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启示录生命读经 · 第24篇

人的审判─第五号

The Judgment upon Men—The Fifth Trumpet
1在本篇信息中，我的负担重在说到大灾难。启示录八章十三节说，『我又看见，并听见一只鹰在天空顶点飞著，大声说，三位天使要吹那其余的号，由于这号声，住在地上的人，祸哉，祸哉，祸哉。』末三号将是大灾难（太二四21）末后的三样灾祸，（启九12，十一14，）大灾难要发生在第七十个七后半（但九27）的三年半，（但七25，十二7，启十二14，）就是四十二个月，（启十一2，十三5，）或一千二百六十天。（启十一3，十二6。）壹大灾难的开始
1My burden in this message concerns the great tribulation. Revelation 8:13 says, “And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to trumpet.” The three woes of the last three trumpets (9:12; 11:14) will be the woes of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21). As we shall see, they will occur in the last half of the seventieth week (Dan. 9:27), a period of three and one-half years (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev, 12:14), forty-two months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), or twelve hundred and sixty days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6). I. THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION
2许多基督徒以为大灾难要持续七年。他们所以这样相信，是因为他们读圣经漫不经心，且照著传统来领会。但圣经的话是非常精确的，我们必须有启示的光来明白。圣经里没有一个多余的字，字字都有意义，且都精确。我们现在来看但以理九章二十四至二十七节。二十四节说，『为你本国之民，和你圣城，已经定了七十个七，要止住罪过，除净罪恶，赎尽罪孽，引进永义，封住异象和豫言，并膏至圣者。』这里的本国之民，是指但以理的本国之民，圣城是指耶路撒冷。按照圣经，这里所说的七，不是指七天，而是指七年。你若说这里的七十个七是七十个七天，你绝不会对这段话有正确的解释。
2Many Christians think that the great tribulation will last seven years. Some believe this because they understand the Bible in a careless and traditional way. But the word of the Bible is very accurate, and we must understand it in the way of being enlightened. No word in the Bible is wasted; every word is meaningful and accurate. Let us now consider Daniel 9:24-27. Verse 24 says, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” The people mentioned here are Daniel’sp eople and the holy city refers to Jerusalem. According to the Bible, a week here does not mean seven days but seven years. If you say that the seventy weeks refer to seventy periods of seven days, you will never have the proper interpretation of this passage
3二十五节说，『你当知道，当明白，从出令重新建造耶路撒冷，直到有受膏君的时候，必有七个七，和六十二个七；正在艰难的时候，耶路撒冷城连街带濠，都必重新建造。』这里说到『七个七』和『六十二个七。』二十六节接著说，『过了六十二个七，那受膏者必被剪除，一无所有，乃有一王的民来毁灭这城，和圣所；至终必如流水冲没，必有争战；一直到底，荒凉的事已经定了。』受膏者『被剪除，』是指著基督被钉在十字架上。城和圣所被毁灭，是指主后七十年，提多的军队毁灭了圣殿和耶路撒冷城。
3Verse 25 says, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” Here we see “seven weeks” and then “threescore and two weeks.” Verse 26 continues, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” The reference to Messiah’s being “cut off” points to Christ’s being crucified on the cross. The destruction of the city and the sanctuary refers to the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem under Titus in A.D. 70.
4二十七节结束说，『一七之内，他必与许多人坚定盟约，一七之半，他必使祭祀与供献止息；那行毁坏可憎的如飞而来，并且有忿怒倾在那行毁坏的身上，直到所定的结局。』这里说，一七之内，那王要坚定盟约；一七之半，就是三年半之后，他要使祭祀与供献止息；这就是说他要终止对神的敬拜。这七十个七构成了四百九十年，是从亚达薛西王二十年，出令重建耶路撒冷城墙的时候开始。（尼一1，二l。）头七个七的四十九年，是为著完成耶路撒冷街道与城墙的重建。从这以后一直到基督被人『剪除，』共是六十二个七，即四百三十四年。第六十九个七过了之后，有很长一段时间是悬空的。到末了，末一个七，就是最后的七年要来到。这就是大灾难被认为有七年的原因。现在我们要来看，这一个观念并不准确。末七，就是最后七年，是敌基督与犹太人立约的时期。在这七年的前半，敌基督对犹太人还很友善；但是在三年半之后，他的态度改变了。先前他虽然同意犹太人能在殿里献祭敬拜神，此时他却改变态度，高举自己为神，在殿中立自己的像，强迫人拜他和他的像。然后他就开始苦待犹太人。因此，这七年的前一半，不会是灾难的时期，因为在这期间，敌基督对犹太人还很友善。按照但以理九章二十七节，『一七之半，』敌基督『必使祭祀与供献止息，』命犹太人停止向神敬拜和献祭。敌基督也要在圣地立那行毁坏的可憎之物。按照启示录，那行毁坏的可憎之物，将是敌基督的像，立在殿里当作偶像。
4Verse 27 concludes, saying, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Here we see that the prince will confirm the covenant for one week and that in the midst of the week, that is, after three and one-half years, he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. This means that he will discontinue the worship of God. These seventy weeks constitute four hundred ninety years beginning from the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, who issued the decree to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 1:1; 2:1). The first seven weeks, forty-nine years, were for the finishing of the rebuilding of the street and wall of Jerusalem. From then until Christ was “cut off” were sixty -two weeks, four hundred thirty -four years. Since the end of the sixty-nine weeks, there has been a long period of suspension. Eventually, the time of the last week, the last seven years, will come. This is the source of the thought that the great tribulation will last seven years. As we shall now see, this concept is not accurate. The last seven years, the last week, will be the time when Antichrist will make an agreement with the Jewish people. During the first half of these seven years, Antichrist will be friendly to the Jews. But after three and one-half years, he will change his mind. Although he formerly agreed that the Jews could worship God in the temple by offering the sacrifices, he will change his mind, set himself up as God, erect an image of himself in the temple, and force people to worship him and his image. Then he will begin to mistreat the Jews. Thus, the first half of the seven years will not be a time of tribulation, for during that time Antichrist will be friendly to the Jews. According to Daniel 9:27, “in the midst of the week” Antichrist “shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,” commanding the Jews to cease worshipping God and offering sacrifices to Him. Antichrist will also erect the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place. According to Revelation, the abomination of desolation will be the image of Antichrist set up as an idol in the temple.
5现在我们转到马太二十四章，这一章也说到大灾难这事。在十五节主耶稣说，『你们看见那藉著申言者但以理所说，行毁坏的可憎之物站在圣地。』这事发生在甚么时候？不是在这七年的初期，乃是在这七年的中间，那时敌基督要停止对神的敬拜，高举自已为神，将自己的像放在殿里，这在神眼中乃是可憎之物。接著在二十一节主豫言说，『因为那时必有大灾难，这样的灾难，就是从世界的起头直到如今，都未曾发生过，将来也绝不会发生。』从这里我们看见，大灾难是从末七的中间开始，只有三年半的时间。传统的教训说大灾难有七年是不正确的，我们不该遵循。传统的教训并没有正确的资料可供研读豫言的参考。那些持守传统教训，说大灾难有七年的人，忽略了这点：乃是在那七年的中间，敌基督改变态度，因而带进大灾难，共有三年半之久，就是末了一个七的后半。我们也需要来看启示录十二章里的一些经节。五至六节说，『妇人生了一个男孩子，是将来要用铁杖辖管万国的；她的孩子被提到神和祂的宝座那里去了。妇人就逃到旷野，在那里有神给她豫备的地方，使她在那里被养活一千二百六十天。』一千二百六十天就等于三年半。男孩子被提之后，有三年半的期间，就是第七十个七的后半，那时也是敌基督的像立在圣殿中的时候。接著，七至十三节启示出天上有了争战，大龙和牠的使者要从天上被摔到地上，龙要逼迫那生男孩子的妇人。十四节说，『于是有大鹰的两个翅膀赐给妇人，叫她能飞到旷野，到自己的地方，躲避那蛇，她在那里被养活一年、二年、半年。』这里的『一年、二年、半年，』是指最后的三年半。从这段经节里我们看见，在这七年的后半开始时，撒但要从天上被摔到地上。这也证明了，严格说来，大灾难只有三年半，并不是七年。
5Let us now turn to Matthew 24, a chapter which covers this matter of the great tribulation. In verse 15 the Lord Jesus said, “When therefore you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.” When will this be? It will not be in the beginning of the seven years but in the middle of the seven years, at the time when Antichrist will discontinue the worship of God, set himself up as God, and put his image in the temple, which, in the eyes of God, is the abomination. Then in verse 21 the Lord predicted, “For then there shall be great tribulation, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be.” By this we see that the great tribulation, which begins in the middle of the last seven years, will be only three and one-half years long. The traditional teaching that it will be seven years long is inexact, and we should not follow it. It does not provide the proper details for the study of prophecy. Those who hold the traditional teachings speak of the seven years, neglecting that it is in the midst of the seven years that Antichrist will change his mind and that this will bring in the great tribulation lasting three and one-half years, the second half of the final week. We also need to consider some verses from Revelation 12. Verses 5 and 6 say, “And she brought forth a son, a man- child who was about to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that they might nourish her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” The one thousand two hundred and sixty days are the equivalent of three and one-half years. After the man- child is raptured, there will be a period of three and one- half years, the last half of the seventieth week, the time during which the image of Antichrist will be set up in the temple. Then verses 7 through 13 reveal that there will be war in heaven, that the dragon and his angels will be cast out of heaven to the earth, and that the dragon will persecute the woman who brought forth the man-child. Verse 14 says, “And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman that she might fly into the wilderness into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the serpent.” This “time, and times, and half a time” refers to the final three and one-half years. In this portion of the Word we see that Satan will be cast down from heaven to earth at the beginning of the last half of the seven years. This also proves that, strictly speaking, the great tribulation will last three and one-half years and not seven years.
6启示录十一章二节，是这点进一步的证明；『但殿外的院子，要丢弃不量，因为这是给了外邦人的，他们要践踏圣城四十二个月。』这节告诉我们，外邦人要践踏耶路撒冷城四十二个月。这些践踏圣城的外邦人，就是敌基督和他的军队。这与但以理九章的豫言相合，那里说到敌基督毁约，高举自己为神，并且命令人拜他。那时也是他践踏圣城的时刻。这事要发生在大灾难的时候。所以大灾难是开始于末了三年半的开头，那时撒但要从天上被摔到地上。我们已经看过，这一点在十二章里讲得很清楚。贰撒但从天落到地上
6Further proof of this is in Revelation 11:2, which says, “And the court which is outside of the temple cast out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample under foot the holy city forty-two months.” In this verse we are told that the city of Jerusalem will be trodden by the Gentiles for forty- two months. The Gentiles who will trample the holy city will be Antichrist and his armies. This corresponds to the prophecy in Daniel 9 where Antichrist breaks the covenant, sets himself up as God, and commands people to worship him. That will also be the time when he will trample the holy city. This will be during the great tribulation. Therefore, the great tribulation will start at the beginning of the last three and one-half years when Satan is cast down from heaven to earth. As we have seen, this is mentioned clearly in chapter twelve. II. SATAN FALLEN OUT OF HEAVEN TO THE EARTH
7有了这些作为背景，我们现在看第五号。启示录九章一节说，『第五位天使吹号，我就看见一个星从天落到地上，有无底坑的钥匙赐给他。』这里的星是指撒但，他要从天上摔到地上。天使被比喻作星。（伯三八7，启十二4。）撒但是天使长，原是明亮之星。（赛十四12。）他在路加十章十八节已经受了审判。在启示录九章这里以及十二章九至十节，乃是那审判的执行。无底坑就是鬼的住处。（路八31。）撒但从天落到地上，是在甚么时候？这个问题的答案是在十二章。那一章启示，男孩子被提到天上后，要与撒但争战，好像对他说，『撒但，我们到这里来了。这里没有你的地方，你要被摔下去。』按照这一章，撒但要在末了的三年半开始时，从天上落下去。我们已经指出，这一点强有力的证明，大灾难的开始，不会早过这时，因为在此以前，撒但仍在天上。撒但从天上落到地上后，有无底坑的钥匙赐给他，使他可以打开无底坑，放出那些被鬼附的蝗虫，叫人受痛苦五个月。
7With this as a background, we come now to the fifth trumpet. Revelation 9:1 says, “And the fifth angel trumpeted, and I saw a star out of heaven fallen to the earth, and to him was given the key of the shaft of the abyss.” The star here refers to Satan, who will be cast down from heaven to earth. The angels are likened to stars (Job 38:7; Rev. 12:4). As the archangel, Satan was the daystar (Isa. 14:12, Heb.). In Luke 10:18 we see the judgment upon him. Here, and in 12:9-10, we see the execution of that judgment. The abyss is the dwelling place of the demons (Luke 8:31, translated deep in KJV). When will Satan fall out of heaven to earth? The answer to this question is in chapter twelve. That chapter reveals that after the man-child is raptured to heaven, he will fight against Satan and seem to say to him, “Satan, now that we are here, there is no place for you. You must be cast down.” According to that chapter, Satan will fall from heaven at the beginning of the last three and one-half years. We have pointed out that this is a strong proof that the great tribulation will not begin before then, for, prior to this, Satan will still be in heaven. When Satan falls from heaven to earth, the key of the abyss will be given to him that he may open the abyss to release the demon-possessed locusts to torment man for five months
参 蝗虫
III. THE LOCUSTS
8大灾难最严重的灾祸要开始于吹第五枝号时的头一样灾祸；在这之前有第六印和头四号，为时很短，乃是大灾难的起头。第六印是超自然的灾害，头四号是对地、海、江河和天象的审判。头四号虽然很厉害，却不直接伤害人。那接著来的灾祸，要直接使人受痛苦。在第五号以前，人没有直接被摸著，只有地、海、江河和天象直接被毁坏。这些可算是要来之大灾难的前奏。神对地、海、众水、诸天的审判，是对人的警告。到了第五号的时候，人就要直接受痛苦。
8Because the great tribulation begins with the first woe at the sounding of the fifth trumpet, it includes neither the sixth seal nor the first four trumpets. The sixth seal will be a supernatural calamity, and the first four trumpets will be judgments upon the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the heavenly hosts. But these judgments are not a part of the great tribulation. The first four trumpets are very severe, but they do not injure man directly. Following them will come the great tribulation which will directly torment man. Prior to the fifth trumpet, man will not be touched directly; only the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the heavenly hosts will be directly damaged. This may be considered as a preliminary to the coming great tribulation. God’s judgment of the earth, the sea, the waters, and the heavens is a warning to man. At the time of the fifth trumpet, man himself will be directly tormented.
9三至五节说，『有蝗虫从烟中出来飞到地上，有能力赐给他们，好像地上蝎子的能力。又有话吩咐牠们，不可伤害地上的草，和各样的青物，并各样的树木，惟独可以伤害额上没有神印记的人。但不许蝗虫害死他们，只叫他们受痛苦五个月，这痛苦就像蝎子螫人的痛苦一样。』这里的蝗虫与出埃及十章十二至十五节的蝗虫不同，因为这里的蝗虫尾巴像蝎子，有毒刺，能伤人。（启九10。）牠们必是被鬼附的，因牠们是从鬼的住处无底坑所冒出的烟里飞出来的。（启九2。）头四号的灾害没有直接临到人，后三号的灾祸却直接临到人。惟有额上受了神印记的以色列人才不被鬼附的蝗虫所害。（启七3～8。）在七至十节，我们看见蝗虫的特征。本章七节、九节与约珥二章四至五节、二十五节，一章六节非常类似，都是论到以色列人的话。这话，同著以色列人必须受神的印记（启七3～8）以逃避蝗虫伤害的事实，也许指明第五号的灾祸，是特别要临到以色列人的。七节说，『蝗虫的样子好像豫备出战的马，头上好像戴著冠冕，彷佛是金的，脸面像人的脸面。』这些蝗虫好像一支军队，和约珥书里题到的蝗虫相似。约珥书那里说，神要差遣一支蝗虫军队。虽然启示录九章里的蝗虫并不就是约珥书里的蝗虫，两者却是相关的。蝗虫的形状好像豫备出战的马，头上戴的好像金冠冕，牠们的头发像女人的头发，牙齿像狮子的牙齿。（启九8。）牠们胸前的甲好像铁甲，并且『翅膀的声音』好像『许多车马奔跑上阵的声音。』（启九9。）
9Verses 3 through 5 say, “And out of the smoke came forth locusts to the earth, and authority was given to them as the scorpions of the earth have authority. And it was said to them that they should not injure the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, except men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And it was given them, not that they should kill them, but that they should be tormented five months; and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.” The locusts here are not like the locusts in Exodus 10:12-15, because they have tails like scorpions and stings and they injure man (v. 10). They must be demon-possessed ones, because they come out of the smoke which issues from the dwelling place of the demons (v. 2). The plagues of the first four trumpets are not directly upon man, whereas the woes of the last three trumpets are. Those who will not be injured by the demon-possessed locusts are the Israelites who have the seal of God on their foreheads (7:3-8). In verses 7 through 10 we see the characteristics of these locusts. Verses 7 and 9 are very similar to Joel 2:4-5, 25, and 1:6, words spoken concerning Israel. This, with the fact that the Israelites need to be sealed by God to escape the injury of the locusts, may indicate that the woe of the fifth trumpet is especially upon the Israelites. Verse 7 says, “And the likenesses of the locusts were like horses prepared for war, and on their heads as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as faces of men.” These locusts are like an army, similar to the locusts mentioned in the book of Joel, where we are told that God will send an army of locusts. While the locusts in Revelation 9 are not to be identified with the locusts in Joel, they are related. The likenesses of the locusts are like horses prepared for war, and they have crowns like gold on their heads. Their hair is as the hair of women, and their teeth are like the teeth of lions (v. 8). They have breastplates as breastplates of iron, and “the sound of their wings” is as “the sound of the chariots of many horses rushing into battle” (v. 9
10十节说牠们『尾巴像蝎子，又有毒刺。』在圣经中，蝎子表征鬼，就是跟随撒但的邪灵。在路加十章十九节主说，『看哪，我已经给你们权柄，可以践踏蛇和蝎子，并胜过仇敌一切的能力。』我们在基督里的信徒，已经胜过了蝎子，就是撒但属鬼的仆役。十节也说，『尾巴有能力伤人五个月。』尽管第一样灾祸的痛苦要直接伤害人，神仍然把时间限制为五个月。这个痛苦重到一个地步，甚至『在那些日子，人要求死，却绝不得死；切望要死，死却远避他们。』（启九6。）在这五个月里，所有被这些可怕的、鬼附的蝗虫所折磨的人，都宁愿死。这种灾祸之剧，必是地大震动、日头变为黑暗所比不上的。这是八章十三节天空顶点的鹰所宣告，三样灾祸中的头一样。
10Verse 10 says that “they have tails like scorpions, and stings.” In the Bible, scorpions signify demons, the evil spirits that follow Satan. In Luke 10:19 the Lord said, Behold, I have given you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.” We, the believers in Christ, have overcome the scorpions, Satan’s demonic servants. Verse 10 also says that “in their tails is their authority to injure men five months.” Although the torment of the first woe will damage man directly, the time will still be limited by God to a period of five months. The torment will be so excruciating that “in those days men shall seek death and shall by no means find it; and they shall long to die, and death flees from them” (v. 6). During these five months, those who are tormented by these dreadful, demon-possessed locusts would rather die than live. Surely the shaking of the earth and the blackening of the sun are nothing compared to this. This is the first of the three woes announced by the eagle from mid-heaven in 8:13
肆 敌基督
IV. THE ANTICHRIST
11关于蝗虫，十一节说，『有无底坑的使者作王管辖牠们；他的名，希伯来话叫亚巴顿，希利尼话叫亚玻伦。』无底坑的使者就是兽，也就是敌基督，他要从无底坑里上来。（启十一7，十七8。）按希伯来话，无底坑的使者名叫亚巴顿，原文意毁坏，与约伯记二十六章六节，二十八章二十二节，箴言十五章十一节和合本中之灭亡、灭没同。按希利尼话，他的名字是亚玻伦，原文意毁坏者。敌基督是毁坏者，要行许多毁
11Speaking of the locusts, verse 11 says, “They have a king over them, the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” The angel of the abyss is the beast, the Antichrist, who will come out of the pit of the abyss (11:7; 17:8). In Hebrew the angel of the abyss is called Abaddon, which means destruction, as in Job 26:6; 28:22; and Proverbs 15:11. In Greek he will have the name Apollyon, which means destroyer. The Antichrist will do much destroying Dan. 8:23-25
12坏的事。（但八23～25。）
12
13敌基督是一个很特殊的人物，他是两个人物的合成体，一是该撒尼罗的灵，加上罗马帝国另一个该撒的身体。尼罗从第一世纪开始逼迫基督徒，他的灵就是那留在无底坑里的灵，直到有一天，这灵被放了出来，进到另一个该撒的身体里。这个该撒将要被杀，并凭该撒尼罗的灵复苏。这就是敌基督。再后撒但要放出蝗虫，在那兽的统帅下组成一支军队；兽就是敌基督，他是这支军队的王。这些蝗虫要使那些额上没有神印记的人，受痛苦五个月。
13Antichrist is a special person, being the composite of two persons: the spirit of Caesar Nero and the body of another Caesar of the Roman Empire. Nero began the persecution of the Christians in the first century, and his is the spirit that is kept in the abyss until the day it will be released to enter into the body of another Caesar. The Caesar into which this spirit will enter will be killed and will be resurrected with the spirit of Caesar Nero. This will be Antichrist. Satan will then release the locusts which will be organized as an army under the rule of the beast, Antichrist, who will be their king. The locusts will proceed to torment for five months those who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads.
14照著圣经，宇宙由三部分组成：诸天、地与地底下的部分。（腓二。）大灾难开始的时候，亦即末了七年的前一半结束后，撒但要从天上被摔到地上；同时，敌基督，就是那些鬼附、属鬼魔之蝗虫的王，要从无底坑里被释放，上来与撒但相会。这样，鬼魔的灵便与鬼魔的人相遇。撒但是从上而下，敌基督是从下而上，虽然他们来自不同的方向，却有同一个目标，就是叫神所造的人受痛苦。这两个人物要来到一起，共同合作，尽其所能的使人受苦。以后我们读到十三章和十七章时，还要更详细的来看这个敌基督。我们已经看见，大灾难要持续三年半之久。在大灾难的起头，有第六印与头四号的超自然灾难。按照马太二十四章二十二节，大灾难要限于一段短时间，是从敌基督在圣殿立了行毁坏的可憎之物以后开始的。大灾难来到时，你在那里？不要说，『只要我是属天的子民，我就平安无事。』我们是神的属天子民，我们没有那在蒙拣选之以色列遗民身上的印记。属天的子民不该留在那里，因为神没有意思把我们留在地上，和以色列遗民在一起。神的心意，是要把我们提到诸天之上。然而，我们若要被提到诸天之上，必须达到一个条件─我们必须成熟。神对待以色列人的方式和对待信徒的方式不同。我若是以色列人，可能去呼求神，也许祂怜悯我，在我额上印个印记，然后在大灾难的时候，我就会蒙保守。但神却不印信徒，反而把他们提走到诸天之上。但要被提，他们必须成熟。
14According to the Bible, the universe is composed of three sections: the heavens, the earth, and the region under the earth (Phil. 2:10). At the beginning of the 10 great tribulation, that is, after the first half of the last seven years, Satan will be cast down from heaven to earth and, simultaneously, Antichrist, the king of the devilish, demon - possessed locusts, will be released from the abyss and ascend to meet with Satan. Thus, a devilish spirit will meet a devilish man. Although they will come from two directions, Satan from above and Antichrist from beneath, they will have one goal— to torment the mankind created by God. These two figures will come together and will collaborate in tormenting mankind as much as possible. We shall consider Antichrist in more detail when we come to chapters thirteen and seventeen. As we have seen, the great tribulation will last three and one-half years. Before that time, there will be the supernatural calamities of the sixth seal and the first four trumpets. But according to Matthew 24:22, the great tribulation will be limited to a short time which will begin only after Antichrist erects the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place. Where will you be when the great tribulation is taking place? Do not say, “As long as I am among the heavenly people, I will be all right.” As God’she aven ly people, we do not have the mark that is on the chosen remnant of the Israelites. The heavenly people should not be there, for God has no intention of leaving us on earth with the remnant of Israel. God’sin tent i on is to rapture us to the heavens. However, if we would be raptured to the heavens, there is a condition to fulfill—we must be mature. God’sway of dealing with the Israelites differs from His way of dealing with the believers. If I were an Israelite, I might cry to God, and He might have mercy on me and put a mark upon my forehead. Then I would be preserved during the tribulation. But God does not seal the believers; instead, He raptures them away to the heavens. But for this, they must be mature.
15在本篇信息中，我的负担是要指出大灾难要在何时开始，以及怎么开始。我们已经看见，撒但要从天上被摔到地上，得著钥匙打开无底坑，放出那些鬼附的蝗虫。就在同时，那兽，就是敌基督，也是蝗虫的王，要从无底坑里出来。这蝗虫的军队要使人受痛苦五个月。这个痛苦非常之重，以致人想要死，死却远避他们。今天的人寻求避开死，死却紧追著他们。到那时候，他们想死，死却躲避他们，那时是何等的痛苦！这是何等大的灾难！然而这只是第一样灾祸，只是大灾难最严重灾祸的开始，另外两个灾祸还没有来到。
15My burden in this message is to point out when the great tribulation will begin and what will bring it about. As we have seen, Satan will be cast from heaven to earth and will have the key to open the abyss and release the demon - possessed locusts. At the same time, the beast, Antichrist, the king of the locusts, will be released from the abyss. The army of locusts will then torment people for five months. The torment will be so severe that people will want to die, but death will flee from them. Today, people seek to avoid death, yet death pursues them. At that time, they will desire death, but it will elude them. What suffering that will be! What great tribulation! However, this is only the first woe, the beginning of the great tribulation. The two other woes are yet to come.
16后三枝号的三样灾祸，构成大灾难最严重的灾祸。第一样灾祸是第五号，第二样灾祸是第六号，末一样灾祸是第七号的七碗。这三样灾祸，都在极严肃的情况下介绍出来。我们已经看见，八章十三节说，『三位天使要吹那其余的号，由于这号声，住在地上的人，祸哉，祸哉，祸哉。』启示录九章十二节说，『第一样灾祸过去了，看哪，以后还有两样灾祸要来。』最后，十一章十四节介绍末一样灾祸说，『第二样灾祸过去，看哪，第三样灾祸快来了。』第六印与头四号，只不过是大灾难之痛苦的前奏。这末三号的灾祸，连同第六印以及头四号的超自然灾害，要成为那临到普天下，试炼一切住在地上之人的试炼。（启三10）主曾应许非拉铁非召会说，他要保守他们免去这试炼的时候。你若要蒙保守，免去这个试炼的时候，就得豫备好，从地上被提。我们谈论到主的回来与圣徒的被提，不该轻率。按照主纯正的话，我们若想要在大灾难之前被提，就必须成熟，准备让祂把我们从地上提去。我们若成熟并豫备好，地上无论发生甚么事，就都不会影响我们。赞美主，我们有逃脱的路。
16The three woes of the last three trumpets constitute the great tribulation. The first woe will be the fifth trumpet, the second woe will be the sixth trumpet, and the last woe will be the seven bowls of the seventh trumpet. The three woes are introduced very solemnly. As we have seen, 8:13 says, “Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to trumpet.” Revelation 9:12 says, “The first woe is past; behold, two woes are yet to come after these things.” Finally, introducing the last woe, 11:14 says, “The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming swiftly.” The sixth seal and the first four trumpets are merely a preliminary to the suffering of the great tribulation. This great tribulation probably along with the supernatural calamities of the sixth seal and the first four trumpets is the “trial which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth” (3:10). The Lord promised the church in Philadelphia that He would keep them out of this hour. If you would be kept from the hour of trial, you must be ready to be raptured from this earth. We should not talk lightly concerning the Lord’s coming or the rapture of the saints. According to the pure Word, if we want to be raptured before the tribulation, we must be mature and ready for Him to take us from this earth. If we are mature and ready, then whatever happens on earth will not affect us. Praise the Lord that we have a way of escape