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What It’s Like In Heaven (Part 1)

2020-06-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 21:1-27.  Let’s go!

Revelation 21:1 (NIV) 
1  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

On verse 1:  To me Revelation 21 is one of the most beautiful passages in all the Bible.  As much as I like the song “What a Wonderful World” made famous by Louis Armstrong, and as beautiful and wonderful as our world is, there is no denying that there is much brokenness and hurt that affects our world as well.  Here we see God, who specializes in making all things new (v5), creating a new heaven and a new earth that are not beset by the problems we have in our world.

Revelation 21:2 (NIV) 
2  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

On verse 2:  In the Bible and in life we see how flawed, ugly and broken we as God’s people can be.  Yet here in one of the final visions of the Bible, we see God’s people, called “the Holy City” and “the new Jerusalem”, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  Radiant, flawless, and beautiful – that’s the way Jesus sees you and me in heaven.

亞倫大祭司

2020-06-22 in /by

民數記18章20節    耶和華對亞倫說：「你在以色列人的境內不可有產業，在他們中間也不可有份。我就是你的份，是你的產業。」  

《聖經》裡有不少兄弟，一開始有該隱和亞伯，再來是以掃和雅各，他們都因事翻臉甚至謀殺；都不如摩西和亞倫一起合作了約40年之久。亞倫，是大摩西三歲的哥哥。當我們看摩西時，很難不感受到亞倫的存在。他是那樣安靜，摩西叫他說他就說，摩西叫他做什麼他就做什麼。在何烈山上，摩西一直拒絕神的呼召，到最後說自己拙口笨舌時，神說就讓亞倫代替摩西的口，為摩西的代言人，亞倫就這樣登上以色列領袖的大舞台上。從此這一對兄弟就形影不離了。

根據猶太人對亞倫的看法，他非常平易近人，並且喜歡做和事佬。也許因為他不喜歡得罪人，但並不是出於本心，所以在很多「案子」裡，他都沒有受到懲罰，且被神揀選為大祭司，喻表耶穌基督是我們天上的大祭司。但是有人就認為他性格軟弱，沒有主見，不敢說「不」，容易受人擺佈。可能我們當中有的人的性情就像亞倫，因此也容易被人誤會。

讓我們來看亞倫靈性的成長。亞倫一開始是不大認識神的，跟所有的以色列人一樣都是風聞有祢。但是跟著摩西事奉之後，他開始體會到耶和華神的真實。他知道自己手裡的杖是根死木頭，死透的，乾透了的木棍。但是神藉著那根死木棍變出了好多神蹟，到最後還讓它發芽開花結果。認識神的過程裡，亞倫有一些特別的經歷。

Loved For A Thousand Years and More

2020-06-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 20:1-15.  Let’s go!

Revelation 20:1-3 (NIV) 
1  And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.
2  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
3  He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 

On verses 1-3:  Previously in Revelation 9 we read of “the angel of the Abyss” (9:11) who was also called a “fallen star” and given the key to the Abyss (19:1).  Many commentators believe this angel is Satan himself.  Here in Revelation 20:1 John sees another angel coming down out of heaven possessing the key to the Abyss and holding a great chain.  This angel seizes the red dragon Satan, throws him into the Abyss, locks and seals the Abyss, so that Satan cannot deceive the nations for 1,000 years.  After the 1,000 years are over, verse 3 says that Satan “must be set free for a short time”.

摩西上尼波山

2020-06-22 in /by

申命記34章4  -5節   耶和華對他說：「這就是我向亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各起誓應許之地，說：『我必將這地賜給你的後裔。』現在我使你眼睛看見了，你卻不得過到那裡去。」於是，耶和華的僕人摩西死在摩押地，正如耶和華所說的。

米利暗和亞倫相繼去世後，摩西又面對了幾件大事。一是沿途的作戰，二是鑄造銅蛇，三是在不知不覺時中了摩押人的詭計。

以色列人兩三百萬人浩浩蕩蕩，又有神蹟相隨，但是迦南人也不是省油的燈，那麼多人進迦南，就等於要立國了。所以迦南人找他們打仗，附近的亞摩利人也跟他們打，巴珊王也出來打他們。這些人就是10個探子口中高大的強人，使以色列人看起來像蚱蜢般的偉人，所以神對摩西說：「不要怕他。因我已將他和他的眾民，並他的地，都交在你手中。」事情就這樣成了。

雖然神不許以色列人侵犯摩押的地，摩押卻以小人之心度君子之腹，去找了一個出名的術士巴蘭來咒詛以色列人。但是在神的干預之下，巴蘭對以色列人的咒詛都變成了祝福。後來巴蘭向摩押王獻計。摩押王就約了亞捫人，利用美人計去弔誘以色列的男人犯姦淫，又帶他們去拜偶像，得罪耶和華。以玫耶和華對以色列人發怒，直到非尼哈出手殺死一個以色列人和亞捫的一個公主，神的憤怒才止息。

銅蛇是因為以色列人又抱怨食物的淡薄，神因而叫火蛇去咬他們。他們也知罪了:「我們怨讟耶和華和你，有罪了。求你禱告耶和華，叫這些蛇離開我們。」因此神要摩西鑄一條銅蛇，凡仰望它的就必痊癒。這個銅蛇喻表耶穌將要被高舉在十字架上，凡仰望祂救恩的人，就可以出死入永生。

Meet the One Who Wins in the End

2020-06-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 19:11-21.  There are so many powerful truths about Jesus that we can learn from this passage.  Let’s go!

Revelation 19:11 (NIV) 
11  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
 
On verse 11:  Here John sees an awesome picture of Jesus.  In the Gospel of John 12:14-15, John described Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, which is what kings would ride on during peace time.  Now when we see Jesus on a white war horse, it’s because Jesus means war.  The suffering servant who died to bring us peace is now the conquering king who lives to judge with justice and fight his enemies. 
 
Also, in verses 11 through 16, we will learn 4 names of Jesus.  The first name is here: Faithful and True.  Like you and me, Jesus is known by His character.

Revelation 19:12a (NIV) 
12  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.

與天父會面

2020-06-19 in /by

約翰福音一章12節     凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就賜他們權柄做神的兒女。

父親節就在眼前了，當神的兒女稱神為「天父」的時候，你知道這意味著什麼嗎？

基督徒稱神為父的屬靈含意有五方面：

1. 我們與神有親密關係。你們既為兒子，神就差祂兒子的靈進入你們的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」(加4:6)

2. 神關心和照顧我們的一切需要。

    你們不可效法他們，因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。(太:8)

3. 我們遵從神的旨意，以好行為榮耀祂。

我見你的兒女有照我們從父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚歡喜。(約二:4)

4.  當我們犯錯時，神會管教我們。

你們又忘了那勸你們如同勸兒子的話說：「我兒，你不可輕看主的管教，被他責備的時候也不可灰心。(希12:5)

5. 神給我們預備了永恒的產業。

得勝的，必承受這些為業：我要做他的神，他要做我的兒子。(啟21:7)

You Are Righteous and Radiant Because of

2020-06-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 19:1-10.  Let’s go!

Revelation 19:1-4 (NIV) 
1  After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 
2  for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 
3  And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” 
4  The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

On verses 1-4:  Earlier in Revelation 17-18 we read of Babylon, a prostitute who according to many commentators symbolizes the spirit of false religion that is all about man thinking he can reach God on his own effort.  In Revelation 17, Babylon’s fall is predicted.  In Revelation 18, we read of how the kings and merchants who dealt with Babylon will mourn after her death.  Now in Revelation 19 we hear heaven’s response to Babylon’s fall. 

Last Kingdom Standing 

2020-06-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 18:1-24.  Let’s go!

Revelation 18:1-3 (NIV) 
1  After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
2  With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3  For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” 

On verses 1-3:  In Revelation 17 we read about a drunk prostitute dressed in fine clothes, riding on a beast.  We learned that this woman is called Babylon the Great and, according to many commentators, represents a spirit of false religion that is all about man thinking he can reach God by his own effort.  At the end of chapter 17 we learned that Babylon would be burned alive by the very kings who used her and slept with her.  Now in chapter 18 is heaven’s description of her demise and how various groups including kings, merchants, and sea captains will respond to her death.

摩西在米利巴擊磐出水

2020-06-18 in /by

民數記20章12節   耶和華對摩西、亞倫說：「因為你們不信我，不在以色列人眼前尊我為聖，所以你們必不得領這會眾進我所賜給他們的地去。」

從西乃山到加低斯僅需要11天的路程，但是從加低斯到約旦河，以色列人飄流了37年6個月。在出埃及後的第四十年，以色列人再度安營在加低斯。在這一年裡米利暗，亞倫和摩西相繼離世。

加低斯，一個印滿了以色列人足跡之地，是西奈半島北部最大的綠洲，位於連接亞喀巴灣與地中海的通道附近。加低斯的曠野(The Wilder-ness of Kadesh)，是別是巴以南沙漠中的綠洲和聚居地。這裡是耶和華應許賜給以色列人為業的迦南地之南界。

以色列人在此地飄流了近38年後，再度碰到缺水的問題，也再度聚集攻擊摩西和亞倫。這些以色列人和倒閉在曠野中的上一代以色列人一樣，碰到問題就埋怨，就攻擊摩西，又想著埃及，因為那裡有各樣的果樹，是奴隸也有果子吃，寧可生生世世做奴隸 ! 這樣的態度終於使世上最謙和的摩西發怒了。

摩西、亞倫招聚會眾到磐石前。摩西說：「你們這些背叛(悖逆)的人聽我說：我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎？(出20:10)」摩西舉手，用杖擊打磐石兩下，就有許多水流出來，會眾和他們的牲畜都喝了。這水名叫米利巴水，是因以色列人向耶和華爭鬧，耶和華就在他們面前顯為聖。

摩西第一次大罵以色列人悖逆，他不再忍了。他用杖擊打磐石兩下，大概非常用力。他破功了。真的破功了。