第十七章

1 拿著七碗的七位天使中，有一位前來對我說：「你到這裏來，我將坐在眾水上的大淫婦所要受的刑罰指給你看。2 地上的君王與她行淫，住在地上的人喝醉了她淫亂的酒。」3 我被聖靈感動，天使帶我到曠野去，我就看見一個女人騎在朱紅色的獸上；那獸有七頭十角，遍體有褻瀆的名號。4 那女人穿著紫色和朱紅色的衣服，用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾；手拿金杯，杯中盛滿了可憎之物，就是她淫亂的污穢。5 在她額上有名寫著說：「奧祕哉！大巴比倫，作世上的淫婦和一切可憎之物的母。」6 我又看見那女人喝醉了聖徒的血和為耶穌作見證之人的血。我看見她，就大大地希奇。……

12 你所看見的那十角就是十王；他們還沒有得國，但他們一時之間要和獸同得權柄，與王一樣。13 他們同心合意將自己的能力、權柄給那獸。14 他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主、萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召、被選、有忠心的，也必得勝。」

 

默想：

1. 七碗的審判終結出現了一位大淫婦，這淫婦代表屬靈的不貞，象徵歷世歷代以來，將自己出賣給撒但勢力的個人或是組織和機構，它們背棄永活的真神，幹這種勾當，就是為了擁有特權，獲得財富，享受世上的榮華富貴。
2. 其實，我是否也很容易跟隨其他的「假神」，被誘導去崇拜「偶像」。不見得是實際的偶像，但有哪些偶像、有哪些試探，會將基督徒牽制住、不去跟從神？
3. 思想：目前我所面對的試探是什麼？我的偶像是什麼？我如何能保守對主「從一而終」，而不至「晚節不保」？安靜坐在主前，向主禱告，祈求主的保守。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 17

¹One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. ⁵This title was written on her forehead:  Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Prostitutes, and of the Abominations of the Earth. ⁶I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.… …

¹²“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

 

Meditation

1. The judgment scene comes to an end with the portrayal of the Great Prostitute.  Although Prostitute is a sexual image, here it is about spiritual infidelity.  This figure embodies those people and institutions that, across the ages, have betrayed the living God and sold themselves to Satan’s forces, doing their bidding in order to enjoy privilege and riches.
2. In fact, we, too, also quickly follow other gods. We are so easily seduced into idolatry of one kind or the other. What are some the temptations that would draw Christians from God?
3. Think: What are the temptations that I face today? What can help me to remain faithful to the very end to “FINISH WELL”? Sit quietly before the Lord and pray for His protection and empowerment.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.