Books
启示录生命读经 · 第52篇

骑在朱红色兽上的大妓女 ( 二）

The Great Prostitute Sitting on a Scarlet Beast (2)
1在前篇信息中，我们看到大妓女，现在我们要来看启示录十七章所描写妓女骑在上面的朱红色兽。
1In the previous message we considered the great prostitute. Now we shall consider the scarlet beast upon which the prostitute rides, as described in Revelation 17
贰 朱红色的兽
II. THE SCARLET BEAST
一 从无底坑上来
A. Coming Up out of the Abyss
2我们已经看过，那骑在兽上的是罗马教，而兽是罗马帝国，特别是敌基督，就是罗马帝国要来的第七位该撒。启示录十七章八节说，『你所看见的兽，先前有，如今没有；牠将要从无底坑里上来，又要去到灭亡。』兽就是敌基督，在约翰写本书之前，是以该撒尼罗的身分出现，所以说『先前有；』但在约翰写本书时，尼罗已经死了，所以说『如今没有。』牠将要从无底坑里上来，含示尼罗的灵现今是在无底坑里，并且将要从无底坑里上来，附著被杀且复苏之敌基督的身体，如十三章三节所指明的。
2We have seen that the rider is the Roman Church and that the beast is the Roman Empire, especially Antichrist, the coming seventh Caesar of the Roman Empire. Revelation 17:8 says, “The beast whom you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go into destruction.” The beast, who is Antichrist, “was” in the person of Caesar Nero before John wrote this book. He “is not” at the time of John’s writing, because Nero had died by that time. He “is about to come up out of the abyss.” This implies that Nero’s spirit is now in the abyss and, as indicated in 13:3, is about to emerge from it to take possession of the body of the slain and resuscitated Antichrist
二 颜色
B. Its Color
3兽的颜色是朱红色。（启十七3。）朱红色就是深红色，是大龙的颜色。（启十二3。）兽和龙的颜色相同，指明敌基督在外表上与撒但是一。
3The beast is scarlet in color (17:3). Scarlet, a dark red color, is the color of the great dragon (12:3). The fact that the beast and the dragon are the same color indicates that Antichrist will be one with Satan in appearance
三 满了亵渎的名号
C. Full of Names of Blasphemy
4这兽满了亵渎的名号。（启十七。）兽的七头所象征的七位该撒，都自称为神，这对神全然是亵渎。这些该撒僭取神格，要求他们的百姓拜他们；凡不拜他们的就遭逼迫。
4This beast is full of names of blasphemy (17:3). The seven Caesars, symbolized by the seven heads of3 the beast, called themselves god. This was sheer blasphemy against God. These Caesars assumed deity and called for their people to worship them. Those who did not worship them were persecuted.
四 有七头
D. Having Seven Heads
1 罗马城建在其上的七座山
1. Seven Mountains on Which the City of Rome Is Built
5三节也指明兽有七头。九节说，『那七头就是女人所坐的七座山。』罗马城建造在七座山上，这七座山是由妓女所骑之兽的七头所表征。
5Verse 3 also indicates that the beast has seven heads. Verse 9 says, “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.” The city of Rome is built on seven mountains, signified by the seven heads of the beast on which the prostitute sits
2 七王
2. Seven Kings
6论到七座山，就是兽的七头，十节说，『又是七位王。五位已经倾倒了，一位还在，另一位还没有来到，他来的时候，必须存留片时。』七位王指罗马帝国的七位该撒。按照历史，罗马帝国共有十二位该撒，敌基督将是第十三位。在这十二位该撒之中，只有六位列于启示录的豫言里。前五位已经倾倒了，就是说，他们都不得善终。（士三25，撒下一10，25，。）这五位是犹流（Julius）、提庇留（Tiberius）、加利古拉（Caligula）、革老丢（Claudius）和尼罗（Nero）。在约翰写启示录之前，他们都已经被杀或自杀了。第六位多米田（Domitian），后来也遭杀害，但约翰写启示录时，他还活著，所以这里说他还在。另一位，即第七位，就是敌基督，当时还没有来到。他来的时候，必须存留片时，然后被杀，并凭第五位，就是尼罗的灵复苏，成为第八位。十一节说，『那先前有，如今没有的兽，就是第八位；牠是出于那七位，且要去到灭亡。』敌基督是要来的第七位该撒，但也是第八位。照十三章三节看，敌基督要被杀并要复苏。复苏时，尼罗（第五位该撒）的灵要从无底坑里上来，进入敌基督（第七位该撒）已死的身体，使那尸首有生气得复苏，冒仿基督的复活。这由第五位和第七位该撒所组成的，就是第八位。因此，他是出于那七位，有第七
6Verse 10, speaking of the seven mountains, which are the seven heads of the beast, says, “And are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.” The seven kings are seven Caesars of the Roman Empire. According to history, the Roman Empire had twelve Caesars; Antichrist will be the thirteenth. Out of the twelve Caesars, only six are included in the prophecy of Revelation. The first five have fallen; that is, they have died unnaturally (Judg. 3:25; 2 Sam. 1:10, 25, 27). They were Julius Caesar. 27 Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, all of whom either were murdered or committed suicide before John wrote this book. The sixth one, Domitian, who was also murdered, was living when this book was written; therefore, it is said of him that he “is.” “The other,” the seventh, who will be Antichrist, had “not yet come” at that time. “When he comes, he must remain a little while” and then will be slain and resuscitated with the spirit of the fifth, Nero, to be the eighth. Verse 11 says, “And the beast who was, and is not, he also is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into destruction.” Antichrist will be the coming seventh Caesar. But he “also is the eighth.” According to 13:3, Antichrist will be slain and resuscitated. In that resuscitation, the spirit of Nero, the fifth Caesar, which comes up out of the abyss, will animate the dead body of the seventh Caesar, Antichrist. This one, composed of the fifth and seventh Caesars, is the eighth. Hence, he “is of the seven.” It is no wonder people will marvel at the sight of such an extraordinary being (v. 8).
7位的身体和第五位的灵，所以更能干、更聪明，更有能力迷人、惑人、诱人，把那些不信基督的人全都骗去。难怪人看见这样一位奇特的人物，都觉得希奇而跟从他。（启十七8，十三3。）
7
五 去到灭亡
E. Going into Destruction
8八节和十一节指出，那兽将去到灭亡。这指明敌基督要灭亡，如十九章二十节，二十章十节所描述的，就是要被扔在火湖里。
8Verses 8 and 11 indicate that the beast will go “into destruction.” This indicates that Antichrist will perish, as indicated in 19:20 and 20:10. He will be thrown into the lake of fire
六 有十角
F. Having Ten Horns
9十二、十三节说，『你所看见的那十角，就是十王，他们还没有得国；但他们要和兽同得权柄，作王一个小时。他们心意一致，将自己的能力权柄给那兽。』在大灾难之前，复兴的罗马帝国有十王要兴起，他们要与敌基督合一，抵挡神，并逼迫神的百姓－犹太人和基督徒。这十王被比喻为尼布甲尼撒所梦见大像的十个脚指头，（但二42，）他们和他们的国都要归顺敌基督。（启十七17。）
9Verses 12 and 13 say, “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.” Ten kings will be raised up in the revived Roman Empire before the great tribulation. They will be one with Antichrist in opposing God and persecuting His people—the Jews and the believers. These ten kings, likened to the ten toes of the great image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream (Dan. 2:42), will submit themselves and their kingdom to Antichrist (v. 17).
10十王要在一时之间和兽一同得国。这将是神迹式的。许多人有点相信，欧洲共同市场的十个国家就是这里所说的十国，这个看法未必准确，因为这些王是在一时之间得国。时候未到，没有人晓得他们是谁。突然在一小时之间，他们都得国了。这十王在极短的时间内得了权柄。这是撒但所行的奇迹，令人大大震惊。十三节说，这十王心意一致，将自己的能力权柄给了那兽。他们全然归顺于那极聪明，又令人钦羡、信服，并且能征服人的敌基督。
10The ten kings will receive the kingdom within one hour with the beast. This will be miraculous. Many wonder whether the ten nations of the European Common Market will be the ten kingdoms referred to here. This view may not be accurate, because these kings will receive their kingdom within one hour. Before that time, no one will know who they are. Suddenly, within one hour, they will all receive the kingdom. These ten kings will receive authority within such a short period of time. This will be a miracle performed by Satan, and it will come as a great surprise to the people. Verse 13 says that these ten kings have one mind and that they give their power and authority to the beast. They will fully submit themselves to Antichrist, who will be very intelligent, imposing, convincing, and subduing
11最终，十王要跟敌基督一起，直接与羔羊争战。十四节说，『他们要与羔羊争战，羔羊必胜过他们，因为羔羊是万主之主，万王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召被选忠信的人。』这里的争战就是十九章十一至二十一节所说的，也就是哈米吉顿大战。（启十六14，16。）那些同著羔羊的人，是蒙召被选忠信的人。请注意，这里被选是在蒙召之后题起。蒙召就是得救，被选是凭得胜的生活蒙主称许。今天被召的多，将来选上的少。（太二二。）我们都已蒙召。为了将来能在被选上的人中，我们今天必须过得胜的生活。
11Along with Antichrist, the ten kings will eventually wage war directly with the Lamb. Verse 14 says, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and they who are with Him are called and chosen and faithful.” The war here is the same as that mentioned in 19:11-21, the war at Armageddon (16:14, 16). Those who are with the Lamb are called, chosen, and faithful. Notice that “chosen” is mentioned after “called.” To be called is to be saved, whereas to be chosen is to be approved by the Lord on the basis of an overcoming life. Many are called today, but few will be chosen in the future (Matt. 22:14). We all have been 14 called. In order to be among the chosen in the future we need to live an overcoming life today.
12十六、十七节说，『你所看见的那十角与兽，必恨这妓女，使她荒凉赤身，又要吃她的肉，用火将她烧尽。因为神将意念放在诸王的心中，要他们行祂的心意，并心意一致，且把自己的国给那兽，直等到神的话都成就了。』那十角与兽，必恨这妓女，使她荒凉，这是说，敌基督和十王要逼迫背道的罗马教，这要发生于大灾难的起头。他们要使罗马教荒凉赤身，毁灭她，夺她的财富，将她暴露无遗；他们要吃她的肉，杀害她的肢体，且用火将她烧尽，彻底除灭她。这也指明这一章所说的大巴比伦，是宗教的巴比伦。敌基督和他的十王毁灭背道的罗马教，乃是出于神。这样的遭毁灭，不该视为殉道，乃该视为神报应的审判。
12Verses 16 and 17 say, “And the ten horns which you saw and the beast, these shall hate the prostitute and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and shall burn her utterly with fire; for God has put it into their hearts to do His mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God shall be accomplished.” That the ten horns and the beast will hate the prostitute and make her desolate means that Antichrist and the ten kings will destroy the apostate Roman Church. This will transpire at the beginning of the great tribulation. They will make the Roman Church desolate and naked, destroying her, robbing her of her riches, and exposing her; they “shall eat her flesh,” killing her members; and they “shall burn her utterly with fire,” annihilating her altogether. This also indicates that Babylon the Great mentioned in this chapter is the religious one. It will be of God that Antichrist and his ten kings destroy the apostate Roman Church. This should not be considered as martyrdom, but as the avenging judgment of God.
13主后一九二九年，墨索里尼与教皇庇乌十一世签了协定，使梵谛冈城成为独立国。今天梵谛冈对许多国家运用能力、权柄、和影响力，各国也派遣使节驻于梵谛冈。梵谛冈的这种影响力可能引起十王的憎恨，因而向兽建议，一同来毁灭罗马天主教。按照这一章里的图画，女人是骑在兽上。因著骑坐的人总是控制坐骑，而不是坐骑控制骑坐的人，这就是说乃是妓女控制兽，不是兽控制妓女。比方说，你开车的时候，不是车子支配你，而是你支配车子。今天，罗马天主教骑在政治之上；但最终，这要激使十王憎恨妓女，便和敌基督一同毁灭她。十王憎恨大妓女，便叫她荒凉赤身。今天的罗马天主教不但不荒凉，反而极其昌盛。最近我听说，罗马城有三分之一的地产是握在罗马天主教手中。虽然罗马天主教现在很兴旺，然而有一天，敌基督和十王要使她荒凉，那就是夺走她所有的财富。不仅如此，他们要使她赤身，就是剥下她的遮掩和虚假，让她完全被暴露。敌基督要被主使用，将这个背道的召会暴露无遗。今天罗马天主教是被遮掩的，我们无法见其真面目。我们无法看到隐藏在她里面的东西是何等的污秽、罪恶、属世、属鬼魔并属撒但！她不仅牵涉于属灵的淫乱，也牵涉于肉身的淫乱。何等可怕！有一次我读到一篇文章，说到在西班牙有一口枯井，里面满是婴儿的骸骨。我们实在难以尽晓，这背道的召会里的事是何等的罪恶、邪恶、污秽！然而有一天，敌基督和他的十王要把每一件事都暴露出来。
13In 1929 Mussolini signed an agreement with Pope Pius XI making Vatican City an independent nation. Today the Vatican exercises power, authority, and influence over many nations, and ambassadors from other nations are sent to the Vatican. Probably this influence of the Vatican will arouse the hatred of the ten kings, and they will propose to the beast that they destroy the Roman Catholic Church. According to the picture in this chapter, the woman is riding upon the beast. Because the rider always controls the carrier, not the carrier the rider, this means that the prostitute controls the beast, not the beast the prostitute. For example, in driving your car, the car does not control you; you control it. Today, the Roman Catholic Church rides over politics. Eventually, this will stir up the ten kings to hate the prostitute, and together with Antichrist they will destroy her. In their hatred for the great prostitute the ten kings will make her desolate and naked. The Roman Catholic Church today is far from being desolate; rather, it is flourishing. Recently I learned that the Roman Church owns one-third of the real estate in the city of Rome. Although the Roman Church is flourishing now, one day the Antichrist and the ten kings will make her desolate; that is, they will rob her of all her riches. Furthermore, they will make her naked. This means that they will strip off her covering and her pretensions and thoroughly expose her. Antichrist will be used by the Lord to expose this apostate church to the uttermost. Today the Roman Catholic Church is covered, and we cannot see her real condition. We cannot see how filthy, sinful, worldly, devilish, demonic, and satanic are the things hidden within her. She not only engages in spiritual fornication, but in physical fornication as well. How terrible! Once I read an article saying that a certain dry well in Spain is filled with the bones of babies. We do not know how sinful, how evil, and how filthy are the things in this apostate church. One day, however, Antichrist and his ten kings will expose everything.
14他们也要吃这妓女的肉，就是说，他们要害她，甚至杀她的肢体。敌基督要吞灭并杀害背道召会的肢体，且用火把她烧尽。这些话若不是应验在罗马天主教身上，那么这审判还会临到谁身上？有些人天生仁慈，很有同情心，读了这篇信息之后，或许认为我所说关于罗马天主教的话太过严厉了。我的话若是太严厉，要知道我并不是第一个说这话的人。最先说这话的是主耶稣自己，因为启示录是他的话。在十章九节主叫使徒约翰把小书卷吃尽了；还说，那小书卷在他的口中要甜如蜜，但在肚子里却要发苦。我不能否认我曾看见异象，我没有别的选择，只能传说主的话。主今天必须有一个刚强的见证。我盼望你们都比我刚强。不过你们要刚强，就必须有清楚的异象。今日在主的恢复中，异象是清楚的，特别是释放了这些信息之后。我们必须积极向前，为耶稣有刚强、新鲜、活泼、现时的见证。我知道接受这条路的人并不多，但无论如何，总有相当数目的人要转回，进入主的恢复。主要聚集所有清心寻求祂的人作祂活的、现时的见证。这见证不仅要产生初熟的果子，也要在大灾难期间，帮助仍留在地上的基督徒。十七节说，神将意念放在十王心中，要他们行祂的心意。我真高兴有这一节。敌基督和十王要照神的心意行事，了结背道的召会，完成神的旨意。这是何等奇妙！神要将意念放在他们心中，使他们毁灭罗马天主教。你比神仁慈么？神憎恨背道的罗马天主教，在祂眼中这是大妓女，是可憎之物。有一天，到这世代的末了，神要使地上属魔鬼的统治者行祂的旨意，毁灭这背道的召会，并且用火将她烧尽。虽然我们许多人多年手中有圣经，却从未看见这两节的意义。赞美主，现在我们许多人都看见了！我们清楚，罗马天主教要被烧毁。因此，我们必须告诉我们的亲友，务要从她里面出来。
14They will also eat the flesh of the prostitute, meaning that they will harm and even kill her members. Antichrist will devour and kill the members of the apostate church and burn her utterly with fire. If this word is not fulfilled in relation to the Roman Catholic Church, then on whom will this judgment come? Some of those reading this message may be naturally kind and sympathetic, and they may think that my word regarding Roman Catholicism is too severe. If my word is too severe, I am not the first to speak such a word. The first is the Lord Jesus Himself, for the book of Revelation is His word. In 10:9 the Lord told the apostle John to devour the little scroll. He also said that the scroll would be sweet as honey in his mouth, but that it would make his stomach bitter. I cannot deny that I have seen the vision, and I have no choice but to speak the word of the Lord. The Lord must have a strong testimony today. I hope that you all will be stronger than I. But in order to be strong you must have a clear vision. In the Lord’s recovery today the vision is clear, especially after the release of all these messages. We must press on to have a strong, fresh, living, up-to-date testimony of Jesus. I realize that not many will take this way. Nevertheless, a good number will turn and come into the Lord’s recovery. The Lord will gather all His sincere and pure seekers to be His living, up-to-date testimony. This testimony will not only produce the firstfruit; it will also help the Christians still on earth during the great tribulation. Verse 17 says that God has put it into the hearts of the ten kings to do His mind. I am glad that we have this verse. Antichrist and the ten kings will do certain things according to God’s mind to terminate the apostate church and to fulfill God’s will. How marvelous! God will put it into their hearts to destroy the Roman Church. Will you be kinder than God? God hates the apostate Roman Catholic Church. In His eyes it is a great prostitute, an abomination. One day, at the end of this age, God will cause the devilish rulers on earth to do His will to destroy this apostate church and to burn it with fire. Although many of us have had the Bible in our hands for years, we have never seen the significance of these two verses. Praise the Lord now so many of us have seen it! We are clear that the Roman Church will be burned. For this reason, we must tell our friends and relatives to come out of her.
15你若要你的亲友从罗马天主教出来，就必须以正确的方式接触他们。也许你对你的母亲很有负担，但是不要说，『母亲，有一天敌基督要来烧你的天主教。』你该有智慧而又坦诚的对她说话。首先，你可以请她和你一同读经。但是不要从启示录十七章读起；最好是从十二章开始，读到那里所启示宇宙光明的妇人。你的母亲必定很感兴趣，可能会说，『我在天主教里一辈子，从来没听过这话。』下一次你去看她的时候，你们可以读十三章，说到兽，敌基督；再下一次的时候就可以读十七章了。你要慢慢的帮助她认识，那骑在朱红色兽上的女人就是罗马天主教。不过，不要直截了当告诉她，你要先和母亲一同读这一章，然后请她想一想。最后，她自己会下结论，那骑在兽上的女人就是天主教。她甚至会说，『这个骑坐的人好像就是我所在的天主教。』让她自己得到这个结论。在她得了这个结论之后，你应该问她对这结论是否很肯定。我们都要学著有智慧，与人交谈而不得罪人。不要直言告诉人，罗马天主教是属鬼的。狡诈、属魔鬼的天主教，已经根深柢固的存于她信徒的血轮中，要使他们转离并不容易。你若要你的亲友脱离天主教，必须迫切为他们祷告，求主怜悯他们，开他们的眼睛。有时你可能负担很重，就会向主祷告说，『主阿，我为著母亲迫切向你祈求！她若不从天主教里出来，我就过不去！主阿，这事关乎生命和死亡，你必须转我的母亲。』我保证，主必会听你的祷告。但是你和她说话的时候，必须有智慧，满有膏油的涂抹，绝不可以起争论。当你和天主教徒接触的时候，态度不可强硬。要以诚恳、忠实、柔软、智慧的方式接近他们。此外，还要摆上许多的祷告作后盾。就是在你和亲友交谈的时候，也需要祷告说，『主阿，怜悯他们，开他们的眼睛，使他们看见大妓女。』这样，我们对人就是活的见证人。但我们没有意思要藉著使人转过来而得扩增。扩增是在主手中。我们不是使人改变信仰，我们乃是有负担对所有的人作见证。我们是耶稣活的见证，必须学习照著所看见的彰显主。不要和人争论，或冒犯他们，乃要和颜悦色的对他们说话。主必给你们所需的恩典，好作这样的见证。
15If you want your relatives and friends to come out of the Roman Catholic Church, you must approach them in a proper way. Perhaps you are burdened for your mother. Do not say, “Mother, one day Antichrist will burn your church.” Rather, you should speak to your mother in a wise yet frank way. At first, you may ask her to read the Bible with you. But do not start with Revelation 17. It is better to begin with chapter twelve and read about the universal bright woman revealed there. Surely your mother will be interested in this, and she may say, “During my whole life in the Catholic Church, I never heard about this.” The next time you visit her, you may read chapter thirteen concerning the beast, Antichrist, and the time after that, chapter seventeen. Gradually you should help her to see that the woman riding on the scarlet beast is the Roman Catholic Church. However, do not tell her this directly. Instead, read the chapter with your mother and ask her to think about it. Eventually, she will conclude that the woman riding on the beast is the Catholic Church. She may even say, “It seems that this rider is my church.” Let her come to this conclusion herself. Even after she reaches this conclusion, you should ask her if she is sure about it. We must learn the wisdom to talk to people without offending them. Do not directly tell people that the Roman Church is demonic. The subtle, devilish Catholicism is rooted in the blood of its people, and it is not easy to turn them away from it. If you want your friends and relatives to come out of the Catholic Church, you must pray for them desperately, asking the Lord to have mercy and to open their eyes. At times you may be so burdened that you will pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, I am desperate with You about my mother. I simply cannot go on unless she comes out of Catholicism. Lord, it is a matter of life and death. You must turn my mother.” I assure you that the Lord will answer your prayer. But as you talk with her, be wise and be full of the anointing. Never argue. As you contact those in the Catholic Church, do not be hard with them. Approach them in a sincere, honest, soft, and wise way. Furthermore, your contact with them must be supported by a great deal of prayer. Even as you are talking to your relatives or friends, you need to pray, “Lord, have mercy on them and open their eyes that they may see the great prostitute.” If we do this, we shall be living witnesses to people. However, we have no intention of gaining increase by proselytizing. The increase is in the hands of the Lord. Although we do not proselytize, we are burdened to testify to all. As the living testimony of Jesus, we must learn how to express the Lord according to what we have seen. Do not argue with people or offend them— speak to them in a very pleasant way. The Lord will afford you the grace you need to be such a testimony.