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以西结书生命读经 · 第5篇

四活物

The Four Living Creatures
1读经：以西结书1:5-6,10,26，启示录5:9下，约翰福音5:25，歌罗西书2:12-13，腓立比书2:7-8，马可福音10:45，启示录5:5，出埃及记19:4，以赛亚书40:31，腓立比书1:21。
1Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:5-6, 10, 26; Rev. 5:9b; John 5:25; Col. 2:12-13; Phil. 2:7-8; Mark 10:45; Rev. 5:5; Exo. 19:4; Isa. 40:31; Phil. 1:21
2以西结书是一卷表号或图画的书，描绘属灵的事物。我们看过其中的四个表号－风、云、火、金－描述神之于我们的所是。在我们对神的经历中，祂好像吹动的风，好像覆罩、翱翔、覆庇的云，好像闪耀、光照、搜寻的烈火，（来十二29，）藉著焚烧我们而圣别我们，并且像光耀、照耀的精金。由金与银这两种元素所组成的精金，表征复合的神，羔羊神。（启二二1。）今天活在我们里面的神乃是羔羊神；祂是神（金），祂也是救赎主（银）。因此，祂是复合的神，由精金所表征。对犹太人，神仅仅由金所表征；但对我们基督徒，我们的神是复合的神，乃是由精金（有金、银两种元素）所表征。
2Ezekiel is a book of figures, or pictures, portraying spiritual things. We have considered four of these figures—the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum—which depict what God is to us. In our experience of Him, God is like a blowing wind, like a brooding, hovering, and overshadowing cloud, like a flashing, enlightening, searching, and consuming fire (Heb. 12:29), which sanctifies us by burning us, and like the glowing, shining electrum. The electrum, composed of the elements of gold and silver, signifies the compound God, the Lamb-God (Rev. 22:1). The God who lives within us today is the Lamb-God; He is the very God (gold) and He is also the Redeemer (silver). Hence, as the compound God, He is signified by the electrum. For the Jews, God is typified merely by gold, but for us Christians, our God, the compound God, is signified by the electrum with its two elements of gold and silver
不是死的，乃是活的
NOT DEAD BUT LIVING
3以西结一章五节上半说，『又从其中，显出四个活物的形像来。』我们需要留意本节的第一个字『又』。不但从火内有精金发出；也有别的东西出来了。风带进云；云包括火；火产生精金加上别的东西－四活物。当我们经历神作吹动的风、覆庇的云、焚烧的火、和精金时，我们就成为四活物。我们原是死的，但藉著这样经历神，我们就成为活物。主耶稣说，『死人要听见神儿子的声音，听见的人就要活了。』（约五25。）保罗说我们原是死的，但神叫我们活过来。（弗二5。）我们越有风、云、火、金的循环，我们就越活。每次我们被神吹动，被祂覆庇、烧毁、并焚烧，我们就被点活。结果我们就成为活的，充满了活力。我们在聚会中若是不活，就证明我们缺少经历由风、云、火、金所组成的循环。我们越经历这种循环，我们就越活。今天许多基督徒喜欢参加安静的礼拜，但我们在聚会中应当非常活，有时候甚至向主欢呼。（诗九五1～2。）只有活人才能这样欢呼。我们若是经历神作风、云、火、金，我们就不会安静，而会很活，甚至在召会的聚会中喧嚷。
3Ezekiel 1:5a says, “Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures.” We need to pay attention to the first word in this verse, also. Not only does electrum come out of the fire; something else also comes out. The wind brings in the cloud; the cloud enfolds the fire; and the fire produces the electrum plus something else — the four living creatures. When we experience God as the blowing wind, the overshadowing cloud, the burning fire, and the electrum, we become the four living creatures. We were dead, but by experiencing God in this way we become something living. The Lord Jesus said that “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God” and that “those who hear will live” (John 5:25). Paul said that we were dead but God has made us alive (Eph. 2:5). The more we have the cycle of the wind, cloud, fire, and electrum, the more living we become. Every time we are blown upon by God and overshadowed and consumed and burned by Him, we are enlivened. As a result we become lively and vibrant. If we are not living in the meetings, this proves that we are lacking in the experience of the cycle consisting of the wind, cloud, fire, and electrum. The more we experience this cycle, the more living we will be. Whereas many of today’s Christians prefer to attend a quiet service, we should be very living in the meetings and sometimes even make a joyful noise to the Lord (Psa. 95:1-2). Only the living ones can make such a noise. If we experience God as the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum, we will not be quiet but will be living and even noisy in the church meetings.
4活字的希伯来文，与说到生命树的创世记二章九节里生命这辞，字根相同。我们这些受造之物怎样才能成为活物？我们乃是藉著经历神作生命树而成为活物。这生命，神那神圣、永远、非受造的生命，是真正的生命。惟有得著这真正的生命，我们才能成为活物。每当我们经历神作生命树的时候，我们就觉得有个东西活在我们里面。在我们里面有活的元素，活的因素；这活的元素或因素，一直使我们成为活的。我们得救以前，原是死在过犯并罪之中。（弗二1，5，西二13。）在约翰五章二十五节主耶稣直接说到灵里死了的人：『我实实在在的告诉你们，时候将到，如今就是了，死人要听见神儿子的声音，听见的人就要活了。』本节的活，意思是灵里活过来。我们得救、重生的时候，就经历到风、云、火、金。圣灵的风吹在我们身上，圣灵的云覆庇我们，并且圣灵的火光照我们，焚烧我们。结果，我们承认自己的罪，精金就从我们里面产生。这样我们就听见神儿子的声音，并且被点活。我们碰著神的荣耀，就在祂荣耀的显现里得救、重生了。藉著风、云、火、金的经历，我们原是死了的人，就被点活成为活物。现今我们该天天经历风、云、火、金，使我们在里面的人里成为活而充满活力的。我们怎样能证明我们不再是死的，乃成了活物？有双重的证明，就是里面的证明和外面的证明。我们是活物，里面的证明是：我们现今有生命的感觉或知觉。活人有感觉。例如，我们坐在房间里，会对温度有感觉。我们也许觉得热或觉得冷。但是，死人没有这样的感觉。同样，倘若我们活在神面前，我们对自己的情形就会有里面、属灵的知觉。倘若我们得罪神，或者作不讨神喜悦的事，我们就会有感觉。在属灵上活的人，每当生活不荣耀神或不讨神喜悦的时候，就会有深切的感觉。倘若我们里面的感觉，里面生命的知觉是敏锐、深切、新鲜的，这就证明我们里面是活的，所以我们是活物。然而，有些神的儿女也许行为非常差，羞辱主的名，但他们对自己所作的没有感觉。他们远离神，并且需要悔改，但他们一点没有里面的感觉。这证明他们里面是死的。一个信徒若真正是活物，对自己的情形必有许多里面的感觉。
4The word living in Hebrew has the same root as the word for life in Genesis 2:9, which speaks of the tree of life. How can we, who are creatures, become the living creatures? We become living creatures by experiencing God as the tree of life. This life, the divine, eternal, uncreated life of God, is the real life. Only by having this real life can we become a living creature. Whenever we experience God as the tree of life, we sense that we have something living within us. We have a living element, a living factor, within us. This living element, or factor, will always make us living. Before we were saved, we were dead in our offenses and sins (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13). In John 5:25 the Lord Jesus spoke directly concerning those who were spiritually dead: “Truly, truly, I say to you, An hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” In this verse to live means to be alive in spirit. When we were saved and regenerated, we experienced the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum. The wind of the Holy Spirit blew upon us, the cloud of the Holy Spirit overshadowed us, and the fire of the Holy Spirit enlightened us and burned us. As a result, we confessed our sins, and the electrum was produced inside of us. In this way we heard the voice of the Son of God and were enlivened. We met the glory of God and were saved and regenerated in His glorious manifestation. Through the experience of the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum, we, who were dead, were enlivened to become living creatures. Now we should daily experience the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum so that we may become living and vibrant in our inner being. How can we prove that we are no longer dead but have become living creatures? There is a twofold proof, that is, an inward proof and an outward proof. The inward proof that we are living creatures is that we now have a feeling, or sense, of life. Living persons have feelings. For example, as we are sitting in a room, we will have a feeling concerning the temperature. We may feel hot or we may feel cold. A dead person, on the contrary, has no such feeling. Likewise, if we are living before God, we will have an inward, spiritual sense regarding our situation. If we offend God or if we do something that is not pleasing to God, we will have a feeling about this. A person who is spiritually living will have a deep feeling whenever he lives in a way that does not glorify God or that is not pleasing to Him. If our inner feeling, the inner sense of life, is sensitive, deep, and fresh, this is a proof that inwardly we are living and that we are therefore a living creature. However, some children of God may behave very badly, putting the name of the Lord to shame, yet they have no feeling about what they are doing. They are far from God and they need to repent, but they have no inner feeling at all. This is a proof that inwardly they are dead. A believer who is truly a living creature has much inner feeling about his situation.
5我们是活物的第一个证明是内在的，与我们的感觉有关；第二个证明是外在的，与我们的活动有关。死人是不活动的，但活人是非常活跃的。例如，小孩子非常活跃，因为他们满了生命。基督徒生活的原则也是一样。活的基督徒是活物，会从事好些活动；第一个活动就是祷告。正如我们肉身不呼吸就不能生存，照样，我们在属灵上不祷告也不能生存。祷告是基督徒属灵的呼吸，这常常是自然的。譬如，我们早晨一醒来，会自然而然为新的一天感谢主。这样祷告就是呼吸，这表征我们是活的。然而，有些信徒也许很长一段时间，甚至几个月不祷告。他们缺少祷告的活动，证明他们不是活的。其他证明我们是活物的活动，包括读经，在聚会中尽功用，事奉神，和传福音。不读经，不参加聚会，在聚会中不尽功用，不事奉神，不见证主，以及不传福音－这一切缺欠都指明我们不是活物。证明你是活的基督徒，方法就是看这一切要点。你祷告么？你读经么？你运用灵在聚会中尽功用么？你事奉主么？你见证主并传福音么？你若缺了这些事，你就不是活的信徒。
5Whereas the first proof that we are living creatures is inward and is related to our feeling, the second proof is outward and is related to our activities. A dead person is inactive, but a living person is very active. For example, children are very active because they are full of life. The principle is the same in the Christian life. A Christian who is living, that is, who is a living creature, will engage in a number of activities. The first of these activities is prayer. Just as we cannot live physically without breathing, so we cannot live spiritually without praying. Prayer is a Christian’s spiritual breathing, and it is often spontaneous. For instance, as soon as we wake up in the morning, we may spontaneously thank the Lord for a new day. To pray like this is to breathe, and it is a sign that we are living. However, some believers may go for a long time, even months, without praying. Their lack of the activity of prayer is a proof that they are not living. Other activities that prove that we are living creatures include reading the Bible, functioning in the meetings, serving God, and preaching the gospel. Not reading the Bible, not attending the meetings and not functioning in the meetings, not serving God, not testifying for the Lord, and not preaching the gospel—all these shortages indicate that one is not a living creature. The way to prove that you are a living Christian is to consider all these points. Do you pray? Do you read the Bible? Do you exercise your spirit to function in the meetings? Do you serve the Lord? Do you testify for the Lord and preach the gospel? If you are lacking in these matters, you are not a living believer
6我们绝不该以为，成熟的基督徒不需要从事这一切活动。我们在主里越年长，越成熟，就越该有属灵的活动。我信使徒保罗若在我们中间，他在祷告、读经、聚会中尽功用、事奉主、和传福音的事上，必是非常活跃。在基督徒的生活里，我们绝不能从『活』毕业。从『活』毕业就是死。每个活人必定不断是活的。我们需要天天经历风、云、火、金。每次我们碰著主这风、云、火、金，我们里面的人就会活过来。
6We should never think that a mature Christian does not need to engage in all these activities. The older and more mature we are in the Lord, the more spiritual activities we should have. I believe that if the apostle Paul were in our midst, he would be very active in praying, in reading the Bible, in functioning in the meetings, in serving the Lord, and in preaching the gospel. In the Christian life we can never “graduate” from being living. To graduate from being living is to die. Every living person must be living continuously. Daily we need to experience the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum. Every time we meet the Lord as the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum, our inner being will be made alive.
数字为四
FOUR IN NUMBER
7以西结一章五节说到四活物是很有意义的。圣经里有多处经文指明，四这数字与神的创造有关，并且表征人是神的造物。（赛十一12，耶四九36，启七1。）启示录五章九节说，主从四个来源救赎了我们：从各支派、各方言、各民族、各邦国。不但如此，启示录二十一章告诉我们，新耶路撒冷有四边－东、北、南、西－四边各有三门。这就是说，从地的每个方向，我们都能进城。所以，四这数字象征我们是从各支派、各方言、各民族、各邦国蒙救赎的人。在神眼中，我们是四活物。
7It is significant that verse 5 speaks of four living creatures. Many verses in the Bible indicate that the number four is related to God’s creation and signifies man as God’s creature (Isa. 11:12; Jer. 49:36; Rev. 7:1). Revelation 5:9 says that the Lord has redeemed us out of four sources: out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Furthermore, Revelation 21 tells us that the New Jerusalem has four sides—the east, the north, the south, and the west—and that each of the four sides has three gates. This means that from every direction of the earth we can enter the city. Therefore, the number four symbolizes that we are the people redeemed from many tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations. In the eyes of God we are the four living creatures
团体的彰显
A CORPORATE EXPRESSION
8四活物不算为个别的四个，乃算为一组。他们全体算为一个实体。以后我们会看见，这些活物乃是宝座上那人团体的彰显。作为这样的彰显，他们彰显这人，不是在一方，乃是在东、北、南、西四方。这指明作为四活物，我们不但是基督惟一的彰显，我们也是基督完整的彰显。我们在各方、各面彰显基督。我们是四活物，充分、完整的彰显基督。
8The four living creatures are reckoned not as individuals but as a group. All of them are counted as one entity. Later on we will see that these living creatures are the corporate expression of the man on the throne. As such an expression, they express this man not only in one direction but in the four directions of east, north, south, and west. This indicates that as the four living creatures we are not only the unique expression of Christ but also that we are the complete expression of Christ. We express Christ in every direction, toward every side. We are the four living creatures expressing Christ in an adequate and complete way
有人的形像
BEARING THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN
9以西结一章五节的要点是：四活物有人的形像。二十六节说，『在宝座形像以上，有彷佛人的形状。』人在圣经里是个大字。神的心意在于人；神的思想集中于人；神的心在人身上。神的愿望是要得著人。四活物有人的形像，宝座上的神也有人的形像，这事实指明神的中心思想和祂的安排都与人有关。
9The main point of Ezekiel 1:5 is that the four living creatures bear the appearance of a man. Verse 26 says that “upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.” Man is a great word in the Bible. God’sin tent i on is with man, God’s thought is focused on man, and God’she art is set upon man. God’s desire is to gain man. The fact that four living creatures bear the appearance of a man and that God on the throne also bears the appearance of a man indicates that God’s central thought and His arrangement are related to man.
10我们读四福音时，也许受宗教观念的影响，过于强调基督的神性；结果，我们对主的人性，就没有适当的珍赏。我们在四福音里读到主耶稣藉著行神迹显出祂的神性，我们会为著主神性的权能13赞美祂。然而，我们在约翰十三章读到主怎样洗门徒的脚，就不会献上任何赞美。同样，我们读到主用五饼二鱼食饱五千多人的神迹，会觉得这是大事，但我们不会欣赏祂吩咐人一排一排的坐下，或指示门徒拾起剩下的零碎，免得有蹧蹋的。这样的事没有让我们留下甚么印象。我们若知道怎样正确的读福音书，就会领悟主耶稣的美丽彰显在祂的人性里。祂的荣美得著显出，不是藉著祂神圣的尊贵，乃是藉著祂的人性连同其卑微、柔细。在擘饼聚会中，我们需要为著主的人性赞美祂。许多基督徒有个观念，认为作天使比人强。你若有所选择，你喜欢作甚么－天使或人？可能我们许多人喜欢作天使。然而，神有彀多的天使，但祂缺少人。神不是那么欣赏天使。天使是祂的仆役。神吩咐他们去，他们就去；神吩咐他们来，他们就来。天使也是我们的仆役。（来一13～14。）我们信徒都有自己的天使。（徒十二12～15。）我们需要丢下天使比人强的观念。我们需要看见，我们是人，这是何等荣耀，何等奇妙。我们若没有渴望像天使，至少渴望像神。许多基督徒一直努力要像神。然而，神想要像我们。祂甚至成了人，好将神表明出来；（约一；）今天在诸天之上那是神的主耶稣，仍然是人。在宝座上有一个人。（徒七56。）圣经清楚启示人是神彰显祂自己的凭藉。没有人神就无从得著彰显。人照著神的形像被造，好作神的彰显。神是宇宙的中心，但祂需要一个彰显，这彰显乃是藉著人。没有人，神就没有彰显。无数的天使不能作神的彰显。神需要一个团体人来彰显祂。你绝不该藐视你是人的事实。
10In our reading of the four Gospels we may be under the influence of a religious concept that places undue emphasis upon Christ’s divinity. As a result, we may not have the proper appreciation of the Lord’s humanity. When we read in the Gospels how the Lord Jesus manifested His divinity by performing miracles, we may praise the Lord for the power of His divinity. However, when we read in John about how the Lord washed the feet of His disciples, we may not offer any praise. Likewise, when we read about the miracle of the Lord’s feeding more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, we may feel that this was something great, but we may have no appreciation for His ordering the people to sit down in groups or for His directing the disciples to gather the broken pieces left over so that nothing would be lost. Such things may make no impression on us. If we know how to read the Gospels in a proper way, we will realize that the glorious beauty of the Lord Jesus is manifested in His humanity. He manifested His glorious beauty not through His divine dignity but through His humanity with its lowliness and tenderness. At the Lord’stable meeting, we need to praise the Lord for His humanity. Many Christians have been influenced by the concept that it is better to be an angel than to be a man. If you had a choice, which would you prefer to be—an angel or a man? Perhaps many of us would prefer to be an angel. However, God has enough angels, but He is short of men. God does not appreciate angels so much. The angels are His servants. God tells them to go, and they go; He tells them to come, and they come. The angels are also our servants (Heb. 1:13-14). As believers we all have our own angel (Acts 12:12-15). We need to drop the concept that it is better to be an angel than a man. We need to see how glorious and how marvelous it is that we are men. If we do not desire to be like angels, at least we may desire to be like God. Many Christians are continually striving to be like God. However, God wants to be like us. He even became a man in order to declare God (John 1:18), and today in the heavens the Lord 18 Jesus, who is God, is still a man. There is a man on the throne (Acts 7:56). The Bible clearly reveals that man is the means for God to manifest Himself. God cannot be manifested without man. Man was created in God’sim age in order to be God’s express i on. God is the center of the universe, but He needs an expression, and this expression is through man. Without man, God has no expression. The millions of angels cannot be the expression of God. God needs a corporate man to express Him. You should never despise the fact that you are a man.
11事实上，圣经里只有四个人：首先的人、第二个人、新人、和男孩子。我们原是第一个人；基督称为第二个人；（林前十五47；）我们藉著重生成了新人；现今我们期望成为男孩子。这职事不但是为著新人，也是为著男孩子。我们谈论召会是基督的彰显，但我们也许不领悟基督的彰显是甚么。召会所要彰显的基督，乃是在宝座上的那人。我们若要彰显基督，就需要领悟今天基督仍然是人。我们不是仅仅彰显神；我们是彰显在人里面的神。召会是基督的彰显。这就是说，召会不仅仅是神的彰显，也是人的彰显。
11In the Bible there are actually only four men: the first man, the second man, the new man, and the man- child. We were the first man; Christ is called the second man (1 Cor. 15:47); we have become the new man by regeneration; and now there is the prospect that we may become the man-child. This ministry is not only for the new man but is also for the man-child. We may talk about the church as the expression of Christ, but we may not realize what the expression of Christ is. The Christ whom the church must express is the man upon the throne. If we would express Christ, we need to realize Christ today is still a man. We do not express merely God; we express God in a man. The church is the expression of Christ. This means that the church is an expression not merely of God but also of a man
12以西结一章二十六节给我们看见，今天主是在宝座上的人。神需要人，至终祂成了人。我们这些活物彰显祂这人。祂是在宝座上的人，我们也有人的形像。完成神计画的是人；彰显神的是人；击败仇敌的是人；将神的国带到人类中间的也是人。神需要人。在基督教里宗教的教训，鼓励我们要像天使或像神。然而，神圣的启示揭示，神的愿望是要得著人。我们需要记得，那狡猾者试诱头一个人，就是告诉他，他若吃善恶知识树的果子，他就能像神。（创三5。）从那天起，像神的观念就在我们的血轮里。每个堕落的人都有要像神的观念。有些鬼魔的教训鼓励人要作人以外的东西。但神在祂的救赎和救恩里，无意作出人以外的任何东西。神的救赎和神的救恩是要将我们带回到起初，恢复我们作正确的人。我们是活物，我们里面有神的生命，但我们有人的形像。我们不该想要像天使。无论我们作甚么，无论我们说甚么，无论我们彰显甚么，我们都该是人。这是神今天所需要的。
12Ezekiel 1:26 shows us that the Lord today is a man on the throne. God needs a man, and eventually He became a man. We as the living creatures express Him as a man. He is the man on the throne, and we also bear the appearance of a man. It is man who fulfills God’s plan, it is man who expresses God, it is man who defeats the enemy, and it is man who brings the kingdom of God into the human race. God needs a man. The religious teachings in Christianity encourage us either to be like an angel or to be like God. However, the divine revelation unveils that God’s desire is to have a man. We need to remember that the subtle one tempted the first man by telling him that if he ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would be like God (Gen. 3:5). From that day the concept of being like God has been in our blood. Every fallen human being has the concept of wanting to be like God. Certain devilish teachings encourage people to be something other than man. But in His redemption and salvation God has no intention of making anything other than man. God’s redemption and God’s salvation are to bring us back to the beginning and to recover us to being a proper man. We are the living creatures and we have God’s life within us, yet we bear the appearance of a man. We should not try to be like an angel. Instead, in whatever we do, in whatever we say, and in whatever we express, we should be a man. This is what God needs today.
13以西结一章的异象，启示三件关于四活物有人的形像的重要事情。第一，神的荣耀显在他们身上。神荣耀的彰显，在于他们有人的形像。他们在那里，那里就有神的荣耀。神的荣耀与他们是分不开的；离了他们，神的荣耀就无从得彰显。第二，这些活物是神行动的凭藉。神的行动在于他们。他们行动，神就行动，因为神的行动随著他们。第三，有人形像的四活物，是神行政的凭藉。以西结一章启示，神坐在宝座上。神的宝座管治地上的一切，和这卷书里所记的一切。所以，这宝座是神行政的中心。然而，神行政的中心在于四活物有人的形像。因著有人的形像，才有神宝座的行政。我们若将这三件事放在一起，就看见人是神彰显的凭藉，人是神行动的凭藉，人也是神行政的凭藉。在神眼中，在神手中，人有这样重要的地位。我们都需要领悟，神的愿望是要得著人。神用风、云、火、金点活我们，好得著人作祂彰显、行动、和行政的凭藉。人对神既是这样重要，我们是人并有人的形像乃是很要紧的。为著神的彰显，为著神的行动，并为著神的行政，我们需要作人。为此我们需要藉著经历风、云、火、金，而成为四活物。四活物有四个脸四活物各有四个脸。我们若看见人有四个脸，定会受到惊吓，但这正是我们所该是的。我们都需要有四个脸。
13The vision in Ezekiel 1 reveals three crucial matters concerning the four living creatures’ bearing the appearance of a man. First, God’s glory is manifested upon them. The manifestation of God’s glory depends upon their having the appearance of a man. Where they are, there God’s glory is. God’s glory is not separate from them, and apart from them God’s glory cannot be manifested. Second, these living creatures are the means of God’s move. God’s move depends on them. When they move, God will move, for His move is with them. Third, the four living creatures, who bear the appearance of a man, are the means of God’sad ministration. Ezekiel 1 reveals that God is sitting on the throne. God’s throne dominates everything on earth and everything recorded in this book. This throne, therefore, is the center of God’sad ministration. However, the center of God’sad ministration depends on the four living creatures having the appearance of a man. Because of this, there is the administration of God’s throne. If we put these three things together, we will see that man is the means of God’s manifestation, that man is the means of God’s move, and that man is the means of God’sad ministration. In God’se yes and in God’s hands, man has such an important position. We all need to realize that God’s desire is to gain man. God uses the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum to enliven us in order to gain man as the means of His manifestation, move, and administration. Since man is so important to God, it is crucial for us to be a man and to bear the appearance of a man. We need to be a man for God’s manifestation, for God’s move, and for God’sad ministration. For this we need to be the living creatures enlivened by experiencing the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum. THE LIVING CREATURES HAVING FOUR FACES Each of the four living creatures has four faces. If we saw someone with four faces, we would be frightened, yet this is exactly what we should be. We all need to have four faces
人的脸
The Face of a Man
14第一个脸是人的脸。我们乃是人；正因为我们是人，我们应当看起来像人。我们受造是人，却因著堕落被败坏、毒化并破坏。所以，我们需要主的救赎。藉著主的救赎，我们被带回正确的人性。事实上，我们现今所有的人性不是我们的，乃是祂的，因为我们有耶稣的人性。
14The first face is the face of a man. We are men, and because we are men, we should look like men. We were created as men, but we were corrupted, poisoned, and damaged by the fall. Therefore, we need the Lord’s redemption. Through the Lord’s redemption we are brought back to the proper humanity. Actually, the humanity we have now is not ours but His, for we have the humanity of Jesus.
15有些人说作人很难，并且宣称他们讨厌作人。对自己的人性有这种态度的人需要看见，他们的观念与主在祂救恩里的观念完全不同。主的救恩是要使我们成为正确的人。你若是作丈夫的，主的救恩就是要使你作正确的丈夫。你若是作妻子的，主的救恩就是要使你作正确的妻子。你若是作父母的，主的救恩就是要使你作正确的父母。你若是作儿女的，主的救恩就是要使你作正确的儿女。主的救恩乃是要使我们成为正确的人。因此，我们都该有人的脸。然而，有些基督徒，特别有些姊妹，似乎不是人。她们『属灵』到一个地步，似乎成了怪物－半人，半天使。我们需要人的脸。我们不该喜欢作别的，我们也不该装作别的。我们只该是我们所是的－人。我们不该想要作人以外的东西，我们只该作人。然而，我们应当不凭我们天然的人性，乃凭主耶稣的人性作人。我们若再读四福音，就会看见耶稣是有正确人性的人。许多人读福音书，只留意主在祂神性里所行出的神迹，没有充分留意藉著主的人性所行出的事。例如，约翰四章叙述主耶稣怎样与祂的门徒走到撒玛利亚城。祂困乏口渴，要祂的门徒进城买吃的东西。他们去买食物以后，有一个撒玛利亚妇人来到主耶稣坐在其旁的井打水。祂虽是全能的神，但在这情形里，祂的行动却只像平常人，没有指明或暗示祂是神。祂向妇人要水时，没有指明祂不只是人。妇人问祂说，『你既是犹太人，怎么向我一个撒玛利亚妇人要水喝？』（9。）祂非常有人性的回答她的问题。四福音记载许多类似的故事，给我们看见主耶稣的为人如何像正常的人，有人的脸。主耶稣不像今天一些穿著非常古怪的宗教人士，祂穿著不奇特，祂在衣著上不是古怪或与人不同的。反之，祂的生活是平常人的生活。祂的生活平常到一个地步，有人说，『这不是那木匠的儿子么？』（太十三55。）在人眼中，主耶稣是平常木匠的儿子。祂绝不古怪，乃是平常的人，有人的脸。今天，我们也需要有人的脸。
15Some say that it is difficult to be a man and claim that they are disgusted with being a man. Those who have this attitude toward their humanity need to see that their concept is absolutely different from the Lord’s concept in His salvation. The Lord’s salvation is to make us proper men. If you are a husband, the Lord’ss alvation is to make you a proper husband. If you are a wife, the Lord’ss alvation is to make you a proper wife. If you are a parent, the Lord’ss alvation is to make you a proper parent. If you are a child, the Lord’ss alvation is to make you a proper child. The Lord’ss alvation is to make us proper human beings. Thus, we all should bear the face of a man. However, some Christians, especially certain sisters, do not seem to be human beings. Rather, they are so “spiritual” that it seems that they have become strange creatures—half human, half angel. We need the face of a man. We should not prefer to be something else, and we should not pretend to be something else. We should just be what we are— a man. Instead of trying to be something other than a human being, we should simply be human. However, we should be human not by our natural humanity but by the humanity of the Lord Jesus. If we read the four Gospels again, we will see that Jesus was a person with a proper humanity. Many who read the Gospels only pay attention to the miracles worked out by the Lord in His divinity; they do not pay adequate attention to the things worked out by the Lord’s humanity. For example, John 4 relates how the Lord Jesus was traveling with His disciples to a city in Samaria. He was tired and thirsty, and He asked His disciples to go into the city to buy something to eat. After they went away to buy food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well near which the Lord Jesus was sitting. Although He was the Almighty God, in this situation He conducted Himself just like an ordinary man, without any indication or hint that He was God. When He asked the woman for water, He gave no indication that He was anything more than a man. The woman questioned Him, saying, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, who am a Samaritan woman?” (v. 9). He responded to her question in a very human way. The four Gospels record many similar stories which show us how the Lord Jesus behaved Himself like a normal man, bearing the face of a man. Unlike certain religious people today who dress in way that is very strange, the Lord Jesus did not dress in a peculiar manner. In His clothing He was not strange or different from others. On the contrary, His living was that of an ordinary human being. His living was ordinary to such an extent that some would say, “Is not this the carpenter’ss on?” (Matt. 13:55). In the eyes of the people, the Lord Jesus was the son of an ordinary carpenter. Far from being strange, He was an ordinary man and He bore the face of a man. Today, we too need to bear the face of man.
16有些信徒以为，他们一旦开始追求主，就该特别或与人不同。但是，我们需要领悟，我们该是平常的，我们该与普通、平常的人一样。虽然我们祷告、读经、参加聚会、并事奉神，但我们的形像仍是人的形像，我们的脸也是人的脸。我们要穿著合宜正派，我们是平常的，不是奇特或与众人不同的。不错，我们经历主作风、云、火、金，但这个经历的结果是我们有人的脸。作为活物，我们不是天使，乃是非常有人性的。事实上，我们越属灵，我们就越正常并有人性。我们越有基督作我们的生命，（西三4，）我们就越有人的脸。在书信里，使徒教导我们要作正确的人，特别是如何作正确的丈夫、妻子和父母。（弗五22～六9，西三18～四1。）神的救恩使我们成为正确的人，让祂得以彰显、行动并行政。
16Some believers have the thought that once they begin to pursue the Lord, they should be special or different from others. We need to realize, therefore, that we should be ordinary, that is, we should be the same as common, ordinary human beings. Although we pray, read the Bible, attend the meetings, and serve God, our appearance is still the appearance of a man, and our face is the face of a man. In our dress we are proper, but we are ordinary, not peculiar or eccentric. Yes, we experience the Lord as the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum, but the issue of this experience is that we bear the face of a man. As living creatures, we are not angels but are very human. In fact, the more spiritual we become, the more normal and human we will be. The more we have of Christ as our life (Col. 3:4), the more we will bear the face of a man. In the Epistles we are taught by the apostles to be proper human beings, in particular how to be proper husbands, wives, and parents (Eph. 5:22—6:9; Col. 3:18—4:1). God’ss alvation causes us to be proper men for His manifestation, move, and administration
狮子的脸
The Face of a Lion
17我们也需要有狮子的脸。在圣经里，狮子表征勇敢、活力、力量和得胜。在我们的基督徒生活中，我们首先需要作人。无论我们在那里－在学校、办公室、或在邻居中间－我们都该是人。但我们也该是狮子。倘若在办公室里你是正确的人，别人就会被吸引到你这里。然而，被吸引到你这里的人，也许是能败坏你的『病菌』。因为他们喜欢你，他们就会邀请你同他们参加某种属世的消遣。在这样的时候，你的行为不该像人，乃该像狮子。这就是说，向著罪恶或属世的任何事情，我们必须像狮子一样勇敢。所有在你办公室里工作的人都该知道，他们若和你谈论属世的事，你的行为就会像狮子。人常常认为主耶稣是温柔、柔和的。然而，至少在某些场合，祂一点也不温柔。例如，祂进到殿里，看见『殿里有卖牛羊鸽子的，并有兑换银钱的人坐在那里』，祂就生气，拿绳子作成鞭子，『把众人连羊带牛都赶出殿去，倒出兑换银钱之人的钱币，推翻他们的桌子。』（约二14～15。）不但如此，在马太二十三章祂严厉的责备宗教徒，说他们是『蛇类，毒蛇之种』。（33。）在这些情形里，祂的确是像狮子一样勇敢。在启示录五章五节，祂甚至称为『犹大支派中的狮子』。有时候我们也需要有狮子的脸。
17We also need to bear the face of a lion. In the Bible a lion signifies boldness, vigor, strength, and victory. In our Christian life we first need to be a man. Wherever we may be—at our school, in our office, or among our neighbors—we should be a man. But we should also be a lion. If in the office you are a proper man, others will be drawn to you. However, those who are drawn to you may be “germs” that can corrupt you. Because they like you, they may invite you to participate with them in a certain kind of worldly amusement. At such a time you should behave not like a man but like a lion. This means that toward anything sinful or worldly, we must be as bold as a lion. All those who work in your office should know that if they talk to you about worldly things, you will behave like a lion. People often consider that the Lord Jesus was gentle and mild. However, at least on certain occasions, He was not at all gentle. For example, when He went into the temple and found “those selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers sitting there,” He became angry and made a whip out of cords and “drove them all out of the temple, as well as the sheep and the oxen, and He poured out the money of the moneychangers and overturned their tables” (John 2:14-15). Furthermore, in Matthew 23 He severely rebuked the religionists, saying to them, “Serpents! Brood of vipers!” (v. 33). In these situations He surely was as bold as a lion. In Revelation 5:5 He is even called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” There are times when we also need to have the face of a lion.
18在圣经里，狮子不但表征勇敢、活力、力量和得胜，也表征掌权。狮子是兽中之王。我们藉著重生成了活物的人，不但该是人彰显神，也该是狮子为神掌权。倘若向著罪、世界和撒但，我们像狮子一样刚强、勇敢，神就能藉著我们建立祂的王权。
18In the Bible a lion signifies not only boldness, vigor, strength, and victory but also reigning. The lion is the king of the animals. We, who have become living creatures through regeneration, should not only be men to manifest God but also lions to reign for God. If toward sin, the world, and Satan we are strong and bold like lions, God will be able to establish His reign through us
牛的脸
The Face of an Ox
19我们不但需要人的脸和狮子的脸，也需要牛的脸。狮子的脸由牛的脸来平衡。倘若你在办公室里有狮子的脸，单单这个不会使别人信服。你需要有牛的脸来平衡。牛是甘愿背负担子、作工、甚至牺牲自己的人。我们都需要有这样的形像，并且彰显那服事别人、背负担子、顾到责任、甚至牺牲自己生命的实际。倘若你在办公室里工作时是正确的人，你像狮子一样勇敢，你也在担负责任上忠信，你就会给别人良好的印象。要造成这样的印象，你的举止不但需要像人、像狮子一样，也需要像服务、受苦的牛一样。办公室需要清扫的时候，你该领头清扫，比其他员工作得更多。这样你就会给你的同事看见，你甘愿牺牲，帮助别人，服事别人。这样，你就有牛的脸的实际。别人看见你有人的脸、狮子的脸、和牛的脸，他们就会说，『这是真基督徒。』
19We need not only the face of a man and the face of a lion but also the face of an ox. The face of a lion is balanced by the face of an ox. If in your office you have the face of a lion, that alone will not convince others. You need to be balanced by having the face of an ox. An ox is one who is willing to bear the burden, to do the work, and even to sacrifice himself. We all need to have such an appearance and to express such a reality of serving others, bearing the burden, caring for the responsibility, and even sacrificing our life. If as you are working in an office you are a proper man, you are as bold as a lion, and you are also faithful in bearing responsibility, you will make a good impression on others. In order to make such an impression, you need to behave not only like a man and like a lion but also like a serving, suffering ox. When the office needs to be cleaned, you should take the lead to clean, doing more than the other employees. In this way you will show your colleagues that you are willing to sacrifice, to help others, and to serve them. Then you will have the reality of the face of an ox. When others see you with the face of a man, the face of a lion, and the face of an ox, they will say, “This is a real Christian
鹰的脸
The Face of an Eagle
20不但如此，我们也需要在后面有隐藏的脸－鹰的脸。神将以色列人领出埃及，并将他们带进旷野以后，对他们说，『我…如鹰将你们背在翅膀上，带来归我。』（出十九4。）这指明在圣经里，鹰表征大能、超越的神。神是超越、上升、并大能的神。没有甚么能压制祂，抑制祂，或压倒祂。你越想要压制祂，祂就越上升、越超越。基督徒有神的生命在里面，这生命乃是超越的，使我们有上升、超越的彰显。这就是鹰的脸的意义。
20Furthermore, we also need, at the rear, a hidden face— the face of an eagle. After God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness, He said to them, “I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself” (Exo. 19:4). This indicates that in the Bible an eagle signifies the powerful, transcendent God. God is transcendent, buoyant, and powerful. Nothing can suppress Him, oppress Him, or depress Him. The more you try to suppress Him, the more buoyant and transcendent He becomes. A Christian has God’s life within him, and this life is transcendent, causing us to have an expression of buoyancy and transcendence. This is the significance of the face of an eagle.
21我们需要像鹰一样，不让任何事物拘留我们、压制我们、压倒我们。这就是说，我们该能胜过逼迫，也能胜过称赞。有的时候，胜过称赞比胜过逼迫更难。有些人能胜过逼迫，却不能胜过人的称赞。这不该是我们的情形。我们无论受逼迫或受称赞，都需要能在鹰的翅膀上飞走。我们该是上升、超越的。这正是在约翰福音里，主耶稣用五饼二鱼食饱五千人以后，人想要立祂为王时，祂的表现。关于这事约翰六章十五节说，『耶稣既知道众人要来强逼祂作王，就独自又退到山上去了。』祂不能被拘留，因为祂有鹰的能力，因此是超越的。基督徒不该被任何事拘留。然而，我们可能被许多不同的事所拘留。一位信徒也许被贫穷拘留，另一位也许被财富拘留。我们若要作正确的基督徒，就不该被贫穷拘留，也不该被财富拘留。我们该像保罗一样能说，『我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处富余；或饱足、或饥饿、或富余、或缺乏，在各事上，并在一切事上，我都学得秘诀。我在那加我能力者的里面，凡事都能作。』（腓四12～13。）保罗的话启示他有鹰的翅膀。他有人、狮子、牛的形像，也有鹰的形像。
21We need to be like an eagle, not allowing anything to hold us, to suppress us, or to depress us. This means that we should be able to overcome both persecution and praise. Sometimes it is more difficult to overcome praise than it is to overcome persecution. Some can overcome persecution, but they are unable to overcome people’sp raise. This should not be the case with us. Whether we are persecuted or praised, we need to be able to fly away on eagles’ wings. We should be buoyant and transcendent. This is exactly how the Lord Jesus was in John when the people tried to make Him king after He fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Concerning this John 6:15 says, “Jesus, knowing that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him King, withdrew again to the mountain, Himself alone.” He could not beheld because He had the power of an eagle and was therefore transcendent. A Christian should not beheld by anything. However, it is possible for us to beheld by many different things. One believer may beheld by poverty, and another may beheld by riches. If we would be a proper Christian, we should beheld neither by poverty nor by riches. Like Paul, we should be able to say, “I know also how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to lack. I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me” (Phil. 4:12-13). Paul’sword reveals that he had the wings of an eagle. He bore the appearance of a man, of a lion, of an ox, and also of an eagle
the four living creatures
四活物是基督的四重彰显
BEING A FOURFOLD EXPRESSION OF CHRIST
22这四个脸－人的脸、狮子的脸、牛的脸、和鹰的脸－描绘基督的生活。这四个脸等于四福音，四福音被视为主耶稣的四本传记，各本陈明基督的某一方面。路加福音表明祂是人，马太福音表明祂是狮子，马可福音表明祂是牛，约翰福音表明祂是鹰。这四重的生活就是基督的生活。
22These four faces—the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox, and the face of an eagle—portray the life of Christ. These four faces correspond to the four Gospels, which may be regarded as four biographies of the Lord Jesus, with each presenting a certain aspect of Christ. Luke shows Him as a man, Matthew shows Him as a lion, Mark shows Him as an ox, and John shows Him as an eagle. This fourfold life is the life of Christ.
23四活物是基督团体的彰显。他们彰显四方面的基督－人、狮子、牛和鹰。这是基督的生活团体的彰显。身为基督徒，我们该是活物，是团体的实体，彰显基督，正如祂在地上的时候一样。祂在地上的时候，在人、狮、牛、和鹰这四方面生活。今天我们该是这样一位基督团体的彰显。
23The four living creatures are a corporate expression of Christ. They express Christ in four aspects — as a man, as a lion, as an ox, and as an eagle. This is the expression of the life of Christ in a corporate way. As Christians, we should be the living creatures, those who are a corporate entity to express Christ exactly as He was on earth. When He was on earth, He lived in the four aspects of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. Today we should be the corporate expression of such a Christ.