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启示录生命读经 · 第19篇

自基督升天到这世代末了的世界史─第一印到第四印

World History from Christ’s Ascension to the End of This Age Seals One Through Four
1在本篇信息中，我们来看头四印，就是四匹马和四个骑在马上的。（启六1～8。）
1In this message we come to the first four seals with the four horses and the four riders (6:1-8
壹 羔羊揭开
I. THE OPENING OF THE SECRECY
神行政的奥秘
OF GOD’SAD MINISTRATION BY THE LAMB
2启示录六章一节说，『羔羊揭开七印中第一印的时候，我观看，就听见四活物中的一个，声音如雷，说，你来。』羔羊揭开七印，是紧接在基督升天之后。基督藉著成为肉体、钉死并复活，就完全彀资格在祂的升天里揭开七印所包含神经纶的奥秘。因为神对受造之物的经纶包含在七印中，所以四活物很有兴趣的分别宣布头四印的揭开。
2Revelation 6:1 says, “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.” The opening of the seven seals by the Lamb transpired immediately after Christ’s ascension to the heavens. Through His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection, Christ is fully qualified in His ascension to open the mystery of God’secon o my which is contained in the seven seals. Because God’secon o my concerning the creatures is contained in the seven seals, the four living creatures are interested in announcing the opening of the first four seals respectively
贰 四马竞赛
II. A FOUR-HORSE RACE
构成世界历史
CONSTITUTING WORLD HISTORY
3头四印包括四匹马以及骑在马上的，犹如一场四马竞赛。四个骑马的都不是真人，而是人位化的事物。显然骑第二匹马（红马）的，是战争；（启六4；）骑第三匹马（黑马）的，是饥荒；（启六5；）骑第四匹马（灰马）的，是死亡。（启六8。）根据历史事实，骑第一匹马（白马）的，必定是福音，而非指有些人所解释的基督或敌基督。紧接基督升天之后，福音、战争、饥荒和死亡这四件事，便像四个骑马的骑在四匹马上，开始奔跑，一直持续到基督回来。从第一世纪开始，经过了这二十个世纪，福音不断的广传，同时战争也不断的在人类中间进行。战争总是造成饥荒，饥荒便带来死亡。这些都要持续到这世代的末了。
3The first four seals comprise four horses with their riders in a four-horse race. All four riders are not real persons but personified things. It is evident that the rider of the second horse, the red horse, is war (v. 4); the rider of the third horse, the black horse, is famine (v. 5); and the rider of the fourth horse, the pale horse, is death (v. 8). According to historical facts, the rider of the first horse, the white horse, must be the gospel, not, as some interpret, Christ or Antichrist. Immediately after Christ’s ascension, these four things—the gospel, war, famine, and death—began to run like riders on four horses and will continue until Christ comes back. Beginning with the first century, the gospel has been spreading throughout all these twenty centuries. War has also been proceeding simultaneously. War always causes famine, and famine issues in death. All these will continue until the end of this age
一 骑在白马上的
A. The Rider of the White Horse
4骑在白马上的，是福音的广传。『白』表征清洁、纯一、公义并可蒙称许。白马象征福音的传扬不论对神对人，都是清洁、纯一、公义并可蒙称许的。
4The rider of the white horse is the preaching of the gospel. White signifies clean, pure, just, and approvable. The white horse is a symbol of the preaching of the gospel, which is clean, pure, just, and approvable both to men and to God.
5有些人说骑白马的是基督，另有些人说是敌基督。我们经过许多研读后，知道以上两种解说都属错误。解经必须依照原则。这里的原则，就是骑在四匹马上的都不是人，乃是人位化的事物。骑在第二匹马上的是战争，骑在第三匹马上的是饥荒，骑在第四匹马上的是死亡。这三个没有一个是指人，乃是人位化的事物。依照这原则，骑在第一匹马上的，也必是人位化的事物。所以，一定不是指著基督，也不是指著敌基督。依照原则，那骑在马上的，也必是人位化的。经过许多考虑以后，我们看出来，骑在这匹马上的必是福音的广传。
5Some have said that the rider on the white horse is Christ, and others have claimed that the rider is the Antichrist. After much study, we learned that neither of these concepts is right. In interpreting the Bible we must follow the principle. The principle here is that the riders on the four horses are not persons but personified things. The rider on the second horse is war, the rider on the third is famine, and the rider on the fourth is death. None of these are persons but rather are personified things. Following this principle, the rider of the first horse must also be a personified thing. Therefore, the rider can be neither Christ nor Antichrist. According to the principle, this rider must also be a personification. After much consideration, we have seen that this rider must be the preaching of the gospel
1 拿著弓，表征已经打过仗
1. Having a Bow Signifying That the Battle Was Fought
6二节说，『我就观看，看哪，有一匹白马，骑在马上的拿著弓，并有冠冕赐给他，他便出去，胜了又要胜。』弓带著箭是为著打仗的。但这里只有弓，没有箭，指明箭已经射出，除灭了仇敌，并且已经得胜，使和平的福音得以构成。如今争战已经结束，和平的福音得以和平的宣扬出去。在十字架上，箭已经射中了仇敌的心，仗已经打过了，胜利已经得到了。因此，只有弓没有箭，乃是宣告争战已经过去，胜利已经得到。
6Verse 2 says, “I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it having a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and that he might conquer.” A bow is for fighting with an arrow. But here there is a bow without an arrow. This indicates that the arrow has already been shot to destroy the enemy, and the victory has been won for the constitution of the gospel of peace. Now the fighting is over, and the gospel of peace is proclaimed in a peaceful way. On the cross, the arrow was shot into the heart of the enemy, the battle was fought, and the victory was won. Therefore, the bow without an arrow is a declaration that the war is over and that the victory has been won
2 得著冠冕，表征福音的荣耀
2. Given a Crown Signifying the Glory of the Gospel
7二节又说，『有冠冕赐给他。』冠冕是荣耀的标记。福音已经戴上『基督的荣耀』为冠冕，（林后四4，）被称为基督荣耀的福音。我们所传的福音，是以基督的荣耀为冠冕的福音。我们不仅传恩典的福音，也是传荣耀的福音。
7Verse 2 also says that “a crown was given to him.” A crown is a sign of glory. The gospel has been crowned with “the glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4, Gk.), and it is called the gospel of the glory of Christ. The gospel we preach is the gospel crowned with the glory of Christ. We not only preach the gospel of grace, but also the gospel of glory
3 出去并得胜
3. Going Forth Conquering
8二节又说，『他便出去，胜了又要胜。』胜了又要胜，或作征服了又要征服。历代以来，福音无论传到那里，都征服并胜过了各样的抵挡和攻击，直到今天仍是得胜。圣经没有告诉我们，骑在第二、第三、第四匹马上的出去得胜，只有骑在第一匹马上的，就是福音的传扬，是一直的得胜。福音无论传到那里，那里就有这得胜。
8Verse 2 also says that the rider on the white horse “went forth conquering and that he might conquer.” Throughout all the centuries, wherever the gospel is proclaimed, it has conquered and has overcome all kinds of opposition and attack and it is still conquering today. We are not told that the riders on the second, third, and fourth horses went forth conquering. Only the rider on the first horse, the preaching of the gospel, has been conquering continuously. Wherever the preaching of the gospel goes, there is this conquering.
二 骑在红马上的
B. The Rider of the Red Horse
9三、四节说，『揭开第二印的时候，我听见第二个活物说，你来。我就观看，看哪，另有一匹红马出去，骑在马上的得了权柄，可以从地上夺去太平，使人彼此相杀，又有一把大刀赐给他。』这里的红表明流血；红马象征战争的进行，而战争完全是流血的事情。『从地上夺去太平，』『使人彼此相杀，』以及『又有一把大刀赐给他，』都清楚的指明战争。自从基督升天以后，一面有福音的广传，一面也跟著有战争。
9Verses 3 and 4 say, “And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, another, a red horse went forth; and to him who sits on it, to him it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.” Red here signifies the shedding of blood. Thus, the red horse is a symbol of the raging of war, which is altogether a matter of shedding blood. “To take peace from the earth,” “they should slay one another,” and “a great sword was given to him” all clearly indicate war. Since Christ’s ascension, the preaching of the gospel has been followed by war
三 骑在黑马上的
C. The Rider of the Black Horse
10五、六节说，『揭开第三印的时候，我听见第三个活物说，你来。我就观看，看哪，有一匹黑马，骑在马上的手里拿著天平。我听见在四活物中，彷佛有声音说，一个银币买一升麦子，一个银币买三升大麦，油和酒不可蹧蹋。』这里的黑是指饥荒，（耶十四1～4，）表明饥饿之人的面色。（哀四8～9，五9～10。）黑马象征饥荒的蔓延，使人面色发黑。天平是用来称贵重物品的秤，但这里用来称食物，如六节所说的，可见粮食短缺。（参利二六26，结四16。）油和酒是为令人喜悦。（诗一○四15。）在饥荒时，油和酒总是缺乏而变得贵重。在饥荒期间，油和酒应当保存，不该蹧蹋。饥荒总是跟著战争来的，因为战争使得粮食不足。今天若有另一次大战，世界就会面临粮荒。
10Verses 5 and 6 say, “And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it having a balance in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” Here, black, indicating the dearth (Jer. 14:1-4), signifies the color of the visage of famished people (Lam. 4:8-9; 5:9-10). The black horse is a symbol of the spreading of famine, which causes a black visage. A balance is a scale used to weigh precious things. But here it is used to weigh food, as mentioned in verse 6, thus showing the scarcity of food (Lev. 26:26; Ezek. 4:16). Oil and wine are for man’s pleasure (Psa. 104:15). They are always short and become precious in famine. During a famine, oil and wine should be preserved and not harmed. Famine always follows war, for war causes food to be scarce. If there were another war today, the world would have a food shortage
四 骑在灰马上的
D. The Rider of the Pale Horse
11七、八节说，『揭开第四印的时候，我听见第四个活物的声音说，你来。我就观看，看哪，有一匹灰马，骑在马上的，名字叫作死，阴间也随著他。有权柄赐给他们管辖地的四分之一，用刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫、地上的野兽去杀害人。』骑在第四匹马上的，清楚标明是死亡。『灰』或作『青灰，』表明遭受灾害袭击之人的面色。因此，灰马象征死亡的残杀，造成一片灰死的景象。阴间是在地底下的地方，不得救的死人，魂要留在那里，到复活后在白色大宝座前受审判。（启二十11～15。）审判以后，不得救的人要被扔在火湖里，直到永远。阴间好比暂时的拘留所，火湖好比永久的监狱。在这里阴间随著死，接收死所杀害的人。八节所说的为野兽杀害，乃是神的审判。（王下二24，十七25，民二一6。）
11Verses 7 and 8 say, “And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and the name of him who sits upon it is Death; and Hades followed him. And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the earth.” The rider on the fourth horse is clearly identified as death. The word translated pale may also be rendered pale green, signifying the color of the appearance of those stricken with the plague. Thus, the pale horse is a symbol of the killing of death, causing a pale appearance. Hades is the place under the earth where the souls of the unsaved dead are kept before being resurrected for the judgment of the white throne (20:11-15). After this judgment, the unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. Hades may be likened to a temporary jail, and the lake of fire to a permanent prison. Here Hades follows death to receive those whom death kills. The killing by beasts mentioned in verse 8 is God’s judgment (2 Kings 2:24; 17:25; Num. 21:6; Exo. 23:28; Josh. 24:12).
12我们在这四印看见福音的传扬、战争、饥荒和死。已过二十个世纪，这四事标明了人类的历史。这段时期中所发生的一切事，都不外乎这四样事情。紧接著基督的升天，就开始了福音的传扬，白马开始往前奔跑，骑在马上的就是基督荣耀的福音。公元七十年，罗马太子提多举兵毁灭耶路撒冷城；从那时以后，历经这些世纪，就是一次接一次的战争。战争又带来饥荒，饥荒又引致疾病和死亡。因此，已过二千年来的历史，可说就是福音的传扬、战争、饥荒和死亡，此外再无别的。这是读世界史的方法。启示录是在第一个世纪的末了写成的，是豫言将要发生的事。如果照一些人所说，骑在白马上的是指基督，或敌基督，那么这四印就全是指将来的事。若是这样，就没有任何豫言说到已过的二十个世纪。这就会指明本书的豫言并不完全，因为牠对已过两千年的历史，就是从第一世纪，直到敌基督出现，或到基督回来，竟然一点也不题。原则上，本书的豫言不该有这么一段大空缺。所以，照这原则，这四印必是指从基督升天，直到这世代末了的世界史。
12In these four seals we see the gospel preaching, war, famine, and death. During the past twenty centuries, these four things have marked the history of mankind. Everything else that has transpired during this time can be included in these four things. Immediately after Christ ascended to the heavens, the preaching of the gospel began. The white horse began to run the race, and the rider on this horse was the gospel of the glory of Christ. In A.D. 70 Titus, the prince of Rome, destroyed Jerusalem with his armies. Since then, throughout the centuries, there has been one war after another. Following war, there has been famine, and famine causes disease and death. Hence, in the history of the past two thousand years, there has been nothing except gospel preaching, war, famine, and death. This is the way to study world history. Revelation, which was written at the end of the first century, is a prophecy of things to come. If, as some say, the rider on the white horse is either Christ or Antichrist, then all the four seals would refer to the future. If this is the case, then there is no prophecy to cover the last twenty centuries. This would indicate that the prophecy in this book is not complete, because it would not show anything of the history during the past two thousand years, that is, from the first century down to the appearance of the Antichrist or to Christ’s coming back. In principle, there should not be such a great gap in the prophecy of this book. Therefore, based upon this principle, these four seals must be a history of the world from Christ’s ascension to the end of this age.
13我们不该仅仅顾到道理，我们必须顾到历史和经历。历史就是经历。我们必须把豫言应用到历史上。我们若这样作，立刻会发现自基督升天以来，就有福音传扬、战争、饥荒、死亡这四匹马的竞赛。今天，整个世界都在备战。甚至联合国的外交家们也是一样。可是他们彼此争战的时候，我们就传扬福音，因为福音是在领先的那匹马上。比方说，已过的两个世纪，先来到中国的并不是战争，而是福音。先是福音被传开，以后跟著有战争、饥荒和死亡。这就是已过二十个世纪世界历史的过程。基督揭开了这四印，启示了这四马的竞赛。想要明白圣经的豫言，不要单凭你的头脑。我们必须对照经历。要明白圣经的豫言，我们必须顾到历史，因为豫言是豫先说到要来的事。已过二十个世纪，发生了甚么事？乃是福音的传扬、战争、饥荒和死亡这四件事。基督成为肉体以后，藉著十字架的死成功了救赎，进入了复活，然后升到诸天之上。人类历史没有给我们这样的记载，但这是真正的世界史。我读历史的时候，发现老师所教授的世界史有一个大缺，里面没有成为肉体、十字架的死、复活和升天。你若从世界史中拿开这四项，我们将会有甚么样的世界？在神对历史的记述中，这四项是非常要紧的。自基督升天后，世界历史的整个演进就改变了。基督揭开了神的经纶，藉此就写了已过二十个世纪的人类历史。
13We should not care for mere doctrine; we must take care of history and of experience. History is experience. We must apply prophecy to history. If we do this, we shall immediately realize that since Christ’s ascension there has been a four-horse race among gospel preaching, war, famine, and death. Today the whole world is preparing for war. Even the diplomats in the United Nations are preparing for it. While they are fighting among themselves, we are preaching the gospel, for the gospel is on the leading horse. For example, in the past two centuries it was not war that first went to China; it was the gospel. The preaching of the gospel was then followed by war, famine, and death. This has been the course of world history throughout the past twenty centuries. Christ has opened these four seals, and the four-horse race has been revealed. Do not try to understand the prophecy of the Bible simply according to your mentality. We must take care of experience. In order to understand the prophecy of the Bible, we must take care of history because the prophecies are predictions of things to come. What has occurred during the past twenty centuries? Four things— gospel preaching, war, famine, and death. After His incarnation, Christ accomplished redemption through crucifixion, entered into resurrection, and then ascended into the heavens. No human history gives us such a record. But this is genuine world history. In my study of history, I discovered that the world history I was taught had a great shortage— there was no incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. If you took these four things away from the history of the world, what kind of world would we have? In God’s account of history, these four things are crucial. After the ascension of Christ, the whole course of world history was changed. By opening God’secon o my, Christ has written the history of mankind during the past twenty centuries
14我们在神纯正的话中，看到了正确的人类历史。神的话对历史的这个记载，完成了神的经纶。在基督升天以后，到祂再来以前，世界的历史扼要来说，就是四匹马的竞赛。我们已经看见，骑第一匹马的是福音的传扬。神的经纶不是为著别的，乃是为著福音的传扬，以完成祂永远的定旨。福音的传扬是从那里来的？乃是来自基督的成为肉体、钉死十架、复活和升天。这四项就是福音的源头。已过二十个世纪的历史，就是为著福音的传扬。这是神的智慧。福音的传扬在四马竞赛中是领先的。我们这一代是为著甚么的？我们乃是为著福音的传扬，而福音的传扬是为著完成神的经纶。召会如何能产生？只有藉者福音的传扬！新耶路撒冷如何能出现？只有藉著福音的传扬。
14We see the proper human history in the pure Word. This record of history in the Word carries out God’secon o my. After Christ’s ascension and before His coming back, there is a history of the world. This history is summarized in a race of four horses. As we have seen, the rider on the first horse is gospel preaching. God’secon o my is for nothing except the gospel preaching that will fulfill His eternal purpose. Where does the preaching of the gospel come from? It comes from Christ’sin carnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. These four items are the source of the gospel. The history of the past twenty centuries has been for gospel preaching. This is God’s wisdom. Gospel preaching takes the lead in the four-horse race. What is our generation for? It is for gospel preaching. And gospel preaching is for the carrying out of God’secon o my. How can the church be produced? Only through gospel preaching. How can the New Jerusalem come into being? Only through gospel preaching
15战争、饥荒和死亡这三件消极的事，协力推动福音的传扬。赛跑者若有别人与他一同跑，就比他一个人单独跑更快。战争、饥荒和死亡虽然是可怕的事，却能促进福音的传扬。起初在中国，福音的门很难打开。你知道以后怎样开了门么？是因著战争。福音的门打开，不仅由于内战，更由于日本侵略中国所引起的国际战争。中日战争后，成千上万的中国人得救了。而后因著四十年代国内的战事，大批中国人迁到台湾，成千上万的人也得救了。他们若留在中国大陆，他们绝不会相信主耶稣。但在一九四九至五○年间，他们既被迫迁到台湾岛，就有成千的人涌到召会里来，得著救恩。那些年间，我们每个主日下午到公园去传福音，每次大概有三千人听到福音，好多人得救了，其中有些后来成为台湾众召会的长老、执事、并主工作中的同工。是战争把他们引到福音。所以，战争一直是福音传扬的好帮手。神的智慧就是要使这个时代，就是从基督升天到祂回来，成为福音传扬的时代。今天地上的一切事物，都是为著福音的传扬。无论是工厂、印刷、飞机、广播、电视、甚至核子武器，都是为著福音的传扬。今天是福音传扬的时代。基督升天以后的世界历史，就是福音传扬的历史。我们今天在作甚么？我们是在传扬福音。而且我们传的不是部分的福音，乃是全部的、完整的、全备的福音。你领悟全备的福音包括召会生活、国度、甚至新耶路撒冷么？全备的福音包括从马太福音一直到启示录的每件事。在这些日子，我们所传的乃是全备的福音，包括今天的召会、来世的国度，以及永世的新耶路撒冷。今天无论发生甚么事，连对我们的反对在内，都有助于福音的传扬。这就是头四印的异象。我们不该作井底之蛙，只看见有限的天空。我们要有全面的异象，认识头四印的意义。我们不要坐井观天，却当有鸟瞰的视野。骑在第一匹马上的不是基督，也不是敌基督，乃是基督荣耀福音的传扬。这乃是这时代非常重要的因素；其他三匹马都是帮助这一匹马奔跑赛程。我们不在后三匹马上，而是与骑第一匹马的在一起。我们有不带箭的弓，因为我们已经赢得胜利，在和平中传那和平的福音。阿利路亚，这荣耀的福音传扬一直奔跑，遍及全地。赞美主，我们在第一匹马上！
15Three negative things—war, famine, and death—help to advance the preaching of the gospel. A runner in a race does not run as fast alone as he does when others are running with him. War, famine, and death are terrible things, but they speed the preaching of the gospel. During the early days in China, it was difficult to open the door of the gospel. Do you know what opened the door? It was war. The door was opened, not only by civil war but also by the international war initiated by the Japanese invasion of China. After the last war between China and Japan, thousands of Chinese were saved. Moreover, through the civil war in the 1940’s, many Chinese went to Taiwan from mainland China, and thousands of them were saved. If they had stayed on the mainland, they never would have believed in the Lord Jesus. But, having been forced to migrate to the island of Taiwan, thousands of people flooded into the church for salvation in the years 1949 and 1950. During those years, we preached the gospel in the park every Sunday afternoon. Every Sunday approximately three thousand people heard the preaching of the gospel. Many were saved, and some of them eventually became elders and deacons in the churches in Taiwan and co- workers in the Lord’s work. War brought them to the gospel. Therefore, war has been and still is a good helper of the preaching of the gospel. God’s wisdom is to make this age, the age from the ascension of Christ to His coming back, an age of gospel preaching. Everything on earth today is for the preaching of the gospel. Factories, printing, airplanes, radio, television, and even nuclear weapons are for the preaching of the gospel. This is the gospel preaching age. The history of the world since the ascension of Christ is a history of gospel preaching. What are we doing today? We are preaching the gospel. And we are not preaching a partial gospel but a whole, complete gospel, a full gospel. Do you realize that the full gospel includes the church life, the kingdom, and even the New Jerusalem? The full gospel encompasses everything from Matthew through Revelation. In these days we are preaching the full gospel, the gospel that includes the church today, the kingdom in the coming age, and the New Jerusalem in eternity. Whatever happens today, including the opposition against us, is a help to preaching the gospel. This is the vision of the first four seals. We should not be like a frog in a narrow well who has a very limited vision of the sky. Rather, we must have an overall vision to see the significance of the first four seals. Instead of having the view of a frog in a well, we should have a bird’s- eye view. The rider on the first horse is neither Christ nor Antichrist; it is the preaching of the gospel of the glory of Christ. This is the crucial factor of this age, and the three other horses are helping this one horse to run the race. We are not with the riders on the last three horses; we are with the rider on the first horse. We have a bow without an arrow, for we are preaching the gospel of peace, a gospel in which the victory has been won, in a peaceful way. Hallelujah, this glorious preaching of the gospel is riding on throughout the earth. Praise the Lord that we are on the first horse!