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启示录生命读经 · 第18篇

是配的狮子羔羊

The Worthy Lion-Lamb
1在四章，我们看见基督升天后天上的景象。神的宝座是四章这景象的中心，神坐在宝座上，豫备执行祂宇宙的行政，以成就祂永远的定旨。在五章，我们看见基督升到那里后的同一景象。在本篇信息中，我们要看见这景象的中心乃是那是配的狮子羔羊。
1In chapter four we see the scene in heaven after Christ’s ascension. The throne of God is the center of the scene in chapter four, and God is sitting on the throne ready to execute His universal administration for the fulfillment of His eternal purpose. In chapter five we have the same scene after Christ ascended there. As we shall see in this message, the center of this scene is the worthy Lion-Lamb
壹 神行政的奥秘
I. THE SECRECY OF GOD’SAD MINISTRATION
2启示录五章一节说，『我看见坐宝座的右手中有书卷，里外都写著字，用七印封严了。』神的行政是个秘密，是个奥秘。历世历代以来，许多有智慧的人，曾认真想要了解这个宇宙的奥秘，却都失败了，因为他们没有得到启示。在圣经末了一卷书，启示录里，我们有神经纶的揭示。在五章一节，那位坐宝座的手中有书卷，用七印封严了。这七印实际上就是这书卷的内容，也是启示录的内容。启示录正是揭开并启示这七印的。这书卷本身必定是新约，就是用羔羊之血所立那最伟大的所有权状。新约乃是一个书卷，包括了召会、以色列人、世界和宇宙的救赎。启示录记载了神对召会、以色列人、世界和宇宙的意念。当基督死在十字架上的时候，祂不单是为人，也是为样样尝了死味。（来二9。）这里我们看见，神在宇宙中行政的秘密。新约是藉著基督的死所立的，但对人类却一直是个奥秘。新约是宇宙的秘密，又是启示录的内容。我们读启示录的时候，必须领悟，书中一个又一个的异象，是叫我们看见包括在这新约里的是甚么，记在这秘密并封严了的书卷里的又是甚么。
2Revelation 5:1 says, “And I saw on the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne a scroll, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” God’sad ministration is a secret, a mystery. Throughout the centuries, many wise men have earnestly tried to learn what the secret of this universe is. Because they did not have the revelation, they failed. In the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, we have an unveiling of God’secon o my. In 5:1 the One sitting on the throne has a scroll in His hand sealed with seven seals. These seven seals are actually the contents of the scroll and the contents of the book of Revelation, for this book is the opening, the unveiling, of the seven seals. The scroll itself must be the new covenant, the grand title deed enacted with the blood of the Lamb. The new covenant is a scroll covering the redemption of the church, Israel, the world, and the universe. The book of Revelation is a record of God’s thought concerning the church, Israel, the world, and the universe. When Christ died on the cross, He tasted death not only for man, but for everything (Heb. 2:9). Here we see the secrecy of God’sad ministration in the universe. While the New Testament was enacted by the death of Christ, it has been a mystery to mankind. The new covenant is the secret of the universe and the content of the book of Revelation. As we read Revelation, we must realize that in vision after vision we are seeing what is included in this new covenant, what is contained in this secret and sealed scroll
3现在，基督升天以后，就不该再有奥秘了，因这奥秘已经被基督的死、复活和升天揭开了。在祂死以先，那是个奥秘，是没有人知道的；但藉著祂的死、复活和升天，祂满足了神一切的要求。因此，我们将要看见，祂已揭开这奥秘，并启示给约翰，吩咐他记录下来。所以，启示录这本书就是神手里打开的秘密，展开的书卷。这不再是秘密，乃是打开的奥秘了。现在，我们读启示录的时候，乃是读那被升天的基督所展开之书卷的内容。这是件大事，但很少基督徒留意这点。大部分基督徒有启示录，但是有展开书卷的却不多，因为他们没有看见启示录是展开了的书卷。
3Now, after Christ’s ascension, there should no longer be a secret, for it has been unsealed by Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. Before His death, there was a mystery that no man knew anything about. But by His death, resurrection, and ascension, He has fulfilled all of God’s requirements. Thus, as we shall see, He has opened the mystery and revealed it to John, charging him to commit it to writing. Therefore, this book is just the opened secret, or scroll, in God’s hand. It is no longer a secret—it is an open mystery. Now, as we are reading the book of Revelation, we are reading the contents of the scroll that has been unsealed by the ascended Christ. This is a great matter, and few Christians are aware of it. Most Christians have the book of Revelation, but not many have the unsealed scroll, because they do not realize that Revelation is the unsealed scroll.
贰 没有一位配
II. NO ONE WORTHY
4在五章二至四节，我们看见在天上、地上、地底下，没有人配展开那书卷，或观看那书卷。约翰起初看见那书卷的时候，仍然是封严的。我们若曾在那里，也必定像约翰一样，极其渴望想看这书卷的内容。但约翰因为找不到一位配展开、配观看那书卷的，就大哭。若是在全宇宙中真找不到一位配的，我们的确需要大哭，因为没有一位彀资格揭开宇宙的秘密，整个宇宙就都归于虚空。如果这宇宙中没有基督，整个宇宙都要哭。但我们有基督，所以不需要哭。
4In 5:2-4 we see that no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. When John first saw the scroll, it was still sealed. If we had been there, we, like John, certainly would have been desirous to see what was contained in that scroll. But John “wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” If actually no one worthy was found in the whole universe, we would surely need to weep, for the whole universe would be vanity, with none qualified to unveil its secret. If there were no Christ in this universe, the whole universe would weep. But there is Christ, and we do not need to weep
参 是配的狮子羔羊
III. THE WORTHY LION-LAMB
一 犹大支派中的狮子
A. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
5当约翰哭的时候，长老中有一位对他说，『不要哭；看哪，犹大支派中的狮子，大卫的根，祂己得胜，能以展开那书卷，揭开牠的七印。』这是以创世记四十九章八至九节为根据，那里将基督描绘为狮子，象征祂是抵挡仇敌的刚强战士。我们曾指出，启示录里差不多每一样事物，都是旧约所题之事的应验。基督是争战、战胜、得胜的狮子，祂已打了胜仗。因此，祂的得胜，使祂有资格展开那书卷，揭开牠的七印。虽然那天使叫约翰去看犹大支派中的狮子，但六节说，『我又看见宝座与四活物中间，并众长老中间，有羔羊站立，像是刚被杀过的。』天使引荐基督是狮子，但约翰看见祂是羔羊。祂是狮子，乃是抵挡仇敌的战士；祂是羔羊，乃是我们的救赎主。祂争战是为救赎我们，如今祂已胜过仇敌，并为我们成功了救赎。对仇敌，祂是狮子；对我们，祂是羔羊。虽然众天使不需要救赎，但他们却需要一位打败神仇敌的，因为他们之中有一个成了神的仇敌。因此，众天使领悟需要有一位击败这背叛者。对天使，基督乃是狮子，击败那背叛者；但对我们，包括使徒约翰在内，基督是羔羊，是救赎主。我们需要基督的救赎。我们已经指出，宇宙中有两个主要的难处，就是撒但和罪。基督是狮子，已经打败并废除了撒但；祂是羔羊，除去了我们的罪。祂已经得胜了，也成功了救赎。现在祂是那狮子羔羊。
5While John was weeping, one of the elders said to him, “Do not weep; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome to open the scroll and its seven seals.” This refers to Genesis 49:8-9, where Christ is portrayed as a lion, which is a symbol of Him as a strong fighter against the enemy. We have pointed out that nearly everything in Revelation is a fulfillment of what is mentioned in the Old Testament. Christ is the fighting, victorious, and overcoming Lion. He has won the battle. Hence, His overcoming qualifies Him to open the scroll and its seven seals. Although the angel told John to behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, verse 6 says, “I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as having been slain.” The angel recommended Christ as the Lion, but John saw Him as the Lamb. As the Lion, He is the Fighter against the enemy; as the Lamb, He is the Redeemer for us. He has fought to redeem us, and He has won the battle over the enemy and accomplished redemption for us. To the enemy, He is a Lion; to us, He is a Lamb. Although the angels do not need redemption, they need someone to defeat the enemy of God, for one among them became God’se ne my. Thus the angels realize that there is a need for someone to defeat this rebel. To the angels, Christ was the Lion who defeated the rebel, but to us, including the apostle John, Christ is the Lamb, the redeeming One. We need Christ’s redemption. As we have already pointed out, in the universe there are two main problems—Satan and sin. As the Lion, Christ has defeated and destroyed Satan, and as the Lamb, He has taken away our sin. He has won the victory and He has accomplished redemption. Now He is the Lion-Lamb.
6六节说到羔羊是站在宝座之中。关于救赎，基督升天后就坐在诸天之上神的右边；（来一3，十12；）关于神行政的完成，祂在升天里仍然站著。
6Verse 6 reveals that the Lamb is standing in the midst of the throne. As far as redemption is concerned, Christ sat down after His ascension at the right hand of God in heaven (Heb. 1:3; 10:12), whereas, regarding the carrying out of God’sad ministration, He is still standing in His ascension
二 大卫的根
B. The Root of David
7在五节基督被称为『大卫的根，』（也称大卫之父耶西的根─赛十一10，）这名称表征基督是大卫的根源。因此，大卫虽是祂的先祖，也称祂为主。（太二二42～45。）祂是大卫的根。在我们的观念里，祂是从大卫而生，所以祂是大卫的后裔；但在这里说到基督是大卫的根，表明大卫是从基督长出来的。圣经又说基督是大卫的枝条，（耶二三5，苗裔直译枝条，）因此，祂是根也是枝条。从以赛亚十一章一节和十节，我们看到基督也是耶西的枝和根。我们已经看见，基督是大卫的后裔，又是他的根。在神眼中，大卫是惟一争战而得著权柄的人；他为神争战，并且得著神完全的权柄。基督这位狮子羔羊，是这人的根，就是说祂比大卫更大。这就是为甚么祂拿著大卫的钥匙。（启三7。）大卫一切所是的、所有的、所作的，完全从这根出来。因此，基督既是大卫的根，就比大卫更有能力，更得胜，并且更有神的神圣权柄。
7In verse 5 Christ is given the title, “the Root of David.” This title (He is also the root of David’s father Jesse, Isa. 11:1) signifies that Christ is the source of David. Therefore, as His forefather, David called Him “the Lord” (Matt. 22:42-45). He is the root of David. In our concept, Christ was born of David, so He was a descendant of David. But here it says that Christ is the root of David, meaning that David grows out of Christ. The Bible also says that Christ is the branch of David (Jer. 23:5). Hence, He is both the root and the branch. In Isaiah 11:1 and 10 we see that Christ is also a branch and root of Jesse. We have seen that Christ is both a descendant and the root of David. In the eyes of God, David was the unique person who fought the battle and gained authority, fighting the battle for God and gaining His full authority. That Christ, the Lion-Lamb, is the root of this person means that He is greater than David. This is why He holds the key of David (3:7). Whatever David was, had, and did was altogether out of this root. Therefore, as the root of David, Christ is more powerful and more victorious than David and has more of God’s divine authority
三 刚被杀的羔羊
C. The Slain Lamb
8在六节约翰说他看见『有羔羊站立，像是刚被杀过的。』照著原文，『刚被杀过的，』指明羔羊是刚刚被杀。当约翰看见基督这羔羊时，祂是刚刚被杀的。这也指明，这章所描述诸天之上的景象，是紧接在基督升天之后。
8In verse 6 John said that he saw “a Lamb standing as having been slain.” According to the Greek, “having been slain” indicates that the Lamb has just recently been slain. When John saw Christ as the Lamb, He had been freshly slain. This also indicates that the scene in heaven depicted in this chapter is immediately after Christ’s ascension into heaven.
四 已经得胜
D. Having Overcome
9基督是犹大支派中的狮子，已经胜过神的仇敌撒但。祂已经为神解决了这问题，去掉了成全神定旨的拦阻。因此，祂配展开关于神经纶的书卷。
9As the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Christ has overcome Satan, the enemy of God. He has solved this problem for God and has removed the hindrances to the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Hence, He is worthy to open the scroll concerning God’secon o my
五 配展开书卷，揭开牠的七印
E. Worthy to Open the Scroll and Its Seven Seals
10神的定旨需要一位能解决神一切问题的人完成。神的问题，就是撒但的背叛和人的堕落。基督是狮子，击败了那背叛的撒但；祂是羔羊，把堕落之人的罪完全除去了。祂既解决了神这两个问题，所以祂配展开神经纶的书卷。
10God’s purpose needs someone to carry it out who can solve all the problems of God. The problems which God had were the rebellion of Satan and the fall of man. As the Lion, Christ has defeated the rebellious Satan, and as the Lamb, He has taken away the sin of fallen man. Since He has solved these two problems for God, He is worthy to open the scroll of God’secon o my
六 有七角
F. Having Seven Horns
11在六节约翰说羔羊有七角。角象征争战的力量。（申三三17。）基督虽是救赎的羔羊，却有争战的角。祂乃是争战的救赎主。祂的争战在神的行动中是完整（完全而完整）的，如七这
11In verse 6 John says that the Lamb has seven horns. Horns signify strength in fighting (Deut. 33:17). Christ is the redeeming Lamb, yet with fighting horns. He is the fighting Redeemer, and His fighting is complete in God’s move as signified by the number seven
12数字所表明的。
12
七 有七眼
G. Having Seven Eyes
13六节又说羔羊有『七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往全地去的。』羔羊的眼是为著鉴察并搜寻。基督是救赎的羔羊，有鉴察并搜寻的七眼，为著执行神对宇宙的审判，以成就神永远的定旨，这要完成于新耶路撒冷的建造。所以，撒迦利亚三章九节豫言祂是石头，就是带著七眼，为著神建造的顶石。（亚四7。）这七眼就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去，遍察全地的。（亚四10。）约翰在他的福音书里，说基督是神的羔羊，除去世人的罪。（约一29。）但在启示录五章这里，约翰看见羔羊有七眼。虽然约翰看见羔羊像是刚被杀过的，他却没有看见有血流出来。他反而看见七眼，就是神的七灵。这七眼当然不是为著救赎的。约翰福音里的羔羊，流出祂的血来，并且从祂的肋旁，也有水流出来。但启示录里的羔羊，却有七只火焰的眼睛，发出光来，照射人群。照著这里的字面来看，这是为著审判；但实际上，乃是为著神的建造。你也许会怀疑我有甚么根据，说这七个鉴察、光照的眼睛是为著神的建造。圣经清楚告诉我们，这七眼就是七灯。（亚三9，四2，10。）七灯第一次是在出埃及二十五章题到；在那里，七灯不是为鉴察，也不是为审判，乃是为神的建造。七灯在那里，是为著建造帐幕，就是神在地上在人中间的居所。表面看来，羔羊七只火焰的眼睛是为著鉴察和审判，可是这个鉴察和审判，不过是一个步骤，为要达到建造的终极目标。至终，启示录这卷书不是仅仅为著审判，乃是为著建造。为启示录作注释的，大多都说这是一卷审判的书，但这审判不过是一个步骤，最终要完成于新耶路撒冷。审判执行过之后，有甚么出现呢？乃是新耶路撒冷。新耶路撒冷是从神的审判出来的，这审判是由七眼所完成的。我们曾指出，一个人的眼睛不能与这个人分开，因为他的眼睛就是他的发表。我们里面的所是，主要是藉著我们的眼睛发表出来。同样，七灵是基督的七眼，基督也是藉著这七眼，把祂自己发表出来。无论谁若说那灵和基督是分开的，这人必是短视和缺乏知识的。怎么能说某人的眼睛和他是分开的呢？真是荒谬！难道七灵不是圣灵么？难道七灵不是基督的眼睛么？怎么能说圣灵，就是七灵，和基督是分开的呢？子是父的化身，那灵是子的彰显。基督的七眼，就是神的七灵，乃是在神的行动中，为著神的建造，以审判的方式，作基督的彰显。直到现今，基督那焚烧的眼睛还像火焰临到我们，来光照、鉴察、炼净、审判我们；这不是叫我们被定罪，乃是叫我们被炼净、变化、并模成祂的形像，为著神的建造。主的审判，是由爱所发动的。因为祂爱召会，祂就来鉴察、光照、审判、炼净并纯净我们，为要把我们变化成为宝石。至终，本书总结于那用珍贵材料建造成的新耶路撒冷。这些材料是从那里来的？就是从基督的七眼，也就是从那赐生命、变化的灵而来的。
13Verse 6 also says that the Lamb has “seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.” The Lamb’se yes are for observing and searching. As the redeeming Lamb, Christ has seven observing and searching eyes for executing God’s judgment upon the universe to fulfill God’s eternal purpose, which will consummate in the building up of the New Jerusalem. Therefore, in Zechariah 3:9 He is prophesied as the stone, which is the topstone (Zech. 4:7, Heb.), with seven eyes for God’s building. These seven eyes are “the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth,” running “to and fro through the whole earth” (Zech. 4:10). In his Gospel John said that Christ was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). But here in Revelation 5 John sees the Lamb as having seven eyes. Although John saw the Lamb that had been slain, he did not see blood flowing. Rather, he saw seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God. These seven eyes are surely not for redemption. The Lamb in the Gospel of John shed His blood and out of His side flowed water. But the Lamb in Revelation has seven flaming eyes that shine out and reach far to touch people. According to the black and white letters, this is for judgment, but actually it is for God’s building. You may wonder what my basis is for saying that the seven searching, enlightening eyes are for God’s building. The Bible tells us clearly that these seven eyes are the seven lamps (Zech. 3:9; 4:2, 10). The seven lamps are first mentioned in Exodus 25. There, the lamps are neither for searching nor for judging but for God’s building. The seven lamps mentioned there are for the building up of the tabernacle, God’s dwelling place among men on earth. Apparently, the seven flaming eyes of the Lamb are for searching and judging. However, this searching and judging is a procedure to attain the consummate goal of building. Eventually, the book of Revelation is not just for judgment but for building. Most expositions of Revelation say that it is a book of judgment. But this judgment is a procedure which will consummate in the New Jerusalem. What appears after the judgment has been executed? The New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem issues out of God’s judgment which is carried out by the seven eyes. As we have already pointed out, a person’s e yes cannot be separated from him, for a person’se yes are his expression. Our inner being is mainly expressed through our eyes. In like manner, the seven Spirits are the seven eyes of Christ by which Christ expresses Himself. If anyone says that the Spirit is separate from Christ, then he must lack knowledge and be shortsighted. How can anyone say that a person’s e yes are separate from him? This is ridiculous! Are not the seven Spirits the Holy Spirit, and are not the seven Spirits the eyes of Christ? Then how can anyone say that the Holy Spirit, who is the seven Spirits, is separate from Christ? The Son is the embodiment of the Father, and the Spirit is the expression of the Son. The seven eyes of Christ, the seven Spirits of God, are Christ’s express i on in a judging way in God’s move for God’s building. Even now, Christ’s burning eyes are flaming over us to enlighten, search, refine, and judge us, not that we might be condemned, but that we might be purged, transformed, and conformed to His image for God’s building. The Lord’s judgment is motivated by love. Because He loves the church, He comes to search, enlighten, judge, refine, and purify us in order to transform us into precious stones. Eventually, this book consummates in the New Jerusalem which is built with precious materials. Where do these materials come from? They come from the seven eyes of Christ, that is, from the life-giving, transforming Spirit.
14在启示录中，那灵不是称作赐生命的灵或变化的灵，而是称作七灵，就是七盏点著、鉴察、审判的灯。为著堕落的召会，赐人生命的灵必须是七倍焚烧的灵。今天，赐生命的灵必须是火焰的灵，使人变化的灵必须是鉴察和审判的灵。祂的鉴察和审判，就是祂的炼净并变化。若没有经过祂的鉴察，没有一个人能变化成为宝石。我真是向主仰望，求祂鉴察我们众人。我们在这里，不是讲甚么道理和教训；我们在这里，乃是在祂纯正话语的光照之下，也是在七灵的鉴察之下。我们都需要彻底被鉴察、纯净并炼净。我们若是这样，就会与前绝不相同。在出埃及二十五章，七灯是为著神在地上居所的建造；在撒迦利亚三章，七眼是石头的七眼。在启示录我们看到狮子羔羊，在撒迦利亚书我们看到石头。在启示录里，七眼是在羔羊身上，而在撒迦利亚书里，七眼是在石头上，所以我们可以说，羔羊是『羔羊石头。』『羔羊石头』是为著神的建造。基督这神的羔羊乃是有七眼的建造石头，这证明基督的七眼，是为著神的建造。在主的恢复里，每一个人都是在基督之灵的鉴察、审判和炼净下，而今天基督的灵是七倍火焰的灵。虽然祂是赐生命并变化的灵，但是对著堕落的召会，祂是七倍焚烧的灵。我们不单传扬约翰一章的羔羊，还要传讲启示录五章的羔羊。我们传讲这位羔羊乃是带著七灵的建造石头。我们的救主就是这样的一位，以七灵扩展祂自已，彰显祂自己，又把祂自己传输到祂所有的肢体里面，为著神的建造，把我们变化成为珍贵的材料。
14In the book of Revelation the Spirit is not called the life - giving Spirit or the transforming Spirit, but the seven Spirits which are the seven burning, searching, judging lamps. For the degraded church, the Spirit who gives life must be the sevenfold burning Spirit. Today, the life-giving Spirit must be the flaming Spirit, and the transforming Spirit must be the searching and judging Spirit. His searching and judging are His purifying and transforming. No one can be transformed into a precious stone without being searched by Him. How I look to the Lord that He would search us all. We are not here for doctrine and teaching; we are here under the enlightening of the pure Word and under the searching of the seven Spirits. We all need to be thoroughly searched, purified, and refined. If we are, we shall never be the same. In Exodus 25 the seven lamps are for the building of God’s dwelling place on earth, and in Zechariah 3 the seven eyes are the seven eyes of the stone. In Revelation we have the Lion-Lamb, and in Zechariah we have the stone. Because in Revelation the seven eyes are on the Lamb and in Zechariah they are on the stone, we may say that the Lamb is the Lamb - stone. The Lamb - stone is for God’s building. That Christ, the Lamb of God, is the building stone with the seven eyes proves that the seven eyes of Christ are for God’s building. In the Lord’s recovery, everyone is under the searching, judging, and purifying of the Spirit of Christ, and today the Spirit of Christ is the sevenfold flaming Spirit. Although He is the life-giving and transforming Spirit, to the degraded church He is the seven burning Spirits. We are not only preaching the Lamb in John 1, but also ministering the Lamb in Revelation 5. We are ministering this Lamb as the building stone with seven Spirits. Our Savior is such a One, having the seven Spirits to spread Himself, express Himself, and infuse Himself into all His members to transform us into precious material for God’s building.
肆 四活物和二十四位长老
IV. THE WORSHIP AND PRAISE of the four living creatures, and
向羔羊的敬拜和赞美
TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS TO THE LAMB
一 拿著琴和盛满了香的金炉
A. Having Harps and Golden Bowls Full of Incense
15在八至十节，我们看见四活物和二十四位长老，向羔羊的敬拜和赞美。四活物和二十四位长老拿著琴，和盛满了香的金炉。炉是众圣徒的祷告，由天使的长老带到神面前；（参启八3～4；）香是加在众圣徒祷告里的基督。这些敬拜者拿著金炉，乃说明他们是祭司事奉神，把圣徒的祷告带给神。这启示说，在基督徒成为千年国里的祭司以前，二十四位长老乃是今天的祭司。至终，我们要代替他们。四章十节告诉我们，二十四位长老『把他们的冠冕投在宝座前，』指明他们将要辞职，可以作证明。当蒙救赎的圣徒，完全被成全且得著荣耀作神正式的祭司和君王时，这些作神暂时的祭司和君王，天使中的二十四位长老，就要辞职。在千年国时期，得胜的圣徒要被成全到完全，成为神正式的祭司和君王。当那个时期来到，临时的祭司和管理者将要辞职。但在五章这里，他们仍然是祭司，把众圣徒的祈祷同著作香的基督，一起献给神。
15In verses 8 through 10 we see the worship and praise of the four living creatures and the twenty - four elders to the Lamb. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders have harps and golden bowls full of incense. In verse 8, the word which refers to bowls, not to incense. The bowls are “the prayers of the saints” brought to God by the angelic elders (cf. 8:3-4), whereas the incense is Christ added to the saints’ prayers. That these worshippers are holding the bowls means that they, as priests, are ministering to God by bringing the saints’ prayers to Him. This reveals that before the Christians become priests in the millennial kingdom, the twenty - four elders are priests today. Eventually, we shall replace them. This is proved by 4:10 where we are told that the twenty- four elders “shall cast their crowns before the throne,” indicating that they will resign from their posts. When the redeemed saints have been perfected and glorified to be the proper priest-kings, the temporary priests, the elderly angels, will resign. At the time of the millennium, the overcoming saints will be the perfected, completed, and proper priests and kings to God. When that time comes, the temporary priests and ruling ones will resign. But here in chapter five they are still priests offering the saints’ prayers with Christ as the incense to God.
二 唱新歌赞美羔羊
B. Singing a New Song, Praising the Lamb
16在九和十节，我们看见长老们向著羔羊唱赞美的新歌。九节说，『他们唱新歌，说，你配拿书卷，配揭开牠的七印，因为你曾被杀，用自己的血从各支派、各方言、各民族、各邦国中，买了人来归与神。』这里的歌是新的，因为他们所赞美的羔羊，是刚被杀的。这新歌赞美羔羊是配，因为我们看过，在全宇宙中，除了那得胜的狮子，救赎的羔羊基督之外，没有一位配揭开神经纶的奥秘。祂是得胜的狮子，为神击败了撒但；又是救赎的羔羊，为我们除去了罪。惟有祂彀资格揭开神经纶的奥秘，并且把牠执行出来。说到那些被羔羊的血买来归与神的人，在十节二十四位长老唱说，『又叫他们成为国度，作祭司，归与我们的神；他们要在地上执掌王权。』本节的『他们』一辞，证明这些赞美的长老不是召会的长老，乃是天使的长老。国度是为著君王职分执行神的权柄，祭司是为著祭司职任完成神圣的职事。
16In verses 9 and 10 we see the elders singing a new song of praise to the Lamb. Verse 9 says, “And they sing a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain and did purchase to God by Your blood men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” The song here is new because the Lamb whom it praises has been recently slain. This new song praises the worthiness of the Lamb. As we have seen, in the whole universe no one is worthy to open the mystery of God’secon o my but Christ, the overcoming Lion and redeeming Lamb. As the overcoming Lion He has defeated Satan for God, and as the redeeming Lamb He has put away sin for us. He is the only One qualified to unveil the mystery of God’secon o my and to carry it out. Speaking of those who have been purchased to God by the Lamb’s blood, the twenty - four elders sing in verse 10, “And made them to our God a kingdom and priests, and they shall reign on the earth.” The word them in this verse proves that the praising elders are not of the church but of the angels. Kingdom is for kingship to exercise God’s authority, and priests are for the priesthood to accomplish the divine ministry.
伍 向神和羔羊的宇宙赞美
V. THE UNIVERSAL PRAISE TO GOD AND TO THE LAMB
17在十一至十四节，我们看见二十四位长老领著所有的天使，（启五11～12，）以及四活物领著所有受造之物，（启五13～14，）向神和羔羊有宇宙的赞美。二十四位长老所代表的众天使，向羔羊献上天使的赞美。四活物所代表的一切受造之物随著他们，向羔羊献上除天使之外所有受造之物宇宙的赞美。神的经纶同祂的救赎，是为著成功祂永远的居所─新耶路撒冷。神的受膏者基督，乃是狮子、羔羊、石头。祂已经毁坏了仇敌，救赎了我们，并且成了石头。在马太二十一章四十二节，主对反对祂的法利赛人说，『「匠人所弃的石头，已作了房角的头块石头；这是主所作的，在我们眼中看为希奇。」这经你们没有念过么？』在这里主指明，祂的救赎是为著使祂成为房角石。在行传四章十一和十二节，也有同样的思想。行传四章十二节说，『因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名，我们可以靠著得救。』这名乃是那作房角石之基督的名，这是在前节所启示的；前一节说，『匠人所轻弃的石头，已成了房角的头块石头。』因此，房角石的名，就是我们靠著得救的名。我们得救是为著甚么？是为著上天堂么？不是，我们得救是要成为石头，为著神的建造。启示录里的观念乃是：基督是击败并毁坏仇敌的狮子、救赎我们的羔羊、以及建造神永远居所的石头。基督用甚么方法建造神的居所？乃是藉著七灵，就是那焚烧、光照、鉴察、审判并传输的七眼。藉著七灵，祂就把我们变化成为宝石，得以被建造成为新耶路撒冷。
17In verses 11 through 14 we see the universal praise to God and to the Lamb by the angels under the leadership of the twenty-four elders (vv. 11-12) and by all the creatures under the leadership of the four living creatures (vv. 13-14). The many angels, represented by the twenty-four elders, render to the Lamb the angelic praise. Every creature, represented by the four living creatures, follows them to give the Lamb the universal praise of all creatures other than the angels. God’secon o my with His redemption is for the accomplishment of His eternal dwelling place, the New Jerusalem. God’san o in ted One, Christ, is the Lion, the Lamb, and the stone. He has destroyed the enemy, has redeemed us, and has become the stone. In Matthew 21:42 the Lord said to the Pharisees who were opposing Him, “Have you never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the cornerstone; this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” Here the Lord indicated that His redemption was for Him to be the cornerstone. We find the same thought in Acts 4:11 and 12. Acts 4:12 says that “neither is there another name under heaven given among men in which we must be saved.” That this name is the name of Christ, the cornerstone, is revealed in the previous verse which says that “the stone which was despised” by the builders” has “become the cornerstone.” Thus, the name of the cornerstone is the name by which we are saved. What are we saved for—for going to heaven? No, we are saved to become a stone for God’s building. The concept in Revelation is that of Christ’s being the Lion to defeat and destroy the enemy, the Lamb to redeem us, and the stone to build God’s eternal dwelling place. In what way does Christ build up God’s dwelling place? By the way of the seven Spirits as the seven burning, enlightening, searching, judging, and infusing eyes. By means of the seven Spirits He transforms us into precious stones to be built up into the New Jerusalem