於2020-11-07發佈


最後的戰役—美國遺產概要43   

聖經預言稱這世代末了為「大而可畏的日子」,怎麼會同時偉大又可怕呢?對一些人是偉大的日子,對其他人則是可怕的日子。美國遺產概要的其中一個目的,是為了確保我們在「偉大」的那群人當中。然而,這意味著不是偉大就是可怕,沒有中間地帶。在終極戰役中,善惡之間沒有中間地帶,我們全都要選邊站。

聖經預言已經確切且正確證實,清楚表示光將贏得這場戰役,最終萬國會來就光。此善惡之間的終極戰役是人類過去所栽種的,達到成熟的結果,我們將見證人類的大善與大惡。如此一來,所有受造物將知道遠離神而選擇邪惡的後果。

因著一些聖經翻譯不好,這世代末了錯誤被傳成世界末日。情況卻不是如此;事實上,聖經預言這世代末了將是人類在地上從未經歷最好時期的開端,並且引至更美好的未來。人類的未來比我們今生所能想像的還要光明。

沒有任何人類哲學或宗教能與「天國的福音」所給予人類和地上的盼望相比,福音的意思是「好消息」,再也沒有比神的國度要來到地上更好的消息。當我們觀看著更多的黑暗,我們必須更多留意神賜給我們的確切盼望。

神要來的國度將以千禧年開始,在這段期間地上將充滿平安,人類所有犯罪的邪惡後果將從人和地上除去,這包括人類一切衝突、疾病、痛苦,甚至死亡,這些都將除去。在這段期間,人類最原始的純潔,以及當初被造的樂園都將被恢復。

聖經預言啟示,當地上接近這世代末了,所有國家將被匯集到兩個基本陣營。一個陣營是尋求神、嘗試與祂目的對齊的國家。相反陣營則是連結於試圖以人來掌管地上,沒有神介入的國家。在這世代末了,每個國家都將成為這二大陣營的其中一個。

聖經預言擁有人類將發生之事的準確預言紀錄;然而,神賜給我們預言不單是讓我們讚嘆預言的準確度,更是要我們能信靠神即將展開的計畫。我們對其有信心,好讓我們能參與在其中。在此預言中,我們將來到萬國被帶到「斷定谷」的時候。每個國都必須選擇要站在哪一邊,而我們的國家目前也正在選擇中。

這些預言有時被稱為「徵兆/指標」(signs),因為它們很像是豎立給那些想要走在「公義道路」的路上指標,那是神為人們所建立的道路。指向這世代末了的指標,現在已經更加清晰地展現出來,因為我們越來越接近。那些知道「時候徵兆」的人,被呼召協助為主和祂國度的再來預備道路。我們是透過建造大道來預備(以賽亞書40:3-5):

有人聲喊著說:在曠野預備耶和華的路,在沙漠地修平我們神的道。
一切山窪都要填滿,大小山岡都要削平;高高低低的要改為平坦,崎崎嶇嶇的必成為平原。
耶和華的榮耀必然顯現;凡有血氣的必一同看見;因為這是耶和華親口說的。 


此正在被建造的大道(highway)是神『更高的道路』(higher-way),它的工程從人類一墮落立即開始,繼續進行直到完成,然後神的國降臨。人類所建造的任何事物都無法與其相比,要走在此大道上需要保持對神的敬畏,以及祂對人類和地上計畫的敬畏。能參與在此建造中,是我們此生所能擁有的最大尊榮。 

美國有許多第一代殖民者想要建立一個能尊榮並跟隨主的國家,藉此成為此大道的一部份。他們為美國立下一個能跟隨主與事奉主的根基,雖然我們已經遠離此道路,而且根基似乎要瓦解,但它不會瓦解。它必須被測試,儘管我們目前幾乎無法通過測試,但美國將站立到最後。這不是因著我們的公義,而是神從一開始就參與在美國的建造上,祂不會半途而廢。 

聖經預言建造此大道的最大工程將發生在這世代末了,當光明與黑暗之間的戰爭激烈進行之時。為此緣故,我們必須學習像尼希米時代的人─一手做工,一手拿兵器。當主說到這世代末了和大災難的徵兆,戰役不應讓我們沮喪,乃是讓我們抬頭仰望,因為我們得贖的日子近了。 

根據聖經預言,在末世地上多數國家會越發狂怒反對神與跟隨祂的人。從聖經我們得知,在神的國降臨前會形成一個全球性的國家聯盟,這是撒旦的仿冒品。此人類最後國度的領袖被稱為「罪人」,他是「人的罪」之化身,現在我們非常接近此時期。 

這場最後的,幾乎是對抗性的,全球性的國家聯盟是巴別塔以來,人們試圖為自己所建造的烏托邦開端。反之,它將成為壓迫人類最致命和邪惡的帝國,直到被主摧毀。這即是何以明白聖經預言的人,堅決抵制任何將各國統一在一個全球勢力下的全球倡議。 

這週不過是對聖經預言的淺薄概觀,但我們會在未來的每週一話中更深度挖掘。我們也會更深入談到,美國的根基是如何根據聖經原則來使這國家與神聯盟,這即是何以反對神的全球主義勢力視美國為最大敵人,我們的確是他們的最大敵人。 

~摘錄美國總統─甘迺迪John F. Kennedy)~

我們在這個國家和這世代中,就是世界自由城牆上的守望者,這是命定而非選擇。因此,我們要問,我們配得上我們的權力和責任嗎?我們能以智慧與克制來行使我們的力量嗎?我們能在我們的時候實現那長久以來的古老願景:「天下有太平,人間有善意」嗎?這必須一直作為我們的目標,正如很早之前經上就這麼說:若不是耶和華看守城池,看守的人就枉然儆醒。」(這是甘迺迪總統被刺殺那天未能發表的演說片段) 

 (摘自喬納word for the week, Week 43, 2020)
 

The Last Battle—Heritage Brief 43

     In biblical prophecy the end of this age is called “the great and terrible day of The Lord.” How is it both “great” and “terrible”? It will be great for some and terrible for others. One of the purposes for these Briefs is so that we can be sure to be on the “great” side. However, this implies that it will be either, with no in-between. There is no middle ground in the ultimate battle between good and evil. We will all choose which side we are on. 

         Biblical prophecy has proven sure and accurate, and it is clear that the light will win this battle. The nations will come to the light in the end. This ultimate battle between good and evil is the result of all that has been sown into mankind coming to maturity. We will witness the best and the worst of mankind. Through this, all of creation will know for all time the consequences of choosing evil by turning from God. 

         Because of some poor Bible translations, the concept was wrongly spread that the end of this age was the end of the world. This is not the case. In fact, biblical prophecy is clear that the end of this age will be the beginning of the greatest period that mankind has yet experienced on the earth and leads to an even more wonderful future afterward. Mankind has a brighter future than we can even imagine in this life.

         No human philosophy or religion can compare to the hope given to mankind and the earth than what has been given to us by “the gospel of the kingdom.” Gospel means “good news,” and there has never been greater news shared than that of the coming kingdom of God to earth. As we examine the rising darkness we must give even more attention to the sure hope that has been given to us. 

         God’s coming kingdom will begin with a one-thousand year period in which there will be peace on earth and all of the evil consequences of human transgression will be erased from man and the earth. This includes all human conflict, sickness, pain, and even death. These will be abolished. During this period, the original purity of mankind and the paradise the earth was created to be will be restored. 

         Biblical prophecy reveals that as the earth draws to the end of this age, all nations will be drawn together into two basic camps. The first camp are those nations that seek God and try to align with His purposes. The opposing camp is the alignment of the nations that are intent on man ruling over himself and the earth without any interference from God. At the end of the age every nation will be in one of these camps.

         Biblical prophecy has a record of accurately foretelling the unfolding of human history. However, this was not given so that we could just marvel at the accuracy of prophecy, but so that we could put our faith in God’s unfolding plan. We put our faith in it so that we can be a part of it. In this prophecy we are coming to the time when all nations will be brought to “the Valley of Decision.” Each one will have to choose which side they are on. Our country is choosing now, too.

         These prophecies are sometimes called “signs” because they are like sign posts on a road for those who seek to walk “the path of the righteous.” That is the way that God has established for man. The signs given to point to the end of this age have been unfolding with greater clarity now because we are getting closer. Those who know “the signs of the times” are called to help prepare the way for the coming of The Lord and His kingdom. We do this by building a highway for it (Isaiah 40:3-5): 

         A voice is calling, “Prepare the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 

         “Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be brought low; let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley.

         “Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”    

         This highway being built is God’s higher-way. Its construction began immediately after the fall of man, and will continue until completed and the kingdom comes. Nothing ever created by man can compare to it. To walk on this highway is to be in continual awe of God and His plan for man and the earth. To be a part of its construction is one of the greatest honors we can have in this life. 

         Many of the first settlers to America came seeking to build a nation that would honor and follow The Lord, and thereby be a part of this highway. They laid a foundation for a nation that would follow and serve The Lord. Though we have turned from this way, and that foundation seems to be near collapse, it will not. It had to be tested, and though we are now very close to failing the test, it will stand in the end. This is not because of our righteousness, but God was in this from the beginning, and He does not begin things He does not finish.

         Biblical prophecy indicates that the biggest part of building this highway will be at the end of the age when the biggest battle between light and darkness is raging. For this reason, we must learn to be like those in the times of Nehemiah—to work with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. As The Lord said when He spoke of the signs of the end of this age and the great times of trouble, the battle should not discourage us but cause us to look up because our redemption is near. 

         According to biblical prophecy most of the nations of the earth will be opposing God and those who follow Him with great and increasing rage at the end of the age. We are told of a global confederation of nations that forms before God’s kingdom comes that will be a satanic counterfeit to it. The leader of this final kingdom of men is called “the man of sin,” who is a personification of “the sin of man.” We are very close to this now.

         This final, nearly compete, global alignment of nations will claim to be the beginning of the utopia men have often tried to build for themselves since the Tower of Babel. Instead it will become the most murderous and evil empire to ever oppress mankind until it is destroyed by The Lord. This is why those who know Bible prophecy have been resolute in resisting any global initiative to align the nations under one global power. 

         This is a superficial overview of biblical prophecy, but we will dig down into more detail in later Briefs. We will also go deeper into how the foundations of the American Republic were based on biblical principles to keep the nation aligned with God, which is why the globalist powers that oppose Him consider America their greatest enemy. We are.

         We in this country in this generation are, by destiny rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of the world’s freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” That must always be our goal, for as was written long ago, “Except the Lord keep the city the watchmen keep awake in vain.” —President John F. Kennedy (An excerpt from the speech he was to give the day he was assassinated.)