耶和華降臨的日子 THE DAY OF THE LORD ( Isaiah 以賽亞書 66:15-24) 每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

 主耶穌啊，我願你來  (啟22:20)

Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20) 

耶和華降臨的日子

THE DAY OF THE LORD

經文:   Isaiah  以賽亞書  66:15-24

有聖經學者以以賽亞書66章比對聖經舊、新約66卷書。如果這樣,本書最後的一章就對應聖經最後一卷書──啟示錄。事實上, 以賽亞書的最後一段經文, 講論神的審判、人在列國中傳揚神、所有流落異鄉的以色列民歸回耶城、惡者遭受可怕刑罰的事，與啟示錄結束的部份所預言的情景, 也非常相似。下文列出經文對比, 可以看到新約(特別是啟示錄)怎樣解釋本段預言的應驗和意義:

Some bible scholars analogize the 66 chapters of the Book of Isaiah to the 66 books of the Old Testament and New Testament Bible.  Accordingly, the last chapter of the Book of Isaiah would correspond to the last book of the Bible – the Book of Revelation.  In fact, the last passage of the Book of Isaiah talks about God’s judgment, people proclaiming God among the nations, the returning of all Israelites in countries not their own to Jerusalem, and the wicked receiving horrific punishment, which are very similar to the scenes prophesied at the end of the Book of Revelation.  The following juxtaposition of the scriptures shows how the New Testament (especially the Book of Revelation) explains the fulfillment and the meaning of the prophecy in this passage: 

15 耶和華必在火中降臨, 烈怒火燄焚燒地球

    彼後 3:10-12   主的日子……來到,有形質的都要被烈火銷化, 地和其上     的物都要燒盡了。

15  The Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

2 Peter 3:10-12  The coming of the day of God…..the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn.

16 耶和華施行審判

       啟19:11-21  在馬上的、稱為誠信真實,他審判爭戰都按公義。

16 The Lord will enter into judgment

Revelation 19:11-21 The one sitting on it (a white horse) is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

17 分別為聖、潔淨自己的人可以進入; 吃豬肉、倉鼠的不能進入

       啟22:14~15  那些洗淨自己衣服的從門進城; 城外有那些犬類

17 Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig's flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together.

Revelation 22:14-15  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.  Outside are the dogs…..

18 我知道他們的行為和他們的意念

       啟2:2,9,13  我知道你的行為/患難/居所……

       我必將萬民萬族聚來，看見我的榮耀

       啟11:1 世上的國,成了我主和主基督的國。他要作王

18  I know their works and their thoughts

Revelation 2:2, 9, 13 I know your works/your toil/where you dwell…..

The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall  see my glory

Revelation 11:15  The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever 

19 我要差到列國去……他們必將我的榮耀傳揚在列國中

       可16:15 他又對他們說、你們往普天下去、傳福音給萬民聽

19 I will send survivors to the nations….. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.

Mark 16:15  Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

20 他們必將你們的弟兄從列國中送回……作為供物獻給耶和華，

    好像以色列人用潔淨的器皿盛供物奉到耶和華的殿中

         羅12:1 所以弟兄們, 我以神的慈悲勸你們, 將身體獻上, 當

         作活祭, 是聖潔的

20    And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord…..to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord

Romans 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

21 我也必從他們中間取人為祭司，為利未人

     啟1:6 使我作他父神的祭司(另5:10羅15:16彼前2:5.9等)

21  And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites

Revelation 1:6  made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father (also 5:10, Romans 15:16, 1 Peter 2:5, 9 and etc.).

22 我造新天新地

          啟21:1 我又看見一個新天新地, 因為先前的天地已經過去了

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

23 凡有血氣的必來在我面前下拜

          啟15:4 主阿、誰敢不敬畏你、不將榮耀歸與你的名呢

23  All flesh shall come to worship before me

Revelation 15:4  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

24 他們的蟲是不死的；他們的火是不滅的

          啟14:11 他受痛苦的煙往上冒、直到永永遠遠(參可9:48)

24  Their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched

Revelation 14:11  The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever (refer to Mark 9:48).

主的日子要像賊來到一樣那日天必大有響聲廢去有形質的都要被烈火銷化地和其上的物都要燒盡了這一切既然都要如此銷化你們為人該當怎樣聖潔怎樣敬虔切切仰望神的日子來到在那日天被火燒就銷化了有形質的都要被烈火鎔化但我們照他的應許盼望新天新地有義居在其中親愛的弟兄啊你們既盼望這些事就當殷勤使自己沒有玷污無可指摘安然見主(彼後3:10-14)。

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies^[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2 Peter 3:10-14)

每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

(English Translation: Ms. Lori Wong)

聖殿 THE HOLY TEMPLE (Isaiah 以賽亞書 66:1-14) -- 每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

 

神啊! 求你賜給我一個憂傷痛悔的心, 會因你的話而戰兢

O Lord!  Give me a broken and contrite heart that would tremble at Your word.

聖殿 

THE HOLY TEMPLE

經文:   Isaiah  以賽亞書 66:1-14

新天新地的中心是新耶路撒冷。但是出乎以色列人意料之外的事,就是先知描述將來的美景時, 竟然沒有他們看為至寶的聖殿。這不是先知的疏忽, 因為新約的使徒約翰在啟示錄的異像中, 更加清楚的說:  「我未見城內有殿，因主神─全能者和羔羊為城的殿。」(啟21:22)

The center of the New Heavens and New Earth is the New Jerusalem.  But what is surprising to the Israelites is that when the prophet describes the beautiful scenes of the future, the Holy Temple that they consider most precious is nowhere to be found.  This is not an oversight on the prophet’s part because Apostle John’s vision in the book of Revelation in the New Testament describes it even more clearly, “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:22) 

以賽亞向讀者解釋, 將來沒有聖殿的原因: 

Isaiah explains to the readers the reasons for the absence of the Holy Temple:

1.  新天新地不是物質化的世界, 天和地這兩樣用來代表整個宇宙的東西, 在將來的境界中被喻為只是一些簡單的傢俱──座位和腳凳, 如果人希望建聖殿, 根本沒有物料可用, 所以:「你們要為我造何等的殿宇？」(1)

The New Heavens and New Earth is not a material world.  Heavens and Earth, the two things that represent the entire universe, are regarded only as simple furniture in the future – seat and footstool.  If people want to build the Holy Temple, there are simply no materials that can be used.  Therefore, “what is the house that you would build for me?” (1)

 2.   舊約中, 聖殿是神的居所的象徵(翻譯作聖殿一個最常用的字是神的家)。在新天新地裡, 神與人同在, 不再需要象徵。「哪裡是我安息的地方呢？」(1)說出真正神的所在不是地點, 而是組合。所羅門興建聖殿時, 已經認識這點。所以他說:「神果真住在地上嗎？看哪，天和天上的天尚且不足你居住的，何況我所建的這殿呢？」(王上8:27)「這一切都是我手所造的(包括聖殿)，所以就都有了(不必重建)。但我所看顧的，就是虛心痛悔、因我話而戰兢的人。」(2)神在聖殿中,看顧(或看重)的不是禮拜儀式, 乃是誠懇的態度。

In the Old Testament, the Holy Temple is the symbol of God’s dwelling place (the most commonly used term in the translation of the Holy Temple is the House of God).  In the New Heavens and New Earth, God dwells with people and therefore no need for a symbol.  “What is the place of my rest?” (1) indicates that the fundament of the House of God lies not in the location but of what it’s composed of .  When Solomon built the temple, he already knew that.  Therefore, he said, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27)  “All these things (including the temple) my hand has made, and so all these things came to be (no need to build)…..But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”(2)  So, what God looks for (or values) in the temple is not the worship rituals but the sincerity.     

以賽亞用四件事來形容假敬拜所表現的形式，這四件事本身在選民的制度中是對的，應當行的。它們是：宰牛，獻羊羔，獻供物，燒乳香。但他們卻使這四件事變成了四種拜偶像的可憎舉動──殺人，打折狗項，獻豬血，稱頌偶像(3)。

Isaiah illustrates the bearing of false worship with four practices.  These four practices, in and of itself, are creditable in the Israelites’ system.  They are: slaughtering an ox, sacrifice of a lamb, presenting a grain offering, and making a memorial offering of frankincense.  But they have made these four practices into four despicable acts of idol worship – killing a man, breaking a dog’s neck, offering pig’s blood, and blessing an idol (3).    

    

因此，假敬拜的意思就是損害真實的東西。先知接著說明這種損害是如何發生的。那是出於內心的不忠。百姓揀選自己的道路，行可憎惡的事，使真正的敬拜受到腐蝕。這種腐蝕了的儀式，令神厭惡(4)。

Therefore, false worship means damaging the real thing.  The prophet then further explains how the damage occurs.  It stems from the unfaithfulness in their heart.  The people choose their ways and delight in their abominations, corrupting the true worship. God is disgusted with the corrupted rituals (4).

但是神卻定意要使「愛慕耶路撒冷的都要與他一同歡喜快樂」(10~14節一共提到五次)。先知用一個本書出現多次的意象──母親(42:14;46:3;49:15~16;54:1;65:23)  來表達這個肯定和快樂的意願:  母親懷孕生子(7-9)、在懷中餵奶(10-11)與搖弄在膝上(12-14)。

But God is determined to make “all you who love her (Jerusalem), rejoice with her in joy” (mentioned a total of 5 times in verse 10 – 14).  The prophet uses a symbol that appears many times in this book – mother (42:14;46:3;49:15-16;54:1;65:23) to express this sure and blissful wish: a mother with child and giving birth (7-9), nursing from her breast (10-11), and bouncing on her knees (12-14).  

新約將聖殿靈意化, 讓我們在現今物質化世界中, 準備迎接新天新地神作聖殿的來臨:

The New Testament gives the Holy Temple a spiritual meaning.  So let us prepare ourselves in the material world to get ready for the New Heavens and New Earth where God is the Holy Temple:

 1.  耶穌與撒瑪利亞婦人談道時, 指出聖殿的存在, 重點不在於地點, 而是以心靈和誠實的敬拜(約4:20~24)。

When Jesus shares the gospel with a Samaritan woman, he points out that what matters is not where the temple stands but whether the worship is in spirit and in truth (John 4:20-24).

 2.  保羅說, 信徒的身體就是聖殿(林前3:16~17), 必須小心保養, 注重健康, 免致聖殿受損壞, 招來神的責備。

Paul says that the believers’ bodies are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) that must be cared for carefully and kept healthy so as not to be injured and be reproached by God. 

 3.  彼得告訴信徒, 聖殿不是建築物, 神的家是教會。每一個信徒是一塊靈石, 要一起委身投入工程, 聖殿才能建立(彼前2:4~7)。

Peter tells believers that the temple is not a building and the church is the house of God.  Every believer is a piece of living stone whose commitment to work together is required in order to make the construction of the temple a success (1 Peter 2:4-7). 

每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

(English Translation: Ms. Lori Wong)

新天新地 NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH (Isaiah 以賽亞書 65:1-25) — 每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung (English Translation: Ms. Lori Wong)

 

主啊! 我願你國度早日來臨

O Lord!  May Your new Kingdom arrive soon.

新天新地

NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH

經文:   Isaiah  以賽亞書 65:1-25

65章與66章之神諭的用意，是作為對63:7~64:12之禱告的答覆。事實上，65:6「我必不靜默……」明確地回答了64:12「你仍靜默麼」的哀怨問題。

The revelation in chapter 65 and 66 is intended as a response to the prayer in  63:7-64:12.  In fact, 65:6 “I will not keep silent…..” clearly answers the grief stricken question “will you keep silent…?” in 64:12.   

信徒在世上遭遇苦難, 並非神掩眼不顧。耶和華說: 「我施行報應」(7), 然而現在世代是神作為的過渡階段, 要到將來的日子才彰顯神完滿的安排。這正是現代神學家提出, 末世是已經來到, 但尚未完成 (Already but not yet) 的觀念。以賽亞在這種啟示亮光下, 說出了現在和未來的神國度和作為。

Believers have sufferings in the world, but it is not because God shuts His eyes.  The Lord says, “I will repay” (7).    However, the current world is a transitional phase of God’s work. His complete and perfect arrangement will be revealed in the future.  This is exactly what modern day theologists suggest – the end of the world has arrived, but it has not come to an end yet (the already but not yet concept).  In the light of God’s revelation, Isaiah enlightens us on God’s current and future work and Kingdom.  

Ⅰ．現今世代: 兩種境況、兩類人(1~14)

      The Current World:  Two Situations, Two Categories of People (1 - 14)

以賽亞的聽眾雖然都是以色列人, 同一的血統維繫他們的國籍,但是不同的靈命使他們在神的國度裡分為兩類人。1.「你們」: 是「那悖逆的百姓」(2)、「你們這些離棄耶和華」的人(11); 2.「我的選民、我的僕人」(9): 是「尋求我的民」(10)。耶穌講論天國比喻時,同樣將人分成兩類: 麥子和稗子(太13:24~30)、綿羊和山羊(太25:31~46)。

Although Isaiah’s audience are all Israelites in a nation of a common lineage, their spiritual situation separates them into two categories.  1. “You”: “a rebellious people” (2), “you who forsake the Lord” (11);   2. “My chosen, my servants” (9): “my people who have sought me” (10).  When Jesus speaks on the Kingdom of Heaven through parables, He also separates people into two categories:   Wheats and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30), sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). 

就如耶穌所講的比喻, 在現今世代, 選民團體龍蛇混雜, 離棄耶和華的和尋求耶和華的兩類人同時存在, 而際遇表面看來並無兩樣。但是「當審判的時候, 惡人必站立不住。」(詩1: )這兩類人各有不同結果, 特別在13~14節中, 先知將「我的僕人」和「你們(離棄耶和華的」彼此相反的遭遇, 逐一列出比較。善惡各有報, 因為耶和華「必施行報應。」(6)

Like the parables that Jesus tells, in the present age, there are a mix of people in the assembly of God’s chosen.  Those who desert the Lord and those who seek the Lord both are present.  On the surface, their lives are not any different.  Yet “the wicked will not stand in the judgment.” (Psalm 1:5)  These two categories of people each have their own destiny.  The prophet has the opposite experiences of “my servants” and “you who forsake the Lord” listed one by one, especially in verse 13-14.  What goes around comes around, for the Lord “will repay” (6).   

Ⅱ．新天新地: 一種境況、一類人(15~25)

      New Heavens and A New Earth:  One Situation, One Category of People (15-25)

主耶和華「另起別名稱呼他的僕人」(15)說明時移世易, 「從前的患難已經忘記，也從我眼前隱藏了。」(16)帶出另一番景象: 「新天新地；從前的事不再被記念，也不再追想。」(17)

“His servants,  He (the Lord God) will call by another name”(15) indicates that it is a different era; “the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes” (16) brings out a new scene: “New heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (17) 

「豺狼必與羊羔同食；獅子必吃草與牛一樣；塵土必作蛇的食物。在我聖山的遍處，這一切都不傷人，不害物」(25)就是11:6~9預言的彌賽亞國度。而這段聖經的描述, 與新約啟示錄比照(啟3:12;7:17;21:1~5),毫無疑問以賽亞所見的就是使徒約翰所預言的新天新地: 神的國度在人間。

“The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food.  They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain” (25) is the Messiah’s Kingdom prophesied  in 11:6-9.  Juxtaposing this description and that in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:12, 7:17, 21:1-5) leaves no doubt that the New Heavens and New Earth that Isaiah sees is the same that is prophesied by John the Apostle: God’s Kingdom on earth.  

在這個新天新地裡, 只有一類人: 「我的選民」(22), 他們「都是蒙耶和華賜福的後裔」(23)。

There is only one category of people in this New Heavens and New Earth, “my chosen”(22), they “shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord” (23).

信徒在憧憬新天新地的同時, 可以在現今世代淺嚐將來的滋味:

While longing for the New heavens and New Earth, believers can get a taste of the future in the current world:

1.  人以神為樂、人因人喜樂、神以人歡喜(18~19)。讓我們在教會中多發歡樂聲; 在社會多給予人喜樂。

People rejoice in God and in other people; God is glad in His people (18-19).  Let us make a joyful noise  in the  church and share our joy to others in the community.  

2.  在聖山上, 一切都不傷人不害物(25)。願教會生活能彼此造就, 不彼此相咬相吞。

There shall be no hurting or destruction in the holy mountain (25).  May there be mutual edification through church life and no biting and devouring of each other.  

3.  尚未祈求, 神就應允(24)。這也是主告訴我們, 在我們開口祈求之先, 天父早已知道和供應(太6:8)。

God already answered before we call (24).  Our Lord also tells us that He already knows what we need and provides for us before we ask (Matthew 6:8).  

4.  選民必不徒然勞碌(23)。「我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多做主工；因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裡面不是徒然的。」(林前15:58)

God’s people shall not labor in vain (23).  “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) 

每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

(English Translation: Ms. Lori Wong)