THE BOOK OF REVELATION 启示录

 THE BOOK OF REVELATION

~ The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation Chapter 1

启示录

~ 耶稣基督的启示

启示录第一章

The Visions of John on the Lord's Day

Verse 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Verse 2: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

约翰在主日所见的异象

第1节：耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他的，要他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人；他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。

第2节：约翰将神的道和耶稣基督的见证，以及他所看见的一切事都见证出来。

The Book of Revelation begins with a clear declaration — “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him”. It was the revelation of Jesus Christ and not the revelation of John. It was the revelation which the Almighty God gave to His Son. Why? (Undoubtedly, there is a special relationship between the Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ.) The Revelation was given to Jesus Christ to show to His servants concerning things and events which must soon take place — from the time of John. And the year was 96 A.D..

《启示录》开篇便有一句清晰的宣告——“耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他的”。这是耶稣基督的启示，而非约翰的启示。这是全能的神赐给祂儿子的启示。为什么呢？（毫无疑问，全能的神与主耶稣基督之间存在着特殊的关系。）启示是赐给耶稣基督的，目的是要祂向祂的仆人显明那些即将发生的事和事件——从约翰时代开始。当时是公元96年。

Our Lord Jesus sent and communicated His Revelation through an angel to John who recorded all that he saw in his visions. John was the beloved of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:23; 20:2). He is a type of the Beloved (Bride) of Christ. Whatever things that were shown to John would have to be revealed to His Bride. Because we are living at the final stretch of the closing period of the whole dispensation of the Seven Church Ages, we are privileged to see a clearer picture than those members of the Bride in each of the past six Church Ages could see. Yes, this is the very hour of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Bride. This is the hour, not only for the Word but also for “the oil and the wine” — the anointing and the stimulation of revelation — of the Holy Spirit upon the Word. And this is the LIFE that cannot be hurt ( compare Revelation 6:6).

我们的主耶稣差遣一位天使将祂的启示传达给约翰，约翰记录了他在异象中所见的一切。约翰是主耶稣基督所爱的（约翰福音13:23；20:2）。他是基督所爱的新妇的预表。凡是向约翰显现的，也必会启示给祂的新妇。因为我们正生活在七个教会时代末期的最后阶段，我们有幸看到比过去六个教会时代中每一位新妇成员所看到的更清晰的景象。是的，这正是耶稣基督向新妇启示的时刻。这不仅是圣言的时刻，也是“油与酒”的时刻——圣灵膏抹并激发启示的时刻。这便是那永不受损的生命（参见启示录6:6）。

Verse 3: Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

第3节：凡念这预言的，和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，因为日期近了。

The unfolding of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is for us to understand and to obey the words of prophecy that we may be a light in this world of spiritual darkness and always be ready and prepared for the return of the Lord. Many Christians are actually spiritually blinded by Satan who has entered the realm of religious Christianity since the 4th Century, and who has actually been worshipped in the organized churches! Satan is the god of this evil age.

耶稣基督启示的展开，是为了让我们明白并遵行预言的话语，使我们成为这属灵黑暗世界中的光，时刻预备好迎接主的再来。许多基督徒实际上已被撒旦蒙蔽了灵性，撒旦自公元4世纪以来就已进入基督教宗教领域，甚至在有组织的教会中被人敬拜！撒旦是这邪恶时代的统治者。

Verse 4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Verse 5: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Verse 6: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

第4节：约翰写信给亚细亚的七个教会：愿恩惠、平安从那昔在、今在、以后永在的神，和祂宝座前的七灵，归与你们！

第5节：也从那诚实作见证的、从死里首先复活的、为世上君王元首的耶稣基督归与你们！祂爱我们，用自己的血洗净了我们的罪，

第6节：又使我们成为国度，作祂父神的祭司。愿荣耀、权能归于祂，直到永永远远。阿们！

Notice that there are three greetings from the throne area of Heaven. The first is from “him which is, and which was, and which is to come”. The second is from “the seven Spirits which are before his throne”. The third is from “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth”.

请注意，天上的宝座有三种问候。第一种来自“昔在、今在、以后永在的”。第二种来自“祂宝座前的七灵”。第三种来自“耶稣基督，祂是忠实的见证人，是从死里首先复活的，是地上君王的元首”。

The One “which is, and which was, and which is to come” is the Eternal Invisible Spirit — Elohim, the Almighty One. He does not have, and never had a beginning; He will never have an end. He always is because He always was, and He always will be — the I AM. He is the Creator and the Father of all creations. But “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth” is Elohim's Only Begotten Son Who is vested with all His authority (Matthew 28:18). The Son of God had a beginning. He was virgin born, nearly 2000 years ago, as a mortal person with a mission to conquer death and hell. Through God's Work of Redemption, Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to be born again sons and daughters of God, and to be a royal race and priests to serve His God and Father, Who is also our God and Father — “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17b). The only way we can truly be born again sons and daughters is to repent of our sins, be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, according to the revelation declared by the Apostles in the Early Church, and then we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Whereas the Blood of Christ takes care of the inherited 'original sin' nature in us, water baptism remits the sins in our lives. We will then walk in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and go on to perfection in His Word and the Blood of Christ will cleanse us from all our sins (compare 1 John.1:4-10).

那位“昔在、今在、以后永在的”就是永恒不可见的灵——全能的上帝（Elohim）。祂没有，也从未有过开始；祂也永远不会结束。祂永远存在，因为祂过去存在，将来也永远存在——祂就是“我是”。祂是创造者，是万物的父。然而，“耶稣基督，那忠实的见证人，从死里首先复生的，为世上君王的元首”，是上帝的独生子，祂拥有上帝一切的权柄（马太福音28:18）。上帝的儿子有祂的开始。祂在近两千年前由童贞女所生，以凡人的身份来到世上，肩负着战胜死亡和地狱的使命。藉着上帝的救赎之工，耶稣基督使我们得以重生，成为上帝的儿女，成为尊贵的族类和祭司，事奉祂的父神，祂也是我们的父神——“我升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的神，也是你们的神”（约翰福音20:17b）。我们真正重生为上帝儿女的唯一途径，就是悔改我们的罪，奉主耶稣基督的名受洗，使罪得赦免，正如早期教会使徒所启示的，然后我们就能领受圣灵的恩赐。基督的宝血洗净我们与生俱来的“原罪”，而水洗礼则赦免我们生命中的罪。那时，我们将行在耶稣基督福音的光中，在祂的道里追求完全，基督的宝血将洗净我们一切的罪（参见约翰一书1:4-10）。

As the Son of God, Jesus Christ has faithfully declared to us all that he had received from the Father and testified always to the truth concerning Himself before all men and even in the hour of His death. So, as “the faithful witness” He attests that we should and could believe the apocalyptic truth that He was about to reveal to John. Amen. His faithfulness endures to all generations!

作为上帝的儿子，耶稣基督忠实地向我们所有人宣告了他从父那里领受的真理，并在众人面前，甚至在他临终之际，始终为他自己作见证。因此，作为“忠实的见证人”，他见证我们应当也能够相信他即将向约翰启示的末世真理。阿们。他的信实直到万代！

Now, Jesus is the first begotten from the dead, which obviously means there will be others, after Him, who will be begotten from the dead. There will be a people who, upon their translation, will also have the same glorified body that Jesus has. They are the true members of the Bride (Body) of Christ. They are priests and subjects in His Kingdom for they all have direct access to Him. As He overcame and sat down on His Father's throne, so will His saints overcome and sit down with Him in His throne (compare Revelation 3:21). The King and His Bride will then rule the earth for a thousand years after the close of the Great Tribulation. The millennial reign of Christ with His Bride is called the Age of Regeneration (compare Matthew 19:28).

耶稣是死里复活的第一位，这显然意味着在他之后还会有其他从死里复活的人。会有一群人，在被提之后，也将拥有与耶稣一样荣耀的身体。他们是基督新妇（身体）的真正成员。他们是基督国度里的祭司和子民，因为他们都能直接来到基督面前。正如耶稣得胜并坐在父的宝座上一样，他的圣徒也将得胜并与他一同坐在他的宝座上（参启示录3:21）。大灾难结束后，君王和他的新妇将统治全地一千年。基督与他的新妇的千禧年统治被称为重生时代（参马太福音19:28）。

Concerning the Seven Spirits which are before the Throne of God, this is the first time that we read about their presence before the throne of God. However, Prophet Zechariah did make mention of them as the “eyes of the Lord” (Zechariah 4:10 compare 3:9). This is a mystery. It must therefore tell us something. Remember that the Book of Revelation is the last of the 66 books of the Bible and was written around the year 96 A.D.

关于侍立在上帝宝座前的七灵，这是我们第一次读到它们出现在上帝宝座前。然而，先知撒迦利亚曾称它们为“耶和华的眼睛”（撒迦利亚书 4:10，参 3:9）。这是一个奥秘，因此必然蕴含着某种意义。请记住，《启示录》是圣经66卷书中的最后一卷，大约写于公元96年。

God is a Spirit. He is One, not Seven or Three Spirits (Trinity). What then are these Seven Spirits?  They are actually God's attributes which are manifested throughout the periods of the Seven Church Ages and the 70th Week of Daniel's prophecy. These attributes are manifested through Seven Spiritual Angels soon after the Church fell away from her purity in about the year 53 A.D. In the Book of Revelation, we find that these Seven Spirits (ascribed or assigned to Seven Angels) have seven tasks to perform, seven different roles to play, so to speak. In their assignments, they have been identified as: i) SEVEN STARS in the right hand of the HIGH PRIEST and JUDGE Who walks in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks, ii) SEVEN LAMPS BURNING on the CANDLESTICKS, iii) SEVEN SEALS on the backside of the SEALED-BOOK in the right hand of the Almighty, iv) SEVEN HORNS and SEVEN EYES on the LAMB, v) SEVEN THUNDERS with the MIGHTY ANGEL, vi) SEVEN TRUMPETS which will sound after the Rapture of the Bride, and vii) SEVEN VIALS of God's Wrath which will be poured out upon the earth between the closing of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. And in two of their seven jobs, as the SEVEN STARS and the SEVEN THUNDERS, their (audible) VOICES are heard by the True Worshippers of God.

上帝是灵。祂是独一的，而非七灵或三位一体。那么，这七灵究竟是什么呢？它们实际上是上帝的属性，贯穿于七个教会时代和但以理预言的第七十个七年。大约在公元53年教会背离纯洁之后，这些属性便通过七位属灵天使彰显出来。在《启示录》中，我们发现这七灵（归于或指派给七位天使）有七项任务要完成，或者说，扮演着七个不同的角色。在他们的职责中，他们被认定为：i) 行走在七个金灯台中间的大祭司兼审判官右手中的七颗星；ii) 灯台上燃烧的七盏灯；iii) 全能者右手所持封印书卷背面的七印；iv) 羔羊的七角和七眼；v) 与大能天使一同出现的七雷；vi) 新娘被提后将要吹响的七支号角；以及 vii) 盛满上帝忿怒的七个碗，将在大灾难结束到主的日子之间倾倒在地上。在他们七项职责中的两项——七星和七雷——中，真敬拜上帝的人可以听到他们的声音。

Verse 7: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

第7节：看哪，他驾云降临；众目都要看见他，连刺他的人也要看见他；地上的万族都要因他哀哭。诚然如此。阿们。

This is not the coming of Christ for His Bride in the Rapture. The Rapture is a secret event to the world. This is the Lord Jesus Christ coming back physically with His saints after they have supped at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven (compare Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 19: 11-21). They will come riding on white horses and the eyes of Israel (who pierced Him) and of all the nations of the earth shall see Him. They shall be in great anguish because He has come to judge the world. This will take place at the close of the Great Tribulation in the Battle of Armageddon. Read Zechariah chapter 14.

这并非基督在被提中迎娶祂的新妇。被提对世人来说是秘密的。这是指主耶稣基督在天上与祂的圣徒们一同赴完羔羊的婚宴后，以肉身降临（参马太福音24:29-30；启示录19:11-21）。祂将骑着白马而来，以色列人（曾刺透祂的人）和地上万国的人都将看见祂。他们将极其痛苦，因为祂要来审判世界。这将在大灾难结束时，在哈米吉多顿之战中发生。请阅读撒迦利亚书14章。

Verse 8: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 

第 8 节：我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，我是初，我是终，是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者。

Do pay close attention to verse 8 that you may understand two terms in the verse which clearly show us the Oneness of the Godhead — all that God is, is in Christ Jesus. It will show you Who God is and Who Jesus is; they are One God. Notice the first statement. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” — the Lord is speaking of His being in TIME. Eternity has no time; it has no beginning and no ending. Hence, when Elohim uses this term, He speaks of the REVELATION of Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ (read John 1). The Apostle Paul used a near equivalent statement when he wrote: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Heb.13:8). The Word of God, Who is God Himself, came forth in the beginning as Alpha to bring forth Creations. This same Word Who is also Omega will bring to an end all things created through His Redemption Work (cf. Jhn.1:1-3; Rev.3:14). Christ Jesus, Who is the Word of God incarnate, is therefore the firstborn of God (Col.1:15). The second statement, “which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (or “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”) is used emphatically of the Almighty Himself as the only source ('circle') of life. Hence, He is YAHWEH, “THE ETERNAL WITHIN HIMSELF EXISTING ONE”.

请仔细阅读第8节，以便理解其中两个术语，它们清楚地表明了三位一体的神性——神的一切所是，都在基督耶稣里。这将向你揭示神是谁，耶稣是谁；他们是同一位神。请注意第一句话：“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛；我是初，我是终。”——主在这里谈论祂在时间中的存在。永恒没有时间；它没有开始，也没有结束。因此，当神使用这个词时，祂指的是祂在耶稣基督的位格中启示自己（请参阅约翰福音1章）。使徒保罗也使用了几乎相同的表述，他写道：“耶稣基督昨日、今日、一直到永远，是一样的”（希伯来书13:8）。神的道，也就是神自己，在起初作为阿拉法而出现，创造了万物。这位同时也是欧米伽的道，将藉着祂的救赎之工终结万物（参约翰福音1:1-3；启示录3:14）。基督耶稣，道成肉身的神，因此是神的长子（歌罗西书1:15）。第二句“昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者”（或“昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者”）强调全能者本身是生命的唯一源泉（“循环”）。因此，祂是耶和华，“自有永有者”。

Remember Jesus Christ had a beginning. He was born of a virgin, raised as a child and grew up as a man (cf. Luk.2:40,52). But God is Spirit and will always be Spirit. He is invisible (1 Tim.1:17; 6:16). The only way we can see God is to see His works (cf. Jhn.6: 28-29; 10:25,36-38; 14:10-13). At the appointed time, Jesus was empowered by the Word of God. This happened at His water baptism in Jordan River. The Spirit of God came down from Heaven to dwell in Him. This was the incarnation of God — God 'en morphe' in flesh; God clothed in flesh. But the Almighty God was still Spirit, and though Jesus Christ was still a man, He was a God-Man. The body of Jesus is not God; it is only God's abode, His temple. It was the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who died at Calvary and not God Himself for God, being a Spirit, cannot die. After His death and resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven. On His ascension He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt.28:18b). Prior to His ascension, Jesus did not have “all power” for He said that He could not do anything until His Father showed Him what to do (compare John 5:19). It is not difficult to see how the Eternal Invisible Spirit (One Spirit) has revealed Himself in the Man called Jesus Christ — “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19 a). Therefore, this fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 : “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). Hence, when Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”, He was declaring the Divinity in Himself. Though He was the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossian 2:9) God was still the Eternal Invisible Holy Spirit above, about and around Him (Jesus Christ) for God is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent.

记住，耶稣基督是有开始的。祂由童贞女所生，从孩童时期长大成人（参路加福音2:40,52）。但神是灵，祂永远是灵。祂是不可见的（提前1:17；6:16）。我们认识神的唯一途径是看祂的作为（参约翰福音6:28-29；10:25,36-38；14:10-13）。在所定的时间，耶稣藉着神的话语得着能力。这发生在祂在约旦河受洗的时候。神的灵从天降临，住在祂里面。这就是神的道成肉身——神“以肉身显现”；神披戴了肉身。但全能的神仍然是灵，虽然耶稣基督仍然是人，但祂是神人。耶稣的身体不是神；它只是神的居所，祂的圣殿。在髑髅地死去的是神的儿子耶稣基督，而不是神自己，因为神是灵，祂不会死。耶稣死而复活后升天。升天时，祂说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了”（太28:18b）。在升天之前，耶稣并没有“所有的权柄”，因为祂说过，在父指示祂之前，祂什么也不能做（参约5:19）。不难看出，那永恒不可见的灵（一位灵）是如何在耶稣基督这个人身上启示祂自己的——“神在基督里，叫世人与自己和好”（林后5:19a）。因此，这应验了以赛亚书9章6节的预言：“因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，政权必担在他的肩头上。他名称为奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。”“敬虔的奥秘是伟大的，这毋庸置疑：就是神在肉身显现，被圣灵称义，被天使看见，被传于外邦，被世人信服，被接升到荣耀里。”（提摩太前书3章16节）因此，当耶稣说：“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛；我是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者。”祂是在宣告祂自身的神性。虽然祂是神性的完全体现（歌罗西书 2:9），但神仍然是永恒的、不可见的圣灵，在祂之上、祂周围，因为神是全能的、全知的、无所不在的。

虽然祂是神性的丰盛有形体（歌罗西书 2:9），但神仍然是永恒的、不可见的圣灵，在祂（耶稣基督）之上、周围和之内，因为神是全能的、全知的、无所不在的。

The Word (in Greek: Logos) of God which came forth in the beginning (see John 1:1-4) was actually His creative self-revelation, “the side of God turned towards the world”. It was not another Spirit being Who was also God. There is but ONE SPIRIT, ONE TRUE GOD.  The Trinity of God is a pagan concept. It has its root in the mystery religion spawned at Babel by Nimrod and his mother, Semiramis. The concept of multiple gods, by different names and titles, was greatly accepted throughout the time of the Greek and Roman world. The people practiced sex orgies, idolatry, mutilation and even human sacrifices in the names of their gods. When the first Church of Rome fell from grace, she too embraced many of the pagan practices. Mystery Babylon, the Great Harlot of Revelation chapter 17, is none other than the first Church of Rome — the Roman Catholic Church. She overrode the Word of God with her dogmas and changed the doctrine of Oneness of God into a Trinity of God in the year 325 A.D. Needless to say, even today, all her harlot daughters (organized denomination churches) still embrace the same paganish dogma. 

起初所出的神之道（希腊文：逻各斯，Logos）（参见约翰福音1:1-4）实际上是祂创造性的自我启示，“神面向世界的那一面”。它并非另一个灵体，也不是另一个神。只有一位灵，一位真神。三位一体是异教的概念，其根源在于宁录和他的母亲塞米拉米斯在巴别塔创立的神秘宗教。在古希腊和古罗马时期，人们普遍接受多神论，尽管这些神拥有不同的名字和称号。人们以神的名义进行性狂欢、偶像崇拜、残害肢体，甚至献祭活人。当罗马第一教会堕落时，她也接受了许多异教习俗。启示录第17章中提到的神秘巴比伦，即大淫妇，指的正是罗马第一教会——罗马天主教会。公元325年，她用自己的教条凌驾于上帝的圣言之上，将上帝一位论改为上帝三位一体论。毋庸置疑，即使在今天，她所有的娼妓女儿（有组织的教派教会）仍然信奉同样的异教教条。

The mystery of the doctrine of Trinity is a mystery created by theologians. Their presentation (which they call interpretation) is apparently quite persuasive, but their understanding and reasoning are appalling to the extent that they not only deceive others, but they also deceive themselves. They almost always qualify their teaching with such words, “We can never understand the mystery of the Trinity. Because we are finite we cannot fully comprehend God”. Certainly, with such foolish teaching, how do we expect the common Christian people to understand anything about God in the scriptural sense that God wants them to understand Him. However, the opposite is true. The words of the Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 3:16, do not make the doctrine of the Godhead mysterious in any way than its simple truth. The New International Version renders the verse a little better: “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory”. Furthermore, concerning our need to comprehend our God, he wrote: “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:15-18).

三位一体教义的奥秘是神学家们人为制造的。他们的阐述（他们称之为诠释）表面上颇具说服力，但他们的理解和推理却令人震惊，不仅欺骗他人，也欺骗自己。他们几乎总是用这样的话来限定自己的教导：“我们永远无法理解三位一体的奥秘。因为我们是有限的，所以我们无法完全理解上帝。” 诚然，在这种愚昧的教导下，我们又怎能指望普通的基督徒能够按照圣经的教导，理解上帝希望他们理解的关于祂的一切呢？然而，事实恰恰相反。使徒保罗在提摩太前书3:16中的话语，并没有使神性教义变得神秘莫测，反而将其阐明为一个简单的真理。新国际版圣经对这节经文的翻译更为恰当：“毫无疑问，敬虔的奥秘是伟大的：祂以肉身显现，被圣灵称义，被天使看见，被传于万邦，被世人信服，被接升天得荣耀。”此外，关于我们需要认识我们的神，他写道：“因此，我既听见你们信靠主耶稣，爱众圣徒，就为你们不住地感谢神，祷告的时候常提到你们；求我们主耶稣基督的神，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他，并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道他的呼召有何等指望，他在圣徒中所得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀。”（以弗所书 1:15-18）  

Truly, we certainly need to know what we believe lest we receive a harsh rebuke from the Lord just as He had rebuked the Samaritan woman at the well: “Ye worship ye know not what”. The majority of the Christian people have been deceived into accepting the doctrine of the Trinity for their salvation. Some tenets of faith of denominational churches specifically state that a person is not a Christian unless he/she believes in the Trinity. But the Bible shows otherwise.

的确，我们务必清楚自己的信仰，以免遭受主的严厉斥责，正如祂斥责井边的撒玛利亚妇人那样：“你们所敬拜的，你们不知道是什么。” 大多数基督徒被蒙蔽，接受了三位一体的教义，并以此作为得救的依据。一些教派的信条甚至明确指出，一个人若不相信三位一体，就不能称之为基督徒。然而，圣经的教导却并非如此。

Verse 9: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

第 9 节：我约翰，也是你们的弟兄，与你们一同经历患难，一同享受耶稣基督的国度和忍耐，曾为神的道，并为给耶稣基督作见证，到名叫拔摩的海岛上去。

Patmos was a small island off the coast of Asia Minor. It was about 60 to 120 kilometres from those seven churches to which John addressed his letters. The Romans put condemned criminals there (just like the Americans used to put theirs on the island of Alcatraz, off the city of San Francisco). There was no escape from the island which was infested with poisonous snakes and scorpions.

帕特莫斯岛是小亚细亚沿岸的一个小岛，距离约翰写信的那七个教会大约60到120公里。罗马人把被判死刑的罪犯关押在那里（就像美国人把罪犯关押在旧金山附近的阿尔卡特拉斯岛一样）。岛上毒蛇蝎子横行，罪犯根本无法逃脱。

Apostle John was probably about 90 years old when he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. Well, whether you are 90 or 9 years old, God can always use you provided you are willing to serve Him. Here we see that John was persecuted for his faith. He knew that the true worshippers of God must invariably go through trials and tribulations one way or another for their faith. Though he was in dire circumstance John even comforted those in tribulation by identifying with them — “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Although he was exiled to isolation on an island, John knew that God had a purpose in it and that God was with him. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in His way” (Psalm 37:23).

使徒约翰被流放到拔摩岛时，大概已经岁了。其实，无论你是90岁还是9岁，只要你愿意服侍神，祂总能使用你。我们看到，约翰因着他的信仰而遭受迫害。他深知，真正敬拜神的人，无论怎样，都必然会因着他们的信仰经历各种试炼和磨难。尽管身处困境，约翰仍然安慰那些受苦的人，与他们感同身受——“我约翰，也是你们的弟兄，在患难、国度、忍耐里与你们同在，为神的道，并为耶稣基督的见证，被流放到拔摩岛。”尽管他被流放到孤岛上，与世隔绝，约翰仍然相信神有祂的旨意，并且神与他同在。“义人的脚步被耶和华立定；他的道路，耶和华也喜爱。”（诗篇37:23）

In solitude John had plenty of time. His physical body was in bondage but his spirit was not. Having nothing physical to do, he spent his time in the presence of the Almighty God, worshipping Him. And he was in such an attitude one day, on the first day of the week, the Lord's day, that he became the instrument of blessings to the saints of God. He was so immersed in the Spirit of the Lord that the natural realm began to move away and he began to enter into another realm — the spiritual realm of God. He began to hear and see things that no man had heard or seen before, and he “bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (vv.2).

约翰独处时有很多空闲时间。他的肉体受制于束缚，但他的灵却不受束缚。由于无事可做，他便将时间花在全能上帝的面前，敬拜祂。有一天，在一周的第一天，也就是主日，他进入了如此虔诚的状态，以至于他成为了上帝圣徒蒙福的器皿。他完全沉浸在主的灵里，以至于属世的领域开始远离他，他开始进入另一个领域——上帝的属灵领域。他开始听到和看到以前从未有人听见或见过的事情，他“为上帝的道和耶稣基督的见证，以及他所看到的一切事作见证”（第2节）。

Verse 10:  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Verse 11: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

第10节：当主日，我被圣灵感动，听见在我后面有大声音如吹号，

第11节：说：“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，我是首先的，我是末后的；你所看见的，要写在书上，寄给亚细亚的七个教会，就是以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非和老底嘉。”

The term “Lord's Day” is not the same as the “Day of the Lord” which is found in many passages throughout the Old and New Testaments. The term is used only once in the Holy Scriptures and is understood to signify the “first day of the week” when the saints would gather together to worship God. [Note: The word “Lord's” (in Greek: kuriakos) is an adjective, meaning something belonging solely to the Lord. It has no exact English equivalent. Another occurrence is in 1 Corinthians 11:20 — “Lord's Supper”, an ordinance set down by the Lord in which the saints would come together to commemorate His death till He returns. “Lord's Supper” is never called the “Supper of the Lord”. For obvious reasons, read Revelation 19:9,17.]

“主日”一词与旧约和新约中多处出现的“主的日子”并非同一概念。“主日”一词在圣经中仅出现过一次，通常指“一周的第一天”，即圣徒聚集敬拜神的日子。[注：“主的”（希腊文：kuriakos）是一个形容词，意为专属于主的事物。它在英语中没有完全对应的词。另一个例子是哥林多前书11:20——“主的晚餐”，这是主所设立的圣礼，圣徒们聚集在一起纪念祂的死，直到祂再来。“主的晚餐”从未被称为“主的晚餐”。原因显而易见，请参阅启示录19:9,17。]

G. M. Lamsa translated the first part of verse 10 as “The Spirit of prophecy came upon me on the Lord's day…”  Contrary to what is being taught by some theologians, John's spirit was not projected or teleported into a span of time in the 21st Century when Jesus would return to earth and set up His Millennial Reign. Some even teach that the “Day of the Lord” is the period of a thousand years during which Christ will reign over the earth. But the “Day of the Lord” is truly the time of Christ's return to the earth, at the close of the 3½ years of Great Tribulation, to fight in the Battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 19:11-21). Then after the battle, the Most Holy Place of the Millennial Temple will be anointed (Daniel 9:24) and Christ will judge the nations of the world (Matthew 25:31-46). Following that period will be the Age of Regeneration (compare Matthew 19:28). Hence, the “Day of the Lord” is the 75-day period (compare Daniel 12:11-12) between the closing of the 3½ years of Great Tribulation and the beginning of the 1000-year reign of Christ and His Saints. 

G. M. Lamsa 将第 10 节的前半部分翻译为“当主日，预言的灵临到我身上……”。与一些神学家的教导相反，约翰的灵并没有被投射或传送到 21 世纪的某个特定时期，即耶稣重返地球并建立千禧年统治的时期。有些人甚至教导说，“主的日子”是指基督统治地球的一千年时期。但“主的日子”实际上是指基督在三年半的大灾难结束后重返地球，参与哈米吉多顿之战的时刻（撒迦利亚书 14:4；马太福音 24:29-30；启示录 19:11-21）。战后，千禧年圣殿的至圣所将被膏抹（但以理书 9:24），基督将审判世上的列国（马太福音 25:31-46）。此后便是重生时代（参马太福音 19:28）。因此，“主的日子”指的是大灾难三年半结束到基督及其圣徒千年统治开始之间的75天时期（参但以理书 12:11-12）。

When John was in the Spirit of the Lord, he heard a great voice, which sounded like a trumpet, right behind him. That “great voice” identified Himself as Deity. He was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Time began with Him and time will end with Him — the “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last”.

约翰被主的灵感动时，听见在他身后有大声音，如同号角声。那“大声音”表明祂是神。祂正是主耶稣基督。时间始于祂，也将终结于祂——祂是“阿拉法，俄梅戛；首先的，末后的”。

The seven churches to which John was commanded to address his writings consisted of mostly Gentile converts. These seven churches were located in Asia Minor (the area which is today's Western Turkey). Remember this was the year 96 A.D., about 45 years after the Gospel had began to affect the Gentile people as fewer Jews were accepting it. God was turning to the Gentile people to take out a Spiritual Bride for His Son. This Book of Revelation was written for the benefit of the Bride that she might understand what the Lord was going to do in His Church and what events would transpire throughout the Grace Age.

约翰奉命向七个教会写信，这些教会大多由外邦信徒组成。这七个教会位于小亚细亚（今土耳其西部地区）。请记住，当时是公元96年，距离福音开始影响外邦人已有约45年，因为接受福音的犹太人越来越少。上帝转向外邦人，为祂的儿子拣选属灵的新妇。这本《启示录》正是为了这位新妇而写，使她能够明白主将在祂的教会中成就什么，以及在恩典时代将会发生哪些事。

Now, the Grace Age is divided into seven periods. Each period, being represented by one of the seven churches, is revealed and assessed by Christ as recorded by John in chapters 2 and 3. They are commonly called the Seven Church Ages.

如今，恩典时代被划分为七个时期。每个时期都由七个教会中的一个代表，基督在约翰福音第2章和第3章中对这些时期进行了揭示和评价。它们通常被称为七个教会时代。

Verse 12: And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Verse 13: And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

第12节：我转过身来，要看是谁在跟我说话。我转过身来，看见七个金灯台；

第13节：七个灯台中间有一位好像人子，身穿长袍，直垂到脚，胸间束着金带。

When John turned to see who was speaking to him he saw Seven Golden Candlesticks (i.e. Lampstands).. These Seven Golden Lamp-stands are the Seven Churches as interpreted in verse 20. Prophet Zechariah wrote: “I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof” (Zechariah 4:2). The oil in the bowl flows through the pipes into the lamps. The oil speaks of the Spirit of God always flowing afresh into the Church of Christ throughout the Seven Church Ages. The Spirit of Christ is the Light of the world; the church is just the carrier of the Light. In the midst of these lampstands John saw “one like unto the Son of man”. That was the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man. And He was wearing a High Priest robe. (Notice that He did not have a Breastplate of Judgement, the Urim and the Thummim, on His breast because He Himself was the Urim and the Thummim.)  This means that He was in the position of a High Priest showing that He was an Intercessor or a Mediator. He still is, but He will not always be in this intermediary position. Some time in the future He will come back to earth as a King and rule the earth for 1000 years. Of course, He will not be dressed as a High Priest; He will be dressed as a King.

约翰转过身去看是谁在跟他说话，看见七个金灯台。这七个金灯台象征着七个教会，正如第20节所解释的。先知撒迦利亚写道：“我观看，见一个全是金的灯台，顶上有灯盏，灯盏上有七盏灯，灯盏顶上有七根管子。”（撒迦利亚书4:2）灯盏里的油通过管子流入灯盏。油象征着神的灵在七个教会时代中不断涌入基督的教会。基督的灵是世界的光；教会只是这光的载体。在这些灯台中间，约翰看见“一位像人子”。那人就是主耶稣基督，神人。祂身穿大祭司的袍子。 （请注意，祂胸前并没有佩戴审判的胸牌——乌陵和土明，因为祂本身就是乌陵和土明。）这意味着祂当时是大祭司，表明祂是代求者或中保。祂现在仍然是，但祂不会永远处于这种中保地位。将来某个时候，祂将以君王的身份重返地球，统治地球一千年。当然，祂不会再穿大祭司的服饰，而是会穿君王的服饰。

Our Lord Jesus Christ has to fulfill what was written of Him in the prophetic writings contained in the books of the Old Testament. He has many roles to fulfill, so to speak. When He came to this earth nearly 2000 years ago, He came as a Prophet-Servant to preach the Word of God and to serve mankind (compare Mark.10:45). He was no longer the Prophet and Servant after His death and ascension but “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession…” (Hebrews 3:1). See?  Now He is “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession”. And when this period of time is over He will return to earth to rule and judge (Revelation 20:11-15). “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he 'has put everything under his feet.' Now when it says that 'everything' has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 ).. Amen. Jesus Christ will then have fulfilled everything that was written of Him. He will then be “the Omega”, “the ending”, as TIME is wrapped up in ETERNITY. Then He will once again subject Himself to the Invisible God, His Father, Who is also our God and Father — the “I AM” “Who is, Who was, and Who is to come”, the Eternal One Who is immutable. But Jesus Christ will be our elder brother in His spiritual body form.

我们的主耶稣基督必须成就旧约圣经中预言的那些事。可以说，祂肩负着许多使命。大约两千年前，祂来到世上时，是以先知兼仆人的身份，传讲神的话语，服侍世人（参马可福音10:45）。祂死而升天之后，不再是先知兼仆人，而是“我们所信奉的使徒和大祭司……”（希伯来书3:1）。明白了吗？如今祂是“我们所信奉的使徒和大祭司”。当这段时期结束后，祂将重返地球，统治并审判世人（启示录20:11-15）。 “到末期，基督既将一切执政的、掌权的、有能的都毁灭了，就把国交与父神。因为基督必须作王，直到把一切仇敌都放在他的脚下。最后要毁灭的仇敌就是死亡。因为基督‘已经把万物都放在他的脚下’。经上说‘万物’都放在他的脚下，显然不包括神自己，因为神已经把万物都放在基督的脚下了。这事既成就了，那时子也要自己服那叫万物服他的，好叫神在万物之上，为万物之主。”（哥林多前书 15:24-28）阿们。那时，耶稣基督将应验所有关于他的预言。他将成为“欧米伽”，“终结”，因为时间最终都归于永恒。然后，祂将再次顺服于那看不见的上帝，祂的父，也是我们的上帝和父——“我是”，“昔在、今在、以后永在的”，那永恒不变的上帝。但耶稣基督将以属灵的身体形式成为我们的长兄。

Verse 14: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

第 14 节：他的头和头发像羊毛一样白，像雪一样白；他的眼睛如同火焰；

This speaks of Jesus Christ as being a Judge. In his days, the prophet Daniel also saw this same Judge in his vision (Daniel 7:9). No evil can escape the scrutiny of His eyes of blazing fire — omniscient flame — in judgement.

这表明耶稣基督是一位审判者。先知但以理在世时，也曾在异象中见过这位审判者（但以理书 7:9）。在祂审判中，任何邪恶都无法逃脱祂那烈火般的目光——无所不知的火焰。

Verse 15: And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

第 15 节：他的脚好像在炉中烧制的精铜，他的声音好像众水的声音。

“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.”  Jesus Christ, the One with God's own life, stood steadfastly in judgement for you and me so that we might not be condemned. It was a fiery trial all along the way till He ended up as a bleeding Lamb, spilling His Blood at Calvary, thus completing God's atonement for us. But, very soon, He is coming to judge those who reject His offer of salvation.

“他的脚好像精炼的铜，如同在炉中烧过一般。”耶稣基督，那位拥有神生命的主，坚定地站在审判台前，为我们受审判，使我们不被定罪。一路走来，祂经历了烈火般的考验，最终化作流血的羔羊，在髑髅地洒下宝血，完成了神为我们所成就的赎罪。然而，祂很快将再次降临，审判那些拒绝祂救恩的人。

“And his voice as the sound of many waters.” Like mighty running streams of water, babbling brooks, or great showers of rain, the words of Christ have always been soothing, bringing joy, comfort, peace and faith to the hearers. Throughout the ages the sound of His voice, speaking through His ministers, would revive His people in the Spirit and Word of God. The voice is the revelation of Christ Himself. 

“他的声音如同众水的声音。”如同奔腾的江河、潺潺的溪流或倾盆大雨，基督的话语总是抚慰人心，带给听众喜乐、安慰、平安和信心。千百年来，他的声音，透过他的仆人，在圣灵和神的话语中复兴他的子民。这声音就是基督亲自的启示。

Verse 16: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength.

第 16 节：他右手拿着七颗星，口中吐出一把锋利的双刃剑，他的面容如同烈日般明亮。

“The seven stars are the seven angels (or messengers) of the seven churches” (see verse 20). Apparently the Apostle John was acquainted with these seven churches and their presiding bishops or pastors. Hence, the letters were addressed to these seven outstanding servants of God as “messengers” so that they would be aware of Christ's assessment of their respective church and its condition. And knowing the conditions of these churches God set a type that would reflect the Church Age in seven epochs of time. Also, these seven stars (or messengers) testify of a greater ministry to the Body of Christ in each of the Seven Church Ages than just these local churches in the seven selected cities of Asia Minor. Each of these stars was a special gift of God to its respective Church Age.

“这七星就是七个教会的七位天使（或使者）”（见第20节）。显然，使徒约翰认识这七个教会及其主教或牧师。因此，这些书信是写给这七位杰出的上帝仆人，称他们为“使者”，以便他们了解基督对他们各自教会及其状况的评价。上帝深知这些教会的状况，便设立了一个预表，反映七个不同时代的教会。此外，这七颗星（或使者）也见证了在七个教会时代中，基督对基督身体的服事远比小亚细亚七个选定城市的地方教会更为重大。每一颗星都是上帝赐予其各自教会时代的特别礼物。

Gifts are given with the right hand. And the stars being held in the right hand of Jesus Christ shows us that God deals with the churches according to His grace and mercy. Through these specially anointed messengers the sharp and powerful message of God, which proceeded from the mouth of Christ, was wielded by them in their days for the steadfastness of Christ Jesus was brilliant and mighty.

礼物是用右手递出的。耶稣基督右手所持的星辰象征着神以祂的恩典和怜悯对待教会。藉着这些特别受膏的使者，他们得以在当时传扬那从基督口中发出的、清晰而有力的神的信息，因为基督耶稣的坚定不移、威严无比。

Verse 17: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Verse 18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

第17节：我一看见他，就仆倒在他脚前，像死了一样。他用右手按着我，对我说：“不要害怕！我是首先的，我是末后的。

第18节：我是那活着的，我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远；并且我拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙。”

If the countenance of Christ in all His glory proved too much for John, what about us? So, let us be holy as God is holy.

如果基督荣耀的容貌都令约翰难以承受，我们又该如何承受呢？所以，让我们像神一样圣洁吧。

Jesus Christ once again identified Himself as “the first and the last”. In fact He is “the first and the last” person ever to be born into this world to die for mankind and yet live again. He is the only one. Nobody else has ever done what He did. There is no other person through whom mankind can have salvation. God turned His back upon Christ, figuratively speaking, as He hung on that cross at Mount Calvary, spilling His blood for you and me. And because He lives again, we will also live with Him. Amen.

耶稣基督再次表明自己是“首先的，也是末后的”。事实上，祂是“第一个，也是最后一个”降生于世，为人类而死，却又复活的人。祂是唯一一位。没有人做过祂所做的事。除了祂以外，人类无法获得救赎。从某种意义上说，当基督被钉在各各他山的十字架上，为我们流血牺牲时，上帝仿佛离弃了祂。但因祂复活了，我们也将与祂同在。阿们。

Our Lord Jesus has “the keys of hell and of death”. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:18-22).

我们的主耶稣拥有“死亡和阴间的钥匙”。“因基督也曾一次为罪受苦，就是义的代替不义的，为要引我们到神面前。按着肉体说，他被治死；按着灵性说，他复活了。他藉着这灵，曾去向那些在监狱里的灵传道，就是那些从前在挪亚预备方舟、神恒久忍耐等待的时候不信从的人。当时进入方舟，藉着水得救的，不多，只有八个人。这水所预表的洗礼，现在也藉着耶稣基督的复活拯救你们；这洗礼本不在乎除掉肉体的污秽，只在乎在神面前有无亏的良心。耶稣基督已经升天，坐在神的右边，天使、有权柄的、有能力的，都服从了他。”（彼得前书 3:18-22）

While our Lord's body laid in the tomb, His spirit went down to “sheol”, the place and “prison” of the departed dead, and preached to those spirits held captive there. Satan was the 'warden' of “sheol” and he had the keys, so to speak, for he was the author of death. He held all the dead in his “prison”. However, Jesus Christ, overcame death and became the author of our salvation. He is the author of life to all who would believe in Him. He is the Lord of hosts, the King of glory Who is mighty in battle (compare Psalm 24:7-10). Christ went right through the fortress of Satan's prison and snatched the keys of death and hell from him and opened up the gates of the prison that held His saints captive. All the saints of God who died since the time of Adam until the atonement was paid by Christ were released from Satan's prison bars of hell. They became Christ's prisoners, so to speak. (Read Matthew 27:52-53; Ephesians 4:8-10.)

当我们的主安息在坟墓里时，祂的灵降到“阴间”（sheol），也就是亡者居住的“监狱”，向被囚禁在那里的灵魂传道。撒旦是“阴间”的“看守”，可以说他掌握着阴间的钥匙，因为他是死亡的始作俑者。他把所有死人都囚禁在他的“监狱”里。然而，耶稣基督战胜了死亡，成为我们救恩的始作俑者。祂是所有信祂之人的生命的始作俑者。祂是万军之耶和华，荣耀的君王，祂在战场上大有能力（参诗篇24:7-10）。基督径直穿过撒旦的监狱堡垒，从他手中夺取了死亡和阴间的钥匙，打开了囚禁祂圣徒的监狱大门。从亚当时代到基督完成赎罪祭之前，所有死去的圣徒都从撒旦的地狱牢笼中被释放出来。可以说，他们成了基督的囚犯。 （请阅读马太福音 27:52-53；以弗所书 4:8-10。）

Verse 19: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

第19节：你要把所看见的、现在的事和将来的事都写下来；

John was commanded to write down i) what he had seen, “the things which thou hast seen” — what we read in chapter 1; ii) what is, “the things which are” — that is, the conditions of the seven local churches in Asia Minor (which prophetically reflect the whole Body of Christ throughout the grace period of the Church Age); and iii) what is to happen after these things, “the things which shall be hereafter” — pointing to events which shall happen in the future ahead of John's time. Consequently, we have this Book of Revelation.

约翰奉命写下：一、他所看见的，“你所看见的事”——即我们在第一章读到的内容；二、现在的事，“现在的事”——也就是小亚细亚七个地方教会的状况（这预言性地反映了教会时代恩典时期整个基督身体的状况）；三、这些事之后将要发生的事，“以后必成的事”——指的是约翰时代之前将要发生的事件。因此，我们才有了这本《启示录》。

Verse 20: The mystery of the seven stars which thou saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou saw are the seven churches.

第20节：你所看见在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘。七星就是七个教会的使者；你所看见的七个灯台就是七个教会。

This last verse is self-explanatory. In fact this is one of several 'key' verses to the interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Right away we are told that the Seven Stars are the Angels of the Seven Churches and the Seven Candlesticks are Seven Churches. Hence, the “mystery” is unfolded to show us that there would be seven “earthly” angels, or messengers, of the Seven Church Ages and not just seven local ministers of seven churches in Asia Minor. (This will be better understood when we look into Revelation chapters 2 and 3.)  Moreover, the Seven Spirits which stood before the throne of God would minister to these Seven Messengers of the Seven Church Ages. These Spirits would minister to their respective messengers in their proclamation of the message of Christ for their particular Church Ages. They are also responsible to keep the light on their lampstand burning throughout the age. These are the first two roles of the Seven Spirits — ministering to the Seven Stars with the Message of Christ (the two-edged sword from the mouth of Christ) and keeping the Light of Truth burning in the Body of Christ for and throughout their respective Church Ages.

最后这节经文本身就足以说明问题。事实上，这是解读《启示录》的几个“关键”经文之一。经文一开始就告诉我们，七星代表七个教会的使者，七个灯台代表七个教会。因此，这个“奥秘”得以揭开，向我们表明，七个教会时代会有七位“地上”的使者，而不是小亚细亚七个教会的七位地方传道人。（当我们研读《启示录》第2章和第3章时，这一点会更容易理解。）此外，侍立在上帝宝座前的七灵会服事这七个教会时代的七位使者。这些灵会服事各自的使者，帮助他们向各自的教会时代宣讲基督的信息。他们也负责让灯台上的灯在整个时代都持续燃烧。这是七灵的前两个角色——用基督的信息（基督口中的双刃剑）服侍七星，并在各自的教会时代中，使真理之光在基督的身体里燃烧。