推雅推喇教會─啟示錄 

這週我們將開始研讀推雅推喇教會，請花一點時間閱讀主對此教會的信息，記載在啟示錄二章18-29節： 

你要寫信給推雅推喇教會的使者，說：那眼目如火焰、腳像光明銅的神之子說：

我知道你的行為、愛心、信心、勤勞、忍耐，又知道你末後所行的善事，比起初所行的更多。

然而，有一件事我要責備你，就是你容讓那自稱是先知的婦人耶洗別教導我的僕人，引誘他們行姦淫，吃祭偶像之物。

我曾給他悔改的機會，他卻不肯悔改他的淫行。

看哪，我要叫他病臥在床。那些與他行淫的人，若不悔改所行的，我也要叫他們同受大患難。

我又要殺死他的黨類（原文是兒女），叫眾教會知道，我是那察看人肺腑心腸的，並要照你們的行為報應你們各人。

至於你們推雅推喇其餘的人，就是一切不從那教訓、不曉得他們素常所說撒但深奧之理的人，我告訴你們，我不將別的擔子放在你們身上。

但你們已經有的，總要持守，直等到我來。

那得勝又遵守我命令到底的，我要賜給他權柄制伏列國；

他必用鐵杖轄管（轄管：原文是牧）他們，將他們如同窰戶的瓦器打得粉碎，像我從我父領受的權柄一樣。

我又要把晨星賜給他。

聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！ 

歷史學家認為主後323到538年（大約）之間是別迦摩教會期間，設立了羅馬主教如同教皇，或是教會的頭。推雅推喇先知性教會期間則是從主後538年到1798年，會選擇這段時期是因為帝國法令在這些時候被頒佈。第一個教皇地位的建立是由君士坦丁大地所頒佈，第二個教皇地位的結束則由拿破崙所頒佈。 

這是由啟示錄一書的歷史觀點所描繪出來的，到了1844年的復臨運動，新教徒的觀點才廣為接受。在此運動中的教師是第一個教導啟示錄是一卷關乎未來的書─裡面的每件事都關乎這世代末了。當然，這也與約翰異象的開頭有所矛盾，他當時被告知他所看見的是『必要快成的事』。 

正如我們曾談論過的，未來會更詳盡來觀看，約翰所看見的事的確很快就開始發生，而且持續發生直到現在。正如我們看見此，我們可以更確定知道已發生的事，正在發生的事，還有預期將要發生的事。這顯然是主賜下此異象的原因。 

從羅馬帝國的頭頒佈教皇地位的法令，到那位稱自己是神聖羅馬帝國的頭除去法令，中間正好相隔1260年，這似乎是值得注意的巧合。正如我們將看見的，這在啟示錄中也是值得注意的數字。 

推雅推喇的意思是『痛悔的犧牲』，這時期稱為『黑暗時代』不是沒有原因的。它是第一世紀以來真正信徒所經歷到最艱難的災難，與這世代邪惡勢力結親的制度化教會，釋放了最邪惡的敵基督教義和常規。 

研讀此時期並不有趣，卻是必須的。在這裡有清清楚楚的兩條道路，一條通往救恩，另一條通往毀滅。這裡也是今日基督徒持續掉入的許多陷阱，以及掉入的後果。然而，當你看見此黑暗，只會讓神的光更亮，我們在基督裡的救恩更美好。這是一個艱難的旅程，卻非常值得。 

 (摘自喬納 word for the week,Week34, 2016)

 
The Church at Thyatira—The Book of Revelation
Week 34, 2016
Rick Joyner

         This week we will begin our study of the church at Thyatira. Please take a moment to read through the Lord’s message to this church as recorded in Revelation 2:18-29:

       And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, “These things, says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 

         "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 

         Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 

         And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

         Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 

         I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

    "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 

    But hold fast what you have till I come. 

    And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 

    'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' — as I also have received from My Father; 

    and I will give him the morning star.

    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (NKJV).

         Historians have viewed 323 A.D. to 538 A.D. (approximately) as the period of the Pergamos church and the setting up of the Bishop of Rome as the pope, or head of the church. The period of the prophetic church at Thyatira is considered to be from 538–1798 A.D. These dates were picked because of imperial decrees issued at these times. The first one to establish the papacy was issued by Constantine and the second one to end it was issued by Napoleon.

         This is drawing from the historical view of the Book of Revelation, the generally accepted view of Protestants until the 1844 Advent Movement. Teachers in this movement were the first to teach that Revelation was futuristic—that everything in it was about the end of the age. This, of course, is contradicted in the beginning of John’s vision when he was told that he would be shown the things that would “shortly come to pass.”

         As we have covered and will see in more detail, what John was shown did immediately begin to unfold, and it has continued to unfold exactly as he was shown right up until this time. As we see this, we can know with more certainty what has happened, what is happening, and what we can expect to happen. This is obviously the reason this vision was given.

         It seems a remarkable coincidence that exactly 1,260 years was the period of time that the papacy had an imperial decree from the head of the Roman Empire and the decree’s removal by one who claimed the head of the Holy Roman Empire. This is a noteworthy number in Revelation, as we will see. 

         Thyatira means “sacrifice of contrition.” This period is not called the “Dark Ages” without reason. It was the time of the greatest tribulation of true believers since the first century and the release of the most diabolical, antichrist doctrines and practices by the institutional church that had married the powers of this age.

         It is not enjoyable to study this period, but it is necessary. This is where two paths, the one to salvation and the other to damnation, are made crystal clear. It is also where many of the traps that Christians continue to fall into today are exposed, as well as the consequences of falling into them. However, when you see this darkness, it only makes the light that much brighter and our salvation in Christ more wonderful. It is a hard journey, but well worth it.