第五章　撒狄教会

教会的正统

📖 研读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照

　　读经：

　　启三1~6：“你要写信给撒狄教会的使者，说，那有神的七灵、和七星的，说，我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的；因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。若不儆醒，我必临到你那里如同贼一样；我几时临到，你也绝不能知道。然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的；他们要穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得过的。凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣；我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父众使者面前，认他的名。圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听。”

　　我们看见在使徒的时候，就有尼哥拉党的行为。从尼哥拉党行为之后，你看见别迦摩犯大罪，把世界混到基督教会里头来。接在尼哥拉党之后，耶洗别来了，同时也把偶像带到教会里来了。但是在这里还有一点好处，你在推雅推喇看见有耶洗别的审判，叫她摔在床上（原文直译）不能动，同时有一天要杀死她的儿女。这些预言还没有应验，要等启示录十七章的巴比伦时应验。推雅推喇的历史，是从耶洗别把偶像混到教会起，－启示录一直到受审判为止。现在你要看见－启示录一件事：当教会从尼哥拉党一直堕落到耶洗别的时候，神不能再容让了，所以在这里看见撒狄来了。“撒狄”就是“余数。”撒狄这教会乃是神对推雅推喇的反应。全世界教会的复兴历史，都是神的反应。什么时候神开始作复兴的工作，就是神在那里起反应。神的反应就是人的恢复。我愿意你们在原则上能记得牢这个。因为主看见推雅推喇的情形，所以撒狄来了。

　　1节下：“那有神的七灵、和－启示录七星的，说，我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。”启示录有好几个教会是配对的。撒狄是和以弗所相连的，非拉铁非是和士每拿相连的，老底嘉是和别迦摩相连的。唯有推雅推喇是单独的。主在撒狄说他自己的名字，是“那有神的七灵、和七星的。”主对以弗所说祂右手拿着七星，对撒狄说祂有七星。以弗所是使徒放松下来，是从好的变成坏的；撒狄是推雅推喇恢复起来，是从坏的变成好的。有行为没有爱心，是以弗所；按名是活，其实是死的，是撒狄。所以这两个是配对的。主在这里显出祂是有七灵的。神的七灵是神差遣到世界去作工的，是指着生命的工作。七星在以弗所是指着使者说的，在这里是指着光照说的。复兴的工作，一半在灵里，一半在光里。

　　撒狄和推雅推喇一样，她包括很长的时间，从更正教起，一直到主再来为止。撒狄虽然赶不上推雅推喇长，但是她并不单指改教时候的教会，乃是改教以后的教会历史。

　　“我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。”我想没有人会疑惑路德马丁不是神的仆人，也没有人疑惑这改教不是神的工作。改教是伟大的工作，是神的反应。神的确借着路德作出口，路德是神特别拣选的人。路德起首的时候，完全是撒狄，他的目的完全是为着恢复。主并不是说路德的工作不好，乃是说不完全（2）。好，但是还不够好。从主的眼睛看来，觉得没有一样是完全的，都是有头没有尾。主是完全的主，所以祂要求完全。为着这个缘故，我们要求神给我们看见。

　　从路德之后，称义的问题解决了。信就可以称义，信就在神面前可以得平安。路德不只给我们因信称义，也给我们一本公开的圣经。在推雅推喇，权柄是在耶洗别手里，换句话说，在教会身上。问题是教会怎样说，不是主说。所有的问题都是母会怎么说，所有罗马教的人都注重母会。所以主说要杀死她的“儿女。”你说母亲，主说儿女。路德是给我们看见，神怎么说，圣经怎么说。人能够读神的话，人自己可以看，到底神是怎么说的，不是罗马教怎么说。当公开的圣经来的时候，整个教会光明了。

　　但在这里有个问题发生：更正教没有给我们一个对的教会。以致因信称义的道理和公开的圣经到了那里，就成立了一个国立的教会。路德宗成了许多国的国立教会，后来英国也有了安立甘教会，也是国立的教会。从罗马教起头，教会的性质就转变了。等到因信称义和公开的圣经回来的时候，更正教仍旧没有看见教会是应当如何。虽然有了因信称义，有了公开的圣经，但是教会还是效法罗马教，没有回到当初的教会去。改教的时候，对于教会的问题并没有解决。路德没有改革教会。路德自己曾说，不要以为“因信称义”就够了，还有许多的事要改变。可是更正教的人却停在这里了。路德没有停止，他们却停止在那里，说已经够了。虽然回到当初的信仰去，但是教会一点的改变也没有。不过先前是罗马教的国际教会，现在改为英国的国立教会，德国的国立教会…而已。

　　所以弟兄们，你们看见么？改教并没有把教会改到当初的情形去，不过是叫世界的教会变作国家的教会而已。推雅推喇把教会放在世界里，是如何的被定罪；撒狄把教会放在国家里，也照样的被定罪。“按名你是活的，其实是死的；”改教是活的，但是还有许多是死的。

　　到了后来，又产生了许多“异议派”（Dissenters），如长老会等。你在这里，一边看见罗马教，一边看见更正教。更正教里，除了以国家来立教会之外，还有以不同的意见和道理来立教会的。凡不以国家作界限，而以道理作界限的，这个就是异议派。于是更正教就有了两种教会：一种是国立的，一种是私立的。你们今天看见德国、英国等完全是政教合一。罗马教有世界的教会，英、德等国有国立的教会。这些帝王元首，自己不听教皇的话，而要人听他自己的话；在政治上他要作王，在宗教上他也要作王，于是就产生了国立的教会。人根本就没有问过，圣经中的教会是怎么一回事。人没有回到圣经去看该不该有国立教会。后来又有私立教会的产生。私立教会的设立，乃是因为高举一个道理，就把和她道理不同的人分别出来。乃是因为看见受浸而设立浸信会，看见教会的长老制度而设立长老会。不是因着明白教会真理而设立教会，乃是以制度来设立教会。这两种更正教的教会─国立的和私立的，主说她们都没有回到当初的旨意里去。这句话顶要紧。

　　2~3上：“你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的；因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。”“你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的。”这是指着因信称义和公开的圣经，与从这这些所得的生命说的。在撒狄整个历史当中，这些是将要衰微了，所以主说，你要坚固那将要衰微的。今天在更正教里，虽然圣经已经公开，但是人的章程还是有能力，所以主说，“因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。”连你所有的，也不完全。你有的东西不完全，从起头就不完全。所以“要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。”

　　更正教的历史，是不是就这样了了呢？不！更正教的历史是一本复兴的历史。你看见路德起头的时候，多少人得救、得复兴，带进一个大恢复。更正教有一个特点，就是“恢复。”你不知道圣灵要作到什么地步。路德改教，路德会就出来了。长老的真理看见了，长老会就组织起来。卫斯理出来了，卫理会就设立了。今天在世界上还有许多其他小的教会，在一九一四年就有一千五百多个了。

　　感谢神，撒狄常蒙神的赐福。可是一有神的赐福，人就组织一个东西来盛神所赐的福。神的赐福虽然还有，那个范围却就只有那么大了。更正教好像一个杯。在复兴起头的时候，什么地方有活水，人们就往什么地方去。什么时候神的灵在那里运行，人们就往那里去。结果人们就用一个杯，要想保守活水不流去。这样作的好处，是保守了恩典，坏处是只有这一杯的恩典了。头一代这个杯是满的；第二代只剩了半杯，起首不清楚了；到了三代、五代，水没有了，只是一个空杯。于是就和别的宗派争说谁的杯好，可是杯都是不能喝的。结果呢，神又有一个反应，又是一个撒狄。全部复兴的历史都是这样。当神的恩典来的时候，人就设立一个机构来保守恩典。结果团体存在，而里头的东西没有了。但是那个杯却不会破，总有热心的人一直在那里维持那个杯。

　　这里有一件事，是原则的问题：卫斯理的学生永远赶不上卫斯理，喀尔文的学生永远赶不上喀尔文。先知学校很少出过先知，所有的大先知都是神从旷野里拣选出来的。神的灵要降在谁的身上，就是降在谁的身上。教会的头是祂，不是我们。人总是想活水宝贵，要用一个机构来保守。但总是一代不如一代，直到干了为止。等它干了之后，神另外在旷野又给了活水。全部更正教的历史，就是用撒狄来代表，复兴之后还得复兴，整个的历史就是复兴的历史。

　　一面有复兴，感谢神；另一面在神面前要受责备，因为总没有回头到当初去。更正教一直有复兴，但是主说不完全，总没有回到当初去。所以要回想当初。问题不是目前怎样领受，怎样听见；问题是当初怎样领受，怎样听见。在徒二章里，有一些人得了救，神说，他们都恒心遵守使徒的教训和交通，擘饼、祈祷（徒二42）。擘饼和祈祷，没有说继续在使徒里的；但是教训和交通，非继续在使徒里的不可。基督的交通就是使徒的交通；基督的道理就是使徒的道理。只有使徒的交通，神才算是交通；也只有使徒的道理，神才算是道理。我们不能发明一个交通，不能发明一个道理。推雅推喇的错误，就是她自己造教训，有了耶洗别。神不是叫我们去发明，神乃是叫我们去领受。在二十世纪，什么东西都能发明，但是道理不能发明。我们可以在灵里讲发现，但是在道理上却没有发明。你要查查看，你领受了什么东西，是怎么听见的，那么你要遵守，同时非悔改不行。

　　3节下：“若不儆醒，我必临到你那里如同贼一样；我几时临到，你也绝不能知道。”“临”字是降临的“临。”“到”字在希腊文是“epi，”应当译作“于。”乃是说：我要临于你的身边，不是临于你的身上，是在你之外。贼的来就是一个“epi”的来；我们在这里，他从旁边溜过了。主用字顶巧妙，你可以把它翻作：“我要临过你，但是你还不知道。”

　　贼来不会把贱物偷了，总是偷上好的。主也要把地上最好的偷去。这些最好的是在祂手里，不是在祂外面。我们在房间里，一个被提，一个撇下。所以主说，若不儆醒，我要临过你如同贼一样。许多神的儿女都觉得，主耶稣快再来了，那个日子现在更近了，盼望我们够宝贝被主“偷”去。

　　4节：“然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的；他们要穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得过的。”雅各带七十个魂进埃及（出一5，原文），普通只说，几个人几个魂。但是主在这里说有几个名，就是名字，主特别注意我们的名字。祂说，你们还有几名没有污秽自己的衣服。这衣服乃是我们所行的义。我们站在神面前的时候，是穿上基督，因为基督就是我们的白衣。但是，这里我们不是站在神面前，乃是站在基督面前，在审判台前。所以在这里我们不是穿基督，乃是穿上启示录十九章“光明洁白的细麻衣，这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。”（8）这“义”字在希腊文是多数的。有几名没有污秽自己衣服的，就是他们的行为是清洁的。他们要与主同行，因为是配得过的。

　　5节：“凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣；我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父众使者面前，认他的名。”这里不是记名没有记名的问题，乃是承认不承认的问题。主所承认的人有分，主所不承认的人没有分。名字都记在生命册上，但是主所不承认的人，好像把他圈一圈，这个人就没有分。这里不是永世的永生的问题，乃是能不能同主掌权的问题。记上了而没有分，是件可惜的事。求神施恩，使我们在主前穿白衣。你们在神面前有白衣穿，在主面前有没有呢？

启3:1

你要写信给在撒狄的召会的使者，说，那有神的七灵和七星的，这样说，我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。

启3:2

你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的；因我没有见到你的行为，在我神面前有一样是完成的。

启3:3

所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的，又要遵守，并要悔改。若不儆醒，我必临到你那里如同贼一样。我几时临到，你也绝不能知道。

启3:4

然而在撒狄，你还有几名是未曾玷污自己衣服的，他们要穿白衣与我同行，因为他们是配得过的。

启3:5

得胜的，必这样穿白衣；我也绝不从生命册上涂抹他的名，并且要在我父面前，和我父的众使者面前，承认他的名。

启3:6

那灵向众召会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听。

启示录七章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　我们看见在使徒的时候，就有尼哥拉党的行为。从尼哥拉党行为之后，你看见别迦摩犯大罪，把世界混到基督教会里头来。接在尼哥拉党之后，耶洗别来了，同时也把偶像带到教会里来了。但是在这里还有一点好处，你在推雅推喇看见有耶洗别的审判，叫她摔在床上（原文直译）不能动，同时有一天要杀死她的儿女。这些预言还没有应验，要等启示录十七章的巴比伦时应验。推雅推喇的历史，是从耶洗别把偶像混到教会起，一直到受审判为止。现在你要看见一件事：当教会从尼哥拉党一直堕落到耶洗别的时候，神不能再容让了，所以在这里看见撒狄来了。“撒狄”就是“余数。”撒狄这教会乃是神对推雅推喇的反应。全世界教会的复兴历史，都是神的反应。什么时候神开始作复兴的工作，就是神在那里起反应。神的反应就是人的恢复。我愿意你们在原则上能记得牢这个。因为主看见推雅推喇的情形，所以撒狄来了。
--------本段经节汇集--------
启示录十七章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　一节下：“那有神的七灵、和七星的，说，我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。”启示录有好几个教会是配对的。撒狄是和以弗所相连的，非拉铁非是和士每拿相连的，老底嘉是和别迦摩相连的。唯有推雅推喇是单独的。主在撒狄说他自己的名字，是“那有神的七灵、和七星的。”主对以弗所说祂右手拿着七星，对撒狄说祂有七星。以弗所是使徒放松下来，是从好的变成坏的；撒狄是推雅推喇恢复起来，是从坏的变成好的。有行为没有爱心，是以弗所；按名是活，其实是死的，是撒狄。所以这两个是配对的。主在这里显出祂是有七灵的。神的七灵是神差遣到世界去作工的，是指着生命的工作。七星在以弗所是指着使者说的，在这里是指着光照说的。复兴的工作，一半在灵里，一半在光里。　　撒狄和推雅推喇一样，她包括很长的时间，从更正教起，一直到主再来为止。撒狄虽然赶不上推雅推喇长，但是她并不单指改教时候的教会，乃是改教以后的教会历史。　　“我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。”我想没有人会疑惑路德马丁不是神的仆人，也没有人疑惑这改教不是神的工作。改教是伟大的工作，是神的反应。神的确借着路德作出口，路德是神特别拣选的人。路德起首的时候，完全是撒狄，他的目的完全是为着恢复。主并不是说路德的工作不好，乃是说不完全（2）。好，但是还不够好。从主的眼睛看来，觉得没有一样是完全的，都是有头没有尾。主是完全的主，所以祂要求完全。为着这个缘故，我们要求神给我们看见。　　从路德之后，称义的问题解决了。信就可以称义，信就在神面前可以得平安。路德不只给我们因信称义，也给我们一本公开的圣经。在推雅推喇，权柄是在耶洗别手里，换句话说，在教会身上。问题是教会怎样说，不是主说。所有的问题都是母会怎么说，所有罗马教的人都注重母会。所以主说要杀死她的“儿女。”你说母亲，主说儿女。路德是给我们看见，神怎么说，圣经怎么说。人能够读神的话，人自己可以看，到底神是怎么说的，不是罗马教怎么说。当公开的圣经来的时候，整个教会光明了。　　但在这里有个问题发生：更正教没有给我们一个对的教会。以致因信称义的道理和公开的圣经到了那里，就成立了一个国立的教会。路德宗成了许多国的国立教会，后来英国也有了安立甘教会，也是国立的教会。从罗马教起头，教会的性质就转变了。等到因信称义和公开的圣经回来的时候，更正教仍旧没有看见教会是应当如何。虽然有了因信称义，有了公开的圣经，但是教会还是效法罗马教，没有回到当初的教会去。改教的时候，对于教会的问题并没有解决。路德没有改革教会。路德自己曾说，不要以为“因信称义”就够了，还有许多的事要改变。可是更正教的人却停在这里了。路德没有停止，他们却停止在那里，说已经够了。虽然回到当初的信仰去，但是教会一点的改变也没有。不过先前是罗马教的国际教会，现在改为英国的国立教会，德国的国立教会…而已。　　所以弟兄们，你们看见么？改教并没有把教会改到当初的情形去，不过是叫世界的教会变作国家的教会而已。推雅推喇把教会放在世界里，是如何的被定罪；撒狄把教会放在国家里，也照样的被定罪。“按名你是活的，其实是死的；”改教是活的，但是还有许多是死的。　　到了后来，又产生了许多“异议派”（Dissenters），如长老会等。你在这里，一边看见罗马教，一边看见更正教。更正教里，除了以国家来立教会之外，还有以不同的意见和道理来立教会的。凡不以国家作界限，而以道理作界限的，这个就是异议派。于是更正教就有了两种教会：一种是国立的，一种是私立的。你们今天看见德国、英国等完全是政教合一。罗马教有世界的教会，英、德等国有国立的教会。这些帝王元首，自己不听教皇的话，而要人听他自己的话；在政治上他要作王，在宗教上他也要作王，于是就产生了国立的教会。人根本就没有问过，圣经中的教会是怎么一回事。人没有回到圣经去看该不该有国立教会。后来又有私立教会的产生。私立教会的设立，乃是因为高举一个道理，就把和她道理不同的人分别出来。乃是因为看见受浸而设立浸信会，看见教会的长老制度而设立长老会。不是因着明白教会真理而设立教会，乃是以制度来设立教会。这两种更正教的教会─国立的和私立的，主说她们都没有回到当初的旨意里去。这句话顶要紧。　　二节至三节上：“你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的；因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。”“你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的。”这是指着因信称义和公开的圣经，与从这这些所得的生命说的。在撒狄整个历史当中，这些是将要衰微了，所以主说，你要坚固那将要衰微的。今天在更正教里，虽然圣经已经公开，但是人的章程还是有能力，所以主说，“因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。”连你所有的，也不完全。你有的东西不完全，从起头就不完全。所以“要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。”　　更正教的历史，是不是就这样了了呢？不！更正教的历史是一本复兴的历史。你看见路德起头的时候，多少人得救、得复兴，带进一个大恢复。更正教有一个特点，就是“恢复。”你不知道圣灵要作到什么地步。路德改教，路德会就出来了。长老的真理看见了，长老会就组织起来。卫斯理出来了，卫理会就设立了。今天在世界上还有许多其他小的教会，在一九一四年就有一千五百多个了。　　感谢神，撒狄常蒙神的赐福。可是一有神的赐福，人就组织一个东西来盛神所赐的福。神的赐福虽然还有，那个范围却就只有那么大了。更正教好像一个杯。在复兴起头的时候，什么地方有活水，人们就往什么地方去。什么时候神的灵在那里运行，人们就往那里去。结果人们就用一个杯，要想保守活水不流去。这样作的好处，是保守了恩典，坏处是只有这一杯的恩典了。头一代这个杯是满的；第二代只剩了半杯，起首不清楚了；到了三代、五代，水没有了，只是一个空杯。于是就和别的宗派争说谁的杯好，可是杯都是不能喝的。结果呢，神又有一个反应，又是一个撒狄。全部复兴的历史都是这样。当神的恩典来的时候，人就设立一个机构来保守恩典。结果团体存在，而里头的东西没有了。但是那个杯却不会破，总有热心的人一直在那里维持那个杯。　　这里有一件事，是原则的问题：卫斯理的学生永远赶不上卫斯理，喀尔文的学生永远赶不上喀尔文。先知学校很少出过先知，所有的大先知都是神从旷野里拣选出来的。神的灵要降在谁的身上，就是降在谁的身上。教会的头是祂，不是我们。人总是想活水宝贵，要用一个机构来保守。但总是一代不如一代，直到干了为止。等它干了之后，神另外在旷野又给了活水。全部更正教的历史，就是用撒狄来代表，复兴之后还得复兴，整个的历史就是复兴的历史。　　一面有复兴，感谢神；另一面在神面前要受责备，因为总没有回头到当初去。更正教一直有复兴，但是主说不完全，总没有回到当初去。所以要回想当初。问题不是目前怎样领受，怎样听见；问题是当初怎样领受，怎样听见。在行传二章里，有一些人得了救，神说，他们都恒心遵守使徒的教训和交通，擘饼、祈祷（徒二42）。擘饼和祈祷，没有说继续在使徒里的；但是教训和交通，非继续在使徒里的不可。基督的交通就是使徒的交通；基督的道理就是使徒的道理。只有使徒的交通，神才算是交通；也只有使徒的道理，神才算是道理。我们不能发明一个交通，不能发明一个道理。推雅推喇的错误，就是她自己造教训，有了耶洗别。神不是叫我们去发明，神乃是叫我们去领受。在二十世纪，什么东西都能发明，但是道理不能发明。我们可以在灵里讲发现，但是在道理上却没有发明。你要查查看，你领受了什么东西，是怎么听见的，那么你要遵守，同时非悔改不行。
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使徒行传二章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）

徒2:42

他们都坚定持续在使徒的教训和交通里，持续擘饼和祷告。

使徒行传二十章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
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　　三节下：“若不儆醒，我必临到你那里如同贼一样；我几时临到，你也绝不能知道。”“临”字是降临的“临。”“到”字在希腊文是“epi，”应当译作“于。”乃是说：我要临于你的身边，不是临于你的身上，是在你之外。贼的来就是一个“epi”的来；我们在这里，他从旁边溜过了。主用字顶巧妙，你可以把它翻作：“我要临过你，但是你还不知道。”　　贼来不会把贱物偷了，总是偷上好的。主也要把地上最好的偷去。这些最好的是在祂手里，不是在祂外面。我们在房间里，一个被提，一个撇下。所以主说，若不儆醒，我要临过你如同贼一样。许多神的儿女都觉得，主耶稣快再来了，那个日子现在更近了，盼望我们够宝贝被主“偷”去。　　四节：“然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的；他们要穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得过的。”雅各带七十个魂进埃及（出一5，原文），普通只说，几个人几个魂。但是主在这里说有几个名，就是名字，主特别注意我们的名字。祂说，你们还有几名没有污秽自己的衣服。这衣服乃是我们所行的义。我们站在神面前的时候，是穿上基督，因为基督就是我们的白衣。但是，这里我们不是站在神面前，乃是站在基督面前，在审判台前。所以在这里我们不是穿基督，乃是穿上启示录十九章“光明洁白的细麻衣，这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。”（8）这“义”字在希腊文是多数的。有几名没有污秽自己衣服的，就是他们的行为是清洁的。他们要与主同行，因为是配得过的。
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出1:5

凡从雅各生的，共有七十人；但约瑟已经在埃及。

启示录十九章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）

启19:8

又赐她得穿明亮洁净的细麻衣，这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。

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　　五节：“凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣；我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父众使者面前，认他的名。”这里不是记名没有记名的问题，乃是承认不承认的问题。主所承认的人有分，主所不承认的人没有分。名字都记在生命册上，但是主所不承认的人，好像把他圈一圈，这个人就没有分。这里不是永世的永生的问题，乃是能不能同主掌权的问题。记上了而没有分，是件可惜的事。求神施恩，使我们在主前穿白衣。你们在神面前有白衣穿，在主面前有没有呢？

　 Scripture Reading: Rev. 2:18-29

　Now we will continue by looking at Thyatira. Here I must especially emphasize that Ephesus came forth after the church in the apostolic age had passed away, and after Ephesus, Smyrna, and after Smyrna, Pergamos, and after Pergamos, Thyatira. The church during the apostles' time has passed, the age of Ephesus has passed, the age of sufferings has passed, and the period of Pergamos has also passed. Although Thyatira follows, the church in Thyatira will continue until the Lord Jesus comes back again. Not only Thyatira, but also Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea will continue until the Lord Jesus returns. In the first three churches there was no mention of the Lord's coming again, but in the latter four, the coming back of the Lord Jesus is spoken of in each case. Laodicea, however, does not speak of the Lord's second coming literally because of something particular concerning her, which we will explain later. The latter four churches will continue until the Lord Jesus comes again.

　In the Bible the number seven signifies completeness. Seven is composed of three plus four. Three is the number of God; God Himself is three in one. Four is the number of the creature of God; it is the number of the world, including the four directions, the four winds, the four seasons, etc. All of these contain the number four. Seven means the Creator plus the creature. When God is added to man, that is completion. (But this completeness is of this world—God never puts seven in eternity. The number of completeness in eternity is twelve. Seven is three plus four; twelve is three times four. When God and man are put together, that is completeness in this world. When the Creator and the creature are joined together, then there is eternal completeness.) The number seven is always three plus four. The seven churches are divided into the first three churches and the last four. Three do not speak of the Lord's coming back, while the other four refer to the Lord's coming again. Thus, three churches belong to one group, while the other four belong to another group. The church in Thyatira is first among the four churches which will exist until the Lord Jesus comes again.

　Thyatira means "the sacrifice of perfume," that is, full of many sacrifices. The words spoken by the Lord in this epistle become stronger and stronger. The Lord says that He is the One who has "eyes like a flame of fire" (Rev. 2:18). Nothing can hide from His eyes. He is the light; He Himself is the illumination. At the same time He says that "His feet are like shining bronze" (v. 18). In the Bible bronze signifies judgment. What the eyes see, the feet judge. All Bible scholars agree that the church in Thyatira refers to the Roman Catholic Church. This does not refer to the confusion which resulted from the marriage with the world in the beginning—that is now over. Now the situation has become so gross, so full of heresy and sacrifice. It is indeed remarkable how the Roman Catholic Church pays so much attention to behavior and sacrifice. The mass is their sacrifice.

　The Roman Catholic Church, according to our observation, has nothing good, but God says, "I know your works and love and faith and service and your endurance and that your last works are more than the first" (v. 19). The Lord acknowledges that there is reality in the Roman Catholic Church. Madame Guyon, Tauler, and Fenelon were all in the Roman Catholic Church, and we can mention many more of the best names. Indeed, there are many in the Roman Catholic Church who know the Lord. We should never think that there are none who are saved in the Roman Catholic Church. The Lord still has His own people there—of this we must be very clear before the Lord.

　What we are taking note of now is how desolate the church has become in her outward appearance. First, we saw the behavior of the Nicolaitans; later, we saw that it developed into a teaching. But what about the church now? The Lord says, "But I have something against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and leads My slaves astray to commit fornication and to eat idol sacrifices" (v. 20). Who is Jezebel? Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, who married her from the land of the Zidonians, the Gentiles. Jezebel seduced the people to worship Baal (1 Kings 16:30-32). Baal was the god of the Gentiles, not the God of the people of Israel. Jezebel told the people to worship the image of Baal. The problem was not just idols, but that God had been replaced. Baal was brought in and worshipped as their own god. In the history of the Jewish nation (Israel) up to 1 Kings 16, no one had ever led the people of Israel to sin in such a way as Ahab. Ahab was the first to lead the people to worship a Gentile god on a large scale. Not even Jeroboam could match him in the sins he committed.

　Here we want to note who Jezebel is. Jezebel is a woman. The woman in Revelation 17 refers to the Roman Catholic Church. In Matthew 13:33 the woman who took the leaven and hid it in three measures of meal is also the Roman Catholic Church. Naturally, therefore, the woman in Revelation 2:20 also represents the Roman Catholic Church.

　God never acknowledges the marriage between His people and the Gentiles as proper; God says that this is fornication. So Jezebel was not the queen; the coming together of Ahab and Jezebel was fornication. Fornication is confusion. What God sees is a woman who is confusing the words of God and the people of God. This woman brought in the god of the Gentiles. I have already said that the result of fornication is idolatry. The New Testament speaks of the conference at Jerusalem, the result of which was to exhort the Gentile brothers to abstain from meat offered to idols and from fornication (Acts 15:29). Here we see that the fornication of Jezebel brought idols into the kingdom of Israel.

　Through Jezebel, Ahab was joined to the world. No matter where you are, it is apparent that the Roman Catholic Church unites herself with political powers. She sends out ambassadors and ministers to various nations, and in important world crises she stands up to speak. The uniting of the church with the world is the Roman Catholic Church. They claim that their first pope was Peter. But I think Peter would say that he was a disciple of the poor Jesus of Nazareth; the glory and honor of the world had nothing to do with him. Yet the Roman Catholic Church maintains her position in the world and commands respect from the people. The practice of the Roman Catholic Church within these more than one thousand years is, according to the James 4:4, the same as the greatest adultery. Here we see that the church has lost her virginity. Today there is a group of people who think that they can bargain with others since they have such a large membership. According to men it is a type of advancement for the church to be able to bargain, but according to God, it is sin for the church to gain what the world has gained.

　What is the result? Idolatry. The facts are placed before us; there is not one church that is like the Roman Catholic Church with so many idols. We can say that the best class of idols is made by the Roman Catholic Church. I stayed in the city of Rome for one month. During that time I continually felt one thing: If theirs is the church, then ours is not; if ours is, then theirs surely is not. There is no middle ground for the two to come together. The remarkable thing is that they have fulfilled what has been prophesied in the Bible. There is an image of the Father and an image of the Son; there are images of the apostles and images of the ancient saints. They worship Mary; they worship Peter. Jezebel teaches the Lord's servants to commit fornication and eat the meat offered to idols. Jezebel is spoken of because the church has brought in Gentile gods. We can see this in the book entitled Mystery by G. H. Pember. Catholicism takes in Gentile gods and hangs the signs of Christianity upon them. The most evident is the image of Mary. Some think that at least Mary is of Christianity. But the fact is that Greece has a goddess, India has a goddess, Egypt has a goddess, and China has a goddess; every religion in the world has a goddess, except Christianity. Since there must be a goddess, they bring forth Mary. Actually there is no goddess in Christianity—the origin of the concept of a goddess is the Gentiles. So this is idolatry on top of fornication. This is Jezebel bringing in the things of the Gentiles to the kingdom of Israel.

　She calls herself a prophetess because she wants to preach and to teach. The position of the church before God is that of a woman. Whenever the church has authority to preach, that is Jezebel. The church has nothing to say; in other words, the church has no word. The Son of God is the Word; therefore, only He has the word. Christ is the Head of the church; therefore, only He can speak. Whenever the church speaks, that is the preaching of the woman. The Roman Catholic Church is the woman preaching. In the Roman Catholic Church, what matters is what the church says, not what the Bible says or what the Lord says. It is quite remarkable that God says that Jezebel is the prophetess and the woman who speaks. "My slaves" refers to individual slaves. Jezebel has the authority to direct every believer. The people in the Roman Catholic Church do not read the Bible, because they are afraid of misunderstanding what God means. Only the fathers can understand and only the fathers can speak; therefore, only they can decide all matters. Basically the Roman Catholic Church is the preaching of the woman who decides what the children of God should do. Many doctrines have been changed because she speaks for the church and people must listen to the church. She pays attention to the thought that people must listen to the church and pope, not that people must listen to the Lord.

　In church history there were persecutions by the Roman Empire, and there were also persecutions by the Roman Catholic Church. When the Roman Catholic Church in Spain persecuted the children of God, we do not know how many she killed. The punishment applied during the Inquisition was cruel to the extreme. After people were brought to the point of death, they were turned over to the government gasping for breath, in order to show that none were killed by them. She will always make you accept her doctrine. The Jewish nation (Israel) had only one woman who killed the prophets, Jezebel. In the previous centuries we do not know how many witnesses died at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. They claim that what they decide is always right. The people's ideas are entirely in their hands. The Lord said that the failure of Thyatira is due to the fact that she allows the teaching of Jezebel in her midst.

　"And I gave her time that she might repent, and she is not willing to repent of her fornication" (Rev. 2:21). They are still united with the world and filled with the behavior of the world. "Behold, I cast her into a bed" (v. 22)—not into a coffin, but into a bed. A coffin means it is finished; a bed means it is not finished. It means that she will not be changed throughout her entire life. The patient cannot be cured and cannot be changed. Continuing in her present condition, she is incurable—this is the condition of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1926 Mussolini and the pope signed an agreement, setting aside the Vatican from Italy so that it could become an independent state, having its own court and police, etc. Believers in the Roman Catholic Church increase yearly. In China there is not one newspaper published by a Protestant church, yet the Roman Catholic Church owns a paper. Their number exceeds the Protestants by three or fourfold. In Revelation 17 we see to what extent this church will develop. Now it is undoubtedly becoming stronger and stronger. But the Lord says to His own people, "Come out of her, My people" (18:4). What does the Lord say about those who have committed adultery with her and about her children? "I cast...those who commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works; and her children I will kill with death" (2:22-23). These words probably refer to God's destroying of the Roman Catholic Church through the Antichrist and his followers. "And all the churches will know that I am He who searches the inward parts and the hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your works" (v. 23).

　"But I say to you—the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say—I put no other burden upon you; nevertheless what you have hold fast until I come" (vv. 24-25). "The rest in Thyatira"; although Jezebel is here, there are still the rest. When Jezebel set out to kill Elijah, Elijah was greatly discouraged upon hearing it. What did he do? He hid himself. Then God said to him, "What doest thou here?" While he was murmuring, the Lord said, "Yet I have left me seven thousand" (1 Kings 19:9-18). These are "the rest in Thyatira." When Jezebel lived on this earth, there was Elijah; in the Roman Catholic Church there have also been many who belonged to the Lord. Many were burned not only in Spain, but also in France and Great Britain. The blood of many was shed by the Roman Catholic Church. This is a fact. Today the Roman Catholic Church is still trying her best to persecute. Thank the Lord, there are still those who "do not have this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say." The phrase "deep things" in Greek is bathea, which means mystery. The Roman Catholic Church greatly likes to use this word. They have many mysteries or deep doctrines in their midst. These doctrines are not of the Lord, but are the words of Jezebel. The Lord will not put any other burden upon those who do not have this teaching, but they must hold fast to that which they already have. Hold fast "My works" which you have known—that is enough. Do not lose what you already have, "until I come."

　"And he who overcomes and he who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he will shepherd them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces, as I also have received from My Father" (Rev. 2:26-27). This is the first promise. What is the meaning of this? Everyone who tends sheep has a rod. When the sheep do not behave well, he can use the rod to beat them gently. Matthew 13:40-42 indicates that an angel will come and gather out of His kingdom all the things that offend, that is, use force to cast out all the things that are not right. But this does not mean that the nations will no longer exist in the millennium. We know they will still be there. Through the iron rod God will break these things into pieces.

　God produces stones; man produces bricks. Bricks are very similar to stones. The tower of Babel was built of bricks. From the tower of Babel to 2 Timothy, all those who imitate Him are earthen vessels ("vessels of pottery"). The Lord says that the overcomer will shepherd the nations and break the earthen vessels in pieces. The word "shepherd" means that something is not accomplished all at once but rather done by beating one by one as the need arises. This is shepherding. This sort of thing will probably be done continuously until the new heaven and new earth are brought in. The kingdom is the introduction to the new heaven and new earth. In the new heaven and new earth, only righteousness dwells. That is why the iron rod must be used to shepherd the nations and break in pieces all the things that come out of men.

　"And to him I will give the morning star" (Rev. 2:28). This is the second promise. The morning star is the so-called daybreak star in Chinese. At the darkest hour, just at the time the day is breaking, it appears for a little while, and then the sun arises. Many people see the sun, but few have seen the morning star. One day the Lord will be seen by the whole world, as recorded in Malachi 4:2: "The Sun of righteousness [will] arise." Before everyone sees the light, some may see it first while in darkness. This is what it means to receive the morning star. Just before the day breaks, it is really dark. But the morning star appears at that very moment. The Lord promises the overcomer that he will receive the morning star at the darkest time. This means that he will see the Lord and be raptured. When we see the sun, it is always during the daylight hours, but he who sees the morning star is one who makes a special point of rising to see while others are asleep. This is the promise to the overcomer.

　"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 2:29). The Lord is speaking not only to the Roman Catholic Church but also to all the churches.

　In the first three epistles the calling to the overcomer comes after the phrase, "He who has an ear, let him hear." First there is "he who has an ear," and then there is the promise to the overcomer. But starting with Thyatira, the order is reversed. This proves that the first three churches are of one group, while the last four churches are of another. There is a difference between these two groups. Formerly, Smyrna came after the age of Ephesus had passed, and Pergamos came after Smyrna had passed, and Thyatira came after Pergamos had passed. But now Sardis comes even though Thyatira has not passed away. Thyatira will continue until the Lord comes back. Nor does Philadelphia come after Sardis has passed, nor does Laodicea appear after Philadelphia has passed. Rather, Sardis still exists when Philadelphia comes, and Philadelphia still exists when Laodicea appears. Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea will continue until the Lord Jesus comes again. The first three all came and went, but the last four emerge gradually and continue together until the Lord comes back.

　　读经：

　　启示录三章一至六节：“你要写信给撒狄教会的使者，说，那有神的七灵、和七星的，说，我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的；因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。若不儆醒，我必临到你那里如同贼一样；我几时临到，你也绝不能知道。然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的；他们要穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得过的。凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣；我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父众使者面前，认他的名。圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听。”

　　我们看见在使徒的时候，就有尼哥拉党的行为。从尼哥拉党行为之后，你看见别迦摩犯大罪，把世界混到基督教会里头来。接在尼哥拉党之后，耶洗别来了，同时也把偶像带到教会里来了。但是在这里还有一点好处，你在推雅推喇看见有耶洗别的审判，叫她摔在床上（原文直译）不能动，同时有一天要杀死她的儿女。这些预言还没有应验，要等启示录十七章的巴比伦时应验。推雅推喇的历史，是从耶洗别把偶像混到教会起，一直到受审判为止。现在你要看见一件事：当教会从尼哥拉党一直堕落到耶洗别的时候，神不能再容让了，所以在这里看见撒狄来了。“撒狄”就是“余数。”撒狄这教会乃是神对推雅推喇的反应。全世界教会的复兴历史，都是神的反应。什么时候神开始作复兴的工作，就是神在那里起反应。神的反应就是人的恢复。我愿意你们在原则上能记得牢这个。因为主看见推雅推喇的情形，所以撒狄来了。

　　一节下：“那有神的七灵、和七星的，说，我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。”启示录有好几个教会是配对的。撒狄是和以弗所相连的，非拉铁非是和士每拿相连的，老底嘉是和别迦摩相连的。唯有推雅推喇是单独的。主在撒狄说他自己的名字，是“那有神的七灵、和七星的。”主对以弗所说祂右手拿着七星，对撒狄说祂有七星。以弗所是使徒放松下来，是从好的变成坏的；撒狄是推雅推喇恢复起来，是从坏的变成好的。有行为没有爱心，是以弗所；按名是活，其实是死的，是撒狄。所以这两个是配对的。主在这里显出祂是有七灵的。神的七灵是神差遣到世界去作工的，是指着生命的工作。七星在以弗所是指着使者说的，在这里是指着光照说的。复兴的工作，一半在灵里，一半在光里。

　　撒狄和推雅推喇一样，她包括很长的时间，从更正教起，一直到主再来为止。撒狄虽然赶不上推雅推喇长，但是她并不单指改教时候的教会，乃是改教以后的教会历史。

　　“我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。”我想没有人会疑惑路德马丁不是神的仆人，也没有人疑惑这改教不是神的工作。改教是伟大的工作，是神的反应。神的确借着路德作出口，路德是神特别拣选的人。路德起首的时候，完全是撒狄，他的目的完全是为着恢复。主并不是说路德的工作不好，乃是说不完全（2）。好，但是还不够好。从主的眼睛看来，觉得没有一样是完全的，都是有头没有尾。主是完全的主，所以祂要求完全。为着这个缘故，我们要求神给我们看见。

　　从路德之后，称义的问题解决了。信就可以称义，信就在神面前可以得平安。路德不只给我们因信称义，也给我们一本公开的圣经。在推雅推喇，权柄是在耶洗别手里，换句话说，在教会身上。问题是教会怎样说，不是主说。所有的问题都是母会怎么说，所有罗马教的人都注重母会。所以主说要杀死她的“儿女。”你说母亲，主说儿女。路德是给我们看见，神怎么说，圣经怎么说。人能够读神的话，人自己可以看，到底神是怎么说的，不是罗马教怎么说。当公开的圣经来的时候，整个教会光明了。

　　但在这里有个问题发生：更正教没有给我们一个对的教会。以致因信称义的道理和公开的圣经到了那里，就成立了一个国立的教会。路德宗成了许多国的国立教会，后来英国也有了安立甘教会，也是国立的教会。从罗马教起头，教会的性质就转变了。等到因信称义和公开的圣经回来的时候，更正教仍旧没有看见教会是应当如何。虽然有了因信称义，有了公开的圣经，但是教会还是效法罗马教，没有回到当初的教会去。改教的时候，对于教会的问题并没有解决。路德没有改革教会。路德自己曾说，不要以为“因信称义”就够了，还有许多的事要改变。可是更正教的人却停在这里了。路德没有停止，他们却停止在那里，说已经够了。虽然回到当初的信仰去，但是教会一点的改变也没有。不过先前是罗马教的国际教会，现在改为英国的国立教会，德国的国立教会…而已。

　　所以弟兄们，你们看见么？改教并没有把教会改到当初的情形去，不过是叫世界的教会变作国家的教会而已。推雅推喇把教会放在世界里，是如何的被定罪；撒狄把教会放在国家里，也照样的被定罪。“按名你是活的，其实是死的；”改教是活的，但是还有许多是死的。

　　到了后来，又产生了许多“异议派”（Dissenters），如长老会等。你在这里，一边看见罗马教，一边看见更正教。更正教里，除了以国家来立教会之外，还有以不同的意见和道理来立教会的。凡不以国家作界限，而以道理作界限的，这个就是异议派。于是更正教就有了两种教会：一种是国立的，一种是私立的。你们今天看见德国、英国等完全是政教合一。罗马教有世界的教会，英、德等国有国立的教会。这些帝王元首，自己不听教皇的话，而要人听他自己的话；在政治上他要作王，在宗教上他也要作王，于是就产生了国立的教会。人根本就没有问过，圣经中的教会是怎么一回事。人没有回到圣经去看该不该有国立教会。后来又有私立教会的产生。私立教会的设立，乃是因为高举一个道理，就把和她道理不同的人分别出来。乃是因为看见受浸而设立浸信会，看见教会的长老制度而设立长老会。不是因着明白教会真理而设立教会，乃是以制度来设立教会。这两种更正教的教会─国立的和私立的，主说她们都没有回到当初的旨意里去。这句话顶要紧。

　　二节至三节上：“你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的；因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。所以要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。”“你要儆醒，坚固那剩下将要衰微的。”这是指着因信称义和公开的圣经，与从这这些所得的生命说的。在撒狄整个历史当中，这些是将要衰微了，所以主说，你要坚固那将要衰微的。今天在更正教里，虽然圣经已经公开，但是人的章程还是有能力，所以主说，“因我见你的行为，在我神面前，没有一样是完全的。”连你所有的，也不完全。你有的东西不完全，从起头就不完全。所以“要回想你是怎样领受，怎样听见的；又要遵守，并要悔改。”

　　更正教的历史，是不是就这样了了呢？不！更正教的历史是一本复兴的历史。你看见路德起头的时候，多少人得救、得复兴，带进一个大恢复。更正教有一个特点，就是“恢复。”你不知道圣灵要作到什么地步。路德改教，路德会就出来了。长老的真理看见了，长老会就组织起来。卫斯理出来了，卫理会就设立了。今天在世界上还有许多其他小的教会，在一九一四年就有一千五百多个了。

　　感谢神，撒狄常蒙神的赐福。可是一有神的赐福，人就组织一个东西来盛神所赐的福。神的赐福虽然还有，那个范围却就只有那么大了。更正教好像一个杯。在复兴起头的时候，什么地方有活水，人们就往什么地方去。什么时候神的灵在那里运行，人们就往那里去。结果人们就用一个杯，要想保守活水不流去。这样作的好处，是保守了恩典，坏处是只有这一杯的恩典了。头一代这个杯是满的；第二代只剩了半杯，起首不清楚了；到了三代、五代，水没有了，只是一个空杯。于是就和别的宗派争说谁的杯好，可是杯都是不能喝的。结果呢，神又有一个反应，又是一个撒狄。全部复兴的历史都是这样。当神的恩典来的时候，人就设立一个机构来保守恩典。结果团体存在，而里头的东西没有了。但是那个杯却不会破，总有热心的人一直在那里维持那个杯。

　　这里有一件事，是原则的问题：卫斯理的学生永远赶不上卫斯理，喀尔文的学生永远赶不上喀尔文。先知学校很少出过先知，所有的大先知都是神从旷野里拣选出来的。神的灵要降在谁的身上，就是降在谁的身上。教会的头是祂，不是我们。人总是想活水宝贵，要用一个机构来保守。但总是一代不如一代，直到干了为止。等它干了之后，神另外在旷野又给了活水。全部更正教的历史，就是用撒狄来代表，复兴之后还得复兴，整个的历史就是复兴的历史。

　　一面有复兴，感谢神；另一面在神面前要受责备，因为总没有回头到当初去。更正教一直有复兴，但是主说不完全，总没有回到当初去。所以要回想当初。问题不是目前怎样领受，怎样听见；问题是当初怎样领受，怎样听见。在行传二章里，有一些人得了救，神说，他们都恒心遵守使徒的教训和交通，擘饼、祈祷（徒二42）。擘饼和祈祷，没有说继续在使徒里的；但是教训和交通，非继续在使徒里的不可。基督的交通就是使徒的交通；基督的道理就是使徒的道理。只有使徒的交通，神才算是交通；也只有使徒的道理，神才算是道理。我们不能发明一个交通，不能发明一个道理。推雅推喇的错误，就是她自己造教训，有了耶洗别。神不是叫我们去发明，神乃是叫我们去领受。在二十世纪，什么东西都能发明，但是道理不能发明。我们可以在灵里讲发现，但是在道理上却没有发明。你要查查看，你领受了什么东西，是怎么听见的，那么你要遵守，同时非悔改不行。

　　三节下：“若不儆醒，我必临到你那里如同贼一样；我几时临到，你也绝不能知道。”“临”字是降临的“临。”“到”字在希腊文是“epi，”应当译作“于。”乃是说：我要临于你的身边，不是临于你的身上，是在你之外。贼的来就是一个“epi”的来；我们在这里，他从旁边溜过了。主用字顶巧妙，你可以把它翻作：“我要临过你，但是你还不知道。”

　　贼来不会把贱物偷了，总是偷上好的。主也要把地上最好的偷去。这些最好的是在祂手里，不是在祂外面。我们在房间里，一个被提，一个撇下。所以主说，若不儆醒，我要临过你如同贼一样。许多神的儿女都觉得，主耶稣快再来了，那个日子现在更近了，盼望我们够宝贝被主“偷”去。

　　四节：“然而在撒狄你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的；他们要穿白衣与我同行；因为他们是配得过的。”雅各带七十个魂进埃及（出一5，原文），普通只说，几个人几个魂。但是主在这里说有几个名，就是名字，主特别注意我们的名字。祂说，你们还有几名没有污秽自己的衣服。这衣服乃是我们所行的义。我们站在神面前的时候，是穿上基督，因为基督就是我们的白衣。但是，这里我们不是站在神面前，乃是站在基督面前，在审判台前。所以在这里我们不是穿基督，乃是穿上启示录十九章“光明洁白的细麻衣，这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。”（8）这“义”字在希腊文是多数的。有几名没有污秽自己衣服的，就是他们的行为是清洁的。他们要与主同行，因为是配得过的。

　　五节：“凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣；我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父众使者面前，认他的名。”这里不是记名没有记名的问题，乃是承认不承认的问题。主所承认的人有分，主所不承认的人没有分。名字都记在生命册上，但是主所不承认的人，好像把他圈一圈，这个人就没有分。这里不是永世的永生的问题，乃是能不能同主掌权的问题。记上了而没有分，是件可惜的事。求神施恩，使我们在主前穿白衣。你们在神面前有白衣穿，在主面前有没有呢？

　 Scripture Reading: Rev. 2:18-29

　Now we will continue by looking at Thyatira. Here I must especially emphasize that Ephesus came forth after the church in the apostolic age had passed away, and after Ephesus, Smyrna, and after Smyrna, Pergamos, and after Pergamos, Thyatira. The church during the apostles' time has passed, the age of Ephesus has passed, the age of sufferings has passed, and the period of Pergamos has also passed. Although Thyatira follows, the church in Thyatira will continue until the Lord Jesus comes back again. Not only Thyatira, but also Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea will continue until the Lord Jesus returns. In the first three churches there was no mention of the Lord's coming again, but in the latter four, the coming back of the Lord Jesus is spoken of in each case. Laodicea, however, does not speak of the Lord's second coming literally because of something particular concerning her, which we will explain later. The latter four churches will continue until the Lord Jesus comes again.

　In the Bible the number seven signifies completeness. Seven is composed of three plus four. Three is the number of God; God Himself is three in one. Four is the number of the creature of God; it is the number of the world, including the four directions, the four winds, the four seasons, etc. All of these contain the number four. Seven means the Creator plus the creature. When God is added to man, that is completion. (But this completeness is of this world—God never puts seven in eternity. The number of completeness in eternity is twelve. Seven is three plus four; twelve is three times four. When God and man are put together, that is completeness in this world. When the Creator and the creature are joined together, then there is eternal completeness.) The number seven is always three plus four. The seven churches are divided into the first three churches and the last four. Three do not speak of the Lord's coming back, while the other four refer to the Lord's coming again. Thus, three churches belong to one group, while the other four belong to another group. The church in Thyatira is first among the four churches which will exist until the Lord Jesus comes again.

　Thyatira means "the sacrifice of perfume," that is, full of many sacrifices. The words spoken by the Lord in this epistle become stronger and stronger. The Lord says that He is the One who has "eyes like a flame of fire" (Rev. 2:18). Nothing can hide from His eyes. He is the light; He Himself is the illumination. At the same time He says that "His feet are like shining bronze" (v. 18). In the Bible bronze signifies judgment. What the eyes see, the feet judge. All Bible scholars agree that the church in Thyatira refers to the Roman Catholic Church. This does not refer to the confusion which resulted from the marriage with the world in the beginning—that is now over. Now the situation has become so gross, so full of heresy and sacrifice. It is indeed remarkable how the Roman Catholic Church pays so much attention to behavior and sacrifice. The mass is their sacrifice.

　The Roman Catholic Church, according to our observation, has nothing good, but God says, "I know your works and love and faith and service and your endurance and that your last works are more than the first" (v. 19). The Lord acknowledges that there is reality in the Roman Catholic Church. Madame Guyon, Tauler, and Fenelon were all in the Roman Catholic Church, and we can mention many more of the best names. Indeed, there are many in the Roman Catholic Church who know the Lord. We should never think that there are none who are saved in the Roman Catholic Church. The Lord still has His own people there—of this we must be very clear before the Lord.

　What we are taking note of now is how desolate the church has become in her outward appearance. First, we saw the behavior of the Nicolaitans; later, we saw that it developed into a teaching. But what about the church now? The Lord says, "But I have something against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and leads My slaves astray to commit fornication and to eat idol sacrifices" (v. 20). Who is Jezebel? Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, who married her from the land of the Zidonians, the Gentiles. Jezebel seduced the people to worship Baal (1 Kings 16:30-32). Baal was the god of the Gentiles, not the God of the people of Israel. Jezebel told the people to worship the image of Baal. The problem was not just idols, but that God had been replaced. Baal was brought in and worshipped as their own god. In the history of the Jewish nation (Israel) up to 1 Kings 16, no one had ever led the people of Israel to sin in such a way as Ahab. Ahab was the first to lead the people to worship a Gentile god on a large scale. Not even Jeroboam could match him in the sins he committed.

　Here we want to note who Jezebel is. Jezebel is a woman. The woman in Revelation 17 refers to the Roman Catholic Church. In Matthew 13:33 the woman who took the leaven and hid it in three measures of meal is also the Roman Catholic Church. Naturally, therefore, the woman in Revelation 2:20 also represents the Roman Catholic Church.

　God never acknowledges the marriage between His people and the Gentiles as proper; God says that this is fornication. So Jezebel was not the queen; the coming together of Ahab and Jezebel was fornication. Fornication is confusion. What God sees is a woman who is confusing the words of God and the people of God. This woman brought in the god of the Gentiles. I have already said that the result of fornication is idolatry. The New Testament speaks of the conference at Jerusalem, the result of which was to exhort the Gentile brothers to abstain from meat offered to idols and from fornication (Acts 15:29). Here we see that the fornication of Jezebel brought idols into the kingdom of Israel.

　Through Jezebel, Ahab was joined to the world. No matter where you are, it is apparent that the Roman Catholic Church unites herself with political powers. She sends out ambassadors and ministers to various nations, and in important world crises she stands up to speak. The uniting of the church with the world is the Roman Catholic Church. They claim that their first pope was Peter. But I think Peter would say that he was a disciple of the poor Jesus of Nazareth; the glory and honor of the world had nothing to do with him. Yet the Roman Catholic Church maintains her position in the world and commands respect from the people. The practice of the Roman Catholic Church within these more than one thousand years is, according to the James 4:4, the same as the greatest adultery. Here we see that the church has lost her virginity. Today there is a group of people who think that they can bargain with others since they have such a large membership. According to men it is a type of advancement for the church to be able to bargain, but according to God, it is sin for the church to gain what the world has gained.

　What is the result? Idolatry. The facts are placed before us; there is not one church that is like the Roman Catholic Church with so many idols. We can say that the best class of idols is made by the Roman Catholic Church. I stayed in the city of Rome for one month. During that time I continually felt one thing: If theirs is the church, then ours is not; if ours is, then theirs surely is not. There is no middle ground for the two to come together. The remarkable thing is that they have fulfilled what has been prophesied in the Bible. There is an image of the Father and an image of the Son; there are images of the apostles and images of the ancient saints. They worship Mary; they worship Peter. Jezebel teaches the Lord's servants to commit fornication and eat the meat offered to idols. Jezebel is spoken of because the church has brought in Gentile gods. We can see this in the book entitled Mystery by G. H. Pember. Catholicism takes in Gentile gods and hangs the signs of Christianity upon them. The most evident is the image of Mary. Some think that at least Mary is of Christianity. But the fact is that Greece has a goddess, India has a goddess, Egypt has a goddess, and China has a goddess; every religion in the world has a goddess, except Christianity. Since there must be a goddess, they bring forth Mary. Actually there is no goddess in Christianity—the origin of the concept of a goddess is the Gentiles. So this is idolatry on top of fornication. This is Jezebel bringing in the things of the Gentiles to the kingdom of Israel.

　She calls herself a prophetess because she wants to preach and to teach. The position of the church before God is that of a woman. Whenever the church has authority to preach, that is Jezebel. The church has nothing to say; in other words, the church has no word. The Son of God is the Word; therefore, only He has the word. Christ is the Head of the church; therefore, only He can speak. Whenever the church speaks, that is the preaching of the woman. The Roman Catholic Church is the woman preaching. In the Roman Catholic Church, what matters is what the church says, not what the Bible says or what the Lord says. It is quite remarkable that God says that Jezebel is the prophetess and the woman who speaks. "My slaves" refers to individual slaves. Jezebel has the authority to direct every believer. The people in the Roman Catholic Church do not read the Bible, because they are afraid of misunderstanding what God means. Only the fathers can understand and only the fathers can speak; therefore, only they can decide all matters. Basically the Roman Catholic Church is the preaching of the woman who decides what the children of God should do. Many doctrines have been changed because she speaks for the church and people must listen to the church. She pays attention to the thought that people must listen to the church and pope, not that people must listen to the Lord.

　In church history there were persecutions by the Roman Empire, and there were also persecutions by the Roman Catholic Church. When the Roman Catholic Church in Spain persecuted the children of God, we do not know how many she killed. The punishment applied during the Inquisition was cruel to the extreme. After people were brought to the point of death, they were turned over to the government gasping for breath, in order to show that none were killed by them. She will always make you accept her doctrine. The Jewish nation (Israel) had only one woman who killed the prophets, Jezebel. In the previous centuries we do not know how many witnesses died at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. They claim that what they decide is always right. The people's ideas are entirely in their hands. The Lord said that the failure of Thyatira is due to the fact that she allows the teaching of Jezebel in her midst.

　"And I gave her time that she might repent, and she is not willing to repent of her fornication" (Rev. 2:21). They are still united with the world and filled with the behavior of the world. "Behold, I cast her into a bed" (v. 22)—not into a coffin, but into a bed. A coffin means it is finished; a bed means it is not finished. It means that she will not be changed throughout her entire life. The patient cannot be cured and cannot be changed. Continuing in her present condition, she is incurable—this is the condition of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1926 Mussolini and the pope signed an agreement, setting aside the Vatican from Italy so that it could become an independent state, having its own court and police, etc. Believers in the Roman Catholic Church increase yearly. In China there is not one newspaper published by a Protestant church, yet the Roman Catholic Church owns a paper. Their number exceeds the Protestants by three or fourfold. In Revelation 17 we see to what extent this church will develop. Now it is undoubtedly becoming stronger and stronger. But the Lord says to His own people, "Come out of her, My people" (18:4). What does the Lord say about those who have committed adultery with her and about her children? "I cast...those who commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works; and her children I will kill with death" (2:22-23). These words probably refer to God's destroying of the Roman Catholic Church through the Antichrist and his followers. "And all the churches will know that I am He who searches the inward parts and the hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your works" (v. 23).

　"But I say to you—the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say—I put no other burden upon you; nevertheless what you have hold fast until I come" (vv. 24-25). "The rest in Thyatira"; although Jezebel is here, there are still the rest. When Jezebel set out to kill Elijah, Elijah was greatly discouraged upon hearing it. What did he do? He hid himself. Then God said to him, "What doest thou here?" While he was murmuring, the Lord said, "Yet I have left me seven thousand" (1 Kings 19:9-18). These are "the rest in Thyatira." When Jezebel lived on this earth, there was Elijah; in the Roman Catholic Church there have also been many who belonged to the Lord. Many were burned not only in Spain, but also in France and Great Britain. The blood of many was shed by the Roman Catholic Church. This is a fact. Today the Roman Catholic Church is still trying her best to persecute. Thank the Lord, there are still those who "do not have this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say." The phrase "deep things" in Greek is bathea, which means mystery. The Roman Catholic Church greatly likes to use this word. They have many mysteries or deep doctrines in their midst. These doctrines are not of the Lord, but are the words of Jezebel. The Lord will not put any other burden upon those who do not have this teaching, but they must hold fast to that which they already have. Hold fast "My works" which you have known—that is enough. Do not lose what you already have, "until I come."

　"And he who overcomes and he who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he will shepherd them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces, as I also have received from My Father" (Rev. 2:26-27). This is the first promise. What is the meaning of this? Everyone who tends sheep has a rod. When the sheep do not behave well, he can use the rod to beat them gently. Matthew 13:40-42 indicates that an angel will come and gather out of His kingdom all the things that offend, that is, use force to cast out all the things that are not right. But this does not mean that the nations will no longer exist in the millennium. We know they will still be there. Through the iron rod God will break these things into pieces.

　God produces stones; man produces bricks. Bricks are very similar to stones. The tower of Babel was built of bricks. From the tower of Babel to 2 Timothy, all those who imitate Him are earthen vessels ("vessels of pottery"). The Lord says that the overcomer will shepherd the nations and break the earthen vessels in pieces. The word "shepherd" means that something is not accomplished all at once but rather done by beating one by one as the need arises. This is shepherding. This sort of thing will probably be done continuously until the new heaven and new earth are brought in. The kingdom is the introduction to the new heaven and new earth. In the new heaven and new earth, only righteousness dwells. That is why the iron rod must be used to shepherd the nations and break in pieces all the things that come out of men.

　"And to him I will give the morning star" (Rev. 2:28). This is the second promise. The morning star is the so-called daybreak star in Chinese. At the darkest hour, just at the time the day is breaking, it appears for a little while, and then the sun arises. Many people see the sun, but few have seen the morning star. One day the Lord will be seen by the whole world, as recorded in Malachi 4:2: "The Sun of righteousness [will] arise." Before everyone sees the light, some may see it first while in darkness. This is what it means to receive the morning star. Just before the day breaks, it is really dark. But the morning star appears at that very moment. The Lord promises the overcomer that he will receive the morning star at the darkest time. This means that he will see the Lord and be raptured. When we see the sun, it is always during the daylight hours, but he who sees the morning star is one who makes a special point of rising to see while others are asleep. This is the promise to the overcomer.

　"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 2:29). The Lord is speaking not only to the Roman Catholic Church but also to all the churches.

　In the first three epistles the calling to the overcomer comes after the phrase, "He who has an ear, let him hear." First there is "he who has an ear," and then there is the promise to the overcomer. But starting with Thyatira, the order is reversed. This proves that the first three churches are of one group, while the last four churches are of another. There is a difference between these two groups. Formerly, Smyrna came after the age of Ephesus had passed, and Pergamos came after Smyrna had passed, and Thyatira came after Pergamos had passed. But now Sardis comes even though Thyatira has not passed away. Thyatira will continue until the Lord comes back. Nor does Philadelphia come after Sardis has passed, nor does Laodicea appear after Philadelphia has passed. Rather, Sardis still exists when Philadelphia comes, and Philadelphia still exists when Laodicea appears. Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea will continue until the Lord Jesus comes again. The first three all came and went, but the last four emerge gradually and continue together until the Lord comes back.

第五章 撒狄教会

教会的正统