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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.

亚伦大祭司

2020-06-22 in /by

民数记18章20节    耶和华对亚伦说：「你在以色列人的境内不可有产业，在他们中间也不可有份。我就是你的份，是你的产业。」  

《圣经》里有不少兄弟，一开始有该隐和亚伯，再来是以扫和雅各，他们都因事翻脸甚至谋杀；都不如摩西和亚伦一起合作了约40年之久。亚伦，是大摩西三岁的哥哥。当我们看摩西时，很难不感受到亚伦的存在。他是那样安静，摩西叫他说他就说，摩西叫他做什么他就做什么。在何烈山上，摩西一直拒绝神的呼召，到最后说自己拙口笨舌时，神说就让亚伦代替摩西的口，为摩西的代言人，亚伦就这样登上以色列领袖的大舞台上。从此这一对兄弟就形影不离了。

根据犹太人对亚伦的看法，他非常平易近人，并且喜欢做和事佬。也许因为他不喜欢得罪人，但并不是出于本心，所以在很多「案子」里，他都没有受到惩罚，且被神拣选为大祭司，喻表耶稣基督是我们天上的大祭司。但是有人就认为他性格软弱，没有主见，不敢说「不」，容易受人摆布。可能我们当中有的人的性情就像亚伦，因此也容易被人误会。

让我们来看亚伦灵性的成长。亚伦一开始是不大认识神的，跟所有的以色列人一样都是风闻有祢。但是跟着摩西事奉之后，他开始体会到耶和华神的真实。他知道自己手里的杖是根死木头，死透的，干透了的木棍。但是神借着那根死木棍变出了好多神蹟，到最后还让它发芽开花结果。认识神的过程里，亚伦有一些特别的经历。

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

申命记34章4  -5节   耶和华对他说：「这就是我向亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各起誓应许之地，说：『我必将这地赐给你的后裔。』现在我使你眼睛看见了，你却不得过到那里去。」于是，耶和华的仆人摩西死在摩押地，正如耶和华所说的。

米利暗和亚伦相继去世后，摩西又面对了几件大事。一是沿途的作战，二是铸造铜蛇，三是在不知不觉时中了摩押人的诡计。

以色列人两三百万人浩浩荡荡，又有神蹟相随，但是迦南人也不是省油的灯，那么多人进迦南，就等于要立国了。所以迦南人找他们打仗，附近的亚摩利人也跟他们打，巴珊王也出来打他们。这些人就是10个探子口中高大的强人，使以色列人看起来像蚱蜢般的伟人，所以神对摩西说：「不要怕他。因我已将他和他的众民，并他的地，都交在你手中。」事情就这样成了。

虽然神不许以色列人侵犯摩押的地，摩押却以小人之心度君子之腹，去找了一个出名的术士巴兰来咒诅以色列人。但是在神的干预之下，巴兰对以色列人的咒诅都变成了祝福。后来巴兰向摩押王献计。摩押王就约了亚扪人，利用美人计去吊诱以色列的男人犯奸淫，又带他们去拜偶像，得罪耶和华。以玫耶和华对以色列人发怒，直到非尼哈出手杀死一个以色列人和亚扪的一个公主，神的愤怒才止息。

铜蛇是因为以色列人又抱怨食物的淡薄，神因而叫火蛇去咬他们。他们也知罪了:「我们怨讟耶和华和你，有罪了。求你祷告耶和华，叫这些蛇离开我们。」因此神要摩西铸一条铜蛇，凡仰望它的就必痊愈。这个铜蛇喻表耶稣将要被高举在十字架上，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.

与天父会面

2020-06-19 in /by

约翰福音一章12节     凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄做神的儿女。

父亲节就在眼前了，当神的儿女称神为「天父」的时候，你知道这意味着什么吗？

基督徒称神为父的属灵含意有五方面：

1. 我们与神有亲密关系。你们既为儿子，神就差祂儿子的灵进入你们的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」(加4:6)

2. 神关心和照顾我们的一切需要。

    你们不可效法他们，因为你们没有祈求以先，你们所需用的，你们的父早已知道了。(太:8)

3. 我们遵从神的旨意，以好行为荣耀祂。

我见你的儿女有照我们从父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚欢喜。(约二:4)

4.  当我们犯错时，神会管教我们。

你们又忘了那劝你们如同劝儿子的话说：「我儿，你不可轻看主的管教，被他责备的时候也不可灰心。(希12:5)

5. 神给我们预备了永恒的产业。

得胜的，必承受这些为业：我要做他的神，他要做我的儿子。(启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.

摩西在米利巴击磐出水

2020-06-18 in /by

民数记20章12节   耶和华对摩西、亚伦说：「因为你们不信我，不在以色列人眼前尊我为圣，所以你们必不得领这会众进我所赐给他们的地去。」

从西乃山到加低斯仅需要11天的路程，但是从加低斯到约旦河，以色列人飘流了37年6个月。在出埃及后的第四十年，以色列人再度安营在加低斯。在这一年里米利暗，亚伦和摩西相继离世。

加低斯，一个印满了以色列人足迹之地，是西奈半岛北部最大的绿洲，位于连接亚喀巴湾与地中海的通道附近。加低斯的旷野(The Wilder-ness of Kadesh)，是别是巴以南沙漠中的绿洲和聚居地。这里是耶和华应许赐给以色列人为业的迦南地之南界。

以色列人在此地飘流了近38年后，再度碰到缺水的问题，也再度聚集攻击摩西和亚伦。这些以色列人和倒闭在旷野中的上一代以色列人一样，碰到问题就埋怨，就攻击摩西，又想着埃及，因为那里有各样的果树，是奴隶也有果子吃，宁可生生世世做奴隶 ! 这样的态度终于使世上最谦和的摩西发怒了。

摩西、亚伦招聚会众到磐石前。摩西说：「你们这些背叛(悖逆)的人听我说：我为你们使水从这磐石中流出来吗？(出20:10)」摩西举手，用杖击打磐石两下，就有许多水流出来，会众和他们的牲畜都喝了。这水名叫米利巴水，是因以色列人向耶和华争闹，耶和华就在他们面前显为圣。

摩西第一次大骂以色列人悖逆，他不再忍了。他用杖击打磐石两下，大概非常用力。他破功了。真的破功了。