第三十七週．週五
晨興餧養
啟七９ 『…我觀看，看哪，有大批的群眾，沒有人能數得過來，是從各邦國、各支派、各民族、各方言來的，站在寶座前和羔羊面前，身穿白袍，手拿棕樹枝。』
１５ 『所以他們在神寶座前，晝夜在祂殿中事奉祂；坐寶座的要用帳幕覆庇他們。』
在啟示錄七章九至十七節，我們看見大批的群眾，是耶穌的見證。按照七章的記載，這『大批的群眾』乃是全體蒙神救贖的人，是從『各邦國、各支派、各民族、各方言』贖來的。（9。）十四節說，『這些人是從大患難中出來的，』可見他們全都經過患難。這指明沒有一個時候，沒有一個地方，召會不遭遇患難。世界總是逼迫召會的，（約十六33，）召會無論在那裏，總要遭受相當的逼迫。這大批的群眾又是從患難中得勝的出來的，因為他們都手拿棕樹枝，這表徵他們勝過了患難。（啟七9。）最後，在永世裏，神要用祂的帳幕覆庇他們。〔15。〕…這就是蒙神救贖之人的定命。何等美妙！還有，羔羊要在生命水的泉那裏，永遠牧養他們。（啟示錄生命讀經，三四頁。）
信息選讀
啟示錄七章九至十七節的大批群眾，包含歷世代從各邦國救贖出來的人，他們的數目數算不盡並且組成召會。他們站在寶座前，指明他們已被提到諸天之上神的面前。因此，這些經文所記載的，乃是一般的描述從信徒被提到他們在永世裏享受的情景。
十四節說，『這些人是從大患難中出來的。』…這大患難乃是泛指患難。所有神的贖民都經歷過某些災難、苦楚、逼迫和艱苦。沒有任何基督徒能避免這些事。在我們的靈裏，我們基督徒是享受的人；但在肉身一面，我們是受苦的人。然而，有一天我們要得勝的從大患難出來，站在羔羊面前。聖徒手中的棕樹枝表徵他們勝過患難，這些患難是他們為主的緣故所受的；棕樹枝也是因水滋潤而滿足的標記。（出十五27。）在永世裏，那坐在寶座上，具體化身在基督裏的，（約一14，）要用祂自己覆庇他們。不僅如此，他們必不再飢、不再渴，因為寶座中的羔羊要牧養他們，領他們到生命水的泉。（李常受文集一九七五至一九七六年第一冊，四九九頁。）
我們在時間裏的事奉是為著永世作準備的。…時間好像一個學校，是我們受屬靈的訓練和教育的地方；我們在時間裏受了屬靈的訓練和教育，使我們在永世裏能真正合乎神的用處。
馬太二十五章告訴我們，當主回來的時候，祂對那些忠心的僕人說，『你在不多的事上既是忠信的，我要把許多事派你管理。』（21。）今天你如果能學得好，等到主來的時候，祂要託你作更大更多的事情。今天是我們學的時候，等主來的時候纔是我們正式事奉的時候。…啟示錄二十二章告訴我們，在永遠裏還是要事奉神。（3。）今天主把我們安排在神的眾兒女中間，目的是要我們和神的眾兒女一同學習事奉。我們再說，我們今天在時間裏的事奉，是為著永世裏的事奉作準備的。（倪柝聲文集第二輯第十七冊，二三○至二三一頁。）
參讀：耶穌的見證，第九至十一章。
WEEK 37 — DAY 5
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 7:9 …I saw, and behold, there was a great multitude which no one could number, out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches in their hands.
15 Because of this they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits upon the throne will tabernacle over them.
In Revelation 7:9-17 we see the testimony of Jesus as the great multitude. According to the record of chapter 7, this great multitude is the whole Body of God’s redeemed ones, having been redeemed “out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (v. 9). All of them have passed through tribulation. This indicates that at no time nor at any place is there a church that has not passed through tribulation. The world always persecutes the churches (John 16:33). Wherever the church is, there will always be a certain amount of persecution. That the whole Body of the redeemed ones will pass through tribulation is indicated by Revelation 7:14, which says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.” This great multitude has come out of tribulation in a victorious way, for they all hold palm branches, which signify their victory over tribulation (v. 9). Eventually, in eternity, they will be overshadowed by God as the tabernacle [v. 15]…This is the destiny of God’s redeemed ones. How wonderful! Furthermore, they will also be shepherded by the Lamb at the springs of waters of life for eternity (v. 17). (Life-study of Revelation, p. 28)
Today’s Reading
The great multitude in Revelation 7:9-17 consists of the redeemed ones from the nations throughout all generations, who are innumerable and who constitute the church. Their standing before the throne indicates that they have been raptured to the heavens, to the presence of God. Thus, the record in these verses describes in a general way the scene from the time of the rapture of the believers to their enjoyment in eternity.
Verse 14 says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.”…The great tribulation here is tribulation in a general sense. All of God’s redeemed people have passed through certain tribulations, sufferings, persecutions, and afflictions. No Christian can avoid these things. In our spirit, we Christians are a people of enjoyment, but on the physical side, we are a suffering people. However, one day we shall come triumphantly out of the great tribulation and stand before the Lamb. The palm branches in the hands of the saints signify their victory over tribulation, which they have undergone for the Lord’s sake, and they are also a sign of satisfaction gained through being watered (Exo. 15:27). In eternity the One who sits on the throne will tabernacle over them, overshadowing them with Himself as the One who is embodied in Christ (John 1:14). Moreover, they will not hunger or thirst anymore, for the Lamb who is in
the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of waters of life. (CWWL, 1975-1976, vol. 1, “The Testimony of Jesus,” pp. 366-367)
Our service in time is to prepare us for eternity…Time is like a school; it is a place where we receive spiritual training and education. Our spiritual training and education in time will make us useful to God in eternity.
According to Matthew 25, when the Lord comes back, He will say to the faithful slaves, “You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things” (v. 21). If we learn our lesson well, the Lord will entrust us with greater works when He comes back. Today is the time for us to learn; our proper service does not begin until the Lord comes back…Revelation 22 tells us that we will serve God in eternity (v. 3). God places us among His children today in order for us to serve together with all of them. I say again: Our service in time today is a preparation for our service in eternity. (CWWN, vol. 37, “General Messages,” p. 181)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1975-1976, vol. 1, “The Testimony of Jesus,” chs. 9—11
