生命的道路─啟示錄

啟示錄這卷書是整個教會時代的教會與世界歷史，事先就已寫好。當我們站在末世回顧所發生之事，現在我們可以更清晰瞭解這卷書。我們看見什麼開啟了『地獄之門』進入教會中，現在我們看見什麼將關上這些地獄之門。我們也可以看見先前被預言已發生之事，以及未來一定會應驗之事。
 

瞭解啟示錄的基本要求在於瞭解它首要是關乎基督的啟示，其次要求在於瞭解這本書是耶穌賜給祂的『僕人』，所以唯有擔起真正僕人生命的人才能真實瞭解此書。這啟示在末世最黑暗的一些時刻給予神的僕人清晰度，正如聖經預言所宣告的，當世界經歷最大的災難，這些人將經歷更大的光與榮耀。我們也確定萬國要來就這些光（參考以賽亞書60:1-3）。 

『生命的道路』應當是─豐盛的生命之道。當我們在此道路上，我們會變得更有生命力，因為我們更靠近生命的王。愛是我們在地上所分享的基本食物，當我們在愛中成長，我們便開始透過救贖、和好與重建的眼光來看事情與他人，這就是基督在這世代之目的的總結。

這並不代表我們不用看他人的罪，也不是輕看他們的蒙蔽或錯誤教導與實踐；然而，我們看見是為了幫助他們，而不是譴責他們。耶穌第一次來不是為了譴責世界─世界已受到譴責，祂來是為了拯救。祂再次回來不是為了譴責，乃是為了『復興萬物』。 

我們應當回顧教會最殘暴的邪惡，尋求救贖教會，從這些錯誤中學習，不再重蹈覆轍。我們看著目前的問題，不是要來譴責，乃是評估如何引至基督的救贖、和好與重建。 

當羅馬康士坦丁大帝使教會成為羅馬的國教，開啟地獄最大的門走向最糟的邪惡。從那一刻起，人藉由人得著在教會的權柄，而不是藉由基督─祂是神和人之間的唯一中保，是教會唯一的頭。 

當人們試著讓耶穌作王，祂跑到山上。倘若人們使我們作王，那麼便由人來掌權。人們不能讓耶穌作王，因為祂『生來就是王』。因此，我們的權柄從何而來？是從神還是從人─這是決定我們是否持守在生命道路上的最基本要素。 

教會尋求人的權柄或認同的傾向，是出於基督教歷史上最大腐敗的根源。或許這即是何以使徒保羅在加拉太書一章10節寫著：『若仍舊討人的喜歡，我就不是基督的僕人了。』我們不能事奉兩個主；我們尋求人認同到一個地步，我們將喪失成為神的僕人之資格，唯有神的僕人才可以瞭解啟示錄。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week44, 2016)

 
The Path of Life—The Book of Revelation
Week 44, 2016
Rick Joyner

        The Book of Revelation was the history of the church and the world through the church age, written in advance. We can now understand it with greater clarity as we stand at the end looking back on what transpired. We see what opened “the gates of hell” into the church, and we now see what will close them. We can see how what was prophesied happened as well as what must yet be fulfilled.

        The basic requirement for understanding the Book of Revelation is to understand that it is first and foremost a revelation of Christ. The next requirement is that it was given to Jesus to give to His “bondservants,” so only those who have taken up the life of true bondservants can truly understand it. This revelation gives bondservants clarity through some of the darkest times at the end of the age. As the prophecies of Scripture declare, these will experience increasing light and glory when the world goes through its greatest tribulation. We are also assured that the nations will come to their light (see Isaiah 60:1-3).

        The “path of life” is just that—the path of life in abundance. When we are on this path, we become increasingly alive because we get closer to the Prince of Life. Love is the basic food we partake of on this path. As we walk it, we grow continually in our love for God and for one another. As we grow in this, we begin to see events and other people through the eyes of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. This sums up the purpose of Christ in this age.

        This does not mean we don’t see other people’s sin. Neither will we overlook their deceptions or their false teachings and practices, if they have them. Yet we see to help them, not condemn them. Jesus did not come the first time to condemn the world—it was already condemned. He came to save it. He is not coming back to condemn it, but to “restore all things.”  

       We should look back at even the most diabolical evils of the church seeking her redemption, learning from these mistakes to stop repeating the cycle. We look at present problems not to condemn, but to evaluate how to lead toward redemption, reconciliation, and restoration in Christ.

       The Roman Emperor Constantine opened the biggest gate of hell to the worst evil when he made the church the state religion of Rome. From that point, men gained authority in the church through men rather than through Christ—the “only mediator between God and men” and the only Head of the church.

       When people tried to make Jesus king, He fled to the mountains. If people make us king, then the people rule. Jesus could not be made king by the people because He was “born King.” Therefore, where we get our authority—from God or men—is a most basic factor determining whether we will stay on the path of life.

       The church’s tendency to seek authority or approval from men is at the root of the greatest corruption of Christianity in history. Maybe this is why the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians1:10, “If I were still seeking the approval of men I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” We cannot serve two masters. To the degree that we seek the approval of men we will forfeit being a bondservant of God, and only bondservants can understand the Revelation.