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启示录生命读经 · 第44篇

从地里上来的兽

The Beast out of the Earth
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看第二个兽，就是从地里上来的兽。（启十三11～18。）
1In this message we come to the second beast, the beast out of the earth (13:11-18
壹 加略人犹大
I. JUDAS ISCARIOT
2启示录十三章十一节说，『我又看见另一个兽从地里上来。』这另一个兽乃是假申言者。（启十六13，十九20，二十10。）地既然象征以色列国，这另一个兽，即假申言者，就要出自犹太人。有些研读豫言的人相信，假申言者是加略人犹大。我相信这个看法是正确的。按照行传一章二十五节，犹大死后『往自己的地方去了，』不像圣经所记载别人的情形，『归到他列祖』那里。（创二五17，三五29。）历史上虽然出现过许多虚假的人，却没有一个像犹大一样被撒但所充满。耶稣说，『我不是拣选了你们十二个么？但你们中间有一个是魔鬼。耶稣是指著加略人西门的儿子犹大说的；他本是十二门徒中的一个，后来要出卖耶稣的。』（约六70～71。）这里我们看见，主耶稣甚至称犹大为魔鬼。因为犹大被魔鬼所充满，他便与魔鬼是一。没有别的人比犹大更符合对假申言者的描写。我们要再看一下，犹大『往自己的地方去了』的意义。根据圣经的记载，以利亚是被提到神那里，摩西的身体是被神保存，为著一个专特的目的。此外，我们也看过，尼罗的灵被拘留在无底坑里。无疑的，犹大的灵也是被拘在一个特别的地方。只有在读到启示录的时候，我们才看见为甚么圣经对这四个人有特别的记载。
2Revelation 13:11 says, “And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth.” This beast is the false prophet (16:13; 19:20; 20:10). Since the earth, the land, signifies the nation of Israel, this beast, the false prophet, will come out of the Jewish nation. Some students of prophecy believe that the false prophet will be Judas Iscariot. I believe this view is correct. According to Acts 1:25, after his death Judas went “to his own place,” rather than to “his people,” as was the case with others recorded in Scripture (Gen. 25:17; 35:29). Although there have been many false persons in history, no one was as filled with Satan as Judas was. Jesus said, “Did not I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil? Now He spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, being one of the twelve, would betray Him” (John 6:70-71). Here we see that the Lord Jesus even called Judas a devil. Because Judas was filled with the Devil, he was one with the Devil. No one other than Judas matches the description of the false prophet. Let us consider further the significance of Judas’ going “to his own place.” According to the record in the Bible, Elijah was raptured to God, and the body of Moses was kept by God for a specific purpose. In addition, we have seen that the spirit of Nero is being kept in the abyss. Undoubtedly, the spirit of Judas is also being kept in a particular place. Only when we come to the book of Revelation do we see why the Bible gives us this particular record of these four people
3在大灾难的期间，主在地上的百姓需要得加强。因为神豫先知道这事，便主宰的保留了摩西和以利亚，好为著祂在那时期中的见证。神也保留了尼罗和犹大，但是他们和摩西、以利亚相反，并不是留在愉快的地方。一个是在无底坑里，另一个在『自己的地方。』虽然我不知道那是甚么地方，但是我信那不会是个快乐的地方。因此，有两个人是神为著祂积极的目的所保留的，另有两个人是神因著祂消极的目的所保留的。尼罗的灵要一直关在无底坑里，直到牠要将罗马帝国最后一位该撒完全构成敌基督的时候来到。犹大也要一直留在他自己的地方，直到他出现为假申言者。因著神主宰的保留了这四个人，我们能看见整个宇宙和全人类都在神主宰的手下。没有一件事是凑巧的，每一件事的发生都是照著神主宰的安排。
3During the time of the great tribulation, the Lord’sp eople on earth will need strengthening. Because God foreknew this, He has sovereignly kept Moses and Elijah for His testimony during that time. God is also keeping Nero and Judas, but, in contrast to Moses and Elijah, they are not in a pleasant place. One is in the abyss, and the other is in “his own place.” Although I do not know what this place is, I am confident that it is not a place of joy. Hence, two people have been kept by God for His positive purpose and two others have been kept for His negative purpose. The spirit of Nero is being held in the abyss until the time it will fully constitute the last Caesar of the Roman Empire as Antichrist. Judas is kept in his own place until he appears as the false prophet. By God’ss ove reign keeping of these four people, we can see that the whole universe and the entire human race is under God’ss ove reign hand. Nothing happens accidentally. Rather, everything takes place according to God’s sovereign arrangement.
4许多世纪以前，神就豫备了摩西和以利亚。我们已经指出，摩西代表律法，以利亚代表申言者。古时候犹太人称旧约为『律法和申言者。』因为摩西和以利亚是两个见证人，神就特意保留他们。到那一天撒但被摔到地上并化身于敌基督，用他的权能迫害神的子民，那时神就要差遣这两位见证人回到地上，加强祂的子民。那时，撒但要召出犹大来为他作工，像从前一样。正如尼罗的灵要从无底坑里出来，成为敌基督；照样，犹大也要从他自己的地方出来，成为假申言者。所以在三年半的大灾难里，地上将有四个特别的人物─摩西、以利亚、尼罗和犹大。也许这四个人要面对面相遇。我不知道摩西和以利亚要对犹大说甚么。摩西和以利亚是敌基督和假申言者的反见证。你可想像当这四个人面对面相遇之时，会是何等的场面！
4Centuries ago, God prepared Moses and Elijah. As we have pointed out, Moses represents the law, and Elijah, the prophets. In ancient times, the Jews referred to the Old Testament as “the law and the prophets.” Because Moses and Elijah are two witnesses, they have been purposely kept by God. One day, after Satan has been cast down to earth and embodied in Antichrist, who will exercise satanic power to persecute God’sp eople, God will send these two witnesses back to strengthen His people. At that time, Satan will call out Judas to work for him as he did once before. Just as the spirit of Nero will emerge from the abyss to become Antichrist, so Judas will come out of his own place to become the false prophet. Therefore, during the three and a half years of the great tribulation, four special persons will be on earth—Moses, Elijah, Nero, and Judas. Probably all four will meet one another face to face. I wonder what Moses and Elijah will say to Judas. Moses and Elijah will be the anti-testimony to Antichrist and the false prophet. Imagine what a situation that will be when these four confront one another
贰 从地里上来
II. COMING UP OUT OF THE EARTH
5启示录十三章十一节说另有一兽，就是假申言者，要从地里上来。就地理说，他要从地底下上来；就表征说，他要从以色列国中出来。我们已经看过，地是表征以色列国；因此，假申言者必定是从以色列国中出来。他必定是个犹太人。
5Revelation 13:11 says that the other beast, the false prophet, will come up out of the earth. Geographically, he will come from underneath the earth, and symbolically he will come from the nation of Israel. We have seen that the land signifies the nation of Israel. For this reason, the false prophet will certainly come out of the nation of Israel. He must be one of the Jewish people
参 他的虚假
III. HIS FALSEHOOD
6启示录十三章十一节说，那从地里上来的兽『有两角如同羊羔，说话好像龙。』假申言者看起来如同羊羔，说话好像龙。这指明他的虚假。在圣经里，羊羔表征基督；假申言者有两角如同羊羔，指明他要假装和基督一样。然而，他说话却像龙，就是撒但。虽然他要假装是基督，但他所表现出来的却像撒但。他是全然虚假。
6Revelation 13:11 says that the beast out of the earth “had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.” The false prophet looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon. This indicates his falsehood. In the Bible the lamb signifies Christ. The fact that the false prophet will have two horns like a lamb indicates that he will pretend to be the same as Christ. However, his speaking will be like the dragon, Satan. Although he will pretend to be like Christ, what he expresses will be like Satan. He will be an absolute falsehood.
7十三节说，『又行大奇事，甚至在人面前，叫火从天降在地上。』假申言者会用撒但的能力行大神迹。假申言者要作以利亚所作同样的事，叫火从天降下。在亚哈王的日子，以利亚曾叫火从天降下；（王上十八；）在要来三年半的大灾难期间，他要再作一次。犹大看见了这事，可能说，『若是以利亚能作，我也能作。』因为假申言者要行大奇事，人就难以分辨谁是真申言者，谁是假申言者。假申言者也能作真申言者所作之事。就著口才而论，犹大的口才可能不逊于摩西或以利亚，因为他说话好像龙。我们若蒙了光照，就绝不会注意神迹奇事。按照新约的观念，主并没有意思要我们专注神迹奇事。我们必须把全人放在生命的事上。我们不该在意传道人能行甚么神迹奇事，我们必须察验他有何种的生命。这不在于我们所运用的能力，乃在于我们所活出的生命。你若是只在意生命，就绝不会受欺骗。就神迹奇事而言，我们无法辨认真与假，因为以利亚和假申言者都能叫火从天降下。生命才是惟一辨认的路。如果以利亚和犹大同时站在你面前，你可以凭他们的所是轻易分辨出谁是真谁是假。人可以用言语欺骗别人，却因他们的所是暴露了自己。不要在意人能作甚么，乃要留意他们的所是。今天大部分的基督徒都不留意人的所是，却留意人能作甚么。他们在意能力、奇事和神迹。但那些用神奇能力行奇事的人，在生活和行为上却可能很可怜。我并不是说我们应当著重我们外面的表现，我乃是说我们必须是我们所是的。我们在生活中的所是必须彰显我们生命里的所是。我们的生活必须彰显我们在生命里的所是。我们从里面所活出来的生命，不是表现我们所能作的，乃是彰显我们的所是。
7Verse 13 says, “And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth before men.” The false prophet will employ satanic power to perform great signs. In calling down fire out of heaven, the false prophet will do the same thing Elijah did. Elijah called down fire from heaven during the days of Ahab (1 Kings 18), and during the coming three and a half years of the great tribulation he will do this again. When Judas sees this, he may say, “If Elijah can do it, I can too.” Because the false prophet will perform great signs, it will be difficult for people to discern the real prophet from the false prophet. The false prophet will be able to do the same thing as the real one. As far as eloquence is concerned, Judas will likely be no less eloquent than Moses or Elijah because his speaking will be like that of the dragon. If we have been enlightened, we would never pay attention to signs. According to the concept of the New Testament, the Lord does not intend for us to devote our attention to signs. Rather, we must concentrate our whole being on the matter of life. We should not care for what a preacher or minister can do in the way of signs; we must examine the kind of life he has. It is not a matter of the power we exercise, but of the life we live. If you care only for life, you will never be deceived. As far as signs are concerned, there is no way to discern the true from the false, for both Elijah and the false prophet will bring down fire from heaven. The only way to discern is by life. If both Elijah and Judas were standing before you, you could easily discern who is true and who is false by their very being. People may cheat others by their words, but they expose themselves by what they are. Do not care for what people can do—care for what they are. Today most Christians do not care for what people are, but for what they can do. They care for power, signs, and miracles. But those who exercise miraculous power to do signs may have a living and behavior that are deplorable. I am not saying that we should be concerned with our outward appearance. I am saying that we must be what we are. What we are in our living must express what we are in our life. The life we live out from within expresses, not what we can do, but what we are
8在末后的日子，会有奇事、能力和神迹。在马太二十四章二十四节主耶稣说，『因为假基督和假申言者将要起来，显大神迹和大奇事；若是可能，连选民也要迷惑了。』在帖后二章九节和十节保罗说，敌基督，就是那不法的人，他来『是照著撒但的运行，行各样的异能、神迹、和虚谎的奇事，并且在那灭亡的人身上，行各样不义的欺骗。』我们必须受警告，不寻求神迹奇事；不然你可能会受欺骗。我们必须以生命的方式顾到基督，而不要寻求奇事。不要期待神迹，乃要注意生命，这生命就是基督自己。当假申言者犹大出现的时候，他要用所行的奇事迷惑人。
8At the end time, the signs, powers, and miracles will come. In Matthew 24:24 the Lord Jesus said, “False Christs and false prophets shall arise and shall show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:9 and 10 Paul said the Antichrist, the man of sin, would come “according to the operation of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of a lie, and with all deceit of unrighteousness among those who are perishing.” We must be warned not to look for signs and wonders. If you do, you may be deceived. Instead of seeking signs, we must care for Christ in the way of life. Do not expect miracles—give your attention to life, which is Christ Himself. When Judas, the false prophet, appears, he will deceive people by the signs he performs.
肆 为从海中上来的兽作工
IV. WORKING FOR THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA
9假申言者不是为自已作工，乃是为敌基督，就是那从海中上来的兽作工。凡为自己说话的人都不会受到别人的尊敬和信赖。称赞别人比称赞自己容易多了。我若说自夸的话，一定没有人要听。犹大所说的每一句话，以及所作的每一件事，都是为著头一个兽。他为何要将自己卖给敌基督，到这样的地步，甚至和他一同到火湖里，这真令我费解；他似乎没有理由如此作。撒但和敌基督都没有应许给犹大甚么，他为甚么这么愚昧的拚上全力？从起初犹大就被撒但捉住，成了一个受撒但邪恶挑唆的人。过去撒但如何控制犹大，将来还要再控制他；这可能就是犹大将自己完全卖给敌基督的原因了。
9The false prophet will not work for himself, but for Antichrist, the beast out of the sea. No one who speaks on his own behalf is respected or believed. It is much easier to praise others than it is to praise yourself. If I were to speak highly of myself, no one would want to listen to me. Everything Judas says and does will be on behalf of the first beast. I simply cannot understand why he will sell himself to Antichrist to such an extent that he will even go to the lake of fire with him. There seems to be no reason for this. Neither Satan nor Antichrist will promise Judas anything. Why then will he be so foolish as to sell himself outright? From the beginning Judas was caught by Satan and became a person under Satan’s evil instigation. As Satan controlled Judas in the past, so he will control him once again. This may be the reason Judas will completely sell himself to Antichrist
10虽然我们没有一个人像犹大，但在我们天然人的一部分里，多少都有一些犹大的原则。我们也会无缘无故的为撒但卖命。不管你察觉了没有，你已经作了好多次。我们常常把主出卖了，或是把召会生活阻挠了；我们作了一些阻挠主恢复的事。我们作这些事，好像并不为著甚么理由。在已过的十四年中，我在美国曾看过一些事例，有人破坏主的恢复，但他们并没有得著甚么回报；他们的行为乃是撒但霸占了他们天然之人的结果。当撒但进到我们天然的人里，并且占有某一部分的时候，我们就会无故的把自己卖了。这是犹大和假申言者的原则。
10Although none of us is like Judas, part of our natural being is in the principle of Judas at least to some degree. We also may sell ourselves to Satan for nothing. Whether you realize it or not, you have done this many times. Frequently we have betrayed the Lord Jesus or damaged the church life. We have done certain things that have frustrated the Lord’s recovery. It seems that there was no reason for our doing these things. During the past fourteen years in this country, I have seen some cases of those who damaged the Lord’s recovery, but who received nothing for it in return. Their acts were the result of the fact that Satan had occupied their natural being. When Satan gets into our natural being and possesses certain parts of it, we sell ourselves for nothing. This is the principle of Judas as well as the principle of the false prophet
11不仅撒但要把他的能力给假申言者，敌基督也要完全信任他。所以，假申言者要得权柄代表敌基督这撒但的化身。撒但要化身于敌基督，而敌基督又由假申言者所代表。因此有些研究圣经的学者称撒但、敌基督和假申言者为属撒但的三一。但是我不喜欢把三一这辞作这样的用法。无论如何，撒但、敌基督和假申言者必然要成为一。因著这个联结，假申言者就得权柄去作凡他所想要作的事。
11Not only will Satan give his power to the false prophet; the Antichrist will place his complete confidence in him. Hence, the false prophet will be authorized to represent Antichrist, the embodiment of Satan. Satan will be embodied in Antichrist, and Antichrist will be represented by the false prophet. Because of this, some Bible students call Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet a satanic trinity. But I do not like to see the word trinity used in this way. Nevertheless, Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet certainly will become one. Due to this union, the false prophet will be authorized to do whatever he desires.
一 施行头一个兽的权柄
A. Exercising the Authority of the First Beast
12启示录十三章十二节说，假申言者『施行头一个兽一切的权柄。』假申言者不仅施行敌基督的能力，也施行敌基督的权柄。
12Revelation 13:12 says of the false prophet, “He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his sight.” The false prophet will not only exercise the power of Antichrist, but also the authority of Antichrist
二 使地和住在地上的人拜那头一个兽
B. Causing the Earth and the Earth’s Dwellers to Worship the First Beast
13十二节也说，『并且叫地和住在地上的人，拜那死伤医好的头一个兽。』假申言者要使全地和住在地上的人都拜敌基督。他的职事就是散布言语说，在地上的每一个人都当拜敌基督。他要大大的传讲。因著他那有口才、有能力的传讲，他要使人信服而去拜敌基督。
13Verse 12 also says, “And he causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose death stroke was healed.” The false prophet will cause the entire earth and the earth’s dwellers to worship Antichrist. His ministry will be that of spreading the word that everyone on earth must worship Antichrist. He will do a great deal of preaching. By his preaching, which will be eloquent and powerful, he will convince people to worship Antichrist
三 迷惑住在地上的人，给第一个兽作个像
C. Deceiving the Earth’s Dwellers to Make an Image to the First Beast
14十四节说，『牠因给牠能力在兽面前所行的奇事，就迷惑住在地上的人，吩咐住在地上的人，给那受刀伤还活著的兽作个像。』人受他的迷惑到一个地步，竟都同意给兽作个像并且拜牠。我们已经看过，敌基督是一切属世权势特征的总和。历代以来，人都喜欢为英雄立像。甚至今天也有人为一些英雄作像。这一切豫表了假申言者将要为敌基督所作的。假申言者要立敌基督的像当作偶像叫人拜。很多人争辩说，今天在各地立起来的像不是偶像，人不一定要敬拜牠们。虽然这可能是真的；但原则上，崇拜英雄就是拜偶像。我们基督徒必须小心，绝不要站在像前，向像敬礼。原则上，这乃是拜偶像。我们绝不该站在任何像面前，我们只该站在我们的主面前。神在十诫里命令我们绝不要造像。你若造了一个像，不论你这样作的目的是甚么，人至终都会拜牠，可能在你那一代或在将来的世代。崇拜英雄的愿望，要集大成在敌基督的身上，假申言者要劝服地上的人都拜他们的英雄。无疑的，敌基督将是英雄中的英雄，远超历代所有的英雄。因著这篇信息的释放和传布，许多基督徒可以先有个准备，到那一天敌基督的像被立起来的时候，便能远避那像。
14Verse 14 says, “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which he was given to do before the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast, who had the stroke of the sword and lived.” He will deceive people to such an extent that they will agree to make an image of the beast and worship him. We have seen that Antichrist will be the totality of the characteristics of all the worldly powers. Throughout the centuries, people have been fond of erecting images of their heroes. Even today people make images of certain heroes. All this foreshadows what the false prophet will do for Antichrist. The false prophet will set up the image of Antichrist as an idol. Many argue that the images set up in various places today are not idols and that people are not required to worship them. Although this may be true, in principle to worship a hero is to worship an idol. We Christians must be careful never to stand before an image and pay respect to it. In principle, this is worshipping an idol. We should never stand before any image; we should stand only before our Lord. In the ten commandments God commanded us never to make an image. If you make an image, regardless of your purpose in doing so, people will eventually worship it, either in your generation or in a future generation. The desire for a hero will consummate in Antichrist, and the false prophet will convince the worldly people to worship their hero. Undoubtedly, Antichrist will be the hero of heroes, surpassing all the heroes of bygone generations. Through the release and distribution of this message, many Christians will be prepared for this. When that day comes for the image of Antichrist to be erected, they will be able to stay away from it
15启示录十三章十五节说，『又有能力给牠使兽像有气息，叫兽像甚至能说话，又能使所有不拜兽像的人都被杀害。』这里我们看见，假申言者实际上能给偶像生命的气息。偶像因此就有了生气。人所造的偶像都不能说话，（诗一一五5，）这末后的偶像却能说话，如同活的像一样。对于地上的居民，这必是惊人的奇事，使他们都来拜敌基督的像。今天的科学家能发明许多东西，却不能叫这些东西有生气；但是有一天犹大能作这事。有一个偶像要被安置在神的殿中。这像会说话，并且下命令说，凡不拜牠的人都要被杀。人要不被这魔鬼的奇事所迷惑是何等的不容易！谁能远避不拜敌基督或他的像呢？按照十三章八节，『凡住在地上，名字没有记在从创世以来被杀之羔羊生命册上的人，都要拜牠。』只有那些名字已经记在羔羊生命册上的，才不拜敌基督和他的像。他们要拒绝拜牠，即使牺牲性命也在所不惜。因此有许多人要殉道。假如你不是初熟的果子，在大灾难的时候仍留在地上，你就可能被敌基督所杀而殉道；不过这种殉道要使你很快成了得胜者。在大灾难期间殉道的人虽然是晚期的得胜者，但他们是很快的成为得胜者。
15Revelation 13:15 says, “And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause that whoever would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Here we see that the false prophet will actually be able to give the breath of life to the idol. The idol will thus be enlivened. No idol made by man has been able to speak (Psa. 115:5), but this last idol will be enabled to speak as a living image. This surely will be an astonishing sign to the earth’s dwellers, causing them all to worship the image of Antichrist. Today’s scientists can make many things, but they cannot give breath to anything they make. But the day is coming when Judas will be able to do this. An idol will be placed in the temple of God. This idol will speak and command that anyone who does not worship it should be killed. How difficult it will be for anyone not to be deceived by this devilish wonder! Who will be able to keep from worshipping Antichrist or his image? According to 13:8, “All those dwelling on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Only those whose names have been written in the Lamb’s book of life will not worship Antichrist and his image. They will refuse to worship him, even at the cost of their lives. As a result, a great many will be martyred. If you are not a firstfruit, but are left on earth during the great tribulation, you may be martyred by Antichrist. But that martyrdom will quickly make you an overcomer. Although those who are martyred during the great tribulation will be the late overcomers, they will become overcomers very quickly.
16倪弟兄经过五十多年才成为得胜者。有三十多年的时间，他一直受基督教反对、批评和谣言的迫害。几乎所有的西教士都反对他，中国内地会的西教士反对得尤其厉害。在受过基督教的反对之后，他又被囚禁了二十年。倪弟兄花了五十年的时间才成为得胜者，但那些在大灾难期间留下来的人，却不必经过四十二个月就可以了。被留下来经过大灾难，当然不是一件愉快的事，但总比今天就死了要好得多。你如果现在死了，就会失去成为得胜者的机会。不管是早期的得胜者，或是晚期的得胜者，赞美主，我们都有机会成为得胜者。我当然盼望作得胜者，能活著留在地上直到见主。但我们若不能在今天作得胜者，那就宁可留下来经历大灾难，不要就这样死去；因为那时我们还有机会成为晚期、速成的得胜者。若是你现在不要作得胜者，以后就要被迫作得胜者。也许你要说你不在乎，但是主有办法叫你在乎。敌基督要来，假申言者要讲道，并且要立一个会说话的像。那时候你怎么办？你得传反驳的道。但是你传了反对敌基督的道，就会被杀殉道。倘若这些信息不能帮助你成为早期的得胜者，我确信这些信息至少能豫备你，叫你成为晚期的得胜者。主现在正在释放这些信息。我已经有四十多年没有摸过豫言这件事了。自一九三年代早期以来，这是我第一次以生命的方式来看豫言。我信在不久的将来，敌基督就要来，假申言者也要出现。对神的子民来说，这是应时的话。这话要激励他们作早期的得胜者，或者要加强他们成为晚期的得胜者。主总有办法，祂必能得胜。阿利路亚，我们的名字已经记在生命册上了！这是我们的豫表。
16Brother Nee spent more than fifty years to become an overcomer. For more than thirty years he suffered the persecution from Christianity by means of opposition, criticisms, and rumors. Nearly all the missionaries, especially those of the China Inland Mission, opposed him. After those years of opposition from Christianity, he was imprisoned for another twenty years. Although Brother Nee spent fifty years to become an overcomer, those who remain during the great tribulation will not have more than forty-two months. It will not be pleasant to be left to pass through the great tribulation, but it is a great deal better than dying today. If you die now, you will lose the opportunity to be an overcomer. Praise the Lord that we all have the opportunity to become overcomers, either the early overcomers or the late overcomers. I certainly want to be an overcomer, to remain alive until I see the Lord. But if we cannot be overcomers today, then, instead of dying, we should prefer to be left in the great tribulation, for then we shall have the opportunity to be late and quick overcomers. If you do not want to be an overcomer now, you will be forced to be an overcomer later. Although you may say that you do not care, the Lord has a way to make you care. Antichrist will come, and the false prophet will preach and erect an image that will be able to speak. What will you do then? You will have to counter-preach. But after preaching against Antichrist, you will be martyred. If these messages do not help to make you a nearly overcomer, I have the assurance that they will prepare you to be a late overcomer. The Lord is now releasing all these messages. I have not touched this matter of prophecy for more than forty years. This is the first time since the early 1930st hat I have dealt with ○ prophecy in the way of life. I believe that in the not too distant future Antichrist will come and the false prophet will appear. This is a timely word for God’sp eople. This word will either motivate them to be early overcomers, or it will strengthen them to be the late overcomers. The Lord has a way, and He will gain the victory. Hallelujah, our names have been written in the book of life! This is our predestination.
四 使所有的人都受印记
D. Causing All People to Bear the Mark
17假申言者要使众人『都在右手或额上，受一个印记。』（启十三16。）男人的印记可能在额上，妇女的印记可能在右手上。这印记要指明他们属于敌基督，他是假申言者的权柄。人若不受印记，就不能作买卖。（启十三17。）我们已经指出，兽的名字是该撒尼罗，他名字的数目是六百六十六。
17The false prophet will cause all “to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead” (13:16). The men will probably be marked on the forehead and the women on the right hand. This mark will indicate that they belong to Antichrist, the authority of the false prophet. Unless people are marked, they will not be able to buy or sell (13:17). As we have already pointed out, the name of the beast is Caesar Nero, and the number of his name is six hundred and sixty-six.
18我们已经看过，将来有两个兽要出现，头一个兽从海中上来，就是从外邦世界出来；第二个兽从地里上来，就是从以色列国出来。我们不需要牢记关于这两个兽所有的细节，到了时候你就会记得这些信息所给你的印象。这就是主释放这些话语的目的。就著兽和假申言者来说，我们不能说没有留下印象；相反的，所留给我们的印象是非常深刻，不能磨灭。我们知道我们是谁，我们在那里，我们在作甚么，也知道我们将要到那里。赞美主，我们也知道将来要发生的事。阿利路亚！我们蒙了光照，也留下了深的印象！
18We have seen that two beasts are about to come, the first beast from the sea, from the Gentile world, and the second beast from the land, from the nation of Israel. It is unnecessary to remember all the details pertaining to these two beasts. When the time comes, you will remember the impression these messages have made upon you. Surely this is the Lord’s purpose in releasing this word. As far as the beast and the false prophet are concerned, we cannot say that no impression has been made upon us. Rather, we have been deeply impressed, and this impression cannot be taken away. We know who we are, where we are, what we are doing, and where we are going. Praise the Lord that we also know what is coming. Hallelujah, we have been enlightened and impressed