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启示录生命读经 · 第5篇

基督的再来

The Coming Again of Christ
1大多数基督徒都有一个观念，认为启示录是一本有关基督第二次来临的书。这个看法绝对正确，因为启示录里的确说到基督的第二次来临。但是这么多年来，基督徒对主再来这件事并不清楚，并且因为不清楚，就引起了很多争论和辩驳。关于基督再来的启示，并不简单，乃是相当复杂的，并且有好几方面。所以，大部分基督徒，对于主的再来，很难有透彻的了解。在已过一个半世纪里，关于基督再来的事，有很多的著作出版，特别是弟兄们所写的。在弟兄们中，有些领头的教师，对主的再来，持有不同的意见；他们中间头一次的分裂，就是这些不同意见的结果。所谓的弟兄们的见证，是在达秘（JohnNelsonDarby）的领导下，于一八二八或二九年间兴起的。达秘教导说，基督要在大灾难以前回来，但另一位领头的教师牛顿（BenjaminNewton），却说基督要在大灾难之后回来。因著这两位大教师持有不同的意见，对于这事就有了很多的争论。至终，这引起所谓的弟兄们中间头一次的分裂，一派以达秘为首，另一派以牛顿为首。我曾在牛顿一派中七年半之久，我学了他们一切的教训；他们说基督的再来要在大灾难之后，的确有强力的根据。你若把已过一百五十年间，所有大教师最好的著作读过，就会看出有些教导说基督再来要在灾前，另有些教导说是在灾后。已过一百年来，主兴起了一些细心研读圣经的人，例如彭伯（G.H.）、郭维德（R.Govett）、潘汤（D.M.Panton）等。这些人看出来，基督的再来不是一件简单的事。他们看见，一面基督会在灾后回来；但另一面，祂又会在灾前回来。这些细心研读圣经的人，提供了强力的证明，证实他们的见地正确。基督的再来最少有两方面，一面在灾前，另一面在灾后。不但如此，这些研读圣经的人也认识到，圣徒的被提也不只两类。这就是说，有些圣徒要在灾前被提，另有些要在灾后被提。对这样的说法，不要作冲动的反应。我年轻的时候就是这样起反应，但至终我就服下来并相信了。圣经并不是如有些人想像的那么简单。
1Most Christians hold the concept that the book of Revelation is a book of Christ’s second coming. It is absolutely correct to hold this concept because Revelation does cover the second coming of Christ. However, throughout the years, Christians have not been clear about the Lord’s second coming. Due to this lack of clarity, there has been much disputing and wrangling about it. The revelation regarding Christ’s second coming is not simple; rather, it is quite complicated and has several aspects. Therefore, it has been difficult for most Christians to understand thoroughly the Lord’s coming again. During the past century and a half, many books have been written, especially by the Brethren, about the second coming of Christ. Some of the leading teachers among the Brethren held different opinions about the Lord’s coming back, and the first division between them was the result of these different opinions. The so-called Brethren testimony was raised up in 1828 or 29 under the leadership of John Nelson Darby. Darby taught that Christ would come back before the great tribulation, while Benjamin Newton, another leading teacher, said that Christ would come back after the tribulation. Because these two great teachers held different opinions, there were many debates about this matter. Eventually, this brought about the first division among the so-called Brethren between those under the leadership of Darby and those under the leadership of Newton. I was associated with the Benjamin Newton group for seven and a half years during which time I learned all their teachings. They certainly had a strong ground for saying that the second coming of Christ would be after the great tribulation. If you read the best writings of all the great teachers during the past one hundred fifty years, you will find that some taught that Christ’s coming would be before the tribulation and others taught that it would follow the tribulation. During the past century, the Lord raised up some careful students of the Word, such as G. H. Pember, Robert Govett, an dD. M. Panton. These men Pember discovered that Christ’s second coming is not a simple matter. They saw that, on the one hand, Christ will come back after the tribulation, but that, on the other hand, He will also come back before the tribulation. These careful students of the Bible have supplied strong proof to substantiate the correctness of this view. Christ’s coming back has at least two aspects— one before the tribulation and the other after the tribulation. Furthermore, these students of the Word also learned that the rapture of the saints will be of more than two categories. This means that some saints will be raptured before the tribulation and others after the tribulation. Do not react to such statements too hastily. I reacted that way when I was young, but eventually I was subdued and convinced. The Bible is not as simple as some think it is.
2在本篇信息中，我们要来看基督再来这个题目。我们感谢神，给了我们那许多走在我们前头的圣经教师。我们也感激他们，因为我们无论看见了甚么，都是站在他们的肩膀上看见的。我们若想明白基督的第二次来，就必须研读圣经，也要读这些大教师们的著作，这样我们对这事才能有全面的了解。我们若这样作，就会完全相信，基督的来临有两面：隐密的一面，以及公开的一面。
2In this message, we shall consider the subject of Christ’s coming again. We thank God for all the teachers of the Word who have gone before us. We are grateful to them, and whatever we see, we see as those who are standing upon their shoulders. If we would understand the second coming of Christ, we must study the Bible and also read the books written by these great teachers. Then we shall be able to have a comprehensive view of the matter. If we do this, we shall be fully convinced that Christ’s coming has two aspects: the secret, private aspect and the open, public aspect
壹 隐密的一面
I. THE SECRET ASPECT
一 像贼一样来临
A. Coming as a Thief
3在马太福音和启示录，我们都看见基督再来隐密的一面。启示录三章三节和十六章十五节同样告诉我们，基督再来要像贼一样，因此我们要儆醒。没有一个贼是公然的来，或是宣布他来了。在前面一篇信息中我们曾指出，当主像贼一样来临时，祂要来偷取宝贵的东西。在马太二十四章四十、四十一节，主说到祂隐密的回来时说，『那时，两个人在田里，取去一个，撇下一个。两个女人在磨坊推磨，取去一个，撇下一个。』主耶稣非常有智慧，祂用两个弟兄在田里，两个姊妹在磨坊推磨作例子。表面看来两个弟兄都一样，两个姊妹也都一样；但突然间，一位弟兄和一位姊妹被提去了。主说完了这个例子后，在四十二至四十四节说，『所以你们要儆醒，因为不知道你们的主那一天要来。但你们要知道，家主若晓得贼在几更天要来，他就必儆醒，不容他的房屋被人挖透。所以你们也要豫备，因为在你们想不到的时辰，人子就来了。』就在我们工作的时候，根本没有想到基督要来，我们中间有些人会突然被提去。因著祂来像贼一样，我们必须儆醒。
3In both Matthew and Revelation we see the secret aspect of Christ’s coming again. Revelation 3:3 and 16:15 both tell us that Christ will come as a thief and that we should be watchful. No thief comes openly or announces his coming. As we pointed out in a previous message, when the Lord comes as a thief, He will come to steal the precious things. In Matthew 24:40 and 41, the Lord spoke of His secret coming, saying, “Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.” The Lord Jesus was very wise, using two brothers in the field and two sisters grinding at the mill as illustrations. Apparently the two brothers are the same and the two sisters are the same. But suddenly one of the brothers and one of the sisters are taken. After giving this illustration, the Lord said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes. But know this, that if the householder knew in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also, be ready, for the Son of Man comes in an hour that you think not” (vv. 42-44). As we are working, having no consciousness that Christ is coming, some of us will be raptured. Since He is coming as a thief, we must be watchful
二 时间─无人知道
B. The Time—Unknown
4主隐密来临的时间，没有人知道。（启三3，太二四36，42，二五13。）基督再来时，乃是奉差遣的一位；因此在启示录中，祂称为天使，是被神差遣的一位。基督第二次来，也像祂第一次来，乃是被神差来的。这就是基督隐密再来的时间，只有父知道的原因。（太二四36，可十三32。）父是差遣者，子是奉差遣的。只有差遣者知道那个时间，奉差遣的并不知道。有些人好像比主耶稣更知道，他们豫言主再来的时间。在已过一个半世纪以来，曾经有很多豫言，但没有一个应验。有的豫言说，主耶稣要在某一天回来，还要人把自己豫备好，沐浴，更换干净洁白的衣裳。还有些人爬上山顶，等候主的回来。第一次世界大战后，有许多教师著书讲解豫言，特别说到主再来的事。有的作者也豫言主再来的时间。但是一切对主再来之时间的豫言，都被证明是假的。所以要小心，不要说豫言。根据圣经，主隐密来临的时间是无人知道的。
4The time of the Lord’s secret coming is unknown (3:3; Matt. 24:36, 42; 25:13). When Christ comes again, He will come as a Sent One. Because of this, in Revelation He is called the Angel, One who is sent by God. In His second coming, as in His first, Christ will come as One who has been sent by God. This is the reason that only the Father knows the time of Christ’s secret coming (Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32). The Father is the Sender and the Son is the Sent One. Only the Sender, not even the Sent One, knows the time. Some people, seeming to know more than the Lord Jesus, have predicted the time of the Lord’s coming. During the past century and a half, there have been many predictions, none of which has been fulfilled. Some predicted that the Lord Jesus would come on a certain date and charged people to prepare themselves by taking a bath and by putting on clean, white clothing. Others have climbed to a mountaintop to await the Lord’s coming back. After World War I, many teachers published books about prophecy, especially concerning the Lord’s coming back. Some of these writers also predicted the time of the Lord’s coming. All these predictions about the time of the Lord’s coming have been proved false. Be careful not to predict anything. According to the Bible, the time of the Lord’s secret coming is unknown.
三 地点─在云里来到空中
C. The Place—in the Cloud to the Air
5主隐密来临的地点乃是在云里来到空中。（启十1，帖前四17。）云与主的再来有关；基督曾驾云升天，祂要同样的回到地上来。（徒一9，11，太二六64，启十四14。）在马太二十六章六十四节，主耶稣对大祭司说，『从此以后你们要看见人子，坐在那大能者的右边，驾著天上的云而来。』连主在云里回来这件事也有两面：第一，主要在云中来，指祂被云隐蔽；其次，祂要驾云而来。当祂在云中来时，乃是来到空中，不是来到地上。启示录十章一节启示，主要披著云彩，从天降下，指明祂是被包在云中。不要以为祂会从诸天之上突然降到地上。现今基督是在三层天的宝座上，等适当的时候到了，父就差祂从诸天之上的宝座，到空中的云间。我们在以后的信息要看见，祂离开诸天之上的宝座前，有些得胜者已经被提到宝座那里了。启示录十二章显示，男孩子要被提，不是提到空中，乃是提到神的宝座。这指明有些得胜者，甚至在主耶稣隐密来临的时间之前就被提了。在启示录十四章，我们看见在诸天上的锡安山上那些初熟的果子。诸天之上的锡安山，是神所在的三层天，不是在空中。初熟的果子在诸天上的锡安山上，证明有些早期的得胜者，在基督隐密来临以前，就被提到三层天上了。这些早期的得胜者被提以后，基督就隐密的在云里从宝座降临到空中。
5The place of the Lord’s secret coming will be in the cloud to the air (10:1; 1 Thes. 4:17). The cloud is related to the Lord’s coming back. Christ went to heaven on a cloud, and He will come back to earth in the same way (Acts 1:9, 11; Matt. 26:64; Rev. 14:14). In Matthew 26:64, the Lord Jesus said to the high priest, “Henceforth you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Even with the Lord’s coming in the cloud there are two aspects. Firstly, the Lord will come in the cloud. This means that He will be concealed by the cloud. Secondly, He will come upon the cloud. When He comes in the cloud, He will not come to the earth but to the air. Revelation 10:1 reveals that the Lord will come down out of heaven clothed with a cloud, indicating that He will be wrapped up with the cloud. Do not think that He will suddenly descend from the heavens to the earth. Christ is now on the throne in the third heaven. When the proper time comes, the Father will send Him from the throne in the heavens to the cloud in the air. As we shall see in later messages, before He leaves the throne in the heavens, some overcomers will have been raptured to the throne. Revelation 12 shows that the man-child will be raptured, not to the air but to the throne of God. This indicates that some overcomers will have been raptured even before the time of the secret coming of the Lord Jesus. In Revelation 14 we see the firstfruits on Mount Zion in the heavens. Mount Zion in the heavens is where God is in the third heaven; it is not in the air. That the firstfruits will be on Mount Zion in the heavens proves that some of the early overcomers will be raptured to the third heaven before Christ’s secret coming. After these early overcomers have been raptured, Christ will descend from the throne to the air in the cloud secretly.
6主耶稣到了空中，要作许多事，主要的是提取所有尚未被提的信徒。基督在云里来到空中后，有许多圣徒还未被提。因此，祂在空中的时候，就要提接那些必须经过大灾难的基督徒。帖前四章十七节说，那些活著还存留的人，必被提到云里，在空中与主相会。然后，基督就要在空中设立祂的审判台。这个审判不是对罪人，乃是对所有得救的人，并且这不是判定得救或沉沦，乃是定规得奖赏或受惩罚。施行过这个审判以后，有些圣徒会被拣选得赏赐。按照圣经，神在我们身上有两种拣选：第一，祂在创立世界以前，在已过的永远就拣选了我们；（弗一4；）第二，主来到空中，把所有圣徒提接到空中之后，就有第二次的拣选。第一次在已过永远的拣选，是为著救恩；第二次在空中基督审判台前的拣选，乃是为著赏罚。我们都已经蒙拣选得了救恩，但是我们能不能得赏赐，乃在于基督审判台前第二次的拣选。那些已经得救但不通过这审判的人，要被摆在某个地方受惩罚。然后基督要带著那些得赏赐的圣徒，作为祂的军队来到地上。那时，祂就不再在云里，而是驾在云上。因此，主的来临最少有两个步骤。第一步，基督要离开诸天之上的宝座，包藏在云里降到空中，并且在那里停留一段时间。然后第二步，祂要驾在云上从空中来到地上。这就是祂再来的第二方面。
6While He is in the air, the Lord Jesus will do many things. Mainly, He will take up all the believers who have not yet been raptured. After Christ comes to the air in the cloud, many saints will still not have been raptured. Thus, while He is in the air, He will rapture the Christians who have had to pass through the great tribulation. First Thessalonians 4:17 says that they who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Then, in the air, Christ will set up His judgment seat. This judgment will not be for sinners but for all the saved ones, and it will not be concerned with salvation or perdition but with reward or punishment. After this judgment has been executed, some of the saints will be chosen to receive a positive reward. According to the Bible, God has had two selections concerning us. Firstly, He selected us before the foundation of the world in eternity past (Eph. 1:4); secondly, after the Lord comes to the air and has raptured all the saints to the air, He will make a second selection. While the first selection in eternity past was for salvation, the second selection in the air at the judgment seat of Christ will be for reward. We all have been selected for salvation, but whether or not we receive a reward will depend upon the second selection at Christ’s judgment seat. Those saved ones who do not pass this judgment will be put somewhere to suffer discipline. Christ will then bring the positive ones with Him to the earth as His army. At that time, He will no longer be in the cloud but upon the cloud. Thus, there will be at least two steps to the Lord’s coming. In the first step, Christ will leave the throne in the heavens, come down to the air wrapped in the cloud, and remain there for a time. Then, from the air, He will take the second step of coming to the earth upon the cloud. This will be the second aspect of His coming back
四 是儆醒信徒的奖赏
D. As a Reward to the Watching Believers
7基督隐密的来临，乃是儆醒信徒的奖赏。（启二28，太二四42，44。）启示录二章二十八节说，基督要如晨星出现；玛拉基四章二节启示说，祂要出现如日头。晨星出现和日头出现大不相同。你若要看见晨星出现，就要在大清早起床；你若贪睡，就必定失去机会。然而，无论你起床多迟，还会看到阳光。你盼望遇到基督作晨星，还是作太阳？晨星的出现是隐密的，但日头的出现是公开的。主曾应许说，我们若儆醒等候祂的来临，祂就要如晨星向我们显现。这是一个赏赐的应许。但我们若是松懒，就必会错过晨星。不要以为基督的再来是那么简单，不过是离开宝座，立刻直接到了地上。祂要在空中停留一段时间。那些早期的得胜者，要在第六印以前被提；第六印乃是那要来的三年半大灾难的起头和警告。没有一个人能知道，甚么时候基督才离开诸天之上的宝座，降临到空中；不过这应该约在大灾难之前。基督降临到空中，和祂从空中降临到地上之间，相隔了一段时间。在这段时间，祂要完成提接圣徒，并且对他们施行审判，以拣选一班得胜者，作祂的军队，与敌基督的军队争战。
7Christ’s secret coming will be a reward to the watching believers (2:28; Matt. 24:42, 44). Revelation 2:28 says that Christ will appear as the morning star, and Malachi 4:2 reveals that He will appear as the sun. There is a great difference between the appearing of the morning star and the appearing of the sun. If you would see the morning star, you must rise up very early in the morning. If you sleep late, you will miss it. However, no matter how late you sleep, you will not miss the sunshine. Do you expect to meet Christ as the morning star or as the sun? The appearing of the morning star is secret, but the appearing of the sun is open. The Lord promised us that if we are watchful and wait for His coming, He will appear to us as the morning star. This is a promise of a reward. But if we are sloppy, we shall surely miss the morning star. Do not think that Christ’s coming back is a simple matter of His leaving the throne and coming immediately and directly to earth. He will be in the air for some time. The early overcomers will be raptured before the sixth seal which will be a preface, a warning, of the coming great tribulation that will last for three and a half years. No one can tell when Christ will leave His throne in the heavens and come down to the air. However, it should be somewhat before the great tribulation. There will be an interval between Christ’s descending to the air and His descending to the earth. During this interval, He will complete the rapture of the saints and exercise His judgment upon all the saints to select the overcomers who are to be His army to fight against the army of the Antichrist.
贰 公开的一面
II. THE OPEN ASPECT
一 为地上的众支派所看见
A. Seen by All the Tribes of the Land
8我们看过，在基督再来隐密的一面中，祂要像贼一样来到；但是在公开的一面，祂要带著能力和大荣耀来临，为地上的众支派所看见。（启一7，太二四27，30。）启示录一章七节说，『看哪，祂驾云降临，众目要看见祂，连刺祂的人也要看见祂；地上的众支派都要因祂捶胸哀哭。是的，阿们。』主的显现要像闪电一样，从东到西，划过天空。这种光景，和祂像贼一样隐密的来临，有何等的不同！启示录一章七节说到『地上的众支派。』这里的『地』一辞，给繙译圣经的人很多麻烦，因为不确定是指那地还是全地。有些译本说是那地，另一些则说全地。经过许多的研究后，我的结论是这辞在这里该指那地，就是指圣地。圣地上的众支派要看见祂。这个说法是根据撒迦利亚十二章十至十四节，那里说他们要仰望祂，就是他们所扎的，并且那地必为祂哀哭。启示录一章七节所题到的众支派，就是指那些曾扎过祂的支派。启示录一章七节必定根据撒迦利亚十二章。照著撒迦利亚十二章，众支派不是指全地的万国，乃是指圣地上的十二个支派。根据这一点，我们可以说启示录一章七节中的众支派，是指圣地上的十二支派。当主显现如同闪电，带著能力和大荣耀来临时，所有在圣地上的人都要看见；十二支派要举目看祂，并且哀哭。
8As we have seen, in the secret aspect of His coming again, Christ will come as a thief. But in the open aspect, He will come with power and great glory to be seen by all the tribes of the land (1:7; Matt. 24:27, 30). Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, those also who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the land shall wail over Him. Yes, Amen.” The Lord will appear as lightning which flashes across the sky from east to west. What a difference between this and His secret coming as a thief. Revelation 1:7 mentions “all the tribes of the land.” The Greek word rendered land in this verse may also be translated earth. This has bothered the translators of this verse, for they have been uncertain whether to translate it as land or earth. Some versions say earth and others say land. After much study, I have concluded that in this verse the Greek word should be rendered land. In other verses it may be translated earth, but here it should be the land, referring to the Holy Land. All the tribes of the Holy Land shall see Him. The basis for saying this is Zechariah 12:10-14, which says that they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced and that the land shall mourn for Him. The tribes mentioned in 1:7 are the tribes of those who have pierced Him. Revelation 1:7 surely is a reference to Zechariah 12. According to the context of Zechariah 12, the tribes are not all the nations of the earth but the twelve tribes in the Holy Land. Based upon this, we may say that the tribes in 1:7 are the twelve tribes in the Holy Land. When the Lord appears as lightning, coming with power and glory to be seen by all in the Holy Land, the twelve tribes will behold Him and will weep.
二 时间─在大灾难的末了
B. The Time— at the End of the Great Tribulation
9基督隐密来临的日子与时辰，我们不知道，（太二四36，）但是祂第二方面再来的时间，却非常清楚的启示出来，就是在大灾难末了，末次号筒（第七号）吹响的时候。（启十八1，太二四15，21，27，帖前四16，林前十五，帖后二1～4，8。）马太二十四章十五节说，『你们看见那藉著申言者但以理所说，行毁坏的可憎之物站在圣地。』那『行毁坏的可憎之物』是一个偶像，就是敌基督的像。按照但以理九章二十七节，敌基督要与以色列国订立七年的盟约。到七年的中间，他要毁约，并开始迫害犹太人。敌基督要全力敌挡神，并且高举自己为神，又把自己的像立在殿里，强迫人拜这像。在神的眼中，这乃是那要引起极大毁坏的可憎之物。这要发生在但以理九章所说的七十个七末七的中间。但以理九章里的七，是指七年。主耶稣在马太二十四章十五节指出，犹太信徒必会看见这事。就如马太二十四章二十一节所启示的，这要标明大灾难的开始：『因为那时必有大灾难，这样的灾难，就是从世界的起头直到如今，都未曾发生过，将来也绝不会发生。』因此，大灾难要开始于敌基督在殿中立起他的像，并强迫人去拜这像的时候。凭著这几处的圣经，我们可以知道，主公开的来临不会在大灾难之前，必是在大灾难开始了一段时间之后。照著启示录的经节看来，那将是非当接近大灾难的末了。按照新约，主耶稣在大灾难之前，离开诸天之上的宝座，降到空中。靠近大灾难的末了，祂就公开的从空中来到地上。
9While the day and hour of Christ’s coming in its secret aspect are unknown (Matt. 24:36), the time of His coming in the second aspect is clearly revealed. It is at the last trumpet (the seventh trumpet), at the end of the great tribulation (18:1; Matt. 24:15, 21, 27; 1 Thes. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:52; 2 Thes. 2:1-4, 8). Matthew 24:15 says, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of 52 desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place.” The “abomination of desolation” is an idol, the image of the Antichrist. According to Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will make a covenant with the nation of Israel for seven years. In the middle of these seven years, he will break this covenant and begin to persecute the Jews. The Antichrist will be absolutely against God and will set himself up as God, putting an image of himself in the temple and compelling people to worship it. In the eyes of God, this will be the abomination that will cause great destruction. This will take place in the midst of the last of the seventy weeks mentioned in Daniel 9. In Daniel 9, a week denotes seven years. In Matthew 24:15 the Lord Jesus indicates that the Jewish believers will see this. As Matthew 24:21 reveals, this will mark the beginning of the great tribulation: “For then there shall be great tribulation, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be.” Hence, the great tribulation will begin at the time the Antichrist erects his image in the temple and forces people to worship it. By these verses we can see that the Lord’so pen coming will not precede the great tribulation. It must occur some time after the beginning of the great tribulation. According to the verses in Revelation, it will be very close to the end of the great tribulation. According to the New Testament, the Lord Jesus will leave His throne in the heavens and descend to the air before the great tribulation. From there, close to the end of the great tribulation, He will come down openly to the earth.
10当基督公开从空中来到地上时，正是敌基督企图要消灭整个以色列国的时候。为著这目的，敌基督要聚集他的军队，在一处名叫哈米吉顿的地方。（启十六16。）这乃是按照神的目的；因为神的计画就是要把所有地上的军队，聚集在哈米吉顿，好在那里毁灭他们，将他们从地上除去。敌基督的用意，是要用他的军队消灭以色列国。以色列要被他的军队包围，无法逃脱。就在那个当口，以色列人无路可逃时，主要像闪电一般显现，祂的脚要踏在橄榄山上。（亚十四4。）在此以前，以色列国并不相信主耶稣；但是，敌基督的军队所给他们的威胁，迫使他们悔改。当主耶稣把脚踏在橄榄山上时，这山要裂为两半，给那些受逼的犹太人一条逃走的路；那时，他们就悔改、痛哭，承认他们曾经把主钉在十字架上。若是我们把这些经节都摆在一起，就能看见，主公开的来临，大概是接近大灾难的末了。只要耶路撒冷的圣殿尚未重建，主耶稣就不可能公开的回来。我们对于祂公开来临的时间虽然有了一点概念，但是对祂隐密来临的时间仍不知道。圣经说那时刻没有人知道。无论如何，新约清楚的启示，基督公开的来临不会在大灾难之前；这就是说，不会早于敌基督强迫人拜他像的时候。不过，我们不是等候主公开的来临，而是等候祂隐密的来临。在这事上，主很有智慧，祂知道这样可以使我们儆醒。
10When Christ comes openly from the air to the earth, it will be at a time when the Antichrist will be attempting to exterminate the whole nation of Israel. For this purpose, the Antichrist will gather his army to a place called Armageddon (16:16). This will be according to God’s purpose, for God’s plan is to assemble all the earthly armies together at Armageddon and there destroy them and rid the earth of them. The intention of the Antichrist will be to use his army to exterminate the nation of Israel. Israel will be surrounded by his army and have no way of escape. At that juncture, when escape is impossible, the Lord will appear as a flash of lightning and set His feet upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4). Before this time, the nation of Israel will not believe in the Lord Jesus, but the threat of the army of the Antichrist will force them to repent. When the Lord Jesus puts His feet upon the Mount of Olives, it will split in half. This will provide a way of escape for the persecuted Jews who will then repent, weep, and confess what they have done in crucifying the Lord. If we put all the verses together, we can see that the Lord’so pen coming will probably be near the end of the great tribulation. As long as the temple in Jerusalem has not been rebuilt, it is impossible for the Lord Jesus to come back openly. Although we have some idea about the time of His open coming, we do not know the time of His secret coming. The Bible says that no one knows this. However, the New Testament reveals clearly that Christ’so pen coming will not precede the great tribulation, that is, it will not precede the time when the Antichrist will force people to worship his image. But we are not waiting for the Lord’so pen coming; we are waiting for His secret coming. The Lord is very wise in this matter, knowing that it will cause us to be watchful
三 地点─驾云来到地上
C. The Place—on the Cloud to the Earth
11主公开回来的地点，已经清楚启示出来，就是驾云来到地上。（启一7，十四14，太二四30，亚十四4，使一～12。）照著行传一章十一、十二节，主怎样升到天上去，也要怎样来。祂既然是从橄榄山升上去的，那就是说，祂也必回到橄榄山。撒迦利亚十四章四节说，『祂的脚必站在耶路撒冷前面朝东的橄榄山上；这山必从中间分裂，自东至西。』这一节说得很清楚，橄榄山是在耶路撒冷城墙的外面，离城不远。主要降临的地点，就是祂曾上升的地方。但是，我们不是盼望等候与祂在橄榄山相见，我们乃是盼望先在三层天的宝座前与祂相会，然后和祂一同回到橄榄山。祂已经升到诸天之上，我们乃是等候被提到诸天之上。我们不是等待死了之后上天堂，这是宗教。我们所等候的，乃是全人被提到三层天，到神的宝座前，好使我们与基督一同回来，先到空中，然后来到地上。这是我们到耶路撒冷的路。我们乃是经过三层天的宝座才到那里。不过你若失败，就会失去这样进入耶路撒冷的机会。
11The place of the open aspect of the Lord’s coming back is clearly revealed—on the cloud to the earth (1:7; 14:14; Matt. 24:30; Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11-12). According to Acts 1:11 and 12, the Lord shall come in the same way 11 as He went up into heaven. Since He ascended from the Mount of Olives, this means that He will come back to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4 says, “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west.” As this verse makes clear, the Mount of Olives is outside the wall of Jerusalem, not far from the city. The Lord will descend to the very spot from which He ascended. However, we are not waiting to see Him on the Mount of Olives. We want to meet Him at the throne in the third heaven and then come back with Him to the Mount of Olives. He has ascended to the heavens, and we are waiting to be raptured to the heavens. We are not waiting to die and go to heaven. This is religious. We are waiting for our whole being to be raptured to the third heaven, to the throne of God, that we may come back with Christ, firstly to the air and then to the earth. This is the way we shall visit Jerusalem. We shall go there by way of the throne in the third heaven. However, if you are defeated, you will miss this visit to Jerusalem.
四 带著得胜的圣徒，与敌基督并他的军队，在哈米吉顿争战
D. With the Overcoming Saints to Fight against the Antichrist and His Army at Armageddon
12当主耶稣公开来临时，祂要带著得胜的圣徒同来，与敌基督并他的军队，16:12-在哈米吉顿争战。（启十九11～21，十七13～14，十六12～16，亚十四，5，帖后二8。）这次争战就是踹神烈怒的酒醡。（启十九15，十四18～。）全世界的军兵都要聚集在哈米吉顿，有的是从远东来的，有的是从北方来的，还有一些是从欧洲来的。这一次所有地上军兵的聚集，乃是照著神的智慧而有的。最后，全世界一切的财富都集中在中东一带，所有邦国要贪婪的来抢夺。正当地上的军队聚集在哈米吉顿时，主要坐在空中观看他们说，『你们豫备好了么？』我们读到十四章，就知道这些军队的聚集，就是收取葡萄丢在大酒醡中。在神看来，地上所有的军兵就像葡萄，而哈米吉顿就是大酒醡。当地上的君王、将军和首领聚集所有的军队到哈米吉顿的时候，他们就像葡萄堆在大酒醡里。然后主下来踹这神的酒醡，就有血成为大河从那里流出来。那个时候将有何其多的恶人在那里被杀！这是主公开来到地上时，将要发生的事。主公开来临的目的，是要灭绝所有世界的军队。这事以后，地上就再没有战争了。
12When the Lord Jesus comes openly, He will come with the overcoming saints to fight against the Antichrist and his army at Armageddon (19:11-21; 17:13-14; 16; Zech. 14:3, 5; 2 Thes. 2:8). This will be to tread the winepress of the wrath of God (19:15; 14:18-20). At3 Armageddon, all the worldly armies will be gathered together, with some coming from the Far East, others 20 from the North, and still others from Europe. This gathering together of all the earthly forces will be according to God’s wisdom. Eventually, the riches of the world will be concentrated in the Middle East, and all the nations will be greedy to seize them. While the armies of the earth will be gathering at Armageddon, the Lord will be sitting in the air observing them, saying, “Are you ready?” When we come to chapter fourteen, we shall see that the gathering of the armies will be the gathering of the grapes into the great winepress. In the eyes of God, the earthly armies are likened to grapes, and Armageddon will be the great winepress. As the kings, generals, and leaders gather all the armies at Armageddon, they will be like grapes gathered into the great winepress. Then the Lord will descend to tread this winepress of God, and a great river of blood will flow out of it. What a huge number of evil people will be killed there at that time! This will occur at the time of the Lord’so pen coming to the earth. The purpose of the Lord’so pen coming will be to exterminate all the worldly forces. After this, war will cease from the earth.
13参警告与爱的回应
13III. A WARNING AND A LOVING RESPONSE
14在二十二章十二节和二十节中，主耶稣给我们一个警告说，『看哪，我必快来！』我们爱的回应应该是：『阿们。主耶稣阿，我愿你来！』（启二二20，提后四8。）我们在这几篇信息中所关切的，不是仅仅关于所谓基督再临的教训和道埋。我们乃是读出主心头的愿望，就是要得著一班得胜者，儆醒等候祂的回来。
14In 22:1 2 and 20 the Lord Jesus gives us a warning, saying, “Behold, I come quickly.” Our loving response should be, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (22:20; 2 Tim. 4:8). Our concern in these messages is not with mere teaching and doctrine concerning the so-called second advent. We are studying the heart’s desire of the Lord, which is to gain a group of overcomers who are watching and waiting for His coming back.