第08章 大艰难的时期
§1
第08章 大艰难的时期
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Chap. 08—The Time of Trouble
§3
在势不可挡的逼迫来临时，基督的子民如何站立？不管什么遭遇，我们能否信赖上帝的应许？我们从哪里能找到摆脱风暴的保障？安息日的问题已经成为全基督教世界斗争的焦点。宗教和政治的权威已经联合起来要强迫人去遵守星期日。那时，少数坚决不肯服从群众之要求的人便要普遍地成为憎恶和咒骂的目标。有人要鼓动说，对于少数反对教会制度和国家法令的人不应予以宽容，宁可让他们受苦，免得全国陷于混乱和无法律的状态之中。在一千八百多年前，犹太“治理百姓的，”也曾拿这同一个论据来反对基督。那狡猾的该亚法说：“独不想一个人替百姓死，免得通国灭亡，就是你们的益处”（约11:50）。这一个论据要显为非常合理。最后便有命令发出，制裁那些尊第四诫之安息日为圣的人，斥责他们为应受最严厉处分的人，并指定一个期限，让众人在期满之后，得以自由把这些人置于死地。旧大陆的罗马教和新大陆背道的基督教都要采取一致的行动，去对付那些尊重全部神圣诫命的人。{DD 40.1}[1]
§4
How shall Christ’s people stand in days of almost overwhelming opposition? Can we rely on God’s promises no matter what may come? Where can we find a safeguard from the storm? As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal execration. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law of the state ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. The sameargument eighteen hundred years ago was brought against Christ by the “rulers of the people.” “It is expedient for us,” said the wily Caiaphas, “that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.”?John 11:50. This argument will appear conclusive; and a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts.?{DD 40.1}[1]
§5
【痛苦和灾难的预言】
§6
这时，上帝的子民要被卷入困苦和患难之中，就是先知所形容“雅各遭难的时候。”“耶和华如此说，我们听见的声音，是战抖而不平安的声音。……脸面都变青了呢！哀哉！那日为大，无日可比！这是雅各遭难的时候，但他必被救出来”（耶30:5-7）。……{DD 41.1}[2]
§7
【Affliction and Distress are Foretold】
§8
The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble. “Thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace... All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”?Jeremiah 30:5-7....{DD 41.1}[2]
§9
使徒约翰在异象中听见从天上有大声音说：“地与海有祸了！因为魔鬼知道自己的时候不多，就气忿忿的下到你们那里去了”（启12:12）。那使天庭发出这种感叹的现象是极其可怕的。撒但的时间越短，他的忿怒就越大，所以他欺骗和毁灭的工作要在大艰难的时期中达到顶点。{DD 41.2}[3]
§10
The apostle John in vision heard a loud voice in heaven exclaiming: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”?Revelation 12:12. Fearful are the scenes which call forth this exclamation from the heavenly voice. The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction will reach its culmination in the time of trouble.{DD 41.2}[3]
§11
不久天空要出现一种超自然的惊人现象，作为行奇事的魔鬼能力的表征。恶魔的灵将要出动到“普天下众王”那里，诱惑他们，并怂恿他们在反抗天上政权的最后斗争中与撒但联合。因这些恶灵的工作，统治者和一般平民都要受他的欺骗。有人要起来假冒基督，叫人把那应当归给世界救赎主的尊号和敬拜归给他们。他们要行医病的神迹奇事，并声称自己有天上来的启示，与圣经的见证相反。{DD 41.3}[4]
§12
Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.{DD 41.3}[4]
§13
【最惊人的一幕】
§14
这巨大的骗局之中最惊人的一幕乃是撒但亲自化装为基督。教会久已声称她仰望救主的复临，作为她一切希望的最后实现。这时那大骗子撒但便要出现，使人信相基督已经来了。撒但要在许多地方以辉煌和威严的姿态出现在人面前，好像先知约翰在《启示录》中所形容上帝儿子的样式（见启1:13-15）。他周围的荣光是肉眼所从来没有见过的。于是凯旋呐喊要响彻云霄，说：“基督已经来了！基督已经来了！”众人要俯伏在他面前敬拜他；同时他要举起双手，为他们祝福，正像基督在世上为门徒祝福一样。他的声调温柔和蔼，好像音乐一般。他也要用甜蜜慈祥的口吻，说出一些救主从前所发表亲切而属天的真理。他先治众人的疾病，最后便要冒基督的名宣称自己已经把安息日改为星期日，并命令人人都要守他所赐福的日子为圣日。他又说，那些坚持遵守第七日为圣日的人正是亵渎了他的圣名，因为他们不听从他所差来带亮光与真理给他们的天使。这乃是最强烈而压倒一切的大欺骗。正如古时撒玛利亚人受了行邪术的西门的欺骗一样，许多的人，从最小的到最大的，都要信服这些邪术，说：这是“上帝的大能”（徒8:10）。{DD 41.4}[5]
§15
【The Crowning Deception】
§16
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation.?Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and?pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.”?Acts 8:10.?{DD 41.4}[5]
§17
但上帝的真子民却不至于受迷惑。因为这个假基督的教训是与圣经不相符合的。他乃是为那些拜兽和兽像的人祝福。论到这一等人，圣经有话说，上帝纯一不杂的忿怒必要倾在他们身上。{DD 42.1}[6]
§18
But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false Christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out.{DD 42.1}[6]
§19
再者，上帝也不准撒但伪装基督复临的真样式。救主已经警告祂的子民，在这一点上不要受欺骗，并且已经很清楚地预言到自己复临的样式，说：“因为假基督，假先知，将要起来，显大神迹，大奇事，倘若能行，连选民也就迷惑了。……若有人对你们说，看哪，基督在旷野里，你们不要出去，或说，看哪，基督在内屋中，你们不要信。闪电从东边发出，直照到西边，人子降临也要这样”（太24:24-27,31;25:31;启1:7;帖前4:16-17）。这种降临的样式是撒但所无法假冒的，而是全世界的人所必定知道，亲眼看见的。{DD 42.2}[7]
§20
And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”?Matthew 24:24-27, 31;?25:31;?Revelation 1:7;1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. This coming there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known—witnessed by the whole world.{DD 42.2}[7]
§21
【基督徒的保障】
§22
惟有那些殷勤查考圣经，并“领受爱真理的心”的人，才能得蒙护庇，不受这迷惑全世界的大欺骗。由于圣经的见证，这些人必能看穿欺骗者的伪装。这试验的时候将要临到每一个人。由于试探的淘汰作用，真实的基督徒就要显露出来。今日上帝的子民是否能坚立在圣经上，以致不屈从自己耳闻目睹的事情呢？在这危机之中，他们能不能固守圣经，以圣经为唯一的根据呢？撒但必要在可能的范围之内阻止他们，不让他们有功夫作准备，以便在那日来到时能以站立得住。他要布置环境拦阻他们的进路，用属世的财富来缠住他们，使他们担负沉重烦恼的担子，以致他们的心被今生的思虑所累。这样，那试炼的日子就必像贼一样的临到。{DD 42.3}[8]
§23
【The Safeguard of the Christian】
§24
Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief.{DD 42.3}[8]
§25
当基督教世界各国的执政者发布命令制裁守诫命的人，声明政府不再保护他们，并任凭那些希望看他们消灭的人肆意蹂躏的时候，上帝的子民便要从各城镇各乡村中，成群结队地迁居到极荒凉的偏僻之处。许多人要在山寨中找到避难所。象昔日皮德蒙特山谷中的瓦典西信徒一样。他们要以地上的高处作他们的居所，并且为这“磐石的坚垒”感谢上帝（见赛33:16）。但从各国和各阶层中必有许多人，不分富贵贫贱，不论肤色黑白，都要落到极不公平而残酷的束缚之下。上帝所喜爱的子民必要经过困苦的日子，被铁链捆锁，囚在牢狱之内，被判死刑，有些人要被放在黑暗而污浊的地窖里，显然被丢在那里饿死。那时没有人倾听他们的哀苦呻吟，也没有人伸手援助他们。?{DD 42.4}[9]
§26
As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment keepers shall withdraw the protection of government and abandon them to?those who desire their destruction, the people of God will flee from the cities and villages and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places. Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the mountains. Like the Christians of the Piedmont valleys, they will make the high places of the earth their sanctuaries and will thank God for “the munitions of rocks.”?Isaiah 33:16. But many of all nations and of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, black and white, will be cast into the most unjust and cruel bondage. The beloved of God pass weary days, bound in chains, shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be slain, some apparently left to die of starvation in dark and loathsome dungeons. No human ear is open to hear their moans; no human hand is ready to lend them help.?{DD 42.4}[9]
§27
在这考验的时期，耶和华是否要忘记祂的百姓呢？当刑罚临到洪水世代的时候，上帝曾忘记了忠心的挪亚吗？当天上降火焚烧所多玛平原诸城的时候，祂曾忘记罗得吗？当约瑟被困在埃及拜偶像的人中时，主曾忘记他吗？当耶洗别发誓要使以利亚与巴力诸先知同遭杀戮时，主曾忘记以利亚吗？主曾忘记那在黑暗凄凉的泥坑中的耶利米吗？祂曾忘记那在烈火窑中的三个志士吗？祂曾忘记那在狮子洞中的但以理吗？ {DD 43.1}[10]
§28
Will the Lord forget His people in this trying hour? Did He forget faithful Noah when judgments were visited upon the antediluvian world? Did He forget Lot when the fire came down from heaven to consume the cities of the plain? Did He forget Joseph surrounded by idolaters in Egypt? Did He forget Elijah when the oath of Jezebel threatened him with the fate of the prophets of Baal? Did He forget Jeremiah in the dark and dismal pit of his prison house? Did He forget the three worthies in the fiery furnace? or Daniel in the den of lions?{DD 43.1}[10]
§29
“锡安说，耶和华离弃了我，主忘记了我。妇人焉能忘记她吃奶的婴孩，不怜恤她所生的儿子？即或有忘记的，我却不忘记你，看哪，我将你铭刻在我掌上”（赛49:14-16）。万军之耶和华说：“摸你们的，就是摸祂眼中的瞳人”（亚2:8）。{DD 43.2}[11]
§30
“Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.”?Isaiah 49:14-16. The Lord of hosts has said: “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.”?Zechariah 2:8.{DD 43.2}[11]
§31
【祂子民的安慰者】
§32
仇敌虽然把他们投在监牢里，但监牢的墙却不能阻隔他们与基督之间的交通。那知道他们每一弱点，熟悉他们每一试炼的主，是超乎一切地上权威之上的。祂要差遣天使到这些凄凉的牢狱中，将天上的平安与光辉带给他们。这些监牢将要变成王宫，因为大有信心的人住在其中。阴沉的墙垣将被天上的光辉所照耀，如同保罗和西拉在腓立比的监牢中半夜唱诗祈祷的时候一样。{DD 43.3}[12]
§33
【The Comforter of His People】
§34
Though enemies may thrust them into prison, yet dungeon walls cannot cut off the communication between their souls and Christ. One who sees their every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers; and angels will come to them in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven. The prison will be as a palace; for the rich in faith dwell there, and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian dungeon.{DD 43.3}[12]
§35
上帝的刑罚要临到一切想要压迫并消灭祂子民的人。因上帝长久宽容恶人，所以他们就大胆犯罪。他们的报应虽然迟延多时，但至终必然来到，毫厘不爽。“耶和华必兴起，象在毗拉心山，祂必发怒，象在基遍谷，好作成祂的工，就是非常的工；成就祂的事，就是奇异的事”（赛28:21）。在我们慈悲的上帝看来，施行刑罚乃是一椿奇异的事。“主耶和华说，我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡”（结33:11）。耶和华“是有怜悯，有恩典的上帝，不轻易发怒，并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实。……赦免罪孽，过犯和罪恶，万不以有罪的为无罪。”“耶和华不轻易发怒，大有能力，万不以有罪的为无罪”（出34:6-7;鸿1:3）。主将“以威严秉公义”维护祂那被践踏之律法的权威。从耶和华的迟迟不愿执行公义报应的这一件事上，我们可以看出那将要临到世人身上的刑罚必是多么可怕。上帝所容忍已久的百姓，祂不加以打击，直到他们在上帝面前恶贯满盈，那时他们便要喝那“纯一不杂”的忿怒之杯。……{DD 43.4}[13]
§36
God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it?is long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.”?Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.”?Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, ... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.”?Exodus 34:6, 7;?Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy....?{DD 43.4}[13]
§37
上帝的子民也不免遭受苦难；但他们虽然常遭逼迫，多经忧患，忍受穷乏，缺乏饮食，却必不至灭亡。那眷顾以利亚的上帝决不疏忽一个克己牺牲的儿女。那曾数过他们头发的主必要眷顾他们，而且在饥荒的时候他们必得饱足。当罪人因饥荒瘟疫而死亡的时候，天使要保护义人，并供应他们的需要。主曾应许那“行公义”的人说，“他的粮必不缺乏，他的水必不断绝。”“困苦穷乏人寻求水却没有，他们因口渴，舌头干燥，我耶和华必应允他们，我以色列的上帝必不离弃他们”（赛33:16;41:17）。{DD 44.1}[14]
§38
The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish. That God who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing children. He who numbers the hairs of their head will care for them, and in time of famine they shall be satisfied. While the wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence, angels will shield the righteous and supply their wants. To him that “walketh righteously” is the promise: “Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”?Isaiah 33:15, 16;?41:17.{DD 44.1}[14]
§39
“虽然无花果树不发旺，葡萄树不结果，橄榄树也不效力，田地不出粮食，圈中绝了羊，棚内也没有牛，然而我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的上帝喜乐”（哈3:17-18）。{DD 44.2}[15]
§40
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls;” yet shall they that fear Him “rejoice in the Lord” and joy in the God of their salvation.?Habakkuk 3:17, 18.{DD 44.2}[15]
§41
“保护你的是耶和华，耶和华在你右边荫庇你。白日太阳必不伤你，夜间月亮必不害你。耶和华要保护你，免受一切的灾害，祂要保护你的性命。”“祂必救你脱离捕鸟人的网罗，和毒害的瘟疫。祂必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你，你要投靠在祂的翅膀底下，祂的诚实，是大小的盾牌。你必不怕黑夜的惊骇，或是白日飞的箭，也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫，或是午间灭人的毒病。虽有千人仆倒在你旁边，万人仆倒在你右边，这灾却不得临近你。你惟亲眼观看，见恶人遭报。耶和华是我的避难所，你已将至高者当你的居所，祸患必不临到你，灾害也不挨近你的帐棚”（诗121:5-7;91:3-10）。{DD 44.3}[16]
§42
“The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.” “He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”?Psalm 121:5-7;?91:3-10.{DD 44.3}[16]