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撒迦利亚书 第十四章 - 毁灭还是筛选?

末后的日子,神要如何对待祂的子民?

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5 分钟阅读

撒迦利亚书的最后一章描绘了耶稣再来之前将要发生的事件。

在这些事件中,有一句话让我深感困惑——当神说:
“因为我必聚集万国与耶路撒冷争战……”
(撒迦利亚书14:2上)

为什么神要聚集万国来攻打耶路撒冷,也就是祂的教会(希伯来书12:22-23)?神的旨意不是要信他的人得救,不愿一人沉沦吗(约翰福音3:16)?为什么在末后的日子里,祂似乎是要将我们毁灭呢?

其实,当世界走向终结,神并非在“毁灭”,而是在“筛选”——筛出那些心预备好进入天国的子民。
这些人是真正的信徒,即使在逼迫之下、即使失去了属灵领袖,仍坚持信靠神,在信心受试炼之时,依旧寻求并顺服于祂(撒迦利亚书13:7-9)。
也包括那些原本不信的万国,他们在被神制服之后,选择降服于神,承认祂为王(撒迦利亚书14:3, 9)。

至于那些“心如金刚石般刚硬的人”(撒迦利亚书7:12),他们将无法存活。
即使没有外在的逼迫,只要人心对神的话语依然刚硬,仍在罪中安逸度日,这些人只是在继续为自己积蓄神的忿怒,直到那审判的日子降临(罗马书2:5)。

更进一步说,对于这些刚硬之人,圣经其他地方也描述了神的回应,与撒迦利亚书14:2上类似——比如,神“任凭他们存邪僻的心”(罗马书1:28);当他们喜爱不义、拒绝真理时,神就“神所 有 來 攻 擊 耶 路 撒 冷 列 國 中 剩 下 的 人 , 必 年 年 上 來 敬 拜 大 君 王 ─ 萬 軍 之 耶 和 華 , 並 守 住 棚 節 。给他们一个生发错误的心”(帖撒罗尼迦后书2:10-12)。
正如撒迦利亚书14:2上所描绘的,万国被激动来攻击神的子民,是因为他们心刚硬——就像法老拒绝释放以色列人时被激动起来敌挡摩西。
当人类对神的主权刚硬时,神并不会强行显明祂的统治,反而是耐心地呼唤人悔改(彼得后书3:9)。但若人执意不悔改,神便坐在祂的审判台前,静候那日。

这对我们意味着什么?

撒迦利亚书14:16说(加粗表示强调):
“所有来攻击耶路撒冷列国中剩下的人,必年年上来敬拜大君王万军之耶和华,并守住棚节。”

能在神的“筛选”中存活下来,意味着我们要坚定地拒绝这个世界中一切让我们对万王之王的忠心动摇的事物。
同时,也要带着这样的信心努力:相信耶稣能拯救我们到底——只要我们常常亲近祂,让祂的道与圣灵软化我们的心(希伯来书7:25)。🫀

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但以理书 第四章(英文)

但以理书 第四章(英文)

The story in Daniel Chapter 4 is perhaps not unfamiliar to many of us. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the great Babylonian empire, the king of kings, being turned into a beast, how spectacular is that? It's not until we read through this chapter for ourselves that we realise something even more spectacular: this whole chapter is told by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel Chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar's own personal testimony! Isn't King Nebuchadnezzar the infamous evil king? How is it that in this chapter he gives praise to the almighty God? Perhaps the first thing that should catch our attention from today's chapter is the repeated phrase in verses 17 and 32. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He wills. This phrase can even be said to be the theme of the whole Book of Daniel. This book is mostly set in the time of exile, when there seemingly was no longer any king over the people of God. Yet, in the Book of Daniel we see that though there was no earthly king ruling over Israel, God made it clear to these foreign kings that He is the almighty God. He was still the one who was truly the King. The outcome of this is that the evil king Nebuchadnezzar, probably the greatest and most powerful man during his time, writes this testimony for all peoples, nations, and languages to hear (Daniel 4:1-3). Imagine being a subject in the Babylonian empire, and receiving this declaration from king Nebuchadnezzar praising and glorifying the God of Israel. Though God's people sin against Him and are punished by being taken into exile, the name of God is still magnified. God is not put to shame. Today through baptism we have entered into the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is key for us to consider whether God truly is the King of our lives. It's natural to make many plans for our future, out of a desire to lead our dream lives. But for us Christians, the sovereignty and authority of God is something that we must be well-aware of and fully willing to submit to. If God doesn't let me get that job, are we able to accept it? If God closes the path towards our dreams, are we will to say "Let Thy will be done"? If God takes away all that we have, are we able to be like Job and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"? If all this is causing us to struggle, remember this: God loves us. He knows what's best for us, He knows what we need. He has already given His life for us, and given us His precious Spirit to dwell within us. Having faith in God's love towards us gives us strength to submit to our King with full assurance that this is the best path for us, this is the way to blessing and to eternal life. Since our God is the highest and rules over the kingdom of man, what then should our response ought to be? Nebuchadnezzar begins and ends his testimony by praising and glorifying God. Giving praises to God is something that we have been often taught but perhaps we have not given enough thought to or taken seriously enough. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's clear that praises are a key part of our worship to God (just read the Book of Psalms). What might we praise God for? Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can praise God for His greatness and His almightiness. Just consider the stars, or the intricacies of the human body. We can praise God for His love and wisdom as seen in His creation as well as in His word. The more we study into the holy scriptures, the more we are filled with awe at how complete, connected, and wonderful these life-giving words are. We can also glorify God for His salvation which He has so freely given to us. Imagine how different our lives might be today if not for His grace and mercy! It's when we decide to finally take the importance of praising God seriously and intentionally set aside some time in our daily prayers to praise God, that we truly experience the blessing that comes along with it. We go through life being filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that we have such a great and powerful Heavenly Father who loves us. In fact, it was when Nebuchadnezzar took the glory for Himself rather than giving all glory to God, that the infamous transformation into a beast took place. This brings us nicely to the final point of reflection for this devotional. Pride - when we take glory for ourselves rather than giving glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar's testimony serves as a stark warning for us. Even just a sentence or thought of pride can greatly displease God. How often have we unknowingly taken credit for ourselves for any achievements we have, or for any divine work that we do? Being puffed up with pride and not keeping to one's proper domain is precisely the sin of satan (1 Tim 3:6, Jude 6-7). If we are filled with pride, what difference is there between us and satan? In fact, while satan exalted himself, God on the contrary lowered Himself, coming in the likeness of man and humbling Himself even to the point of death (Phil 2:5-8). Whose example do we want to follow, that of God or of satan? Let us take warning from the story of Nebuchadnezzar and carefully consider who's example we want to follow. Indeed, God opposes the proud while giving grace to the humble. He blesses the meek, that they might inherit the earth .

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