1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. We are delighted that you have tuned in to this broadcast.
很高兴你能收听我们的节目，
3. This is the third in a series of messages entitled, “What Does Jesus Think?”
这是“耶稣在想什么？”系列信息的第三讲，
4. and, today, we will look at the church of Pergamum.
今天，我们要来看看别迦摩教会。
5. I am told that cancer disease can be working inside the person’s body for many years before it is discovered.
有人告诉我，癌症在被发现之前，可以在人体内生存多年。
6. On the outside, the person may think that he or she is healthy;
从外表上看，这个人可能还认为自己很健康；
7. but, on the inside, the cancer is growing;
但在体内，癌症却在生长；
8. and, then, it is discovered and it can be too late.
当它被发现的时候，可能已经太迟了。
9. The believers in Pergamum were in a similar situation.
别迦摩教会信徒们的情形就与此相似。
10. The believers in Pergamum were neglecting their spiritual life.
别迦摩教会的信徒们忽略了他们的属灵生命。
11. The believers in Pergamum appeared to be biblically healthy on the outside;
从外表上看，别迦摩教会的信徒们，属灵上似乎很健康；
12. but, as a community, they were tolerating wrong lifestyles.
但作为一个群体，他们容忍错误的生活方式。
13. They were tolerating a lifestyle that was a slow, but deadly, spiritual cancer;
他们容忍错误的生活方式，是一种慢性的、却是致命的属灵癌症；
14. so, the great and wise and all-knowing Physician warns them about their lifestyle.
因此，那位伟大，智慧和全知的医生对他们的生活方式提出了警告。
15. Jesus says that, if you continue on the road to compromise, eventually you will face serious consequences.
耶稣说，如果你们继续在妥协的道路上下滑，最终，你们会面临严重的后果。
16. If you continue to turn a blind eye to the growing cancer,
如果你继续对正在生长的癌症视而不见，
17. eventually, you will have to face the doctor’s knife;
最终，你不得不面对的是医生的手术刀；
18. and that is why the resurrected Christ appeals to them to change their lifestyle now while they can;
因此，复活的基督呼吁他们趁现在还来得及，赶紧改变他们的生活方式；
19. and, if they do repent, then, the reward will be greater than they ever could have imagined.
如果他们能够悔改，那奖赏将远远超过他们的想象。
20. This is a warning for each individual believer, and it is a warning for each church.
这也是对每一个信徒和每一个教会的警告。
21. Now listen to the words of the risen Christ to the church in Pergamum.
现在我们一起来听，复活的基督对别迦摩教会所说的话。
22. It is in Revelation, Chapter 2, verses 12 to 17.
启示录第2章12到17节。
[12]“你要写信给别迦摩教会的使者，说：‘那有两刃利剑的，说：
[13]我知道你的居所，就是有撒但座位之处；当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们中间、撒但所住的地方被杀之时，你还坚守我的名，没有弃绝我的道。
[14]然而，有几件事我要责备你：因为在你那里有人服从了巴兰的教训；这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行奸淫的事。
[15]你那里也有人照样服从了尼哥拉一党人的教训。
[16]所以，你当悔改；若不悔改，我就快临到你那里，用我口中的剑攻击他们。
[17]圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他，并赐他一块白石，石上写着新名；除了那领受的以外，没有人能认识。’”
23. This message to the believers in Pergamum has three important elements.
在这段给别迦摩教会信徒的信息中，包含了三个重要的部分。
24. First, we see Christ’s diagnosis of their situation.
我们看到基督对他们的诊断。
25. Secondly, Christ expresses disappointment with His servants;
第二，基督表达了对祂仆人的失望；
26. and, third, Christ makes a decision concerning His saints.
第三，基督对祂的圣徒做了一个决定。
27. First, Christ’s diagnosis of their situation.
首先是基督对他们的诊断。
28. Pergamum was a city built on a hill towering 1,000 feet above the plain.
别迦摩这个城市，建在一个高出平原1000英尺的山上。
29. It contained the second largest library in the world, second only to the library of Alexandria.
它有着世界上第二大的图书馆，其规模仅次于在亚历山大的图书馆。
30. Pergamum had become the center of emperor worship.
别迦摩已成为帝王崇拜的中心。
31. In other cities in Asia Minor, people were forced to offer sacrifice to the Emperor once a year.
在小亚细亚的其他城市，百姓们被迫每年向皇帝献祭一次。
32. In Pergamum, it was once per day;
而在别迦摩却是每天一次；
33. so, you can see the daily pressure that the believers were living under;
因此，你可以看到信徒们每天都生活在压力之下；
34. and that is why the risen Lord Jesus Christ said, “I know where you live.”
这也就是为什么复活地主耶稣基督说：“我知道你的居所”。
35. Jesus is saying, “I know your circumstances.
耶稣的意思是：“我知道你的处境，
36. I know your constant temptation.
我知道你面临不断的试探 ，
37. I know you live where Satan lives.”
我知道你住在撒但所住的地方。”
38. Why did Jesus say that?
为什么耶稣那样说呢？
39. Because Pergamum was not only the center of Emperor worship; but, also, it was the center for the worship of the god, Asclepius.
因为别迦摩不仅仅是帝王崇拜的中心，而且也是崇拜阿斯克勒庇俄斯神的中心。
40. This god was called ‘the god of healing.’
这是一个被称为“医治之神”的神灵。
41. Asclepius was depicted as a snake.
阿斯克勒庇俄斯神的象征是一条蛇。
42. In the temple of Asclepius, non-poisonous snakes roamed freely on the floor.
阿斯克勒庇俄斯神庙中，无毒的蛇在地上自由地滑行。
43. People traveled many miles to the temple in search of healing.
人们常常走好几英里的路，来到庙里寻求医治。
44. They would lie on the floor of that temple, hoping to be touched by one of these snakes.
他们躺在神庙地板上，盼望其中的一条蛇能够触摸到他们的身体。
45. They believed that the god, Asclepius, would heal them through the snake’s touch;
他们相信阿斯克勒庇俄斯神会通过蛇的接触来医治他们；
46. and that is why Jesus called this city “Satan’s throne;”
因此，耶稣称这座城市为“撒但的座位”；
47. yet, in the midst of these difficulties and trying situations, the believers continued to hold on to biblical truth.
然而，在这些困难和试探的境况之中，信徒们还在持守圣经的真理。
48. They continued to hold tight to the Bible and to the name of Christ.
他们继续地牢牢抓住圣经和基督之名。
49. The faithful believers in Pergamum remained true to their biblical convictions under some of the most difficult circumstances;
在最艰难的境况底下，别迦摩忠心的信徒们，仍然持守对信仰的真诚；
50. and the resurrected Jesus Christ praises them for that;
因而复活的耶稣基督为此称赞了他们；
51. but, then, secondly, Jesus expresses disappointment with His servants.
但是，第二，基督表达了对祂仆人的失望。
52. Why was Jesus disappointed?
为什么耶稣会失望呢？
53. They had made the same mistake that so many Christians today are making.
他们犯了今天很多基督徒正在犯的错误。
54. They believe all the right things;
他们的信仰虽然是正确的；
55. but they tolerate and rationalize certain sins in their life;
但他们却容忍，并为生活中的某些罪寻找借口；
56. yet the Bible says that there is only one way to deal with sin,
可是圣经上说，对待罪只有一个办法，
57. and that is to confess it and repent of it-
那就是认罪并悔改……
58. not make an excuse for it,
不要为罪寻找借口，
59. not explain it away;
不要为罪做解释；
60. but examining and judging and confessing sin must begin with each of us.
而我们每一个人必须先从自己开始检讨，判断和承认罪。
61. Only then can we be in a position to call sin, “sin,” in the life of others.
只有这样，我们才有资格指出他人生活中的罪。
62. What was going on in the church in Pergamum?
别迦摩教会的情形又如何呢？
63. There was a sin in their midst.
在他们中间有一种罪。
64. It did not affect their faith in Christ.
虽然没有影响到他们对基督的信心，
65. It did not affect their loyalty to Christ;
也没有影响到他们对基督的忠心；
66. but the risen Christ said, “I have a few things against you.”
但复活的基督还是说：“有几件事我要责备你。”
67. He said, “You are ignoring some in your midst who are sinning.
祂说：“你们忽略了在你们中间那些犯罪的人，
68. You are turning a blind eye to some in your midst who are teaching falsehoods.
你们对那些在你们中间传播虚假教训的人视而不见，
69. You are tolerant of those in your midst who are turning grace into license to sin.”
你们容忍那些人在你们中间，把恩典当作犯罪的资本。”
70. Jesus said this kind of sin of compromise began with Balaam in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 22 to 24.
耶稣说，这种妥协的罪是从民数记22章到24章里记载的巴兰开始的。
71. This sin was perpetuated in the New Testament by Nicholas, in the Book of Acts.
这种罪又在新约中，被使徒行传里的尼哥拉发扬光大了。
72. Many of you probably have heard of Balaam’s ass, who spoke to him;
许多人可能已经听说过，巴兰的那头驴，可以跟他说话；
73. but, probably, some of you don’t remember the details, so let me give them to you.
但你们也许已经记不清细节了，让我来告诉你们。
74. Balaam was a prophet for hire.
巴兰是一个靠讲预言谋生的先知。
75. Balaam was a prophet who would do anything for money;
巴兰是一个为了钱什么都可以做的先知；
76. so, when the King of Moab wanted someone to curse the people of God,
因此，当摩押王想找人来咒诅神的百姓之时，
77. Balaam offered to curse them for the King of Moab for a price;
巴兰就收了摩押王的钱，来替他咒诅神的子民；
78. but, every time Balaam opened his mouth intending to curse God’s people, he blessed them instead;
可是，每一次当巴兰开口想要咒诅神的子民，他说出来的话却是在为他们祝福；
79. and, every time that happens, the King of Moab offered Balaam more money;
而每一次这样的事发生以后，摩押王就给巴兰开出更高的价钱；
80. and Balaam continued in his blindness until even his own donkey spoke to him.
巴兰继续盲目地这样做，直到他的驴子对他说话了。
81. The donkey said, “Can’t you see that an angel is standing in the way?”
驴子说：“难道你看不见有一个神的使者站在路上吗？”
82. Balaam failed to curse them;
巴兰咒诅神的百姓一事彻底失败了；
83. but, instead, he sold the King of Moab a scheme.
但是，他却卖给摩押王一个计谋。
84. Balaam told the King, “Send your immoral women after the Israelite men and the Israelites will fall into sexual immorality very quickly...”
巴兰告诉摩押王：“让你们那些放荡女子去引诱以色列的男人，他们很快就会堕入淫荡之中”
85. and the scheme worked;
这个阴谋得逞了；
86. but God’s righteous anger had to chastise Israel, and 24,000 of them died on the spot.
神公义的愤怒惩罚了以色列人，他们当场死了两万四千人。
87. Balaam was a false prophet in the Old Testament,
巴兰是旧约中的一个假先知，
88. and Nicholas became a false prophet in the New Testament.
尼哥拉是新约中的一个假先知。
89. What the Lord is saying to us today is this:
今天，主耶稣想告诉我们的是：
90. don’t compromise your conviction for money.
不要为了钱财而妥协你的信仰。
91. Don’t sell out your conviction for the sake of profits.
不要为了利益而出卖你的信仰。
92. Don’t use grace as an excuse for sin.
不要把恩典当作一个犯罪的借口。
93. Jesus hated the teachings of the Nicolaitans;
耶稣恨恶尼哥拉一党人的教导；
94. but the believers in Pergamum were tolerating the Nicolaitans;
但别迦摩的信徒却容忍尼哥拉一党人；
95. and that is why we see, thirdly, Christ’s decision concerning the saints.
因此，第三，基督对圣徒作出了决定。
96. The resurrected Jesus Christ said
复活的耶稣基督说，
97. the only way to remedy any sinful behavior is to repent of it;
医治任何罪恶行为的唯一方法就是悔改；
98. and the gracious, merciful Jesus gives them one more opportunity to repent;
满有恩典和怜悯的耶稣，再一次给了他们悔改的机会；
99. then, Jesus goes on to tell them that they have a choice;
然后，耶稣又告诉他们可以选择；
100. but choices have consequences.
不过，不同的选择会有不同的结果。
101. If they chose not to repent,
如果他们选择不悔改，
102. then the sharp double-edged sword, which is the Sword of Judgment, will penetrate deep into their life.
那么两刃利剑，就是那审判之剑，将会深深的刺入他们生命里。
103. Why?
为什么呢？
104. Because Jesus will not allow falsehood to prevail.
因为耶稣不会允许虚假的教训流行。
105. Jesus will not allow the cancer of compromise to grow.
耶稣不会允许妥协的毒瘤生长。
106. The Great Physician has to operate.
这位大医生不得不施行手术。
107. My listening friend, please listen very carefully to what I am going to tell you.
亲爱的朋友，请仔细听我要讲的。
108. The compromising believer, who refuses to judge sin in his life,
妥协的信徒，他不肯断定自己生活中的罪，
109. will sooner or later have to face the consequences of his undisciplined life.
那么，他迟早要面临任意而为的后果。
110. God’s judgment may take years, because God is patient;
神的审判也许要多年才会临到，因为神是有耐心的；
111. but the Great Physician will be forced to use the sharp, double-edged sword with His sinful children;
这位大医生，将被迫对祂犯罪的孩子使用两刃利剑；
112. but, if the believers of Pergamum do repent, there are two major rewards-
可是，如果别迦摩的信徒悔改了，将会有两大奖赏──
113. the hidden manna and the white stone.
隐藏的吗哪和白石。
114. The hidden manna is a reference to the blessed food that poured down from Heaven every day in the wilderness.
隐藏的吗哪指的是，旷野中每天从天上倾洒下来有福的食粮。
115. Now, of course, that manna from Heaven was the foreshadowing of the Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
当然，从天上而来的吗哪是主耶稣基督的预表，也是生命之粮。
116. In other words, when you know how to repent,
换句话说，当你明白该怎样悔改的时候，
117. you will receive none other than the Lord Jesus Christ as your reward.
作为奖赏，你就会得到主耶稣基督，而不是别的。
118. The white stone is what every winning athlete received when they won a victory.
白石是每个获胜的运动员所得的奖品。
119. The white stone had the name of the athlete written on it.
运动员的名字会被写在白石上。
120. Jesus is saying that the winning, non-compromising believer will receive an even greater white stone with his new name on it.
耶稣告诉我们，得胜的、不妥协的信徒将会得到一块更大的，写着他新名字的白石。
121. What does that mean?
这是什么意思呢？
122. In biblical times, when God has a special call on someone’s life,
在圣经时代，当神对某个人的生命有特别呼召的时候，
123. He gave them a new name, which is a spiritual name;
神就给他们一个新的名字，也就是属灵的名字；
124. so, Abram became Abraham.
因此，亚伯兰变成了亚伯拉罕。
125. Simon became Peter.
西门变成了彼得。
126. Saul became Paul.
扫罗变成了保罗。
127. God has a new identity for every repentant sinner;
神给每一个悔改的罪人一个新的身份；
128. and that name is engraved on the heart of the Cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ.
这个名字被刻在了房角石，主耶稣基督的心上。
129. My listening friend, let me ask you this.
亲爱的朋友，我想问你。
130. Are you ready to receive your name on a white stone?
你准备好接受你在白石上的名字了吗？
131. You can today,
你今天就可以，
132. when you repent and turn to the Lord.
只要你悔改，并回到主面前来。
133. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
