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以西结书生命读经 · 第15篇

神对列国的审判

God’s Judgment upon the Nations
1读经：以西结书25:2-3,7-8,12-16;26:2,4;28:21-22,24,26;29:3,6-7,16;30:6,10;31:16,18。
1Scripture Reading: Ezek. 25:2-3, 7-8, 12-16; 26:2, 4; 28:21-22, 24, 26; 29:3, 6-7, 16; 30:6, 10; 31:16, 18 26:2, 4; 28:21-22, 24, 26; 29:3, 6-7, 16;
2
230:6, 10; 31:16, 18
3在本篇信息中，我们要来看神对列国的审判。二十五至三十二章说到这事。
3In this message we come to the matter of God’s judgment upon the nations. This is covered in chapters twenty-five through thirty-two
以色列是地上人类中间
ISRAEL BEING THE CENTER OF GOD’SECON O MY
神经纶的中心
AMONG THE HUMAN RACE ON EARTH
4根据创世记十一章，悖逆的人类想要建造巴别塔和巴别城，好以自己为中心，使自己有名声。但神下来审判这些悖逆的人。在神的审判下，巴别成了分散的中心，而不是聚集的中心；人类从巴别这中心被分散到各地。申命记三十二章八节说，『至高者将地业赐给列邦，将世人分开，就照以色列人的数目，立定万民的疆界。』这里我们看见，神照以色列人的数目，立定万民的疆界。这指明在地上人类中间神的经纶里，祂使以色列成为中心。以色列是地上人口的中心。当然，神这样作是有目的的。
4According to Genesis 11 rebellious mankind sought to do something to build the tower and city of Babel in order to concentrate themselves and make a name for themselves. However, the Lord came down to exercise His judgment over these rebellious people. Under the Lord’s judgment, Babel became a center not for gathering but for scattering, and the human race was scattered from Babel as the center. Deuteronomy 32:8 says, “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, / when he separated the sons of Adam, / he set the bounds of the people / according to the number of the children of Israel.” Here we see that God set up the boundaries of all the nations according to the number of the people of Israel. This indicates that in His economy on earth among the human race, God made Israel the center. Israel is the center of the earth’s population. To be sure, God did this with a purpose
5我们若看地图，就看见巴勒斯坦地，就是神放置以色列的美地，真是居人之地的中心。巴勒斯坦位于人类发源的欧、亚、非三大洲的中心。以后人类开展到美洲和澳洲。以色列地的中心位置，给福音的开展很好的机会。我们从历史知道，福音的传扬开始于耶路撒冷，然后传到欧洲、埃及和亚洲。至终，福音传扬到美洲和澳洲。这是神将祂的子民摆在人口中心的目的。不仅如此，根据关于要来千年国时代的豫言，以色列人要在地上作祭司，教导万民敬拜神。（赛六一6，二3。）这些豫言也给我们看见，巴勒斯坦是全地的中心。然而，在以西结的时候，以色列人堕落了，不合于神的目的。他们堕落的光景，迫使神审判他们，并暂时的放弃巴勒斯坦作祂的中心。神再转向巴别，兴起了建立大巴比伦帝国的尼布甲尼撒王。巴比伦帝国于是成了神施行审判的中心。神藉著尼布甲尼撒王统治下的巴比伦帝国，不仅施行祂对祂以色列子民的审判，也审判了列国。
5If we look at a map, we will see that Palestine, the good land where God put Israel, is the real center of the inhabited earth. Palestine is situated at the center of the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the continents where the human race began. Later, the human population spread to America and also to Australia. The central location of the land of Israel provided a good opportunity for the spreading of the gospel. We know from history that the preaching of the gospel began in Jerusalem and then spread to Europe, Egypt, and Asia. Eventually, the preaching of the gospel spread to America and Australia. This was God’s purpose in putting His people at the center of the human population. Furthermore, according to the prophecy concerning the coming age, the millennium, the people of Israel will be the priests on this earth teaching all the nations to worship God (Isa. 61:6; 2:3). These prophecies also show us that Palestine is the center of the earth. However, at the time of Ezekiel, the people of Israel became degraded and unsuitable for God’s purpose. Their degraded situation forced God to exercise His judgment upon them and temporarily to give up Palestine as His center. God turned to Babel again and raised up King Nebuchadnezzar, who built the great empire of Babylon. The Babylonian empire then became God’scent er for executing His judgment. Through the empire of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar, God executed His judgment not only upon His people Israel but also over the nations.
七个代表的列国
SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE NATIONS
6以西结二十五至三十二章说到围绕以色列国的七个列国。事实上，围绕以色列的国家不只这些，但记载上只题到七国。这如同在启示录一至三章里，只题到亚西亚的七个召会。当主说到亚西亚的众召会，祂只选了七个。（一11。）这不是说在亚西亚只有七个召会，但主选了七个代表的召会。在以西结书中，原则也是一样。围绕以色列的不只七国，但神选了七国代表列国。这七国是亚扪、摩押、以东、非利士、推罗、西顿和埃及。
6Chapters twenty-five through thirty-two of Ezekiel speak of seven nations that surrounded the nation of Israel. Actually, there were more nations around Israel, but the record mentions only seven. This is similar to the mentioning of the seven churches in Asia in Revelation 1—3. When the Lord spoke of the churches in Asia, He selected seven (1:11). This does not mean that there were only seven churches in Asia but that the Lord selected seven representative churches. The principle is the same in the book of Ezekiel. There were more than seven nations surrounding Israel, but the Lord selected seven nations as representatives of all the nations. These seven nations were Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyrus, Zidon, and Egypt
分为三组
Divided into Three Groups
7这七国分为三组。头四国－亚扪、摩押、以东、非利士－形成第一组；推罗、西顿是第二组；埃及单独是一组。我们知道这些列国分为三组，因为以西结是在三个不同时候，看见三个分开的异象，说到这三组。他第一次的异象包括头四国；第二次的异象，包括推罗和西顿；第三次的异象，说到埃及。再者，头两国－亚扪和摩押合为一对；第三和第四国－以东和非利士，成为一对；第五和第六国－推罗和西顿，也是一对；只有埃及是单独的。
7These seven nations are divided into three groups. The first four nations—Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia—form the first group; Tyrus and Zidon make up the second group; and Egypt stands alone. We know that these nations are divided into these three groups because Ezekiel saw three separate visions at three different times concerning these groups. His first vision covers the first four nations; his second vision, Tyrus and Zidon; and his third vision, Egypt. Moreover, the first two, Ammon and Moab, fit together as a pair; the third and fourth, Edom and Philistia, stand as a pair; and the fifth and sixth, Tyrus and Zidon, are a pair. Only Egypt is alone
可应用到今天的光景
Applicable to Today’s Situation
8旧约不仅是历史的记载，也是可以应用到今天召会的记载。我们必须记住，当我们读以西结书时，要对以西结书不是只为著历史而写的这个事实，有深刻的印象。该书的记载都可应用到今天的光景。所以我们必须知道这七个代表国的属灵应用。我们以前曾指出，吼叫的恶兽，其属灵的应用乃是在召会中，一些恶人乃是豺狼。（结十四21，徒二十29。）在这里我们看见以西结论到恶兽之话的属灵应用。现在我们需要来看七个列国的属灵应用。否则我们可能只是把这几章当作已在历史上应验的豫言来读而已。
8The Old Testament is not only a record of history but a record that can be applied to the church today. We need to keep this in mind as we read the book of Ezekiel and be impressed with the fact that Ezekiel was not written merely for the sake of history. Rather, the record in this book is applicable to today’s situation. Therefore, we need to know the spiritual application of all these seven representative nations. Previously we pointed out that the spiritual application of the noisome beasts is that some evil people could be in the church as wolves (Ezek. 14:21; Acts 20:29). Here we have the spiritual application of Ezekiel’s word concerning the beasts. Now we need to see the spiritual application of the seven nations. Otherwise, we may read these chapters merely as prophecies which have been fulfilled in history.
亚扪和摩押
Ammon and Moab
9亚扪和摩押是亲兄弟，乃是罗得从他女儿所生的；他们的起源是丑陋、邪恶的。但罗得是以色列人第一位先祖亚伯拉罕的亲戚；因此，亚扪和摩押与以色列的血统很近。
9Ammon and Moab were brothers who were born of Lot by his daughters. Their origin was an ugly, evil thing. Yet Lot was a relative of Abraham, the first forefather of the people of Israel. Hence, in blood Ammon and Moab were somewhat close to Israel
10根据以西结书的记载，亚扪人得罪了神。首先，当神的圣所被亵渎时，他们很痛快的说，『阿哈。』（二五2～3。）第二，当神的圣地变荒凉时，亚扪人也很高兴。不仅如此，当犹大家被掳掠时，亚扪人又很欢喜。他们高兴三件事：圣所被亵渎，美地变荒凉，犹大家被掳掠。这指明他们恨圣所、圣地和犹大家。圣所豫表成为肉体的基督，祂支搭帐幕在人间，作神在地上的居所，神的圣所。（约一14。）美地也表征神所赐给我们的基督，连同祂一切的丰富和恩典。按照豫表说，犹大家表征召会。因此，圣所表征基督，美地表征在基督里神一切丰富的恩典，犹大家表征召会。今天的亚扪人恨这三件事；他们恨基督，恨在基督里神的恩典，并且恨召会。主后第一世纪，罗马帝国是一种亚扪人。罗马帝国恨成为肉体的基督，就是作神在地上圣所的帐幕；牠也恨神给祂子民丰富的恩典。罗马帝国也恨召会。今天在地上仍然有『亚扪人』，他们恨基督、神的恩典和召会。在美国，甚至在你的邻近，就有一些『亚扪人』。摩押人说，『看哪，犹大家与列国无异。』（结二五8。）摩押人很高兴看见耶路撒冷不再与列国有分别。这表征有一种人喜欢把召会拖进与世界的联结里，喜欢使召会与列国一样。在召会的头两个世纪，罗马帝国是『亚扪人』，恨基督、神的恩典和召会。然后康士坦丁这位罗马皇帝进来，他不是『亚扪人』，而是『摩押人』。他把召会拖进世界里，使召会几乎与列国一样。
10According to the record in Ezekiel, Ammon offended God. First, when the sanctuary of God was profaned, they were happy and said, “Aha” (25:2-3). Second, when the holy land of God was made desolate, the Ammonites were also happy. Furthermore, when the house of Judah was carried away into captivity, the Ammonites again were happy. They were happy about three things: the sanctuary being profaned, the good land being made desolate, and the house of Judah being carried away. This indicates that they hated the sanctuary, the holy land, and the house of Judah. The sanctuary was a type of the incarnated Christ tabernacling on earth as God’s dwelling place, God’s sanctuary (John 1:14). The good land also signifies Christ with all His riches and grace that God has given us. According to typology the house of Judah signifies the church. Thus, the sanctuary signifies Christ, the good land signifies all of God’sr i ch grace in Christ, and the house of Judah signifies the church. Today’s Ammonites hate these three things. They hate Christ, they hate the grace of God in Christ, and they hate the church. During the first centuries A.D. the Roman Empire was a kind of Ammonite. The Roman Empire hated the incarnated Christ, the tabernacle as God’s sanctuary on earth, and it hated the rich grace given by God to His people. The Roman Empire also hated the church. There are still “Ammonites” on earth today, people who hate Christ, God’s grace, and the church. In this country and even in your neighborhood, there are some “Ammonites.” The Moabites said, “Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen” (Ezek. 25:8). The Moabites were happy to see that Jerusalem was no longer separated from the nations. This signifies the kind of person who likes to bring the church into an association with the world and who likes to make the church the same as the nations. During the first two centuries of the church, the Roman Empire was an “Ammonite,” hating Christ, God’s grace, and the church. Then a Roman emperor, Constantine, came in not as an “Ammonite” but as a “Moabite.” He brought the church into the world, making the church nearly the same as the nations.
11今天的光景仍是一样。『亚扪人』恨召会，但有些『摩押人』进到召会中，想要使召会与世界联结，使召会与世界完全一样。虽然亚扪和摩押是亲兄弟，但他们对以色列所作的，相当不同。今天我们仍有这两种人。我担心在有些地方召会中，有人可能被撒但利用，成了『摩押人』，想要把召会拖回世界，使召会与世界联结。他们要使召会与世界一样，与列国无异。
11Today the situation is still the same . Some “Ammonites” hate the church, but some “Moabites” have come into the church and have tried to cause the church to be associated with the world and to make the church the same as the world. Although Ammon and Moab were brothers, what they did toward the people of Israel was very different. Today we still have these two kinds of people. I am concerned that in some of the local churches certain ones might be used by Satan to be “Moabites” to bring the church back to the world and to cause the church to be associated with the world. They want the church to be the same as the world, the same as the heathen
以东和非利士
Edom, and Philistia
12就像亚扪和摩押一样，以东也和以色列有很近的关系。以东是雅各的哥哥以扫的儿子。因此，在血缘上，以东和以色列的众子是表兄弟。以东表征旧人；他表征作为旧人的我们。我们未重生的旧人是以东；我们重生的新人是以色列。就一面的意义，我们可以说，我们的旧人和我们的新人是『表兄弟』，因为他们彼此是很近的。
12Like Ammon and Moab, Edom was also closely related to Israel. Edom was the son of Esau, the brother of Jacob. Therefore, according to blood Edom and the sons of Israel were cousins. Edom signifies the old man; he signifies us as the old man. Our unregenerated old man is Edom, and our regenerated new man is Israel. We may say that, in a sense, our old man and our new man are “cousins,” for they are quite close to each other
13根据以西结书的记载，以东对以色列充满了恨，不断要找机会寻恨报仇。我们在我们的旧人里就是这样。我们的旧人恨召会。你可能说，『我爱召会，』我也信你的确是这样。然而，有时候你也恨召会。你岂没有发现，你是两个人？一面，你是真以色列人，宝爱召会；另一面，你也是真以东人，恨恶召会。有时候你爱召会和所有带领的人，但有时候你恨召会和所有的长老。与以东成为一组的是非利士。我们要认识非利士人，就必须读士师记和撒母耳记上。非利士人甚至比以东人更接近以色列人。非利士人住得非常靠近美地，甚至与以色列人调在一起。有好几次非利士人到以色列人中间，过问他们对神的敬拜。约柜曾被非利士人掳去，留在他们那里一段时间。
13According to the record of Ezekiel, Edom was full of hatred toward Israel, continually seeking revenge and vengeance. This is the way we are in our old man. Our old man hates the church. You may say, “I love the church,” and I believe that you do. However, sometimes you also hate the church. Have you not discovered that you are two men? On the one hand, you are a real Israelite loving the church; on the other hand, you are also a real Edomite, hating the church. Sometimes you love the church and all the leading ones, but at other times you hate the church and all the elders. Along with Edom in the second pair is Philistia. In order to know the Philistines, we need to study Judges and 1 Samuel. The Philistines were even closer to Israel than the Edomites were. The Philistines were living very close to the good land and even mingled with the Israelites. A number of times the Philistines came to the people of Israel and intervened in their worship to God. Once the ark was captured by the Philistines and was kept by them for a period of time.
14非利士人不是豫表作为旧人的你我，乃是豫表作为天然之人的我们。我们有旧人，也有天然的人。天然的人比旧人更难认出。我们可举一个例子，帮助大家认识其区别。假使在一个地方召会中有三位长老，他们都爱主。当他们之中有一位开始在他们中间带头，其他二位就有反应；他们的反应乃是旧人的表现。那位带头的弟兄可能竭力为召会作许多事，运用他的聪明、能力和才干。他甚至会用政治手腕，在不同的局面操纵、控制，把事情办成。这乃是天然的人。结果，长老聚会成了旧人和天然人的聚会。这就破坏召会的生活。有些召会因著受到带领弟兄们的旧人和天然人的拦阻，几乎无法往前。召会是神在基督里的新造。因此，旧人的东西，诸如嫉妒、骄傲、争竞和异议，在召会里是没有地位的。这些都属于旧造。并且，人的聪明、才干和玩弄手段，在召会里也没有地位。旧人（旧造）以及天然人的东西都破坏召会生活。一面，历史给我们看见，召会受到召会之外属世的人所破坏，他们或是逼迫召会，或是要把召会拖进与世界的联结里。另一面，历史教导我们，召会也受到召会里面得救的人所破坏，他们一直活在旧人里，并照著天然的人而活。在主恢复中的召会生活里，我们不怕『亚扪人』，我们只有一点怕『摩押人』。我们真正要担心的是『以东人』，就是旧人，以及『非利士人』，就是天然的人。『以东人』和『非利士人』对召会生活造成最大的伤害。
14The Philistines typify you and me not as the old man but as the natural man. We have the old man, and we also have the natural man. The natural man is more difficult to recognize than the old man. An illustration may help us to understand the difference. Suppose that there are three elders in a local church. They all love the Lord. When one of them begins to take the lead among them, the others react. Their reaction is an expression of the old man. Then the brother who is taking the lead may endeavor to do many things for the church, exercising his wisdom, power, and capabilities. He may even conduct himself in a political way, maneuvering in various situations and exercising control to work things out. This is the natural man. As a result, the elders’ meetings become meetings of the old man with the natural man. This damages the church life. Some churches can hardly go on because they are frustrated by the old man and the natural man of the leading brothers. The church is God’s new creation in Christ. Thus, in the church there is no place for things of the old man, such as jealousy, pride, competition, and dissenting. These things are all of the old creation. Also, in the church there is no place for human wisdom, talent, and gamesmanship. The things both of the old man, the old creation, and of the natural man are damaging to the church life. On the one hand, history shows us that the church has been damaged by worldly people outside the church who either persecute the church or try to bring the church into association with the world. On the other hand, history teaches us that the church has been damaged by saved persons within the church who continue to live in the old man and according to the natural man. In the church life in the Lord’s recovery, we are not afraid of the “Ammonites,” and we are only a little fearful of the “Moabites.” Our real concern is with the “Edomites,” the old man, and with the “Philistines,” the natural man. The “Edomites” and the “Philistines” cause the most damage to the church life
推罗和西顿
Tyrus and Zidon
15推罗豫表寻求属世财富的人，他们想要赚钱致富。为了买卖，他们愿意牺牲一切与主有关的事。他们不顾主的权益，只顾自己的赀财、富有和买卖。
15Tyrus typifies those who are seeking worldly wealth, those who desire to make a great deal of money and to be rich. They will sacrifice everything related to the Lord for the sake of their business. They do not care for the Lord’sin te rest but care only for their wealth, riches, and business
16在不信的人中间有推罗人，在信徒中间也有。你们有些不信的亲戚、同学和朋友，可能就是『推罗人』。你对他们讲到基督、召会或主的见证，他们不明白你说的是甚么。他们的兴趣只在于有甚么能帮助他们过更优渥的生活，赚更多的钱，得更高的职位。有些真基督徒也是『推罗人』。你对他们讲到主的恢复，他们会以为你很愚蠢，说你花太多时间在聚会、交通和读经上。他们认为你不彀关心赚钱的事。因此，信徒和不信者都可能是今日的『推罗人』。就如以西结书所记载，推罗人宣告说耶路撒冷会倾倒，他们因此就很高兴。今天的光景是一样的。那些追求属世财富的人很高兴看见召会被了结；如果会所的门永久封闭，他们就快乐，因为他们认为参加召会的聚会是浪费时间。也许在召会生活中，甚至我们中间有些人也有这种态度。他们想要赚更多钱，为自己取得更好的生活，就不顾到召会或主的权益。他们只顾作生意、积财、并得世界的地位。他们听到有人退后，就会高兴。随著推罗的是西顿。以西结说西顿是以色列家刺人的荆棘、伤人的蒺藜。（二八24。）主耶稣说，今世的思虑和钱财的迷惑，像荆棘一样挤住生命的生长。（太十三22。）
16People of Tyrus can be found among unbelievers and also among believers. Some of your unbelieving relatives, classmates, and friends may be “Tyrians.” If you speak to them concerning Christ, the church, or the Lord’s testimony, they do not understand what you are talking about. They are interested only in what will help them to have a better living, to make more money, or to get a higher position. Some genuine Christians also are “Tyrians.” If you speak to them about the Lord’s recovery, they may think that you are foolish and say that you spend too much time in attending meetings, in having fellowship, and in reading the Bible. They may think that you do not care enough about making money. Therefore, both believers and unbelievers can be today’s “Tyrians.” As recorded in the book of Ezekiel, the people of Tyrus declared that Jerusalem would fall, and they were happy about it. The situation is the same today. Those people who are pursuing worldly wealth would be happy to see the church terminated and would be glad if the meeting hall doors were permanently closed, for they think that attending the meetings of the church is a waste of time. Perhaps even certain ones among us in the church life may hold such an attitude. Desiring to make more money and to secure a better living for themselves, they do not care for the church or the Lord’sin te rest. They care only for business, wealth, and position in the world. When they hear about some who are backsliding, they are happy. Along with Tyrus is Zidon. Ezekiel says that Zidon was a pricking brier and a grieving thorn to the house of Israel (28:24). The Lord Jesus said that the deceitfulness of riches and the anxiety of the age are like thorns which choke the growth of life (Matt. 13:22
17推罗若在场，西顿必定在附近。在圣徒当中若有『推罗人』，也必定有『西顿人』。这意思是说，圣徒若爱世界，只顾属世的财富，他们就成了荆棘和蒺藜。许多基督徒成了刺人的荆棘、伤人的蒺藜，破坏了召会生活。
17If Tyrus is present, Zidon is close by. If there are Tyrians” among the saints, there will also be Zidonians.” This means that if the saints love the world and care for worldly riches, they will become briers and thorns. Many Christians have become pricking briers and grieving thorns which damage the church life
埃及
EGYPT
18根据圣经，埃及是不信靠神，只倚靠自己资源的国家。埃及有尼罗河为其丰富的资源。因此，埃及人不必靠天降雨，乃是靠尼罗河水。此外，他们运用自己的聪明，开发天然的资源，以致富足，有足彀的供应。每当以色列人缺少粮食，他们就下到埃及籴粮。从这一切我们看见，埃及代表人凭自己天然的聪明，开发他们天然的资源，以致富足，多有供应。在以西结的时候，以色列转向埃及，倚靠埃及，信赖埃及作他们的杖。但神说埃及是芦苇作成的杖，是容易折断的。（结二九2～9。）
18According to the Bible Egypt is a nation that depends not on God but on its own resources. Egypt had the Nile River as the resource of its riches. Thus, the Egyptians did not depend on the rains from heaven but on the water from their Nile. In addition, they exercised their wisdom to develop their natural resources in order to become rich and have a sufficient supply. Whenever the people of Israel were short of food, they went down to Egypt for the supply. From all this we see that Egypt represents persons who exercise their natural wisdom to develop their natural resources to be rich and have a supply. At the time of Ezekiel, Israel turned to Egypt and leaned upon Egypt, trusting in Egypt as a staff. But the Lord said that Egypt was a staff made of reeds, easy to break (Ezek. 29:2-9).
19以西结说到推罗和埃及时，把他们比作伊甸园。（二八13，三一9，。）推罗和埃及用他们的财富和资源，使他们当时的世界成为『伊甸园』。这不是神所豫备的伊甸园，乃是那些不顾神、只顾自己在地上丰富享乐之人所造的『伊甸园』。然而，神说祂要使埃及连同其『伊甸园』下到阴间，到阴府去，到地的深渊处。这启示出，神要审判那些只顾属地快乐和享受、而不需要神的人。在本篇信息中，我们看过七种破坏召会生活的人。有些是反对召会，厌恨基督、神的救恩和神恩典的。这些人是『亚扪人』。另有些人偷进召会，想要把召会拖进与世界的联结里，使召会与世界一样。这些人是『摩押人』。然后有『以东人』，就是旧人，和『非利士人』，就是天然的人。『推罗人』寻求世界的财富，『西顿人』因著寻求富有，成了召会的荆棘和蒺藜。最后还有『埃及人』，他们向神是独立的，寻求属世的财富，凭著发展自己的资源而赀财丰富，也成了别人供应的来源。这些不同的人，都能破坏召会生活。我们都必须受警愓，好叫我们没有一人成为这七班人。
19When Ezekiel spoke about Tyre and Egypt, he compared them to the garden of Eden (28:1 3; 31:9, 16). With their riches and resources, Tyre and Egypt 16 made their contemporary world “a garden of Eden.” This was not a garden of Eden prepared by God but “a garden of Eden” made by those who cared not for God but only for their rich enjoyment on earth. However, God said that He would send Egypt, with its “garden of Eden,” to Hades, to the pit, to the depths of the earth. This reveals that God will judge those people who care only for earthly happiness and enjoyment but who do not need God. In this message we have considered seven kinds of people who can damage the church life. Some are against the church, hating Christ, God’s salvation, and God’s grace. These are the “Ammonites.” Others creep into the church and try to bring the church into association with the world and to make the church the same as the world. These are the “Moabites.” Then there are the “Edomites,” the old man, and the “Philistines,” the natural man. The “Tyrians” seek the riches of the world, and the “Zidonians” become briers and thorns to the church due to the seeking of riches. Finally, there are the “Egyptians,” those who, independent of God, seek worldly riches by developing their own resources to be rich in supply and to be a source of supply for others. These are the different people who can be a damage to the church life. We all need to be on the alert that none of us would become these kinds of persons.
神的审判
God’s judgment
20现在我们要来看，神如何审判这七个列国。神有四个方法来施行审判，就是毁坏他们，使之荒凉，使之低微，并使之下到阴府，就是地的深处去。（三一14。）罗马帝国中那些恨恶召会的人，如今在那里？他们乃是在阴府，那里是一切逼迫召会的人最终所去之处。
20Now we need to go on to see how God exercised His judgment over these seven nations. God executed judgment in four ways: by destroying these nations, by making them desolate, by making them very low, and by delivering them to the nether parts of the earth, that is, to the lower parts of the earth (31:14). Where are those in the Roman Empire who hated the church? They are in the nether parts of the earth, the place where every persecutor of the church will eventually go.
21我们必须对付我们的旧人，这乃是太重要的事。我们若不审判我们的旧人，神就要审判我们，使我们在灵里低微、『下沉』。我们若审判我们的旧人，不在意召会中为首，或有任何的地位，我们就要在召会生活中喜乐，我们会『上腾』，我们的灵会『高昂』。『下沉』的意思就是：我们在神的审判之下。因为我们随从我们天然的人，所以神在审判时，有时甚至毁坏我们，使我们荒凉。当我们荒凉时，我们就没有甚么是舒爽、鲜新、活泼、并生长的。我们反而像荒漠一样。随从天然的人，结果乃是荒凉。我们越运用自己天然的聪明，我们就越荒凉。但我们若审判天然的人，我们的灵就要兴起，而成为新鲜、活泼且兴旺的。我们的旧人和天然的人必须受神的对付。对于『亚扪人』、『摩押人』、『推罗人』、『西顿人』和『埃及人』，我们无法负责；但我们能，也应当对『以东人』和『非利士人』负责，这两班人表征我们的旧人和天然的人。我们必须靠神的恩典，彻底对付旧人和天然的人，不让他们在召会中作出毁坏的工。林前三章十七节上半说，『若有人毁坏神的那殿，神必要毁坏这人。』我们的旧人和天然的人若毁坏神的召会，神就要毁坏我们同我们的旧人和天然的人。在这事上，我们必须学习敬畏神。神审判列国的结果神审判列国的第一个结果，是列国（也包括以色列）知道祂是主。『他们就知道我是耶和华，』这句话在以西结书中用了许多次。主似乎一再的说，『我要毁坏他们，他们就知道我是耶和华。我要使他们低微，他们就知道我是耶和华。我要使他们下到阴府，他们就知道我是耶和华。』（二五，11，17，二六6，二九6。）所有反对主，如今在阴府里的人，诸如该撒尼罗、希特勒和墨索里尼，都知道耶稣是主。至终，所有仍在反对并逼迫召会的人，都要下到阴府，他们在那里要知道，耶稣是主。
21It is crucial that we deal with our old man. If we do not judge our old man, God will exercise His judgment upon us, making us low and “down” in spirit. If we judge our old man, not caring to be first or to have any position in the church, we will be happy in the church life, we will be “up,” and our spirit will be “high.” To be “down” means that we are under God’s judgment. Because we go along with our natural man, in His judgment, sometimes God will even destroy us and make us desolate. When we are desolate, we have nothing fresh, new, living, and growing. Instead, we are like a desert. Desolation is the result of our going along with our natural man. The more we exercise our natural wisdom, the more desolate we will be. But if we judge our natural man, our spirit will rise up and will be fresh, living, and flourishing. Our old man and our natural man surely need to be dealt with by God. We cannot be responsible for the “Ammonites,” the “Moabites,” the “Tyrians,” the “Zidionians,” and the “Egyptians,” but we can, and we should, be responsible for the “Edomites” and the “Philistines,” who signify our old man and our natural man. By God’s grace we need to deal thoroughly with the old man and with the natural man, not allowing them to carry out a destructive work in the church. First Corinthians 3:17a says, “If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him.” If our old man and our natural man destroy the church of God, God will destroy us with our old man and natural man. Regarding this, we need to learn to fear God. THE RESULT OF GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON THE NATIONS The first result of God’s judgment upon the nations was that all the nations (and also Israel) knew that He was the Lord. “That they may know that I am the Lord”: the expression is used many times in the book of Ezekiel. Again and again the Lord seemed to be saying, “I will destroy them that they may know that I am the Lord. I will make them desolate that they may know that I am the Lord. I will make them low that they may know that I am the Lord. I will put them into the nether parts of the earth that they may know that I am the Lord” (25:7, 11, 7 17; 26:6; 29:6). All those who opposed the Lord and who are now in the nether parts of the earth, such as Emperor Nero, Hitler, and Mussolini, now know that Jesus is the Lord. Eventually, all those who are still opposing God and persecuting the church will be put into the nether parts of the earth, where they will know that Jesus is the Lord.
22神审判列国的第二个结果，是神的定旨得以完成和成就。
22The second result, or issue, of God’s judgment upon the nations was that God’s purpose was carried out and fulfilled