首先我们谈到了要有一个能听的耳和为么要这样，也讨论了一个有争议性的以赛亚的预言，发觉完全没有必要争议。也看到了主极其愿意开通我们的耳朵。第二是谈到属灵分辩的方法，因从超自然的意念中来的，不一定都是从神来的，我们举了一个圣经的例子说明这一点。凡灵不认耶稣，就不是出于神，这是那敌基督者的灵。最后我们讲到了属老我分辩的方法，新约教导我们要看结果就知道了！旧约也如此说。能事后分辩至少给了人一个机会能学习如何分辩，并知道要以圣经的话语作为绝对的标准作分辩，我们作了一个简短的见证说明这点，且还有一个补救的方法就是悔改。我们看到不是不怕死就可以了，而是要为基督不怕死，有随时为主殉道的心志。我们也解释了有人可能会问的，为什在逾越节的晚餐中，耶稣蘸饼给犹大吃不是和撒但合作。对撒但的国度有影响的人，牠绝对会试探这人如同试探耶稣一样，因为我们是要模成耶稣的形像，撒但一定会阻挡我们这样做，不让我们长大成人，能够真正的分别好歹。譬如，我们举例说明，神看死亡和世人看相当不同。且看到，如果一个基督徒真正的没有受过试探攻击，是应该警醒了！因为连撒但的差役都认为你不值得受攻击。

1. 要有一个能听的耳       

我们已谈过，在启示录的七个(全部)教会中都有同一句话，『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』(参启示录 2:7,11,17,29,  3:6,13,22) 当然，灵说的绝对该听，『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 当然，我们要分辩是出于圣灵，而不是撒但的差役装作光明的天使 (参哥林多后书 11:14-15)。举些在新约中和这有关的例子是：『凡有耳的，就应当听！』(启示录 13:9) 『有耳可听的，就应当听！』(参马太福音 11:15,13:9,43; 马可福音 4:9,13, 8:19; 路加福音 8:8, 14:35) 『你们有眼睛，看不见吗？有耳朵，听不见吗？也不记得吗？』(马可福音 8:18) 我们看见了这里没有提到圣灵，所以我们要对别人的话语也要有一个能听的耳，只是别人的话不一定全对，要分辩。旧约也有类似的经文，如『当传扬在雅各家，报告在犹大说：愚昧无知的百姓啊，你们有眼不看，有耳不听，现在当听这话。』(耶利米书 5:20-21) 在这里就不多说了，用软体可以很快的查出来。  

有人会问，新约说，『在他们身上，正应了以赛亚的预言，说：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。因为这百姓油蒙了心，耳朵发沉，眼睛闭著；恐怕眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。』(马太福音 13:14-15) 因此就去看以赛亚的预言，『他(耶和华)说：「你去告诉这百姓说：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。』要使这百姓心蒙(H3820)脂油，耳朵发沉，眼睛昏迷；恐怕眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，便得医治。」』(以赛亚书 6:9-10) 这不是神使百姓听不见吗？我们看这字 H3820 在以赛亚书有 30 次，足够多次使我们可以看出这字的意思，典型的例子如，『知道公义、将我训诲存在心中(H3820)的民，要听我言！不要怕人的辱骂，也不要因人的毁谤惊惶。』(以赛亚书 51:7) 很显然这里有翻译的问题！其实从圣经的一致性来看就很清楚，『耶和华的话又临到我说：「人子啊，你住在悖逆的家中，他们有眼睛看不见，有耳朵听不见，因为他们是悖逆之家。」』(以西结书 12:1-2) 这民本就是悖逆之家，他们怎能听见呢？在这里，我们要强调的一点是，圣经大部份时候都在讲一般的情况，有时也会讲特例，不能用特例就说圣经讲的一般情况不对。在这里，以西结是以色列人，但他显然不是悖逆的，我们不能说这一般的叙述以色列是悖逆的，是错误的描述。    

从另一方面看，我们看到了『可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。』(罗马书 10:17) 如果听都听不见，不要说「信道」了！要想改变，第一步是要能听进去啊？圣灵的话和弟兄姊妹对的话都是如此。尤其是属灵的事，要神开通我们的耳朵，要不怎么能改变啊！诗篇是说，『祭物和礼物，你不喜悦，你已经开通我的耳朵；燔祭和赎罪祭非你所要。』(诗篇 40:6) 是两者都要做，只是那个比较重要必须分清楚。以赛亚书是说，『你未曾听见，未曾知道，你的耳朵从来未曾开通。我原知道你行事极其诡诈，你自从出胎以来，便称为悖逆的。』(以赛亚书 48:8) 以色列家的确是悖逆之家。又说，『主耶和华开通我的耳朵，我并没有违背，也没有退后。』(以赛亚书 50:5) 我们可以看见以赛亚确实有一个能听的耳。我们要再说一次，其实属世的事情也是这样，要有一个能听的耳！如果我们愿意，可以请求主开通我们的耳朵，给我们一个能听的耳，我们知道他是极其愿意这样的，我们谈过多次，祂被老底嘉教会关在门外，仍然说，『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) 真的是要能确定自己真愿意，因为『人心比万物都诡诈，坏到极处，谁能识透呢？』(耶利米书 17:9) 我们会有时自己欺骗自己的！  

2. 属灵分辩的方法       

从超自然的意念中来的，不一定都是从神来的，因为相当多的人都认为超自然的事情一定是从神来的，但其实不然，要分辩，一定要用圣经的话作为绝对的标准来作分辩。如果圣经的话没有这件事怎么办，那时要看圣经的原则，我们如果真相信圣经是神所默示的，就知道原则都在那里了，所以旧约会说，『他使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。』(诗篇 103:7) 所以我们读经不只要知道三位一体的神曾经做了什么，祂能做什么，更是要知道祂一些作事的法则。因为祂是无限而我们是有限，除非祂愿意，我们凭自己是不可能知道祂所有作事的法则的。我们相信祂愿意，前提是我们要开心门，在启示录中老底嘉的教会把耶稣关在门外，祂仍然说，『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) 在这里，神不是让摩西知道祂作事的法则吗？请不要搞混祂曾经做了什么，和祂能做什么。的确，新旧约都记录了许多祂曾经做过的事情，但祂能做的是超过我们能想像的，所以新约会说，『神能照著运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。』(以弗所书 3:20)        

首先，我们要知道撒但和牠的差役也会装作光明的天使，『这也不足为怪，因为连撒但也装作光明的天使。所以，他的差役若装作仁义的差役，也不算希奇。…』(哥林多后书 11:14-15) 在旧约的约伯记中讲得非常清楚，从意念来的超自然的事情，不见得是从神来的！我们曾分享过这件事，因为知道这实在是非常的重要，因此我们就把经文列出，随后只有简短的讨论。经文相当长，『提幔人以利法回答说：「人若想与你说话，你就厌烦吗？但谁能忍住不说呢？…「我暗暗地得了默示，我耳朵也听其细微的声音。在思念夜中异象之间，世人沉睡的时候，恐惧、战兢临到我身，使我百骨打战。有灵从我面前经过，我身上的毫毛直立。那灵停住，我却不能辩其形状；有影像在我眼前，我在静默中听见有声音说：『必死的人岂能比神公义吗？人岂能比造他的主洁净吗？主不信靠他的臣仆，并且指他的使者为愚昧；何况那住在土房、根基在尘土里被蠹虫所毁坏的人呢？早晚之间就被毁灭，永归无有，无人理会。他帐棚的绳索岂不从中抽出来呢？他死，且是无智慧而死。』」』(约伯记 4:1-21) 以利法的这段话是对错相杂的，这是和那蛇引诱夏娃的策略一样的！所以以利法遇见的那灵是撒但，只是当时他并不知道而已。        

在新约中，更清楚告诉我们怎样在灵界分辩，『亲爱的弟兄啊，一切的灵，你们不可都信，总要试验那些灵是出于神的不是，因为世上有许多假先知已经出来了。凡灵认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的，就是出于神的，从此你们可以认出神的灵来。凡灵不认耶稣，就不是出于神，这是那敌基督者的灵。…』(约翰一书 4:1-3)  如果我们确定是碰到灵界的事情，可以用这方法去分辩。在以利法的那时，耶稣还没有道成肉身，他不可能如此分辩。

我们要知道，有些从意念来的不对的事情，不全是从撒但的差役来的，很多时候是从老我来的。这不管是不是被撒但的差役激动后自己的老我，因为老我有罪才会被激动，所以要确定是从灵界来的。如果是真是从灵界来的，圣经应许我们，这方法一定有效。如果没效，就一定是从老我来的，下面我们会谈到属老我的分辩方法。

3. 属老我分辩的方法      

我们谈过以赛亚为什么会说，『所以耶和华向他们说的话是：命上加命、令上加令，律上加律、例上加例，这里一点、那里一点。…』(以赛亚书 28:13) 这基本上是圣经的一种写法，真要有信心才能读完圣经的每一页，知道有的时候真是这里一点、那里一点！       

如果没有属灵分辩的机会，或是从老我来的意念，那有没有实际的方法可以作分辩？有。新约教导我们要看结果就知道了！『…凡好树都结好果子，惟独坏树结坏果子。好树不能结坏果子，坏树不能结好果子。』(马太福音 7:17-18) 我们在谈的是生命不是嫁接，一颗树有它自己的生命，就像鸡和鸭有著不同的生命一样，鸭有著能游泳的生命，而我们没有办法强迫鸡去游泳，如果把鸡放在河中，非淹死不可。     

旧约中也有相应的话语，『先知托耶和华的名说话，所说的若不成就，也无效验，这就是耶和华所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自说的，你不要怕他。』(申命记 18:22) 从神来的一定会应验！旧约很清楚的说，『撒母耳长大了，耶和华与他同在，使他所说的话，一句都不落空。从但到别是巴所有的以色列人，都知道耶和华立撒母耳为先知。』(撒母耳记上 3:19-20) 的确也是如此，因为经文又说，『(扫罗的)仆人说：「这城里有一位神人(撤母耳)，是众人所尊重的，凡他所说的全都应验。我们不如往他那里去，或者他能将我们当走的路指示我们。」』(撒母耳记上 9:6) 所以一个人就应该知道没有应验的事，就不是从神来的。有人作见证说，有时事情的发生完全是和祷告的结果相合，但有时符合一部份，但有时甚至相反。如果是这样，这人应该知道需要分辩，不要以为是祷告过了，就全盘接受，要知道是有时是老我希望如此！    

当在使徒行传中讲到他们选一个人代替卖主的犹大时，他们的条件在这经文中说了出来，是『…主耶稣在我们中间始终出入的时候，就是从约翰施洗起，直到主离开我们被接上升的日子为止，必须从那常与我们作伴的人中，立一位与我们同作耶稣复活的见证。』(使徒行传 1:21-22) 『于是选举两个人，就是那叫做巴撒巴，又称呼犹士都的约瑟和马提亚。众人就祷告说：「主啊，你知道万人的心。求你从这两个人中，指明你所拣选的是谁，叫他得这使徒的位分。这位分犹大已经丢弃，往自己的地方去了。」于是众人为他们摇签，摇出马提亚来，他就和十一个使徒同列。』(使徒行传 1:23-26) 他们祷告了，但圣经没有明说这祷告是否被应许，所以人能做的就是摇签决定，所以马提亚并不是如那十一个使徒般，是耶稣亲自选的。耶稣亲自选的第十二个使徒是保罗，是在复活后祂在大光中选的，所以启示录会说，『城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。』(启示录 21:14)        

如果只能像这样子事后才能分辩，这不是太迟了吗？不迟。能事后分辩至少给了人一个机会，能学习以后再碰到类似的情况知道如何分辩，并知道要以圣经的话语作为绝对的标准作分辩。而且还有一个补救的方法，就是在神面前悔改，因为圣经说得很清楚，『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) 所以一定要悔改。        

我们来看一个「用圣经的话语作为绝对的标准分辩」的例子，是我的一个见证。有一次在网上的查经中，有一位姊妹很高兴的作见证说，她说有一位弟兄看过神的面。我实在忍不住要问她，这位弟兄现在是活著还已经死了？她很高兴的回答，他还活著。我实在不能不告诉她，这和圣经不和！因为『耶和华…说：「你(摩西)不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。」』(出埃及记 33:19-20) 他显然看见的不是神。她说，自从这之后，这位弟兄就很热心。不是看果子就可以知道树如何吗？是的，有时需要等，撒但的差役也会装作光明的天使的，但不能长久，总是会显出马脚来的。这件事很明显，和圣经讲的明显的不合，不必再等就知道了！        

有人可能会引用这句经文，『你们中间若有先知或是做梦的起来，向你显个神迹奇事，对你说：『我们去随从你素来所不认识的别神，事奉他吧！』他所显的神迹奇事，虽有应验，你也不可听那先知或是那做梦之人的话。因为这是耶和华你们的神试验(H5254)你们，要知道你们是尽心尽性爱耶和华你们的神不是。』(申命记 13:1-3) 如果是假的，不会每次都应验的，因为有时是像天气预报一样，短时间可能会准，长时间绝对会不对的。有时我们要等，才能确实的知道，是不是『…耶和华你们的神试验你们，要知道你们是尽心尽性爱耶和华你们的神不是。』(申命记 13:3) 有人可能会引用这节经文，『人被试探，不可说：「我是被神试探(G3985)」，因为神不能被恶试探，他也不试探人。但各人被试探，乃是被自己的私欲牵引、诱惑的。』(雅各书 1:13-14) 上面两节经文不是矛盾吗？不矛盾。我们看约伯记一开头就知道发生了什么事情(参约伯记 1:1-2:7)，我们看到是神点头了，撒但立到就在神所许可的范围内，尽量的试探人，跟本不需要神亲自作工，因神很清楚撒但的个性，知道牠一定会这样做。        

我们也看到了，『儿女既同有血肉之体，他(耶稣)也照样亲自成了血肉之体，特要借著死，败坏那掌死权的，就是魔鬼，并要释放那些一生因怕死而为奴仆的人。』(希伯来书 2:14-15) 我们一信之时，神就『…救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。』(歌罗西书 1:13-14) 所以我们是从世界出来，要在基督里。     

不过，不是不怕死就可以了，俗话说，砍头不过碗大的疤，你想这样的好汉会怕死吗？是要为基督不怕死，有随时为主殉道的心志，如同彼得一样。就像经文说，『我实实在在地告诉你：你年少的时候，自己束上带子，随意往来；但年老的时候，你要伸出手来，别人要把你束上，带你到不愿意去的地方。」耶稣说这话，是指著彼得要怎样死，荣耀神。…』(约翰福音 21:18-19) 在祂说过这话后，彼得很显然的活得好好的一阵子，所以耶稣说的是预言，重点是虽然彼得已预先知道，他仍然愿意为主摆上。        

我们也知道，撒但是知道耶稣是和牠的国度有损的！经文说，『污鬼无论何时看见他，就俯伏在他面前，喊著说：「你是神的儿子！」』(马可福音 3:11) 连污鬼都知道，撒但怎么会不知道已发生的事情呢？只是牠并不知道救恩的计划会如何完成，如果牠能预先知道，就不会和耶稣被钉十字架有份了！在这点上，经文说得很清楚，在逾越节的晚餐中，『…耶稣就蘸了一点饼，递给加略人西门的儿子犹大。他吃了以后，撒但就入了他的心。 …』(约翰福音 13:26-27) 有人就用这经文说耶稣和撒但合作，其实不然，在逾越节的晚餐前一段时间里，经文说，『这时，撒但入了那称为加略人犹大的心，他本是十二门徒里的一个。』(路加福音 22:3) 犹大本来就准备好要卖耶稣的，看经文就知道，耶稣预先就知道，因此只是『…对他说：「你所做的，快做吧！」』(约翰福音 13:27) 结果是，『犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。…』(约翰福音 13:30) 『他既出去，耶稣就说：「如今人子得了荣耀，神在人子身上也得了荣耀。』(约翰福音 13:31) 耶稣也可完成祂该讲的话了。        

对撒但的国度有影响的人，牠绝对会试探这人如同试探耶稣一样，因为『…『仆人不能大于主人。…』(约翰福音 15:20) 圣经明说，『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) 非基督徒不会影响到撒但的国度的，即使是基督徒也不是每一个人对撒但的国度有影响，譬如那些一次得救永远得救、却不愿走上成圣之路的、仅仅得救的基督徒。耶稣又说，『…他们若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你们；…』(约翰福音 15:20) 所以耶稣会说，『不背著他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒。』(马太福音 10:38-39) 我们是要模成耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29)，你想撒但或牠的差役会放过我们吗？牠一定会试探这样的人！     

经文说，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍(G145)习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 心窍这字只在和合本出现两次，另一次是：『于是耶稣开他们的心窍(G3563)，使他们能明白圣经。』(路加福音 24:45) 这字 G3563 出现了比较多的 24 次，是不同的字。这字 G145 只出现一次，是从在这节经文中的G143而来的，『他们不明白这话，意思乃是隐藏的，叫他们不能明白(G143, perceived)，他们也不敢问这话的意思。』(路加福音 9:45)  这字 G143 也只出现过一次。从这两处经文中，应该是指这心窍开了后，可以意识到一些事情，造成了对撒但的国度的威胁。       

譬如说，这时候就能真正的分辩好歹了。那么什么叫做真正的好歹呢？再以死亡为例，神所看见的好歹和世人眼中的好歹相当不同！人通常都是希望能够活得长久，但我们看见使徒雅各短命而死，因『那时，希律王下手苦害教会中几个人，用刀杀了约翰的哥哥雅各。』(使徒行传 12:1-2) 但他仍有冠冕，因在新天新地有新耶路撒冷城后神那降下时，『城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。』(启示录 21:14) 可见神和世人的看法很不同。     

通常一个人受到灵界的攻击，有时会如提幔人以利法一样并不知晓，跟本都不会意识到。所以有人以为没有被邪灵攻击过，并不代表真正没有被攻击遇。所以彼得要我们，『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8) 而马丁路德会说，我们不能避免鸟飞过而正好鸟大便落在我们头上，但我们可以不让鸟在我们头上作窝。换句话说，就是我们不能避免邪灵突然的攻击，但我们绝对有足够多的时间避免这攻击发酵，如果我们让它发酵，就是我们的错了。如果一个基督徒真正的没有受过撒但或其差役的攻击，是应该警醒了！因为他们都认为你不值得攻击，已经在他们的国度里了，经文说得很清楚，『若撒但自相攻打纷争，他就站立不住，必要灭亡。』(马可福音 3:26)

(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』。)  

在这七个教会中，我们可以看到不同的的事情，反应出一些我们现在教会的光景。首先我们看见关于主在启示录中前三章的叙述是相当不同的，我们必须取其联集，就是符合所有叙述的描述才行，这是圣经这里一点那里一点的一个写法。在推雅推喇的教会中，我们看到了从人角度而来的错误的教导是多么可怕，会引诱人犯罪！教会不应该容忍这样的教导。其中也提到了得胜者的奖赏。第二是提到了对撒狄的教会有严重的判断，但尚有几个可以进新耶路撒冷城的得胜者，并教导他们如何能做得胜者及其赏赐，我们也从中看到圣经的一致性。第三是谈在许多人都羡慕的非拉铁非的教会，这教会有个不能关的门，谈到了他们所做的事情，及会得到的赏赐。最后我谈到了七个教会中唯一没有得胜者的老底嘉的教会，我们看到神决定把这不冷不热的人吐出来，从人的角度看，一切都很好，但从神的角度看，完全相反。我们解释了为什么我们可以在经文中又一次看到圣经的一致性，和为什么这又让我再次经历到某一节的经文。

1. 主的描述和从推雅推喇的教会所看见的        

『「你要写信给推雅推喇教会的使者说：『那眼目如火焰、脚像光明铜的神之子说：我知道你的行为、爱心、信心、勤劳、忍耐，又知道你末后所行的善事，比起初所行的更多。「『然而，有一件事我要责备你，就是你容让那自称是先知的妇人耶洗别教导我的仆人，引诱他们行奸淫，吃祭偶像之物。我曾给她悔改的机会，她却不肯悔改她的淫行。看哪，我要叫她病卧在床。那些与她行淫的人，若不悔改所行的，我也要叫他们同受大患难。我又要杀死她的党类，叫众教会知道，我是那察看人肺腑心肠的，并要照你们的行为报应你们各人。』」「『至于你们推雅推喇其余的人，就是一切不从那教训，不晓得他们素常所说撒但深奥之理的人，我告诉你们：我不将别的担子放在你们身上，但你们已经有的，总要持守，直等到我来。「『那得胜又遵守我命令到底的，我要赐给他权柄制伏列国。他必用铁杖辖管他们，将他们如同窰户的瓦器打得粉碎── 像我从我父领受的权柄一样。我又要把晨星赐给他。圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』」』(启示录 2:18-29)          

当然最后说到，对每一个教会都说的话，要有一个能听的耳，圣灵所说的当然要听，圣经很清楚的说，『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 其实不只是圣灵说的，对别人的话也要有一个能听的耳，只是人的诚实话，并不见得是真理或是(对的)真话，要分辩。所以这经文和合本的翻译，『惟用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。』(以弗所书 4:15) 是错的，看上下文，我们知道真理可适用，但真理一定是真话，而真话不一定是真理。在经验中，我们大概会听过这样的见证，圣灵常常提醒我去做忘记的事情、如忘了钥匙等，这怎么会是真理呢？看原文就知道爱心是指神的爱，圣灵怎么会没有神的爱呢？所以这经文应该翻译成：『惟用神的爱说真话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。』(和合本的更正, 以弗所书 4:15) 当然，我们要确定有这样的意念是从神来的，因为『…因为连撒但也装作光明的天使。所以，他的差役若装作仁义的差役，也不算希奇。…』(哥林多后书 11:14-15) 我们会在未来的『2092 能听的耳，属灵和属老我的分辩方法』中，讨论如何能分辩的方法，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』，找到这篇短文。   

我们首先看到关于主在启示录中前三章的叙述是相当不同的，但并不冲突，我们必须取其联集，也就是符合所有叙述的描述才行。举个例子来说，这里是说，『…那眼目如火焰、脚像光明铜的神之子说：』(启示录 2:18) 在第一章是说，『他的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，脚好像在炉中锻炼光明的铜，声音如同众水的声音。(启示录 1:14-15) 这叙述包含了我们这里里所讲的，而又说，『…那有两刃利剑的说：』(启示录 2:12) 因此在这三个叙述中，描述须取其联集而符合所有的叙述。当然，在其他地方也有叙述主的叙述，如在其他的教会中，我们在这里就不多讲了。其实关于主的叙述从旧约到新约都有，因为惯穿圣经的就是说到主基督。所以我们的描述必须是所有这里一点那里一点的叙述的联集，这基本上是圣经的一个写法，犹如以赛亚说，『所以耶和华向他们说的话是：命上加命、令上加令，律上加律、例上加例，这里一点、那里一点。…』(以赛亚书 28:13) 要有信心看完圣经，才有可能得到关于一件事情的所有叙述，知道神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，就是、不是字句上的圣经的一致性！在字句上，我们会看到明显的矛盾，我们该问的，神默示这明显的矛盾是要借著这矛盾告诉我们什么？我们要强调一点是，有时圣经明写，我们却以为那些话没有意义，而忽略了这里一点那里一点的写法，我们真的需要圣灵开我们的眼睛，这样就知道保罗说的是实话，『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) 绝对不要和圣灵争论，我们绝对不会赢的，因为圣经说得很清楚，『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)       

我们以前在『2004 启示录中的七个教会和能听的耳』中，已说到了启示录在七个教会中都说要有一个能听的耳，在这篇短文中，我们简述了这七个教会的优点，缺点或鼓励。简言之，优点和鼓励是我们该做的事，而不要犯缺点，指出了不同的教会处在不同的光景之中，也反应出我们现在教会的光景的某一些方面。我们等下会谈到，即使像老底嘉的教会把耶稣关在门外，在祂眼中仍是金灯台。如果他们听到讯息而悔改了，仍然可在神大能的工作下有机会转换成有得胜者的教会。我们不知道神要怎么工作，神有绝对的主权，祂决定是否应许我们的祷告，但要知道祂有时会因我们的祷告而改变，就像阿摩司书所说的，『耶和华就后悔说：「这灾也可免了。」』(阿摩司书 7:6) (参阿摩司书 7:1-6) 所以即使祷告不被应许，也应该『不住地祷告。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:17) 这经文说，『…我是那察看人肺腑心肠的，并要照你们的行为报应你们各人。』(启示录 2:23) 不是又一次的明说了祂是看人内心的吗？所以『你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断。』(马太福音 7:1) 但圣经也说得很清楚，要分辩，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍习练得通达，就能分辩(discern, G1263)好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 要能长大成人，不要永远作婴孩。在这里我们就基本上不重复 2004 中的讨论，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇短文。        

在这里，我们看到了从人角度而来的错误的教导是多么可怕，会引诱人犯罪，虽能有时能会一时兴旺而人数增多，最终总会有神的惩罸的，如一些讲成功哲学的教会，真不是教会啊！这样教导的人是应该被赶出神的教会的！经文中也看到了悔改的重要，神是看人的内心的，基督徒要有信心的行为，不要忘了，『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) 这是为什么主两千多年了，主还没有再来的原因。我们的行为要向主负责，难怪会说，『我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅，因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。』(雅各书 3:1)        

这里也很清楚的明说有得胜者，因只是一些听从了不对的教导，那些得胜者会是遵守主的命令到底的，他们的赏赐是得到权柄和晨星。这里当然有在七个教会都说的，要有一个能听的耳。圣经一再重复的讲，所以我们也一再强调。

2. 从撒狄的教会所看见的        

『「你要写信给撒狄教会的使者说：『那有神的七灵和七星的说：我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。你要警醒！坚固那剩下将要衰微的，因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。』」「『所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的，又要遵守，并要悔改。若不警醒，我必临到你那里，如同贼一样。我几时临到，你也决不能知道。「『然而在撒狄，你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的；他们要穿白衣与我同行，因为他们是配得过的。凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣，我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名，且要在我父面前和我父众使者面前认他的名。圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』」』(启示录 3:1-6)        

经文告诉我们，对撒狄的教会的判断是严厉的，并警告他们要悔改，要回想是何处堕落的，因为要从那里站起来。这就犹如亚当的不顺服神，因此『…罪是从一人(亚当)入了世界…』(罗马书 5:12) 神原先是希望亚当选择了吃生命树的果子，而救恩的计划是要以耶稣的一生顺服神而除掉罪，我们在基督内也就是选择了生命树的果子，从亚当跌倒的地方站起来，我们以前分享过这点，就不多讲了。如果撒狄的教会不悔改，是会有惩罸的。但有几名得胜者，是未曾污秽自己衣服的，他们会穿著白衣与主同行，能够进新耶路撒冷城。经文并没有说不穿白衣的基督徒会被在生命册上除名，如果他们只是一次得救永远得救的基督徒，会是在城外的基督徒，圣经在这一点上是多么的一致啊！我们以前在『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？』详细的讨论了这点，如果你对这题目有兴趣的话，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇短文。

3. 从非拉铁非的教会所看见的    

『「你要写信给非拉铁非教会的使者说：『那圣洁、真实，拿著大卫的钥匙，开了就没有人能关，关了就没有人能开的，说：我知道你的行为，你略有一点力量，也曾遵守我的道，没有弃绝我的名。看哪，我在你面前给你一个敞开的门，是无人能关的。那撒但一会的，自称是犹太人，其实不是犹太人，乃是说谎话的，我要使他们来在你脚前下拜，也使他们知道我是已经爱你了。你既遵守我忍耐的道，我必在普天下人受试炼的时候，保守你免去你的试炼。』」「『我必快来，你要持守你所有的，免得人夺去你的冠冕。得胜的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我神的名和我神城的名（这城就是从天上、从我神那里降下来的新耶路撒冷），并我的新名，都写在他上面。圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』」』(启示录 3:7-13)     

有人提到过和大卫的钥匙相关的经文如后：『我必将大卫家的钥匙放在他肩头上，他开，无人能关；他关，无人能开。』(以赛亚书 22:22) 非拉铁非的教会不是有这样令人羡慕的门吗？我们看得出来，非拉铁非的教会是一个很好的教会。经文又说，『他拆毁的，就不能再建造；他捆住人，便不得开释。』(约伯记 12:14) 神拆毁的目的本是要建造，所以经文会说，『看哪！我今日立你在列邦列国之上，为要施行拔出、拆毁、毁坏、倾覆，又要建立、栽植。』(耶利米书 1:10) 经文还说，『我还告诉你：你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的权柄不能胜过他。我要把天国的钥匙给你，凡你在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放。』(马太福音 16:18-19) 大卫的钥匙就是天国的钥匙。且说，『又是那存活的；我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远，并且拿著死亡和阴间的钥匙。』(启示录 1:18) 我们以前分享过这一节，这拿著死亡和阴间的钥匙的显然是主耶稣基督。        

这是许多人都羡慕的教会，因他们有这样的一个门，开了就没有人能关，关了就没有人能开的！他们只不过在神眼中略有一点力量，但遵守了耶稣的道，没有弃绝基督的名，我们看到了神是大有怜悯、大有恩典的。他们显然是受了撒但一会的假犹太人的逼迫，要不怎么要忍耐呢？最终是主亲自介入，使假犹太人来在他们脚前。他们的忍耐赏赐是大的，可在普天下人受试炼的时候，免去试炼。鼓励他们持守冠冕，全部作为能进城的得胜者，当然假犹太人除外。他们的赏赐是在神殿中作柱子，并有神的名和神城的名，且有基督的新名。

4. 从老底嘉的教会所看见的       

『「你要写信给老底嘉教会的使者说：『那为阿们的，为诚信真实见证的，在神创造万物之上为元首的，说：我知道你的行为，你也不冷也不热；我巴不得你或冷或热。你既如温水，也不冷也不热，所以我必从我口中把你吐出去。』」「『你说：我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。我劝你向我买火炼的金子，叫你富足；又买白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞耻不露出来；又买眼药擦你的眼睛，使你能看见。「『凡我所疼爱的，我就责备管教他，所以你要发热心，也要悔改。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。「『得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐，就如我得了胜，在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般。圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』」』(启示录 3:14-22)        

我们以前谈过老底嘉的教会很多次，现在只是分享一些以前没分享过的，和将以前分享过的摘要说出来。我们看到了他们的行为如饮水不冷不热，喝下去也不好，又舍不得浪费吐出来，最后主的决定是要把他们吐出来，实在是吃下去很不好受！除非们悔改。我们看到他们做了很多的事情，所以从人的角度看，一切都很好，但显然他们做的不是神要他们做的，因神要他们买眼药使他们能看见！且要真正的富足，穿上白衣。        

我们看到基督是大有怜悯的，虽然祂现在被关到门外，祂仍然疼爱他们，愿意他们悔改，只要他们愿意开门，祂就和他们一同坐席。并鼓励他们要做一个得胜者，这是当时七个教会中唯一没有得胜者的，教会真的要小心，不要一不小心就落入老底嘉教会的光景。我们以前分享过，这些经文又一次让我体会到圣经的一致性，因经文说，『…无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。』(马太福音 18:20) 老底嘉的教会是奉主名聚会，虽祂是在心门之外，没有作工，仍然是在他们中间，这应许没有落空，圣经是一致的。我以前那里会想到这点呢？这又让我领会一次保罗说得是多么真实，『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) 所以保罗一定自己经历过这样的事，才会这样说。

(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』。)  

       首先我們談到了要有一個能聽的耳和為麼要這樣，也討論了一個有爭議性的以賽亞的預言，發覺完全沒有必要爭議。也看到了主極其願意開通我們的耳朵。第二是談到屬靈分辨的方法，因從超自然的意念中來的，不一定都是從神來的，我們舉了一個聖經的例子說明這一點。凡靈不認耶穌，就不是出於神，這是那敵基督者的靈。最後我們講到了屬老我分辨的方法，新約教導我們要看結果就知道了！舊約也如此說。能事後分辨至少給了人一個機會能學習如何分辨，並知道要以聖經的話語作為絕對的標準作分辨，我們作了一個簡短的見証說明這點，且還有一個補救的方法就是悔改。我們看到不是不怕死就可以了，而是要為基督不怕死，有隨時為主殉道的心志。我們也解釋了有人可能會問的，為什在逾越節的晚餐中，耶穌蘸餅給猶大吃不是和撒但合作。對撒但的國度有影響的人，牠絕對會試探這人如同試探耶穌一樣，因為我們是要模成耶穌的形像，撒但一定會阻擋我們這樣做，不讓我們長大成人，能夠真正的分別好歹。譬如，我們舉例說明，神看死亡和世人看相當不同。且看到，如果一個基督徒真正的沒有受過試探攻擊，是應該警醒了！因為連撒但的差役都認為你不值得受攻擊。

1. 要有一個能聽的耳

       我們已談過，在啟示錄的七個(全部)教會中都有同一句話，『聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』(參啓示錄 2:7,11,17,29,  3:6,13,22) 當然，靈說的絕對該聽，『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 當然，我們要分辨是出於聖靈，而不是撒但的差役裝作光明的天使 (參哥林多後書 11:14-15)。舉些在新約中和這有關的例子是：『凡有耳的，就應當聽！』(啓示錄 13:9) 『有耳可聽的，就應當聽！』(參馬太福音 11:15,13:9,43; 馬可福音 4:9,13, 8:19; 路加福音 8:8, 14:35) 『你們有眼睛，看不見嗎？有耳朵，聽不見嗎？也不記得嗎？』(馬可福音 8:18) 我們看見了這裏沒有提到聖靈，所以我們要對別人的話語也要有一個能聽的耳，只是別人的話不一定全對，要分辨。舊約也有類似的經文，如『當傳揚在雅各家，報告在猶大說：愚昧無知的百姓啊，你們有眼不看，有耳不聽，現在當聽這話。』(耶利米書 5:20-21) 在這裏就不多說了，用軟體可以很快的查出來。

     有人會問，新約說，『在他們身上，正應了以賽亞的預言，說：『你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得。因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉着；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裏明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。』(馬太福音 13:14-15) 因此就去看以賽亞的預言，『他(耶和華)說：「你去告訴這百姓說：『你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得。』要使這百姓心蒙(H3820)脂油，耳朵發沉，眼睛昏迷；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裏明白，回轉過來，便得醫治。」』(以賽亞書 6:9-10) 這不是神使百姓聽不見嗎？我們看這字 H3820 在以賽亞書有 30 次，足夠多次使我們可以看出這字的意思，典型的例子如，『知道公義、將我訓誨存在心中(H3820)的民，要聽我言！不要怕人的辱罵，也不要因人的毀謗驚惶。』(以賽亞書 51:7) 很顯然這裏有翻譯的問題！其實從聖經的一致性來看就很清楚，『耶和華的話又臨到我說：「人子啊，你住在悖逆的家中，他們有眼睛看不見，有耳朵聽不見，因為他們是悖逆之家。」』(以西結書 12:1-2) 這民本就是悖逆之家，他們怎能聽見呢？在這裏，我們要強調的一點是，聖經大部份時候都在講一般的情況，有時也會講特例，不能用特例就說聖經講的一般情況不對。在這裏，以西結是以色列人，但他顯然不是悖逆的，我們不能說這一般的敍述以色列是悖逆的，是錯誤的描述。

    從另一方面看，我們看到了『可見信道是從聽道來的，聽道是從基督的話來的。』(羅馬書 10:17) 如果聽都聽不見，不要說「信道」了！要想改變，第一步是要能聽進去啊？聖靈的話和弟兄姊妹對的話都是如此。尤其是屬靈的事，要神開通我們的耳朵，要不怎麼能改變啊！詩篇是說，『祭物和禮物，你不喜悅，你已經開通我的耳朵；燔祭和贖罪祭非你所要。』(詩篇 40:6) 是兩者都要做，只是那個比較重要必須分清楚。以賽亞書是說，『你未曾聽見，未曾知道，你的耳朵從來未曾開通。我原知道你行事極其詭詐，你自從出胎以來，便稱為悖逆的。』(以賽亞書 48:8) 以色列家的確是悖逆之家。又說，『主耶和華開通我的耳朵，我並沒有違背，也沒有退後。』(以賽亞書 50:5) 我們可以看見以賽亞確實有一個能聽的耳。我們要再說一次，其實屬世的事情也是這樣，要有一個能聽的耳！如果我們願意，可以請求主開通我們的耳朵，給我們一個能聽的耳，我們知道他是極其願意這樣的，我們談過多次，祂被老底嘉教會關在門外，仍然說，『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) 真的是要能確定自己真願意，因為『人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透呢？』(耶利米書 17:9) 我們會有時自己欺騙自己的！

2. 屬靈分辨的方法

       從超自然的意念中來的，不一定都是從神來的，因為相當多的人都認為超自然的事情一定是從神來的，但其實不然，要分辨，一定要用聖經的話作為絕對的標準來作分辨。如果聖經的話沒有這件事怎麼辦，那時要看聖經的原則，我們如果真相信聖經是神所默示的，就知道原則都在那裏了，所以舊約會說，『他使摩西知道他的法則，叫以色列人曉得他的作為。』(詩篇 103:7) 所以我們讀經不只要知道三位一體的神曾經做了什麼，祂能做什麼，更是要知道祂一些作事的法則。因為祂是無限而我們是有限，除非祂願意，我們憑自己是不可能知道祂所有作事的法則的。我們相信祂願意，前提是我們要開心門，在啓示錄中老底嘉的教會把耶穌關在門外，祂仍然說，『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) 在這裡，神不是讓摩西知道祂作事的法則嗎？請不要搞混祂曾經做了什麼，和祂能做什麼。的確，新舊約都記錄了許多祂曾經做過的事情，但祂能做的是超過我們能想像的，所以新約會說，『神能照着運行在我們心裏的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。』(以弗所書 3:20)

        首先，我們要知道撒但和牠的差役也會裝作光明的天使，『這也不足為怪，因為連撒但也裝作光明的天使。所以，他的差役若裝作仁義的差役，也不算希奇。…』(哥林多後書 11:14-15) 在舊約的約伯記中講得非常清楚，從意念來的超自然的事情，不見得是從神來的！我們曾分享過這件事，因為知道這實在是非常的重要，因此我們就把經文列出，隨後只有簡短的討論。經文相當長，『提幔人以利法回答說：「人若想與你說話，你就厭煩嗎？但誰能忍住不說呢？…「我暗暗地得了默示，我耳朵也聽其細微的聲音。在思念夜中異象之間，世人沉睡的時候，恐懼、戰兢臨到我身，使我百骨打戰。有靈從我面前經過，我身上的毫毛直立。那靈停住，我卻不能辨其形狀；有影像在我眼前，我在靜默中聽見有聲音說：『必死的人豈能比神公義嗎？人豈能比造他的主潔淨嗎？主不信靠他的臣僕，並且指他的使者為愚昧；何況那住在土房、根基在塵土裏被蠹蟲所毀壞的人呢？早晚之間就被毀滅，永歸無有，無人理會。他帳棚的繩索豈不從中抽出來呢？他死，且是無智慧而死。』」』(約伯記 4:1-21) 以利法的這段話是對錯相雜的，這是和那蛇引誘夏娃的策略一樣的！所以以利法遇見的那靈是撒但，只是當時他並不知道而已。

        在新約中，更清楚告訴我們怎樣在靈界分辨，『親愛的弟兄啊，一切的靈，你們不可都信，總要試驗那些靈是出於神的不是，因為世上有許多假先知已經出來了。凡靈認耶穌基督是成了肉身來的，就是出於神的，從此你們可以認出神的靈來。凡靈不認耶穌，就不是出於神，這是那敵基督者的靈。…』(約翰一書 4:1-3)  如果我們確定是碰到靈界的事情，可以用這方法去分辨。在以利法的那時，耶穌還沒有道成肉身，他不可能如此分辨。

     我們要知道，有些從意念來的不對的事情，不全是從撒但的差役來的，很多時候是從老我來的。這不管是不是被撒但的差役激動後自己的老我，因為老我有罪才會被激動，所以要確定是從靈界來的。如果是真是從靈界來的，聖經應許我們，這方法一定有效。如果沒效，就一定是從老我來的，下面我們會談到屬老我的分辨方法。

3. 屬老我分辨的方法

       我們談過以賽亞為什麼會說，『所以耶和華向他們說的話是：命上加命、令上加令，律上加律、例上加例，這裏一點、那裏一點。…』(以賽亞書 28:13) 這基本上是聖經的一種寫法，真要有信心才能讀完聖經的每一頁，知道有的時候真是這裏一點、那裏一點！

        如果沒有屬靈分辨的機會，或是從老我來的意念，那有沒有實際的方法可以作分辨？有。新約教導我們要看結果就知道了！『…凡好樹都結好果子，惟獨壞樹結壞果子。好樹不能結壞果子，壞樹不能結好果子。』(馬太福音 7:17-18) 我們在談的是生命不是嫁接，一顆樹有它自己的生命，就像雞和鴨有著不同的生命一樣，鴨有著能游泳的生命，而我們沒有辦法強迫雞去游泳，如果把雞放在河中，非淹死不可。

     舊約中也有相應的話語，『先知託耶和華的名說話，所說的若不成就，也無效驗，這就是耶和華所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自說的，你不要怕他。』(申命記 18:22) 從神來的一定會應驗！舊約很清楚的說，『撒母耳長大了，耶和華與他同在，使他所說的話，一句都不落空。從但到別是巴所有的以色列人，都知道耶和華立撒母耳為先知。』(撒母耳記上 3:19-20) 的確也是如此，因為經文又說，『(掃羅的)僕人說：「這城裏有一位神人(撤母耳)，是眾人所尊重的，凡他所說的全都應驗。我們不如往他那裏去，或者他能將我們當走的路指示我們。」』(撒母耳記上 9:6) 所以一個人就應該知道沒有應驗的事，就不是從神來的。有人作見証說，有時事情的發生完全是和禱告的結果相合，但有時符合一部份，但有時甚至相反。如果是這樣，這人應該知道需要分辨，不要以為是禱告過了，就全盤接受，要知道是有時是老我希望如此！

     當在使徒行傳中講到他們選一個人代替賣主的猶大時，他們的條件在這經文中說了出來，是『…主耶穌在我們中間始終出入的時候，就是從約翰施洗起，直到主離開我們被接上升的日子為止，必須從那常與我們作伴的人中，立一位與我們同作耶穌復活的見證。』(使徒行傳 1:21-22) 『於是選舉兩個人，就是那叫做巴撒巴，又稱呼猶士都的約瑟和馬提亞。眾人就禱告說：「主啊，你知道萬人的心。求你從這兩個人中，指明你所揀選的是誰，叫他得這使徒的位分。這位分猶大已經丟棄，往自己的地方去了。」於是眾人為他們搖籤，搖出馬提亞來，他就和十一個使徒同列。』(使徒行傳 1:23-26) 他們禱告了，但聖經沒有明說這禱告是否被應許，所以人能做的就是摇籤決定，所以馬提亞並不是如那十一個使徒般，是耶穌親自選的。耶穌親自選的第十二個使徒是保羅，是在復活後祂在大光中選的，所以啓示錄會說，『城牆有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。』(啓示錄 21:14)

        如果只能像這樣子事後才能分辨，這不是太遲了嗎？不遲。能事後分辨至少給了人一個機會，能學習以後再碰到類似的情況知道如何分辨，並知道要以聖經的話語作為絕對的標準作分辨。而且還有一個補救的方法，就是在神面前悔改，因為聖經說得很清楚，『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) 所以一定要悔改。

        我們來看一個「用聖經的話語作為絕對的標準分辨」的例子，是我的一個見証。有一次在網上的查經中，有一位姊妹很高興的作見証說，她說有一位弟兄看過神的面。我實在忍不住要問她，這位弟兄現在是活著還已經死了？她很高興的回答，他還活著。我實在不能不告訴她，這和聖經不和！因為『耶和華…說：「你(摩西)不能看見我的面，因為人見我的面不能存活。」』(出埃及記 33:19-20) 他顯然看見的不是神。她說，自從這之後，這位弟兄就很熱心。不是看果子就可以知道樹如何嗎？是的，有時需要等，撒但的差役也會裝作光明的天使的，但不能長久，總是會顯出馬腳來的。這件事很明顯，和聖經講的明顯的不合，不必再等就知道了！

        有人可能會引用這句經文，『你們中間若有先知或是做夢的起來，向你顯個神蹟奇事，對你說：『我們去隨從你素來所不認識的別神，事奉他吧！』他所顯的神蹟奇事，雖有應驗，你也不可聽那先知或是那做夢之人的話。因為這是耶和華你們的神試驗(H5254)你們，要知道你們是盡心盡性愛耶和華你們的神不是。』(申命記 13:1-3) 如果是假的，不會每次都應驗的，因為有時是像天氣預報一樣，短時間可能會準，長時間絕對會不對的。有時我們要等，才能確實的知道，是不是『…耶和華你們的神試驗你們，要知道你們是盡心盡性愛耶和華你們的神不是。』(申命記 13:3) 有人可能會引用這節經文，『人被試探，不可說：「我是被神試探(G3985)」，因為神不能被惡試探，他也不試探人。但各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引、誘惑的。』(雅各書 1:13-14) 上面兩節經文不是矛盾嗎？不矛盾。我們看約伯記一開頭就知道發生了什麼事情(參約伯記 1:1-2:7)，我們看到是神點頭了，撒但立到就在神所許可的範圍內，儘量的試探人，跟本不需要神親自作工，因神很清楚撒但的個性，知道牠一定會這樣做。

        我們也看到了，『兒女既同有血肉之體，他(耶穌)也照樣親自成了血肉之體，特要藉着死，敗壞那掌死權的，就是魔鬼，並要釋放那些一生因怕死而為奴僕的人。』(希伯來書 2:14-15) 我們一信之時，神就『…救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏；我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。』(歌羅西書 1:13-14) 所以我們是從世界出來，要在基督裏。

     不過，不是不怕死就可以了，俗話說，砍頭不過碗大的疤，你想這樣的好漢會怕死嗎？是要為基督不怕死，有隨時為主殉道的心志，如同彼得一樣。就像經文說，『我實實在在地告訴你：你年少的時候，自己束上帶子，隨意往來；但年老的時候，你要伸出手來，別人要把你束上，帶你到不願意去的地方。」耶穌說這話，是指着彼得要怎樣死，榮耀神。…』(約翰福音 21:18-19) 在祂說過這話後，彼得很顯然的活得好好的一陣子，所以耶穌說的是預言，重點是雖然彼得已預先知道，他仍然願意為主擺上。

        我們也知道，撒但是知道耶穌是和牠的國度有損的！經文說，『污鬼無論何時看見他，就俯伏在他面前，喊着說：「你是神的兒子！」』(馬可福音 3:11) 連污鬼都知道，撒但怎麼會不知道已發生的事情呢？只是牠並不知道救恩的計劃會如何完成，如果牠能預先知道，就不會和耶穌被釘十字架有份了！在這點上，經文說得很清楚，在逾越節的晚餐中，『…耶穌就蘸了一點餅，遞給加略人西門的兒子猶大。他吃了以後，撒但就入了他的心。 …』(約翰福音 13:26-27) 有人就用這經文說耶穌和撒但合作，其實不然，在逾越節的晚餐前一段時間裏，經文說，『這時，撒但入了那稱為加略人猶大的心，他本是十二門徒裏的一個。』(路加福音 22:3) 猶大本來就準備好要賣耶穌的，看經文就知道，耶穌預先就知道，因此只是『…對他說：「你所做的，快做吧！」』(約翰福音 13:27) 結果是，『猶大受了那點餅，立刻就出去。…』(約翰福音 13:30) 『他既出去，耶穌就說：「如今人子得了榮耀，神在人子身上也得了榮耀。』(約翰福音 13:31) 耶穌也可完成祂該講的話了。

        對撒但的國度有影響的人，牠絕對會試探這人如同試探耶穌一樣，因為『…『僕人不能大於主人。…』(約翰福音 15:20) 聖經明說，『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) 非基督徒不會影響到撒但的國度的，即使是基督徒也不是每一個人對撒但的國度有影響，譬如那些一次得救永遠得救、卻不願走上成聖之路的、僅僅得救的基督徒。耶穌又說，『…他們若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你們；…』(約翰福音 15:20) 所以耶穌會說，『不背着他的十字架跟從我的，也不配作我的門徒。』(馬太福音 10:38-39) 我們是要模成耶穌的形像(參羅馬書 8:29)，你想撒但或牠的差役會放過我們嗎？牠一定會試探這樣的人！

     經文說，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅(G145)習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 心竅這字只在和合本出現兩次，另一次是：『於是耶穌開他們的心竅(G3563)，使他們能明白聖經。』(路加福音 24:45) 這字 G3563 出現了比較多的 24 次，是不同的字。這字 G145 只出現一次，是從在這節經文中的G143而來的，『他們不明白這話，意思乃是隱藏的，叫他們不能明白(G143, perceived)，他們也不敢問這話的意思。』(路加福音 9:45)  這字 G143 也只出現過一次。從這兩處經文中，應該是指這心竅開了後，可以意識到一些事情，造成了對撒但的國度的威脅。

       譬如說，這時候就能真正的分辨好歹了。那麼什麼叫做真正的好歹呢？再以死亡為例，神所看見的好歹和世人眼中的好歹相當不同！人通常都是希望能夠活得長久，但我們看見使徒雅各短命而死，因『那時，希律王下手苦害教會中幾個人，用刀殺了約翰的哥哥雅各。』(使徒行傳 12:1-2) 但他仍有冠冕，因在新天新地有新耶路撒冷城後神那降下時，『城牆有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。』(啓示錄 21:14) 可見神和世人的看法很不同。

     通常一個人受到靈界的攻擊，有時會如提幔人以利法一樣並不知曉，跟本都不會意識到。所以有人以為沒有被邪靈攻擊過，並不代表真正沒有被攻擊遇。所以彼得要我們，『務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前書 5:8) 而馬丁路德會說，我們不能避免鳥飛過而正好鳥大便落在我們頭上，但我們可以不讓鳥在我們頭上作窩。換句話說，就是我們不能避免邪靈突然的攻擊，但我們絕對有足夠多的時間避免這攻擊發酵，如果我們讓它發酵，就是我們的錯了。如果一個基督徒真正的沒有受過撒但或其差役的攻擊，是應該警醒了！因為他們都認為你不值得攻擊，已經在他們的國度裏了，經文說得很清楚，『若撒但自相攻打紛爭，他就站立不住，必要滅亡。』(馬可福音 3:26)

(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』。)

       在這七個教會中，我們可以看到不同的的事情，反應出一些我們現在教會的光景。首先我們看見關於主在啟示錄中前三章的敘述是相當不同的，我們必須取其聯集，就是符合所有敘述的描述才行，這是聖經這裏一點那裏一點的一個寫法。在推雅推喇的教會中，我們看到了從人角度而來的錯誤的教導是多麼可怕，會引誘人犯罪！教會不應該容忍這樣的教導。其中也提到了得勝者的獎賞。第二是提到了對撒狄的教會有嚴重的判斷，但尚有幾個可以進新耶路撒冷城的得勝者，並教導他們如何能做得勝者及其賞賜，我們也從中看到聖經的一致性。第三是談在許多人都羨慕的非拉鐵非的教會，這教會有個不能關的門，談到了他們所做的事情，及會得到的賞賜。最後我談到了七個教會中唯一沒有得勝者的老底嘉的教會，我們看到神決定把這不冷不熱的人吐出來，從人的角度看，一切都很好，但從神的角度看，完全相反。我們解釋了為什麼我們可以在經文中又一次看到聖經的一致性，和為什麼這又讓我再次經歷到某一節的經文。

1. 主的描述和從推雅推喇的教會所看見的

        『「你要寫信給推雅推喇教會的使者說：『那眼目如火焰、腳像光明銅的神之子說：我知道你的行為、愛心、信心、勤勞、忍耐，又知道你末後所行的善事，比起初所行的更多。「『然而，有一件事我要責備你，就是你容讓那自稱是先知的婦人耶洗別教導我的僕人，引誘他們行姦淫，吃祭偶像之物。我曾給她悔改的機會，她卻不肯悔改她的淫行。看哪，我要叫她病臥在牀。那些與她行淫的人，若不悔改所行的，我也要叫他們同受大患難。我又要殺死她的黨類，叫眾教會知道，我是那察看人肺腑心腸的，並要照你們的行為報應你們各人。』」「『至於你們推雅推喇其餘的人，就是一切不從那教訓，不曉得他們素常所說撒但深奧之理的人，我告訴你們：我不將別的擔子放在你們身上，但你們已經有的，總要持守，直等到我來。「『那得勝又遵守我命令到底的，我要賜給他權柄制伏列國。他必用鐵杖轄管他們，將他們如同窰戶的瓦器打得粉碎── 像我從我父領受的權柄一樣。我又要把晨星賜給他。聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』」』(啓示錄 2:18-29)

     當然最後說到，對每一個教會都說的話，要有一個能聽的耳，聖靈所說的當然要聽，聖經很清楚的說，『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 其實不只是聖靈說的，對別人的話也要有一個能聽的耳，只是人的誠實話，並不見得是真理或是(對的)真話，要分辨。所以這經文和合本的翻譯，『惟用愛心說誠實話，凡事長進，連於元首基督。』(以弗所書 4:15) 是錯的，看上下文，我們知道真理可適用，但真理一定是真話，而真話不一定是真理。在經驗中，我們大概會聽過這樣的見証，聖靈常常提醒我去做忘記的事情、如忘了鑰匙等，這怎麼會是真理呢？看原文就知道愛心是指神的愛，聖靈怎麼會沒有神的愛呢？所以這經文應該翻譯成：『惟用神的愛說真話，凡事長進，連於元首基督。』(和合本的更正, 以弗所書 4:15) 當然，我們要確定有這樣的意念是從神來的，因為『…因為連撒但也裝作光明的天使。所以，他的差役若裝作仁義的差役，也不算希奇。…』(哥林多後書 11:14-15) 我們會在未來的『2092 能聽的耳，屬靈和屬老我的分辨方法』中，討論如何能分辨的方法，如果你有興趣的話，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇短文。

     我們首先看到關於主在啟示錄中前三章的敘述是相當不同的，但並不衝突，我們必須取其聯集，也就是符合所有敘述的描述才行。舉個例子來說，這裏是說，『…那眼目如火焰、腳像光明銅的神之子說：』(啓示錄 2:18) 在第一章是說，『他的頭與髮皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，腳好像在爐中鍛煉光明的銅，聲音如同眾水的聲音。(啓示錄 1:14-15) 這敘述包含了我們這裏裏所講的，而又說，『…那有兩刃利劍的說：』(啓示錄 2:12) 因此在這三個敘述中，描述須取其聯集而符合所有的敍述。當然，在其他地方也有敍述主的敍述，如在其他的教會中，我們在這裏就不多講了。其實關於主的敘述從舊約到新約都有，因為慣穿聖經的就是說到主基督。所以我們的描述必須是所有這裏一點那裏一點的敘述的聯集，這基本上是聖經的一個寫法，猶如以賽亞說，『所以耶和華向他們說的話是：命上加命、令上加令，律上加律、例上加例，這裏一點、那裏一點。…』(以賽亞書 28:13) 要有信心看完聖經，才有可能得到關於一件事情的所有敍述，知道神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，就是、不是字句上的聖經的一致性！在字句上，我們會看到明顯的矛盾，我們該問的，神默示這明顯的矛盾是要藉著這矛盾告訴我們什麼？我們要強調一點是，有時聖經明寫，我們卻以為那些話沒有意義，而忽略了這裏一點那裏一點的寫法，我們真的需要聖靈開我們的眼睛，這樣就知道保羅說的是實話，『若有人以為自己知道甚麼，按他所當知道的，他仍是不知道。』(哥林多前書 8:2) 絕對不要和聖靈爭論，我們絕對不會贏的，因為聖經說得很清楚，『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)

       我們以前在『2004 啓示錄中的七個教會和能聽的耳』中，已說到了啓示錄在七個教會中都說要有一個能聽的耳，在這篇短文中，我們簡述了這七個教會的優點，缺點或鼓勵。簡言之，優點和鼓勵是我們該做的事，而不要犯缺點，指出了不同的教會處在不同的光景之中，也反應出我們現在教會的光景的某一些方面。我們等下會談到，即使像老底嘉的教會把耶穌關在門外，在祂眼中仍是金燈台。如果他們聽到訊息而悔改了，仍然可在神大能的工作下有機會轉換成有得勝者的教會。我們不知道神要怎麼工作，神有絕對的主權，祂決定是否應許我們的禱告，但要知道祂有時會因我們的禱告而改變，就像阿摩司書所說的，『耶和華就後悔說：「這災也可免了。」』(阿摩司書 7:6) (參阿摩司書 7:1-6) 所以即使禱告不被應許，也應該『不住地禱告。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:17) 這經文說，『…我是那察看人肺腑心腸的，並要照你們的行為報應你們各人。』(啓示錄 2:23) 不是又一次的明說了祂是看人內心的嗎？所以『你們不要論斷人，免得你們被論斷。』(馬太福音 7:1) 但聖經也說得很清楚，要分辨，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨(discern, G1263)好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 要能長大成人，不要永遠作嬰孩。在這裏我們就基本上不重複 2004 中的討論，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇短文。

        在這裏，我們看到了從人角度而來的錯誤的教導是多麼可怕，會引誘人犯罪，雖能有時能會一時興旺而人數增多，最終總會有神的懲罸的，如一些講成功哲學的教會，真不是教會啊！這樣教導的人是應該被趕出神的教會的！經文中也看到了悔改的重要，神是看人的內心的，基督徒要有信心的行為，不要忘了，『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) 這是為什麼主兩千多年了，主還沒有再來的原因。我們的行為要向主負責，難怪會說，『我的弟兄們，不要多人作師傅，因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。』(雅各書 3:1)

        這裏也很清楚的明說有得勝者，因只是一些聽從了不對的教導，那些得勝者會是遵守主的命令到底的，他們的賞賜是得到權柄和晨星。這裏當然有在七個教會都說的，要有一個能聽的耳。聖經一再重複的講，所以我們也一再强調。

2. 從撒狄的教會所看見的

        『「你要寫信給撒狄教會的使者說：『那有神的七靈和七星的說：我知道你的行為，按名你是活的，其實是死的。你要警醒！堅固那剩下將要衰微的，因我見你的行為，在我神面前，沒有一樣是完全的。』」「『所以要回想你是怎樣領受，怎樣聽見的，又要遵守，並要悔改。若不警醒，我必臨到你那裏，如同賊一樣。我幾時臨到，你也決不能知道。「『然而在撒狄，你還有幾名是未曾污穢自己衣服的；他們要穿白衣與我同行，因為他們是配得過的。凡得勝的，必這樣穿白衣，我也必不從生命冊上塗抹他的名，且要在我父面前和我父眾使者面前認他的名。聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』」』(啓示錄 3:1-6)

        經文告訴我們，對撒狄的教會的判斷是嚴厲的，並警告他們要悔改，要回想是何處墮落的，因為要從那裏站起來。這就猶如亞當的不順服神，因此『…罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界…』(羅馬書 5:12) 神原先是希望亞當選擇了吃生命樹的果子，而救恩的計劃是要以耶穌的一生順服神而除掉罪，我們在基督內也就是選擇了生命樹的果子，從亞當跌倒的地方站起來，我們以前分享過這點，就不多講了。如果撒狄的教會不悔改，是會有懲罸的。但有幾名得勝者，是未曾污穢自己衣服的，他們會穿著白衣與主同行，能夠進新耶路撒冷城。經文並沒有說不穿白衣的基督徒會被在生命册上除名，如果他們只是一次得救永遠得救的基督徒，會是在城外的基督徒，聖經在這一點上是多麼的一致啊！我們以前在『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？』詳細的討論了這點，如果你對這題目有興趣的話，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇短文。

3. 從非拉鐵非的教會所看見的

    『「你要寫信給非拉鐵非教會的使者說：『那聖潔、真實，拿着大衞的鑰匙，開了就沒有人能關，關了就沒有人能開的，說：我知道你的行為，你略有一點力量，也曾遵守我的道，沒有棄絕我的名。看哪，我在你面前給你一個敞開的門，是無人能關的。那撒但一會的，自稱是猶太人，其實不是猶太人，乃是說謊話的，我要使他們來在你腳前下拜，也使他們知道我是已經愛你了。你既遵守我忍耐的道，我必在普天下人受試煉的時候，保守你免去你的試煉。』」「『我必快來，你要持守你所有的，免得人奪去你的冠冕。得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，他也必不再從那裏出去。我又要將我神的名和我神城的名（這城就是從天上、從我神那裏降下來的新耶路撒冷），並我的新名，都寫在他上面。聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』」』(啓示錄 3:7-13)

     有人提到過和大衞的鑰匙相關的經文如後：『我必將大衞家的鑰匙放在他肩頭上，他開，無人能關；他關，無人能開。』(以賽亞書 22:22) 非拉鐵非的教會不是有這樣令人羨慕的門嗎？我們看得出來，非拉鐵非的教會是一個很好的教會。經文又說，『他拆毀的，就不能再建造；他捆住人，便不得開釋。』(約伯記 12:14) 神拆毀的目的本是要建造，所以經文會說，『看哪！我今日立你在列邦列國之上，為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆，又要建立、栽植。』(耶利米書 1:10) 經文還說，『我還告訴你：你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石上，陰間的權柄不能勝過他。我要把天國的鑰匙給你，凡你在地上所捆綁的，在天上也要捆綁；凡你在地上所釋放的，在天上也要釋放。』(馬太福音 16:18-19) 大衞的鑰匙就是天國的鑰匙。且說，『又是那存活的；我曾死過，現在又活了，直活到永永遠遠，並且拿着死亡和陰間的鑰匙。』(啓示錄 1:18) 我們以前分享過這一節，這拿著死亡和陰間的鑰匙的顯然是主耶穌基督。

        這是許多人都羨慕的教會，因他們有這樣的一個門，開了就沒有人能關，關了就沒有人能開的！他們只不過在神眼中略有一點力量，但遵守了耶穌的道，沒有棄絕基督的名，我們看到了神是大有憐憫、大有恩典的。他們顯然是受了撒但一會的假猶太人的逼迫，要不怎麼要忍耐呢？最終是主親自介入，使假猶太人來在他們腳前。他們的忍耐賞賜是大的，可在普天下人受試煉的時候，免去試煉。鼓勵他們持守冠冕，全部作為能進城的得勝者，當然假猶太人除外。他們的賞賜是在神殿中作柱子，並有神的名和神城的名，且有基督的新名。

4. 從老底嘉的教會所看見的

       『「你要寫信給老底嘉教會的使者說：『那為阿們的，為誠信真實見證的，在神創造萬物之上為元首的，說：我知道你的行為，你也不冷也不熱；我巴不得你或冷或熱。你既如溫水，也不冷也不熱，所以我必從我口中把你吐出去。』」「『你說：我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。我勸你向我買火煉的金子，叫你富足；又買白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞恥不露出來；又買眼藥擦你的眼睛，使你能看見。「『凡我所疼愛的，我就責備管教他，所以你要發熱心，也要悔改。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。「『得勝的，我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐，就如我得了勝，在我父的寶座上與他同坐一般。聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』」』(啓示錄 3:14-22)

        我們以前談過老底嘉的教會很多次，現在只是分享一些以前沒分享過的，和將以前分享過的摘要說出來。我們看到了他們的行為如飲水不冷不熱，喝下去也不好，又捨不得浪費吐出來，最後主的決定是要把他們吐出來，實在是吃下去很不好受！除非們悔改。我們看到他們做了很多的事情，所以從人的角度看，一切都很好，但顯然他們做的不是神要他們做的，因神要他們買眼藥使他們能看見！且要真正的富足，穿上白衣。

        我們看到基督是大有憐憫的，雖然祂現在被關到門外，祂仍然疼愛他們，願意他們悔改，只要他們願意開門，祂就和他們一同坐席。並鼓勵他們要做一個得勝者，這是當時七個教會中唯一沒有得勝者的，教會真的要小心，不要一不小心就落入老底嘉教會的光景。我們以前分享過，這些經文又一次讓我體會到聖經的一致性，因經文說，『…無論在哪裏，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，那裏就有我在他們中間。』(馬太福音 18:20) 老底嘉的教會是奉主名聚會，雖祂是在心門之外，沒有作工，仍然是在他們中間，這應許沒有落空，聖經是一致的。我以前那裏會想到這點呢？這又讓我領會一次保羅說得是多麼真實，『若有人以為自己知道甚麼，按他所當知道的，他仍是不知道。』(哥林多前書 8:2) 所以保羅一定自己經歷過這樣的事，才會這樣說。

(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 of all, we talked about having ears which can hear and why we need to be like this. We also discussed a controversial Isaiah’s prophecy and found that there was no need to controversy at all.  We also see that the Lord is extremely willing to open our ears when we are really willing.  The second is about the method of spiritual discernment, because everything that comes from supernatural ideas may not necessarily come from God. We gave a biblical example to illustrate this point.  Every spirit that denies Jesus is not of God; it is the spirit of the Antichrist.  Finally, we talked about the method of distinguishing those thoughts belonging to the old self. The New Testament teaches us to know by looking at the results!  The Old Testament also says so.  Being able to discern after the fact at least gives people an opportunity to learn how to discern, and to know that they must use the words of the Bible as the absolute standard for discernment. We gave a brief testimony to illustrate this point. The remedy is to repent.  We see that it is not enough not to be afraid of death, but that we must not be afraid of death for Christ sake and have the determination to be a martyr for the Lord at any time.  We also explained, one might ask, why Jesus was not collaborating with Satan when he dipped the bread for Judas to eat at the Passover meal.  We also discuss that anyone who has influence over the kingdom of Satan will definitely be tempted by Satan or his servants just as Satan tempted Jesus. Because we want to be conformed to the image of Jesus, Satan will definitely prevent us from doing so and thus preventing us from growing up and being able to truly discern the difference between the good or the bad.  For example, we illustrate that God’s view of death is quite different from the world’s view of death.  Let us see that if a Christian has never been attacked by temptation, he should be alert!  Because even Satan’s servants don’t think he’s worthy of attack.

1. Have an ear that can hear

We have already talked about the same sentence in the seven (all) churches in the book of Revelation, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”(See Revelation 2:7,11,17,29, 3:6,13,22) Of course, you should definitely listen to what the spirit says, “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) Of course, we must discern that it is from the Holy Spirit and not from Satan’s servants masquerading as angels of light (see 2 Corinthians 11:14-15).  Some examples of this in the New Testament are: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”(Revelation 13:9) “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”(See Matthew 11:15, 13:9,43; Mark 4:9,13, 8:19; Luke 8:8, 14:35) “Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?”(Mark 8:18) We see that the Holy Spirit is not mentioned here, so we must also have an ear that can listen to other people’s words. However, other people’s words may not be entirely correct, so we must distinguish them.  There are quite a few similar verses in the Old Testament, such as “Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, Who have eyes but do not see; Who have ears but do not hear.”(Jeremiah 5:20-21) I won’t go into details here since you can check them out easily by using software.​

Someone may ask, but the New Testament says, “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’”(Matthew 13:14-15) Since they mentioned the prophecy of Isaiah, let us go to it. “He (the LORD) said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand. “Render the hearts (H3820) of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.””(Isaiah 6:9-10) Isn’t this that God makes the people unable to hear?  We see this word H3820 thirty times in Isaiah, enough times that we can understand the meaning of this word. A typical example is, “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart (H3820) is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings.” (Isaiah 51:7) In fact, it is clear from the consistency of Scripture, “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.””(Ezekiel 12:1-2) These people are from the rebellious house. How can they hear it?  What we want to emphasize here is that most of the time the Bible talks about general situations, and sometimes it talks about special cases. We cannot use special cases to say that the general situations described in the Bible are wrong.  Here, Ezekiel is an Israelite, but he is obviously not rebellious. From the case of Ezekiel, we cannot say that this general description of Israel as rebellious is a wrong description.

On the other hand, we see that “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17) If one can’t even hear, how can that person “believe?” If you want to change, the first step is to listen, right?  This is true for both the words of the Holy Spirit and the words of brothers and sisters.  Especially for spiritual matters, we need God to open our ears, otherwise how can we change it?  The psalm says, “Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.”(Psalm 40:6) We need to do both, but which one is more important must be clearly distinguished.  Isaiah says, ““You have not heard, you have not known.

Even from long ago your ear has not been open, Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; And you have been called a rebel from birth.”(Isaiah 48:8) The house of Israel was indeed a rebellious house.  He also said, “The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back.”(Isaiah 50:5) We can see that Isaiah did have a hearing ear!  We have to say it again, we must have ears that can hear for both the spiritual and worldly things. If we are willing, we can ask the Lord to open our ears and give us an ear that can hear. We know that He is extremely willing to do so. We have talked many times about that He was shut out by the Laodicean church and still said, “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) You really need to be sure that you are really willing, because “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:9) We sometimes deceive ourselves!

2. Methods of spiritual discernment

Everything that comes from supernatural thoughts does not necessarily come from God, because quite a few people think that supernatural things must come from God, but in fact it is not the case. To discern, you must use the words of the Bible as the absolute standard to make a distinction.  What if there is no such thing in the Bible? Then we have to look at the principles of the Bible. If we truly believe that the Bible is inspired by God, we will know that the principles are all there. Therefore, the Old Testament says, “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.”(Psalm 103:7) Therefore, when we read the Bible, we not only need to know what the Triune God has done and what He can do, but we also need to know some of His principles for doing things.  Because He is infinite and we are finite, it is impossible for us to know all the laws of His ways of doing things on our own unless He reveals to us.  We believe that He is willing, provided that we open the door in our heart. In the book of Revelation, the church in Laodicea shut Jesus out, but He still said, “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) Here, didn’t God let Moses know His principles for doing things?  Please don’t confuse what He has done with what He can do.  Indeed, both the Old and New Testaments record many things that He has done, but what He can do is beyond our imagination. Therefore, the New Testament says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”(Ephesians 3:20)

First, we must know that Satan and his servants  can also pretend to be angels of light. “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, …”(2 Corinthians 11:14-15) The book of Job in the Old Testament makes it very clear that supernatural things that come from thoughts do not necessarily come from God!  We shared this before, and because it is so important to know this, we list the scriptures and then only briefly discuss them here.  The scripture is quite long, “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,  “If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking? …“Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it. “Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones shake. “Then a spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up. “It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice: ‘Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? ‘He puts no trust even in His servants; And against His angels He charges error. ‘How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth! ‘Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; Unobserved, they perish forever. Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.’”(Job 4:1-21) Eliphaz’s words are mixed between right and wrong. This is related to the serpent who used the same strategy to seduce Eve!  So the spirit Eliphaz met was Satan, but he didn’t know it at that time.

In the New Testament, we are told more clearly how to distinguish in the spiritual world, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, …”(1 John 4:1-3) If we are sure that we are encountering something in the spiritual world, we can use this method to distinguish it.  At the time of Eliphaz, Jesus had not yet become flesh, so it was impossible for him to discern this way.

We need to know that some wrong things that come from our thoughts are not always from the servants of Satan. Many times they come from our old self.  Regardless of whether the thought comes from your old self that was stirred up by Satan’s agents, whenever you commit sins, your old self can be stirred up, so you must make sure it comes from the spiritual world.  If it really comes from the spiritual world, the Bible promises us that this method will be effective.  If it doesn’t work, it must come from the old self. Below we will talk about the methods to discern the old self.

3. Methods to discern our old self

We first talked about what Isaiah said, “So the word of the LORD to them will be, “Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,” …”(Isaiah 28:13) This is basically a way of writing the Bible. You really need to have faith to read every page of the Bible, knowing that sometimes it is a little bit here and a little bit there!

If there is no opportunity for spiritual discernment or thoughts coming from the old self, is there any practical way to discern?  Yes.  The New Testament teaches us to know by looking at the results! “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17-18) What we are talking about is life, not grafting. A tree has its own life, just like chickens and ducks have different lives. Ducks have a life of swimming, but chickens do not. The method to force the chicken to swim isn’t feasible. If the chicken is placed in the river, it will drown. ​

There are corresponding words in the Old Testament too, “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”(Deuteronomy 18:22) What comes from God will definitely come true!  The Old Testament says very clearly, “Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.”(1 Samuel 3:19-20) This is indeed the case, because the scripture also says, “He said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.””(1 Samuel 9:6)

Therefore, a person should know that something that doesn’t come true doesn’t come from God for sure.  To reflect such points, some people have testified that sometimes things happen in complete agreement with the results of prayer, sometimes in part, and sometimes even in reverse.  If this is the case, this person should know that he needs to discern. Don’t just accept it all because he has prayed. One should know that sometimes the results of a prayer is due to the old self who hopes it happens according to what prayed.

It is said in the book of Acts that when they chose a man to replace the betrayer Judas, their condition is stated in the verses, “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us⁠— beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us⁠—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”(Acts 1:21-22) “So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.”(Acts 1:23-26) They prayed, but the Bible does not clearly say whether this prayer was answered, so all people can do is to decide by casting lots. Therefore, Matthias is not like the eleven apostles whom Jesus Himself chose.  The twelfth apostle chosen by Jesus Himself was Paul. He chose him in great light after His resurrection, so the book of Revelation says, “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”(Revelation 21:14)

If we can only tell after the fact like this, isn’t it too late?  Not too late.  Being able to discern after the fact at least gives people an opportunity to learn how to discern when encountering similar situations in the future, and to know that the words of the Bible should be used as the absolute standard for discernment.  And there is a remedy, which is to repent before God, because the Bible says very clearly, “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) So you must repent.

Let’s look at an example of “using the words of the Bible as the absolute standard for discernment,” which is one of my testimony.  Once during an online Bible study, a sister happily testified that she said that a brother had seen the face of God.  I couldn’t help but ask her, is this brother alive or dead now?  She happily replied that he was still alive.  I really had to tell her that this was inconsistent with the Bible!  Because “…He said, “You (Moses) cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!””(Exodus 33:20) What the person saw was obviously not God.  Then she said that since then, this brother has been very enthusiastic.  Can’t you tell what a tree is like just by looking at its fruits?  Yes, sometimes you have to wait, and Satan’s servants will pretend to be angels of light, but they cannot last long, and they will always show their flaws.  This matter is obvious and inconsistent with what the Bible says. You don’t have to wait any longer to find out!

Someone might quote this verse, “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”(Deuteronomy 13:1-3) If it is a fake, it will not come true every time, because sometimes it is like a weather forecast which may be accurate in the short term, but it will definitely be wrong in the long term.  Sometimes we have to wait before we know for sure whether “…the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”(Deuteronomy 13:3)

Some people may quote this verse, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”(James 1:13-14) Aren’t the above two verses contradictory?  Not contradictory.  When we look at the beginning of the book of Job, we know what happened (see Job 1:1-2:7). We see that it was God who nodded, and Satan established himself within the scope allowed by God, and tried his best to tempting people does not require God’s personal work, because God knows Satan’s personality very well and knows that he will definitely do this.

We have also seen, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”(Hebrews 2:14-15) As soon as we believed, God “…rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”(Colossians 1:13-14) Therefore, we came out of the world to be in Christ.

However, it doesn’t mean that if one isn’t afraid of death, then it is ok. As the saying goes, a hero says, ‘beheading can only leave a scar as big as a bowl.’ Do you think such a hero would be afraid of death? It only counts if one isn’t afraid of death is for Christ sake and thus to have the determination to be a martyr for the Lord at any time, just like Peter.  The scripture says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!””(John 21:18-19) After He said these words, Peter obviously lived well for a while, so Jesus was speaking a prophecy. The point is that even though Peter knew it in advance, he still wanted to serve for the Lord.

We also know that Satan knows that Jesus is detrimental to his kingdom!  The scripture says, “Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!””(Mark 3:11) Even unclean spirits know that He is the Son of God, how could Satan don’t know what happened?  It’s just that Satan doesn’t know how the plan of salvation will be completed. If he could know in advance, he wouldn’t be a part of Jesus’ crucifixion!  On this point, the scriptures are very clear. During the Passover meal, “…when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. …”(John 13:26-27) Some people use this scripture to say that Jesus cooperated with Satan. In fact, this is not the case. During the period before the Passover meal, the scripture says, “And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve.”(Luke 22:3) Judas was already prepared to betray Jesus. You can tell from the scriptures that Jesus knew it beforehand, so He just “…said to him, “What you do, do quickly.””(John 13:27) The result was, “…after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; …”(John 13:30) “Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.””(John 13:31) Jesus can then fulfill His mission saying what He had to say.

Satan will definitely test anyone who has influence over his kingdom just as he tested Jesus, because “…A slave is not greater than his master. …”(John 15:20) We know that the ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Bible clearly says, “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) Non-Christians will not affect the kingdom of Satan. Even Christians, not everyone will have an influence on the kingdom of Satan. For example, those who are once saved are always saved but are unwilling to embark on the journey to sanctification are merely saved Christians and have no effect on Satan’s kingdom. Jesus also said, “…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; …”(John 15:20) So Jesus would say, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”(Matthew 10:38-39) We are to be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29). Do you think Satan or his servants will let us go?  They will surely tempt such a person!

The scripture says, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses (G145) trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) This word G145 only appears once, and comes from G143 in this verse, “But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive (G143) it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.”(Luke 9:45) This word G143 only appears once.  From these two scriptures, it should mean that after the mind is opened, it can realize some things, which poses a threat to the kingdom of Satan. For example, after the mind is opened, one can truly discern between good and evil.  So what is the real good or evil?  Let’s take death as an example again. The good and bad in God’s eyes are quite different from the good and bad in the eyes of the world!  People usually hope to live a long life, but we see that the apostle James died short-lived because the Bible clearly stated, “Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.”(Acts 12:1-2) But he still has a crown, because when the new city of Jerusalem comes down in the new heaven and new earth, “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”(Revelation 21:14) It can be seen clearly that God and the world have very different views about death.

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Usually, when a person is attacked by the spirit world, sometimes he does not know it, just like Eliphaz the Temanite, and does not realize it at all.  Therefore, just because some people think they have not been attacked by evil spirits does not mean that they have never been attacked.  So Peter tells us, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) And Martin Luther would say, we cannot prevent birds from flying by and their poop falling on our heads, but we can prevent birds from making nests on our heads.  In other words, we cannot avoid the sudden attack of evil spirits, but we definitely have enough time to avoid the attack from fermenting. If we let it ferment, it will be our fault.  If a Christian has truly not been attacked by Satan or his servants, he should be alert!  Because they all think you are not worthy of attack and are already in their kingdom. The scriptures make it clear, “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!” (Mark 3:26)

(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.”)

In these seven churches, we can see different things happened, which reflect some of the situations of our current churches.  First of all, we see that the Lord’s narratives in the first three chapters of Revelation are quite different. We must combine them, that is, the description that fits all the narratives. This is a way of writing in the Bible, a little here and a little there.  In the church in Thyatira, we saw how terrible false teaching from a human perspective can be and how it can tempt people to sin!  The church should not tolerate such teaching.  There is also mention of the rewards of the overcomers.  The second one mentions the serious judgment against the church in Sardis, but there are still a few overcomers who can enter the New Jerusalem city, and teaches them how to be overcomers and their rewards. We also see the consistency of the Bible from this.  The third is to talk about the church in Philadelphia that many people admire. This church has a door that cannot be closed. It talks about what they have done and the rewards they will receive.  Finally, we talk about the church in Laodicea, the only church among the seven that didn’t have an overcomer. We saw that God decided to spit out these lukewarm men. From a human perspective, everything was fine, but from a divine perspective the complete opposite is seen.  We explained why we could see biblical consistency again in the scriptures, and why it led me to experience a certain verse again.

1. The Lord’s description and what we saw from the church in Thyatira

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them⁠—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”(Revelation 2:18-29)

Of course, in the end of the verses, it says that every church must have an ear that can hear what is said. Of course, one must listen to what the Holy Spirit says. The Bible says very clearly, “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) In fact, it is not just what the Holy Spirit says, but you also need to have an ear that can listen to the words of others. However, people’s honest words are not necessarily correct. Words need to be distinguished or discerned. The Bible says, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.”(Ephesians 4:15) If you look at the nearby verses or in the same book, the truth means the truth described in the Bible, which is the truth. In experiences, we have probably heard such testimonies: The Holy Spirit often reminds me to do things I have forgotten, such as forgetting keys, etc. How can this be the truth described in the Bible?  If you read the original text, you will know that love refers to God’s love. How could the Holy Spirit not have God’s love? Of course, we need to be sure that such thoughts come from God, because “…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, …”(2 Corinthians 11:14-15) We will discuss how to distinguish in “1092 Hearing Ears, Methods to Discern Spiritual Matters and Old-Self Ones.” If you are interested in this article, you can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find it.

We first see that the narratives about the Lord in the first three chapters of Revelation are quite different, but they do not conflict. We must combine them, that is, a description that fits all the narratives.  For example, here it says, “…The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, …”(Revelation 2:18) In the first chapter it says, “His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”(Revelation 1:14-15) This narrative encompasses what we are saying here, but also says, “…The One who has the sharp two-edged sword …”(Revelation 2:12) So for these three, the description must be consistent with all narratives in its union.  Of course, the Lord’s narratives are also narrated in other places, such as in other churches, but we will not go into details here.  In fact, there are narratives about the Lord from the Old Testament to the New Testament, because the Bible is always talking about the Lord Christ.  So our description must be a collection of all the narratives here and there. This is basically a way of writing in the Bible, as Isaiah said, “So the word of the LORD to them will be, “Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,” …”(Isaiah 28:13) Only by having the faith, we can then read the whole Bible to get all the narratives about a matter and know that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, that is, it is not literally about the consistency of the Bible. In words, we will see obvious contradictions. What we should ask in this case is, what does God want to tell us by inspiring this obvious contradiction?  One point we want to emphasize is that sometimes the Bible clearly says it, but we think those words have no meaning and ignore the writing here and there. We really need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, so that we know that what Paul said is the truth, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”(1 Corinthians 8:2) Never argue with the Holy Spirit, we will never win, because the Bible is very clear, ““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)   

We have previously mentioned in “1004 Seven churches in revelation and ears can hear” that in the book of Revelation it says that there must have hearing ears in the seven churches. In that short article, we briefly describe the strengths, weaknesses, or encouragements of these seven churches.  In short, strengths and encouragement are what we should do instead of making shortcomings. It points out that different churches are in different situations, and also reflects some aspects of our current church situations.  As we will talk about later, even if the church in Laodicea shuts out Jesus, it is still a golden lampstand in His eyes.  If they hear the message and repent, they still have the opportunity to be transformed into a church with overcomers under the powerful work of God.  We don’t know how God wants to work. God is absolutely sovereign. He decides whether to answer our prayers, but we must know that sometimes He will change based on our prayers. Just as the book of Amos says, “The LORD changed His mind about this. “This too shall not be,” said the Lord GOD.”(Amos 7:6) (See Amos 7:1-6) Therefore, even if your prayers are not answered, you should “pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17) This scripture says, “…I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”(Revelation 2:23) Didn’t He clearly say again that He looks at people’s hearts?  Therefore, ““Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”(Matthew 7:1) But the Bible also says very clearly that it is necessary to discern, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) Be able to grow into a mature man, not be a baby forever.  Here we will basically not repeat the discussion in 1004. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this short article.

Here, we also see how terrible false teachings from a human perspective are. They can tempt people to commit sins. Although such teachings may prosper for a while sometimes, and the number of people increases, who teaches such teachings will eventually be punished by God, such as those who teach the philosophy of success, where the so called church is really not the Church of God!  Anyone who teaches this way should be expelled from the Church of God!  The importance of repentance is also seen in the scriptures. God looks at people’s hearts. Christians must have acts of faith and don’t forget, “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) This is the reason why the Lord has not returned after more than two thousand years.  Our actions must be accountable to the Lord. No wonder it says, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”(James 3:1)

It is also clearly stated here that there are overcomers, because they are just some who have listened to incorrect teachings. Those overcomers will obey the Lord’s commands to the end, and their rewards are authority and the morning star.  Of course, here is what is said in all seven churches, that you must have an ear that can hear.  The Bible says it again and again, so we emphasize it again and again.

2. What we saw from the church in Sardis

““To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”(Revelation 3:1-6) ​

The verses tell us that the judgment against the church in Sardis was severe and warned them to repent and remember where they fell because they must stand up from there.  This is just like Adam’s disobedience to God, so “…through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, …”(Romans 5:12) God originally wanted Adam to choose to eat the fruit of the tree of life and be saved. The salvation plan is to have the obedience of Jesus in His whole life to get rid of sin. In Christ, we have already chosen the fruit of the tree of life and stood up from where Adam fell. We have shared this before, so I won’t go into more detail.  If the church in Sardis does not repent, there will be punishment.  But there are a few overcomers who have not defiled their clothes. They will walk with the Lord in white clothes and be able to enter the New Jerusalem.  The scripture does not say that Christians who do not wear white robes will be removed from the book of life. If they are Christians who are the one who only saved once and saved forever, they will be Christians outside the city. How consistent is the Bible on this point!  We have previously discussed in “5. Is it fair that once you are saved you are saved forever?” of the article  “1087 Conforming to the image of Jesus and its practice”  about this point in detail. If you are interested in this topic, you can go to the website “ https://a-christian-voice.com/ ” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this essay.

3. What we saw from the church in Philadelphia

““And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie⁠—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”(Revelation 3:7-13) ​

Someone mentioned the verses related to the key of David: “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.”(Isaiah 22:22) Doesn’t the church in Philadelphia have such an admirable door?  We can see that the church in Philadelphia is a very good church.  The scripture also says, “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.”(Job 12:14) God’s purpose of tearing down is to build, so the scripture says, “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”(Jeremiah 1:10) The scripture also says, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”(Matthew 16:18-19) David’s key is the key to the kingdom of heaven.  In Revelation 1:18, it says, “…the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” We have shared this verse before, and the one who holds the keys of death and Hades is obviously the Lord Jesus Christ. ​

This is a church that many people envy, because they have such a door. Once it is opened, no one can close it, and once it is closed, no one can open it!  They only had a little power in the eyes of God, but they kept the way of Jesus and did not abandon the name of Christ. We see that God is very merciful and gracious.  They were obviously persecuted by the false Jews of the Satanic synagogue; otherwise they don’t have to endure it. Eventually it was the Lord Himself who intervened and caused the false Jews to come at their feet.  The reward for their patience is great, and they are exempted from trial when the whole world is being tried.  Encourage them to hold on to their crowns and all be overcomers who can enter the city, except of course the false Jews.  Their reward was to be pillars in the temple, bearing the name of God and the name of the city of God, and bearing the new name of Christ.

4. What we saw from the church in Laodicea

““To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 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. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’””(Revelation 3:14-22)

We have talked about the church in Laodicea many times before, and now we are just sharing some things that have not been shared before, and summarizing what has been shared before.  We saw their behavior like drinking water that was neither cold nor hot, and it was not good to drink it, but they were reluctant to waste it and spit it out. In the end, the Lord decided to spit it out. It was really uncomfortable to eat it!  Unless they repent.  We see them doing many things, so from a human perspective, everything is fine, but obviously what they do is not what God wants them to do, because God wants them to buy eye drops so that they can see!  And to be truly wealthy, wear white clothes.

We see that Christ is very merciful. Although He is now shut out, He still loves them and wants them to repent. As long as they are willing to open the door, He will dine with them.  He also encouraged them to be overcomers. This was the only one among the seven churches that did not have an overcomer at that time. The church must be careful not to accidentally fall into the situation of the Laodicean church.  We have shared before, and these verses once again reminded me of the consistency of Scripture, for it says, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”(Matthew 18:20) The church in Laodicea gathered in the name of the Lord. Although He was outside the door of their hearts and did not work, He was still among them. This promise has not failed, and the Bible is consistent. I didn’t think about this before. If it isn’t for revelation, there is no way for me to think about it. This once again made me realize how true it is when Paul says, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”(1 Corinthians 8:2) So even the Bible don’t say clearly, most likely Paul had experienced such a thing before so that he could say it.

 ​(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，我们知道人见了永远升天后的耶稣会仆倒在地，我们也解释为什么圣经说死和阴间是带著钥匙的，又从七星和七灵，看到圣经用字是非常的精确。第二，从以弗所教会中做到的事情，也是我们该做的，强调分辩假使徒的重要性，但也责备他们离弃了起初的神的爱，看到了得胜者就是能进新耶路撒冷城的，及神乐园是本是在天上的新耶路撒冷的城内，并对所有的人说要有能听的耳。第三，在士每拿的教会中，说到了当积财宝在天。至于他们的苦难是来自魔鬼撤但，让他们受试炼。他们没有受到任何的责备，但鼓励他们要做个有生命冠冕的得胜者，且不受第二次死的害。这不代表得胜者就是和头一次复活有分的人，不能划等号！最后我们谈到了别迦摩的教会，是在那时撒但住的地方，因此看到撒但不能像神一样无所不在。他们的优点是看到了耶稣忠心的见证人安提帕被杀，还坚守祂的名，没有弃绝祂的道。但有人服从了巴兰和尼哥拉一党人的教训，所以不应该是在整体上教会教导出了问题，但他们允许了不好的教训在教会中存在，是该悔改，也看到了对得胜者有著不同的描述。

1. 死亡和阴间，及七星和七灵   

『我看见，就仆倒在他脚前，像死了一样。他用右手按著我说：「不要惧怕！我是首先的，我是末后的，又是那存活的；我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远，并且拿著死亡(G2288)和阴间(G86)的钥匙(复数)。所以你要把所看见的和现在的事，并将来必成的事都写出来。论到你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘，那七星就是七个教会的使者，七灯台就是七个教会。」』(启示录 1:17-20)        

约翰一看见耶稣就仆倒在地，后来是要主加添他的力量，他才能站起来。耶稣的第一句话是说不要惧怕，所以他是因惧怕而仆倒在地的，不是因为其他的原因。当初祂复活后升天前，曾向门徒显现，他们并未了仆倒在地，现在很不同了！这使我想起在旧约中的一件事，就是耶和华的仆人摩西死了以后，耶和华晓谕摩西的帮手、嫩的儿子约书亚说：『我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。』(约书亚记 1:9) 有多次的要他不要惧怕，这只是其中的一次。      

其实在其他地方也说，人见了永远升天后的耶稣会仆倒在地。这经文就很清楚的说，『扫罗行路，将到大马士革，忽然从天上发光，四面照著他。他就仆倒在地，听见有声音对他说：「扫罗，扫罗！你为甚么逼迫我？」他说：「主啊，你是谁？」 主说：「我就是你所逼迫的耶稣。起来！进城去，你所当做的事，必有人告诉你。」』(使徒行传 9:3-6) 这时是要耶稣叫他起来，于是『扫罗从地上起来，睁开眼睛，竟不能看见甚么。有人拉他的手，领他进了大马士革。』(使徒行传 9:8) 因为他有看不见的影响，他绝定能记得这事曾发生过，所以保罗会说，『亚基帕王啊，我故此没有违背那从天上来的异象。』(使徒行传 26:19) 在这里我们也看见和他同行的人没有受到他一样的影响，虽然他们也『…都仆倒在地…』(使徒行传 26:14) 难道他们不是因突然见到大光，而有人之常情和保罗一样的惧怕而仆倒在地吗？但他们并没有看见基督而眼睛没有受到影响，但保罗见著了，因他自己说，『末了，也显给我看，…』(哥林多前书 15:8)        

我们一了注意到死亡和阴间是两个不同的字，而从这经文，『我就观看，见有一匹灰色马；骑在马上的，名字叫作死(G2288)，阴府(阴间, G86)也随著他。…』(启示录 6:8) 我们看到死(G2288)和阴间(G86)是指骑在马上的人，都是带著钥匙的，所以钥匙用的是复数。启示录常常在描写一个事实，这里就是一个另外的例子，描述耶稣基督骑在白马上，『我观看，见天开了。有一匹白马，骑在马上的称为诚信真实，他审判、争战都按著公义。…在天上的众军骑著白马，穿著细麻衣，又白又洁，跟随他。…在他衣服和大腿上有名写著说：「万王之王，万主之主。」』(启示录 19:11-16)     

新约中的阴间(G86)只出现 11 次，而和合本的翻译只有 10 次，且其中一次为『谁要下到阴间(G12)去呢？』（就是要领基督从死里上来。）」(罗马书 10:7) 这里用的是不同的字。没有提到的两次为刚才提到的启示录 6:8 和『死(G2288)啊，你得胜的权势在哪里？死(G86)啊，你的毒钩在哪里？』(哥林多前书 15:55) 第二个死应是指阴间，不能翻成死，因死和阴间是两个不同的字。        

我们注意到圣经用字是非常的精确，在这里是提到了三件不同的事情，约翰所看见的只有那七个教会，而现在的事包含了当时所有的教会及发生的事情，和第三件事情就是将来必成的事。关于约翰所看见的七个教会，有七星和七个金灯台。七星和七灵是不一样的，七星只是指那七个教会的使者，而七灵是指圣灵的无所不在，因『…羔羊…有七角七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。(启示录 5:6) 也就是『…七盏火灯在宝座前点著，这七灯就是神的七灵。』(启示录 4:5) 用不用的方式在说同一件事情。我们看见有七个现在的教会，就有七星。

2. 从以弗所的教会所看见的       

『「你要写信给以弗所教会的使者说：『那右手拿著七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的说：我知道你的行为、劳碌、忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾试验那自称为使徒却不是使徒的，看出他们是假的来。你也能忍耐，曾为我的名劳苦，并不乏倦。』」「『然而，有一件事我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心(G26)离弃了。所以应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就临到你那里，把你的灯台从原处挪去。然而，你还有一件可取的事，就是你恨恶尼哥拉一党人的行为，这也是我所恨恶的。「『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将神乐园(G3857)中生命树的果子赐给他吃。』」』(启示录 2:1-7)        

很清楚说到我知道有些做得好的事情，这也是我们该做的。强调要分辩假使徒的重要，恨恶尼哥拉一党的人就是一个很好的例子。但也责备他们离弃了起初的爱心(G26)，这是指包括人间之爱的神的爱，没有做到得胜者的要求。在这里，我们相信他们一定做了一些人间的爱的事情，像现在的某些教会一样，相信『你们若有彼此相爱(G26)的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。』(约翰福音 13:35) 但没有注意到这爱是指神的爱。这里没有说到只是有人如此，应该是整个教会的教导出了问题，他们做了一些人间之爱的事情，但缺乏了神的爱。我们要做得胜者，这样才能得赏赐，能吃生命树上的果子。顺便一提，新约所说的爱大部份都是讲到神的爱，只有少数的时候是用不同的字，如这经文，『你们务要常存弟兄相爱(G5360)的心。』(希伯来书 13:1) 不看原文会分不清楚到底是指那一种爱！  

我们来看看还有那些地方提到了生命树？先是有『…圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降…』(启示录 21:2)  在城内的宝座上，约翰听见了大声音『…说：「看哪！神的帐幕在人间。他要与人同住，他们要作他的子民；神要亲自与他们同在，作他们的神。』(启示录 21:3) 所以是必须要在城内才行。然后说是『…只有名字写在羔羊生命册上的才得进去。』(启示录 21:27) 能在生命册上有份是起码的要求，不是每一个在生命册上的人都能进城的。我们谈过，圣经告诉我们一次得救就永远得救，但有些基督徒包括堕落的是在城外的，这就犹如底马一样，他曾是保罗的同工，绝对曾是从世界出来的基督徒，但『…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) 显然底马是堕落了，落得祇能在城外。那么谁能进城呢？经文说得很清楚，『那些洗净自己衣服的有福了！可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。』(启示录 22:14) 那些靠著圣灵而洗净自己属灵的衣服的，不就是那些能进城的得胜者吗？        

所以新耶路撒冷本是在天上的，而生命树是在神乐园中，如经文所述，『天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从神和羔羊的宝座流出来。在河这边与那边有生命树，…』(启示录 22:1-2) 这不就是在说神乐园在新耶路撒冷城内吗？        

新约只提到乐园三次，除了这次外，第一次是『耶稣对他(犯人, 强盗)说：「我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了。」』(路加福音 23:43) 我们看到乐园是有耶稣同在的地方，那时还在天上，所以一般是人死后才能进去，犯人是有信心和信心行为的人，我们以前提到过，这里就不多说了，经文很清楚的说，他在十字架上死后就进去了。第二次是说，『他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的(G1832, 汇编原文两次加强语气)。』(哥林多后书 12:4) 顺便一提是希腊文中没有比较级及最高级的强调，出现两次相当比较级而三次是最高级。我们知道乐园是在第三层天，因为经文又说，『我(保罗)认得一个在基督里的人，他前十四年被提到第三层天上去。…』(哥林多后书 12:2) 这一个人应该就是保罗自己，因为他说，『我认得这人，或在身内、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。』(哥林多后书 12:3) 这里也说到，那时的乐园的确是在天上，圣经是多么的一致啊！我们注意到，他不是像一般人一样，要到死后才能进去，但一定要被提才行，他知道那隐秘的言语是人不可说的，他也没有再提这件事。所以圣经是没有明说他那时候听不听得懂，虽然我们是猜那时他听得懂，要不基本上他就是白跑了一趟，只知道可以被提到三层天。我相信他是知道不能讲，自己选择了不讲，不是像七雷一样，『…从天上有声音说：「七雷所说的你要封上，不可写出来。」』(启示录 10:4) 明说了七雷说的不可讲。        

经文中也提到这句话，『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』这是对七个教会都说的，也就是对每个人说，要有能听的耳！其中圣灵说的包括了这经文，『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。」』(启示录 14:13) 是的，有可以存到永远的事情！所以圣经会说，『不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷；只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里。』(马太福音 6:19-21) 要顾念天上的事，不要只想地上的事。

3. 从士每拿的教会所看见的      

『「你要写信给士每拿教会的使者说：『那首先的、末后的、死过又活的说：我知道你的患难，你的贫穷，（你却是富足的！）也知道那自称是犹太人所说的毁谤话，其实他们不是犹太人，乃是撒但一会的人。』」「『你将要受的苦你不用怕。魔鬼要把你们中间几个人下在监里，叫你们被试炼，你们必受患难十日。你务要至死忠心，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。「『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，必不受第二次死的害。』」』(启示录 2:8-11)        

这不又是说当积财宝在天吗？他在世间贫穷，但在天上富足。至于他们的苦难，也指出是来自魔鬼撤但，让他们受试炼，这里说的十日就应该是十日，不要说，『…主看一日如千年，千年如一日。』(彼得后书 3:8) 因此十日是指一万日，这里显然不能用算数。不过他们应该会知道，『你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的。在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。』(哥林多前书 10:13) 如果有需要，神会亲自作工的。这就类似于神要祝福约伯(参约伯记 42:10-17) 但要祝福他前，允许撤但试探他(参约伯记 1:1-2:7)，最后神亲自为约伯开了一条出路，就是，『那时，耶和华从旋风中回答约伯说：』(约伯记 38:1) 经文中并说明，清楚的告诉他们，这些说毁谤话的是撒但一会的人。        

他们没有受责备，但鼓励他们不要怕，至死忠心，做个有生命冠冕的得胜者，且不受第二次死的害。这不代表得胜者就是和头一次复活有分的人，不能划等号！和头一次复活有分的人，圣经说得很清楚，『…那些因为给耶稣作见证，并为神之道被斩者的灵魂，和那没有拜过兽与兽像，也没有在额上和手上受过牠印记之人的灵魂，他们都复活了，与基督一同作王一千年。这是头一次的复活。其余的死人还没有复活，直等那一千年完了。』(启示录 20:4-5) 我们都想和千年国度有份，但这些很清楚的说，前者为殉道者，后者是在耶稣再来以后才发生，所以不要听一些人的谎言，以为是真基督徒就一定会在千年国度里！

4. 从别迦摩的教会所看见的   

『「你要写信给别迦摩教会的使者说︰『那有两刃利剑的说：我知道你的居所，就是有撒但座位之处。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们中间、撒但所住的地方被杀之时，你还坚守我的名，没有弃绝我的道。』」「『然而，有几件事我要责备你，因为在你那里，有人服从了巴兰的教训；这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行奸淫的事。你那里也有人照样服从了尼哥拉一党人的教训。所以你当悔改！若不悔改，我就快临到你那里，用我口中的剑攻击他们。「『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他，并赐他一块白石，石上写著新名，除了那领受的以外，没有人能认识。』」』(启示录 2:12-17)       

这是那时撒但住的地方，他们看到了耶稣忠心的见证人安提帕被杀，还坚守祂的名，没有弃绝祂的道，所以这个教会是很不容易的。这也看见了撒但不是无所不在的，有一个居所，所以会说，『…你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8) 约伯记和这是一致的说，『耶和华问撒但说：「你从哪里来？」 撒但回答说：「我从地上走来走去，往返而来。」』(约伯记 1:7)     

圣经第一次提到这堕落的先知巴兰是西拨的儿子巴勒作摩押王时，『他差遣使者往大河边的毗夺去，到比珥的儿子巴兰本乡那里，召巴兰来…』(民数记 22:4-5) 去诅咒以色列人，最后是没有成功，『于是巴兰起来回他本地去，巴勒也回去了。』(民数记 24:25) 之后，我们看到了，『以色列人住在什亭，百姓与摩押女子行起淫乱。』(民数记 25:1) 虽然那时旧约没有明这是出于巴兰，这里就明讲了是巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前。这堕落的先知的下场是很不好的，我们看到，『…亚摩利王西宏的全国。这西宏曾在希实本作王，摩西把他和米甸的族长以未、利金、苏珥、户珥、利巴击杀了。这都是住那地属西宏为首领的。那时，以色列人在所杀的人中，也用刀杀了比珥的儿子术士巴兰。』(约书亚记 13:21-22) 圣经没有明说巴兰是为什么原因又回来了，但我们知道他回来了，因他最终在这里被杀。     

这里且说到有人服从了巴兰和尼哥拉一党人的教训，所以不应是教会教导整体上出了问题，但他们允许了巴兰的教训和尼哥拉一党的人的存在，是应该悔改，否则就会得到该得的惩罸。经文说，『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) 我们看到悔改是多么的重要！要先悔改，才会有以上说的赦免结果，但并没有说可以免掉惩罸！以大卫为例，他在拔示巴和乌利亚的事情上，『大卫对拿单说：「我得罪耶和华了！」拿单说：「耶和华已经除掉你的罪，你必不至于死。」』(撒母耳记下 12:13) 他一知道自己犯罪后，就立刻悔改，他写了诗篇 51 篇，在神面前悔改，并交于伶长，并不在众人之前悔改，不隐藏自己的罪过，他的悔改不能说不彻底，但他仍有惩罸，『耶和华如此说：『我必从你家中兴起祸患攻击你，我必在你眼前把你的妃嫔赐给别人，他在日光之下就与她们同寝。你在暗中行这事，我却要在以色列众人面前、日光之下报应你。』』(撒母耳记下 12:11-12) 这是大罪，神就这样行了。神有绝对的主权，可以不惩罸我们的，祂是看人内心的，可以决定如何对付罪的问题，祂有祂的原则，只是我们不会全知道。有时我们会陷入困境，实在是因为我们自己的罪。        

我们也看到对得胜的赏赐有不同的描述，这里是说到他们有那隐藏的吗哪并白石，白石上有著没有别人认识的新名。就是『得胜的，…我的新名，…写在他上面。』(启示录 3:12)  

(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』。)  

First of all, we know that people will fall to the ground when they see Jesus who has ascended to heaven forever after resurrection. We also explain why the Bible says that death and Hades have keys. From the seven stars and seven spirits, we can see that the Bible’s wording is very precise.  Second, what did in the church in Ephesus is what we should do. The verses also emphasize the importance of identifying false apostles, but were rebuking them for abandoning the original love of God. We see that the overcomers can enter the New Jerusalem, and the paradise of God is originally in the city of the New Jerusalem in heaven. The verses also say that all people must have ears that can hear.  Third, in the church in Smyrna, it was said that we should lay up treasures in heaven.  As for their suffering, it came from Satan the devil, who put them through trials.  They were not rebuked, but encouraged to be overcomers with the crown of life and to be immune to the second death.  This does not mean that the overcomers are those who participate in the first resurrection. These two cannot be equated!  Finally, we talked about the church in Pergamum, which was where Satan lived at that time, so we saw that Satan could not be omnipresent like God.  Their good point is that they saw Antipas, a faithful witness of Jesus, being slain, and yet they clung to His name and did not forsake His way.  But some people obeyed the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, so it shouldn’t be that there is something wrong with the church’s teachings as a whole, but they allowed bad teachings to exist in the church. They should repent. Also we see that there were different descriptions for overcomers.

1. Death and Hades, and the Seven Stars and Seven Spirits

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death (G2288) and of Hades  (G86). Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”(Revelation 1:17-20)

As soon as John saw Jesus, he fell to the ground. Later, the Lord strengthened him so that he could stand up.  Jesus’ first words were to say not to be afraid, so He fell to the ground out of fear, not for any other reason.  After He was resurrected and before He ascended to heaven, He appeared to His disciples, but they did not fall to the ground. But now it is very different!  This reminds me of an incident in the Old Testament. After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9) This was just one of the many times Joshua was told not to be afraid.

In fact, it is said in other places that people will fall to the ground when they see Jesus who has ascended to heaven forever.  This scripture says very clearly, “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.””(Acts 9:3-6) At this time, Jesus asked him to get up, so “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.”(Acts 9:8) Because he had a visible and an invisible influence, he could definitely remember that this happened, so Paul would say, ““So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision.”(Acts 26:19) Here we also see that the people who walked with him were not affected by him in the same way, although they also “…had all fallen to the ground, …”(Acts 26:14) Were they not because of Is it natural for someone to suddenly see a great light and fall to the ground with the same fear as Paul?  But they did not see Christ and their eyes were not affected, but Paul saw Him, for he himself said, “…He appeared to me also.”(1 Corinthians 15:8)

We immediately noticed that death and Hades are two different words, and from this verse, “I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death (G2288); and Hades (G86) was following with him. …”(Revelation 6:8) We see that death (G2288) and Hades (G86) refer to ones riding on horses, both with keys, so the keys are in the plural.  The book of Revelation often describes a fact, and here is another example, describing Jesus Christ riding on a white horse, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. …And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. …And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.””(Revelation 19:11-16)

We notice that the wording in the Bible is very precise. It mentions three different things here. John only saw those seven churches, and the current events include all the churches and things that happened at that time, and the third is something that will happen in the future.  Regarding the seven churches that John saw, there were seven stars and seven golden lampstands.  The seven stars and the seven spirits are different. The seven stars only refer to the seven messengers of the seven churchs, while the seven spirits refer to the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit, because “…a Lamb …having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.”(Revelation 5:6) That is, “…seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”(Revelation 4:5) It is saying the same thing in different ways.  When we see that there are seven current churches, there are exactly seven stars.

 ​

2. What we saw from the church in Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love (G26). Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place⁠—unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”(Revelation 2:1-7)

The verses emphasize the importance of discerning false apostles. The haters of the Nicolaitans are a good example.  But it also reproaches them for abandoning their first love (G26). This refers to God’s love which includes human love and more and they failed to meet the requirements of overcomers.  Here, we believe that they must have done some things of human love. Like some churches today, they believe that “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (G26).”(John 13:35) But they failed to notice that this love refers to the love of God.  There is no mention here that just some people are like this. It should be that there is something wrong with the teachings of the entire church. They have done some things of human love, but they lack the love of God.  We must be overcomers so that we can receive rewards and eat from the tree of life.  By the way, most of the love spoken of in the New Testament refers to the love of God. Only a few times different words are used, such as this verse, “Let love of the brethren (G5360)  continue.”(Hebrews 13:1) If you don’t read the original text, you won’t be able to tell which kind of love it is referring to!

Let’s see where else the tree of life is mentioned?  First there will be “…the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, …”(Revelation 21:2) From the throne in the city, John “heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”(Revelation 21:3) So it must be within the city. Then it says, “…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”(Revelation 21:27) It is the minimum requirement to be in the book of life. Not everyone who is in the book of life can enter the city. We have talked about it, and the Bible tells ‘Once we are saved, we are saved forever,’ but some Christians, including fallen ones, are outside the city. This is like Demas. He was once a co-worker of Paul and was definitely a Christian who came out of the world, but “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; ..” (2 Timothy 4:10) Obviously Demas has fallen and is now living outside the city. So who can those who can enter the city? The scripture is very clear, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”(Revelation 22:14) Aren’t those who rely completely on the Holy Spirit and thus have washed their spiritual clothes the same as the overcomers who can enter the city?

Therefore, the New Jerusalem is in heaven originally, and the tree of life is in the paradise of God. As the scripture says, “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, …”(Revelation 22:1-2) Doesn’t this mean that the Paradise of God is in the New Jerusalem?

The New Testament only mentions paradise three times. Except this time, the first time is “And He said to him (criminal, robber), “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) We see that paradise is a place with Jesus, which was still in heaven at that time, so people in general can enter it after death. The criminal is the one who had faith and the associated faith behavior. We mentioned this point before, so we don’t repeat the discussion here. Needless to say, the scriptures clearly say that He entered after His death on the cross.  The second time it says, “was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak (G1832, the original text repeating the word twice).”(2 Corinthians 12:4) By the way, there is no comparatives and superlatives in Greek. Two occurrences are equivalent to comparatives and three times are superlatives.  We know that Paradise is in the third heaven because the scripture also says, “I (Paul) know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago⁠—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows⁠—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.”(2 Corinthians 12:2) This person should be Paul himself, because he said, “And I know how such a man⁠—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows.”(2 Corinthians 12:3) It is mentioned here that the paradise at that time was indeed in heaven. We can see the consistency of the Bible is everywhere!  We noticed that he was not like ordinary people who could not enter the paradise only until after death, but he had to be raptured. He knew that the hidden words were not allowed for people to speak, and he did not mention the event again and those words.  Thus the Bible does not clearly say whether he could understand it at that time, although we guess that he could understand it at that time, otherwise his trip was basically in vain, and he only knew that he could be caught up to the third heaven.  I believe he knew not to speak and chose not to speak. He was not like the seven peals of thunder, “…a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”(Revelation 10: 4) The voice said clearly what said by the seven peals of thunder cannot be revealed and John obeyed.

Among the sentences spoken by Holy Spirit includes this one, “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.””(Revelation 14:13) Yes, there are things that can last forever!  So the Bible says, ““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Matthew 6:19-21) Set your mind on things in heaven, not on earthly things.

3. What we saw from the church in Smyrna

​”“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”(Revelation 2:8-11)

Doesn’t this mean we should store up treasures in heaven? Such a person may be poor on earth, but rich in heaven.  As for their suffering, it was also pointed out that it came from the devil Satan, who put them through trials. The ten days mentioned here should be ten days. Don’t say, the scripture says, “…with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”(2 Peter 3:8) Therefore, ten days refers to ten thousand days, and calculations obviously cannot be used here.  But they should know, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13) If there is a need, God Himself will work.  This is similar to how God wanted to bless Job (see Job 42:10-17), but before blessing him, he allowed Satan to test him (see Job 1:1-2:7). In the end, God personally made the promise which opened a way out for Job, that is, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said.”(Job 38:1). The scripture also stated and clearly told them that these slanderers were Satan people.

 ​

They were not blamed, but they were encouraged not to be afraid, to be faithful until death, to be overcomers with the crown of life, and not to be harmed by the second death.  This does not mean that the overcomers are those who participate in the first resurrection. They cannot be equated!  The Bible says very clearly about those who participate in the first resurrection, “…the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.”(Revelation 20:4-5) We all want to be part of the thousand-year kingdom, but these clearly say about the former, and the latter will only happen after Jesus returns. So don’t listen to the lies of some people and think that If you are a true Christian, you will definitely be in the thousand-year kingdom!

4. What we saw from the church in Pergamum

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’”(Revelation 2:12-17)

This is where Satan lived at that time. They saw Antipas, a faithful witness of Jesus, being killed, but they still adhered to His name and did not abandon His way. Therefore, this church was not easy.  This also shows that Satan is not omnipresent and has a dwelling place, so it is said, “…Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The book of Job is consistent with this when it says, “The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.””(Job 1:7)

The first mention of this fallen prophet Balaam in the Bible was when Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab (see Numbers 22:4-5). Balaam came to curse the Israelites, but in the end he failed. “Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, …”(Numbers 24:25) Later, we see, “While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.”(Numbers 25:1) Although the Old Testament did not clarify that this came from Balaam at that time, it is clearly stated here that Balaam taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites.  The fate of this fallen prophet was very bad. We see, “even all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their slain.”(Joshua 13:21-22) The Bible does not clearly say why Balaam came back, but we know that he came back because he was finally killed there.

Let’s talk about only some people who obeyed the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, so it should not be that there is something wrong with the church’s teachings as a whole, but they allowed the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans to exist. As the result, they should repent or would get the punishment they deserved.  The scripture 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) We see how important repentance is!  You must first repent before you can achieve the forgiveness mentioned above, but it does not mean that you can avoid punishment!  Take David as an example. In the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah, “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD!” Nathan said to him, “The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not “As for death.””(2 Samuel 12:13) As soon as he knew that he had sinned, he repented immediately. He wrote Psalm 51, repented before God, and handed it over to the choir director. So he did repent in front of others and did not hide his sins. For his sins, his repentance cannot be said to be incomplete, but he still has punishments, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”(2 Samuel 12:11-12) This was great sins, and God did the punishment correspondingly.  God has absolute sovereignty and does not have to punish us. He looks at people’s hearts and can decide how to deal with sins. He has His principles, but we don’t know them all.  Sometimes we get into trouble because of our own sins.​

We also see different descriptions of the rewards for overcomers. Here it is said that they had the hidden manna and the white stone. On the white stone was a new name that no one else knew.  That is, “He who overcomes …I will write on him …My new name.”(Revelation 3:12)

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

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

首先圣经明说启示录中所说的是耶稣基督的启示，祂在异象中亲自向他显现。我们看到了约翰的顺服。我们讨论到为什么经文是说，一个真正有福的人不只是要念，更是要遵行。也看到圣经的数目有时是用比喻说的，有时是精确的！要能分辩。第二，我们从经文中看到在启示录中一些描述的主和约翰该做的事，并说明七灵是指什么。借著原文和不同的译本，看到和合本漏翻的一句话，决定了这里的主神是指主耶稣基督。我们也看到了约翰的谦卑和他为主付上了被囚的代价。最后我们看到了耶稣是在主日在异象中向他的显现，和一部份约翰即将做的事情，我们看到基督的眼中教会，都是金灯台，地位上已成圣的，虽然不是每一个成员都是得胜者。他也描述了人子的形像，说到了两刃的利剑，从相关的经文中知道主是全知的。也借此指出了我们以前在什么地方讨论过，圣经的经文告诉我们，人死是了是灵先走，然后是魂，魂离开人就死了！从两节经文和这个，我们看到了人是由灵、魂、体构成的三分法是对的。因此知道二分法说到灵魂是不可分的在一起是错的。

1. 耶稣基督的启示和有福的人        

『耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。约翰便将神的道和耶稣基督的见证，凡自己所看见的都证明出来。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，因为日期近了。』(启示录 1:1-3)        

在开始就很清楚的说明、这是神赐给耶稣基督的启示，三位一体的神本是同尊同荣的，因此这就表示了是说在时间的次序里面。因在基督道成肉身的那段时间中，是有一个次序的，父差子如经文所说，『耶稣又对他们说：「愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。」』(约翰福音 20:21) 子不去圣灵不来，这点耶稣说得很清楚，『…我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。』(约翰福音 16:7)        

我们看到了约翰很忠实的记载了所看见的事情，在启示录中，他也彰显了他的顺服，不写所不要他写的事情。如经文所说，『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 10:4) 他只说有七雷，但没有记载七雷所说的事情。    

也就是因为没写出来，只几句话就带过七雷，因此一些人常常忽略了七雷说的事。有人告诉我说，七雷已经发生了，属灵的人才可以看得到，但这样的说法不在圣经里面，是属于在启示录加添了一些话语，启示录说得很清楚，『我向一切听见这书上预言的作见证，若有人在这预言上加添甚么，神必将写在这书上的灾祸加在他身上。』( 启示录 22:18) 我不知道为什么这样的基督徒会不害怕？圣经是说七雷在第六号的末了 (参启示录 9:13-10:6) ，圣经虽然没有说何时七雷会发生，『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。』(启示录 10:7) 到第七号的事情发生时，我们自然知道七雷已经过了！        

我们来看看这里的有福的人是什么人？有人鼓励人去看启示录会强调，『念这书上预言的…是有福的…』(启示录 1:3) 的确，当不强解圣经(参彼得后书 3:15-16)，而没有念错的时候，念这书的人比不念的人有福。不该念而念错时更麻烦，因为要真正的更正一个错误，至少会花相当多的时间。而且不要忘记这里有个「和」字，要遵守才真正的有福。经文说得很清楚，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22) 从圣经的一致性来看，难怪会说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。』(马太福音 7:21) 所以不只要听对，还要遵行才会真正有福。        

最后我们知道日期近了，但不是说依照我们的时间表，初期的教会相信主会再来，而且是『…你们自己明明晓得，主的日子来到，好像夜间的贼一样。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:2) 现在两千多年已过，主仍没再来，但我们不能引用圣经曾说，『亲爱的弟兄啊，有一件事你们不可忘记，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。』(彼得后书 3:8) 或是引用，『在你看来，千年如已过的昨日，又如夜间的一更。』(诗篇 90:4) 就用算数说，主的一日就是等于我们的千年，所以有人说，现在只等了两天多一点，太短了，当然主不会再来。其实看上下文就知道这里不该用算数，而是有其他的原因。前者是在说，『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) 后者是在强调，『你叫他们如水冲去，他们如睡一觉。早晨，他们如生长的草，早晨发芽生长，晚上割下枯干。』(诗篇 90:5-6) 所以圣经的数目有时是用比喻说的，不像在创世记 5:1-32 中提到亚当的后代时，所用的数目是精确的！要能分辩。

2. 启示录中一些主的描述和约翰该做的事       

『约翰写信给亚西亚的七个教会： 但愿从那昔在、今在、以后永在的神和他宝座前的七灵，并那诚实作见证的，从死里首先复活，为世上君王元首的耶稣基督，有恩惠、平安归与你们！ 他爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶，又使我们成为国民，作他父神的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他，直到永永远远。阿们！看哪！他驾云降临，众目要看见他，连刺他的人也要看见他，地上的万族都要因他哀哭。这话是真实的。阿们！主神说：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者。」我约翰就是你们的弟兄，和你们在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分，为神的道，并为给耶稣作的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。』(启示录 1:4-9)        

首先我们看到约翰得写信给等下要提到的七个教会，并告诉他们神如何看他们和给他们的鼓励。这里提到了「愿」神、七灵和主耶稣有恩惠、平安归与他们，启示录 1:4在原文中没有「愿」这个字，恩惠和平安是在爱中和神合一而一定有的。那么七灵是指什么？我们来看这节经文，『我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的，有七角七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。』(启示录 5:6) 那羔羊显然是指主耶稣，祂因爱我们为我们舍命，钉十字架而流出宝血，这样的功效就如前所述，而将荣耀、权能归给他是理所当然的，就像原文所说，不是「愿」而已。我们看那羔羊有神的七灵，这里看到了三位一体的神都在那里，在道成肉身的时间中三位各有所司，有一个次序，耶稣为父所差遣，耶稣不去圣灵不来，有七个教会就有七灵，而这七灵是奉差遣往普天下去，所以这是指无所不在的圣灵。耶稣说，『因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。』(马太福音 18:20) 耶稣现已在天上，坐在神的右边，就如经文所说，『…那里有基督坐在神的右边。』(歌罗西书 3:1) 但祂的应许并没有落空，祂现在是以三位一体的神中的一位圣灵在我们中间。神借著圣经告诉我们的是多么一致啊！这并不是说在字句上没有明显的矛盾，这时我们该问的是神要借著这样明显的矛盾告诉我们什么，也就是要从圣经的一致性来问答这样的问题，而不是以为抓到了圣经的小辫子，认为圣经是错的！        

在启示录 1:8 ，我们知道阿拉法和俄梅戛分别是希腊文中的最开始和最后的字母，所以这里是在讲神是昔在今在永恒的神。其中的主神是指三位一体的神的主耶稣，因原文有「以后要来」这句，而只有主耶稣会以后再来，所以新译本会翻成，『主神说：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅格；我是今在、昔在、以后要来，全能的神。」』(启示录 1:8，新译本) 中文标准译本也这样的翻译出来。所以这是在讲耶稣基督的，从像一开始经文就说，『耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。』(启示录 1:1)       

最后我们看到了约翰并不强调他是使徒，但说他是我们的弟兄，他和我们所应作的工作就是他简短所提到的，为神的道，并为给耶稣作见证。也是因为如此，他被囚在拔摩岛上，就是在这个时候，耶稣亲自在异象中向他显现，这应该是异象而不是异梦，因为经文说是看见的。

3. 耶稣的显现和三分法       

『当主日，我被圣灵感动，听见在我后面有大声音如吹号，说：「你所看见的，当写在书上，达与以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非、老底嘉那七个教会。」我转过身来，要看是谁发声与我说话。既转过来，就看见七个金灯台。灯台中间有一位好像人子，身穿长衣，直垂到脚，胸间束著金带。他的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，脚好像在炉中锻炼光明的铜，声音如同众水的声音。他右手拿著七星，从他口中出来一把两刃的利剑，面貌如同烈日放光。』(启示录 1:10-16)       

这是一个主日发生的事情，在这里的经文中，用的是人子，所以说得很清楚，主在异象中亲自向他显现，并告诉了他对那七个教会该做的一件事情。然后他看见了七个金灯台，『…七灯台就是七个教会。』(启示录 1:20) 所以在基督的眼中教会都是金灯台，不管他们的行为如何，都是地位上已成圣的，虽然不是每一个成员都是得胜者。这就犹如我们信的时候，客观上已地位上成圣，但在走上成圣之路的主观经验中，会常常跌倒。然后我们看到了他看到的人子的形像，有很清楚的描述，当然圣经中还有更多的叙述。     

请注意他提到了两刃的利剑，在和合本只提到三次，除这次外，另一次在这经文，『你要写信给别迦摩教会的使者说︰『那有两刃利剑的说：』』(启示录 2:12) 那有两刃利剑的显然是耶稣基督。另外一次是说，『神的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更快，甚至魂与灵、骨节与骨髓，都能刺入、剖开，连心中的思念和主意都能辩明。并且被造的没有一样在他面前不显然的，原来万物在那与我们有关系的主眼前，都是赤露敞开的。』(希伯来书 4:12-13) 在第十三节经文中，我们再次看到主是全知的，在第十二节中，我们也看到了神的道比两刃的利剑更快，可以分别是开魂和灵，这是因为人由灵、魂、体构成，如经文明说，『愿赐平安的神亲自使你们全然成圣。又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我主耶稣基督降临的时候，完全无可指摘。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:23)        

我们也在『2056 医血漏和睚鲁女儿复活，及差遣十二个门徒  –耶稣的形像(11)』中的『2. 睚鲁的女儿死而复活』讨论过，为什么圣经的经文是说，人死是灵先走，然后是魂走，魂离开后人就死了！所以圣经是说人有灵、魂、体的三分法，而不是说灵魂在一起及有体的二分法。我要强调，我不是说看见二分法的人是全部都是不对的，只是说在这一点上是不对的。最后要提的是，在希伯来文的文化中，灵和魂是可以互用的，而在中国人的文化中，灵魂都是在一起的，但我们实在要看圣经如何说！

最后我们看到，圣经明说，人死时，『尘土仍归于地，灵仍归于赐灵的神。』(传道书 12:7) 而有些魂是在天上的祭坛下面，如经文所说，『揭开第五印的时候，我看见在祭坛底下，有为神的道并为作见证被杀之人的(灵)魂。』(启示录 6:9) 所以人死时的灵和魂非得分开不可，灵魂是可以分开的，也就是三分法是对的。神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的！

(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』。)  

        首先聖經明說啓示錄中所說的是耶穌基督的啓示，祂在異象中親自向他顯現。我們看到了約翰的順服。我們討論到為什麼經文是說，一個真正有福的人不只是要念，更是要遵行。也看到聖經的數目有時是用比喻說的，有時是精確的！要能分辨。第二，我們從經文中看到在啓示錄中一些描述的主和約翰該做的事，並說明七靈是指什麼。藉著原文和不同的譯本，看到和合本漏翻的一句話，決定了這裏的主神是指主耶穌基督。我們也看到了約翰的謙卑和他為主付上了被囚的代價。最後我們看到了耶穌是在主日在異象中向他的顯現，和一部份約翰即將做的事情，我們看到基督的眼中教會，都是金燈台，地位上已成聖的，雖然不是每一個成員都是得勝者。他也描述了人子的形像，說到了兩刃的利劍，從相關的經文中知道主是全知的。也藉此指出了我們以前在什麼地方討論過，聖經的經文告訴我們，人死是了是靈先走，然後是魂，魂離開人就死了！從兩節經文和這個，我們看到了人是由靈、魂、體構成的三分法是對的。因此知道二分法說到靈魂是不可分的在一起是錯的。

1. 耶穌基督的啓示和有福的人

        『耶穌基督的啓示，就是神賜給他，叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。他就差遣使者曉諭他的僕人約翰。約翰便將神的道和耶穌基督的見證，凡自己所看見的都證明出來。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，因為日期近了。』(啓示錄 1:1-3)

        在開始就很清楚的說明、這是神賜給耶穌基督的啓示，三位一體的神本是同尊同榮的，因此這就表示了是說在時間的次序裏面。因在基督道成肉身的那段時間中，是有一個次序的，父差子如經文所說，『耶穌又對他們說：「願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。」』(約翰福音 20:21) 子不去聖靈不來，這點耶穌說得很清楚，『…我若不去，保惠師就不到你們這裏來；我若去，就差他來。』(約翰福音 16:7) 

        我們看到了約翰很忠實的記載了所看見的事情，在啓示錄中，他也彰顯了他的順服，不寫所不要他寫的事情。如經文所說，『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 10:4) 他只說有七雷，但沒有記載七雷所說的事情。

    也就是因為沒寫出來，只幾句話就帶過七雷，因此一些人常常忽略了七雷說的事。有人告訴我說，七雷已經發生了，屬靈的人才可以看得到，但這樣的說法不在聖經裏面，是屬於在啓示錄加添了一些話語，啓示錄說得很清楚，『我向一切聽見這書上預言的作見證，若有人在這預言上加添甚麼，神必將寫在這書上的災禍加在他身上。』( 啓示錄 22:18) 我不知道為什麼這樣的基督徒會不害怕？聖經是說七雷在第六號的末了 (參啓示錄 9:13-10:6) ，聖經雖然沒有說何時七雷會發生，『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。』(啓示錄 10:7) 到第七號的事情發生時，我們自然知道七雷已經過了！

        我們來看看這裏的有福的人是什麼人？有人鼓勵人去看啓示錄會強調，『念這書上預言的…是有福的…』(啓示錄 1:3) 的確，當不强解聖經(參彼得後書 3:15-16)，而沒有念錯的時候，念這書的人比不念的人有福。不該念而念錯時更麻煩，因為要真正的更正一個錯誤，至少會花相當多的時間。而且不要忘記這裏有個「和」字，要遵守才真正的有福。經文說得很清楚，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22) 從聖經的一致性來看，難怪會說，『凡稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。』(馬太福音 7:21) 所以不只要聽對，還要遵行才會真正有福。

        最後我們知道日期近了，但不是說依照我們的時間表，初期的教會相信主會再來，而且是『…你們自己明明曉得，主的日子來到，好像夜間的賊一樣。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:2) 現在兩千多年已過，主仍沒再來，但我們不能引用聖經曾說，『親愛的弟兄啊，有一件事你們不可忘記，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。』(彼得後書 3:8) 或是引用，『在你看來，千年如已過的昨日，又如夜間的一更。』(詩篇 90:4) 就用算數說，主的一日就是等於我們的千年，所以有人說，現在只等了兩天多一點，太短了，當然主不會再來。其實看上下文就知道這裏不該用算數，而是有其他的原因。前者是在說，『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) 後者是在強調，『你叫他們如水沖去，他們如睡一覺。早晨，他們如生長的草，早晨發芽生長，晚上割下枯乾。』(詩篇 90:5-6) 所以聖經的數目有時是用比喻說的，不像在創世記 5:1-32 中提到亞當的後代時，所用的數目是精確的！要能分辨。

2. 啓示錄中一些主的描述和約翰該做的事

       『約翰寫信給亞西亞的七個教會： 但願從那昔在、今在、以後永在的神和他寶座前的七靈，並那誠實作見證的，從死裏首先復活，為世上君王元首的耶穌基督，有恩惠、平安歸與你們！ 他愛我們，用自己的血使我們脫離罪惡，又使我們成為國民，作他父神的祭司。但願榮耀、權能歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！看哪！他駕雲降臨，眾目要看見他，連刺他的人也要看見他，地上的萬族都要因他哀哭。這話是真實的。阿們！主神說：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者。」我約翰就是你們的弟兄，和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐裏一同有分，為神的道，並為給耶穌作的見證，曾在那名叫拔摩的海島上。』(啓示錄 1:4-9)

        首先我們看到約翰得寫信給等下要提到的七個教會，並告訴他們神如何看他們和給他們的鼓勵。這裏提到了「願」神、七靈和主耶穌有恩惠、平安歸與他們，啓示錄 1:4在原文中沒有「願」這個字，恩惠和平安是在愛中和神合一而一定有的。那麼七靈是指什麼？我們來看這節經文，『我又看見寶座與四活物並長老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被殺過的，有七角七眼，就是神的七靈，奉差遣往普天下去的。』(啓示錄 5:6) 那羔羊顯然是指主耶穌，祂因愛我們為我們捨命，釘十字架而流出寶血，這樣的功效就如前所述，而將榮耀、權能歸給他是理所當然的，就像原文所說，不是「願」而已。我們看那羔羊有神的七靈，這裏看到了三位一體的神都在那裏，在道成肉身的時間中三位各有所司，有一個次序，耶穌為父所差遣，耶穌不去聖靈不來，有七個教會就有七靈，而這七靈是奉差遣往普天下去，所以這是指無所不在的聖靈。耶穌說，『因為無論在哪裏，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，那裏就有我在他們中間。』(馬太福音 18:20) 耶穌現已在天上，坐在神的右邊，就如經文所說，『…那裏有基督坐在神的右邊。』(歌羅西書 3:1) 但祂的應許並沒有落空，祂現在是以三位一體的神中的一位聖靈在我們中間。神藉著聖經告訴我們的是多麼一致啊！這並不是說在字句上沒有明顯的矛盾，這時我們該問的是神要藉著這樣明顯的矛盾告訴我們什麼，也就是要從聖經的一致性來問答這樣的問題，而不是以為抓到了聖經的小辮子，認為聖經是錯的！

        在啓示錄 1:8 ，我們知道阿拉法和俄梅戛分別是希臘文中的最開始和最後的字母，所以這裏是在講神是昔在今在永恆的神。其中的主神是指三位一體的神的主耶穌，因原文有「以後要來」這句，而只有主耶穌會以後再來，所以新譯本會翻成，『主神說：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅格；我是今在、昔在、以後要來，全能的神。」』(啓示錄 1:8，新譯本) 中文標準譯本也這樣的翻譯出來。所以這是在講耶穌基督的，從像一開始經文就說，『耶穌基督的啓示，就是神賜給他，叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。他就差遣使者曉諭他的僕人約翰。』(啓示錄 1:1)

       最後我們看到了約翰並不強調他是使徒，但說他是我們的弟兄，他和我們所應作的工作就是他簡短所提到的，為神的道，並為給耶穌作見證。也是因為如此，他被囚在拔摩島上，就是在這個時候，耶穌親自在異象中向他顯現，這應該是異象而不是異夢，因為經文說是看見的。

3. 耶穌的顯現和三分法

       『當主日，我被聖靈感動，聽見在我後面有大聲音如吹號，說：「你所看見的，當寫在書上，達與以弗所、士每拿、別迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉鐵非、老底嘉那七個教會。」我轉過身來，要看是誰發聲與我說話。既轉過來，就看見七個金燈台。燈台中間有一位好像人子，身穿長衣，直垂到腳，胸間束着金帶。他的頭與髮皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，腳好像在爐中鍛煉光明的銅，聲音如同眾水的聲音。他右手拿着七星，從他口中出來一把兩刃的利劍，面貌如同烈日放光。』(啓示錄 1:10-16)

       這是一個主日發生的事情，在這裏的經文中，用的是人子，所以說得很清楚，主在異象中親自向他顯現，並告訴了他對那七個教會該做的一件事情。然後他看見了七個金燈台，『…七燈台就是七個教會。』(啓示錄 1:20) 所以在基督的眼中教會都是金燈台，不管他們的行為如何，都是地位上已成聖的，雖然不是每一個成員都是得勝者。這就猶如我們信的時候，客觀上已地位上成聖，但在走上成聖之路的主觀經驗中，會常常跌倒。然後我們看到了他看到的人子的形像，有很清楚的描述，當然聖經中還有更多的敍述。

     請注意他提到了兩刃的利劍，在和合本只提到三次，除這次外，另一次在這經文，『你要寫信給別迦摩教會的使者說︰『那有兩刃利劍的說：』』(啓示錄 2:12) 那有兩刃利劍的顯然是耶穌基督。另外一次是說，『神的道是活潑的，是有功效的，比一切兩刃的劍更快，甚至魂與靈、骨節與骨髓，都能刺入、剖開，連心中的思念和主意都能辨明。並且被造的沒有一樣在他面前不顯然的，原來萬物在那與我們有關係的主眼前，都是赤露敞開的。』(希伯來書 4:12-13) 在第十三節經文中，我們再次看到主是全知的，在第十二節中，我們也看到了神的道比兩刃的利劍更快，可以分別是開魂和靈，這是因為人由靈、魂、體構成，如經文明說，『願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖。又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23)

        我們也在『2056 醫血漏和睚魯女兒復活，及差遣十二個門徒  -耶穌的形像(11)』中的『2. 睚魯的女兒死而復活』討論過，為什麼聖經的經文是說，人死是靈先走，然後是魂走，魂離開後人就死了！所以聖經是說人有靈、魂、體的三分法，而不是說靈魂在一起及有體的二分法。我要強調，我不是說看見二分法的人是全部都是不對的，只是說在這一點上是不對的。最後要提的是，在希伯來文的文化中，靈和魂是可以互用的，而在中國人的文化中，靈魂都是在一起的，但我們實在要看聖經如何說！

    最後我們看到，聖經明說，人死時，『塵土仍歸於地，靈仍歸於賜靈的神。』(傳道書 12:7) 而有些魂是在天上的祭壇下面，如經文所說，『揭開第五印的時候，我看見在祭壇底下，有為神的道並為作見證被殺之人的(靈)魂。』(啓示錄 6:9) 所以人死時的靈和魂非得分開不可，靈魂是可以分開的，也就是三分法是對的。神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的！

(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』。)

First of all, the Bible clearly states that what is spoken of in the book of Revelation, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ, who appeared to him personally in a vision.  We also see John’s obedience.  We discussed why the scripture says that a truly blessed person should not only read the book, but also obey commands said.  We have also seen that sometimes numbers in the Bible are expressed figuratively, and sometimes they are precise!  We have to be able to discern.  Second, we see from the scriptures some descriptions about what the Lord looks like, and what John should do in the book of Revelation, and explain what the seven spirits refer to.  Through the original text and different translations, we saw a sentence missing from the Union Version, which determined that the Lord God mentioned here refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.  We also see John’s humility and his paying the price of imprisonment for the Lord.  Finally, we saw that Jesus appeared to him in a vision on the Lord’s Day, and part of what John was about to do. We saw that in the eyes of Christ, the church is a golden lampstand, sanctified in status, although not every member is an overcomer.  He also described the image of the Son of Man, spoke of a sharp two-edged sword, and knew from related scriptures that the Lord is omniscient.  This also points out where we have discussed before about death. Bible verses tell us that when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, then the soul. When the soul leaves the person, he dies!  From two verses and this, we see that the trichotomy of man being composed of spirit, soul, and body is correct.  So know that the dichotomy which speaks of spirit and soul being indivisibly together is wrong.

1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ and the Blessed People 

“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, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and (G2532)  those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”(Revelation 1:1-3)

It was clearly stated at the beginning that this is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ. The Trinity of Gods has the same dignity and glory, so this means that the book refers events happened in the time domain. Because during the time when Christ became flesh, there was an order. The Father sent the Son, as the scripture says, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””(John 20:21) Unless the Son goes away, the Holy Spirit will not come. Jesus made this very clear, “…if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”(John 16:7)

We have seen that John faithfully recorded what he saw. In the Book of Revelation, he also showed his obedience and did not write what he was not told to write.  As the scripture say, “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 10:4) He only said that there were seven thunders, but did not record what the seven thunders said.

That is to say, because it was not written down and the seven peals of thunder were mentioned in just a few sentences, some people often ignored their existences.  Someone told me that the some of them have already occurred and can only be seen by spiritual people. However, this statement is not in the Bible. It belongs to the addition of some words in the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation makes it very clear, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.”(Revelation 22:18) I don’t know why such Christians are not afraid?  The Bible says that the seven peals of thunder will occur at the end of the sixth trumpet (see Revelation 9:13-10:6). Although the Bible does not say when the seven thunders will occur, “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) By the time the seventh trumpet happens, we naturally know that the seven peals of thunder have passed!

Let’s see who are the blessed people here?  Some people who encourage people to read the Book of Revelation will emphasize, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy,  …”(Revelation 1:3). Indeed, the Bible should not be interpreted forcefully (see 2 Peter 3:15-16). Yes, , when the reading is correct, the person who reads this book is more blessed than the one who does not read it.  But it’s even more troublesome when you read something and interpret wrong, because it will take at least a lot of time to actually correct an error even if can.  In this case, don’t forget that there is the word “and” here. Only by doing it, one can be truly blessed.  The scriptures make it very clear, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”(James 1:22) Judging from the consistency of the Bible, it is no wonder that it is said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”(Matthew 7:21) So not only do you have to listen to the right words, but you also have to follow them to be truly blessed.

Finally, we know that the day is near, but it does not mean that is according to our timetable, the early church believed that the Lord would return, but “…you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”(1 Thessalonians 5:2) Now more than two thousand years have passed, and the Lord has still not returned. However, we cannot quote the Bible that says, “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”(2 Peter 3:8) Or quoting, “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.”(Psalm 90:4) Therefore in terms of arithmetic, one day of the Lord is equal to our thousand years. So some people say that we have only waited a little more than two days, which isn’t too long. And of course the Lord isn’t coming again.  In fact, looking at the context, we know that arithmetic should not be used here, and it’s clear there are other reasons.  The former is saying, “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) The latter is emphasizing, “You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep; In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew; Toward evening it fades and withers away.” (Psalm 90:5-6) So numbers in the Bible are sometimes spoken figuratively, unlike when Adam’s descendants are mentioned in Genesis 5:1-32, the numbers used there are precise!  We have to be able to distinguish the situations.

2. Some descriptions of the Lord here and what John should do

“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood⁠— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father⁠—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”  I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos.”(Revelation 1:4-9)

First we see that John has to write to the seven churches that will be mentioned later, and tell them how God sees them and the encouragement He gives them. Glory and power must be present when one is united with Him in love. So what do the seven Spirits mean?  Let’s look at this verse, “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.”(Revelation 5:6) The Lamb obviously refers to the Lord Jesus. Because of His love for us, He laid down His life for us, was crucified and shed His precious blood. The effect is as mentioned before, and it is natural to give Him glory and power.

We see that the Lamb has the seven Spirits of God. Thus, we see that the Trinity of Gods are all there. During the time of the incarnation, each of the three has its own role. There is an order. Jesus is sent by the Father. If Jesus does not go, the Holy Spirit will not come. The seven churches have therefore seven Spirits, and these seven Spirits are sent to the whole world, so this refers to the omnipresent Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”(Matthew 18:20) Jesus is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God, as the scripture says, “…Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”(Colossians 3:1) But His promise has not failed. He is now among us as the Holy Spirit, one of the Trinity.  How consistent is what God tells us through the Bible!  This is not to say that there are no obvious contradictions in words. What we should ask at this time is what God wants to tell us through such obvious contradictions. That is, we should answer such questions based on the consistency of the Bible, rather than thinking that we have caught something wrong in the Bible. ​

In Revelation 1:8, we know that Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet respectively, so this is talking about God as the God who was, is, and is eternal.  The Lord God in it refers to the Lord Jesus of the Trinity, since only He will come again. It is consistent with the very beginning as the scripture says, “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)

Finally, we see that John does not emphasize that he is an apostle, but says that he is our brother. And the work he and we should do is what he briefly mentioned, which is for the word of God and to bear witness to Jesus.  Because of this, he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. It was at this time that Jesus Himself appeared to him in a vision. This should be a vision rather than a dream, because the scripture says it was seen.

3. The appearance of Jesus and the correct trichotomy

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”(Revelation 1:10-16)

This happened on a Lord’s Day. In the verses here, the word “son of man” is used, so it is very clear that the Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him what he should do to the seven churches.  Then he saw seven golden lampstands, where “…the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”(Revelation 1:20) Therefore, in the eyes of Christ, the church is a golden lampstand regardless of their behavior. Therefore, they are all sanctified in status, although not every member in them is an overcomer.  This is just like when we believe, we are objectively sanctified in status, but in the subjective experience of walking on the road to sanctification, we often stumble. Then we have his description of the image of the Son of Man about what he saw, which is very clearly described, and of course there are much more descriptions in the Bible.

Please note that John mentioned a sharp two-edged sword, which is only mentioned three times in the Union Version. Except this time, the other time is in this passage, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:”(Revelation 2:12) The one with the sharp two-edged sword is obviously Jesus Christ.  Another time it is said, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”(Hebrews 4:12-13) In verse 13, we see again that the Lord is omniscient. In verse 12, we also see that the word of God is more powerful than a sharp two-edged sword. The former can divide soul and spirit. This is because human beings are composed of spirit, soul, and body, which is just like what the scripture says, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

We have also discussed in “2. The resurrection of the daughter of Jairus” of “1056 Healing a hemorrhage woman, resurrecting a daughter, and sending the twelve -The image of Jesus (11),” in detail about why the Bible verses can conclude that when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, then the soul. After the soul leaves, the person dies!  Therefore, the Bible says definitely that human consists of spirit, soul, and body, rather than a dichotomy of soul being together and having a body.  I want to emphasize that I am not saying that all people who see the dichotomy are always wrong, just that they are wrong on this point.  The last thing to mention is that in Hebrew culture, spirit and soul can be used interchangeably, while in Chinese culture, souls are always together mentioned, but we really want to see what the Bible says! If you are interested in this article, it can be found in the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/,” click “Understanding of Spiritual Life.”

Finally, we see that the Bible clearly says that when a person dies, “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”(Ecclesiastes 12:7) And some souls are under the altar in heaven as the scripture says, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.”(Revelation 6:9) Therefore, the spirit and soul must be separated when a person dies. That means that Trichotomy is correct.  What God tells us through the Bible is consistent!

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

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

    保罗在提摩太后书 3:16 说到圣经都是神所默示的，因那时还没有新约，甚至于像启示录还没有开始写，所以这话的圣经应是指旧约，但基督徒相信，新旧约都是『…神所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义，都是有益的，叫属神的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事。』(提摩太后书 3:16-17) 神的教会是一群蒙恩的人聚在一起，因为经文说得很清楚，『你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。』(约翰福音 13:35) 所以教会大多是强调神的爱，而常常忘掉了分享神是有公义的神，在这里我们就简短的说明，神的公义在新约中是如何成就的。       

    首先，我们知道圣经从来没用过「三位一体」这个辞，我们以前在一本小册子中讨论过这话题，说明了这辞的意义，并问答了一个有人可能会问的问题，且说明为什么创造是与三位一体的神的三位都有份。因为时间的关系我们在这里就不多讨论这点了，但指出如何可以免费下载这本小册子。第二，我们说到公义是神宝座的根基，和以前提到的相关的讨论。第三，我们简短的讨论了罪的定义是什么，证明了罪和不顺服神是相等的。第四，我们阐述了为什么人人都需要救恩的理由。第五，我们来看耶稣是如何除掉了罪，因而完成了救恩。第六，我们解释了我们必须在基督里，并用例子说明在基督里的意义，看到了神是如何成就祂的公义的，和为什么神非要让耶稣钉上十字架不可。最后，我们从旧约、新约和逻辑三方面来看，都得到同样的结论，「亚当创造时是圣洁的」，也说明了人的圣洁为什么和神的圣洁净不同。如果人看到这点而仍然坚持说，「亚当和圣洁无关」，这会是个大罪，因为这等于告诉神说，祢的救恩计划是不完美的，所以这是亵渎神的。我们也讨论了为什么有人提到「亚当是中性的」是不对的，我们也看见了即使是基于圣经而且符合逻辑，人仍然可以选择不信，因为人有自由意志，这是勉强不得的。我们是试著去叙述基于圣经话语的逻辑，用客观的方法去说明圣经到底是怎么说。

1. 为什么经文说神是三位一体的神？     

    我们刚才说到基督徒相信新旧约都是神所默示的，如果我们真是这样相信，就不会把圣经的话打折扣，会看神借著圣经要告诉我们什么。首先，我们看到 圣经从来没用过「三位一体」这个辞，但从经文中我们可以得到这个结论。我们以前在这本小册子『从创世记一到三章看神的旨意』中，就谈到过三位一体的神。也就是经文说得很清楚的，「圣父耶和华、圣子耶稣、和圣灵」这三位都是神，但又是一体(位)神。其实在创世记 1:1 中，就已暗示了神是多位一体的神，因为主词的名词是用复数、而动词是用单数，我们指出新约的经文也有同样的说法。在其中的 [注4.6] 中，我们简短的讨论神是三位一体的神的概念。在 [注4.7] 中，我们讨论了一个有人可能会问的问题，就是为什么是三，而不是四或更多。 在[注2.4] 中, 圣经告诉我们，创造是与三位一体的神的三位都有份。对这话题有兴趣的人，可到网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，免费下载这本小册子。福音是『…白白地得来，也要白白地舍去。』(马太福音 10:8) 要去做大使命的工作。(参马太福音 28:18-20)

2. 公义是神宝座的根基                

    诗篇的经文至少说了这两次，公义是神宝座的根基。就是『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) 和『密云和幽暗在他的四围，公义和公平是他宝座的根基。』(诗篇 97:2) 我们在旧约到处都可看到神的公义。我们谈过『2026 旧约的公义中有爱』，因为新旧约都是同一位神，所以也分享过『2027 新旧约中活出爱的例子』和『2025 新约的爱中有公义』。对这些短文有兴趣的人可以到网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，然后按『对属灵生命的了解』。

3. 罪的定义                

    我们先看这节经文，『神就照著自己的形像造人，乃是照著他的形像造男造女。』(创世记 1:27) 所以亚当和夏娃原本有神的形像。虽然神给亚当的命令非常清楚(参创世记 2:15-17)，但他们还是选择了不顺服神，吃了分别善恶树上的果子(参创世记 3:6)，所以罗马书会说，『这就如罪是从一人(亚当)入了世界，死又是从罪来的，于是死就临到众人，因为众人都犯了罪。』(罗马书 5:12) 亚当是因为不顺服神而犯了罪，也就是说「不顺服神意谓著罪」。那么罪是不是意谓著不顺服神呢？我们可以看它逻辑上相同的叙述，就是「顺服神意谓著不是罪」是不是真的？当然是对的，顺服神怎么会是罪呢？所以罪和不顺服神是相等的。

4. 为什么人人都需要救恩?              

    我们看到『亚当活到一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形像样式和自己相似，就给他起名叫塞特。』(创世记 5:3)   所以塞特是有了被罪玷污后神的形像，我们是亚当的后裔，犹如塞特一样，出生时就有被罪玷污后神的形像，所以会说，『因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。』(罗马书 3:23)  就是人人都需要除掉罪，也就是人人毫不例外的需要救恩。换言之，救恩的计划是要完成神原先的旨意，除掉罪，使我们恢复亚当被造时神的形像，并选择了生命树的果子，因为基督徒是要在基督里，已选择了那生命的果子耶稣基督，在基督里就达到了这点。    

    有人可能会问，我们为什么这样说呢？我们知道耶稣是了人的样式，所以祂是完全的人，但和我们有一个很大的不同，就是祂是圣灵感孕降生，从无罪开始。如果祂犯了罪就会和一般人无异，就有了被罪玷污后的神的形像，否则祂就不是完全的人。但祂没有犯罪，就只有(人的)神的形像，所以是恢复到亚当被创时，是按著神的形像造的。 #####5. 耶稣是如何除掉了罪而完成了救恩              

    我们知道，『神爱世人，…』(约翰福音 3:16)   因为神的爱，祂要拯救被罪玷污的众人，可是又不能让我们真正有肉体上的死亡，因为人死亡后就不在人间了，祂要我们在人间的时候得到拯救，同时又要符合祂的公义。但我们的老我只配一死，不是能修补或改进就可以了，这就像罗马书所说的，『我也知道在我里头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善。因为立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。』(罗马书 7:18) 这怎么可能呢？但『…在人是不能，在神却不然，因为神凡事都能。』(马可福音 10:27)              

    我们先看耶稣的一生，看祂如何除掉了罪的？祂因圣灵感孕而生(参马太福音 1:18-21)，从无罪开始，和我们带著罪开始是截然不同。祂『…取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7)  祂既成为人的样式，是完全的人，也就是如人般可能犯罪的。但祂是『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。 …』(约翰福音 14:31)，一生都顺服神。所以希伯来书会说，『因我们的大祭司(耶稣)并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。』(希伯来书 4:15)           

    在耶稣身上，我们看见了祂在人的样式中，顺服神而除去了罪，因此祂在地上恢复了亚当被造时的形像，完成了神原先的旨意，成就了救恩。       

    有人可能会觉得唯有耶稣的宝血能除罪，因为经文说，『凡祭司天天站著事奉神，屡次献上一样的祭物，这祭物永不能除罪。但基督献了一次永远的赎罪祭，就在神的右边坐下了。』(希伯来书 10:11-12) 耶稣在十字架上献上了自己，流了宝血，这显然是对的。看这经文也知道这点，『弟兄们，我们既因耶稣的血，得以坦然进入至圣所，是借著他给我们开了一条又新又活的路，从幔子经过，这幔子就是他的身体。』(希伯来书 10:19-20) 那么我们为什么会说耶稣顺服神而能除去罪呢？圣经是找不到这样的话的，就像我们找不到三位一体这个辞，但圣经绝对有这概念。我们看看耶稣在客西马尼园的祷告，『他说：「阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你将这杯撤去；然而，不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。」』(马可福音 14:36) 如果从祂的意思，就不会尝十字架上的苦杯，但祂顺服神，『既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比书 2:8) 祂不是因顺服神而流了宝血而除掉了罪吗？

6. 我们必须在基督里            

    因为我们的老我只配一死，只有当我们在耶稣基督里面和祂完全的联合时，我们才有可能除去罪，这就是神的做法，『神使那无罪的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。』(哥林多后书 5:21)   也就是耶稣取代了我们，所以保罗会说，『我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著；…』(加拉太书 2:20) 我们看到了保罗是如何生活的！也就是说我们要成为一个新人，如以弗所书所说的，『你们学了基督，却不是这样。如果你们听过他的道，领了他的教，学了他的真理，就要脱去你们从前行为上的旧人，这旧人是因私欲的迷惑渐渐变坏的。又要将你们的心志改换一新，并且穿上新人，这新人是照著神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。』(以弗所书 4:20-24) 这不是像穿衣服一样可以脱掉是外在的穿上，我们都有内住的圣灵(参哥林多前书 3:16, 罗马书 8:11)，而是要从内到外的改变，就像保罗说的，我们是要模成耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29)。神所看的是基督，而不是我们，譬如说耶稣基督是圣洁的，我们在基督里就享有了祂的圣洁，而不是说我们先要圣洁了才能在基督里，但在基督里我们会逐渐改变而真正的变成圣洁。            

    有人用书中的一张纸来解释在基督里，如果书在那里，因书中的纸在书里面，所以非得在同样的那里不可。如果纸不夹在书中，就可能会在任何地方！当那书代表无罪的基督，而我们就是那一张纸时，要想在神眼中看为无罪，就必须在基督里，治死我们的老我。经文说，『他便救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照他的怜悯，借著重生的洗和圣灵的更新。』(提多书 3:5) 就像我们上次在『2087 模成耶稣的形像及实行』中所分享的，圣灵的更新都是在基督里完成的。信基督是神的儿子，在无罪的基督耶稣里，就是选择了生命树的果子，完成了神原先的旨意。 我们再说一次，耶稣在地上时除去了罪，因此恢复了亚当被造时没有罪的形像。             

    我们最后来看一下为什么神非要让耶稣钉十字架不可？在新约和旧约都是一位神，旧约时，『按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血洁净的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』(希伯来书 9:22) 『所以，前约也不是不用血立的。』(希伯来书 9:18) 在新约，『神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭著耶稣的血，借著人的信，要显明神的义。…』(罗马书 3:25) 『并且不用山羊和牛犊的血，乃用自己(耶稣)的血，只一次进入圣所，成了永远赎罪的事。』(希伯来书 9:12) 要记得，『你们从前远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠著他的血，已经得亲近了。』(以弗所书 2:13) 从神的角度看，祂要成就祂所订的律法，耶稣必须要钉十字架而流宝血去成就救恩。所以宝血首先是为著神的，当然也是为著我们。                 

    从人的角度看，『我们借这爱子的血得蒙救赎，过犯得以赦免，乃是照他丰富的恩典。』(以弗所书 1:7) 这是因为『…他爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶，又使我们成为国民，作他父神的祭司。…』(启示录 1:5-6) 所以神的教会就是一群蒙恩的人聚在一起，也就是使徒行传说的，『…神的教会，就是他用自己血所买来的。』(使徒行传 20:28) 我们刚才讨论过人人都需要救恩，如果一个人认为自己不需要救恩，是不可能得到救恩的！      #####要知道，『如今，那些在基督耶稣里的就不定罪了。』(罗马书 8:1) 我们在基督里，就好像那张纸非要夹在书里一样，所以非得先要在基督里和基督合一，我们也自然合一了！一定要这样才行，不要只是表面上的合一，要不就可能只要发生了一些事情，就合一不起来了！。经文说得很清楚，『我们这许多人，在基督里成为一身，互相联络作肢体，…』(罗马书 12:5) 不是说我们每个人都要一样，每个人仍有自己的特性，就像经文所说，『身子原不是一个肢体，乃是许多肢体。…若全身是眼，从哪里听声呢？若全身是耳，从哪里闻味呢？但如今神随自己的意思把肢体俱各安排在身上了。』(哥林多前书 12:14-18) 但我们要像保罗说的，『你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，使我的喜乐可以满足。』(腓立比书 2:2) 一同为神国努力。我们要背起自己的十字架来跟从耶稣，就像经文所说，『于是，耶稣对门徒说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得著生命。』(马太福音 16:24-25)  

    这里是在说我们要治死老我，凡为主丧掉魂生命的必能得著永恒的生命。这是一方面，在另一方面是不怕死的为主殉道，在基督里本就该知道我们去了那里，怎么会怕死呢？不是不怕死的本身有什么益处，俗语不是这么说么，好汉砍头不过是碗大的疤，你想这好汉会怕死吗？不过我们在这里需要强调一点，好像我们只是在把圣经的经文放在一起，但不是随便的把经文放在一起就可以了，而是先要看圣经有没有这样说，才能把相应的经文放在一起。

 7. 从旧约、新约和逻辑三方面看「亚当创造时是圣洁的」       

    我们再看一个相关的话题，就是亚当在创造时是否是圣洁的？从旧约、新约和逻辑三方面来看，我们都会得到同样的结论，「亚当创造时是圣洁的」。现在我们就先从旧约看起，我们看到神的形像中包括了圣洁，因为祂自己说，『…我是圣洁的…』(利未记 11:44) 亚当是照著神的形像造的，为什么有人会认为亚当被创造时和圣洁无份呢？不过人的圣洁和神的圣洁不同，因人有自由意志，仍可选择不顺服神而犯罪。『…因为他(神)不能背乎自己。』(提摩太后书 2:13) 所以神的圣洁是不会犯罪的。这里我们要强调大家已知道的一点，就是亚当只是照著神的形像造的，不是亚当和神完全相同，这是不可能的，他只是一个人，不会是神。有人说人圣洁就不会犯罪，看亚当的例子就可看到一个反例了！就像我们前面分享的，罪是不顺服神，而不是不圣洁，但不圣洁的确是罪。              

    如果有人对亚当被创造时和圣洁有份的这点仍有疑问，我们就看新约怎么说？希伯来书说，『…非圣洁没有人能见主。』(希伯来书 12:14) 在创世说，『天起了凉风，耶和华神在园中行走。那人和他妻子听见神的声音，就藏在园里的树木中，躲避耶和华神的面。』(创世记 3:8) 这里没有说躲避神的声音、而是躲避神的面，这句话是说，他们在没罪玷污之前见过神的面，所以现在要躲避神的面。要注意，耶和华对摩西说，『…你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。』(出埃及记 33:20) 而亚当见了神的面仍能存活，他在犯罪前怎么会和圣洁无份呢？                

    有人可能会有疑问，这节经文明明说，『从来没有人看见神，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。』(约翰福音 1:18) 的确，被罪玷污后的人从来没见过神的面，所以摩西只能见到祂的背(参出埃及记 33:18-23)。我们这里在谈的是创造时的亚当，是被罪玷污之前的亚当，不是被罪玷污后的亚当。             

    最后，我们从逻辑的客观的观点来看，会发觉说亚当和圣洁无份、就是说神的救恩计划是不完美的。为什么这样说呢？像前所述，耶稣在人的样式中，顺服神而除去了罪，恢复了如亚当般神的形像，完成了神原先的旨意。如果亚当和圣洁无份，耶稣恢复了如亚当般神的形像，怎么会是圣洁的呢？但我们知道耶稣是圣洁的，这不是说救恩的计划有明显的矛盾吗？而神的救恩的计划是完美的，我们不能犯这样的错误！说救恩的计划是不完美的。所以从逻辑的观点来看，圣经也是说亚当创造时和圣洁有份。     

    我们已从旧约、新约、和逻辑三方面来看这问题，都达到同样的结论，「亚当创造时是圣洁的」，神借著圣经告诉我们是多么的一致啊！有人仍看不到这点也就罢了！但如果一个人知道这点后，仍坚持说亚当在创造时和圣洁无份，是属于亵渎神的罪，不是一般的罪，是个大罪，要照犯大罪的方式悔改。这点也实在是和圣经没有用三位一体这个辞类似！     

    有人说当初亚当被创造时仍未吃过生命树的果子，这是对的，但从这就结论说亚当是中性的，因此没有圣洁，这是错的。因圣经的话语明说亚当和圣洁有份，这结论和圣经的话语冲突，因此是不对的结论。也就是说，这样是属于主观的看见。其实经文说得很清楚，『凡树木看果子，就可以认出它来。…』(路加福音 6:44) 错误的结论是坏果子，就知道是坏树。而这时的树是只有主观或客观的看见两个选择，即然如此，只能是主观的看见了！圣经从来没有说过那时的亚当是中性的，其实即使亚当那时是中性的，也可有圣洁，而没有神其他的生命，如能行神迹等。亚当不是那时就有了自由意志吗？我们看到自由意志是从神来的，因神有绝对的主权，当然有自由意志，亚当是照神的形像照的，当然可以有自由选择，因此可以选择了不顺服神。                

    所以即使是基于圣经而且符合逻辑，人仍然可以选择不信，因为人有自由意志，这是勉强不得的。也是因为当初亚当有自由意志，虽然神给他的命令是这么的清楚，他也可以选择不听。在这里，我们是效法耶稣对少年官的态度(参马可福音 10:17-22)，那时祂说了，呼召了，但不干涉他自由意志的选择，我们也只是说了而已！因为逻辑是客观的工具，所以专题查经不是要寻求同意我们的看见与否，而是试著去叙述基于圣经话语的逻辑，用客观的方法去说明圣经到底是怎么说。                

    我们看到了真是『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) 我们真的不要『…将我们神的恩变作放纵情欲的机会，并且不认独一的主宰──我们主耶稣基督。』(犹大书 1:4) 要记得祂的公义，还包括了最后有的白色大宝座的审判，这可在经文中看到，『…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 20:12) 那时，『若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:15) 对基督徒而言，是要看他们信心的行为，所以雅各会说，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22) 换句话说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。』(马太福音 7:21) 

(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』。)  

       雖然保羅在提摩太後書 3:16 說到聖經都是神所默示的，因那時還沒有新約，甚至於像啓示錄還沒有開始寫，所以這話的聖經應是指舊約，但基督徒相信，新舊約都是『…神所默示的，於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義，都是有益的，叫屬神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。』(提摩太後書 3:16-17)

          首先，我們知道聖經從來沒用過「三位一體」這個辭，我們以前在一本小册子中討論過這話題，說明了這辭的意義，並問答了一個有人可能會問的問題，且說明為什麼創造是與三位一體的神的三位都有份。因為時間的關係我們在這裏就不多討論這點了，但指出如何可以免費下載這本小册子。第二，我們說到公義是神寶座的根基，和以前提到的相關討論。第三，我們簡短的討論了罪的定義是什麼。第四，我們闡述了為什麼人人都需要救恩。第五，我們來看耶穌是如何除掉了罪，因而完成了救恩。第六，我們解釋了我們必須在基督裏，並用例子說明在基督裏的意義，看到了神是如何成就祂的公義的，和為什麼神非要讓耶穌釘十字架不可。最後，我們從舊約、新約和邏輯三方面來看，都得到同樣的結論，「亞當創造時是聖潔的」，也說明了人的聖潔為什麼和神的聖潔淨不同。如果人看到這點而仍然堅持說，「亞當和聖潔無關」，這會是個大罪，因為這等於告訴神說，祢的救恩計劃是不完美的，所以這是褻瀆神的。我們也討論了有人提到亞當是中性的為什麼是不對的，我們也看見了即使是基於聖經而且符合邏輯，人仍然可以選擇不信，因為人有自由意志，這是勉強不得的。我們是試著去敘述基於聖經話語的邏輯，用客觀的方法去說明聖經到底是怎麼說。

1. 為什麼經文說神是三位一體的神？

        聖經從來沒用過「三位一體」這個辭，但從經文中我們可以得到這個結論。我們以前在這本小册子『從創世記一到三章看神的旨意』中，就談到過三位一體的神。也就是經文說得很清楚的，「聖父耶和華、聖子耶穌、和聖靈」都是神，但又是一體(位)神。其實在創世記 1:1 中，就已暗示了神是多位一體的神，因為主詞的名詞是用複數、而動詞是用單數，我們指出新約的經文也有同樣的說法。在其中的 [註4.6] 中，我們簡短的討論神是三位一體的神的概念。在 [註4.7] 中，我們討論了一個有人可能會問的問題，就是為什麼是三，而不是四或更多。 在[註2.4] 中, 聖經告訴我們，創造是與三位一體的神的三位都有份。對這話題有興趣的人，可到網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，免費下載這本小册子。

2. 公義是神寶座的根基

             詩篇的經文說了兩次，公義是神寶座的根基。就是『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) 和『密雲和幽暗在他的四圍，公義和公平是他寶座的根基。』(詩篇 97:2) 我們在舊約到處都可看到神的公義。我們談過『2026 舊約的公義中有愛』，因為新舊約都是同一位神，所以也分享過『2027 新舊約中活出愛的例子』和『2025 新約的愛中有公義』。對這些短文有興趣的人可以到網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，然後按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。我們現在就簡短的說明神的公義在新約中是如何成就的。

3. 罪的定義

             我們先看這節經文，『神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着他的形像造男造女。』(創世記 1:27) 所以亞當和夏娃原本有神的形像。雖然神給亞當的命令非常清楚(參創世記 2:15-17)，但他們還是選擇了不順服神，吃了分別善惡樹上的果子(參創世記 3:6)，所以羅馬書會說，『這就如罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界，死又是從罪來的，於是死就臨到眾人，因為眾人都犯了罪。』(羅馬書 5:12) 亞當是因為不順服神而犯了罪，也就是說「不順服神意謂著罪」。那麼罪是不是意謂著不順服神呢？我們可以看它邏輯上相同的敘述，就是「順服神意謂著不是罪」是不是真的？當然是對的，順服神怎麼會是罪呢？所以罪和不順服神是相等的。

4. 為什麼人人都需要救恩?

           我們看到『亞當活到一百三十歲，生了一個兒子，形像樣式和自己相似，就給他起名叫塞特。』(創世記 5:3)   所以塞特是有了被罪玷污後神的形像，我們是亞當的後裔，猶如塞特一樣，出生時就有被罪玷污後神的形像，所以會說，『因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀。』(羅馬書 3:23)  就是人人都需要除掉罪，也就是人人毫不例外的需要救恩。換言之，救恩的計劃是要完成神原先的旨意，使我們恢復亞當被造時的形像，並選擇了生命樹的果子耶穌。

5. 耶穌是如何除掉了罪而完成了救恩

           我們知道，『神愛世人，…』(約翰福音 3:16)   因為神的愛，祂要拯救被罪玷污的眾人，可是又不能讓我們真正有肉體上的死亡，因為人死亡就不在人間了，祂要我們在人間的時候得到拯救，同時又要符合祂的公義。但我們的老我只配一死，就像羅馬書所說的，『我也知道在我裏頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善。因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。』(羅馬書 7:18) 這怎麼可能呢？但『…在人是不能，在神卻不然，因為神凡事都能。』(馬可福音 10:27) 

           我們先看耶穌的一生，看祂如何除掉了罪。祂因聖靈感孕而生(參馬太福音 1:18-21)，從無罪開始，祂『…取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7)  祂既成為人的樣式，是如人般可能犯罪的。但祂是『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。 …』(約翰福音 14:31)，一生都順服神。所以希伯來書會說，『因我們的大祭司(耶穌)並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。』(希伯來書 4:15)

        在耶穌身上，我們看見了祂在人的樣式中，順服神而除去了罪，因此祂在地上恢復了亞當被造時的形像，完成了神原先的旨意，成就了救恩。

    有人可能會覺得唯有耶穌的寶血能除罪，因為經文說，『凡祭司天天站着事奉神，屢次獻上一樣的祭物，這祭物永不能除罪。但基督獻了一次永遠的贖罪祭，就在神的右邊坐下了。』(希伯來書 10:11-12) 這顯然是對的，看這經文就知道這點，『弟兄們，我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所，是藉着他給我們開了一條又新又活的路，從幔子經過，這幔子就是他的身體。』(希伯來書 10:19-20) 那麼我們為什麼會說耶穌順服神而能除去罪呢？因為聖經有這概念。我們看看耶穌在客西馬尼園的禱告，『他說：「阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你將這杯撤去；然而，不要從我的意思，只要從你的意思。」』(馬可福音 14:36) 如果從祂的意思，就不會嚐十字架上的苦杯，但祂順服神，『既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:8) 祂不是因順服神而流了寶血除掉了罪嗎？

6. 我們必須在基督裏

         因為我們的老我只配一死，只有當我們在耶穌基督裏面和祂完全的聯合時，我們才有可能除去罪，這就是神的做法，『神使那無罪的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裏面成為神的義。』(哥林多後書 5:21)   也就是耶穌取代了我們，所以保羅會說，『我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活着；…』(加拉太書 2:20) 也就是說我們要成為一個新人，如以弗所書所說的，『你們學了基督，卻不是這樣。如果你們聽過他的道，領了他的教，學了他的真理，就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的。又要將你們的心志改換一新，並且穿上新人，這新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。』(以弗所書 4:20-24) 

          有人用書中的一張紙來解釋在基督裏，如果書在那裏，因書中的紙在書裏面，所以非得在同樣的那裏不可。如果紙不在書中，就可能會在任何地方！當那書代表無罪的基督，而我們就是那一張紙時，要想在神眼中看為無罪，就必須在基督裏，治死我們的老我。經文說，『他便救了我們，並不是因我們自己所行的義，乃是照他的憐憫，藉着重生的洗和聖靈的更新。』(提多書 3:5) 就像我們上次在『2087 模成耶穌的形像及實行』中所分享的，聖靈的更新都是在基督裏完成的。信基督是神的兒子，在無罪的基督耶穌裏，就是選擇了生命樹的果子，完成了神原先的旨意。  

          我們最後來看一下為什麼神非要讓耶穌釘十字架不可？在新約和舊約都是一位神，『按着律法，凡物差不多都是用血潔淨的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』(希伯來書 9:22) 『所以，前約也不是不用血立的。』(希伯來書 9:18) 在新約，『神設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑着耶穌的血，藉着人的信，要顯明神的義。…』(羅馬書 3:25) 『並且不用山羊和牛犢的血，乃用自己(耶穌)的血，只一次進入聖所，成了永遠贖罪的事。』(希伯來書 9:12) 所以從神的角度看，祂要成就祂所訂的律法，耶穌必須釘十字架而流寶血去成就救恩。

              從人的角度看，『我們藉這愛子的血得蒙救贖，過犯得以赦免，乃是照他豐富的恩典。』(以弗所書 1:7) 這是因為『…他愛我們，用自己的血使我們脫離罪惡，又使我們成為國民，作他父神的祭司。…』(啓示錄 1:5-6) 所以神的教會就是一羣蒙恩的人聚在一起，也就是使徒行傳說的，『…神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的。』(使徒行傳 20:28) 要記得，『你們從前遠離神的人，如今卻在基督耶穌裏，靠着他的血，已經得親近了。』(以弗所書 2:13) 也知道，『如今，那些在基督耶穌裏的就不定罪了。』(羅馬書 8:1) 所以非得先要在基督裏和基督合一，我們也自然合一了！因為經文說，『我們這許多人，在基督裏成為一身，互相聯絡作肢體，…』(羅馬書 12:5) 我們要背起自己的十字架來跟從耶穌，就像經文所說，『於是，耶穌對門徒說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得着生命。』(馬太福音 16:24-25)

7. 從舊約、新約和邏輯三方面看「亞當創造時是聖潔的」

          從舊約看，我們看到神的形像中包括了聖潔，因為祂自己說，『…我是聖潔的…』(利未記 11:44) 亞當是照著神的形像造的，為什麼有人會認為亞當被創造時和聖潔無份呢？不過人的聖潔和神的聖潔不同，因人有自由意志，仍可選擇不順服神而犯罪。『…因為他(神)不能背乎自己。』(提摩太後書 2:13) 所以神的聖潔是不會犯罪的。

           如果有人對亞當被創造時和聖潔有份的這點仍有疑問，我們就看新約怎麼說？希伯來書說，『…非聖潔沒有人能見主。』(希伯來書 12:14) 在創世說，『天起了涼風，耶和華神在園中行走。那人和他妻子聽見神的聲音，就藏在園裏的樹木中，躲避耶和華神的面。』(創世記 3:8) 這裏沒有說躲避神的聲音、而是躲避神的面，這句話是說，他們在沒罪玷污之前見過神的面，所以現在要躲避神的面。要注意，耶和華對摩西說，『…你不能看見我的面，因為人見我的面不能存活。』(出埃及記 33:20) 而亞當見了神的面仍能存活，他在犯罪前怎麼會和聖潔無份呢？

             有人可能會有疑問，這節經文明明說，『從來沒有人看見神，只有在父懷裏的獨生子將他表明出來。』(約翰福音 1:18) 的確，被罪玷污後的人從來沒見過神的面，所以摩西只能見祂的背(參出埃及記 33:18-23)。我們這裏在談的是創造時的亞當，是被罪玷污之前的亞當，不是被罪玷污後的亞當。

          最後，我們從邏輯的客觀的觀點來看，會發覺說亞當和聖潔無份、就是說神的救恩計劃是不完美的。如果知道這點後，仍堅持說亞當在創造時和聖潔無份，是屬於褻瀆神的罪，不是一般的罪，是個大罪。

          為什麼說亞當在創造時和聖潔無份就會致於此呢？像前述所說，因為耶穌在人的樣式中，順服神而除去了罪，恢復了如亞當般神的形像，完成了神原先的旨意。如果亞當和聖潔無份，耶穌怎麼會是聖潔的呢？但我們知道耶穌是聖潔的，這不是說救恩的計劃有明顯的矛盾嗎？而神的救恩的計劃是完美的，我們不能犯這樣的錯誤！說救恩的計劃不是完美的。所以從邏輯的觀點來看，聖經也是說亞當創造時和聖潔有份。

    我們已從舊約、新約、和邏輯三方面來看這問題，都達到同樣的結論，「亞當創造時是聖潔的」，神藉著聖經告訴我們是多麼的一致啊！這實在是和聖經沒有用三位一體這個辭類似！有人說當初亞當被創造時仍未吃過生命樹的果子，這是對的，但從這就結論說亞當是中性的，因此沒有聖潔，這是錯的。因聖經的話語明說亞當和聖潔有份，這結論和聖經的話語衝突，因此是不對的結論。也就是說，這樣是屬於主觀的看見。其實經文說得很清楚，『凡樹木看果子，就可以認出它來。…』(路加福音 6:44) 錯誤的結論是壞果子，就知道是壞樹。而這時的樹是只有主觀或客觀的看見，即然如此，只能是主觀的看見了！聖經從來沒有說過那時的亞當是中性的，其實即使亞當那時是中性的，也可有聖潔，而沒有神其他的生命，如能行神蹟等。亞當不是那時就有了自由意志嗎？我們看到自由意志是從神來的，因神有絕對的主權，當然有自由意志，亞當是照神的形像照的，當然可以有自由選擇，因此可以選擇了不順服神。

             所以即使是基於聖經而且符合邏輯，人仍然可以選擇不信，因為人有自由意志，這是勉強不得的。也是因為當初亞當有自由意志，雖然神給他的命令是這麼的清楚，他也可以選擇不聽。在這裏，我們是效法耶穌對少年官的態度(參馬可福音 10:17-22)，那時祂說了，呼召了，但不干涉他自由意志的選擇。因為邏輯是客觀的工具，所以專題查經不是要尋求同意我們的看見與否，而是試著去敘述基於聖經話語的邏輯，用客觀的方法去說明聖經到底是怎麼說。

             我們看到了真是『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) 我們真的不要『…將我們神的恩變作放縱情慾的機會，並且不認獨一的主宰──我們主耶穌基督。』(猶大書 1:4) 因為祂的公義，還包括了有最後白色大寶座的審判，這可在經文中看到，『…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 20:12)

 (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』。)

Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture were inspired by God. Because there was no New Testament at that time, and even the book of Revelation had not been written, so the Bible in this statement should refer to the Old Testament. But Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are “…given by inspiration of God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work” of good deeds. ” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The church of God is a group of blessed people gathered together. Most churches emphasize God’s love, because the scriptures make it very clear, “By this everyone will know that you are me, if you have love for one another.” disciples.  ” (John 13:35)  But often, they forget to share that God is a righteous God. Here we will briefly explain how God’s justice is achieved in the New Testament.

First, we know that the Bible never uses the word ‘Trinity.’ We have discussed this topic before in a booklet, explaining the meaning of the word, answering a question that someone might ask, and explaining why creation are participated by all three persons of the Trinity.  Due to time constraints we will not discuss this point here, but will point out how you can download this booklet for free, at this moment available only in Chinese but will be translated later.  Second, we talked about righteousness as the foundation of God’s throne, and related discussions mentioned before.  Third, we briefly discussed the definition of sin, demonstrating that sin is equal to disobedience to God.  Fourth, we set out the reasons why everyone needs salvation.  Fifth, let’s look at how Jesus got rid of sin and thus completed salvation.  Sixth, we explained that we must be in Christ and used examples to illustrate what it means to be in Christ. We saw how God accomplished His justice and why God had to let Jesus be crucified.  Finally, from the perspective of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and logic, we all come to the same conclusion: ‘Adam was holy when he was created.’ This also explains why man’s holiness is completely different from God’s holiness.  If people see this and still insist that ‘Adam has nothing to do with holiness,’ this would be a great sin, because it is tantamount to telling God that your salvation plan is imperfect, and therefore it is blasphemous.  We also discussed why it was wrong for someone to say ‘Adam was neutral.’ We also saw that even if it is based on the Bible and is logical, people can still choose not to believe it because people have free will and any concept cannot be forced.  In the topic-wise Bible Study, we are trying to describe the logic based on biblical words and use objective methods to explain what the Bible actually says.

1. Why does the scripture say that God is a Trinity?

We just mentioned that Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God. If we really believe this, we will not discount the words of the Bible and will look at what God wants to tell us through the Bible.  First, we see the Bible never uses the word ‘Trinity,’ but we can draw this conclusion from the scriptures.  We have talked about the Triune God before in this booklet “Looking at God’s Will from Genesis Chapters One to Three.”  That is to say, the scriptures make it very clear that “the Father, Jehovah, the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit” are all Gods, but they are one God.  In fact, in Genesis 1:1, it is already hinted that God is a plural but one God, because the subject noun is plural and the verb is singular. We point out that the same statement is also made in the New Testament scriptures.  In [Note 4.6] of the booklet, we briefly discuss the concept of God as a Trinity.  In [Note 4.7], we discussed a question one might ask, which is, why three and not four or more.  In [Note 2.4], the Bible tells us that creation involves all three persons of the Trinity.  Those who are interested in this topic can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” to download this booklet for free.  The Gospel is “…Freely you received, freely give.”(Matthew 10:8) We must do the work of the Great Commission.  (See Matthew 28:18-20)

2. Righteousness is the foundation of God’s throne

The Psalms say at least twice that righteousness is the foundation of God’s throne.  That is, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) and “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”(Psalm 97:2) We can see God’s righteousness everywhere in the Old Testament.  We talked about “1026 There is love in righteousness in the Old Testament,” because the New and Old Testaments are the same God, so we also shared “1027 Examples of living out love in the Bible” and “1025 There is righteousness in love in the New Testament.” Those who are interested in these short articles can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “On spiritual understanding about life”.

3. Definition of sin

Let’s look at this verse first, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”(Genesis 1:27) So Adam and Eve originally had the image of God.  Although God’s command to Adam was very clear (see Genesis 2:15-17), they still chose to disobey God and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 3:6) . “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”(Romans 5:12) Adam sinned because he disobeyed God, which means “disobedience to God means sin.”  So does sin mean disobeying God?  We can look at its logically identical statement, that is, is it true that “obeying God means it is not a sin”?  Of course it is right. How can obeying God be a sin?  So sin and disobedience to God are equal.

4. Why does everyone need salvation?

We see that “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”(Genesis 5:3) So Seth had the image of God that was stained by sin. We are descendants of Adam, just like Seth, we were born with the image of God that was stained by sin, so it is said, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) That is, everyone needs to get rid of sin, which means that everyone, without exception, needs salvation.  In other words, the plan of salvation is to fulfill God’s original will, to get rid of sin, to restore us to the image of God when Adam was created, and to choose the fruit of the tree of life, because Christians are to be in Christ and have chosen that fruit of life, Jesus Christ, reaches this point in Christ.

Some people may ask, why do we say this?  We know that Jesus took on human form, so He was fully human, but there is one big difference from us, that is, He was conceived and born by the Holy Spirit, starting from sinlessness.  If He had sinned, He would have been no different from ordinary people and would have had the image of God tainted by sin. Otherwise, He would not have been full human being.  But He did not sin, He thus only had the image of God. In other words, He was restored to the time when Adam was created, who was created in the image of God without sin.

5. How Jesus got rid of sin and completed salvation

We know that “…God so loved the world, …”(John 3:16) Because of God’s love, He wants to save everyone who is stained by sin, but He cannot allow us to truly die physically, because after death, people will no longer be in the world. Yes, He wants us to be saved while we are on earth, and at the same time, He must fulfill His righteousness.  But our old self is only worthy of death and cannot be repaired or improved. This is just like what the book of Romans says, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”(Romans 7:18) How is this possible?  But “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

Let’s first look at the life of Jesus and see how He got rid of sin?  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:18-21). He started without sin, which is completely different from us starting with sin.  He took “the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) Since He was made in human form, He was fully human, that is, as capable of sin as a human being.  But He obeyed God throughout His life as the verse says, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31)  That’s why the book of Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15)

In Jesus, we see that He in human form obeyed God and got rid of sin. Therefore, He restored the image of Adam on earth when he was created, completed God’s original will, and accomplished salvation.

Some people may think that only the precious blood of Jesus can take away sins, because the scripture says, “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.”(Hebrews 10:11-12) Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and shed His precious blood. This is obviously right.  We also know this when we look at this scripture, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.”(Hebrews 10:19-20) So why do we say that Jesus obeyed God and could take away sin?  We cannot find such words in the Bible, just like we cannot find the word Trinity, but the Bible definitely has this concept.  Let’s look at Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.””(Mark 14:36) If it were according to His will, He would not have tasted the bitter cup of the cross, but He obeyed God, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8) Didn’t He shed His precious blood to take away sin by obeying God?

6. We must be in Christ

Because our old self is only worthy of death, it is only when we are fully united with Jesus Christ in Him that it is possible for us to put away sin. This is what God did, ‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Corinthians 5:21) That is, Jesus substitutes for us, so Paul would say, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”(Galatians 2:20) We see how Paul lived!  That is to say, we need to become a new man, as the book of Ephesians says, “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”(Ephesians 4:20-24) This is not like wearing clothes that can be taken off but put on externally. We all have the indwelling Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8: 11), but to be transformed from the inside out, just as Paul said, we are to be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29).  What God looks at is Christ, not us. For example, Jesus Christ is holy, and we enjoy His holiness in Christ. It does not mean that we must first be holy before we can be in Christ, but in Christ we will gradually be transformed and truly become holy.

Some people use a piece of paper in a book to explain being in Christ. If the book is there, because the paper in the book is inside the book, it must be in the same place.  If the paper isn’t in the book, it could be anywhere!  When the book represents the sinless Christ, and we are the piece of paper, to be sinless in the eyes of God, we must put to death our old self in Christ.  The scripture says, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”(Titus 3:5) As we shared last time in “1087 Conforming to the image of Jesus and its practice,” the renewal of the Holy Spirit is completed in Christ.  To believe that Christ is the Son of God in the sinless Christ Jesus is to choose the fruit of the tree of life and to fulfill God’s original will.  We say again that Jesus took away sin while on earth, thus restoring Adam to the sinless image in which he was created.

Let’s now take a look at why God had to let Jesus be crucified?  There is one God in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”(Hebrews 9:22) “Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.”(Hebrews 9:18) In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, …”(Romans 3:25) “and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”(Ephesians 2:13)

From a human perspective, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”(Ephesians 1:7) This is because “… To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood⁠— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father…”(Revelation 1:5-6) Therefore, the church of God is a group of graced people gathered together, which is what the Acts of the Apostles says, “…the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”(Acts 20:28) We have just discussed that everyone needs salvation. If a person thinks that he does not need salvation, it is impossible to obtain salvation!

Know this, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”(Romans 8:1) We are in Christ, just like that piece of paper that has to be stuck in a book. Therefore, we must first be one with Christ, and we will naturally become one!  It must be this way, not just the superficial unity, otherwise the unity may not be possible when something happens!  The scripture makes it very clear, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, …”(Romans 12:5). This does not mean that each of us must be the same. Each one still has his or her own characteristics. As the scripture says, “For the body is not one member, but many. …If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”(1 Corinthians 12:14-18) But we must be like Paul said, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”(Philippians 2:2) This has to happen if everyone is conformed to the image of Jesus, and works together for the Kingdom of God.  We must take up our cross and follow Jesus, as the scripture says, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”(Matthew 16:24-25)

This is saying that we must put our old self to death. Anyone who loses his soul life for the Lord will gain eternal life.  This is on the one hand, but on the other hand it is to be martyrdom for the Lord without fear of death. In Christ we should already know where we’ll go, so how can we be afraid of death?  It’s not that there is any benefit in not being afraid of death alone.  In a saying, a hero’s beheading is just a scar as big as a bowl. Do you think such a hero is afraid of death? It seems a good place for us to emphasize one point here. That is, it seems that we are just putting the Bible verses together, but we do not just put the verses together casually. We must first see if the Bible has the concept before we can put the corresponding verses together to illustrate this point.

7. ‘Adam was holy when he was created’ from the perspective of the Old Testament, the New Testament and logic.

Let’s look at another related topic, which is whether Adam was holy when he was created?  Looking at the Old Testament, the New Testament, and logic, we will all come to the same conclusion, ‘Adam was holy when he was created.’  Now let’s start with the Old Testament. We see that God’s image includes holiness, because He Himself said, “…I am holy…”(Leviticus 11:44). Adam was created in the image of God. Why would anyone think that Adam had no part in holiness when he was created?  However, human holiness is different from God’s holiness because humans have free will and can still choose to disobey God and sin.  However for God, “…He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) Therefore, God’s holiness cannot sin.  Here we want to emphasize something that everyone already knows. That is, Adam was only created in the image of God. It is not that Adam is exactly the same as God. This is impossible. He is just a man and cannot be God.  Some people say that holy people will not sin. Look at the example of Adam to see a counterexample!  As we shared earlier, sin is disobedience to God, not unholiness, but unholiness is indeed a sin.

If anyone still has doubts about Adam’s participation in holiness when he was created, let’s see what the New Testament says?  The book of Hebrews says, “Pursue …the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) In the book of Genesis, it is said, “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”(Genesis 3:8) This does not say to hide from God’s voice, but to hide from God’s face. This sentence means that they have seen God’s face before they were defiled by sin, so they must hide from God’s face now.  Notice that the Lord said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) However, Adam was able to survive after seeing the face of God. How could he have no part in holiness before he sinned?

Some may still have doubts, but this verse clearly says, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”(John 1:18) Indeed, people who have been tainted by sin have never seen the face of God, so Moses could only see His back (see Exodus 33:18-23).  What we are talking about here is Adam at creation, Adam before he was tainted by sin, not Adam after he was tainted by sin.

Finally, from a logical and objective point of view, we will find that saying that Adam has no part in holiness means that God’s salvation plan is imperfect.  Why do you say this way?  As mentioned before, in human form, Jesus obeyed God and eliminated sin, restored the image of God like Adam, and completed God’s original will.  If Adam had no part in holiness, how could Jesus be holy if he restored the image of God like Adam?  But we know that Jesus is holy. Doesn’t this mean there is an obvious contradiction in the plan of salvation?  Since God’s plan of salvation is perfect, we cannot make such mistakes!  Says the plan of salvation is imperfect.  So from a logical point of view, the Bible also says that Adam participated in holiness when he was created. This is really similar to the word ‘Trinity’ which is not used in the Bible, but indeed the Bible has such a concept.

We have looked at this issue from three aspects: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and logic, and we have all reached the same conclusion: ‘Adam was holy when he was created.’ God tells us through the Bible is really consistent! Since people has the free will, one cannot force people to think an issue one way or the other. But if a person knows this and still insists that Adam had no part in holiness when he was created, this is a sin of blasphemy against God, not an ordinary sin, but a major sin, and he must repent in the same way as a major sin. Let us emphasize again. This is really similar to the fact that the Bible does not use the word Trinity!

Some people say that Adam had not eaten from the tree of life when he was created. This is correct, but it is wrong to conclude that Adam was neutral and therefore not holy.  Because the words of the Bible clearly say that Adam participated in holiness, this conclusion conflicts with the words of the Bible and is therefore an incorrect conclusion.  In other words, this is a subjective view.  In fact, the scriptures say very clearly, “For each tree is known by its own fruit. …”(Luke 6:44) If a wrong conclusion is bad fruit, then you know it is a bad tree.  At this time, there are only two choices for seeing the tree, which correspond the viewpoints of subjectivity or being objective. In this case, the only way to conclude that saying Adam had no part of holiness when created is subjective!  The Bible never says that Adam was neutral at that time. In fact, even if Adam was neutral at that time, he could still have holiness but not other characteristics of God, such as being able to perform miracles.  Didn’t Adam have free will then?  We see that free will comes from God. Because God has absolute sovereignty, of course He has free will. Adam was in the image of God, so he certainly had free choice, so he could choose to disobey God.

So even if it is based on the Bible words and is logical, people can still choose not to believe it, because people have free will, which is inevitable.  It is also because Adam had free will at the beginning. Although God’s command to him was so clear, he could choose not to listen.  Here, we are imitating Jesus’ attitude towards the young ruler (see Mark 10:17-22). At that time, He said and called, but did not interfere with his free will choice even He loved him. Therefore, we just shared it!  Because logic is an objective tool, the topic-wise Bible study is not to seek agreement with what we see, but to try to describe the logic based on biblical words and use objective methods to explain what the Bible actually says.

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

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