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启示录生命读经 · 第51篇

骑在朱红色兽上的大妓女（一）

The Great Prostitute Sitting on a Scarlet Beast (1)
1在本篇信息中，我们来到启示录十七章，在这里我们看见一个女人骑在朱红色的兽上。（启十七3。）我们都要清楚明白这里所启示的事，这是很重要的。拿著七碗的七位天使中，有一位对使徒约翰说，『你来，我要将坐在众水之上的大妓女所要受的刑罚，指给你看。』（启十七1。）在三节使徒约翰说，『我在灵里，天使带我到旷野去；我就看见一个女人骑在朱红色的兽上，那兽满了亵渎的名号，有七头十角。』一节说到大妓女，三节说到一个女人。这女人既是骑在朱红色兽上的大妓女，她就有能力和权柄。这里的兽和十三章所描写的兽一样，有七头十角。所有研究圣经的人都同意，这里的兽兼指罗马帝国和敌基督，敌基督乃是复兴之罗马帝国的最后一位该撒。但是，关于这女人，大妓女的身分，大家却有争论。
1In this message we come to Revelation chapter seventeen, where we see a woman sitting on a scarlet beast (v. 3). It is important that we all have a clear understanding of what is revealed here. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls spoke to the apostle John, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters” (17:1). In verse 3 the apostle John says, “And he carried me away in spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Verse 1 speaks of the great prostitute, and verse 3 speaks of a woman. As the prostitute riding on a scarlet beast, this woman has power and authority. This beast, the same as that described in chapter thirteen, has seven heads and ten horns. All Bible students agree that the beast here refers to both the Roman Empire and to Antichrist, the last Caesar of the revived Roman Empire. However, there has been debate concerning the identity of the woman, the prostitute
壹 大妓女
I. THE GREAT PROSTITUTE
2那坐在众水之上的大妓女是谁？在答覆这个问题之前，我们需要说一点关于这女人的事。按照十八节，这女人是大城－罗马城，这城是建在由兽的七头所象征的七座山上。（启十七9。）虽然这女人是罗马，但妓女不可能也是罗马，因为到最后兽必恨这妓女，使她荒凉，又用火将她烧尽；（启十七16；）敌基督，罗马帝国的最后一位该撒，当然不会把自己国家的首都烧了，所以兽所烧的必定是另外的东西，不是罗马城。现在我们要问这个问题：按照圣经和世界历史，那骑在罗马帝国之上的妓女是谁？那和罗马有这么密切关系的是谁？那妓女和罗马城的关系密切到一个地步，几乎成为一个了。在一节，天使称她作妓女；在十八节，称她为女人。那妓女乃是背道的罗马天主教。历史显示，只有一个人物能符合这一章里所描写的女性，而这个人物就是罗马天主教。妓女没有丈夫；这指明神从不承认祂与背道的罗马教有任何的关系。
2Who is this great prostitute sitting on many waters? Before we answer this question, we need to say a word about the woman. According to verse 18, the woman is the great city, the city of Rome, which was built on seven mountains signified by the seven heads of the beast (v. 9). Although the woman is Rome, the prostitute cannot also be Rome, because the beast will eventually hate the prostitute, make her desolate, and burn her with fire (v. 16). Antichrist, the last Caesar of the Roman Empire, will certainly not burn his own capital. Therefore, that which is burned by the beast must not be the city of Rome, but something else. Now we must ask this question: According to the Bible and according to world history, who is the prostitute riding on the Roman Empire? Who is the one so intimately related to the Roman state? The prostitute is so closely related to the city of Rome that the two are almost identical. In verse 1 the angel called her the prostitute, and in verse 18 he called her a woman. The prostitute is the apostate Roman Catholic Church. History reveals that only one figure, one character, matches the description of the female in this chapter, and that figure is the Roman Catholic Church. A prostitute does not have a husband. This indicates that God has never admitted having any relationship with the apostate Roman Church.
3在前面第十三篇信息里，关于罗马天主教，我曾根据这一章说了很重的话。按照圣经，这一章里的大妓女就是罗马天主教。如果启示录十七章的这个女人不是罗马天主教，那她又是谁呢？按照历史，只有罗马天主教符合这里所描写的女人。十八年前我曾在罗马逗留数日，特为参观梵谛冈。为了要对那些背道的东西有完全的看见，我游览了八趟。我越看越相信，罗马天主教就是我多年前研读过启示录十七章里的大妓女。启示录十七章四节说，『那女人穿著紫色和朱红色的衣服。』天主教里到处都有红色。例如，枢机主教就穿著红色的袍子。许多天主教徒听到罗马教是大妓女，就被激怒，信不来这话。有的人也许要说，『你凭甚么说天主教是大妓女？我们岂不是敬拜神，相信耶稣么？我们不也有圣经么？』这个问题的答案是在本章的四节。请注意，四节说，那女人『手中拿著金杯，盛满了可憎之物，并她淫乱的污秽。』在表号上，金象征神神圣的性情。这个女人虽然被称为大妓女，手里却拿著象征神圣性情的金杯。然而，这个金子只是杯的外表，不是杯的内容。在外观上，杯似乎是神圣的，但里面却满了可憎和污秽。虽然背道的罗马天主教的确有一些圣别的东西，却加上了污秽的东西，例如拜马利亚的事。罗马天主教所拜的马利亚，实际上就是维纳斯女神（Venus）。天主教从异教吸收了关于维纳斯女神这属鬼的神话。彭伯（G.H.Pember）在他所著的『大豫言』（（TheGreat）一书里指出，连佛陀也化名为圣约沙法（SaintJosaphat），进入了天主教。在天主教的历法里，有一位圣人名叫约沙法，他的故事实际上就是佛陀的故事。巴比伦的宗教进入了佛教，佛教这个巴比伦宗教进一步的发展，又渗入了天主教。现在我们来读彭伯所著『大豫言』书中相关的一段话:
3In message thirteen of this life-study I gave a strong word concerning the Roman Catholic Church based upon this chapter. According to the Scriptures, the great prostitute in this chapter is the Roman Catholic Church. If the female in Revelation 17 is not the Roman Catholic Church, then who is she? Surely, according to history, only the Roman Catholic Church fits the description of the woman given here. Eighteen years ago I spent some days in Rome for the specific purpose of seeing the Vatican. In order to have a full view of that apostate thing, I took eight tours. The more I saw, the more I was convinced that the Roman Catholic Church is the great prostitute in Revelation 17, about which I had studied years before. Revelation 17:4 says, “The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet.” The color red abounds in Catholicism. The cardinals, for example, are clothed in red robes. When many Catholics hear that the Roman Church is the great prostitute, they will be offended and not be able to believe it. Some may say, “How can you say that the Catholic Church is the great prostitute? Don’t we worship God and believe in Jesus? Don’t we also have the Scriptures?” The answer is in verse 4 of this chapter. Notice that verse 4 says that the woman has in her hand “a golden cup full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication.” In typology gold signifies the divine nature. Although this woman is called the great prostitute, she holds a golden cup signifying the nature of God. This gold, however, is merely the outward appearance of the cup, not its contents. Outwardly, it appears to be divine, but inwardly it is filled with abominations and uncleanness. Although the apostate Roman Catholic Church does have certain holy things, it adds filthy things to them. Consider, for example, the worship of Mary. The Mary in the Roman Catholic Church is actually the goddess Venus. Catholicism has absorbed from paganism the demonic legend of Venus. In his book, The Great Prophecies, G. H. Pember points out Prophecies that even Buddha, under the name of Saint Josaphat, has entered into Catholicism. In the Catholic calendar there is a saint named Josaphat, whose story is actually that of Buddha. Babylonianism entered into Buddhism, and Buddhism, a further development of Babylonianism, was assimilated into Catholicism. Let us now read in full the relevant paragraph from The Great Prophecies (p. 104) by Pember:
4（第一百零四面）：伯沙撒（Belshazzar）死后不到一世纪，有一种新的…信仰在印度传布，就是佛教；牠和巴比伦宗教只稍微不同；…事实上；…佛陀本人其实就是罗马天主教里的一个圣人，名为圣约沙法。约沙法和巴兰（Barlaam）的故事，先是出现在第八世纪初期一位神学家，大马士革的约翰的作品中，到中古时代流传极为普遍，现在已经证实，确定就是佛陀的故事。因此，佛陀的故事被天主教吸收了。这是异教渗入罗马天主教的一个例子。另外一个例子是圣诞节。圣诞节是对基督的亵渎，有清洁良心的基督徒应该完全脱开圣诞节。『两个巴比伦』（TheTwoBabylons）这本书证明，圣诞节起源于欧洲的异教。早在基督纪元之前几世纪，欧洲的异教徒就于十二月二十五日那天庆祝太阳的生日。当康士坦丁接受了基督教，便鼓励罗马人作基督徒，甚至还奖励成千受洗的人；有许许多多对基督毫无认识的人都受了洗，入了基督教国，把他们异教的习俗也带进来。之后，基督的名字便被附在十二月二十五日庆祝太阳神的生日上。庆祝复活节在原则上也是一样。虽然在橙县的一些基督徒定罪我们是异端，他们自己却还在过异教的圣诞节。一件事是确定的，将来在三年半的大灾难时，所有的基督徒都要抛弃圣诞节、复活节、拜马利亚以及所有的异教作法。在第四十八篇信息里我曾与你们交通到，我相信美国是鹰的国家，并且在要来的年日，地方召会在基督徒当中要发生积极的影响。我更相信，主的恢复要扩展到全世界各主要城市。目前在欧洲已经有几处召会，在巴西也至少有十七个地方召会；不仅如此，在迦纳、奈及利亚、澳洲，纽西兰以及远东许多国家的城市，包括台湾、香港、印尼、马来西亚、新加坡、泰国、韩国、日本和菲律宾，都有了召会。主的恢复还在扩展之中。在许多主要的城市里，地方召会向著信徒或不信者，站著作见证。我们必须吹响我们的号筒，见证基督和身体。最终，全世界所有的基督徒都要受影响。目前，有人与我们争论，敌挡、反对我们。但有一天要来到，所有的口都要被封住，因为我们所传讲的一切都要应验。得胜者要被提，敌基督要出现。不仅如此，罗马天主教要完全被烧毁净尽。你想，在敌基督和十角毁灭梵谛冈的时候，住在美国的人还会再上天主教堂么？当然不会！到那时候，天主教里许多真基督徒都要转到主恢复的路上。
4In less than a century after the death of Belshazzar, a new... faith was spreading in India, the Buddhist religion, which is but a slightly changed Babylonianism....Indeed...Buddha himself is actually a saint in the Roman Catholic Calendar under the name of Saint Josaphat. For the story of Josaphat and Barlaam, which first appears in the works of John of Damascus, a theologian of the early part of the eighth century, and became extremely popular in the Middle Ages, has now been certainly identified with that of Buddha. Thus, the story of Buddha was taken into Catholicism. This is one example of the assimilation of paganism into the Roman Catholic Church. Another example is Christmas. Christmas is a blasphemy to Christ, and no Christian with a pure conscience should have anything to do with it. As the book, The Two Babylons, proves, Christmas originated from European paganism. Centuries before the Christian era, on December 25 the European pagans celebrated the birthday of the sun. When Constantine embraced Christianity, he encouraged the Roman citizens to become Christians, and he even rewarded many thousands for being baptized. Thousands who knew nothing of Christ were baptized and came into Christendom, bringing their pagan customs with them. Later, the name of Christ was attached to the birth of the sun god celebrated on December 25. In principle, the celebration of Easter is the same. Although some Christians in Orange County condemn us as heretical, they themselves still practice the pagan festival of Christmas. To be sure, during the three and a half years of the great tribulation all Christians will abandon such things as Christmas, Easter, the worship of Mary, and all paganism. In message forty - eight I shared with you my belief that the United States is the nation of the eagle and that in the coming years the local churches will exert a positive influence among Christians. I further believe that the Lord’s recovery will spread to the leading cities throughout the world. Already there are some churches in Europe and at least seventeen churches in Brazil. Moreover, there are churches in Ghana, Nigeria, Australia, New Zealand, and many throughout all the countries in the Far East, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. The Lord’s recovery is spreading. In many leading cities the local church stands as a testimony to both believers and unbelievers. We must sound our trumpet and testify of Christ and the Body. Eventually, all the Christians in the world will be influenced. Presently, some argue with us, fight against us, and oppose us. But the day is coming when every mouth will be shut, for all we have been ministering will be fulfilled. The overcomers will be raptured, and Antichrist will be manifested. Furthermore, the Roman Catholic Church will be utterly burned and destroyed. As Antichrist and the ten horns are destroying the Vatican, do you think that people in the United States will still attend the Catholic Church? Certainly not! By that time many genuine Christians in Catholicism will turn to the way of the Lord’s recovery.
5我深信主正用祂的恢复来产生活著的初熟果子，这是主恢复的第一个功用。初熟的果子被提之后，地方召会将要被主使用来帮助所有余剩下来的基督徒，这是恢复的第二个功用。到大灾难的时候，基督徒都有正确的地方可以去。圣诞节、复活节以及基督教所有的传统都要被废弃了；不再有争论，大妓女众女儿所有分裂的名字也被废止了，主要完全表白祂召会的路。罗马天主教里有一些真实的东西，这是不容否认的。她手中拿著金杯，身上妆饰著金子、宝石和珍珠，（启十七4，）这和建造新耶路撒冷所用的材料相同。大妓女的外表和新耶路撒冷的外表相似，但是里面却大不相同；大妓女充满了可憎、污秽和属灵的淫乱。这是实在的情形，我们要有洞察力，好看见这光景。我说这些话不是一件小事。哦，我们都需要有清楚的看见！
5I strongly believe that the Lord is using His recovery to produce the living firstfruit. This is the first function of the Lord’s recovery. After the rapture of the firstfruit, the local churches will be used by the Lord to help all the remaining Christians. This will be the second function of the recovery. During the great tribulation, Christians will have a proper place to which they can go. Christmas, Easter, and all the traditional things of Christianity will be discarded. There will be no more arguments, all the divisive names of the daughters of the great prostitute will be abandoned, and the Lord will absolutely vindicate His way of the church. No one can deny that there is something real in the Roman Catholic Church. She holds a golden cup in her hand, and she is gilded with gold, precious stone, and pearls (v. 4), the same materials with which the New Jerusalem is built. The outward appearance of the great prostitute and the New Jerusalem is similar. But there is a vast difference inwardly: the prostitute is filled with abominations, uncleanness, and spiritual fornication. This is the actual situation, and we need insight in order to perceive it. It is not a small thing for me to say these things. Oh, how we all need to have a clear view
6关于这事，我越亲近主，就越有负担吹响号筒，使主的恢复和正当的召会生活扩展到全世界。在各地主要的城市里，都需要有灯台照耀在黑夜中。如果不是在今天，至少在大灾难期间，所有清心爱主，诚实寻求祂的人都要看见这光。到那时候，在每一个主要的城市里，都有一个灯台发光照耀。初熟果子的被提，要使地方召会照耀得比今天更明亮。假定在安那翰召会中有五十五位弟兄姊妹先被提了，其余的人必然会受到激励，迫切寻求主。这样的事要发生在全世界。当基督徒开始看到豫言一一应验在眼前的时候，就不会再去注意那些混乱的分裂、宗教的传统、或一切罪恶、属世之事，却要逃到正确、纯正的召会生活里。我完全肯定，这事必会发生。
6The more I have been with the Lord regarding this matter, the more burdened I have become to sound the trumpet so that the Lord’s recovery with the proper church life may spread throughout the world. Here and there, in all the leading cities, there needs to be a lampstand shining in the dark night. If not today, then at least during the years of the great tribulation, whoever loves the Lord with a pure heart and seeks Him in sincerity will see this light. By that time a lampstand will be shining brightly in every leading city. The rapture of the firstfruit will cause the local churches to shine more brightly than they do today. Suppose fifty-five brothers and sisters in the church in Anaheim were raptured first. Certainly all the remainder would be stirred up and seek the Lord desperately. This will take place throughout the world. When Christians begin to see prophecies fulfilled in front of their eyes, they will no longer care for the confusing divisions, the religious traditions, or all the sinful and worldly things. Rather, they will flee to the proper and pure church life. I am fully assured that this will take place.
7我们不是在说一件毫无意义的事；乃是说到一件对要来的世代非常要紧的事。我们不在意人的争辩和反对；他们越争辩，越反对，我们的职事就越坚定。有许多次，当我在一篇信息里说了一些不恭维基督教的话之后，我也希奇自已竟这么强，我就决定要温和一点。然而我所传讲的并不是出于我的定意。这不在于我，乃在于说话的灵。我在传讲时若是不这么大胆的论到基督教，就不得安息，我就失去膏油的涂抹。我若不这么说，我的职事就变得弱了。当我把话说出去，反对就跟著来。但是我却因反对更得印证。那些反对者的行为和反应把他们自己完全暴露出来。我有负担叫我们都蒙光照，透过层层遮蔽进入内室，看见今日基督教实际的光景。这不是关于神圣三一的道理，也不是关于地方召会的教训，这完全是巴比伦的事。称呼传道人为牧师（reverend）－这是巴比伦；装饰圣诞树，推崇圣诞老人－这是巴比伦；以公会的名自称，例如路德会、美以美会、圣公会－这是巴比伦。所有公会的名称都是分裂和混乱的巴比伦因素。基督徒眼见大妓女在敌基督手下被毁灭之时，便要信服召会；那时他们必看见召会是甚么，召会在那里，也要认识召会与属巴比伦的事物无分无关。凡是继续实行或持守属巴比伦东西的团体，就不是纯正的召会。你们必须小心分裂，因为分裂是巴比伦宗教的另一个型式。人类的语言从巴别开始混乱，巴别的意思就是混乱。巴别是巴比伦的希伯来文。一切的分裂都引起混乱，混乱就指明了巴比伦宗教。今天有成千成百的自由团体散布各处，但他们所实行的乃是分裂和混乱的，所以也是属巴比伦的。
7We are not dealing with an insignificant matter, but with a matter that is very crucial for the coming age. We do not care for men’s arguments and opposition. The more they argue and oppose, the more our ministry is confirmed. Many times, after saying something uncomplimentary about Christianity in a message, I wondered why I was so strong, and I resolved to be a little softer. Nevertheless, what I say in the ministry is not my decision. It does not depend on me — it depends on the speaking Spirit. If in my ministry I do not speak boldly regarding Christianity, I have no peace, and I lose the anointing. If I fail to do this, my ministry will be weakened. When I do speak out, the opposition is aroused. But I am confirmed even by the opposition. The deeds and reactions of the opposers fully expose them. I am burdened that we would be enlightened, see through all the veils, and enter into the inner chamber to perceive the reality of today’s situation in Christianity. It is not a matter of the doctrine of the Trinity or of the teaching concerning the local church. It is absolutely a matter of Babylon. To call a pastor “reverend”—that is Babylonian. To set up a Christmas tree and to honor Santa Claus— that is Babylonian. To call yourself by a denominational name, such as Lutheran, Methodist, or Episcopalian — that is Babylonian. All denominational names are Babylonian factors of division and confusion. When Christians see the destruction of the great prostitute at the hands of Antichrist, they will be convinced about the church. Then they will see what the church is and where the church is. They will realize that the church has nothing to do with anything Babylonian. Any group that still practices Babylonian things or holds them is not the pure church. You must beware of divisions because divisions are another form of Babylonianism. It was at Babel, which means confusion, that the language of mankind was confused and confounded. Babel is the Hebrew term for Babylon. Anything divisive causes confusion, and confusion denotes Babylonianism. Today there are hundreds of free groups; they are everywhere. But what they are practicing is divisive and confusing; hence, it is Babylonian.
8一九五七年有一位被公认很属灵，又有丰富职事的亲爱弟兄，应邀访问台湾。他访问的结果，使一些青年人（他们都曾受过我的训练）受影响，只注意所谓的属灵，而轻忽了召会的实行。至终，在他们中间一分再分，结果就是巴比伦的混乱。在美国，有些人曾在主的恢复里留了一段时间，也学了召会生活的实行。然后他们出去，为著自己另立独立的工作。这也造成分裂，导致了巴比伦的混乱。今天有些人读了倪弟兄的书，学习了他们所以为是地方召会的实行。若是他们为著真正合一的恢复，对主是认真的，他们必然会和我们交通；但是他们却拒绝和那些已经在地方召会中的人交通，这也带来巴比伦的混乱。一九六二年，当主恢复的工作在美国开始的时候，我在地方召会这事上说得很强。有人警告我不可再讲地方召会，他们说我若是再讲，必要得罪很多人。我坚拒他们的警告，说，我们在这里就是为著地方召会的恢复。随后不到十年的工夫，『地方召会』成了基督教市场里广用的辞。甚至在基督教广播节日里，有的传道人也使用这辞。似乎有许多人，包括公会里的牧师在内，都说他们是地方召会。这个混乱是另一种的巴比伦宗教。
8In 1957 a dear brother who was considered spiritual and as one having a rich ministry was invited to Taiwan. As the result of his visit, some young people, all of whom had been under my training, were influenced to care only for so-called spirituality, not for the practicality of the church. Eventually, they divided among themselves again and again, and the result was Babylonian confusion. In the United States some have stayed for a while in the Lord’s recovery and have learned the practice of the church life. Then they went out on their own to set up an independent work for themselves. This also has caused divisions resulting in Babylonian confusion. Today some read Brother Nee’s books and learn what they think is the way to practice the local church. If they meant business with the Lord for the recovery of genuine oneness, they certainly would have fellowshipped with us. However, they refuse to fellowship with those who are already in the local churches. This also results in Babylonian confusion. When the work of the Lord’s recovery began in the United States in 1962, I was very strong in this matter of the local church. Some warned me against speaking about the local church, saying that if I did so, people would be offended. I emphatically rejected their warning, saying that we are here for the recovery of the local churches. Less than ten years later, the term “local church” had become a popular item in the Christian marketplace. This term is even used by certain preachers on Christian radio stations. It seems that many, including pastors in denominations, want to say that they are the local church. This confusion is another form of Babylonianism
9每当我想到某种的情形，我可能没有对人说甚么，但是我会对自己说，『这是虚假，这不是真东西。』无论是天主教、公会、或是分裂、混乱的自由团体，都不能在新妇的豫备上作甚么。为著要豫备新妇，主必须恢复真正的召会生活，就是一种没有分裂、混乱或巴比伦成分的召会生活。
9When I consider a particular situation, I may not say anything to anyone, but I may say to myself, “This is false. It is not the genuine thing.” Neither the Catholic Church, the denominations, nor the divisive and confusing free groups can do any preparation of the Bride. In order for the Bride to be prepared, the Lord must recover the genuine church life, a church life without division, confusion, or anything Babylonian
一 她的名字
A. Her Name
10五节说到大妓女的名字；『奥秘哉！大巴比伦，地上妓女和可憎之物的母。』这里用『奥秘』这称呼，指明本章的大巴比伦不是十八章物质的巴比伦，乃是宗教的巴比伦。宗教的巴比伦，即背道的召会，她所是、所实行、所教导的，的确是奥秘的。
10In verse 5 we see the name of the great prostitute: “Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of the Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth.” The title “Mystery” here indicates that Babylon the Great in this chapter is not the material one in chapter eighteen, but the religious one. The religious Babylon, the apostate church, is truly mysterious in what she is, in what she practices, and in what she teaches.
二 这大妓女为地上妓女和可憎之物的母
B. The Great Prostitute Being the Mother of the Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth
１ 众妓女
1. The Prostitutes
11众妓女就是基督教的公会和团体，以及罗马天主教的邪恶道理、作法和传统。妓女的母既是背道的召会，她的女儿，众妓女，就该是基督教中一切不同的宗派和团体，他们多少持守背道之罗马教的教训、作法和传统。在纯正的召会生活中，没有背道的召会所遗传的邪恶。我们都知道，所谓的新灵恩运动已经进入了罗马天主教，这个运动甚至已经搀杂了拜马利亚和献弥撒。虽然杯子是金的，人们却饮可憎之物；进到他们里面的并不是杯子，乃是杯子的内容物。若不是因著这种邪恶的混合，狡诈的教皇绝不会允许新灵恩运动在天主教里进行。每一个公会都必须受察验，看看是否仍含有大妓女的成分。你在家里摆设一棵圣诞树，这就是实行大妓女的事。你可能看不到一个基督徒团体是没有受妓女影响的。也许只有在地方召会，你才能找到与妓女无分无关的地方。我们已经看见，大妓女的众女儿就是持守著罗马天主教之道理、作法和传统的基督徒团体。一个团体若持守了其中的一项，那团体就是罗马天主教的女儿。可能有人认为，称公会和自由团体为大妓女的女儿未免太苛刻了。你也许说，『那些在公会和自由团体的人，不也信主并爱主么？他们不是蒙了重生么？他们不是已经得著了神的生命么？你怎么说公会和自由团体是妓女的女儿？盖恩夫人是一个生命非常深的姊妹，却仍然拜马利亚的像。连她也中了天主教的毒。四十多年前，我们繙译了盖恩夫人大部分重要的著作。当我发现她拜马利亚的像，便告诉弟兄们，在繙译她的著作时要把这一点包括在内，否则弟兄姊妹会认为她毫无瑕疵。我们看到，连她也被背道的罗马教弄糊涂了。
11The prostitutes are the denominations and groups in Christianity with the evil doctrines, practices, and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Since the “Mother of the Prostitutes” is the apostate church, the prostitutes, her daughters, must be all the different sects and groups in Christianity who hold to some extent the teaching, practices, and traditions of the apostate Roman Church. The pure church life has no evil transmitted from the apostate church. As we all know, the so-called charismatic movement has entered into the Roman Church. This movement has even been confounded with the worship of Mary and with the sacrifice of the mass. Although the cup is golden, the people drink the abominations. It is not the cup, but the contents of the cup that get into them. If it were not for this evil mixture, the pope, in his subtlety, would never allow the charismatic movement to go on in his church. Every denomination must be examined to see whether or not it still has something of the great prostitute in it. To have a Christmas tree in your home is to practice something of the great prostitute. Probably you cannot find one Christian group that has not been influenced by the prostitute. Perhaps only in the local churches can you find a place that has nothing of the prostitute. We have seen that the daughters of the great prostitute are the Christian groups that hold the doctrines, practices, and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. If a group holds any one of these things, that group is a daughter of the Roman Church. Some may feel that it is too severe to say that the denominations and free groups are the daughters of the great prostitute. You may say, “Don’tt hose in the denominations and in the free groups believe in the Lord and love Him? Have they not also been regenerated? Don’tt hey have the divine life? How can you say that the denominations and free groups are the daughters of the prostitute?” Madame Guyon, a sister who was very deep in life, still worshipped at the image of Mary. Even she had been drugged by the Catholic Church. More than forty years ago, we translated most of Madame Guyon’s important writings. When I discovered that she went to worship at the image of Mary, I told the brothers that we had to include this in our translation of her works; otherwise, the brothers and sisters would think that she was entirely all right. But even she had been befuddled by the apostate Roman Church.
12我们可以用大蒜的气味作说明。我们若一整天都吃大蒜，我们的嗅觉就麻痺了。一个有新鲜嗅觉的人若处身在一群吃大蒜的人中间，一定马上觉察到大蒜的气味，觉得无法忍受；但是吃大蒜的人却闻不出这难闻的味道。盖恩夫人会继续在马利亚的像前敬拜，因为她生在罗马天主教的『大蒜房间』里。称公会和大部分自由团体是妓女的女儿，其中一个理由就是在他们中间有偶像。有的人也许要争辩说，路德会里没有偶像。但是这一个公会的名称『路德』本身就是偶像。你究竟属谁－属基督还是属路德？你称自己是基督徒还不彀么？为甚么一定要称自己是路德宗？这些偶像的名字都是可憎之物。神有一个管治的原则，就是一个召会为著一位基督，正如一妻为著一夫一样。今天大部分的基督徒，因著分裂，违反了这管治的原则。他们不跟随这原则，反去行淫乱，就是混乱。凡破坏一夫一妻的管治原则，就是犯淫乱。无论我们在那里，都要持守一夫一妻，一位基督一个召会的原则。
12We may use the smell of garlic as an illustration. If we eat garlic all day long, our sense of smell will eventually be drugged. If someone with a fresh sense of smell comes into the midst of garlic eaters, he will immediately notice the odor of garlic and will not be able to tolerate it. However, the garlic eaters would have no awareness of this unpleasant odor. Madame Guyon could still worship before a statue of Mary because she had been born into the “garlic room” of the Roman Catholic Church. One reason for saying that the denominations and most free groups are daughters of the prostitute is the presence of idols among them. Some may argue that the Lutheran Church has no idols. But the title of this denomination, Lutheran, is itself an idol. To whom do you belong—to Christ or to Luther? Is it not sufficient to call yourself a Christian? Why must you call yourself a Lutheran? These idolatrous names are abominations. God has a governing principle of one church for one Christ, just as there is one wife for one husband. By their divisions, most of today’s Christians have violated this governing principle. Instead of following it, they practice fornication, which is confusion. Whoever breaks the governing principle of one husband for one wife commits fornication. Wherever we are, we must keep the principle of one wife for one husband, one church for one Christ
13每一个分裂都是违反神管治的原则。在基督徒中间引起分裂，就是犯淫乱。凡行这事的人，就是没有顾到这管治的原则。行分裂的人，没有顾到一个身体，一个召会；他们不顾一个城市只有一个地方召会。他们如同一个妇人，不愿只嫁给一个丈夫；她厌倦了和一个男人住在一起，就转向另一个男人。
13Every division is a violation of God’s governing principle. To cause a division among Christians is to commit fornication. Anyone who does this does not care for the governing principle. Those who are divisive do not care for the one Body, the one church; they are not concerned about one local church for one city. They are like a woman who refuses to have only one husband. After she is tired of living with one man, she turns to another
14我们必须晓得奸淫（adultery）和淫乱（fornication）的区别。若是一个有正当丈夫的妻子破坏了婚姻的管治原则，她就是犯奸淫。若是一个女人没有正当的丈夫，而破坏了神的管治原则，她就是犯了淫乱。大妓女是个犯淫乱的人，她没有丈夫。今天基督徒中间的光景满了淫乱。许多人好像说，『我若不喜欢这里的聚会，我可以到别的地方去。如果再不喜欢那里的聚会，我会自己另立一个。不仅如此，过了一段时间，我若是厌弃了我所发起的聚会，我还可以重新另立一个。』这就是属灵的淫乱。
14We need to see the difference between adultery and fornication. If a wife with a proper husband breaks the governing principle of marriage, she commits adultery. But a woman who has no proper husband and who breaks God’s governing principle commits fornication. The great prostitute is a fornicator; she has no husband. The situation among Christians today is filled with fornication. Many seem to say, “If I don’t like this meeting anymore, I’ll go to another. And if I don’t like that one, I’ll form one of my own. Furthermore, if after a while I am no longer pleased with the meeting I have started, I’ll start still another one.” This is spiritual fornication.
15你若看见了异象，就不敢有任何特别的名字，不敢有任何基督以外的名字。不仅如此，你也不敢有任何分裂，因为我们的丈夫只有一位，我们是祂的新妇也只是一位。在每一个城市里必须只有一个召会。不管我到那里，召会只有一个。我们的实行若不是这样，那就是犯淫乱。今天大部分的基督徒是在犯淫乱。启示录十七章里的大妓女是所有淫乱、混乱和可憎之事的母。你若仍然不懂，那些真正爱主的基督徒怎么会犯淫乱，我就再把盖恩夫人的例子指给你看。她的生命很有深度，却因罗马天主教的『大蒜』而糊涂了。要清明，远离『大蒜房间，』一天二十四小时都留在新鲜空气中。你若这样作，就会有个灵敏的鼻子。五十多年来，我一直远避『大蒜房间，』因此，我属灵的鼻子一直很敏锐。我无法容忍任何的分裂，因为我能立即唤出那是淫乱。有些人面对一地一会的限制时可能说，『我们在你们的聚会里没有释放的自由，我们要在家里聚会，这样才可以得著释放。』这只是给分裂的灵一个狡猾的藉口。这分裂的灵是淫乱、分裂的来源。在基督徒中间必须没有任何分裂，因为我们是这一位丈夫的妻子，一个地方的一个召会，维持神管治的原则。有的人一听到说我们是召会，就很不高兴，说，『你们为甚么说你们是召会，而我们不是召会？』他们不是召会，因为他们是妓女，曾和许多男人发生关系，而不和一个丈夫有正确的关系。你的丈夫是谁？如果基督是你的丈夫，那你为甚么自称为路德宗？如果你的名字真是史太太，那你为甚么一天自称为钟太太，另一天又自称为何太大？
15If you have seen the vision, you will not dare to have any particular name, that is, any name other than the name of Christ. Moreover, you will not dare to have any division because our Husband is one, and we, His Bride, are also one. In every city there must be just one church. Wherever I go, the church is one. If our practice is otherwise, then we commit fornication. Most Christians today are committing fornication. The great prostitute in Revelation 17 is the mother of all fornication, confusion, and abominations. If you are still wondering how Christians who truly love the Lord can commit fornication, I would point you again to the illustration of Madame Guyon, who was deep in life, yet was befuddled by the “garlic” of Roman Catholicism. Be sober, stay away from the “garlic room,” and remain in the fresh air twenty-four hours a day. If you do this, you will have a sensitive nose. I have kept myself away from all the “garlic rooms” for more than fifty years. For this reason, my spiritual nose is very keen. I simply cannot stand with any division, for I can immediately smell that it is fornication. When some are confronted by the limitation of one church in one city, they may say, “We don’th ave the freedom to release ourselves in your meeting. We want to have a meeting in our home where we can be released.” This is merely a subtle excuse for a divisive spirit. This divisive spirit is a source of fornication, division. There must not be any divisions among Christians because we are the wife of one Husband, the one church in a locality, maintaining God’s governing principle. When some hear that we are the church, they are unhappy and say, “Why do you say that you are the church and that we are not the church?” They are not the church because they are a prostitute, a woman who has a relationship with many men instead of a proper relationship with one husband. Who is your husband? If Christ is your husband, then why do you call yourself a Lutheran? If your name is truly Mrs. Smith, then why do you call yourself Mrs. Jones one day and Mrs. Harris another?
16背道的罗马教是妓女，她所有的女儿也是妓女。妓女是为利而犯淫乱的女人。今天有许多基督徒团体是为著人的得利、权力、地位或头衔而形成的。这就是妓女的行为。看看今天地上基督教的整个情形，主当然需要一个恢复。这个恢复要为他产生活著的初熟果子，并且在三年半的大灾难期间成为那些仍留在地上之基督徒的帮助。我相信所有在主恢复里的召会都要为著这两个目的。有一天要来到，得胜者要被提，敌基督要废弃犹太教，并毁灭天主教；到那时候，所有留在地上的基督徒，必要得著复兴。他们不会再参加天主教的弥撒，也不会再到任何公会或自由团体去；反之，他们要说，『多年前我曾听过召会，现在我必须到真正的召会去。』下一篇信息我们要说到，虽然主耶稣有慈爱的心肠，但是祂仍要用敌基督来毁灭大妓女，就是罗马天主教。
16The apostate Roman Church is a prostitute, and all her daughters are also prostitutes. A prostitute is a woman who commits fornication for profit. Many of today’s Christian groups have been formed for man’s gain, empire, position, or title. This is prostitution. Consider the entire situation regarding Christianity on earth today. Certainly the Lord needs a recovery. This recovery will produce the living firstfruit for Him, and during the three and a half years of the great tribulation, it will be a help to all the Christians still on earth. I believe that all the churches in the Lord’s recovery will serve these two purposes. The day is coming when the overcomers will be raptured and Antichrist will abolish Judaism and destroy Catholicism. Surely all Christians left on earth at that time will be revived. They will no longer attend the mass in the Catholic Church; neither will they still go to the denominations or free groups. Rather, they will say, “Years ago I heard about the church. Now I must go to the genuine church.” Although the Lord Jesus has a loving heart, as we shall see in the next message, He will use Antichrist to destroy the great prostitute, the Roman Catholic Church
2 地上可憎之物
2. The Abominations of the Earth
17背道的召会也是地上可憎之物的母。这些可憎之物是指偶像。（申七25～26。）背道的罗马教充满了偶像，这些偶像已和所谓对神的礼拜混在一起。当人走进天主教堂里崇拜的时候，他们拜谁？有的人买了蜡烛，站在他们所选的偶像前面。在天主教里，有一个偶像市场，人可以任选自己喜欢的偶像，向牠祷告。有很多人向马利亚祷告，事实上那不是马利亚，那是维纳斯。天主教的大教堂和偶像的寺庙没有甚么两样。就我所见，甚至在中国寺庙里的偶像还不及天主教教堂里的偶像多。背道的召会的确是可憎之物的母。
17The apostate church is also the mother of the abominations of the earth. These abominations are idols (Deut. 7:25-26), with which the apostate Roman Church is filled. These idols have been mixed in with the so-called service to God. When people go to a Catholic cathedral to worship, whom do they worship? Some purchase candles and stand before the idol of their choice. In Catholicism there is an idol market, and people can pray to any idol they choose. Although many pray to Mary, that actually is not Mary—it is Venus. The cathedrals in the Catholic Church are not different from idol temples. Not even in the idol temples in China did I see as many idols as there are in the Catholic cathedrals. Certainly, the apostate church is the mother of abominations
三 在旷野
C. In the Wilderness
18使徒约翰看见大妓女的时候，他是在灵里，被一位天使带到旷野。（启十七3。）旷野是荒漠之地。这指明背道的召会是在荒漠里，没有神所豫备的水泉。背道的召会当然不能从神得著水的供应。天使把使徒约翰带到旷野，好给他看见，背道的召会是在这样的荒凉之地。
18When the apostle John saw the great prostitute, an angel carried him away in spirit into a wilderness (17:3). A wilderness is a desert, a parched land. This indicates that the apostate church is in a desert, where there are no springs of water prepared by God. Certainly the apostate church cannot receive the water supply from God. In order to show the apostle John that the apostate church is in such a desolate place, the angel carried him there.
四 坐在众水之上
D. Sitting on Many Waters
19一节说，大妓女坐在众水之上，而十五节指明，『那妓女坐著的众水，就是多民族、多群众、多邦国、多方言。』这应验于背道的罗马教凌驾世界各民族、各邦国之上的史实。天主教实际上据有全地人口的三分之一。
19Verse 1 says that the great prostitute sits on many waters, and verse 15 indicates that the waters “where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.” These words are fulfilled in the fact that the apostate Roman Church rides on peoples and nations throughout the world. The Catholic Church actually numbers one third of the population of the entire earth
五 与地上的君王行淫
E. Committing Fornication with the Kings of the Earth
20地上的君王向来与这大妓女行淫。这就是说，她和地上的统治者有罪恶的宗教关系。背道的召会所犯的，不是奸淫，即不贞配偶所犯的罪；乃是淫乱，即妓女所犯的罪。这比奸淫更为有罪。背道召会的淫乱，由她为利而与地上君王罪恶的关系所作成，正如妓女为利犯罪一样。背道的召会所犯的是属灵的淫乱。天主教密切涉及世界的政治，地上的君王也直接与天主教行淫。在神看来，这是属灵的淫乱。
20The kings of the earth have committed fornication with this great prostitute. This means that she has sinful religious relationships with the rulers of the earth. What the apostate church commits is not adultery, the sin of an unfaithful spouse, but fornication, the sin of a prostitute. This is more sinful than adultery. The fornication of the apostate church consists of her sinful relationships with the rulers of the earth for her profit, just as a prostitute commits sin for gain. The fornication committed by the apostate church is spiritual fornication. The Catholic Church is intimately involved with worldly politics, and the kings of the earth commit fornication directly with her. In the eyes of God, this is spiritual fornication
六 使住在地上的人喝醉了她淫乱的酒
F. Having Made the Earth-dwellers Drunk with the Wine of Her Fornication
21这个大妓女使住在地上的人『喝醉了她淫乱的酒。』（启十七2。）这里的酒指背道的召会与地上各政权邪淫关系上的异端道理，这些道理像酒一样，迷惑那些卷入她宗教的人。这就是她淫乱的酒，住在地上的人，间接的喝醉了这酒。背道召会的异端道理像麻药一样，使人迷糊，使人迟钝，失去感觉。我曾经和许多天主教徒谈过话，发现他们完全被麻醉了。你越和他们说，他们越不懂。这指明他们已经喝醉了大妓女的酒。
21This great prostitute has made those who dwell on the earth “drunk with the wine of her fornication” (v. 2). The wine here refers to the heretical doctrines in the sinful religious relationships of the apostate church. They confound as wine does those who become involved in her religion. This is the wine of her fornication. In an indirect manner those who dwell on the earth are made drunk with this wine. The heretical doctrines of the apostate church are like drugs. They befuddle people, make them dumb, and cause them to lose their senses. I have talked with many Catholics, and I have found them to be completely drugged. The more you talk to them, the less they understand. This indicates that they have been made drunk with the wine of the great prostitute
七 穿著紫色和朱红色衣服
G. Clothed in Purple and Scarlet
22按照四节，这个女人『穿著紫色和朱红色的衣服。』紫色表征尊严带权柄。（参约十九2～3。）紫色是蓝色与红色的混合，表征属天之物与属地之物的混合。这就是背道召会的外表。这女人也穿著朱红色衣服，朱红色是背道罗马教的特征。我们已经说过，朱红色在梵谛冈到处可见，最显著的是在枢机主教（俗称红衣主教）的衣著上，他们的帽子和袍子都是红色的。
22According to verse 4, this woman is “clothed in purple and scarlet.” Purple signifies dignity with authority (John 19:2-3). This color is a blend of blue and red; it signifies the blending of heavenly things with earthly. This is the appearance of the apostate church. The woman is also clothed in scarlet, the characteristic of the apostate Roman Church. We have already pointed out that the color scarlet is found everywhere in the Vatican. The most striking use of scarlet is in the garb of the cardinals, who have red hats and red robes.
八 用金子、宝石、珍珠为妆饰
H. Gilded with Gold, Precious Stone, and Pearls
23这个女人『用金子、宝石、珍珠为妆饰。』（启十七4。）金子、宝石、珍珠，是用以建造新耶路撒冷的材料，（启二一18～19，21，）但那女人（背道的召会），不像新耶路撒冷一样是用这些珍宝坚固的建造起来，只是配戴这些财宝为妆饰，在外表上炫耀自己。这是引诱人的骗术，也是这大妓女的外表虚饰。
23The woman is “gilded with gold and precious stone and pearls” (v. 4). Gold, precious stone, and pearls are the materials with which the New Jerusalem is built (21:18-19, 21). But the woman, the apostate church, is not solidly built with these precious things as the New Jerusalem is; she is only gilded with these treasures as an ornament for outward display. This is her deception to attract people. It is the prostitute’s false appearance
九 拿著金杯
I. Holding a Golden Cup
24大妓女的手里『拿著金杯，盛满了可憎之物，并她淫乱的污秽。』（启十七4。）在表号上，金表征神神圣的性情。所以这里的金杯，指背道的召会在外表上的确有一些属神的东西，然而在里面，她的金杯却满了可憎之物，并她淫乱的污秽，满了拜偶像、异教的习俗、以及在异端的、宗教的关系上属撒但的事物。
24The prostitute holds in her hand “a golden cup full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication” (v. 4). Gold in figure signifies the divine nature of God. Hence, the golden cup here means that the apostate church does have something of God in appearance. But within, her golden cup is full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication, full of idolatry, pagan practices, and filthiness in a heretical, sinful, religious relationship
十 喝醉了圣徒和见证人的血
J. Drunken with the Blood of the Saints and Witnesses
25六节说，『我又看见那女人喝醉了圣徒的血，和耶稣见证人的血。』这指明罗马教杀了圣徒和耶稣的见证人；她所杀的圣徒多过罗马帝国所杀的。罗马教不直接杀害圣徒，乃是透过罗马帝国间接的杀害他们。所以，她喝醉了圣徒的血，和耶稣见证人的血。圣徒是分别出来，圣别归神，至死为神过圣别生活的人。见证人是主耶稣的活见证，也是至死忠信的。耶稣的见证人也是圣徒；然而，圣徒也许只是过著分别、圣别的生活，不随从背道的召会，却不挺身而出作见证，反对罗马教的背道，像见证人安提帕（启二13）所作的。这个女人喝醉了圣徒和见证人的血。
25Verse 6 says, “And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.” This indicates that the Roman Church has killed the saints and the witnesses of Jesus, having slain more of the saints than the Roman Empire did. The Roman Church does not kill the saints directly, but indirectly through the Roman Empire. Thus, she is drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. The saints are those who are separated, sanctified, unto God, living a holy life for God even unto death. The witnesses are those who are a living testimony of the Lord Jesus, faithful also unto death. The witnesses of Jesus are also the saints; however, the saints may just live a separated and holy life, not complying with the apostate church; yet they may not stand out to testify against the apostasy of the Roman Church as did witnesses like Antipas (2:13). The woman is drunken with the blood of both the saints and the witnesses.
十一 在物质上是大城
K. Materially Being the Great City
26天使告诉使徒约翰说，『你所看见的那女人，就是有国权辖管地上众王的大城。』（启十七18。）十六节的『妓女』指宗教的巴比伦，表征罗马教；这里的『那女人』指物质的巴比伦，表征罗马城。这城称为有国权辖管地上众王的大城。约翰写这卷书时，罗马是有国权辖管地上众王的城。敌基督和他的十王所恨的是妓女－罗马教，并不是那女人－罗马城，那是他们行政的基地。
26The angel told the apostle John, “And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth” (v. 18). While the prostitute denotes the religious Babylon, signifying the Roman Church, the woman in this verse denotes the material Babylon, signifying the city of Rome. This is called the great city, which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth. When John wrote this book, Rome was the city that had a kingdom over the kings of the earth. What Antichrist and his ten kings will hate is the prostitute, the Roman Church, not the woman, the city of Rome, where their administration is based