

其实教会的被提圣经没有明讲，但有这概念。这是基于经文如：『论到睡了的人，我们不愿意弟兄们不知道，恐怕你们忧伤，像那些没有指望的人一样。我们若信耶稣死而复活了，那已经在耶稣里睡了的人，神也必将他与耶稣一同带来。我们现在照主的话告诉你们一件事：我们这活著还存留到主降临的人，断不能在那已经睡了的人之先，因为主必亲自从天降临，有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音，又有神的号吹响；那在基督里死了的人必先复活。以后我们这活著还存留的人必和他们一同(被提到)云(G3507)里(G1722)，在空中与主相遇。这样，我们就要和主永远同在。所以，你们当用这些话彼此劝慰。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:13-18)            

请注意，汇编是用「in G1722 the clouds」，没有直接说「被提到」这些字，但要在空中与主相遇，不是被提是什么？而且保罗说得很清楚，这是照主的话，所以圣经是有教会被提的这一件事。    

说到那妇人，她怀了孕，在生产的艰难中疼痛呼叫，而且她生了一个男孩子，是将来要用铁杖辖管万国的，这到底是指什么呢？首先我们注意到，『所以你要把…将来必成的事…写出来。』(启示录 1:19) 现在所写的事是将来要发生的事，所以妇人生的孩子而被提到神宝座那里去的，绝不会是指道成肉身的基督，因为那是过去的事。祂的道成肉身的确导致了教会的诞生，且我们知道，『…那已经立好的根基就是耶稣基督，此外没有人能立别的根基。』(哥林多前书 3:11) 那么，生下的男孩子是将来要用铁杖辖管万国的，是指什么呢？回答这个问题，我们知道教会是要成长，标杆是每一个成员要模成耶稣的形像，『主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被神所拣选、所宝贵的。你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，借著耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。』(彼得前书 2:4-5)        

其实在旧约中已说明了这灵宫是如何建造的，经文说，『他对我说：「这是耶和华指示所罗巴伯的。万军之耶和华说：『不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵方能成事。』「大山哪，你算甚么呢？在所罗巴伯面前，你必成为平地。他必搬出一块石头，安在殿顶上。人且大声欢呼说：『愿恩惠恩惠归与这殿！』」耶和华的话又临到我说：「所罗巴伯的手立了这殿的根基，他的手也必完成这工。你就知道万军之耶和华差遣我到你们这里来了。「谁藐视这日的事为小呢？这七眼乃是耶和华的眼睛，遍察全地，见所罗巴伯手拿线铊就欢喜。」』(撒迦利亚书 4:6-10) 在此明说，所罗巴伯是倚靠神的灵，所以在这些经文中他是预表圣灵的，道成肉身的基督耶稣不是一生都跟随圣灵的带领吗？这不是圣灵立了这殿的根基吗？我们再看看他是如何完成这殿的？『他必搬出一块石头，安在殿顶上。』教会成长到耶稣的身量时，教会就是生出了那妇人生的男孩子，生产艰难的阵痛不是指教会从立下根基、到要成长到耶稣身量的痛苦过程吗？最终那殿顶的石头，耶稣基督完成了！这就是第一个天上的大异象所要告诉我们的，未来将要发生的事。       

然后就是第二个天上的异象，说到了天上发生的事，那大红龙撒但及牠的跟随者被摔到地上，因此牠现在只能在地上不让教会成长到耶稣的身量，要吞吃那孩子，破坏神的计划，但神不允许，保守了那妇人(教会)一千二百六十天。这是说先有天上发生的事情，地上就有相应的事情发生，这不是和约伯记有相同的记载吗？在约伯记中，先有撤但在天上对神挑战，当神允许后，牠就立到在地上行出不超过神允许范团内的灾祸。当牠失败后就第二次挑战神，这次不是立刻就做所有的事，而是选择了最好的时间在地上行出、不超过神允许范团的灾祸。在『2095 第六印和第七印中灾难的次序 – 启示录 (6) 』中的『1. 第六印接著发生的事情和以色列人的受印』，我们详细的讨论过约伯所遭遇的，有兴趣的人可以用找「2096」同样的方法找到这篇文章。顺便一提的是，如果以每月为三十天计算，一千二百六十天就是三年半，是四十二个月，或是说一载、两载、半载。接下的经文就详细的说明天上和地上发生的事。

3. 天上的争战       

『在天上就有了争战。米迦勒同他的使者与龙争战，龙也同牠的使者去争战，并没有得胜，天上再没有牠们的地方。大龙就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的。牠被摔在地上，牠的使者也一同被摔下去。我听见在天上有大声音说：「我神的救恩、能力、国度，并他基督的权柄，现在都来到了，因为那在我们神面前昼夜控告我们弟兄的，已经被摔下去了。弟兄胜过牠，是因羔羊的血和自己所见证的道。他们虽至于死，也不爱惜性命。所以诸天和住在其中的，你们都快乐吧！只是地与海有祸了，因为魔鬼知道自己的时候不多，就气忿忿地下到你们那里去了。」』(启示录 12:7-12)     

看约伯记就知道撒但本是可以到天上的，但这里说明了天上的争战发生的事，只要米迦勒同他的使者就可以了，不需要神亲自动工，这也是主耶稣所看到未来发生的事，『耶稣对他们(七十个人)说：「我曾看见撒但从天上坠落，像闪电一样。』(路加福音 10:18) 我们看到了神的能力绝对是大过撒但的权势。这些经文中也清楚的说明了撒但扮演的角色，和弟兄为什么会胜过牠。现在天上没有了牠的位置，被摔在地上了，只是因此地和海有祸了，我们从以后的经文就会清楚的知道这些祸害是什么。从魔鬼(撒但)的时日不多这点，就可看见撒但和我们都是受造物，时间只能往前。

4. 地上灾祸的开端       

『龙见自己被摔在地上，就逼迫那生男孩子的妇人。于是有大鹰的两个翅膀赐给妇人，叫她能飞到旷野，到自己的地方躲避那蛇；她在那里被养活一载二载半载。蛇就在妇人身后，从口中吐出水来，像河一样，要将妇人冲去。地却帮助妇人，开口吞了从龙口吐出来的水。龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守神诫命，为耶稣作见证的。那时龙就站在海边的沙上。』(启示录 12:13-17)      

这里详细的说明了龙(撒但)在地上作为的开始，于是有大鹰的两个翅膀带来了神的保守，并使教会有能力在苦难的环境中继续传道，这就是以前说的有三年半的时间，因此是在说同一件事，只是这里较详细的说明撒但是如何攻击教会的，是用口中如水般的谎言，似是而非的言论，阻止教会的成长，而神却用自己的方法帮助了教会，让撒但的技俩不能得逞。在下一次的分享中，我们会看看那时撒但为什么会站在海边。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    首先我們來看看第七位天使吹號帶來的第三樣災禍，第三樣災禍是大災禍，包括了末了的七碗之災。救恩的計劃的確是以愛為旌旗，但不要忘了神是有公義的神，有白色大寶座的審判，我們要甘心情願的走上成聖之路，因而會有信心的行為。第二，我們談到在七號中的教會和撒但的作為，說到要從「神藉著聖經告我們是一致的」來看聖經，也談到了為什麼說啓示是按著次序寫的。因在這時已在講將來要發生的事，所以就有了兩個異象簡述它們，我們就闡明了這兩個異象所指是和教會及撒但有關。第三，我們看見了會如約伯記般的，先有天上的爭戰才會有地上相應的行動。我們看到神的能力絕對大於撒但的權勢，在天上的爭戰中，不必神親自動手，只要米迦勒同他的使者就夠摔下撒但和牠的跟隨者了。我們也看到撒但的角色和弟兄為什麼會勝過牠。最後我們簡述了因撒但被摔在地上而引起地上災難的開端，和撒但所用攻擊教會的方法，及看到了神用祂自己的方法保守教會。

1. 第七位天使吹號帶來的第三樣災禍

        『第七位天使吹號，天上就有大聲音說：「世上的國，成了我主和主基督的國；他要作王，直到永永遠遠。」在神面前，坐在自己位上的二十四位長老，就面伏於地敬拜神，說：「昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊，我們感謝你！因你執掌大權作王了。外邦發怒，你的忿怒也臨到了，審判死人的時候也到了；你的僕人眾先知和眾聖徒，凡敬畏你名的人，連大帶小得賞賜的時候也到了；你敗壞那些敗壞世界之人的時候也就到了。」當時，神天上的殿開了，在他殿中現出他的約櫃，隨後有閃電、聲音、雷轟、地震、大雹。』(啓示錄 11:15-19)

        在這之前經文說，『第二樣災禍過去，第三樣災禍快到了。』(啓示錄 11:14) 所以第七位天使吹號帶來的是第三樣災禍，只是第三樣災禍是大災禍，其中包括了七碗之災，也就是末了的七災，所以經文會說，『我又看見在天上有異象，大而且奇，就是七位天使掌管末了的七災，因為神的大怒在這七災中發盡了。』(啓示錄 15:1) 以後還有許多事情要發生，之後，『世上的國，成了我主和主基督的國；他要作王，直到永永遠遠。』這些都是在時間裏面發生的事情，難怪二十四位長老只說，『昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊，我們感謝你！』而沒提到永在。

        的確，在救恩計劃中神是以愛為旌旗，希望每一個人都走向成聖之路，不是僅僅得救。沒有一個人在成聖之路的路上不會跌倒的，祂又賜給我們悔改之路說，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義；我們若說自己沒有犯過罪，便是以神為說謊的，他的道也不在我們心裏了。』(約翰一書 1:9-10) 真正的悔一定會帶來改的行動，所以悔改都是一起講的。請注意，神是看內心而不是看外表的，所以『你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效，是由心發出。』(箴言 4:23)

     但神也是公義的神，有白色的大寶座的審判，就像經文所說，『我又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的(耶和華)，從他面前天地都逃避，再無可見之處了。我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑着這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。』(啓示錄 20:11-12) 經文說，『原來，在神面前不是聽律法的為義，乃是行律法的稱義。沒有律法的外邦人，若順着本性行律法上的事，他們雖然沒有律法，自己就是自己的律法。』(羅馬書 2:13-14) 要到白色大寶座審判的基督徒是看他信心的行為，沒有聽過福音的外邦人應和沒有律法的外邦人同例！

        神給了每一個人機會，但很顯然不是每一個人用了這機會，經文說得很清楚，『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:16-18) 這個機會是給非基督徒和基督徒兩者的，基督徒如底馬般是會墮落的，今日的非基督徒也可能是明日的基督徒，所以我們仍然要行大使命，因為我們不知道會如何，只有神知道，所以大使命是基督徒的職責，『…使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，…』(馬太福音 28:19-20) 所以人的受洗只是開端，要走上成聖之路，信祂名的基督徒，也要因信心的行為得獎賞。

        我們提過，這經文很明顯的說天上是有約櫃的，難怪建造會幕時，地上的約櫃是要照著天上的樣式造的，所以會說，『又當為我造聖所，使我可以住在他們中間。製造帳幕和其中的一切器具，都要照我所指示你的樣式。』(出埃及記 25:8-9)我們以前分享過，天上除了有約櫃外，還有其他的，就不再這裏多分享了。至於閃電、聲音、雷轟常常是神顯現前發生的，如這經文所述的，『到了第三天早晨，在山上有雷轟、閃電和密雲，並且角聲甚大，營中的百姓盡都發顫。摩西率領百姓出營迎接神，都站在山下。』(出埃及記 19:16-17) 我們看到了神要顯現時的威嚴。請注意這裏沒有講到地震，因為經文說得很清楚，『萬軍之耶和華必用雷轟、地震、大聲、旋風、暴風，並吞滅的火焰，向他討罪。』(以賽亞書 29:6) 所以地震是用來討罪的，此時還加上了大雹，因此殿中約櫃的顯現是因討罪而來，這我們可從這經文中看出，『我聽見有大聲音從殿中出來，向那七位天使說：「你們去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上！」』(啓示錄 16:1)

2. 第七號中的婦人和撒但

       『天上現出大異象來：有一個婦人，身披日頭，腳踏月亮，頭戴十二星的冠冕。她懷了孕，在生產的艱難中疼痛呼叫。天上又現出異象來：有一條大紅龍，七頭十角，七頭上戴着七個冠冕。牠的尾巴拖拉着天上星辰的三分之一，摔在地上。龍就站在那將要生產的婦人面前，等她生產之後，要吞吃她的孩子。婦人生了一個男孩子，是將來要用鐵杖轄管萬國的；她的孩子被提到神寶座那裏去了。婦人就逃到曠野，在那裏有神給她預備的地方，使她被養活一千二百六十天。』(啓示錄 12:1-6)

     我們首先要確信舊約和新約都是一位神，原則都是一樣的，我們要從聖經的一致來看聖經，是神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，不是字句上的，我們曾經在『2096 于宏潔的新人門訓  –  不合乎聖經的地方  (1) 』中的『2. 聖經的一致性是指神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的』，看過這一點，並舉了有明顯的矛盾的一個例子，且說明了神要藉著這明顯的矛盾告訴我們什麼，在這裏就不多了，有興趣的人可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。簡言之，舊約是敘述在以色列人中過去已發生的事，裏面也提到許多超自然的事情，但不是都是神蹟，因為撒但也能行超自然的事，只有神做的超自然的事才叫做神蹟，新約也是如此。新約的啓示錄基本上是講在一個原則下，未來將要發生的事，新約的救恩的計劃說明了神如何給人一個機會。

    的確，聖經是全世界發行最多的書，是個神蹟沒錯，但不是因為它是在講以色列人的歷史，而是要從新舊約是同一位神的觀點來看，這樣就不會訝異為什麼聖經會是全世界發行最多的書了，因為大使命已說得很清楚要使萬民作祂的門徒，而且經文又說，『…信道是從聽道來的，聽道是從基督的話來的。但我說，人沒有聽見嗎？誠然聽見了。「他們的聲音傳遍天下，他們的言語傳到地極。」』(羅馬書 10:17-18) 沒有聖經是全世界發行最多的書，怎麼可能使萬民作祂的門徒，言語傳到地極呢？今日又有衛星通訊和網路，能傳道在任何一個能接受衛星通訊的地方，因此是能透過網路傳到地極的。但要注意，撒但也會利用網路傳播似是而非的觀念，對錯相雜的話語如同古蛇引誘夏娃般，所以看網路一定要分辨，要不中了仇敵的詭計還以為在為神做事呢！

        從聖經的一致性來看，前面的災禍都是按著次序來的，所以從神的角度看，整本啓示錄都應該是按著次序講的。換個角度來看，啓示錄是要讓人看懂，就像經文所講，『念這書上預言的和那些聽見又遵守其中所記載的，都是有福的，…』(啓示錄 1:3) 如果看都看不懂，怎麼遵守呢？當我們相信啓示錄是按著次序寫的時候，就可以看到許多以前不懂的事情。神不會故意讓我們看不懂的，要不跟本就不會啓示我們！所以從人的角度看，就有人說啓示錄的某些部份是插話，不能看不懂就說是插話，或是因為和人主觀的看法不同，就說某些次序是不可能的！甚至於改變聖經的話語去配合自己的想法。但因為人有自由意志，可以自己決定自己的看法，這是勉強不得的。

        有人就可能會問，聖經為什麼不乾脆就明說啓示錄是按著次序寫的？你想這樣會有用嗎？路加福音不是明說，『這些事我既從起頭都詳細考察了，就定意要按着次序寫給你。』(路加福音 1:3) 不是還是有很多不同的看法嗎？如果我們真正相信，『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9) 就不會從人的角度來看聖經！要照聖經的角度看事情，「讀出來」神藉著聖經要告訴我們什麼，而不是讀進去自己的想法。

      所以啓示錄是照著次序寫的，這段經文是在敘述第七號中發生的事。經文說，『龍向婦人發怒，去與她其餘的兒女爭戰，這兒女就是那守神誡命，為耶穌作見證的。…』(啓示錄 12:17) 看這婦人的兒女是什麼，就知道這婦人指的是教會，而且關於她的描述是大有榮耀的，這是神對教會的看法。所以這時在災中還有教會，說明教會不可能在災前被提，有人說到的災前被提不是事實，不過這會讓人覺得舒服。

            其實教會的被提聖經沒有明講，但有這概念。這是基於經文如：『論到睡了的人，我們不願意弟兄們不知道，恐怕你們憂傷，像那些沒有指望的人一樣。我們若信耶穌死而復活了，那已經在耶穌裏睡了的人，神也必將他與耶穌一同帶來。我們現在照主的話告訴你們一件事：我們這活着還存留到主降臨的人，斷不能在那已經睡了的人之先，因為主必親自從天降臨，有呼叫的聲音和天使長的聲音，又有神的號吹響；那在基督裏死了的人必先復活。以後我們這活着還存留的人必和他們一同(被提到)雲(G3507)裏(G1722)，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。所以，你們當用這些話彼此勸慰。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 4:13-18)

            請注意，彙編是用「in G1722 the clouds」，沒有直接說「被提到」這些字，但要在空中與主相遇，不是被提是什麼？而且保羅說得很清楚，這是照主的話，所以聖經是有教會被提的這一件事。

    說到那婦人，她懷了孕，在生產的艱難中疼痛呼叫，而且她生了一個男孩子，是將來要用鐵杖轄管萬國的，這到底是指什麼呢？首先我們注意到，『所以你要把…將來必成的事…寫出來。』(啓示錄 1:19) 現在所寫的事是將來要發生的事，所以婦人生的孩子而被提到神寶座那裏去的，絕不會是指道成肉身的基督，因為那是過去的事。祂的道成肉身的確導致了教會的誕生，且我們知道，『…那已經立好的根基就是耶穌基督，此外沒有人能立別的根基。』(哥林多前書 3:11) 那麼，生下的男孩子是將來要用鐵杖轄管萬國的，是指什麼呢？回答這個問題，我們知道教會是要成長，標杆是每一個成員要模成耶穌的形像，『主乃活石，固然是被人所棄的，卻是被神所揀選、所寶貴的。你們來到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成為靈宮，作聖潔的祭司，藉着耶穌基督奉獻神所悅納的靈祭。』(彼得前書 2:4-5) 

        其實在舊約中已說明了這靈宮是如何建造的，經文說，『他對我說：「這是耶和華指示所羅巴伯的。萬軍之耶和華說：『不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的靈方能成事。』「大山哪，你算甚麼呢？在所羅巴伯面前，你必成為平地。他必搬出一塊石頭，安在殿頂上。人且大聲歡呼說：『願恩惠恩惠歸與這殿！』」耶和華的話又臨到我說：「所羅巴伯的手立了這殿的根基，他的手也必完成這工。你就知道萬軍之耶和華差遣我到你們這裏來了。「誰藐視這日的事為小呢？這七眼乃是耶和華的眼睛，遍察全地，見所羅巴伯手拿線鉈就歡喜。」』(撒迦利亞書 4:6-10) 在此明說，所羅巴伯是倚靠神的靈，所以在這些經文中他是預表聖靈的，道成肉身的基督耶穌不是一生都跟隨聖靈的帶領嗎？這不是聖靈立了這殿的根基嗎？我們再看看他是如何完成這殿的？『他必搬出一塊石頭，安在殿頂上。』教會成長到耶穌的身量時，教會就是生出了那婦人生的男孩子，生產艱難的陣痛不是指教會從立下根基、到要成長到耶穌身量的痛苦過程嗎？最終那殿頂的石頭，耶穌基督完成了！這就是第一個天上的大異象所要告訴我們的，未來將要發生的事。

    然後就是第二個天上的異象，說到了天上發生的事，那大紅龍撒但及牠的跟隨者被摔到地上，因此牠現在只能在地上不讓教會成長到耶穌的身量，要吞吃那孩子，破壞神的計劃，但神不允許，保守了那婦人(教會)一千二百六十天。這是說先有天上發生的事情，地上就有相應的事情發生，這不是和約伯記有相同的記載嗎？在約伯記中，先有撤但在天上對神挑戰，當神允許後，牠就立到在地上行出不超過神允許範團內的災禍。當牠失敗後就第二次挑戰神，這次不是立刻就做所有的事，而是選擇了最好的時間在地上行出、不超過神允許範團的災禍。在『2095 第六印和第七印中災難的次序 – 啓示錄 (6) 』中的『1. 第六印接著發生的事情和以色列人的受印』，我們詳細的討論過約伯所遭遇的，有興趣的人可以用找「2096」同樣的方法找到這篇文章。順便一提的是，如果以每月為三十天計算，一千二百六十天就是三年半，是四十二個月，或是說一載、兩載、半載。接下的經文就詳細的說明天上和地上發生的事。

3. 天上的爭戰

       『在天上就有了爭戰。米迦勒同他的使者與龍爭戰，龍也同牠的使者去爭戰，並沒有得勝，天上再沒有牠們的地方。大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的。牠被摔在地上，牠的使者也一同被摔下去。我聽見在天上有大聲音說：「我神的救恩、能力、國度，並他基督的權柄，現在都來到了，因為那在我們神面前晝夜控告我們弟兄的，已經被摔下去了。弟兄勝過牠，是因羔羊的血和自己所見證的道。他們雖至於死，也不愛惜性命。所以諸天和住在其中的，你們都快樂吧！只是地與海有禍了，因為魔鬼知道自己的時候不多，就氣忿忿地下到你們那裏去了。」』(啓示錄 12:7-12)

     看約伯記就知道撒但本是可以到天上的，但這裏說明了天上的爭戰發生的事，只要米迦勒同他的使者就可以了，不需要神親自動工，這也是主耶穌所看到未來發生的事，『耶穌對他們(七十個人)說：「我曾看見撒但從天上墜落，像閃電一樣。』(路加福音 10:18) 我們看到了神的能力絕對是大過撒但的權勢。這些經文中也清楚的說明了撒但扮演的角色，和弟兄為什麼會勝過牠。現在天上沒有了牠的位置，被摔在地上了，只是因此地和海有禍了，我們從以後的經文就會清楚的知道這些禍害是什麼。從魔鬼(撒但)的時日不多這點，就可看見撒但和我們都是受造物，時間只能往前。

4. 地上災禍的開端

       『龍見自己被摔在地上，就逼迫那生男孩子的婦人。於是有大鷹的兩個翅膀賜給婦人，叫她能飛到曠野，到自己的地方躲避那蛇；她在那裏被養活一載二載半載。蛇就在婦人身後，從口中吐出水來，像河一樣，要將婦人沖去。地卻幫助婦人，開口吞了從龍口吐出來的水。龍向婦人發怒，去與她其餘的兒女爭戰，這兒女就是那守神誡命，為耶穌作見證的。那時龍就站在海邊的沙上。』(啓示錄 12:13-17)

      這裏詳細的說明了龍(撒但)在地上作為的開始，於是有大鷹的兩個翅膀帶來了神的保守，並使教會有能力在苦難的環境中繼續傳道，這就是以前說的有三年半的時間，因此是在說同一件事，只是這裏較詳細的說明撒但是如何攻擊教會的，是用口中如水般的謊言，似是而非的言論，阻止教會的成長，而神卻用自己的方法幫助了教會，讓撒但的技倆不能得逞。在下一次的分享中，我們會看看那時撒但為什麼會站在海邊。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, let’s take a look at the third plague brought about by the seventh angel’s trumpet. The third plague is the great plague, including the last seven bowls.  The plan of salvation is indeed based on love as its banner, but we must not forget that God is a God of justice and has the judgment of the great white throne. We must willingly embark on the road to sanctification, and thus have acts of faith.  Second, we talked about the church and the actions of Satan in the seven trumpets, we talked about the need to look at the Bible from the perspective of “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent,” and we also talked about why the book of Revelation is written in order.  Since this time we are already talking about things that will happen in the future, we have two visions to briefly describe them. We have clarified that these two visions refer to the church and Satan.  Third, we see that like the book of Job, there will be a battle in heaven before there will be corresponding actions on earth.  We see that the power of God is absolutely greater than the power of Satan. In the battle in heaven, God does not need to take action Himself. Michael and his angels are enough to throw down Satan and his followers.  We also see the role of Satan and why our brothers overcome him.  Finally, we briefly described the beginning of the disasters on earth caused by Satan being thrown to the earth, the methods Satan used to attack the church, and saw God using His own methods to protect the church.

1. The third plaque brought about by the seventh angel’s trumpet

​”Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.”(Revelation 11:15-19)

Before this, the scripture says, “The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”(Revelation 11:14) So the seventh angel’s trumpet brings the third plague, but the third plague is the great plague, which includes the plagues of the seven bowls, which are the last seven plagues. Therefore, the verse said, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.”(Revelation 15:1) There are many things that will happen in the future. After that, “…The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”(Revelation 11:15) Then the twenty-four elders are saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, …”(Revelation 11:17) These are all things that happen in time, so they don’t mention eternity.

Indeed, in the plan of salvation, God uses love as the banner and hopes that everyone will go on the road to sanctification, not just to be saved. Everyone will fail once ina while if not often on the road to sanctification. He thus also gives us the road to repentance, saying, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”(1 John 1:9-10) True repentance will definitely lead to actions of change, so repentance always mentions them together.  Please note that God looks at the heart and not the appearance, so “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”(Proverbs 4:23)

But God is also a righteous God, with a great white throne of judgment, as the scripture says, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him (Jehovah) who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”(Revelation 20:11-12) The scripture says, “for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves.”(Romans 2:13-14) Christians who will be judged at the Great White Throne will be judged by their acts of faith. Gentiles who have not heard the gospel should be judged the same as the Gentiles who have no law!

God gives everyone an opportunity, but obviously not everyone takes advantage of it. The scriptures make it very clear, ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:16-18) This opportunity is for both non-Christians and Christians. Christians like Demas will fall. Today’s non-Christians may also be tomorrow’s Christians, so we no matter what still have to fulfill the Great Commission, because we don’t know what will happen, only God knows, so the Great Commission is the responsibility of Christians, “…make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; …”(Matthew 28:19-20) Therefore, a person’s baptism is only the beginning. To embark on the road to sanctification, Christians who believe in His name must also do so. Acts of faith will be rewarded.

We have mentioned that this scripture clearly says that there is an ark of the covenant in heaven. No wonder when the tabernacle was built, the ark of the covenant on earth was to be made according to the pattern of heaven, so it was said, “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, …According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.”(Exodus 25:8-9) We have shared before that besides the ark of the covenant, there are other things in heaven, so we won’t share more here.  As for lightning, sounds, and thunderings, they often occur before God appears. As stated in this scripture, “So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.”(Exodus 19:16-17) We see the majesty of God when He is about to appear.  Please note that earthquakes are not mentioned here, because the scripture is very clear, “From the LORD of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.”(Isaiah 29:6) Therefore, the earthquake was used to punish sins, and heavy hail was also added at this time. Therefore, the appearance of the Ark of the Covenant in the temple came to punish sins. We can see this from this scripture, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.””(Revelation 16:1)

2. The woman and Satan in the seventh trumpet

​”A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”(Revelation 12:1-6)

We must first be sure that both the Old Testament and the New Testament speak only one God, and the principles are the same. We must look at the Bible from the consistency of the Bible. It is God who tells us through the Bible that it is consistent, not in words. We have illustrated in “2. The consistency of the Bible means that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent ​” in “1096 Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newcomers – Unbiblical Places (1)” regarding this. We also presented an example with obvious contradiction, and explained what God wants to tell us through this obvious contradiction, so we won’t go into detail here. Those who are interested can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, then click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article. In short, the Old Testament describes what happened to the Israelites in the past, and it also mentions many supernatural things, but not all of them are miracles, because Satan can also do supernatural things, only God can do supernatural things which are called miracles. And this is also true in the New Testament.  The book of Revelation in the New Testament basically talks about what will happen in the future based on the same one principle. The plan of salvation in the New Testament explains how God gives people an opportunity.

Indeed, the Bible is the most widely circulated book in the world, and it is a miracle, but not because it tells the history of the Israelites, but we should view it from the perspective that the Old and New Testaments are the same God. By this way, we will not be surprised about the fact why the Bible is the most widely circulated book in the world. Because the Great Commission has made it clear to make all nations become His disciples, and the scripture also says,  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.””(Romans 10:17-18) Without the Bible circulating so widely, how can make all nations His disciples?Today, there are satellite communications and the Internet, and preaching can be carried out anywhere that can receive satellite communications. Therefore, it can be transmitted to the ends of the world through the Internet.  But be aware that Satan will also use the Internet to spread specious ideas. Words that are mixed between right and wrong are like the ancient serpent tempting Eve. Therefore, you must be discerning when reading the Internet, otherwise you will fall into the enemy’s trick and think you are doing something for God.

From the perspective of the consistency of the Bible, the previous disasters all come in order, so from God’s perspective, the entire book of Revelation should be told in order.  Looking at it from another perspective, the book of Revelation is for people to understand, just as the scripture says, “Blessed are those who read the prophecies in this book and those who hear and obey what is written in it…” (Revelation 1:3) If you can’t understand it, how can you obey it?  When we believe that the book of Revelation was written in order, we can see many things that we did not understand before.  God will not deliberately make it difficult for us to understand. Otherwise, He would not have revealed it to us!  Therefore, from a human perspective, some people say that certain parts of the book of Revelation are interpolations. You cannot say that they are interpolations because you cannot understand them, or that certain sequences are impossible because they are different from people’s subjective views!  Some people even change the words of the Bible to suit their own ideas.  But because people have free will and can decide their own opinions, this cannot be forced.

Some people may ask, why doesn’t the Bible simply say that the book of Revelation was written in order?  Do you think that this will work?  The Gospel of Luke does explicitly say, “…having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, …”(Luke 1:3) Aren’t there still many different opinions?  If we truly believe, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9) You will not look at the Bible from a human perspective! You must look at things from a biblical perspective and “read out” what God wants to tell us through the Bible, “not read in” your own thoughts.

So the book of Revelation was written in order, and this passage is describing what happened in the seventh trumpet.  The scripture says, “So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”(Revelation 12:17) Looking at what the children of this woman are, we know that this woman refers to the church, and the description of her is glorious. This is God’s view of the church.  Therefore, there is still a church during the disaster, which means that the church cannot be raptured before the disaster. The rapture before the disaster that some people say is not true, but it will make people feel comfortable.    

In fact, for the church’s rapture, the Bible does not explicitly mention it, but there is this concept.  This is based on scriptures such as: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in (G1722) the clouds (G3507) to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Please note that the Strong’s Concordance uses “in the clouds” and does not directly say the words “raptured”, but to meet the Lord in the air, what is it other than being raptured?  Moreover, Paul made it very clear that this is according to the word of the Lord, so the Bible contains the rapture of the church.

Speaking of the woman, she was pregnant and cried out in pain during the difficulty of giving birth. Moreover, she gave birth to a boy who would rule all the nations with a rod of iron. What exactly does this mean?  First we notice, “Therefore write …the things which will take place after these things.”(Revelation 1:19) The things written now are things that will happen in the future. Therefore, the male child born to the woman who will be caught up to God and to His throne will never refer to the incarnate Christ, because that thing is in the past.  His incarnation did lead to the birth of the church, and we know, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”(1 Corinthians 3:11) So, what does it mean to give birth to a male child who will rule all the nations with a rod of iron in the future?  To answer this question, we know that the church wants to grow, and the goal is that every member must be conformed to the image of Jesus. “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 2:4-5)

In fact, the Old Testament has explained how this spiritual temple is built. The scripture says, “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel⁠—these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.””(Zechariah 4:6-10)

It is clearly stated here that Zerubbabel relied on the Spirit of God, so in these verses he typifies the Holy Spirit. Didn’t the incarnate Christ Jesus follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit throughout his life?  Isn’t this the Holy Spirit who laid the foundation of this temple?  Let’s take a look at how he completed this temple? “…he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!””(Zechariah 4:7) When the church grows to the image of Jesus, the church gives birth to the male child born of the woman. Doesn’t the difficult labor pain refer to the painful process from laying the foundation to the church growing to the stature of Jesus?  Finally, the stone on the top of the temple was completed by Jesus Christ!  This is what the first great vision in heaven is telling us about what will happen in the future.

Then there is the second heavenly vision, which talks about what happened in heaven. The big red dragon Satan and his followers were thrown to the earth. Therefore, he can only stay on earth now to prevent the church from growing to the stature of Jesus, to devour the child to destroy God’s plan, but God did not allow it and preserved the woman (church) for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.  This means that after something happened in heaven, corresponding things happened on earth. Isn’t this the same as what’s recorded in the book of Job?  In the book of Job, Satan first challenged God in heaven, and when God allowed it, he was determined to cause disasters on earth that did not exceed the scope of God’s permission.  When it failed, it challenged God a second time. This time, instead of doing everything at once, it chose the best time to cause disasters on earth that did not exceed the scope allowed by God.  In “1. What happened next after the sixth seal and the sealing of the Israelites” of “1095 The order of disasters in the sixth and seventh seals – Revelation (6)”, we discussed in detail what happened to Job. Yes, interested people can find this article using the same method as “1096”.  By the way, if each month is calculated as thirty days, one thousand two hundred and sixty days is three and a half years, which is forty-two months, or “…a time, times, and half a time.”(Daniel 7:25) The following verses explain in detail what will happen in heaven and on earth.

3. The battle in heaven

“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.””(Revelation 12:7-12)

If you look at the book of Job, you will know that Satan can go to heaven before the war. What happens in the battle in heaven is explained here. All it takes is Michael and his angels, and there is no need for God to do it Himself. This is what the Lord Jesus sees for what will happen in the future, “And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”(Luke 10:18) We see that the power of God is definitely greater than the power of Satan. These verses also clearly explain the role of Satan and why the brothers defeated it. Now it has no place for Satan in heaven and he has been thrown to the earth. Because of this, there is trouble for the earth and the sea. We will clearly know what these disasters are from many chapters followed in scriptures. From the fact that the devil (Satan) has only a short time, we can see that Satan and we are both created beings, and time can only move forward.

4. The beginning of the troubles on earth

“​And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”(Revelation 12:13-17)

Here is a detailed explanation of the beginning of the dragon (Satan)’s actions on earth, so the two wings of the eagle brought God’s protection and enabled the church to continue preaching in a suffering environment. This will happen for three years and half, thus this is the same period as what we talked before. We are talking about the same thing, but here is a more detailed explanation of how Satan attacks the church. He uses lies and specious remarks like water in his mouth to prevent the growth of the church, but God uses his own methods to help the church and prevents Satan’s tactics from succeeding.  In the next sharing, we will look at why Satan was standing on the sand of the seashore at that time.

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

首先我们从经文中看到了第六号开始的灾难，看到为此释放已预备好的被捆绑的四个使者，这些灾祸的目的本是给人有悔改的机会，希望其余的人会悔改。第二，我们谈到第六号中的隐藏的七雷及其后提到的小书卷，从圣经的一致性，我们可以从旧约发生的事情，看到这里是在讲教会的遭遇，教会最终会像甜如蜜的得胜，但过程却像使肚子发苦般的艰难！第三，我们看到教会的被践踏，和两个见证人的作为及结局。从两个见证人结局的经文，我们看到有时有灵意解经的必要，这两人是在死后三天半复活，显明了他们是从神而来的事实，其余的因同时看到了那复活带来的灾，都归荣耀于神。

1. 第六号开始的灾难       

    『第六位天使吹号，我就听见有声音从神面前金坛的四角出来，吩咐那吹号的第六位天使，说：「把那捆绑在幼发拉底大河的四个使者释放了。」那四个使者就被释放；他们原是预备好了，到某年某月某日某时，要杀人的三分之一。马军有二万万，他们的数目我听见了。我在异象中看见那些马和骑马的，骑马的胸前有甲如火，与紫玛瑙并硫磺。马的头好像狮子头，有火、有烟、有硫磺，从马的口中出来。口中所出来的火与烟，并硫磺，这三样灾杀了人的三分之一。这马的能力是在口里和尾巴上；因这尾巴像蛇，并且有头用以害人。其余未曾被这些灾所杀的人仍旧不悔改自己手所做的，还是去拜鬼魔和那些不能看、不能听、不能走，金、银、铜、木、石的偶像；又不悔改他们那些凶杀、邪术、奸淫、偷窃的事。』(启示录 9:13-21)        

耶和华自己说，『你曾进入雪库，或见过雹仓吗？这雪雹乃是我为降灾，并打仗和争战的日子所预备的。』(约伯记 38:22-23) 所以对神允许这四位被捆绑的使者，在固定的时间被释放，不要感到意外，他们本是准备好的。至于他们所带来的灾祸，经文写得很清楚，就不重复了，主要的是即使这些灾祸中死了这么多人，其余剩下的仍然硬著心，不悔改。

这些灾祸的目的本是因神是有怜悯有恩典的，给人有悔改的机会，这是神的本性，就犹如经文说，『主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为他是耽延，其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。』(彼得后书 3:9) 但『公义和公平，是你宝座的根基；慈爱和诚实，行在你前面。』(诗篇 89:14) 只因『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。』(约翰福音 3:16) 但神是不会没有公义的，圣经讲得很清楚，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 当剩下的人仍不悔改时，他们会经历即将来临的其他灾祸。我们要再一次强调悔改的重要，圣经说，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。』(约翰一书 1:9) 这只是讲到后悔，而真正的「后悔」一定会带来「改」的行动，所以「悔改」总是放在一起讲。

2. 第六号中的七雷及小书卷       

『我又看见另有一位大力的天使从天降下，披著云彩，头上有虹，脸面像日头，两脚像火柱。他手里拿著小书卷，是展开的。他右脚踏海，左脚踏地，大声呼喊，好像狮子吼叫。呼喊完了，就有七雷发声。七雷发声之后，我正要写出来，就听见从天上有声音说：「七雷所说的你要封上，不可写出来。」』(启示录 10:1-4)      

首先我们看到从神来的大力的天使的描述，已是相当的带著天上的荣耀，三位一体的神更是无比的荣耀。我们已分享过从七雷中看到约翰的顺服，就不再多讲了，现在来看第六号中提到的、展开的小书卷。        

『我所看见的那踏海踏地的天使向天举起右手来，指著那创造天和天上之物，地和地上之物，海和海中之物，直活到永永远远的，起誓说：「不再有时日了！但在第七位天使吹号发声的时候，神的奥秘就成全了，正如神所传给他仆人众先知的佳音。」我先前从天上所听见的那声音又吩咐我说：「你去，把那踏海踏地之天使手中展开的小书卷取过来。」我就走到天使那里，对他说：「请你把小书卷给我。」他对我说：「你拿著吃尽了，便叫你肚子发苦，然而在你口中要甜如蜜。」我从天使手中把小书卷接过来，吃尽了，在我口中果然甜如蜜，吃了以后，肚子觉得发苦了。天使对我说：「你必指著多民、多国、多方、多王再说预言。」』(启示录 10:5-11)        

首先，我们注意到意到，在人间，『人都是指著比自己大的起誓，…』(希伯来书 6:16) 这里是说在天上也类似，所以那踏海踏地的天使是向神起誓。请注意，我从前所听见的那声音，并不是从踏海踏地的天使而来。读经时要注意到详情，会对我们有帮助的，不至于犯了自己都不知道的错误。也许我该举一个这样的例子比较好，到时再说吧！这里只是提醒大家注意详情会有帮助。        

我们看见了未来的第七号的发生，对不信的人是祸音，对众先知仍是佳音，而我们现在仍在第六号的小书卷中。说到吃小书卷，口中有甜如蜜的感觉，这叙述「甜如蜜」只在圣经合和本出现两次，一次在旧约的以西结书，另一次就在这里，我们看旧约为什么这么说，就可以知道新约的这里意谓著什么！因为旧约和新约都是一位神，作事的原则都是一致的。        

我们先看这些经文，『他对我说：「人子啊，要吃你所得的，要吃这书卷，好去对以色列家讲说。」于是我开口，他就使我吃这书卷。又对我说：「人子啊，要吃我所赐给你的这书卷，充满你的肚腹。」我就吃了，口中觉得其甜如蜜。』(以西结书 3:1-3) 罗马书对以色列人的结局讲得很清楚，『…就是以色列人有几分是硬心的，等到外邦人的数目添满了，于是以色列全家都要得救。如经上所记：「必有一位救主从锡安出来，要消除雅各家的一切罪恶。」又说：「我除去他们罪的时候，这就是我与他们所立的约。」』(罗马书 11:25-27) 这样能得救的结局、怎么会不是口中有甜如蜜的感觉呢？     

我们再看小书卷中到底写了些什么呢？『我观看，见有一只手向我伸出来，手中有一书卷。他将书卷在我面前展开，内外都写著字，其上所写的有哀号、叹息、悲痛的话。』(以西结书 2:9-10) 所以他能领会这过程是艰难的。这些经文就能确认这一点，『他又对我说：「人子啊，我对你所说的一切话，要心里领会，耳中听闻。你往你本国被掳的子民那里去，他们或听或不听，你要对他们讲说，告诉他们：『这是主耶和华说的。』」』(以西结书 3:10-11) 所以他虽已知道本国被掳的子民并不会听，但仍要传讲！这不是和启示录说的，『吃了以后，肚子觉得发苦了』类似吗？而且我们知道启示录是『耶稣基督的启示，…叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。…』(启示录 1:1) 因为启示是给众仆人的，所以这里是讲到教会的遭遇，教会最终会甜如蜜的得胜，但过程会像使肚子发苦般的艰难！他吃了小书卷后要发预言，也不就像以西结要向以色列家传讲类似吗？这不就是我们刚才分享的新旧约都是一位神，所以会是一致的吗！

3. 教会的被践踏和两个见证人的作为及结局       

接著也是讲教会的事情，『有一根苇子赐给我，当作量度的杖，且有话说：「起来，将神的殿和祭坛，并在殿中礼拜的人都量一量。只是殿外的院子要留下不用量，因为这是给了外邦人的；他们要践踏圣城四十二个月。我要使我那两个见证人，穿著毛衣，传道一千二百六十天。」他们就是那两棵橄榄树，两个灯台，立在世界之主面前的。若有人想要害他们，就有火从他们口中出来，烧灭仇敌；凡想要害他们的，都必这样被杀。这二人有权柄，在他们传道的日子叫天闭塞不下雨；又有权柄叫水变为血，并且能随时随意用各样的灾殃攻击世界。』(启示录 11:1-6)        

教会在神的殿中礼拜的所有人都应该用量度的杖量一量，那属神的殿和祭坛的人会蒙神用自己的方法保守，不是说这些人不会遭遇苦难，而是『…在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。』(约翰福音 16:33) 我们以前分享过，神对死的看法和人对死的看法是完全不同的，为主殉道的人，会有永远的福乐。而殿外的院子不用量了，那不愿走上成圣道路的人，沦陷在外邦不信主人的手里四十二个月。如以每月三十天算，四十二个月就是一千二百六十天，所以在那期间，神仍是有恩典有怜悯，派遣了在神面前的两个见证人去传道。好像这两人有权柄能做一些、在人眼中看起来不是美善的事情，但从神的角度看是要给人一个机会，是美善的事。又一次看到了从人的角度看和从神的角度看事情是多么的不同，神是看内心的，不是看外表的，所以『你要保守你心，胜过保守一切，因为一生的果效，是由心发出。』(箴言 4:23) 我们实在是应该相信圣经是神所默示的，学习从神的角度来看事情，不要只是说说而已！       

『他们作完见证的时候，那从无底坑里上来的兽必与他们交战，并且得胜，把他们杀了。他们的尸首就倒在大城里的街上，这城按著灵意叫所多玛，又叫埃及，就是他们的主钉十字架之处。从各民、各族、各方、各国中，有人观看他们的尸首三天半，又不许把尸首放在坟墓里。住在地上的人就为他们欢喜快乐，互相餽送礼物，因这两位先知曾叫住在地上的人受痛苦。过了这三天半，有生气从神那里进入他们里面，他们就站起来；看见他们的人甚是害怕。两位先知听见有大声音从天上来，对他们说：「上到这里来！」他们就驾著云上了天，他们的仇敌也看见了。正在那时候，地大震动，城就倒塌了十分之一，因地震而死的有七千人，其余的都恐惧，归荣耀给天上的神。第二样灾祸过去，第三样灾祸快到了。』(启示录 11:7-14)        

那大城应是指地上的耶路撒冷，因是主钉十字架的地方。而神也允许他们做完见证后无底坑的兽能得胜，一方面他们两个已尽了功用，另一方面如果神让他们一直得胜，怎么会『…使仇敌和报仇的闭口无言。』(诗篇 8:2) 祂不是在别的地方也是如此吗？譬如说，『…任凭牠(十角七头的兽)与圣徒争战，并且得胜。…』(启示录 13:7) 从发生的许多事情中，我们不是看到了『…圣徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。』(启示录 13:10) 实在是如『耶和华说：「我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。』(以赛亚书 55:8-9) 神是无限而人是有限，太多的事情我们连想都想不到！我们知道发生的一切都在神的掌控中。          

这里清楚的说我们要有时需要灵意解经，所以会说，『这城按著灵意(G4153)叫所多玛，又叫埃及』。这字 G4153 只在新约出现两次，它的意义在另一经文中清楚，『然而，属血气的人不领会神圣灵的事，反倒以为愚拙，并且不能知道，因为这些事惟有属灵(G4153)的人才能看透。』(哥林多前书 2:14) 这和下列经文是一致的用灵意解经，『因为律法上记著，亚伯拉罕有两个儿子，一个是使女生的，一个是自主之妇人生的。然而那使女所生的，是按著血气生的；那自主之妇人所生的，是凭著应许生的。这都是比方，那两个妇人就是两约。一约是出于西奈山，生子为奴，乃是夏甲。这夏甲二字是指著阿拉伯的西奈山，与现在的耶路撒冷同类，因耶路撒冷和她的儿女都是为奴的。但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我们的母。』(加拉太书 4:22-26)       

最终这两个见证人在死后三天半时，神使他们复活回到天上，只比耶稣的死而复活多了半天，也是驾云上去的。他们的复活更加上了正在那时候发生的灾难，使其余存活的人都害怕，知道他们是从神来的，归荣耀给天上的神，也但愿他们因此而悔改，只是人有自由意志，这是勉强不得的！

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

       首先我們從經文中看到了第六號開始的災難，看到為此釋放已預備好的被捆綁的四個使者，這些災禍的目的本是給人有悔改的機會，希望其餘的人會悔改。第二，我們談到第六號中的隱藏的七雷及其後提到的小書卷，從聖經的一致性，我們可以從舊約發生的事情，看到這裏是在講教會的遭遇，教會最終會像甜如蜜的得勝，但過程卻像使肚子發苦般的艱難！第三，我們看到教會的被踐踏，和兩個見證人的作為及結局。從兩個見證人結局的經文，我們看到有時有靈意解經的必要，這兩人是在死後三天半復活，顯明了他們是從神而來的事實，其餘的因同時看到了那復活帶來的災，都歸榮耀於神。

1. 第六號開始的災難

       『第六位天使吹號，我就聽見有聲音從神面前金壇的四角出來，吩咐那吹號的第六位天使，說：「把那捆綁在幼發拉底大河的四個使者釋放了。」那四個使者就被釋放；他們原是預備好了，到某年某月某日某時，要殺人的三分之一。馬軍有二萬萬，他們的數目我聽見了。我在異象中看見那些馬和騎馬的，騎馬的胸前有甲如火，與紫瑪瑙並硫磺。馬的頭好像獅子頭，有火、有煙、有硫磺，從馬的口中出來。口中所出來的火與煙，並硫磺，這三樣災殺了人的三分之一。這馬的能力是在口裏和尾巴上；因這尾巴像蛇，並且有頭用以害人。其餘未曾被這些災所殺的人仍舊不悔改自己手所做的，還是去拜鬼魔和那些不能看、不能聽、不能走，金、銀、銅、木、石的偶像；又不悔改他們那些兇殺、邪術、姦淫、偷竊的事。』(啓示錄 9:13-21)

        耶和華自己說，『你曾進入雪庫，或見過雹倉嗎？這雪雹乃是我為降災，並打仗和爭戰的日子所預備的。』(約伯記 38:22-23) 所以對神允許這四位被捆綁的使者，在固定的時間被釋放，不要感到意外，他們本是準備好的。至於他們所帶來的災禍，經文寫得很清楚，就不重複了，主要的是即使這些災禍中死了這麼多人，其餘剩下的仍然硬著心，不悔改。

        這些災禍的目的本是因神是有憐憫有恩典的，給人有悔改的機會，這是神的本性，就猶如經文說，『主所應許的尚未成就，有人以為他是耽延，其實不是耽延，乃是寬容你們，不願有一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改。』(彼得後書 3:9) 但『公義和公平，是你寶座的根基；慈愛和誠實，行在你前面。』(詩篇 89:14) 只因『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。』(約翰福音 3:16) 但神是不會沒有公義的，聖經講得很清楚，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 當剩下的人仍不悔改時，他們會經歷即將來臨的其他災禍。我們要再一次強調悔改的重要，聖經說，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。』(約翰一書 1:9) 這只是講到後悔，而真正的「後悔」一定會帶來「改」的行動，所以「悔改」總是放在一起講。

2. 第六號中的七雷及小書卷

       『我又看見另有一位大力的天使從天降下，披着雲彩，頭上有虹，臉面像日頭，兩腳像火柱。他手裏拿着小書卷，是展開的。他右腳踏海，左腳踏地，大聲呼喊，好像獅子吼叫。呼喊完了，就有七雷發聲。七雷發聲之後，我正要寫出來，就聽見從天上有聲音說：「七雷所說的你要封上，不可寫出來。」』(啓示錄 10:1-4)

      首先我們看到從神來的大力的天使的描述，已是相當的帶著天上的榮耀，三位一體的神更是無比的榮耀。我們已分享過從七雷中看到約翰的順服，就不再多講了，現在來看第六號中提到的、展開的小書卷。

        『我所看見的那踏海踏地的天使向天舉起右手來，指着那創造天和天上之物，地和地上之物，海和海中之物，直活到永永遠遠的，起誓說：「不再有時日了！但在第七位天使吹號發聲的時候，神的奧秘就成全了，正如神所傳給他僕人眾先知的佳音。」我先前從天上所聽見的那聲音又吩咐我說：「你去，把那踏海踏地之天使手中展開的小書卷取過來。」我就走到天使那裏，對他說：「請你把小書卷給我。」他對我說：「你拿着吃盡了，便叫你肚子發苦，然而在你口中要甜如蜜。」我從天使手中把小書卷接過來，吃盡了，在我口中果然甜如蜜，吃了以後，肚子覺得發苦了。天使對我說：「你必指着多民、多國、多方、多王再說預言。」』(啓示錄 10:5-11)

        首先，我們注意到意到，在人間，『人都是指着比自己大的起誓，…』(希伯來書 6:16) 這裏是說在天上也類似，所以那踏海踏地的天使是向神起誓。請注意，我從前所聽見的那聲音，並不是從踏海踏地的天使而來。讀經時要注意到詳情，會對我們有幫助的，不至於犯了自己都不知道的錯誤。也許我該舉一個這樣的例子比較好，到時再說吧！這裏只是提醒大家注意詳情會有幫助。

        我們看見了未來的第七號的發生，對不信的人是禍音，對眾先知仍是佳音，而我們現在仍在第六號的小書卷中。說到吃小書卷，口中有甜如蜜的感覺，這敍述「甜如蜜」只在聖經合和本出現兩次，一次在舊約的以西結書，另一次就在這裏，我們看舊約為什麼這麼說，就可以知道新約的這裏意謂著什麼！因為舊約和新約都是一位神，作事的原則都是一致的。

        我們先看這些經文，『他對我說：「人子啊，要吃你所得的，要吃這書卷，好去對以色列家講說。」於是我開口，他就使我吃這書卷。又對我說：「人子啊，要吃我所賜給你的這書卷，充滿你的肚腹。」我就吃了，口中覺得其甜如蜜。』(以西結書 3:1-3) 羅馬書對以色列人的結局講得很清楚，『…就是以色列人有幾分是硬心的，等到外邦人的數目添滿了，於是以色列全家都要得救。如經上所記：「必有一位救主從錫安出來，要消除雅各家的一切罪惡。」又說：「我除去他們罪的時候，這就是我與他們所立的約。」』(羅馬書 11:25-27) 這樣能得救的結局、怎麼會不是口中有甜如蜜的感覺呢？

     我們再看小書卷中到底寫了些什麼呢？『我觀看，見有一隻手向我伸出來，手中有一書卷。他將書卷在我面前展開，內外都寫着字，其上所寫的有哀號、歎息、悲痛的話。』(以西結書 2:9-10) 所以他能領會這過程是艱難的。這些經文就能確認這一點，『他又對我說：「人子啊，我對你所說的一切話，要心裏領會，耳中聽聞。你往你本國被擄的子民那裏去，他們或聽或不聽，你要對他們講說，告訴他們：『這是主耶和華說的。』」』(以西結書 3:10-11) 所以他雖已知道本國被擄的子民並不會聽，但仍要傳講！這不是和啓示錄說的，『吃了以後，肚子覺得發苦了』類似嗎？而且我們知道啓示錄是『耶穌基督的啓示，…叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。…』(啓示錄 1:1) 因為啓示是給眾僕人的，所以這裏是講到教會的遭遇，教會最終會甜如蜜的得勝，但過程會像使肚子發苦般的艱難！他吃了小書卷後要發預言，也不就像以西結要向以色列家傳講類似嗎？這不就是我們剛才分享的新舊約都是一位神，所以會是一致的嗎！

3. 教會的被踐踏和兩個見證人的作為及結局

       接著也是講教會的事情，『有一根葦子賜給我，當作量度的杖，且有話說：「起來，將神的殿和祭壇，並在殿中禮拜的人都量一量。只是殿外的院子要留下不用量，因為這是給了外邦人的；他們要踐踏聖城四十二個月。我要使我那兩個見證人，穿着毛衣，傳道一千二百六十天。」他們就是那兩棵橄欖樹，兩個燈台，立在世界之主面前的。若有人想要害他們，就有火從他們口中出來，燒滅仇敵；凡想要害他們的，都必這樣被殺。這二人有權柄，在他們傳道的日子叫天閉塞不下雨；又有權柄叫水變為血，並且能隨時隨意用各樣的災殃攻擊世界。』(啓示錄 11:1-6)

        教會在神的殿中禮拜的所有人都應該用量度的杖量一量，那屬神的殿和祭壇的人會蒙神用自己的方法保守，不是說這些人不會遭遇苦難，而是『…在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』(約翰福音 16:33) 我們以前分享過，神對死的看法和人對死的看法是完全不同的，為主殉道的人，會有永遠的福樂。而殿外的院子不用量了，那不願走上成聖道路的人，淪陷在外邦不信主人的手裏四十二個月。如以每月三十天算，四十二個月就是一千二百六十天，所以在那期間，神仍是有恩典有憐憫，派遣了在神面前的兩個見證人去傳道。好像這兩人有權柄能做一些、在人眼中看起來不是美善的事情，但從神的角度看是要給人一個機會，是美善的事。又一次看到了從人的角度看和從神的角度看事情是多麼的不同，神是看內心的，不是看外表的，所以『你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效，是由心發出。』(箴言 4:23) 我們實在是應該相信聖經是神所默示的，學習從神的角度來看事情，不要只是說說而已！

       『他們作完見證的時候，那從無底坑裏上來的獸必與他們交戰，並且得勝，把他們殺了。他們的屍首就倒在大城裏的街上，這城按着靈意叫所多瑪，又叫埃及，就是他們的主釘十字架之處。從各民、各族、各方、各國中，有人觀看他們的屍首三天半，又不許把屍首放在墳墓裏。住在地上的人就為他們歡喜快樂，互相餽送禮物，因這兩位先知曾叫住在地上的人受痛苦。過了這三天半，有生氣從神那裏進入他們裏面，他們就站起來；看見他們的人甚是害怕。兩位先知聽見有大聲音從天上來，對他們說：「上到這裏來！」他們就駕着雲上了天，他們的仇敵也看見了。正在那時候，地大震動，城就倒塌了十分之一，因地震而死的有七千人，其餘的都恐懼，歸榮耀給天上的神。第二樣災禍過去，第三樣災禍快到了。』(啓示錄 11:7-14)

        那大城應是指地上的耶路撒冷，因是主釘十字架的地方。而神也允許他們做完見證後無底坑的獸能得勝，一方面他們兩個已盡了功用，另一方面如果神讓他們一直得勝，怎麼會『…使仇敵和報仇的閉口無言。』(詩篇 8:2) 祂不是在別的地方也是如此嗎？譬如說，『…任憑牠(十角七頭的獸)與聖徒爭戰，並且得勝。…』(啓示錄 13:7) 從發生的許多事情中，我們不是看到了『…聖徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。』(啓示錄 13:10) 實在是如『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9) 神是無限而人是有限，太多的事情我們連想都想不到！我們知道發生的一切都在神的掌控中。

           這裏清楚的說我們要有時需要靈意解經，所以會說，『這城按着靈意(G4153)叫所多瑪，又叫埃及』。這字 G4153 只在新約出現兩次，它的意義在另一經文中清楚，『然而，屬血氣的人不領會神聖靈的事，反倒以為愚拙，並且不能知道，因為這些事惟有屬靈(G4153)的人才能看透。』(哥林多前書 2:14) 這和下列經文是一致的用靈意解經，『因為律法上記着，亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。然而那使女所生的，是按着血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的，是憑着應許生的。這都是比方，那兩個婦人就是兩約。一約是出於西奈山，生子為奴，乃是夏甲。這夏甲二字是指着阿拉伯的西奈山，與現在的耶路撒冷同類，因耶路撒冷和她的兒女都是為奴的。但那在上的耶路撒冷是自主的，她是我們的母。』(加拉太書 4:22-26)

       最終這兩個見證人在死後三天半時，神使他們復活回到天上，只比耶穌的死而復活多了半天，也是駕雲上去的。他們的復活更加上了正在那時候發生的災難，使其餘存活的人都害怕，知道他們是從神來的，歸榮耀給天上的神，也但願他們因此而悔改，只是人有自由意志，這是勉強不得的！

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First of all, we have seen the disasters that began with the sixth trumpet from the scriptures, and we have seen that the four messengers who were bound were released for this purpose. The purpose of these disasters was to give people a chance to repent, hoping that the rest of the people would repent.  Second, we talked about the seven peals of thunder with hidden messages. Also the messages in the sixth trumpet include the little book. From the consistency of the Bible, we can see from what happened in the Old Testament that the little book is talking about the encounter of the church. The victory of the church happens in the end and will be as sweet as honey, but the process will be as difficult as making your stomach ache!  Third, we see the church being trampled upon, and the actions and ending of the two witnesses.  From the verses about the ending of the two witnesses, we see that spiritual interpretation of the Bible is sometimes necessary. These two were resurrected three and a half days after their death, showing the fact that they came from God. Seeing what happened, the rest, survived the disasters brought about by the resurrection, then glorified God.

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1. The disaster that begins with the sixth trumpet

​”Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.”(Revelation 9:13-21) God said Himself, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, Which I have reserved for the time of distress, For the day of war and battle?”(Job 38:22-23)

So don’t be surprised that God allowed these four bound messengers to be released at a fixed time. They were prepared for that.  As for the disasters they brought, the scriptures are very clear, so I won’t repeat them. The main thing is that even though so many people died in these disasters, the rest still hardened their hearts and did not repent.

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The purpose of these disasters is that God is merciful and gracious, giving people opportunities to repent. This is God’s nature. Just as the scripture says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9) But “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) Just “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16) But God will not be without justice. The Bible makes it very clear, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) When the remaining people do not repent, they will experience other woes to come.  We must once again emphasize the importance of repentance. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) This only talks about regret, and true “regret” will definitely bring about “change” actions, so “repentance” is always mentioned these two together.

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 2. Seven peals of thunder and little scroll in the sixth trumpet

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“I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.””(Revelation 10:1-4)

First of all, we see that the description of the powerful angels from God is quite full of heavenly glory, and the Trinity God is even more glorious.  We have already shared that we see John’s obedience in the event of the seven peals of thunder, so we won’t go into more details. Now let’s look at the little unfolded book mentioned in the sixth trumpet.

“Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.””(Revelation 10:5-11)

First of all, we notice that in the human world, “For men swear by one greater than themselves, …”(Hebrews 6:16) This means that it is the same in heaven, so the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land is swearing to God. Please note that the voice I heard before did not come from the angel standing on the sea and the earth.  Paying attention to the details when reading the Bible will help us avoid making mistakes that we don’t even know about.  Maybe I should give an example like this, and let’s talk about it later!  It’s just a reminder that the details can be helpful.

We also saw that when the seventh trumpet would sound in the future, it would be a bad voice to the unbelief, but still a good voice to the prophets, and we are still in sixth trumpet period regarding the little book.  Speaking of eating the little scroll, there is a feeling as sweet as honey in the mouth. This description “sweet as honey” only appears twice in the Union Version of the Bible, once in the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament, and the other time right here. Let’s look at the Old Testament so that one can know what it means in the New Testament. Why do you say this? Because both the Old Testament and the New Testament have the same God, the principles of doing things are the same.

Let’s look at these verses first, “Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.”(Ezekiel 3:1-3) The book of Romans makes it very clear about the outcome of the Israelites, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery⁠—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation⁠—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.””(Romans 11:25-27) How can the outcome of such salvation not be a feeling as sweet as honey in the mouth?

Let’s now look at what is written in the little scroll? “Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.”(Ezekiel 2:9-10) So he can understand that this process is difficult.  This is confirmed by these verses, “Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely. Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’””(Ezekiel 3:10-11) No matter what, he had to preach. Isn’t this similar to what the book of Revelation says, “After eating, my stomach felt bitter”?  And we know that the book of Revelation is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John”(Revelation 1:1) Because the revelation is for the servants, this is about what the church encounters. The church will eventually win as sweet as honey, but the process will be as difficult as making the stomach feel bitter!  Isn’t it like Ezekiel who wanted to prophesy to the house of Israel after eating the little scroll?  Isn’t this the fact that the Old and New Testaments we just shared are all one God, so they would be consistent.

3. The church was trampled on and the actions and ending of the two witnesses

Then he also talked about the church, “Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.”(Revelation 11:1-6)

Everyone in the church who worships in the temple of God should be measured with the measuring rod. Those who belong to the temple and altar of God will be protected by God in His own way. This does not mean that these people will not encounter suffering, but “…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33) We have shared before that God’s view of death and man’s view of death are completely different. Those who are martyred for the Lord will have eternal happiness.  There is no need to measure the courtyard outside the temple. Those who do not want to take the path of sanctification will fall into the hands of their unbelieving foreign masters for forty-two months.  If we count thirty days per month, forty-two months are one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Therefore, during that period, God was still gracious and merciful and sent two witnesses before God to preach.  It seems that these two people have the authority to do things that may not seem good in the eyes of humans, but from God’s perspective, they are good things to give people a chance.  Once again, I saw how different the viewpoints are from a human perspective and from a God’s perspective. God looks at the heart, not the appearance, so “Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.”(Proverbs 4:23) We should really believe that the Bible is inspired by God and learn to see things from God’s perspective, not just talk!

“When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically (G4153) is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”(Revelation 11:7-14)

That great city should refer to Jerusalem on earth, because it is the place where the Lord was crucified. And God also allowed that the beast from the bottomless pit could prevail after they had given their testimony. On the one hand, the two of them had fulfilled their functions. On the other hand, if God allowed them to continue to prevail, how could it “…make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”(Psalm 8:2) Isn’t He do this elsewhere?  For example, “It was also given to him (the beast with ten horns and seven heads) to make war with the saints and to overcome them, …”(Revelation 13:7) From many things that have happened, we have seen that “…Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”(Revelation 13:10) Indeed, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9) God is infinite and man is limited. There are so many things that we cannot even imagine! We know that everything that happens is under God’s control.

It is clearly stated here that we sometimes need to interpret the Bible spiritually, so it is said that “…the great city, which spiritually (G4153) is called Sodom and Egypt, …”(Revelation 11:8, KJV) The word G4153 appears only two time. If one has question about its meaning, it is clearly said in other verse, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually (G4153) appraised.”(1 Corinthians 2:14)

This is consistent with what this scripture says, which interprets the Bible spiritually, “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.”(Galatians 4:22-26)

In the end, three and a half days after the death of these two witnesses, God resurrected them and returned to heaven. It was only half a day longer than Jesus’ death and resurrection, and they also ascended on the clouds like Jesus.  Their resurrection was with the calamity that was happening at that time, making the rest of the surviving people fearful, knowing that they came from God, glorifying the God of heaven. Hopefully, they would repent because of this. But humans have free will, which allow them to choose if they will believe in God and the fact that they have free will cannot be changed.

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

我们首先看看在七号之前有的讯息，看见为什么这里说到寂静，并指出我们以前讨论过为什么四活物和二十四位长老都代表教会。第二，我们分享前四号的灾难和所看见的，为什么经文说通常预言即使说到时间也是大概的，这是一般的情况，但也有正确的时间的特例，要分辩一般情况和特例。最后，我们来看看第五号带来的灾难，从灾难中我们又一次看到撒但的工作是不可越过神所定的范围。那时，对那些额上没有神印记的人是极大的灾难，是求生不能，求死不得！圣经明说了那些有神印记的是神的仆人，显然不是指因信称义而仅仅得救的人，因仇敌如吼叫的狮子，到处寻找可吞吃的人，所以不要以为不走上成圣之路是可以的，为此，我们举了一个基督徒底马堕落的圣经例子。

1. 七号之前有的讯息       

『羔羊揭开第七印的时候，天上寂静(G4602)约有二刻。我看见那站在神面前的七位天使，有七枝号赐给他们。另有一位天使拿著金香炉，来站在祭坛旁边。有许多香赐给他，要和众圣徒的祈祷一同献在宝座前的金坛上。那香的烟和众圣徒的祈祷，从天使的手中一同升到神面前。天使拿著香炉，盛满了坛上的火，倒在地上，随有雷轰、大声、闪电、地震。拿著七枝号的七位天使就预备要吹。』(启示录 8:1-6)        

这寂静(G4602)代表有事将要发生了！  这字 G4602 只出现两次，另一次在这经文中，『保罗说：「我本是犹太人，生在基利家的大数，并不是无名小城的人。求你准我对百姓说话。」千夫长准了。保罗就站在台阶上，向百姓摆手，他们都静默(G4602)无声，保罗便用希伯来话对他们说：』(使徒行传 21:39-40) 两次都一致的说有事要发生了！就请你们到使徒行传看一看前后文就知道刚才引述的经文是指什么事，并保罗用希伯来话说的长长的一段话，因为相当长，我们就不在这里花时间多讲了。其实旧约也有类似的字句，如看以下的经文的上下文也就知道这一点，『耶和华发出猛烈的怒气，平安的羊圈就都寂静无声(H1826)。』(耶利米书 25:37)        

请注意，这里所说的香的烟是从天使而来的，是和众圣徒的祈祷，从天使的手中一同升到神面前。其实，众圣徒的祈祷也是香，不同的是这香是由代表教会的四活物和二十四位长老而来，『他既拿了书卷，四活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿著琴和盛满了香的金炉；这香就是众圣徒的祈祷。』(启示录 5:8) 至于为什么说四活物和二十四位长老一样，也是代表教会，我们在『2093 看天开了，宝座和四活物 – 启示录 (4) 』中的『3. 四活物是什么？』讲得很清楚，如果你有兴趣的话，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。

2. 第一号到第四号带来的灾祸        

『第一位天使吹号，就有雹子与火搀著血丢在地上。地的三分之一和树的三分之一被烧了，一切的青草也被烧了。第二位天使吹号，就有仿佛火烧著的大山扔在海中。海的三分之一变成血，第三位天使吹号，就有烧著的大星好像火把从天上落下来，落在江河的三分之一和众水的泉源上。这星名叫「茵𛈟」。众水的三分之一变为茵𛈟，因水变苦，就死了许多人。第四位天使吹号，日头的三分之一，月亮的三分之一，星辰的三分之一都被击打，以致日月星的三分之一黑暗了，白昼的三分之一没有光，黑夜也是这样。』(启示录 8:7-12)        

我们首先看到经文很清楚的说明了前四号所带来的灾难，我们就不重复了。这里说的三分之一应该只是大概的数目，不是就是正好三分之一，因通常圣经提到数目时，都是指大概的。譬如说，『耶和华对亚伯兰说：「你要的确知道，你的后裔必寄居别人的地，又服事那地的人，那地的人要苦待他们四百年。』(创世记 15:13) 确实的时间是，『以色列人住在埃及共有四百三十年。正满了四百三十年的那一天，耶和华的军队都从埃及地出来了。』(出埃及记 12:40-41) 不能说圣经因此错了，有了明显的矛盾，而是神借著这明显的矛盾告诉我们什么？告诉我们这是在讲预言，就是你会发觉圣经讲的预言一般都没有讲确实的时间，有时圣经甚至连时间都没有讲，譬如耶稣的再来会像贼一样(参帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:2, 彼得后书 3:10, 启示录 3:3, 启示录 16:15)，也是这样，我们必须随时儆醒。你也可看到，神是有绝对主权的。        

还有很多的这样的例子，所以这是一般性的原则，但是也有特例。举个例子来说，就是当初在创世记 5:1-32 时，所记载亚当的后代的时候，用的数目是确定的，我们为什么这样说呢？如果我们用这些数目算一算就知道，马土撒拉死的那一天，就是洪水来的那一天，我们以前分享过，就不重复了。如果数目不正确，我们就不能达到这结论，不能说这是巧合，圣经所说的事都是设计好的，没有真正的所谓巧合！所以我们实在是要分辩，那些是在讲一般原则，那些是指特例。

3. 第五号带来的灾难       

『我又看见一个鹰飞在空中，并听见牠大声说：「三位天使要吹那其余的号，你们住在地上的民，祸哉！祸哉！祸哉！」第五位天使吹号，我就看见一个星从天落到地上，有无底坑的钥匙赐给它。它开了无底坑，便有烟从坑里往上冒，好像大火炉的烟，日头和天空都因这烟昏暗了。有蝗虫从烟中出来，飞到地上，有能力赐给牠们，好像地上蝎子的能力一样。并且吩咐牠们说，不可伤害地上的草和各样青物，并一切树木，惟独要伤害额上没有神印记的人。但不许蝗虫害死他们，只叫他们受痛苦五个月，这痛苦就像蝎子螫人的痛苦一样。在那些日子，人要求死，决不得死；愿意死，死却远避他们。蝗虫的形状好像预备出战的马一样，头上戴的好像金冠冕，脸面好像男人的脸面，头发像女人的头发，牙齿像狮子的牙齿。胸前有甲，好像铁甲。牠们翅膀的声音，好像许多车马奔跑上阵的声音。有尾巴像蝎子，尾巴上的毒钩能伤人五个月。有无底坑的使者作牠们的王，按著希伯来话，名叫亚巴顿；希腊话，名叫亚玻伦。第一样灾祸过去了，还有两样灾祸要来。』(启示录 8:13-9:12)        

首先们注意到第一句话和最后一句话，就很清楚的知道，七号的灾祸是分为两组，前四号和后三号的描述是很不相同的。我们可以看见这些经文中所说的蝗虫不是普通的蝗虫，是大有能力的，并有无底坑的使者作牠们的王。我们也看到了蝗虫有不可伤害的，又一次看到撒但的工作是不可越过神所定的范围。那时，对那些额上没有神印记的人来说是极大的灾难，求生不能，求死不得。        

那么那些有神印记的是什么人呢？经文说得很清楚，『…另有一位天使，从日出之地上来，拿著永生神的印。他就向那得著权柄能伤害地和海的四位天使大声喊著说：「地与海并树木，你们不可伤害，等我们印了我们神众仆人的额。」』(启示录 7:2-3) 很清楚的说，受印的人是真正神的仆人，不是表面去参加人间的教会，或是因信称义仅仅得救的人，因这样的基督徒会受不住撒但利用世界来的诱惑，而回到世界。基督徒因信称义得救后的第一件事，就是『他(神)救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子(耶稣基督)的国里；我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。』(歌罗西书 1:13-14) 所以我们一定要在基督内。『我们知道我们是属神的，全世界都卧在那恶者(撒但)手下。』(约翰一书 5:19) 而且『因为你们的仇敌魔鬼(撒但)，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8b) 撒但不会停止工作的！即使是基督徒，也不见得会在世界的诱惑中得胜。大使命是这样说的，『…你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，…』(马太福音 28:19-20) 所以受洗只是开始，一定要走上成圣之路。        

关于基督徒会堕落的这一点，我们来看看圣经怎么说。在新约，底马这个人只在三节经文提到，其中两节是，『所亲爱的医生路加和底马问你们安。』(歌罗西书 4:14) 和『与我同工的马可、亚里达古、底马、路加也都问你安。』(腓利门书 1:24) 这两节都说底马是保罗的同工，应是基督徒，要不保罗不会选他为同工的。但在保罗快去世前怎么说，他说，『因为底马贪爱现今的世界，就离弃我往帖撒罗尼迦去了。…』(提摩太后书 4:10) 底马跌倒了，难怪彼得会说，『务要谨守、警醒。』(彼得前书 5:8a)  对我来说，我那时在找一个基督徒会堕落的例子，正好在那时的一次查经中要查腓利门书，我想腓利门不是在讲保罗在实行爱的一个例子吗？有什么好查的？没想到在最后一节平常问安的话中，突然就意识到提摩太后书 4:10 不正是说到我要找的例子吗！保罗说，『若有人以为自己知道甚么，按他所当知道的，他仍是不知道。』(哥林多前书 8:2) 这不是在讲我吗？真是又让我经历这经文一次！     

神不会因一个人是基督徒就偏待他，『因为神不偏待人。』(罗马书 2:11) 神给了因信称义的基督徒一个机会，我们不只要仅仅得救，要心甘情愿的走上成圣之路。要记得，只要我们甘心情愿，主会作我们随时的帮助，就像经文所说，『所以我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。』(希伯来书 4:16) 感谢赞美神！

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)