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启示录生命读经 · 第48篇

庄稼和大酒醡

The Harvest and the Great Winepress
1本篇信息包括了启示录十四章里的两个主题；庄稼（启十四14～16）和大酒醡。（启十四17～20。）庄稼是神子民的收割，酒醡则是行恶之人的收取。今天在地上有三班人─犹太人、信徒和不信者。犹太人和信徒都是神的子民，而不信者主要是行恶的人。七章一至八节的异象说到余剩的犹太人要受印记；因此，十四章就没有再题犹太人，只说到信徒和不信者。初熟的果子成熟较早，要在大灾难之前就被提到诸天之上的锡安山；然而神大体的农作物，就是大体的信徒，在初熟果子被提之后仍要留在地上，至终要成为庄稼。
1This message includes two main subjects found in Revelation 14: the harvest (vv. 14-16) and the great winepress (vv. 17-20). The harvest will be the reaping of God’sp eople, and the winepress will be the reaping of the evil-doers. There are three peoples on the earth today—the Jews, the believers, and the unbelievers. The Jews and the believers are God’sp eople, but the unbelievers mainly are evildoers. The sealing of the Jewish remnant was covered in the vision in 7:1-8. Thus, in chapter fourteen there is no mention of the Jews, but only of the believers and the unbelievers. The firstfruit, those who ripen earlier, will be taken to Mount Zion in the heavens before the great tribulation. However, the majority of God’s crop, that is, the majority of the believers, will still be on earth after the rapture of the firstfruit and will eventually become the harvest
壹 庄稼
I. THE HARVEST
2十五节和十六节说，『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。那坐在云上的，把镰刀扔在地上，地上的庄稼就被收割了。』地上的庄稼就是神在地上的子民，在基督里的信徒。（林前三9。）主第一次到地上来时，将自己撒在信祂的人里面；（太十三3～8，24；）从那时起，凡接受祂这生命种子的信徒，就成了神在地上的农作物。那最先成熟的，要在大灾难之前被收割，作初熟的果子献给神，如一至五节所指明的。大体的信徒要借助于大灾难期间的苦难得以成熟，并在大灾难末了被收割，就是被提。所以，十六节所说的收割，乃是指那些留在地上，经历大灾难之大体信徒的被提，因为这收割是发生在敌基督强迫人拜他和他的像（启十四9）之后。农作物的收割是在于农作物的成熟。那些成熟较早的，就是初熟的果子；大部分成熟较晚的，便是庄稼。主耶稣在马太十三章三十九节指出，庄稼要在这世代的终结时被收割。我们现在还没有达到世代的终结，这世代仍然在继续著。到这世代的终结，神的田地就要收割了。在这收割的时刻来到之前，初熟的果子要先成熟而被提。
2Verses 15 and 16 say, “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with aloud 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. And He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.” The harvest of the earth is God’sp eople on earth, the believers in Christ (1 Cor. 3:9). At His first coming to the earth, the Lord sowed Himself into His believers (Matt. 13:3-8, 24). All the believers since that time who have received Him as the seed of life have become the crop of God on earth. Those who ripen first will be reaped as the firstfruit to God before the great tribulation, as indicated in verses 1 through 5. The majority will ripen with the help of the sufferings in the great tribulation and will be reaped near the end of the tribulation. Hence, the reaping mentioned in verse 16 will be the rapture of the majority of the believers who will be left on the earth to pass through most of the great tribulation, because this reaping will transpire after Antichrist forces people to worship him and his image (v. 9). The reaping of the crop depends upon its ripeness. Those who ripen earlier will be the firstfruit, and the majority who ripen later will be the harvest. In Matthew 13:39 the Lord Jesus indicated that the crop will be harvested at the completion of this age (Gk.). We have not yet reached the completion of the age; this age is still continuing. At the completion of the age, the field of God will be reaped. Before the time of this reaping, the firstfruit will be ripened and raptured.
3按照旧约的豫表，初熟的果子收割后要带到神的殿里给神享受；（出二三19；）但是庄稼，就是大体的农作物，在收割后要收到位于田地与农舍之间的谷仓里。由此我们知道，初熟的果子要收到神的家中─诸天之上的锡安山，而庄稼要收到空中。初熟的果子被提到三层天上主耶稣那里后不久，主就要离开诸天降到空中，在那里停留一段时间。按照帖前四章的豫言，庄稼要被提到空中。关于被提，大部分的基督徒只从帖前四章得著笼统的观念，他们没有看见男孩子与初熟果子的被提。启示录十四章说到两种被提，就是初熟果子的被提和庄稼的被提。这件事在豫表的图画里有很生动的描绘。在古时，早期的小麦，亦即初熟的果子，先被收割，然后庄稼才收割。每一个人都知道，一幅图画胜过千言万语。这一幅图画毫不含糊，没有可争论之处；我们只须照著初熟果子和庄稼这幅图画，接受纯正的话。我们是在等待初熟果子的被提。那些无分于初熟果子的，可能列在庄稼里。
3According to the type in the Old Testament, the firstfruit was reaped and brought into the temple of God for God’s enjoyment (Exo. 23:19). But when the harvest, the majority of the crop, was reaped, it was taken into the barn, between the field and the farmhouse. By this we see that the firstfruit will be taken to God’sho use—to Mount Zion in the heavens—and that the harvest will be taken to the air. Not long after the firstfruit is taken to the Lord Jesus in the third heaven, He will leave the heavens and descend to the air, where He will remain for a period of time. According to the prophecy in 1 Thessalonians 4, the harvest will be raptured to the air. Most Christians merely understand the rapture in a general way according to 1 Thessalonians 4. They do not see anything regarding the rapture of the man-child and of the firstfruit. Revelation 14 covers two kinds of raptures, the rapture of the firstfruit and the rapture of the harvest. The picture in typology portrays this very vividly. In ancient times the early wheat, the firstfruit, was reaped first, and the harvest was reaped later. As everybody knows, a picture is better than a thousand words. In this picture there is no ambiguity and no ground for argument. We simply must take the pure word according to the picture of the firstfruit and the harvest. We are awaiting the rapture of the firstfruit. Those who do not share in this will probably be included in the harvest
一 在敌基督逼迫宗教之后，大灾难的末了
A. After Antichrist’s Persecution of Religion, Near the End of the Great Tribulation
4按照十四章，庄稼的被提是发生在敌基督逼迫宗教之后。在初熟的果子被提以后，那兽，就是敌基督，要强迫百姓拜他和他的像，也要逼迫信徒。这就是大灾难。初熟果子的被提是在大灾难之前；而庄稼的被提是在大灾难将近结束的时候。因此，所有包括在庄稼被提里的圣徒，都必须经过大灾难。
4According to chapter fourteen, the rapture of the harvest will take place after Antichrist’s persecution of religion. After the rapture of the firstfruit, the beast, Antichrist, will compel people to worship him and his image. He will also persecute the believers. This will be the great tribulation. The rapture of the firstfruit will be prior to the great tribulation, whereas the rapture of the harvest will be toward the end of the great tribulation. Hence, all the saints included in the rapture of the harvest must pass through the greater part of the great tribulation
二 被好像人子的基督收割
B. By Christ like the Son of Man
5十四节说，『我又观看，看哪，有一片白云，云上坐著一位好像人子，头上戴著金冠冕，手里拿著快镰刀。』那位是人子的基督要来收割庄稼。祂曾经是人子到地上来撒种，将来还是人子，再次回来收割祂所撒的。
5Verse 14 says, “And I saw, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud One sitting like the Son of Man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.” The harvest will be reaped by Christ as the Son of Man. He came as the Son of Man to sow the seed, and He will come again as the Son of Man to reap what He has sown.
6主耶稣回来时，仍旧是人子。因祂是人子，所以有资格执行神对各人的审判。（约五27。）在那个时候，祂不再包在云里，藏在云里，乃是坐在云上。这就是说，祂不再是隐藏的，祂的来临是公开的了。在这之前，祂的来临是隐密的，但现在却是公开、众目可见的。在十章一节，基督还是披著云彩，在这里祂是坐在云上；这与帖前四章十七节相符，指明到这时主的来临是在空中公开的。十四节又说，祂『头上戴著金冠冕，手里拿著快镰刀。』祂头上戴著金冠冕，指明主是那得了荣耀为冠冕的一位。（来二9。）祂手里拿著快镰刀，指明主是那收割神田地的一位。
6At His coming back, the Lord Jesus will still be the Son of Man. As the Son of Man He is qualified to execute God’s judgment on everyone (John 5:27). At this time He will no longer be wrapped, or concealed, in the cloud, but will be sitting on the cloud. This means that He will no longer be hidden; His coming will be public. Prior to this, His coming was hidden, but now it will be open and visible. In 10:1 Christ was still clothed with the cloud, whereas here He is on the cloud. This corresponds to 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and indicates that the Lord’s coming back is now made public. Verse 14 also says that He will have “a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.” The golden crown on His head indicates that the Lord is the One crowned with glory (Heb. 2:9). The sharp sickle in His hand indicates that He is the One who reaps God’s field
三 庄稼熟了
C. The Harvest Being Ripe
7十五节说，『地上的庄稼已经熟了。』要成熟就要把一切属地的水分晒干。大灾难的苦难要像薰烤的太阳一样，将大灾难中留在地上之圣徒属地的水分晒干，好使他们成熟。在这时之前，庄稼还是青绿的。农人绝不会收割青绿的作物。所有田地里的作物都必须成熟。当田里的作物成熟时，收割的时间就来到了。
7Verse 15 says, “The harvest of the earth is ripe.” To be ripe is to have all the earthly water dried out. The suffering of the great tribulation will be like the parching sun, drying the earthly waters from the believers who will be left on the earth in the great tribulation that they may ripen. Before this time, the harvest will still be green. No farmer would reap a green crop. All the field must ripen. When the field has ripened, the time of the harvest will come
四 用镰刀收割
D. Reaped Through the Sickle
8在十五节，有一位天使说，『伸出你的镰刀来收割。』十六节说，『那坐在云上的，把镰刀扔在地上，地上的庄稼就被收割了。』这两节里的镰刀象征主所差来收割庄稼的天使。（太十三39。）当主耶稣来临的时候，祂要差遣祂的天使从田地里收取信徒。
8In verse 15 an angel says, “Send forth Your sickle and reap,” and verse 16 says, “He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.” The sickle in these verses signifies the angels sent by the Lord to reap the harvest (Matt. 13:39). At the time of His coming, the Lord Jesus will send His angels to take the believers out of the field
五 在吹第七号的时候被提
E. Rapture at the Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet
9庄稼是在吹第七号，就是吹末次号筒的时候被提。（林前十五～52，帖前四15～17。）第七号要一直吹到永远。这个被提是发生在第七号的初期。
9The harvest will be raptured at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:15-17). The sounding of the seventh 51 trumpet will last throughout eternity. This rapture will transpire near the beginning of this trumpet.
10在听了这些关于早期的得胜者，和晚期、快速的得胜者的信息后，你可能以为所有的信徒都是得胜者，并且你会不解，究竟谁是庄稼。最近我听说，美国有五千万重生的基督徒，所以光是在美国，主耶稣就要收割几千万的人。认识圣经并不容易。你相信全地，包括亚洲、非洲、北美洲、南美洲、澳洲和欧洲在内，都在敌基督的统治下么？不，当然不是这样。敌基督是罗马帝国的该撒，而罗马帝国并没有囊括全地，可能包括了西欧的大部分、北非和西亚的一部分。苏俄当然不受罗马帝国的统治，澳洲、中国、印度和美国也不在其统治之下。
10After hearing about the earlier overcomers and about the later, quicker overcomers, you may think that all the believers will be overcomers, and you may wonder who will be included in the harvest. Recently I heard that in the United States there are fifty million regenerated Christians. Thus in the United States alone there will be tens of millions for the Lord Jesus to reap. It is not easy to understand the Bible. Do you believe that the whole earth, including Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe, will be under the rule of Antichrist? No, that certainly will not be the situation. Antichrist will be the Caesar of the Roman Empire, and the Roman Empire does not encompass the whole earth. It will probably include the greater part of western Europe and possibly a part of North Africa and eastern Asia. Surely Russia will not be under the rule of the Roman Empire; neither will Australasia, China, India, or the United States
11我有负担和你们分享一些事，这些事严格说来是没有圣经根据的。虽然我不愿意谈一些没有圣经根据的事，但是在我心里有一些事我确信是出于神的，不过在圣经中没有题到。按照圣经的豫言，敌基督统辖的地区仅限于欧洲、小亚细亚、巴勒斯坦和北非一带。再者，敌基督不会是共产党。启示录十八章是这事的一个证明，那里显示敌基督的首都罗马，要成为资本主义的中心。那一章甚至说到贩卖魂，或说贩卖人口，这不是共产主义的记载，乃是资本主义的记载。全地都在神主宰的控制下，我信美国要完全蒙神保守，直到主回来。我已经说过，我相信美国就是启示录十二章所说的旷野，是许许多多难民的安全地和避难所。在美国几千万的基督徒中，得胜者并不多。他们当然不会被敌基督所杀，因为美国不在敌基督的领土范围之内。美国既然是安全之地和避难所，所以在美国的基督徒也不会成为快速的得胜者，他们乃要列在庄稼之中。
11I am burdened to share with you some matters for which, strictly speaking, I can find no ground in the Bible. Although I do not like to say anything without having biblical ground, there are some things in my heart which I truly believe are of God, yet which are not mentioned in the Bible. According to biblical prophecy, Antichrist will have dominion over only the territories of Europe, Asia Minor, Palestine, and North Africa. Furthermore, Antichrist will not be a communist. One proof of this is in Revelation 18, which shows that Antichrist’s capital, Rome, will be a center of capitalism. The record of that chapter, which even speaks of selling souls, or people, is a record not of communism, but of capitalism. The whole earth is under God’ss ove reign control. I believe that the United States will be fully preserved by God until the Lord comes back. As I have already mentioned, I believe that the United States will be the wilderness spoken of in Revelation 12. It will be a place of safety and shelter for so many refugees. Out of the tens of millions of Christians in the United States, not many will be overcomers. Certainly they will not be killed by Antichrist, because the United States will not be in Antichrist’s territory. Since the United States will be a place of safety and refuge, the Christians in this country will not become the quick overcomers. Instead, they will be in the harvest
12你听了这话，可能不解，在美国的信徒如何才能成熟。你也许认为，因为美国是安全的地方，这里的基督徒必继续松懈马虎。假定当大灾难的时候，你是住在美国的基督徒，那时你眼见我们在这些信息中所说的豫言一一应验，你还能顽梗、愚昧的不爱主么？初熟的果子已经被提了，关于这事的报导成了头条大新闻；敌基督要开始逼迫在欧洲的犹太人和基督徒。在这些光中，你会仍然以美国作你的乐土么？不仅如此，许多在欧洲的基督徒要逃到美国，以躲避敌基督的逼迫，大鹰的翅膀要载著他们飞到旷野。那些没有逃走的人要殉道，因而成了快速的得胜者。到那时候，地上的每一个基督徒必然都清醒了，并被挑旺要爱主。今天许多批评我们的人，到那时候就要接受我们现在见证的帮助。
12When you heart his, you may wonder how the believers in America will ripen. You may think that because America is a safe place, the Christians here will continue to be loose and sloppy. Suppose you are a Christian living in the United States during the time of the great tribulation. If you are witnessing the fulfillment of the prophecies we have considered in these messages, will you still stubbornly and foolishly refuse to love the Lord? The firstfruit will have been raptured, and the report of this will make headline news. Antichrist will be persecuting the Jews and Christians in Europe. In the light of all this, will you still continue to take the United States as your merry land? Moreover, many European Christians will flee to the United States to escape the persecution of Antichrist. The wings of the great eagle will fly them into the wilderness. Those who do not escape will be martyred and thereby become the quick overcomers. Certainly by that time every Christian on earth will be sobered and stirred to love the Lord. Many who are criticizing us today may then receive the help of our present testimony.
13到这世代的末了，在哈米吉顿要爆发一次战争。按照说到哈米吉顿这战争的豫言以及现今世界的局势，地上有四种军力的来源：一是来自北方的苏俄；另一是来自东方日出之地；另一是从敌基督的领土欧洲而来；最后一种是来自美国。前三处的军力要聚集在哈米吉顿，但美国的军队可能不包括在内。今天世界局势的倾向正是在为哈米吉顿战争铺路，但美国将是为著神子民的安全地方，是旷野。在大灾难的时候，基督徒要受逼迫，也有许多人要殉道。但是有许多神的子民要逃到美国，因此他们要列在庄稼之中。对那些已应验之豫言的认识，以及现时事件的报导，要激励他们都寻求主并热切爱主。他们都知道，再过不到三年半，主耶稣就要回来了。因此，每一个人都要生命长大并成熟。
13At the end of this age a war will be fought at Armageddon. According to the prophecies relating to this war at Armageddon and according to the present world situation, there will be four sources of military might on earth: one from the north, Russia; another from the east, the land of the rising sun; still another from Europe, the territory of Antichrist; and the last from the United States. Armies from three sources of military power will gather at Armageddon, but the American forces may not be included. The tendency of today’s world situation is preparing the way for the war at Armageddon. But America will be a safe place, a wilderness, for God’sp eople. During the great tribulation Christians will be persecuted, and many will be martyred. But a good number of God’sp eople will flee to the United States and thus will be included in the harvest. The knowledge of fulfilled prophecies and the report of current events will motivate them all to seek the Lord and to love Him intensely. They will all realize that the Lord Jesus will come back in not less than three and a half years. Hence, everyone will grow in life and mature
14为了要认识圣经，我们必须把圣经的不同部分放在一起，如同拼图一般；这样，我们就看见一幅清楚而完全的图画。圣经是用一些象征来代表不同的国家；比方说，以公绵羊代表波斯，以公山羊代表古希腊。甚至爱琴海的意思就是山羊海。圣经又以狮子表征古巴比伦。最近在巴比伦考古所发现的，有一些古代遗物上有狮子的图像。启示录十二章说到一只大鹰。在圣经里，动物是用来表征国家的；基于这一事实，我们要问，鹰表征那一个国家？答案当然是美国。这不是凑巧如此，必定是出于神主宰的智慧。在神的主宰下，这一个国家的先祖选了鹰作国家的象征。虽然圣经里找不出一节经节说，鹰表征美国，但是我相信，在神的主宰里，那一章里的鹰的确是指著这个国家。这就是我为甚么会相12信，美国就是启示录十二章的旷野，要作为属神之逃难者的避难所。在今天要明白圣经的豫言，比五十年前容易多了。许多年以前，我曾研究以色列复国的豫言。到一九四八年，我亲眼见到这事发生了。我们都知道，在一九六七年，耶路撒冷城归还给犹太人了。今天世界局势的焦点是在中东。现在我生活在这个大鹰的国家。在美国虽然有许多罪恶的事件，但是除了以色列国以外，这是仅有照著神的话立国的国家。我有一分美国最初的宪法，牠是由出埃及记里的许多经节组成的。再者，国会的每一次会期，都是以祷告开始的。一九五八年，我曾参加一次这样开会的祷告。虽然那个祷告很形式，却不失为好的祷告。不仅如此，还有『我们信靠神』的字样刻在钱币上。在圣经里，所有的国家都是用兽来表征，只有一个国家例外，就是美国，乃是用鹰来作表征。
14Revelation 16:15 says, “Be hold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, that he may not walk naked and they see his shame.” This word will be spoken close to the pouring out of the seventh bowl. Even at this late date, the Lord will issue a warning that He is coming as a thief. This proves that, even after the rapture of the harvest, which will be before the first six bowls, there will still be some believers on earth. These will be the gleanings (Lev. 23:22). According to the type in Leviticus, there are the firstfruit, the harvest, and a small quantity of the crop left in the field called the gleanings. The events in chapter sixteen take place after the harvest, which is in chapter fourteen. Chapter sixteen tells us that seven bowls will be poured out, mainly upon the kingdom of Antichrist. After the sixth bowl, the Lord will give a warning to the believers still on earth after the harvest to be watchful and to keep their garments. These will be that part of the crop which will still be left on earth after the harvest. Therefore, some Christians will be the firstfruit, the majority will be the harvest, and a small number will be the gleanings. In order to know the Bible, we must put various portions of the Word together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When we do this, we see a clear and complete picture. The Bible uses certain symbols to represent nations. For example, Persia is represented by a ram and ancient Greece by a goat. Even the meaning of the Aegean Sea is the sea of goats. Ancient Babylon was symbolized by a lion. Recent archeological discoveries in Babylon have included ancient relics with figures of lions on them. Revelation 12 speaks of a great eagle. Based upon the fact that in the Bible animals are used to symbolize nations, we may ask what nation is symbolized by an eagle. The answer, of course, is the United States. This is no accident. Rather, it surely is God’s sovereign wisdom. In God’s sovereignty the forefathers of this country chose an eagle as the national symbol. Although there is not a verse in the Bible saying that the eagle symbolizes the United States, I believe that, in God’s sovereignty, the eagle in that chapter does refer to this country. This is the reason I believe that the United States will be the wilderness in Revelation and serve as a refuge for God’s escapees. It is much easier to understand biblical prophecy today than it was fifty years ago. Many years ago I studied the predicted re - formation of the nation of Israel. In 1948 I saw this take place with my own eyes. As we all know, in 1967 the city of Jerusalem was returned to the Jews. Today the world situation is focused on the Middle East. Now I am living in the country of the great eagle. Although there are many sinful things in the United States, nevertheless, with the exception of the nation of Israel, there is no other country that has been formed according to God’s Word. I have a copy of the first Constitution of the United States. It is composed of verses from the book of Exodus. Furthermore, each session of Congress opens with a prayer. I was present for such an opening prayer in 1958. Although that prayer was formal, it was still quite good. Moreover, the words, In God we trust, are engraved upon our coins. In the Bible, all the other nations are symbolized by beasts. But there is one country, the United States, that is symbolized by an eagle, not by a beast.
15我们读到八章的时候曾说过，地的三分之一要遭受一连串超自然的灾祸而被毁坏。（启八7～12。）我不信这些灾祸会波及美国，因为地的三分之一乃是指人亵渎神、反对神最激烈的地区。我所以说这点，因为我信，神要用美国来保护祂比较软弱的子民。祂是何等有怜悯！主已使祂的恢复来到这个国家，我真是喜乐！我深信在美国五十个州的首要城市都要有地方召会建立。这些真正的召会要引导神的子民，回到祂的经纶里。首先，众召会要产生活著的初熟果子；其次，在大灾难的时期，神要用他们照顾基督徒。许多难民要逃到美国。到那时候，没有人会反对或批评地方召会了；反之，许多人要来到地方召会中。
15When we were on chapter eight, we saw that the third part of the earth will be damaged by a series of supernatural calamities (8:7-12). I do not believe that these calamities will affect the United States. The third part of the earth is that region wherein people blaspheme God and oppose Him the most. I mention this because I believe that God will use the United States to preserve His weaker people. How merciful He is! How happy I am that the Lord has sent His recovery to this country! I believe that local churches will be established in the leading cities of all fifty states. These genuine churches will direct God’sp eople back to His economy. Firstly, the churches will produce the living firstfruit. Secondly, they will be used to care for the Christians during the great tribulation. Many refugees will flee to the United States. At that time, no one will oppose or criticize the local churches. Rather, many may come to the local churches
16有两件事是出于主的主宰：第一，祂豫备了美国作大鹰；第二，祂将祂的恢复带到这个国家。在大灾难期间，基督徒当然不会再去注意天主教、公会或自由团体。反之，他们要说，『没有时间可以浪费了。我们走神的路罢！』神的路就是地方召会。阿利路亚，我们是在地方召会中！阿利路亚，我们是在美国！我们是在真正的召会生活里，也是在大鹰的国家中。对于中国大陆的沦陷，我深感哀恸，我真是爱那里的工作。但是为著祂将我带到这个大鹰的国家，并且在这里有真正的召会生活，我是何等的赞美主！为著主把祂的恢复带到这个国家，我们要赞美祂！
16Two matters are sovereign of the Lord. The first is that He has prepared the United States to be a great eagle, and the second is that He has sent His recovery to this country. During the great tribulation Christians certainly will no longer pay attention to the Catholic Church, to the denominations, or to the free groups. Rather, they will say, “There is no time to waste. Let us take God’sway.” God’sway is the local churches. Hallelujah, we are in the local churches! Hallelujah, we are in the United States! We are in the genuine church life and we are in the country of the great eagle. I was deeply saddened by the loss of mainland China. I truly loved the work there. But how I praise the Lord that He has brought me to the country of the great eagle and that I am in the genuine church life here. Praise Him for sending His recovery to this country
贰 大酒醡
II. THE GREAT WINEPRESS
17十八、十九节说，『又有一位天使从祭坛中出来，是有权柄管火的，向拿快镰刀的大声喊著说，伸出你的快镰刀来，收取地上葡萄树累累的果子，因为葡萄熟透了。那天使就把他的镰刀扔在地上，收取了地上的葡萄，丢在神烈怒的大酒醡中。』在圣经里，将犹太人比喻为无花果树，（太二四，）将信徒比喻为麦子，（太十三，30，）将邪恶的外邦人比喻为葡萄树，（启十四19，）这是一棵假葡萄树，乃是基督和祂众肢体所组成之真葡萄树（约十五1～6）的膺品。撒但把不信的人倣造成假葡萄树，所以主耶稣说，『我是真葡萄树。』
17Verses 18 and 19 say, “And another angel came out of the altar, having authority over the fire, and he cried with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripened. And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the fury of God.” In the Bible the Jews are likened to the fig tree (Matt. 24:32), the 32 believers to wheat (Matt. 13:25, 30), and the wicked 25 Gentiles to the grapevine (Rev. 14:19), which is a false vine, the counterfeit of the true vine made up of Christ and His members (John 15:1-6). The Lord Jesus said, “I am the true vine,” because the unbelievers are the imitation vine made by Satan.
18我们看过，神用无花果树象征以色列国。无花果树虽然外表没有花朵，没有丰姿，却满了滋养人的果子；以色列人在神的经纶里该是这样。然而，今天的以色列人却没有任何果子。主耶稣末次上耶路撒冷的时候，祂走到一棵无花果树下，那时祂饿了，切望得著滋养。但祂无法从无花果树得著滋养，便咒诅了那树。（可十一12～14。）这是主咒诅不结果子之犹太国的豫影。在神的智慧里，麦子象征基督徒，就是召会。主耶稣是人子，将麦种直接撒在地里。麦子的花很小，但是成熟的时候却有饱满的谷粒，能制成细面，作神的素祭，使神和人都得满足。赞美主，我们基督徒乃是长在田里的麦子！
18We have seen that God uses the fig tree to symbolize the nation of Israel. Although the fig tree has no outward blossom, flower, or glory, it is full of nourishing fruit. This is what Israel should be in God’secon o my. However, today Israel does not have any fruit. When the Lord Jesus went to Jerusalem the last time, He came to a fig tree. He was hungry and desired nourishment. Because He could receive no nourishment from the fig tree, He cursed it (Mark 11:12-14). That was a shadow of the Lord’s cursing the unfruitful Jewish nation. In God’s wisdom wheat symbolizes the Christians, the church. Wheat seeds were sown into the earth directly by the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man. Wheat has a very small blossom, but when it is ripe, it is full of grain to produce fine flour for God’s meal offering to satisfy both God and man. Praise the Lord that we Christians are the wheat growing in the field
一 在大灾难结束时
A. At the End of the Great Tribulation
19麦子收割之后，在神眼中被比作葡萄的不信者就要被收割。这要发生在大灾难结束时。
19After the wheat has been harvested, the unbelievers, likened in the eyes of God to grapes, will be reaped. This will take place at the end of the great tribulation
二 约沙法谷的审判
B. The Judgment at the Valley of Jehoshaphat
20大酒醡就是约沙法谷的审判。（珥三9～16。）约珥三章很清楚的告诉我们，主要聚集列国的军队到约沙法谷（也称汲沦谷），该谷与欣嫩谷接连，位于耶路撒冷和橄榄山之间。古时候百姓将不洁之物埋在那里。犹大的亚撒王就是将他祖母的偶像埋在那地。（王上十五13。）所以，不洁与拜偶像之物都是埋在这谷里。
20The great winepress will be the judgment at the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:9-16). The third chapter of Joel tells us clearly that the Lord will gather all the armies of the nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat (also called Kidron), which is joined by the valley of Hinnom and which is between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. In ancient times people buried unclean things there. King Asa of Judah burned his mother’si dol in that place (1 Kings 15:13). Hence, unclean and idolatrous things were buried in this valley
三 哈米吉顿的战争
C. The War at Armageddon
21神烈怒的大酒醡（启十四19）就是哈米吉顿的大战。（启十六12～16。）外邦一切邪恶、属世的军队都要聚拢在那里，主同祂得胜的圣徒要和他们争战，3:9-并毁灭他们。（启十九11～21，珥三9～13，赛六三1～6。）哈米吉顿原文由两个字组成，头一个是『哈，』意山；第二个是『米吉顿，』就是米吉多，（士五19，王下二三29，亚十二11，）意屠
21The great winepress of the fury of God (v. 19) will be the war at Armageddon (16:12-16), where all the worldly forces will be gathered and where the Lord with His army of overcoming saints will fight against them and destroy them (19:11-21; Joel 13; Isa. 63:1-6). The title Armageddon is composed of two words. The first, ar, means “mount” and the second, Mageddon, is the name of Megiddo, meaning “slaughter.”
22杀；因此，哈米吉顿意屠杀山。
22
23我们已经指出，按照圣经和今天世界的局势，从三处来的军队要汇集参加哈米吉顿的战争；这三个出处是欧洲、苏俄和东方。苏俄和东方这两个出处已经可以确定了，但是欧洲与小亚细亚的出处还末能确定。在这一地区的国家正在等待一个强有力的首领出现，他可能成为敌基督。藉著研读豫言，我肯定说，敌基督将从希腊和马其顿地出来，或者属于希腊血统。这个有能力的首领要向埃及、叙利亚和以色列这荣美之地挪移。中东由于有巨大的石油财富，早已成了国际关系的重要焦点。在神主宰的安排下，这可能是导致哈米吉顿战争的一个因素。
23We have pointed out that, according to the Bible and according to today’s world situation, armies from three sources will converge at the war of Armageddon. These sources are Europe, Russia, and the East. The sources of Russia and the East can already be identified, but the source from Europe and Asia Minor is not yet settled. The countries in this region are waiting for a strong leader, who may become Antichrist, to appear. I am assured by the study of prophecy that Antichrist will either come from the land of Greece and Macedonia or be of Greek descent. This powerful leader will move in the direction of Egypt, Syria, and Israel, the beautiful land. Due to the vast oil wealth in the Middle East, this area has already become the crucial focus of international relations. Under the Lord’ss ove reign arrangement, this may be one of the causes of the war at Armageddon
24撒迦利亚十四章指明，当主耶稣回来的时候，祂的脚必踏在橄榄山上，使这山从中间分为两半，为那些被包围的犹太人豫备了一条逃跑的路。（亚十四4～5。）行传一章告诉我们，主耶稣曾从橄榄山升天，将来也要像升天时一样回来。这就是说，祂要回到靠近约沙法谷的橄榄山上。世上军队的聚集，被比作成熟的葡萄收集在大酒醡里。当主看到所有属世的军队都聚集在哈米吉顿的战争中，那就是祂踹酒醡的时候到了。
24Zechariah 14 indicates that when the Lord Jesus comes back, He will set His feet upon the Mount of Olives, causing this mountain to split in half and providing a way for the besieged Jews to escape (Zech. 14:4-5). In Acts 1 we are told that the Lord Jesus, who ascended from the Mount of Olives, will return in the same way that He ascended. This means that He will come back to the Mount of Olives near the valley of Jehoshaphat. The gathering of the worldly forces is likened to the gathering of ripened grapes into the great winepress. When the Lord sees all the worldly armies gathered together at the war of Armageddon, that will be the time for Him to tread the winepress
四 葡萄熟透了
D. The Grapes Being Fully Ripened
25葡萄在被收进大酒醡之前，已经熟透了。（启十四18。）麦子是在水分干燥时成熟；但葡萄成熟时水分反而充盈。究竟你是麦子，还是葡萄，就在于你里面属地的水是干了还是满的。如果你的雄心是要多得一些属地的水，那么，你活著就像葡萄，不像麦子了。
25Before the grapes are gathered into the great winepress, they will be fully ripened (v. 18). In order for wheat to ripen, its water content must be dried up. But the ripening of grapes is just the opposite: the grapes must be filled with water. Whether you are wheat or a grape depends upon whether you are dried up or filled with the earthly water. If your ambition is to gain more earthly water, then you are living like the grapes, not like the wheat.
五 葡萄被收取，丢在神烈怒的大酒醡中
E. The Grapes Being Gathered and Cast into the Great Winepress of the Fury of the Wrath of God
26葡萄要被收取并丢在神烈怒的大酒醡中。（启十四19，十六12～16。）主要把邪恶、属世的军队聚集在一个地方，让祂来踹这大酒醡。主藉著踹这大酒醡，就要毁灭邪恶、属世的军队。
26The grapes will be gathered and cast into the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God (v. 19; 16:12-16). The Lord will gather the evil worldly forces into one place for Him to tread this great winepress. By treading this great winepress, the Lord will destroy the evil worldly forces
六 被基督所踹踏
F. Trodden by Christ
27大酒醡要被基督所踹踏。（赛六三1～6。）二十节说，『那酒醡踹在城外，就有血从酒醡里流出来，高到马的嚼环，远达约三百公里。』这里的城指耶路撒冷城，马相当于十九章十八节者。从酒醡里流出的血形成了一条三百公里长的河（约一百八十二哩），这是从波斯拉（赛六三1）到哈米吉顿（启十六16）的距离。这一条血河很高，达到马的嚼环。以赛亚六十三章三节的血字，希伯来文意为汁液。甚至基督的衣服也要被这血所沾。从波斯拉到哈米吉顿，要有一条长的血河。踹这个酒醡就是主耶稣在敌基督和他的军队身上施行审判。从北方、西方和东方而来的军队要聚拢，如同成熟的葡萄放进酒醡里。这是豫言清楚的话。
27The great winepress will be trodden by Christ (Isa. 63:1-6). Verse 20 says, “And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress up to the bridles of the horses for a thousand six hundred stadia.” The city here is the city of Jerusalem, and the horses correspond to those in 19:18. The blood that comes out of the winepress will form a river one thousand six hundred stadia long (about one hundred eighty-two miles). This is the distance from Bozrah (Isa. 63:1) to Megiddo (Rev. 16:16). This river of blood will be so high that it will reach the bridles of the horses. The Hebrew word rendered blood in Isaiah 63:3 means juice. Even the garments of Christ will be stained with this blood. From Bozrah to Megiddo will be a long, bloody river. This treading of the winepress will be the judgment of the Lord Jesus exercised upon Antichrist and all his forces. Armies from the north, the west, and the east will be gathered like ripened grapes into the winepress. This is the clear word of prophecy
七 大灾难和这世代的结束
G. The Close of the Great Tribulation and of This Age
28踹大酒醡要结束大灾难，也要终结这世代。这是一件大事。
28This treading of the great winepress will close the great tribulation and also complete this age. This is a great matter