6月7日安息日下午
记忆经文：
“王见王后以斯帖站在院子里，她就蒙王的恩宠。王向以斯帖伸出手中的金杖。以斯帖便近前来，摸了杖头。” KJV — 以斯帖记 5:2
“And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.” KJV — Esther 5:2
从起初，上帝就藉着圣灵，借着人类的帮助，成就祂为堕落人类所定的旨意。这在列祖的一生中显明出来。在摩西时代，上帝也赐下祂“良善的灵，教训他们”（尼希米记9:20）。在使徒时代，祂也藉着圣灵的力量，为祂的教会大行其道。那支撑列祖，赐予迦勒和约书亚信心和勇气，并使使徒教会事工卓有成效的力量，也同样在后来的每个时代，扶持着上帝忠心的儿女。正是借着圣灵的能力，在黑暗时代，瓦典西派的基督徒为宗教改革铺平了道路。也正是这能力，使那些为建立现代传教事业和将圣经翻译成各国各族的语言和方言而开拓道路的贤达男女，取得了成功。（AA 53.1）
“那时，拉比多的妻底波拉作以色列的士师。她住在以法莲山地拉玛和伯特利中间，底波拉的棕树下。以色列人都上她那里去听审判。”士师记4:4-5。“又有女先知亚拿，是法内力的女儿，属亚设支派。她年纪老迈，出嫁的时候，同丈夫住了七年，就寡居了，如今约有八十四岁，总不离开圣殿，禁食祈祷，昼夜事奉神。”路加福音2:36-37。“沙龙的妻子户勒大，先知”教导以色列人（列王纪下22:14-16）。“传福音的腓利……有四个女儿，都是处女，她们说预言。”使徒行传21:8,9。
“From the beginning, God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the fallen race. This was manifest in the lives of the patriarchs. To the church in the wilderness also, in the time of Moses, God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.” Nehemiah 9:20. And in the days of the apostles He wrought mightily for His church through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The same power that sustained the patriarchs, that gave Caleb and Joshua faith and courage, and that made the work of the apostolic church effective, has upheld God's faithful children in every succeeding age. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that during the Dark Ages the Waldensian Christians helped to prepare the way for the Reformation. It was the same power that made successful the efforts of the noble men and women who pioneered the way for the establishment of modern missions and for the translation of the Bible into the languages and dialects of all nations and peoples.” AA 53.1
“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” Judges 4:4, 5. “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about four-score and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:36, 37. Also “Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum” taught Israel (2 Kings 22:14-16). And “Philip the evangelist,…had four daughters, virgins, which did prophecy.” Acts 21:8, 9.
6月8日星期日
“面包屋”的饥荒。
阅读路得记1:1-5。拿俄米和路得遭遇了哪些苦难？这些苦难的成因是什么？这如何反映出整个人类如今面临的处境？
Read Ruth 1:1–5. What hardships fell on Naomi and Ruth, and what caused them? How does this reflect the situation that the entire human race now faces?
当士师秉政的时候，国中遭遇饥荒。犹大伯利恒有一个人，带着妻子和两个儿子往摩押地去寄居。他名叫以利米勒，妻子名叫拿俄米，两个儿子一个叫玛伦，一个叫基连，都是犹大伯利恒的以法他人。他们到了摩押地，就住在那里。拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒死了，剩下拿俄米和她的两个儿子。他们娶了摩押女子为妻，一个名叫俄珥巴，一个名叫路得，在那里住了约有十年。后来玛伦和基连二人也死了，剩下拿俄米，还有她的两个儿子与丈夫。 路得记 1:1-5
“龙见自己被摔在地上，就逼迫那生男孩子的妇人。有大鹰的两个翅膀赐给妇人，叫她能飞到旷野，到自己的地方，躲避那蛇，被养活一载二载半载。”（启示录 12:13, 14）
首先，我们从这段经文中看到，那妇人在孩子出生后，离开了她的葡萄园（家乡——巴勒斯坦），进入了外邦世界；也就是说，在她信奉基督教的时期，龙借着犹太人逼迫她（使徒行传 8:1；13:46, 50, 51）。接下来，我们看到，她在那里住了一段时间后，情况变得无法再自己喂养，因此需要有人“喂养她一载、二载、半载”。
基督复活三年半后，教会离开巴勒斯坦（葡萄园），在外邦世界（旷野）期间，“蛇在妇人身后，从口中吐出水来，像河一样，[强迫异教徒受洗归入基督教，并加入教会]，要把妇人冲走[异教化]。”（启示录12:15）在洪水泛滥期间，教会必须得到主的滋养（维持），因为许多跟随者都成了异教徒，而几乎所有没有被异教化的信徒都被“洪水”冲走。所以，如果不是主用神迹滋养教会（使教会得以存在），教会就会在宗教的黑暗时代灭亡。诚然，自宗教改革以来，教会已经能够自我滋养，但未归信的人（洪水）仍然在教会之中。
“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.” KJV — Ruth 1:1-5
“And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Rev. 12:13, 14.
To begin with, we see from this scripture that the woman left her vineyard (homeland – Palestine) and went into the Gentile world after her child was born; that is, in her Christian period, when the dragon persecuted her through the instrumentality of the Jews (Acts 8:1; 13:46, 50, 51). Next we see that after she was there for some time, conditions became such as to hinder her longer nourishing herself, and that it therefore became necessary that she be nourished by someone “for a time, and times, and half a time.”
Three and one half years after Christ’s resurrection, the church left Palestine (vineyard), and while she was in the Gentile world (wilderness), “the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman [forced the heathen to be baptized into Christianity, and to join the church], that he might cause her to be carried away [heathenized] of the flood.” Rev. 12:15. While thus flooded, she had to be nourished (sustained) by the Lord, because many of her followers were heathenized, and nearly all of those who were not, were carried to death by the “flood.” So had He not nourished her (kept her in existence) by a miracle, the Church would have perished during those dark ages of religion. True, she has been able to nourish herself since the Reformation, but the unconverted (flood) are still in her midst.
6月9日星期一
路得和波阿斯
阅读路得记2:5-20。为什么这是故事中如此关键的时刻？你认为拿俄米发现恩人的身份为什么是一个如此好的消息？
Read Ruth 2:5–20. Why is this such a pivotal moment in the story? Why do you think Naomi’s discovery of the benefactor’s identity was such good news?
波阿斯代表了基督徒绅士的品格。像亚伯拉罕一样，他吩咐家人要遵行耶和华的道，秉公行义。他对所有仆人都彬彬有礼，当他在田间劳作时，对收割的人说：“愿耶和华与你们同在。”他们回答说：“愿耶和华赐福给你。” 这对主人和仆人、雇主和受雇者来说都是一个教训。仆人内心坚定，行义，对那些对他们表现出尊重、仁慈和礼貌的主人忠心耿耿。基督徒应该是世界上最有礼貌的人。（《圣经·摩西律法》1894年12月1日，A条，第1段）
但禧年最显著的特征是，所有地产都将归还原拥有者的家族。任何人都不得随意买卖其财产。除非贫困迫不得已，否则不得出售其土地。每当他或其亲属希望赎回土地时，买主不得拒绝出售。如果未赎回，土地将在禧年归还给原拥有者或其继承人。EP 383.5
耶和华晓谕以色列人说：“地不可永卖，因为地是我的，你们在我面前是客旅，是寄居的。”（利未记25:23）上帝才是这地的合法主人，是最初的拥有者。所有人都必须牢记，贫穷不幸的人与富人一样，在上帝的世界中拥有一席之地。EP 383.6
“这就是我们仁慈的造物主所做的安排，为了减轻痛苦，带来一线希望，为贫困和苦恼的人们的生活带来一丝阳光。” EP 384.1
“Boaz represented the character of the Christian gentleman. Like Abraham, he commanded his household after him to keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. He showed courtesy to all his servants, and as he passed among his workmen in the field, he said unto the reapers, “The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.” Here is a lesson for both masters and servants, for employers and the employed. The servants are strengthened in their hearts to do righteously, to be faithful to masters who manifest respectful kindness and courtesy towards them. Christians should be the most courteous people in the world.” HM December 1, 1894, Art. A, par. 1
“But that which especially distinguished the year of jubilee was the reversion of all landed property to the family of the original possessor. No one was at liberty to trade his estate. Neither was he to sell his land unless poverty compelled him to do so. Whenever he or any of his kindred might desire to redeem it, the purchaser must not refuse to sell it. If unredeemed, it would revert to its possessor or his heirs in the year of jubilee. EP 383.5
“The Lord declared to Israel: “The land shall not be sold forever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me.” Leviticus 25:23. God was the rightful owner, the original proprietor. It was to be impressed upon the minds of all that the poor and unfortunate have as much right to a place in God's world as the wealthy. EP 383.6
“Such were the provisions made by our merciful Creator, to lessen suffering, to bring some ray of hope, to flash some gleam of sunshine into the life of the destitute and distressed.” EP 384.1
6月10日星期二
波阿斯作为救赎主
以下经文揭示了撒但对人类的哪些控告？（约伯记 1:6-11；马太福音 4:8, 9；犹大书 1:9；路加福音 22:31）
What do the following passages reveal about Satan’s claim on humanity? (Job 1:6–11; Matt. 4:8, 9; Jude 1:9; Luke 22:31).
“你们要把羊羔从西拉送到旷野，锡安山，那地的统治者那里。摩押的女子必像离窝的飞鸟，在亚嫩河的渡口。求你筹算，施行审判，使你的影子在正午如黑夜，隐藏被赶散的人，不要显露那飘流的人。摩押啊，愿我被赶散的人与你同住，作他们的隐密处，躲避抢夺者。因为勒索的已经终止，抢夺的止息了，欺压人的从国中灭绝了。宝座必因慈爱坚立；他必诚诚实实地坐在上面，在大卫的帐幕里施行审判，寻求公平，速速行义。”（以赛亚书16:1-5）
“你们要把羊羔送给那地的统治者，从西拉到旷野，到锡安城的山。”（以赛亚书 16:1）
定冠词“这”赋予名词“羔羊”绝对的含义，表明这只羔羊是同类中唯一的一只，是吩咐将“这只羔羊”从摩押送到“锡安女子的山”——耶路撒冷的锡安山——的对象。
“摩押的女子必像游鸟被赶出窝巢，在亚们的渡口。” 意思是说，羔羊必须从摩押取走，因为摩押人要被“赶出”，“像游鸟被赶出”，“在亚嫩的渡口”。赛16:2。
圣经记载，在摩押人“被赶出巢穴”之前，从摩押带走的那只羔羊，正是施洗约翰所说的“看哪，神的羔羊”——基督。预言表明，这只羔羊被从摩押赶到锡安山（大卫在耶路撒冷的宫殿）——这件事发生在拿俄米带着她的儿子们前往摩押（“旷野”——一个不受耶和华直接照管的国家，因此不是一个葡萄园）并将摩押女子路得从摩押带到耶路撒冷的时候：“波阿斯娶了路得为妻……她生了一个儿子……给他起名叫俄备得；俄备得是耶西的父亲，耶西是大卫的父亲……耶西生大卫。”（路得记 4:13-22）
这样，大卫之子基督就被从摩押“差遣”到锡安山——大卫的宫殿；从而表明了基督作为上帝之子的神性，以及他作为大卫之子和罗得之子——摩押之子的人性。
哦，我们的上帝是多么奇妙特别啊！俄备得、耶西、大卫这几个名字，在希伯来语中，意思是基督——仆人（俄备得），我的同在（耶西），我的爱人（大卫）。
基督既是以色列人，又是摩押人，上帝说：“摩押（基督）啊，愿我被赶散的人与你同住；愿你作他们的隐密处，躲避掠夺者。”“人必像避风所和避暴雨的隐密处，又像河流在干旱之地，又像大磐石的影子在疲乏之地。”（赛16:4；
基督奉差遣“策谋，施行审判；使他的荫影如黑夜在正午，隐藏被赶散的人，不显露迷路的人”（赛16:3）。他作我们“在疲乏之地”的“避风之处，躲避暴雨的隐密处”，如同巨大而完美的荫影，如同正午的午夜。诗篇作者也同样感叹：“上帝啊，你的慈爱何其宝贵！所以世人投靠在你翅膀的荫下。因你曾帮助我，所以我要在你翅膀的荫下欢呼。”（诗36:7；63:7）
福音先知也呼喊说：“因此，强大的民族必荣耀你，强暴之国的城必敬畏你。因为当强暴人猛烈攻击墙壁，如同暴风吹向墙壁的时候，你作了贫穷人的保障，作了困苦人的保障，作了躲避暴风的避难所，作了避暑的阴凉处。”（以赛亚书 25:3, 4）
“宝座必因慈爱坚立。他必诚诚实实坐在大卫帐幕的宝座上，施行审判，寻求公平，速速行公义。”（以赛亚书 16:5）
因为根据这段经文，基督宝座的设立尚待将来，而且要设立在大卫的帐幕里（这在祂第一次降临时并未发生），
因此，基督在即将到来的国度中统治时，将坐在大卫的宝座上。届时，他将施行审判、寻求公义、并催促公义，而这一切行动恰好发生在宽容期结束之前——宽容期正是他能够催促公义的时期。因此，令人欣慰的是，关于基督家谱以及他“亲自掌权”的预言，是为了“警戒和学习”那些生活在末世的人，那时“这一切事都要成就”。因此，至关重要的是，我们必须牢记其中至关重要的教训，并忠信地迅速采取行动。
“Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” Isa. 16:1-5.
“Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.” Isa. 16:1.
The definite article, “the,” lends absolute meaning to the noun, “lamb,” showing that a lamb, the only one of its kind, was the object of the command to send “the lamb” from Moab “to the mount of the daughter of Zion” – Mount Sion in Jerusalem.
“For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Amon.” That is, the lamb had to be taken from Moab because the Moabites were to be “cast out” “as a wandering bird,” “at the fords of Arnon.” Isa. 16:2.
Sacred history records that the one lamb taken from Moab before the Moabites were “cast out of [their] nest,” was the One of Whom John the Baptist said: “Behold the Lamb of God” – Christ. The prophecy shows that the lamb was rushed from Moab to Mount Sion (David’s palace at Jerusalem) – an event which took place when Naomi, with her sons, went to Moab (the “wilderness” – a nation not under the direct care of the Lord and, therefore, not a vineyard) and brought Ruth, the Moabitess, from Moab to Jerusalem: for “Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife…,and she bare a son,…and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David…. And Jesse begat David.” Ruth 4:13-22.
Thus Christ, the Son of David, was “sent” from Moab to Mount Sion – David’s palace; thus showing Christ’s divinity as the Son of God, and His humanity as the Son not only of David but also of Lot – Moab.
O how wonderfully particular is our God: the names, Obed, Jesse, and David in the Hebrew tongue mean Christ – a servant (Obed), who is to be My presence (Jesse), the beloved (David).
Christ being in the flesh a Moabite as well as an Israelite, God says: “Let Mine outcasts dwell with Thee, Moab [Christ]; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler.” “And a man [again pointing to Christ] shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isa. 16:4; 32:2.
Sent to “take counsel, execute judgment; make” His “shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth” (Isa. 16:3), Christ, our “hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest” “in a weary land,” is a great and perfect shadow, even as midnight at noonday. So also exclaims the Psalmist: “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Ps. 36:7; 63:7.
And “therefore,” exclaims the Gospel prophet also, “shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isa. 25:3, 4.
“And in mercy shall the throne be established: and He shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” Isa. 16:5.
Since according to this scripture the establishment of Christ’s throne is yet future, and since furthermore it is to be set up in the tabernacle of David (the which did not take place at His first coming),
Christ, therefore, when He comes to reign in His forthcoming kingdom, will sit on the throne of David. And as He is then to judge, seek judgment, and hasten righteousness, the entire action occurs just before the close of probation – the time in which He can hasten righteousness. So, happily, this prophecy of Christ’s genealogy and of His taking “the reins in His Own hands,” was given for the “admonition and learning” of those who shall be living at the end of time, when “all these things shall come to pass.” Supremely important, therefore, is the need to remember its all-important lessons, and with the faithful act promptly.
6月11日星期三
哈曼与撒旦
阅读以斯帖记3:1-14、启示录12:14-17和启示录13:15。你发现这些经文之间有哪些相似之处？约翰对上帝余民教会的描述与哈曼对上帝子民的描述有何相似之处？
Read Esther 3:1–14, Revelation 12:14–17, and Revelation 13:15. What parallels do you find between these passages? How is John’s description of God’s remnant church like Haman’s description of God’s people?
这段经文中需要注意的要点是，龙和它的使者被逐出天庭（撒旦的第二次失败），并迫害教会，教会逃入旷野之后，龙也跟随教会到了那里，但它并没有迫害教会，而是“像洪水一样，在教会后面冲走”，希望将教会冲走。换句话说，当龙发现无法通过迫害信徒来阻止基督教会的发展时，它改变了策略，强迫异教徒加入教会，希望以此使教会被异教化——“被冲走”。
然而，龙又一次错失了目标，因为大地将张开大口，吞噬洪水；也就是说，《圣经·启示录》明确预言，那些加入教会并非为了追随和实践真理的人，将被奇迹除掉，仿佛被大地吞噬。当这一切发生时，撒旦将遭遇第三次失败。总结起来，他的三次失败如下：第一，未能吞噬孩子；第二，在天庭的战争中失败；第三，未能通过用未信主的人淹没教会，使教会异教化。
当他遭遇第三次失败，当他所种的稗子被烧毁时（因为它们像洪水一样被大地吞没，但像稗子一样被天使烧毁），那时教会将会出现，“‘美丽如月亮，皎洁如太阳，威武如展开旌旗的军队’，她将走向全世界，征服一切。”——《先知与君王》，第725页。
遭遇如此惨败，又目睹教会从它的洪流中被释放出来，龙的怒气必将更加强烈。它必向妇人发怒，并“与她其余的儿女争战，就是那守上帝诫命，为耶稣作见证的”（17节），又有“预言之灵”（启19:10）的。
显然，余民是那些在地张口吞噬洪水之后剩下的人。他们作为一个整体遵守上帝的诫命，并拥有活泼的预言之灵，那位口述圣经的圣灵，那位引领上帝子民进入历代真理、至今依然存在的圣灵。因此，龙的愤怒，以及因龙的第三次失败而导致的教会的纯洁，将带来前所未有的大艰难时期：
“那时，保佑你本国之民的天使长米迦勒必站起来，并且有大艰难，从有国以来直到此时，没有这样的。那时，你本国的民中，凡名录在册上的，必得拯救。”（但以理书 12:1）
世上没有什么比把我们的名字写在册子上更有价值。如果我们选择追随真理的灵，遵守上帝的诫命，我们的名字就写在册子上。在此我们看到，那些认为律法，即十诫，已被“废除”，他们的生活无需符合律法的人；以及那些认为预言之灵已成为过去，上帝已任由世界自行发展，不再费心派遣先知的人；所有这些人都将发现自己与大巴比伦，即龙的座位，结盟，他们的名字不但不会被写在册子上，反而会带有兽的印记，并参与迫害那些遵守上帝诫命、为耶稣基督作见证的余民。
The main point to be noticed in these verses is that after the Dragon and his angels were cast out of Heaven (Satan’s second defeat), and after he had persecuted the Church, and she had taken her flight into the wilderness, the Dragon followed her there, but rather than persecuting her, he cast “water as a flood after her,” hoping to cause her to be carried away by it. In other words, after he saw that he could not stop the growth of the Christian Church by persecuting her followers, he changed his tactics and instead compelled the Pagans to join her, expecting thereby to cause her to be paganized – “carried away.”
The Dragon, though, is again to miss the mark, for the earth is to open her mouth and swallow up the flood; that is, Inspiration definitely forecasts that those who join the Church for some purpose other than to follow and practice the Truth, shall be disposed of by a miracle, be swallowed by the earth, as it were. And when this comes to pass Satan shall have met his third defeat. Summarized, here are his three defeats: No. 1 – Failing to devour the child; No. 2 – Losing the war in Heaven; No. 3 – Failing to paganize the Church by flooding her with the unconverted.
When he meets his third defeat, when the tares which he sowed are burned (for as a flood they are swallowed by the earth, but as tares they are burned by the angels), then it is that the Church will appear “‘Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners,’ she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.” – Prophets and Kings, pg. 725.
Having met such a mighty defeat, and having seen that the Church is freed from his flood, the Dragon’s wrath is to be intensified. He will be wroth with the woman and “make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (verse 17), “the Spirit of Prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).
Obviously, the remnant are those who are left after the earth opens her mouth and swallows up the flood. They as a body keep the commandments of God, and have the living Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit Who dictated the Scriptures, Who has led God’s people into all Truth down through the ages, and Who still is. Thus it is that the Dragon’s wrath, and the Church’s purity, caused by the Dragon’s third defeat, are to bring the time of trouble such as never was:
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan. 12:1.
Nothing in the world is worth as much as having our names written in the book. And therein we may have our names if we choose to follow the Spirit of Truth and to keep the commandments of God. Here we have seen that those who think that the law, the ten commandments, is “abolished,” that their lives need not comport with the law; and those who think that the Spirit of Prophecy is a thing of the past, that God has left the world to get along as best it can, that He no longer bothers Himself to send a prophet; that all such shall find themselves in league with Babylon the Great, the seat of the Dragon, and rather than having their names written in the Book, they will have the mark of the beast, and have a part in persecuting the remnant which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
6月12日星期四
为了这样的时刻
阅读以斯帖记4:13, 14；5:1-3；以及9:20-28。关于地球历史末期我们所处的困境，我们可以从这些经文中汲取哪些教训？
Read Esther 4:13, 14; Esther 5:1–3; and Esther 9:20–28. What lessons can we draw from these passages regarding our plight in the closing moments of earth’s history?
以斯帖时代上帝子民所经历的艰难经历并非仅限于那个时代。启示录的作者展望历代直至末世，宣告说：“龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守上帝诫命、为耶稣作见证的。”（启示录12:17）今日生活在世上的一些人将会看到这些话的应验。过去时代那导致人们逼迫真教会的精神，将来也必导致对那些保持对上帝的忠诚的人采取同样的手段。现在，人们正在为这最后的大斗争做准备。PK 605.1
最终针对上帝余民的法令，将与亚哈随鲁王针对犹太人颁布的法令非常相似。今日真教会的敌人，将那一小群遵守安息日诫命的人，视为城门口的末底改。上帝子民对祂律法的敬畏，是对那些抛弃敬畏耶和华、践踏祂安息日之人的持续谴责。PK 605.2
撒但会煽动那些拒绝接受大众习俗和传统的少数人的愤怒。权贵名流会与不法之徒和恶棍联手，商议反对上帝的子民。财富、天才和学识会联合起来，用蔑视来掩盖他们。迫害他们的统治者、牧师和教会成员会密谋反对他们。他们会用言语和文字，用夸张、威胁和嘲讽来推翻他们的信仰。他们会用虚假的陈述和愤怒的呼吁来煽动民众的情绪。由于没有“圣经如此说”来反驳圣经安息日的拥护者，他们会诉诸压迫性的法令来弥补不足。为了博取民心和支持，立法者会屈从于星期日法的要求。但敬畏上帝的人不会接受一个违反十诫的制度。真理与谬误之争的最后大决战将在这个战场上展开。而我们对最终结果毫无疑问。今日，正如以斯帖和末底改的日子一样，主必证明祂的真理和祂的子民。” PK 605.3
“The trying experiences that came to God's people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has declared, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict. PK 605.1
“The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment, a Mordecai at the gate. The reverence of God's people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath. PK 605.2
“Satan will arouse indignation against the minority who refuse to accept popular customs and traditions. Men of position and reputation will join with the lawless and the vile to take counsel against the people of God. Wealth, genius, education, will combine to cover them with contempt. Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church members will conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts, threats, and ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their faith. By false representations and angry appeals, men will stir up the passions of the people. Not having a “Thus saith the Scriptures” to bring against the advocates of the Bible Sabbath, they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply the lack. To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to the demand for Sunday laws. But those who fear God, cannot accept an institution that violates a precept of the Decalogue. On this battlefield will be fought the last great conflict in the controversy between truth and error. And we are not left in doubt as to the issue. Today, as in the days of Esther and Mordecai, the Lord will vindicate His truth and His people.” PK 605.3
6月13日星期五
进一步的思考
在古时，主曾奇妙地借着献身的妇女，与祂拣选作祂代表的男子联合，成就祂的圣工。祂使用妇女取得重大而决定性的胜利。在危急时刻，祂不止一次地将她们带到前线，借着她们拯救了许多人的生命。主借着王后以斯帖，为祂的子民成就了伟大的拯救。在看似无力拯救他们的时候，以斯帖和与她同在的妇女们，借着禁食、祷告和迅速的行动，克服了困难，为她们的同胞带来了救恩。 YRP 270.2
研究旧约时代妇女在上帝圣工中的作用，将使我们获得教训，使我们能够应对今日圣工中的紧急情况。我们或许不像以斯帖时代的上帝子民那样，被带到如此关键和显赫的地位；但归正的妇女往往能在更卑微的岗位上发挥重要作用。许多人一直在这样做，并且仍然愿意这样做。妇女的责任是与丈夫一同管教和训练她的儿女，使他们归正，并将他们的才能献给上帝。许多人有能力与丈夫一起在疗养院工作，为病人提供治疗，并向他人提供劝告和鼓励。有些人应该寻求教育，使自己适合担任医生的职责。——《特别证言》B辑 15:1, 2。” YRP 270.3
“In ancient times the Lord worked in a wonderful way through consecrated women who united in His work with men whom He had chosen to stand as His representatives. He used women to gain great and decisive victories. More than once, in times of emergency, He brought them to the front and worked through them for the salvation of many lives. Through Esther the queen, the Lord accomplished a mighty deliverance for His people. At a time when it seemed that no power could save them, Esther and the women associated with her, by fasting and prayer and prompt action, met the issue, and brought salvation to their people. YRP 270.2
“A study of women's work in connection with the cause of God in Old Testament times will teach us lessons that will enable us to meet emergencies in the work today. We may not be brought into such a critical and prominent place as were the people of God in the time of Esther; but often converted women can act an important part in more humble positions. This many have been doing, and are still ready to do. It is a woman's duty to unite with her husband in the disciplining and training of her sons and daughters, that they may be converted, and their powers consecrated to the service of God. There are many who have ability to stand with their husbands in sanitarium work, to give treatments to the sick and to speak words of counsel and encouragement to others. There are those who should seek an education that will fit them to act the part of physicians.—Special Testimonies, Series B 15:1, 2.” YRP 270.3