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希伯来书生命读经 · 第42篇

基督的两次显明

THE TWO MANIFESTATIONS OF CHRIST
1今天我们基督徒都该深入希伯来书。我感谢神，在第一世纪时，在祂的主宰下，竟有一班犹豫不决的希伯来基督徒。如果没有他们，可能根本没有希伯来书。不要以为希伯来书只是写给他们的，我们今天比他们当时更需要这卷书。在已过的十一篇信息，我们看过七、八、九章。如果我要你们写这三章的结论，你可能觉得相当为难。但在九章末了，希伯来书本身就给了我们这三章的一个概述，结论。这个结论，就是本篇信息所要讲的内容─基督的两次显明和其间的一段时间。基督的两次显明，以及其间的一段时间，这三者组成了神的经纶。基督两次显明的真实意义，对许多基督徒而言，是很难明白的。基督的两次显明，是指祂的两次来临。祂曾经来过一次，祂还要再来。在这向世人两次显明之间的漫长时期，祂留在神面前。基督第一次显明后，已经快两千年了。这段时间对我们而言是漫长的，但对祂而言，还不到两天。（彼后三8。）我们需要看见基督的两次显明和其间一段时间的意义。
1We Christians today need to get into the book of Hebrews. I thank God that, under His sovereignty, there was such a group of staggering Hebrew Christians in the first century. Without them, the book of Hebrews probably never would have come into existence. Do not think that the book of Hebrews was only for them. We need this book today much more than they needed it in their time. In the past eleven messages we have been on chapters seven, eight, and nine. If I were to ask you to write a conclusion to these chapters, you may find it quite difficult. But at the end of chapter nine the book of Hebrews itself gives us a summary, a conclusion, of these three chapters. This conclusion is the very matter which we shall cover in this message—Christ’st wo manifestations and the interval between them. These three things, Christ’st wo manifestations and the interval, compose God’secon o my. It has been difficult for many Christians to understand the true significance of Christ’st wo manifestations. The two manifestations of Christ refer to His two comings. Christ has come once and He will come again. During the long period between the two manifestations of Christ to the world, He remains in the presence of God. Nearly two thousand years have passed since Christ’s first manifestation. Although this is a long time as far as we are concerned, to Him it is less than two days (2 Pet. 3:8). We need to see the significance of the two manifestations of Christ and the interval between them
2在基督的第一次显明之前，只有神的计画，神的应许，以及神经纶的豫表、图画；除了神创造的万物，一切都未完成。就如我们要盖会所时，我们先有设计，和建筑的模型。然而，只有这些并不等于实际上有了会所。基督在成为肉体之前，虽然有亚伯拉罕、摩西、大卫那样的人物来了又去了，但在神的经纶上，仍是一无所成。虽然有摩西的帐幕和所罗门的圣殿作为模型，但直到基督第一次显明时，没有一件真实的事是完成的。
2Before Christ’s first manifestation, there were God’s plan, God’s promise, and a type, a picture, of God’secon o my, but besides God’s creation nothing had been accomplished. When we build a meeting hall, we also may have a plan and a model of the building. However, simply having these things does not mean that there is an actual building. Before Christ’sin carnation, men like Abraham, Moses, and David had come and gone, but nothing had been accomplished for God’secon o my. Although there was the model of the tabernacle with Moses and of the temple with Solomon, nothing real was accomplished until the first manifestation of Christ
壹 基督的第一次显明
I. THE FIRST MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST
3基督用了三十三年半的时间，来完成祂的第一次显明。在这三十三年半中，祂把神定旨中一切需要应验或实现的事，都一一的成就了。祂把神所需要的和我们所需要的，都成就了。
3Christ took thirty-three and a half years to complete His first manifestation. During those thirty-three and a half years, everything necessary for the fulfillment of God’s purpose was accomplished. He accomplished what God needed and what we needed
一 为要将自己献给神为祭，好除掉罪
A. For the Putting Away of Sin by Offering Himself to God as the Sacrifice for Sins
4基督的第一次显明是为著除掉罪。希伯来九章二十六节说，『但如今祂在诸世代的终结显明了一次，好藉著献上自己为祭，把罪除掉。』这里『诸世代的终结』，在原文也可译为『诸世代的完结』或『诸世代的末了』。这里是指旧约时代的末了，而马太0二十八章二十节所说这世代的终结，是指召会时代的结束。基督是在创世以前，就为我们被豫定，（彼前一，）并且祂是从创世以来就被杀的。（启十三8。）事实上，祂的被杀是一次永远的发生在诸世代的终结，就是祂第一次显明，献上自己给神，把罪除掉的时候。基督是在十九个半世纪以前，把罪除掉。在祂完成除罪之前，祭司们天天在献赎罪祭。但那不是真实的除罪，只是豫表和图画。真实的除罪，乃是基督在十字架上，一次永远完成的。或许你生在二十年前或三十年前，而且在一生中，犯了很多偷窃、撒谎等类的罪。但在十九个半世纪以前，久在你犯罪之先，罪就被除掉了。因此，除罪乃是一项遗赠。首先，除罪是应许；其次，有遮罪作为影儿；最终，因著基督在十字架上，一次永远的为罪献上自己作祭物，应许和影儿就完全实现了。祂『一次被献，担当了多人的罪』。（来九28，14，十12。）因此，在神的眼中，罪已经消失，已经成为历史了。不要相信撒但、你的感觉和你的失败，那些都是谎言。你要告诉那些说，『在基督第一次显明时，罪就被除掉了。』
4Christ’s first manifestation was for the putting away of sin. Verse 26 says that “once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested for the putting away of sin by His sacrifice.” The Greek words translated “consummation of the ages” may also be rendered the “completion of the ages” or “end of the ages.” Here it means the end of the old testament age, whereas the consummation of the age in Matthew 2 8:2 (Gk.) indicates the close of the church age. Christ “was foreordained” for us “before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:20), and He was “slain from the 20 foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). Actually, His being slain transpired once for all at the consummation of the ages, when He offered Himself to God in His first manifestation for the putting away of sin. Christ put away sin about nineteen and a half centuries ago. Before He accomplished this, the priests offered the sin offering day after day. But that was not the actual putting away of sin; it was only a type, a picture. The real putting away of sin was accomplished once for all by Christ on the cross. Perhaps you were born just twenty or thirty years ago, and during your lifetime you have committed many sins, such as stealing and lying. But the putting away of sin was accomplished nineteen and a half centuries ago, long before you committed any sins. Hence, the putting away of sin is a bequest. Firstly, it was a promise; secondly, it was foreshadowed by the covering of sins; eventually, the promise and the shadow were completely fulfilled by Christ on the cross when He offered Himself as the sacrifice for sins once for all. He was “once offered to bear the sins of many” (9:28, 14; 10:12). Therefore, in the eyes of God, sin has gone and has become a history. Do not believe Satan, your feelings, or your failures. They are lies. You must tell them, “Sin was put away by Christ in His first manifestation.”
二 为要完成永远的救赎
B. For the Accomplishment of an Eternal Redemption
5基督的第一次显明，也是为著成就永远的救赎。九章十二节说，『藉著祂自己的血，一次永远的进入至圣所，便得到了永远的救赎。』这件事在祂除掉罪的时候就完成了。因此，永远的救赎也是一项遗赠。三为要成立新约基督的第一次显明，也是为著成立新约。（太二六28。）祂藉著除掉罪和完成永远的救赎，就成立了新约。因此，新约也是一项遗赠。
5Christ’s first manifestation was also for the accomplishment of an eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 says that “th rough His own blood” He “entered once for all into the Holy of Holies, having found an eternal redemption.” Christ accomplished this at the time He put away sins. Thus, eternal redemption also is a bequest. C. For the Consummation of the New Covenant The first manifestation of Christ was also for the consummation of the new covenant (Matt. 26:28). By putting away sin and accomplishing eternal redemption, Christ consummated the new covenant. Hence, the new covenant is also a bequest.
四 为要遗赠新遗命
D. For the Bequest of the New Testament
6最后，基督的第一次显明也是为著遗赠新遗命。（来九16～17。）我们已经看过，新约一经遗赠，就成为新遗命。基督第一次显明时，完成了一切，并且把所完成的一切，列为遗书，留给我们。在这遗书里，我们得到基督所完成的一切，遗赠给我们。因为一切都完成了，所以祂和我们都不需再作甚么。我们若有这异象，就看见基督在第一次显明的三十三年半中，把一切都完成了，并且把所完成的一切列在遗书里，就是列在新遗命里。不要认为新约是一本应许的书或豫言的书。不，整本新约乃是遗书。假如你祖父的遗书里都是应许和豫言，那可能还要八十年才能实现。你可能活不到那么久，等不及实现。这正是许多基督徒对新约的看法。今天许多基督徒所有的不是遗书，只是一本应许和豫言的书。他们还在等待那些应许和豫言逐渐应验。但要记得，甚至启示录这卷豫言的书，也包括在新约这遗书之内。正如我在前一篇信息指出的，甚至在启示录这样的豫言书内，许多动词都是用过去式，指明那些事都已经应验并完成了。
6Eventually, the first manifestation of Christ was for the bequest of the new testament (9:16-17). We have seen that when the new covenant was bequeathed, it became the new testament. In His first manifestation, Christ accomplished everything, put all that He had accomplished into a will, and left His will with us. In this will we have, as our bequests, everything Christ has accomplished. Since everything has been accomplished, neither He nor we need to do anything more. If we have this vision, we shall see that within the thirty-three and a half years of His first manifestation, Christ accomplished everything and put it into a will, into the new testament. Do not think that the New Testament is a book of promise or prophecy. No, the entire New Testament is a will. If your grandfather’s will were full of promises and prophecies, it might take eighty years for it to be fulfilled. You might not live long enough for them all to be fulfilled. This is exactly the way many Christians take the New Testament. Today many Christians do not have a will; they have a book of promise and prophecy. They are waiting for the promises and prophecies to be fulfilled by and by. But remember, even Revelation, a book of prophecy, is included in the New Testament which is a will. As I pointed out in the previous message, even in a book of prophecy such as Revelation, many of the verbs are in the past tense, indicating that they have already been fulfilled and accomplished
7我们必须有清楚的异象，看见基督已经成就了一切。我们若看见这事，就不会为任何事挣扎，只安息于主所作成的一切。我很喜乐，因为基督已为我成就了一切。看见基督已为我们成就了一切之异象的人，有福了。如今基督坐在诸天之上，因为一切工作都已完成。祂不劳苦挣扎，乃是安息的坐在那里。在圣经里，坐下的意思就是工作完成了，基督的第一次显明，将神永远计画里需要完成的事物都成就了。祂所成就的一切，都在新遗命里赐给我们，作我们所得的遗赠。
7We need to have a clear vision and see that Christ has accomplished everything. If we see this, we will not strive for anything, but rest in all that Christ has done. I am happy because Christ has accomplished everything for me. Blessed is he who sees the vision that Christ has accomplished everything for us. Christ is sitting in the heavens because all the work has been done. He is not laboring or striving but restfully sitting there. In the Bible, to sit means that the work is finished. Everything needed for the completion of God’s eternal plan has already been fulfilled by Christ in His first manifestation. All that He has accomplished has been bequeathed to us in the new testament as our bequests
贰 两次显明之间
II. IN THE INTERVAL
一 进入诸天之上的至圣所
A. Entering into the Holy of Holies in the Heavens
8基督藉著死与复活，完成了当作的事之后，就升到天上，进入诸天之上的至圣所。希伯来九章二十四节说，『基督并不是进入人手所造的圣所，…乃是进入了天的本身。』旧约的帐幕，乃是诸天之上真帐幕的豫表。地乃是这真帐幕的外院子。基督这大祭司在外院子完成了祂的工作后，就进入真帐幕里的至圣所。
8After He had accomplished the necessary things through His death and resurrection, Christ ascended to heaven and entered into the Holy of Holies in the heavens. Verse 24 says, “Christ did not enter into the holy places made by hand, but into heaven itself.” The tabernacle in the Old Testament was a figure of the true one in the heavens. The earth is the outer court of this true tabernacle. After He had finished His work in the outer court, Christ, as the High Priest, entered into the Holy of Holies of the true tabernacle.
二 显在神面前
B. Appearing before God
9基督已经进入了诸天之上的至圣所，因而为我们显在神面前。（24。）祂在地上完成了一切，现今乃是安息的坐在天上神的面前。只有在司提反被石头打死的时候，圣经告诉我们说，祂曾站起来。（徒七55～56。）
9Christ has entered into the Holy of Holies in the heavens so that He might appear before the face of God for us (9:24). Since He has accomplished everything on earth, He is now restfully sitting in heaven before God. The only time we are told that He stood up was when Stephen was being stoned (Acts 7:55-56
三 作大祭司，在真帐幕里供职
C. Ministering in the True Tabernacle as the High Priest
10基督在真帐幕里，供职作大祭司。（来八1～2。）基督这大祭司在作甚么？乃是为我们代求，要把祂所完成的一切，作到我们里面。在前面一些信息里，我们看过有关基督在天上代求的事。我们一定记得，麦基洗德在背后为亚伯拉罕代求之后，如何以饼和酒前来供应亚伯拉罕。照样，基督，我们的麦基洗德，也隐密的为一切爱祂并寻求祂的人代求。当祂在诸天之上为我们代求时，祂也是包罗万有、无往不透的灵。这包罗万有的灵，根据基督在天上的代求，在我们里面运行，推动生命之律，在我们里面起作用，使神长子这标准的模型，得以作到我们里面。这是今天在地上所发生的事。这种说法并不是我们的推测，而是神话语的启示，这启示乃是属天的异象，照亮我们。在这些日子中，我们许多人都在这异象的照亮下。这异象要成为支配的异象。赞美主，今天基督乃是在真帐幕里供职！
10In the true tabernacle, Christ is ministering as the High Priest (8:1-2). What is Christ doing as the High Priest? He is interceding for us that everything which He has accomplished might be wrought into our being. In some of the previous messages we have seen this matter of Christ’she aven ly intercession. We may recall how Melchisedec came to minister the bread and wine to Abraham after he had interceded for him behind the scene. Likewise, Christ, our Melchisedec, is secretly interceding for all who love Him and seek Him. As He is interceding for us in the heavens, He is also the all- inclusive and all-pervading Spirit. The all-inclusive Spirit works in us according to Christ’she aven ly intercession, motivating the law of life within us to function and causing the standard model, the Firstborn Son of God, to be wrought into our being. This is transpiring on earth today. To say this is not guesswork; it is the revelation of God’sHo ly Word which is shining over us as a heavenly vision. In these days, many of us have been under the shining of this vision. This vision will become a governing vision. Praise the Lord that Christ is ministering in the true tabernacle today
四 执行新遗命
D. Executing the New Testament
11在基督两次显明之间，祂乃是在执行新遗命。（八6，九15，十二24。）执行新遗命，就是推动我们里面的生命之律，把新遗书里的每一项遗赠，都真实的作到我们里面。一旦我们看见基督今天在我们里面作的是甚么，我们就不会依然故我了。基督现今在我们里面所作的，值得永远记念。当我们进到永世时，也必能回想到我们看见基督天上职事之荣耀异象的那日。当基督这职事完成之后，祂就要第二次显明。
11During the interval between His first and second manifestations, Christ is executing the new testament (8:6; 9:15; 12:24). To execute the new testament simply means to motivate the law of life within us and to make every bequest of the new will real in our being. Once we see what Christ is doing in us today, we shall never be the same. What Christ is doing in us is worthy of eternal remembrance. When we get into eternity, we may recall the day we saw the glorious vision of Christ’she aven ly ministry. When this ministry has been completed, Christ will be manifested the second time.
参 基督的第二次显明
III. THE SECOND MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST
一 与罪无关
A. Apart from Sin
12九章二十八节说，基督『将来还要向那热切等待祂的人第二次显现，并与罪无关，乃为拯救他们』。基督第二次显明，是与罪无关，因为罪已经成为历史了。因为人人都有一死，死后且有审判，（27，）所以基督一次受死，担当了人的罪，（28，彼前二24，）并且在十字架上为人受了审判。（赛五三5，。）希伯来书十分著重一个事实，就是基督第一次显明时，藉著所献的祭，罪已经除掉。基督既在第一次显现时把罪除掉，（九26，约壹三5，）祂第二次显现就完全与罪无关。
12Verse 28 says that Christ “shall appear to those who wait for Him a second time, apart from sin, unto salvation.” The second manifestation of Christ has nothing to do with sin, because sin has already become a history. As man must die once and be judged after having died (v. 27), so Christ died once to bear man’ss ins (v. 28; 1 Pet. 2:24) and suffered the judgment for man on the cross (Isa. 53:5, 11). This book very much stresses the fact that sin has been put away by Christ’s 11 sacrifice in His first manifestation. Since Christ has put away sin in His first appearing (9:26; 1 John 3:5), His second appearing will be apart from sin, having nothing whatever to do with it.
二 乃为拯救
B. Unto Salvation
13希伯来九章二十八节说，基督在第二次显现时，『乃为拯救他们。』这里的拯救，不是指所谓的从地狱救到天堂。其意义更广更高，包括以下几方面：
13Verse 28 says that Christ will appear a second time “unto salvation.” “Salvation” here does not refer to the salvation from hell to heaven. It has a wider and higher meaning, covering the following aspects
1 使我们的身体得赎，改变形状
1. For the Redemption, the Transfiguration of Our Body
14首先，基督在第二次显明时所要带给我们的救恩，是使我们的身体得赎，改变形状。我们得救时，就在灵里得了重生。（约三5～6。）现今我们是在魂的变化过程中。（罗十二2，林后三18。）然后，基督在第二次来时，要完成我们全人得救的工作，就是使我们卑贱的身体改变形状，成为荣耀的身体。（腓三21。）那就是我们的身体得赎，（罗八23，）也就是基督第二次显明，为要拯救我们达到的第一方面。2使我们得著释放，
14First of all, the very salvation which Christ will bring to us in His second manifestation is for the redemption, the transfiguration, of our body. When we were saved, we were regenerated in our spirit (John 3:5-6). Now we are in the process of being transformed in our soul (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18). Then at Christ’s second coming for the completion of the salvation of our entire being, He will transfigure our vile body into a glorious one (Phil. 3:21). That will be the redemption of our body (Rom. 8:23), the first aspect of Christ’s appearing “unto salvation” in His second manifestation. 2. For the Deliverance from the Vanity and Slavery
脱离旧造的虚空和败坏的奴役
of Corruption of the Old Creation
15基督第二次来，为要拯救我们的第二方面，是使我们得著释放，脱离旧造的虚空和败坏的奴役，得享神儿女之荣耀的自由。（罗八18～23。）整个旧造都服在虚空和败坏的奴役之下。甚至我们这些已经得救并享受那灵的人，也在旧造的虚空和败坏的奴役之下。基督第二次来时，要释放我们脱离这虚空和奴役，使我们得享神儿女之荣耀的自由。
15The second aspect of the salvation by Christ’s second coming is the deliverance from the vanity and slavery of corruption of the old creation into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Rom. 8:18-23). The entire old creation has been subjected to vanity and is under the slavery of corruption. Even we who have been saved and who have the enjoyment of the Spirit are also under the vanity and the slavery of corruption of the old creation. At His second coming, Christ will free us from this vanity and slavery and deliver us into the freedom of the glory of the children of God
3 使我们得荣耀
3. For Our Glorification
16基督第二次来时，要使我们得荣耀，（罗八17，）也就是带我们进入祂的荣耀，以实现希伯来二章十节的话。我们得荣耀，乃是神在基督里救恩的最终目标。（罗八29～30。）我们已经蒙了拣选、豫定、呼召和称义，现今我们正在生命变化的过程中，得以圣别。然后在基督第二次显明时，我们要得荣耀，达到神在基督里救恩的最终目标。这是基督要来拯救我们达到的第三方面。
16At His second coming, Christ will glorify us (Rom. 8:17), that is, He will bring us into His glory to fulfill the word in Hebrews 2:10. Our glorification is the final goal of God’s salvation in Christ (Rom. 8:2 9-30). We have been chosen, predestinated, called, and justified. Now we are being sanctified through the process of transformation in life. Then in His second manifestation, we shall be glorified and reach the final goal of God’ss alvation in Christ. This is the third aspect of Christ’s coming salvation.
4 使我们得完满的儿子名分
4. For the Full Sonship
17我们在重生时从神而生，成为神的众子。（约一12～13。）我们在这新的出生里，在我们灵里得著神儿子的名分。（罗八15。）然后，我们藉著魂的变化，开始享受这儿子的名分。我们在魂里变化得越多，就越享受在我们灵中所得儿子的名分。直等到我们旧造的身体改变形状成为新造的身体，这儿子的名分才达到完满的地步。这意思是说，我们的身体得赎，乃是我们新生的完满儿子名分。这是基督第二次显明，为要拯救我们达到的第四方面。
17In regeneration we were born of God and became the sons of God (John 1:12-13). In this new birth we received the divine sonship in our spirit (Rom. 8:15). After this, we began to enjoy this sonship through the transformation of our soul. The more we are transformed in our soul, the more we enjoy the sonship which has been given to us in our spirit. This sonship will become full when our body of the old creation is transfigured into a body of the new creation. This means that the redemption of our body is the full sonship of our new birth. This will be the fourth aspect of Christ’ss alvation in His second manifestation
5 使我们得著对神的全享
5. For the Full Taste of God
18神在基督里的救恩，是要将祂自己作到我们里面，成为我们的享受。祂把祂的灵赐给我们，在我们的灵里作初熟果子，给我们享受。（罗八23。）那灵的初熟果子，就是我们对神之享受的豫尝。但基督第二次显明时，才会带进全享。当我们的身体改变形状，我们全人灵、魂、体都被三一神的神圣元素完全浸透时，我们就能完满的享受神。这将是我们对神的全享，也就是基督要来拯救我们达到的末了一面。
18God’ss alvation in Christ is to work Himself into us as our enjoyment. He has given to us His Spirit in our spirit as the firstfruit for our enjoyment (Rom. 8:23). This firstfruit of the Spirit is the foretaste for our enjoyment of God. The full taste will be brought in for our enjoyment by Christ’s second manifestation. When our body is transfigured and our entire being, spirit, soul, and body, is fully saturated with the divine element of the Triune God, we shall enjoy God in full. That will be our full taste of God, the last aspect of Christ’s coming salvation
19基督第二次来所要带给我们的救恩，就是这样既广且高的救恩，要实现神在基督里那包罗万有之救恩最终并终极的目标。基督在祂第二次显明以前，乃是带著这个目标供应我们。今天，祂在诸天之上那更超特的职任，就是祂君尊而神圣的祭司职分，以及祂在天上的代求，正在建造这样的救恩。当祂看见这奇妙救恩的建造已经完成，祂就要第二次显现；那将是神经纶里基督的第二次显明。
19The very salvation which Christ will bring us in His second coming will be such a wider and higher one and will fulfill the final and ultimate goal of God’sa ll-inclusive salvation in Christ. Before His second manifestation, Christ is ministering to us with this goal in view. His more excellent ministry in the heavens today, the ministry of His kingly and divine priesthood with His heavenly intercession, is building up such a salvation. When He sees that the building up of this wonderful salvation has been accomplished, He will appear the second time. That will be His second manifestation in God’secon o my.