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启示录生命读经 · 第53篇

物质的巴比伦

The Material Babylon
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看物质的巴比伦。（启十八1～24。）圣经启示出巴比伦的三方面：字面的古巴比伦、宗教的巴比伦和物质的巴比伦。古巴比伦的旧址位于今日的伊拉克。十八年前我曾到过那个地方，真是又脏又热，像火炉一般。我简直无法多逗留。我到那地方去游览之前，已经从圣经上读到神对巴比伦的咒诅。旧约里，特别是耶利米书，含有许多神对巴比伦所宣判的咒诅和定罪。我在游览的时候发现，圣经里关于巴比伦的话，每一面都证实是真的。古巴比伦城也就是古巴别。创世记十一章说到巴别塔和巴别城。无论希伯来文的巴别，或希腊文的巴比伦，意思都是混乱。巴别是宁录之父古实所建。按照历史，宁录发明了异教的、偶像的敬拜系统。许多世纪之后，尼布甲尼撒将巴别扩大，巴别就成了旧约中闻名的巴比伦。在尼布甲尼撒王的领导下，巴比伦人毁坏了神的殿，并且夺走了殿中事奉神的圣别器皿，（但一1～2，王下二五8～9，14～15，）使巴比伦成了邪恶、鬼魔之地。不仅如此，尼布甲尼撒还把这些器皿带到巴比伦，放在他偶像的庙里。（但一1～2。）这对神乃是侮辱。到了旧约恢复的时代，以斯拉将这些器皿带回耶路撒冷，摆在重建的殿中。（拉一7～11，五14，六5。）因此巴比伦成为邪恶之地，不仅是因为拜偶像，也是因为她毁坏了神的殿，掳掠了神的百姓和圣别的器皿。圣经里有两条重要的线－巴别的线和耶路撒冷的线。巴别的线是耶路撒冷线的倣造。神没有开始耶路撒冷的线以前，撒但就先开始了他的倣造。因此巴比伦和耶路撒冷这两座城互相对抗。这两条线一直延续到今日。召会是今日的耶路撒冷，罗马天主教是今日的巴别，巴比伦。再者，大妓女的众女儿，就是仍然实行巴比伦一些传统的公会与团体，也是属于巴比伦的一类。只有纯净、真正的地方召会是在今天耶路撒冷的线上。
1In this message we shall consider the material Babylon (18:1-24). The Bible reveals three aspects of Babylon: the literal, ancient Babylon, the religious Babylon, and the material Babylon. The site of ancient Babylon is in today’s Iraq. I visited that region eighteen years ago and found it to be dusty and hot, like an oven. I could not stand to stay there. Before I visited that place, I had studied the curses pronounced upon Babylon recorded in the Bible. The Old Testament, especially the book of Jeremiah, contains many curses and condemnations pronounced by God upon Babylon. In my visit I saw that in every respect the word of the Bible concerning Babylon had been proved true. The ancient city of Babylon is also the ancient Babel. Genesis 11 speaks of the tower and city of Babel. Both Babel, the Hebrew word, and Babylon, the Greek word, mean confusion. Babel was founded by Cush, the father of Nimrod. According to history, Nimrod invented the pagan, idolatrous system of worship. Many centuries later, Babel was enlarged by Nebuchadnezzar and became the Babylon known in the Old Testament. Babylon became an evil and devilish place because under Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonians destroyed God’s temple and seized the holy vessels, the vessels for the service of God in the temple (Dan. 1:1-2; 2 Kings 25:8-9, 14-15). Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar brought these vessels to Babylon and placed them in the temple of his idols (Dan. 1:1-2). That was an insult to God. At the time of the recovery in the Old Testament, Ezra brought these vessels back to Jerusalem and placed them in the rebuilt temple (Ezra 1:7-11; 5:14; 6:5). Therefore, Babylon became evil not only because of her idolatry, but also because she destroyed God’stem ple and carried away into captivity God’sp eople and the holy vessels. In the Bible we have two important lines — the line of Babel and the line of Jerusalem. The line of Babel is a counterfeit of the line of Jerusalem. Before God began the line of Jerusalem, Satan began his counterfeit. Thus, two cities, Babylon and Jerusalem, are opposed to each other. These two lines continue to the present day. The church is today’s Jerusalem, and the Roman Catholic Church is today’s Babel, Babylon. Furthermore, the daughters of the great prostitute, the denominations and groups which still practice some of the Babylonian traditions, also belong in the category of Babylon. Only the pure, genuine local churches are in the line of Jerusalem today.
2十七至二十二章是整本圣经的终极总结。在这几章也说到两座城－巴比伦和耶路撒冷。巴比伦要完全遭毁灭，耶路撒冷却要全然得建造。这是圣经的总结，也是巴别线和耶路撒冷线的最终结局。彭伯（G.H.Pember）的著作和希斯录（AlexanderHislop）所著『两个巴比伦』一书都说，每一种异教都渊源于巴比伦宗教，没有一种例外。宁录所发明的宗教已经遍布于全世界，甚至到达印度、中国和日本。例如，宁录首创圣母马利亚和她婴孩的图画。这幅图画的背后是一个乱伦的邪恶故事。然而这幅图画竟被带进天主教里，出现为马利亚和耶稣的图画。我作小孩子的时候，曾经在中国的寺庙里看到这幅女人和婴孩的图画，后来我在天主教堂里看到同样的图画，很是惊讶。最后经过研究，我才得悉牠们具有相同的起源。天主教第一批传教士来到中国，发现圣母和婴孩的像早已置于佛教的寺庙中。在日本和印度也有同样的情形。虽然同样的图画以不同之名称出现于各处，其起源都可追溯到巴别的宁录。这一个例子说明，每一种宗教都是巴比伦宗教的一种发展。所有的宗教都起源于一个属魔鬼的源头－古巴比伦城。巴比伦的第二方面是宗教的巴比伦。在神眼中，那存留了犹太教又吸收异教许多成分的罗马天主教就是巴比伦。
2Chapters seventeen through twenty-two are the ultimate conclusion of the whole Bible. In these chapters we also see two cities—Babylon and Jerusalem. Babylon will be utterly destroyed, and Jerusalem will be completely built up. This is the consummation of the Bible, the ultimate issue of the line of Babel and the line of Jerusalem. The writings of G. H. Pember and Alexander Hislop’sT he Two Babylons say that, without exception, every pagan religion originated with Babylonianism. The religion invented by Nimrod has spread throughout the world, even to India, China, and Japan. Nimrod, for example, originated the picture of the Madonna and her child. The story behind this picture is an evil story of incest. Nevertheless, that picture has been taken into Catholicism and presented as a picture of Mary and Jesus. As a child, I saw this picture of the woman and her infant in the idol temples in China. Later I was surprised to see the same picture in a Catholic cathedral. Eventually, through study I learned that they were both of the same origin. The first Catholic missionaries to go to China found the image of the Madonna and child already in the Buddhist temples. It was also found in Japan and India. Although the same picture under different titles is found everywhere, its origin can be traced to Nimrod at Babel. This example illustrates that every religion is an outgrowth of Babylonianism. All religion comes from one devilish source—the ancient city of Babylon. The second aspect of Babylon is religious Babylon. In the eyes of God the Roman Catholic Church, which perpetuates much of Judaism and has assimilated much from paganism, is Babylon
3巴比伦的第三方面是物质的巴比伦，也就是罗马城。很多时候我们很难区分巴比伦的这三方面，因为圣经将其混在一起。例如，启示录十八章的巴比伦乃是物质的巴比伦，但我年轻的时候曾听一些基督徒教师说，那是字面的巴比伦。然而，本章并不是指字面的巴比伦，乃是指罗马城，这城在神眼中乃是巴比伦。在启示录十七章和十八章，巴比伦的两面，宗教方面和物质方面，被混在一起。十七章里的女人一面是『妓女，』表征背道的召会；另一面乃是『女人，』表征罗马城。一节说到妓女，十八节说到女人。所以，这一章里的女性有妓女的一面，就是背道的召会；也有女人的一面，就是物质的罗马城。
3The third aspect of Babylon is the material Babylon, the city of Rome. At times it is difficult to distinguish these three aspects of Babylon because the Bible blends them together. For example, the Babylon in Revelation 18 is material Babylon. But when I was young, I was told by some Christian teachers that it is the literal Babylon. This chapter, however, does not refer to the literal Babylon; it refers to the city of Rome, which is Babylon in the eyes of God. In Revelation 17 and 18 two aspects of Babylon, the religious aspect and the material aspect, are mixed together. On the one hand, the female in chapter seventeen is a “prostitute” signifying the apostate church; on the other hand, she is a “woman” signifying the city of Rome. Verse 1 speaks of the prostitute, and verse 18 speaks of the woman. Therefore, the female in this chapter has the aspect of the prostitute, the apostate church, and the aspect of the woman, the physical city of Rome.
4要明白圣经并不容易。我们需要一再的祷告并默想某些段落。我不晓得为甚么在一些经节里，主将巴比伦的不同方面混在一起，我只知道祂是这么作了。明白巴比伦的各方面，就好像认识关于基督两次来临的豫言一样。旧约里有许多处，都把基督的两次来临题在一起。这就如同两列山脉，远眺时似乎只有一列，但若走近去看，就知道中间有个大间隙。在读到关于基督来临的豫言时，我们必须弄清楚何者是指著祂第一次来临，何者是指著祂第二次来临。关于巴比伦的经节也是这样，我们必须分辨何者是指著古巴比伦，何者是指著宗教的巴比伦，何者又是指著物质的巴比伦。我们若把这些弄清楚了，就能明白启示录十七、十八章。多年前我简直无法明白这几章，因为我不认识巴比伦的不同方面。我们若弄清楚了这几方面，便有了扎实的根基，能以明白这两章，也能分辨那些经节是指宗教的方面，那些经节是指物质的方面。
4It is not easy to understand the Bible. We need to pray over and ponder certain portions again and again. I do not know why the Lord in some verses mixes together the various aspects of Babylon. I only know that He has done so. Knowing the various aspects of Babylon is like knowing the prophecies regarding the two comings of Christ. In a number of places in the Old Testament Christ’st wo comings are mentioned together. It is like two mountain ranges that appear to be one when they are viewed from a distance. But as you approach them, you realize that there is a great gap between them. In reading the prophecies regarding the coming of Christ, we must know which refer to His first coming and which refer to His second coming. It is the same with the verses regarding Babylon. We must discern which refer to ancient Babylon, which to religious Babylon, and which to material Babylon. If we are clear about this, then we shall be able to understand Revelation 17 and 18. Years ago, I simply could not understand these chapters because I did not know the various aspects of Babylon. If we are clear about these aspects, then we have a solid foundation for understanding these two chapters, and we shall be able to discern which verses concern the religious aspect and which verses concern the material aspect
壹 基督的显现
I. THE APPEARING OF CHRIST
5基督要在物质的巴比伦遭毁灭之时显现。启示录十八章一节说，『这些事以后，我看见另一位有大权柄的天使从天降下，地就因祂的荣耀发光。』这一位天使就是基督，祂从天降下，地就因祂的荣耀发光。基督显现的时候，要如神所差遣的使者而来。旧约里多次题到，基督是神所差遣的使者。在创世记二十二章十一至十二节，出埃及三章二至六节，士师记六章十一至二十四节，以及撒迦利亚一章十一至十二节，二章三节、八至十一节，和三章一至七节，我们读到耶和华的使者。我们若读这些说到耶和华使者之经节的上下文，就知道耶和华的使者实际上就是耶和华自己。在启示录这卷书里，基督至少有三、四次被启示为受神差遣，以完成神使命的使者。（启七2，八3，十1，十八1。）这里基督就是以这样的身分显现的。
5Christ will appear at the time of the destruction of material Babylon. Revelation 18:1 says, “After these things I saw another Angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was illumined with His glory.” This Angel is Christ, coming down out of heaven, with whose glory the earth is illumined. In His appearing Christ will come as an angel sent by God. In the Old Testament several times Christ was the angel sent by God. In Genesis 22:11-12, Exodus 3:2-6, Judges 6:11-24, and Zechariah 1:11-12; 2:3, 8-11, and 3:1-7, we read of the angel of the Lord. As we study the context of all these references to the angel of the Lord, we see that the angel of the Lord is actually the Lord Himself. In the book of Revelation Christ is revealed at least three or four times as an angel sent by God to fulfill God’s commission (7:2; 8:3; 10:1; 18:1). Here Christ appears in this way.
6在十章一节，基督仍披著云彩；在十四章十四节祂坐在云上；在十八章一节这里，祂的荣耀照耀地；这指明祂的回到地上，比十章一节和十四章十四节所说的更近了。祂首先要在云里隐密的从天而来，然后要坐在云上公开的来到，至终要照耀地，用祂的大权柄毁灭大巴比伦，就是罗马城。那时候祂要完全得著地，地就要成为祂的国。因此，物质的巴比伦要倾倒于基督显现的时候。
6In 10:1 Christ was still clothed with a cloud, and in 14:14 He was sitting on the cloud, whereas His glory here in 18:1 shines over the earth, indicating that His coming back to earth is closer than the coming mentioned in 10:1 and 14:14. He will come down out of heaven firstly in the cloud secretly, then He will come on the cloud openly, and eventually He will shine over the earth to destroy Babylon the Great, the city of Rome, with great authority. At this time He will take full possession of the earth, and the earth will become His kingdom. Therefore, the fall of material Babylon will transpire at the appearing of Christ
贰 大巴比伦的两面
II. THE TWO ASPECTS OF BABYLON THE GREAT
7十八章三节同时题到巴比伦宗教和物质的两方面。这一节说，『因为万国都喝醉了她淫乱烈怒的酒；地上的君王向来与她行淫，地上的商人因她奢华过度都发了财。』在这一节里，『万国都喝醉了她淫乱烈怒的酒；地上的君王向来与她行淫，』指宗教一面；『地上的商人因她奢华过度都发了财，』指物质一面。使列国饮她宗教、鬼魔之酒的是罗马宗教，不是罗马帝国；同样的，使地上的商人因她奢华过度而发了财的是罗马城，不是罗马天主教。所以，在同一节里包括了宗教的一面和物质的一面。
7In 18:3 the aspects of religious and material Babylon are both mentioned. This verse says, “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her luxury.” “The nations have drunk of the wine...and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her...” refers to the religious aspect, whereas “the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her luxury” refers to the material aspect. It is the Roman religion, not the Roman Empire, that has made all nations drunk with her religious, devilish wine. Likewise, it is the city of Rome, not the Roman Church, that has enriched the merchants of the earth by the power of her luxury. Therefore, in one verse the religious aspect and the material aspect are covered
参 分别的呼召
III. THE CALL FOR SEPARATION
8四节说，『我又听见从天上另有声音说，我的民，你们要从那城出来，免得有分于她的罪，受她所受的灾害。』大巴比伦既有物质和宗教两面，从那城出来，就是从宗教的巴比伦和物质的巴比伦出来。这可以由本节的『那城』和『她』得到证明。这里的『那城』和『她，』乃是指二节和三节所启示两面的巴比伦。
8Verse 4 says, “And I heard another voice out of heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that you may not participate in her sins, and that you may not receive of her plagues.” Since Babylon the Great is twofold, to come out of her means to come out of both religious Babylon and material Babylon. This is proved by the pronoun “her” in this verse. The antecedent of this pronoun is the Babylon of two aspects revealed in verses 2 and 3
肆 巴比伦的傲慢与毁灭
IV. BABYLON’SP RIDE AND DESTRUCTION
9六至八节说到巴比伦的傲慢和毁灭。她自傲身为皇后，不是寡妇。因此她想自己绝不会见到悲哀。但当审判来到的时候，主要毁灭她，让她受许多的痛苦和悲哀。在一日之内她的灾害要来到，她要被火烧尽。
9Verses 6 through 8 speak of Babylon’s pride and destruction. She prides herself on being a queen, not a widow. As such a one, she thinks she will never see sorrow. But when the time of judgment comes, the Lord will destroy her and give her much torment and sorrow. In one day her plagues will come, and she will be utterly burned with fire.
伍 物质巴比伦的倾倒
V. THE FALL OF THE MATERIAL BABYLON
10二节说到物质巴比伦的倾倒。这节说，『祂用强有力的声音喊著说，大巴比伦倾倒了！倾倒了！成了鬼的居所，和各样污秽之灵的巢穴，并各样污秽可恨之鸟的巢穴。』在十四章八节有一位天使说，『大巴比伦倾倒了！倾倒了！』而在这节，基督喊出了同样的话。这指明巴比伦有两次倾倒，就是宗教巴比伦的倾倒和物质巴比伦的倾倒。宗教巴比伦的倾倒要发生在大灾难的初期，而物质巴比伦的倾倒要发生在大灾难的末期。十八章所说的是物质巴比伦的倾倒，不是宗教巴比伦的倾倒。
10In verse 2 we see the fall of material Babylon. This verse says, “And He cried with a strong voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a hold of every unclean spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” In 14:8 an angel said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great,” and in this verse Christ cries out with the same words. This indicates that Babylon will have two falls, the fall of religious Babylon and the fall of material Babylon. The fall of religious Babylon will transpire at the beginning of the great tribulation, and the fall of material Babylon will transpire at the end of the great tribulation. Chapter eighteen relates the fall of material Babylon, not of religious Babylon
11二节说，巴比伦已经成了『鬼的居所，和各样污秽之灵的巢穴，并各样污秽可恨之鸟的巢穴。』这一节包括了申言者以赛亚和耶利米的豫言，也引用了其中的话。耶利米曾用类似这样的辞句定罪字面的巴比伦。至终，罗马城也要像古巴比伦一样被定罪、受咒诅。因这缘故，罗马城就不再适合人类居住了。罗马是个很有趣味的城市，观光客都喜欢到那里游览。然而，那日子即将来到，再没有人到那地方去了，因为那里满了鬼、污秽之灵和污秽可恨的鸟。这乃是她在神眼中被看为丑恶、可憎的记号。物质的巴比伦，就是罗马城，要在眼神中变为可憎的，因为她成了属鬼魔的政治和属鬼魔的宗教之源。在罗马帝国，我们看见属鬼魔的政治；在罗马天主教，我们看见属鬼魔的宗教。这些属鬼魔的东西已经得势了至少二千年，且将全地的人都破坏毒害了。所以神要来干涉，审判罗马城，使她成为不适于人类居住之地。古巴比伦由于被定罪、受咒诅，就不再适合人类居住；物质的巴比伦也要如此。
11Verse 2 says that Babylon has become “a dwelling place of demons and a hold of every unclean spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” This verse contains references to the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah and quotations from them. In condemning literal Babylon Jeremiah used expressions like this. Eventually, the city of Rome will be condemned and cursed just as ancient Babylon was. For this reason, the city of Rome will no longer be a fit dwelling place for human beings. Rome is a most interesting city, and tourists enjoy visiting there. However, the day is coming when no one will go there because it will be filled with demons, unclean spirits, and unclean and hateful birds. This is a sign that it will be ugly and abominable in the eyes of God. Material Babylon, the city of Rome, will become hateful in the eyes of God because it has been the source of both devilish politics and devilish religion. In the Roman Empire we see the devilish politics, and in the Roman Catholic Church, the devilish religion. These devilish things have been in power for at least two thousand years and have damaged and poisoned mankind throughout the earth. Therefore, God will intervene to judge the city of Rome and render it unfit to be a place for people to live in. As a result of the condemnation and curse pronounced upon ancient Babylon, it became unfit for human habitation. The same will be true of material Babylon
陆 哀巴比伦
VI. WEEPING OVER BABYLON
12九至十九节说到为巴比伦哭泣。九节说，『地上的君王，向来与她一同行淫、奢华的，看见烧她的烟，就必为她哭泣捶胸。』十一节说，『地上的商人也都为她哭泣悲哀，因为没有人再买他们的货物了。』曾从这富有的城市赚得大利的国际商人，见到这城被神审判，都要为她哭泣。十二、十三节列举了地上商人所卖的货物。这两节里的货物既是各种物质的东西，就证明本章的大巴比伦是物质的巴比伦。这些货物有七类；装饰品，从金子到珍珠；布疋，从细麻布到朱红色料；家具和装潢，从香木到大理石器具；香料，从肉桂到乳香；食品，从酒到羊；交通工贝，马与车；雇佣，奴仆与人口。巴比伦所贩卖的货物，头一项是金，末一项是人口。人口就是为了被雇用而贩卖自己的人。这不仅描述要来的巴比伦，也描述今天的世界。人把自己的魂、生命和自己卖给职业，忽视了神和他们永远的定命。这一个货品单证明罗马城是资本主义的城，不是共产主义的城。资本主义要在罗马盛行，直等到物质的巴比伦被毁灭了。
12In verses 9 through 19 we have the weeping over Babylon. Verse 9 says, “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her, shall weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning,” and verse 11 says, “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore.” The international merchants who have made great profit from this wealthy city will weep when they see it under God’s judgment. Verses 12 and 13 list the cargo sold by the merchants of the earth. Since the cargo in these verses consists of various material things, Babylon the Great in this chapter is proved to be the material one. The cargo is of seven categories: from gold to pearls, ornament; from fine linen to scarlet, clothing; from thyine wood to marble, furniture and decoration; from cinnamon to frankincense, spice; from wine to sheep, food; horses and carriages, transportation; and bodies and souls of men, employment. Of the cargo carried by Babylon, the first item is gold, and the last is the souls of men. Souls of men are men themselves sold for employment. This not only depicts the coming Babylon, but also today’s world. People sell their whole being to their employers. Many are selling their soul, their life, themselves, to their occupation, neglecting God and their eternal destiny. This list of the cargo proves that the city of Rome will be a city of capitalism, not of communism. Capitalism will prevail in Rome until material Babylon is destroyed
柒 因巴比伦受审判
VII. REJOICING IN HEAVEN
天上的欢喜
OVER THE JUDGMENT UPON BABYLON
13二十节说，『天哪，众圣徒、众使徒、众申言者阿，你们都要因她欢喜，因为神已经审判她，为你们伸了冤。』当许多人因巴比伦遭毁灭而哭泣的时候，另外的人却要因此而欢喜。在地上的人要哭泣，在天上的人却要欢喜。我们当然是列在那在天上欢喜的人中。不仅如此，我相信我们要亲眼见到巴比伦的毁灭；当她的烟往上升的
13Verse 20 says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven and saints and apostles and prophets, because God has judged your judgment upon her.” While many will weep over the destruction of Babylon, others will rejoice over it. Those on earth will weep, but those in heaven will rejoice. We shall certainly be among the rejoicing ones in heaven. Furthermore, I believe that we shall witness the destruction of Babylon. As her smoke goes up, we shall rejoice
14时候，我们就要欢喜快乐。
14VIII. DECLARATION OF BABYLON’S
捌 宣告巴比伦的全然毁灭
ABSOLUTE DESTRUCTION
15二十一至二十四节是巴比伦完全被毁灭的宣告。二十一节说，『有一位大力的天使举起一块石头，好像大磨石，扔在海里，说，巴比伦大城，也必这样猛力的被扔下去，绝不能再找到了。』巴比伦的毁灭也许是藉著一次大地震而完成；那次地震要使整个城沉入海底。这是巴比伦的定命，所以你得劝告你的朋友，不要住在那里。
15In verses 21 through 24 we find the declaration of Babylon’s absolute destruction. Verse 21 says, “And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, Thus will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence and shall be found no more at all.” Perhaps the destruction of Babylon will be accomplished by a great earthquake that will cause the entire city to sink into the sea. Because this is the destiny of Babylon, you must advise your friends not to live there.
玖 因大妓女受审判
IX. PRAISE IN HEAVEN OVER THE JUDGMENT
天上的赞美
UPON THE GREAT PROSTITUTE
16十九章一至四节说到因大妓女受了审1判而有天上的赞美。在一至三节，我们看见大批的群众在天上发出大声音，赞美神说，『阿利路亚！』虽然十八章说到物质的巴比伦受审判，但十九章这几节里的赞美，主要的不是关于物质的巴比伦，而是关于宗教的巴比伦。其原因乃是因许多世纪以来，巴比伦的这两方面一直混在一起。罗马曾是政治的中心，直到主后四百七十六年。而在以后许多世纪，罗马则是宗教的中心。罗马天主教在第六世纪开始得势；至第六世纪末期，教皇制度完全建立起来。在已过的十九个世纪，前五个世纪是罗马帝国占优势，后十四个世纪是罗马天主教占优势。当巴比伦倾倒的时候到了，其宗教的一面要先被毁灭，然后物质的一面也要毁灭。天上的赞美，主要的不是因著物质巴比伦的毁灭，乃是因著宗教巴比伦的毁灭；因为在神的眼中，宗教的一面比物质的一面更可憎。今天我们并不太在意物质的罗马，但是宗教的罗马却给我们极大的麻烦。因此，能见到宗教的巴比伦倾倒，真是何等的喜乐！启示录十九章四节说，『那二十四位长老与四活物，就俯伏敬拜那坐宝座的神，说，阿们，阿利路亚！』大批的群众在天上大声说，『阿利路亚！』之后，二十四位长老和四活物也说，『阿们，阿利路亚！』因为阿利路亚已被说过几次了，所以他们先说阿们。二十四位长老和四活物对先前所发的数声阿利路亚说『阿们！』然后再加1967上自己的『阿利路亚！』一九六七年，主指示我们如何呼喊祂的名。同时我们开始看见，我们应当不住的赞美祂。在一九六七、六八年间，我们的聚会中满了阿们和阿利路亚。热心宗教的人为此定罪我们，也有一小部分的宗教巴比伦起来反对我们。我真不知道这是为甚么。他们反对我们用阿们和阿利路亚来赞美主，但启示录指明，将来乃要用这样的方式赞美主。既然将来在天上要这样实行，今天我们在地上也可以这样实行。
16In 1 9:1-4 we have the praise in heaven over the judgment upon the great prostitute. In verses through 3 we have a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, praising God and saying, “Hallelujah!” Although chapter eighteen concerns the judgment upon material Babylon, the praise in these verses in chapter nineteen is not mainly related to material Babylon, but to religious Babylon. The reason for this is that throughout the centuries both aspects have been mingled together. Until A.D. 476 Rome was the center of politics. In the centuries following that time it has been the center of religion. The Roman Catholic Church came into power in the sixth century, and by the end of the sixth century the papal system was completely established. Of the past nineteen centuries, in the first five we see the predominance of the Roman Empire and in the last fourteen, of the Roman Catholic Church. When the time comes for the fall of Babylon, the religious aspect will be destroyed first and the material aspect later. The praise in heaven is not mainly related to the destruction of material Babylon, but to the destruction of religious Babylon, because in God’se yes the religious aspect is more hateful than the material aspect. Today we care little for material Rome, but we are very troubled by religious Rome. How happy we shall be to see the fall of religious Babylon! Revelation 19:4 says, “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who sits upon the throne, saying, Amen, Hallelujah!” After the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven says, “Hallelujah,” the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures say, “Amen, Hallelujah!” The “Amen” comes first because some hallelujahs have been spoken already. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures say “Amen” to these hallelujahs and then add more hallelujahs of their own. In the Lord showed us how to call upon His name. At the same time we began to see that we should praise Him continually. Our meetings in 1967 and 1968 were filled with amens and hallelujahs. Religious people condemned us for this, and a small part of religious Babylon rose up against us. I simply do not know why. They oppose our praising the Lord with amens and hallelujahs. But the book of Revelation indicates that praising the Lord in this way will be the practice in the future. What will be practiced in heaven in the future may also be practiced by us today on earth.
17我们若相信圣经，就必须接受启示录这卷书；若是缺了这卷书，圣经就没有结束。主后三百二十五年，在康士坦丁大帝下令召开的会议中制定了奈西亚信经，广被天主教及更正教所接纳。在召开这次会议的时候，新约中的七卷书－希伯来书、雅各书、彼得后书、约翰二书、约翰三书、犹大书和启示录－还未经完全承认。这几卷书是一直到主后三百九十七年迦太基会议中才正式被承认。所以，奈西亚信经的制定，可能没有包括启示录。对于许多的基督徒，启示录是一卷陌生的书，就他们来说，这一卷书似乎不列在圣经里。他们即使读了也不懂。这是由于仇敌的狡诈。圣经中再没有一卷书像启示录一样，饱受基督徒意见之苦。因此，在二十二章十八、十九节主耶稣说，『我向一切听见这书上豫言之话的作见证：若有人在这话上加添甚么，神必将写在这书上的灾害加在他身上；若有人从这书上豫言的话删去甚么，神必从这书上所写的生命树和圣城，删去他的分。』我们必须小心，对这书上所写的豫言，不可加添或删去甚么。然而多少世纪以来，大部分的基督徒都删减了这卷书。启示录这卷书虽然印在圣经中，但在许多人的经历中，这卷书事实上却被删掉了。这就是极多的基督徒失去神祝福的原因。从主首次将这卷书向我们打开的时刻起，一直有何等大的祝福！我相信这些信息要使众召会有大的转弯，往前再走一步。众召会要蒙受极大的祝福。
17If we believe the Bible, then we must accept the book of Revelation. If we do not have this book, then the Bible has no conclusion. The Nicene Creed, formulated in A.D. 325 at a council convened under the authority of the Emperor Constantine, is widely accepted throughout Catholicism and Protestantism. At the time of this council seven books of the New Testament— Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, and Revelation—had not yet been fully recognized. They were officially recognized in A.D. 393 at the Council of Carthage. Hence, the Nicene Creed was probably formulated without the book of Revelation. To many Christians, the book of Revelation is foreign. As far as many Christians are concerned, it is almost as if this book were not in the Bible. Even if they do read it, they cannot understand it. This is due to the subtlety of the enemy. No other book in the Bible has suffered as much from Christian opinion as the book of Revelation. For this reason, in 22:18 and 19 the Lord Jesus said, “I testify to every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.” We must be careful not to add anything to or take anything from the words of the prophecy of this book. Nevertheless, throughout the centuries most Christians have taken away from this book. Although the book of Revelation is printed in the Bible, in the experience of many, this book has actually been taken away from them. This is the reason so many Christians are missing God’s blessing. From the time the Lord first opened this book to us, what blessing there has been! I believe that all these messages will cause a great turn and a further step in all the churches. Great blessing will be bestowed upon the churches
18论到启示录的解经书有许多。因著这些著作多半未循健全的原则来解释这卷书，所以所说的大多不准确。我们若要正确的解释启示录，就需要熟悉整本圣经。我们已经指出，这卷书里的每一个象征，几乎都根据于旧约里的象征。因此，我们必须知道旧约中那象征的起源，然后追踪牠在新约里的发展。以启示录一章的灯台为例，最先是出现在出埃及二十五章，然后载于撒迦利亚四章。我们若要明白启示录中灯台的意义，就必须查看出埃及二十五章和撒迦利亚四章。不只如此，我们也需要晓得灯台这事在启示录这卷书中的发展。这就是明白这卷书的路。
18There are a number of expositions on the book of Revelation. Because most of these writings do not follow a sound principle in expounding this book, most of what they say is not accurate. In order to rightly interpret the book of Revelation we need to be familiar with the entire Bible. As we have pointed out, nearly every symbol in this book is a reference to a symbol in the Old Testament. Thus, we must know the origination of the symbol in the Old Testament and then trace the development of it in the New Testament. Take the example of the lampstand in Revelation 1. It is first mentioned in Exodus 25 and then in Zechariah 4. If we would know the significance of the lampstand in Revelation, then we must consult Exodus 2 5 and Zechariah 4. Furthermore, we also need to understand the development of this matter of the lampstand in the book of Revelation. This is the way to understand this book.
19关于明白启示录正确的路，另一个例子是十三章的兽。我们若要认识这兽是甚么，就必须去看但以理七章，因为启示录十三章的兽不只是根据于但以理七章所启示的兽，也是那个兽的发展。我们若研究任何一个象征首次题到的地方，然后追踪牠的发展，就会对那象征有正确的解释。我们研读启示录的时候，必须遵循这个基本的原则。但是有许多对这卷书的注释，都违反了这个原则。赞美主，祂已将基本的原则给我们看见了。主所给我们的解释，都是依照这些原则，并且有充分的历史根据。因此，例如，我们都清楚了罗马帝国、罗马教和敌基督是怎么一回事。我们看见了，敌基督将是个双重角色，他既是第七位该撒，又是第八位该撒。他是第八位该撒，将有第七位该撒的身体和第五位该撒的灵。所以他必是一位奇特的人物。我们若清楚明白这事，就会知道我们现今在那里，以及不久的将来要发生甚么事。
19Another illustration of the proper way to understand Revelation is the matter of the beast in chapter thirteen. If we would know what this beast is, we must go to Daniel 7, for the beast in Revelation 13 is both a reference to the beast revealed in Daniel 7 and a development of that beast. If we study the first mention of any symbol and then trace its development, we shall have the right interpretation of it. We must follow this basic principle in studying the book of Revelation. However, many expositions of this book violate this principle. Praise the Lord that He has shown us the basic principles. All the interpretations the Lord has given us are according to these principles and are fully supported by history. Therefore, for example, we have been made very clear about the Roman Empire, the Roman Church, and Antichrist. We have seen that Antichrist will be a double character; he will be both the seventh Caesar and the eighth Caesar. As the eighth Caesar he will have the body of the seventh and the spirit of the fifth. Thus, he will be an extraordinary figure. If we understand this clearly, then we shall know where we are and what will happen in the near future