於2011-10-09發佈

希伯來書六章1-2列出基督教六個基本教義,其中一個是『永遠審判』。西岸預言所彰顯的一些教導與評論便與神的審判有關,很難不去質疑這些基督徒,特別是事奉主的,是否真的研讀過聖經中與審判有關的重要主題。這使我開始詢問一些信徒,他們上次聽到與審判有關的講道是在何時,直到今日,我尚未找到一人曾記得有聽過任何關於此重要基督教基本教義的信息。

我也不記得自己上次教導此主題是在什麼時候;當我剛信主時,我的確花了兩年深入研究,過去也有一些零星教導,但除了一些參考資料之外,我已經超過二十五年沒有深入教導此重要主題。所以我不再指責別人,因為我自己也輕看此重要事情。然而,我可以知道有多少關於神審判的教導與聖經不合,甚至有時還與聖經所說的衝突。我最近聽到的一些評論或意見,甚至與耶穌自己的教導直接衝突。

因著過去的經驗,我預期會有一些這樣的事情,但我認為這次所顯露出美國大多數教會所領受的,與健全的聖經教義差何其多。祂的恩慈是領你悔改』(參考羅馬書24說得一點也不錯,我們絕不要忘記此。然而,就像許多錯誤教導的根基,倘若我們把這一節經文從上下文抽出來,我們可能會如許多人一樣走叉路。瞭解神的審判對瞭解神正在做的事,甚至瞭解神本身極為重要,所以讓我們先來讀整段經文。

你這論斷人的,無論你是誰,也無可推諉。你在什麼事上論斷人,就在什麼事上定自己的罪;
因你這論斷人的,自己所行卻和別人一樣。 
我們知道這樣行的人,神必照真理審判他。 
你這人哪,你論斷行這樣事的人,自己所行的卻和別人一樣,你以為能逃脫神的審判嗎﹖
還是你藐視祂豐富的恩慈、寬容、忍耐,不曉得祂的恩慈是領你悔改呢﹖ 
你竟任著你剛硬不悔改的心,為自己積蓄忿怒,以致神震怒,顯祂公義審判的日子來到。
祂必照各人的行為報應各人。 
凡恆心行善、尋求榮耀、尊貴和不能朽壞之福的,就以永生報應他們;
惟有結黨、不順從真理、反順從不義的,就以忿怒、惱恨報應他們。
將患難、困苦加給一切作惡的人,先是猶太人,後是希利尼人; 
卻將榮耀、尊貴、平安加給一切行善的人,先是猶太人,後是希利尼人。
因為神不偏待人。

是神的恩慈領我們悔改,但正如我們在這裡所讀到的,倘若我們沒有因祂的恩慈悔改,神的震怒必會臨到。當時追求公義的猶太人認為一定會免受神的忿怒,他們反而受到最強烈的忿怒。他們的公義已成為自義,甚至使他們逼迫公義的主。即便如此,主在差派祂的使徒像外邦人傳福音之前,有好多年時間專門向猶太人傳福音。是神的恩慈持續向他們傳福音,好讓他們不需要忍受祂的忿怒,但到了一個時候,神的忿怒便無法避免了。 

是神的恩慈對美國發出警告,促使美國能夠悔改,好讓祂的審判不需要臨到我們。這並不代表祂的審判永遠不會臨到行惡的人,因為上述的經文已清楚呈明。

神的審判已經臨到美國,我們若沒有認出正掌管美國的邪惡勢力並且悔改,審判會變得更加嚴厲。我們已經因為沒聽見而付上可怕的代價,我的禱告是神給予我們恩典清楚知道發生什麼事,為何發生,使其不需要繼續下去。沒有悔改,沒有甦醒並轉向主,審判會持續下去。正如俗語說:『倘若你不改變方向,最後你就會朝著那方向。』,而美國現在朝向越來越嚴重的管教。將臨到我們的災難是一個警訊,倘若我們願意聽,災難可以停止。

 (摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 38, 2011)

The Judgments of God

Week 38, 2011   

One of the six basic doctrines of Christianity listed in Hebrews 6:1-2 is “eternal judgment.” One very revealing factor that was illuminated by the responses from our West Coast prophecies were the teachings and comments some made about God’s judgment. It is hard not to question if some of these Christians, especially those in ministry, had actually ever studied the Scriptures on this important subject. This compelled me to start asking believers when was the last time they heard a sermon on God’s judgment, and to date I have not found a single one who remembers hearing even one sermon on this important and basic Christian doctrine. 

I cannot remember the last time that I taught on this subject either. I did study it in some depth for about two years when I was a new believer. I have taught on it some in the past, but with the exception of a few references, I have not taught on this important subject in depth for more than twenty-five years. So I am not pointing fingers at others in this any more than I am considering myself guilty of overlooking this important matter too. However, I do have enough of a foundation to recognize how much, if not most, of what is being taught about God’s judgment is not biblical, but is sometimes in basic conflict with what the Bible reveals on it. Some comments or opinions I’ve heard lately were in direct conflict with even the teachings of Jesus Himself. That is revealing.

 I was expecting some of this because of previous experience, but I think this time it has revealed a much deeper level of how far from sound biblical doctrine much of the church in America has received. It is true that “the kindness of God leads to repentance” (see Romans 2:4), and we never want to forget this. However, like the basis of many false teachings, if we take this one slice of a verse out of context we can be led astray by it, as many are. Understanding the judgments of God are crucial for understanding what God is doing, and even God Himself, so let’s care enough to read this in its whole context. 

Therefore you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you 
judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
But we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such 
things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing 
that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself 
in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who WILL RENDER TO EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, 
eternal life;
but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, 
wrath and indignation.
There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and 
also of the Greek,
 but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the 
Greek.
 For there is no partiality with God (Romans 2:1-11). 


It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance, but as we see here, if we do not repent because of His kindness we can surely expect wrath. The Jews who were in such pursuit of righteousness in those times were so sure that they were exempt from the wrath of God that they were recipients of some of the most intense. Their righteousness had become self-righteousness, which caused them to even persecute the Righteous One Himself. Even so, the Lord exclusively reached out to them for years before sending His apostles to the Gentiles. It was God’s kindness that kept reaching out so that they would not have to endure His wrath, but a time came when wrath was inevitable. 

It is in His kindness that He has been sending warnings to the U.S. that would cause the repentance so that His judgments will not have to come on us. This does not mean that His judgments will never come to all who do evil because it is made very clear in the Scriptures above. 

The judgment of God has been coming upon America, and it will intensify if we do not recognize the evil that has been taking over and repent of it. We have already paid a terrible price for not hearing, and I for one pray for the grace to be as clear as possible about what is happening and why so that it will not have to continue. It will continue without repentance and without revival and returning to the Lord. As the saying goes, “If you do not change your direction, you will end up where you are headed,” and America is now headed for increasingly serious discipline. The disasters coming upon us are a message, and if we would listen they can be stopped.