查驗線索Examining the Clues
[每日靈修] 10/28/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
約翰在啟示錄中見到的異象為我們提供了一些關於天堂是什麼樣子的線索。天堂被說成是會缺少一些在地上顯著存在的事物。什麼東西缺少了呢？一些不見了的東西包括眼淚、死亡、悲傷和痛苦：「神要擦去他們一切的眼淚；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛，因為以前的事都過去了。」（啟廿一4）。
某些類型的人也不會在那裏。不信的人、可惡的和性淫亂的人、殺人犯、占卜的、拜偶像的或騙子，都不會住在那裏。這說明天堂會是一個完全沒有罪惡的地方。
新耶路撒冷既沒有會幕也沒有聖殿。這些只是地上的預表，將要來的事物的影兒。當實體出現時，影兒就消失了。「我未見城內有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊為城的殿。」（啟廿一22）。
新的天沒有太陽或月亮。它們是不必要的，因為上帝的榮耀給了它光明。在天上沒有夜晚。沒有什麼可以遮蔽上帝輝煌的榮耀之光，或使它變得暗淡。沒有黑暗可以勝過或甚至入侵基督的光輝，祂是世界的光。
最後，那裏不會有詛咒。對宇宙秩序的詛咒（這種咒詛使整個受造界發出呻吟）必要被解除。它要被逐出天堂。死亡、痛苦、鬥爭都不會再詛咒人類的行動。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
請閱讀啟示錄二十一章和二十二章，更多地認識你的天家。
進一步研讀：
啟廿一3～4 我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說：「看哪，神的帳幕在人間。他要與人同住，他們要作他的子民。神要親自與他們同在，作他們的神。 神要擦去他們一切的眼淚；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛，因為以前的事都過去了。」
啟廿一22 我未見城內有殿，因主神全能者和羔羊為城的殿。
Examining
the Clues
John’s
vision in Revelation gives us some clues about what heaven is like. Heaven is
charged with the absence of things that are conspicuously present in our
earthly environment. What is absent? Some of the missing things include tears,
death, sorrow, and pain: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away” (Rev. 21:4, NIV).
Certain
types of people will also be absent. No unbelievers, abominable and sexually
immoral people, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters, or liars will live in that
place. This indicates that heaven will be a place where sin is totally absent.
The
New Jerusalem will have neither tabernacle nor temple. These were but earthly
types, shadows of what is to come. When the reality appears, the shadows
depart. “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are its temple” (Rev. 21:22, NIV).
The
new heaven will have no sun or moon. They are unnecessary because the glory of
God gives it light. In heaven there is no night. Nothing can eclipse or dim the
light of the refulgent glory of God. No darkness can overcome or even intrude
into the splendor of the One who is the Light of the World.
Finally,
there will be no curse there. The curse on the cosmic order, which produces
groans from the whole creation, will be lifted. It will be banished from
heaven. No death, no pain, and no struggle will curse the human enterprise.
Coram
Deo
Read
Revelation 21 and 22 to learn more about your heavenly home.
Passages
for Further Study
Revelation
21:3–4
Revelation
21:22
