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启示录生命读经 · 第6篇

在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分

Joint Partaker in the Tribulation, Kingdom, and Endurance in Jesus
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看一章九节的话：『我约翰，就是你们的弟兄，和你们在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分的，为神的话和耶稣的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。』启示录的结构非当美妙。一章七节刚刚说过主的来临，立刻就有了本节的话，这是十分有意义的。这指明如果我们是儆醒等候主回来的人，我们必定有分于耶稣的患难、国度和忍耐，而不是有分于外面的祝福。
1In this message we need to consider 1:9, which says, “I John, your brother and joint partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” The book of Revelation is composed in a marvelous way. It is quite significant that this verse comes shortly after the mention of the Lord’s coming in 1:7. This indicates that if we would be those who are watchfully waiting for the Lord’s coming back, we must be those who are joint partakers, not in outward blessing, but in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance in Jesus
壹 在耶稣的患难里
I. JOINT PARTAKER
一同有分
IN THE TRIBULATION IN JESUS
2『耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐』直译是『在耶稣里的患难、国度、忍耐。』『在耶稣里』是形容患难、国度和忍耐；我们要特别注意这辞。这辞在新约很少出现，倒是『在基督里』或『在基督耶稣里』用过许多次。在新约里，真理主要的是在基督里，但这里却是用『在耶稣里。』这告诉我们，如果我们是等候主回来的人，我们就必定是那些有分于『在耶稣里』的患难、国度和忍耐的人。当我们讲到救恩、恩典、享受、以及其他好的事情时，我们说我们是『在基督里，』因为这辞是用在神的救恩中一切正面的事上。但说到我们有分于在耶稣里的患难、国度和忍耐，就是指我们在受苦。耶稣在地上生活为人的时候，经常受苦，按照祂一生经过的事实，祂的名字耶稣，就指明祂是多受痛苦、常经忧患的人。（赛五三3。）因此，当我们说我们在基督里，意思就是我们得救了，享受神的恩典，与神和好了，且在神的祝福之下。但若说我们是有分于『在耶稣里』的患难、国度和忍耐，意思就是我们跟从拿撒勒人耶稣时，我们是在受苦，在受逼迫。启示录中没有用过『在基督里』这辞。相反的，以弗所书却一再用到『在基督里』或『在祂里面，』每一章都能找到这辞。启示录是为著那些『在耶稣里』受患难之苦的人。这就是说，那些等候主耶稣回来的人，必定是那些在耶稣里受患难之苦的人。换言之，那些等候主来的人，乃是受苦的人。在神看来，我们是跟随基督的人，但在人的眼中，尤其在宗教的眼中，我们是跟随耶稣的人。
2The phrase in Jesus governs the words tribulation, kingdom, and endurance, and we must pay close attention to it. This phrase very rarely occurs in the New Testament. The phrase in Christ or in Christ Jesus, on the contrary, is used many times. In the New Testament, the truth is mainly in Christ, but here the phrase in Jesus is employed. This tells us that if we would be those who are waiting for the Lord’s coming back, we must be those who are joint partakers in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance “in Jesus.” When we talk about salvation, grace, enjoyment, and all the other good things, we say that we are “in Christ,” for this phrase refers to everything on the positive side of God’s salvation. But to say that we are partakers of the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance in Jesus means that we are suffering. When Jesus lived on earth as a man, He suffered constantly. According to the facts of His life, His name, Jesus, denotes a suffering person, a man of sorrows (Isa. 53:3). Hence, when we say that we are in Christ, this means that we are saved, are enjoying God’s grace, have peace with God, and are under God’s blessing. But when we say that we are joint partakers of the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance “in Jesus,” this means that we are suffering and are being persecuted as we follow Jesus the Nazarene. In the book of Revelation, the in Christ is not used. In Ephesians, on the contrary, the term in Christ or in Him is used repeatedly, being found in every chapter of that epistle. The book of Revelation is for those who are suffering tribulation “in Jesus.” This means that those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus must be people who suffer tribulation in Jesus. In other words, those who wait for the Lord’s coming back are the suffering ones. In the eyes of God, we are the followers of Christ, but in the eyes of people, especially religion, we are the followers of Jesus.
一 耶稣在地上忍受了逼迫
A. Jesus Having Suffered Persecution While He Was on Earth
3耶稣在地上的时候，祂曾受犹太宗教的逼迫。（约五16，十五20。）祂不是受外邦、异教的逼迫，而是受正统、照著神的话设立的宗教所逼迫。宗教被神的仇敌大大使用5:16了。宗教与基督相对，基督与宗教相对。约翰五章十六节启示，犹太人逼迫耶稣，因为祂犯了他们的安息日。热心宗教的人不能忍受人破坏他们的规条。若有人违犯他们宗教的规条，就会把他们激动起来，逼迫违犯的人。犹太宗教是建立在三根支柱上，一根是安息日，另外两根是割礼和饮食的规矩。耶稣打破了安息日，等于把犹太教的三根支柱拆掉了一根。因此，他们逼迫祂，甚至要将祂杀死。至终，宗教成功了，真的杀了主耶稣，根据他们的圣经，定了祂死罪。只是在神的主宰下，那时犹太人无权杀人，所以他们将耶稣交给了罗马政府，罗马政府就用处置罪犯的方法，把主耶稣钉在十字架上。就如宗教逼迫耶稣，宗教也照样逼迫跟从耶稣的人。从使徒行传可以看到，各城各会堂里的犹太人，都被耸动起来，抵挡使徒们；尤其保罗更格外受到这种逼迫。写启示录的约翰，也受到这种逼迫。他领受本书的启示时，正是为『神的话和耶稣的见证，』被放逐到拔摩海岛上。他写这卷书，鼓励圣徒们等候主的回来；他告诉他们，他是他们的弟兄，并不是耶稣的恩典、生命、平安和光里一同有分，而是在耶稣的患难、困苦里一同有分。
3While Jesus was on earth, He was persecuted by the Jewish religion (John 5:16; 15:20). He was not persecuted by a heathen, pagan religion, but by the typical religion formed according to God’s oracles. Religion is greatly utilized by God’se ne my. Religion is versus Christ, and Christ is versus religion. John reveals that the Jews persecuted Jesus because He broke their Sabbath. Religious people cannot tolerate the breaking of their regulations. Any violation of their religious regulations will stir up persecution against the violators. The Jewish religion was established on three pillars, one of which was the Sabbath; the other two are circumcision and dietary regulations. When Jesus broke the Sabbath, He tore down one of the three pillars of the Jewish religion. Hence, they persecuted Him and even sought to kill Him. Eventually, religion succeeded and actually killed the Lord Jesus, sentencing Him to death according to their Scriptures. However, under the sovereignty of God, the Jews at that time did not have the right to kill anyone. Thus, they delivered Jesus over to the Roman government and the Roman government, using its method of executing criminals, crucified the Lord Jesus on the cross. Just as religion persecuted Jesus, it will also persecute the followers of Jesus. We know from the book of Acts that the Jews in the synagogues in every city stirred up opposition against the apostles, and Paul suffered this type of persecution very much. John, the writer of the book of Revelation, also underwent this kind of persecution. When John received the revelation of this book, he was on the island of Patmos, having been exiled there for “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” In writing the book, he was encouraging the saints to wait for the Lord’s coming back, telling them that he was their brother and joint partaker, not in grace, life, peace, and light, but in the suffering, the affliction, in Jesus.
4我们看过，当耶稣在地上时，是在宗教的手下受苦，罗马帝国倒不怎样注意祂。乃是犹太宗教要求罗马政府，对祂施行审判。因此，逼迫祂的源头并不是世俗的世界，而是宗教的世界。在使徒行传里，在使徒们身上也是这样，他们所受的反对主要不是从外邦人来的，而是从犹太宗教来的。保罗无论走到那里，犹太人就跟到那里，甚至可能一直监视他。同样情形，很多殉道者所受到残酷的逼迫，是从所谓的罗马天主教来的。福克斯（Foxe）在所著的殉道者史传中指出，罗马天主教杀害的圣徒，远比罗马帝国杀的还多。谁把盖恩夫人关在监里？是罗马天主教。谁把本仁约翰关在监里？是英国国教。宗教总是逼迫那些真正跟随耶稣的人。
4As we have seen, when Jesus was on earth, He suffered at the hands of religion. The Roman Empire paid very little attention to Him. It was the Jewish religion that asked the Roman government to execute judgment upon Him. Thus, the persecution against Him did not originate with the secular world but with the religious world. In the book of Acts we see that it was the same with the apostles. The opposition did not come mainly from the Gentiles but from the Jewish religion. The Jews followed Paul wherever he went, perhaps even picketing him. In like manner, a great many martyrs suffered persecution by the so-called Roman Catholic Church. As Foxe points out in his history of martyrs, the Roman Catholic Church killed more saints than the Roman Empire did. Who imprisoned Madame Guyon? The Roman Catholic Church. Who imprisoned John Bunyan? The Church of England. Religion always persecutes the genuine followers of Jesus.
5现在是轮到我们经历逼迫了。我在中国和倪柝声弟兄在一起的那些年间，我看见他受到宗教的迫害不知有多少。那么多的谣言、反对、定罪，还不是从外邦人来的，而是从基督教，甚至从一些西教士来的。魔鬼真是狡猾，世俗的世界反对我们还没有像那些所谓热心宗教的人那么厉害。许多基督徒以为宗教是好的，实际上宗教是被魔鬼利用的。你读过加拉太书，就会看到当保罗还在犹太教里的时候，他是如何激烈的逼迫召会。加拉太一章启示，宗教对抗基督，基督也与宗教相对。如果我们与宗教合作，就会有一种妥协的和平。但是我们怎可以随著宗教而走？宗教极其狡猾虚伪，乃是神经纶的冒充品。凡看见宗教是神经纶之冒充品的，就会定罪牠。
5Now it is our turn to undergo this persecution. During the years I was with Brother Nee in China, I saw how much he was persecuted by religion. The rumors, opposition, and condemnation came, not from the Gentiles, but from Christianity, even from some missionaries. The Devil is subtle. The secular world does not oppose us as much as the so-called religious people do. Many Christians think of religion as a good thing, but actually it is something used by the Devil. If you read the book of Galatians, you will see how intensely Paul persecuted the church when he was in the Jewish religion. Galatians 1 reveals that religion is against Christ and that Christ is versus religion. If we cooperate with religion, there will be a type of compromising peace. But how can we go along with religion? It is so subtle and false; it is a counterfeit of God’secon o my. Anyone who sees that religion is a counterfeit of God’secon o my will condemn it
二 耶稣现今和祂的跟随者
B. Jesus Now Suffering Persecution
一同忍受逼迫
with His Followers
6因为我们不肯和宗教合作，所以宗教就逼迫我们。今天我们所受的逼迫，乃是在耶稣里的逼迫。祂现今是和祂的跟随者一同忍受逼迫。（徒九4～。）今天我们受苦的时候，祂就在我们里面，和我们一同受苦。当大数的扫罗到大马色去，要捉拿那些呼求耶稣之名的人时，在途中主耶稣把他打倒在地上，说，『扫罗，扫罗，你为甚么逼迫我？』（徒九4。）扫罗说，『主阿，你是谁？』耶稣回答说，『我就是你所逼迫的耶稣。』（徒九5。）扫罗从来没有想到他在逼迫耶稣。他以为耶稣是在坟墓里，他是逼迫司提反以及别的跟随耶稣的人。但主耶稣认为扫罗是在逼迫祂，因为在那时，祂是在司提反、彼得、约翰、以及主所有别的肢体里面，与他们是一。今天也是一样，当热心宗教的人逼迫我们时，他们实际上是在逼迫耶稣，因为耶稣是在我们里面，并与我们是一。我们看见我们现今所经历的逼迫，乃是在耶稣里的逼迫，就可得著安慰。我们是在耶稣的患难里一同有分。三在这世代中，祂的跟随者
6Because we do not cooperate with religion, it persecutes us. The persecution that we are suffering today is the persecution in Jesus. He is now suffering persecution with His followers (Acts 9:4-5). As we are suffering today, He is suffering in and with us. 5 When Saul of Tarsus was traveling to Damascus with the intention of arresting all those who called on the name of Jesus, the Lord Jesus knocked him down to the earth, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (v. 4). When Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” Jesus answered, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (v. 5). Saul never thought that he was persecuting Jesus. He thought Jesus was in the grave and that he was persecuting Stephen and other followers of Jesus. But according to the Lord Jesus, Saul was persecuting Him, because, at that time, He was in Stephen, Peter, John, and all His other members and was one with them. The same is true today. When the religious people persecute us, they are actually persecuting Jesus because Jesus is in us and is one with us. We may be comforted to realize that the suffering we are experiencing is the persecution in Jesus. We are joint partakers of tribulation in Jesus. C. His Followers Also Persecuted in This Age,
也遭受逼迫，忍受祂所受的凌辱
Bearing His Reproach
7耶稣的跟随者，也要在这世代中遭受逼迫，忍受祂所受的凌辱。（启二10，约十六2，33，使十四22，来十三13。）希伯来十三章十三节说，『这样，我们也当出到营外就了主去，忍受祂所受的凌辱。』主耶稣在地上的时候，忍受了从宗教来的凌辱。现在我们这些跟随祂的人，必须忍受祂所受的凌辱，忍受从宗教来的凌辱。这就是在耶稣的患难里一同有分。
7The followers of Jesus are also persecuted in this age, bearing His reproach (2:10; John 16:2, 33; Acts 14:22; Heb. 13:13). Hebrews 13:13 says, “Let us therefore go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He suffered reproach from religion. Now, as His followers, we must bear His reproach, suffering reproach from religion. This is to be a joint partaker of tribulation in Jesus
8然而，有些痛苦并非由于我们跟随耶稣，而是由于我们愚昧，这种受苦就不能算是在耶稣里的苦。我们中间不该有人因行动愚昧而引起麻烦。但我们必须对主的见证诚实且忠信。如果我们的诚实和忠信给我们带来苦难和逼迫，那就是在耶稣里受逼迫，也就是耶稣与我们一同受苦。想要避免宗教的逼迫是不可能的。我们无法逃避逼迫，因为仇敌比以前更厉害的利用宗教。没有一件事比宗教更阻挠神的经纶，没有一件事比宗教更叫人瞎眼，更蒙蔽、遮掩人，叫人看不到神的经纶。无数的人都被宗教弄瞎了。在整个世界上，宗教正在蒙蔽、遮掩人的眼睛，叫人看不见神的经纶。为这缘故，有一场战争在进行。在这场战争上，我们要吹响我们的号筒，说，『要脱离宗教，撕去蒙眼的宗教帕子，弃绝宗教观念！』无论何时我们这样作，就引起反对。有些好朋友来找我，劝我妥协一点。但我们绝不妥协。等候主耶稣来临的人，必须与祂一同受苦。不要单单的说，『主耶稣，我爱你，愿你快来。』如果你这样说，主会回答说，『我要你为我受苦，并和我一同受苦！』不要想办法避开逼迫。我们若用聪明避开逼迫，我们就不是个好好等候主来的人。如果你认真等候主来，宗教的逼迫就会兴起来对抗你。只是我们不该因行动愚昧而引起逼迫。在这事上，我们要灵巧像蛇，纯真像鸽子。（太十16。）
8Some sufferings, however, may not be caused by our following Jesus, but by our foolishness. This suffering cannot properly be called the suffering in Jesus. None of us should cause trouble by acting foolishly. But we must be honest and faithful to the Lord’s testimony. If our honesty and faithfulness bring us suffering and persecution, that is the persecution in Jesus, and that is Jesus’ suffering with us. It is impossible to avoid the persecution of religion. We cannot escape it because the enemy is utilizing religion more than ever before. Nothing is more frustrating to God’secon o my than religion. Nothing blinds, covers, and veils people from seeing God’s economy more than religion does. Millions have been blinded by it. Throughout the whole world, religion is blinding and veiling people’s e yes from seeing God’s economy. Because of this, a warfare is raging. In this warfare, we must sound our trumpet, saying, “Get out of religion, tear away the religious veils from your eyes, and forsake your religious concepts.” Whenever we do this, opposition is aroused. Some good friends have come to me advising me to compromise a little. But we will never compromise. Those who wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus must partake of His suffering. Do not simply say, “Lord Jesus, I love You. Come quickly.” If you say this, the Lord will reply, “I want you to suffer for and with Me.” Do not try to avoid persecution. If we employ our cleverness to avoid persecution, then we are not good waiters of the coming of the Lord. If you mean business to wait for His coming back, the religious persecution will be stirred up against you. But we should not arouse persecution by acting foolishly. In this matter, we must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16).
9贰在耶稣的国度里一同有分我们若在耶稣的患难里一同有分，也就在国度里一同有分。有分于在耶稣里的逼迫，就是有分于国度。如果你不知道甚么是逼迫，你就不知道甚么是国度。
9II. JOINT PARTAKER IN THE KINGDOM IN JESUS If we are joint partakers in the tribulation in Jesus, then we are joint partakers in the kingdom. To partake of the persecution in Jesus is to partake of the kingdom. If you do not know what persecution is, then you do not know what the kingdom is
一 当耶稣在地上时，国度与祂同在
A. The Kingdom Being with Jesus When He Was on Earth
10好多基督徒对于国度有错误的观念。有些说国度已经来过，但因为受到拒绝，就悬起来了。有这种观念的人说，国度曾经来临，却被拒绝而悬起来了，将来还会降下来。根据这种教训，主耶稣回来的时候，祂要将这个悬起来的国度一同带来。这只是空洞的道理。当主耶稣在地上的时候，国度已经和祂在一起。主耶稣对法利赛人说，『神的国来到，不是观察得到的；人也不得说，看哪，在这里，或说，在那里；因为看哪，神的国就在你们中间。』（路十七20～21。）在这段话中我们看到，耶稣在那里，国度就在那里。在马太十二章二十八节，主说，『我若靠著神的灵赶鬼，这就是神的国临到你们了。』这就是说，当主在地上时，国度就和祂在一起。二祂的信徒重生进入了国度耶稣的信徒已经生入国度里。约翰三章五节可以证明这事。在这节中，耶稣对尼哥底母说，『我实实在在的告诉你，人若不是从水和灵生的，就不能进神的国。』我们已经重生进入国度。如果国度已经被悬起来，我们怎能因著重生进到国度里？那么，我们重生到那里？约翰三章说得很清楚，我们已经重生到国度里了。三今天的召会生活就是国度在马太十六章十八和十九节，主对彼得说，『我要把我的召会建造在这磐石上，阴间的门不能胜过她。我要把诸天之国的钥匙给你。』这指明正确的说来，召会就是国度。罗马十四章十七节也证明，我们在召会里，就是在国度里。所以正确的召会生活就是国度生活。
10Many Christians have a mistaken concept of the kingdom. Some say that the kingdom has already come, but that it has been rejected and suspended. Those who hold this concept say that the kingdom came, that it was rejected and suspended, and that it will come down in the future. According to this teaching, when the Lord Jesus comes back, He will bring this suspended kingdom with Him. This is merely vain doctrine. The kingdom was with Jesus when He was on earth. The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; Nor will they say, Look, here! Or, There! For behold, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20-21). In this portion of the Word, we see that the kingdom was wherever Jesus was. In Matthew 12:28, the Lord said, “If I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you.” This means that the kingdom was with the Lord while He was on earth. B. His Believers Being Born into the Kingdom The believers of Jesus have been born into the kingdom. John 3:5 proves this. In this verse, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” We were regenerated into the kingdom. How could we have entered into the kingdom by regeneration if the kingdom had been suspended? Into what, then, were we born again? As John 3 states clearly, we have been reborn into the kingdom. C. The Church Life Today Being the Kingdom In Matthew 16:18 and 19 the Lord said to Peter, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens.” This shows that, in a proper sense, the church is the kingdom. Romans 14:17 also indicates that we in the church are in the kingdom. The proper church life is the kingdom life
11甚么是国度？国度乃是在神圣性情里的属天管治。我们都由神圣的生命重生了，在这生命里有神圣的性情，在这神圣的性情中有管治，有主权，有管理。这管理是神圣的，又是属天的。我们这些蒙了重生的人，今天是在这个主权之下受管理和约束。我们要在自己身上施行这管治。如果你还需要别人来管理你，就表示你已经堕落了。我们所作的每一件事，都必须在这属天管治之下。在前面一篇信息中，我们说到要作基督争战的军队。但你若不受神圣生命的管治，就绝不会被选为祂的军队。能不能被选在祂的军队里，要看你有没有服从这个在神圣性情里的属天管治。神圣的生命把我们带进神圣的国里。约翰三章五节所说，我们重生进去的国度，就是约翰在启示录一章九节所说的那个国度。如果我们未曾重生进到国度里，怎能在国度里有分？我们重生进到国度里之后，应当一直留在里面。如果你照旧和你的丈夫或妻子吵架，那就是说你从国度里逃出来了。你若留在国度里，生活在其中，就绝不会与丈夫、妻子、或别人吵架了。就是仇敌挑拨你争吵，属天国度的管治也会约束你。
11What is the kingdom? It is the heavenly rule in the divine nature. We all have been regenerated with the divine life. In this life there is the divine nature, and with this divine nature there is a ruling, a reigning, a governing. This governing is both divine and heavenly. We, the regenerated ones, are under this reign today; we are under this government and control. We need to exercise this rule over ourselves. If you still need someone else to rule over you, it means that you are fallen. We must be under the heavenly rule in everything we do. In a previous message we spoke about being the fighting army of Christ. But if you are not under the ruling of the divine life, you will never be selected to be in His army. Being chosen to be in this army depends upon obeying the heavenly rule in the divine nature. The divine life brings us into the divine kingdom. The kingdom into which we are reborn in John 3:5 is the very kingdom mentioned by John in Revelation 1:9. How could we ever be joint partakers in the kingdom if we had not been reborn into it? After we have been reborn into the kingdom, we should remain in it. If you still argue with your wife or husband, it means that you are an escapee from the kingdom. If you remain in the kingdom and live in it, you will never fight with your husband, your wife, or anyone else. Although the enemy may tempt you to fight, the ruling of the heavenly kingdom will restrain you
四 祂的信徒为著国度忍受逼迫
D. His Believers Suffering Persecution for the Kingdom
12今天在耶稣的国度里，并不是一种荣耀。但当在耶稣里的国成为在基督里的国时，那就是荣耀的时候了。今天，在耶稣里的国，乃是受苦的国。在马太五章十至十二节，主说祂的信徒因国度的缘故受逼迫。我们若为义的缘故受苦，我们就是在国度里。有些事我们不能作，因为那些事不义。今天所有的人都是不义的。我们若赞成不义，人家都欢迎我们；但如果我们为义站住，大家都要起来反对我们，逼迫我们。我们为国度的缘故受逼迫，就证明我们今天是在神的国里。不要以为今天在国度里是一件荣耀的事；不，现今在国度里，乃要忍受羞辱，忍受逼迫。我们越在国度里，所受的苦和逼迫就越多。但是赞美主，这个受苦乃是我们在国度里的有力标记。
12To be in the kingdom in Jesus today is not a glory. When the kingdom in Jesus becomes the kingdom in Christ, that will be the time for glory. Today, the kingdom in Jesus is a kingdom of suffering. In Matthew 5:10-12 the Lord said that His believers suffer persecution for the sake of the kingdom. If we are suffering for righteousness’ sake, then we are in the kingdom. There are certain things which we cannot do because they are unrighteous. All of humanity today is unrighteous. If we agree with this unrighteousness, people will welcome us. But if we stand for righteousness, people will oppose and persecute us. Suffering persecution for the kingdom proves that we are in the kingdom of God today. Do not think that it is a glory to be in the kingdom today. No, to be in the kingdom now is to bear shame and to suffer persecution. The more we are in the kingdom, the more we shall suffer and be persecuted. But praise the Lord this suffering is a strong sign that we are in the kingdom.
13今天在国度里，是一件在耶稣里受苦的事。虽然我们有分于在耶稣里的国度，但还末在基督里一同作王。当祂回来的时候，我们就要在基督的国度里与祂一同作王。到那时候，我们就不再受苦了。不要对别人说，『你要尊敬我，我是属天国度里的同伙，有一天，我要在国度里与基督一同作王。』你越这样说，就越会受逼迫。今天不是掌权的日子，乃是受苦的日子。现在我们还不在掌权的国度里，乃在受苦的国度里。因此保罗说，我们进入神的国，必须经历许多患难；（徒十四22，）进到掌权之国的路乃是经过受苦。保罗在行传十四章二十二节所指的患难，主要的是指在犹太宗教手中所受的逼迫。所有在基督里的信徒，都要经历这种逼迫。保罗似乎说，『你们基督徒，耶稣的信徒，必须忍受从犹太宗教来的逼迫。』今天在原则上还是一样。若是今天世界上没有宗教，我们就不会受到这么多的逼迫。我们已经指出，大多数的困难、逼迫、谣言和反对，都可追溯到一个源头─宗教。我们今天在受苦时，就是在国度里受操练、受训练、受装备，使我们配成为基督的军队，好在祂的国度里与祂一同作王。
13Being in the kingdom today is a matter of being in the suffering in Jesus. Although we are joint partakers in the kingdom in Jesus, we are not yet the co-kings in Christ. When He comes back, we shall be His co-kings in the kingdom in Christ. At that time, we shall no longer suffer. Do not say to others, “You must honor me. I am a partner in the heavenly kingdom, and one day I’ll be a co-king with Christ in the kingdom.” The more you say this, the more you will be persecuted. Today is not a reigning day but a suffering day. Now we are not in the reigning kingdom but in the suffering kingdom. This is the reason that Paul said that we must enter into the kingdom of God through much tribulation (Acts 14:22). The way to enter into the ruling kingdom is through suffering. The tribulation Paul referred to in Acts 14:22 was mainly the persecution at the hands of the Jewish religion. All believers in Christ undergo this kind of persecution. Paul seemed to be saying, “You Christians, the believers of Jesus, must suffer persecution from the Jewish religion.” In principle, it is the same today. If there were no religion in the world today, we would not suffer as much persecution. As we have already pointed out, most of the troubles, persecutions, rumors, and oppositions can be traced to one source— religion. While we are suffering today, we are in the kingdom where we are being exercised, trained, prepared, and qualified to be Christ’s army and to reign in His kingdom as His co-kings
参 在耶稣的忍耐里
III. JOINT PARTAKER
一同有分
IN THE ENDURANCE IN JESUS
14约翰在启示录一章九节还说，他是在耶稣的忍耐里一同有分的。为著患难和国度，我们需要忍耐。好多圣徒，连我们在主恢复里的人在内，都缺少忍耐。有人从他们的亲戚、朋友、邻居那里遭受逼迫，但最终他们的忍耐用尽了。他们只能抵挡逼迫一段时间，但因缺少忍耐，不能支持长久。主耶稣在地上的时候，忍受了逼迫，（来十二2～3，）今天仍在忍受人的反对和凌辱。想想看，有许多人直到今天还是那样的反对并讥诮主耶稣。一面，祂是坐在诸天之上；另一面，祂仍然被讥诮、反对并逼迫。我们很多人可能盼望主耶稣对讥诮祂的人说，『快悔改！若不悔改，就用大地震毁灭你们！』主耶稣已经被讥诮差不多二十个世纪了，但祂并没有反击，反而一直忍受这一切攻击。有些人说，『耶稣，我恨你！』但祂并不作反应，这就是耶稣的忍耐。
14In 1:9, John also said that he was a joint partaker in the endurance in Jesus. For both the tribulation and the kingdom we need endurance. Many saints, even among us in the Lord’s recovery, lack endurance. Some have suffered persecution from their relatives, friends, and neighbors, but eventually they exhausted their supply of endurance. While they were able to withstand the persecution for a certain time, they lacked the endurance to bear it for a longer time. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He endured persecution (Heb. 12:2-3), and He is still enduring men’s opposition and reproach today. Consider how much, even today, people oppose and mock the Lord Jesus. On the one hand, He is sitting in the heavens; on the other hand, He is still being mocked, opposed, and persecuted. Many of us might expect the Lord Jesus to say to His mockers, “Repent or I will send a great earthquake to destroy you.” The Lord Jesus has been mocked for nearly twenty centuries, but He has not fought back. Rather, He has continuously suffered all these attacks. Some may say, “Jesus, I hate You,” but there is no response from Him. This is the endurance of Jesus.
15我们中间没有多少人听过耶稣的忍耐。我们听过耶稣的能力，耶稣的爱，耶稣的圣别，耶稣的义，但没有听过耶稣的忍耐。然而，我们在基督里活著，就不仅有分于祂的生命和圣别，也有分于祂的忍耐。我们住在基督里，就有分于祂的忍耐，且有忍耐以忍受痛苦和反对。连主的话也称为忍耐的话。（启三10。）今天全世界都在反对祂，拒绝祂，但祂并不反击，只单单的忍受。我们现在与祂交通，并住在祂里面，我们就有分于祂的忍耐。我们是跟随祂的人，就当存心忍耐，跟著祂走同一个路径。（来十二1。）这样，我们也能忍受逼迫、谣言、拒绝、反对。这是强有力的证明，我们乃是等候主回来的人。我们一面藉著在祂的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分而等候祂的回来，一面受管教、受训练、受装备，使我们配作祂争战的军队。你在等候主耶稣回来么？如果是，你必定也在耶稣的患难、国度和忍耐里一同有分。
15Not many of us have heard of the endurance of Jesus. We have heard of the power of Jesus, the love of Jesus, the holiness of Jesus, the righteousness of Jesus, but not of the endurance of Jesus. Nevertheless, as we live in Christ, we not only partake of His life and holiness, but also of His endurance. When we abide in Christ, we partake of His endurance and have the endurance to bear suffering and opposition. The Lord’sword i seven called the word of endurance (3:10). Today the whole world is opposing and rejecting Him, but He does not fight back. He simply endures it all. Now as we have fellowship with Him and abide in Him, we partake of His endurance. As His followers, we must follow Him on the same pathway with endurance (Heb. 12:1). In this way we also can endure persecution, rumors, rejection, and opposition. This is a strong proof that we are those who are waiting for the Lord’s coming back. As we wait for His coming back by being a joint partaker in His tribulation, kingdom, and endurance, we are being disciplined, trained, prepared, and qualified to be His fighting army. Are you waiting for the Lord Jesus to come back? If you are, then you also must be a joint partaker in His tribulation, kingdom, and endurance