启四2 “我立刻就在灵里；看哪，有一个宝座安置在天上，又有一位坐在宝座上。”

　　结一26 “在他们头以上的穹苍之上，有宝座的样式，像蓝宝石的样子；在宝座的样式以上，有一位的样式好像人的样子。”

　　启示录这卷书乃是以宝座为中心。…无论撒但在空中作什么，也不管人在地上作什么，都是在神天上的宝座之下。今天，人好像可以为所欲为，但天上神的宝座依然掌管着一切的人和一切的事。在神宝座的管治之外，没有一个人能作什么，也没有一件事能发生。表面上，这宝座是看不见的，且不为人所认识；但事实上，这宝座在幕后掌管着每一个人和每一件事。按神的时间，并为着成就神的定旨，常有适当的审判从这宝座出来，临到人类和地上的事物。在启示录，最终的结局乃是在神的审判完全执行之后出现。这个审判从宝座发出，把天地间一切由撒但的背叛和人的堕落所引起的混乱，完全清理。（启示录生命读经，二五五至二五六页。）

　　Rev. 4:2 Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting.

　　Ezek. 1:26 And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, like the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was One in appearance like a man, above it.

　　The throne of God in Revelation is the center of God’s administration…. Whatever Satan does in the air and whatever man does on earth is under God’s throne in heaven. Today, man may do anything he likes, but the throne of God in heaven is still the authority over all men and all things. No one can do anything, and nothing can happen outside of the rule of God’s throne. Apparently, this throne is invisible and is not realized by man, but actually it is behind the scene ruling over everyone and everything. In God's time and for the fulfillment of God’s purpose, the appropriate judgment always comes out of this throne to mankind and upon the things transpiring on earth. In the book of Revelation, the consummate issue comes from the completion of the execution of God’s judgment. This judgment proceeds from the throne and clears up the confusion both in heaven and on earth caused by Satan’s rebellion and man’s fall. (Life- study of Revelation, pp. 213-214)

　　但以理书给我们看见，世上一切的王和国都在神的行政管理之下。想想看尼布甲尼撒统治巴比伦帝国的情形。首先，他与父亲一同摄政、掌权。主前六○六年，他以摄政王的身分毁灭耶路撒冷城。然后约在主前六○四年，他成为王，掌权直到主前五六一年。至终他儿子接续他的王位，然后是他的孙子伯沙撒；伯沙撒在五章的荒淫放荡对神乃是亵渎，就在主前五三八年被杀。那时巴比伦帝国就结束了，六十二岁的玛代人大利乌得了国。大利乌是附属于古列的王。（见但八。）主前五三六年，古列颁布诏令释放以色列的俘虏归回犹大，这样就结束了神命定以色列人留在巴比伦的七十年。所以，神用巴比伦帝国，为要把祂那腐坏、失败的选民带到被掳中。七十年的被掳之后，神使玛代与波斯联合为一，为要结束巴比伦帝国，并从巴比伦的被掳中释放祂的子民。这说明了一切的王和国如何在神的行政管理之下。

　　在以赛亚书中，尼布甲尼撒和巴比伦都被定罪，古列却被尊崇。十四章启示撒但与巴比伦是一。在申言者以赛亚眼中，尼布甲尼撒与撒但是一。相反的，以赛亚论到古列，却说神喜悦他，甚至使他成为牧人，照顾祂的子民。古列在位第一年，就宣布神的子民可以归回犹大。（拉一1~4。）他也安排将神殿中的器皿，就是尼布甲尼撒带到巴比伦的，归回耶路撒冷。

　　为着对付…邪恶的人类政权，基督这位人子必须得着国度。（但七13~14。）一面，基督是在诸天之上，已经得了国度；另一面，基督是在我们里面，成了赐生命的灵。（林前十五45下。）作为我们的救赎主，祂借着钉十字架把旧造了结。作为在复活里的那位，祂使新造有了新生的起头，今天祂正在我们（就是祂的新造）里面作工。祂也是我们在烈火窑中的同伴。（但三。）祂这奇妙的一位，正为着祂回来在全地施行祂的管治权，预备一切。（但以理书生命读经，九八至九九页。）

　　参读：启示录生命读经，第四、十七至十八篇。

　　The book of Daniel shows us that all the kings and kingdoms of the world are under God’s administration. Consider the situation of the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar. First, he became a co-regent with his father and reigned with him. As such a co-regent, he destroyed the city of Jerusalem in 606 B.C. Then about 604 B.C. he became king and reigned until 561 B.C. Eventually he was replaced by his son and then by his grandson, Belshazzar, whose debauchery in Daniel 5 was an insult to God and who was slain in 538 B.C. At that time the Babylonian Empire came to an end, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. Darius was a subordinate king to Cyrus (see Daniel 8). In 536 B.C. Cyrus issued the decree that released the captives of Israel to return to Judah, thus ending the seventy years which God had apportioned for the Israelites to remain in Babylon. Therefore, God used the Babylonian Empire for the purpose of carrying His corrupted and defeated elect into captivity. After the seventy years of their captivity, God caused the Medes and the Persians to become one for the purpose of ending the Babylonian Empire and of releasing His people from their captivity in Babylon. This is an illustration of how all kings and kingdoms are under God’s administration.

　　In the book of Isaiah, Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon are condemned, but Cyrus is highly regarded. Isaiah 14 reveals the oneness of Satan and Babylon. In the eyes of the prophet Isaiah, Nebuchadnezzar was one with Satan. Concerning Cyrus, on the contrary, Isaiah says that God delighted in him and even made him a shepherd to care for His people. In the first year of his reign, Cyrus proclaimed the return of God’s people to Judah (Ezra 1:1-4). He also arranged for the vessels of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had brought to Babylon to be returned to Jerusalem.

　　In order to deal with…evil human government, Christ as the Son of Man must receive the kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14). On the one hand, Christ is in the heavens as the One who has received the kingdom. On the other hand, Christ is in us as the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b). As our Redeemer, He terminated the old creation by His crucifixion. As the One in resurrection, He has germinated the new creation, and today He is working within us as His new creation. He is also our Companion in the burning furnace (Dan. 3). As such a wonderful One, He is preparing everything for His coming back to exercise His dominion over the whole earth. (Life-study of Daniel, pp. 82-84)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Revelation, msgs. 4, 17-18