读经：太五3，20，二四30，二五1～4，14～15，提后四7～8，彼后一19。

诗歌：大本751首，大本755首

Scripture Reading: Matt. 5:3, 20, 24:30, 25:1-4, 14-15, 2 Tim. 4:7-8, 2 Pet. 1:19

　　罗十四17 …神的国不在于吃喝，乃在于公义、和平、并圣灵中的喜乐。

　　太五10 为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为诸天的国是他们的。

　　Rom.14:17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

　　Matt.5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

　　According to the Gospel of Matthew, there are three aspects of the kingdom of the heavens…he reality of the kingdom of the heavens is the proper church life (Rom. 14:17), which is within the appearance of the kingdom of the heavens, known as Christendom. The manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens will be the heavenly part of the coming millennial kingdom.

　　根据马太福音，诸天的国有实际、外表和实现三面。…诸天之国的实际与外表，今天都随着召会。诸天之国的实际，就是正当的召会生活（罗十四17），是在诸天之国的外表之内；这诸天之国的外表，就是所谓的基督教国。诸天之国的实现，乃是要来千年国的属天部分。

　　Matthew 5—7 reveals the reality of the kingdom of the heavens…is the revelation of the spiritual living and heavenly principles of the kingdom of the heavens.

　　马太五至七章启示诸天之国的实际。…启示诸天之国属灵的生活与属天的原则。

　　The reality of the kingdom of the heavens is the reality of the overcoming church life…the reality of the high standard of the divine life.

　　诸天之国的实际，就是得胜之召会生活的实际…，就是神圣生命高标准的实际。

　　The reality of the kingdom of the heavens exists today within the church in the church age. However, there is not much of the reality of the kingdom of the heavens in today's Christianity. We hope that among us in the church life the reality of the kingdom of the heavens will increase continually.

　　诸天之国的实际，今天在召会时代存于召会里面。然而，今天的基督教里，没有多少诸天之国的实际。盼望在我们中间，诸天之国的实际在召会生活里不断增加。

　　A number of verses in Matthew indicate that the reality of the kingdom of the heavens is an exercise to the seeking believers. Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.” The spirit here refers not to the Spirit of God but to our human spirit, the deepest part of our being, the organ for us to contact God and realize spiritual things. To be poor in spirit …is to be emptied in our spirit, in the depth of our being, not holding on to the old things but being unloaded to receive the new things, the things of the kingdom of the heavens. We need to be poor, emptied, unloaded, in this part of our being so that we may realize and possess the kingdom of the heavens…This means that if we are poor in spirit, we are in the reality of the kingdom of the heavens now in the church age.

　　Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.” The whole world lies in the evil one (1 John 5:19) and is filled with unrighteousness…If we hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), we shall be persecuted for the sake of righteousness. This indicates that we need to pay a price for the righteousness we seek for the kingdom of the heavens. If we are righteous, we shall be condemned, opposed, and persecuted. This is another aspect of the exercise of the kingdom of the heavens in its reality.

　　In Matthew 5:20 the Lord Jesus says, “Unless your righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.” The surpassing righteousness is the condition of entering into the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens in the millennium. By keeping the highest law to the highest standard, we fulfill the condition for entering into the coming manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens.

　　To enter into the kingdom of God requires regeneration as a new beginning of our life (John 3:3, 5), but to enter into the kingdom of the heavens demands surpassing righteousness in our living after regeneration…To enter into the kingdom of the heavens means to live in its reality today and to participate in its manifestation in the future. In Matthew 7:21 the Lord says, “Not every one who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he who does the will of My Father who is in the heavens.” To enter into the kingdom of the heavens we need to call on the Lord and do the will of the heavenly Father. To call on the Lord suffices for us to be saved (Rom. 10:13), but to enter into the kingdom of the heavens we also need to do the will of the heavenly Father…Because entering into the kingdom of the heavens requires doing the will of the heavenly Father, it is clearly different from entering into the kingdom of God by being regenerated (John 3:3, 5). This latter is by the birth of the divine life; the former is by the living of that life (The Conclusion of the New Testament)

　　诸天之国的实际对寻求的信徒是操练。五章三节说，“灵里贫穷的人有福了，因为诸天的国是他们的。”这里的灵非指神的灵，乃指人的灵，就是人最深的部分，是人接触神并领悟属灵事物的器官。灵里贫穷…是指我们的灵，我们人的深处，完全倒空，不持守老东西，却卸去旧有的，以接受诸天之国的新东西。…这就是说，我们若是灵里贫穷，现今在召会时代，我们就在诸天之国的实际里。

　　十节说，“为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为诸天的国是他们的。”整个世界都卧在那恶者里面（约壹五19），充满了不义。…我们若是饥渴慕义（太五6），就要为义受逼迫。这指明为了诸天之国的缘故，我们需要为所寻求的义付上代价。我们若是义的，就会遭受定罪、反对并逼迫。这是诸天之国在其实际上另一面的操练。

　　在马太五章二十节主耶稣说，“你们的义，若不超过经学家和法利赛人的义，绝不能进诸天的国。”这超凡的义，是在千年国时进入诸天之国实现的条件。借着遵行最高的律法，达到最高的标准，我们就履行进入要来诸天之国实现的条件。

　　进神的国，需要重生作我们生命的新开始（约三3，5），而进诸天的国，要求我们重生之后，在生活中有超凡的义。…今天活在诸天之国的实际里，将来〔才能〕有分于诸天之国的实现。在马太七章二十一节，主说，“不是每一个对我说，主啊，主啊的人，都能进诸天的国，惟独实行我诸天之上父旨意的人，才能进去。”我们要进诸天的国，需要呼求主，并实行天父的旨意。呼求主够叫我们得救（罗十13），但要进诸天的国，还需要实行天父的旨意。…进神的国是借着神圣生命的出生，进诸天的国是借着神圣生命的生活（新约总论第八册，二九至三三页）。

　　林前五7～8 你们要把旧酵除净，好使你们成为新团，正如你们是无酵的一样，因为我们的逾越节基督，已经被杀献祭了。所以我们守这节，不可用旧酵，也不可用恶毒邪恶的酵，只用纯诚真实的无酵饼。

　　太十三43 那时，义人在他们父的国里，要发光如同太阳。有耳可听的，就应当听。

　　

　　在马太十三章…稗子的比喻（24～30，36～43）启示国度的建立及其假冒的成分。…〔在二十四至二十五节的比喻里，〕好种就是国度之子，稗子就是恶者之子（38）。稗子和麦子一齐长在田里，也就是假信徒和真信徒都活在世界里。诸天的国是由国度之子，麦子，建立起来的；但恶者之子，稗子，长起来改变了情形。于是，诸天的国及其外表之间就产生了差异。国度之子构成了国度；恶者之子形成了国度的外表，就是今天所谓的基督教国。三十一至三十二节有一个说到国度外表畸形发展的比喻。…召会是国度的具体表现，该像菜蔬一样生产食物，却成了树，作飞鸟的宿处，其性质和功用都变了。…这事发生在第四世纪初叶，康士坦丁大帝把世界搀入召会时。他把成千成万的假信徒带进召会，使其变成基督教国，而不再是召会了。

　　The outward appearance of the kingdom of the heavens exists along with the church in the church age, but it does not exist within the church. As a principle, we do not allow tares in the church life, and we do not allow the big tree with its abnormal growth or the leaven with its corruption to be in the church.

　　诸天之国的外表，在召会时代与召会一同存在，但它不是存于召会里面。原则上，我们不允许稗子在召会生活里，我们也不允许大树及其畸形发展，或面酵及其腐败在召会里。

　　

　　在现今的时代，国度的实际与国度的外表同时进展。然而，主耶稣回来时，国度的实际要转为国度的实现，国度的外表要被烧尽。主的使者要将稗子捆成捆，扔进火里（40～42），因为稗子非常破坏主的国。因此，主回来时，首先要对付国度的外表，然后要将国度的实际转到下个时代，成为国度的实现。

　　The manifestation of the kingdom will be the kingdom of the Father, the heavenly part of the millennium. The millennium will have an earthly part and a heavenly part…The heavenly part of the millennium will be the kingdom of the Father (Matt. 13:43). This will be the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens as a reward to the overcomers. In the millennium the overcomers in the heavenly part of the kingdom will reign with Christ over the earthly part, which will be the restored kingdom of David, where Christ as the Son of Man, David's royal descendant, will be the King over the children of Israel.

　　国度的实现将是父的国，就是千年国的属天部分。千年国将有属地部分和属天部分。…千年国的属天部分将是父的国（43）。这将是诸天之国的实现，作得胜者的赏赐。千年国时，在国度属天部分的得胜者，要与基督一同掌权管理属地部分，就是大卫复兴的国，在那里基督为人子，大卫王室的后裔，要作以色列人的王。

　　The manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens will be a reward to the overcoming saints. Paul says, “The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18). The heavenly kingdom is the kingdom of our Father (Matt. 13:43), the kingdom of the Father (Matt. 26:29), the kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5), and the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:11), which will be a reward to the overcoming saints. The heavenly kingdom in 2 Timothy 4:18 equals the crown of righteousness in 4:8, and it is an incentive to the believers to run the heavenly course (The Conclusion of the New Testament).

　　诸天之国的实现将是给得胜圣徒的赏赐。保罗说，“主必救我脱离各样凶恶的事，也必救我进入祂属天的国。”（提后四18。）属天的国即他们父的国（太十三43），我父的国（二六29），基督和神的国（弗五5），以及我们主和救主耶稣基督永远的国（彼后一11）。这国是给得胜圣徒的赏赐（新约总论第八册，三三至三七页）。

　　启一7 看哪，祂驾云降临，众目要看见祂，连刺祂的人也要看见祂；地上的众支派都要因祂捶胸哀哭。是的，阿们。

　　　三10～11 你既遵守我忍耐的话，我也必保守你免去那将要临到普天下，试炼一切住在地上之人试炼的时候。我必快来，你要持守你所有的，免得有人夺去你的冠冕。

　　

　　“你们见祂怎样往天上去，祂还要怎样来。”（徒一11下。）…这叫我们看见，主的再来，乃是实在的来，不是寓意的…。主的再来，要像祂升天一样的实在。祂怎样升天，祂也要怎样再来。祂是驾着云升天的（9），祂也要驾着云再来（太二四30，二六64，启一7）。祂是在橄榄山升天的（徒一11～12），祂的再来也要同在一座山上（亚十四4）。（圣经要道卷六，一六四三页。）

　　In Matthew 24 the Lord gave a clear revelation concerning the restoration of Israel. In verse 32 the Lord said, "But learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near"...The fig tree is a sign of the consummation of the age. In Matthew 21:19, during His last visit to Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus cursed a fig tree because He could not find any fruit on it. The fig tree is a symbol of the nation of Israel (Jer. 24:2, 5, 8). Because Israel was stubborn and rebellious and had no fruit that could satisfy God, she was rejected by God. In A.D. 70, Titus, the Roman prince, brought with him a great army to destroy Jerusalem and the temple…From that time, the children of Israel were scattered among the nations…Humanly speaking, there was truly no hope for the nation of Israel to be reformed. However, the cursed and dried up fig tree would become tender and put forth leaves.

　　关于以色列的复兴，在马太二十四章…三十二节主说，“你们可以从无花果树学个比方：当树枝发嫩长叶的时候，你们就知道夏天近了。”…无花果树是这世代终结的兆头。在二十一章十九节，主耶稣末了到耶路撒冷时，由于在无花果树上找不到果子，就咒诅它。无花果树是以色列国的象征（耶二四2，5，8），它由于顽梗悖逆，没有可以满足神的果子，就被神所弃绝。到了主后七十年，罗马太子提多带着大军毁坏耶路撒冷和圣殿…。从此，以色列人就散到万国之中。…按人来看，真是复国无望；但…这被咒诅而枯干的无花果树，已经照圣经的预言复国，就是发嫩长叶。

　　圣殿的重建

　　说到圣殿的重建，我们需要先看〔这世代的末了七年，就是末七〕。末七要因着敌基督废弃他与以色列所立的七年之约而分成两半，前三年半敌基督要支持以色列人，准许他们自由敬拜神；后三年半，敌基督要使祭祀和供献止息，代以他自己的偶像（但九27）。…偶像要留在圣殿三年半，直到基督用祂来临的显现除灭他。因此圣殿必先重建，以色列人才能向神敬拜并献祭，敌基督也才能立起他的像。

　　从主后七十年提多拆毁圣殿之后，圣殿就一直没有再重建。但如今以色列已经收复耶路撒冷；…凡建殿所需的材料并祭祀所用的一切器具，都已照着旧约的记载预备妥当，只等适当的时机来到，圣殿就要重建完成。

　　The second half of the last week, the last three and a half years of this age, is the period of the great tribulation, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24:21)… This great tribulation will come from three directions—from God, from Antichrist, and from Satan—upon all those dwelling on the face of all the earth (Luke 21:35). At that time God will judge the entire universe with supernatural calamities, so that the earth will not be suitable for man's existence…Satan will be cast out of heaven to the earth by the overcomers, and knowing that he has a short time, he will collaborate with Antichrist, and the two will do their best to destroy and injure the human race, and they will severely persecute the Jews and the Christians (Rev. 12:7-13, 17). However, for the preservation of His people, God will limit the time of the great tribulation to only three and a half years; otherwise, no flesh would be saved. (The up to date presentation of the God-ordained way and the signs concerning the coming of Christ)

　　末七的后半，就是今世末了的三年半，乃是大灾难时期。这样的灾难，就是从世界的起头直到如今，都未曾发生过，将来也绝不会发生。…这大灾难要来自三方面：神、敌基督、以及撒但，临到全地面上一切居住的人（路二一35）。那时，神要用超自然的灾害审判整个宇宙，使地不适合生存。…而撒但由于被得胜者从天上摔到地上，知道自己的日子不多，就和敌基督要尽所能的毁灭、伤害人类，并要厉害地逼迫犹太人和基督徒（启十二7～13，17）。若非神为了保守祂的子民，限制了大灾难的时日只有三年半；否则，凡有血气的没有一个能得救（神命定之路最新的陈明与基督来临的兆头，五二至五四页）。

　　路二一34～36 你们要小心，恐怕因酗酒、沉醉并今生的思虑，累住你们的心，那日子就如同网罗忽然临到你们，因为那日子要这样临到全地面上一切居住的人。但你们要时时儆醒，常常祈求，使你们得胜，能逃避这一切要发生的事，得以站立在人子面前。

　　Matthew 24:3 says, "And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us…what is the sign of Your coming and of the consummation of the age?" In His reply in the succeeding verses, the Lord first spoke concerning Antichrist. In verse 15 the Lord said: "When therefore you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him who reads understand)." This will definitely be fulfilled in the last three and a half years of the present age, the time of the great tribulation, the second half of the last week. At that time Antichrist's image will be set up as an idol in the temple of God.

　　In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Paul also said, "Let no one deceive you in any way; because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or an object of worship, so that he seats himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself that he is God." This shows us that before the consummation of the age, Antichrist must first appear; he will play a leading role in the last week.

　　Revelation 13:1 points out that a beast, which signifies Antichrist, will come up out of the Mediterranean Sea…he will come from one of the Gentile nations around the Mediterranean Sea. He will have the support of ten kings, and they will unite to form a great empire, which will be the revived Roman Empire. He will make a covenant with Israel for seven years and permit them to freely worship God. After three and a half years, Antichrist will be slain temporarily; then the spirit of the fifth Caesar (Nero) of the Roman Empire will come up out of the abyss and enter into the dead body of Antichrist to resurrect him to be the eighth Caesar. Antichrist will break the covenant and begin to persecute the Israelites and the Christians. He will also set up his image in the temple (Matt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4), until the complete destruction that is determined will be poured out upon the desolator, that is, upon Antichrist (Dan. 9:27).

　　Today, this last week is not yet manifested because the Roman Empire is not yet revived; but as we observe the world situation, it seems that the restoration of the Roman Empire will take place soon…Today we all have seen the great change in the world situation, a change that is beyond our imagination. First, the Soviet Union is proceeding with a reformation and has declared her renunciation of communism. Then a number of her satellite countries have risen up to copy her action. Now East Germany and West Germany are unified. Thus, the entire situation in Europe is pushing toward the direction prophesied in the Bible for the restoration of the Roman Empire. When that time comes, Antichrist will appear.

　　马太二十四章三节：“耶稣在橄榄山上坐着，门徒暗暗地到祂跟前来，说，请告诉我们，…你的来临和这世代的终结，有什么兆头？”主在下文的回答中，首先答复的就是关于敌基督的事。…这要确定的应验在这世代末了的三年半，就是大灾难期间，也就是末七的后半；敌基督的像，要当作偶像立在神的殿里。

　　帖后二章三至四节保罗也说，“不要让任何人用任何方法诱骗你们；因为那日子以前，必有背道的事先来，并有那不法的人，就是灭亡之子，显露出来；他是那敌对、且高抬自己超过一切称为神，或受人敬拜者的，甚至坐在神的殿里，展示自己，说他就是神。”这给我们看见，在这世代终结之前，敌基督必须先出现；他是末七的一个主要角色。

　　启示录十三章一节指出，那表征敌基督的兽出自于地中海…，他要从地中海周围一个外邦国家出来，得着十王的拥护，统合成一个大帝国，就是复兴的罗马帝国。他要与以色列立七年之约，允许他们自由敬拜神。过了三年半，这敌基督要暂时被杀，然后罗马帝国第五位该撒（尼罗）死了的灵要从无底坑上来，进入他的尸体里，使他复活成为第八位该撒。他要毁约，开始逼迫以色列人和基督徒，并在圣殿立起他的偶像（太二四15，帖后二4），直到所定之完全的毁坏倾倒在那使圣地荒凉者—敌基督的身上（但九27）。

　　今天这末七还未出现，因为罗马帝国还未复兴，但看看世局的发展，似乎是快了。…我们都看见世局的大变动，远超我们想像之外。首先是苏联进行改革，宣布扬弃共产主义。它的卫星国纷起效尤，如今东西德已经统一，整个欧洲的形势正朝着圣经预言的方向推进，为着罗马帝国的复兴。到那时候，敌基督就要出现了。

　　圣徒被提

　　在大灾难之前，得胜者要先被提，留下尚未成熟的大体信徒，在地上经过大灾难。马太二十四章四十至四十一节说，“那时，两个人在田里，取去一个，撇下一个。两个女人在磨坊推磨，取去一个，撇下一个。”这指明当世人沉迷于物质的事物，对要来的审判毫无感觉之时，有些清明、儆醒的信徒要被取去…。所以，我们要小心，恐怕因酗酒、沉醉并今生的思虑，累住我们的心（路二一34），而无法被提（神命定之路最新的陈明与基督来临的兆头，五○至五一、五四至五五页）。

　　〔照着启示录十四章〕十五节和十六节…地上的庄稼就是神在地上的子民，在基督里的信徒。…那最先成熟的，要在大灾难之前被收割，作初熟的果子献给神，如一至五节所指明的。大体的信徒要借助于大灾难期间的苦难得以成熟，并在大灾难末了被收割，就是被提（启示录生命读经，六四二至六四三页）。

　　Before the great tribulation, the overcomers will be raptured, leaving the majority of the believers, those who are not yet mature, on the earth to pass through the great tribulation. Matthew 24:40-41 says, "Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left." This indicates that while the worldly people are befuddled by material things, with no sense of the coming judgment, some of the sober and watchful believers will be taken away…Therefore, we should take heed to ourselves, lest at some time our hearts be weighed down with debauchery and drunkenness and the anxieties of life (Luke 21:34), and we miss the rapture. (The up to date presentation of the God-ordained way and the signs concerning the coming of Christ)

　　According to Revelation chapter 14, verses 15 and 16… the harvest of the earth is God's people on earth, the believers in Christ… Those who ripen first will be reaped as the firstfruit to God before the great tribulation, as indicated in verses 1 through 5. The majority will ripen with the help of the sufferings in the great tribulation and will be reaped near the end of the tribulation. (Life Study of Revelation, message 48)

　　太二五1～4 那时，诸天的国好比十个童女，…其中五个是愚拙的，五个是精明的。愚拙的拿着她们的灯，却没有带着油；但精明的拿着她们的灯，又在器皿里带着油。

　　　　　14～15 诸天的国又好比一个人要往外国去，就叫了自己的奴仆来，把他的家业交给他们，按照各人的才干，个别地给了一个五他连得银子，一个二他连得，一个一他连得，就往外国去了。

　　Matt.25:1-4 At that time the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish and five were prudent. For the foolish, when they took their lamps, did not take oil with them; But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

　　Matt.25:14-15 For the kingdom of the heavens is just like a man about to go abroad, who called his own slaves and delivered to them his possessions. To one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. And he went abroad.

　　〔马太二十五章〕四节说，“但精明的拿着她们的灯，又在器皿里带着油。”人是为着神造的器皿（罗九21，23～24），人的个格是在他的魂里。因此，这里的器皿象征信徒的魂。五个精明的童女不仅在她们的灯里有油，也在器皿里带着油。灯里有油，表征她们有神的灵住在她们的灵里（八9，16）；器皿里带着油，表征她们有神的灵充满、浸透她们的魂。

　　箴言二十章二十七节说，“人的灵是耶和华的灯。”…借着重生，我们有神的灵在我们的灵里。这使我们的灯发光。…虽然我们灯里有油，但我们魂里需要额外的油。这表征那灵必须从我们灵里扩展到我们魂的每一部分。…我们若有这额外的分，就是精明的；我们若没有，就是愚拙的。…我们若有智慧，就会祷告说，“主，怜悯我。我不单要有你的灵在我的灵里，也要有你的灵在我的魂里。主，我需要那灵的充满，我需要额外的圣灵充满我的全人。”

　　没有一卷书像马太福音一再警告我们。我能在主面前见证，…每当我有一点随便，我就想起马太福音所包含的警告。不错，我们都是童女；但…我们精明与否，在于我们的器皿里有没有额外的圣灵。

　　Verse 4 says, “But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” Man is a vessel made for God (Rom. 9:21, 23-24), and man's personality is in his soul. Hence, vessels here signify the soul of the believers. The five prudent virgins not only have oil in their lamps, but also take oil in their vessels. Having oil in their lamps signifies that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in their spirit (Rom. 8:9, 16), and taking oil in their vessels signifies that they have the fullness of the Spirit of God saturating their souls.

　　Proverbs 20:27 says that the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord… Through regeneration we have the Spirit of God in our spirit. This causes our lamp to burn… Although we have the oil in our lamp, we need the extra portion of the oil in our soul. This signifies that the Spirit must spread from within our spirit to every part of our soul… If we have this extra portion, we are prudent. If we do not have it, we are foolish. If we are wise, we shall pray, “Lord, have mercy on me. I want to have Your Spirit not only in my spirit, but also in my soul. Lord, I need the infilling of the Spirit. I need the extra portion of the Holy Spirit to fill my entire being.”

　　No other book warns us as often as the book of Matthew does. I can testify before the Lord that…whenever I have been a little careless, I have remembered the warnings contained in Matthew. Yes, we all are virgins…but whether we are prudent or not depends on whether or not we have the extra portion of the Holy Spirit in our vessel.

　　〔马太二十五章〕十四节说，那人把他的家业交给他的奴仆；但十五节说，他给他们银子。这指明十五节的银子，就是十四节的家业。换句话说，主把祂的家业当作银子赐给我们。例如，福音是主的家业，但福音赐给我们之后，就成了我们的银子。照样，真理是主的家业；但真理赐给我们之后，就成了银子。同样的原则，所有的信徒都是主的家业；信徒赐给了我们，他们就成了我们的银子。…主把祂的家业赐给我们越多，我们得的银子就越多。照样，主给我们的负担越多，我们得的银子就越多。今天主的家业主要的是福音、真理、信徒和召会。你若不在意这些事，就不会有银子。〔这些事〕需要成为我们的家业。

　　你若要得着更多的银子，就必须有心照顾圣徒。例如，有人失业了，你需要为他祷告，背负他的担子。这就证明主已把那人当作银子赐给你了。然而，不背负圣徒或不顾到他们，意思就是你丢弃了主的家业。…不要丢下任何主所给你的负担。不管我多忙，我都不能丢下银子，因为这样作，就是丢下主的家业。主在祂的恢复里有极大的工作。为着这工作，祂需要成千的弟兄姊妹被兴起来背负责任（马太福音生命读经，八二八至八二九、八三三、八三八至八四○页）。

　　Verse 14 says that the man gave his slaves his possessions, but verse 15 says that he gave them talents. This indicates that the talents in verse 15 are the possessions in verse 14. In other words, the Lord uses His possessions as talents for us. For example, the gospel is the Lord's possession. But when it is given to us, it becomes our talent. Likewise, the truth is the Lord's possession. But when the truth is given to us, it becomes a talent… The more of His possessions the Lord gives to us, the more talents we shall have. In like manner, the more the Lord burdens us, the more talents we shall have. Today the Lord's possessions primarily are the gospel, the truth, the believers, and the church. These things need to become our possession.

　　If you want to receive more talents, you must have a heart to care for the saints. For example, when someone is unemployed, you need to pray for him and bear his burden. This will be a proof that the Lord has given that one to you as a talent. However, not to bear the saints or care for them means that you forsake the Lord's possession… Do not drop any burden that the Lord has given you. No matter how busy I am, I cannot drop any talent, for to do this is to drop the Lord's possession. The Lord has a vast work in His recovery. For this work, He needs thousands of young brothers and sisters to be raised up to bear the responsibility. (Life-study of Matthew)

　　提后四8 从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是主，那公义的审判者，在那日要赏赐我的；不但赏赐我，也赏赐凡爱祂显现的人。

　　彼后一19 我们并有申言者更确定的话，你们留意这话，如同留意照在暗处的灯，直等到天发亮，晨星在你们心里出现，你们就作得好了。

　　2 Tim.4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing.

　　2 Pet.1:19 And we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

　　我们既知道主的再来是如此宝贵，就该爱慕主的显现（提后四8）。圣经末了结束在：“主耶稣啊，我愿你来！”（启二二20。）从新约的记载，我们不难发现在使徒们的心目中，他们一直认定，主必快来，他们也过着预备主再来的生活。…在路加十二章主说了一个比喻，有一个财主努力积存钱财，要叫魂享用快乐；神却对他说，无知的人哪，今夜必要你的魂（16～20）。我们能有每一个今天，实在都是主的恩典。所以只要还有今天，只要气息尚存，我们就当爱主，爱慕祂的显现，热切等待主来（腓三20），并且常以此事为勉。

　　保罗在提后四章一节对提摩太说，“我在神并那将要审判活人死人的基督耶稣面前，凭着祂的显现和祂的国度，郑重地嘱咐你。”那是保罗将要殉道之时的劝勉。他说他美好的仗已经打过了，当跑的赛程已经跑尽了，当守的信仰也已经守住了；在审判台前他必要得公义冠冕的赏赐；这冠冕也是赐给凡爱慕祂显现的人（6～8）。他以审判和国度提醒提摩太，也提醒我们，要过一个爱慕主显现的生活，这会叫我们不灰心、不退后、不软弱，忠心到底。

　　Since we know that the Lord's second coming is so precious, we should love the Lord's appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). The Bible concludes with "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). From the record in the New Testament, it is not difficult to discover that in their hearts the apostles firmly believed that the Lord would come quickly, and they also lived a life in preparation for the Lord's second coming. In the church's history, I know that Miss M.E. Barber was one who lived such a life. On the last day of 1925, Brother Nee went to pray with her, and she prayed, "Lord, do You really mean to say that You will let 1925 pass by, that You will wait until 1926 before You come back? However, on this last day I still pray that You will come back today!" Not long afterwards, Brother Nee met her on the street, and again she said to him, "It is really strange that up to this day He has not yet come back." Do not think that since we are clear concerning the signs of the Lord's coming, we can be slothful and can first love the world and then pursue the Lord when the last week comes. There is no such convenience. We should believe that the Lord is to be feared. In Luke 12 the Lord gave a parable concerning a rich man who endeavored to lay up wealth for himself so that his soul might enjoy itself and be merry. But God said to him, "Senseless one, this night they are requiring your soul from you" (vv. 16-20). Every "today" that we have is truly the Lord's grace. Therefore, as long as we have today, as long as we still have breath, we should love the Lord and His appearing, await the Lord's coming (Phil. 3:20), and always take His coming as an encouragement.

　　In 2 Timothy 4:1 Paul said to Timothy, "I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom." This is an exhortation from Paul immediately before his martyrdom. He said that he had fought the good fight, he had finished the course, and he had kept the faith, and that at the judgment seat he would be awarded the crown of righteousness, which would be awarded to all those who have loved His appearing (2 Tim. 4:6-8). He reminded Timothy, and also us, by the Lord's judgment and kingdom that we should have a living that loves the Lord's appearing. This will cause us not to be discouraged, not to backslide, not to become weak, but to remain faithful to the end.

　　我们看过也清楚知道…一切的预言之后，就需要留意并儆醒，如同留意照在暗处的灯，直等到天发亮，晨星在我们心里出现（彼后一19）。主像日头公开来临之先，要在黑暗最深时，像晨星一样向那些渴望祂显现的人显现。经上的话犹如信徒的明灯，传输属灵的光，照耀在我们的黑暗里，引导我们进入光明的白昼，直到主的显现。

　　时候已经短少了！看看圣经的预言，对照现今的世局，主来临的日子实在近了，末七即将来到。现在的关键是：我们要把自己埋在世界里，还是摆在主的手中。要知道，我们一旦把自己埋在世界里，扎了根，再要拔出来就不容易了。在这不多的年日里，我们应当预备自己，作一个爱主、事奉主的人，天天复兴、得胜，让世界过去，全心等候主来（神命定之路最新的陈明与基督来临的兆头，六四至六六、五六页）。

　　After we have seen and are clear about all these prophecies, we need to be watchful and to give heed to the prophetic word as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts (2 Pet. 1:19). Prior to His open appearing as the sun, the Lord will appear as the morning star in the darkest hour of the night to those who are longing for His appearing. The prophetic word of the Scripture, as the shining lamp to the believers, conveys spiritual light to shine in their darkness, guiding them to enter into a bright day until the day of the Lord's appearing.

　　The time is short. By studying the prophecies in the Bible and checking with the world situation today, we know that the day of the Lord's coming is very near and that the last week is approaching. The crucial question today is this: Do we want to bury ourselves in the world or put ourselves in the Lord's hand? We should know that once we bury ourselves in the world and become rooted in it, it will not be easy to be uprooted. In the few remaining days, we should get ourselves ready. Let us be those who love and serve the Lord, who are revived and are overcoming every day, and who let the world go and are waiting with all our heart for the Lord's coming (The up to date presentation of the God-ordained way and the signs concerning the coming of Christ).