崇高的呼召─啟示錄

正如我們在啟示錄一書，還有其他關於來世的聖經預言所看見的，在天上的權柄有著不同的位置。許多基督徒活在蒙蔽中，認為在永恆中人人一樣，但這在聖經與耶穌的教導中已遭反駁。在才幹的比喻中，耶穌教導那些在今世神所託付的事物中，成為更好管家的人，決定他們在來世會有多少權柄。

我們也看見一些區別，例如在啟示錄七章站在神寶座面前的『許多人』，與那些將『與祂同坐在祂的寶座上』的得勝者（參考啟示錄3章）。主也教導那些『在天國最大的人』以及那些『在天國最小的人』。祂的國度權柄是一個國度─不是一般人認為的民主制度。祂是『萬王之王』意味著在祂的國度有許多王，但祂將永遠在他們之上。

這為我們帶來一個現在應當思考的問題：倘若我們按許多人所認為的，在復活中全然完全，那在神國度要權柄來做什麼？我們現在需要思想這問題，因為這會影響在啟示錄中所啟示的其他事。

首先，聖經啟示地上的復活和天上的復活。許多人認為永恆是在天上，但顯然不是所有人都在天上復活。有些人，可能是多數人都是在地上復活。在來世會有掌權者，與他們所掌管的人。

聖經清楚說到會以此方式發生，但沒有給太多細節，而是一些暗示。當神沒有更詳細提到一些事，那是因為我們在此時只需要知道這些。我們知道會有所謂的『更美的復活』（希伯來書11:35），就是天上的復活。我們知道他們不單是神國度的國民，更是主自己家的人。

看見不同的復活幫助我們理解關於來世的許多預言；此外，我們也可以瞭解保羅在腓立比書三章所寫的內容，他不是以為自己已經得著了。他指的不是救恩或永生，那是當他相信耶穌十架救贖的那刻起就已經得著的。保羅是在生命的盡頭寫此經文，他努力面前，要得神在基督耶穌裡『從上面召他來得的獎賞（或譯為崇高呼召的獎賞）』。保羅看見一個『崇高的呼召』，大到連這位活出最偉大宣教生命的保羅都不認為自己已經得著了，因此說『我只有一件事』，就是向著崇高的呼召努力前進（參考腓立比書3:13-15）。

這一生是為了『訓練來掌權』。我們也得知全地將復興成為起初被造的樂園，而且會有人居住。神學家與教師一致認為許多蒙拯救得永生，卻不追求崇高呼召的人，或是不在基督裡長大成熟的人，將在地上復活，如同復興萬物的一部份。那些獲得保羅所看見崇高呼召的人，則會在天上的領域復活。

這種說法又帶出別的問題，等我們讀到那些經文時再提出。目前，一個人今世所能擁有的最大追求，就是要得著神在基督裡崇高的呼召，沒有任何其他成就能大過於此。至於這是什麼與我們要如何追求，全啟示在聖經中，凡有眼可看的將看見。這是啟示錄信息的一部份，我們將看見其揭開。

我們也知道所有復活之人的生命美好到我們仍無法領會或描述；即便如此，正如我們在啟示錄七個教會看見『得勝者』的應許，凡得勝的人會被贈與更大的位置與獎賞。這似乎也是崇高呼召的主題─他們打了信心美好的仗，並且得了勝。要成為得勝者，必有要勝過的挑戰。

我們要勝過什麼呢？先勝過我們的肉體，在新約教導我們如何勝過。這無疑是一場巨大的戰役，但得勝者就是那些不放棄，直到他們戰勝肉體，在聖靈裡與主連結的人。

在七個教會的得勝者，也勝過他們時代的大迷惑與絆腳石。我們會開始談到其中的一些，正如啟示錄所啟示的，在教會時期的代表是老底嘉教會。或許還有其他我們被呼召前往的特別國家，甚至被呼召的特別專業。

重點在於我們要發展成為得勝者的心態，拒絕被這世界的任何事物勝過，甚至是我們自己的肉體。我們的一生本是一個戰場，用來測試與淨化所有被呼召擁有崇高呼召的人─來成為萬王之王的兒女。

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week4, 2017)

 
The High Calling—The Book of Revelation
Week 4, 2017
Rick Joyner

     As we also see throughout Revelation, as well as other biblical prophecies of the age to come, there are positions of authority in heaven. Many Christians are under the delusion that in eternity we will all be the same, but that is well-refuted in Scripture and in Jesus’ teachings about the age to come. In places like The Parable of the Talents, Jesus taught that those who are a better steward with what they are given in this life determine how much authority they will have in the age to come.

     We also see distinctions, such as the “great company” that stands before the throne of God in Revelation 7 and the overcomers who will “sit with Him on His throne” (see Revelation 3). He also taught about those who are “greatest in the kingdom” and those who will be “the least in the kingdom.” His authority in the kingdom age is a kingdom—not a democracy as some seem to suppose. That He is “the King of kings” indicates that there are many kings in His kingdom, but He will always be preeminent.

     This brings up a question that we should now consider: If we are all perfect in the resurrection, as many suppose, what is authority in the kingdom for? We need to consider this now because of how it can affect other things revealed in Revelation.

     First, Scripture reveals an earthly resurrection and a heavenly one. Many think of eternal life being in heaven, but obviously not all are resurrected in heaven. Some, and maybe most, are resurrected on the earth. There are also rulers in the age to come, and those they rule over.

     The Scriptures are clear that it will be this way, but it does not give much detail, but rather hints. When God does not address things in more detail it is because this is all we need to know at this time. We know there is what is called “a better resurrection” (see Hebrews 11:35), which is the heavenly one. We know there are those who will not just be subjects of the kingdom, but of the Lord’s own household.

     Seeing the different resurrections helps us make sense of the many prophecies about the age to come. Also, we can understand what Paul wrote in Philippians 3—that he did not consider that he had yet attained. He was not talking about salvation or eternal life, which he attained the moment he believed in the cross of Jesus for his atonement. Paul wrote in this text near the end of his life that he was pressing on toward “the mark of the high calling of God in Christ.” Paul saw a “high calling” so great that after living one of the most remarkable missionary lives of all time, he did not assume that he had yet attained it. Rather, saying “this one thing I do,” he pressed on for the high calling (see Philippians 3:13-15).

     This life is about “training for reigning.” We are also told that the earth will be restored to the paradise it was originally created to be, and that it will be populated. The consensus of theologians and teachers has often been that many who are saved and have eternal life but did little to pursue the high calling—or did not mature in Christ—will be resurrected on the earth as part of the restoration. Those who attained to the high calling that Paul saw will be resurrected in the heavenly nature in the heavenly realm.

     This does raise other questions, which we will address as we come to the passages that illuminate them. For now, the greatest quest one could ever be on in this life is for the high calling of God in Christ. There is nothing greater that we could ever achieve in this life than this. What this is and how we pursue it is revealed throughout the Scriptures for those who have eyes to see. This is part of the message of Revelation that we see unfolding.

     We also know that all who are resurrected will have a life so wonderful that we cannot comprehend or describe it yet. Even so, as we saw in the promises to “the overcomers” in the Seven Churches of Revelation, there are greater positions and rewards bestowed on those who overcome. This also seems to be a theme of the high calling—that they fought the good fight of faith and prevailed. To be an overcomer, there must be challenges to overcome.

     What do we overcome? This begins with our carnal nature, which the New Testament teaches us how to overcome. This is no doubt a huge battle, but overcomers are those who do not give up until they have prevailed over it to abide with the Lord in the Spirit.

     The overcomers in the Seven Churches overcome the great delusions and stumbling blocks of their times as well. We began to cover some of these, as revealed in Revelation, in the church age represented by Laodicea. There may be others that are specific to the countries we have been called to, or even the profession we have been called to.

     The point is that we develop the mindset of an overcomer. We refuse to be overcome by anything of this world, even our own flesh. This whole life is meant to be a battle to test and purify those called to the highest calling—to be sons and daughters of the King of kings.