安息日下午 7月12日
记忆经文：
“后来，摩西和亚伦去见法老，说：‘耶和华以色列的神这样说：让我的百姓去，在旷野向我守节。’法老说：‘耶和华是谁，使我听他的话、让以色列去呢？我不认识耶和华，也不让以色列去。’”——出埃及记 5:1-2（和合本）
“And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” KJV — Exodus 5:1, 2
“希伯来人原以为他们可以不经历信心的试炼或任何真正的痛苦与困苦就获得自由。但他们尚未准备好被拯救。他们对上帝缺乏信心，也不愿耐心忍受苦难，直到上帝认为适合为他们行事。许多人宁愿继续受奴役，也不愿面对迁往陌生之地所带来的困难；有些人的生活习惯已经与埃及人太过相似，以致他们更愿意留在埃及。因此，上帝并没有在向法老首次显明祂的能力时就拯救他们。祂更深地干预事件的发展，为要显出埃及王的暴虐性情，同时向祂的百姓启示祂自己。让他们看见祂的公义、能力与慈爱，从而选择离开埃及，献身于祂的事工。若非许多以色列人已经腐化，以致不愿离开埃及，摩西的任务本会轻省许多。”——《先祖与先知》第260页第2段
“The Hebrews had expected to obtain their freedom without any special trial of their faith or any real suffering or hardship. But they were not yet prepared for deliverance. They had little faith in God, and were unwilling patiently to endure their afflictions until He should see fit to work for them. Many were content to remain in bondage rather than meet the difficulties attending removal to a strange land; and the habits of some had become so much like those of the Egyptians that they preferred to dwell in Egypt. Therefore the Lord did not deliver them by the first manifestation of His power before Pharaoh. He overruled events more fully to develop the tyrannical spirit of the Egyptian king and also to reveal Himself to His people. Beholding His justice, His power, and His love, they would choose to leave Egypt and give themselves to His service. The task of Moses would have been much less difficult had not many of the Israelites become so corrupted that they were unwilling to leave Egypt.” PP 260.2
星期日，7月13日
“耶和华是谁？”
当上帝要求法老“让我的百姓去”（见出埃及记5:1-2）时，法老的回应是什么？这个回应有什么意义？
What was Pharaoh’s response to God’s demand, “Let my people go” (see Exod. 5:1, 2), and what significance can be found in this response?
“摩西也被赋予一个使命，要将信息传给法老王。他与哥哥亚伦一起作为万王之王的使者进入法老的宫殿，并奉祂的名说话：‘耶和华以色列的神这样说：让我的百姓去，在旷野向我守节。’”——《先祖与先知》第257页第2段
“‘耶和华是谁，使我听祂的话、让以色列去呢？’法老王质问道，‘我不认识耶和华，也不让以色列去。’”——《先祖与先知》第257页第3段
“他们回答说：‘希伯来人的神遇见了我们。现在求你让我们走三天的路程，到旷野去向耶和华我们的神献祭，免得祂用瘟疫或刀剑攻击我们。’”——《先祖与先知》第257页第4段
“在上帝的掌管下，大自然会对违背上帝律法的人施行惩罚。自然界将其毁灭的元素藏于怀中，直到它们爆发出来毁灭人类并洁净大地。当法老通过摩西和亚伦藐视上帝，说‘耶和华是谁，我应听从祂？……我不认识耶和华，也不让以色列去，’大自然就以其受伤造物主的立场表达同情，并与上帝同工，为侮辱耶和华的行为报仇。因法老的顽固抵抗，整个埃及都变成了荒凉之地。”——《信函》209号，1899年，《文稿释放集》3卷344页第3段
“后来，摩西和亚伦进去对法老说：‘耶和华以色列的神这样说：让我的百姓去，在旷野向我守节。’法老说：‘耶和华是谁，使我听祂的话让以色列去呢？我不认识耶和华，也不让以色列去。’他们又说：‘希伯来人的神遇见了我们。现在求你让我们走三天的路程，到旷野去向耶和华我们的神献祭，免得祂用瘟疫或刀剑攻击我们。’摩西和亚伦的请求是非常谦逊的，他们只请求三天的路程。但法老傲慢地拒绝，并声称对以色列的神完全无知。但上帝的旨意是要让法老知道，祂的命令必须被遵行；祂是至高的，并且会迫使骄傲的统治者屈服于祂的权柄。”
“Moses had been charged also with a message for the king. The two brothers entered the palace of the Pharaohs as ambassadors from the King of kings, and they spoke in His name: “Thus saith Jehovah, God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.” PP 257.2
“‘Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?’ demanded the monarch; “I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go. PP 257.3
“Their answer was, ‘The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.’ PP 257.4
“Under the hand of God, nature ministers against the transgressors of God's laws. She holds her destructive elements in her bosom till the time when they shall break forth to destroy man and purify the earth. When Pharaoh defied God through Moses and Aaron saying, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice...? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go,” nature expressed her sympathy with her injured Maker, and cooperated with God to avenge the insult to Jehovah. All Egypt was laid desolate because of the stubborn resistance of Pharaoh.—Letter 209, 1899.” 3MR 344.3
“‘And afterward, Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us; let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.’ The request of Moses and Aaron was very modest. They asked to go only three days’ journey. But Pharaoh haughtily refused this, and professed to be entirely ignorant of the God of Israel. But the Lord purposed to let Pharaoh know that his voice is to be obeyed; that he is above all, and will compel proud rulers to bow to his authority.”
星期一，7月14日
艰难的开始
请读出埃及记5:3–23。摩西和亚伦第一次正式与法老见面后，立即产生了什么结果？
Read Exodus 5:3–23. What were the immediate results of Moses and Aaron’s first recorded encounter with Pharaoh?
有关摩西和亚伦的消息以及他们在百姓中引发的关注已经传到了王的耳中。他怒气冲天，说：‘摩西、亚伦，你们为什么叫百姓停工？回去干你们的活吧！’这两位陌生人的干预已经让国家遭受损失，一想到这个，他就说：‘看哪，这地的百姓如今众多，你们竟叫他们歇下担子！’”——《先祖与先知》第257页第5段
王被彻底激怒，开始怀疑以色列人有意图反叛，不再为他效劳。他认为，懈怠会导致不满，所以他要确保不给他们任何图谋叛变的时间。于是，他立即采取措施，加重他们的负担，压制他们独立的精神。就在那一天，他下达命令，使他们的劳作变得更加残酷和压迫。在埃及，最常用的建筑材料是晒干的砖块；最精美的建筑墙体虽以石材装饰，但骨架仍是砖头。制砖雇佣了大量奴隶。将稻草混入泥土中可使砖块更牢固，因此工作需要大量稻草。王现在命令不再提供稻草，工人们必须自己去找，同时砖的产量却不能减少。”——《先祖与先知》第258页第2段
“Tidings of them and of the interest they were exciting among the people had already reached the king. His anger was kindled. ‘Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let [hinder] the people from their works?’ he said. ‘Get you unto your burdens.’ Already the kingdom had suffered loss by the interference of these strangers. At thought of this he added, ‘Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.’” PP 257.5
“The king, thoroughly roused, suspected the Israelites of a design to revolt from his service. Disaffection was the result of idleness; he would see that no time was left them for dangerous scheming. And he at once adopted measures to tighten their bonds and crush out their independent spirit. The same day orders were issued that rendered their labor still more cruel and oppressive. The most common building material of that country was sun-dried brick; the walls of the finest edifices were made of this, and then faced with stone; and the manufacture of brick employed great numbers of the bondmen. Cut straw being intermixed with the clay, to hold it together, large quantities of straw were required for the work; the king now directed that no more straw be furnished; the laborers must find it for themselves, while the same amount of brick should be exacted.” PP 258.2
请读出埃及记5:21，然后设身处地想象这些人面对摩西和亚伦时的情形。他们为什么会说那样的话？
Read Exodus 5:21 and then put yourself in the place of these men as they confronted Moses and Aaron. Why would they say what they did?
这项命令在整个埃及地带给以色列人带来了极大的痛苦。埃及的工头指派希伯来官员监督人民的劳动，这些官员要为他们所管理之人的工作成果负责。当王的命令开始执行时，百姓便四处寻找碎稻草代替稻草，但他们发现根本无法完成原先规定的砖块数量。由于无法完成任务，这些希伯来官员遭到了残酷的鞭打。——《先祖与先知》第258页第3段
这些官员以为压迫是来自他们的工头，而不是来自法老本身，于是他们前去向法老申诉。但法老嘲讽地回应：‘你们是懒惰的，是懒惰的！所以你们说，让我们去给耶和华献祭。’他命令他们回去继续干活，并声明他们的重担丝毫不会减轻。当他们回来时，遇见了摩西和亚伦，就对他们喊道：‘愿耶和华鉴察你们，审判你们；因为你们使我们在法老和他臣仆眼前臭名远扬，把刀递在他们手中要杀我们。’”——《先祖与先知》第258页第4段
“This order produced great distress among the Israelites throughout the land. The Egyptian taskmasters had appointed Hebrew officers to oversee the work of the people, and these officers were responsible for the labor performed by those under their charge. When the requirement of the king was put in force, the people scattered themselves throughout the land, to gather stubble instead of straw; but they found it impossible to accomplish the usual amount of labor. For this failure the Hebrew officers were cruelly beaten. PP 258.3
“These officers supposed that their oppression came from their taskmasters, and not from the king himself; and they went to him with their grievances. Their remonstrance was met by Pharaoh with a taunt: “Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.” They were ordered back to their work, with the declaration that their burdens were in no case to be lightened. Returning, they met Moses and Aaron, and cried out to them, ‘The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.’” PP 258.4
星期二，7月15日
神圣的“我”
请读出埃及记5:22至6:8。上帝对摩西的回应是什么？这里揭示了哪些重要的神学真理？
Read Exodus 5:22–6:8. What is God’s response to Moses, and what important theological truths are revealed here?
摩西听到这些责备，心中十分痛苦。百姓的苦难更为严重，整个埃及地到处响起老少哀哭的声音，大家一致指责他导致处境恶化。摩西痛苦地来到上帝面前呼求说：“主啊，你为何苦待这百姓？为什么差遣我来？自从我奉你名去见法老，他就更加苦待这百姓，你却一点也没有拯救你的百姓。”上帝回答说：“现在你必看见我向法老所要做的事；因我大能的手，他必容百姓去，且要因我大能的手把他们从他的地赶出去。”上帝再次使摩西回想祂与列祖所立的约，并保证这约必得成就。——《先祖与先知》第259页第1段
以色列的长老努力鼓励信心动摇的弟兄们，重复上帝对列祖所作的应许，以及约瑟临终前所说预言他们将从埃及得释放的话。有些人听了就相信了，但也有些人被眼前的现实所困扰，不愿抱有希望。埃及人得知这些传闻后，便嘲笑他们的期望，讥讽以色列神的能力。他们指着以色列人受奴役的处境说：“若你们的神是公义慈爱的，真比埃及神更有能力，为什么祂不使你们成为自由人？”他们还提到自己所信奉的神——以色列人称之为假神——反而赐福给他们，使他们成为富强的国家，还让他们拥有以色列人为仆。他们以能压迫并毁灭耶和华的敬拜者为荣耀。法老甚至自夸说，以色列的神也不能救他们脱离他的手。——《先祖与先知》第259页第3段
这样的话摧毁了许多以色列人的希望。在他们看来，情况确实如埃及人所说——他们是奴隶，必须忍受暴虐工头的任何折磨；他们的孩子被追杀，他们自己也活得痛苦不堪。然而，他们敬拜的是天上的神。如果耶和华真是万神之上，怎会任凭祂的子民受困于拜偶像的人？但那些忠于上帝的人明白，是以色列人偏离上帝、娶异教女子、陷入拜偶像之中，才使上帝容许他们受奴役。他们坚定地向弟兄们保证，上帝很快就会打破压迫者的轭。——《先祖与先知》第260页第1段
“As Moses listened to these reproaches he was greatly distressed. The sufferings of the people had been much increased. All over the land a cry of despair went up from old and young, and all united in charging upon him the disastrous change in their condition. In bitterness of soul he went before God, with the cry, “Lord, wherefore hast Thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that Thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all.” The answer was, “Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.” Again he was pointed back to the covenant which God had made with the fathers, and was assured that it would be fulfilled.” PP 259.1
“The elders of Israel endeavored to sustain the sinking faith of their brethren by repeating the promises made to their fathers, and the prophetic words of Joseph before his death, foretelling their deliverance from Egypt. Some would listen and believe. Others, looking at the circumstances that surrounded them, refused to hope. The Egyptians, being informed of what was reported among their bondmen, derided their expectations and scornfully denied the power of their God. They pointed to their situation as a nation of slaves, and tauntingly said, “If your God is just and merciful, and possesses power above that of the Egyptian gods, why does He not make you a free people?” They called attention to their own condition. They worshiped deities termed by the Israelites false gods, yet they were a rich and powerful nation. They declared that their gods had blessed them with prosperity, and had given them the Israelites as servants, and they gloried in their power to oppress and destroy the worshipers of Jehovah. Pharaoh himself boasted that the God of the Hebrews could not deliver them from his hand. PP 259.3
“Words like these destroyed the hopes of many of the Israelites. The case appeared to them very much as the Egyptians had represented. It was true that they were slaves, and must endure whatever their cruel taskmasters might choose to inflict. Their children had been hunted and slain, and their own lives were a burden. Yet they were worshiping the God of heaven. If Jehovah were indeed above all gods, surely He would not thus leave them in bondage to idolaters. But those who were true to God understood that it was because of Israel's departure from Him—because of their disposition to marry with heathen nations, thus being led into idolatry—that the Lord had permitted them to become bondmen; and they confidently assured their brethren that He would soon break the yoke of the oppressor.” PP 260.1
星期三，7月16日
未受割礼的嘴唇
请读出埃及记6:9–13。接下来发生了什么？从这段经历中我们可以学到哪些关于失望与挣扎时的功课？
Read Exodus 6:9–13. What happened next, and what lessons can we take from this story about times of disappointment and struggle in our lives?
上帝吩咐摩西再次去见百姓，重申拯救的应许，并给予新的神圣保证。摩西照着命令去做了，但百姓因“心中愁苦和苦工重压”而不肯听他的话。随后神再次对摩西说：“你要进去，对埃及王法老说，叫他释放以色列人出离他的地。”摩西灰心地回应说：“看哪，以色列人尚且不听我，法老怎肯听我这未受割礼的嘴呢？”上帝于是吩咐他带着亚伦再去见法老，再次要求他释放以色列人出埃及。——《先祖与先知》第260页第3段
上帝告诉他，法老不会轻易屈服，直到上帝施行对埃及的审判，并以明显的大能将以色列人领出。每次降灾前，摩西都要说明灾难的性质与后果，好让法老有机会选择悔改。若他拒绝，每一次惩罚都会更严重，直到他骄傲的心被降服，承认创造天地的耶和华是真神。上帝也要借此向埃及人显明他们的智者无能，他们的神明毫无力量，不能抗拒耶和华的命令。祂要惩罚他们的偶像崇拜，使他们不再夸耀这些无用之神所带来的“祝福”。上帝要荣耀祂的圣名，使列国听闻祂的能力而战栗，使祂的子民转离偶像，向祂献上纯正的敬拜。——《先祖与先知》第263页第1段
今天，当事情不合我们心意时，大多数基督徒就归咎于魔鬼；只有顺利时才归荣耀给上帝！巴兰也是如此，当他看到道路畅通可以去见巴勒时，他高兴极了；但当耶和华的使者拦住他时，他就大发雷霆，打了驴。——《二号传道纸35期》第30段第2小节
不，你自己以外的任何人都无法阻挡上帝对你的计划。不管是朋友还是敌人，是走兽还是君王，只要你遵行上帝的旨意，他们都会在无意中为你带来益处，而非伤害。天国是何等丰富的资源！可惜，知道它的人太少了！——《二号传道纸35期》第30段第3小节
请记住，不论你面前拦阻的是红海、约旦河，是高山还是沙漠，它最终都会成为你前进的踏脚石。——《二号传道纸35期》第30段第4小节
“The Lord directed Moses to go again to the people and repeat the promise of deliverance, with a fresh assurance of divine favor. He went as he was commanded; but they would not listen. Says the Scripture, “They hearkened not ... for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.” Again the divine message came to Moses, “Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.” In discouragement he replied, “Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me?” He was told to take Aaron with him and go before Pharaoh, and again demand “that he send the children of Israel out of his land. PP 260.3
“He was informed that the monarch would not yield until God should visit judgments upon Egypt and bring out Israel by the signal manifestation of His power. Before the infliction of each plague, Moses was to describe its nature and effects, that the king might save himself from it if he chose. Every punishment rejected would be followed by one more severe, until his proud heart would be humbled, and he would acknowledge the Maker of heaven and earth as the true and living God. The Lord would give the Egyptians an opportunity to see how vain was the wisdom of their mighty men, how feeble the power of their gods, when opposed to the commands of Jehovah. He would punish the people of Egypt for their idolatry and silence their boasting of the blessings received from their senseless deities. God would glorify His own name, that other nations might hear of His power and tremble at His mighty acts, and that His people might be led to turn from their idolatry and render Him pure worship.” PP 263.1
When things go contrary to one’s will and way today, most Christians give credit to the Devil. Only when things go according to their liking do they give credit to God! Balaam, too, was happy when the way opened for him to go to Balak, but when the angel of the Lord blocked the road he was traveling on, then Balaam, became as mad as a dog and smote the ass.
No, nothing but you yourself can defeat God’s plans for you. Be it your friends or your enemies, be it beasts or kings, you will find them all unwittingly or wittingly working for your good rather than for your harm if you are doing God’s bidding. What a rich resource Heaven is! And who knows it!
Remember now, that whatever may stand in your way, be it the Red Sea or the River Jordan, be it a mountain or be it a desert, it shall become your very stepping stone.
星期四，7月17日
像神一样对待法老
请读出埃及记6:28至7:7。上帝如何回应摩西的疑虑？
Read Exodus 6:28–7:7. How does the Lord deal with Moses’ objection?
摩西有些灰心。在失望中，他向上帝发问：“以色列人这些受割礼的子民都不肯听我，法老这未受割礼又拜偶像的王怎么会听我呢？”上帝对他说：“看哪，我使你在法老面前像神一样；你哥哥亚伦要做你的先知。你要将我所吩咐的一切告诉亚伦，由他转告法老，释放以色列人离开埃及。我却要使法老的心刚硬，在埃及地多行神迹奇事。法老必不听你们，我要伸手重击埃及，把我的军队、我的百姓以色列人带出来。我要向埃及伸手，使他们知道我是耶和华。”摩西和亚伦就照着耶和华所吩咐的去行。——《属灵赠言》第3卷203页第2段
上帝告诉摩西，那些要在法老面前显现的神迹奇事，因法老不肯接受，会使他的心更加刚硬。每一个被拒绝的惩罚都会引来下一个更严厉的灾难，直到这位骄傲的王谦卑自己，承认天地的创造主是真神、全能的神。——《属灵赠言》第3卷204页第1段
摩西和亚伦再次走入埃及王华丽的宫殿。那里有高大的柱子、闪耀的装饰、艳丽的壁画和雕刻的异教神像。在这位当时最强大帝国的君王面前，站着这两位来自奴隶民族的代表，奉神的命令，重申释放以色列的命令。——《先祖与先知》第263页第2段
“Moses was somewhat discouraged. In his despondency he inquired of the Lord, If the children of Israel, thine own circumcised people, will not hearken unto me, how then shall Pharaoh, who is uncircumcised, and an idolater, hear me? “And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a God to Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee, and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.” 3SG 203.2
“The Lord told Moses that the signs and wonders which he should show before Pharaoh would harden his heart, because he would not receive them, and God would multiply his signs. Every punishment which the king rejected would bring the next chastisement more close and severe, until the proud heart of the king would be humbled, and he should acknowledge the Maker of the heavens and the earth as the living and all-powerful God.” 3SG 204.1
“Again Moses and Aaron entered the lordly halls of the king of Egypt. There, surrounded by lofty columns and glittering adornments, by the rich paintings and sculptured images of heathen gods, before the monarch of the most powerful kingdom then in existence, stood the two representatives of the enslaved race, to repeat the command from God for Israel's release.” PP 263.2
星期五，7月18日
深思
祂对我说：“人子啊，我差遣你往以色列人那里去，就是那悖逆的国民，他们和他们的列祖直到今日尚且违背我。他们是硬脸皮、刚硬心的儿女。我差你去见他们，你要对他们说：‘主耶和华如此说。’他们或听，或不听（因为他们是悖逆之家），总要知道在他们中间有先知。人子啊，你不要怕他们，也不要怕他们的话，他们虽有荆棘和荨麻环绕你，你又住在蝎子中间，你不要怕他们的话，也不要因他们的脸色惊惶（他们本是悖逆之家）。他们或听、或不听（因为他们是最悖逆的），你都要将我的话告诉他们。”——以西结书2:2–7（和合本）
祂对我说：“人子啊，你要去见以色列家，将我的话告诉他们。你不是被差往那说话深奥、语言艰难的民那里去，而是往以色列家去。他们并不是那种你听不懂话语的外邦人。若是我差你往他们那里去，他们反倒肯听你。以色列家却不肯听你，因为他们连我也不肯听。以色列全家是额坚心硬的人。”——以西结书3:4–7（和合本）
启示录3:14-18对老底嘉教会的责备，与以西结书2:1-7和3:4-7中对“以色列家”的责备相同，因此两者彼此呼应：一个是预言，另一个是启示。——《第一号权柄之杖》第14页第2段
“And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.” KJV — Ezekiel 2:2-7
“And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.” KJV — Ezekiel 3:4-7
The condemnation of Rev. 3:14-18 against the Laodiceans, and the condemnation of Ezek. 2:1-7 and 3:4-7 against “the house of Israel,” being the same, each therefore is the complement of the other: the one being the Revelation of that of which the other is the prophecy.