Please scroll down to view the English version of the article.
讲道： 名老师
《啓示錄》是一本非常有意思的書，有些人喜歡讀，有些人不喜歡，因為覺得它太深奧。
上帝對啓示錄這卷書有甚麼看法呢？我們都知道祂非常看重啓示錄，聖經上只有這卷書一開頭就說：讀這卷書的人有福了，最後還說：破壞這卷書的人要受咒詛；如果有人刪掉這卷書的任何內容，或是任意添加任何內容，就會遭受這書上所描述的災禍，也會失去救恩，失去進入上帝聖城的機會，這可是一件非常非常嚴重的事情。讀這卷書，或是聽見這卷書就遵守的人必要蒙福，但是增刪這卷書的人必受咒詛，這些話很不尋常。聖經上只有這卷書附上蒙福和受咒詛的條件。 (摘自讀《啓示錄》的概論—- 大衛。鮑森）
（啓一3）「念這書上預言的和那些聽見又遵守其中所記載的，都是有福的，因為日期近了。」
魔鬼的看法，牠痛恨這卷書。聖經上有兩部分是撒但最不希望你讀的，就是整本聖經的前三章跟最後三章C20 TO C22。
使用來趕鬼的經文 《啓》C18 開始 ， 到 C20 (有趣的真實的例子： 有一次我在外面吃飯，席間一位牧者把電話遞給我，說是他們教會有一位新人，被邪靈攪擾，在家中大喊大叫並滿地打滾， 他們有同工趕過去為她禱告， 可是依然如舊，轄制她，當時有事情無法離開到那人的家裡，我就只能默默求問主，看見《啓》 這個章節，就請他們在她家裡的同工為她讀，折騰到了凌晨3點，剛好讀到 《啓》20章，10節，那邪靈就離開她。所以曉得，魔鬼不喜歡啓示錄。
《啓示錄》 難嗎？
聖經上說：我今日所吩咐你的誡命，不是你難行的，也不是離你遠的。不是在天上，使你說：‘誰替我們上天取下來，使我們聽見可以遵行呢？’也不是在海外，使你說：‘誰替我們過海取了來，使我們聽見可以遵行呢？’這話卻離你甚近，就在你口中，在你心裡，使你可以遵行。（申命記30:12-14）
“但以理啊，你只管去，因為這話已經隱藏封閉，直到末時。必有許多人使自己清淨潔白，且被熬煉，但惡人仍必行惡，一切惡人都不明白，惟獨智慧人能明白。（但以理書12:9-10）現在已經是末時的日子，我們這些智慧人應該可以明白啓示錄這些預言書。
《啓示錄》 是寫給誰看的呢？第一是啓示錄這卷書其實是為普通人而寫的，原本是寫給七所教會，就在今天的土耳其西方，他們都是很普通的人；沒有受過高等教育，不是地位尊貴的人，只是很普通的平凡人，很多還是奴隸。這卷書是為他們寫的，是他們看的懂的。
啓示錄的第二個原則是：啓示錄十四章12節“因此，那些服從上帝命令，忠於耶穌的上帝子民需要忍耐到底”。 準備受苦的基督徒而寫的， 是特別為受苦的聖徒而寫的，所以我們才會讀不懂，因為我們沒有受苦。
這卷書的作者約翰本身就是一個已經為主受苦的人。他是寫給即將為耶穌受苦的聖徒，他在預備他們面對苦難。
在末日漸漸逼近的時候，面對的苦難會越來越多，這卷書是在預備我們面對即將來臨的苦難，這樣當苦難真正來臨的時候，我們才有辦法忍耐。 (摘自讀《啓示錄》的概論—- 大衛。鮑森）
啓示錄是一本甚麼樣的書呢？
—歷史書： 從宇宙起源到宇宙和人類的終結；
—愛情書：天父為兒子物色新娘 ， 訂了親， 最後在啓示錄裡基督娶了新婦 （羔羊的婚宴）
從愛情的角度來看啓示錄。這卷書中充滿了愛情，十分浪漫；在講一個父親為祂的兒子物色新娘。如果沒有啓示錄的話，就不知道婚禮的情景，只知道這個兒子跟女方定了親。
保羅寫信給教會說：我曾經把你們許配給基督。這正是基督徒目前和耶穌的關係；我們和耶穌訂了親，只是訂了親，還沒有成親，婚禮要在最後才舉行，而且就跟動人的愛情故事一樣。
如果沒有啓示錄，婚約也許會解除，但是聖經的結局是羔羊的婚宴。 所以婚宴很重要，宴席很重要，重要到主借著前幾個星期的異夢來提醒我們宴席在聖經裡的重要性，我們在座的每一位，世上無論信主或非信徒，都會遇見一個宴席，你在如今的生活態度將決定你將來在宴席的地位。（例子， 宴席的異夢， 省略）
將來在神的國度， 或是死以後，或是主再來，總有一個地位讓你我站著， 你我有一個地位在神的面前？
談到出现在宴席里的人和宴席， 來看看關於宴席的經文。
末後時代裡，聖經中記載了幾類人：新婦, 先鋒者，童女，男孩子，得勝者, 殉道者, 賓客( 太22：11-13。) 他們都出現在宴席裡。
1. 最熟悉的童女講起
童女：馬太 二十五章 1–13時，說到聰明的童女和愚昧的童女，去參加婚宴， 去迎接新郎
在中東地帶，婚姻的宴會是在晚間舉行的。
新郎要出去迎娶新婦，將她接到自己的家裡。
女方的人帶著火把從她父家出發前往新郞家中，
而新郎一方則設盛筵款待被 邀請的賓客。
中途，一群人在等候著，女家送嫁者的來到，意在加入這個行列。
耶穌看到這些場面就講了非常有意思的十童女的比喻。而以她們 的經驗來說明處在他第二次降臨之前的教會所必有的經驗。
等待新郎的十童女
十個身穿白衣的青年女子在女家的附近逡巡等候著。每人拿著一盞點著的燈和一個小小的油瓶。她們都在焦急地等候新郎的來臨，可是新郎卻遲延了。
V5，「新郎遲延的時候，她們都打盹睡著了」 一小時一小時地過去，等候的人便疲倦地睡著了。半夜聽到有人喊著 說：「新郎來了，你們出來迎接他！」睡覺的人忽然驚醒，就跳了起來。她們看見迎親的行列帶著光輝的火把，在歡悅的樂聲中前進。
十童女是誰？ 等候新郎的兩等童女代表自認為等候主的兩等人。她們被稱為童女，乃是因為她們聲稱具有純正的信仰。 燈是甚麼？ 燈是代表上帝的話。詩人說：“你的話是我腳前的燈，是我路上的光。”【詩119:105】 油是甚麼？ 油是象徵聖靈。撒迦利亞的預言就採用了這種表號。
那十個童 女便拿起她們的燈，把燈小心剔淨，想趕快出發。其中的五個童女並沒有料到新郎會遲延這麼長久，所以就沒有為這次的意外作準備。在窘迫中她們就向那比較聰明 的同伴懇求說：“請分點油給我們，因為我們的燈要滅了。”可是那五個在等候的同伴，剛剛將燈小心剔淨，她們的油瓶也已空了。她們沒有油可以分與別人。
愚拙的童女去買油的時候，迎親的行列就動身前進，把她們撇在後面了。愚拙的童女來到宴會大廳門口，她們就遭到了意外的拒絕。筵席的主人說：“我不認識你們。”於是她們就被撇在門外午夜的黑暗裡，站在那冷清的街道上。
那點著燈的五個童女參加了婚娶隊伍的行列，並和新婦的隨從一同進入屋內，門就關了。
愚拙的童女
愚拙的童女所代表的一等人並不是假冒為善的人，她們有燈，神的話，只是沒有油而已。他們重視真理，他們曾經擁護過真理，他們也曾與相信真理的人親近，可是他們自己卻未曾順從聖靈的運行。他們還沒有掉在那磐石──基督耶穌上，讓自己的舊習性跌碎。 聖靈在人心中運行，乃是根據每人的心願和允諾在他裡面培植一個新的性格。可是愚拙的童女所代表的一等人，卻以膚淺的工作為滿足。
“請借點油給我！” 沒有預備油的那等愚拙的童女從昏睡中驚醒時，他們才發覺自己的缺乏，便央求別人來彌補他們的不足，可惜在屬靈的事上卻沒有人能彌補別人的缺陷。因為人的品格是不能轉讓的。沒有人能替別人相信，也沒有人能替別人領受聖靈。（例子， 我不可以替代我的先生禱告，他要自己跟神來建立關係，而不是我）
聰明的童女器皿有油，一個是很早就付上代價去買油。愚昧的童女沒有油；另一個是臨時去買，已經來不及了。
沒有預備的童女，不能進去坐席。
（聰明的童女，進入宴席所，愚拙的童女—主說，我不認識你們，馬太7:23， 結果： 不能進天國）
2. 賓客：(馬太 22:2)「天國好比一個君王，為自己的兒子預備婚宴。」
(馬太22:10-14) 那些奴僕就出去，到大街上，把所見到的，無論好人壞人都召集起來，婚宴上就坐滿了賓客。王進來會見賓客，發現有一個人沒有穿婚宴的禮服，就對他說：‘朋友，你進到這裡來怎麼沒有穿婚宴的禮服呢？’那個人啞口無言。“於是王吩咐僕人們：‘把他的手腳捆起來，丟到外面的黑暗裡去！在那裡將有哀哭和切齒。’“要知道，蒙召喚的人多，而蒙揀選的人少。”
按照中東的習俗，擺設婚筵或舉行大型慶典之前，主人必定為客人預先分派禮服，讓他們穿上赴會，所以受邀者不必自己煞費思量選擇得體和適當的禮服。猶太人傳 統也有類似的比喻。王邀請賓客赴筵，但沒有告訴他們甚麼時候舉行（宴會通常是在晚上的），只叫他們隨時準備好。聰明的賓客估計宴會可能隨時開始，所以拿著 禮服在王宮門前等候，但那愚拙的以為宴會準備需時，所以各自去進行其他的活動。怎知宴會開始了，那些聰明的可立刻進入王宮享受筵席，但那些來不及回家拿禮 服的只有在王宮門外望門興嘆，後悔莫及。
擁有賓客身份的人，神對他的要求是穿上禮服。但是，怎麼樣的賓客會被神丟在外面哀哭切齒呢？
答案是沒有穿上禮服的人。
神邀請了我們參加祂救恩的筵席，並希望我們穿上得體的禮服赴宴，究竟這禮服是甚麼呢？聖經多處提及我們認識神之後，要「披戴基督」（加三26-27；羅 一三14），「滿有基督長成的身量」（弗四13），我們若能「脫去舊人和舊人的行為，穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形象」（西三 9-10）。
這禮服明顯預表對付基督徒的生命的老我， 對付生命的問題，是賓客的禮服。
賓客的結局是，穿禮服的賓客入了宴席所，沒穿禮服的賓客被丟在外邊的黑暗裡， 在那裡必哀哭切齒了。
3. 先鋒者 FORUNNER：（新郎的朋友）
馬太 25:6 半夜聽到有人（先鋒者）喊著說：「新郎來了，你們出來迎接他！」
先鋒者–有人是在半夜警醒禱告和守望的
什麼是先鋒者的事奉
- 預備主道路的信徒「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。』」 (賽40：3)
- 事先宣告即將發生以及聖靈未曾有過的工作， 宣告在這世代未曾有過以及不尋常的事。
- 他們宣告 神掌權的真理，為了使人明白祂的審判;
- 他們為羔羊的婚宴預備人們的心(啟19：7)。
- 他們宣告 神是新郎，君王和審判者
以賽亞書57:14 「耶和華要說;『你們要修築修築，預備道路，將絆腳石從我百姓的路中除掉！』」
以賽亞書62:10「你們當從門經過經過，預備百姓的路；修築修築大道，撿丟石頭。為萬民豎立大旗。」
瑪拉基書3:1~6「萬軍之耶和華說：『我要差遣我的使者在我前面預備道路。你們所尋求的主，必忽然進入他的殿;立約的使者，就是你們所仰慕的，快要來到。』
【約三29】「娶新婦的，就是新郎；新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂；故此我這喜樂滿足了。」先鋒者是新郎的朋友
4. 新婦：
耶穌的新婦，是一個集合名詞，無論是在舊約的猶太人，還是在新約的基督徒，只要符合新婦條件的，都被稱為耶穌的新婦。
新婦在末後的地位？
1. 同羔羊一同與撒旦爭戰， 在1260日後被提到空中與主一起的第一次復活的信徒；啓17:14 他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主、萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召、被選、有忠心的，也必得勝。”
2. 進入聖城新耶路撒冷城裡作王的，直到永永遠遠；啓21:2 （，“我又看見一個新天新地,因為先前的天地已經過去了,海也不再有了。我又看見聖城耶路撒冷由神那裡從天而降,預備好了,就如新婦妝飾整齊,等候丈夫。）啓22:3-5 （他們要作王，直到永永遠遠）
3. 額上寫上3個名字，名字寫在羔羊生命冊上；
啓3:12，（得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，他也絕不再從那裡出去；我又要將我神的名，和我神城的名，（這城就是由天上從我神那裡降下來的新耶路撒冷，）並我的新名，都寫在他上面。
啓22:3 以後再沒有咒詛。在城裡有神和羔羊的寶座，他的僕人都要事奉他，. 啓22:4. 也要見他的面。他的名字必寫在他們的額上。
啓21:9 我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說：“看哪！ 神的帳幕在人間。他要與人同住，他們要作他的子民； 神要親自與他們同在，作他們的神。
啓21:27 凡不潔淨的，並那行可憎與虛謊之事的，總不得進那城；只有名字寫在羔羊生命冊上的才得進去。
“我們要歡喜快樂，將榮耀歸給他；因為羔羊婚娶的時候到了，新婦也自己預備好了。就蒙恩得穿光明潔白的細麻衣，這細麻衣就是聖徒所行的義。天使吩咐我說，你要寫上，凡被請赴羔羊婚筵的有福了。又對我說，這是神真實的話。”(啓十九7-9)
約翰又記著說：“我又看見聖城新耶路撒冷，由神那裡從天而降，預備好了，就如新婦妝飾整齊，等候丈夫。”
(啓廿一2)又記著說：“拿著七個金碗，盛滿末後七災的七位天使中，有一位來對我說，你到這裡來，我要將新婦，就是羔羊的妻，指給你看。我被聖靈感動，天使就帶我到一座高大的山，將那由神那裡從天而降的聖城耶路撒冷指示我……”(啓廿一9-27)。
成為基督新婦的條件：啓 17:14
1. 蒙召；
2. 被選；
3. 有忠心的，
4. 必得勝的。–就蒙恩得穿光明潔白的細麻衣（這細麻衣就是聖徒所行的義）啓19:8
得勝者：
在啟示錄中，有七個得勝的，唯有這些得勝的才是新婦
- 啟二：7「聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。得勝的，我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他吃。」
- 啟二：11「聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。得勝的，必不受第二次死的害。」
- 啟二：17「聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽。得勝的，我必將那隱藏的嗎哪賜給他，並賜他一塊白石，石上寫著新名；除了那領受的以外，沒有人能認識。」
- 啟二：26「那得勝又遵守我命令到底的，我要賜給他權柄制伏列國。」
- 啟三：5「凡得勝的，必這樣穿白衣，我也必不從生命冊上塗抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父眾使者面前，認他的名。」
- 啟三：12「得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，他也必不再從那裡出去，我又要將我神的名，和我神城的名，（這城就是從天上，從我神那裡降下來的新耶路撒冷）並我的新名，都寫在他上面。」
- 啟三：21「得勝的，我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐，就如我得了勝，在我父的寶座上與他同坐一般。」
啟十七：14「他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主、萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召、被選有忠心的，也必得勝。」
有關七個『得勝者』的條件及所得到的結果(與神合而為一)，我們從這七個結果得知，唯有『得勝者』才能住在新耶路撒冷城內，啟三：12a「得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，他也必不再從那裡出去。」
第一次復活與基督一同作王一千年的信徒有哪些人 （成為新婦的是哪些人？）啓20:4
- THRONES 寶座, 坐在寶座上有審判的權柄賜給他們—男孩子 啓20:4；
- 被斬者的靈魂—殉道者 （舊約和新約）啓20:4；
- 沒有拜獸，沒有印記 （活著被提的）啓20:4
啓20:4 我又看見幾個寶座 （NIV, NKJV,ESV, thrones)，也有坐在上面的，並有審判的權柄賜給他們。我又看見那些因為給耶穌作見證，並為 神之道被斬者的靈魂，和那沒有拜過獸與獸像，也沒有在額上和手上受過它印記之人的靈魂，他們都復活了，與基督一同作王一千年。
進城的人：啓21:27
啟二十一：3「我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說：『看哪！神的帳幕(新耶路撒冷)在人間。他要與人同住，他們要作他的子民；神要親自與他們同在，作他們的神。』神的帳幕就是指新耶路撒冷城，城外的是神的子民，城內的是羔羊的新婦(得勝者)，所以最後城內只剩下聖靈(耶穌的神性)和新婦(得勝者：有神成熟生命的基督徒)及城外聽見的人和口渴的人，啟二十二：17「聖靈和新婦都說：『來！』聽見的人也該說：『來！』口渴的人也當來，願意的，都可以白白取生命的水喝。」
最後永恆的歸宿： 城內的和城外的
城內的： 啓 20:4， 新婦 （第一次有份復活的人）：
- 幾個寶座—男孩子；
- 被斬者的靈魂—殉道者；
- 沒有拜獸，沒有印記 （活著被提的）
帖前 4:17 以後我們這活著還存留的人必和他們一同被提到雲裡 ，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永 遠同在 。
（活著被提在半空與主相遇人， 變成靈的身體）
(林前15:52) 就在一霎時，眨眼之間，號筒末次吹響的時候。因號筒要響，死人要復活，成為不朽壞的，我們也要改變。
城外的： 啓 22:15
- 犬類；其餘的都在城外，啟二十二：15「城外有那些犬類、行邪術的、淫亂的、殺人的、拜偶像的、並一切喜好說謊言、編造虛謊的。」啓 20:6 這是頭一次的復活。其餘的死人還沒有復活，直等那一千年完了。
- 沒穿禮服的賓客；
- 愚拙的童女
火湖裡： 還有一種人的歸宿： 燒在硫磺火湖裡，第二次的死。
- 不信的 啓21:8；
- 名字沒記在生命冊上的 啓 20:15
- 拜獸和獸像受它名之印記的 啓14；11
1. 不信的 啓21:8；
啓20:5 其餘的死人還沒有復活，直等那一千年完了。啓20:12我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了。並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑著這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。啓20:13-14於是海交出其中的死人。死亡和陰間也交出其中的死人。他們都照各人所行的受審判。死亡和陰間也被扔在火湖裡。這火湖就是第二次的死。
啓21:8 惟有膽怯的、不信的、可憎的、殺人的、淫亂的、行邪術的、拜偶像的和 一切說謊話的，他們的分就在燒著硫磺的火湖裡；這是第二次的死。
2. 名字沒記在生命冊上的
(啓20:12) 我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了。並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑著這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。
啓 20:15 若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裡。(生命冊 和羔羊生命冊）
(啓3:1-3)“你要寫信給撒狄教會的使者，說：‘那有 神的七靈和七星的，說：我知道你的行為，按名你是活的，其實是死的….。因我見你的行為，在我 神面前，沒有一樣是完全的。所以要回想你是怎樣領受，怎樣聽見的；又要遵守，並要悔改。若不警醒，我必臨到你那裡，如同賊一樣。我幾時臨到，你也決不能知道。
沒有被提的，按名是活的 （基督徒，有救恩），其實是死的 （行為是死的） V2 行為在神的面前，沒有一樣是完全的， 神臨到他，如同賊一樣。
(林後 5:10) 因為我們眾人必要在基督台前顯露出來，叫各人按著本身所行的，或善或惡受報。
（審判從神的家起首， 基督台前的審判）
對於弟兄來講， 明明曉得 帖前5:2-8 弟兄們，論到時候日期，不用寫信給你們。 因為你們自己明明曉得，主的日子來到，好像夜間的賊一樣。 人正說平安穩妥的時候，災禍忽然臨到他們，如同產難臨到懷胎的婦人一樣，他們絕不能逃脫。 弟兄們，你們卻不在黑暗裡，叫那日子臨到你們像賊一樣。 你們都是光明之子，都是白晝之子，我們不是屬黑夜的，也不是屬幽暗的。 所以我們不要睡覺，像別人一樣，總要儆醒謹守。
3. 拜獸和獸像受它名之印記的
(啓14:9-11) 又有第三位天使，接著他們，大聲說，若有人拜獸和獸像，在額上，或在手上，受了印記， 這人也必喝神大怒的酒，此酒斟在神忿怒的杯中純一不雜。他要在聖天使和羔羊面前，在火與硫磺之中受痛苦。他受痛苦的煙往上冒，直到永永遠遠。那些拜獸和獸像受他名之印記的，晝夜不得安寧。
最後永恆的歸宿
城裡的：1. 聰明的童女, 2. 穿禮服的賓客，3. 先鋒者（殉道者） 4. 新婦–第一次有份復活的人，名字寫在羔羊生命冊上的：A. 幾個寶座（男孩子）；B. 殉道者；C. 沒有拜獸，沒有印記 （活著被提的）
城外的： 1. 愚拙的童女； 2. 沒穿禮服的賓客； 3. 犬類
火湖裡：
1. 不信的
2. 名字沒記在生命冊上的
3. 拜獸和獸像受它名之印記的
4. 魔鬼，獸，假先知，死亡和陰間 (啓20:10) (啓20:14)
思考
1. 我要以甚麼樣的地位站在 神面前？
2. 我要選擇甚麼樣的生活在 神的面前？
3. 我還有多少時間在宴樂裡？
4. 我當怎樣在末後世代裡敬虔渡日？
名老师 证道和分享
===================================================
“The Book of Revelation” is such an interesting book. Some people like it; some don’t, just because it’s too profound.
What will God say about the Book of Revelation? We know that He values Revelation very much. It’s the exceptional book in the Bible that says at the very beginning, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,” and says at the end that people who destroy this book should be cursed; And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy or adds anything to them, God will put on him the punishments which are in this book, and they will also lose the salvation and the chance to enter the Holy City. That’s quite serious! It is not ordinary that people, who read or hear it and take to heart what is written in the book, will be blessed; however, people who take words away from the book will be cursed. There is only this book on the Bible that states the conditions to be blessed and to be cursed. (The outline of Come With Me Through Revelation, David Pawson)
Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
In Demons’ mind, they hate this book. There are two parts which Satan doesn’t want you to read most, which are the first three chapters and the last three chapters of the Bible. (C20 To C22)
Let’s begin with the verse about casting out ghosts. Revelation Chapter 18 to 20. One interesting instance: “One day some persons and I were eating at a restaurant. A pastor within us passed his cellphone to me. He said it’s a newcomer in their Church who was disturbed by an evil spirit, yelling, screaming and rolling at home. Their Church workers came to pray for her but nothing was changed. She was still kept bound. Because I might not be able to leave for her house, all I can do is seek God in prayer. Then I saw the verses in Revelation, therefore I asked the Church workers who were at her place to read the verses for her. It wasn’t until 3 am that they came to Revelation 20:10 and the evil spirit escaped from her. We can learn from this event, Demons don’t like Revelation.
If it can make you believe that Genesis is just a mythology and Revelation is an occultism, it will be pleased. Satan hates you to study Revelation this day.
IS REVELATION DIFFICULT?
The Bible says: “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” (Deuteronomy 30:12-14)
“Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:9-10) It is now the end time. We, as smart men, should be able to understand the prophetic books such as Revelation.
To whom was the Book of Revelation written for? First, Revelation is actually for general population. Originally it was for the seven Churches which are located in the western Turkey on this day. They were general people without high education and honored identity. They’re so ordinary, even some were slaves. The scrolls were written for them, and they can understand the words.
The second principle of Revelation is in Rev. 14:12 “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” It was written for the Christian who are going to suffer, especially for the Saints who suffered. Thus we can’t understand it because we haven’t suffered.
The author of the Book, John was a person who had suffered personally for the Lord. He wrote the book for the saints who are about to suffer for Jesus. He was preparing them into sufferings.
The closer the end of the day is, the more sufferings there will be. This Book prepares us to face the sufferings to come. That way, when the sufferings come, we might be able to stand.
WHAT IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION?
A Book of history: From the beginning of the universe to the end of the universe and the mankind;
A Book of love: The Heavenly Father is looking for the bride for His son, and engages them, finally in Revelation, the Christ marries the bride. (The marriage supper of the Lamb)
We can read Revelation from the viewpoint of love and know that this Book is full of love and is quite romantic, a book that says a Father is looking for the bride for His son. If there’s no Revelation, we are not able to image what the wedding is, therefore all we can know is that the Son is engaged to the woman.
Paul wrote to the Churches that I have promised you to Christ. That’s exactly the relationship between Christ and Christians nowadays. We’ve engaged to Jesus, however it’s just an engagement not a marriage. The wedding is for the last and is like the touched love story.
If there’s no Revelation, the engagement will be canceled. But the ending of the Bible is the marriage supper of the Lamb. So the marriage supper is important. The banquet is important. It is so important that the Lord reminded us the significance of the banquet in the Bible through the dream couples weeks ago. Every single of us, regardless of believers or non-believers, will meet at the banquet. Your attitude toward life today will decide the position in the banquet of the future. (For instance: the dream of the marriage supper, which is skipped here.)
In the Kingdom of God, either when we pass away or when the Lord comes, each of us will have a position to stand. Will everyone have a position to stand in front of God?
Since we talk about the banquet, let’s see the verses about it.
At the end time, the Bible says there are several kinds of people: the bride (the martyr), the forerunner (the martyr), the virgin (the martyr), the overcomer (the martyr) and the guest. (Matt. 22:11-13) They will be all in the marriage supper.
1. START WITH THE WELL KNOWN VIRGINS
The Virgins: Matt. 25:1-13 says the wise virgins and the foolish virgins went to the banquet to meet the bridegroom.
In the Middle East, the marriage supper is held in the evening.
The bridegroom must go out to meet the bride and take her to his house.
The family of the bride will take torches and leave for the house of the bridegroom from her father’s house.
The bridegroom set up the banquet to entertain the invited guests.
On the way, there will be a flock of people waiting the bride there, intending to join the line.
When Jesus saw the above situation, then He said the interesting parable of the ten virgins. He made use of the virgins’ experience to explain what the Churches will go through before His second coming.
Ten virgins who wait for the bridegroom
Ten young girls with white clothes hovered around and waited nearby their houses. Everyone took a lit lamp and a tiny oil jar. All of them were waiting for the bridegroom anxiously, but the bridegroom was late.
Verse 5 “The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” After hours, people who waited were weary and fell asleep. At midnight, they heard somebody say “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Girls who fell asleep was roused from sleep and jumped. They saw the glorious torches in the lines of the marriage, moving forward in hilarious music.
Who were ten virgins? Two groups of virgins who waited for the bridegroom signified two kinds of people who thought they were waiting for the Lord. They were called virgins because they proclaimed to have the pure faith. What is the lamp? The lamp signified the word of God. The poet said “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” What is the oil? The oil signified the Holy Spirit. The prophecy of Zechariah also introduces that attribute.
Ten virgins took their lamps and deterged them carefully, hoping to hit the road right away. Five of the virgins didn’t think of that the bridegroom will postpone for such a long time so they didn’t prepare for this incident. In such awkwardness, they began to ask the wiser virgins, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” However five partners in waiting who just deterged their lamps carefully, whose oil also ran out. They didn’t have any extra oil for share.
While the foolish virgins went to buy oil, the line of wedding was moving forward, leaving them behind. Then the foolish virgins came to the door of the banquet hall, however, were rejected unexpectedly. The Lord of the banquet said, “I don’t know you.” Thus they were abandoned outside in the dark of midnight, standing on the lonely street.
Five virgins with lit lamps joined the line of the marriage and entered the house with the entourages of the bride. Then the door was shut.
The Foolish Virgins
People who were signified as the foolish virgins have nothing to do with hypocrites. They’ve got the word of God, but no oil. They think highly of the truth. They’ve ever stood up for the truth. They also become intimate with the people who believe the truth. However they never get obedient to the work of the Holy Spirit. They have never dropped on the spiritual rock-Jesus Christ to break down their old habits. The Holy Spirit works in the heart according to everyone’s aspiration, and He promises to develop a whole new character for us inside Him. However people who stand for the foolish virgins are satisfied with the shallow work.
“Give us some of your oil.” When the foolish virgins who didn’t prepare oil were roused from sleep, they just found themselves deficient and asked someone else to make up their deficiency. However the spiritual things can’t be complemented by others, because the character of people is non-transferable. No one can substitute somebody to believe and receive the Holy Spirit. (For example, I can’t stand for my husband to pray, instead he has to build up the relationship with God himself, not me.
The wise virgins got the oil in the jar. They bought the oil in the early morning with effort. The foolish got no oil. They bought it temporarily, but it’s too late.
The virgins who didn’t prepare were not able to be seated in the banquet. (The wiser virgins: get into the banquet. The foolish virgins: the Lord said, I don’t know you.(Matt 7:23) The consequence: they cannot enter the Heaven.)
2. THE GUEST:
(Matt 22:2) “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.”
(Matt 22:10-14) “So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
According to the custom of the Middle East, before they can set up a wedding banquet or hold a big festival, the host must distribute the formal dress for the guests and have them put on the clothes to attend the banquet. Therefore the guests need not to bother to choose the suitable dress. The Jewish tradition also has the similar metaphor. The king invited the guests to the banquet, but didn’t tell them when to start. (The banquet is usually held in the evening.) The king just told them to get prepared. The wise guests might estimate that the banquet will start immediately so they took the dress waiting in front of the door of the palace. But the foolish guests thought that the banquet takes time to prepare so they set forth on other activities. Nobody knows the banquet started unexpectedly, the wise guests can enter the palace to have the banquet right away, but those who had no time to go home and take their dress just can sigh and regret outside the door.
The people who got the identity of the guests are asked by God to put on the wedding clothes. But how could some guests be thrown outside and be weeping and gnashing of teeth? The answer is the people who don’t put on the dress.
God has invited us to join His banquet of salvation and wished us to wear the wedding clothes in the banquet. What is the wedding clothes indeed? The Bible reminds us that after we know God, “we should clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 13:14), and “attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”(Ephesians 4:13) If we can “take off your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10)
The wedding clothes signify the fight against the old selves in the lives of Christians. To deal with the life’s problem is the wedding clothes of the guests. The outcome of the guests is that the guests who wear the wedding clothes enter the banquet and the guests who don’t wear the wedding clothes are thrown outside in the dark and are weeping and gnashing.
3. THE FORERUNNER: (FRIENDS OF THE BRIDEGROOM)
Matt. 25:6 “At midnight the cry (the forerunner) rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!”
The forerunner: sometimes they watch, pray and look out at night.
What Is The Ministry of Forerunner?
- The believers who prepare the way of the Lord. “A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)
- They in advance declare the things to happen and the unprecedented works of the Holy Spirit, things that is unusual and never happen in this generation.
- They declare the truth that God reigns in order to make people realize His judgment.
- They get people’s hearts ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:7)
- They declare God is the Bridegroom, the King and the Judge.
Isaiah 57:14 “And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.’ ”
Isaiah 62:10 “Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.”
Malachi 3:1-6 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty”
John 3:29 “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.” The forerunner is the friend of the bridegroom.
4. THE BRIDE
The bride of Jesus is a collective noun. Regardless of the Jews in the Old Testament and the Christians in the New Testament, people who are eligible to be the bride will be called the bride of Jesus.
What is the position of the bride at the end time?
- They are the believers who fight with the Lamb against Satan and are first resurrected from the death and will be raptured in the air to meet the Lord after 1260 days. Revelation 17:14 “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
- They will reign in the Holy City, the new Jerusalem for ever and ever. Revelation 21:2 “saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Revelation 22:3-5 “And they will reign for ever and ever.”
- On their heads will be written three names. Their names will be written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 3:12 “The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.”
Revelation 22:3 “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”
Revelation 21:9 “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’”
Revelation 21:27 “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)
John wrote: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) and he wrote: “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God……”(Revelation 21:9-27)”
Conditions To Be The Bride of Christ: Revelation 17:14
1. His called followers;
2. His chosen followers;
3. His faithful followers;
4. Those who are Victorious. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Revelation 19:8
5. THE OVERCOMER:
In Revelation, there are seven kinds of overcomers who are indeed the bride of Christ.
- Revelation 2:7 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
- Revelation 2:11 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
- Revelation 2:17 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
- Revelation 2:26 “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.”
- Revelation 3:5 “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.”
- Revelation 3:12 “The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.”
- Revelation 3:21 “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Revelation 17:14 “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Now we know both the seven conditions and the results of the overcomer (which can unify with God). We can realize through the seven results that only the “overcomer” is eligible to live in the new Jerusalem.
Revelation 3:12a “The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it.”
Who are the believers that will be resurrected in the first and will reign with Christ a thousand year? (Who is the bride of Christ?) Revelation 20:4
- THRONES, “thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge” – Boys. Revelation 20:4
- “The souls of those who had been beheaded”- Martyr (Both in the New Testament and Old Testament). Revelation 20:4
- No worship toward the beast and no its mark (Those who are alive and are raptured). Revelation 20:4
Revelation 20:4 “I saw thrones (NIV, NKJV, ESV, thrones) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
The People Who Enter The City: Revelation 21:27
Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” God’s dwelling place stands for the new Jerusalem. Outside the City is God’s people and inside the City is the bride of Christ (the overcomer). So finally there’re only the Holy Spirit (God’s quality) and the bride of Christ (the overcomer: Christians with mature godly life) and people outside the City who hear and are thirsty.
Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
THE FINAL DESTINATION: THOSE WHO ARE INDSIDE AND OUTSIDE
Inside: Revelation 20:4, The bride (Those who share the first resurrection):
- Thrones – Boys;
- Those who had been beheaded;
- No worship toward the beast and no its mark (Those who are alive and are raptured)
1 Thessalonians “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (Those who are alive and raptured to meet the Lord in the air will have the spiritual body.)
1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
Outside: Revelation 22:15
- The dogs: The rest are outside the City. Revelation 22:15 “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 20:6) This is the first resurrection. The rest are not resurrected yet until the thousand years are over.
- The guests without wedding clothes;
- The foolish virgins
In The Lake of Fire: one person’s destination: consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur, this is the second death.
- The unbelieving (Revelation 21:8).
- Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life (Revelation 20:15)
- Those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. (Revelation 14:11)
1. The unbelieving (Revelation 21:8)
Revelation 20:5 “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.”
Revelation 20:12“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Revelation 20:13-14 “ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
2. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Revelation 20:15 “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (The book of life and Lamb’s book of life)
Revelation 3:1-3 ““To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead……, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”
”
Those who are not raptured have a reputation of being alive (Christians have got the salvation), but they are dead (Their behavior is dead). (Verse 2)Their deeds are unfinished in the sight of God. God will come like a thief. 2 Corinthians “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (The judgment will begin with God’s household. It’s the judgment before the judgment seat of Christ.)
It is so clear for brothers. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-8 “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”
3. Those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.
Revelation 14:9-11 “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
The Final Destination
Inside: 1. The wise virgins; 2. The guest with wedding clothes; 3. The forerunner (The martyr); 4. The bride: Those who share the first resurrection: A. Thrones (Boys); B. Martyr; C. No worship toward the beast and no its mark (alive and raptured)
Outside: 1. The foolish virgins; 2. The guest without wedding clothes; 3. The dogs
In The Lake of Fire:
1. The unbelieving
2. Those whose names are not written in the book of life
3. Those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name
4. The devil, the beast, the false prophet and death and Hades. (Revelation 20:10)(Revelation 20:14)
Review
1. With what position will I stand before God?
2. What kind of life should I choose to live before God?
3. How much time do I still have on pleasure?
4. How should I live a godly life in the end time?