於2016-02-23發佈


七個教會─啟示錄

這週我們要談到啟示錄一章4-5節:

約翰寫信給亞西亞的七個教會。但願從那昔在、今在、以後永在的神,和祂寶座前的七靈,

並那誠實作見證的、從死裡首先復活、為世上君王元首的耶穌基督,有恩惠、平安歸與你們!祂愛我們,用自己的血使我們脫離(有古卷作:洗去)罪惡,

正如我們上週所談到的,亞西亞不單只有這七個教會。有些教會更大更重要,例如保羅寫信給加拉太和歌羅西這二地的人,保羅也在特羅亞與其他地方待上一段時間。到底什麼使這七個教會如此重要,使其成為主在啟示錄唯一提到的教會?為何整本啟示錄專注在這七個教會上?

此預言的一小部分真的在這七個教會存在期間發生,它立即開始揭開,卻延伸了近二千年,現在仍在揭開中。顯然此信息不僅是給這七個教會的,七在數字預言中代表完成或完全,這是基於創造是在七天中被完成的。正如初代教會父老,第一代使徒的門徒似乎同意,這七個教會代表整個教會時期的所有教會。

我們將看見,這七個教會中所提到的一連串事件,若是分成七個階段,正好呈現出教會歷史將展開的精準輪廓。每個教會的長處與問題等同於每個不同階段的教會。令人鼓舞的是,此預言是如何正確關係到所有教會與教會時期。不只如此,此預言幫助我們知道要如何面對我們自己的時代,此啟示也可以被應用在其他層面上。

舉例來說,一個新教會的建立隨著其成熟過程,可能會經歷這七個教會所提到的所有階段。一些長處會增加,一些弱點也會顯明,就像是一個人成長過程的不同階段。當我們經歷這些階段,我們變得更成熟,但其中一個最危險與蒙蔽的陷阱同時也等在那裡─就是變得不冷不熱與自滿的可怕蒙蔽。因此,當此模式應用在教會時期的整體教會時,它亦可以應用在個人、教會或神的運動。

正如約翰提到此啟示是給七個教會,他一開始便以恩惠和平安─每一個生命和教會被建造其上的二大支柱來祝福他們,這不單是來自約翰的祝福,更是來自那『昔在、今在、以後永在』的神,這是關於這位主的關鍵重點。許多人只認識聖經中昔在的祂,其他人則認識祂回來時以後的祂,但祂的名字是『我是』(I Am),而不是『我曾是』或『我將是』。能從聖經和歷史認識祂固然很好,能以祂將回來的身份認識祂也很好,但要真正認識祂,我們必須認識今在的祂。從阿拉法到俄梅嘎,從起初到末後,祂是一切所有!祂是那誠實作見證的,祂戰勝了死亡,祂超越一切君王的權柄。

在這裡所提到的神的七靈,並不是有七個不同的靈來組成神─這七靈是神完全的啟示,在這裡的重點是耶穌是神完全的啟示,神的完全住在祂裡面。天父和祂兒子是如此合一,以致於我們可以在耶穌裡看見天父完全的本質,耶穌是神的終極啟示。這賜給約翰的啟示都關乎耶穌,一切所有都在祂裡面同歸於一。因此,我們的終極目標應該是凡事長進,連於基督,願一切榮耀與統管歸給祂,直到永永遠遠!

正如我們觀看七個教會的啟示,我們必須尋求在其中看見耶穌。然後我們需要應用此知識在我們的教會、在我們個人的時間看見祂,祂正在祂的教會中間。

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week6, 2016)

 

The Seven Churches—The Book of Revelation
Week 6, 2016
Rick Joyner

     This week we will cover Revelation 1:4-5:

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you, and peace, from Him that is, and that was, and is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne;

and from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the first begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

     As we addressed, Asia had more churches than these seven. Some were larger and seemingly more important, such as Galatia and Colosse, to whom Paul wrote epistles, Troas where Paul spent a season, and others. What made these seven churches so important as to be the only ones the Lord addressed in Revelation? Why was the whole revelation dedicated to these churches?

     Little spoken of in this prophecy actually came to pass during the time these churches existed. It began to unfold immediately, but then stretched out for almost two thousand years and is still unfolding. Obviously this message was for more than these seven literal churches. Seven is a prophetic number for completion or entirety. This is based on the creation being completed in seven days. As the early church fathers, the disciples of the first apostles, seemed to agree, these seven churches represented the entire church of the whole church age.

     As we will see, the sequence in which these churches were addressed presents a remarkably accurate outline of the unfolding of church history if broken down into seven periods. Both the strengths and problems of each church is a parallel of the church in each of these periods. It is encouraging how accurate this prophecy was in relation to the entire church and the church age. More than that, it helps us know how to face our own times. This revelation can be applied on other levels.

     For example, a new church plant will likely go through all of the phases addressed with the seven churches as it matures. The growth of some strengths can also reveal certain weaknesses. It is similar to the phases individuals tend to go through as they mature. After we have gone through them to become mature, one of the most dangerous and deceitful traps of all can await us—the creeping deception of becoming lukewarm and complacent, as the Laodicean church became. So, this pattern can apply to us as individuals, churches, or movements, as it applied to the church through the church age.

     As John addressed this revelation to the seven churches, he began by blessing them with grace and peace—two pillars that every life and church are built upon. This is not just from John, but also from the Lord who “was” and “is” and “is to come.” This is a crucial point about the Lord. Many just know Him as who He was in Scripture. Others know Him by who He will be when He returns, but His eternal name is “I Am,” not “I was” or “I will be.” It is good to know Him from the Scriptures and history. It is good to see who He will be when He returns, but to truly know Him, we must know Him in the present. From the Alpha to the Omega, the Beginning to the End, He is everything! He is the Faithful Witness, the One who overcame death. He is over every other king in authority.

     The seven spirits of God mentioned here are not seven different spirits that make up God—they are a revelation of God in His entirety. The point made here is that Jesus is the complete revelation of God. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him. This does not mean the Father is not a distinctly different Person, but He and His Son are in such unity that we can see the Father’s entire nature in Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God. This revelation given to John is all about Jesus. All things will be summed up in Him. Therefore, our ultimate goal should be to grow up in all things into Him. To Him will be the glory and dominion forever and ever!

     As we look at the seven churches revelation, we must seek to see Him in them. Then we need to apply this knowledge to seeing Him in our church in our own time. He is in the midst of His church.