第十九章

5 有聲音從寶座出來說：神的眾僕人哪，凡敬畏他的，無論大小，都要讚美我們的神！6 我聽見好像群眾的聲音，眾水的聲音，大雷的聲音，說：哈利路亞！因為主─我們的神、全能者作王了。7 我們要歡喜快樂，將榮耀歸給他。因為，羔羊婚娶的時候到了；新婦也自己預備好了，8 就蒙恩得穿光明潔白的細麻衣。（這細麻衣就是聖徒所行的義。）9 天使吩咐我說：「你要寫上：凡被請赴羔羊之婚筵的有福了！」又對我說：「這是神真實的話。」10 我就俯伏在他腳前要拜他。他說：「千萬不可！我和你，並你那些為耶穌作見證的弟兄同是作僕人的，你要敬拜神。」因為預言中的靈意乃是為耶穌作見證。

默想：

1. 此處，場景再次回到天上，在那裡巴比倫的毀滅使得眾人頌讚歡喜，神在掌權，眾聖徒殷切等候羔羊的婚宴。
2. 這裡的符號意義非常強烈。舊約裡，神被視為以色列的丈夫；在新約裡，基督是新郎，教會是祂揀選的新婦。聖經時代的婚宴是興高采烈的慶祝；現在巴比倫已被毀，新郎與新婦終於可以享受婚禮的宴席，在永恒裡，我們終將與神合而為一，直到永遠。
3. 在期待著這個宇宙的大歡慶，我會怎樣裝扮自己，預備參加？主再來的時候將到，我是否能以聖潔為衣，從容出席？我如何參與這項預備工夫？

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 19

⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God,  all you his servants,  you who fear him, both small and great!”

⁶Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  ⁷Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come,  and his bride has made herself ready.  ⁸Fine linen, bright and clean,  was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

⁹Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

¹⁰At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

 

Meditation

1. The scene again shifts to heaven.  There the fall of Babylon is a cause for rejoicing.  God now reigns.  And all the saints will celebrate at the wedding supper of the Lamb.
2. The symbolism here is powerful.  In the Old Testament God is pictured as the husband of Israel.  In the New Testament, Christ is the Bridegroom, the church his chosen bride.  In biblical times, the joining of the betrothed occasioned a week-long celebration.  So it is with us.  At last Bridegroom and bride sit down together at the wedding banquet.  For all eternity ahead life will be new.  And we will be one with God forever.
3. How do I prepare myself to participate in this much anticipated universal celebration?  The Lord’s coming is fast approaching.  Will I be clothed in holiness and purity to go?  How do I participate in the preparation?

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.