於2017-04-25發佈


在地上執掌王權─啟示錄 

回到約翰在神寶座前所看見的場景,七印被釋放在即將揭開的事件中。正如約翰也見證,唯有耶穌配拿書卷,配揭開這些印,因為祂用自己在十字架上的犧牲買贖了人,下列的經文解釋著:

我又看見寶座與四活物,並長老之中有羔羊站立,像是被殺過的,有七角七眼,就是神的七靈,奉差遣往普天下去的。
這羔羊前來,從坐寶座的右手裡拿了書卷。
他既拿了書卷,四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前,各拿著琴和盛滿了香的金爐;這香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。
他們唱新歌,說:你配拿書卷,配揭開七印;因為你曾被殺,用自己的血從各族、各方、各民、各國中買了人來,叫他們歸於神,
又叫他們成為國民,作祭司歸於神,在地上執掌王權(啟示錄5:6-10 

約翰被帶到此異象中,他看見耶穌在天上被介紹為得勝者。羔羊有七角七眼與七靈,奉差遣往普天下去。我們知道此,是因為在歌羅西書二章9節這麼說:因為神本性一切的豐盛都有形有體的居住在基督裡面』。 

當這羔羊前來,四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前,他們開始唱新歌,述說祂有何等配得。歌的最後宣告他從各族、各方、各民、各國中所買的人要成為國民,作祭司歸於神,他們也會在地上執掌王權 

上述歌羅西書接下來的經文是我們在祂裡面也得了豐盛』。正如神本性一切的豐盛都住在耶穌裡面,好讓我們看見祂如同看見父神,耶穌現在完全住在祂的百姓裡面,就是那些成為國民,作祭司歸於神,他們會在地上執掌王權 

因為基督在我們裡面,在一個信徒裡面擁有比所有君王、總統、獨裁者、或地上掌權者更多的權柄。神的百姓將在地上執掌王權,但做得還不是很好。鮮少人領會神託付給我們的能力,更少人行在其中。我們擁有權柄來做祂所做的事,甚至更大的事。但多半時刻我們卻成為不敬虔的奴隸,而不是祂國度的祭司。即便如此,在此軟弱的狀態中,教會仍是最強而有力的實體,主導著列國的路線。 

神的權柄住在人子耶穌基督裡面,而祂現在住在許多人裡面。這即是何以使徒保羅沒說他擁有基督的心,而是說我們是有基督的心了』(參考哥林多前書2:16。沒有一個人可以容納祂的心,而是我們每一個人被賜予一部份。當我們在教會裡合而為一,我們便擁有基督的心了。 

此故事在啟示錄揭開,現在大部分已在歷史中展開了。在故事最後,基督的新婦─教會甦醒進入她的目的與權柄,她成為蒙召的樣式。歷史(history)真的是祂的歷史(His-story)在祂的百姓中間,而且將述說最棒的故事。此啟示錄透過先知性的隱喻預先述說那故事,正在呼喚凡有耳的來聽,凡有眼的來看,凡有心的來理解。 

正如約翰被賜予此異象,好讓他能代禱,我們也被賜予來傳達基督的權柄,好讓我們這一生能承載此權柄。這就是我們所連結的主,我們被呼召常在祂裡面,與祂一同坐在寶座上。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week12, 2017)

 
Reigning Upon the Earth—The Book of Revelation
Week 13, 2017
Rick Joyner

         Returning to the scene John witnessed before the throne of God, the seven seals released the unfolding events. As John also witnessed, Jesus alone is worthy to open this book and release the seals because He purchased the earth by His sacrifice on the cross. The following verses explain:

         And I saw between the throne with the four living beings and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
         And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
         When He had taken the book, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
         And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
     "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth" (Revelation 5:6-10).

         John was caught up into this vision to witness Jesus being introduced to heaven as the One who has overcome. The Lamb has the seven horns, the seven eyes, and the seven Spirits of God that are sent out into the earth. We know this because it says in Colossians 2:9, “For in Him (Christ Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

         As the Lamb enters, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fall before Him in worship. They begin to sing the new song that declares His worthiness. The song’s discourse declares that He purchased from every tribe, language, people, and nation to be a “kingdom and priests” who will also “reign upon the earth.”

         The verse following the one quoted in Colossians above states that we are “complete in Him.” Just as the Godhead dwelt fully in Jesus so that if we see Him we see the Father, Jesus now dwells fully in His people, those who are the “kingdom and priests who will “reign upon the earth.”

         Because Christ is in us, there is more authority in a single believer than in all the kings, presidents, dictators, or authorities on the earth. God’s people have reigned on the earth, but not very well. Few have grasped the power entrusted to us, much less walked in it. We have the authority to do the things that He did, and even greater things. Yet for most of the age, we have lived like slaves to ungodliness rather than as His kingdom of priests. Even so, in this weakened state, the church has been the most powerful entity dictating the course of nations.

         The authority of the Godhead dwelt in One Man, the “man Christ Jesus,” and He now dwells in the many. This is why the Apostle Paul did not write that he had the mind of Christ, but that “we have the mind of Christ” (see I Corinthians 2:16) (plural). No one man can contain His mind, but we have each been given a part. As we come together in the koinonia He has called His church to, we have His mind.

         This story unfolds throughout Revelation, and now most of it has unfolded in history. At the end of this story, the bride of Christ, the church, wakes up to her purpose and authority. She becomes what she is called to be. History really is His-story in His people, and it is the most remarkable story ever told. This revelation is a telling of that story in advance through prophetic metaphors. It calls to those who have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand.

         Just as John was given this vision so that he could intercede, it was also given to convey to us the authority of Christ that we are called to carry in this life. This is the One we have joined to, and we are called to abide in and to sit on His throne with Him.