於2018-09-12發佈


天堂看起來像什麼?─啟示錄 

啟示錄的研讀是對約翰的屬靈經歷與他『在靈裡』所見之事的研讀,他的異象總結出天國降臨地上,因此我們將花一些時間檢視今日最有趣與最常見的問題: 

天堂看起來像什麼? 

在這裡提出此的主要目的是為了讓我們更加瞭解天國最終如何影響地上,以及我們要如何成為協助預備的一份子。我有一些被帶到屬天領域或天堂的經歷,我也有一些朋友有著類似的經歷,這些經歷在教會歷史上相當普遍,今日似乎更為普遍。這是我們確實接近末了與天國降臨地上的徵兆。 

隨著越來越接近,我們可以預期天堂入侵地上也會越發增加。這是主吸引我們將臨到之事,要來世代的能力,並為主預備道路。這是傳揚天國福音的起頭,此福音必須在這世代末了前傳遍天下(參考馬太福音24:14)。 

下面是來自我個人經歷、我的朋友,還有歷史著名人物所學到關於天堂或天上領域的一些事情。我們必須謹記在心,先知性啟示被賜下是為了鼓勵、教導與勸勉,並顯明策略與異象,不是為了建立教義─唯有聖經被用來建立教義。然而,有時我們確實在聖經裡看到預言被用來闡明教義,例如彼得魂遊向外,引導他將福音帶進外邦人當中的例子。彼得對此啟示的回應是合宜的,但教會起初並不接受以此作為教義也是合宜的,直到教會領袖在聖經中讀到。 

為此緣故,我們不應當接受任何與聖經見證有所衝突的異象、啟示或先知性經歷。其他我無法接受並且讓我困擾的事,就是那些聲稱去過天堂,所目睹之事好像天堂無足輕重。神的尊貴與莊嚴遠超過地上最偉大的事物,那樣的尊貴和莊嚴瀰漫在祂的領域中,祂的天使並不是玩耍的嬰孩,他們的閃耀與壯麗是只活在地上的人難以想像的。 

話雖如此,天堂並非如此高不可攀,其所充滿的喜樂和豐富遠超過我在地上所見過的任何事物,卻一點也不無聊。天堂所充滿的尊貴超過任何地上的尊貴,其崇高超過任何地上的崇高。有一種遍及在天堂的聖潔,不是出於律法主義,乃是深根於萬王之王的尊貴與崇高。此聖潔是天上最令人讚嘆、引人注目的氛圍,是基於我們應當如何在偉大奇妙神面前呈現自己。 

在天上的敬拜並不是因為神需要,乃是在神的榮耀與莊嚴前唯一可以回應的方式。你無法不表達對祂的熱愛,因為祂就是愛,在祂的同在中,祂激發我們最大的愛。在祂的同在中,敬拜不過是一個情不自禁的反應,在敬拜中可以向祂表達我們真是何等美好,沒有任何美好可以與此相比。在天上正在發生的事多到難以一一討論,全都非常美好,敬拜卻是其中最突出的─是我們未來將做的最偉大事情,亦是我們未來想做的主要事情。 

地上所聽到最棒的音樂無法與天上最差的音樂相比;然而,在地上的敬拜─甚至是我們在地上最枯乾、最掙扎的敬拜都可以感動神勝過天上所有的敬拜。在天上你是情不自禁的敬拜,神也知道此。當我們在地上所有爭戰和試煉中掙扎,我們仍感謝祂並嘗試敬拜祂─有時是如此軟弱無力─卻深深觸動神和天上所有目睹一切的受造物。 

從受苦中而來的敬拜甚至成為黑暗權勢的見證,如此的見證使得天上的使者宣稱,那些展示如此信心與奉獻的人配得成為他們的審判官。為此緣故,我們可以為天國與要來世代所做最重要的一件事,就是不要浪費我們的試煉,而是讓我們使用每一次機會在信心與信靠神中成長,在試煉中充滿感恩。 

下週我們將繼續尋求從天上觀點來看。 

(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 33, 2018)


 
What is Heaven Like? —The Book of Revelation
Week 33, 2018
Rick Joyner

The study of Revelation is a study of a spiritual experience that John had and the things that he saw while “in the Spirit.” His vision concludes with the kingdom of heaven coming to earth, so we will take a little time to examine one of the most fascinating and frequently asked questions today: 

What is heaven like? 

The main purpose for addressing this here is so that we can better understand how the kingdom of heaven will ultimately impact the earth, and how we can be a part of helping to prepare for this. I have had a number of prophetic experiences where I was caught up into the heavenly realm, or heaven. I have friends that have had similar experiences. These experiences are actually quite common in church history, and seem to be becoming more common today. This is a sign that we are indeed coming to the end of this age and the coming of the kingdom of heaven to earth. 

As these get closer, we can expect the encroachments of heaven to increase. This is the Lord drawing us to what is to come, and the powers of the age to come, to prepare the way for the Lord. This is the beginning of the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, which must be done throughout this world before the end of this age (see Matthew 24:14). 

The following are some of the things I have learned about heaven, or the heavenly realm, from my experiences, as well as from friends and notable historical figures who had similar experiences. We must keep in mind that prophetic revelation is given for encouragement, edification, and at times exhortation, as well as revealing strategy and vision. It is not given to establish doctrine—only the Scriptures are given for that. However, we do see at times in Scripture that prophecy is given to illuminate doctrine, as in the case of Peter having the trance that led to him going to the Gentiles with the Gospel. Peter was right to act on this revelation, but it was also right that this was not accepted as a doctrine of the church until the leaders saw it in the Scriptures. 

For this reason we should not accept any vision, revelation, or prophetic experience that in any way conflicts with the testimony of Scripture. Others that I do not accept, and that trouble me, are those who claim to have gone to heaven and witnessed things that trivialize heaven. There is a dignity and majesty to God that exceeds even the greatest of these on earth, and that dignity and majesty pervades His realm. His angels are not Gerber babies playing games. They are of a brilliance and magnificence hardly imaginable by those whose only experience is this present age. 

That being said, heaven is not stiff. There is a pervading joy and exuberance far beyond anything that I have witnessed on earth, but it was not silly. There is a royalty beyond any earthly royalty, and a nobility beyond any earthly nobility, that pervades heaven. There is a holiness that pervades heaven that is not legalistic, but rooted in the nobility and royalty of the King. This holiness is one of the most compelling and attractive aspects of the atmosphere of heaven. It is based on how we should conduct ourselves in the presence of our awesome God. 

The worship there is not because God needs it, but because it is the only way one can react before the glory and majesty of God. You just have to express your adoration for Him because He is love, and in His presence, He compels the greatest love from all. Worship is something that you cannot help but do in His presence, and it is so wonderful to be able to express ourselves to Him in this worship that there may not be anything else as wonderful that we can experience. There are too many other things going on in heaven to discuss, and all of them are wonderful, but worship is the highlight of all—the greatest thing we will be doing and the main thing we will want to do. 

The greatest music ever heard on the earth does not compare to the least in heaven. However, the worship on earth—even the driest, struggling worship that we do here—can touch God more than all of the worship in heaven. In heaven you cannot help but to worship, and He knows this. When we are struggling through all of the battles and trials on earth and we still thank Him and try to worship Him—as feeble as it is at times—it deeply touches God, and all who are in heaven witness it. 

This worship from the afflicted is even a witness to principalities and powers of darkness. It is such a witness that the angels and other majesties in heaven declare that those who demonstrate such faith and devotion when going through so much are worthy to be their judges. For this reason one of the most important things we can do to prepare for heaven, and our part in the ages to come, is to not waste our trials. Rather, let us use every one as an opportunity to grow in our faith and trust in God, and be thankful through them. 

         Next week we will continue to seek to see from heaven’s perspective.