打破循環─啟示錄  

在啟示錄裡，我們看到一個循環，很像聖經的以色列歷史。在他們得到土地並在神的良善與信實中歡喜之後，下一個世代卻忘記神。逐漸陷入腐敗，導致叛教，帶來綑綁與受苦。這最終促使人們悔改，神再次從他們的綑綁中拯救並重建他們。接著他們很快陷入邪惡、綑綁與貧窮，直到他們再次悔改。 

在教會歷史與整體教會中，我們看見同樣的循環，幾乎包括每一個教會運動。我們甚至可以在個別的基督徒身上看見；倘若我們能打破此循環，我們會更好，要如何做的答案出现在啟示錄一書中，也遍及整本聖經。 

當我們繼續此研讀，這應當成為我們的主要目標之一：持守忠心，不單是愛神，更要在對祂與對彼此之間的愛中持續成長，而不隨波逐流。愛神是我們生命的最高優先，這是我們必須定意來做的事。我們也必須站立在神的真理上，對抗那些摧毀人們的事。我們是出於真誠渴望拯救來這麼做，正如我們上週所討論的，神喜愛憐憫勝過審判，而我們也必須如此。儘管到了一個時候不再有憐憫，審判無法避免，這對主而言是很憂傷的，對我們也應如此。 

當然，我們也必須謹記在心：我們都虧缺神，白白領受恩典與憐憫。然而，其中有一分界線。我們承認我們的罪並轉離它，感恩地領受祂的恩典與憐憫。然而，那些硬著心抵擋主與祂憐憫的人已經被自己定罪。 

啟示錄十六章描述在神最後的憤怒中，七位使者拿著七碗倒在地上。正如我們在第1節所讀到的：『我聽見有大聲音從殿中出來，向那七位天使說：你們去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上。』（啟示錄16:1）。在這裡的七碗與其他將要揭開與七有關的時間表並不同，包括七教會、七號等。然而，全部都是在獸的印記後揭開。 

在啟示錄上一章，我們看見『在天上那存法櫃的殿開了』（參考啟示錄15:5）。所以此吩咐是來自神的殿，但祂在地上的殿─教會與祂天上的殿有何不同？因為屬靈原則是在天上釋放的，在地上也釋放，反之亦然，所以神在天上的殿也被認為是祂的教會。教會從起初就是由祂忠心的僕人所組成，他們已經完成此生的進程，但仍藉著為地上事件代禱而投入其中，正如我們在啟示錄所看見的。 

主的殿的一個主要目的是成為『萬國禱告殿』，在過去幾十年裡，投入在持續禱告與代求的聚會已從不到十間成長到超過二萬間。當此成長持續進行，我們可以預期『有大聲音從殿中出來』會持續增加。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week8, 2018)

 
Breaking the Cycle: The Book of Revelation

         In Revelation, we see a cycle that is like Israel’s history in the Scriptures. After taking their land and rejoicing in the goodness and faithfulness of God, the next generation forgot Him. A slide into corruption and apostasy resulted, which brought about bondage and suffering. Eventually this would cause the people to repent, and God would save them from their bondage and restore them. Then they would quickly begin their slide into evil, bondage, and poverty until they repented again.

         We see this same cycle in church history and in the church as a whole, including in virtually every church movement. We can even see it with individual Christians. We would be better off if we break this cycle, and the answer to how we do this is in the Book of Revelation, as well as sown throughout the entire Bible.

         As we proceed with this study, this should be one of our main goals: to remain faithful and not just love God, but grow in our love for Him and one another continually without drifting. Loving God is the highest priority of our life, and this is something we must resolve to do. We must also stand for God’s truth and against those things that destroy people. We do this out of a sincere desire to save. As we discussed last week, God prefers mercy over judgment, and so must we. Even though there is a time when mercy will not be received and judgment is inevitable, this is grievous to the Lord and it should be to us as well.

         Of course, we must also keep in mind that all of us have fallen short and have received grace and mercy. However, that is the dividing line. We acknowledged our sin and turned from it, and thankfully received His grace and mercy. However, those who have hardened themselves against the Lord and His mercy and grace have condemned themselves.

         Revelation 16 describes the seven angels with the seven bowls of the final wrath of God poured out on the earth. As we read in verse one, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth’” (Revelation 16:1). This seven does not correspond with the unfolding seven timelines of the seven churches, trumpets, etc. However, all unfold after the mark of the beast.

       In the previous chapter of Revelation we saw “the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven opened” (see Revelation 15:5). So this command is coming from the temple of God, but what is the difference between His temple on earth, the church, and His temple in heaven? Because of the principle that the things released in heaven are also released on the earth, and vice versa, it is assumed that the temple of God in heaven is also His church. It is composed of His faithful ones from the beginning. These have finished their course in this life, but they are still engaged by interceding for the events on the earth, as we see in this Revelation.

       A primary purpose of the temple of the Lord is to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” In the last couple of decades, gatherings devoted to continuous prayer and intercession have grown from less than a dozen to over twenty thousand. As this growth continues, we can expect this “loud voice” from the temple to increase.