於2016-07-17發佈


神對兩個教會的信息─啟示錄

士每拿教會—沒藥

(大約在主後100年 – 325年)

你要寫信給士每拿教會的使者,說:那首先的、末後的、死過又活的,說:

我知道你的患難,你的貧窮(你卻是富足的),也知道那自稱是猶太人所說的毀謗話,其實他們不是猶太人,乃是撒但一會的人。

你將要受的苦你不用怕。魔鬼要把你們中間幾個人下在監裡,叫你們被試煉,你們必受患難十日。你務要至死忠心,我就賜給你那生命的冠冕。

聖靈向眾教會所說的話,凡有耳的,就應當聽!得勝的,必不受第二次死的害(啟示錄2:8-11  

當主開始提到每個教會時,先提出在其中關於祂的不同屬性,這並不是隨意說說,正如每個教會都會經歷一些主不同的樣式。在士每拿的教會所代表的時期,是基督徒將不斷受苦並廣泛受到逼迫─正如主在地上所經歷的一樣。 

當我們讀福音書,幾乎主所說或所做的事都會引起批評和威脅。我們常認為只要我們的批評者見證神蹟,他們就會悔改並成為我們的支持者,這卻不是耶穌的情況,也很少如此發生在任何人身上。主在祂的事奉中彰顯越大的能力,也就有越多的反對者起來抵擋祂。主行一些神蹟好讓人相信祂,但大部分的神蹟不過是對受傷之人所流露出來的憐憫。 

倘若祂想要使用能力讓人信服祂是父所差來的,祂可以做出更戲劇化、更壯觀的事情,例如像約書亞一樣停止日頭。祂的神蹟並不是為此目的,而是祂的本質就是醫治、釋放與重建受苦與受壓制的人。追求醫治、神蹟與釋放固然很好,但卻不是為要減輕逼迫。約翰寫著:全世界都臥在那惡者手下』(參考約翰壹書5:19),意指多數人是在魔鬼而不是在神的影響之下。魔鬼不喜歡看見牠所折磨的人得著醫治和釋放;我們需要追求能力恩賜是為著做主工的緣故,但我們需要瞭解當我們在此能力更多成長時,反對也會更大。 

主一開始也提醒此教會,祂已戰勝死亡,祂將此應許賜給凡忠心跟隨祂的人。因著這教會所面對的,他們需要將此謹記在心。此教會時期將面對最殘忍的逼迫,就是這世界最強大的帝國要起來抵擋教會。 

士每拿的意思是『沒藥』,是香的主要成分。在聖經中,香代表禱告和敬拜。生活在此時期的基督徒,他們的禱告毫無疑問就像空氣一樣多。許多人願意為著祂福音的緣故捨下生命,這對主而言也是『馨香之氣』。那些不認識主的人視死亡如同最大災難,但那些在主裡靠信心而活的人,死亡反倒是擁抱更美好生命的開始,而不是懼怕。 

此時的基督徒不單是許多人被殺,他們甚至無法保有重要的位置或工作,在許多地方甚至無法成為商人。為此緣故,在此時接受基督意味著絕對的貧窮與剝奪。主讓他們知道,祂知道他們的處境,他們並不貧窮,卻是富足的。怎麼會呢? 

彼得說我們的信心被試驗,就比精金更顯寶貴。您是否將生命中所面對的試煉視為尋找一大桶的金子呢?凡是擁有真實信心的人會接受試煉,甚至視死亡如同寶藏,而且是為著主的緣故。 

我們的財寶在哪裡?正如主所宣稱的,我們將財寶放在哪裡,代表我們的心也在那裡(參考馬太福音6:21)。倘若我們將信心放在神永恆的目的上,而且知道有永生,我們就不會對短暫的事物著迷,我們的心將朝向會存到永遠的事。這一生是為要『訓練來掌權』,我們現在所成長的聖靈果子,將成為我們永恆位置與天國身份的一個因素。因此,士每拿的教會遠比那些充滿世上財寶的人富足得多。 

在啟示錄二章8-11節的內容是關於那自稱是猶太人,其實他們不是猶太人,乃是撒但一會的人所說的毀謗話。 在那些時期,每一個猶太人可以藉由族譜來證明他們的猶太傳承。然而,在新約之下,外邦的基督跟隨者在亞伯拉罕的家中重生得救,『接枝』成為『屬靈的猶太人』。在如此逼迫的時期中,一些錯誤的教師與事工想要利用信徒,假裝是被主差派,他們事實上是被魔鬼差派,主在這裡認出他們。 

受患難十日』很可能指的是戴克里先(Diocletian)的逼迫─他是最激烈想要消滅教會的羅馬皇帝,逼迫從主後303年到313年共持續了十年。在逼迫過後,當羅馬皇帝接受並提倡信仰,此教會時期反而比其他教會時期更突然的結束了。

此教會對得勝者的應許,確保他們必不受第二次死的傷害─確認他們在基督裡的永恆獎賞。

即使這裡指的是歷史上的一段時期,目前在屬靈上住在此地方的全世界教會,每一天都因為信仰受到死亡的威脅。在這些教會也發現一些最大的屬靈寶藏─在信仰上富足的人才是真正的富足。

別迦摩教會—『升高的』

(大約在主後323年─538年) 

你要寫信給別迦摩教會的使者,說:那有兩刃利劍的,說:

我知道你的居所,就是有撒但座位之處;當我忠心的見證人安提帕在你們中間、撒但所住的地方被殺之時,你還堅守我的名,沒有棄絕我的道。

然而,有幾件事我要責備你:因為在你那裡有人服從了巴蘭的教訓;這巴蘭曾教導巴勒將絆腳石放在以色列人面前,叫他們吃祭偶像之物,行姦淫的事。

你那裡也有人照樣服從了尼哥拉一黨人的教訓。

所以,你當悔改;若不悔改,我就快臨到你那裡,用我口中的劍攻擊他們。

聖靈向眾教會所說的話,凡有耳的,就應當聽!得勝的,我必將那隱藏的嗎哪賜給他,並賜他一塊白石,石上寫著新名;除了那領受的以外,沒有人能認識。 

非常貼切地,別迦摩這個字的意思是高度、高升或升高的。在當時,教會正為了要成為羅馬帝國的國教,受到最嚴重的逼迫。前一天基督徒才被追捕、獵殺,隔一天他們便成為備受尊重的公民。很快的,人們需要成為基督徒才能在政府部門得到權柄的位置,或成為受歡迎的商人和地主。教會高升的時期來得太快,以致於產生戲劇化的問題,包括邪惡與想作惡之人的湧進,教會卻沒有成功抵擋。 

主對此教會時期的勸誡,一開始是提醒他們『那有兩刃利劍的』─祂的話。祂的話包含對腐敗的警告,它就像洪水般湧進教會。此腐敗操控教會長達一千年,直到祂的話─聖經再次被看重,如同教會教義的唯一來源。 

接著主高舉此教會住在『撒但座位之處』,別迦摩真的有一個巴力的祭壇,就是『撒但座位之處』。在三零年代,德國的考古學家挖掘到此祭壇,將它移至柏林,如今仍在別迦摩博物館。有趣的是,納粹就在此祭壇被移至柏林的同一年在德國當權。 

此教會被主稱讚是忠心的,甚至在安提帕的日子裡,主稱其為忠心的見證人。此與『撒但座位之處』有關連,一點都不意外,保羅在帖撒羅尼迦後書二章3-4節這樣寫著: 

人不拘用什麼法子,你們總不要被他誘惑;因為那日子以前,必有離道反教的事,並有那大罪人,就是沉淪之子,顯露出來。

他是抵擋主,高擡自己,超過一切稱為神的和一切受人敬拜的,甚至坐在神的殿裡,自稱是神。 

提出此話題的初代教父似乎同意,他們預期此『沈淪之子』或『那行毀壞可憎的』,正是但以理所提到的,要坐在神的殿裡,自稱是神。沒有任何初代教父或宗教改革者看見猶太聖殿在耶路撒冷重建,或沈淪之子在那裡彰顯,他們只有看見他在教會裡被彰顯出來,直到1844年的復臨運動。 

安提帕(Antipas)意指『反教宗』或『反教父』,這是教會成為羅馬帝國國教之後所興起的一個運動,尤其抵擋羅馬皇帝賜予主教的額外權柄,特別是羅馬主教。沒有人應當佔了祂合法地位或被稱為『父』,此頭銜應當專門保留給主單獨使用。 

一千年過後,宗教改革者也以『安提帕』(Antipas)之名興起,他們宣稱高舉人的機構儼然取代基督合法地位,成為教會的頭,或成為教會裡『那行毀壞可憎的』,將人放在主的位子上來分開人與主的直接關係。 

還有許多其他對此議題的因素,值得我們深入研讀初代教父與宗教改革者的寫作,當我們繼續研讀啟示錄時,我們會談到一些。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week25, 2016)

 

God's Message to Two Churches—The Book of Revelation
Week 25, 2016
Rick Joyner

The Church at Smyrna—“Myrrh”

(Approximately A.D. 100 – 325)

              “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 

              “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 

              “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

              “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death”’ (Revelation 2:8-11 NKJV).

         The Lord begins addressing each church by noting a different characteristic of Himself. This is not arbitrary, as each church will experience some aspects of the Lord more than others. The church at Smyrna represents the period in which Christians will suffer almost continuous and widespread persecution—as did the Lord when He walked the earth.

         When we read the Gospels, it is hard to find a single thing the Lord said or did that did not stir up criticism and threats. We often think that if our critics would just witness a miracle, they would repent and become supporters. That did not work for Jesus and it rarely works for anyone. The more power the Lord demonstrated in His ministry, the more the opposition rose up against Him. The Lord performed some miracles so that people would believe Him, but most were simply out of compassion for hurting people.

         If He had wanted to use power to convince people that He was sent from God, He could have done more dramatic, spectacular things, like stopping the sun as Joshua did. His miracles were not for that purpose. Rather His nature is to heal, deliver, and restore the afflicted and oppressed. Pursuing healing, miracles, and deliverance is good, but not if we do it to alleviate persecution. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (see I John 5:19) John wrote, meaning most people are under the devil’s influence rather than God’s. The devil does not like seeing people he has afflicted healed and delivered. We need to pursue the power gifts for the sake of doing the work of the Lord, but understand that the more we grow in this power, the greater the opposition.

         The Lord also begins by reminding this church that He overcame death. He promised this for all who faithfully follow Him. This church needed to keep this in mind because of what they were facing. This church period would face the most brutal persecution that the most powerful empire in the world could mobilize against the church.

         Smyrna means “myrrh,” a primary ingredient in incense. In Scripture, incense typifies prayer and worship. Christians living through this period no doubt lived on prayer as much as on oxygen. The willingness of so many to lay down their lives for the sake of His Gospel was also a “sweet smelling fragrance” to the Lord. Those who do not know the Lord view death as the greatest catastrophe, but to those who live by faith in Him, it is the beginning of a far greater life to be embraced, not feared.

          Christians at this time were not just killed in great numbers; they could not hold significant positions or jobs. In many places could not even be merchants. For this reason, to embrace Christ during this time meant almost certain poverty and deprivation. The Lord let them know He was aware of their plight and that they are not poor, but rich. How is that?

         Peter wrote that the testing of our faith was more precious than gold. Have you considered that any trial you face in life is like finding a big pot of gold? Those with true faith accept the trials, and even death, as treasure and for the sake of the Lord.

         Where is our treasure? As the Lord declared, where we put our treasure indicates where our heart truly lies (see Matthew 6:21). If we place our faith in the eternal purposes of God and we know we have eternal life, we will not be consumed by temporary things and our hearts will be toward the things that last forever. This life is “training for reigning.” The Fruit of the Spirit we grow in now will be a factor determining our eternal position and capacity in basic ways in the kingdom. So the church of Smyrna was far wealthier than those flushed with the world’s treasures.

         The phrase in Revelation 2:8-11 about the blasphemy of those claiming to be Jews but instead were of the synagogue of Satan is obviously not about literal Jews. In those times, every Jew could prove their Jewish heritage through their genealogies. However, under the New Covenant, the Gentile followers of Christ were born again into the family of Abraham, “grafted in” as “spiritual Jews.” During this time of such persecution, some false teachers and ministries sought to take advantage of believers, pretending to have been sent by the Lord. In reality they were sent by the devil, and the Lord recognized that here.

         The “tribulation for ten days” likely referred to the Diocletian persecution—the most severe attempt yet to wipe out the church. It lasted ten years from 303 to 313 A.D. After the persecution, this church period ended more abruptly than the others as the Roman Emperor embraced and promoted the faith.

         The promise to the overcomers of this church assured that they would not be hurt by the second death—affirming their eternal reward in Christ.

         Even though this speaks of a period in history, churches all over the world right now live in this place spiritually, threatened every day with death for their faith. Some of the greatest spiritual treasures are also found in these churches—those rich in faith are truly rich.

The Church at Pergamos—“Elevated”

(Approximately A.D. 323 - 538)

              “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 

              “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. “And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My   faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 

              “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 

              “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

              “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

              “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it”’ (Revelation 2:12-17 NKJV).

         Fittingly, the word Pergamos means height, elevation, or elevated. At this time, the church went from suffering its worst persecution to becoming the state religion of the Roman Empire. One day Christians were hunted and killed, and the next they were honored citizens. Soon one had to be a Christian to hold positions of authority in the government or favored status as merchants and landowners. While a time of elevation for the church, it came so fast that it created dramatic problems, including an influx of evil and evil-intentioned people the church did not do well resisting.

         The Lord begins His exhortation to this church period by reminding them of the two-edged sword—His Word. His Word contains clear warnings about the corruption that starting to flood into the church. This corruption dominated the institutional church for over a thousand years until His Word, the Scriptures, were again esteemed as the only source of church doctrine.

         Next the Lord acknowledges that this church dwells where “Satan’s throne” is. Pergamos had a literal altar to the god Baal called “Satan’s throne.” In the 1930s, German archeologists excavated this altar and moved it to Berlin where it still resides in The Pergamon Museum. Interestingly, the Nazis came to power in Germany the same year this altar was moved to Berlin.

         This church is also commended for being faithful even in the days of Antipas, whom the Lord called His “faithful witness.” It is no accident that this is linked to “Satan’s throne.” Paul wrote in II Thessalonians 2:3-4:

              Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revelaed, the son of perdition,

              who opposses and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (NKJV).

         The early church fathers who addressed this subject seemed to agree that they expected this “man of sin,” or the “abomination of desolation” as Daniel referred to it, to take its seat in the temple of God—or since Christ, the church. None of the early church fathers, or even the Reformers until the 1844 Advent Movement, foresaw a rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, or the man of sin manifested there. Rather they saw him being manifested in the church.

         Antipas means “anti-pope” or “anti-father.” This was a movement that rose up after the church became the state religion of the Roman Empire. It specifically resisted the exceptional authority given to the bishops, especially to the bishop of Rome, by the Emperor. Those in this movement believed that the only Head of the church was Jesus. No man should presume His rightful place or be called “father”—a title that should be reserved for the Lord alone.

         Over a thousand years later, the Reformers also rose up as “Antipas.” They declared the institution that exalted men as the head of the church in Christ’s rightful place as the “abomination of desolation,” or “the abomination that desolated” the church by separating the people from their direct relationship to the Lord by putting men in His place.

         There are many other factors to this issue that deserve a deeper study of the writings of the early church fathers and the Reformers. We will cover some of this as we continue this study of the Book of Revelation.