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启示录生命读经 · 第13篇

在推雅推喇的召会─权柄和晨星

The Church in Thyatira— Authority and Morning Star
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看第四个召会，在推雅推喇的召会，就是背道的召会。（启二18～29。）推雅推喇，原文意香的祭祀，或，不断的祭祀。就表号说，在推雅推喇的召会豫表罗马天主教，就是在第六世纪后期，因普世教皇制度的建立，所完全形成的背道召会。这背道的召会满了祭祀，从她不止息的弥撒可以得著证明。
1In this message we come to the fourth church, the church in Thyatira (2:18-29), the church in apostasy. Thyatira in Greek means “sacrifice of perfume,” or, “unceasing sacrifice.” As a sign, the church in Thyatira prefigures the Roman Catholic Church, which was fully formed as the apostate church by the establishment of the universal papal system in the latter part of the sixth century. This apostate church is full of sacrifices, as demonstrated in her unceasing mass
壹 说话者
I. THE SPEAKER
一 神的儿子
A. The Son of God
2十八节说，『那眼目如火焰，脚像明亮之铜的神之子，这样说。』背道的罗马天主教极力强调基督是马利亚的儿子。因此，主在这里郑重的声称祂是神的儿子，以抗议这个背道的异端。
2Verse 18 says, “These things says the Son of God, who has eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like shining brass.” The apostate Catholic Church strongly emphasizes Christ as the Son of Mary. Thus, here, the Lord, protesting against the apostasy of the Catholic Church, says that He is the Son of God
二 眼目如火焰，脚像明亮的铜
B. Who Has Eyes as a Flame of Fire and Whose Feet Are Like Shining Brass
3主在对付属世的别迦摩召会时，称自己是那有两刃利剑的；在对付背道的推雅推喇召会时，称自己是那眼目如火焰，脚像明亮之铜的。属世的召会需要主那击打、杀死的话对付；背道的召会，需要祂搜察的眼目和践踏的脚审判。主的眼目搜察人的肺腑心肠，祂的脚按照各人的行为，审判报应各人。（启二23。）
3In dealing with the worldly church, the church in Pergamos, the Lord referred to Himself as the One who has the sharp two-edged sword. In dealing with this apostate church, the church in Thyatira, He refers to Himself as the One who has “eyes as a flame of fire, and feet like shining brass.” The worldly church requires the dealing of His smiting and killing word, whereas the apostate church needs the judging of His searching eyes and treading feet. The Lord’se yes search the inward parts and the heart, and His feet judge and give to everyone according to his works (2:23
贰 召会的德行
II. THE CHURCH’S VIRTUES
4在十九节，主说，『我知道你的行为、爱、信、服事、忍耐，也知道你末后所行的，比起初的更多。』背道的天主教有许多的工作和服事，她在末后日子所作的，比起初的更多。
4In verse 19 the Lord says, “I know your works and love and faith and service and your endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.” The apostate Catholic Church has many works and services. Her works in the last days are more than in the past
参 妇人耶洗别
III. THE WOMAN JEZEBEL
5给推雅推喇召会的书信中，有一个重点，说到那妇人耶洗别。在二十节中，主题到她说，『有一件事我要责备你，就是你容让那自称是女申言者的妇人耶洗别教导我的奴仆，引诱他们行淫乱，并吃祭偶像之物。』我们将会看见，这里的妇人，就是主在马太十三章三十三节所豫言，那把面酵（表征邪恶、异端、异教的事物）加在细面（表征基督是满足神和人的素祭）里的妇人；这妇人也就是启示录十七章那将可憎之物与神圣事物混杂的大妓女。亚哈的异教妻子耶洗别，乃是这背道召会的豫表。背道的召会充满了各样的淫乱和拜偶像，有的是属灵上的，有的是物质上的。
5One of the crucial points in the epistle to the church in Thyatira concerns the woman Jezebel. The Lord refers to her in verse 20, where He says, “But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My slaves astray to commit fornication and to eat idol sacrifices.” As we shall see, the woman here is the very woman prophesied by the Lord in Matthew 13:33, who added leaven (signifying evil, heretical, and pagan things) into the fine flour (signifying Christ as the meal offering for the satisfaction of God and man). This woman is also the great prostitute of Revelation 17, who mixes abominations with the divine things. The pagan wife of Ahab, Jezebel, was a type of this apostate church. The apostate church is filled with all manner of fornication and idolatry, both spiritual and physical.
一 自称是女申言者
A. Calling Herself a Prophetess
6主在这里指明，这个背道的召会，自称是女申言者。申言者是带著神的权柄为神说话的。背道的罗马天主教擅装由神授权为神说话。她要求人听从她，过于听从神。
6Here the Lord indicates that the apostate church is a self-appointed prophetess. A prophet is one who speaks for God with God’s authorization. The apostate Catholic Church presumes to be authorized by God to speak for God. She demands that people listen to her rather than to God
二 教导并引诱主的奴仆行淫乱，并吃祭偶像之物
B. Teaching and Leading the Lord’s Slaves to Commit Fornication and to Eat Idol Sacrifices
7在别迦摩的召会中，有巴兰和尼哥拉党的教训，这些教训要存留在这背道的召会中。此外，背道的天主教自己施教，使她的人听从她过于听从神的圣言。归附她的人都被她异端、宗教的教训麻醉，不在意基督是他们的生命和生命的供应，正如主曾应许给在以弗所和别迦摩召会的生命树和隐藏的吗哪所指明的。（启二7，17。）马太十三章三十三节说，『祂对他们另讲一个比喻说，诸天的国好像面酵，有妇人拿去藏在三斗面里，直到全团都发了酵。』正统的圣经教师都同意启示录二章的耶洗别无疑就是主在马太十三章三十三节所豫言的妇人。这两个妇人实在就是一个。启示录十七章的大妓女，也是这同一个妇人。因此，马太十三章的妇人，就是启示录二章的耶洗别，耶洗别又成了启示录十七章里，称为大巴比伦的大妓女。若说不是她，那么这妓女又指谁？旧约的耶洗别，就是启示录二章『那妇人耶洗别』的豫表。主向推雅推喇召会说话时，祂说有一个今天的耶洗别。按照历史，这个今天的耶洗别，无疑就是背道的召会，罗马天主教。主用耶洗别这名字，就叫我们想起，亚哈的妻子耶洗别作过甚么事：她来自外邦背景，把异教的东西，带进神子民对神的敬拜里。这就是给推雅推喇的书信中，最紧要、最中心的点。背道的召会所作的一切事，原则上就是把外邦的、异教的东西，混杂在神子民对神的敬拜里。她帮助人敬拜神，但并不是照著神的方法，乃是照著她自己外邦的、异教的方法。背道的召会自开始以来，就一直吸收异教的东西；她无论到那里，就把与拜偶像有关的事物吸收进来。
7The church in Pergamos had the teachings of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans, and these are continued in this apostate church. Furthermore, the Catholic Church herself teaches, causing her people to listen to her rather than to the holy Word of God. Her adherents are all drugged by her heretical, religious teaching, not caring for Christ as their life and life supply, as indicated by the tree of life and hidden manna promised by the Lord to the churches in Ephesus and Pergamos (2:7, 17). Matthew 13:33 says, “Another parable He spoke to them: The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened.” The sound teachers of the Bible agree that the Jezebel in Revelation 2 is undoubtedly the woman prophesied by the Lord in Matthew 13:33. These two women actually are one. The great harlot in Revelation 17 is also the same woman. Thus, the woman in Matthew 13 is the Jezebel in Revelation 2, and Jezebel becomes the great harlot who is called the great Babylon in Revelation 17. If she is not the harlot, then who is? The Jezebel in the Old Testament was a prefigure of “the woman Jezebel” in Revelation 2. When the Lord spoke to the church in Thyatira, He said that there was a present - day Jezebel. According to history, this present-day Jezebel undoubtedly is the apostate church, the Roman Catholic Church. In using the name Jezebel, the Lord was reminding us of what Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, did: she came from a heathen background and brought pagan things into the worship of God by His people. This is the crucial and most central point in the epistle to Thyatira. The principle of the deeds of the apostate church is to mix the heathen, pagan things with the worship of God by His people. She helps God’sp eople to worship Him, but she does not do so in God’sway; she does it in her own pagan, heathen way. Ever since the apostate church began, she has been absorbing paganism. Wherever she goes, she assimilates things related to the worship of idols.
8这背道的召会所作的事中，一个最显著的例子就是所谓的圣诞节。我们要基督，但不要圣诞节。十二月二十五日，就是所谓的圣诞日，本是古代欧洲人拜太阳的日子。他们说那天是太阳的生日。背道的召会开展到欧洲时，因著接纳了成千成万未信的人进来，也就吸收了这个古代的风俗。这些不信者仍然想庆祝他们神的生日。为著适应他们，背道的召会就宣布十二月二十五日为基督诞生之日。这就是圣诞节的来源。『两个巴比伦』（The）这本书，暴露了带进背道召会里许多邪恶、鬼魔、异教东西的起源。我们若看见消极一面的这幅图画，就知道在积极一面我们必须如何了。圣经在开头就说到，神的心意是要以生命的供应，𫗪养祂的子民。因此，在园子里有生命树作生命的供应。人堕落以后，神在祂的救赎里，没有放弃𫗪养祂子民的思想。神设立逾越节时，命令祂的子民把羊羔的血涂在门楣和门框上，然后在血的遮盖下，吃羊羔的肉。以色列人被拯救离开埃及以后，经过旷野时，神赐下属天的吗哪，作他们生命的供应。（出十六14～15。）最终，以色列人进入了迦南美地。他们进入美地的那日，吗哪止住了，他们就开始吃美地丰富的出产。（书五12。）新约印证，这一切都是基督的豫表；祂不仅是我们的救赎主，也是我们生命的供应。基督是羔羊，祂有两个元素─血是为著救赎，肉是为著𫗪养。在约翰六章，主耶稣启示祂就是属天的吗哪，为要𫗪养神的子民。我们知道，美地丰富的出产，表征基督一切的丰富。基督不光是我们的羔羊、吗哪，更是我们的美地。祂是羔羊，供应我们以肉；祂是美地，有一切的丰富，作我们生命的供应。在旧约中，还有各种的供物，来自美地的出产。五样主要的祭中，第二样是素祭，是为著𫗪养神子民的。所有事奉的祭司都吃素祭。这表征基督是神祭司生命的供应。所有事奉神的人，都该从基督得𫗪养。
8One of the most striking examples of the deeds of this apostate church is the so - called Christmas. We want Christ, but we do not need a mass. Originally, December 25, the so-called Christmas Day, was the day the ancient Europeans worshipped the sun. They said that December 25 was the birthday of the sun. When the apostate church spread to Europe, she assimilated this ancient custom because she had taken in thousands of unbelievers into the church. These unbelievers still wanted to celebrate the birthday of their god. Therefore, to accommodate them, the apostate church declared December 25 to be the birthday of Christ. This is the source of Christmas. The book, The Two Babylons, Two Babylons exposes the origin of the evil, demonic, pagan things that were brought into the apostate church. If we see this picture on the negative side, then we shall know what we must be on the positive side. From the very beginning of the Bible, God’sin tent i on has been to feed His people with the life supply. Thus, in the garden there was the tree of life as the life supply. After man’s fall, God, in His redemption, did not give up this thought of feeding His people. When He instituted the Passover, God commanded His people to strike the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and, under the covering of the blood, to eat the meat of the lamb. After the children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt and were traveling through the wilderness, God gave them heavenly manna as their life supply (Exo. 16:14-15). Eventually, the children of Israel entered into the good land of Canaan. On the day they entered into the land, the manna ceased, and they began to eat the rich produce of the land (Josh. 5:12). The New Testament confirms that all these are types of Christ, not only as our Redeemer but also as our life supply. As the Lamb, Christ has two elements—the blood for redeeming and the meat for feeding. In John 6 the Lord Jesus revealed that He is the heavenly manna on whom God’s people may feed. We know that the rich produce of the land signifies the riches of Christ. Christ is not only our Lamb and our manna; He is also our good land. As the Lamb, He has the meat, and as the good land, He has all the riches for our life supply. In the Old Testament there were also the offerings which came from the produce of the good land. Among the five main offerings, the second was the meal offering which was for the feeding of God’s people. All the serving priests fed upon the meal offering. This signifies that Christ is the life supply for God’s priests. All God’s serving ones should feed on Christ.
9虽然这件事在圣经中是很清楚的，但大多数基督徒都忽略了。我在基督教里的时候，从来没有听过一篇道，教我如何吃基督。无论如何，圣经里最重要的点，就是基督是我们生命的供应，我们必须吃祂。（约六57。）在马太十三章三十三节，主指明祂是细面。祂在这节里论到面或细面的话，就是指素祭；素祭主要是细面作的。因此，细面是主耶稣作我们生命供应的圆满、完全的豫表。基督是素祭，在祂的人性里乃是细面，作了我们的食物。在马太十三章里，主耶稣豫言有一个邪恶的妇人，要把面酵加在这细面里。这正是背道的召会所作的，把异教的酵拿来，放进基督这细面里，成为邪恶的混杂。在这一点上，背道的召会实在非常的邪恶并诡诈。背道的召会中有人会说，『我们难道没有一点真东西么？我们不是也有神、基督、圣经么？』不错，他们有，但都不纯正，都有搀杂。背道的召会有细面，但在面里有酵。我在马尼拉的时候，曾参观过一处天主教堂。在教堂门口，有一座马利亚的像。我看到那像的一只手，差不多已完全磨损，就问人磨损的原因。他们说，每一个进到教堂的人，都先摸一下这像的手，久而久之，就变成了这个样子。我也问他们为甚么必须作这样一个像，他们说，『如果没有像，你对他们讲圣经的时候，人还是不领会。他们需要抓著一点具体的东西。』这是他们要有马利亚和耶稣像的理由，这是何等的诡诈！那不是耶稣、马利亚，那是偶像。表面上，他们敬拜耶稣；实际上，他们拜一个石像。这就是仇敌诡诈之处。我们可以看出背道召会的邪恶─她吸收了异教的东西，混在细面里。何等的邪恶！
9Although this is clear in the Holy Word, most Christians have missed it. When I was in Christianity, I never heard a message telling me how to eat Christ. Nevertheless, the crucial point in the Holy Word is that Christ is our life supply and that we must eat Him (John 6:57). In Matthew 13:33 the Lord indicated that He was the fine flour. His word regarding the meal, or fine flour, in this verse refers to the meal offering which was primarily composed of fine flour. Hence, the fine flour is a full and complete type of the Lord Jesus as our life supply. As the meal offering, Christ in His humanity is the fine flour for our food. In Matthew 13 the Lord Jesus predicted that an evil woman would add leaven to this fine flour. This is exactly what the apostate church does, taking in the pagan leaven and adding it to the fine flour of Christ to form an evil mixture. In this, the apostate church is very evil and subtle. Some in the apostate church would say, “Don’t you think we have something real? Don’t you think we have God, Christ, and the Bible?” Yes, they do, but it is not pure; it is a mixture. The apostate church has the fine flour, but within the flour there is leaven. When I was in Manila, I visited a Catholic cathedral. At the entrance of this cathedral was a statue of Mary. Noticing that one of the hands of the statue was almost completely worn out, I asked the people what had happened. They said that everyone who entered the cathedral firstly touched the hand of the statue and that, through the years, this had worn out the hand. When I asked them about the need for such a statue, they said, “If people do not have statues, they cannot understand what you are saying when you talk about the Bible. They need something solid to grasp.” This is their justification for having statues of Jesus and Mary. What subtlety! That is not Jesus or Mary—that is an idol. Apparently, they worship Jesus; actually, they worship an image of stone. This is the subtlety of the enemy. Now we can see the evil of the apostate church—it absorbs pagan things and adds them to the fine flour. How wicked this is!
10这种邪恶的混杂，叫这个背道的召会中，满了拜偶像的事。主说，耶洗别教导人行淫乱并吃祭偶像之物。耶洗别教导她的人拜偶像。罗马天主教也教人拜偶像。在马尼拉，我见过许多人，先在柜台上买了蜡烛，然后摆在墙上所安放的偶像面前。那里有拜偶像，那里也必定有淫乱。耶洗别不光带进异教的风俗，和偶像的崇拜，她也将淫乱带进来。这是可憎的，我们不能容忍。这不单是争辩道理的问题，乃是拜偶像与淫乱的问题。一九三七年，我在华北旅行，遇到一件事，引起我的注意。有一位姊妹被鬼附了，有人问我被鬼附的原因，我说原则上，若不是罪，就是她家里有偶像，使鬼有地位来附她。人告诉我说她家里并没有甚么偶像，但是鬼一再来搅扰她。我告诉她说，她既然没有甚么牵涉到罪的事，她家里必定有某种偶像，应该仔细的搜查一下。后来，我听说她家墙上有一幅所谓耶稣的像，我就要她把这像烧掉。从她烧掉那像以后，鬼就离开了。从这里，我们看出仇敌的诡诈。
10Due to this evil mixture, there is much idol worship in the apostate church. The Lord said that Jezebel teaches people to commit fornication and to eat idol sacrifices. Jezebel teaches her people to worship idols. In the Roman Catholic Church the worship of idols is taught. In Manila, I saw many people purchasing candles at the candle counter and placing them before the images and idols on the walls. Wherever there is idolatry, there is also fornication. Jezebel not only brought in paganism and idolatry; she also brought in fornication. This is abominable, and we cannot tolerate it. It is not a matter of doctrinal debate—it is a matter of idolatry and fornication. In 1937, when I was traveling in North China, a case of demon possession was brought to my attention. A certain Christian sister had become possessed. When I was asked the reason for this, I said that, in principle, either sin or some idols or images in that sister’sho me would give ground for the demon to possess her. I was told that there were no idols or images in her home. Nevertheless, the demon came again and again to trouble her. I told her that since she was not involved in anything sinful, there must be some sort of idol or image in her home and that she should search thoroughly for it. Eventually, I learned that on her wall was a picture of the so-called Jesus, and I told her to burn it. From the moment she burned that picture, the demon departed. In this, we see the subtlety of the enemy
三 不肯悔改她的淫行
C. Not Willing to Repent of Her Fornication
11在二十一节主耶稣说，『我会给她时间，让她悔改，她却不肯悔改她的淫行。』历史证明，背道的召会正是这样。一直到今日，她还不肯悔改她邪恶的行为。
11In verse 21 the Lord Jesus said, “I gave her time that she might repent, and she is not willing to repent of her fornication.” History proves that this is true of the apostate Catholic Church. Even up to this day, she will not repent of her evil deeds
四 卧病在床
D. Sick in Bed
12主又说，『看哪，我要叫她卧病在床。』床正常是用著睡眠和休息，用著养病是反常的。主在这里指明，背道的召会无可救药，要这样卧病，直到她最终的审判。耶洗别的邪恶叫她病倒，她一点也不健康。整个背道的召会就是在病态的状况中。看看她的光景：有些东西属天，别的却是属地；有些东西出于神，但更多的是出于撒但；有些东西圣别，但大部分却是凡俗的、平常的、属世的。这种酵不光在背道的召会里，也扩散到所谓改革的召会里。耶洗别是属鬼的、属撒但的、属魔鬼的、甚至属地狱的。我们的眼睛得开启，看见天主教里属鬼魔的东西，这不是小事。我们简直想像不出这个背道的召会，是何等的可悲。
12The Lord also said, “Behold, I will cast her into a bed.” A bed is normally used for sleep and rest, and abnormally for sickness. The Lord indicates here that the apostate church is incurably sick and will remain so until her final judgment. Jezebel’s evils have made her sick; she is not at all healthy. The entire apostate church is in a sick condition. Look at her situation: some things are heavenly and others are earthly; some things are of God and more things are of Satan; some things are holy and other things are secular, common, and worldly. This leaven is not only in that apostate church, but has spread into the so-called reformed church. Jezebel is demonic, satanic, devilish, and even hellish. It is not a small thing for us to have our eyes opened to see the devilish and demonic things in the Catholic Church. We simply cannot imagine how deplorable this apostate church is
五 与她行淫的人要受大患难
E. Her Lovers Suffering Great Tribulation
13在二十二节，主不仅说要叫耶洗别卧病在床，更说『那些与她行淫的人，若不为她所行的悔改，我也要叫他们受大患难。』这里的大患难，和七章十四节，以及马太二十四章二十一节的大灾难不同。七章十四节的大患难，是指召会历世历代所受的逼迫之苦；马太二十四章二十一节者，是指在这世代末了的三年半要临到一切住在地上之人的大灾难。但这里的大患难，乃是主要使背道的召会所要受的患难，可能是藉著这世代的末了，敌基督对她的攻击而有的。
13In verse 22 the Lord not only said that He would cast Jezebel into a bed but also “those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works.” The great tribulation here is different from that in 7:14 and from the great tribulation in Matthew 24:21. The great tribulation in 7:14 is the tribulation which the church suffers throughout the centuries of persecution. The one in Matthew 24:21 is the great tribulation in the last three and a half years of the age which will fall upon all the dwellers of the earth. But the great tribulation here is the affliction which the Lord will cause the apostate church to suffer, probably through the attacks of the Antichrist on her at the end of this age
六 她的儿女要被死亡击杀
F. Her Children Being Killed with Death
14二十三节，主说，『我又要用死亡击杀她的儿女。』这也许指神在这世代的末了，要藉著敌基督和跟从他的人，毁灭罗马天主教。我们若仔细读启示录，就会看见在这世代的末了，敌基督要毁坏天主教。敌基督要反对一切宗教，高抬自己为神；（帖后二4；）他不允许犹太人和天主教徒敬拜自己的神，强迫人敬拜他。那时，他要逼害犹太人，并杀死许多天主教里的人。
14In verse 23 the Lord said, “And I will kill her children with death.” This may refer to God’s destroying the Roman Catholic Church through the Antichrist and his followers at the end of this age. If we read Revelation carefully, we shall see that at the end of this age the Antichrist will damage the Catholic Church. The Antichrist will rebel against every religion, set himself up as God (2 Thes. 2:4), forbid the Jews and the Catholics to worship their God, and compel people to worship him. At that time, he will persecute the Jews and kill many of those in the Catholic Church
肆 撒但深奥之事
IV. THE DEEP THINGS OF SATAN
15二十四节说，『至于你们推雅推喇其余的人，就是一切不持有那教训，不明白他们所谓撒但深奥之事的人，我告诉你们，我不将别的重担放在你们身上。』『深奥之事，』原文意深，如在以弗所三章十八节者。按表号说，指奥秘的事。罗马天主教有许多奥秘或深奥的道理。与受苦的召会对抗的，有撒但会堂的人；（启二9；）与属世的召会相联的，有撒但的座位；（启二13；）在背道的召会中，有撒但深奥的事。会堂的宗教，撒但座位下的世界，以及属撒但之奥秘的哲学，都被撒但用来损害并腐化召会。
15Verse 24 says, “But I say to you, the rest in Thyatira, (as many as do not have this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say) I place no other burden upon you.” “Deep things” means depths as in Ephesians 3:18. It figuratively denotes mysterious things. The Roman Catholic Church has many mysteries or deep doctrines. Against the suffering church there was the synagogue of Satan (2:9); with the worldly church there was the throne of Satan (2:13); and within the apostate church there are “the deep things of Satan.” The religion of the synagogue, the world under Satan’s throne, and the philosophy of the satanic mysteries are all used by Satan to damage and corrupt the church.
16我们已经看见，召会曾受到撒但会堂的迫害；我们也看见召会后来变为属世，并且住在撒但所住、及他座位所在之处；这一切全是仇敌的诡计，全是出于撒但的。但在第四个召会这里，情形较前更为严重，不仅有撒但的会堂，有撒但的居所，或撒但座位所在之处；现在撒但已经进到召会里面来，用他自己充满了召会。在背道的召会里有撒但深奥的事，就是撒但奥秘的教训。这是属撒但的哲学。背道的召会的确教导撒但的奥秘。这指明撒但深奥的思想，撒但的观念，已浸透了背道的召会。至终，这召会成了撒但的化身。正确的召会是基督的身体，但背道的召会却成了撒但的化身。基督住在召会里，撒但却诡诈的住在背道的召会里面。撒但的作为总是诡诈的。他第一次来到人面前，是取了美丽的蛇的形状；那不仅是蛇，乃是撒但。撒但总是装扮得非常堂皇，谁也想不到他竟会披上『召会』作他的外形。但在给推雅推喇召会的信中，我们看见，这就是今天基督教国的实际光景。基督教国已经成了撒但的机构，虽然有基督其名，里面其实就是撒但。我们都必须看见这点。撒但深奥之事，就是属撒但的哲学，是非常的诡诈。在背道的召会里，有许多所谓的奥秘，这邪恶的召会所教导的一切奥秘，都是属撒但的哲学。他们有一项哲学说，如果不加一点东西在圣经的真理里，人就很难接受。主很智慧，把这件事比喻为酵，放在细面里，使饼比较容易吃。背道的召会说，若是没有圣诞节，人就很难接受基督出生这个真理。圣诞弥撒就是加在细面里的酵。这真是诡诈又恶毒！你若认为把这个邪恶的妇人说成撒但的化身太强的话，我要请你看启示录十七章四节和五节。四节说，『那女人穿著紫色和朱红色的衣服，用金子、宝石、珍珠为妆饰，手中拿著金杯，盛满了可憎之物，并她淫乱的污秽。』这个邪恶的女人外表很华贵，用金子、宝石和珍珠作妆饰，这些是用以建造新耶路撒冷的材料。新耶路撒冷是用这三种宝贵的材料坚固的建造成的，但这个邪恶的女人只是用这些材料为妆饰。妆饰就是妆扮表面，在外观上吸引人，讨人喜悦，好掩藏邪恶的东西。她的外表吸引人，但里面却非常可憎。这女人还手中拿著金杯，里面盛满了可憎之物；并她淫乱的污秽。在豫表上，金表征神圣的性情。表面上，这女人拿著神的东西，但实际上，她里面满了可憎之物。在圣经里，可憎之物主要指两件事─拜偶像和淫乱。在神眼中，这两件是可憎的事。表面上这个女人很吸引人，用金子、珍珠、宝石为妆饰，手里又拿著金杯。你若没有透视力，就会受她的欺骗。但我们必须有透视力，能看透她。当我们看见她里面是甚么，我们就发现在她里面充满了可憎和污秽。十七章五节说，『在她额上有名写著：奥秘哉！大巴比伦，地上妓女和可憎之物的母。』主搜察人的心畅，知道他们里面的东西。祂有透视力，看透了这邪恶的女人。主称她为『妓女的母，』就是说她是一切属灵淫乱的源头。因此，称她为撒但的化身，并不算过分。我们需要有透视力，以看透她的外貌。这就是为甚么我们要有两刃的利剑，就是圣经的话。为著主主宰的恩典感谢祂；因著主的恩典是主宰的，祂能在任何环境中拯救我们。就是在背道天主教的邪恶环境中，还是有很多人得救。没有人能说天主教不讲圣经。在中国，许多信从异教的中国人，因著天主教的教导，知道了神的名，耶稣的名，也听过几节圣经。然而，她邪恶的地方，就是人得了这背道召会的帮助后，就受到阻挠，不能往前真实的认识主。有的人因著主主宰的恩典，在背道的召会里得救了，但同时也爱上了那些邪恶的东西。他们说，『这些若是邪恶的，我怎么能藉此得救呢？』因此，有些从前在天主教里的，现在虽然来到召会生活里，但在深处，他们好些人对这个邪恶的妇人，还有点同情。他们不像主那么恨她。请把给推雅推喇的信再读一读。主对耶洗别毫不同情，因为那邪恶的妇人已经完全被那恶者撒但所浸透。那邪恶妇人的每一点都有撒但的成分。
16We have seen that the church suffered persecution from the synagogue of Satan and that she eventually became worldly, dwelling in the place where Satan dwells and where his throne is. All this is the subtlety of the enemy. It all originates with Satan. But here in the fourth church there is something more serious than this. It is not merely a matter of the synagogue of Satan, the place where Satan dwells, or where Satan’s throne is. Now Satan has come into the church and has saturated the church with himself. In the apostate church are the deep things of Satan, the mysterious teachings of Satan. This is the satanic philosophy. The apostate church does teach the satanic mysteries. This indicates that the deep thought of Satan, Satan’s concept, has saturated the apostate church. Eventually, this church becomes the embodiment of Satan. The proper church is the Body of Christ, but the apostate church is the embodiment of Satan. Christ indwells the church, but Satan indwells the apostate church in a subtle way. Satan always acts in a subtle way. When he first came to man, he came in the form of a beautiful serpent. Yet that was not merely a serpent— it was Satan. Satan always takes on a good form. No one would imagine that Satan could put on the “church” as his form. But in the epistle to the church in Thyatira we see that this is the real situation of today’s Christendom. Christendom has become an organ of Satan. Although it has the name Christ in it, actually within it there is Satan himself. We all must see this. The deep things of Satan, being the satanic philosophy, are subtle. In the apostate church there are many so-called mysteries. All the mysteries taught by this evil church are satanic philosophies. One of their philosophies is that if you do not add things to the truths of the Bible, it will be difficult for people to accept them. The Lord, being wise, likened this to the leaven put into the fine flour that makes the bread easy to eat. The apostate church says that if people do not have a Christmas, it will be difficult for them to accept the truth regarding the birth of Christ. The mass is the leaven added to the fine flour. This is subtle and evil. If you think that it is too strong to say that this evil woman is the embodiment of Satan, I would ask you to consider Revelation 17:4 and 5. Verse 4 says, “And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication.” This evil woman does have a good appearance: she is gilded with gold, precious stones, and pearls, the very materials with which the New Jerusalem is built. While the New Jerusalem is solidly built with these three precious materials, this evil woman is merely gilded with them. To be gilded means to wear a facade, to be superficially attractive, to have a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something evil. Her appearance is attractive outwardly, but she is detestable inwardly. This woman also has a golden cup full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication. In typology, gold signifies the divine nature. Apparently, this evil woman holds something of God, but actually she is inwardly full of abominations. In the Bible abomination mainly denotes two things—idolatry and fornication. These two things are abominations in the eyes of God. Apparently, this woman is very attractive, being gilded with gold, pearls, and precious stones and holding a golden cup. If you have no insight, you will be cheated by her. But we must have the insight to see through her. When we see what this woman is inwardly, we realize that she is filled with abominations and filthiness. Verse 5 says, “And upon her forehead a name was written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of the Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth.” The Lord searches the hearts of people and knows what is within them. He has insight and sees inside this evil woman. The Lord calls her, “The Mother of the Prostitutes,” meaning that she is the source of all spiritual fornication. Therefore, it is fair to say that she is the embodiment of Satan. We need the insight to see through her outward appearance. This is why we have the two-edged sharp sword, the word of the Holy Bible. We thank the Lord for His sovereign grace. Because His grace is sovereign, He can save us in any environment. Many have been saved even in the evil environment of the apostate Catholic Church. No one can say that the Catholic Church does not preach the Bible. In China, many heathen Chinese learned the name of God, the name of Jesus, and a few verses from the Bible through the teaching of the Catholic Church. The evil thing, however, is this: after people are helped by this apostate church, they are frustrated from going on to know the Lord in a genuine way. Some who, through the Lord’ss ove reign grace, were saved when they were in the apostate church spontaneously loved that evil thing. Many of them would say, “If this is evil, then how could I have been saved through it?” Therefore, although many former Catholics have come into the church life, deep within, some of them may still sympathize with this evil woman. They do not hate her as the Lord does. Read the epistle to Thyatira once again. The Lord has no sympathy with Jezebel because that evil woman has been thoroughly saturated with Satan, the evil one. Satan is in every fiber of that wicked woman.
17我们应当与这背道的召会无分无关，那不是基督的身体，不是神的召会，乃是撒但的化身，诡诈且邪恶。你若要更多看见这个背道召会的事，请读倪弟兄的『教会的正统』一书。凡有心为著主和祂恢复的人，都必须彻底认识这个背道的召会。我们一旦认识她，就不会欣赏任何与她有关的事，反而更要宣告她就是那大妓女，大巴比伦，我们必须弃绝她。我们将要看见，启示录指明这个大妓女有一些女儿。对于这背道的召会，我们必须洞悉一切。一旦清楚了，当我们摸到召会时，就晓得我们必须在那里。我们是在主的恢复中，是在基督的身体里，在神的召会里，与耶洗别这邪恶的妇人，大妓女，大巴比伦，完全无分无关，也和她的女儿无分无关。主在这封书信里指明祂要审判耶洗别。十七章十六节告诉我们，在大灾难的起头，主要容让敌基督来杀害、毁坏这背道的召会。那时，宗教的巴比伦就倾倒了。但按照豫言，在那时以前，这背道的召会要持续。二十五节指明，背道的天主教要存留直到主回来。
17We should have nothing to do with this apostate church. It is not the Body of Christ. It is not the church of God— it is the embodiment of Satan. It is subtle and evil. If you would see even more about the apostate church, read Brother Nee’s book, The Orthodoxy of the Church. Anyone who has a heart for the Lord and for His recovery must thoroughly know this apostate church. Once we know her, we would not appreciate anything related to her. Rather, we must declare that she is the great harlot, the great Babylon, and that we must desert her. As we shall see, the book of Revelation indicates that this great harlot has some daughters. We must be thoroughly enlightened about the apostate church. Once we are enlightened, we shall know where we must be as far as the church is concerned. We are in the Lord’s recovery. We are in the Body of Christ, the church of God, and we have nothing to do with Jezebel, the evil woman, the harlot, the great Babylon. And we have nothing to do with her daughters. In this epistle the Lord indicates that He will judge Jezebel. In 17:16 we are told that during the great tribulation the Lord will allow the Antichrist to kill and to damage this apostate church. At that time, religious Babylon will be torn down. But before that time, this apostate church will go on according to prophecy. Verse 25 indicates that the apostate Catholic Church will remain until the Lord comes back
伍 得胜者─推雅推喇其余的人
V. THE OVERCOMERS the rest in Thyatira
18在二十六节主说，『得胜的，又守住我的工作到底的，我要赐给他权柄制伏列国。』这里的『得胜，』是指胜过罗马天主教。那得胜的，就是推雅推喇其余的人，他们不从耶洗别的教训，（启二24，）不晓得撒但深奥之事，并持守主的见证，直等主来，（启二25，）且守住主的工作到底。（启二26。）二十六节『我的工作』指主所已经成就并正在作的事，就如祂的钉死、复活、代求等；这些事与背道召会在撒但影响下的工作相对。
18In verse 26 the Lord says, “And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.” To overcome here means to overcome Catholicism. The overcomers, the rest in Thyatira, do not have Jezebel’ste aching (v. 24), have not known the deep things of Satan, hold fast the Lord’s testimony until He comes (v. 25), and keep the Lord’s works until the end (v. 26). “My works” in verse 26 refers to the things the Lord has accomplished and is doing, such as His crucifixion, resurrection, intercession, etc., in contrast to the works of the apostate church under the influence of Satan.
陆 对得胜者的应许
VI. THE PROMISE TO THE OVERCOMER
一 得权柄制伏列国
A. To Receive Authority over the Nations
19在二十六节主说，要赐得胜者权柄制伏列国。这是给得胜者在千年国里与基督一同辖管列国的奖赏。（启二十4，6。）主这应许有力的含示，那些不答应祂呼召，胜过堕落基督教的人，不能有分于千年国的掌权。
19In verse 26 the Lord says that to the one who overcomes He will give authority over the nations. This is a prize to the overcomers of reigning with Christ over the nations in the millennial kingdom (20:4, 6). This promise of the Lord strongly implies that those who do not answer His call to overcome degraded Christianity will not participate in the reign of the millennial kingdom
二 用铁杖辖管列国，像主从父领受的权柄一样
B. To Shepherd the Nations with an Iron Rod as the Lord Has Received from the Father
20在二十七节，主论到得胜者说，『他必用铁杖辖管他们，将他们如同窑户的瓦器打得粉碎，像我从我父领受的权柄一样。』这里的辖管，直译是牧养；在千年国里，掌权的人就是牧养的人。在诗篇二篇九节，神把管辖列国的权柄赐给基督；在这里，基督把
20In verse 27 the Lord says, speaking of the overcomer, “And he will shepherd them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces, as I also have received from My Father.” In the millennial kingdom, the ruler is a shepherd. In Psalm 2:9, God gave Christ authority to rule over the nations. Here, Christ gives the same authority to His overcomers
21同样的权柄赐给祂的得胜者。
21
三 得著晨星
C. To Have the Morning Star
22最后，在二十八节主应许得胜者说，『我又要把晨星赐给他。』在基督第一次显现时，看见祂星的，（太二2，～10，）不是犹太宗教家，乃是星象家。在基督第二次显现时，祂对那些儆醒等候祂来的得胜者，乃是晨星；但对所有其余的人，祂只出现如日头。（玛四2。）
22Finally, in verse 28 the Lord gives a promise to the overcomer, saying, “I will give him the morning star.” At Christ’s first appearing, the wise men, not the Jewish religionists, saw His star (Matt. 9 2:2, 9-10). At His second appearing, He will be the morning star to His overcomers who watch for His coming. To all the others, He will appear only as the sun (Mal. 4:2).
柒 那灵所说的话
VII. THE SPIRIT’S SPEAKING
23在二十九节，主再一次说，『那灵向众召会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听。』在背道的召会里，那些要人听背道召会过于听神的，需要更多那灵的说话。任何人若听那灵的说话，就会听见主活的话，弃绝背道召会所教导一切背道的事，成为得胜者，使主满足。前三封书信，每封的末了都是先题凡有耳的就应当听，然后呼召得胜者；后四封书信的次序正好相反。这证明前三个召会是一组，后四个召会是另一组。在圣经里，『七』这数字，是由六加一组成的，如六天加一天等于一周；或是由三加四组成的，如这两章将七个召会分为三个一组和另四个一组。六加一是在神的创造里，三加四是在神的新造，召会里。万有既是在六天之内创造的，『六』这数字就表征受造之物，特别是表征第六天被造的人；第七天既是六天的结束，是神安息的一天，『一』这数字就表征独一的创造者。因此，六加一的意思就是万有都是被造归与神，为要成就祂的定旨。神这位独一的创造主是三一的，由『三』这数字所表征。四活物在神面前既代表受造之物，（启四6～9，）『四』这数字就表征受造之物，特别表征人。因此，三加四的意思是神加上祂所造的人，因而使祂的定旨逐渐得著成就。召会不仅是受造者，更是受造者同著创造者，就是三一神分赐到召会里面。她是真正的七这数字，就是真正的三（三一神）加上真正的四（受造的人）。所以七这数字指神行动的完成，首先是在旧造里，然后是在新造，召会里。
23Once again, in verse 29, the Lord says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” All those in the apostate church, which demands that people listen to her rather than to God, need more of the speaking of the Spirit. If anyone listens to the speaking of the Spirit, he will hear the living word of the Lord to deny all the apostate items taught by the apostate church and become an overcomer for the satisfaction of the Lord. At the end of each of the first three epistles, the ear for hearing is mentioned first, and then the call for overcoming. At the end of each of the last four epistles, the order is reversed. This proves that the first three of the seven churches are one group and the last four are another. The number seven in the Bible is composed either of six plus one, such as six days plus one day equaling one week; or three plus four, as in these two chapters where the seven churches are divided into one group of three and another group of four. Six plus one is in God’s creation, whereas three plus four is in God’s new creation, the church. Since all things were created in six days, the number six signifies the creation, especially man, who was created on the sixth day; and since the seventh day was the conclusion of the six days as the one day of God’s rest, the number one signifies the unique Creator. Hence, six plus one means that all things were created unto God for the accomplishment of His purpose. The unique Creator, God, is triune, as signified by the number three. Since the creation is represented before God by four living creatures (4:6-9), the number four signifies creatures, especially man. Hence, three plus four means that God is added to His creature, man, and thus His purpose is being accomplished. The church is not only the creature, but the creature with the Creator, the Triune God, dispensed into her. She is the real number seven; the real three, the Triune God, added to the real four, the created man. Therefore, the number seven denotes the completion in God’s move, firstly in the old creation, and then in the new creation, the church.