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启示录生命读经 · 第47篇

初熟果子被提后所要发生的事

The Things Following the Rapture of the Firstfruit
1本篇信息要说到初熟果子被提后所要发生的事。（启十四6～13。）
1In this message we shall cover the things that follow the rapture of the firstfruit (14:6-13
贰 随后发生的事
II. THE THINGS FOLLOWING
一 永远的福音
A. The Eternal Gospel
2初熟的果子被提之后，所要发生的第一件事就是永远福音的传扬。（启十四6～7。）虽然启示录十四章你读过许多遍，但可能从来没有留意过六节里『永远的福音』这辞；也可能从来没有一位传道人或牧师告诉你，将来在初熟的果子被提之后，有一种福音要出现，就是『永远的福音。』大部分基督徒只知道恩典的福音，他们不知道在神的经纶里，在大灾难期间，（太二四21，）永远的福音要被传扬。永远的福音与召会时代所传恩典的福音（徒二十24）不同。恩典福音的基本内容是悔改归向神，并信入主耶稣，（徒二十21，）使人的罪得赦免，重生成为神的儿女。（路二四47，约一12。）永远福音的基本内容是叫人敬畏神、敬拜神，使他们不受迷惑跟随敌基督，并被带回，真正敬拜那创造天地的神。（启十四7。）今天在地上，惟独人有权利传恩典的福音；（徒十3～6；）但到了这世代结束时，永远的福音不是人在地上传的，乃是由天使在天空传的。所有研究圣经的人以及圣经的教师都同意，神对待人有种种不同的方式，这些方式称为时代。时代这辞虽包括时间观念，却特指神用来对待人的各种方式。譬如，律法时代就是神用律法对待人的时期，神藉著律法时代对待以色列人。神在每个时期，都有特别的方式对待某些人。律法的时代以后，接著而来的是恩典时代，这就是我们现在所生活的时期。在这时期，神是按著恩典，不是按著律法，对待在祂里面的信徒。大灾难一开始，恩典时代就结束了；正如施浸者约翰来了，律法的时代就结束了。施浸者约翰引进一个新的时代，就是恩典时代；在大灾难的开始，当撒但被摔到地上，该撒尼罗的灵从无底坑出来的时候，恩典的时代就要结束。在三年半，就是四十二个月的大灾难期间，神要用另一种方式，就是永远福音的方式来对待人。
2The first thing to follow the rapture of the firstfruit will be the preaching of the eternal gospel (vv. 6-7). Although you may have read Revelation 14 many times, perhaps you have never been impressed with the term eternal gospel in verse 6. Probably no preacher, minister, or pastor has ever told you that in the future, after the rapture of the firstfruit, there will be a gospel revealed as the “eternal gospel.” Most Christians know only the gospel of grace; they do not know that, in God’secon o my, an eternal gospel will be proclaimed during the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21). The eternal gospel differs from the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24) preached in the church age. The basic content of the gospel of grace is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus (Acts 20:21) that men may be forgiven of their sins and be born again as children of God (Luke 24:47; John 1:12); while that of the eternal gospel is that men should fear God and worship God that they may not be deceived to follow Antichrist, but be brought back to the genuine worship of God, “who has made the heaven and the earth” (v. 7). Only man is privileged to preach the gospel of grace on earth today (Acts 10:3-6). But the eternal gospel will not be preached by men on earth, but by an angel in mid - heaven at the close of this age. All students and teachers of the Bible agree that God has various ways of dealing with people. These ways are called dispensations. Although the word dispensation includes the concept of time, it specifically denotes the various ways God uses to deal with people. For example, the dispensation of the law was that period during which God dealt with people by the law. God dealt with Israel through the dispensation of law. In every period of time God has had a particular way of dealing with certain people. After the dispensation of law came the dispensation of grace, the age in which we are now living. In this age God deals with the believers in Him according to grace, not according to law. Just as the dispensation of law was ended by the coming of John the Baptist, the dispensation of grace will be ended by the beginning of the great tribulation. John the Baptist introduced a new dispensation, the dispensation of grace. At the beginning of the great tribulation, when Satan is cast down to earth and the spirit of Caesar Nero emerges from the abyss, the dispensation of grace will be ended. During the three and a half years, the forty-two months, of the great tribulation, God will have another way to deal with people—the way of the eternal gospel.
3你如果仔细读启示录十四章，就会看见永远福音的内容和我们今天所传的福音完全不同。我们所传的福音包括两个重点─悔改归向神，和信入主耶稣基督。在恩典时代之初，施浸者约翰出现，传讲悔改；（太三1～2；）在他以后，主耶稣传讲悔改和相信。施浸者约翰说，『要悔改。』（太三2。）耶稣说，『要悔改，相信福音。』（可一15。）在行传里，使徒们跟随主耶稣传讲悔改和相信。悔改的意思是心思改变，是观念与对生命之认识的改变。人的生活远离神，所以需要回转。他们现在必须转向神。这就是悔改的意思。然而这只是恩典福音的一小部分，其大部分乃是信入主耶稣基督，使我们的罪得赦免，得著永远的生命，成为神的儿子。这是我们今天所传恩典福音的内容。永远福音的内容大大不同。在永远的福音里没有悔改，也没有相信，乃是命令人要敬畏神，将荣耀归与神，并且要敬拜『那创造天地海和众水之泉的』神。（启十四7。）敬拜神这位创造者的命令，与九节所说敬拜敌基督和他的像相对。『应当敬畏神，将荣耀归与祂，』乃是给地上居民的命令，好对抗假申言者的迷惑，免得人跟随敌基督；并且对抗在大灾难期间，凡不拜敌基督的人都要被杀（启十三14～15）的威胁。传永远福音的天使似乎说，『你们必须敬畏神。敌基督不是神，所以不必怕他。他不能把你丢进火湖，只有神能。虽然敌基督能行一些奇事，他却不能创造天、地、海和众水之泉。神是创造者。你们应当敬畏祂，将荣耀归与祂这位宇宙的创造者。不要拜敌基督和他的像，你们都必须敬拜神。』这是永远的福音。因为我们有更好的福音，所以不用听这福音。
3If you read Revelation 14 carefully, you will see that the content of the eternal gospel is absolutely different from the gospel we preach today. The gospel we preach contains two main items — repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the dispensation of grace, John the Baptist appeared to preach repentance (Matt. 3:1-2). Following him, the Lord Jesus preached repentance and faith. John the Baptist said, “Repent” (Matt. 3:2), and Jesus said, “Repent and believe” (Mark 1:15). In Acts, the apostles followed the Lord Jesus to preach repentance and faith. Repentance means a change of mind; it is a change of concept and a change of the understanding of life. Men must have a turn because their life is far from God. Now they must turn toward God. This is what it means to repent. However, this is just a small portion of the gospel of grace. The greater portion of the gospel of grace is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ that we may be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life to become the sons of God. This is the content of the gospel of grace that we preach today. The content of the eternal gospel is much different. In the eternal gospel there is no repentance nor faith. Rather, there is the commandment to fear God and to give Him glory and to worship Him “who has made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters” (v. 7). The command to worship God as the Creator is in contrast to the worship of Antichrist and his image mentioned in verse 9. The command to fear God and to give Him glory is given to the earth’s dwellers countering the deceit of the false prophet that men should follow Antichrist and countering the threat of death for any who would not worship him during the great tribulation (13:14-15). The angel who preaches the eternal gospel will seem to be saying, “You must fear God. Because Antichrist is not God, there is no need to fear him. Antichrist cannot put you into the lake of fire; only God can. Although Antichrist may do certain signs, he did not create the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters. God is the Creator. You must fear Him and give glory to Him as the Creator of the universe. Do not worship Antichrist and his image. You all must worship God.” This is the eternal gospel. Because we have a better gospel, there is no need for us to hear this gospel.
4七节也说，『祂施行审判的时候已经到了。』这里的审判是指基督在回到地上时，对万民所执行的审判，正如祂在马太二十五章三十一至四十六节所豫言的。这审判是在千年国以前执行在活人身上20:11-的，不同于二十章十一至十五节所说，千年国以后要执行在死人身上的审判。当主回到地上时，万国中还存留的人，都要照著天使在大灾难期间（太二四21）所传永远的福音受审判。人若因敬畏神、敬拜神而善待神的子民，照顾基督徒和犹太人，就是在大灾难期间因敌基督的逼迫而遭贫穷、受监禁之主的弟兄们，他们就要蒙主称义，可以进入千年国的属地部分，有分于神从创世以来为他们所豫备的国。（太二五34。）人若因跟随敌基督，并拜他的像，苦待基督徒和犹太人，他们就要被定罪，扔在为魔鬼和他使者所豫备的永火里。（太二五41。）在马太二十五章三十一节主耶稣说，祂要在祂荣耀里来临，并且『要坐在祂荣耀的宝座上。』这节所说的不是审判台，（林后五10，）乃是祂荣耀的宝座，因为到那时候，信徒在审判台前接受的审判已经过去了。首先，主要从天上降到空中，等所有的圣徒被提之后，祂要在祂审判台前审判他们。这不是对不信者的审判，乃是对信徒的审判，以断定谁能得奖赏，谁要受惩治。执行这审判之后，主要在荣耀里，同著那由得胜信徒所组成的军队来临，打败敌基督和他的军队。在敌基督和假申言者活活的被扔进火湖，并敌基督的军队成了飞鸟的筵席（启十九～21）之后，地上仍将有许多不信的人，就是列国。于是主耶稣要设立祂荣耀的宝座，所有仍活著的不信者，就是列国，都要聚集在祂面前，（太二五32，）祂要在他们身上施行祂的审判。行传十章四十二节，十七章三十一节和提后四章一节启示，神已经设立主审判活人和死人。主击败敌基督和假申言者，并且设立祂荣耀的宝座之后，要审判活人。这审判执行以后，千年国就要开始。到千年国以后，主就要在白色大宝座上审判死人。（启二十11～15。）
4Verse 7 also says, “The hour of His judgment has come.” The judgment here is the judgment which Christ will execute over all the nations at His coming back to earth, as He predicted in Matthew 25:31-46. This judgment, which will be executed upon the living before the millennium, differs from the judgment of the dead after the millennium, as mentioned in 15. All the people of the nations who still remain at the Lord’s coming back will be judged according to the eternal gospel preached by the angel during the great tribulation. If, by fearing God and worshipping Him, they have treated God’sp eople well, that is, they have taken care of the Christians and Jews, the Lord’s brothers suffering poverty and imprisonment under Antichrist’s persecution during the great tribulation, they will be justified by the Lord so that they may enter into the earthly part of the millennium to partake of the kingdom prepared by God for them from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34). If they have ill- treated the Christians and Jews by following Antichrist and by worshipping his image, they will be condemned and cast into the eternal fire of the lake of fire prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). In Matthew 25:31 the Lord Jesus said that He would come in His glory and “sit on His throne of glory.” This verse does not speak of the judgment seat (2 Cor. 5:10), but the throne of His glory, because by that time the judgment of the believers at the judgment seat will be over. Firstly, the Lord will descend from heaven to the air. After all the saints have been raptured, He will judge them at His judgment seat. This will not be the judgment of the unbelievers; it will be the judgment of the believers to determine who will be rewarded and who will be disciplined. After this judgment has been carried out, the Lord will come in glory with His army of overcoming believers to defeat Antichrist and his army. After Antichrist and the false prophet have been cast alive into the lake of fire, and after the armies of Antichrist have been made a feast for the birds (19:11-21), there will still be many unbelievers, the nations, 11 on earth. Then the Lord Jesus will set up the throne of His glory; all the surviving unbelievers, the nations, will be gathered before Him (Matt. 25:32); and He will exercise His judgment upon them. Acts 10:42, 17:31, and 2 Timothy 4:1 reveal that the Lord has been appointed by God to judge both the living and the dead. The Lord will judge the living after the defeat of Antichrist and the false prophet and after He has set up His throne of glory. When this judgment has been carried out, the millennial kingdom will begin. After the millennial kingdom, the Lord will judge the dead at the great white throne (20:11-15).
5主在祂荣耀的宝座上，是根据甚么标准来审判活著的不信者？这里并没有暗示说，主要照著摩西的律法审判他们，也没有说要照著恩典的福音审判他们。主不会说，『凡信我的人就是绵羊，不信我的人便是山羊。』根据马太二十五章三十一至四十六节，主审判还活著的不信者，是按照他们如何对待主的小弟兄，就是那些敬畏神的犹太人和相信基督的基督徒。这些犹太人和基督徒要经过大灾难，他们是敌基督迫害的对象，因此主看他们为自己的小弟兄。在大灾难期间，敬畏神的犹太人和相信基督的基督徒要受饥、受渴、赤身露体、生病、下在监里。（太二五35～39。）主对活著不信者的审判，是按照他们那时如何对待主的弟兄。有些人待他们很好，这些人必是在敌基督和他的百姓逼迫犹太人及信徒时，听见了天使所传永远的福音。他们听到这福音吩咐他们敬畏神并敬拜神，心里被摸著，便善待主的小弟兄。因此基督在祂荣耀的宝座上，对活著的不信者执行审判，乃是根据永远的福音。凡留意那福音，并善待主弟兄的，要被视为『绵羊，』其余的人要被视为『山羊。』『山羊，』就是那些跟随敌基督迫害神子民的人，要与敌基督一同被丢进火湖里。相反的，所有的『绵羊』要进入『那创世以来』为他们豫备的国，（太二五34，）就是千年国属地的部分，但他们只是那国的国民，不是君王或祭司。在千年国里，我们得胜的基督徒要作王；那蒙了保护和拯救，敬畏神的犹太人要作祭司；『绵羊』要作国民。所以，藉著律法时代，神要得著犹太人作祭司；藉著恩典时代，神要得著信徒作君王；藉著永远的福音，神要得著敬畏神的外邦人作千年国的国民。
5According to what criterion will the Lord judge the living unbelievers at the throne of His glory? There is no hint that the Lord will judge them according to the law of Moses. Neither will He judge them according to the gospel of grace. The Lord will not say, “Those who believe in Me are sheep, and those who do not believe in Me are goats.” Rather, according to Matthew 25:31-46, the Lord will judge the living unbelievers according to the way they have treated His little brothers, the God - fearing Jews and the Christ-believing Christians. These are those who will pass through the great tribulation and who will be the object of Antichrist’s persecution. Thus, the Lord will consider them as His little brothers. During the great tribulation the God-fearing Jews and the Christ- believing Christians will be hungry, thirsty, naked, ill, and imprisoned (Matt. 25:35-39). The Lord will judge the living unbelievers according to their treatment of His brothers during that time. Some will treat them very well. Undoubtedly, they will be those who hear the eternal gospel preached by the angel while Antichrist and his people are persecuting the Jews and the believers. When they hear this gospel commanding them to fear God and to worship Him, their heart will be touched, and they will treat the little brothers of the Lord favorably. Hence, Christ’s exercise of judgment upon the living unbelievers at the throne of His glory will be based upon the eternal gospel. Whoever heeds that gospel and treats His brothers well will be considered as “sheep.” The others will be considered as “goats.” The “goats,” those who follow Antichrist to persecute God’sp eople, will be put with Antichrist into the lake of fire. All the “sheep,” on the contrary, will enter into the kingdom prepared for them “from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34), the earthly part of the millennial kingdom, but they will be the citizens of that kingdom, not the kings or the priests. In the millennial kingdom we, the overcoming Christians, will be kings; the God - fearing Jews, who will be preserved and saved, will be priests; and the “sheep” will be citizens. Therefore, by the dispensation of law God will gain the Jews to be the priests; by the dispensation of grace He will gain the believers to be the kings; and by the eternal gospel He will gain the God-fearing Gentiles to be the citizens of the millennial kingdom.
6这幅清楚的图画是把圣经各部分，像拼图般正确的凑合一起形成的。我练习这种『拼图游戏』已经好多年了。最后，当我把每一片都拼凑起来的时候，真是何等欢喜！在这个『拼图』中，马太二十五章三十一至四十六节是相当大的一片。我花了多年时间，都找不出这一片在这拼图中的正确位置。我试了各处，每处都不合式。至终，我找到了这片的正确位置。我们现在所有的，
6This clear picture is formed by properly fitting together various portions of the Word like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I was exercised over this “jigsaw puzzle” for a good many years. How happy I was when I finally put all the pieces together! A large piece of this “puzzle” is Matthew 25:31-46. For years, I tried unsuccessfully to fit this piece in place. Although I tried to put it everywhere, it did not fit anywhere. Eventually, I found where this piece fits in. Now, instead of a puzzle, we have a vivid picture
7已是一幅生动的图画，而非一个拼图。
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8因著神的怜悯，永远福音的传扬将在初熟果子的被提之后。在初熟的果子被提之后，敌基督要逼迫敬畏神的犹太人和相信基督的基督徒。那时，神要差遣一位天使，在天空顶点传扬永远的福音。二十五年前，我们对于太空技术几乎一无所知。我相信敌基督要利用现代的科技去接触其他星球，就是圣经里所称的『天象。』忽然，因著神的怜悯，一位天使传扬者要显在太空中，传扬永远的福音，警告住在地上的人要敬畏神、敬拜神，不要逼迫神的子民。神知道，在初熟果子被提之后所兴起的逼迫要极其酷烈，若非祂的怜悯，没有人能忍受得住。但是有许多人要听见这永远的福音，相信这福音，而帮助受逼迫的人。藉此，那些受苦的犹太人和被逼迫的基督徒便得到帮助，得著必需的食物、衣服和看望。主知道那些曾帮助祂子民之人的行为，所以在祂来审判活人的时候，祂要视他们为『绵羊。』永远福音的目的虽然是为著产生千年国的国民，另一面也是为著减轻神的子民在大灾难期间的痛苦。神是满有怜悯的，祂关心祂的子民。为著祂的怜悯，我们真要感谢祂！千年国中的『绵羊』并不是重生的信徒，他们只是恢复到原初被造的光景中。行传三章二十一节说到复兴的时候。那时，日头、月亮和众星的光要加七倍；（赛三十26；）人寿命的年日也要得恢复，百岁死的仍算孩童。（赛六五20。）所有的『绵羊』要被恢复到亚当的情形，到人类原始受造时的光景。他们与我们不同。当我们信入主耶稣的时候，永远的生命就进到我们里面；然而『绵羊』没有永远的生命进到他们里面，乃是他们要进入永远的生命里，也就是进到永远生命的范围里。（太二五46。）这就是说，他们只是得著复兴。他们虽然没有蒙重生，也没有永远的生命在他们里面，使他们成为神的儿子；他们却要得复兴成为正确的人活在地上，作神的百姓，就是千年国的国民。
8Because of God’s mercy, the preaching of the eternal gospel will follow the rapture of the firstfruit. After the firstfruit is raptured, Antichrist will persecute the God-fearing Jews and the Christ-believing Christians. Then God will send an angel to mid-heaven to preach the eternal gospel. Twenty-five years ago, we knew hardly anything about space technology. I believe that Antichrist will use modern scientific technology to touch other planets, which in the Bible are called “the host of heaven.” Suddenly, through God’s mercy, an angelic preacher will appear in space to preach an eternal gospel, warning the earth-dwellers to fear God, to worship Him, and not to persecute God’sp eople. God knows that the persecution aroused following the rapture of the firstfruit will be so severe that apart from His mercy no one will be able to bear it. But many will hear the eternal gospel, believe it, and help the persecuted ones. In this way the suffering Jews and the persecuted Christians will be helped to gain the necessary food, clothing, and visitations. The Lord knows the deeds of those who have helped His people, and when He comes to judge the living, He will consider them as “sheep.” Although the eternal gospel will produce the citizens for the millennial kingdom, its purpose is also to reduce the suffering of God’sp eople during the great tribulation. God is merciful and cares for His people. How we thank Him for His mercy! The “sheep” in the millennial kingdom will not be regenerated believers. Instead of being regenerated, they will simply be restored to their original, created condition. Acts 3:21 speaks of the time of restoration. At this time the sun, the moon, and the stars will be restored sevenfold (Isa. 30:26). The length of human life will also be restored. Anyone who dies at the age of a hundred will be considered as dying prematurely Isa. 65:20). All the “sheep” will be restored to the Adamic situation, to man’s original condition at creation. They will be different from us. When we believed in the Lord Jesus, eternal life entered us. The sheep,” however, will not have eternal life entering into them; rather they will enter into eternal life, into the realm of eternal life (Matt. 25:46). This means that they will only be restored. Although they will not be regenerated and have eternal life in their being to make them sons of God, they will be restored as proper human beings to live on earth as God’sp eople, the citizens of the millennial kingdom
二 宗教巴比伦的倾倒
B. The Fall of Religious Babylon
9初熟的果子被提之后，第二件要发生的事是宗教巴比伦的倾倒。八节说，『又有第二位天使接著说，那叫万国喝她淫乱烈怒之酒的大巴比伦倾倒了！倾倒了！』『那叫万国喝，』这句话指明，这里的巴比伦是宗教、奥秘的巴比伦，就是十七章二至六节所说的罗马天主教；而不是指十八章二节所说物质的巴比伦。在末七（七年）之半，敌基督要废弃他与以色列人所立的约，那时，他要毁灭各种宗教，（但九，十一31，）这也是三年半大灾难（太二四21）的起头。敌基督要高抬自己超过众神，并强迫人拜他。（但八9～11，十一36～37，帖后二3～4，启十三4～6，12，14～。）那时，他要毁坏宗教的巴比伦，就是背道的罗马天主教。（启十七16。）所以，宗教的巴比伦要在大灾难的起头倾倒，物质的巴比伦则要在大灾难末了倾倒。（启十八2。）淫乱的酒指明罗马天主教属灵的淫乱，她曾叫万国喝醉这酒。（启十七2～6，十四8。）当她行淫时，她向不同意她淫行的圣徒发怒，这就是她淫乱的烈怒。所以她淫乱的酒，也称为她淫乱烈怒的酒。我们已经看过，在末七之半敌基督要死而复苏。在他复苏之前，他是被暗杀之罗马帝国第七位该撒。等到该撒尼罗的灵从无底坑里出来，进到他里面，他就复苏成为第八位该撒，因此成了一个神奇的人物。他复苏之后要毁灭各种宗教，自命为宗教所拜的惟一对象。他不仅要废除犹太人的献祭，毁灭犹太教；也要毁灭十七章所描写那骑在兽上的人。那『骑在朱红色的兽上』的女人，（启十七3，）就是『大妓女，』（启十七1，）是背道的罗马天主教。那兽象征罗马帝国，特别是象征敌基督。按照这幅图画，有个邪恶的女人，就是罗马天主教，要骑在罗马帝国之上。在康士坦丁大帝之后没有多久，召会堕落到一个地步，不仅背了道，也与世界联合。这种情形越来越盛，最后成了骑在罗马帝国之上的人。但是在末七之半，那兽，就是敌基督，要毁了他和犹太人所立的盟约，毁灭犹太教，不再容许任何宗教存在，包括天主教在内。他要反对天主教，并且要与十王把天主教完全消灭。在这事上，神真是主宰一切的。虽然敌基督要高抬自己超过神，事实上他要被神用来毁灭两种宗教─犹太教和天主教。这就如同在中国大陆，共产主义对宗教的破坏一样。虽然共产党反对神，他们却不晓得他们已被神用来毁灭了种种的宗教，就如佛教和道教。在一九四九年之前，偶像寺庙遍布中国大陆；今天这些寺庙都被清除了。不仅如此，虽然共产党反对耶稣基督，却仍沿用祂的年历。根据历史，你沿用谁的年历，就归服于谁。共产党用了主的年历，就在不知不觉中归服了主耶稣。实际上因为耶稣是万王之王，全地都使用祂的年历，所有的人都是归服祂的。我们的主是何等的主宰！祂也主宰了那些反对祂的人，甚至用他们的反对来成就祂的旨意。当敌基督高抬自己为神时，主耶稣要用他来毁灭犹太教和天主教。敌基督为主作了清除的工作，洁净了地上的宗教，使其豫备好迎接主耶稣的回来。因此，当主耶稣来打败敌基督的时候，宗教已经被清除了。
9The second event to follow the rapture of the firstfruit will be the fall of religious Babylon. Verse 8 says, “And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her fornication!” The modifying clause, “who has made all the nations drink...,” indicates that Babylon here refers to the religious, mysterious Babylon, which is the Roman Catholic Church, as in 17:2-6, not the material Babylon, as in 18:2. When Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel in the middle of the last week (seven years, Dan. 9:27; 11:31), he will destroy every religion. This will mark the beginning of the 27 great tribulation which will continue for three and a half years. Antichrist will exalt himself above all gods and compel people to worship him as God (Dan. 8:9-11; 11:36-37; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:4-6, 12, 14-15). At that time, he will destroy religious Babylon, 15 the apostate Roman Catholic Church (17:16). Hence, religious Babylon will fall at the beginning of the great tribulation, whereas material Babylon will fall after the great tribulation (18:2). “The wine of her fornication” indicates the spiritual fornication of the Roman Catholic Church which she “has made all the nations drink of” (17:2-6; 14:8). While she commits her fornication, she is furious with the saints who do not consent to it. This is “the fury of her fornication.” Hence, “the wine of her fornication” is also called “the wine of the fury of her fornication.” We have seen that in the middle of the last seven years Antichrist will be resuscitated. Prior to his resuscitation, he will be assassinated as the seventh Caesar of the Roman Empire. After the spirit of Caesar Nero emerges from the abyss and enters into him, he will be resuscitated to be the eighth Caesar, thereby becoming a supernatural being. After his resuscitation, he will destroy every religion and make himself the sole object of religious worship. He will not only abolish the Jewish sacrifices and destroy Judaism; he will also destroy the rider on the beast described in chapter seventeen. The “woman sitting on a scarlet beast” (17:3) is “the great prostitute” (17:1), the apostate Roman Catholic Church. The beast signifies the Roman Empire, especially Antichrist. According to this picture, an evil woman, the Roman Catholic Church, will be riding on the Roman Empire. Not long after the time of Constantine the Great, the church degraded to such an extent that it not only became apostate, but also worldly. It grew so powerful that it became a rider sitting on the Roman Empire. But in the middle of the last seven years, the beast, Antichrist, will revoke his covenant with the Jews, destroy Judaism, and no longer tolerate any religion, including Catholicism. He will turn his back on Catholicism and, with the ten kings, will utterly obliterate it. In this matter God is truly sovereign. Although Antichrist will exalt himself above God, actually he will be used by God to destroy two religions—Judaism and Catholicism. This is similar to the destruction of religion under communism in China. Although the communists oppose God, they do not realize that they have been used by God to demolish so many different religions, such as Buddhism and Taoism. Prior to 1949, there were idol temples throughout China. Today these temples have been cleared away. Furthermore, although the communists are opposing Jesus Christ, they still use His calendar. According to history, the one whose calendar you follow is the one to whom you are subject. Because the communists use His calendar, even they are subjects of the Lord Jesus unconsciously. Actually, because Jesus is King of kings, the entire earth uses His calendar. All people are subject to Him. How sovereign is our Lord! He is sovereign over all those who oppose Him, even using their opposition to accomplish His will. When Antichrist exalts himself to be God, the Lord Jesus will use him to destroy Judaism and Catholicism. Antichrist will do a good cleaning job for the Lord, purging the earth of religion and making it ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Thus, when the Lord Jesus comes to defeat Antichrist, religion will have been cleared away.
三 对拜兽和兽像，以及受牠印记的警戒
C. The Warning Against the Worship of the Beast and His Image and Against the Mark
10初熟的果子被提之后，是对拜兽和兽像，以及受牠印记的警戒。（启十四9～11。）九节和十节说，『若有人拜兽和兽像，在额上、或在手上，受了印记，这人也必喝神烈怒的酒，此酒调在神忿怒的杯中，纯一不杂；他要在圣天使和羔羊面前，在火与硫磺中受痛苦。』十节所题到的火与硫磺，是指火湖的火与硫磺。（启十九20，二十10，14。）凡拜兽和兽像，并且受牠名之印记的，要永远受痛苦，昼夜不得安息。（启十四11。）十二节说，『圣徒的忍耐就是在此，他们是守神的诫命，并守对耶稣之信仰的。』留在大灾难中的圣徒需要忍耐，以忍受敌基督的逼迫。在大灾难中的圣徒有两班人：守神诫命的犹太人和持守对耶稣之信仰的信徒。
10After the rapture of the firstfruit, a warning will be given against the worship of the beast and his image and against the mark (vv. 9-11). Verses 9 and 10 say, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the fury of God which is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath; and he will be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.” The fire and brimstone mentioned in verse 10 refer to the fire and brimstone in the lake of fire (19:20; 20:10, 14). Those who worship the beast and his image and who receive the mark of his name will be eternally tormented and have no rest day and night (v. 11). Verse 12 says, “Here is the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” The saints who will remain in the great tribulation will need endurance to suffer the persecution by Antichrist. The saints in the great tribulation will be of two peoples: the Jews who keep the commandments of God and the believers who keep the faith of Jesus.
四 大灾难中的殉道
D. The Martyrdom in the Great Tribulation
11在大灾难期间，有许多圣徒要殉道。十三节说，『我听见从天上有声音说，你要写下，从今以后，在主里死了的人有福了。那灵说，是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，他们的工作也随著他们。』这里死了的人是指在大灾难期间，受敌基督逼迫的殉道者。这可由二十章四节得著证明。在这节里，我们读到对那些在大灾难期间殉道者的祝福。这些殉道者要得安息，他们所行的要作奖赏随著他们。
11During the great tribulation many saints will be martyred. Verse 13 says, “And I heard a voice out of heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from this time forth. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.” The dead here refer to the martyrs under the persecution of Antichrist during the great tribulation. This is proved by 20:4. In this verse we read of the blessing upon those who are martyred during the great tribulation. These martyrs will rest, and all they have done will follow them as a reward
12启示录这卷书写在召会堕落之时，特别强调那灵。十三节不说『经上说，』而说『那灵说。』
12The book of Revelation, written under the degradation of the church, stresses the Spirit. Verse 13 does not say, “says the scripture,” but, “says the Spirit