Saturday, January 18, 2020

CHAPTER XLIII - Revelation 20:11-13 - 白色大寶座 THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

CHAPTER XLIII  
(Revelation 20:11-13)
白色大寶座  
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE


中國人看審判是可怕的事,所以說:「生不入衙門,死不入地獄。」上法庭也實在是勞民傷財的事,教會也很少講審判,因為現在不是審判的時候。在日常生活中,我們要讓主作審判官,不要自己審判。主說:「伸冤在我,我必報應。」只有祂是審判的主。

Chinese people think that going to court is awful, that is why they have a saying: “One would not go to court when one is alive, just as one would not want to go to hell when one dies.” Actually going to court is a waste of manpower and resources. The church seldom speaks of judgment because right now it isn't the right time yet. In our daily lives we should let the Lord be the judge, we should not judge others. The Lord said: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” He alone is the Lord that can judge.

有人覺得,不應該提神的審判,這樣會貶低神的愛,使人覺得神是可怕的主。但末日的審判卻是聖經中很重要的主題。

Some people feel that we should not speak about God's judgment because it will devaluate God's love, making people fearful of God. But the final judgement is a very important theme of the Bible.

「審判」,其實有( 一) 審核、審查;( 二) 懲罰、報應;( 叁) 審判、定罪等意思。在末後的日子,也有「基督的台前」( 英文譯作Judgment seat of Christ) 與「白色大寶座」兩種不同的審判。是截然不同的。

“Judgment” means: (1) examine, to try someone in court ; (2) punishment, pay back; (3) trial, convict someone of a crime. In the last days, there will be “the Judgment Seat of Christ” and “The Great White Throne”, these two are completely different.

基督審判台是「審查的台」,檢討信主的人生活為人,結出了甚麽果子。判決結果是獎賞多、懲罰少。白色大寶座主要是審判全人類,凡名字沒有在羔羊生命冊上的人,結局是永遠的沉淪,永遠在硫磺火湖里。

The Judgment seat of Christ is a “seat for examination”, to review the life of a believer and to find out what kind of fruit he/she produced. The end result would be great more reward and less punishment. The main purpose of the Great White Throne is to judge mankind, those whose names are not written in the Book of Life. They will end up in the lake of fire for eternity.

有人一面抱怨世間沒有公理,但當惡人受報應時,又說神太殘忍。其實如果神愛我們,一定把一些人分別出來。人都不會讓強姦犯、殺人犯跟他們住在一起。對這些犯人仁慈,就是對自己家人殘忍。神把那些不願意過善美生活的隔離出來,實際上是保護我們。

On one hand, people complain that there is no justice in this world, but when an evil person gets what he deserves, they say that God is too cruel. Actually, God really loves us, that is why He separated some people from others. You would not want to live with someone who is a rapist or a murderer. If you invite these criminals into your home, you would be doing an act of cruelty towards your family. God separated these people who are unwilling to live a good life in order to protect us.

雖然要求馬上看見公理的人很多,他們也因為看不見公理而抱怨神不公平。神並沒有應許我們馬上看見公理彰顯,但祂應許痛苦與混亂的日子不會長久,審判大日一定來臨,世界末日一定來到,人間一定能實現公平公義。沒有任何一本宗教經典有這樣應許或預言,只有聖經。它不單告訴我們宇宙的起源與結局,並且告訴我們痛苦與混亂的生活將要過去,最後必定有白色大寶座的審判,將有公平公義的君王出現。

Although there are many people who demand immediate justice, they also complain that God is not fair because they don't see justice. God did not promise us that we would see justice done right away, but He promised that the days of suffering and chaos will not last for a long time, the great judgment day will definitely come, the end of the world will come, the world will definitely see justice be made. No other sacred book from other religions has this kind of prophecy or promise, only the Bible. The Bible not only tells us about the beginning and the end of the universe, but it also tells us that this life of suffering and chaos will soon pass away, and at the end there will be the judgement at the Great White Throne and the impartial and righteous King will appear.

龐大無比的審判
A MASSIVE UNEQUALED JUDGMENT

11 我又看見一個白色的大寶座。
11 Then I saw a great white throne.

「大」megas 可以形容體積很大、份量很重,或階級很高。這個大寶座是人類歷史中最大的事件,也是所有人最應該關心的大關卡。像學校大考、期終考試,結果決定學生前途。人受審判後,也決定永遠的歸宿。判決後不能更改,沒有上訴,不能推翻決定,肯定是人類的大事。

“Great”, “ megas ” could describe something at a very large scale, great quantity, or a very high rank. This Great White Throne is the greatest event in the entire human history, also a very critical point which all people should be extremely concerned about. Like a final exam in school, the result would determine the student's future. In the same way, the final judgment will determine people's eternal final destination. Once the sentence is given nothing can change it, there will be no appeal at a higher court, the decision can not be overthrown; it is for sure a great event for all humanity.

這個寶座進行最大的審判,因為歷世歷代所有的人,都要經過這大審判,所以受審判的人數,沒有夠大的地方能容納。將來所有已經埋在地下或燒成灰的人,全部都站在白色大寶座前,跟它一比,其他審判都變成小兒科,甚麽高等法院、最高法庭,都沒有辦法跟這個白色大寶座作任何的比較。

This throne will carry out the greatest trial ever, since every human being that ever lived will have to go through this judgment; therefore, no place was found for them. All the dead that were buried or cremated, every one of them will be standing before the Great White Throne, no other trial can be compared with this one, the highest court of law, the Supreme Court, could not compare to it at all.

公平公義的審判
A FAIR AND JUST JUDGMENT

11 白色大寶座與坐在上面的,從祂面前天地都逃避,再無可見之處。

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

「白」,表示不偏不倚,是最公正、嚴明的審判法庭,沒有任何官員收賄賂,對任何身份地位的人,都不徇情面。不像今天的法律系統,有不公平之處,很多判決令人憤慨,明知是罪大惡極的人,卻無罪釋放,沒有犯法的卻坐冤獄,很多人被這混亂的法律弄得無法生活下去。

“White”, represents a court that is impartial and just, none of the officials could be bribed regardless of the person's status. Unlike today's legal system, sometimes they are unfair, the court's ruling may cause people to be resentful, knowing that the crime was extremely evil, yet the criminal is released and pronounced not guilty, while the innocent are sentenced to jail and their lives are ruined because of these confusing laws.

坐寶座上的是神自己,對於信祂的人,祂是王。對於不信的人,祂是審判官。那一天,人人站在白色大寶座前,全部赤露敞開。「天地都逃避消失,再沒有可躲藏之處。」是非黑白全部顯明。舞台上每一位演員都要揭露真面目,在黑暗中所行的事,都在明處看見。在祂面前,真誠、奸詐,都要顯露。無論多精明的律師,都不能歪曲事實。

God Himself sits on the throne. To the believers, He is the King, to the unbelievers, He is the Judge. On that day, everyone will stand before the Great White Throne, everything will be exposed. “From His presence earth and sky fled away.” Everything black or white, true or false will be revealed. Every actor on stage will reveal their true identity; everything done in secret will be clearly seen. Before Him, truth or treachery will completely be revealed. The most astute lawyer will not be able to distort the facts.

現在人可以躲在各種事物背後,利用山嶺、天地作藉口,逃避神的面。「神在哪裡?我不相信有神,我只相信看得見的東西,我是唯物論者。」誰知,這個物質的世界將要消失,所有東西都會過去。那時候,人唯一能看見的,只有神的寶座,與祂公平公義的審判。沒有東西可以遮擋神的面。現在唯物論者推為最高存在的物質東西,將會全部消失不見,那時人纔知道,看得見的是暫時的,看不見的纔是永遠的。

Nowadays, people can hide behind many things, making use of mountains, using heaven and earth as an excuse to escape from the face of God. “Where is God? I don't believe in God, I only believe in the things that I can see; I am a materialist.” Who would know, this entire materialistic world will soon disappear, all things will pass away. At that time, the only thing that man will be seeing will be the throne of God and His fair and just judgment. Nothing can block God's face. At present, the things that the materialists deemed most important, will all disappear. Only then will the people know that things that can be seen are temporal and the things that cannot be seen are eternal.

人人面對的審判
A JUDGMENT THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO FACE

12 我看見死了的人,無論大小,都站在寶座前。
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.

這寶座審判古往今來所有的人,早已死的,死了幾千年的,剛剛纔死的,還沒有死的,全部要面對這大寶座的審判。有人說:「既然人人都要死,就沒有甚麽可怕的。」問題是,死不是結局,死後還要再受審判。希伯來書說:「人人都有一死,死後且有審判。」人人都要受審判,不論大小,做皇帝、做總統、做乞丐、做小偷,全都要受審判。

This throne will judge everyone that ever existed in this earth, those who died early, those who died thousands of years ago, those who recently died and those who were not dead yet, everyone will have to face this Great White Throne. Some may say : “Since everyone has to die, there nothing to be afraid of.” The problem is that death is not the end of everything, there is a judgment after death. The book of Hebrews says: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Everyone will face judgment, great or small, the kings, the presidents, the beggars, the thieves, everyone without exception will face judgment.

以前沒有聽過有哪個國家元首受審判,他們高高在上,無論做了甚麽壞事,都可以躲過任何審判。但近年來看見,很多原來掌握一國大權的人,成了階下囚,不單受審判、要下台,還要坐牢、或被判死刑。這些人的氣一定很難嚥下,因為本來是個大人物,聽話,現在卻受這些小人物審判、受懲罰。有人逃亡,找親信幫忙離開國家,有些死了,以為逃過懲罰。誰知不但今生被人再挖出來鞭屍,像史太林,將來還有一個無人能逃避的審判。死在海裡的、沒有埋葬的,海要交出死人。葬在墳墓裡的,墳墓也要交出死人。所有死人都要復活,都要受審判。

In the past it was unheard of that the leader of a country would have to go to trial for doing something wrong. No matter what they did, they would not be judged. But in recent years we have seen that leaders of certain countries are not only judged but are ordered to step down and given a jail or death sentence. These people must feel really bad because they were originally very important people but now they have to do what they are told, are being judged and punished for what they have done . Some flee asking asylum from another country, some die thinking they could escape punishment, not knowing that even their corpse would be exhumed after their death, like Stalin's body and at the end there will be a judgment that no one could escape from. Even the sea gave up the dead who were in it. And those who were buried, the tombs gave up the dead who were in it. All the dead will be resurrected and receive a final judgment.

納粹殺人狂還被人追查,抓到就審判,雖然有漏網或已經逝世的,將來都要受審判。人做過的事,久了自己也忘記,其實人所犯的罪,不會忘記消失,只是想不起來,藏在潛意識裡。雖想不起,但有內疚、不安。到了白色大寶座的時候,會全部顯現出來,全部記回來。

The Nazis who murdered people were tracked down and taken to trial, though there are some who slip through the net or have died, they all will be judged at the end. The things that people do, they themselves might even for get what they have done. Actually, the sin that people commit, will never disappear or be forgotten, even though they might not remember it, it is still in their subconscience . Although they don't remember it, there is still the guilt, no peace. At the time of the Great White Throne, everything will come back to their minds.

證據充足的審判
A JUDGMENT WITH SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

12 案卷展開了,並且另有一卷展開,就是生命冊。死了的人都憑這些案卷所記載的,照他們所行的受審判。
12 And books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

「案卷」是眾數字,意思是所有事件都有記錄,隨時可以找出來。今日的法庭有的時候容讓犯法的人逍遙法外,因為證據不足。但是在神的審判台前,證據絕對不會缺少。到那時,人的一生將會像電影一樣可以重播出來,人人親眼看見自己所做過的一切事,所以不要自欺,神是輕慢不得的,人種的是甚麽,收的也是甚麽。( 加6:7-8)

The word “books” is in the plural form, meaning every event is recorded, and that record could be accessed at any time. In today's court of law a criminal might still be running free because there isn't enough evidence to condemn him. But at the judgment seat of God there will definitely be enough evidence to condemn the guilty. At that time, a person's whole life will be able to be replayed as in a movie, every person will be able to see everything that they had ever done, so do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap (Galatians 6:7-8).

有人問:「誰有空記錄這些瑣碎的事?」要知道人受時空限制,不能同時在不同地方,今天昨天也不能同時出現,但在神沒有這問題,我們隨時可以回到過去任何一個時段,就像過去先知們能夠看見未來要發生的事一樣。主前七百年的但以理,第一世紀的約翰,都看見異象、看見未來。未來的人也可以看見過去。

Someone might ask: “Who has the time to record these trivial matters ? ” You must know that human beings are subject to limitations of time and space, we cannot be in two places at the same time, today and tomorrow cannot show up at the same time, but with God there is no such problem, He can make us go back to any specific period of time, like when prophets in the past could see things that were going to happen in the future. Daniel who lived in 700 BC, John from the first century, the visions they saw were from the future. People from the future could also see the past.

結局由誰寫的?當然是由我們自己寫的,我們怎樣活這一生,就寫下自己的結局,神只是根據我們所寫的作判決而已。「另一卷」是一個單數字,只有一卷叫「生命冊」,記載所有得到主生命的人。凡名字記在生命冊上的,是已經在神的救恩計劃中的,他們是羨慕與主同在的人,所以將要永遠與主同在。凡在今世拒絕接受主的人,就按他自己的決定,永遠與神隔離。

Who writes the ending? Of course, we write it ourselves, the way we live this life determines how our lives will end. God merely judges us according to what we write. “Another book” is a singular word, there is only one book called “The Book of Life”, in that book are recorded all the names of those who have life in the Lord. Everyone whose names are recorded in the Book of Life is included in God's plan of salvation, they are the ones who yearn to be with the Lord, and therefore, they will be with the Lord eternally. All those who reject the Lord in this this life will be forever separated from God according to their own decision.

這個法庭不像現在任何一種法庭,這法庭有法官,卻沒有陪審團。只有控方,卻沒有辯方,只有定罪,沒有上訴,沒有人能爭抝,沒有人能說神不公平。每個人生平所做過的事,都清楚看見,所有證據都不是猜想推測,是百分之百準確,沒有人能強詞奪理為自己辯護。人所犯過的罪,全部可以重溫一次。這是最後、最大的審判,沒有人可以逃脫。

This judgment is not like any other court of law that we have now because there is a judge but there are no jurors. There is the prosecutor but there are no defendants, people will be condemned and there will be no appeal, there will be no controversies, no one will be able to say that God is not fair. Everything a person did during their lives will be clearly seen, there is no speculation, and all the evidence will be 100% accurate. No one will be able to argue in their own defense. All the sins committed by each person will show up in front of them once more. This is the last, the greatest judgment; no one will be able to escape this final judgment.

如果科學家看見一個小星球,多年後會撞到地球,對地球將是嚴重的災難。凡是聰明人,都會研究怎樣應付這問題,要未雨綢繆。如果明知道我們有這樣大的考試,都不先作準備,那就是愚昧人。人人都有一死,死後且有審判,我們應該怎樣去作準備?

If a scientist discovers that a small planet will be crashing onto the earth in a few years bringing disastrous consequences, any intelligent person would try to research ways to take precautionary action in order to avoid the collision. If we know that there is such a final exam and we don't prepare for it, then we are fools. Everyone is destined to die once and then face judgment, how should we prepare for it?

人人都要復活受審
EVERYONE WILL RESURRECT AND BE JUDGED

13 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。

13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

有人以為神審判的是靈魂,是沒有身體的,不需要身體的。這裡告訴我們,死在海裡的,海要交出那個屍體,埋葬在地裡的,或在墳墓裡的,也要先交出屍體。他們都要先復活,然後受審判。主耶穌也曾說:「行善的複活得生,作惡的複活定罪。」人人都要復活。就算屍體已經變成灰,已經成為泥土的一部份,神也能使他們得回一個身體。

Some people believe that God will judge the soul without a body; they think that there is no need for a physical body. Here it tells us that the sea gave up the dead bodies that were in it, those buried in the ground or inside the tombs, their bodies will be given up. They will all first resurrect and after that they will face judgment. The Lord Jesus once said: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done well to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” Everyone will resurrect. God can give everyone a body even if their physical body had become ashes or dirt.

有主屬靈生命的人,身體復活之後,能活到永遠,再沒有第二次的死。沒有主屬靈生命的人,身體復活受審判之後,還要再死,那是第二次的死。

Those who have spiritual life in the Lord, after their body is resurrected will be able to live forever and will not go through the second death. Those without the spiritual life of the Lord, after their bodies are resurrected and are judged, they will die once again, that is the second death.

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