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启示录生命读经 · 第39篇

光明妇人的实际与实行

The Actuality and Practicality of the Bright Woman
1我年轻的时候，就听说启示录这卷书至少有一百种不同的解释。以后，我花了相当多的时间来研读这卷书。我逐渐领悟，不能单从字面来明白圣经；我们要明白圣经，还需要经历。
1When I was young, I was told that there were at least one hundred different expositions of the book of Revelation. Later I spent a great deal of time to study this book. I eventually came to realize that the Bible cannot be understood simply by studying its language. If we would understand the Scriptures, we also need experience
需要经历
THE NEED OF EXPERIENCE
2我们可以用王上七章十三至二十一节所题的柱子作比方。在创世记生命读经第八十三篇信息中，我曾指出那两根柱子，每根高十八肘，乃是三倍十二肘（完整单位）的一半。这点我不是从解经书上查出来的。为要正确领会有关造柱子的每一点，我查读了圣经不同的译本。代下三章十五节说，那两根柱子高三十五肘，我立刻问自己说，『王上七章十五节说每根柱子高十八肘，而代下三章十五节却说3:15两根柱子高三十五肘，这是甚么缘故？』我立刻看出，这三十五肘乃是两根柱子合起来的高度，印证了我所说十八肘是三个完整单位的半数。但这个总数应该是三十六肘，所缺的一吋到那里去了？我从一种译本的注释中，得著帮助找到结论，就是柱顶的接头无疑说明了那失去的一吋。整根柱子高十八肘，但有半肘是在柱子和柱顶的接头处而不算。为要得到正确的领会，我们需要读各种不同的圣经译本；不过这些译本不能给我们生命上的意义，这还需要我们有经历。我乃是从经历上领会，十八肘指明三个完整单位的一半，并指明我们需要别人与我们配搭。牢记这点，我们就可以来看启示录这卷书。我们都同意启示录是一本豫言的书，但是要想明白豫言，仍需要有经历，因为豫言不单是讲一些客观的道理。圣经是一本生命的书，圣经里的每一样东西，无论是记述、历史、豫表、影儿、豫言或明言，都必定与生命有关。我们若缺少生命的经历，就不能领会神话语中许多地方在生命上的意义。要想明白启示录，就需要有生命的经历。
2Let us consider, for example, the matter of the pillars in 1 Kings 7:13-21. In message eighty-three of the Life- study of Genesis, I pointed out that the height of each of the two pillars, which was eighteen cubits, was half of three complete units of twelve cubits. I did not get this point from a commentary. Rather, I read various versions of the Bible in order to obtain the correct understanding of the language concerning all the points related to the building of the pillars. Second Chronicles 3:15 says that the height of the pillars was a total of thirty-five cubits. Immediately I asked myself, “Why does 1 Kings 7:15 say that the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits, but 2 Chronicles says that the height of both was thirty-five cubits?” I could immediately see that this thirty - five cubits was the total height of both pillars. This confirms my saying that eighteen cubits was half of three complete units. But the total should have been thirty-six. What about the missing cubit? By a note in one version I was helped to conclude that the joint in the capitals no doubt accounts for the missing cubit. The whole pillar measured eighteen cubits, but half a cubit was lost in the joint between the pillar and the capital. In order to gain the proper understanding, we need to study various versions of the Bible. But the versions of the Bible do not give us the significance in life. In order to know this, we must have experience. Only by experience could I apprehend that eighteen cubits indicate half of three complete units and that we need others to match us. With this in mind, let us now come to the book of Revelation. We all agree that Revelation is a book of prophecy. But to understand prophecy there is still the need of experience. The prophecies do not simply teach objective doctrines. The Bible is a book of life. Everything in the Bible, whether it is a narrative, a history, a type, a shadow, a prophecy, or a plain word, must be related to life. If we lack the experience in life, we shall be unable to apprehend the significance in life of many portions of the Word. In order to understand Revelation, we need the experiences in life.
那光明的妇人
the Bright Woman
乃是神全体的子民
BEING THE TOTALITY OF GOD’SP EOPLE
3在本篇信息中，我对这宇宙的光明妇人，有负担再讲一点。有些解释启示录的书籍说，这妇人是指以色列。他们这样说，当然有其根据。一九二三年以前，倪柝声弟兄还很年轻的时候，带领了一次启示录的查经。那时，他也认为在十二章里的妇人就是以色列。然而，以后他进一步的看见，这妇人是象征神的选民。（参看『圣洁没有瑕疵』一书第六九至七一面。）我已经指出，这妇人不是耶稣的母亲马利亚，也不仅是以色列人，乃是神全体的子民。我从前在台湾的时候，还未使用『神全体的子民』这个辞。这辞乃是在我近期尽职时才用的。有人或者会问我说，『你怎么证明这妇人是神全体的子民？』我曾说过，要明白本书，必须将我们的领会和生命的经历对照，看看是否相符。我们生命的经历对某种解释能印证么？若要正确的解释启示录十二章的妇人，所题出的任何一种解释，都必须用我们生命的经历来对照。说这妇人是耶稣的母亲马利亚，未免太过客观，与我们的经历完全无关。若真是指马利亚，那么整个启示录十二章就不是写给我们的，只不过是说到一个名叫马利亚的妇人，她生了耶稣，以后又受到逼迫。倘若这是十二章那个妇人的正确解释，那么对我们来说，这一章就没有意义了。将这一章包括在启示录中，岂非并无所指？因此，这种解释毫无根据；照著生命的经历说，也毫无地位。说这妇人是以色列就比较进步了；但纵使她单单是以色列，还是与我们无关，这一章就不过是撒但与以色列人争战的一个记录。
3In this message I am burdened to share more concerning the universal bright woman. Some of the expositions of the book of Revelation say that this woman is Israel. Of course, they have a ground to say this. When Brother Nee was very young, in the years before 1933, he conducted a study of this book. At that time, he followed the concept that the woman in chapter twelve was Israel. However, afterward he saw something further—that this woman signifies God’s chosen people (see The Glorious Church, pp. 73-77). As I have pointed out, this woman is neither Mary, the mother of Jesus, nor merely the children of Israel. She is the totality of God’sp eople. When I was in Taiwan, I did not use the expression “the totality of God’sp eople.” This utterance has come to me during this last period of my ministry. Some may ask, “How can you prove that this woman is the totality of God’sp eople?” I have said that in order to understand this book we must check whether our apprehension of it corresponds to our life experience. Is there any confirmation from our life experience of a particular interpretation? If we would rightly interpret the woman in Revelation 12, we must check any proposed interpretation with our experience in life. To say that this woman is Mary, the mother of Jesus, is altogether too objective and has nothing to do with our experience. If this is the case, then the entire twelfth chapter of Revelation is not for us. It is merely an account of a woman named Mary who brought forth Jesus and later suffered persecution. If this were the proper understanding of the woman in chapter twelve, then, as far as we are concerned, this chapter has no purpose. What would be the point of its being included in the book of Revelation? This interpretation is groundless and, according to the experience of life, has no standing whatever. It is somewhat an improvement to say that this woman is Israel. But even if she were merely Israel, she would not be related to us, for this chapter would then simply be a record of Satan’s fighting against the children of Israel
4我要题醒你，启示录这卷书共有二十二章，分为两大段，每段各十一章。第一段完整的概述从基督升天直到永远所要发生的事。在四章，我们看见基督升天后天上的景象；在十一章，我们看到永远的国。第一段给我们的是概略，第二段详述从基督升天到将来的永远，这段期间所要发生重要关键的事物。在第二段的开始，这些重要关键事物的头一项，就是光明的妇人被大红龙攻击。第二段开始于一个妇人，在结尾的二十二章，我们也看到一个妇人。因此，开头和末了的关键事项都是一个妇人，这点很有意义。
4I would remind you that the book of Revelation, composed of twenty-two chapters, is divided into two main sections of eleven chapters each. The first section gives a complete sketch of the events from Christ’s ascension unto eternity. In chapter four we see the scene in heaven after the ascension of Christ, and in chapter eleven we see the eternal kingdom. While the first section affords a general sketch, the second section gives the details of some important things and crucial matters which transpire during the period of time between Christ’s ascension and eternity future. At the very beginning of this second section, we have the first of these important and crucial matters — a bright woman opposed by a red dragon. Just as the second section begins with a woman, so at the ending, in chapter twenty - two, we also see a woman. Hence, both the first and last crucial matters are a woman. This is significant.
5这妇人到底是谁？我们若用狭窄的眼光看十二章，会以为她是马利亚或以色列国。但我们若有广阔的眼光，能包括更广的范围，就会看见她并非马利亚，也不单是以色列国，乃是神全体的子民。我们若有全面的眼光，必会说，『这妇人不是马利亚，也不是以色列国，必定是所有蒙神拣选并拯救，来为著神经纶的人。』一旦你有这个认识，你就会开始看见众星是指列祖，妇人脚踏的月亮必是象征律法以下的人，日头必是代表在召会里的人。我们若有这样彻底的领会，就会说，这妇人真是个宇宙妇人，包括了神所有的子民，就是从列祖直到基督身体上最小的一个肢体。』到启示录末了，那另一个妇人的异象更印证了这领会；在那里新耶路撒冷乃是羔羊的妻，（启二一9，）由旧约圣徒（十二支派的名字所代表），加上新约圣徒（由十二使徒的名字代表）所组成的。
5Who is this woman? If we look at chapter twelve with a narrow view, we may think she is Mary or the nation of Israel. But if we have a broad view which encompasses a wide span, we shall see that she is not Mary or merely the nation of Israel, but the totality of God’sp eople. If we have a panoramic view, we shall say, “This woman is not Mary or even the nation of Israel. She must be all the people chosen and saved by God for His economy.” Once you have this realization, you will begin to see that the stars indicate the Patriarchs, that the moon under her feet must signify those under the law, and that the sun must represent the church people. Such an understanding fills our entire view and causes us to say, “This woman is certainly a universal woman, including all the people from the Patriarchs to the last member of Christ’s Body.” This understanding is confirmed by the vision of the woman at the end of Revelation, where we see that the New Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb (21:9), composed of both the Old Testament saints, represented by the names of the twelve tribes, and the New Testament saints, represented by the names of the twelve Apostles
启示录第二段的内容
THE CONTENT OF THE SECOND SECTION of Revelation
6启示录第二段从开始到结束有些甚么？二十一和二十二章说到新耶路撒冷是羔羊的妻，十九和二十章有新妇和羔羊的婚筵。在二十章，新妇就是那些与基督同作王一千年的人。因此，在十九和二十章，妇人是新妇，到二十一和二十二章她就成了妻子。在十七和十八章里有个大巴比伦，就是这妇人的假冒，也是耶路撒冷的假冒。这看法不但合理，也非常有意义。
6What is between these two ends of the second section of Revelation? In chapters twenty - one and twenty - two we have the New Jerusalem as the Lamb’s wife, and in chapters nineteen and twenty we have the bride and the wedding feast of the Lamb. In chapter twenty the bride will be those reigning with Christ during the thousand years. Hence in chapters nineteen and twenty the woman is the bride, and in chapters twenty-one and twenty-two she is the wife. In chapters seventeen and eighteen we see Babylon the Great, the counterfeit of this woman, the counterfeit of Jerusalem. This view is not only logical but also very meaningful.
7十三至十六章又说了些甚么？将十二和十三章连接起来的是那三年半，或一千二百六十天。十三章五节告诉我们，有权柄赐给了敌基督，他可以任意而行四十二个月，等于三年半，或一千二百六十天。十二章六节和十四节告诉我们，妇人在旷野被养活一千二百六十天；或说，在旷野『躲避那蛇，』一年、二年、半年。所以十三章是加在十二章的后面，用来描述红龙逼迫妇人时要发生的事。在这期间，从海中上来一个兽，就是敌基督，牠与龙是一，要与圣徒，就是神的子民争战。到十四章，神警告人，包括圣徒在内，不要拜兽；也警告地上的人不要跟随敌基督去逼迫神的子民。到十五章，我们看见另一个异象，有一些胜过兽和兽像的圣徒站在玻璃海上，唱诗赞美主。十六章是这个时期的结束，这时神要掷下七个炸弹，就是盛满末了灾害的七碗，将兽的国整个粉碎。以上就是这卷书第二段的摘要。
7What about chapters thirteen through sixteen? The link that connects chapters twelve and thirteen is the three and a half years, or the one thousand two hundred sixty days. In 13:5 we are told that Antichrist will be given authority to act forty-two months, which are three and a half years or the one thousand two hundred sixty days. In 12:6 and 14 we are told that the woman will be nourished in the wilderness for a thousand two hundred and sixty days, or for a year, two years, and half a year “from the face of the serpent.” Therefore, chapter thirteen is an addition to chapter twelve describing what will happen when the red dragon persecutes the woman. During this period of time, a beast, Antichrist, will emerge from the sea and will be one with the dragon to war against the saints, God’sp eople. In chapter fourteen God warns the people, including the saints, not to worship this beast, and He warns the people on earth not to follow Antichrist to persecute His people. In chapter fifteen we see a vision of a number of the saints who overcome the beast and his image and stand on the glassy sea to sing and praise the Lord. Chapter sixteen covers the end of this period of time, when God will drop seven bombs, the seven bowls of the last plagues, to destroy the entire kingdom of the beast. This is a summary of the second section of this book
妇人的历史
A HISTORY OF THE WOMAN
8启示录的第二段，实际上就是这妇人的历史。这末了的十一章，似乎是记载一连串互不关联的事，就如大龙、两个兽、玻璃海、七碗、大巴比伦、婚筵等。从表面看，这些互不关联之事有的很重要，有的不大重要。但这样的看法指明你缺乏异象，也没有正确的观点。你若有正确的观点，你会说，『这一段不是由互不关联的事情凑起来的，乃是讲神子民的全部历史，告诉我们神的仇敌如何与祂的子民争战，祂的子民又如何产生出那较刚强的部分，就是男孩子，来击败仇敌。我们看到神的仇敌要挑动敌基督、假申言者、和他们的跟从者，去与神的子民争战。然而神的子民必胜过他们。最后，我们看见神要执行祂的审判，藉著倒下的七碗，毁灭在敌基督势力之下撒但的国。接著，基督要来迎娶神的子民，并要与神子民中那些蒙拣选的人一起，将敌基督打败，又要毁灭物质的大巴比伦；然后，基督要与神子民中这些蒙拣选的人一同辖管列国一千年。此后就是新天新地同新耶路撒冷，这新耶路撒冷就是神子民的终极完成，作救赎之羔羊的妻，直到永远。
8The second section of Revelation is virtually a history of this woman. It seems that the last eleven chapters relate a series of isolated things — the dragon, the two beasts, the glassy sea, the seven bowls, the great Babylon, the wedding feast. It may appear that some of these isolated items are very important and that others are less important. But to consider the matter in this way indicates that you lack vision and do not have the proper view. When you have the proper view, you will say, “This is not a section composed of various isolated things. It is a section giving a full history of God’s people. It tells how God’s enemy is fighting against His people and how His people are producing the stronger part, the man-child, to defeat the enemy. We see that God’s enemy will instigate Antichrist, the false prophet, and their followers to war against God’sp eople. But God’sp eople will overcome them. Eventually, we see that God will exercise His judgment by means of the seven bowls to destroy the kingdom of Satan under the power of Antichrist. Following this, He will overthrow the prostitute, Babylon the Great. Then Christ will come to marry God’sp eople, to defeat Antichrist with the chosen ones among God’sp eople, and to reign with them over the nations for a thousand years. After this, there will be the new heaven and the new earth with the New Jerusalem, the ultimate consummation of God’s people as the wife of the redeeming Lamb for eternity.
神子民的正确立场
THE PROPER STANDING OF GOD’SP EOPLE
9你可能是神的一个子民，但问题的关键是：你在这里有没有站在神子民的立场上。让我再用今天的犹太人来说明这点。全地上的犹太人约有一千三百万到一千四百万，但在以色列国里的犹太人却不到三百万。在纽约市几百万的犹太人难道不是真犹太人么？不错，他们都是真犹太人，不过，他们虽是犹太人，数目也远超过在以色列国中的犹太人，然而他们却不是以色列国。在实际上和实行上，以色列国仅仅是由那些已经回归国土的犹太人所组成的。在那一千三、四百万的犹太人中，至少有一千一百万人失去了以色列国的立场。结果，他们虽是典型的以色列人，却不是以色列国。只有那些回到他们先祖所在之地，又在那里站住、生活并战斗的以色列人，才是以色列国。同样，所有的基督徒都是神的子民，不过他们大多数已失去作神子民的立场了。
9Although you may be one of God’sp eople, the crucial question is whether or not you are standing here as God’sp eople. Let us use, once again, the illustration of the Jewish people today. There may be thirteen or fourteen million Jews on earth, but less than three million of them are in the nation of Israel. Are not the millions of Jews in New York City genuine Jews? Yes, they are. However, although they are Jews and although their number exceeds the number of those in the nation of Israel, they are not the nation of Israel. Actually and practically, the nation of Israel is composed only of those Jews who have returned. Of the thirteen or fourteen million Jews, at least eleven million have lost the ground of the nation of Israel. As a result, though they are typical Israelites, they are not the nation of Israel. Only those Israelites who returned to the land of their forefathers and who stand, live, and fight there are the nation of Israel. Likewise, all Christians are God’sp eople, but the vast majority of them have lost the ground of being God’sp eople
10当我们说我们就是召会时，曾得罪了许多人。他们说，『甚么话！我们不也是由宝血所救赎，又被圣灵所重生的么？』我们知道有许多由宝血救赎，蒙圣灵重生的基督徒，并且有些人在主里也相当丰富；但他们失去神子民作召会的立场。就如在纽约有些犹太人是亿万富豪，比那些回到巴勒斯坦的穷犹太人富有得多，但是那些穷犹太人才是以色列国，那些在纽约有钱的犹太人却不是以色列国。纽约一些富有的犹太人，捐过许多钱给以色列国，但无论他们捐多少，还不是以色列国，他们仍是美国的公民。他们可以说，『我爱以色列国，我也为著以色列国。』虽然我们要为此感谢主，然而这样作仍不能使他们成为以色列国。他们要成为以色列国惟一的路，就是回到他们先祖之地，与那些已经回去的穷犹太人一同站住，并肩作战。只有那样，他们才是以色列国真正的一部分。只有那样，他们才不仅是为著以色列国，并且就是以色列国。
10Many are offended when we say that we are the church. They say, “What! Are we not also blood- redeemed and Spirit-regenerated?” We realize that there are a great many blood-redeemed and Spirit- regenerated Christians and that some of them are rich in the Lord; yet they have lost the ground of God’sp eople as the church. There are some Jews in New York City who are millionaires; they are much richer than the poor Jews who returned to Palestine. But those poor Jews are the nation of Israel and the rich ones in New York are not. Some wealthy Jews in New York City have donated a lot of money to the nation of Israel. But no matter how much they donate, still they are not the nation of Israel; they are citizens of the United States. They may say, “I love the nation of Israel and I am for the nation of Israel.” Although we would thank the Lord for this, nevertheless this does not make them the nation of Israel. The only way for them to be the nation of Israel is to return to the land of their forefathers to stand and fight alongside those poor Jews who have already returned. Only then will they be an actual part of the nation of Israel. Only then will they be not only for the nation of Israel; they will be the nation of Israel
11照样，在公会、宗派、自由团体里的基督徒，都不能产生男孩子。要产生男孩子，在神的子民中至少要有一部分人，回到妇人的正确地位上。凡是站在这立场上的人，除了神之外，别的甚么也没有。他们就是在正确立场上要产生男孩子的妇人。我再一次说，我们若要明白圣经，特别是其中的豫言，必须凭著生命，也要为著生命。主所给我们的解释，不单是凭著生命，同著生命，更是为著生命。我们都当在实际和实行上作妇人的一部分。倘若你只能说，『我已经由血赎回，蒙圣灵重生，也充满圣灵了！』不错，你是个真正的基督徒，我们为此感谢主；但你还不是那产生男孩子之妇人实际并实行上的一部方。你就像在纽约市的犹太人，声称自己是犹太人，也是为著以色列国。他们虽是犹太人，却无法说他们就是以色列国。他们资助以色列国，也为著以色列国，但在实行上却不是以色列国。照样，今天那些失去立场，四散各处的神的儿女，并不能产生男孩子。在神的赎民中，只有那些看见祂的经纶，又肯回到这贞洁妇人所站之立场上的部分，才能产生男孩子。
11Likewise, it is not the Christians in the denominations, sects, and free groups who will bring forth the man-child. To bring forth the man-child there is the need for at least a portion of God’sp eople to come back to the proper standing of the woman. Those who have this standing have God alone and nothing else. They are the woman on the proper ground to bring forth the man-child. Once again I say that if we would understand the Bible, especially the prophecies, we must understand it by life and for life. The interpretation the Lord has given us is not only by life and with life—it is, much more, for life. We all must actually and practically be a part of the woman. If you can only say, “I have been redeemed by the blood and regenerated by the Spirit and filled with the Spirit,” you are a real Christian— thank the Lord for this—but you are not actually and practically part of the woman who is bringing forth the man-child. You are like the Jews in New York City who declare that they are Jews and that they are for the nation of Israel. They are Jews, but they cannot say that they are the nation of Israel. They help the nation of Israel and they are for the nation of Israel, but they are not the nation of Israel in a practical way. In like manner, today it is not the scattered children of God, those who have lost their ground, who will bring forth the man-child. Only that part of God’s redeemed people who have seen His economy and who are willing to return to the standing, the ground, of the chaste woman will bring forth the man-child
回到独一的立场上
RETURNING TO THE UNIQUE GROUND
12我们若要在实行上有分于这贞洁的妇人，就必须弃绝神和基督之外的一切事物，回到独一的立场上，以基督为我们独一的丈夫。我们拒绝凭基督之外的任何事物受孕。只有基督是我们独一的丈夫，我们只能从祂怀孕。除祂以外，我们一无所有。今天，我们已经有了这妇人的立场。然而你若是史先生的太太，为甚么却和钟先生住在一起？你或许说，『我是史先生的妻子，我们在某年、某月、某日正式结婚的。』你的话一点没有错，不过你现在跟谁住在一起？你是单单和史先生住在一起，还是也与别人同住？你或许没有与另一个男人同住，但你只独自跟你的爱犬在一起。如果是这样，你就失去了作史太太的立场了。在理论上你是史太太，但在实际和实行上，你没有一天是史太太。你已经失去了立场，目前仍然不在这立场上。如果你要回到史太太的地位上，必须丢下其他的男人和东西，并单纯、专一的回来与史先生合为一，这样你才在实际和实行上，绝对的作了史先生的妻子。这样的妻子才会为史先生生出孩子，这孩子不仅是为著史先生的，也是出于他的。愿主怜悯我们。这不是道理，乃是非常可实行的事。感谢主将祂的话向我们打开，也感谢神开启了我们的眼睛，能看见这个异象。现在我们所要作的，就是对这个异象忠信。『哦，主，感谢你将我们带到你子民正确的立场上，感谢你使我们成为那实际将男孩子生出来的妇人。主阿，我们不仅是那妇人，更盼望至终也要成为男孩子。』
12If we would be included practically in this chaste woman, we must forsake all things other than God and Christ and return to the unique ground to have Christ as our only husband. We refuse to become impregnated by anything other than Christ. We will only be made pregnant of Christ, for He is our unique husband. In addition to Him, we have no one and nothing. Today, we have the standing of this woman. However, if you are the wife of Mr. Smith, why are you living with Mr. Jones? You may say, “I am the wife of Mr. Smith. We were properly married in a certain year, month, and day.” This is correct, but with whom are you living? Do you live only with Mr. Smith, or also with someone else? Perhaps you do not stay with another man, but you stay with your pet dog alone in your house. By doing this, you lose the ground of being Mrs. Smith. Doctrinally, you are the wife of Mr. Smith, but actually and practically day after day you are not Mrs. Smith. You have lost this ground and are still losing it. If you would return to the ground of being Mrs. Smith, you must drop every other man and every other thing, and return purely, singly, and uniquely to be one with Mr. Smith. Then you will actually, practically, and absolutely be the wife of Mr. Smith. It is this wife who will bring forth children, not only for Mr. Smith but of Mr. Smith. May the Lord have mercy on us. This is not a doctrine; it is very practical. We thank the Lord that He has opened His Word to us and that He has opened our eyes to see this vision. Now our need is to be faithful to this vision. “O Lord, we thank You for bringing us back to the proper standing of Your people. Thank You, Lord, that we are actually the woman who will bring forth the man-child. Lord, not only are we the woman, but we expect to eventually become the man-child.”