CHAPTER XXVIII - Revelation 12:1-17 - 靈界的奇象 GREAT SIGNS IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

CHAPTER XXVIII

Revelation 12:1-17

靈界的奇象
GREAT SIGNS IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

這一章第一次出現seimeion ｢奇象｣或sign 這個字，約翰在他的約翰福音裡，常用上這字，通常翻作｢神蹟｣，跟其他叁本福音所用的｢神蹟、異能｣dunamis 的字不同。這字表示主所行的神蹟奇事背後，有更深的意思。在本書13:13-14 這字翻作｢奇事｣，是撒但所行的奇事。這裡稱之為｢大異象｣或｢大奇事｣mega seimeion ，是靈界戰爭中的大事。

This is the first time that the word “signs” ( seimeion ) appears in this chapter. John uses this word many times in his Gospel of John, usually translated into “miracle”. It is different from the word “miracle, wonders” ( dunamis ) used in the other three Gospels. This word shows that the miracles and wonders done by the Lord have a deeper meaning. In Revelation 13:13-14, this word is translated into “signs”, which are done by Satan. Here it is called “great signs” (mega seimeion ), which is a major event that happens during the war in the spiritual realm.

啟示錄共有廿二章，前面十一章約佔一半的篇幅，所看到的預言、異象，像現代人所說的video 一樣，像電影。到了第十二章，約翰所見的卻是奇怪的事件，是靈界中的奇事，要我們從靈界的角度來看整個歷史所發生事。

Revelation has a total of 22 chapters; most of the things seen in the first 11 chapters are prophecies and visions, like what people see on videos nowadays, similar to a movie. In chapter 12, John sees strange signs from the spiritual realm; we should use a spiritual point of view to look at these historical events.

事實上，在地上所發生的事，常有背後的真相。例如，耶穌出生的時候，在地上人看見的是大希律王追殺祂，但從靈界來看，事實卻是撒但在追殺祂。約伯受痛苦的原因，可以說是示巴人、迦勒底人搶了他的牲畜，或那場可怕的大風暴，奪了他孩子的命。但從靈界的角度來看，那是撒但用陰謀對付他。兩種說法都沒有錯，因為撒但就是背後靈界中的黑手，所有風暴、惡人的行動。都只是地上表面的景象而已。

In fact, the things that happen on the earth often have another reality behind them. For example, when Jesus was born, on the earth people saw that it was Herod the Great who was seeking to kill Jesus, but in the spiritual world, it was actually Satan who was seeking to kill Him. The reason why Job was suffering, we could say, was because the Sabeans and the Chaldeans had stolen his livestock, or because of the violent wind storm that took away the lives of his sons and daughters . But from the spiritual world point of view, it was Satan who was conspiring to harm him. Both statements are correct, because Satan is the evil mastermind behind the scenes; the violet winds and the actions of the wicked people that we see happening on the earth are just scenes that are apparent.

從十二章開始到十四章的第五節，一共有七個這種大奇事的異象。要了解這一章的方式，是一個一個角色來看。了解這些角色，就會了解整個靈界的事件、靈界的戰爭。

From the beginning of chapter 12 until verse 5 of chapter 14, there are a total of 7 visions of great signs. The way to understand this chapter is to look at each character individually. Understanding the characters will help us understand the events that happen in the spiritual realm, the spiritual warfare.

榮耀的婦人：第一大奇象
THE GLORIOUS WOMAN: THE FIRST GREAT SIGN

1 天上現出大異象來，有一個婦人身披日頭、腳踏月亮、頭戴十二星的冠冕。

1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

這位婦人代表舊約的以色列教會，從我們的眼光來看，她有許多問題，但在神的眼中，她是一個榮耀的教會。整個大自然，太陽、月亮、星宿，都是她的裝飾品。

This woman represents the Israelite Church from the Old Testament; the way we see it, she had to face many problems. But in God's eyes she is a glorious church. She is adorned with nature, the sun, the moon, and the stars.

驟眼看來，以色列只是個小民族。但實際上她在神的眼中，在撒但與眾天使的眼中，是神的大作為。神要在這毫不起眼的人中，建立起偉大的教會。她頭戴12 星的冠冕，有12 支派或12 個兒子，人數不多，卻是宇宙中的大角色。以色列是最早期的教會。

At a glance, Israel might look like a small nation. But, in reality, in God's eyes and in the eyes of Satan and all the angels, she is God's great accomplishment. God wanted to establish a great church among this unremarkable group of people . She wore a crown of twelve stars on her head, twelve tribes or twelve sons, not a great number of people, but she played a big role in the universe. Israel was the church in its earliest stage.

神與他們立了一個約，稱為｢舊約｣，所以她是舊約教會。舊約時代眾先知已經預言，另外有一群人，稱為｢其馀的人｣( 中文聖經多翻作｢馀剩的人｣) 。那就是新約教會的人。主耶穌也說過：｢我另外有羊，不是這圈裡的。｣指到那些外邦的新約教會。

God made a covenant with them which the “Old Testament”, thus she is the church from the Old Testament. During the Old Testament times, many prophets prophesied about another group of people, called “the remnant”. Those are the people from the church of the New Testament. Jesus Christ once said: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.” He was speaking about the gentiles from the New Testament church.

2 她懷了孕，在生產的艱難中疼痛呼叫。
2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

耶穌出生在以色列疼痛、艱難的時候。其實，在教會歷史中可以看見，教會在開始建立期、發展期，都在受逼迫。在基督降生之前，教會已經在疼痛中。基督從以色列中出來，也是在教會的苦難中降生。所以這一位榮耀的婦人在疼痛之中現大奇事，就是基督從她而出。她戴的冠冕，不是皇冠，是｢得勝者的冠冕｣。她雖然受盡逼迫，好像是失敗者，被人打倒了，其實卻是一位得勝者。

Jesus Christ was born at the time that Israel was in pain and going through many difficulties. In fact, in the history of the church we can see that while the church was expanding and getting established, it was already suffering persecution. The church was already in pain at the time when Christ was born. Christ was born out of Israel, and out of a suffering church. That is why a great sign appears out of this glorious woman, which is Christ coming out of her. The crown that she is wearing is not a royal crown, it is a “victor's crown”. Even though she suffered all kinds of persecutions, as she seemed to be defeated and overpowered, in reality, Christ is the One who is victorious.

大紅龍：第二大奇象
ENORMOUS RED DRAGON: THE SECOND GREAT SIGN

3 天上又現出異象( 奇事) 來，有一條大紅龍，七頭十角，七頭上戴著七個冠冕。… 9 大龍，就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但。

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads… 9 the great dragon… that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan.

｢龍｣在原文是｢惡龍｣(Dragon) ，是古代恐龍的一種。恐龍在眾野獸中，有最大的力量，有最大的傷害力。牠們的身軀龐大，能噴水、噴火，因為牠們的頭部有兩個空間，裝載兩種不同的化學品，噴出來的時候，化學品混合在一起，就像火一樣，有灼熱與燃燒的力量。

A “dragon” was a kind of dinosaur from ancient times. Dinosaurs had great strength and could cause great injuries. Their bodies were enormous. They could shoot water and fire because they had two cavities in their heads which contained two kinds of chemicals, when the chemicals were mixed together what came out of the dinosaur was like fire, which could set off flames and burn things up.

古代的中國人，看見恐龍有這樣大的威力，所以奉之為祥物，只希望龍能夠成為中國人的幫手，不要牠作仇敵。所以中國人變了｢龍的傳人｣。加上中國是共產國家，以紅色作國家的顏色，所以中國在西方國家的基督徒眼中，就成了啟示錄的大紅龍，成了外國人眼中的撒但國。其實聖經所說的紅惡龍，與中國人的恐龍是兩回事，不應該混為一談。這裡的｢大紅惡龍｣，清楚指明是撒但，不是地上的民族或國家。解釋聖經的人，不能張冠李戴。

Chinese people in ancient times believed dinosaurs to be of good luck hoping these powerful creatures would help China and not be their enemies. Therefore Chinese called themselves “Descendants of the Dragon”. Furthermore, China is a communist country, and red is their national color . So in the eyes of Christians from the Western world, China became the enormous red dragon from Revelation and Satan's country. Actually, the enormous red dragon mentioned in the Bible is completely different from the dinosaur that the Chinese people admire. Do not confuse one thing with the other. It is clearly stated in this passage that the “enormous red dragon” is Satan; it is not a country or any ethnic group on the earth. Bible commentators must not make the mistake of confusing one thing with another.

聖經用龍與古蛇代表撒但，但不是所有恐龍都是撒但，不是所有蛇都是魔鬼。其實龍與古蛇都只是像徵性的話。撒但本來是天使長，原名路司福，是最大能的天使。只因驕傲，高抬自己，以為自己與神同等，所以帶著叁分一的天使反叛神，建立牠自己的王國。所以說｢牠尾巴拖拉著天上星辰的叁分之一。牠有七頭十角，七頭上戴著七個冠冕。｣那冠冕也是王權的冠冕，在墮落的天使中，牠就是最高的統帥。

The Bible uses the dragon and the ancient serpent to represent Satan, but not all dinosaurs are Satan, not all serpents are the devil. Actually, the dragon and the ancient serpent are merely symbolic terms. Satan was originally an Archangel, his name was Lucifer , and he was a most powerful angel. But because he was arrogant, thought too highly of himself, and wanted to make himself like God; he took one third of the angels, rebelled against God and established his own empire. That is why verse 4 says: “And its tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven.” It had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven crowns. The crowns were royal crowns. He is the highest commander-in-chief among the fallen angels.

牠頭上的角，是在牠權下的助手，也都有大權柄、大能力。因為每個｢角｣都戴著王冠。他們能傷害與攻擊神的教會。牠名字叫｢撒但｣，是｢仇敵｣之意，因為牠就是神的仇敵，是教會的仇敵，也是我們的仇敵。

The horns on his head are his assistants who are under his authority; they also have great power and great authority because each horn had a crown. They could attack and harm the Church of God. His name was “Satan” which means “enemy” , because he is God's enemy, he is an enemy of the Church and he is also our enemy.

｢牠就是那古蛇｣，告訴我們，牠是引誘亞當、夏娃的那一位，牠的名字又叫魔鬼，意思就是｢控告者｣。這個字在當時的用法，是指那些打小報告，背後告密的人。屬主的人常受到牠的控告。牠在天上，也就是在我們心靈中神的寶座面前，不斷地控告我們，使我們良心過不去，抬不起頭來服事主，覺得我這個人，怎配做主的僕人？這骯髒的手，怎配服事教會？這樣，牠就可以有效地打擊神的教會，打擊服事主的人。

“That ancient serpent,” the one which tempted Adam and Eve, he was called “devil” which means “the accuser.” That word was used at that time to describe a telltale, someone who maliciously revealed private matters behind people's back. Those who belong to God are often accused by him. The devil is in heaven, and even inside our hearts, before the throne of God. He is constantly accusing us so that our consciences feel guilty. We are unable to lift up our heads to serve the Lord. We feel that we are so inadequate, how could we possibly be a servant of God? How could I be fit to serve the Church with such filthy hands? That is how he could attack the Church of God effectively. Attack those who serve the Lord.

婦人產下男孩：第叁大奇象
THE WOMAN GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD: THE THIRD GREAT SIGN

4 龍站在那將要生產婦人面前，等她生產之後，要吞喫她的孩子。5 婦人生了一個男孩子，是將來要用鐵杖轄管萬國的。她的孩子被提到神寶座那裡去了。

4…The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

這個男孩，明顯就是指基督，因為祂｢是將來要用鐵杖轄管( 牧養) 萬國的。｣古代的君王都有一根杖，象徵他們的王權。這裡描寫這位男孩，這位基督是將會管理萬國，成為萬王之王的。

This child obviously refers to Christ, because he “will rule (shepherd) all the nations with an iron scepter.” The kings in ancient times had a staff which symbolized their royal authority. Here, it says that this male child, Christ, will rule the nations and will become the King of Kings.

撒但知道神的救贖計劃，就是要差遣祂的兒子到世上來，牠一直等著要消滅祂。在祂降生的時候想消滅祂，傳道的時候想消滅祂，祂釘十字架的時候想消滅祂。所有有權柄的人，包括祭司長、文士、法利賽人等，都想殺死祂。計劃像是很成功，基督被釘死了。但結果，基督卻從死裡復活了，升天到了神的寶座那裡。

Satan knew about the plan of salvation of God, which was to send His Son to this world. Satan had been waiting to annihilate Him from the very beginning, when He was born, when He was preaching the Good News, when He was crucified. All those in authority wanted to kill Him including the priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, etc. Their plan seemed very successful; Christ was crucified and died. But at the end, Christ resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven to God's throne.

避難曠野
TOOK REFUGE IN THE WILDERNESS

6 婦人就逃到曠野，在那裡有神給她豫備的地方，使她被養活1260 天。
6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

十二章重覆出現｢曠野｣這字，尤其是舊約的教會躲在曠野。以色列離開埃及之後，到曠野受訓練。在新約的預言中，常會舊事重提，把以前發生過的事，用來預告將來會出現的事。曠野是一個荒涼、受管教、受考驗的地方，也是比較安全的地方。

The word “wilderness” appears twice in chapter 12, particularly referring to the Old Testament Church hiding in the wilderness. After the Israelites left Egypt, they went into the wilderness to be trained. In the New Testament prophecies, past events are often brought up again to foretell of things that will happen in the future. The wilderness is a desolate place where people are tested and disciplined; it is also a relatively safe place.

在以色列人受到考驗的時候，他們也得到神特別的保護。我們從這裡看見，基督升天之後，舊約教會好像隱藏起來，這段時間被稱為外邦人的日期，是新約教會出現的時代。

When the Israelites were tested, they also received God's special protection. From here we could see that after Christ ascended to heaven, the Old Testament Church seemed to have gone into hiding, this period of time is called the time of the Gentiles; this is the time when the New Testament Church appeared.

以色列教會在曠野隱藏，就是他們分散到世界各地，暫時享平靜的生活。他們仍在神的看顧之下，所以她是｢被養活｣的。在流亡世界二千年來，仍然有一群忠心研究聖經的人，也在世界各地會堂教導聖經。他們暗暗地、平穩地保持他們的信仰。

When the Israelite Church was in the wilderness, it was when they were dispersed into different parts of the world, temporarily enjoying a quiet life. They were still under God's care; thus, she was “taken care of (provided for)”. They were in exile for 2,000 years, yet they studied and taught the Bible in synagogues all over the world. They kept their faith secretly but steadily.

這種暫時隱藏的平靜，只有1260 天。這個數字可以解釋為災難期的一半時間。在這段外邦人的日期中，撒但主要工作是對付新約教會，就是外邦教會。但到外邦人日期的後來，撒但也再積極地想消滅以色列教會。牠再回來逼迫以色列教會，是在｢地盤戰｣輸掉之後。13 ｢龍見被摔在地上，就逼迫那生男孩的婦人。｣

The temporary tranquil hiding place was only for 1,260 days. This figure could be interpreted as half the time of the tribulation. During this time of the Gentiles, Satan's main task is to attack the New Testament Church, which is the Church of the Gentiles. But, by the end of the time of the Gentiles, Satan will once again actively try to destroy the Israelite Church. He will persecute the Israelite Church once more after losing the “territorial battle”. Verse 13, “When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.”

新約教會得勝
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH TRIUMPHS

7 在天上就有了爭戰，米迦勒同他的使者與龍爭戰，龍也同他的使者去爭戰。
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

天上天使與魔鬼的鬥爭，也就是地上的教會跟撒但爪牙的鬥爭。不單是同時進行，其實也就是一件事的兩面。單看地上的教會，有時還分不清楚到底是哪一方打勝了。有二千年之久，教會在邪惡的政府或敵人的攻擊之下求生存，看來像是拉鋸戰，互有輸贏。其實從天上的角度來看，是魔鬼一步一步吃了敗仗。因為福音一直在傳，以極快的速度傳到地極。這場戰爭是｢地盤戰｣，天上的地盤戰，也就是地上的地盤戰。本來撒但能力很大，是前天使長，但牠墮落之後，與新任天使長米迦勒的爭戰，卻節節敗退。龍出動所有的鬼魔與眾天使爭戰、爭地盤，但全都在吃敗仗。

The war in heaven between the angels and the Devil is also the war on the earth between the Church and Satan. Not only does it happen at the same time, but it is a matter that involves two sides. If we only look at the Church on the earth, sometimes we might not be able to see clearly which side will win. In 2000 years, the Church has survived wicked governments and enemy attacks, it is like a tug of war, a win lose situation. But in reality, from heaven's point of view, the Devil is gradually losing ground because the Gospel continues to spread to the ends of the earth at a very fast rate. This is a territorial battle, a territorial battle in heaven and on earth. Originally Satan was a very powerful angel but after his fall he fought with the Archangel Michael and little by little Satan had to retreat in defeat. The dragon mobilized all the demons to make war against all the angels to take control of the territory but they were all defeated.

福音攻陷了最黑暗的地方，也遍佈全世界。在這本書裡就清楚看見撒但的光景。

The Gospel overcame the darkest regions and spread all over the world. Satan's circumstances are clearly seen in this book.

10 我聽見在天上有大聲音說：我神的救恩、能力、國度，並基督權柄，現在都來到了。因為那在我們神面前晝夜控告我們弟兄的，已經被摔下去了。

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

這是天上來的聲音，告訴我們情況已經改變。以前的世代，很多屬主的人常受牠的控告，約伯、約書亞、所羅巴伯都受過牠的控告。牠使人良心過不去，使人不敢服事主。到末世，牠不能再控告人了，因為被摔下來了。牠在神的寶座面前失去了說話的地位，在信主的人心靈裡，也失去了主控官的身份，因為所有蒙恩罪人的案件，已經撤銷了。

The voice came from heaven; this tells us that the circumstances have changed. Former generations who belonged to the Lord have been accused by Satan. Job, Joshua, Zerubbabel, they all have been accused by him. They make people's conscience feel guilty so that they are afraid to serve the Lord. During the end times, Satan will not be able to continue to accuse people because he has been hurled down. He had lost his place before the throne of God and lost his status as an accuser in the hearts of the believers because all the records of the sinners who were saved by grace had been revoked.

撒但的敗仗
SATAN ' S DEFEAT

8 天上再沒有牠們的地方。9 牠被摔在地上，牠的使者，也一同被摔下去。11 弟兄勝過牠是因羔羊的血和自己所見證的道…

8 … and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…

到底是天使長米迦勒勝過牠，還是我們的弟兄勝過牠？我們說，地上的戰爭反映天上的戰爭。在地上我們的弟兄靠著羔羊的血勝過牠。在天上天使與撒但同時在打這一場仗。天使長得勝了，因為弟兄得勝了。弟兄得勝了，因為天使們得勝了。

In the end, was it the Archangel Michael who defeated him or was it our brothers? We say that the battle on the earth reflects the battle in heaven. On the earth our brothers triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb. At the same time the angels are fighting against Satan in heaven. The Archangel triumphed because the brothers triumphed over him. The brothers triumphed because the angels triumphed.

主耶穌在馬太十六、十八章，談論禱告時對門徒說：｢現在我給你們一條天國的鑰匙，就是你們在地上所釋放的，在天上早已釋放；你們在地上所捆綁的，在天上也早已捆綁。｣這是天國的鑰匙，是傳福音建立天國的秘訣，是藉禱告得勝撒但的路。

When Jesus spoke to his disciples about prayer in Matthew chapter 16 and 18, He said: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  The keys of the kingdom of heaven, is the secret to defeat Satan through prayer and spreading the Gospel to establish God's Kingdom.

保羅在以弗所六章說：｢我們現在打的仗，不是人間的仗，是跟屬靈惡魔爭戰。｣過去二千年，舊約和新約教會的分別，從靈界角度看，是躲藏與爭戰的分別。舊約教會在曠野隱藏，新約教會在前線打仗，把福音傳到地極。得勝者是新約教會，把神計劃完成的是新約教會，使眾天使參與戰爭打擊撒但國度的，也是新約教會。

Paul said in Ephesians chapter 6: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."   In the past 2,000 years, the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament Church, seen from a spiritual point of view, has been that the Old Testament Church had been in hiding in the wilderness while the New Testament Church has been fighting on the front lines to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The New Testament Church has been victorious, it has accomplished God's plan and has made all angels be part of the battle to attack Satan's empire.

要有爭戰纔有勝利
A BATTLE MUST BE FOUGHT IN ORDER FOR VICTORY TO TAKE PLACE

11 弟兄勝過牠是因羔羊的血和自己所見證的道，他們雖至於死也不愛惜性命。

11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

要有戰爭，纔有勝利。隱藏是消極的存活方式，到了後來，原來隱藏的教會，在大災難期中也需要爭戰，要做末後的殉道者。撒但被摔到地上之後，仍然想著逼迫舊約教會，牠念念不忘以色列是神選民，能消滅她，就等於破壞神計劃。結果，不知不覺讓新約教會建立天國地盤。

Without a battle there is no victory. To hide is a passive way to survive; in the end, the Church that was originally hiding also had to fight during the great tribulation, they will become the martyrs in the last days. After Satan was hurled down to the earth, he still wanted to persecute the Old Testament Church, he is constantly reminded that Israel is God's chosen people and wants to eliminate her, which would be the same as destroying God's plan. As a result, unwittingly it let the New Testament Church established the territory for the Kingdom of Heaven.

新約教會得勝的方法：( 一) 靠羔羊的血：藉著主的血洗淨了天良，不再怕牠的控告。( 二) 作主的見證人：見證主的道，讓主的道傳開到外邦人中。( 叁) 肯捨己、背主的十字架：不怕死、不怕苦，以受苦的心志作為兵器，就能得勝那惡魔。

The way the New Testament Church triumphed over Satan was: (1) by the blood of the Lamb: The Lord's blood cleansed people's conscience; there is no need to be afraid of Satan's accusations. (2) By the Word of their testimony: They testified the Word of the Lord, so that it would spread among the Gentiles. (3) Willing to sacrifice, taking up the cross of the Lord: Not afraid of dying, not afraid of pain, using the willingness to suffer as a weapon; that is how to overcome the evil one.

撒但的垂死掙扎
SATAN ' S FINAL DESPERATE STRUGGLE

12 所以諸天和住在其中的，你們都快樂吧。只是地與海有禍了，因為魔鬼知道自己的時候不多，就氣忿忿的下到你們那裡去了。

12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.

龍吃了敗仗，被趕到地上，天上再沒有牠的地方。再不能在人心控告弟兄，再不能在心靈中至聖所搞破壞。被趕下地面，在地與海間興風作浪。在宗教、政治方面搞得天昏地暗。全世界無論哪個角落，哪種人都受影響。很多災難是全面性災難，不單是肉身的，也是靈魂的災難。

After the dragon lost the battle, he was hurled to the earth; he had lost his place in heaven. He could no longer accuse believers or cause any more damage in the most holy place, in the hearts of people. He was hurled down to earth to stir up havoc in land and sea, spreading darkness and gloom in the religious and political world. Everyone in the world will be affected. Many disasters will be widespread; it will affect people's body and soul.

以色列復國- 第四大奇象
RESTORATION OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL – THE FOURTH GREAT SIGN

13 龍見被摔在地上，就逼迫那生男孩的婦人。14 於是有大鷹兩個翅膀賜給婦人，叫她能飛到曠野，到自己的地方。

13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach…

｢自己的地方｣，就是以色列地。她會得到特別的幫助，在自己的地方復國、得保障，像古時一樣。出埃及記19:4 ｢我向埃及人所行的事，你們都看見了，且看見我如鷹將你們背在翅膀上帶來歸我。｣神曾在以前做過的事，在末後的日子，也必再做。

“The place prepared for her”, is the land of Israel. She will get special help and be restored in her own place and she will be protected like in ancient times. Exodus 19:4: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.” What God did in the past, He will for sure do it again during the end times.

15 蛇就在婦人身後，從口中吐出水來，像河一樣要將婦人衝去。

15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.

從牠口中噴出水來，象徵牠那邪惡的言論，要藉著歪曲的邪說，惡毒的咒詛，想消滅神的選民。那些想要消滅以色列的眾國家，團團包圍著她，眾多的敵人像洪水一樣衝擊著她。自從1948 年以來，就是從以色列復國到今天，周圍敵人的武器與咒詛要淹沒她。

“From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river”, this symbolizes his evil speech; the way he plans to destroy God's chosen people through distorted wicked words and malicious curses. All the countries that want to destroy the nation of Israel, all her enemies surround her like a torrent to attack her. Since the restoration of the nation of Israel in 1948 until this very day, all her enemies have been trying to drown her with curses and military artillery.

16 地卻幫助婦人，開口吞了從龍口吐出來的水。
16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

奇事不斷發生，可以稱為｢水來土淹｣。幫助他們應付這些攻擊的，是｢地｣，是他們的信仰，是他們對神的信靠。一個小國在忿怒的敵人包圍之下，卻沒有被消滅。

Amazing signs continue to happen. It was the “earth”, their faith, their trust in God that helped them to cope with such an attack. This small nation was not destroyed even under the wrath of her surrounding enemies.

撒但在末世攻擊全地教會
SATAN ATTACKS ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE EARTH DURING THE END TIMES

17 龍向婦人發怒，與她其馀的兒女爭戰，這兒女就是那守神誡命，為耶穌作見證的。

17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

牠除了攻擊以色列，也同時攻擊外邦的新約教會。在末日期間，仍然有一群忠心見證主的外邦人，那就是｢其馀的兒女｣。萬世的戰爭，已經臨到全地的教會。

Not only did it attack Israel, but at the same time it also attacked the Gentile Church of the New Testament. During the end times, there will still be a group of Gentiles who faithfully testify for the Lord, those are “the rest of her offspring”. The conflict of the ages is upon the churches of the whole earth.