Saturday, January 18, 2020

CHAPTER XVII - Revelation 6:1-8 - 末世的四大風潮 FOUR TRENDS OF THE END TIMES

CHAPTER XVII
Revelation 6:1-8
末世的四大風潮
FOUR TRENDS OF THE END TIMES


上一章所說的預言書卷,有七個印封著,沒有人能打開,最後只有被殺的羔羊纔能打開。現在開始揭開頭四個印。

The previous chapter mentioned that the prophecy scroll had seven seals which no one could open; at the end, only the Lamb who was slain could open it. Now the first four seals are being opened.

「預言書卷」很容易使人覺得是一卷書,是敘術性的文字,誰知卻像是看電影。所以我們知道,書卷,也只是寓意的講法。啟示錄很多地方都是比喻性的言語,書不一定是書,馬不一定是馬,鷹也不一定是鷹,要搞清楚它所代表的是甚麽。

People might think that the “prophecy scroll” was like a book that was being narrated, but it was actually like a movie. Therefore, we know that the scroll was just a figure of speech. Revelation uses a lot of metaphorical language, a scroll is not necessary a scroll, a horse might not be really a horse, and an eagle might not really be an eagle either, we have to find out what it truly represents.

由於很多書或傳道的人都會解釋這一段經文,而多數的解釋都跟隨西方學者的字面解釋。實在說,他們的解釋使我們更胡塗,所以我們先要把過去聽回來的忘記,重新仔細看經文本身,也藉著跟這段經文相似的地方,以經解經,免得再犯同樣的錯誤。

Many Bible commentaries or preachers will explain this passage literally, as the majority of western scholars would. In fact, their ways of explaining it will make us more confused. Thus, first, we have to forget what we have heard in the past, and start anew by carefully studying the passage itself, finding similar passages in the Bible and using scripture to explain scripture in order to avoid making the same mistake.

在沒有解釋這幾個異象之前,我們先要知道:

Before explaining these visions, we need to know the following:

( 一) 這是關於全地上的事,並非小地區的事件。「從全地上奪去太平。」「殺害全地上四分之一的人。」

(1) These events affect the whole earth, no just part of it. “ Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth .”“ They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill…”

( 二) 騎在馬上的,不是真有其人,「名字叫作死」,明顯不是指一個人。第八節的代名詞,前面是「他」,後面變為「他們」,從單數變成複數,既不是一個人,根本也不是描寫人。

(2) The rider on the horse is not a real person, “Its rider was named Death”; obviously this does not refer to a person. In verse 8 the pronoun used is “him” and latter it becomes “they”, it changes from singular to plural, clearly is not a person or a description of a person.

( 叁) 當我們印證撒迦利亞書第六章先知所見的異象,就是以經解經的方式來解釋這一段話,是最穩妥的解經方式。那裡的四色馬清楚說明是代表「天之四風」,乃是告訴我們,將有四股強風臨到地上。風可以解釋為風氣、趨勢、潮流、風暴。兩處的異象,雖然好像有些不同的地方,第四匹馬的顏色不明朗;先知所見的馬有馬車,乃是因為語言、文字與時代不同,先知的眼光重點有異。

(3) When we compare these verses with the vision which the prophet saw in the book of Zechariah, chapter 6, we are using scripture to explain scripture and that is the safest way to interpret the Bible. There, it clearly says that these four colored horses are “the four winds of heaven”; they are four powerful winds that will be coming upon the earth. Winds can be interpreted as tendencies, trends, phenomena, or tempest. If the two visions are different in some places it is because of the language, the writing and the eras were different. For example, the color of the fourth horse is unclear and the prophet saw the horses with chariots. The prophet's focus was different.

很多人對啟示錄中幾組的異象分不清楚。七印、七號、七碗所描寫的事,是截然不同的。

Many people cannot distinguish clearly between the different kinds of visions in Revelation. The events described in the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls are completely different.

我們先要牢牢記住,第一組「七印」,是揭開末後七年大災難之前的預兆,描寫災難的起頭時期,從十八到廿一世紀幾百年的時間裡面發生的事。印,是封印,所以揭印,就是打開封鎖,讓人知道末世前的預兆。

We have to keep in mind that the first group “the seven seals” uncovers the events that will occur before the seven years of the great tribulation, it describes the beginning of the disasters; the events that happened between the 18th century and the 21st century . The scroll was sealed; the seal had to be opened so the people would know about the things that will take place before the end.

第二組「七號」。號,在古代是召集民眾,或召集士兵去打仗的號。所以七號與末世的戰爭有關。七號所描寫的時間,是廿世紀到廿一世紀的打仗情況與打仗方式。

The second group “the seven trumpets”. Trumpets were used in ancient times to gather the people, or to assemble the soldiers to go to war. The seven trumpets describe the circumstances of wars and the styles of fighting used during the 20th and the 21st century.

第叁組「七碗」。「七杯」是比較好的翻譯。七杯之災是描寫全世界受到污染的可怕。不單環境受污染,種種輻射的污染,還有邪惡歪風的污染,思想精神的污染,全都達到最可怕的地步。所預言的事,都發生在最後七年大災難之中。

The third group “the seven bowls”. “Seven cups” is a better translation. The disasters of the seven cups describe the horrific pollution in the whole earth. Not only pollution of the environment but also contamination through radiation; furthermore, there will be the propagation of evil tendencies and pollution of people's minds. All these will reach alarming levels. Everything that was prophesied will take place during the last 7 years of the great tribulation.

「七印」所描寫末世這幾股強風,是非常明顯,容易分辨,對照現在的情況,就知道現在已經進入最後階段。我們要記得主的心意不是要隱藏不讓人知道,事實上祂希望人人明白預言。所以雖然有許多不容易明白之處,聖靈會引導我們明白,神讓我們看見種種末世預兆,叫我們準備好自己,迎見祂的面。

The strong trends described in the “seven seals” are very obvious and easy to distinguish; and as we compare them to the present circumstances, we know that we have already entered into the final stages of the end times. We need to remember that the Lord does not want to keep us from knowing what is about to happen; but actually, He hopes that we can understand the prophecy. Therefore, though there are many parts that are hard to understand, the Holy Spirit will guide us and help us to understand it. God is letting us see the different signs that are about to happen so we prepare ourselves to meet Him face to face.

 民主政制之風
THE TRENDS OF DEMOCRACY

1 我看見羔羊揭開七印中第一印的時候,就听見四活物中一個聲音如雷說:你來!2 我就觀看,見有一匹白馬,騎在馬上的拿著弓,並有冠冕賜給他。他便出來,勝了又要勝。

1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

這是一匹白馬。白色是人所愛戴所推崇的顏色,很多時候都是用來描寫基督的顏色。但這騎白馬上的不像基督,所以很多人的解釋都說這是敵基督、假基督。但我們要記得,這裡不是預言某人的事,是指「天之四風」。在十九章有一段描寫基督騎白馬的文字,但兩段明顯不同。

A white horse; white is a color that people love and respect. This is the color that is often used to describe Christ; but the one riding on the white horse is not Christ; so, many people say that it is the Antichrist, a false Christ. But, we have to remember that this prophecy is not about a certain person, but about “FOUR TRENDS”. In chapter 19 there is a description of Christ riding on a white horse, but these two passages are significantly different.

基督穿的是濺了血( 原文是浴血,用了受浸的浸字) 的衣服,不是濺了敵人的血,是浴了自己大量的血。頭上戴的冠冕是 diadema 皇冠。

What Christ was dressed in was a robe dipped in blood (like when you get dipped in water during baptism by immersion). Christ's robe was not splashed with blood from the enemy; He was immersed in His own blood. And the crown that He was wearing was a “ diadema ” which is a royal crown.

在這一段騎白馬的手上「有弓無箭」,指他得勝了,而且是要不斷的得勝。但不是經過流血的戰爭。因為他根本沒有武器,弓,只是像徵性的武器,並沒有真正戰爭上的用途。

In this passage, the rider of the white horse held a bow without an arrow, indicating that he had won a victory and that he kept on winning. But, it was not a bloodshed battle because he basically did not have any weapons. The bow is just a symbolic weapon; it cannot be used as a weapon of war.

這匹馬與騎馬的所帶來的,也不是甚麽災害、患難,只是一種末世的風氣。是末後叁百年裡面的一種潮流,就是民主政制的潮流。

The horse and the rider did not bring about any disasters or hardships, just a general mood of the last days. It is a trend of the last three hundred years, which is the democratic political system.

「有冠冕賜給他」。冠冕原文是 stepfanos ,是優勝者的冠冕,是得勝比賽者的冠冕,不是具有王權的冠冕。他「勝了又要勝」,到底指的是甚麽爭戰?看現在民主國競選公職時就知道了,每一次的競選活動就是一場戰爭。

“He was given a crown.” The original text says “ stephanos ”, the crown of a winner. It is the crown given to someone who wins in a race; not the crown of a king. “He rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” What kind of battle is he fighting? When you look at democratic candidates running for public office you will know that every election campaign is a war.

十八世紀開始出現了民主政權。之前沒有一個國家有民主政制的,在二百多年前由美國首先推出,全世界多國跟進,成了新的潮流。民主國家的統治者需要常常勝出纔能當選,每幾年就要花大量金錢,作為競選經費,要不斷的得勝、要不斷的競選,所以這裡說:「勝了又要勝。」

The democratic regime began to appear during the 18th century. Before that time, not one country had a democratic political system. The United States introduced this political system 200 years ago, later on other nations followed, and so it became a new trend. The leaders of democratic countries often need to win to get elected. Every few years an enormous amount of money is put into campaign funds to keep on winning the elections, therefore it is a “conqueror bent on conquest.”

民主政權的鬥爭不用流血,所以他手上沒有箭,只有弓。第一印揭開的,是十八世紀吹到末世的民主之風。

The fight for the democratic regime does not involve bloodshed, so he does not carry an arrow, only a bow. The first seal to be opened is the wind of democracy blowing from the 18th century all the way to the end times.

 殘暴屠殺之風
TREND OF BRUTAL MASSACRES

3 揭開第二印的時候,我聽見第二個活物說:你來!4 就另有一匹馬出來,是紅的,有權柄給了那騎馬的,可以從地上奪去太平,使人彼此相殺,又有一把大刀賜給他。

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

十九世紀爆發出來的是共產政權。它蔑視人權,用殘暴屠殺的方式統治國家,用秘密警察維持政權。不單殺人,也鼓厲人彼此批鬥、打小報告、互相殘殺。這股大屠殺之風蔓延到世界各地,就算不是共產主義的推行者,也奉為統治國家的良丹妙藥,很多獨裁者都使用,就如希特拉、墨索里尼等人,一直到末世,仍然有這種彼此相殺之風。

The 19th century marks the start of the Communist regime. The Communist disregard human rights and use cruel bloody ways to rule the country, they also use secret police to maintain political power. They not only murder people, but they encourage people to denounce each other , betray each other, and kill each other. This wind of massacres has spread all over the world. Even those who are not promoters of the Communist regime use this as a magic potion to rule over a country. Many dictators use it, like Hitler , Mussolini, and others. This trend of killing each other will continue through the end of times.

撒迦利亞先知看見白馬、黑馬往北方去。就是說,民主政權之風、金融貿易之風,多在北半球發生。至於第四匹馬,死亡威脅之風,往南方去。所以饑荒、瘟疫、野獸、武鬥的災禍,多在南方,在非洲、南半球落後地區比較嚴重。只有紅馬,沒有說哪個方向,表示在全地到處都發生這種殘殺事件。

The prophet Zechariah saw a white horse and a black horse going towards the north. In other words, the trends of democracy and financial trading happened mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. As for the fourth horse, the trend of the threat of death goes towards the South. Therefore, famine, epidemics, wild beasts, and violent calamities, are numerous in the Southern part of the world, in Africa, in the Southern Hemisphere, in the backward regions of the world that is where it is more severe. Only the red horse did not mention a specific direction it was going, which indicates that this event would happen everywhere in the world.

全世界流行暴力主義,電視電影宣傳暴力,世人變得脾氣粗暴,解決問題用打殺鬥爭的方式。

Violence is prevalent in the whole world. Television programs, movies, advertisements, they are all full of violence. People's temperaments have become more violent. They use killing and fights to settle disputes.

進入廿一世紀,更出現了人稱為恐怖活動的殘暴行為,從此以後,全世界無人能置身事外。在沒有戰事的地區可能忽然出現大爆炸,或是鎗手瘋狂亂殺,每一個過去認為是安全的地方,現在都需要經過嚴密的保安檢查,人人受到殘暴風氣的影響。

Entering the 21st century, violent terrorist activities have appeared; from now on, everyone is a target. Wars are not in specific regions of the world anymore, a bomb could explode any time , anywhere; a crazy gunman could start shooting at random all of a sudden. Places that we thought were safe in the past require people to go through security checks. Everyone is affected by these violent trends.

金融貿易之風
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL TRENDS

5 揭開第叁印的時候,我聽見第叁個活物說:你來!我就觀看,見有一匹黑馬,騎在馬上的手裡拿著天平。6 我聽見在四活物中,似乎有聲音說:一錢銀子買一升麥子,一錢銀子買叁升大麥,油和酒不可蹧蹋。

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages, and six pounds of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

粗略地看,這裡像論饑荒,以為缺少糧食。其實這裡有糧食出賣,而且油和酒很多,「不可蹧蹋」,是不可破壞、不可傷害之意。油和酒在饑荒的時候,肯定不是最重要的東西。「手裡拿著天平」,也不是說有缺乏,天平是古代市場做生意用的「秤」,那種秤都是用天平的原理的。

At first glance, it seems that it is speaking about a famine, the lack of food. Actually, food is being sold, and there is a lot of oil and wine “do not damage the oil and the wine.” Oil and wine are definitely not the most important things during a famine. “ Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.” It doesn't say that there is a shortage. A scale was a “ balance”used in the market places in ancient times . That kind of scale used the principle of the balance.

一升小麥,叁升大麥,也不是指重量或容量,因為「升」字,原文不存在。其實說一元買一股小麥,叁股大麥就更像,像現代的期貨股票,糖多少錢一股,汽油多少錢一股等新的投資貿易方式。

Two pounds of wheat, six pounds of barley, does not refer to weight or volume because the word “pound” does not exist in the original text. Actually, it seems more likely to be saying a day's wages buys two shares of wheat and a day's wages buys six shares of barley. Like modern times stock market, how much money is a stock of sugar, how much for a stock of gasoline, these are all new forms of investments and trades.

廿世紀世界各國重視經濟發展,本來是歐洲開始了股票市場,廿世紀全世界國家爭著仿效。華爾街金融模式世界風行。現在怎樣看一個國家,就看它的經濟成長率。在這大前提之下,人心重視金錢多過人格或生活素質,賣國、賣友、賣靈魂、賣肉體,只要有錢,不管人怎樣看。只顧自己發財,不管別人死活。

In the 20th century, the countries of the world value economic development. The stock market developed first in Europe, now all the countries of the world are striving to follow their example. Wall Street is the financial model of the world. The way to look at a country nowadays is to see the growth rate of its economy. With this in mind, people value money more than integrity or the quality of life. They betray their own country, their friends; they sell their soul, their own body, all for money. They do not care what people think of them, as long as they can earn money, they could care less if others live or die.

這種新的貿易方式與過去傳統做生意的方式不同,常常只有數字的進出,不一定有產品的交易,所以這裡一升小麥,叁升大麥,翻作「升」的字,不是真傳統的容量,可說是泡沫經濟,投機取巧的貿易方式。

This new method of trade is different from the traditional way of doing business, often people only deal with numbers, there is no transaction of merchandise; therefore, when it says here two pounds of wheat, 6 pounds of barley, the word “pounds” it is not the conventional measurement of volume or capacity. Very likely it is speaking of a bubble economy, an opportunistic way of trading.

挪亞的日子怎樣,主回來的時候人也怎樣,吃喝玩樂,只有今天,沒有明天。耶穌問,祂回來的時候,能找到有信心的人嗎?能找到禱告不灰心的人嗎?功利主義的社會能分出甚麽是有價值的嗎?經濟掛帥的時代,誰能為公司賺錢,誰能發財,就受人尊重。那些解決社會問題的人,像社會工作者,慈善機構工作者,差不多要求人幫助纔能活下去,這就是末世的風氣。

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Lord, people of the world are eating and drinking and enjoying themselves as if there was no tomorrow. When Jesus returns will He find people who are faithful to Him ? Will He find people who will pray without being discouraged? Will a utilitarian society be able to distinguish what is of value? A society dominated by the economy; the one who can make money for his company or the one who is wealthy, that is the person who is esteemed. On the other hand, those who can help solve the problems of society, social workers, charity organizations; they have to beg people for money in order to survive. This is the general mood of the end times.

當人人追求金融發財的新方式時,卻出現了多次金融危機的風暴。其中油和酒不可蹧蹋傷害,尤其是石油酒精,是社會進步的必需材料,是人人重視的能源。問題是這樣的發展是要代價的,就是能源的消耗,不單能源短缺,而且污染環境,破壞大自然。

Many financial crises arise when people start pursuing new ways to get wealthy. Do not damage the oil and the wine. Especially petroleum and alcohol, which are things that the society needs in order to make progress; those are resources that everyone values. The problem is that such progress must pay a price, which is energy consumption that not only leads to energy shortage but also environmental pollution, destruction of nature.

死亡威脅之風
DEADLY TRENDS

7 揭開第四印的時候,我聽見第四個活物說:你來!8 我就觀看,見有一匹灰色馬,騎在馬上的名字叫作死,陰府也隨著他。有權柄賜給他們,可以用刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫、野獸、殺害地上四分之一的人。

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him . They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

十九世紀的人以為,憑著人的智慧,科技知識,可以建立一個大同社會,進步到烏托邦理想的新世界。教育普及使人和平共處;科學發明使人生活條件盡善盡美;醫學進步可以醫好任何疾病;新的種植技術可以解決糧荒問題。誰知,與科技一同進步的,是人類毀滅自己的技術。世界上仍有很多落後貧窮國家,但沒有一個國家在犯罪上落後。人類的所作所為,使這世界到處有死亡的威脅。人,是在自己毀滅自己。

The people in the 19th century thought that by relying on their own wisdom and knowledge of science and technology, they could build a great society that could progress into a Utopian ideal new world. Education of the masses makes peaceful coexistence, scientific invention makes perfect living conditions, and medical advances can cure any diseases, new farming techniques could solve the food shortage problem. Who would have thought that all this progress of science and technology would bring the destruction of mankind? The conduct and deeds of human beings has brought the threat of death into this world. People are destroying themselves with the own means.

到廿世紀,死亡陰影已經天天籠罩著人類。先是打仗,廿世紀開始發生了世界大戰,所以趕快成立了聯合國。但一點沒有作用,幾十年後發生了第二次大戰,於是再增加聯合國的權力,結果同樣到處打仗,到處大批人民死亡。而且武器越來越厲害,大家都想擁有核子武器。只要有幾百個核彈,就可以毀滅世界。但越來越多國家擁有核武,數目超過幾萬顆,所以最後世界被毀滅不是因為洪水,不是因為另一個冰河期,乃是被烈火熔化( 彼後3:12) 。新約寫成之時,沒有人會明白,這麽大的世界,怎麽可能會被烈火所熔化?

Since the 20th century, the shadow of death has been lurking among every human being. First there was war; starting in the 20th century there was a great world war, so the United Nations had to be promptly established. But that did not help much , a few decades later World War II broke out; as a result more authority was assigned to the United Nations. In the end, there were wars everywhere and large numbers of people died. Furthermore, the weapons were more and more powerful; everyone wanted to have nuclear weapons. It only takes a few hundred nuclear weapons to destroy the entire world. Yet there are more and more countries with nuclear weapons, there are tens of thousands nuclear bombs. Eventually, the destruction of the world will not be by floods or another ice age but by fire and the elements will melt in the heat (2 Peter 3:12). When the New Testament was written, no one could understand how this huge world could be destroyed entirely by blazing fire.

再是饑荒,科學新技術可大量生產,結果還是餓死很多人。有人天天浪費,把神的天物倒掉。有些人卻天天捱餓。新科學種植方法、化學肥、基因改造法、改變分泌法,也帶來另一類災難,就是瘟疫、疾病。人看見新法生產的東西更加漂亮,誰知都是毒藥,使人生病、死亡。

Then there is famine. Scientific new technology and mass production still cannot help the great amount of people who are dying of starvation. Some people waste things every day, they are throwing away the good things that God gives us. On the other hand, many people go hungry every day. New scientific farming methods, chemical fertilizers and genetic modifications bring other types of disaster, which are epidemics and diseases. When the people see produce grown by new farming methods, they may look very pretty, but they are actually poison which can make you sick and die.

現在醫不好的病到處都是,癌、愛滋、禽流感、瘋牛症、沙士,沒有甚麽病能醫得好。能控制病情已經謝天謝地。最後病人多數死掉,醫院床位常不夠,蓋新醫院還不夠。有空位定是病人死了。

Nowadays, incurable diseases are everywhere, cancer, AIDS, bird flu, mad cow disease, SARS. There is no cure for these diseases. We are very thankful if we can control the disease. At the end, the majority of the patients die; very often there is a shortage of hospital beds, even building new hospitals is not enough. If there is a vacancy in the hospital it is because a patient died.

廿世紀戰爭死了一億多人,加上天災、饑荒、疾病、瘟疫、謀殺、恐怖活動等,全地死的人數,簡直是天文數字。這裡說死四分之一,要明白啟示錄許多數字都是代表數、象徵數。留心比較死叁分之一與死四分之一的分別,就知道,這是一個像徵的數目。

Wars in the 20th century killed more than one hundred million people, add to that natural disasters, famine, diseases, epidemics, murders, and terrorist attacks. In total, the number of people who actually died was an astronomical figure. Here it says “ a fourth of the earth”. We have to understand that many of the numbers in Revelation are representative and symbolic. Comparing carefully, there is a difference between the death of “a third” of the population and “a fourth” of the population. We have to remember these numbers are symbolic.

死的數目是叁分之一,表示當時當地,就是局部地區的人,全部死光。像世貿大廈受到恐怖襲擊,差不多全部人死光,是謂之叁分之一;自殺炸彈、計時炸彈的攻擊是地區性的,死的人數也是叁分之一。

When the number of people who died is “one third”, it means that the entire population of a certain region died. Like the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, almost everyone died, that is “one third”; suicide bomb attacks are also in certain locations, the number of dead is “one third” as well.

四分之一的意思是,死的人數很多,但卻是分散於全地的。像染愛滋病而死的人是全地性的,所以是死了四分之一的人。

“One fourth” means that a large amount of people died all over the world, not just in one region. Like people who die from AIDS are all over the world, that is what “one fourth”means .

今天很多人在死亡陰影下生活,兩夫婦旅行或同公司派去同一地方開會,不坐同一班飛機,免得死在一塊。到處都有死的陰影籠罩著。這是第四股末世之風。

Today many people live under the shadow of death. When a husband and a wife travel to a certain destination or are sent on a business trip, they prefer to take different flights so as to avoid dying together in case there is an accident. The shadow of death is everywhere. This is the fourth trend of the last days.

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願祢的國降臨 - 啟示錄的信息 The Message of the Book of Revelation by 葉華牧師 Rev. Carpus Yip (Bilingual Edition: 中文/English-- English Translation by Estela Yip)

願祢的國降臨 - 啟示錄的信息 Thy Kingdom Come - The Message of the Book of Revelation  by 葉華牧師Rev. Carpus Yip 基督再來的日期近了,祂永遠的國將要降臨在地上...

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