第23章 第一位天使的信息
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第23章 第一位天使的信息
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Chap. 23—The First Angel’s Message
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我从1843年时间的宣告中看到上帝的作为。祂的计划是唤醒人们，把他们带到一个应该做出决定的试验点。传道人们确信关于预言时期的立场是正确的。有些人放下了他们的骄傲，放弃了他们的薪水和教会，前往各地传扬这信息。但是当这从天而来的信息只能在很少的自称为基督传道人的心中找到立足之地时，这工作就放在了许多非传道人身上。有些人离开了他们的田地去传扬这信息。有些人蒙召离开他们的店铺和货物。甚至有些专业人士也蒙召离开了他们的专业去从事那不受欢迎的工作——传扬第一位天使的信息。传道人们把他们的宗派之见和感情弃置一旁，联合传扬基督的降临。无论在哪里传讲这信息，它都感动了人们。罪人悔改了，痛哭并祈求赦免，那些明显过着欺诈生活的人急于作出赔偿。{1SG 133.1}[1]
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I saw that God was in the proclamation of the time in 1843. It was his design to arouse the people, and bring them to a testing point where they should decide. Ministers were convicted and convinced of the correctness of the positions taken on the prophetic periods, and they left their pride, their salaries, and their churches, to go forth from place to place and proclaim the message. But as the message from heaven could find a place in the hearts of but a very few of the professed ministers of Christ, the work was laid upon many who were not preachers. Some left their fields to sound the message, while others were called from their shops and their merchandise. And even some professional men were compelled to leave their professions to engage in the unpopular work of giving the first angel’s message. Ministers laid aside their sectarian views and feelings, and united in proclaiming the coming of Jesus. The people were moved everywhere the message reached them. Sinners repented, wept and prayed for forgiveness, and those whose lives had been marked with dishonesty, were anxious to make restitution.?{1SG 133.1}[1]
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父母对自己的儿女感到了最深切的关怀。那些领受了这信息的人为他们尚未悔改的亲友作工，他们的心灵因这严肃的信息而深深折服，警告并恳劝他们为人子的降临作好准备。那些不愿屈服于这种有力证据的最刚硬的人也得到了衷心的警告。这种洁净心灵的工作使人们的爱情脱离了世俗的事物，前所未有地全然奉献。成千上万的人蒙引导信奉了由威廉·米勒耳传讲的真理。上帝的仆人们也被兴起来，本着以利亚的精神和能力传讲这信息。象耶稣的先锋约翰一样，那些传讲这严肃信息的人感到不得不将斧子放在树根上，并且号召人们结出果子来与悔改的心相称。他们的见证目的在于唤醒众教会并对他们产生强有力的影响，显明他们的真面目。当这要逃避那要来之忿怒的严肃警告响起时，许多与众教会联合的人接受了这医治的信息；他们看到了自己的背道，并且以痛苦的悔改之泪和灵魂深切的苦恼在上帝面前自卑。而当上帝的灵住在他们身上时，他们就不禁发出喊声：“应当敬畏上帝，将荣耀归给祂；因祂施行审判的时候已经到了。” {1SG 133.2}[2]
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Parents felt the deepest solicitude for their children. Those who received the message,?labored with their unconverted friends and relatives, and with their souls bowed with the weight of the solemn message, warned and entreated them to prepare for the coming of the Son of man. Those cases were the most hardened that would not yield to such a weight of evidence set home by heart-felt warnings. This soul-purifying work led the affections away from worldly things, to a consecration never before experienced. Thousands were led to embrace the truth preached by Wm. Miller, and servants of God were raised up in the spirit and power of Elijah to proclaim the message. Those who preached this solemn message, like John the forerunner of Jesus, felt compelled to lay the axe at the root of the tree, and call upon men to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Their testimony was calculated to arouse and powerfully affect the churches, and manifest their real character. And as they raised the solemn warning to flee from the wrath to come, many who were united with the churches received the healing message; they saw their backslidings, and, with bitter tears of repentance, and deep agony of soul, humbled themselves before God. And as the Spirit of God rested upon them, they helped to sound the cry, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come.?{1SG 133.2}[2]
§7
传讲明确的时间引起了各阶层极大的反对，从讲台上的牧师传道人到大胆鲁莽的罪人。可以听到假冒为善的传道人和大胆讥诮的人说“那日子，那时辰，没有人知道。”他们既不愿受教，也不愿被那些指出所相信预言时期将满之年并指出表明基督已近，就在门口了的各种兆头之人所用的经文纠正。许多自称爱耶稣的羊群牧者说，他们并不反对传讲基督的降临，但他们反对明确的时间。上帝鉴察一切的眼目看透他们的内心。他们并不喜欢耶稣临近。他们知道自己非基督徒的生活不会经受住试验，因为他们没有行走在祂所划定的谦卑的路上。这些假牧人挡在上帝圣工的路上。真理本着其令人信服的能力传讲出来，唤醒了百姓，象那个禁卒一样，他们开始询问：“我当怎样行才可得救？”但是这些假牧人介入真理和百姓之间，并且讲恭维话使他们离开真理。他们与撒但和他的使者联合，喊叫说：“平安了，平安了，”其实没有平安。我看到上帝的天使把他们都标了出来；那些未献身之牧人的衣服上沾满了人们的鲜血。那些贪图安逸，满足于同上帝保持距离的人，是不愿意从世俗的安全感中被唤醒的。{1SG 134.1}[3]
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The preaching of definite time called forth great opposition from all classes, from the?minister in the pulpit, down to the most reckless, heaven-daring sinner. No man knoweth the day and the hour, was heard from the hypocritical minister and the bold scoffer. Neither would be instructed and corrected on the use made of the text by those who were pointing to the year when they believed the prophetic periods would run out, and to the signs which showed Christ near, even at the doors. Many shepherds of the flock, who professed to love Jesus, said they had no opposition to the preaching of Christ’s coming; but they objected to the definite time. God’s all-seeing eye read their hearts. They did not love Jesus near. They knew that their unchristian lives would not stand the test; for they were not walking in the humble path laid out by him. These false shepherds stood in the way of the work of God. The truth spoken in its convincing power to the people aroused them, and like the jailer, they began to inquire, What must I do to be saved. But these shepherds stepped between the truth and the people, and preached smooth things to lead them from the truth. They united with Satan and his angels, and cried, Peace, peace, when there was no peace. I saw that angels of God had marked it all, and the garments of those unconsecrated shepherds were covered with the blood of souls. Those who loved their ease, and were content with?their distance from God, would not be aroused from their carnal security.?{1SG 134.1}[3]
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许多传道人自己不愿接受这得救的信息，那些愿意接受的人，他们也阻止。人们的血归到他们身上。传道人和百姓联合起来反对这从天而来的信息，并且逼迫威廉·米勒耳和那些与他在这工作中联合起来的人。各种谎言流传着，为要损害他的影响力；在不同的时间，当他清楚明白地宣讲了上帝的忠告，将扎心的真理应用到他的听众身上时，就激起人们狂怒地反对他，当他离开会场时，有些人伏击他，要取他的性命。但是上帝的天使们奉差遣去保护他的性命，他们领他安全地离开了愤怒的暴徒们。他的工作还没有完成。{1SG 136.1}[4]
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Many ministers would not accept this saving message themselves, and those who would receive it, they hindered. The blood of souls is upon them. Preachers and people joined to oppose this message from heaven. They persecuted Wm. Miller, and those who united with him in the work. Falsehoods were circulated to injure his influence, and at different times after he had plainly declared the counsel of God, applying cutting truths to the hearts of his hearers, great rage was kindled against him, and as he left the place of meeting, some way-laid him in order to take his life. But angels of God were sent to preserve his life, and they led him safely away from the angry mob. His work was not yet finished.?{1SG 136.1}[4]
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最虔诚献身的人高兴地领受了这信息。他们知道它是来自于上帝的，而且传讲的正是时候。众天使以最深切的兴趣注视着天上信息的结果，当众教会转而拒绝它时，他们悲伤地与耶稣商量。祂将祂的脸转离众教会并吩咐祂的天使们忠心守护那些没有拒绝这道证言的宝贵的人，因为另一道亮光还要照在他们身上。{1SG 136.2}[5]
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The most devoted gladly received the message. They knew it was from God, and that it was delivered at the right time. Angels were watching with the deepest interest the result of the heavenly message, and when the churches turned from and rejected it, they in sadness consulted with Jesus. He turned his face from the churches, and bid his angels to faithfully watch over the precious ones who did not reject the testimony, for another light was yet to shine upon them.?{1SG 136.2}[5]
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我看到如果自称为基督徒的人爱慕他们的救主显现，如果他们将自己所有的感情放在祂身上，并且感到地上没有任何一个人能与祂相比，他们就会喜乐地欢呼祂降临的第一次正式宣告了。但是当他们听到他们的主要来时，他们表现出的不喜欢乃是一个明确的证据，证明他们不爱祂。撒但和他的使者们夸胜了，且将这事投在耶稣基督和祂的圣天使面前，就是自称信仰耶稣的子民对祂的爱是那么的少，以致他们不愿意祂第二次显现。{1SG 136.3}[6]
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I saw that if professed Christians had loved?their Saviour’s appearing, if their affections were placed on him, if they felt that there was none upon earth to be compared with him, they would have hailed with joy the first intimation of his coming. But the dislike they manifested, as they heard of their Lord’s coming, was a decided proof that they did not love him. Satan and his angels triumphed, and cast it in the face of Jesus Christ and his holy angels, that his professed people had so little love for Jesus that they did not desire his second appearing.?{1SG 136.3}[6]
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我看到上帝的子民在期望期待他们的主时是喜乐的。但是上帝定意要考验他们。祂的手掩盖了预言时期计算中的一个错误。那些正在期待他们的主复临的人没有发现这个错误，而且反对这时间的最饱学的人也没能发现这个错误。上帝事先计划好要祂的子民遭受一次失望。所定的时间过去了，那些曾喜乐地期盼他们的救主的人悲伤灰心了，而那些不爱慕耶稣的显现，但却因恐惧而接受了这信息的人，却高兴祂没有在所预料的时间来。他们所表白的信仰并没有影响他们的心，也没有洁净他们的生活。那时间之所以过去，目的是要显明这等人的心。他们最先转而嘲笑那些真心喜爱他们救主显现的遭受了悲伤、失望的人。我看到上帝的智慧，祂考验祂的子民，并且给他们一个透彻的试验，为要发现那些会在考验的时辰退缩并往回走的人。{1SG 137.1}[7]
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I saw the people of God, joyful in expectation, looking for their Lord. But God designed to prove them. His hand covered a mistake in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. Those who were looking for their Lord did not discover it, and the most learned men who opposed the time also failed to see the mistake. God designed that his people should meet with a disappointment. The time passed, and those who had looked with joyful expectation for their Saviour were sad and disheartened, while those who had not loved the appearing of Jesus, but embraced the message through fear, were pleased that he did not come at the time of expectation. Their profession had not affected their hearts, and purified their lives. The passing of the time was well calculated to reveal such hearts. They were the first to turn and ridicule the sorrowful,?disappointed ones, who really loved the appearing of their Saviour. I saw the wisdom of God in proving his people, and giving them a searching test to discover those who would shrink and turn back in the hour of trial.?{1SG 137.1}[7]
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耶稣和全体天军都同情慈爱地望着那些以甜美的期盼渴望见祂的人，祂乃是他们所心爱的。众天使在他们四围盘旋，要在他们受考验的时辰扶持他们。那些曾忽视不接受这道天上信息的人被留在黑暗里了，上帝的忿怒也向他们燃起了，因为他们不愿领受祂曾从天上赐给他们的亮光。而那些忠心的、遭受了失望的人们虽不明白他们的主为何没有来，却没有被留在黑暗里。他们再蒙引导去研究他们的圣经，查考预言的时期。主的手从那些数字上挪开了，那个错误就得到了说明。他们看到预言时期是到1844年的，而且他们曾提出来说明预言时期结束于1843年的同样的证据证明那些时期应该结束于1844年。来自圣经的亮光照在了他们的立场上，他们就发现了一个迟延的时期——“虽然迟延，还要等候。”他们在热爱基督立即降临时，没有注意异象的迟延，这事的目的是要显明真正等候基督复临的人。这样他们就又有了一个时间点。可是我看到他们中的许多人没能从他们严重的失望中起来，没能表现出1843年曾显明他们信心的热心的程度和精力。J {1SG 138.1}[8]
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Jesus and all the heavenly host looked with sympathy and love upon those who had with sweet expectation longed to see him whom their souls loved. Angels were hovering around them, to sustain them in the hour of their trial. Those who had neglected to receive the heavenly message were left in darkness, and God’s anger was kindled against them, because they would not receive the light he had sent them from heaven. Those faithful, disappointed ones, who could not understand why their Lord did not come, were not left in darkness. Again they were led to their Bibles to search the prophetic periods. The hand of the Lord was removed from the figures, and the mistake was explained. They saw that the prophetic periods reached to 1844, and that the same evidence they had presented to show that the prophetic periods closed in 1843, proved that they would terminate in 1844. Light from the word of God shone upon their position, and they discovered a tarrying time.—If the vision tarry, wait for it.—In their love for Jesus’ immediate coming, they had overlooked the tarrying of the vision, which was calculated to manifest the true waiting ones. Again they had a point of?time. Yet I saw that many of them could not rise above their severe disappointment, to possess that degree of zeal and energy which had marked their faith in 1843.?{1SG 138.1}[8]
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撒但和他的使者向他们夸胜了，那些不愿领受这信息的人则庆祝他们自己的远见卓识，没有接受他们所称之为欺骗的事。他们没有认识到自己是在拒绝上帝对他们的忠告，也没有意识到他自己是在与撒但和他的使者联合作工，使活出了那道天赐信息的上帝子民感到困惑。{1SG 139.1}[9]
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Satan and his angels triumphed over them, and those who would not receive the message, congratulated themselves upon their far-seeing judgment and wisdom in not receiving the delusion, as they called it. They realized not that they were rejecting the counsel of God against themselves, and that they were working in union with Satan and his angels to perplex God’s people, who were living out the heaven-born message.?{1SG 139.1}[9]
§21
相信这道信息的人在各教会中受到了欺压。有一段时间，那些不愿接受这信息的人因恐惧而受到抑制，不敢将他们内心的情感付诸行动；但是所定的时间一过去，就显明了他们情感的真相。他们想要止息那些等候救主之人感到不得不传的见证，就是预言的时期延长到了1844年。信徒们清楚地说明了他们的错误，并且给出了他们期望主在1844年降临的理由。反对他们的人不能提出任何论据反对他们所提出的强有力的理由。可是众教会的愤怒却被点燃了；他们决定不听证据，并且把这见证关在众教会门外，好使别人也听不到它。于是那些不敢阻挡别人接受上帝已赐给他们之亮光的人就被关在众教会门外了；但是耶稣与他们同在，他们也在祂脸上的亮光中欢喜快乐。他们已被准备好要领受第二位天使的信息。{1SG 139.2}[10]
§22
The believers in this message were oppressed in the churches. Fear had held them for a time, so that they did not act out the sentiments of their heart, but the passing of the time revealed their true feelings. They wished to silence the testimony which the believers felt compelled to bear, that the prophetic periods extended to 1844. With clearness they explained their mistake, and gave their reasons why they expected their Lord in 1844. The opposers could not bring any arguments against the powerful reasons offered. The anger of the churches was kindled against them. They were determined not to listen to any evidence, and to shut their testimony out of the churches, so that others could not hear it. Those who dared not withhold from others the light God had?given them, were shut out of the churches; but Jesus was with them, and they were joyful in the light of his countenance. They were prepared to received the message of the second angel.?{1SG 139.2}[10]