我們首先在前言中提醒大家，耶穌說讀經的目的是要得生命。也複習一下為什麼說聖經所講唯一的方法是用啓示帶領讀經。啓示是可以由禱告求的，是我們所不能做的。我們也舉了一個舊約的例子，看到了眼睛非要神開不可，我們才能正確的看見。接著我們所要强調的是我們必須主動的願意去做該做的事，這是一個實際的方法，因為只要一個人願意，都可以做得到。這方法有三點，就是：第一是不要把聖經白紙黑字寫的字打折扣；第二是要用邏輯；第三是必須用到聖經的一致性，也就是神透過聖經告訴我們是一致的。關於這三點，我們都用例子來說明。最後我們透過啓示錄 15 章的逐句解釋，看到了這三點是如何運用的。譬如說，在第三節中談到那些勝了獸和獸的像的人時，想到了得勝者，在邏輯上看到了「一次得救永遠得救」的概念。在講到聖經的一致性時，我們看到了神的公平，那些僅僅「一次得救永遠得救」的基督徒是不能進新耶路撒冷城的。這和一些人的想法不同，但我們不是要標新立異，因為依照這三點，就看見了聖經是這樣說的。

1.    前言: 聖經教導我們如何讀經？

       耶穌在約翰福音 5:39-40 說得很清楚，讀經的目的是要得生命：『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』有些人對聖經可以滾瓜爛熟，卻仍然可以不信主，所以得到一些聖經的知識絕對不是讀經的目的，但卻是相當多人一不小心就犯這樣的錯誤！

       聖經所說唯一的讀經方法是要「啓示帶領查經」。詳細的解說可在 [1] 找到，我們現在只簡單的複習一下為什麼這樣說。在路加福音 24:45 說得很清楚，沒有『…耶穌開他們(包括彼得)的心竅，使他們能明白聖經，』他們是不可能瞭解聖經的。我們現在不可能被耶穌親自開心竅，但我們有內住的的聖靈，三位一體的聖靈可以用啓示使我們能明白聖經。這就如保羅所說，他所知道的是從啓示來的：『因為我不是從人領受的，也不是人教導我的，乃是從耶穌基督啓示來的。』(加拉太書 1:12) 

       啓示不全是超自然的，聖靈常常藉著別人的話去啓示聖經的真理。這就猶如保羅在見到大光後，主差遣亞拿尼亞告訴他一些事情，而不是主親自告訴他。(參使徒行傳 9:10-19) 也只有啓示才能做到彼得有資格說的，「不要強解聖經」。(參彼得後書 3:15-16) 雖然啓示是我們自己不能做的，但是可以祈求的，如保羅的禱告：『求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，將那賜人智慧和啓示的靈賞給你們，使你們真知道他。』(以弗所書 1:17)

       神有絕對的主權，沒有祂開我們的眼睛，我們是看不到的，在舊約中有一個這樣的例子。在列王紀下第六章中，以利沙看到火車火馬，但他不能開他僕人的眼睛，於是『以利沙禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開這少年人的眼目，使他能看見。」耶和華開他的眼目，他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙。』(列王紀下 6:17)

       啓示是我們在讀經中不能自己做的，要神的憐憫，是神主動的，而我們只能被動。所以在這裏要提出一個實際的方法，因為只要一個人願意，都可以做得到。我們表示了主動的願意和神同工，相信祂一定會照著祂的話做，因為聖經真是神所默示的。簡而言之，我們是主動的被動。

2. 我們應該主動的願意做的事

       這是一個實際的方法，因為每一點都是我們能做得到的，問題在於我們願不願意這樣做。第一點是不要把聖經白紙黑字寫的話打折扣。第二點是正確的使用邏輯。第三點是要加上聖經的一致性，也就是神透過聖經告訴我們是一致的。我們以下就舉例說明這三點。

       第一點是不要把聖經白紙黑字寫的話打折扣。『聖經都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書 3:16) 雖然保羅寫那句話時不是整本的新約都已經有了(如啓示錄)，但基督徒相信整本聖經都是神所默示的。也只有這樣，才有可能不創造一個不是聖經所講的神。

       聖經是神所默示的，所以從聖經的角度看就是從神的角度看。但是聖經不是記載所有的事情，如約翰福音選擇神蹟的標準就是，『但記這些事，要叫你們信耶穌是基督，是神的兒子，並且叫你們信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』(約翰福音 20:31) 所以從神的角度看廣多了，不是只從聖經的角度看。讀經的時候不要隨便劃等號。其實聽別人的話也要如此。譬如說，好心的提醒別人不要做一件事情，卻常常被那個人認為是責備那人已經做了那事情。沒有一個(對啓示錄的七個教會都說的)能聽的耳，是不能被提醒的，因為一方面是沒有用，另方面也是可以避免爭論。

       我們再舉一個說明從人的角度看和從神的角度看的大大不同的例子。在保羅見大光前，絕對有熱心，但他是從人的角度看，讀錯了，以致於到迫害基督徒的地步。見大光之後，他得到了啓示，這是從神的角度看事情，神也大大的使用他。

       不要把聖經白紙黑字寫的話打折扣是不容易做到的。我們舉一個羅馬書 8:29 的例子，『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成)他兒子的模樣，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』很明顯的，這裏說到同時有預知和預定。但是馬丁路得說只有預知，而喀爾文說只有預定，如果以聖經作為絕對標準，這兩個人在這一點上都是錯的，結果是到現在這麼多年了，還為那個是對的在爭論！

       事實上，聖經明講，當一個人被人認為很屬靈而犯了錯誤時，影響是非常大的。我們都知道所羅門建聖殿，但『所羅門年老的時候，他的妃嬪誘惑他的心去隨從別神，不效法他父親大衞誠誠實實地順服耶和華他的神。…所羅門為摩押可憎的神基抹和亞捫人可憎的神摩洛，在耶路撒冷對面的山上建築邱壇。』(列王紀上 11:4-7) 可能是沒有人敢動這樣的錯誤，一直到猶大快滅亡時，約西亞才解決了這問題。『從前以色列王所羅門在耶路撒冷前、邪僻山右邊為西頓人可憎的神亞斯她錄、摩押人可憎的神基抹、亞捫人可憎的神米勒公所築的邱壇，王(約西亞)都污穢了，又打碎柱像，砍下木偶，將人的骨頭充滿了那地方。』(列王紀下 23:13-14) 同樣的理由，我們實在要分辨話語是不是從神來的，或只是從人來的，這點是非常重要的。

       第二點是正確的使用邏輯。我們知道(數學上)的邏輯只是一個工具，在任何地方邏輯都是一樣的，不同的假設(公理)送入了同樣的邏輯(機器)會得到不同的結論(定理)。譬如說我們日常是用十進位代表一個數目，每一個數字可以從零到九，而計算機裏面是二進位，每一個數字只能有零或壹，所以有些定理在計算機的設計中成立，但同樣的敘述就不是日常生活的定理，在日常生活中是不對的。不同人有不同信心的看見，就決定了不同人的假設不同，一個最明顯的例子就是無神論者的假設和基督徒完全不同，前者是認為沒有神，而我們在信心中相信神，雖然我們和他們用同樣的邏輯，我們的結論(看見)是完全的不同。記得，人有自由意志，所以即使是符合聖經的話和邏輯，人還是可以選擇不信。這基本上是從人的角度看，因為自己的經驗認為是不可能的事，殊不知聖經給我們的是真知識。譬如哥白尼說到地球繞太陽旋轉，聖經甚至說，『…將大地懸在虛空。』(約伯記 26:7)  而當時的科學正好是以地球為中心，認為其他的星體繞著地球，我們現在知道當時的科學是不對的。

        我們在這一點上舉一個最後的例子，看見了我們不總是能對有關聖經的所有問題有唯一的結論。首先我們從下述三個經文看出，瑪土撒拉死的那年正好是洪水來的那年，因為 782-182=600。這三節經文為：『瑪土撒拉生拉麥之後，又活了七百八十二年，…』(創世記 5:26) 『拉麥活到一百八十二歲，生了一個兒子，給他起名叫挪亞，…』(創世記 5:28-29) 『當洪水泛濫在地上的時候，挪亞整六百歲。』(創世記 7:6) 從人的角度看，我們可能會問，是瑪土撒拉被洪水淹死的，或是瑪土撒拉一死洪水就來了？從神的角度來看，洪水是那一天來了，瑪土撒拉是怎麼死的，不重要，沒有記，我們也不必爭論這話題，這時聖經沒說是那個，我們不會有唯一的結論的。

       第三點是要加上聖經的一致性，也就是神透過聖經告訴我們是一致的。基督徒因信得救後，即使是草木禾稭的工作，『人的工程若被燒了，他就要受虧損，自己卻要得救；雖然得救，乃像從火裏經過的一樣。』(哥林多前書 3:15) 所以我們可以從這經文和邏輯上看到「一次得救，永遠得救」的摡念。有人可能會問，有些人花一生之久去走成聖的道路，而有些人只要信一次就可以上天堂了，這樣公平嗎？是的，公平，聖經對這兩樣人的方式是不同的。當新天新地時，聖城新耶路撒冷由神那裏從天而降。(參啓示錄 21:1-2) 但不是所有的人都能進城的，就如啓示錄 21:27 所說：『凡不潔淨的，並那行可憎與虛謊之事的，總不得進那城；只有名字寫在羔羊生命冊上的才得進去。』 有人會以為這些在城外的是非基督徒，但依照聖經，這些至少是僅僅得救的基督徒。

       為什麼我們說這些在城外的是基督徒呢？首先我們可以從腓立比書 4:3 看到基督徒的名字是在生命册上的，『…這兩個女人…還有革利免，並其餘和我一同做工的，他們的名字都在生命冊上。』啓示錄 21:27 並沒有說，所有名字寫在羔羊生命册上的都可以進去。所以「在生命册上」是「能進去」的必要條件，不是充分條件，不能劃等號。從時間上來看，白色的大寶座是出現在啓示錄 20:11，到啓示錄 20:15 就說，『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』所以這時沒有記在生命册上的非基督徒已經下到火湖裏了。到了啓示錄 21:8 就强調的說明這是第二次的死，『惟有膽怯的、不信的、可憎的、殺人的、淫亂的、行邪術的、拜偶像的和一切說謊話的，他們的分就在燒着硫磺的火湖裏，這是第二次的死。』所以那些不能進城的人是在生命册上，但如啓示錄 21:27 所說的這樣的基督徒。

       有人回頭說那些人是從未真正的得救過，只有神知道一個人是否真信？後者是沒錯的。只是我們將曾經真信過而軟弱的基督徒放在何處？這些基督徒是和非基督有區別的。如果是這樣，我們把神的信實放在那裏？祂不是明明應許了信而稱義嗎？難道傳道人是騙人信主嗎？當然不是，是信主的門檻放得很低，因為主『…不願有一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改。』(彼得後書 3:9) 但成聖之路的標準很高，是要一生之久，祂最後的審判決定了誰可以進城，因為最後的審判至少有兩卷册子，『…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) 這樣，就可以維持聖經的一致性。

       有人說，在城外至少比下到硫磺火湖好多了，這是沒錯的，但我們實在是要追尋做一個能進城的基督徒。這又是一個神透過聖經告訴我們是一致的例子，因為神是無限而人是有限，我們必須用外插法，從有限的例子中，假設在所有的情況中這都是成立的。一定要記得，『…神就是愛！住在愛裏面的，就是住在神裏面，神也住在他裏面。』(約翰一書 4:16) 神是很公平的，因祂『…多給誰，就向誰多取；多託誰，就向誰多要。』(路加福音 12:48)

3. 啓示錄第十五章的看見

    這章只有八節，我們就大致地逐節說明，應用這三點到我們的看見上。

15:1 我又看見在天上有異象，大而且奇，就是七位天使掌管末了的七災，因為神的大怒在這七災中發盡了。

        有一位弟兄說第七號之災就是七碗之災，如同第七印之災就是七號之災一樣。他說這災在啓示錄 11:14 中又稱為第三災，因為前文將七號之災分為四災和三災兩組，它是第二組的第三個。

         我們可以從不同的推論中得到同樣的結果，因為聖經常是用這種多餘的寫法。啓示錄 16:17 寫著：『第七位天使把碗倒在空中，就有大聲音從殿中的寶座上出來，說：「成了！」』這是指第七號之災的結束。如果不是，第七號之災在第七碗之災前結束，就會和 15:1 衝突，不能有神的大怒在這七災中發盡了。所以我們可以得到結論，第七號之災就是七碗之災。在這裏我們用了聖經的話和邏輯。

15:2 我看見彷彿(G5613)有玻璃海，其中有火攙雜。又看見那些勝了獸和獸的像，並牠名字數目的人，都站在玻璃海上，拿着神的琴，

        聖經沒有明講那些勝了獸和獸的像並牠名字數目的人是不是得勝者，但他們都是願為主耶穌擺上生命的人，『…本是世界不配有的人。』(希伯來書 11:38) 啓示錄在開始講的七個教會中，都是在呼召得勝者，因為神從來就沒有只希望我們僅僅得救，如前述討論聖經的一致性時哥林多前書 3:15 所說。

       有人可能會問，玻璃海是不是說那海是玻璃做的？我們應該已習慣了在彙編中有字的數目編號，那就看 G5613 這字的意義，這是可以從啓示錄 1:14 和其他經文中看出來的，『他的頭與髮皆白，如(G5613)白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同(G5613)火焰。』(啓示錄 1:14) 也就是說看起來像是玻璃海，所以那些人可以站在其上。其實玻璃海只出現兩次，另外一次在啓示錄 4:6，『寶座前好像一個玻璃海，如同(like G3664)水晶。 …』這裏是用不同的字G3664，我們就從經文看 G3664 的意義，『看那坐着的，好像(G3664)碧玉和紅寶石，又有虹圍着寶座，好像(G3664)綠寶石。』(啓示錄 4:3) 這雖然是不同的字，但意義是相同的，就如我們在中文中說、下午二點半和下午二時三十分是一樣的意義。聖經是一致的。

15:3 唱神僕人摩西的歌和羔羊的歌，說(G3004)：「主神，全能者啊，你的作為大哉，奇哉！萬世之王啊，你的道途義哉，誠哉！

15:4 主啊，誰敢不敬畏你，不將榮耀歸與你的名呢？因為獨有你是聖的，萬民都要來在你面前敬拜，因你公義的作為已經顯出來了。」

       這歌因有 G3004 這字，已在這裏清楚的在括弧裏面說明是什麼了，不要和申命記 32 章的摩西之歌弄混。這些經文講到了「你的作為和你的道路」是指什麼呢？在整本聖經中實在是不可勝數，至少道成肉身的整體計劃是其中之一，也是因有了這計劃，我們才有希望。另外講到祂的「公義的作為」也是太多了，至少在啓示錄中我們這時已有六印，而第七印開時我們已有發生過的六號。第七號有這時尚未發生的七碗。就像先前所說，到第七碗成了時就是第七印的結束。請注意，第六號中包括了要約翰不寫的七雷，而他也的確沒有寫。在這裏我們看到了約翰的順服，也知道他是按他所看到的耶穌基督的啓示順著秩序寫的，是可信的。的確，『公義和公平，是你寶座的根基…』(詩篇 89:14) 我們要看見，舊約的公義中有愛，新約愛中有公義。

15:5 此後，我看見在天上那存法櫃的殿開了。

        我們在 15:5 看到了天上有法櫃，我們也知道地上在摩西的時代造了法櫃，我們來看看世上的法櫃是如何做成的？這在希伯來書 8:5 說得很清楚，『他們供奉的事，本是天上事的形狀和影像，正如摩西將要造帳幕的時候，蒙神警戒他，說：「你要謹慎，做各樣的物件都要照着在山上指示你的樣式。」』是的，天上的是實體，影子必須要照著山上指示的樣式才不會錯。

       這就猶如約伯記一開始所說的，天上先發生了事情，地上才有事情發生。第二次撒但挑戰神時，『耶和華對撒但說：「他在你手中，只要存留他的性命。」於是撒但從耶和華面前退去，擊打約伯，使他從腳掌到頭頂長毒瘡。』(約伯記 2:6-7) 我們也看到撒但所行的不能超越神所同意的，而撒但看不到是、神本是要藉著這事祝福約伯，還以為是牠贏了呢！這不是和救恩的計劃相同嗎？聖經怎麼會不一致呢？

15:6 那掌管七災的七位天使從殿中出來，穿着潔白光明的細麻衣，胸間束着金帶。

15:7 四活物中有一個把盛滿了活到永永遠遠之神大怒的七個金碗給了那七位天使。

       我們看到了七碗是由何而來，至於七碗的執行是開始在下一章，『我聽見有大聲音從殿中出來，向那七位天使說：「你們去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上！」』(啓示錄 16:1)

15:8 因神的榮耀和能力，殿中充滿了煙。於是沒有人能以進殿，直等到那七位天使所降的七災完畢了。

       就我所知，神的榮耀和能力大到沒有人能以進殿只發生了其他的兩次。一次可從出埃及記 40:34-35 看出，『當時，雲彩遮蓋會幕，耶和華的榮光就充滿了帳幕。摩西不能進會幕，因為雲彩停在其上，並且耶和華的榮光充滿了帳幕。』(出埃及記 40:34-35) 另外一次是在所羅門蓋的聖殿中，『所羅門祈禱已畢，就有火從天上降下來，燒盡燔祭和別的祭。耶和華的榮光充滿了殿。因耶和華的榮光充滿了耶和華殿，所以祭司不能進殿。』(歷代志下 7:1-2) 在回歸聖殿重建時，沒有發生這事。我們要强調的一點，就是新舊約都是一位神，聖經是一致的。

相關的知識

[1] 在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』網站按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，接著按『2023 聖經說要如何讀聖經』。

 (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, we’ll remind in the preface that the purpose of reading the Bible is to have life according to Jesus. We then review why we say the Bible tells us that the only way to read the Bible correctly is through revelation to lead the Bible study. Revelation is something that we cannot do, but we could have through prayers. We can see through an example in the Old Testament that our eyes have to be opened by God in order to see correctly. Secondly, we want to emphasize that we have to be actively willing to do what we should do. This is a practical method since everyone can do it if they are willing. This method consists of three points: (1) Not to discount things the Bible says that are written in black and white; (2) To use logic correctly; (3) To use the consistency of the Bible, i.e., what God tells us through the Bible is consistent. We’ll illustrate these three by examples. Finally, there are only eight verses in Revelation 15 and we go through verse by verse to explain what we see through these three. For example, in Revelation 15:3, it talks about those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name. This reminds us about overcomers, and see the concept logically: ‘once saved then forever saved.’ When we talk about the consistency of the Bible, we can see that God is really fair. Those who are merely saved cannot enter the city of new Jerusalem when it comes down from Heaven. This is a different viewpoint from many, but we are not to try to be unconventional for the sake of being unconventional. It is just the conclusion we reach if we examine the Bible according to these three guidelines.

1. Preface: What the Bible tells us regarding how to read the Bible?

According to Jesus, it says clearly in John 5:39-40 that the purpose of reading the Bible is to have life, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” There are people who are familiar with the Bible, but still don’t believe in Jesus. So, gaining knowledge is absolutely not the only purpose of reading the Bible. However, many people suffer such a mistake without even knowing it!

The Bible says the only way to read the Bible correctly is ‘through the revelation to lead the Bible study.’ You can find the detailed discussions in [1]. Here, we briefly review why we say so. It is said in Luke 24:45 clearly, “Then He opened their (including Peter’s) minds to understand the Scriptures,” otherwise it is impossible for them to understand the Bible correctly. We cannot nowadays have our minds opened by Jesus Himself, but we have the indwelling Holy Spirit and He as one of Holy Trinity can open our minds through revelation to understand the Bible correctly. There is no other way. Just like what Paul says in Galatians 1:12, “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Revelation is not all supernatural. Holy Spirit often uses others to reveal the truth in the Bible. Just like after Paul saw the light, the Lord sent a disciple at Damascus named Ananias to tell him something in Act 9. Only through revelation, it is possible to do what Peter is qualified to say, ‘not to distort the Bible’ in 2 Peter 3:15-16. Although we cannot do revelation by ourselves, we can certainly pray like what Paul did in Ephesians 1:17, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

God has the absolute authority. Without Him to open our eyes, we cannot really see. In the Old Testament, there was an example in 2 King 6. Elisha was able to see that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, but he couldn’t open the eyes of his servant. So “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”(2 Kings 6:17)

Revelation is what we cannot do in studying the Bible. It needs to be by the mercy of God. Therefore, God is active and we can only be passive. Here, we present a practical method to show God that we are willing to actively work with Him. It is a practical method since everyone can do it if a person is willing. We believe that He’ll do what He promises in the Bible because the Bible is indeed inspired by God. In short, we are active passive.

2. What we should be actively willing to do 

This is a practical method since everyone can do it if one is willing. The question then boils down to if we are willing to do. This method consists of three points: (1) Not to discount what the Bible has written in black and white; (2) To use logic correctly; (3) To use the consistency of the Bible, i.e., what God tells us through the Bible is consistent. We’ll use examples to illustrate these three in the following.

(1) Not to discount what the Bible says written in black and white   

“All Scripture is inspired by God …“(2 Timothy 3:16) When Paul wrote such words, not all the Bible books were written yet, such as the Book of Revelation. However, Christians do believe that the whole Bible is inspired by God, which is our starting point. Only in this way, there is a possibility not to create a god not according to the Bible. 

The Bible is inspired by God. Therefore, looking at things in the aspect of the Bible is to look at them in the aspect of God. However, the Bible didn’t record everything, as John clearly says how he chose the materials in John 20:31, “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” So, to look at things in the aspect of God is not equivalent to looking at things in the aspect of the Bible. We cannot add equality signs arbitrarily when reading the Bible. As a matter of fact, listening to the words of other people, we need do the same by not adding an equality sign. For example, even when you have good will in reminding someone that they shouldn’t do certain things, it is often misconstrued as blaming. If a person has no ears which can hear as said in all seven churches in the Book of Revelation, we should not try to remind that person of anything because it will be useless and we want to avoid arguments.  

We now give another example to show you how different it is to look at things in the aspect of human and in the aspect of God. Before Paul saw the big light, he was absolutely enthusiastic. But he read the Old Testament in the aspect of human. And it was so wrong to the extent of persecuting Christians. After He saw the big light, he got a revelation and looked at things in the aspect of God. God used him so much as we all know. 

‘Not to discount what the Bible says that is written in black and white’ is not as easy to do as one thinks. Let us use Romans 8:29 as an example. It says, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” What the Bible says is that there are both foreknowledge and predestination at the same time. But Martin Luther said that there was only foreknowledge, and John Calvin said there was only predestination. If we use the Bible as our absolute standard, then both of them are wrong in this point. This causes the result that there are arguments even in nowadays! 

In fact, the Bible boldly says, if a person was considered very spiritual and made mistakes, the effect is very large. We all know that Solomon built up the temple, but it says in 1 Kings 11:4-7 “For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. …Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon.” Probably none dared to correct such mistakes until Josiah, close to the time of the fall of Judah. It is said in 2 Kings 23:13-14, “The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled. He (Josiah) broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones.” For the same reason, it is very important to distinguish the words from the God from those from human.

(2) To use logic correctly

We know the (mathematical) logic is merely a tool. It is the same logic no matter where we go. Different hypothesis (axiom) feeds the same logic (machine) will get different conclusion (theorem). As an example, the number in our daily life is using decimal, where each digit can be from zero to nine. The same number in a computer is represented by binary, whose digit can only be zero or one. As a result, there are theorems which are correct in computer designs but the same statements aren’t true in our daily life.  Our faith determines our hypothesis (axiom). One apparent example is between a Christian and an atheist, where the former knows the God’s existence in heart but the latter assumes there is no God. Remember that every human has free will. Even the Bible words and logic are satisfied, a person can still choose unbelief. This is basically to look at thing in the aspect of human. When a person thinks that one thing is impossible due to his experience, it doesn’t mean that the thing is indeed impossible since the Bible is inspired by God and contains true knowledge. For example, Copernicus talked about the earth circling around the sun, and the science of that time believed the stars and the planets rotated around a fixed Earth. We now know that the science at that time was incorrect.

Let’s use another example to show that we cannot always get a conclusive answer to every question about the Bible. Let us take a look at following three verses to conclude that the flood came when Methuselah died since 782-182=600. In Genesis 5:26, it says, “Then Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after he became the father of Lamech, …” In Genesis 5:28-29, it says, “Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son. Now he called his name Noah, …” In Genesis 7:6, it says, “Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth.” One may ask if Methuselah died in the flood or the flood came right after he died? Well, this is viewed in the aspect of human. In the aspect of God, how he died is not important and it isn’t recorded. Instead, that the flood that came at that day is important and is recorded. In logic, the information is insufficient. We cannot get a unique conclusion, and thus there is no reason to argue which one is true.

(3) To use the consistency of the Bible,

      i.e., what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.  

A Christian is “justified by faith.”(Galatians 3:24). Even his work is like hay or straw, the Bible still says in 1 Corinthians 3:15, “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Therefore, we can conclude from this verse and logic the concept of ‘once saved then forever saved.’ Maybe someone would ask if it is fair? It seems that some people go to Heaven just by truly believing once, and others spend a life time in the way of sanctification. Yes, it is fair. The ways the Bible deals with those merely saved and those who endeavor in the way of sanctification are different.  When it is the time of having a new heaven and a new earth, the holy city, new Jerusalem, comes down out of heaven from God. (Ref. to Revelation 21:1-2) Not all people can enter the city as said in Revelation 21:26-27, “and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Someone may think those cannot enter the city are not Christians, but they are Christians according to the Bible. 

Why do we say so? We see in Philippians 4:3 that the names of Christians are in the book of life, “…these women …together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Revelation 21:26-27 don’t say that all people in the book of life can enter the city. Therefore, ‘names in the book of life’ is only a sufficient condition of ‘entering the city’, not necessary. We cannot make them equal. From the timeline, the great white throne appears in Revelation 20:11. Then it says in Revelation 20:15, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” By that time, all non-Christians were thrown into the lake of fire. It emphasizes in Revelation 21:8 by calling it the second death. Therefore, those who cannot enter the city are the Christians described in Revelation 21:27. 

Someone backtracks saying that those were not really saved to start with to fulfill the consistency of the Bible. Only God knows who are truly saved, which is correct. Then, where do we put those Christians who truly believed once but fall due to feebleness? There is something to distinguish between those Christians and non-Christians. If there is nothing distinguishing between them, where do we put the faithfulness of the God? Did He promise to be saved by faith alone? Did preachers lie to get people believed? Of course not. It is because the Lord is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9) The standard of becoming a Christian is relatively low when compared with the standard of sanctification, which takes the time of the whole life. His final judgement will decide who can enter the city. In the final judgement, there are at least two books as said in Revelation 20:12, “…and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” By this way, the consistency of the Bible is preserved!

Someone may say that outside the city is better than being thrown in the lake of fire. This is correct, but we should seek to be a Christian who can enter the city. This is definitely an example about the consistency of the Bible. Regarding this point, we have no choice but to use extrapolation to deduct that all cases are true from a finite number of examples because God is infinite and we are finite. Must remember, “…God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”(1 John 4:16) God is fair, since “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” .”(Luke 12:48)

3. What is observed in the Book of Revelation 15?

There are only eight verses in Revelation 15 and we go verse by verse to explain what we see through these three points. 

15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

One brother said that the plague of the seventh trumpet is the plague of seven bowls, just like the plague of the seven seals is the plague of the seventh trumpet. And he said that it is called in Revelation 11:14 the third plague since the plague of seven trumpets are divided into two groups with four and three and it is the third one in the second group.

We can use a different deduction to obtain the same conclusion, as the Bible often writes in a redundant way. In Revelation 16:17, it says, “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”” This ‘done’ indicates the end of the plague of the seventh trumpet. If not, let us assume that the plague ends before the plague of seven bowls. This will lead to a contradiction with Revelation 15:1 since we then cannot have “in them the wrath of God is finished.” So, we can conclude that the plague of the seventh trumpet is the plague of seven bowls. Here, we use the words of the Bible and logic.

15:2 And I saw something like (G5613) a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

The Bible doesn’t say clearly that those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name are overcomers. But they are willing to sacrifice their life for the Lord, “(men of whom the world was not worthy) …”(Hebrews 11:38) In the beginning of the Book of Revelation, all the believers that the Lord has called are overcomers. Because the Lord doesn’t hope that we are merely saved as discussed in the consistency of the Bible according to 1 Corinthians 3:15.

Probably, someone might ask if the sea of glass is a sea made of glass. By now, we might be familiar with the fact there are Concordance numbers corresponding to words. Let us take the word representing by G5613. Its meaning can be found in Revelation 1:14 and other verses, “His head and His hair were white like (G5613) white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like (G5613) a flame of fire.” In other words, it is just look like but not the actual sea so that they can stand on it. In fact, the sea of glass only appears twice with the other time in Revelation 4:6, “and before the throne there was something like (G3664) a sea of glass, like crystal; …” The meaning of the word G3664 can be found in Revelation 4:3, “And He who was sitting was like (G3664) a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like (G3664) an emerald in appearance.” Although this uses a different word, its meaning is the same. It is just like what we say: ‘half past two’ and ‘two thirty’ mean the same. The Bible is consistent even in this.

15:3 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying (G3004), “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!

15:4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Since there is the word G3004, this song is clearly written between the quote signs. We shouldn’t confuse with the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32. What are then ‘Your works and Your ways’ mentioned in verse 15:3? There are so many in the Bible and we couldn’t list them all. At least, the plan of salvation which includes ‘Word becoming flesh’ is one of them. With such a plan, we can then have hope. In terms of the work of righteousness, we so far have at least the plague of six seals, and we already have the plague of six bowls associated with the broken seventh seal. The plague of the seven bowl has not happened yet. As we discussed before, the completion of the plague of the seven bowl signals the end of the plague of the seventh seal.

Please notice that the plague of the sixth bowl includes seven peals of thunder, and it is said in Revelation 10:4, “…Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.” Indeed, John didn’t write them, which shows his obedience. And we can see that he writes according to what he saw in the time ordering. It is believable. Indeed, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; …”(Psalms 89:14) We have to see there is love in righteousness in the Old Testament, and there is righteousness in love in the New Testament.

15:5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened,

We now know that there is the tabernacle of testimony in heaven, and so it is built up on earth in the era of Moses. Let us take a look at how it was built up. It is said clearly in Hebrews 8:5, “who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”” Yes, the real thing is in heaven. In order to have the shadow correct, the corresponding one on earth has to be built up according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. 

This is like what is said in the beginning of the Book of Job. There are things that happened in heaven first, before the corresponding things can happen on earth. For example, it is said in Job 2:6-7, “So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” We can also see what Satan can do cannot exceed what God agreed. And Satan cannot see that the plan is to bless Job and thought that he could win until the sort of last minute. Isn’t this just like what happened in the plan of salvation. How can Bible be not consistent?

15:6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.

15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

We can see where the seven bowls come from. In terms of their execution, it is started in next chapter from Revelation 16:1, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.””

15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

From what I know, there are only two other places that mentioned that the glory and power of God is so large that no one can enter His temple. One is in Exodus 40:34-35, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” The other time it was described was in 2 Chronicles 7:1-2, “Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.” In the reconstruction of the temple, there is no such thing that happened. We want to emphasize again that there is only one God in both the New Testament and the Old Testament. The Bible is consistent.

Related knowledge

[1] You can get the article in web, “https://a-christian-voice.com/ “.  Then press “On spiritual understanding about life” and “1023 Bible says how to study the Bible.”

 (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.”)

     首先我们看看在约翰福音的第五个神迹，在海上行走。类似的记载在马可福音有，也说到他们不明白那分饼的事，心里还是愚顽。在马太福音还提到了彼得行在海上的事，他本是在信心中做，看环境就会因小信而沈下去。我们会接着做一个相应的见证和看到了其中的圣灵的工作。最后我们来看医治生来是瞎子的神迹，约翰福音的第六个神迹。约翰福音第九章一开始就叙述了神迹的本身，我们看见了生病不一定是因为罪，受苦难可能是因为要看见神的荣耀。我们再次看见了善事是随时可做的。也看见了要能为主基督站立是不容易的，不能更看重人的荣耀过于神的荣耀。这瞎子亲身经历过这样的神迹怎能不信呢？我们实在应该祈求我们属灵的眼睛被开启。

1. 在海面上行走的神迹: 约翰福音的第五个神迹          

     我们先看看神迹的本身，『到了晚上，他的门徒下海边去，上了船，要过海往迦百农去。天已经黑了，耶稣还没有来到他们那里。忽然狂风大作，海就翻腾起来。门徒摇橹约行了十里多路，看见耶稣在海面上走，渐渐近了船，他们就害怕。耶稣对他们说：「是我，不要怕！」门徒就喜欢接他上船，船立时到了他们所要去的地方。』(约翰福音 6:16-21)          

     在马可福音有类似的记载，『耶稣随即催门徒上船，…到了晚上，船在海中，耶稣独自在岸上，看见门徒因风不顺，摇橹甚苦。夜里约有四更天，就在海面上走，往他们那里去，意思要走过他们去。…耶稣连忙对他们说：「你们放心，是我，不要怕！」于是到他们那里上了船，风就住了，他们心里十分惊奇。这是因为他们不明白那分饼的事，心里还是愚顽。』(马可福音 6:45-52) 圣经说到的愚顽 (G4456)，只在五个地方出现，请自己去查一下。          

     其实马太福音也讲了同一件事，不过加了彼得的事情，『耶稣随即催门徒上船，…那时，船在海中，因风不顺，被浪摇撼。夜里四更天，耶稣在海面上走，往门徒那里去。…耶稣连忙对他们说：「你们放心，是我，不要怕！」彼得说：「主，如果是你，请叫我从水面上走到你那里去。」耶稣说：「你来吧！」 彼得就从船上下去，在水面上走，要到耶稣那里去；只因见风甚大，就害怕，将要沉下去，便喊着说：「主啊，救我！」耶稣赶紧伸手拉住他，说：「你这小信的人哪，为甚么疑惑呢？」他们上了船，风就住了。在船上的人都拜他，说：「你真是神的儿子了。」』(马太福音 14:22-33)       

     请注意，这里提到了彼得能行在海上的事，他本是在信心中能做的，看环境就会沈下去，我们也看见了信心的确会是只有小信的。可见我们是要凭信心而不是凭眼见，接着我们会做一个相应的见证。我们也知道门徒是看见了信的，没有看见而信的是有福的，就如约翰福音 20:29 所说：『耶稣对他(多马)说：「你因看见了我才信，那没有看见就信的有福了！」』。

2. 相应的见证和圣灵的工作          

     应该大约是 7/29/2012 晚，你们听完了见证就可知道为什么我知道大概的时间了。那时我已经带着更正双重影像的眼镜了，突然有一个意念告诉我去戴旧眼镜，那眼镜度数差不多，但没有双重影像的更正。我决定要试试，戴旧眼镜居然没有看到双重影像。心想已经历过一些神迹，这应该又是一个神迹，马上决定去看了配眼镜的医生。他告诉我说仪器说我有双重影像，可是我真的看不见双重影像，我读测试的字母也对。这对他是不容易的，我看不到双重影像而仪器说我有。经过我不断的请求，虽然我那时也有老花，他最后同意了让我配一副没有更正双重影像的，连老花也没有的新眼镜。          

     在我带了这没有更正双重影像的新眼镜后，约半年之久，我没有看见双重影像，然后我就突然的看到双重影像了。只好回到医生那儿重配带更正双重影像的眼镜，从此以后，我们一直在追恶化的双重影像，就是开始约能戴眼镜半年之久，度数差不太多，但双重影像愈来愈糟。因此我想，我以为是神迹的想法一定是错了，我做错了决定，去要求医生给我配了没有更正双重影像的眼镜，仪器是不骗人的，告诉我有双重影像啊！心想，这是邪灵的工作。这情形一直继续到一个我没有办法解释的现象发生，有相当长的一段时间这件事才发生的，因为有预知，知道撒但不能做，才知道真是神迹，心中也就安定下来了。我就不多解释这事件了，因为我自己本来也不知道，知道以后也试过解释给别人听，别人不知道我所领受的，真是不造就人，虽然我趋向于说神做的事情，也觉得现在不如不说了，也因此至少有三个人同意这是神迹。          

     在知道是神迹后，实际的情况却是愈来愈糟，先是换眼镜更频繁了，到一年要换三次，至最终因双重影像太糟而不能戴眼镜。其后还有一次没戴的眼镜去看过另一位眼科医生，只是度数差不多而双重影像更糟，他说如果我不戴眼镜，度数这么深是合法的瞎子。不是说我什么都看不到，只是看得很不清楚，像人这么大的东西我是不会撞到的，所以还是可以在某些人行道上行走的。我现今不能戴眼镜已约三年了，刚开始时，到 50 吋的电视前只有一个手掌的距离都看不清楚，现在一个手臂的距离都比最初时要清楚多了！虽是时好时坏，但总体来说是往好的方向走，只不知最后会在何时、停在何处而已？          

     在这中间又发生了一个小插曲，就是我被激动去打电话给配眼镜医生的办公室要我的纪录，最后决定打了这电话，要到了所有能要到的纪录。也因为打了这电话，才知道配眼镜的医生只要保存纪录七年，而不是如一般医生要十年。我打电话拿到纪录看后，才知道再隔一段时间，我就不会从纪录上看到发生的事情了，也就是从有更正双重影像的眼镜，到没有更正的眼镜，再回到有更正的。所以我现在对所有发生的事情都有纪录，这就说明了为什么我知道大约发生的时间。但有两件事情我不能证明，就是我在脑中被告知去试戴旧眼镜的事和去打电话，因此你必须相信我不在说谎，才会相信这些事发生过。属灵的事情就是这样，必须要在信心里面，一定有些事情不能用可见的证据证明的。如果有人告诉你，他能在逻辑上证明神的存在，你就知道这是不可能的，一定在有些地方错了。神比我们不可相比的大，理论上怎么可能由一个人在逻辑上证明出神的存在呢？祂有绝对的主权，祂若不愿意，人又奈何？       

     圣经是神所默示的，祂保守祂的话，圣经中有许多的应许，问题是我们是不是真的相信？圣经明确的说，有些事是不能说的，譬如，『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) 又譬如保罗虽没有说他被提到三层天，但他说：『我认得这人，或在身内、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的。』(哥林多后书 12:3-4) 对我来说，这通电话让我相信是圣灵要我分享这见证。如果祂不要，就跟本不必激动我去打那通电话，只要等时间过去，我就不会有任何纪录了。也是在准备这次的专题查经时，我突然意识到彼得在水上行走的事不是和我遇见的相似吗？我不是看到双重影像日益变坏的环境就跌倒了吗？我们要凭信心而不看环境或眼见。

3. 医治生来是瞎子的神迹: 约翰福音的第六个神迹           

     这是神迹的本身，『耶稣过去的时候，看见一个人生来是瞎眼的。门徒问耶稣说：「拉比，这人生来是瞎眼的，是谁犯了罪？是这人呢？是他父母呢？」耶稣回答说：「也不是这人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上显出神的作为来。趁着白日，我们必须做那差我来者的工；黑夜将到，就没有人能做工了。我在世上的时候，是世上的光。」耶稣说了这话，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，对他说：「你往西罗亚池子里去洗。」（「西罗亚」翻出来就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回头就看见了。』(约翰福音 9:1-7)          

     所以我们看见了生病不一定是因为罪，受苦难可能是因为要看见神的荣耀。我不知道为什么祂这次会用唾沫和泥抹的方式行神迹，因为祂是可以如约翰福音的第三个神迹、医治三十八年的瘫子般的用话语的。但这使我想起了约翰福音 12:28-30 说，『…当时就有声音从天上来说：「我已经荣耀了我的名，还要再荣耀。」站在旁边的众人听见，就说：「打雷了。」还有人说：「有天使对他说话。」耶稣说：「这声音不是为我，是为你们来的。」』          

     我们再次看见了善事是随时可做的，『他们把从前瞎眼的人带到法利赛人那里。耶稣和泥开他眼睛的日子是安息日。…法利赛人中有的说：「这个人不是从神来的，因为他不守安息日。」 又有人说：「一个罪人怎能行这样的神迹呢？」他们就起了纷争。』(约翰福音 9:13-16) 我们说过耶稣所完成的是安息日的真谛，而不是律法上的安息日的日子，祂是安息日的主，我们就不重复这一点了，只是强调善事是随时可做的。          

     『犹太人不信他从前是瞎眼，后来能看见的，…他父母回答说：「他是我们的儿子，生来就瞎眼，这是我们知道的。至于他如今怎么能看见，我们却不知道；是谁开了他的眼睛，我们也不知道。他已经成了人，你们问他吧！他自己必能说。」他父母说这话，是怕犹太人，因为犹太人已经商议定了，若有认耶稣是基督的，要把他赶出会堂。因此他父母说：「他已经成了人，你们问他吧！」』(约翰福音 9:18-23) 在约翰福音 9:11 说，『他(瞎子)回答说：「有一个人名叫耶稣，他和泥抹我的眼睛，对我说『你往西罗亚池子去洗』；我去一洗，就看见了。」』这经文在上面的经文前，所以瞎子的父母应该也知道是耶稣开了他的眼睛的。如果他的父母的确知道，他们就没有说实话。其实要能为主基督站立是相当不容易的，是要付代价的，不能看重人的荣耀，大于神的荣耀。          

     『所以法利赛人第二次叫了那从前瞎眼的人来，对他说：「你该将荣耀归给神，我们知道这人是个罪人。」…那人回答说：「他开了我的眼睛，你们竟不知道他从哪里来，这真是奇怪！我们知道神不听罪人，惟有敬奉神、遵行他旨意的，神才听他。从创世以来，未曾听见有人把生来是瞎子的眼睛开了。这人若不是从神来的，甚么也不能做。」』(约翰福音 9:24-33) 我们看见了瞎子现在眼睛能看见，心也不瞎了，这点我们在约翰福音 9:35-38 也能看到。『耶稣听说他们把他赶出去，后来遇见他，就说：「你信神的儿子吗？」他回答说：「主啊，谁是神的儿子，叫我信他呢？」耶稣说：「你已经看见他，现在和你说话的就是他。」他说：「主啊，我信！」就拜耶稣。』(约翰福音 9:35-38) 这瞎子亲身经历过这样的神迹怎能不信呢？         

     我们就用这节经文结束我们今天的分享，『耶稣说：「我为审判到这世上来，叫不能看见的，可以看见；能看见的，反瞎了眼。」同他在那里的法利赛人听见这话，就说：「难道我们也瞎了眼吗？」耶稣对他们说：「你们若瞎了眼，就没有罪了；但如今你们说『我们能看见』，所以你们的罪还在。」』(约翰福音 9:39-41) 是的，当我们的眼睛被打开时，就会看到保罗说的是事实。『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) 这在理论上也是一个事实，因神是无限，人是有限，如果祂愿意，随时可以让我们看到更多的。

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

    首先我們看看在約翰福音的第五個神蹟，在海上行走。類似的記載在馬可福音有，也說到他們不明白那分餅的事，心裏還是愚頑。在馬太福音還提到了彼得行在海上的事，他本是在信心中做，看環境就會因小信而沈下去。我們會接著做一個相應的見証和看到了其中的聖靈的工作。最後我們來看醫治生來是瞎子的神蹟，約翰福音的第六個神蹟。約翰福音第九章一開始就敘述了神蹟的本身，我們看見了生病不一定是因為罪，受苦難可能是因為要看見神的榮耀。我們再次看見了善事是隨時可做的。也看見了要能為主基督站立是不容易的，不能更看重人的榮耀過於神的榮耀。這瞎子親身經歷過這樣的神蹟怎能不信呢？我們實在應該祈求我們屬靈的眼睛被開啓。

1. 在海面上行走的神蹟: 約翰福音的第五個神蹟

          我們先看看神蹟的本身，『到了晚上，他的門徒下海邊去，上了船，要過海往迦百農去。天已經黑了，耶穌還沒有來到他們那裏。忽然狂風大作，海就翻騰起來。門徒搖櫓約行了十里多路，看見耶穌在海面上走，漸漸近了船，他們就害怕。耶穌對他們說：「是我，不要怕！」門徒就喜歡接他上船，船立時到了他們所要去的地方。』(約翰福音 6:16-21)

          在馬可福音有類似的記載，『耶穌隨即催門徒上船，…到了晚上，船在海中，耶穌獨自在岸上，看見門徒因風不順，搖櫓甚苦。夜裏約有四更天，就在海面上走，往他們那裏去，意思要走過他們去。…耶穌連忙對他們說：「你們放心，是我，不要怕！」於是到他們那裏上了船，風就住了，他們心裏十分驚奇。這是因為他們不明白那分餅的事，心裏還是愚頑。』(馬可福音 6:45-52) 聖經說到的愚頑 (G4456)，只在五個地方出現，請自己去查一下。

          其實馬太福音也講了同一件事，不過加了彼得的事情，『耶穌隨即催門徒上船，…那時，船在海中，因風不順，被浪搖撼。夜裏四更天，耶穌在海面上走，往門徒那裏去。…耶穌連忙對他們說：「你們放心，是我，不要怕！」彼得說：「主，如果是你，請叫我從水面上走到你那裏去。」耶穌說：「你來吧！」 彼得就從船上下去，在水面上走，要到耶穌那裏去；只因見風甚大，就害怕，將要沉下去，便喊着說：「主啊，救我！」耶穌趕緊伸手拉住他，說：「你這小信的人哪，為甚麼疑惑呢？」他們上了船，風就住了。在船上的人都拜他，說：「你真是神的兒子了。」』(馬太福音 14:22-33)

       請注意，這裏提到了彼得能行在海上的事，他本是在信心中能做的，看環境就會沈下去，我們也看見了信心的確會是只有小信的。可見我們是要憑信心而不是憑眼見，接著我們會做一個相應的見証。我們也知道門徒是看見了信的，沒有看見而信的是有福的，就如約翰福音 20:29 所說：『耶穌對他(多馬)說：「你因看見了我才信，那沒有看見就信的有福了！」』。

2. 相應的見証和聖靈的工作

          應該大約是 7/29/2012 晚，你們聽完了見証就可知道為什麼我知道大概的時間了。那時我已經帶著更正双重影像的眼鏡了，突然有一個意念告訴我去戴舊眼鏡，那眼鏡度數差不多，但沒有双重影像的更正。我決定要試試，戴舊眼鏡居然沒有看到双重影像。心想已經歷過一些神蹟，這應該又是一個神蹟，馬上決定去看了配眼鏡的醫生。他告訴我說儀器說我有双重影像，可是我真的看不見双重影像，我讀測試的字母也對。這對他是不容易的，我看不到双重影像而儀器說我有。經過我不斷的請求，雖然我那時也有老花，他最後同意了讓我配一副沒有更正双重影像的，連老花也沒有的新眼鏡。

          在我帶了這沒有更正双重影像的新眼鏡後，約半年之久，我沒有看見双重影像，然後我就突然的看到双重影像了。只好回到醫生那兒重配帶更正双重影像的眼鏡，從此以後，我們一直在追惡化的双重影像，就是開始約能戴眼鏡半年之久，度數差不太多，但双重影像愈來愈糟。因此我想，我以為是神蹟的想法一定是錯了，我做錯了決定，去要求醫生給我配了沒有更正双重影像的眼鏡，儀器是不騙人的，告訴我有双重影像啊！心想，這是邪靈的工作。這情形一直繼續到一個我沒有辦法解釋的現象發生，有相當長的一段時間這件事才發生的，因為有預知，知道撒但不能做，才知道真是神蹟，心中也就安定下來了。我就不多解釋這事件了，因為我自己本來也不知道，知道以後也試過解釋給別人聽，別人不知道我所領受的，真是不造就人，雖然我趨向於說神做的事情，也覺得現在不如不說了，也因此至少有三個人同意這是神蹟。

          在知道是神蹟後，實際的情況卻是愈來愈糟，先是換眼鏡更頻繁了，到一年要換三次，至最終因双重影像太糟而不能戴眼鏡。其後還有一次沒戴的眼鏡去看過另一位眼科醫生，只是度數差不多而双重影像更糟，他說如果我不戴眼鏡，度數這麼深是合法的瞎子。不是說我什麼都看不到，只是看得很不清楚，像人這麼大的東西我是不會撞到的，所以還是可以在某些人行道上行走的。我現今不能戴眼鏡已約三年了，剛開始時，到 50 吋的電視前只有一個手掌的距離都看不清楚，現在一個手臂的距離都比最初時要清楚多了！雖是時好時壞，但總體來說是往好的方向走，只不知最後會在何時、停在何處而已？

          在這中間又發生了一個小插曲，就是我被激動去打電話給配眼鏡醫生的辦公室要我的紀錄，最後決定打了這電話，要到了所有能要到的紀錄。也因為打了這電話，才知道配眼鏡的醫生只要保存紀錄七年，而不是如一般醫生要十年。我打電話拿到紀錄看後，才知道再隔一段時間，我就不會從紀錄上看到發生的事情了，也就是從有更正双重影像的眼鏡，到沒有更正的眼鏡，再回到有更正的。所以我現在對所有發生的事情都有紀錄，這就說明了為什麼我知道大約發生的時間。但有兩件事情我不能証明，就是我在腦中被告知去試戴舊眼鏡的事和去打電話，因此你必須相信我不在說謊，才會相信這些事發生過。屬靈的事情就是這樣，必須要在信心裏面，一定有些事情不能用可見的証據証明的。如果有人告訴你，他能在邏輯上証明神的存在，你就知道這是不可能的，一定在有些地方錯了。神比我們不可相比的大，理論上怎麼可能由一個人在邏輯上証明出神的存在呢？祂有絕對的主權，祂若不願意，人又奈何？

       聖經是神所默示的，祂保守祂的話，聖經中有許多的應許，問題是我們是不是真的相信？聖經明確的說，有些事是不能說的，譬如，『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) 又譬如保羅雖沒有說他被提到三層天，但他說：『我認得這人，或在身內、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。他被提到樂園裏，聽見隱秘的言語，是人不可說的。』(哥林多後書 12:3-4) 對我來說，這通電話讓我相信是聖靈要我分享這見証。如果祂不要，就跟本不必激動我去打那通電話，只要等時間過去，我就不會有任何紀錄了。也是在準備這次的專題查經時，我突然意識到彼得在水上行走的事不是和我遇見的相似嗎？我不是看到双重影像日益變壞的環境就跌倒了嗎？我們要憑信心而不看環境或眼見。

3. 醫治生來是瞎子的神蹟: 約翰福音的第六個神蹟

           這是神蹟的本身，『耶穌過去的時候，看見一個人生來是瞎眼的。門徒問耶穌說：「拉比，這人生來是瞎眼的，是誰犯了罪？是這人呢？是他父母呢？」耶穌回答說：「也不是這人犯了罪，也不是他父母犯了罪，是要在他身上顯出神的作為來。趁着白日，我們必須做那差我來者的工；黑夜將到，就沒有人能做工了。我在世上的時候，是世上的光。」耶穌說了這話，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，對他說：「你往西羅亞池子裏去洗。」（「西羅亞」翻出來就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回頭就看見了。』(約翰福音 9:1-7)

          所以我們看見了生病不一定是因為罪，受苦難可能是因為要看見神的榮耀。我不知道為什麼祂這次會用唾沫和泥抹的方式行神蹟，因為祂是可以如約翰福音的第三個神蹟、醫治三十八年的癱子般的用話語的。但這使我想起了約翰福音 12:28-30 說，『…當時就有聲音從天上來說：「我已經榮耀了我的名，還要再榮耀。」站在旁邊的眾人聽見，就說：「打雷了。」還有人說：「有天使對他說話。」耶穌說：「這聲音不是為我，是為你們來的。」』

          我們再次看見了善事是隨時可做的，『他們把從前瞎眼的人帶到法利賽人那裏。耶穌和泥開他眼睛的日子是安息日。…法利賽人中有的說：「這個人不是從神來的，因為他不守安息日。」 又有人說：「一個罪人怎能行這樣的神蹟呢？」他們就起了紛爭。』(約翰福音 9:13-16) 我們說過耶穌所完成的是安息日的真諦，而不是律法上的安息日的日子，祂是安息日的主，我們就不重復這一點了，只是強調善事是隨時可做的。

          『猶太人不信他從前是瞎眼，後來能看見的，…他父母回答說：「他是我們的兒子，生來就瞎眼，這是我們知道的。至於他如今怎麼能看見，我們卻不知道；是誰開了他的眼睛，我們也不知道。他已經成了人，你們問他吧！他自己必能說。」他父母說這話，是怕猶太人，因為猶太人已經商議定了，若有認耶穌是基督的，要把他趕出會堂。因此他父母說：「他已經成了人，你們問他吧！」』(約翰福音 9:18-23) 在約翰福音 9:11 說，『他(瞎子)回答說：「有一個人名叫耶穌，他和泥抹我的眼睛，對我說『你往西羅亞池子去洗』；我去一洗，就看見了。」』這經文在上面的經文前，所以瞎子的父母應該也知道是耶穌開了他的眼睛的。如果他的父母的確知道，他們就沒有說實話。其實要能為主基督站立是相當不容易的，是要付代價的，不能看重人的榮耀，大於神的榮耀。

          『所以法利賽人第二次叫了那從前瞎眼的人來，對他說：「你該將榮耀歸給神，我們知道這人是個罪人。」…那人回答說：「他開了我的眼睛，你們竟不知道他從哪裏來，這真是奇怪！我們知道神不聽罪人，惟有敬奉神、遵行他旨意的，神才聽他。從創世以來，未曾聽見有人把生來是瞎子的眼睛開了。這人若不是從神來的，甚麼也不能做。」』(約翰福音 9:24-33) 我們看見了瞎子現在眼睛能看見，心也不瞎了，這點我們在約翰福音 9:35-38 也能看到。『耶穌聽說他們把他趕出去，後來遇見他，就說：「你信神的兒子嗎？」他回答說：「主啊，誰是神的兒子，叫我信他呢？」耶穌說：「你已經看見他，現在和你說話的就是他。」他說：「主啊，我信！」就拜耶穌。』(約翰福音 9:35-38) 這瞎子親身經歷過這樣的神蹟怎能不信呢？

         我們就用這節經文結束我們今天的分享，『耶穌說：「我為審判到這世上來，叫不能看見的，可以看見；能看見的，反瞎了眼。」同他在那裏的法利賽人聽見這話，就說：「難道我們也瞎了眼嗎？」耶穌對他們說：「你們若瞎了眼，就沒有罪了；但如今你們說『我們能看見』，所以你們的罪還在。」』(約翰福音 9:39-41) 是的，當我們的眼睛被打開時，就會看到保羅說的是事實。『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) 這在理論上也是一個事實，因神是無限，人是有限，如果祂願意，隨時可以讓我們看到更多的。

 (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 let us see the fifth miracle in the book of the Gospel of John, walking on the sea. Similar records are in the book of the Gospel of Mark, which also mentions that their heart was hardened so that they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves of bread. In the book of the Gospel of Matthew, it mentions that Peter could walk on the sea in faith, but he sank when he had little faith by looking at the environment. We will follow this with a corresponding testimony and the work of Holy Spirit in it. Finally, let us take a look at the miracle of healing a man who was born blind, the sixth miracle in the book of Gospel of John. At the beginning of chapter 9, it describes the miracle itself. We can see that if one is suffering from tribulations, it doesn’t imply that the tribulations are due to sins. It could be to display God’s glory. We can see good merciful things can be done anytime. We can also see that to stand up for the Lord Christ is not easy. We cannot desire the glory of human more than the glory of God. When the blind man encountered such a miracle, how could he not believe? We really must pray for our spiritual eyes opened.  

1. The miracle of walking on the sea: the fifth miracle in the book of the Gospel of John 

We first take a look at the miracle itself. In John 6:16-21, it says, “Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”

In Mark 6:45-52, there is a similar description. “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat …When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. …But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened (G4456).” There are only five places using the word G4456. Please check them by yourselves. 

In fact, the same event is mentioned in Matthew 14:22-33, where Peter walking on the sea is also described, “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat …But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. …But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!””

Notice that here mentions it the event of Peter walking on the sea. He could do it in faith, but began to sink when he concentrated on what happened around him. We can see indeed that a person can be of little faith. We have to behave in faith, not according to the environment. We’ll give a corresponding testimony in the next section. We also see that disciples believed because they saw first. Those who don’t see but believe are blessed like what said in John 20:29, “Jesus said to him, “Because you (Thomas) have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””

2. A corresponding testimony and the work of Holy Spirit

It was about the night of 7/29/2012. You’ll know why I know the approximate time when it happened after you hear the testimony. At that time, I had already worn a pair of glasses with correction for double images. Suddenly, there was a thought coming to my mind to tell me to wear an old pair of glasses, their prescription was about the same but with no double image correction. I decided to give it a try even though I had doubts. Surprisingly, I didn’t see the double image. Thus, I thought that this had to be another miracle since I saw double images before. I decided immediately to see my optometrist. He told me that I still had the double image according to the apparatus. But I didn’t see the double image and read the testing words correctly each time. It wasn’t easy for the doctor since I didn’t see the double image and the apparatus said I had. After asking for him a long while, he finally agreed to give me a new pair of glasses even without corrections and presbyopia which I had it at that time.

After wearing the new pair of glasses, I didn’t see the double image for about half a year until I suddenly saw the double image again. As the result, I had to go back to the optometrist to change a new pair of glasses with the double image correction and presbyopia. After that, we sort of started chasing the double image. In other words, I was able to wear a pair of glasses for about half a year in the beginning. But then I needed to change to new prescriptions pretty frequently afterwards because the double vision kept getting worse even though the other numbers stayed about the same. Therefore, I thought that my thinking about another miracle happening had to be wrong. I had made the wrong decision to ask the doctor to give me a new pair of glasses without double vision correction. The apparatus didn’t lie, and it did tell me that I still had the double image. So, I thought that it was the work of an evil spirit. The situation lasted for a long while until there happened an unexplainable event, at least to my knowledge.  Because it involved foreknowledge, which I know that Satan cannot do it. After I knew that it was indeed a miracle, my heart was no longer worry. I would not explain the unexplainable since I didn’t know myself at the beginning, and I tried to explain to others after I knew. I didn’t think that they understood what I perceived exactly. As the result, there are at least three people know about it. It doesn’t edify people. Thus, there is no need to talk about it nowadays despite that I have a tendency to talk about what God did.   

After I knew that it was a miracle, the real situation was getting worse day by day. First, I needed to change to a new pair of glasses more often, about three times a year. At the end, I couldn’t even wear any glasses because the double image was so bad. After that, I did go to an ophthalmologist. The prescription he gave to me is about the same as before except the double image got worser. There had no point for me to even try. He told me that I was legally blind if not wearing a pair of glasses. It doesn’t mean that I am totally blind and cannot see anything at all. I just cannot see clearly. I can still see well enough not to bump into people, so that I can still walk on sidewalks. I have not been able to wear a pair of glasses for about three years now. We have a 50-inch television at home, and I use it to measure the progress of my eyes. At the beginning, even from a palm’s length away I couldn’t see clearly. Nowadays, with at least one arm distance, I can see better than before! Although it is good and bad stochastically, the overall trend is towards better. I have no idea when or where it will stop at this point.      

In between, there happened another event. I was stimulated to call the office of my optometrist to ask for my records. After some thinking, I finally made such a call and got all the records available to me. Because of this phone call, I realized that an optometrist needs only to keep the records seven years instead of ten years for a medical doctor. After I got the records, I realized that I couldn’t see what happened in my records if I called just a few months later. That means, I started with double image correction, then without, and then having it again. Because of this phone call, I have adequate records which explain why I can know the approximate date. But there are two things I cannot prove, which are the facts that I was stimulated to try my old pair of glasses and to call the office. Therefore, you have to believe that I am not lying. The spiritual things are just like these. There are things which you cannot prove with written records. Faith is necessary. If someone tells you that he can prove logically the existence of God, you know that it has to be wrong. It is impossible, and there must be something wrong. Theoretically, God is much bigger and higher than us, how can one use our logic to prove His existence? He has the absolute authority. If He isn’t willing, we really cannot do anything. 

The Bible is inspired by God. He keeps His word. There are so many promises in the Bible. Do we really believe those? The Bible says explicitly that there are things one cannot share. For example, “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) As an another example, although Paul didn’t say explicitly that he was the one who went to the third heaven, he did say in  2 Corinthians 12:3-4, “And I know how such a man-whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.” It is clear that there are things which cannot be shared. This phone call let me believe that God wants me to share what He did in this testimony. If not, there is not a reason to stimulate me to make such a call. Just waiting for the time to pass, I have then no records at all. Also, in preparing this topic-wise Bible study, I suddenly realized that my situation was similar to what Peter encountered. Did I fall because of the environment that the double image became worse and worse? We really have to behave according to faith, not according to what we see.   

3. The miracle of healing the born blind: the sixth miracle in the book of Gospel John 

The miracle itself is given in John 9:1-7 “As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.”

We can see that one person who got tribulations doesn’t imply that he was sinned, “but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” I have no idea why He made clay from the spittle, and applied the clay to the blind man’s eyes. He can perform miracles just like what happened in the third miracle in the book of the Gospel of John which heals the 38-year lame by His words. But this reminds me in John 12:28-30, “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.”

We see again that good merciful things can be done even at Sabbath in John 13-16, “They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.” We discussed before what Jesus did is the true meaning of Sabbath, not the date according to law. He is the Lord of Sabbath as verses say. We’ll not repeat the discussion. We just reiterate that good merciful things can be done anytime.

“The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”” (John 9:18-23) In John 9:11, it says, “He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”” This verse happened before the previous verse. Thus, the parents of the blind should know who opened his son’s eyes. If they indeed knew, they were not telling the truth. In fact, it is not easy to stand firm for the Lord Jesus. We have to pay the prices. We cannot desire the glory of human more than the glory of God.

“So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” …The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”” (John 9:24-33) We can see now that not only the eyes of the blind were opened, but also his spiritual eyes. This point can be seen clearly in John 9:35-38, “Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.”

Let us use the verses in John 9:39-41 to conclude this sharing, “And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” Yes, when our eyes are opened, we can see what Paul says is a fact in 1 Corinthians 8:2, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.” This is true theoretically too. God is infinite, and we are finite. If He is willing, He can certainly let us see something more than we already knew.

 (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.”)

     如果我们绝对相信圣经所说的，加上逻辑和圣经的一致性，我们就会看见圣经明讲了有争议话题的答案，我们会借着叙述医治三十八年的瘫子的神迹的经文，提到一个这样的问题及答案。首先我们复习约翰福音选神迹的标准是为要得生命，看到了读经的目的也相同，说明了读经的必要，解释为什么说在得生命上我们只能扮演主动的被动的角色。然后我们叙述了在约翰福音中的第三个神迹，就是医治病了三十八年的瘫子的相关的经文及其看见。经文中提到了「我父做事直到如今」的这句子，是我们开始提到有争议的话题之一，我们会从创世记第一章，逻辑，和圣经的一致性提供答案。约翰福音中的第四个神迹是以五饼二鱼喂饱了五千人，我们叙述了相关的经文及其看见。这个神迹显然是非常重要，因为四福音书都提到它，因是基于一件事实，我们必须取联集，也就是必须符合四者的叙述。

1. 前言: 在得生命上为什么我们只能主动的被动       

     约翰福音说得很清楚它选择七个神迹的标准，『耶稣在门徒面前另外行了许多神迹，没有记在这书上。但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是神的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』(约翰福音 20:30-31) 耶稣自己说了读经的目的:『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我(耶稣)作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40) 很显然的，得生命是我们的目的，是非常重要的。因此我们有读经的必要，圣经是神所默示的，正确的读经我们会知道神要透过圣经告诉我们什么。因此我们可看见从圣经的角度看就是从神的角度看，但圣经没有记载所有神的事情，就如约翰福音不是记载了所有的神迹一样，所以反之不然，不能将两者划等号。我们要知道生命只能从神来: 『我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』(哥林多前书 3:6-7) 所以要生命成长一定需要神的启示。启示不是全部超自然的，神常常借着别人的话告诉我们当走的路。如保罗见大光后，是主在异象中对亚拿尼亚说去见保罗，告诉他未来的角色。『主对亚拿尼亚说：「你只管去。他是我所拣选的器皿，要在外邦人和君王并以色列人面前宣扬我的名。我也要指示他，为我的名必须受许多的苦难。」』(使徒行传 9:15-16)    

     我们看保罗如何祷告，『求我们主耶稣基督的神，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。』(以弗所书 1:17) 我们从雅各书可看见，我们可以求智慧，只要是基督徒就可以，没有任何其他的条件，只是没有说时间，所以并不违被神的绝对主权。因为神有绝对主权，因此我们在得生命上是由神主动，我们只能被动。但我们能主动的愿意祷告如保罗一样的得启示，因此被称为是主动的被动。意识到我们在生命上是被动的这一点真是相当重要，这就犹如葡萄枝子必须连于葡萄树上才能结果子，枝子的生命是从葡萄树来。

2. 医治病了三十八年的瘫子: 约翰福音的第三个神迹      

     『…到了犹太人的一个节期，耶稣就上耶路撒冷去。在耶路撒冷，靠近羊门有一个池子，希伯来话叫作毕士大，旁边有五个廊子。里面躺着瞎眼的、瘸腿的、血气枯干的许多病人。在那里有一个人，病了三十八年。耶稣看见他躺着，知道他病了许久，就问他说：「你要痊愈吗？」病人回答说：「先生，水动的时候，没有人把我放在池子里；我正去的时候，就有别人比我先下去。」耶稣对他说：「起来，拿你的褥子走吧！」那人立刻痊愈，就拿起褥子来走了。』(约翰福音 5:1-9) 我们看到了为什么这么多人在那里的原因，我们也看到了耶稣主动的怜悯那瘫子。我们知道耶稣会用不同的方法行神迹，看情况而定。这次只用了祂的话就行了这神迹，这使我们想到这和创世时一样，『因为他(耶和华)说有，就有；命立，就立。』(诗篇 33:9)        

     『那天是安息日，所以犹太人对那医好的人说：「今天是安息日，你拿褥子是不可的！」他却回答说：「那使我痊愈的对我说：『拿你的褥子走吧』」他们问他说：「对你说『拿褥子走』的是甚么人？」那医好的人不知道是谁，因为那里的人多，耶稣已经躲开了。后来耶稣在殿里遇见他，对他说：「你已经痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。」那人就去告诉犹太人，使他痊愈的是耶稣。』(约翰福音 5:10-15) 我们看到了瘫的原因是犯罪，要去除原因是不要再犯罪。这是和耶稣的传道是一致的，『从那时候，耶稣就传起道来，说：「天国近了，你们应当悔改！」』(马太福音 4:17) 不只一次，耶稣告诉人不要再犯罪了。例如在约翰福音 8:10-11 中，『耶稣就直起腰来，对她(行淫时被拿的妇人)说：「妇人，那些人在哪里呢？没有人定你的罪吗？」她说：「主啊，没有。」 耶稣说：「我也不定你的罪，去吧！从此不要再犯罪了。」』我们可以看相应的经文就知道这件事的来龙去脉，知道耶稣为什么会这样说。 『所以犹太人逼迫耶稣，因为他在安息日做了这事。耶稣就对他们说：「我父做事直到如今，我也做事。」所以犹太人越发想要杀他，因他不但犯了安息日，并且称神为他的父，将自己和神当作平等。』(约翰福音 5:16-18)       

     基于这句话，『我父(耶和华)做事直到如今』，在逻辑上我们只能有一个解释如下图所示。

为什么呢？创世记 1:1-5 说，『起初神创造天地。地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；神的灵运行在水面上。神说：「要有光。」就有了光。神看光是好的，就把光暗分开了。神称光为昼，称暗为夜。有晚上，有早晨，这是头一日。』 如果我们绝对相信圣经所说的，就知道这是说我们现在的一日，因为有晚上，有早晨。我们谈到创世记时，再详细的说明这一点。请注意，没有说在有光之前究竟有多少天。 因亚当选择了知识善恶树的果子，第六天就启动了那个圆，相当于「救赎计划」，我们正在圆中，所以父做事直到如今，还没有安息。我们不知圆的的大小，就相当于不知何时主再来，『（看哪！我来像贼一样。…』(启示录 16:15)  完成救赎计划后，就回复到神起初创造人的心意，神就照「原先希望 」安息了。当然，如果当初亚当的自由意志选择了生命树上的果子，神就可以照「原先希望 」得了安息。从上面的看见，所以我们会说在逻辑上只能有一个解释。譬如说，有人有不同的解释，用直线取代圆，但这是不行的，因为这时的最后一天就代表了许多现在的一天，且不能有固定的长度，因主的再来像贼一样。在圆上，每一天就是现在的一天。       

     关于安息日的真谛，以赛亚书 58:13-14 说得相当清楚，『「你若在安息日掉转你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的，而且尊敬这日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话，你就以耶和华为乐。耶和华要使你乘驾地的高处，又以你祖雅各的产业养育你。」这是耶和华亲口说的。』耶稣所完成的是安息日的真谛，不是律法上的安息曰，祂是安息日的主，如马可福音 2:27-28 所说，『又对他们说：「安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。」』       

     这一点也可从下述的经文中看到。『那时，耶稣在安息日从麦地经过。他的门徒饿了，就掐起麦穗来吃。法利赛人看见，就对耶稣说：「看哪，你的门徒做安息日不可做的事了！」耶稣对他们说：「经上记着大卫和跟从他的人饥饿之时所做的事，你们没有念过吗？他怎么进了神的殿，吃了陈设饼，这饼不是他和跟从他的人可以吃得，惟独祭司才可以吃。再者，律法上所记的，当安息日，祭司在殿里犯了安息日，还是没有罪，你们没有念过吗？但我告诉你们：在这里有一人比殿更大。『我喜爱怜恤，不喜爱祭祀。』你们若明白这话的意思，就不将无罪的当作有罪的了。因为人子是安息日的主。」』(马太福音 12:1-8) 『耶稣说：「你们中间谁有一只羊，当安息日掉在坑里，不把牠抓住拉上来呢？人比羊何等贵重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(马太福音 12:11-12) 『管会堂的因为耶稣在安息日治病，就气忿忿地对众人说：「有六日应当做工，那六日之内可以来求医，在安息日却不可！」主说：「假冒为善的人哪，难道你们各人在安息日不解开槽上的牛、驴，牵去饮吗？况且这女人本是亚伯拉罕的后裔，被撒但捆绑了这十八年，不当在安息日解开她的绑吗？」耶稣说这话，他的敌人都惭愧了；众人因他所行一切荣耀的事，就都欢喜了。』(路加福音 13:14-17)    

     我们不消灭圣灵的感动，就自然的成就了律法。因圣灵是直理的灵，祂不会带领我们违背律法的。『莫想我来要废掉律法和先知；我来不是要废掉，乃是要成全。我实在告诉你们：就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。』(马太福音 5:17-18)

3. 喂饱五千人: 约翰福音的第四个神迹     

     这神迹发生的背景可在约翰福音 6:1-4 中找到，『…耶稣渡过加利利海，就是提比哩亚海。有许多人因为看见他在病人身上所行的神迹，就跟随他。耶稣上了山，和门徒一同坐在那里。那时犹太人的逾越节近了。』我们看见了神迹的确是相当重要的。    

     当时情况是，『耶稣举目看见许多人来，就对腓力说：「我们从哪里买饼叫这些人吃呢？」他说这话是要试验腓力，他自己原知道要怎样行。腓力回答说：「就是二十两银子的饼，叫他们各人吃一点，也是不够的。」』(约翰福音 6:5-7) 腓力是从人的角度看，是无解的，耶稣是从神的角度看这一件事，就是很简单的行神迹。       

     关于这神迹的本身是相当清楚的记在约翰福音 6:8-13，『有一个门徒，就是西门彼得的兄弟安得烈，对耶稣说：「在这里有一个孩童，带着五个大麦饼、两条鱼，只是分给这许多人，还算甚么呢？」耶稣说：「你们叫众人坐下。」原来那地方的草多，众人就坐下，数目约有五千。耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，就分给那坐着的人，分鱼也是这样，都随着他们所要的。他们吃饱了，耶稣对门徒说：「把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得有糟蹋的。」他们便将那五个大麦饼的零碎，就是众人吃了剩下的，收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。』』       

     这是我们可能经常提到的五饼二鱼喂饱五千人而剩下十二篮零碎的神迹。这不是完全的无中生有，是由孩童的五饼二鱼而来的，这使我们想起一粒麦子的事情。『耶稣说:『我实实在在地告诉你们：一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来。』』(约翰福音 12:24) 我们不知道究竟是什么原因使这孩童肯拿出他所有的五饼二鱼，我们是可以猜，但永远不会真知道，因为圣经没有明说这不是重点的事。请注意，耶稣是先祝谢后才分饼和鱼的。我们也看到耶稣的反应和世人截然不同，『众人看见耶稣所行的神迹，就说：「这真是那要到世间来的先知。」耶稣既知道众人要来强逼他作王，就独自又退到山上去了。』(约翰福音 6:14-15) 一般来说，世人的反应大概至少会很高兴。       

     这个神迹显然非常重要，因四福音书都提到。因是基于一件事实，我们必须取联集，就是叙述必须符合四者。马太福音 14:15-21 说，『天将晚的时候，…门徒说：「我们这里只有五个饼、两条鱼。」耶稣说：「拿过来给我。」于是吩咐众人坐在草地上，就拿着这五个饼、两条鱼，望着天祝福，擘开饼，递给门徒，门徒又递给众人。他们都吃，并且吃饱了，把剩下的零碎收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。吃的人，除了妇女孩子，约有五千。』这里提到了时间，且还有妇女和孩子，所以总人数一定是超过五千人。到底是多少人，有人猜过，但就如前述，圣经没有说，我们永远不可能真知道到底有多少人。       

     马可福音 6:35-44 记载着，『天已经晚了，…耶稣说：「你们有多少饼，可以去看看。」 他们知道了，就说：「五个饼，两条鱼。」耶稣吩咐他们，叫众人一帮一帮地坐在青草地上。众人就一排一排地坐下，有一百一排的，有五十一排的。耶稣拿着这五个饼，两条鱼，望着天祝福，擘开饼，递给门徒，摆在众人面前，也把那两条鱼分给众人。他们都吃，并且吃饱了。门徒就把碎饼碎鱼收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。吃饼的男人共有五千。』在这里详细的提到他们是怎么坐的，所以可以估计约有多少人，因只说吃饼的男人共有五千，大概也是说坐的时候一排多少人只是指男人，这也和当时犹太的风俗相合。       

     最后看路加福音 9:10-17 中说，『…耶稣就带他们暗暗地离开那里，往一座城去，那城名叫伯赛大。但众人知道了，就跟着他去。耶稣便接待他们，对他们讲论神国的道，医治那些需医的人。日头快要平西，十二个门徒来对他说：「请叫众人散开，他们好往四面乡村里去借宿找吃的，因为我们这里是野地。」耶稣说：「你们给他们吃吧！」 门徒说：「我们不过有五个饼，两条鱼，若不去为这许多人买食物就不够。」那时，人数约有五千。 耶稣对门徒说：「叫他们一排一排地坐下，每排大约五十个人。」门徒就如此行，叫众人都坐下。耶稣拿着这五个饼，两条鱼，望着天祝福，擘开，递给门徒，摆在众人面前。他们就吃，并且都吃饱了；把剩下的零碎收拾起来，装满了十二篮子。』(路加福音 9:10-17) 这里说明了发生的地点，耶稣虽然是暗暗地去，还是被发现了！我们也看到了耶稣在行五饼二鱼的神迹前，是在讲论神国的道，医治那些需医的人。    

     虽然每本福音书都会有一些不同的资料，我们必须取联集，但这些记载基本上都是大同小异，从许多这样的事情，我们可以看出这三本福音书为什么称为对观福音或符类福音。

(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』。)

     如果我們絕對相信聖經所說的，加上邏輯和聖經的一致性，我們就會看見聖經明講了有爭議話題的答案，我們會藉著敘述醫治三十八年的癱子的神蹟的經文，提到一個這樣的問題及答案。首先我們複習約翰福音選神蹟的標準是為要得生命，看到了讀經的目的也相同，說明了讀經的必要，解釋為什麼說在得生命上我們只能扮演主動的被動的角色。然後我們敘述了在約翰福音中的第三個神蹟，就是醫治病了三十八年的癱子的相關的經文及其看見。經文中提到了「我父做事直到如今」的這句子，是我們開始提到有爭議的話題之一，我們會從創世記第一章，邏輯，和聖經的一致性提供答案。約翰福音中的第四個神蹟是以五餅二魚餵飽了五千人，我們敍述了相關的經文及其看見。這個神蹟顯然是非常重要，因為四福音書都提到它，因是基於一件事實，我們必須取聯集，也就是必須符合四者的敘述。

1. 前言: 在得生命上為什麼我們只能主動的被動

       約翰福音說得很清楚它選擇七個神蹟的標準，『耶穌在門徒面前另外行了許多神蹟，沒有記在這書上。但記這些事，要叫你們信耶穌是基督，是神的兒子，並且叫你們信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』(約翰福音 20:30-31) 耶穌自己說了讀經的目的:『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我(耶穌)作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40) 很顯然的，得生命是我們的目的，是非常重要的。因此我們有讀經的必要，聖經是神所默示的，正確的讀經我們會知道神要透過聖經告訴我們什麼。因此我們可看見從聖經的角度看就是從神的角度看，但聖經沒有記載所有神的事情，就如約翰福音不是記載了所有的神蹟一樣，所以反之不然，不能將兩者劃等號。我們要知道生命只能從神來: 『我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』(哥林多前書 3:6-7) 所以要生命成長一定需要神的啓示。啓示不是全部超自然的，神常常藉著別人的話告訴我們當走的路。如保羅見大光後，是主在異象中對亞拿尼亞說去見保羅，告訴他未來的角色。『主對亞拿尼亞說：「你只管去。他是我所揀選的器皿，要在外邦人和君王並以色列人面前宣揚我的名。我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的苦難。」』(使徒行傳 9:15-16)

    我們看保羅如何禱告，『求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，將那賜人智慧和啓示的靈賞給你們，使你們真知道他。』(以弗所書 1:17) 我們從雅各書可看見，我們可以求智慧，只要是基督徒就可以，沒有任何其他的條件，只是沒有說時間，所以並不違被神的絕對主權。因為神有絕對主權，因此我們在得生命上是由神主動，我們只能被動。但我們能主動的願意禱告如保羅一樣的得啓示，因此被稱為是主動的被動。意識到我們在生命上是被動的這一點真是相當重要，這就猶如葡萄枝子必須連於葡萄樹上才能結果子，枝子的生命是從葡萄樹來。

2. 醫治病了三十八年的癱子: 約翰福音的第三個神蹟

       『…到了猶太人的一個節期，耶穌就上耶路撒冷去。在耶路撒冷，靠近羊門有一個池子，希伯來話叫作畢士大，旁邊有五個廊子。裏面躺着瞎眼的、瘸腿的、血氣枯乾的許多病人。在那裏有一個人，病了三十八年。耶穌看見他躺着，知道他病了許久，就問他說：「你要痊愈嗎？」病人回答說：「先生，水動的時候，沒有人把我放在池子裏；我正去的時候，就有別人比我先下去。」耶穌對他說：「起來，拿你的褥子走吧！」那人立刻痊愈，就拿起褥子來走了。』(約翰福音 5:1-9) 我們看到了為什麼這麼多人在那裏的原因，我們也看到了耶穌主動的憐憫那癱子。我們知道耶穌會用不同的方法行神蹟，看情況而定。這次只用了祂的話就行了這神蹟，這使我們想到這和創世時一樣，『因為他(耶和華)說有，就有；命立，就立。』(詩篇 33:9) 

        『那天是安息日，所以猶太人對那醫好的人說：「今天是安息日，你拿褥子是不可的！」他卻回答說：「那使我痊愈的對我說：『拿你的褥子走吧』」他們問他說：「對你說『拿褥子走』的是甚麼人？」那醫好的人不知道是誰，因為那裏的人多，耶穌已經躲開了。後來耶穌在殿裏遇見他，對他說：「你已經痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加利害。」那人就去告訴猶太人，使他痊愈的是耶穌。』(約翰福音 5:10-15) 我們看到了癱的原因是犯罪，要去除原因是不要再犯罪。這是和耶穌的傳道是一致的，『從那時候，耶穌就傳起道來，說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」』(馬太福音 4:17) 不只一次，耶穌告訴人不要再犯罪了。例如在約翰福音 8:10-11 中，『耶穌就直起腰來，對她(行淫時被拿的婦人)說：「婦人，那些人在哪裏呢？沒有人定你的罪嗎？」她說：「主啊，沒有。」 耶穌說：「我也不定你的罪，去吧！從此不要再犯罪了。」』我們可以看相應的經文就知道這件事的來龍去脈，知道耶穌為什麼會這樣說。 『所以猶太人逼迫耶穌，因為他在安息日做了這事。耶穌就對他們說：「我父做事直到如今，我也做事。」所以猶太人越發想要殺他，因他不但犯了安息日，並且稱神為他的父，將自己和神當作平等。』(約翰福音 5:16-18)

       基於這句話，『我父(耶和華)做事直到如今』，在邏輯上我們只能有一個解釋如下圖所示。

為什麼呢？創世記 1:1-5 說，『起初神創造天地。地是空虛混沌，淵面黑暗；神的靈運行在水面上。神說：「要有光。」就有了光。神看光是好的，就把光暗分開了。神稱光為晝，稱暗為夜。有晚上，有早晨，這是頭一日。』 如果我們絕對相信聖經所說的，就知道這是說我們現在的一日，因為有晚上，有早晨。我們談到創世記時，再詳細的說明這一點。請注意，沒有說在有光之前究竟有多少天。 因亞當選擇了知識善惡樹的果子，第六天就啓動了那個圓，相當於「救贖計劃」，我們正在圓中，所以父做事直到如今，還沒有安息。我們不知圓的的大小，就相當於不知何時主再來，『（看哪！我來像賊一樣。…』(啓示錄 16:15)  完成救贖計劃後，就回復到神起初創造人的心意，神就照「原先希望 」安息了。當然，如果當初亞當的自由意志選擇了生命樹上的果子，神就可以照「原先希望 」得了安息。從上面的看見，所以我們會說在邏輯上只能有一個解釋。譬如說，有人有不同的解釋，用直線取代圓，但這是不行的，因為這時的最後一天就代表了許多現在的一天，且不能有固定的長度，因主的再來像賊一樣。在圓上，每一天就是現在的一天。

       關於安息日的真諦，以賽亞書 58:13-14 說得相當清楚，『「你若在安息日掉轉你的腳步，在我聖日不以操作為喜樂，稱安息日為可喜樂的，稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的，而且尊敬這日，不辦自己的私事，不隨自己的私意，不說自己的私話，你就以耶和華為樂。耶和華要使你乘駕地的高處，又以你祖雅各的產業養育你。」這是耶和華親口說的。』耶穌所完成的是安息日的真諦，不是律法上的安息曰，祂是安息日的主，如馬可福音 2:27-28 所說，『又對他們說：「安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。」』

       這一點也可從下述的經文中看到。『那時，耶穌在安息日從麥地經過。他的門徒餓了，就掐起麥穗來吃。法利賽人看見，就對耶穌說：「看哪，你的門徒做安息日不可做的事了！」耶穌對他們說：「經上記着大衞和跟從他的人飢餓之時所做的事，你們沒有念過嗎？他怎麼進了神的殿，吃了陳設餅，這餅不是他和跟從他的人可以吃得，惟獨祭司才可以吃。再者，律法上所記的，當安息日，祭司在殿裏犯了安息日，還是沒有罪，你們沒有念過嗎？但我告訴你們：在這裏有一人比殿更大。『我喜愛憐恤，不喜愛祭祀。』你們若明白這話的意思，就不將無罪的當作有罪的了。因為人子是安息日的主。」』(馬太福音 12:1-8) 『耶穌說：「你們中間誰有一隻羊，當安息日掉在坑裏，不把牠抓住拉上來呢？人比羊何等貴重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(馬太福音 12:11-12) 『管會堂的因為耶穌在安息日治病，就氣忿忿地對眾人說：「有六日應當做工，那六日之內可以來求醫，在安息日卻不可！」主說：「假冒為善的人哪，難道你們各人在安息日不解開槽上的牛、驢，牽去飲嗎？況且這女人本是亞伯拉罕的後裔，被撒但捆綁了這十八年，不當在安息日解開她的綁嗎？」耶穌說這話，他的敵人都慚愧了；眾人因他所行一切榮耀的事，就都歡喜了。』(路加福音 13:14-17) 

    我們不消滅聖靈的感動，就自然的成就了律法。因聖靈是直理的靈，祂不會帶領我們違背律法的。『莫想我來要廢掉律法和先知；我來不是要廢掉，乃是要成全。我實在告訴你們：就是到天地都廢去了，律法的一點一畫也不能廢去，都要成全。』(馬太福音 5:17-18)

3. 餵飽五千人: 約翰福音的第四個神蹟

     這神蹟發生的背景可在約翰福音 6:1-4 中找到，『…耶穌渡過加利利海，就是提比哩亞海。有許多人因為看見他在病人身上所行的神蹟，就跟隨他。耶穌上了山，和門徒一同坐在那裏。那時猶太人的逾越節近了。』我們看見了神蹟的確是相當重要的。

    當時情況是，『耶穌舉目看見許多人來，就對腓力說：「我們從哪裏買餅叫這些人吃呢？」他說這話是要試驗腓力，他自己原知道要怎樣行。腓力回答說：「就是二十兩銀子的餅，叫他們各人吃一點，也是不夠的。」』(約翰福音 6:5-7) 腓力是從人的角度看，是無解的，耶穌是從神的角度看這一件事，就是很簡單的行神蹟。

       關於這神蹟的本身是相當清楚的記在約翰福音 6:8-13，『有一個門徒，就是西門彼得的兄弟安得烈，對耶穌說：「在這裏有一個孩童，帶着五個大麥餅、兩條魚，只是分給這許多人，還算甚麼呢？」耶穌說：「你們叫眾人坐下。」原來那地方的草多，眾人就坐下，數目約有五千。耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，就分給那坐着的人，分魚也是這樣，都隨着他們所要的。他們吃飽了，耶穌對門徒說：「把剩下的零碎收拾起來，免得有糟蹋的。」他們便將那五個大麥餅的零碎，就是眾人吃了剩下的，收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。』』

       這是我們可能經常提到的五餅二魚餵飽五千人而剩下十二籃零碎的神蹟。這不是完全的無中生有，是由孩童的五餅二魚而來的，這使我們想起一粒麥子的事情。『耶穌說:『我實實在在地告訴你們：一粒麥子不落在地裏死了，仍舊是一粒；若是死了，就結出許多子粒來。』』(約翰福音 12:24) 我們不知道究竟是什麼原因使這孩童肯拿出他所有的五餅二魚，我們是可以猜，但永遠不會真知道，因為聖經沒有明說這不是重點的事。請注意，耶穌是先祝謝後才分餅和魚的。我們也看到耶穌的反應和世人截然不同，『眾人看見耶穌所行的神蹟，就說：「這真是那要到世間來的先知。」耶穌既知道眾人要來強逼他作王，就獨自又退到山上去了。』(約翰福音 6:14-15) 一般來說，世人的反應大概至少會很高興。

       這個神蹟顯然非常重要，因四福音書都提到。因是基於一件事實，我們必須取聯集，就是敍述必須符合四者。馬太福音 14:15-21 說，『天將晚的時候，…門徒說：「我們這裏只有五個餅、兩條魚。」耶穌說：「拿過來給我。」於是吩咐眾人坐在草地上，就拿着這五個餅、兩條魚，望着天祝福，擘開餅，遞給門徒，門徒又遞給眾人。他們都吃，並且吃飽了，把剩下的零碎收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。吃的人，除了婦女孩子，約有五千。』這裏提到了時間，且還有婦女和孩子，所以總人數一定是超過五千人。到底是多少人，有人猜過，但就如前述，聖經沒有說，我們永遠不可能真知道到底有多少人。

       馬可福音 6:35-44 記載著，『天已經晚了，…耶穌說：「你們有多少餅，可以去看看。」 他們知道了，就說：「五個餅，兩條魚。」耶穌吩咐他們，叫眾人一幫一幫地坐在青草地上。眾人就一排一排地坐下，有一百一排的，有五十一排的。耶穌拿着這五個餅，兩條魚，望着天祝福，擘開餅，遞給門徒，擺在眾人面前，也把那兩條魚分給眾人。他們都吃，並且吃飽了。門徒就把碎餅碎魚收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。吃餅的男人共有五千。』在這裏詳細的提到他們是怎麼坐的，所以可以估計約有多少人，因只說吃餅的男人共有五千，大概也是說坐的時候一排多少人只是指男人，這也和當時猶太的風俗相合。

       最後看路加福音 9:10-17 中說，『…耶穌就帶他們暗暗地離開那裏，往一座城去，那城名叫伯賽大。但眾人知道了，就跟着他去。耶穌便接待他們，對他們講論神國的道，醫治那些需醫的人。日頭快要平西，十二個門徒來對他說：「請叫眾人散開，他們好往四面鄉村裏去借宿找吃的，因為我們這裏是野地。」耶穌說：「你們給他們吃吧！」 門徒說：「我們不過有五個餅，兩條魚，若不去為這許多人買食物就不夠。」那時，人數約有五千。 耶穌對門徒說：「叫他們一排一排地坐下，每排大約五十個人。」門徒就如此行，叫眾人都坐下。耶穌拿着這五個餅，兩條魚，望着天祝福，擘開，遞給門徒，擺在眾人面前。他們就吃，並且都吃飽了；把剩下的零碎收拾起來，裝滿了十二籃子。』(路加福音 9:10-17) 這裏說明了發生的地點，耶穌雖然是暗暗地去，還是被發現了！我們也看到了耶穌在行五餅二魚的神蹟前，是在講論神國的道，醫治那些需醫的人。

    雖然每本福音書都會有一些不同的資料，我們必須取聯集，但這些記載基本上都是大同小異，從許多這樣的事情，我們可以看出這三本福音書為什麼稱為對觀福音或符類福音。

(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』。)

If we believe absolutely what the Bible says, with logic and the consistency of the Bible, we’ll get unique answers for seemly controversial questions. We would like to ask and answer an example of such a question by using the miracle of healing the man who was lame for thirty-eight years. First, we review the that rule used when selecting the seven miracles in the Gospel of John is to have life. According to Jesus, the purpose of reading the Bible is the same, to have life. This also explains the necessity of reading the Bible. Then we explain why our role in having life can only be called “actively passive”. Then we describe the relevant verses of the third miracle in the Gospel of John, healing a thirty-eight-year lame, and the associated explanations. A verse mentions ‘My Father is working until now,’ which is what we discussed before regarding one of the controversial verses. We’ll use the beginning of the Book of Genesis, logic, and the consistency of the Bible to provide the answer. Thirdly, we describe the fourth miracle in the Gospel of John which is to use five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand. We state the relevant verses and what we saw. Apparently, this miracle is very important since it is mentioned in all four Gospels. They are all based on one fact but are described with different aspects. Thus, we need to choose their union. In other words, the description must fulfill all four of them, in order not to miss anything.

1. Preface: In having life, why can we only play the role of so called actively passive?

Gospel John said clearly in John 20:30-31 how He chose the seven miracles (signs) out of so many, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Jesus said Himself the purpose of reading the Bible, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40) Apparently, having life is our goal, and thus is very important. Therefore, there’s a necessity of reading the Bible. Furthermore, the Bible is inspired by God. Reading the Bible accurately will let us know what God wants to tell us through the Bible. Therefore, we can conclude that seeing something in the aspect of the Bible is the sufficient condition of seeing the same thing in the aspect of God, but not a necessary condition due to the fact that it is not necessarily to have all things described in the Bible. As an example, the Gospel of John doesn’t record all miracles. We cannot make them equal.

We know the life can only come from God as described in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” So, it needs the revelation of the God to make life grow. Revelation is not all supernatural. God often tells us what to do through people. For example, after Paul saw the big light, the Lord told Ananias through the vision to tell Paul as described in Acts 9:15-16, “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Let us take a look at how Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” We can see in the Book of James that we can pray to get the heavenly wisdom as long as we are Christians. There is no other condition, but without specifying the time framework. Therefore, there is not any contradictions to the absolute authority of God. Because God has the absolute authority. Therefore, He is active in the matter of having life and we are passive. We can only be willingly active to follow Him. Thus, it is so called actively passive. Realize this point is really important since it is similar to say that a branch must be connected to the vine to bear fruit since the life of a branch is from the vine.

2. Healing a thirty-eight-year lame: The third miracle in Gospel John

In John 5:1-9, it says, “After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.” From theses verses, we can see why there were so many in there. We can also see that Jesus had mercy on that lame actively. We know that Jesus uses different ways to perform miracles depending on the situations. This time, He simply used His words just like in the beginning of the Book of Genesis described, “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”(Psalms 33:9)

In John 5:10-15, it says, “So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.'” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.” We can see that the lame person became lame is because of his committing sin, since Jesus told him not to sin anymore. This is consistent with the gospel Jesus preaches. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”(Matthew 4:17)

This is not the only time that Jesus told people not to sin. For example, it is said in John 8:4,10-11, “Straightening up, Jesus said to her (this woman has been caught in adultery), “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”” If we look at the corresponding verses of this event, we know why Jesus said so and He had mercy on her actively. 

It continues to describe what happened in John 5:16-18, “For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”

Based on the words, “My Father is working until now,” we can only have one logical explanation for this sentence as the following figure shows, if we believe absolutely what the Bible says.

Why? In Genesis 1:1-5, it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” If we believe what the Bible says is absolutely true, we know this one day means the present one day since there was evening and there was morning. When we share the Book of Genesis, we’ll discuss this in more detail. Please notice that the verses don’t say how many days passed before there was the light. To explain the figure, because Adam chose the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it started the circle in the sixth day, which represents the ‘salvation plan.’ We are in the middle of the circle. That is why “My Father is working until now,” not yet in rest. We don’t know how big the circle is, which corresponds to the fact we don’t know when the Lord comes again as said in Revelation 16:15, “…I am coming like a thief…”

After the salvation plan is completed, men will be restored to the state when created, but already with the choice of the fruit of the tree of life. God will be in rest according to the ‘original hope’ that Adam might choose the fruit of the tree of life. Of course, if Adam chose the fruit of the tree of life at that time, He would be in rest by the original hope and there’s not the circle. From the above discussion, we can see why there is only one logical explanation. Someone may say that we could explain differently by stretching the circle as a straight line before at the end of sixth day to represent the salvation plan. However, this is incorrect for the following reason. The last segment then represents many and unknown present one days not the seventh day. In the circle, one day represents one present day.

Regarding the true requirements of the Sabbath, it is said clearly in Isaiah 58:13-14, “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the Lord, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” What Jesus did was to fulfill the true requirements, not according to the law. He is the Lord even of the Sabbath as said in Mark 2:27-28, “Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

This point can also be seen from examples like the following verses. In Matthew 12:11-12, it is said, “And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”” And in Luke 13:14-17, it says, “But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, …And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.”

“Do not quench the Spirit,”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Law will be fulfilled automatically. Because the Holy Spirit is the spirit of Truth, He will not lead us to the disobedience to the Law. “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”(Matthew 5:17-18)

3. Feeding five thousand: The fourth miracle in Gospel John

The background of this event is described in John 6:1-4, “After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.” From these verses, we can see that miracles are really important, which could make people at least follow Him.

The situation at that time is stated in John 6:5-7, “Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” Well, Phillips saw the issue in the aspect of human, and there was no solution. Jesus viewed the same event in the aspect of God, which is simply to perform a miracle.

Regarding the miracle itself, it is described clearly in John 6:8-13, “One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.”

This miracle is often mentioned and is referred to as the miracle of five loaves and two fish, which feed five thousand and even had twelve baskets of leftovers afterwards. Such large quantities of food are not out of nowhere like in creation, since they have the seed from five loaves and two fish. This reminds us the verse in John 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  We don’t know why the lad was willing to give up the five loaves and two fish, all he had. We can guess, but we never know since the Bible doesn’t mention such unimportant things. Please notice that Jesus blessed first before dividing loaves and fish. We also see the reaction of Jesus is very different from normal people as described in John 6:14-15, “Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.” Generally, a normal person may at least welcome the thought of making him a king.

Apparently, this miracle is very important since it is mentioned in all four Gospels. They are all based upon one fact but described in different aspects. Thus, we need to choose their union as they are all based upon one fact. In other words, the description must fulfill all four of them, not to miss anything. In Matthew 14:15-21, “When it was evening, …the disciples …said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.” Here, it is mentioned when the miracle happened. And there were also women and children. Thus, the total number must be over five thousand. As for how many, some people guessed. As said before, the Bible doesn’t say clearly, we will never know precisely how many people were fed.

In Mark 6:35-44, it says, “When it was already quite late, …And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. …They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.” Here, it is mentioned how they sit in detail. No wonder that they could estimate how many. Furthermore, we can guess that only men were counted in the row, which is also consistent with the Jewish custom at that time.

Finally, in Luke 9:10-17, it says, “When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. Now the day was ending, …And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.” They did so, and had them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.” Here, the place of the miracle is given. Although He tried to withdraw by Himself, but the crowds found Him. We can also see that what He talked about before the miracle is about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. 

Although the three Gospels offer a slightly different information, they are basically about the same for this miracle. From many such things, we can see why they are called the synoptic gospel.

 (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.”)

     首先我们看见了约翰福音讲得很清楚他选择神迹的标准，在众多的神迹中，他只选择了七个神迹，是要人们相信耶稣是基督。我们已谈过第一个迦拿水变酒的神迹，今天要分享的是在加利利行的第二神迹，医治大臣的儿子。神迹(G4592)在约翰福音都是指记号或标志(sign)，指向信耶稣是基督，而不是指奇事(G5059)。只有奇事时人们会常常以为是实行奇事的人做的，容易让实行的人骄傲到自己都看不见自己的骄傲的地步。必须要加上圣经的话，不能只因遇到了超自然的事就以为是神做的，虽然不是很容易，但要分辩。我们会在最后做一个这样的见证，不能本末倒置。神常常会要我们面对真实的自己。

1. 前言: 约翰福音选择神迹的标准     

     这在约翰福音 20:30-31 讲得很清楚，『耶稣在门徒面前另外行了许多神迹(G4592)，没有记在这书上。但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是神的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』耶稣自己说: 『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40) 从这些经文中看到，得生命是非常重要的，可见神更看重的是我们的所是，过于我们的所做。但两者都要有，因为有信心就会有雅各书讲的信心的行为，不要本末倒置。『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。因为听道而不行道的，就像人对着镜子看自己本来的面目，看见，走后，随即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各书 1:22-24) 所以我们是光是盐，就自然会做光做盐。

2. 为什么耶稣行神迹？     

     约翰福音 4:47-48 说，『耶稣就对他(犹大的大臣)说：「若不看见神迹(G4592)奇事(G5059)，你们总是不信。」』我们看见了行神迹的目的是要人们信。『当耶稣在耶路撒冷过逾越节的时候，有许多人看见他所行的神迹，就信了他的名。』(约翰福音 2:23) 他的门徒也是一样，『这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹(水变酒)，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。』(约翰福音 2:11) 其实耶稣道成肉身时行了许多神迹，即使如此，不是每个看到神迹的人都信！在五旬节教会成立时，参加聚会的没有多少人。     

     约翰福音 3:1-2 叙述了一个外邦人看见了耶稣与神同在的事实，以致于他最后公开的信主，『有一个法利赛人，名叫尼哥德慕，是犹太人的官。这人夜里来见耶稣，说：「拉比，我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的，因为你所行的神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。」』我们看到了他是夜间是耶稣的，所以最开始时他是不敢公开的信，最后我们看到了他是公开的信主，『又有尼哥德慕，就是先前夜里去见耶稣的，带着没药和沉香约有一百斤前来。』(约翰福音 19:39)     

     神迹(G4592) 这字出现了 69 次，比奇事(G5059) 这字出现了 16 次要多不少，而且奇事这字每次都是和神迹(G4592)一起提的。只有奇事展现自己的超能是没有用的，只有奇事时会常常以为是实行奇事的人做的，容易让实行的人骄傲到自己都看不见的地步。如果是神迹，一定是神透过这人做的，神是真正背后的力量。

3. 现今仍有神迹奇事     

     以前有神迹奇事在使徒行传中说得很清楚，『…一面叫你仆人大放胆量，讲你的道；一面伸出你的手来医治疾病，并且使神迹(G4592)奇事(G5059)因着你圣仆耶稣的名行出来。』(使徒行传 4:29-30) 现在有神迹奇事也在使徒行传讲得很清楚，『这正是先知约珥所说的：『神说：在末后的日子，…在天上我要显出奇事，在地下我要显出神迹，…这都在主大而明显的日子未到以前。』(使徒行传 2:16-20) 为什么要有神迹奇事呢？是如使徒行传 14:3) 所说，证明祂的恩道，不是光光说而已。『二人(巴拿巴和扫罗)在那里住了多日，倚靠主放胆讲道，主借他们的手施行神迹奇事，证明他的恩道。』     

     这是一个只为展现超能的例子，『因为假基督、假先知将要起来，显大神迹(G4592)、大奇事(G5059)。倘若能行，连选民也就迷惑了。』(马太福音 24:24) 所以必须要加上圣经的话，不能只因遇到了超自然的事就以为一定是神做的，要知道施行神迹奇事的目的。就像我们以前分享过的，撒但是不能预知的，只能如天气预报般的预测。例如，『耶和华对亚伯兰说：「你要的确知道，你的后裔必寄居别人的地，又服事那地的人，那地的人要苦待他们四百年。』(创世记 15:13) 撒但怎么可能预先知道到时会有『耶和华的使者从荆棘里火焰中向摩西显现。…』(出埃及记 3:2) 又如在约伯记中，只有神知道『那时，耶和华从旋风中回答约伯…』(约伯记 38:1)

4. 耶稣医治大臣儿子的第二个神迹     

     这事件的缘由记录在约翰福音 4:46-48，『耶稣又到了加利利的迦拿，就是他从前变水为酒的地方。有一个大臣，他的儿子在迦百农患病。他听见耶稣从犹太到了加利利，就来见他，求他下去医治他的儿子，因为他儿子快要死了。耶稣就对他说：「若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信。」』我们看见了大臣的没有看见就信的大信心和其结果，『那大臣说：「先生，求你趁着我的孩子还没有死就下去。」耶稣对他说：「回去吧！你的儿子活了。」 那人信耶稣所说的话，就回去了。正下去的时候，他的仆人迎见他，说他的儿子活了。他就问甚么时候见好的。他们说：「昨日未时热就退了。」他便知道这正是耶稣对他说「你儿子活了」的时候，他自己和全家就都信了。这是耶稣在加利利行的第二件神迹，是他从犹太回去以后行的。』(约翰福音 4:49-54)     

     在这件事上他的儿子有没有信心不是重点。圣经没有明说他儿子有没有信心，父亲因父爱而做出来的事，他儿子有可能都不知道呢！这是一个以自己的信心为别人求的例子，大臣这么有信心以致于耶稣都动容。在约翰福音 20:28-29，『多马说：「我的主，我的神！」耶稣对他说：「你因看见了我才信，那没有看见就信的有福了！」』(约翰福音 20:28-29) 多马跟随了耶稣约三年尚且要看见，我们不能归咎于人要求要见有形的神迹，但要知道神迹只是证实祂的道，不要本末倒置，且要知道神有绝对的主权，所以不要以为求就一定会被应允，其实基督徒生命的改变本就是一个大神迹。     

     神迹的确不是用来展示的，祂知道什么时候该行，『法利赛人和撒都该人来试探耶稣，请他从天上显个神迹给他们看。…耶稣回答说：『…你们知道分辩天上的气色，倒不能分辩这时候的神迹。一个邪恶淫乱的世代求神迹，除了约拿的神迹以外，再没有神迹给他看。」耶稣就离开他们去了。』(马太福音 16:1-4)

5. 见证: 不是超自然的事就是神迹，要配合圣经的话     

     去年我为了要决定是不是要分享某一件事，做完一些人能做的事后，就发生了一件超自然的事。有一天我走在绿地的路上(greenbelt)，心中突然有一个意念告诉我要走去两个姊妹家，她们有些误会，已经至少一年多没有讲话了，我一直希望她们能够和好，我如果那时去她们就会变好。但这对我来说是一段相当长的路，在脑部手术后的要去走去是不太容易的，回来是请姊妹用车带我回来的可以做为证明。我不敢不去。因前一次要我去看其中一人的先生，他那时是好好的，我决定了不去。只是一段时间后没想到他会相当突然的去世，我没看见他最后一面。上次做决定不去也不是很容易的，因在这之前也同样的被激动过、去传教给一位垂危的朋友。在那次特别的造访后，他受洗了，而且他太太告诉我他受洗后直到离世时，都很平安。后来，他太太也受洗了。     

     没想到走去的时候虽有一段上坡，虽一面祷告但仍有力气，相当的顺利，且她们经过一些事情后也真的很久以来第一次交谈了。我因此决定要分享，且心中有平安，因我已经做了我所有能做的事情，且加上这超自然的事。决定后，我又被激动要最后确定一下，因为有时神会借我的姊妹告诉我一些事。我那时给她看了准备的材料，她告诉我说，『不要以恶报恶。…』 (罗马书 12:17) 我以前对这件事出来的话是，『你不可为恶所胜，反要以善胜恶。』 (罗马书 12:21) 那时我相信除神能以善胜恶外，我实在不知道该如何做，但因此我失去了平安。因为已有一个超自然的事，所以我就祷告，除非有超自然的事发生，我一定会分享，没想到发生至今都没法解释的事。当然，最后的结果是没有分享。     

     我一直都不知道圣灵为什么会阻止我分享，一直到有人说还要加上圣经的话，我才恍然大悟。我们知道，『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖前 5:19) 世人努力所得到的平安和神所赐的平安是很不同的，不能用人的努力得到的平安感觉去取代圣灵的带领。从圣灵来的一定有平安，有平安的感觉不一定是圣灵的带领，不能随便划等号。所以我们即使遇到了超自然的事，必须要和圣经的话一致才能确定是圣灵的工作。

(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』。)

     首先我們看見了約翰福音講得很清楚他選擇神蹟的標準，在衆多的神蹟中，他只選擇了七個神蹟，是要人們相信耶穌是基督。我們已談過第一個迦拿水變酒的神蹟，今天要分享的是在加利利行的第二神蹟，醫治大臣的兒子。神蹟(G4592)在約翰福音都是指記號或標誌(sign)，指向信耶穌是基督，而不是指奇事(G5059)。只有奇事時人們會常常以為是實行奇事的人做的，容易讓實行的人驕傲到自己都看不見自己的驕傲的地步。必須要加上聖經的話，不能只因遇到了超自然的事就以為是神做的，雖然不是很容易，但要分辨。我們會在最後做一個這樣的見証，不能本末倒置。神常常會要我們面對真實的自己。

1. 前言: 約翰福音選擇神蹟的標準

    這在約翰福音 20:30-31 講得很清楚，『耶穌在門徒面前另外行了許多神蹟(G4592)，沒有記在這書上。但記這些事，要叫你們信耶穌是基督，是神的兒子，並且叫你們信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』耶穌自己說: 『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40) 從這些經文中看到，得生命是非常重要的，可見神更看重的是我們的所是，過於我們的所做。但兩者都要有，因為有信心就會有雅各書講的信心的行為，不要本末倒置。『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對着鏡子看自己本來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各書 1:22-24) 所以我們是光是鹽，就自然會做光做鹽。

2. 為什麼耶穌行神蹟？

    約翰福音 4:47-48 說，『耶穌就對他(猶大的大臣)說：「若不看見神蹟(G4592)奇事(G5059)，你們總是不信。」』我們看見了行神蹟的目的是要人們信。『當耶穌在耶路撒冷過逾越節的時候，有許多人看見他所行的神蹟，就信了他的名。』(約翰福音 2:23) 他的門徒也是一樣，『這是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟(水變酒)，是在加利利的迦拿行的，顯出他的榮耀來，他的門徒就信他了。』(約翰福音 2:11) 其實耶穌道成肉身時行了許多神蹟，即使如此，不是每個看到神蹟的人都信！在五旬節教會成立時，參加聚會的沒有多少人。

    約翰福音 3:1-2 敘述了一個外邦人看見了耶穌與神同在的事實，以致於他最後公開的信主，『有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥德慕，是猶太人的官。這人夜裏來見耶穌，說：「拉比，我們知道你是由神那裏來作師傅的，因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。」』我們看到了他是夜間是耶穌的，所以最開始時他是不敢公開的信，最後我們看到了他是公開的信主，『又有尼哥德慕，就是先前夜裏去見耶穌的，帶着沒藥和沉香約有一百斤前來。』(約翰福音 19:39)

    神蹟(G4592) 這字出現了 69 次，比奇事(G5059) 這字出現了 16 次要多不少，而且奇事這字每次都是和神蹟(G4592)一起提的。只有奇事展現自己的超能是沒有用的，只有奇事時會常常以為是實行奇事的人做的，容易讓實行的人驕傲到自己都看不見的地步。如果是神蹟，一定是神透過這人做的，神是真正背後的力量。

3. 現今仍有神蹟奇事

     以前有神蹟奇事在使徒行傳中說得很清楚，『…一面叫你僕人大放膽量，講你的道；一面伸出你的手來醫治疾病，並且使神蹟(G4592)奇事(G5059)因着你聖僕耶穌的名行出來。』(使徒行傳 4:29-30) 現在有神蹟奇事也在使徒行傳講得很清楚，『這正是先知約珥所說的：『神說：在末後的日子，…在天上我要顯出奇事，在地下我要顯出神蹟，…這都在主大而明顯的日子未到以前。』(使徒行傳 2:16-20) 為什麼要有神蹟奇事呢？是如使徒行傳 14:3) 所說，證明祂的恩道，不是光光說而已。『二人(巴拿巴和掃羅)在那裏住了多日，倚靠主放膽講道，主藉他們的手施行神蹟奇事，證明他的恩道。』

     這是一個只為展現超能的例子，『因為假基督、假先知將要起來，顯大神蹟(G4592)、大奇事(G5059)。倘若能行，連選民也就迷惑了。』(馬太福音 24:24) 所以必須要加上聖經的話，不能只因遇到了超自然的事就以為一定是神做的，要知道施行神蹟奇事的目的。就像我們以前分享過的，撒但是不能預知的，只能如天氣預報般的預測。例如，

『耶和華對亞伯蘭說：「你要的確知道，你的後裔必寄居別人的地，又服事那地的人，那地的人要苦待他們四百年。』(創世記 15:13) 撒但怎麼可能預先知道到時會有『耶和華的使者從荊棘裏火焰中向摩西顯現。…』(出埃及記 3:2) 又如在約伯記中，只有神知道『

那時，耶和華從旋風中回答約伯…』(約伯記 38:1)

4. 耶穌醫治大臣兒子的第二個神蹟

    這事件的緣由記錄在約翰福音 4:46-48，『耶穌又到了加利利的迦拿，就是他從前變水為酒的地方。有一個大臣，他的兒子在迦百農患病。他聽見耶穌從猶太到了加利利，就來見他，求他下去醫治他的兒子，因為他兒子快要死了。耶穌就對他說：「若不看見神蹟奇事，你們總是不信。」』我們看見了大臣的沒有看見就信的大信心和其結果，『那大臣說：「先生，求你趁着我的孩子還沒有死就下去。」耶穌對他說：「回去吧！你的兒子活了。」 那人信耶穌所說的話，就回去了。正下去的時候，他的僕人迎見他，說他的兒子活了。他就問甚麼時候見好的。他們說：「昨日未時熱就退了。」他便知道這正是耶穌對他說「你兒子活了」的時候，他自己和全家就都信了。這是耶穌在加利利行的第二件神蹟，是他從猶太回去以後行的。』(約翰福音 4:49-54)

     在這件事上他的兒子有沒有信心不是重點。聖經沒有明說他兒子有沒有信心，父親因父愛而做出來的事，他兒子有可能都不知道呢！這是一個以自己的信心為別人求的例子，大臣這麼有信心以致於耶穌都動容。在約翰福音 20:28-29，『多馬說：「我的主，我的神！」耶穌對他說：「你因看見了我才信，那沒有看見就信的有福了！」』(約翰福音 20:28-29) 多馬跟隨了耶穌約三年尚且要看見，我們不能歸咎於人要求要見有形的神蹟，但要知道神蹟只是証實祂的道，不要本末倒置，且要知道神有絕對的主權，所以不要以為求就一定會被應允，其實基督徒生命的改變本就是一個大神蹟。

    神蹟的確不是用來展示的，祂知道什麼時候該行，『法利賽人和撒都該人來試探耶穌，請他從天上顯個神蹟給他們看。…耶穌回答說：『…你們知道分辨天上的氣色，倒不能分辨這時候的神蹟。一個邪惡淫亂的世代求神蹟，除了約拿的神蹟以外，再沒有神蹟給他看。」耶穌就離開他們去了。』(馬太福音 16:1-4)

5. 見証: 不是超自然的事就是神蹟，要配合聖經的話

    去年我為了要決定是不是要分享某一件事，做完一些人能做的事後，就發生了一件超自然的事。有一天我走在綠地的路上(greenbelt)，心中突然有一個意念告訴我要走去兩個姊妹家，她們有些誤會，已經至少一年多沒有講話了，我一直希望她們能夠和好，我如果那時去她們就會變好。但這對我來說是一段相當長的路，在腦部手術後的要去走去是不太容易的，回來是請姊妹用車帶我回來的可以做為証明。我不敢不去。因前一次要我去看其中一人的先生，他那時是好好的，我決定了不去。只是一段時間後沒想到他會相當突然的去世，我沒看見他最後一面。上次做決定不去也不是很容易的，因在這之前也同樣的被激動過、去傳教給一位垂危的朋友。在那次特別的造訪後，他受洗了，而且他太太告訴我他受洗後直到離世時，都很平安。後來，他太太也受洗了。

    沒想到走去的時候雖有一段上坡，雖一面禱告但仍有力氣，相當的順利，且她們經過一些事情後也真的很久以來第一次交談了。我因此決定要分享，且心中有平安，因我已經做了我所有能做的事情，且加上這超自然的事。決定後，我又被激動要最後確定一下，因為有時神會藉我的姊妹告訴我一些事。我那時給她看了準備的材料，她告訴我說，『不要以惡報惡。…』 (羅馬書 12:17) 我以前對這件事出來的話是，『你不可為惡所勝，反要以善勝惡。』 (羅馬書 12:21) 那時我相信除神能以善勝惡外，我實在不知道該如何做，但因此我失去了平安。因為已有一個超自然的事，所以我就禱告，除非有超自然的事發生，我一定會分享，沒想到發生至今都沒法解釋的事。當然，最後的結果是沒有分享。

    我一直都不知道聖靈為什麼會阻止我分享，一直到有人說還要加上聖經的話，我才恍然大悟。我們知道，『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖前 5:19) 世人努力所得到的平安和神所賜的平安是很不同的，不能用人的努力得到的平安感覺去取代聖靈的帶領。從聖靈來的一定有平安，有平安的感覺不一定是聖靈的帶領，不能隨便劃等號。所以我們即使遇到了超自然的事，必須要和聖經的話一致才能確定是聖靈的工作。

(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, we can see that the Gospel of John clearly says the criterion of selecting these particular seven miracles among so many choices. He wanted people to believe that Jesus is Christ. We had discussed the first miracle in Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. Today, we’ll share the second miracle of healing the son of a royal official. The word miracle (G4592) in the Gospel of John means sign, which points out that Jesus is Christ. It is not the same as wonders (G5059). Only having wonders for the purpose of showing off is useless. With only wonders, it will often make people believe the person can perform such wonders and make that person easily be proud to the extent that he doesn’t realize that he is proud. We should not believe that all supernatural things are from God, which must be consistent with what the Bible says. It is not easy to discern, but we must. We’ll present such a testimony at the end. We shouldn’t be confused. God often wants us to face our real ourselves.

1. Preface: The standard of choosing miracles in the Gospel of John

In John 20:30-31, it says clearly, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Jesus Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40) From these verses, we can see that having life is very important. God emphasizes what we are more than what we do. But we really need both. And we shouldn’t be upside down. If we have faith, then we’ll have the action from the faith like what it says in James 1:22-24, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” If our life is indeed the light and the salt, we can then do the work of the light and the salt. 

2. Why does Jesus perform miracles?

In John 4:47-48, it says, “When he (a royal official at Capernaum) heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs (G4592) and wonders (G5059), you simply will not believe.”” We can see the purpose of performing miracles is to have people believe Him. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.”(John 2:23) His disciples behaved the same as said in John 2:11, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” As a matter of fact, during the period of the Word becoming the flesh, He performed a lot of miracles, but not a lot of people believed Him! When the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, not too many people attended the ceremony when the Church was created.

In John 3:1-2, it describes when a Pharisee saw the fact that the God was with Jesus, so he at last was able to openly express his faith. “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”” We can see the man came to Jesus by night, not wanting to be seen. At last, he openly expressed his faith. “Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.”(John 19:39)

The word sign (G4592) which is translated as miracle in Chinese appears 69 times, more than the word wonder (G5059), which only appears 16 times and is mentioned together with miracles every time. Only having wonders for the purpose of displaying power is useless. With only wonders, it will often make people believe the person can perform such wonders and make that person easily be proud to the extent that he doesn’t realize that he is proud. If it is a miracle, it must be what God does through the person. The power behind miracles is from the God.   

3. There are miracles and wonders nowadays.

In the past, there were miracles and wonders as described in Acts 4:29-30, “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” We also have them nowadays as is clearly stated in Acts 2:16-20, “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel, ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ …’And I will grant wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, …Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.” Why do we have miracles? It is as said in Acts 14:3, “Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.” Miracles are there to testify of the word of His grace, not merely saying something so.

Here is an example to demonstrate that which is not from God as described in Matthew 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Therefore, we must not accept all supernatural things as from the God. We need to check them with what the Bible says.  Knowing the purposes of miracles help us to discern if it is from God. As shared before, Satan cannot have foreknowledge, and he can only guess, like weather forecasting. As an example, in Genesis 15:13, “God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.”” Satan cannot know ahead, “The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.”(Exodus 3:2) As another example, Satan cannot know ahead what was described in Job 38:1, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind …”

4. The second miracle of healing the son of royal official 

The occasion is recorded in John 4:46-48, “Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”” In John 4:49-54, we can see that the official showed his great faith by not seeing but believing and its result, “The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”

In this event, whether his son has faith or not isn’t a key point. The Bible doesn’t say if his son had faith. What the father did due to love may not even be known by his son! This is an example in which a person can pray for others due to his own faith alone and be granted. In John 20:28-29, it says, “Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”” Thomas followed Jesus for more than three years, but he still wanted to see proof. We cannot blame people that want to see miracles.  But we really should know that miracles are to testify the word of His grace. Don’t get it wrong and use them just to show off. To be sure, God has the absolute authority. Don’t think that they can be granted for sure by just asking. Actually, the fact that the life of Christians can be changed is in itself a great miracle which we cannot do ourselves.  

Miracles are indeed not used to show off. He knows when to perform them as said in Matthew 16:1-4, “The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “…Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.”

5. Testimony:  not all supernatural things are miracles, must be consistent with the Bible 

Last year, I had to decide if I would share one thing. After doing what I could do as a human, something supernatural happened to me. One day, when I walked on the greenbelt (a road so called locally), I suddenly had a thought that I should visit two elderly sisters. They had misunderstanding previously and hadn’t talked to each other for more than a year. For a long while, I was hoping that they could make peace. If I went at that time, the situation would become better. The way to their home is not easy for me after I had brain surgery, as evidenced by the fact that I had to ask my wife to give me a ride on my way back. I didn’t dare ignore my feeling since in the past I had also been in a similar situation but ignored it that time. I had previously felt like I should visit the husband of one of the sisters. He was well at that time, but after a period of time suddenly passed away. I didn’t get a chance to see him at that time. The decision of not going at that time was not easy for me since I was also in a similar situation even before the event of feeling to visit her husband to share the Gospel with a dying friend. After that particular visit, the dying friend was baptized and his wife told me that he was peaceful after baptized until he was passed away. After a while, his wife was also baptized.

To my surprise, the way to their homes was very smooth although there was an uphill area that was very long for me. And they talked to each other the first time after a long while. I decided to share since I had done everything I could and had a peaceful mind. Of course, it was also due to this supernatural event. After this decision, I was stimulated again to confirm it with my wife since God sometimes used her words to reveal to me. So, I showed her the materials I prepared, and she told me, ” Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. …”(Romans 12:17) For the same event, what I came out before was in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” At that time, I believed that only God can overcome evil with good. I didn’t know what to do, but lost peace. Since there was already a supernatural thing, I prayed correspondingly that I would share for sure unless there was another supernatural thing happened. Out of my expectations, there was an unexplained thing occurred and we couldn’t explain even nowadays. The final result was that I didn’t share.  

For a while, I didn’t know why the Holy Spirit prevented me from sharing. Until one day someone said, it had to be consistent with the Bible words. We know that it says clearly in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, “Do not quench the Spirit.” The peace gotten from human’s effort is very different from the peace God gives. We cannot substitute a peaceful feeling for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What comes from the Holy Spirit must have peace, but a peaceful feeling doesn’t mean such a guidance. We shouldn’t make them equal. So, even if we encounter a supernatural thing, it has to be consistent with what the Bible says before we can be sure that it is indeed from Holy Spirit.

 (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.”)

     我们在这里要分享一个看见，这想法是在网路的有限搜寻中没找到的。我们不是要标新立异，只是从圣经的话和逻辑上，实在看不出有什么错误！首先我们得讲清楚，圣经的一致性是指神要借着圣经告诉我们什么是一致的，不是指圣经的字句非得相同不可。如果是后者那圣经就会有很明显的矛盾，我们会用一个例子来说明这点。如果我们相信圣经是神所默示的，用圣经作为绝对的标准，相信圣经的话而不加上自己的意见，就会看见启示录的四活物是唯一的，这是我们的第二话题。顺着这个方向，我们在第三话题中用工具书的原文圣经讨论、为什么说四活物和二十四位长老是一体的。最后，我们从这里看见了启示录的四活物和教会的关系。

1. 前言: 圣经是我们的绝对标准    

     我们知道，『耶和华说：「我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。』(以赛亚书 55:8-9) 神有绝对的权威，圣经是神所默示的，所以我们要把圣经作为我们的绝对标准。我们实在应该把祂的话话藏在心里，就像诗篇 119:147-148 所说，『我趁天未亮呼求，我仰望了你的言语；我趁夜更未换将眼睁开，为要思想你的话语。』在这里我可能和许多人的看见不同，把神的话藏在心里不等于要背圣经，把祂的话藏在心中，祂会透过圣灵让我们想起圣经的话如彼得般，『我(彼得)就想起主的话说：「.约翰是用水施洗，但你们要受圣灵的洗。」』(使徒行传 11:16)    

     我们常引用以赛亚书 40:31，『但那等候耶和华的，必从新得力。他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。』(以赛亚书 40:31) 我们若在基督里，祂是可以做到，让我们如鹰展翅上腾。是的，我们要等候耶和华，因凡事有定时，所以也要等候祂的时间的到来。如果我们真的相信整本圣经都是神所默示的，以圣经作为我们绝对的标准，相信圣经说的话，就可以知道我们已经在祂爱子的国度里。 (参歌罗西书 1:13) 在新人里面，我们是可以如鹰展翅上腾，翺翔在神的国度里，就如经文所说，『所以我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。』(希伯来书 4:16)    

     我们要再一次强调，我们要用圣经作为我们绝对的标准，相信圣经所说的。我们说过，逻辑只是一个工具，假设不同，我们放到同一样的逻辑机器结果会不一样。当我们完全相信圣经的话，假设会不一样的，我们会在下面分享这样的一个例子。

2. 圣经的一致性是什么？    

     圣经的一致性就是神要借着圣经告诉我们的是一致的。我只能说在有限的例子中，用外插法我得到这样的结论，因神是无限，人是有限，非得用外插法不可。如真相信圣经是神所默示的，我们就会相信圣经的话，以圣经作为我们绝对的标准，这是很不容易的事。尤其是当圣经的话语有明显矛盾的地方，我们会常常试着去解释它们使它们一致，而忘记了神是知道这矛盾的，而仍然放在那里，所以我们要了解，神要透过这样明显的矛盾告诉我们什么？    

     举个关于在变化山上一个有争议性的例子。按照马太福音 17:1 和马可福音 9:2，耶稣带着彼得、雅各和雅各的兄弟约翰上了高山是过了六天，但依路加福音 9:28，是说了这话以后约有八天。时间上到底是六天或八天很重要吗？有人说看你怎么算，六天可以算成八天。我不知这解释对不对，假如解释行得通而能知道日子的话，能造就人吗？这才是我们该问的问题。确实是几天真的不那么重要，重点是在三福音都讲了类似的话，『他们举目不见一人，只见耶稣在那里。』(马太福音 17:8) 也就是当转眼仰望耶稣，唯独仰望耶稣。真的要在主耶稣基督内！当然，在变化山上还发生其他的事情如摩西和以利亚的显现，我们以后有机会再分享这些事情。

3. 启示录的四活物是唯一的    

     我们下面就以圣经作为我们绝对的标准，去解释启示录的四活物是什么。先看到圣经提到四活物唯一的另外一次是在以西结书，时间和地点都说得很清楚，『当三十年四月初五日，以西结在迦巴鲁河边被掳的人中，天就开了，得见神的异象。』(以西结书 1:1) 关于这四活物说得很多，我们就看其中的一段。『…四个活物…的形状是这样：…各有四个脸面，四个翅膀。』(以西结书 1:5-6) 又说，『这是我在迦巴鲁河边所见以色列神荣耀以下的活物，我就知道他们是基路伯。各有四个脸面，四个翅膀，…至于他们脸的模样，并身体的形像，是我从前在迦巴鲁河边所看见的。…』(以西结书 10:20-22) 所以圣经很清楚的告诉我们这四活物都是一样的四个翅膀的基路伯。    

     我们再看看启示录的四活物，『…四个活物…第一个活物像狮子，第二个像牛犊，第三个脸面像人，第四个像飞鹰。四活物各有六个翅膀，…』(启示录 4:6-8) 这是四个各有六个翅膀四个不同的活物，如果我们完全相信圣经的话，这四活物怎么可能会和以西结所看到的四活物相同呢？有人说他们相似，这是没有错的，但的确是不相同。神是信实的，他们明明相似，神也不能说他们不相似啊！其实人依圣经说他们相似，已经承认了他们不是相同。    

     我们其实可以在经文中看到约翰的顺服。在启示录 10:4 中说：『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。」』他的确没有写了出来七雷的发声，他所写出来的都是他所看到的所听见的，是可信的。就像启示录 22:18-19 所说的，不可加添或减少。『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；这书上的预言，若有人删去甚么，神必从这书上所写的生命树和圣城删去他的分。』(启示录 22:18-19) 从另一方面来看，圣经是神所默示的，如果他写错了，难道神会不知道，会不更正他吗？会的。我们实在要『把神当作神』，不要把祂的话打折扣，以致会如彼得所说的这样会强解(曲解)圣经。彼得和约翰都被主亲自开他们心窍去明白圣经的，彼得绝对有资格要我们不要强解圣经。    

     顺便一提，圣经只有一次提到这六个翅膀的功用，也就是讲到撒拉弗的地方。『当乌西雅王崩的那年，我见主坐在高高的宝座上。他的衣裳垂下，遮满圣殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立，各有六个翅膀：用两个翅膀遮脸，两个翅膀遮脚，两个翅膀飞翔。』(以赛亚书 6:1-2) 撒拉弗是相同的，很显然启示录的四活物不是撒拉弗，所以启示录的四活物是唯一的，但我们知道他们是在天上、是属灵的。

4. 四活物和二十四位长老    

     当我们看见了四活物是唯一的时候，就会从这个方向去想。因我不懂原文，就不得不借重工具书(Strong’s Concordance)去看原文怎么说。我们先看这四活物和二十四位长老的第一次出现在启示录 4:4-6，『宝座的周围…坐着二十四位长老，…宝座中和宝座周围有四个活物…』  然后看见了四活物和二十四位长老常常是在一起提到的，让我们看看所有这样摘录的经文。『每逢四活物将…那二十四位长老就俯伏…』(启示录 4:9-10) 『我又看见，且听见宝座与活物并长老的周围，…四活物就说：「阿们！」众长老也俯伏敬拜。』(启示录 5:11-14) 『众天使都站在宝座和众长老并四活物的周围，在宝座前，面伏于地敬拜神，说：…』(启示录 7:11-12) 『他们在宝座前，并在四活物和众长老前唱歌，仿佛是新歌；除了从地上买来的那十四万四千人以外，没有人能学这歌。』(启示录 14:3) 『那二十四位长老与四活物就俯伏敬拜坐宝座的神，说：「阿们！哈利路亚！」』(启示录 19:4)『我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中，有羔羊站立，…他既拿了书卷，四活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，(having G2192)各拿着(G1538)琴和盛满了香的金炉；这香就是众圣徒的祈祷。』(启示录 5:6-8)    

     有人可能认为在启示录 5:6-8 中只有二十四位长老拿着琴和盛满了香的金炉，所以我们再从工具书的原文看。如是只是指二十四位长老，就会很清楚的用 G3588 (who, which) 说明是单指二十四位长老，这就犹如在启示录 1:9 所说：『我约翰就是(G3588)你们的弟兄，…』这字 G3588 在启示录就出现了六十六次，如果是单指二十四位长老，多用一次又何妨呢？但用的是现在分词 G2192，确定我们知道是同时在指四活物和二十四位长老。所以我们看到了四活物和二十四位长老是一体的。

5. 为什么说四活物是代表教会？    

     单独的提到二十四位长老只有在这里，『 …坐在自己位上的二十四位长老，就面伏于地敬拜神，说：「昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊，我们感谢你！因你执掌大权作王了。外邦发怒，你的忿怒也临到了，审判死人的时候也到了；你的仆人众先知和众圣徒，凡敬畏你名的人，连大带小得赏赐的时候也到了；你败坏那些败坏世界之人的时候也就到了。」』(启示录 11:15-18) 二十四长老所说的不是教会的祈祷和所希望的吗？而且金炉的香是众圣徒的祈祷，所以这二十四位长老是代表教会的。因四活物和二十四位长老是一体的，也有众圣徒祈祷的香，且因这时地上的众教会还没有成为羔羊的新妇，所以我们看到了这四活物和二十四位长老是代表在天上那唯一的教会的。这样的看见会导致在启示录只提到活物的部份有着不同的看见，以后再从这点上和大家分享。

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

    我們在這裏要分享一個看見，這想法是在網路的有限搜尋中沒找到的。我們不是要標新立異，只是從聖經的話和邏輯上，實在看不出有什麼錯誤！首先我們得講清楚，聖經的一致性是指神要藉著聖經告訴我們什麼是一致的，不是指聖經的字句非得相同不可。如果是後者那聖經就會有很明顯的矛盾，我們會用一個例子來說明這點。如果我們相信聖經是神所默示的，用聖經作為絕對的標準，相信聖經的話而不加上自己的意見，就會看見啓示錄的四活物是唯一的，這是我們的第二話題。順著這個方向，我們在第三話題中用工具書的原文聖經討論、為什麼說四活物和二十四位長老是一體的。最後，我們從這裏看見了啓示錄的四活物和教會的關係。

1. 前言: 聖經是我們的絕對標準

    我們知道，『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9) 神有絕對的權威，聖經是神所默示的，所以我們要把聖經作為我們的絕對標準。我們實在應該把祂的話話藏在心裏，就像詩篇 119:147-148 所說，『我趁天未亮呼求，我仰望了你的言語；我趁夜更未換將眼睜開，為要思想你的話語。』在這裏我可能和許多人的看見不同，把神的話藏在心裏不等於要背聖經，把祂的話藏在心中，祂會透過聖靈讓我們想起聖經的話如彼得般，『我(彼得)就想起主的話說：「.約翰是用水施洗，但你們要受聖靈的洗。」』(使徒行傳 11:16)

    我們常引用以賽亞書 40:31，『但那等候耶和華的，必從新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰，他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。』(以賽亞書 40:31) 我們若在基督裏，祂是可以做到，讓我們如鷹展翅上騰。是的，我們要等候耶和華，因凡事有定時，所以也要等候祂的時間的到來。如果我們真的相信整本聖經都是神所默示的，以聖經作為我們絕對的標準，相信聖經說的話，就可以知道我們已經在祂愛子的國度裏。 (參歌羅西書 1:13) 在新人裏面，我們是可以如鷹展翅上騰，翺翔在神的國度裏，就如經文所說，『所以我們只管坦然無懼地來到施恩的寶座前，為要得憐恤，蒙恩惠，作隨時的幫助。』(希伯來書 4:16)

    我們要再一次强調，我們要用聖經作為我們絕對的標準，相信聖經所說的。我們說過，邏輯只是一個工具，假設不同，我們放到同一樣的邏輯機器結果會不一樣。當我們完全相信聖經的話，假設會不一樣的，我們會在下面分享這樣的一個例子。

2. 聖經的一致性是什麼？

    聖經的一致性就是神要藉著聖經告訴我們的是一致的。我只能說在有限的例子中，用外插法我得到這樣的結論，因神是無限，人是有限，非得用外插法不可。如真相信聖經是神所默示的，我們就會相信聖經的話，以聖經作為我們絕對的標準，這是很不容易的事。尤其是當聖經的話語有明顯矛盾的地方，我們會常常試著去解釋它們使它們一致，而忘記了神是知道這矛盾的，而仍然放在那裏，所以我們要瞭解，神要透過這樣明顯的矛盾告訴我們什麼？

    舉個關於在變化山上一個有爭議性的例子。按照馬太福音 17:1 和馬可福音 9:2，耶穌帶着彼得、雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰上了高山是過了六天，但依路加福音 9:28，是說了這話以後約有八天。時間上到底是六天或八天很重要嗎？有人說看你怎麼算，六天可以算成八天。我不知這解釋對不對，假如解釋行得通而能知道日子的話，能造就人嗎？這才是我們該問的問題。確實是幾天真的不那麼重要，重點是在三福音都講了類似的話，『他們舉目不見一人，只見耶穌在那裏。』(馬太福音 17:8) 也就是當轉眼仰望耶穌，唯獨仰望耶穌。真的要在主耶穌基督內！當然，在變化山上還發生其他的事情如摩西和以利亞的顯現，我們以後有機會再分享這些事情。

3. 啓示錄的四活物是唯一的

    我們下面就以聖經作為我們絕對的標準，去解釋啓示錄的四活物是什麼。先看到聖經提到四活物唯一的另外一次是在以西結書，時間和地點都說得很清楚，『當三十年四月初五日，以西結在迦巴魯河邊被擄的人中，天就開了，得見神的異象。』(以西結書 1:1) 關於這四活物說得很多，我們就看其中的一段。『…四個活物…的形狀是這樣：…各有四個臉面，四個翅膀。』(以西結書 1:5-6) 又說，『這是我在迦巴魯河邊所見以色列神榮耀以下的活物，我就知道他們是基路伯。各有四個臉面，四個翅膀，…至於他們臉的模樣，並身體的形像，是我從前在迦巴魯河邊所看見的。…』(以西結書 10:20-22) 所以聖經很清楚的告訴我們這四活物都是一樣的四個翅膀的基路伯。

    我們再看看啓示錄的四活物，『…四個活物…第一個活物像獅子，第二個像牛犢，第三個臉面像人，第四個像飛鷹。四活物各有六個翅膀，…』(啓示錄 4:6-8) 這是四個各有六個翅膀四個不同的活物，如果我們完全相信聖經的話，這四活物怎麼可能會和以西結所看到的四活物相同呢？有人說他們相似，這是沒有錯的，但的確是不相同。神是信實的，他們明明相似，神也不能說他們不相似啊！其實人依聖經說他們相似，已經承認了他們不是相同。

    我們其實可以在經文中看到約翰的順服。在啓示錄 10:4 中說：『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。」』他的確沒有寫了出來七雷的發聲，他所寫出來的都是他所看到的所聽見的，是可信的。就像啓示錄 22:18-19 所說的，不可加添或減少。『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；這書上的預言，若有人刪去甚麼，神必從這書上所寫的生命樹和聖城刪去他的分。』(啓示錄 22:18-19) 從另一方面來看，聖經是神所默示的，如果他寫錯了，難道神會不知道，會不更正他嗎？會的。我們實在要『把神當作神』，不要把祂的話打折扣，以致會如彼得所說的這樣會强解(曲解)聖經。彼得和約翰都被主親自開他們心竅去明白聖經的，彼得絕對有資格要我們不要强解聖經。

    順便一提，聖經只有一次提到這六個翅膀的功用，也就是講到撒拉弗的地方。『當烏西雅王崩的那年，我見主坐在高高的寶座上。他的衣裳垂下，遮滿聖殿。其上有撒拉弗侍立，各有六個翅膀：用兩個翅膀遮臉，兩個翅膀遮腳，兩個翅膀飛翔。』(以賽亞書 6:1-2) 撒拉弗是相同的，很顯然啓示錄的四活物不是撒拉弗，所以啓示錄的四活物是唯一的，但我們知道他們是在天上、是屬靈的。

4. 四活物和二十四位長老

    當我們看見了四活物是唯一的時候，就會從這個方向去想。因我不懂原文，就不得不借重工具書(Strong’s Concordance)去看原文怎麼說。我們先看這四活物和二十四位長老的第一次出現在啓示錄 4:4-6，『寶座的周圍…坐着二十四位長老，…寶座中和寶座周圍有四個活物…』  然後看見了四活物和二十四位長老常常是在一起提到的，讓我們看看所有這樣摘錄的經文。『每逢四活物將…那二十四位長老就俯伏…』(啓示錄 4:9-10) 『我又看見，且聽見寶座與活物並長老的周圍，…四活物就說：「阿們！」眾長老也俯伏敬拜。』(啓示錄 5:11-14) 『眾天使都站在寶座和眾長老並四活物的周圍，在寶座前，面伏於地敬拜神，說：…』(啓示錄 7:11-12) 『他們在寶座前，並在四活物和眾長老前唱歌，彷彿是新歌；除了從地上買來的那十四萬四千人以外，沒有人能學這歌。』(啓示錄 14:3) 『那二十四位長老與四活物就俯伏敬拜坐寶座的神，說：「阿們！哈利路亞！」』(啓示錄 19:4)『我又看見寶座與四活物並長老之中，有羔羊站立，…他既拿了書卷，四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前，(having G2192)各拿着(G1538)琴和盛滿了香的金爐；這香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。』(啓示錄 5:6-8)

    有人可能認為在啓示錄 5:6-8 中只有二十四位長老拿著琴和盛滿了香的金爐，所以我們再從工具書的原文看。如是只是指二十四位長老，就會很清楚的用 G3588 (who, which) 說明是單指二十四位長老，這就猶如在啓示錄 1:9 所說：『我約翰就是(G3588)你們的弟兄，…』這字 G3588 在啓示錄就出現了六十六次，如果是單指二十四位長老，多用一次又何妨呢？但用的是現在分詞 G2192，確定我們知道是同時在指四活物和二十四位長老。所以我們看到了四活物和二十四位長老是一體的。

5. 為什麼說四活物是代表教會？

    單獨的提到二十四位長老只有在這裏，『 …坐在自己位上的二十四位長老，就面伏於地敬拜神，說：「昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊，我們感謝你！因你執掌大權作王了。外邦發怒，你的忿怒也臨到了，審判死人的時候也到了；你的僕人眾先知和眾聖徒，凡敬畏你名的人，連大帶小得賞賜的時候也到了；你敗壞那些敗壞世界之人的時候也就到了。」』(啓示錄 11:15-18) 二十四長老所說的不是教會的祈禱和所希望的嗎？而且金爐的香是眾聖徒的祈禱，所以這二十四位長老是代表教會的。因四活物和二十四位長老是一體的，也有眾聖徒祈禱的香，且因這時地上的衆教會還沒有成為羔羊的新婦，所以我們看到了這四活物和二十四位長老是代表在天上那唯一的教會的。這樣的看見會導致在啓示錄只提到活物的部份有著不同的看見，以後再從這點上和大家分享。

(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』。)

Here we’ll share one thought which we couldn’t find on the web through our limited search. We are not trying to act outside the box, but we really couldn’t figure out any mistakes from what the Bible says and through logic. First, we have to say that the consistency of the Bible means what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, not means the consistency literally. If the latter is true, then there are apparent contradictions. We’ll use one example to illustrate this point. If we do believe that the Bible is inspired by God, and use the Bible as our absolute standard, then we’ll believe what the Bible says without adding our own opinions. In this case, we can see that the four living creatures is unique which is our second subtopic. In this same direction, the third subtopic will be to use the original language of the Bible in Strong’s Concordance to discuss why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders form one body. Finally, we can see the relationship of the four living creatures representing the Church in heaven. This viewpoint will lead to different observations for the relevant portions in the Book of Revelations, and we’ll share these in the future when the occasion arises.

1. Preface: Bible is our absolute standard

We know in Isaiah 55:8-9, it says, “”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.”” God has the absolute authority. And the Bible is inspired by God, so we should regard the Bible as our absolute standard. We should be in very deed as Psalms 119:147-148 says, “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.” Here I might perceive differently from other people. Putting God’s words on a person doesn’t implies the person has to be able to recite the words.  As long as the words are buried inside a person, God can make him through Holy Spirit to recall the words just like what Peter did, “And I (Peter) remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'”(Acts 11:16)

We often quote Isaiah 40:31, “Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” If we are in Christ, we can indeed be mount up with wings like eagles and fly like an eagle in the kingdom of heaven because He can. Yes, we have to wait upon the Lord, and wait for His time too since everything has a predestined time by Him. If we indeed believe what Bible says, we know that we have already in the kingdom of His Son as said in Colossians 1:13, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” We can indeed fly like an eagle in the kingdom of heaven as said in Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Let us emphasize again that we must use the Bible as our absolute standard. We shared before that logic was merely an instrument. If a hypothesis is different, then the result will be different when we put it into the logic machine. If we firmly believe what the Bible says, we’ll come up with a different hypothesis.

2. What does the consistency in the Bible mean?

The consistency of the Bible means what the Bible tells us is consistent. I checked with limited examples and used extrapolation to get this result. I have no choice but to use extrapolation as God is infinite and man is finite. If we indeed believe that the Bible is inspired by God, then we’ll believe what the Bible says for sure.  It isn’t easy, particularly when there are apparent contradictions literally speaking. In these cases, people normally try to explain the contradictions away and forgot that God is omniscient. He knows the apparent contradictions and still put them there. What does He want to convey to us through them? 

Along this line, let us use one controversial example regarding the mountain of transfiguration. According to Matthew 17:1 and Mark 9:2, “Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.” (Matthew 17:1) But according to Luke 9:28, it is eight days later. Is it important if the time is in six days or eight days? There are people saying that it all depends on how you count a day. If you can count differently, the six days are the same as the eight days. I have no idea if such counting is correct. If the explanation is correct, will it edify people? It is merely knowledge. Whether it edifies people is the question we should ask. How many days are not really important here? The emphasis is the similar words used in three Gospels, “And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”(Matthew 17:8) In other words, we should turn our eyes to Jesus, and only on Him. We have to be in Christ. Of course, there are other things that happened on the mountain of transfiguration such as the appearance of Moses and Elijah. We’ll share about them when opportunities arise.

3. The four living beings in the book of Revelation is unique

Next, we’ll use the Bible as our absolute standard to explain what the four living beings in the book of Revelation are. In other words, our hypothesis in logic is that the Bible is our absolute standard. In the Bible, the only other time mentioning the four living beings is in the book of Ezekiel, where the time and the place are clearly described in Ezekiel 1:1, “Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” Regarding the four living beings, there are quite a few statements. We will look at Ezekiel 1:5-6 which will suffice for our purpose, “…And this was their appearance: …Each of them had four faces and four wings.” And it also says in Ezekiel 10:20-22, “These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that they were cherubim. Each one had four faces and each one four wings, …As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar…” Thus, the Bible says clearly that the four living beings are the same cherubim with four wings.

Let us then take a look at the four living beings in the Book of Revelation, “…and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.  And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; …”(Revelation 4:6-8) These are four different creatures and each of them with six wings. If we believe fully what the Bible says, how can these be the same as what Ezekiel saw? There are people saying that they are similar. They are correct since the four living creatures are similar but different. God is faithful and they are similar, and He cannot describe as if they are the same. In fact, if those people say that they’re similar according to the Bible, they have already admitted that they are different.

We can clearly see the obedience of John in Revelation 10:4. It says, “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.”” He indeed didn’t write what the seven peals of thunder said. What he wrote is what he saw, is believable. Like what he said in Revelation 22:18-19, “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; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” From another aspect, the Bible is inspired by God. If he made a mistake, won’t God know about it and correct it? Yes, He would. We in every deed should be ‘let God be God’ and not discount His words, so that we have a chance not to distort the Bible like what Peter warned. Peter is definitely qualified to give such warnings since his mind was opened by Jesus Himself so that he could understand the Scriptures. 

Let us mention it by passing, the Bible describes only one time regarding the usage of the six wings when Seraphim was mentioned in Isaiah 6:1-2, “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” Seraphim is the same and is apparently different from the four living creatures described in the Book of Revelations. So, the four living creatures are unique. But we do know that they are in heaven, and are spiritual.

4. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders

When we see the four living creatures are unique, we’ll think along this direction. Because I don’t understand the original languages used in the Bible, I have to use books like the Strong’s Concordance as instrument to see how Bibles in the original languages say. First, we notice the first appearance of the four creatures and the twenty-four elders is in Revelation 4:4-6, “Around the throne were …twenty-four elders sitting, …and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.” Then we see that the four creatures and the twenty-four elders are often mentioned together, and let see all such verses. In Revelation 4:9-10, it says, “And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, …the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, …” In Revelation 5:11-14, it says, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; …And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.” In Revelation 7:11, it says, “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.” In Revelation 14:3, it says, “And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.” In Revelation 19:4, it says, “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped …” Finally, in Revelation 5:6-8 (KJV used in Concordance), it says, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, …And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having (G2192) every one (G1538) of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.“

Some people may think that there are only the twenty-four elders that hold the harp and golden bowls. So, we have to use the Bible in the original language to determine this. If the verse only means the twenty-four elders, then it should use G3588 which means who or which, just like in Revelation 2:1, it says, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who (G3588) walks among the seven golden lampstands, …” The words G3588 appears in the Book of revelation sixty-six times already. If it means only for the twenty-four elders, it’ll not hurt to use it once more? Instead, it uses the present participle “having G2192.” The Bible wants us to make sure that we know that it means both the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. Therefore, they are one. 

5. Why do we say the four living creatures stand for the Church in heaven?

The verses alone in here mention the twenty-four elders only by themselves, “Then the seventh angel sounded; …And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.””(Revelation 11:15-18) Isn’t what said by the twenty-four elders the prayer by churches on earth, which are churches hope for?  Furthermore, the golden bowls are full of incense which are the prayers of the saints. Therefore, the twenty-four elders represent the Church in heaven since we are talking about what happens in heaven. Since the four creatures and the twenty-four elders are one, they also have the golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints. At this time, the churches on earth have not yet become His bride yet as said in Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Therefore, we see the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders represent the only Church in heaven.

In fact, when we see the twenty-four elders offer the golden bowls, it is ordinarily said with basically no disagreement that they represent the Church. Meanwhile, the four living creatures also offer the prayers of the saints, how can they not represent the Church in heaven?  This viewpoint will lead to different observations for the relevant portions in the Book of Revelation, which only mention the live creatures. We’ll share these in the future when occasions arise.

 (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.”)