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以西结书生命读经 · 第12篇

在宝座上的人

The Man on the Throne
1读经：以西结书1:26-28，出埃及记24:10，创世记9:12-15，启示录4:2-3;21:19上;22:1。我们在上一篇信息里指出，我们在基督徒生活和召会生活中，需要有清明的天和其中的宝座。有清明的天，意思就是与主之间没有阴翳和黑暗；有宝座，意思就是在诸天的管治之下。我们都需要一种生活，是有清明的天和其上的宝座。在本篇信息中，我们要来看坐在宝座上的这一位。（结一26～27。）
1Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:26-28; Exo. 24:10; Gen. 9:12-15; Rev. 4:2-3; 21:19a; 22:1 In the foregoing message we pointed out that in the Christian life and in the church life we need a clear sky with a throne in it. To have a clear sky means that we have no clouds or darkness between us and the Lord, and to have the throne means that we are under the ruling of the heavens. We all need to have a life with a clear sky and the throne above the clear sky. In this message we will go on to consider the One sitting on the throne (Ezek. 1:26-27
THE ONE ON THE THRONE
在宝座上的，有彷佛人的形状
HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN
2二十六节下半说，『在宝座形像以上，有彷佛人的形状。』这里告诉我们，坐在宝座上的这一位，看起来是一个人。这与人的观念完全不同，也有别于宗教的观念，包括今天基督教广为持守的观念。我们的观念主要是说，那位坐在宝座上的，乃是全能的神。你曾否想过，在宝座上的主，不仅是全能的神，也是一个人？哦，坐在宝座上的，乃是一个人！但二十八节说到『耶和华荣耀的形像』。在宝座上的那一位像人，却有耶和华荣耀的样子。基督徒当然知道，主耶稣在地上时乃是人。他们承认这个事实：从伯利恒的马槽到各各他的十字架，祂乃是个人。我们都有这个观念。然而，许多在基督里的信徒，并不认为今天在宝座上的主仍然是人。然而祂在那里乃是人。主在宝座上仍然是人。虽然祂是全能的神，但在宝座上祂却像人。因此，马太十九章二十八节告诉我们：『在复兴的时候，』就是在要来的国度时代，人子要坐在祂荣耀的宝座上。
2Verse 26b says, “Upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.” Here we are told that the One on the throne looks like a man. This is absolutely different from the human concept and also different from the religious concept, including the concept widely held in today’s Christianity. Mainly, our concept is that the One on the throne is the mighty God. Have you ever thought that the Lord on the throne is not only the mighty God but is also a man? Oh, the One who sits on the throne is a man! However, verse 28 speaks of “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” The One on the throne looks like a man, yet with Him there is the appearance of the glory of the Lord. Christians realize, of course, that the Lord Jesus was a man when He was on this earth. They recognize the fact that from the manger in Bethlehem to the time He was on the cross at Golgotha He was a man. We all have this concept. However, many believers in Christ have not considered that the Lord who is on the throne today is still a man. He is a man there. As the One on the throne, the Lord is still a man. Although He is the almighty God, on the throne He looks like a man. Therefore, Matthew 19:28 tells us that “in the restoration,” that is, in the coming kingdom age, the Son of Man will be sitting on the throne of His glory
3何等宝贝，在以西结一章二十六节那位坐在宝座上的，竟有人的样子！这一节不是说全能的神，乃是说这一位『有彷佛人的形状』。这里说坐在宝座上的有人的形状，至少有双重的意义。第一，以西结一章二十六节与创世记一章二十六节，二者之间必然有关联；创世记那里说，神照著祂的形像，按著祂的样式造人。第二，在成为肉体时，神亲自成为人。祂具有人的性情，以人的身分生活、受死、复活并升天；现今在天上，祂仍然是人子。（约六62，徒七56。）
3How precious it is that the One sitting on the throne in Ezekiel 1:26 has the appearance of a man! This verse speaks not of the almighty God but of One who has “the likeness as the appearance of a man.” There is at least a twofold significance to the fact that the One sitting on the throne here has the appearance of a man. First, there is surely a connection between Ezekiel 1:26 and Genesis 1:26, which says that God created man in His own image and according to His likeness. Second, in the incarnation God Himself became a man. Having the nature of man, He lived, died, resurrected, and ascended as a man, and now in heaven He is still the Son of Man (John 6:62; Acts 7:56).
4圣经里对于神和人的关系，有一个奥秘的思想。神的心意是要成为和人一样，并使人与祂一样。这意思是说，神的目的是要将祂自己与人调在一起，因而使祂自己像人，也使人像祂。主耶稣乃是神人；祂是完整的神和完全的人。我们也可以说，祂是人而神者。我们今天所敬拜的，乃是人而神者。不仅如此，成为像摩西一样属神的人，（申三三1，书十四6，诗九十篇题，）就是成为神人，成为与神调和的人。神喜悦所有蒙祂拣选并救赎的人，都成为神人。
4In the Bible there is a mysterious thought concerning the relationship between God and man. God’s desire is to become the same as man is and to make man the same as He is. This means that God’sin tent i on is to mingle Himself with man and thereby make Himself like man and make man like Him. The Lord Jesus is the God-man; He is the complete God and the perfect man. We may also say that He is the Man- God. The One whom we worship today is the Man- God. Furthermore, to be a man of God, as Moses was (Deut. 33:1; Josh. 14:6; Psa. 90, title), is to be a God- man, a man who is mingled with God. It is a delight to God that all His chosen and redeemed people would be God-men
神的目的是要得著人
GOD’SIN TENT I ON TO HAVE A MAN
5神在地上的目的，是要得著人。这是祂的愿望。至终，祂亲自成为人，如今在宝座上祂仍然是人。人可能想要像神，但神却要成为人。神的目的，是要将祂自己作到我们里面，使我们与祂一样，甚至使祂自己与我们一样。因此，神的目的是要得著人，并将祂自己作到人里面。我们必须对主在宝座上还是人这个事实，有深刻的印象。在以西结书中，『人子』这个辞用了九十多次。这指明神多么愿意得著人。我们若要活出神并彰显神，就必1:5须是人，并有人的形状。以西结一章五节说，四活物有彷佛人的形状；二十六节说，在宝座上的有彷佛人的形状。这里的重点乃是：因为人是照著神的形像造的，为要彰显神，所以只有人像神。一个人必须有人的形状，才能活出神的形像，而彰显神。我们若要活出神并彰显神，就必须是人，并有人的形状。凡是没有人的形状的，都无法彰显神。在宝座上的那一位和四活物，都有人的形状，指明四活物在地上彰显在宝座上的那一位。
5God’sin tent i on on earth is to have a man. This is His desire. Eventually, He Himself became a man, and today on the throne He is still a man. People may want to be like God, but God wants to be a man. God’sin tent i on is to work Himself into us, making us the same as He is, and even more, making Himself the same as we are. Thus, God’s in tent i on is to have a man and to work Himself into man. We need to be deeply impressed with the fact that the Lord is still on the throne as a man. In the book of Ezekiel, the term the son of man is used more than ninety times. This indicates how much God desires to have a man. If we would live out God and express God, we need to be a man and have the appearance of a man. Ezekiel says that the four living creatures have the appearance of a man, and verse 26 says that the One on the throne has the appearance of a man. The crucial point here is that because man was created in the image of God in order to express God, only man is like God. A person must have the appearance of a man in order to live out the image of God and therefore express God. If we want to live out God and express God, we must be a man and have the appearance of a man. Anyone who does not have the appearance of a man cannot express God. The One on the throne and the four living creatures both have the appearance of a man, indicating that the four living creatures on earth are the expression of the One on the throne.
6以西结一章是圣经中最深的一章。这一章的思想非常深。我们已经看过，宝座乃是在清明的天以上，在属灵、属天的穹苍之上。神的恩典作在一班人的身上，到一个地步，他们的情景就是天的情景。在这个由明如水晶的天所指明天的情景里，就有神的宝座。宝座的所在，就是天和地相通的地方。地上的活物有在清明的天以上的宝座，所以神不仅是天上的神，也是地上的神。藉著这些有宝座在其头上的活物，天和地就联结在一起。在以西结一章，那坐在宝座上的，乃是神与人的联结。因此，宝座所在之地，就是天地相联之处。在宝座上的是神，但祂所显出来的却有人的形状。主耶稣在地上时，祂是神显现于肉体，因为祂是神而人者，有人的形状。就著里面说，祂是神，但祂在地上的形状乃是人的形状。现今，祂这位在升天之后坐在宝座上的，仍然是神而人者；祂是神，却有人的形状。今天在召会生活中，该有一种光景，就是神在人里面显现出来。这意思是说，在召会中我们不仅该有清明的天，以及在宝座上的主，也该有在宝座上的那位在人里面的彰显。当召会有这种光景，在召会里就有敬虔的极大奥秘－神显现于肉体。（提前三15～16。）一面，有清明的天，有宝座，也有主在宝座上；另一面，主显在召会中乃是有人的形状。在召会生活中，该有神显现于肉体。要有这样的光景，就必须在召会里有神与人荣耀的联结。在里面我们应当有神，但神显现于肉体，乃是藉著并在正常、正当的人性里显出来。所有在召会生活里的弟兄姊妹，无论长幼，行事为人都当合宜，合乎他们的年龄；不该有虚假，而该在人性和神性上都是真诚的。这是神显在人性里的情形。
6Chapter one of Ezekiel is the deepest chapter in the Bible. The thought in this chapter is profound. We have seen that the throne is above a clear sky, above a spiritual and heavenly expanse, or firmament. God’s grace works upon a group of people to such an extent that their condition now is the very condition of heaven. In this condition, indicated by a sky that is crystal clear, the throne of God is present. The place of the throne is the place where heaven and earth are connected. Because with the living creatures on earth there is a throne above a clear sky, God is not only the God of heaven but also the God of the earth. Through these living creatures, who have the throne over their heads, heaven and earth are joined. In Ezekiel 1 the One on the throne is the union of God and man. Thus, the place where the throne is, is the place where heaven and earth are joined. The One on the throne is God, but He manifests the appearance of a man. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was God manifest in the flesh, for He was the God-man and had the appearance of a man. Inwardly, He was God, but His appearance on earth was the appearance of a man. Now, as the One on the throne after His ascension, He is still the God-man; He is God, yet with the appearance of a man. In the church life today, there should be a condition where God is manifested in man. This means that in the church we should have not only a clear sky with a throne and the Lord on the throne but also the expression in man of the One who is on the throne. When this is the condition of the church, there will be in the church the great mystery of godliness—God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:15-16). On the one hand, there are a clear sky, a throne, and the Lord on the throne; on the other hand, the Lord’s manifestation in the church is in the appearance of a man. In the church life there should be the manifestation of God in the flesh. In order for this to be the situation, there must be in the church the glorious union of God and man. Inwardly we should have God, but God is manifested in the flesh, manifested in and through a normal and proper humanity. All those in the church life—the brothers and the sisters, the elderly ones and the young ones—should behave in a way that is normal and fitting for their respective ages. Instead of pretense, there should a genuineness that is both human and divine. This is the condition of God being manifested in humanity.
7神永远的计画，就是要把天和地作得相通，把神和人作得联结为一。天上的神要藉著将祂自己作到人里面，而得著在地上的人作祂的彰显。神的心愿是要达到一个目标，叫天和地相通，人和神联结。那里有这样的情形，那里就有宝座。坐在宝座上的是神，却显出人的形状。神永远的计画就是要得著这样的彰显。今天在召会里，我们需要在一种的情形中，神在其中显出人的形状来。
7God’s eternal plan is to connect heaven and earth and to join God and man. God in heaven wants to gain man on earth for His expression by working Himself into man. The desire of God’she art is to reach the one goal of connecting heaven and earth and of joining God and man. Where there is such a condition, there is the throne. The One sitting on the throne is God, but His manifestation has the appearance of a man. God’s eternal plan is to have such a manifestation. In the church today we need to be in a condition where God is manifested in the appearance of a man
将人带到宝座
BRINGING MAN TO THE THRONE
8神的心意是要在人身上作工，使人能在宝座上。你是否看见这是祂的心意？我们可能很满意于上天堂。这可能使我们满意，但神绝不会满意。我们若不在宝座上，神就不会满意。主耶稣在启示录三章二十一节说，『得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐，就如我得了胜，在我父的宝座上与祂同坐一样。』主耶稣似乎是说，祂成了人，祂作为人登了宝座。神的心意是要使我们登宝座。祂的心愿是要使我们成为属宝座的人。神的国惟有等到我们登宝座的时候，才能完全来临。不仅如此，神的仇敌也惟有等到我们登宝座时，才会被征服。因此，神的目标不仅要把我们从阴间释放出来，更要把我们带上宝座。我们必须在神心意的光中，考量我们当前的情形。在许多事上我们是随便、松懈的。主要把我们带到宝座上，但我们若仍然随便、松懈，我们就还没有豫备好上宝座。没有一个在宝座上的人是没有尊严、随随便便的。我不赞同传统基督教的形式，但我也不赞同今天这样泛滥的松懈。你在主面前若真是要作基督徒，作主耶稣的门徒，你就不能随便、松懈、不受管教。当主耶稣在地上时，祂在凡事上都不随便。相反的，今天许多信徒对于如何作一个正常的人，似乎没有正确的观念和感觉。这样一个人不能在宝座上。
8God’sin tent i on is to work on man in order that man can be on the throne. Have you ever realized that this is His intention? We might be satisfied to go to heaven. This might satisfy us, but it would never satisfy God. God will not be satisfied until we are on the throne. In Revelation 3:21 the Lord Jesus says, “He who overcomes, to him I will give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne.” The Lord Jesus seemed to be saying that He became a man, and as a man He went to the throne. God’sin tent i on is to take us to the throne. His desire is to make us people of the throne. God’skin gdom cannot come in full until we are on the throne. Furthermore, God’se ne my will not be subdued until we are on the throne. God’s goal, therefore, is not merely to deliver us out of hell but to bring us to the throne. We need to consider our present condition in light of God’sin tent i on. In many things we are careless and loose. The Lord will bring us to the throne, but if we are still careless and loose, we are not ready to be on the throne. No one can sit on the throne in a way that is undignified or improper. I do not agree with the forms in formal Christianity, but neither do I agree with the looseness that is so widespread today. If you mean business with the Lord as a Christian and as a disciple of the Lord Jesus, you cannot be loose, careless, and undisciplined. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was not careless in anything. Many believers today, on the contrary, do not seem to have the proper concept and feeling about how to be a proper human being. Such a person cannot be on the throne
9神拣选了我们。祂呼召我们到宝座去。神呼召我们的有力明证，乃是我们呼求主的名。神的呼召乃是要把我们带到宝座上。
9God has chosen us. He has called us to the throne. A strong proof that God has called us is that we call on the name of the Lord. God’scall ing is to bring us to the throne.
撒但背叛宝座
SATAN’S REBELLION AGAINST THE THRONE
10为甚么神要把我们带上宝座？神要把我们带上宝座，因为撒但背叛了宝座。（赛十四。）我们若仔细读圣经，就会看见神在宇宙中所面对的最大难处，乃是祂的宝座遭到背叛权势的反对和攻击。神的宝座是绝对的，但祂的造物之一背叛了，想要高举自己的座位与神的宝座同等。撒但背叛神的宝座，想要高举自己的座位到天上，因而侵犯了神14:12-的权柄。以赛亚十四章十二至十四节说，『明亮之星，早晨之子阿，你何竟从天坠落！…你心里曾说，我要升到天上；我要高举我的宝座在神众星以上；…我要升到高云之上；我要与至上者同等。』从撒但背叛直到如今，在宇宙中在权柄的事上就起了分争。地上所发生的事，大多是撒但对抗神宝座的表显。要紧的问题乃是：真正在地上掌权的是谁－是神还是撒但？当主耶稣在地上时，祂完全服从神的权柄。顺服主，就是作一个服在宝座下的人。因为主耶稣顺服父神，并绝对服从神的权柄，所以祂从死人中复活之后，神就将天上地上所有的权柄都赐给了祂，（太二八，）并将祂高举到宝座上。如今，这位坐在宝座上的，不仅是神也是人，因为这一位乃是神与人的调和。因此，主耶稣升天之后，宝座上就有一人坐著。神顾念人，（来二6，）祂要人彰显祂，并行使祂的权柄。人有神的形像，并有祂管理的权柄。神渴望藉著人显明祂自己，并藉著人掌权、管理。
10Why does God want to bring us to the throne? God desires to bring us to the throne because of the rebellion of Satan against God’s throne (Isa. 14). If we read the Bible carefully, we will see that the greatest difficulty God faces in the universe is that His throne has been opposed and attacked by rebel forces. God’s throne is absolute, but one of His creatures has rebelled and seeks to exalt his throne to be equal with that of God. In his rebellion against God’s throne, Satan intended to exalt his throne to the heavens and thereby to intrude upon God’s authority. Isaiah 14 says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” From the time of Satan’s rebellion until now, there has been a dispute in the universe regarding authority. Much of what is happening on earth is an expression of Satan’s resistance to God’s throne. The crucial question is this: Who is actually reigning on earth—God or Satan? When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He was absolutely submissive to God’s authority. To obey the Lord is to be a person under the throne. Because the Lord Jesus obeyed God the Father and submitted to God’s authority in an absolute way, after He was resurrected from the dead, God gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18) and exalted Him to the 18 throne. Now the One sitting on the throne is not only God but also man, for this One is the mingling of God and man. Therefore, after the ascension of the Lord Jesus, there has been a man on the throne. God’s mind i son man (Heb. 2:6), and He wants man to express Him and to exercise His authority. Man has God’sim age and God’s dominion with His authority. God desires to manifest Himself through man, and He desires to reign, to administrate, through man.
11神的心意是要将撒但摔下，并救赎许多被他掳掠的人，将他们带到神的宝座去。除非我们都被带到宝座，神无法完全得著荣耀。有一天我们都要被带到宝座，于是神就能向撒但夸耀。祂要凯旋的宣告，那些曾被撒但所掳，却蒙神拣选的人，已经被带到宝座。
11God’sin tent i on is to cast Satan down and to redeem many of those taken captive by Satan and bring them to His throne. God cannot receive the full glory until we are brought to the throne. One day we will be brought to the throne, and then God will be able to boast to Satan. He will triumphantly declare that His chosen ones, who had been taken captive by Satan, have been brought to the throne
12然而，我们必须看见，在我们当前的情形中，我们还不彀资格坐在宝座上。你看起来像王么？你若在属天的秤上量你属灵的分量，你会有多重？我担心我们许多人没有甚么分量。这是一件非常严肃的问题。我们已经蒙召成为神的儿子，且被命定要作王，但我们需要神在我们里面并在我们身上作工，使我们彀资格作王。
12However, we need to realize that in our present condition we are not qualified to be on the throne. Do you look like a king? If you were weighed on the heavenly scales to determine your spiritual weight, how much would you weigh? I am concerned that many of us would weigh hardly anything at all. This is a very serious matter. We have been called to be sons of God, and we are destined to be kings, but we need God to work in us and on us to qualify us for kingship
主耶稣是在宝座上的人
THE LORD JESUS BEING A MAN ON THE THRONE
13主耶稣经过了钉十字架、复活并升天，就被带到宝座。一位名叫耶稣的真人，如今坐在宝座上。这就是为甚么我们宣告说，『耶稣是主，』并呼喊『哦，主耶稣』。神一直是主，但如今在宝座上有一个人是主。藉著祂的复活，并在祂的升天里，『这位耶稣，神已经立祂为主为基督了。』（徒二36。）神已经立拿撒勒人耶稣为主；如今，天地的主乃是一个人。你真的领悟，今天宇宙的主乃是一个人么？为这人我们要说，阿利路亚！说耶和华以罗欣是宇宙的主，对这我们不会觉得奇怪。但我们不太容易领会，一个被钉死并埋葬的人，竟能成为宇宙的主。当犹大和群众来捉拿耶稣时，祂没有逃走。祂情愿使自己软弱，而让自己被捉拿、被钉十字架。林后十三章四节说，『祂固然由于软弱被钉十字架。』但祂在被钉十字架并埋葬之后，神却使祂复活，并使祂坐在自己的右边，立祂为全宇宙的主。今天，宇宙的主乃是一个人。
13Through His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, the Lord Jesus was brought to the throne. A real man whose name is Jesus is on the throne. This is why we declare, “Jesus is Lord” and why we call, “O Lord Jesus.” God has always been the Lord, but now a man is on the throne as the Lord. Through His resurrection and in His ascension, “God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus” (Acts 2:36). God has made Jesus, a Nazarene, the Lord, and now today the Lord of heaven and of earth is a man. Do you really realize that the Lord of the universe today is a man? Hallelujah for this man! It would not seem strange to us to say that Jehovah Elohim is the Lord of the universe. But it is not easy for us to realize that a man who could be crucified and buried could be the Lord of the universe. When Judas and the multitude came to arrest Him, He did not run away. He willingly made Himself weak and allowed Himself to be arrested and crucified. In the words of 2 Corinthians 13:4, “He was crucified out of weakness.” But after He was crucified and buried, God resurrected Him and set Him at His right hand, making Him the Lord of all the universe. Today, the Lord of the universe is a man
主耶稣是
THE LORD JESUS BEING
到宝座去的开拓者
THE PIONEER TO THE THRONE
14我们也需要看见，主耶稣领头到达宝座。祂是开拓者，是先锋，（来六20，）开了到宝座的路。（二10。）这指明祂不是惟一被命定要到宝座的人。祂开了路，又带头使我们能跟随。祂是第一位到宝座的，我们都要跟著祂。如今我们迈向宝座，因为神的心意是要领我们进荣耀里去，并使我们坐在宝座上。
14We also need to see that the Lord Jesus led the way to the throne. He was the Pioneer, the Forerunner Heb. 6:20), cutting the path to the throne (2:10). This indicates that He is not the only man destined for the throne. He has cut the path and has taken the lead so that we may follow. He was the first one to the throne, and we will come after Him. Now we are marching to the throne, for God intends to bring us into glory and to set us on the throne
在宝座上之人的形状
the appearance of the man on the throne
15以西结一章二十七节说，『我见从祂腰以上，有彷佛光耀的精金，周围都有火的形状，又见从祂腰以下，有彷佛火的形状，周围也有光辉。』这里我们看见，在宝座上之人的形状有两面的讲究：从祂腰以上，有彷佛光耀的精金；从祂腰以下，有彷佛火的形状。为甚么祂腰以上的部分彷佛精金，以下的部分彷佛火？人的腰以上到头的部分，乃是感觉部分。这部分表征人的性情和性质。就著性情和性质说，在宝座上的主耶稣像精金。人的腰以下，是行动的部分。从腰以下有彷佛火的形状，表征主在祂行动中的形状。当主眷临我们，祂先是像火一样临到我们。当祂与我们同在一起，祂就成为精金。不仅如此，每当主藉著我们行动时，祂乃是像火一样，一直在焚烧、光照并搜寻。焚烧之后，所留下的就是精金－一种金与银的混合物，表征羔羊神，救赎的神。
15Ezekiel 1:27 says, “I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.” Here we see that the appearance of the man on the throne has two aspects: From His loins upward He looks like electrum, and from His loins downward He looks like fire. Why does His upper part look like electrum, and why does His lower part look like fire? The upper part of a man, from his loins to his head, is the part of feeling, of sensation. This part signifies his nature and disposition. According to His nature and disposition the Lord Jesus on the throne looks like electrum. The lower part of a man’s body is for moving. The appearance of fire from the loins downward signifies the Lord’s appearance in His move. When the Lord comes to us, He first comes as fire. When He stays with us, He becomes electrum. Furthermore, whenever the Lord moves through us, He moves like fire to burn, enlighten, and search. After this burning something will remain, and that will be the electrum—a mixture of gold and silver signifying the Lamb-God, the redeeming God.
16神要我们得著祂这精金。要使我们有这样的经历，祂必须先临到我们，像火一样光照、搜寻并焚烧。然后藉著火，祂就成为我们的精金。因此，我们若要得著祂作精金，就必须经历祂作火。最终，我们必须看见，在我们里面没有善。我们该像保罗一样能说，『我知道住在我里面，就是我肉体之中，并没有善。』（罗七18上。）以下所列，是我们里面一部分消极的东西：分裂、争竞、仇恨、嫉妒、脾气、自爱、以己为目标、野心、自私、自我和许多其他丑陋、邪恶的东西。我们都装满了这些东西，却很少有主。因此，我们需要主临到我们，把这一切消极的东西烧掉。这一切都烧掉之后，那作为救赎之神的精金，就留在我们里面。无论我们的天多么清明，无论在我们的天里有多少宝座，我们仍然需要主的同在如同火，一直光照、搜寻并焚烧，使我们有主留在我们里面作精金。这是主眷临我们，这也是主同著我们，并在我们身上的行动。在主的眷临之下，乃是莫大的祝福。主临到我们如同销毁的火，而我们就得著祂作精金。我们往往不必宣告说，我们有这样一位神；别人同我们在一起时，就能觉得我们有精金，就是救赎的神，与我们同在。他们也有一个印象，我们不是轻的，我们乃是有分量的人。我们因著有精金而有分量，因著有羔羊神而有分量。
16God wants us to gain Him as the electrum. In order for this to be our experience, He must first come to us as fire to enlighten, search, and burn. Then through the fire He becomes electrum to us. Thus, if we would gain Him as the electrum, we need to experience Him as the fire. Eventually, we need to realize that nothing good dwells in us. Like Paul, we should be able to say, “I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells” (Rom. 7:18a). The following is a partial list of the negative things that we have within us: division, strife, hatred, envy, temper, self - love, self - goals, ambition, selfishness, ego, and many other ugly, evil things. We are full of these things, but we may have very little of the Lord. Therefore, we need the Lord to come to us and burn away all these negative things. After these things have been burned out, the electrum, the redeeming God, will remain in us. No matter how clear our sky is and no matter how much we may have the throne in our sky, we still need the Lord’s presence as the fire which enlightens, searches, and burns so that we may have Him remaining in us as electrum. This is the Lord’s visitation with us, and this is the Lord’s move with us and on us. It is a great blessing to be under the Lord’s visitation. The Lord comes to us as a consuming fire, and we gain Him as electrum. Often there is no need for us to declare that we have such a God. When others are with us, they will be able to sense that we have the electrum, the redeeming God, remaining with us. They may also have the impression that we are not light but are persons of weight. We are weighty with electrum, weighty with the Lamb-God.
有一道虹
HAVING A RAINBOW
17到这时，四活物不仅是为著主的彰显，不仅是为著主的行动，也是为著主的行政和管理。主在他们中间，也在他们之上，为著祂的彰显、行动和管理。这实在是美好。有了清明的天，并经历一个人有精金的形状和销毁的火，结果就有一道虹的形状。以西结一章二十八节说，『下雨的日子，云中虹的形状怎样，周围光辉的形状也是怎样。这就是耶和华荣耀的形像。』一道虹是围绕在坐宝座上之人的光辉。这光辉表征围绕于宝座上之主四围的辉煌和荣耀。要明白虹的意义，我们需要记得挪亚时候的虹。当时洪水淹灭全地，只有八人逃脱了那个审判。在那之后，当人看见空中风暴的云，必定惊怕会被毁灭。因此神立了一个约，应许绝不再用洪水毁灭一切的活物，并且把虹放在云中，作这约的记号。『我把虹放在云彩中，这就可作我与地立约的记号了。我使云彩盖地的时候，必有虹现在云彩中；我便记念我与你们，和各样有血肉的活物所立的约，水就再不泛滥毁坏一切有血肉的物了。虹必现在云彩中，我看见，就要记念我与地上各样有血肉的活物所立的永约。』（创九13～16。）因此，虹乃是一个记号，表明神的信实，以及祂不用洪水毁灭堕落人类的应许。在挪亚的时候，堕落人类受神审判而毁灭，但神因著祂的信实叫一些人免受审判。这也是我们这些在基督里之信徒的光景。我们需要看见，我们已被神免除了审判。我们都是堕落的，当被毁灭，但神免除了我们的审判。赞美主，因著祂的信实，我们被免除了！如今我们有一道虹，作神信实的记号。虽然神是圣别的神，也是销毁的火，没有人能在祂面前存留，但因著祂的信实，我们得以免受审判。
17At this point the four living creatures are not only for the manifestation of the Lord and not only for the move of the Lord but also for the administration, the government, of the Lord. The Lord is among them and above them for His manifestation, move, and government. This is truly wonderful. As a result of having a clear sky with the throne and of experiencing a man who has the appearance of electrum and a consuming fire, we will have the appearance of a rainbow. Ezekiel 1:28 says, “As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” A rainbow is the brightness around the man who is sitting on the throne. This brightness signifies the splendor and glory around the Lord on the throne. In order to understand the significance of the rainbow, we need to remember the rainbow at the time of Noah. A flood had destroyed the whole earth, and only eight people were spared from that judgment. After that, when people saw storm clouds in the sky they might have been afraid of being destroyed. Therefore, God made a covenant in which He promised never again to destroy all living things by a flood, and He set the rainbow in the cloud as a sign of this covenant. “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth” (Gen. 9:13-16). The rainbow, therefore, was a sign of God’s faithfulness and promise not to destroy the fallen human race with a flood. In His judgment and destruction of the fallen human race at the time of Noah, God spared some by His faithfulness. This also is our situation as believers in Christ. We need to realize that we have been spared by God. We all are fallen and deserve to be destroyed, but God has spared us. Praise the Lord that we have been spared by His faithfulness! Now we have a rainbow as a sign of God’s faithfulness. Although God is a holy God and a consuming fire and none can exist in His presence, by His faithfulness we have been spared.
18虹虽然有许多颜色，但只有红、黄、蓝三种主色。有了这三种颜色，就相映成了其他颜色，如橙、绿、紫等。虹的主色是红、黄、蓝，这是很有意义的，因为与我们在以西结所看见的符合。宝座彷佛蓝宝石，精金是金黄色，火是红色。这三色照耀相映，就成了一道虹。现在我们来看这三色的属灵意义。蓝表征宝座。根据诗篇八十九篇十四节，公义是神宝座的根基。这指明蓝色的宝座表征神的公义。火表征圣别、分开的火、和销毁的火。这意思是说，这里的红色是指神的圣别。黄色表征在闪耀精金里神的荣耀。因此，这里有蓝、红、黄三色所表征神的公义、圣别和荣耀。
18In the rainbow there are several different colors, but the basic colors are only three—red, yellow, and blue. When these colors are shining and blending, they produce other colors, such as orange, green, and violet. It is very significant that the three primary colors of the rainbow are red, yellow, and blue because they correspond to what we have already seen in Ezekiel. The throne looks like a blue sapphire stone, the electrum is yellow, the fire is red. By their shining and refracting, these three colors combine to make a rainbow. Now we need to see the spiritual significance of these three colors. Blue signifies the throne. According to Psalm 89:14 the foundation of God’s throne is righteousness. This indicates that the blue throne signifies the righteousness of God. Fire signifies the sanctifying, separating, and consuming fire. This means that red here refers to God’s holiness. Yellow signifies God’s glory in the glowing electrum. Therefore, here we have God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory signified by the colors blue, red, and yellow
19神的公义、圣别和荣耀，是三种神圣的属性，使罪人不能靠近神。我们在得救以前，神的公义、圣别和荣耀把我们与神隔开。但主耶稣来死在十字架上，满足了神公义、圣别和荣耀的要求，然后祂复活了，如今祂乃是我们的公义、圣别和救赎。（林前一30。）祂如今也是我们的荣耀。我们在自己里面，亏缺了神的荣耀，（罗三23，）落在神公义的审判之下，也被神的圣别隔开。但如今我们这些信徒是在基督里，就得著祂成为我们的公义、圣别和荣耀。不仅如此，因著我们在基督里，我们甚至披戴基督作我们的公义、圣别和荣耀。因著我们在基督里，在神眼中我们看起来就是公义、圣别和荣耀。
19God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory are three divine attributes that keep sinners away from God. Before we were saved, we were kept away from God by His righteousness, holiness, and glory. But the Lord Jesus came, died on the cross to satisfy the requirements of God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory, and was resurrected, and He is now our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). He is also now our glory. In ourselves we are short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23), we are under God’s righteous judgment, and we are kept away by God’s holiness. But now, as believers, we are in Christ, and He has become our righteousness, holiness, and glory. Moreover, because we are in Christ, we even bear Christ as righteousness, holiness, and glory. Because we are in Christ, in the sight of God we look like righteousness, holiness, and glory
20这对我们不该只是一个道理或教训。我们必须这样经历基督，使别人在接触我们的时候，能感觉到公义、圣别和荣耀。这意思是说，他们应当能感觉得到，我们有清明的天，我们有宝座，我们也是公义且正确的，没有丝毫的随便或松懈。我们也该有精金，是发光、照耀并有分量的。这样，我们就有虹的形状，让天使、鬼魔和撒但都能看见。这一道虹是神信实的记号，说出我们这些堕落的人得以免受审判。我们原是堕落的，如今却得救了，成了神按信实必拯救我们的见证。每处地方召会都该有这样一道虹的见证。
20This should not be simply a doctrine or a teaching to us. We need to experience Christ in such a way that when others contact us, they can sense righteousness, holiness, and glory. This means that they should be able to sense that we have a clear sky, that we have a throne, and that we are righteous and proper, not careless or loose in any way. We should also have the electrum, glowing, shining, and weighty. Then we will have the appearance of a rainbow, and the angels, the demons, and Satan will be able to see it. This rainbow is the sign of God’s faithfulness in sparing us, the fallen ones. As those who were fallen but who have now been saved, we have become a testimony of God’s faithfulness in saving us. Every local church should bear the testimony of such a rainbow.
21甚至新耶路撒冷也像一道虹。新耶路撒冷的根基有十二层，每一层是一种颜色。（启二一19～20。）我曾读到一篇文章，作者说这十二层根基的石头，颜色看起来就像一道虹。由此我们看见，圣城新耶路撒冷彷佛一道虹。这虹表征城是建造在神的信实上，也得著神的信实为保证，祂必坚守祂的约。这虹也要永远宣告，当神照著祂的公义审判罪人时，祂没有灭尽所有的人，却从毁灭里救出许多人，叫这班人作祂信实的见证。在永世里，我们这些得救的人集其大成，就成了一道虹，永远见证我们的神是公义的、信实的。我们这些蒙神免去审判的人，就是这圣城。凭祂的公义、圣别和荣耀，我们有虹的形状，向全宇宙宣告神拯救的信实。在圣经的末了有一座城，其根基有虹的样子，环绕著永远的神，作祂有力的见证。基督徒生活和召会生活的经历，要终极完成于这样一道虹。当这道虹显出来时，神的心意就得著完成。历代以来，神照著祂公义的宝座、圣别的火、并荣耀的性情，一直在审判堕落的人。然而，神也拯救一些人到一个地步，使他们成为光辉的虹，返照出祂的荣耀，并见证祂和祂的信实，直到永远。这一道虹显出来，指明天和地已经相通，神和人已经联结。在新耶路撒冷宝座的四围，有一班人因著神的信实得著了救恩，他们要永远的成为一道虹，返照出神的公义、圣别和荣耀。到这时，神永远的计画就完成了。
21Even the New Jerusalem has the appearance of a rainbow. The foundation stones of the New Jerusalem are of twelve layers, with each layer being a different color (Rev. 21:19-20). Some time ago I read an article which stated that the twelve layers of the foundation stones have the appearance of a rainbow in color. From this we see that the holy city, New Jerusalem, looks like a rainbow. This rainbow signifies that the city is built upon and secured by God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant. This rainbow will declare for eternity that when God judged sinners according to His righteousness, He did not destroy everyone but saved many from destruction as a testimony of His faithfulness. In eternity we, the aggregate of the saved ones, will be a rainbow testifying forever that our God is righteous and faithful. We, God’s spared ones, will be this holy city. By His righteousness, holiness, and glory, we will have the appearance of a rainbow declaring to the whole universe God’ss aving faithfulness. At the end of the Bible is a city whose foundation has the appearance of a rainbow surrounding the eternal God as His strong testimony. The experience of the Christian life and of the church life will consummate in such a rainbow. When this rainbow appears, God will have the fulfillment of His heart’s desire. Throughout the ages, God has been judging fallen man according to His righteous throne, His holy fire, and His glorious nature. Nevertheless, God has saved some to such an extent that they have become a bright rainbow reflecting His glory and testifying of Him and His faithfulness forever. The appearing of this rainbow indicates that heaven and earth have been connected and that God and man have been joined. Around the throne in the New Jerusalem, there will be a group of people who have received salvation because of God’s faithfulness, and for eternity they will be a rainbow reflecting the brightness of God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory. At this point, God’s eternal plan will have been accomplished.
22虽然这虹要在永世里才显出来，但这道光辉的虹属灵的实际应当显在今天的召会中。在召会生活中，我们必须让神在我们里面作工，我们也必须接受恩典到一个地步，使每一件事都是纯净、公正并圣别的。这意思是说，神圣别的火必须烧掉一切与神不配的东西，使神的性情在弟兄姊妹的人性里并藉著他们的人性，显为光辉的精金。这样，召会就充满了神的公义、圣别和荣耀。这三种特征要相联相映，形成一道光辉的虹彩，彰显神并为神作见证。我再说，这对我们不该只是一个教训。这道虹的实际必须作到我们里面，使我们这些蒙神免去审判的人，有一道虹的样子，向整个宇宙作神的见证，并宣告神的信实。这意思是说，我们要披戴神的公义、圣别和荣耀。以西结说，他所看见的乃是耶和华荣耀的形像：『这就是耶和华荣耀的形像；我一看见就俯伏在地，又听见一位说话的声音。』（结一28下。）我们若要听见主在以西结书以下各章的话，就必须来到同一点，就是在清明的天之下，在宝座前；在这宝座上坐著一个人，有一道照耀并返照的虹。这就是我们能从上头听见声音的地方。我们在这里，就有地位听见从诸天而来说话的声音。我盼望我们每一个人都到达这一点，我也盼望众召会都在这里。这样，主就有路对我们说话。
22Although this rainbow will be manifested in eternity, the spiritual reality of this bright rainbow should be manifest in the church today. In the church life we need to allow God to work in us and we need to receive grace to the extent that everything becomes pure, just, and holy. This means that God’sho ly fire must burn away everything that does not match God so that God’s nature is manifested as bright gold in and through the humanity of the brothers and sisters. Then the church will be filled with God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory. These three characteristics will combine and reflect one another to form a bright rainbow expressing God and testifying for Him. Once again I say that this should not be merely a teaching to us. Rather, the reality of this rainbow must be wrought into us so that, as God’ss pared ones, we will bear the appearance of a rainbow, bearing God’s testimony and declaring God’s faithfulness to the entire universe. This means that we will bear God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory. Ezekiel said that what he saw was the appearance of the glory of the Lord. “When I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake” (Ezek. 1:28b). If we want to hear the word of the Lord in the following chapters of Ezekiel, we all need to come to the same point—under a clear sky in front of the throne with a man sitting on it and bearing the shining and reflecting rainbow. This is the place where we can hear the voice from above. Being here positions us to hear the voice speaking from the heavens. I hope that every one of us will come to this point, and I also hope that all the local churches will also be here. Then the Lord will have a way to speak to us