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启示录生命读经 · 第3篇

耶稣的见证─特殊并终结的

The Testimony of Jesus Particular and Consummate
1启示录这卷书先是启示基督，再是启示耶稣的见证；换句话说，这是一本关于基督与召会的书。启示录所启示的基督和召会，是惟一而特殊的。在上一篇信息里我们曾指出，本书启示基督的许多方面，是圣经其他各卷所看不到的。关于召会也是这样，启示录这卷书是以非常特殊的方式揭示召会。在本篇信息中，我们要概略的陈明启示录里召会的各方面；至于详细的情形，要在以后的信息里，逐一细看。
1The book of Revelation firstly reveals Christ, and secondly the testimony of Jesus. In other words, this book is concerned with Christ and the church. In Revelation, Christ and the church are revealed in a unique and particular way. In the last message we pointed out that many aspects of Christ which are not found in other books in the Bible are unveiled in Revelation. The same is true with the church. The book of Revelation unfolds the church in a very particular way. In this message we shall present a summary of the aspects of the church found in Revelation, while in later messages we shall cover the details
壹 灯台
I. THE LAMPSTANDS
2首先，启示录揭示召会是灯台；（启一11～12；）新约其他各卷从来没有用过这辞来指召会。其他各卷告诉我们，召会是神所拣选之人的聚集，是基督的身体，是神的家。除了启示录，从没有说过召会是灯台。召会为灯台，照亮在黑暗里。『灯台』一辞使我们更了解召会及其功用。召会不是灯，乃是灯台，就是盛托灯的地方。灯台上若没有灯，就是虚设，就没有意义；但召会这个灯台上有发光的灯。正如我们在上一篇信息中所看过的，神是光，羔羊是灯。（启二一23。）因此，基督是灯，召会是盛托这灯的灯台。神在基督里，而基督就是灯，盛托在灯台上，将神的荣耀照射出去。这就是召会的见证。
2Firstly, in Revelation the churches are unveiled as being the lampstands (1:11-20). In no other New Testament book is this term used with respect to the church. In other books we are told that the church is the gathering of God’s chosen ones, that it is the Body of Christ, and that it is the house of God. But apart from Revelation, we are not told that the church is the lampstand. As the lampstands, the churches shine in the darkness. The word lampstand enables us to understand much about the church and its function. The church is not the lamp; it is the lampstand, the stand which holds the lamp. Without the lamp, the lampstand is vain and means nothing. But the lampstand holds the shining lamp. As we saw in the preceding message, God is the light and the Lamb is the lamp (21:23). Thus, Christ is the lamp, and the church is the lampstand holding the lamp. God is in Christ and Christ as the lamp is held by the stand to shine out God’s glory. This is the testimony of the church
一 性质是金的（神圣的）
A. Golden (Divine) in Nature
3灯台是众地方召会，其性质是金的。在豫表上，金表征神性，就是神的神圣性情。所有的地方召会，在性质上都是神圣的，都是由神的神圣性情所构成的。这种说法完全合乎圣经，因为启示录说，众地方召会乃是金灯台，（启一20，）是从纯金锤出来的，不是由土、木、或任何劣等材料作成的。这就是说，所有的地方召会都必须是神圣的；没有神性，就没有召会。虽然召会是由人性同神性组成的，但人性不该是地方召会的基本性质；地方召会的基本性质必须是神性，就是神的神圣性情。所以金灯台这个简单的名称，使我们更认识召会：召会是把基督照耀出去的，并且是由神圣的性情构成的。
3As the local churches, the lampstands are golden in nature. In typology, gold signifies divinity, the divine nature of God. All the local churches are divine in nature; they are constituted with the divine nature of God. To say this is absolutely scriptural, for the book of Revelation says that the local churches are golden lampstands (1:20). These stands are not built of clay, wood, or any inferior substance; they are constructed out of pure gold. This means that all the local churches must be divine. Without divinity, there can be no church. Although the church is composed of humanity with divinity, humanity should not be the basic nature of the local churches. The basic nature of the local churches must be divinity, God’s divine nature. By these two simple words—golden lampstands—we realize a great deal about the church: that the church is something shining with Christ and that it is constituted with the divine nature.
二 照耀在黑暗中
B. Shining in Darkness
4灯台是在黑暗中照亮；若没有黑暗，就不需要灯台发光照耀。灯的照亮是相当特殊的。灯要照亮，里面必须有油燃烧；灯里的油点燃了，光就照亮到黑暗里。这就是召会的功用。召会的功用不单是传福音，教导人道理；更是在这黑暗的世代中，把神的荣耀照耀出去。这就是召会的见证。
4The lampstands shine in the darkness. If there were no darkness, there would be no need for the shining of the light of the lamp. The shining of the lamp is quite particular. In order for the lamp to shine, it must have oil burning within it. If the oil burns within the lamp, the light will shine out through all the darkness. This is the function of the church. The function of the church is not simply to preach or to teach doctrine. In the dark night of this age, the church must shine out the very glory of God. This is the testimony of the church
三 彼此相同
C. Identical with One Another
5所有的灯台，都是彼此相同的。许多基督徒，存著一个错误的观念，总要使自己与别的基督徒不同。十四年前，我初到美国时，遇到过一些亲爱的基督徒，他们看到各地方召会都一样，就觉得不妥。他们说，他们是尽所能的，要与别人不同。这种看法是不对的。我们每一个人都有一个头、双肩、双臂、双手、十个指头；而每个人头上都有七个孔：双耳、双眼、两个鼻孔，加上一个口。若是有人说，『我不要和别人一样，我要和别人不同，我情愿头上只有五个孔。』这是何等的荒谬！那些主张每个地方召会都该与众不同的人，乃是根据启示录二、三章，那里2的七个召会都不相同。他们说，『看，七个召会都不一样！』很久以前，当我还年经的时候，也受这种观念的影响，也这样教导别人。直到有一天，光临到我，我看见启示录二、三章说到各地方召会不同之处，那些不同都不是积极的，而是消极的。以弗所失去了起初的爱，这是消极的；别迦摩属了世界，这是消极的；推雅推喇有了鬼魔，也是消极的；老底嘉不冷不热，也是消极的。然而，在积极一面，所有的地方召会都是一样，七个都是金灯台。你若能把七个灯台放在桌子上，除非你把牠们编号或标示出来，否则你说不出那个不同。七个灯台都是一样的。
5All the lampstands are identical with one another. Many Christians, having taken in a mistaken concept, desire to be different from other Christians. When I came to this country fourteen years ago, I met some dear Christians who were troubled because the local churches were all the same. They told me that they would try their best to be different. This is not right. Everyone has a head, two shoulders, two arms, two hands, and ten fingers, and every human head has seven holes: two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, and a mouth. It is ridiculous to say, “I don’t want to have the same appearance as others. In order to be different, I would like to have five holes in my head.” How ridiculous this is! Those who claim that every local church should be unique base their concept upon the differences among the seven churches in Revelation and 3. Some have said, “Look! All the seven churches are different.” In the early years, when I was very young, I was influenced by this concept and I taught the same thing. But one day the light dawned upon me and I saw that all the differences in the local churches in Revelation 2 and 3 are negative, not positive. Ephesus lost her first love — negative; Pergamos is worldly — negative; Thyatira is demonic—negative; and Laodicea became lukewarm — negative. On the positive side, however, all the local churches are identical, because they all are seven golden lampstands. If you could place all the seven lampstands on a table before you, unless you numbered or labeled them, you would be unable to tell them apart. All the seven lampstands are the same.
6从一九六二年开始，在美国有些人大声宣告说，他们永远不和洛杉矶召会一个样子。说这样话的人今天在那里？还不是消失不见了！他们的古怪观念也跟著了了。我不是说大家都要跟洛杉矶召会；但是如果洛杉矶召会有七个『孔，』而你坚持只要五个孔，就是荒谬。就积极一面说，所有地方召会必须是相同的；然而在消极一面，她们就不尽相同。若是洛杉矶召会拜了偶像，我们当然绝不效法他们。在这样的事上，我们绝不跟他们一样。但是在积极的一面，若说地方召会不该一样，就是错误。我们不该存心使自己与众不同，那是骄傲。有一天，主指给我看，新耶路撒冷的四面是完全一样的，城墙的每一边都是用同样的材料，就是碧玉造成的，并非一边用碧玉造，三边用铜造。同样的，在宇宙一面，所有的召会都必须是相同的。她们在组织上无须一致，但在表现上一定要相同。举例说，纽西兰的众召会应该和日本的众召会一样。因为我们都是一个召会，全地的众召会在宇宙一面都该是相同的。在地方上，我们是众召会；在宇宙一面，我们是一个召会。这就是耶稣的见证。
6Nevertheless, since 1962, some voices in this country have declared loudly that they will never be like the church in Los Angeles. Where are those voices today? They have faded away, and all the peculiar concepts they advocated have failed. I am not saying that all must follow the church in Los Angeles. But if Los Angeles has seven “holes,” then it would be ridiculous for others to insist upon having five “holes.” On the positive side, all the local churches must be identical. On the negative side, however, they are different. If the church in Los Angeles would worship idols, then we must refuse to follow them. In matters such as this, we must be different. But it is wrong to say that, on the positive side, the local churches should not be the same. We should not try to make ourselves peculiar or different—this is pride. One day the Lord showed me that the four sides of the New Jerusalem are exactly the same. Each side of the wall is built with the same material—jasper. It is not that one side is built with jasper and the other sides with brass. No, all four sides are the same. Likewise, universally, all the churches must be the same. They need not be the same in organization, but they must be identical in appearance. For example, the churches in New Zealand should be the same as the churches in Japan. Because we all are one church, all the churches on earth should be universally the same. Locally, we are the churches; universally, we are the church. This is the testimony of Jesus.
贰 大批的群众
II. THE GREAT MULTITUDE
7在七章九至十七节，我们看见大批的群众，是耶稣的见证。按照七章的记载，这『大批的群众』乃是全体蒙神救赎的人，是从『各邦国、各支派、各民族、各方言』赎来的。（启七9。）七章十四节说，『这些人是从大患难中出来的，』可见他们全都经过患难。这指明没有一个时候，没有一个地方，召会不遭遇患难。世界总是逼迫召会的，（约十六33，）召会无论在那里，总要遭受相当的逼迫。这大批的群众又是从患难中得胜的出来的，因为他们都手拿棕树枝，这表征他们胜过了患难。（启七9。）最后，在永世里，神要用祂的帐幕覆庇他们。七章十五节说，『坐宝座的要用帐幕覆庇他们。』这就是蒙神救赎之人的定命。何等美妙！还有，羔羊要在生命水的泉那里，永远牧养他们。（启七17。）
7In 7:9-17 we see the testimony of Jesus as the great multitude. According to the record of chapter seven, this great multitude is the whole Body of God’s redeemed ones, having been redeemed “out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (7:9). All of them have passed through tribulation. This indicates that at no time nor at any place is there a church which has not passed through tribulation. The world always persecutes the churches (John 16:33). Wherever the church is, there will always be a certain amount of persecution. That the whole Body of the redeemed ones will pass through tribulation is indicated by 7:14, which says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.” This great multitude has come out of tribulation in a victorious way, for they all hold palm branches which signify their victory over tribulation (7:9). Eventually, in eternity, they will be overshadowed by God with His tabernacle. As 7:15 says, “He who sits upon the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them.” This is the destiny of God’s redeemed ones. How wonderful! Furthermore, they will also be shepherded by the Lamb at the springs of waters of life for eternity (7:17).
8启示录七章九至十七节所描写的，并不是一班特别的信徒；这里乃是一般的记载全体蒙神救赎之人，并他们在永世里的情形。到了永世，他们要享受神的覆庇，和基督的牧养。这就是我们的定命。这段圣经启示出，当基督向人类执行神的审判时，祂要照顾神所救赎的人。所有蒙神救赎的人，最终都要被提到神宝座前，在那里享受神的覆庇和羔羊的牧养。
8Revelation 7:9-17 does not portray a particular group of believers. Rather, it presents a general record of the whole Body of God’s redeemed ones and their state in eternity. In eternity, their state will be that of enjoying God’s over shadowing and Christ’s shepherding. This is our destiny. This portion of the Word reveals that while Christ is executing God’s judgment upon mankind, He will take care of God’s redeemed ones. All God’s redeemed ones eventually will be raptured to the throne of God and will stand there enjoying God’so ver shadowing and the Lamb’s shepherding.
参 妇人同男孩子
III. THE WOMAN WITH THE MAN-CHILD
一 妇人
A. The Woman
9在十二章一至十七节，我们看见召会的另一个表号，就是妇人同男孩子。召会不只是灯台，是蒙救赎的大批群众，她也是那怀男孩子之妇人的大部分。这是人的思想中从来不曾想像过的。这一章里的妇人代表神全体的子民，男孩子代表神子民中较刚强的部分。男孩子是怀在妇人里面，所以神的子民中有比较刚强的部分。妇人代表历世历代神的子民。她身披日头，脚踏月亮，头戴十二星，（启十二1，）被撒但，就是那大红龙所逼迫，正如每一个世代，神一部分的子民都受撒但的逼迫。但是在三年半的大灾难中，神却要保护她，不让蛇攻击她。
9In 12:1-17 we see another symbol of the church: the woman with the man-child. The church is not only the lampstand and the great redeemed multitude; it is also the greater part of the woman with the man-child. No human mind would ever conceive of the church in this way. The woman in this chapter represents the whole Body of God’sp eople, and the man-child represents the stronger part of God’sp eople. As there is the man- child within the woman, so among God’sp eople there is a stronger part. This woman, who is bright with the sun, the moon, and twelve stars (12:1) and who is persecuted by Satan, the great red dragon, represents God’sp eople throughout all the generations. In every generation, a portion of God’sp eople has always been persecuted by Satan. Nevertheless, during the three and a half years of the great tribulation she will be protected by God from the attack of the serpent
二 男孩子
B. The Man-child
10我们说过，男孩子是神子民中较刚强的部分。在神的子民中，甚至在我们今日主恢复的人中，也有比较刚强的部分；这较刚强的部分要在大灾难以前，被提到神的宝座那里。换句话说，妇人要被留在地上，经过大灾难；但是较刚强的部分，就是男孩子，要在大灾难以前被提到神的宝座那里。为甚么男孩子要在灾前被提？因为神需要男孩子在诸天之上与撒但争战，将撒但摔下来。虽然神有许多天使可以与撒但争战，但是赢得最后胜利的，乃是男孩子，不是天使。神需要男孩子，祂要以撒但所败坏过的人打败他、羞辱他。神似乎说，『撒但，你曾败坏我所创造的人，但我从这败坏的人中，得著了一个男孩子，他不只在地上，主要的更要在天上击败你。』这男孩子要一路打过去，也打上去，直上到宝座那里，把撒但从天上摔到地上来。这也是耶稣见证的一部分。虽然耶稣在十字架上已经击败了撒但，但仍然需要召会把祂的得胜执行在仇敌身上。但因为基督的身体上有许多肢体在这件事上失败了，所以只有身体上较刚强的部分，就是男孩子，把基督的得胜执行在撒但身上。男孩子要被提到诸天之上来成功这事。
10As we have seen, the man-child is the stronger part of the people of God. Among the people of God, even among us in the Lord’s recovery today, there is the stronger part. This stronger part will be raptured to the throne of God before the great tribulation. In other words, the woman will be left on earth to pass through the tribulation, but the stronger part, the man-child, will be raptured to the throne of God before the tribulation. Why will the man- child be raptured prior to the tribulation? Because God needs the man-child to fight Satan in the heavens and to cast him down. Although God has many angels who will fight against Satan, the final victory over the enemy will not be gained by the angels but by the man-child. God needs the man - child. God will shame Satan by using the very man Satan corrupted to defeat him. God may say, “Satan, you have corrupted the man I created. But I have got a man-child out of this corrupted man to defeat you. And he will not mainly defeat you on earth but in heaven.” The man-child will fight through and up, fighting up to the throne to cast Satan down from the heavens to the earth. This is a part of the testimony of Jesus. Although Jesus has defeated Satan on the cross, there is still the need for the church to execute His victory over the enemy. Because so many members of the Body have failed in this matter, only the stronger part of the Body, the man - child, will execute Christ’s victory over Satan. The man-child will be raptured to the heavens to accomplish this job.
11被提不光是为著我们的祝福。我们不该说，『要是我能被提到诸天之上就太好了！』我们必须看见，神需要我们被提─我们必须被提到天上，好与仇敌争战。如果你听见这话以后说，『我不愿意到那里去打仗，』就证明你还不彀资格在灾前被提。你如果不到天上去迎战撒但，把他摔下来，他就要到地上来找你，把你打败。我们一定要作男孩子。我切切渴慕成为男孩子的一部分，我不以仅仅是妇人的一部分为满足。我渴望有分于较刚强的部分。这也是耶稣的见证的一方面。
11The rapture is not merely for our blessing. We should not just say, “How good it is for me to be raptured to the heavens!” We must realize that God has a need for us to be raptured—we must be raptured to heaven that we might fight against the enemy. If when you hear this you say, “I don’t want to go there and be involved in a war,” this means that you are not qualified to be raptured before the tribulation. If you do not go to heaven to meet Satan and cast him down, then he will come down to the earth to meet you and overcome you. We must be the man-child. I earnestly desire to be a part of the man-child. I am not satisfied simply to be a part of the woman. I want to be included in that stronger part. This also is an aspect of the testimony of Jesus
肆 初熟的果子与庄稼
IV. THE FIRSTFRUITS AND THE HARVEST
12现在我们来看初熟的果子与庄稼。（启十四1～5，14～16。）召会不单作灯台去发光，不单作男孩子去争战，也是一块田地长满庄稼，直到成熟。庄稼必须成熟，青嫩的不能收割；庄稼一旦熟透了，便可以立即收割。
12Now we come to the firstfruits and the harvest (14:1-5, 14-16). The church is not only the lampstand shining and the man-child fighting, but also a field growing a crop which must ripen and become mature. Any crop which is still green is too tender to be harvested. But once the crop has ripened in the field, it will be harvested immediately
一 初熟的果子
A. The Firstfruits
13庄稼中先熟的部分称为初熟的果子。初熟的果子要在大灾难前被提到诸天之上的锡安山。十四章四节指出，初熟的果子就是那些『羔平无论往那里去，他们都跟随祂』的人。他们这初熟的果子，是被提到锡安神的家中，作神新鲜的享受，使神得到满足。按照旧约的豫表，收割了地里首先初熟之物，不可以放进仓里，乃是要送到耶和华神的殿中。（出二三19。）这指明所有早期的得胜者，都要被提到天上神的家中，给神享受。所以被提主要的还不是为著我们的享受，乃是为著神的享受。被提是为著打败仇敌，并且为著使神满足。我们不但要作今日的灯台，也要作今日的男孩子，与神的仇敌争战；还要成为今日初熟的果子，满足神的心愿。
13That part of the crop which ripens first is called the firstfruits. The firstfruits will be raptured to Zion in the heavens before the great tribulation. As 14:4 points out, the firstfruits are those who “follow the Lamb wherever He may go.” Being the firstfruits, they are raptured to the house of God in Zion as the fresh enjoyment to God. This is for God’s satisfaction. According to the type in the Old Testament, the firstfruits of the ripened harvest were not taken to the barn but into the temple of God (Exo. 23:19). This indicates that all the early overcomers will be taken up to the house of God in heaven for God’s enjoyment. The rapture is not mainly for our enjoyment but for God’s enjoyment. The rapture is for defeating the enemy and for satisfying God. We must not only be today’s lampstands but also today’s man-child to fight against God’se ne my and today’s firstfruits to satisfy God’s desire
二 庄稼
B. The Harvest
14十四章里，在初熟的果子之后，就是庄稼收成。十五节说，『又有一位天使从殿中出来，同那坐在云上的大声喊著说，伸出你的镰刀来收割，因为收割的时候到了，地上的庄稼已经熟了。』收割庄稼的时间，是在大灾难快要结束的时候。庄稼要被提到空中，基督就在那里的云上。为甚么要将庄稼留下来经过大灾难？因为青嫩、末熟的庄稼，需要猛烈的阳光照晒，才会成熟。大灾难在一方面说，就像猛烈的日头，要使所有在灾难前未豫备好的圣徒成熟。简单的说，你今日若不撇弃世界，为基督而活，基督要把你留在地上，经过大灾难。到了那个时候，你必然会放下世界，而且认识到最好的生活，就是为基督而活。所有神的儿女都当这样，否则永远不能成熟。你若不信，等著瞧好了。可能你认为世界太可爱，放下世界太可惜了，那么主就会说，『既然你这么爱世界，我且把你留下，让你看看世界是否真的那么可爱！』然后，主要震动世界。最后你要说，『主阿，我悔改！』然而，到那个时候悔改，可能迟了一点。不要等大灾难来到了才悔改，现在就悔改！每一个真基督徒迟早都要悔改。我有把握说，有一天每一个得救的人都要看见，世界不但不可爱，更是有毒；你越爱世界，就越要中毒。世界是与神为仇的，我们都必须摒弃牠。主迟早要使你知道，祂是何等恨恶这个世界。那一天要来到，我们都要成熟。你不要说，『我不在乎成熟不成熟，只要我得救了，一切就都没有问题！』你今天可以硬著心硬著颈项和我争辩，但那一天来到，你就知道你需要成熟。我劝你不要等到收割的日子。靠著祂的恩，今日就进前来，作初熟果子的一部分。
14Following the firstfruits, in chapter fourteen, we have the harvest. Verse 15 says, “Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, Send forth Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” The harvest will be reaped near the end of the great tribulation. It will be raptured to the air where Christ will be on the cloud. Why will the harvest be left to pass through the great tribulation? Because green, unripened fields need strong sunshine in order to ripen. In a sense, the great tribulation will be the strong sunshine which will ripen all the saints who will not be ready before the tribulation. To put it simply, if today you do not give up the world and live for Christ, Christ will leave you on earth to pass through the great tribulation. At that time, you will surely give up the world and realize that the best way to live is to live for Christ. All the children of God must do this; otherwise, they could never ripen. If you do not believe my word, I ask you to wait. Perhaps you feel that the world is too lovely to give up. If so, the Lord may say, “Since you love the world so much, I will leave you with the world and let you find out whether it is really lovely.” Then the Lord will shake the world, and eventually you will say, “Lord, I repent.” That repentance, however, may be rather late. Do not wait until the great tribulation comes to repent. Repent now! Sooner or later, every real Christian must repent. I have the full assurance that eventually every saved one will realize that the world is not lovely but poisonous. The more you love the world, the more you are poisoned by it. The world is at enmity with God, and we all must despise it. Sooner or later, the Lord will cause you to realize how much He hates this world. The day will come when all of us will be ripe. But do not say, “I don’t care about being ripe. As long as I’m saved, everything will be all right.” You may be able to argue against me with your strong, stubborn will, but the day will come when you will realize that you need to ripen. I advise you not to wait for the harvest. By His grace, come forward to be a part of the firstfruits
伍 胜了兽的得胜者
V. THE OVERCOMERS OVER THE BEAST
15在十五章二至四节，我们看见胜了兽的得胜者。神是主宰一切的。甚至在大灾难的时期中，还有一些得胜者，我们可称他们为晚期的得胜者。这些得胜者要经过大灾难，那时，敌基督，就是兽，要强迫人拜他当神，又叫人在神的殿里拜他的像。我们期待看见，以色列圣殿的重建，那将是主快来的记号。圣经豫言说，敌基督要在神的殿中立他的像，强迫人拜他。（太二四15。）那个时候，许多基督徒要胜过那兽，而且被杀。我劝你爱主要趁今天，作个早期的得胜者，不要等到大灾难的时候被杀才得胜。
15In 15:2-4 we see the overcomers over the beast. God is sovereign. Even during the time of the great tribulation, there will be some overcomers, those whom we may call the late overcomers. These overcomers will pass through the great tribulation in which the Antichrist, the beast, will compel people to worship him as God and to worship his image in the temple of God. We expect to see the rebuilding of the temple in Israel, for this will be a sign that the Lord’s coming back is very near. The Bible prophesies that Antichrist will erect his image in the temple of God and will force people to worship it (Matt. 24:15). During that time, many Christians will overcome the beast and be killed. I advise you to be an early overcomer and to love the Lord today. Do not wait to overcome by being killed during the great tribulation.
16根据十五章，这些晚期的得胜者，要被提站在玻璃海上，那是个『搀杂著火的玻璃海，』（启十五2，）他们要唱摩西的歌和羔羊的歌，称颂神。（启十五2。）这些在玻璃海上的人，乃是那些『胜了兽和兽像，以及兽名数字的人，』（启十五2，）就是胜过兽和兽的像，不拜敌基督之像的人。6启示录二十章四节和六节指明与基督一同作王的人中，也有晚期的得胜者。我再说，我情愿作早期的得胜者，不愿作晚期的得胜者。你若是松懒，就要被留下经过大灾难。我们都当仰望主说，『主阿，我渴慕作个早期的得胜者。』以后我们读到十五章的时候，再来详细的看这些事。
16According to chapter fifteen, the later overcomers will be raptured to stand on the glassy sea, “a sea of glass mingled with fire” (15:2), and will praise God with the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (15:3). Those on the glassy sea are those who have “the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name” (15:2). These are they who overcome the beast, his image, and the worship of the idol of the Antichrist. Revelation 20:4 and indicate that some of the co - kings of Christ will be these late overcomers. I say again that I prefer to be an early overcomer, not a late one. If you are sloppy, you will be left to pass through the great tribulation. We all must look to the Lord and say, “Lord, I want to be an early overcomer.” We shall cover the details when we come to Revelation 15 in this life-study.
陆 新妇
VI. THE BRIDE
17在十九章七至九节，我们看见召会是新妇。以弗所五章也启示召会是基督的新妇，但并没有把新妇启示得那么亲切。在启示录十九章里，把召会是新妇说得极为亲切。这段圣经给我们看见，新妇要穿上明亮的细麻衣，就是光明、纯洁的义，被请赴羔羊的婚筵，（启十九7～9，）这是何等亲切的事。对于神的仇敌，我们要作男孩子；为著满足神，我们要作初熟的果子，为著基督，我们要作新妇。我们切慕作新妇的时候，基督就得著满足；不但基督得满足，我们自己也要欢喜快乐。启示录十九章七节说，『我们要喜乐欢腾。』原则上，新妇总是最高兴、最快乐的人。今日我们召会作基督的配偶，要受苦并经过许多对付；但那日快来到，再没有逼迫、痛苦、对付。我从未见过，新娘子在结婚那天还受对付。哦，我们要作新妇！当我们成为新妇时，一切的难处、对付，都要过去。
17In 19:7-9 we see the church as the Bride. Ephesians 5 reveals that the church is the Bride of Christ, but it does not reveal the Bride in such an intimate way. But in Revelation 19 we see how intimate is the church as the Bride. In this portion of the Word we see that the Bride will wear bright raiment, being clothed with bright and pure righteousness, and will be invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb (vv. 7-9). This is a very intimate matter. To God’s enemy, we must be the man-child; for God’s satisfaction, we must be the firstfruits; and for Christ, we must be the Bride. When we are eager to be the Bride, Christ will receive His satisfaction. Not only will Christ be satisfied, but we ourselves will be glad. Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and exult.” In principle, a bride is the most pleasant and happy person. Today, as the church, Christ’s counterpart, we are suffering and undergoing many dealings. But the day is coming when there will be no more persecutions, sufferings, or dealings. I have never seen a bride who was dealt with on her wedding day. Oh, we must be the Bride! When we have become the Bride, all the difficult dealings will be over.
柒 众军
VII. THE ARMY
18召会也是『众军。』（启十九14～19，十七14。）召会的一部分要作男孩子，在诸天之上与仇敌争战；他们也是主的众军，和基督一同在地上与撒但争战。当被提完成之后，以及信徒经过基督审判台的审判以后，所有得胜者要和基督一同回到地上，成为祂的众军，与敌基督并他的军队争战。基督与敌基督都各有军兵；虽然前者是属天的军队，后者是属地的军队，却都在地上争战。换言之，敌基督要攻击基督及其众军，而基督与祂的众军就反击敌基督。假基督胆敢起来攻打真基督，真基督就反击那个假的。十七章十四节给我们看见，基督属天的众军，是由所有的得胜者，就是蒙召被选的人所组成的。最后，争战的末了，基督要击败敌基督。
18The church is also the army (19:14-19; 17:14). The part of the church which will be the man-child to fight against the enemy in the heavens will also be the army to fight with Christ against Satan on earth. After all the raptures have been completed and after the believers have been judged at the judgment seat of Christ, all the overcomers will come back to the earth with Christ as His army to fight against the Antichrist and his army. Both Christ and Antichrist will have an army. Although one army is heavenly and the other is earthly, both will fight on the earth. In other words, Antichrist will fight against Christ and His army, and Christ will fight back with His army. The false Christ will be so bold as to fight against the real Christ, but the real Christ will war against the false one. In 17:14 we see that Christ’she aven ly army will be composed of all the overcomers, those who have been called and chosen. Eventually, at the end of this war, Christ will defeat the Antichrist
捌 新耶路撒冷
VIII. THE NEW JERUSALEM
19至终，耶稣的见证将是新耶路撒冷。（启二一1～二二5。）开头的时候是灯台，历经以后的大批群众、男孩子、初熟的果子、晚期的得胜者、新妇、众军，最后所有得救的人要成为新耶路撒冷；那是所有蒙神救赎之人一个活的组合，也是神子民建造的终极完成。在永世里，新耶路撒冷要在羔羊里，带著圣灵的流，彰显神直到永远。我们读到二十一、二十二章的时候，将会看见这终极完成的清楚图画。
19Ultimately, the testimony of Jesus will be the New Jerusalem (21:1—22:5). Beginning with the lampstand and passing through the great multitude, the man-child, the firstfruits, the late overcomers, the Bride, and the army, all the saved ones will eventually be the New Jerusalem, which will be a living composition of all of God’s redeemed ones, the ultimate consummation of God’s building of His people. In and for eternity, the New Jerusalem will express God in the Lamb with the flow of the Spirit. When we come to chapters twenty-one and twenty-two, we shall see a clear picture of this ultimate consummation