提要
接續前章的異象,約翰拿到一個測量的尺,又被命令去量「上帝的殿和祭壇」,連禮拜的人都量一量(1節)。但不准他去量殿的外院,因外院要留給「外邦人」去踐踏四十二個月(2節)。有一位向他說話(雖未指明姓氏,但我認為是耶穌),告訴他「我那兩個見證人」,要「穿著毛衣,傳道1260天」(3節)。
約翰繼續說:這兩個見證人是「兩棵橄欖樹,兩個燈台」,他們會用口中的火燒滅仇敵(4、5節)。第六節中約翰稱他們是「人」,七至十二節他們要被從無底坑裡上來的獸所殺,過了三天半他們復活,「駕著雲上了天」。
那兩位見證人的名字未被提及,所以我也不想猜他們的身份(有些人認為是摩西和以利亞)。獸的名字也不知道,另有三頭獸是龍或撒旦(12:3),和十角七頭獸(13:1)以及二角獸,說話像龍(13:11)。儘管對獸有不同的描述,但同樣的事是,它們皆為上帝的仇敵。很多人認為本章中的那隻第一頭獸,就是敵基督。
無論如何15節是本章的焦點。那個曾是撒旦掌權的「世上的國」,至終要「成了我主和主基督的國」,羔羊要掌權(17節)。 |
Overview
As John's vision continues, he is given a measuring device and is told to "measure the temple of God and the altar" and to "count the worshippers there" (v.l). He is also told not to measure the "outer court" because it has been given to "the Gentiles" who will "trample on the holy city for 42 months" (v.2). Then the speaker refers to "my two witnesses" (the speaker is not named but I think we can assume it is Jesus) who will "prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth" (v.3).
John goes on to say that these two witnesses are "two olive trees" and "two lampstands" who devour their enemies with fire that comes out of their mouths (vv.4,5). Then, in verse 6, he calls them men, and in verses 7-12 we see them killed by a "beast that comes up from the Abyss", and after three and a half days, they are resurrected and ascend "up to heaven in a cloud".
The witnesses are not named, so I won't speculate as to their identity (although some commentators build a case for them being Elijah and Moses). The beast is also not named, but we do know that this beast is the first of four referred to in the vision. The other three were the dragon (or Satan, 12:3), the beast with ten horns and seven heads (13:1), and the beast with two horns who spoke like a dragon (13:11). Apart from the variety of description, all these beasts are committed enemies of God. In this chapter, many commentators identify this beast with the Antichrist.
But the key verse (v.15) is the focus of the chapter. The "kingdom of the world", that is: Satan's domain, will eventually give way to "the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ". The Lamb will "begin to reign" (v.17).
|
Prayer
Lord, Your victory is sure, and we are on the winning team! Your power is great, and mightier than any other. How comforting it is to place our lives in Your hands. |