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以弗所书生命读经 · 第95篇

新妇的美丽

THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE
1读经：以弗所书1:9-11,13b-14,17-23;3:16-17a,19b;5:25-27,29-30,32。
1Scripture Reading: Eph. 1:9-11, 13b-14, 17-23; 3:16-17a, 19b; 5:25-27, 29-30, 32 3:16-17a, 19b; 5:25-27, 29-30, 32
斑点和皱纹
SPOTS AND WRINKLES
2在前面几篇信息中，我们已看过三类破坏召会生活的消极事物：规条、道理和旧人。现在我们要来看这些消极事物的第四类─斑点和皱纹。保罗在五章二十七节题到斑点和皱纹时说，基督要把召会『献给自己，作荣耀的召会，没有斑点、皱纹、或任何这类的病』。在以弗所书里，保罗是按著很好的次序对付这四类消极的事物。在新人被创造的事上，我们有规条；在新人长大尽功用的事上，我们有道理；不仅如此，在新人日常生活的事上，我们有旧人以及老旧的生活方式。为著新人的创造，规条必须废掉、除灭；为著新人的长大，道理必须贬抑；为著新人正确的日常生活，旧人必须脱去。然而，对付过这三类消极的事物以后，我们仍需要面对斑点和皱纹的难处。由于斑点和皱纹是很主观的，所以比规条、道理、和旧人更难对付。我们不能废掉或脱去斑点和皱纹，因为这些是在我们生机的组成和天然的构造里。斑点属于天然的生命，皱纹与老旧有关。按人来说，我们无法除去这些东西。然而，神有办法。话中生命的水，能藉著生命的变化，新陈代谢的洗去这类的缺点。基督越圣化召会，并藉话中之水的洗涤洁净她，斑点和皱纹就越少。不仅如此，当基督保养顾惜召会时，斑点和皱纹也会新陈代谢的除掉。每一个瑕疵、缺点和残缺，都要被基督变化的生命除掉。
2In previous messages we have considered three categories of negative things that damage the church life: ordinances, doctrine, and the old man. Now we come to the fourth category of these negative things—the spots and wrinkles. Paul refers to this in 5:27, where he says that Christ will “present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things.” In Ephesians Paul deals with the four categories of negative things in a very good sequence. Related to the creation of the new man, we have the ordinances. Related to the growth of the new man for function, we have doctrine. Furthermore, related to the daily living of the new man, we have the old man with his old way of life. For the creation of the new man, the ordinances must be abolished and slain. For the growth of the new man, doctrine must be depreciated. For the proper daily living of the new man, the old man must be put off. However, after these three categories of negative things have been dealt with, we must still face the problem of the spots and wrinkles. Because they are so subjective, the spots and wrinkles are more difficult to deal with than the ordinances, the doctrines, and the old man. We cannot simply abolish the spots and wrinkles or put them off, for they are in our organic tissue and natural makeup. Spots are of the natural life, and wrinkles are a matter of oldness. Humanly speaking, there is no way for us to remove such things. However, God has a way. The water of life in the Word can metabolically wash away these defects by the transformation of life. The more Christ sanctifies the church and cleanses her through the washing of the water in the Word, the fewer spots and wrinkles there will be. Furthermore, as Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, the spots and wrinkles will be removed metabolically. Every flaw, defect, and imperfection will be removed by Christ’s transforming life
3分赐基督丰富的元素我们不要想从外面改正或调整别人，乃要把基督那圣化、洁净、保养、顾惜的元素供应给他们。这个元素会产生内里的改变，除去老旧和缺点。我们不该倚靠任何办法或方式。一种办法若很有效，那并不是因为办法本身，乃是因为在那个办法里所包含并藉其所释放的生命。我们所该分赐给人的，不是作事的办法或方式；我们该把基督丰富的元素分赐给人，这会圣化、洁净、保养并顾惜他们。如果你所接触的基督徒聚会的方式与你的不同，不要想去改变他们，乃要找机会将基督的丰富供应给他们。我们不该注意办法、方法或形式；我们只该注意释放基督的丰富，并把基督的丰富分赐给人。圣化人并洁净人的乃是基督。藉著祂变化的工作，所有的斑点和皱纹都要除去，并以祂活的元素来顶替。
3IMPARTING THE RICH ELEMENT OF CHRIST Instead of trying to correct others or to adjust them outwardly, we need to minister to them the sanctifying, purifying, nourishing, and cherishing element of Christ. This element will produce an inward change that will take away the oldness and the defects. We should not rely on any method or way. If a particular way is prevailing, it is not because of the way itself, but because of the life contained in that way and released by it. What we should impart to others is not a method or way of doing things; we should impart the rich element of Christ that will sanctify, purify, nourish, and cherish them. If you contact Christians whose way of meeting is different from yours, do not try to change them. Instead, take the opportunity to minister the riches of Christ to them. We should not care for a way, a method, or a form. We should care only tore lease the riches of Christ and to impart them to others. It is Christ who sanctifies and cleanses. Through His transforming work, all the spots and wrinkles are removed and replaced by His living element.
4经历基督圣化的元素我们已经指出，斑点和皱纹比规条、道理和旧人更难对付，因为这些缺陷和残缺，是我们天然人主观的一部分，已经组织到我们生机的组成里。因此，惟有生命内里的供应才能对付。我们若要除去斑点和皱纹，就必须单单依赖基督圣化、洁净、保养、顾惜的元素。对付规条不像对付道理那样难；对付道理不像对付旧人那样难；而对付旧人不像对付斑点、皱纹那样难。即使我们没有规条、道理或旧人的难处，我们仍需要查问自己是否有斑点和皱纹的麻烦。
4EXPERIENCING THE SANCTIFYING ELEMENT OF CHRIST We have pointed out that spots and wrinkles are more difficult to deal with than ordinances, doctrine, and the old man because these defects and imperfections are subjectively part of our natural being. They have been interwoven into our organic tissue. Therefore, only the inner supply of life can deal with them. If we want the spots and wrinkles to be removed, then we must rely only on the sanctifying, purifying, nourishing, and cherishing element of Christ. It is not as difficult to deal with ordinances as it is with doctrines; doctrine is not as difficult to deal with as the old man; and the old man is not as difficult to deal with as the spots and wrinkles. Even though we may have no problems with ordinances, doctrine, or the old man, we must still inquire whether or not we are troubled by spots and wrinkles
5斑点和皱纹必须除去，新妇才能豫备好献给基督。献给基督的召会必须确定是没有任何斑点、皱纹的。启示录十九章七节说，『我们要喜乐欢腾，将荣耀归与祂；因为羔羊婚娶的时候到了，新妇也自己豫备好了。』到这时，新妇必定已经除去一切的斑点和皱纹。我们不该信靠单单外面的改变。这样的改变可以突然发生，但对我们这人里面的斑点和皱纹毫无影响。神所关心的，不是我们仅有外表的改变；祂所关心的，乃是斑点和皱纹藉基督圣化的元素得以洗除。惟有经过这样圣化的过程，我们才能成为美丽荣耀的新妇，献给基督，没有瑕疵或缺陷。我们应当忘掉要改良自己，而专一经历基督圣化的丰富。我们都需要更多经历基督洁净的元素。我们越经历这元素，我们的缺点和短处就越新陈代谢的除去。这个过程的结果，就是我们成为美丽的新妇，豫备好献给基督。惟有藉著来自基督的生命供应，我们天然的缺点和生机的瑕疵才能除去。
5The spots and wrinkles must be removed in order for the Bride to be prepared for Christ. To be sure, the Bride presented to Christ will not have any spots or wrinkles. Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Certainly the wife by this time will have been purified from all the spots and wrinkles. We should not place our trust in mere out ward change. Such change can take place suddenly without having any effect on the spots and wrinkles in our being. God’s concern is not that we simply change with respect to our outward appearance; His concern is that the spots and wrinkles be washed away by the sanctifying element of Christ. Only through such a process of sanctification can we become a beautiful and glorious Bride for Christ, a Bride without blemish or imperfection. We should forget about trying to improve ourselves and concentrate instead on experiencing the sanctifying riches of Christ. We all need more experience of the purifying element of Christ. The more we experience this element, the more our defects and shortcomings will be metabolically removed. As the result of this process, we shall become a beautiful Bride ready to be presented to Christ. Only by the supply of life from Christ can our natural defects and organic blemishes be removed.
6我们若清楚这事，就会晓得单靠教训没有办法除去斑点和皱纹。我再重复说，惟有藉著基督保养顾惜而来的圣化元素，才能对付这类的病。赞美主！基督的元素逐渐在消除我们的缺陷！
6If we are clear about this, we shall realize that mere teachings can do nothing to eliminate spots and wrinkles. To repeat, only the sanctifying element which comes through the nourishing and cherishing of Christ can deal with such things. Praise the Lord that the element of Christ is gradually eliminating our defects
新妇的豫备
THE PREPARATION OF THE BRIDE
7我信我们是活在主豫备祂新妇的日子里。不仅如此，我十分确信我们目前正在这个豫备的过程中。不然启示录十九章要在何时，在何处，在那些人身上应验？这一章在主的恢复里，在我们中间，正在应验的过程中。
7I believe that we are living in a day in which the Lord is preparing His Bride. Furthermore, I have the full assurance that we are presently undergoing this process of preparation. Otherwise, when, where, and with whom will Revelation 19 have its fulfillment? This chapter is in the process of being fulfilled among us in the Lord’s recovery
8我们需要把启示录十九章和以弗所五章联起来。没有以弗所五章，新妇就无法豫备好，启示录十九章也无法应验。主对我们说到规条、道理、旧人、斑点和皱纹，这是很有意义的。我们经历基督那保养、顾惜、圣化、洁净的丰富，好除去我们的老旧和缺陷，这是十分紧要的。当这类的病都除去时，我们就成为圣别、荣耀、没有瑕疵的召会。然后我们就成为启示录十九章的新妇。新妇豫备好的时候，基督就要来作新郎。赞美主！我们正在成为圣别、荣耀之基督新妇的过程中。我们何等赞美主，给我们看见新妇豫备好、迎接祂回来的路。基督要得著一个没有规条、道理、旧人、以及斑点和皱纹的召会。这样的召会乃是美丽的新妇，满足祂心头的愿望。
8We need to connect Revelation 19 with Ephesians 5. Apart from Ephesians 5, there is no way for the Bride to be prepared, and hence no way for Revelation 19 to be fulfilled. It is very significant that the Lord has spoken to us about ordinances, doctrines, the old man, and the spots and wrinkles. It is crucial that we experience the nourishing, cherishing, sanctifying, and purifying riches of Christ to remove our oldness and defects. When all such things have been removed, we shall become a church that is holy, glorious, and without blemish. Then we shall be the Bride in Revelation 19. When the Bride has been prepared, Christ will come as the Bridegroom. Praise the Lord that we are in the process of becoming a holy and glorious Bride for Christ! How we praise the Lord for showing us the way to be prepared as the Bride, made ready for His coming back! Christ will have a church without ordinances, doctrines, the old man, and the spots and wrinkles. Such a church will be the beautiful Bride to satisfy the desire of His heart
美丽为著献上
BEAUTY FOR PRESENTATION
9在以弗所一章，我们有召会的一个轮廓。在二章，有一个新人的创造、出生和形成。然后在四章，我们有这新人的长大，为著尽功用。在四章，我们也看见新人的日常生活。然后在五章，我们看到召会献给基督。召会在献上的时候乃是新妇，不是新人。作为新人，召会需要功用。但是作为新妇，召会需要美丽。四章的长大，是为著新人的功用；五章的美丽，是为著新妇的献上。
9In chapter one we have a general sketch of the church, and in chapter two, the creation, birth, and formation of the one new man. Then in chapter four we have the growth of this new man for functioning. Also in chapter four we see the daily life of the new man. Then in chapter five we come to the presentation of the church to Christ. At the time of this presentation, the church will be the Bride, not the new man. As the new man, the church needs the functions. But as the Bride, the church needs beauty. The growth in chapter four is for the function of the new man, whereas the beauty in chapter five is for the presentation of the Bride.
10斑点和皱纹不影响召会的功用，却非常减损召会的美丽。男人所求于新妇的，首先不是能力，乃是美丽。召会作基督的新妇，也必须是美丽的。为这缘故，保罗从四章新人的功用和日常生活，往前到五章新妇毫无斑点和皱纹的献上。我们若在主里长大，至终我们作基督身体肢体的功用就会显出来。然而，我们也许正确的尽功用，并照著心思的灵有超越的日常生活，但是由于我们的斑点和皱纹，就使我们在主的眼中仍然不彀美丽。保罗从一章到四章说了许多关于召会的事后，就在五章往前说到召会作新妇。在这一章里，他一点没有题到召会的创造、召会的长大、或召会的日常生活等，而是说到召会的美丽。当基督把召会献给自己时，召会不是强壮的男子，乃是美丽的新妇。基督是宇宙的男子。祂这位宇宙的男子，需要召会作祂的新妇，与祂匹配。召会要成为基督的新妇，就必须是美丽的，除去了一切的斑点和皱纹。
10The spots and wrinkles do not affect the function of the church. However, they very much detract from the beauty of the church. What a man looks for in a bride is not firstly ability; it is beauty. The church as Christ’s Bride must also be beautiful. For this reason, Paul goes on from the function and daily living of the new man in chapter four to the presentation of the Bride without spot or wrinkle in chapter five. If we grow in the Lord, eventually our functions as members of the Body will come forth. However, we may function properly and have an excellent daily living according to the spirit of the mind, but still not be beautiful in the eyes of the Lord because of our spots and wrinkles. After saying so much about the church in chapters one through four, Paul goes on in chapter five to speak about the church as the Bride. In this chapter he says nothing concerning the creation of the church, the growth of the church, or the daily living of the church. Instead, he speaks of the beauty of the church. When Christ presents the church to Himself, the church will not be a strong man; she will be a beautiful Bride. Christ is the universal Man. As this universal Man, He needs the church to be His Bride to match Him. In order to be the Bride of Christ, the church must become beautiful and have all the spots and wrinkles removed
豫备的路
the way to be prepared
11我们已经看见，就著新人的创造、功用、日常生活这几面说，我们遇到规条、道理、旧人的生活方式等难处。但就著召会献上作新妇这一面说，我们有斑点和皱纹的难处。如何才能除去这些瑕疵，乃是紧要的问题。每一位新妇都要在她结婚那天有健康、焕发的面容。她若担心有瑕疵，就该及早为她的婚礼有所豫备，藉著吃营养的食物，使她有健康的面容。同样的原则，我们今天必须藉著接受基督丰富的元素作我们的滋养，来豫备自己成为新妇。基督是召会的食物。因此当召会豫备自己献给基督时，必须吃基督。没有其他豫备的路，吃耶稣才是路。藉著吃祂，我们就成为美丽的、甚至荣耀的新妇。
11We have seen that with respect to the creation of the new man, the function of the new man, and the daily living of the new man, we face problems with ordinances, doctrine, and the old way of life. But with respect to the presentation of the church as the Bride, we have the problem of the spots and wrinkles. The crucial question is how these blemishes can be removed. Any bride would want to have a healthy, radiant complexion on her wedding day. If she is concerned about blemishes, she should begin long beforehand to prepare herself for her wedding by eating nutritious foods that will give her a healthy complexion. In the same principle, today we must prepare ourselves to be the Bride by taking in the element of Christ’s riches as our nourishment. Christ is the food for the church. Therefore, as she prepares herself to be presented to Christ, the church must eat Christ. There is no other way to be prepared. Eating Jesus is the way. By eating Him we become a beautiful and even glorious Bride.
基督的返照
THE REFLECTION OF CHRIST
12基督现今在豫备我们作祂的新妇。祂把新妇献给自己的时候快到了。新妇献给基督时，必定没有任何斑点或皱纹。在新妇身上，基督不注视别的，只注视她的美丽。这美丽乃是基督所是的返照。你知道新妇的美丽是从那里来的么？这美丽乃是来自那位作到召会里面，然后藉著召会彰显出来的基督。我们的美丽不是我们的行为；我们所有的美丽乃是基督的返照，就是基督从我们里面照耀出来。基督在我们身上所珍赏的，乃是祂自己在我们身上的彰显。没有甚么比这个更能搆上祂的标准，或赢得祂的珍赏。首先，基督必须进到我们里面，并被我们吸收。然后，祂就能从我们里面照耀出去。这个照耀乃是新妇的荣耀，是神性藉著人性的彰显。真实的美丽，乃是神圣属性藉著人性的彰显。宇宙中没有甚么像这个彰显如此美丽的。所以，新妇的美丽乃是基督从我们照耀出来。这是神性藉著人性得著彰显的事。藉著我们的人性，神圣的色泽、外表、味道、性情和特质，就得著彰显。为著这样的美丽，阿利路亚！在婚配那日，新郎在意他新妇的美丽，远过于她的才干。照样，在召会生活中，对主来说，我们的美丽最终比我们的功用重要得多。召会生活刚开始的时候，我们也许强调能力和功用。但最终我们要更多强调美丽。主耶稣在意我们的美丽，远过于我们的功用。不要太注意在功用上成为能干、彀资格、有恩赐的人。起先，这也许在召会生活中算得了数，但至终主要给我们看见，祂所在意的不是我们的能力；祂所在意的乃是从我们的人性所彰显出祂自己的美丽。基督的心意，不是要把一个能干的召会献给祂自己；所要献给祂的召会，乃是荣耀的、美丽的，没有斑点和皱纹、或任何这类的病。我们若要除去瑕疵和缺陷，就必须更多将基督接受进来。祂不仅为著我们的功用加强我们，祂更使我们美丽，好作祂的新妇。
12Christ is now preparing us to be His Bride. The time is coming when He will present the Bride to Himself. Surely at the time of her presentation to Christ, the Bride will not have any wrinkles or spots. In His Bride Christ will behold nothing but beauty. This beauty will be the reflection of what He is. Do you know where the beauty of the Bride comes from? It comes from the very Christ who is wrought into the church and who is then expressed through the church. Our beauty is not our behavior. Our only beauty is the reflection of Christ, the shining out of Christ from within us. What Christ appreciates in us is the expression of Himself in us. Nothing less than this will meet His standard or win His appreciation. Firstly, Christ must come into us and then be assimilated by us. Then He will be able to shine out of us. This shining is the glory of the Bride, the manifestation of divinity through humanity. Real beauty is the expression of the divine attributes through humanity. Nothing in the universe is as beautiful as this expression. Therefore, the beauty of the Bride is Christ shining out of us. It is a matter of divinity expressed through humanity. Through our humanity there is an expression of the divine color, the divine appearance, the divine flavor, the divine nature, and the divine character. Hallelujah for such a beauty! On the day of his wedding, a bridegroom cares much more for the beauty of his bride than for her ability. In like manner, in the church life our beauty will eventually be much more important to the Lord than our function. At the beginning of the church life, we may emphasize ability and function. But eventually we shall place more emphasis on beauty. The Lord Jesus cares much more for our beauty than for our function. Do not pay that much attention to becoming capable, qualified, and gifted in function. At first, this may count for something in the church life. But eventually the Lord will show us that what He cares for is not our ability; He cares for the beauty of Himself expressed through our humanity. Christ does not intend to present a capable church to Himself. The church that will be presented to Him will be glorious and beautiful, a church without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing. If our blemishes and imperfections are to be removed, we need to take in more and more of Christ. He should not simply energize us for our function, but also beautify us that we may be His Bride
13藉著内住的基督得以成为美丽的我们必须从以弗所四章的功用往前到五章的美丽。母亲抚育孩子时，也许重视男孩子的强壮，但珍赏女孩子的美丽。照样，在召会是新人这一面，有力量和能力；但在召会是新妇这一面，却有美丽和荣耀。我们应当学习轻看我们的能力和力量，因为作为新妇的一部分，我们不是男的，乃是女的。在婚配的时候，召会所需要的是美丽，不是力量。哦，召会藉著有分于基督、消化基督、并吸收基督而渐渐变为美丽的！我们越这样经历内住的基督，祂就越要以祂自己的元素顶替我们的斑点和皱纹，并且祂的丰富同祂神圣的属性，也越要成为我们的美丽。这样，我们就豫备好献给基督，作祂心爱的新妇。
13BEAUTIFIED BY THE INDWELLING CHRIST We need to go on from the function in Ephesians 4 to the beauty in Ephesians 5. In caring for their children, mothers may value strength in a boy, but they appreciate beauty in a girl. Likewise, in the church as the one new man there is strength and ability, but with the church as the Bride there is beauty and glory. We should learn somewhat to depreciate our ability and strength, for as part of the Bride, we shall be not male, but female. At the time of the wedding, what the church will need is beauty, not strength. Oh, the church is being beautified by partaking of Christ, by digesting Christ, and by assimilating Christ! The more we experience the indwelling Christ in this way, the more He will replace our spots and wrinkles with His element, and the more His riches with the divine attributes will become our beauty. Then we shall be prepared to be presented to Christ as His lovely Bride
穿上细麻衣
CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN
14我们已经指出，以弗所五章的经历，是应验启示录十九章所必需的。以弗所书给我们看见，基督如何藉著以祂自己圣化、洁净、保养并顾惜我们，来豫备新妇。这样，我们就得著新陈代谢的变化，成为美丽、荣耀的，照著启示录十九章，豫备好了要献给基督。论到基督的妻子，就是基督的新妇，启示录十九章八节说，『又赐她得穿明亮洁净的细麻衣，这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。』新妇既是这样穿著，就可以宣告她『自己豫备好了』。（7。）这指明，到启示录十九章的时候，新妇已经豫备好了。新妇豫备好的意思，乃是说她有『明亮洁净的细麻衣』。洁净指性质，明亮指彰显。这细麻衣就是『圣徒所行的义』。无疑的，这义与以弗所四章二十四节的义有关；那里告诉我们，新人是在义里面创造的。新妇的衣著是洁净的，这事实不仅表示没有污秽，也表示没有搀杂。细麻衣就是圣徒的义，不是指我们所接受，使我们得救的义（就是基督─林前一30）。我们所接受，使我们得救的义是客观的，使我们满足公义之神的要求。然而，这里新妇的义是主观的，就是基督作为义构造到我们里面。这个主观的义越多作到召会里面，召会就越豫备好成为新妇。凡组成新妇的人，都蒙了救赎和重生；但他们需要有主观的义交织到他们的所是里，使他们有明亮洁净的细麻衣。事实上，这细麻衣就是新妇的美丽。
14We have pointed out that the experience of Ephesians 5 is necessary for the fulfillment of Revelation 19. Ephesians shows how Christ prepares the Bride by sanctifying, cleansing, nourishing, and cherishing us with Himself. In this way we are metabolically transformed and we become beautiful and glorious, ready to be presented to Christ according to Revelation 19. Speaking of the wife, the Bride of Christ, Reve lation 19:8 says, “And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and pure; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” Because the Bride is clothed in this way, the declaration can be made that she “has made herself ready” (v. 7). This indicates that by the time of Reve lation 19 the Bride will have been prepared. For the Bride to be prepared means that she has the “fine linen, bright and pure.” Pure refers to nature, whereas bright refers to expression. This fine linen is “the righteousness of the saints.” No doubt, these righteousnesses are related to the righteousness in Ephesians 4:24, where we are told that the new man was created in righteousness. The fact that the clothing of the Bride is pure means not only that it is without dirt, but also that it is without mixture. The fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints does not refer to the righteousness (which is Christ) for our salvation (Phil. 3:9; 1 Cor. 1:30). The righteousness we received for our salvation is objective, that we might meet the requirement of the righteous God. However, the righteousnesses of the Bride here denote the subjective righteousness, Christ as the righteousness which has been constituted into our being. The more this subjective righteousness is wrought into the church, the more she is prepared to become the Bride. Those who compose the Bride have been redeemed and regenerated. But they need to have the subjective righteousness interwoven into their very being in order to have the fine linen, bright and pure. Actually, it is this linen that is the beauty of the Bride.
主在祂恢复里的工作
THE LORD’S WORK IN HIS RECOVERY
15无疑的，启示录十九章必会完全应验。不仅如此，我们相信今天这应验就在进行的过程中。耶路撒冷既已归还给以色列，主耶稣的再来应该也不远了。然而，新妇是无法急促豫备好的。这个豫备是一个渐进的工作，需要有一段的时间。主必然正在地上作工，来豫备祂的新妇。这个工作要在那里完成？要发生在那些人身上？有人也许说，新妇豫备的工作是在天主教、公会、独立团体里属灵的人当中。照这种眼光来看，基督再来的时候，祂将聚集所有这些属灵的人，把他们作成祂的新妇。然而，这不是主的路。祂不是来收集那些要构成新妇的人，祂乃是要来把已经豫备好的新妇献给自己。我相信这个豫备与团体建造的工作有关。那些构成新妇的人，不仅生命要成熟；他们也必须建造在一起，成为一个新妇。所以，我坚信主是在祂恢复里的人中间豫备祂的新妇。我的负担是要我们都看见，主的恢复不是另一个基督教的运动，或是一种普通的基督教工作。恢复里的工作乃是主真正的工作，为要豫备祂的新妇。我信在要来的年日里，会有更多忠信寻求主的人转到祂恢复的路上。他们会看见，在任何别的地方，他们都得不著里面的印证。当我们转到主恢复的路上时，我们里面深深的觉得，主在我们所走的这条路上加上祂的印记。主在祂恢复里首要的工作，不是将福音传遍全地，乃是豫备祂的新妇。
15There is no doubt that Revelation 19 will be completely fulfilled. Furthermore, we believe that the process of fulfillment is taking place today. Since Jerusalem has been restored to the nation of Israel, the coming back of the Lord Jesus should not be far off. The Bride, however, cannot be prepared quickly. This preparation is a gradual work that takes place over a period of time. Certainly the Lord must be doing a work on earth to prepare His Bride. Where is this work being carried out? With whom is it taking place? Some may say that the work of preparing the Bride is among the spiritual ones in Catholicism, the denominations, and the independent groups. According to this view, Christ will gather together all these spiritual ones and form them into His Bride at the time of His coming. However, this is not the Lord’sway. He is not coming to collect those who will constitute the Bride; He is coming to present to Himself the Bride who has already been prepared. This preparation, I believe, involves the work of building corporately. Those who make up the Bride must not only be mature in life; they must also be built together as the one Bride. Therefore, I firmly believe that the Lord is preparing His Bride among those in His recovery. I am burdened that we would all realize that the Lord’s recovery is not another Christian movement or an ordinary Christian work. The work in the recovery is the Lord’s genuine work to prepare His Bride. I believe that in the years to come, more of those who seek the Lord faithfully will turn to the way of His recovery. They will realize that nowhere else do they have the inward confirmation. When we turned to the way of the Lord’s recovery, we had the sense deep within that the Lord had put His seal on the way we are taking. The primary work of the Lord in His recovery is not to preach the gospel throughout the earth; it is to prepare His Bride
16主的目的不是要复兴整个基督教。主在祂的恢复里，正在呼召那些爱祂并对祂忠信的余民。祂正发出呼召要胜过基督教的堕落，使许多寻求祂的人，可以豫备作祂的新妇。主在这件事上正在往前，我们也与祂一同往前。我们能活在这个时代，真是何等的权利！
16The Lord’s in tent i on is not to revive Christianity as a whole. In His recovery, He is calling out a remnant of those who love Him and who are faithful to Him. He is sending out the call to overcome the degradation of Christianity so that a number of those who seek Him may be prepared as His Bride. In this matter, the Lord is moving on, and we are going on with Him. What a privilege to be alive in this age!