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启示录生命读经 · 第29篇

信徒的被提（一）

The Rapture of the Believers (1)
1在已过一个半世纪中，对许多有追求的基督徒来说，圣徒被提是件麻烦的事。大体说来，关于被提，有三派的说法，就是灾前被提派，灾后被提派，以及所谓的部分被提派。这些部分被提派的人说，得胜者要先被提，以后才是大体信徒的被提。这三大派的每一派，都有些非常属灵的圣徒，对圣经也很有认识。但因为各有不同的见解，所以在被提这件事上，就有许多的争论。我在得救后不久，就开始研读圣经中的豫言，所以我对这三派的学说，都很熟悉，对于圣徒被提这事，我愿将我多年研读、观察、和思考的成果，在本篇和下篇信息中，按照圣经纯正的话，清楚简要的说出来。让我们忘掉各学派的说法，单单留意神纯正的话。
1During the past one and a half centuries, the rapture of the saints has been a troublesome matter for many seeking Christians. Mainly, there are three schools of understanding concerning the rapture: the school of pre-tribulation, the school of post-tribulation, and the school of the so-called partial rapture. Those in the school of partial rapture say that the overcomers will be raptured earlier than the majority of the believers. In each of these schools there have been some very spiritual saints who knew the Bible quite well. Because of conflicting opinions, there has been much debate about the rapture. Soon after I was saved, I began to study prophecy and, as a result, I became quite familiar with all these schools. As the fruit of many years of study, observation, and consideration, I wish to present in this message and in the message following a clear and simple word on the rapture according to the pure word of the Bible. Let us forget about all the schools and care only for the pure Word
壹 得胜者的被提
I. THE RAPTURE OF THE OVERCOMERS
2圣经给我们看见被提有两面，就是得胜者的被提和大体圣徒的被提。被提有两面并不表示被提只有两次。得胜者的被提至少有三类，例如，初熟果子的被提就与男孩子的被提不同。男孩子（启十二5）是由那些死了且复活的得胜者组成的，初熟的果子（启十四1～5）乃是那些未曾经过死，活著的得胜者。当我们读到启示录十二章时，就会看到那男孩子，和那身披日头的妇人一样，都是表号。启示录里的男孩子是生出来的，是藉著出生生出来的。请想想主耶稣。祂是在复活里被神生为长子。（来一5，徒十三33。）这个男孩子也要在复活里出生。男孩子的复活就是他的出生。启示录十二章十一节说，那些得胜者（属于男孩子的这部分）是至死忠信的，他们胜过仇敌，是因羔羊的血，并因自己所见证的话，他们虽至于死，也不爱自己的魂生命。这指明所有包括在男孩子里面的人，都是至死忠信的，他们当中有好些是殉道者。因此，男孩子包括一切已死的得胜者，与初熟的果子不同；初熟的果子是活著的得胜者。在男孩子和初熟的果子之外，十五章里还有一班得胜者，就是晚期的得胜者；他们胜过了敌基督和他的印记，胜过了他名字的数字和他的像；他们都要被提，站在玻璃海上赞美主。所以，关于得胜者，至少就有三种不同的被提。此外，在十一章里还有那两个见证人的个别被提。
2In the Bible we see two aspects of the rapture: the rapture of the overcomers and the rapture of the majority of the saints. That there are two aspects of the rapture does not mean there are only two raptures. With the rapture of the overcomers there are at least three categories. For instance, the rapture of the firstfruit differs from the rapture of the man-child. The man-child (12:5) is composed of the dead overcomers in resurrection, and the firstfruit (14:1-5) are the living overcomers, those who have never passed through death. When we come to chapter twelve, we shall see that the man-child, like the woman clothed with the sun, is a symbol. The man-child in Revelation is begotten, brought forth in birth. Consider the Lord Jesus. He was begotten of God to be the Firstborn Son in resurrection (Heb. 1:5; Acts 13:33). The man-child will also be begotten in resurrection. The resurrection of the man - child will be his birth. Revelation 12:11 says that the overcomers who are a part of the man- child are faithful unto death, overcoming the enemy by the blood and by the word of their testimony, and not loving their soul lives unto death. This indicates that all those included in the man-child are faithful unto death. Many of them have been martyred. Hence, the man - child, which includes all the dead overcomers, is different from the firstfruit, who are the living overcomers. In addition to the man-child and the firstfuit, there is another company of overcomers in chapter fifteen: the late overcomers who overcome Antichrist, his mark, the number of his name, and his image, and who will be raptured to stand on the sea of glass to praise the Lord. Therefore, with respect to the overcomers, there are at least three different raptures. Besides this, there is the individual rapture of the two witnesses in chapter eleven.
3得胜者的被提，是被提的第一类，而大体圣徒（在启示录里被视为庄稼启十四15）的被提，乃是第二类。在利未记二十三章十节，我们看到圣徒被提的豫表，就是田里庄稼成熟的豫表。庄稼成熟有先后，那些先成熟的就是初熟的果子。在旧约时代，初熟的果子总是送到神的殿里，不是收到仓里。出埃及二十三章十九节清楚的说，『地里首先初熟之物，要送到耶和华你神的殿。』初熟的庄稼要从田里送到神的殿中，给神享受，叫神满足。等田里的庄稼完全成熟了，才是收割的时候；这些庄稼收成以后，就送到仓里。这是个豫表，庄稼就是神的子民，（林前三9，）最先成熟的就是初熟的果子，要直接被带到诸天之上神的殿里。初熟的果子收成之后，阳光将更猛烈，那仍然青绿，尚未长成的庄稼就要渐渐成熟。当所有的庄稼都熟透了，大体的圣徒就被收割，并被提到空中。空中相当于仓房。大多数农家的仓房是在田地和农舍之间。收成的庄稼是储存在仓里，只有初熟的果子是拿到农家，给耕种的人尝新。好些圣经教师在著作中题到信徒被提，但他们大多没有注意到神的庄稼这回事。在马太十三章，主耶稣启示祂来是把种撒在田里。保罗在林前三章告诉哥林多人说，『你们是神的耕地。』最后在启示录十四章这里，有初熟的果子和庄稼。这使我们对圣徒被提有了基本的概念。许多基督徒都非常的肤浅和短视，他们不但没有透彻的研读圣经，反倒只选了几处经节作根据，教导人说，所有的基督徒都要在大灾难之前被提。他们说，我们这些罪人被主的血洗净了，被圣灵重生了，得救了，现在正等候主回来，到那时我们都要被提。一般来说，这种说法很对，没有错；不过这样的说法太简单，太大意，也太肤浅了。我要用一个事例，说明在被提这件事上，传统的道理是如何的空泛和笼统。我在安那翰以前住的地方叫阿登，对这一带不熟悉的人，很难找到这地方。有人听说阿登是在某两条大街交叉的地方，但在那里仍得花上一个小时才找得到。要找那两条大街的交叉口很容易，但要从那里经过许多小街找我住的地方，如果没有详细的说明，仍旧难以找到。说我住在靠近某两条大街的交叉口是一点不错，可是我住的地方又是比较隐藏的，你必须再经过错综的小街道，才能到那里。
3The rapture of the overcomers is the first category of rapture, and the rapture of the majority of the saints, considered in Revelation as the harvest (14:15), is ─ the second. In Leviticus 23:10 we see a type of the rapture—the type of the crops ripening in the field. Some crops ripen earlier and others ripen later. Those that ripen first are considered the firstfruit. In Old Testament times, the firstfruit was always brought, not to the barn, but into the temple of God. Exodus 23:19 clearly says, “The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.” The firstfruit was brought from the field into the temple of God for God’s enjoyment and satisfaction. When the field was completely ripe, that was the time of the harvest. After the harvest was reaped, it was brought into the barn. This is a type. The crop is God’sp eople (1 Cor. 3:9), and the first of the crop to ripen is the firstfruit which will be brought directly to God’stem ple in the heavens. After that transpires, the sunshine will become brighter, and the unripened crops, which are still green, will begin to ripen. When all the crop has ripened, the majority of the saints will be harvested and taken to the air. The air corresponds to the barn. On most farms the barn is between the field and the farmhouse. The harvest is stored in the barn, but the firstfruit is brought into the farmhouse for the farmer’s first taste. While many teachers have written concerning the rapture, most of them have not taken care of this matter of God’s crop. In Matthew 13 the Lord Jesus revealed that He came to sow seed into the field. In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul tells the Corinthians, “You are God’s farm.” Finally, in Revelation 14, we have the firstfruit and the harvest. This gives us the basic concept with respect to the rapture. Many Christians are too shallow and shortsighted. They do not read or study the Bible in a thorough way. Rather, selecting a few verses as their basis, they teach that all Christians will be raptured before the tribulation. They say that we were sinners who have been washed by the Lord’s blood, who have been regenerated by the Spirit, who have been saved, and who are now waiting for the coming back of the Lord Jesus, at which time we will all be raptured. Generally speaking, this is correct, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, it is a brief, careless, and superficial consideration of the matter. As an illustration of the vagueness and generality of the traditional teachings concerning the rapture, let me use the example of my former apartment on Arden Place in Anaheim. Everyone unfamiliar with the area had difficulty locating Arden Place. Some who knew that it was in the vicinity of Ball and Euclid have spent as much as an hour looking for Arden Place. They knew how to get to the corner of Ball and Euclid, but they did not have the detailed directions to get from there, by means of many small streets, to my apartment. Although it was correct to say that we lived near Ball and Euclid, the precise spot, Arden Place at Juno, was somewhat hidden. In order to get there, one had to travel through a maze of small streets.
4要领会新约中圣徒被提这事，也就像通过错综复杂的街道，很不容易领会得正确。也许主的意思是要提高我们的警觉。不要太过自信，以为自己对被提这件事都认识了。你可能就像那些以为知道我住在那里的人，其实他们只大约知道我住在某两条大街的交叉口。你可能对被提这件事有一般的认识，但对于详情并不熟悉。我们需要的不是一幅简略的地图，乃是一幅详细的地图。基督徒中间对被提这件事的谈论，大部分都太笼统，就像只知道某两条大街的交叉口，却不知道我住处的明确方向。已过五十年来，我花了许多时间来研究圣徒被提这件事。从一九二五年起，我从不放过任何一次能读到或听到这事的机会。故此我有把握说，主已将有关被提的细节向我们开启了；在这两篇信息中，我们就要来看其中的一些细节。主耶稣确定是要在千年国以前回来。从前在神学上曾有一派教导人说，主再来是在千年国之后。五十年前虽然仍有这么一派，但到现在可说已经过时了。我年轻的时候，对于说主是在千年国之前来的一派，和说主是在千年国之后来的一派，都曾研究过。已过五十年来，第二派的说法渐渐销声匿迹，几乎没有甚么人再去注意了，或许你从未听过这种教训。说基督要在千年国之后回来，完全不合乎圣经。因此，现在只剩下一种说法，就是基督要在千年国之前回来。不过，这样的说法仍然很笼统，我们需要说得更准确、更清楚。说主耶稣要在千年国之前回来，并且所有的基督徒都要被提，这话是绝对正确的，但是我们还必须清楚那些细节。
4Understanding the matter of the rapture in the New Testament is also like driving through a maze. It is very difficult to know this matter precisely. Perhaps the Lord meant it to be this way in order to arouse our watchfulness. Do not be confident that you know all about the rapture, for you may be like those who thought that they knew where I lived, but only knew the general vicinity of Ball and Euclid. Perhaps you know the rapture in a general way, but you are not familiar with the details. What we need is not a general map, but a detailed map. Most of the talk among Christians regarding the rapture is too general. It is like knowing the corner of Ball and Euclid without knowing the specific directions to my apartment. During the past fifty years, I have spent much time studying the rapture. Since 1925, whenever I could read or hear about this matter, I seized the opportunity to do so. Concerning the matter of the rapture, I have the assurance to say that the Lord has shown us the minute details, and in these two messages we need to examine some of these details. The Lord Jesus will definitely come back before the millennium. Once there was a school of theology which taught that the Lord’s coming back would be after the millennium. Although this school was still there fifty years ago, it may be out-of-date by now. When I was young, I studied both the school that said the Lord would come before the millennium and the school that said He would come after the millennium. During the past fifty years, the second school has faded away, and hardly anyone seems to care for it. Perhaps you have never even heard of it. To say that Christ will come back after the millennium is absolutely unscriptural. Thus, only one school remains—that Christ will come before the millennium. This, however, is very general. We need to be much more exact and specific. It is absolutely correct to say that the Lord Jesus will come back before the millennium and that all Christians will be raptured, but we must still become familiar with the details.
5我为一些读这篇信息的人担心，因为我怕你们难以将那些先入为主的观念消除。人一旦接受了所有信徒都要在灾前被提的思想，就很难从这思想里脱出来。但无论如何，一切老旧和不正确的观念，都必须清除干净。
5I am concerned for some of the readers of this message. Whatever first enters into our mind is difficult to extract. Once anyone has taken in the thought that all the believers will be raptured before the tribulation, it is difficult for him to be delivered from it. Nevertheless, all the old, inaccurate concepts must be cleared away
一 需要
A. The Need
1 大灾难要来临
1. The Great Tribulation Is Coming
6我们先来看得胜者被提的需要。马太二十四章二十一节说大灾难快要来临，接著二十二节说，『那些日子若不削减，凡属肉体的人，没有一个会得救的；但因选民的缘故，那些日子必要削减。』大灾难残酷到一个地步，若不是日子被减少，就没有人能得救。
6Let us firstly consider the need of the rapture of the overcomers. Matthew 24:21 reveals that the great tribulation is coming. Matthew 24:22 says, “And except those days were cut short, no flesh at all would be saved; but because of the elect, those days shall be cut short.” The great tribulation will be so severe that its days must be shortened if any are to be saved
2 网罗要临到一切住在地上的人
2. A Snare on All the Earth’s Dwellers Is Coming
7第二个被提的需要，就是要有网罗临到一切住在地上的人。（路二一～35。）撒但要像渔夫张网捕鱼一样，张开他的网来网罗我们。在路加二十一章三十四节，主说到三件事，与三十五节所题的网罗有关；『你们要小心，恐怕因酗酒、沉醉并今生的思虑，累住你们的心，那日子就如同网罗忽然临到你们。』在这节圣经里，主题到酗酒、沉醉、和今生的思虑，这是指吃、喝、和对今生的关切。从第二次世界大战以来，几乎全地上的人都被这三样霸占了。举例说，工业就完全是为著对今生的关切，财政也是这样。所有的大学都是为工业而设，工业是为著钱财，钱财又是为著对今生的关切。试看今日地上亿万的人，他们最关心的，无非就是今生的事物。把他们牵涉在内的每一件事，包括教育、工业、政冶、战争等，都逃不出对今生的关切这圈子。吃、喝、和对今生的关切这三件事，被撒但用来结成一个极其邪恶的网罗，诱陷地上所有的人。在路加福音这些经节里，主耶稣说时候将到，全地上的居民都要被这个网罗所网住。我活了七十多岁，观察世界的局势也近六十年了，我知道甚么是人生。我研究过人类历史，注意报章上的新闻，观察过整个世界的局势。我发现，特别从第二次世界大战以来，人们惟一关心的就是他们物质的生活。神不是漫不经心的创造了地，祂的创造是美丽的，充满了各样美好的事物。然而，我们若被这些事物绊住，就进了网罗。比方说，我们应该也必须有个合式居住的地方，不过我们要小心，不要被牠网住。
7Another need for the rapture is that a snare on all the earth’s dwellers is coming (Luke 21:34-35). Just as a fisherman spreads a net to snare fish, so Sat an is 34 spreading his net to snare us. In Luke 21:34 the Lord mentions three things related to the snare spoken of in verse 35: “And take heed to yourselves lest at sometime your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare.” In this verse the Lord mentions dissipation (eating), drunkenness (drinking), and the anxieties of life. Since World War II, nearly everyone on earth has been occupied with these three things. Industry, for example, is altogether for the cares of this life. The same is true of finance. All the universities are for industry, industry is for money, and money is for the cares of this life. Consider the billions of people on the earth today: their only concern is the cares of this life. Everything they are involved in — education, industry, politics, warfare—revolves around the cares of this life. Eating, drinking, and the cares of this life are the three main elements of the devilish snare, the net used by Satan to trap everyone on earth. In these verses in Luke, the Lord Jesus is saying that the time will come when all the dwellers on earth will be snared. I have been alive for more than seventy years and I have been observing the world situation for nearly sixty years. I know what human life is. I have studied human history, I have read the newspapers, and I have observed the world situation. I have discovered that, especially since World War II, people care for nothing except their physical life. God did not create the earth in a haphazard way. No, His creation is beautiful and contains many fine things. However, if we are snared by any of these things, we shall be caught by them. For instance, it is necessary and proper to maintain a suitable dwelling place for ourselves, but we must be on the alert not to be snared by it.
8虽然我们有很大的危险，会被吃、喝、和对今生的关切所网罗，但我们仍需过正常人的生活。青年人还需要接受好的教育，为了谋生，这是必须的。不要原谅自己说，『我不在乎今世的生活，我要单单爱主，不要读甚么书，一天到晚赞美主就彀了。』如果你这样作，你会成为别人的重担。你觉得好了，但别人却不好了。你大可以说自己有信心，但你所谓的信心却逼使别人为你劳苦。你不能这样，你还要好好的读书，要有好成绩。不过，你的目的并不是为著出名，也不是要成为出名的人物。你要读书，但不要让教育成为你的网罗。还有一些人说，『我不要陷入网罗，所以我不去上学，还是全时间来读圣经，并且和我年轻的同伴交通，这岂不最妙？』许多青年人有这种错误的观念，他们说，『主耶稣也许明天就回来了，何必念那么多的书？真是浪费时间。』主也许明天就可以回来，但因著你的懒惰，祂可能要迟延，直到你学会怎样读书，直到你从学校毕业，祂才回来。24:40我们这些堕落的人总是不平衡的。马太二十四章四十节说到有两个人在田里，不是说那两个人在睡觉，在交通，或者甚么事也不作，就是全然为主活著。有些人说，『既然主明天就可能回来，我们何必还要到田里去工作？若有必要，我们甚至可以三餐禁食，直到主回来。』有一次我听到有人讲了篇信息说，『当主回来的时候，要是正逢我和我的妻子在赞美祷告，那该有多好。』不过圣经并没有说，当主显现时我们该在祷告或禁食；相反的，马太二十四章四十一节说到两个女人在推磨。在古时，女人最艰苦的工作要算是推磨磨谷。我若是那时候的妇女，也许会说，『青年的弟兄们给我们知道，主耶稣可能今晚回来，我们还推磨作甚么？完全浪费时间！如果主今晚就回来，我们还要推磨么？快坐下来等候祂回来罢！』这就是一种极端。
8Although there is the grave danger of being snared by eating, drinking, and the cares of this life, we still need to live a normal human life. The young people need to obtain a good education, for this is necessary in order to earn a living. Do not excuse yourself by saying, “I don’t care for this life. Since I only love the Lord, I will give up studying and just praise the Lord all day long.” If you do this, you will be a burden to others. You may be all right, but others will not be. You may claim to have faith, but your so-called faith will force others to labor for you. No, you must study diligently and do well in school. However, do not do this for the purpose of making a name for yourself or of becoming a person of renown. Although you must study, do not allow education to be your snare. Still some may say, “Because I don’t want to be snared, I won’t go to school. It’s better to spend all my time reading the Bible and fellowshipping with all my young colleagues. Wouldn’t this be wonderful?” Many young people have this mistaken concept, saying, “The Lord Jesus might come tomorrow. Why then should we study so much? This is a waste of time.” Although the Lord might come tomorrow, because of your laziness, He may tarry until you have learned to study and have graduated from school. As fallen people, we are unbalanced. Matthew speaks of two being in the field. It does not say that two are sleeping, fellowshipping, or living wholly for the Lord without engaging in any work. Some might say, “Since the Lord might come back tomorrow, why must we work in the field? If necessary, we could even fast for three meals until He comes.” I once heard a message in which the speaker said, “How wonderful it would be if, when the Lord comes, my wife and I would be praising and praying.” But the Bible does not indicate that we shall be doing these things when He appears. Rather, Matthew 24:41 speaks of two women grinding at the mill. In ancient times, the most difficult work for women was grinding wheat. If I were one of the women in those days, I might have said, “The young brothers have helped us to know that the Lord Jesus might come back tonight. What then is the need to labor at grinding wheat? This is a waste of time. Why must we still grind flour if the Lord is coming tonight? Let’s just sit here and wait for His coming.” This is an illustration of one extreme.
9另一种极端，就是有一班基督徒不管别的，只顾到赚钱和花钱。他们说，『不要那么属灵罢！要顾到现实，顾到我们的妻子儿女！我还要维持我一家的生活，也要兼顾许多其他的事。我那里还有时间去参加召会的聚会？在家里就不能敬拜神了么？』对著这一种极端的人，主会说，『我来要像贼一样，我要在你最想不到的时候来到。我可能就在你埋头赚钱的时候回来。』但对于在另一极端里的人，祂会说，『因著你，我才耽延。你太急于催我回来，急到一个地步，甚么工也不作，连饭也不烧。我要迟延，直到你学会烧饭、赚钱、照顾自己和别人，我才回来。』我不是说笑话，我是非常认真的说这些话。这就是今天基督徒中间可怜的光景。我们为了生活都必须工作，但是要小心，不能叫工作成为我们的网罗。我们可以有许多东西，但绝不可被这些东西控制。我们要学习平衡，不要落到懒惰的极端，也不要落到被今生事务霸占的极端。这件事也像其他的事一样，都有其两面。请看看使徒保罗的榜样，难道他不是等候主再来的人么？如果你详细读过他的著作，会看出他所写的都是为著长远的目标。他从来没有说，『亲爱的圣徒，因著主耶稣可能明天会来，你们不必作那么多事，你们不用作别的，只要祷告就好了。』不，保罗在他的书信中，似乎是说，『我们等候主再来时，也必须生活正常。』虽然我们不知道主甚么时候来，我们却都知道只要一天活在地上，就必须有正常的生活，作主耶稣正确的见证。我们必须受最好的教育，过平衡的日常生活。我们还要整理自己的房子，在各方面都作正常的人。
9On the other extreme are those Christians who care for nothing except making money and spending it. They say, “Oh, we shouldn’t be so spiritual. We must be practical and take care of our wives and children. I must support my family and care for many other things. I don’t have the time to attend the church meetings. Can’t we worship God at home?” To those at this extreme, the Lord may say, “I will come as a thief. I will come at the time when you least expect Me. Perhaps I’ll come when you are engrossed with making money.” But to those on the other extreme, He may say, “Because of you, I will delay My coming. You are too earnest for My coming back. You are so earnest that you don’t do anything. You don’te vent ake care of your cooking. I will delay My coming until you learn to cook, make money, and take care of yourself and others.” I mean what I am saying and I am serious about it. This is the poor situation among Christians today. We all must do our duty to earn a living, yet we must do it without being snared by it. We may have many things, but we must never allow them to rule us. Learn to be balanced, falling neither into the extreme of idleness nor into the extreme of being occupied with the affairs of this life. With this matter, as in so many other things, there are two sides. Consider the example of the apostle Paul. Was he not waiting for the Lord’s coming back? If you examine his writings, you will see that all of them were for the long run. He never said, “Dear saints, because the Lord Jesus might come tomorrow, you don’t need to do so many things. You should just sit around and pray.” No, in his epistles Paul seemed to be saying, “While we are waiting for the Lord’s coming back, we must still live in a normal way.” Although we do not know when the Lord will come, we do know that as long as we are on earth, we must have a normal living to be the proper testimony of the Lord Jesus. We must obtain the best education and have a balanced daily living. We also must maintain our houses and, in every respect, be normal people.
10我们既是等候主回来的人，就必须有完全不受任何东西羁绊的正确生活。我们的心单单在主耶稣身上。不过这不是说我们不读书，不作生意，也不料理家常，如整洁这样的事。千万别说，『为甚么还要我把衣服弄得整洁？洗衣服既花钱又浪费时间。主也不在意肉体，祂只在意我的灵。只要我的灵是清洁的，一切就都好了！』我确知好多青年人仍然有这样的态度。他们早上起来连床舖也不收拾，认为这样作是浪费时间。他们认为要把所有时间用来读圣经或属灵书报，所以只要有地方可以躺下来，就满意了。他们不知道为甚么还需要花工夫整理房间，保持房子整齐、清洁、有条不紊。他们的松懒，就会延迟主的回来。主可能要对他们说，『你们要学会在早上起来收拾床舖，梳理头发，擦亮鞋子。也要把你们的书籍摆得有秩有序，不要把新约圣经放在旧约前面。』一个疏忽的长老，对召会的建造永远没有用处。我们都当学习殷勤，把每样东西处理的有条不紊。不过，也不要为这些事昼夜挂心。只要一听到主说，『看哪，我必快来，』我们就能立刻放下这一切的事。有些人把事情处理得非常有条理，但这却成了他们的网罗。这是个试验，试出我们到底在那里。我们在这里乃是作耶稣的见证，我们是过著正常生活的正常人，然而这生活中没有一样东西能摸著我们。我们绝不随便、懒惰、松懈、放肆，但这世上没有一样事能控制我们。所以这事的两面，会逼著我们与主成为一。被提是甚么意思？被提就是被接到主的同在里。你要被提到祂的同在里，今天就要活在祂的同在里。你许多的赞美和交通未必是在主的同在中，可能只是照著你自己的喜欢。你不是在主的同在里，乃是在你的喜好和口味里。当你想交通时，主可能会说，『去工作或读书罢。』
10As those who are waiting for the Lord’s coming back, we must have a proper living without being snared by anything. Our heart is on nothing but the Lord Jesus. However, this does not mean that we do not study, conduct business, and take care of daily chores, such as cleaning. Do not say, “Why must I keep my clothes neat and clean? It is a waste of time and money to do the laundry. The Lord doesn’t care for the flesh; He only cares for my spirit. As long as my spirit is clean, everything is fine.” I have the assurance that many young people still have this attitude. They do not even make their beds in the morning, considering it to be a waste of their time. As long as they have a place to lie down, they are satisfied, thinking that they can spend their time reading the Bible or spiritual books. They do not know why they must work to keep their room neat, clean, and orderly. Their sloppiness may delay the Lord’s coming back. The Lord may tell them, “You must learn to make your bed early in the morning, comb your hair, and shine your shoes. Then you must arrange all your books in a good order. Don’t put the New Testament before the Old Testament.” No elder who is careless can be useful in building up the church. We must learn to be diligent, keeping everything in good order. However, we should not dream about those things at night. Rather, when the Lord says, “Behold, I come quickly,” we must be able to forget everything. Some keep their things in good order, but this becomes a snare to them. This is a test to determine where we are. We are here as the testimony of Jesus. We are normal people living a normal life, but nothing of this life can touch us. We are not sloppy, idle, lazy, or careless. Yet, nothing in this world has any control over us. These two sides of the matter will force us to be one with the Lord. What is the meaning of rapture? It is to be taken into the Lord’s presence. If you would be taken into His presence, you must be in His presence today. Much of your praising and fellowshipping may not be in His presence, but may simply be according to your own choice. You are not in the presence of the Lord, but in your preference and taste. When you desire to fellowship, the Lord may say, “Go to work or study
3 普天下人的试炼即将来临
3. The Trial on the Whole Inhabited Earth Is Coming
11得胜者需要被提的另一面，就是普天下人的试炼快要来临。（启三10。）这试炼就是大灾难，包括最后三枝号的三样灾祸，加上第六印和头四号的超自然灾害。这些灾祸和灾害，将是地上居民最厉害的试炼。我们要从这试炼中蒙拯救，就需要在灾难来临前被提。
11Another aspect of the need for the rapture of the overcomers is that the trial is coming on the whole inhabited earth (Rev. 3:10). This trial will be the great tribulation, consisting of the three woes of the last three trumpets probably with the supernatural calamities of the sixth seal and the first four trumpets. Those woes and calamities will be the most severe trial to the earth’s dwellers. To be saved from this trial, we need to be raptured before it comes.
4 毁灭如同产难要临到那些说和平安全的人
4. Destruction as the Birth-pang on the Peace-and-Safety Talkers Is Coming
12帖前五章三节说，『人正说平安稳妥的时候，毁灭忽然临到他们，如同产难临到怀胎的妇人一样，他们绝不能逃脱。』这节说毁灭如同产难，要临到那些大讲和平安全的人。那些在联合国里的人，正是以『和平与安全』作他们的口号。人们正在谈论和平与安全的时候，毁灭要忽然临到他们。
12First Thessalonians 5:3 says, “Whenever they say, Peace and security, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as birth pangs to a woman with child, and they shall by no means escape.” This verse indicates that destruction will come as birth pangs upon those who talk of peace and safety. Those in the United Nations take the words peace and safety as a slogan. While people are talking about peace and safety, sudden destruction will come upon them
5 魔鬼要大大发怒下到地上，成为地和海的灾祸
5. The Devil Coming down to Earth with Great Wrath as a Woe to the Earth and the Sea
13得胜者需要被提的再一面，就是魔鬼要大大发怒下到地上，成了地和海的灾祸。（启十二12。）到那时，他知道自己的时候不多了，所以他要尽所能的折磨人达到极点。我们的确需要被提，好脱离他那可怕的折磨。
13Another aspect of the need for the rapture of the overcomers is that the Devil will come down to earth with great wrath as a woe to the earth and to the sea (Rev. 12:12). By then, he will know that his time is short and thus he will do everything possible to torment man to the uttermost. We surely need a rapture to keep us away from his evil torment
6 大龙即撒但，要向妇人发怒，并与她其余的儿女争战
6. The Great Dragon—Satan—Being Angry with the Woman and Going to War with the Remnant of Her Seed
14大龙（就是撒但）下到地上后，要向妇人发怒，并且去与她其余的儿女争战。（启十二17。）十二章里的妇人，乃是神全体的子民，包括召会和以色列人。她的儿女共有两类，一类是遵守律法的，另一类是持守耶稣见证的。那十四万四千蒙拣选的以色列遗民，乃是对神的律法忠信的，而蒙救赎的信徒，必是对耶稣的见证忠信的。那大龙向妇人发怒，就去与她其余的儿女争战，就是与那些遵守摩西律法的犹太人，以及持守耶稣之见证的基督徒争战。在这场争战开始之前，得胜者需要早早被提。
14After the great dragon, Satan, has come down to earth, he will be angry with the woman and will go to war with the remnant of her seed (12:17). The woman in chapter twelve is the totality of God’sp eople, including both the church and the children of Israel. Her children are of two categories: those who keep the law and those who have the testimony of Jesus. The one hundred and forty- four thousand chosen remnant of Israel will certainly be faithful to the law, and the redeemed ones, the believers, will be faithful to the testimony of Jesus. The great dragon, who will be angry with this woman, will war with the remnant of her seed, with the Jews who keep the law of Moses and the Christians who have the testimony of Jesus. An early rapture is needed before this
7 那兽即敌基督，要与圣徒争战，并且胜过他们
7. The Beast—Antichrist—Warring with the Saints and Overcoming Them
15启示录十三章七节，说到敌基督；『又给兽允许与圣徒争战，并且胜过他们。』圣徒就是十二章那妇人所表征之神的子民。这指明在大灾难的时候，仍有一班信徒，敌基督要去与他们争战，并且胜过他们。这就是说，当大灾难时，敌基督要逼迫信徒。我们何等需要在那时候以前被提！因著这些可怕、骇人的事要来临，我们就需要被提。我们不是坐等这些可怕的事来临，乃是等候主在这些事情发生之前，就将我们取去。因此，得胜者被提，是绝对需要的。
15Speaking of Antichrist, Revelation 13:7 says, “And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” The saints are God’s people as signified by the woman in chapter twelve. This indicates that in the great tribulation a number of believers, against whom Antichrist will war and whom he will overcome, will still be there. This means that he will persecute the believers during the great tribulation. How much we need a rapture before that time! Because all these terrible, horrible things are coming, there is the need for us to be taken away. We are not waiting for these dreadful events to take place. We are waiting for the Lord to take us away before any of these things come to pass. Thus, there is definitely the need for the rapture of the overcomers.
二 应许
B. The Promises
1 要算为配逃避这一切的事，
1. To Be Accounted Worthy to Escape All
16得以站立在人子面前现在要来看关于得胜者被提的应许。路加二十一章三十六节说，『但你们要时时儆醒，常常祈求，使你们得胜，能逃避这一切要发生的事，得以站立在人子面前。』『得胜，』照原文也可译为『充分得加强。』有些译本作『得算为配。』原文这辞有这两面的意义，当我们充分得加强，也就算为配了。我们必须充分得加强，使我们能逃避网罗，得以站立在人子面前。在主再来之前，祂是人子，是在三层天上。路加二十一章三十六节指明，得胜者将要站在人子面前，意思是说，他们要被提到诸天之上主的面前。当网罗要来的时候，我们必须充分得加强以逃脱。你若懂得怎样捕鱼，你就知道有些较强壮的鱼会从网里逃脱。同样，得胜者要全然得加强，以逃脱网罗，并且在诸天之上站立在主面前。这就是在大灾难前被提的应许。
16These Things and to Stand before the Son of Man Now we come to the promises with respect to the rapture of the overcomers. Luke 21:36 says, “But be watchful, at every time beseeching, that you may prevail to escape all these things which are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” According to the Greek, the words be accounted worthy may be rendered “fully strengthened.” In Greek this phrase has both meanings. When we are fully strengthened, we are counted worthy. We must be fully strengthened in order to escape the snare and to stand before the Son of Man. Before the Lord comes back, He, the Son of Man, will be in the third heaven. Luke 21:36 reveals that the overcomers will stand before the Son of Man. This means that they will be raptured to the presence of the Lord in the heavens. While the snare is about to come, we must be fully strengthened to escape it. If you are familiar with fishing, you will realize that some stronger fish are able to escape the net. Likewise, the overcomers will be fully strengthened to escape the snare and to stand in the presence of the Lord in the heavens. This is a promise of being raptured before the great tribulation
2 蒙保守免去试炼的时候
2. To Be Kept out of the Hour of Trial
17另一个与被提有关的应许是在启示录三章十节；『你既遵守我忍耐的话，我也必保守你免去那将要临到普天下，试炼一切住在地上之人试炼的时候。』有些人说所有的基督徒都要在大灾难后被提。在弟兄会中，与达秘一派分开，所谓的牛顿派，就有这种观念。牛顿派教训说，所有的基督徒都要经过大灾难。有一次我曾向牛顿派中一位带头的教师，问起启示录三章十节，他也承认这节是他们的难题。按照这节，得胜者不只蒙保守免去那试炼，并且还免去那试炼的时候，意思就是他们要在大灾难前被提。因此，得胜者的被提，要在大灾难之前发生。
17Another promise regarding the rapture is found in Revelation 3:10. “Because you have kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth.” Some say that all Christians will be raptured after the tribulation. This concept is found among the so-called Newton group of the Brethren which separated from Darby’s group. The Newton group teaches that all Christians will pass through the tribulation. Once I asked one of the leading teachers in the Newton group about Revelation 3:10, and he admitted that this verse was a problem to them. According to this verse, the overcomers will not only be kept out of the trial but also out of the hour of the trial, meaning that they will be raptured before the great tribulation. Hence, the rapture of the overcomers will precede the great tribulation.