【双语灵修】海兽归来Return Of The Sea Monsters
神的灵现在已经住在信徒的生命里面,在洗礼的水中与基督及其教会合一。
“那时龙就站在海边的沙上。我又看见一个兽从海中上来。” - 启 12:18, 13:1
在启示录第 4-5 章中,使徒约翰描述了天上的异象。他看到父神坐在宝座上,圣灵以七盏火灯的形式出现,基督是一只羔羊,看起来像是被宰杀了。宝座前面是一片宁静的“玻璃海,如同水晶”。在宝座周围,代表所有受造生命的活物向神献上赞美。
后来,约翰看到了地上所发生的事件背后的属灵事实。在那里,一条龙,也就是撒但本人,站在狼藉不堪的海边,带来了“与圣徒争战,并且得胜”的海兽(启 13:7)。这兽代表着一个与神的旨意秩序迥异的世界。神创造了人类,让他们遍满大地,以祂所赐的权柄和仁爱治理全地(包括动物)。但是,人类却背离了神,犯了罪,崇拜偶像,堕落为兽的帝国,残暴地屠戮掠夺他人和大自然。
当约翰看到这些异象时,罗马帝国已经开始迫害教会了。但是,尽管罗马帝国将神的羔羊耶稣钉在了十字架上,祂却复活了,并成了掌管天地的王。此外,神的灵现在已经住在信徒的生命里面,在洗礼的水中与基督及其教会合一。龙知道留给它的时间所剩不多了(启 12:12)。
祷告
我主我王,你仍活着,掌管万物。愿你快来,愿你的国降临在这地上,如同在天上。阿们。
启示录 4:2-8; 13:1-10
2我立刻被圣灵感动,见有一个宝座安置在天上,又有一位坐在宝座上。
3看那坐着的,好像碧玉和红宝石,又有虹围着宝座,好像绿宝石。
4宝座的周围又有二十四个座位,其上坐着二十四位长老,身穿白衣,头上戴着金冠冕。
5有闪电、声音、雷轰从宝座中发出。又有七盏火灯在宝座前点着,这七灯就是神的七灵。
6宝座前好像一个玻璃海,如同水晶。宝座中和宝座周围有四个活物,前后遍体都满了眼睛。
7第一个活物像狮子,第二个像牛犊,第三个脸面像人,第四个像飞鹰。
8四活物各有六个翅膀,遍体内外都满了眼睛。他们昼夜不住地说:“圣哉,圣哉,圣哉,主神是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者!”
1我又看见一个兽从海中上来,有十角七头,在十角上戴着十个冠冕,七头上有亵渎的名号。
2我所看见的兽形状像豹,脚像熊的脚,口像狮子的口。那龙将自己的能力、座位和大权柄都给了它。
3我看见兽的七头中,有一个似乎受了死伤,那死伤却医好了。全地的人都稀奇,跟从那兽,
4又拜那龙,因为它将自己的权柄给了兽,也拜兽,说:“谁能比这兽,谁能与它交战呢?”
5又赐给它说夸大亵渎话的口,又有权柄赐给它,可以任意而行四十二个月。
6兽就开口向神说亵渎的话,亵渎神的名并他的帐幕,以及那些住在天上的。
7又任凭它与圣徒争战,并且得胜;也把权柄赐给它,制伏各族、各民、各方、各国。
8凡住在地上,名字从创世以来没有记在被杀之羔羊生命册上的人,都要拜它。
9凡有耳的,就应当听!
10掳掠人的必被掳掠,用刀杀人的必被刀杀。圣徒的忍耐和信心就是在此。
Return Of The Sea Monsters
"The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea." - Revelation 13:1
In Revelation 4-5, the apostle John describes a vision of heaven. He sees God the Father on the throne, the Holy Spirit in the form of seven torches, and Christ as a Lamb, looking like it was slaughtered. In front of the throne is a peaceful "sea of glass, clear as crystal." Around the throne, creatures representing all animal life give praise to God.
Later John sees the spiritual reality behind events that take place on earth. There a dragon, Satan himself, stands on the shore of a chaotic sea, which brings forth monsters that have "power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them" (Revelation 13:7). These beasts represent a world turned upside down from what God intended. God had created humans to fill the earth and steward it (including its animals) with his authority and care. But instead humans turned away from God and sinned, worshiping idols and degenerating into beastly empires, brutalizing other people and nature.
As John received these visions, the Roman Empire had begun persecuting the church. But although the empire had crucified Jesus, the Lamb of God, he had come back to life and had taken his rightful place as King of heaven and earth. Further, the Spirit of God was now living in believers, united with Christ in the waters of baptism. And the dragon knew his time was short . . . (Revelation 12:12).
Prayer
Lord and King, you are alive, and you rule over all things. Come quickly, Lord, to bring your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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