於2018-10-13發佈


天堂領域─啟示錄 

這是我們最後一週談到天堂,很快我們就會完成啟示錄研讀。在前幾週的每週一話,我有從我個人經歷來分享天堂的一些事,這絕不能作為定論。我曾讀過、聽過許多和我所分享不同的天堂描述,但天堂實在太大、太多元,我相信若將所有這些經歷加在一塊,都不及天堂真實樣式的百分之一。

我認為就像主如何使物質宇宙持續擴大,屬靈的『天堂』領域也是如此。我們的神遠超過我們這一生所能領會,而祂的創造亦是如此,包括物質界與靈界。不只是更大而已,就像以賽亞書九章7節所說的『祂的政權必加增無窮』。我們可以預期此加增將持續到永遠,永恆一點都不無聊,反而不斷充滿吸引力並充滿敬畏。

我被帶到的屬靈領域,除了一個地方除外,似乎天堂的每樣事物都是活的,包括石頭、水與其他物質。它們似乎都很興奮成為他們所擁有的,也很興奮能與其他受造物交流。這可能有點奇怪,卻再自然與合宜不過了。天上不但沒有死亡,而且每樣東西都有生命。

我在天堂走路彷彿那裡有地心引力,就算沒有我也可以漂浮。我若想要去到一個地方,我可以遨翔過去,或集中在我想要去的地方,馬上就會到達。

在天上的情感比任何我曾經歷過的東西更深、更寬、也更強。若我專注在某事或某人身上,它們就會增加。我在地上所經歷的最大平安若與天上相比微不足道,喜樂也是如此。我認為我們的情緒就像我們的認知能力一樣在地上受到抑制,但在天堂似乎沒有限制。

以我在靈界或天堂領域的經歷來看,我總有天使或主陪在身旁,只有一次除外,我被允許獨自經歷我認為天堂最美妙的部分。我卻一點都不享受,而且絕不想要再經歷一次,我擁有這樣的經歷讓我知道團契就像天堂的氧氣,當我們在團契中成長,我們是何等可以協助將天堂帶到地上,一切都關乎關係─團契生活。這即是何以亞當的孤獨成為神對祂所創造的說不好的第一件事,真實的愛會找出孤獨的人並幫助他們。當我們這麼做時,我們便開始向他們播下對真正的家─天堂的愛。

我常被問到天堂有沒有比賽,例如高爾夫球、棒球或足球。我從沒在那裡看到任何種類的比賽,但就像我所分享的,我不過看到天堂很小的部分,就算將我所有經歷加在一起都微不足道。有人宣稱他們有在天堂看見比賽,或許真的有。我個人很愛比賽與競賽,但在天堂似乎很難想像你想要贏得別人的東西,那『機會』可能會成為那裡的一個因子。然而,我相信在天堂裡有這些比賽純淨和崇高的形式,因為地上的每件好東西似乎天上都有。

我們之前曾提到,有一個神學原則稱為『首先提出』(first mention)』,意指在聖經中首先提到的事情通常是其終極目的最重要的啟示。在聖經中第一次出現神有一個家,是當雅各夢見一個梯子直達天上。那即是神在地上的家,教會主要目的之基本啟示,教會應該成為通往天上的地方。 神的真正使者持續上到天堂領域,然後將天堂的真實與統管全地所有情況的證據帶到地上。

正如我們在約翰福音一章51節所看見的,耶穌是我們上到天堂的雅各天梯,我們藉著逐漸啟示祂是誰而上升,我們的目的是與祂一同坐在天上(參考以弗所書2:6)。這不單是我們所相信的一個教義,正如所有教義都應成為我們的生活。為此緣故,任何基督徒都能與基督一同上到天上。事實上,所有基督徒都應該一直這樣做。

對那些害怕經歷這種事的人,我可以確保只要經歷一次,你將會更害怕回到地上。沒有更大的平安喜樂能與在天上與祂一同所經歷的相比。在地上,就算最棒的事都不過是天上領域何等美好的影子,而且在天上完全沒有邪惡。

天堂應該要成為我們現在的家,正如曾有一位古人論及新造的人:『我們被呼召成為屬靈生物,偶爾有著人類經驗。』每一位基督徒都應該在屬靈領域比地上更覺得像家,這是天國將被傳遍地上的方式:藉由那些活出並展示天堂的人。

下週我們將繼續啟示錄的研讀。

(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 37, 2018)


The Heavenly Realm—The Book of Revelation
Week 37, 2018
Rick Joyner

This is the last week we’ll spend on heaven so that we can complete the study of Revelation. In the last several Words for the Week, I’ve shared some things about heaven from my own experience, which should by no means be considered conclusive. I’ve read and heard many other descriptions that are different from what I’ve shared, but heaven is so big and diverse that I have no problem believing that all of these experiences put together probably describe far less than one percent of what heaven is really like.

I think how The Lord made the physical universe to be constantly expanding is also the case with the spiritual, “heavenly” realm. Our God is far bigger than we could ever comprehend in this life, and so is His creation, both the physical and spiritual. Not only is it bigger, but as we’re told in Isaiah 9:7, there will be “no end to the increase of His dominion.” We can expect the increase to continue forever. Eternity will not be boring, but rather perpetually fascinating and filled with awe.

With the exception of one place I was taken in the spiritual realm, it seemed that everything in heaven was alive, including the stones, the water, and all other objects. They also each seemed thrilled to be what they were and with the interchange they had with others. This may seem strange, but it seemed very natural and right. Not only was there no death there, but there was life in everything.

I often walked as if there was gravity in heaven, but I could also float as if there was no gravity. If I wanted to be somewhere in the distance, I could either soar over to it or be there instantly just by focusing on my desire to be there.

The emotions there were far deeper, wider, and stronger than anything I had experienced before. They increased as I dwelt on something or someone. The greatest peace I’ve ever experienced on earth was but a tiny fraction of what I felt there, and the same was true of the joy. I think our emotions are inhibited now just like our cognitive abilities, but there seemed no limit to them in heaven.

In my experiences in the spiritual or heavenly realm, I was always accompanied by either angels or The Lord, with but one exception. I was allowed to experience alone what I thought was the most wonderful part of heaven that I had ever experienced. Yet it was not only no longer enjoyable, it was something I never wanted to experience again. I was given this experience to show me how muchkoinonia is like the oxygen of heaven, and how we can help bring heaven to earth as we grow in koinonia. It is all about relationships—fellowship. This is why Adam’s loneliness was the first thing that God said was not good about His creation. True love will seek out the lonely and help them. When we do this we begin to sow in them a love for their true home—heaven.

I have often been asked if there will be games in heaven, such as golf, baseball, or soccer. I never witnessed any kind of games there, but as I’ve shared, I've still only seen a tiny fraction of heaven, even with all of my experiences combined. Some claim that they have seen games in heaven, and perhaps there are. I personally love games and competition, but in heaven it seemed inconceivable that you would want to win anything over someone else, and that “chance” could be a factor there. However, I would have no problem believing that there are purified and exalted forms of these in heaven as it seems that every good thing on earth has a parallel there.

As we covered before, there is a theological principle of “first mention,” where the first mention of something in Scripture usually is a most important revelation of its ultimate purpose. The first mention in Scripture that God had a house is when Jacob had his dream and saw a ladder reaching into heaven, and the messengers of God ascended and descended on it. This is a revelation of a main purpose of the house of God, the church, on earth, which is supposed to be the place of access to heaven. The true messengers of God are continually ascending into the heavenly realm, and then descending to bring back evidence of heaven’s reality and its dominion over all conditions on the earth.

As we see in John 1:51, Jesus is Jacob’s ladder by which we ascend into heaven. We ascend by the progressive revelation of who He is. Our purpose is to be seated with Him in the heavenly places (see Ephesians 2:6). This is more than a doctrine we are to believe, just as all doctrines are supposed to be what we live. For this reason, any Christian can ascend into the heavenly places with Christ. Actually, all Christians should be doing this all the time.

For those who are fearful of experiencing such things, I can say for sure that by doing it just one time, you will be far more fearful of returning to the earthly realm. We can experience no greater peace and joy than that which we experience with Him in His heavenly domain. On earth, even the best of things are but a shadow of how wonderful they are in the heavenly realm, and there is no evil there at all.

Heaven is supposed to be our home now. As one of the ancients said of the new creation man, “We are not called to be human beings who have occasional spiritual experiences, but we are called to be spiritual beings who have occasional human experiences.” Every Christian should be more at home in the spiritual realm than in the earthly. This is how the kingdom will be preached throughout the earth: by those living in and demonstrating heaven.

Next week we will continue our study of the Book of Revelation.