第 98 节
作者:闪啊闪      更新:2021-02-21 14:06      字数:9322
  seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: 。 。 。 for in six days the
  Lord made heaven and earth; the sea; and all that in them is; and rested the
  seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day; and hallowed it。〃
  Exodus 20:10; 11。 Concerning the Sabbath; the Lord says; further; that it is
  〃a sign; 。 。 。 that ye may know that I am the Lord your God。〃 Ezekiel 20:20。
  And the reason given is: 〃For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth;
  and on the seventh day He rested; and was refreshed。〃 Exodus 31:17。
  〃The importance of the Sabbath as the memorial of creation is that it keeps
  ever present the true reason why worship is due to God〃because He is the
  Creator; and we are His creatures。 〃The Sabbath therefore lies at the very
  foundation of divine worship; for it teaches this great truth in the most
  impressive manner; and no other institution does this。 The true ground of
  divine worship; not of that on the seventh day
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  merely; but of all worship; is found in the distinction between the Creator
  and His creatures。 This great fact can never become obsolete; and must never
  be forgotten。〃J。 N。 Andrews; History of the Sabbath; chapter 27。 It was to
  keep this truth ever before the minds of men; that God instituted the
  Sabbath in Eden; and so long as the fact that He is our Creator continues to
  be a reason why we should worship Him; so long the Sabbath will continue as
  its sign and memorial。 Had the Sabbath been universally kept; man's thoughts
  and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence
  and worship; and there would never have been an idolater; an atheist; or an
  infidel。 The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God;
  〃Him that made heaven; and earth; and the sea; and the fountains of waters。〃
  It follows that the message which commands men to worship God and keep His
  commandments will especially call upon them to keep the fourth commandment。
  In contrast to those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of
  Jesus; the third angel points to another class; against whose errors a
  solemn and fearful warning is uttered: 〃If any man worship the beast and his
  image; and receive his mark in his forehead; or in his hand; the same shall
  drink of the wine of the wrath of God。〃 Revelation 14:9; 10。 A correct
  interpretation of the symbols employed is necessary to an understanding of
  this message。 What is represented by the beast; the image; the mark?
  The line of prophecy in which these symbols are found begins with Revelation
  12; with the dragon that sought to destroy Christ at His birth。 The dragon
  is said to be Satan (Revelation 12:9); he it was that moved upon Herod to
  put the Saviour to death。 But the chief agent of Satan in making war upon
  Christ and His people during the first centuries of the Christian Era was
  the Roman Empire; in which paganism was the prevailing religion。 Thus while
  the dragon; primarily; represents Satan; it is; in a secondary sense; a
  symbol of pagan Rome。
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  In chapter 13 (verses 1…10) is described another beast; 〃like unto a
  leopard;〃 to which the dragon gave 〃his power; and his seat; and great
  authority。〃 This symbol; as most Protestants have believed; represents the
  papacy; which succeeded to the power and seat and authority once held by the
  ancient Roman empire。 Of the leopardlike beast it is declared: 〃There was
  given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies。 。 。 。 And he
  opened his mouth in blasphemy against God; to blaspheme His name; and His
  tabernacle; and them that dwell in heaven。 And it was given unto him to make
  war with the saints; and to overcome them: and power was given him over all
  kindreds; and tongues; and nations。〃 This prophecy; which is nearly
  identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel 7;
  unquestionably points to the papacy。
  〃Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months。〃 And; says the
  prophet; 〃I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death。〃 And again:
  〃He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth
  with the sword must be killed with the sword。〃 The forty and two months are
  the same as the 〃time and times and the dividing of time;〃 three years and a
  half; or 1260 days; of Daniel 7 the time during which the papal power was
  to oppress God's people。 This period; as stated in preceding chapters; began
  with the supremacy of the papacy; A。D。 538; and terminated in
  1798。 At that time the pope was made captive by the French
  army; the papal power received its deadly wound; and the prediction was
  fulfilled; 〃He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity。〃
  At this point another symbol is introduced。 Says the prophet: 〃I beheld
  another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb。〃
  Verse II。 Both the appearance of this beast and the manner of its rise
  indicate that the nation which it represents is unlike those presented under
  the preceding symbols。 The great kingdoms that have ruled the world were
  presented to the prophet Daniel as
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  beasts of prey; rising when 〃the four winds of the heaven strove upon the
  great sea。〃 Daniel 7:2。 In Revelation 17 an angel explained that waters
  represent 〃peoples; and multitudes; and nations; and tongues。〃 Revelation
  17:15。 Winds are a symbol of strife。 The four winds of heaven striving upon
  the great sea represent the terrible scenes of conquest and revolution by
  which kingdoms have attained to power。
  But the beast with lamblike horns was seen 〃coming up out of the earth。〃
  Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself; the nation thus
  represented must arise in territory preciously unoccupied and grow up
  gradually and peacefully。 It could not; then; arise among the crowded and
  struggling nationalities of the Old Worldthat turbulent sea of 〃peoples;
  and multitudes; and nations; and tongues。〃 It must be sought in the Western
  Continent。
  What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power; giving promise
  of strength and greatness; and attracting the attention of the world? The
  application of the symbol admits of no question。 One nation; and only one;
  meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the
  United States of America。 Again and again the thought; almost the exact
  words; of the sacred writer has been unconsciously employed by the orator
  and the historian in describing the rise and growth of this nation。 The
  beast was seen 〃coming up out of the earth;〃 and; according to the
  translators; the word here rendered 〃coming up〃 literally signifies 〃to grow
  or spring up as a plant。〃 And; as we have seen; the nation must arise in
  territory previously unoccupied。 A prominent writer; describing the rise of
  the United States; speaks of 〃the mystery of her coming forth from vacancy;〃
  and says: 〃Like a silent seed we grew into empire。〃G。 A。 Townsend; The New
  World Compared With the Old; page
  462。 A European journal in 1850 spoke of the United States
  as a wonderful empire; which was 〃emerging;〃 and 〃amid the silence of the
  earth daily adding to its power and pride。〃 The Dublin Nation。 Edward
  Everett; in an oration on
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  the Pilgrim founders of this nation; said: 〃Did they look for a retired
  spot; inoffensive for its obscurity; and safe in its remoteness; where the
  little church of Leyden might enjoy the freedom of conscience? Behold the
  mighty regions over which; in peaceful conquest; 。 。 。 they have borne the
  banners of the cross!〃Speech delivered at Plymouth; Massachusetts; Dec。
  22; 1824; page 11。
  〃And he had two horns like a lamb。〃 The lamblike horns indicate youth;
  innocence; and gentleness; fitly representing the character of the United
  States when presented to the prophet as 〃coming up〃 in 1798。 Among the
  Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal
  oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a
  government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty。 Their
  views found place in the Declaration of Independence; which sets forth the
  great truth that 〃all men are created equal〃 and endowed with the
  inalienable right to 〃life; liberty; and the pursuit of happiness。〃 And the
  Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self…government;
  providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and
  administer the laws。 Freedom of religious faith was also granted; every man
  being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience。
  Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the
  nation。 These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity。 The
  oppressed and downtrodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land
  with interest and hope。 Millions have sought its shores; and the United
  States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth。
  But the beast with lamblike horns 〃spake as a dragon。 And he exerciseth all
  the power of the first beast before him; and causeth the earth and them
  which dwell therein to worship the first be