诗歌：大本227首

读经：路九23~25，十四26~35，十七26~36，二一34~36，来十39，彼前一7~9、13

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:23-25; 14:26-35; 17:26-36; 21:34-36; Heb. 10:39; 1 Pet. 1:7-9, 13

　　路九23~25 耶稣又对众人说，若有人要跟从我，就当否认己，天天背起他的十字架，并跟从我。因为凡要救自己魂生命的，必丧失魂生命；凡为我丧失自己魂生命的，必救了魂生命。人若赚得全世界，却丧失自己，赔上自己，有什么益处？

　　救魂生命，就是让魂得着享受，不让魂受苦。丧失魂生命，就是使魂失去享受而受痛苦。跟从人救主的人，若让他们的魂在今世得着享受，就会叫他们的魂在要来的国度时代里失去享受。他们若为人救主的缘故，在今世让他们的魂失去享受，就会叫他们的魂在要来的国度时代里得着享受，就是与主同享治理全地的喜乐（太二五21、23）。（路加福音生命读经，二一三页）。

　　Luke 9:23-25 And He said to them all, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake, this one shall save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

　　To save the soul life is to allow the soul to have its enjoyment and not to suffer. To lose the soul life is to cause the soul to suffer the loss of its enjoyment. If the followers of the Man-Savior allow their soul to have its enjoyment in this age, they will cause their soul to suffer the loss of its enjoyment in the coming kingdom age. If they allow their soul to suffer the loss of its enjoyment in this age for the sake of the Man-Savior, they will cause their soul to have its enjoyment in the coming kingdom age. They will share the Lord’s joy in ruling over the earth (Matt. 25:21, 23). (Life-study of Luke, pp. 181-182)

　　在说到否认己、背起十字架与丧失魂之后，主就提到世界，说，“人若赚得全世界，却赔上自己的魂生命，有什么益处？人还能拿什么换自己的魂生命？”（太十六26）只因世界能给人魂的娱乐，人就爱世界。他们爱美衣、名车以及属世的娱乐，因为这些能带给魂享受。但是为着主的缘故，为着福音的缘故，为着祂见证的缘故，我们需要在这世代中甘愿丧失我们魂的享受。……人爱世界的原因，乃是因他们想保有魂的享受。全世界都有魂的享受。人攻读学位的原因，乃是想要有更好的生活，更好的生活意思就是更多的享受。另有些人在工作上要升迁，就是为了有更多的钱，好得着更多魂的享受。主耶稣来时，祂丧失祂的魂，也就是说，祂放弃祂所有魂的享受。祂在今世丧失祂魂的享受，使祂在来世可以得着祂的魂。……在来世，主耶稣将享受全地。那时，祂将会邀请我们，祂的同伙们，来分享这享受。我们需要耐心地等待这要来的享受。假如今天你保有你魂的享受，你将会失去要来的享受。……这由你选择。假如你宁愿今日有享受，你有自由这么作。只是如果你在今世拯救魂，你在主耶稣回来时必定会丧失魂。祂会告诉你，因着你已经享受你的魂如此多，现在是你丧失魂的时候。你要选择哪一个—今天丧失你的魂而明天得着它，或者今天得着魂而明天丧失它？假如我们得着全世界，却丧失了魂，是不值得的。

　　假定住在弟兄之家的弟兄们已经看见关于基督和召会建造的异象，他们认识主为了祂的经纶渴望恢复召会生活。然而，……由于〔某种〕令人失望的光景，有些弟兄们就考虑要搬出弟兄之家。但是他们若搬出，就是拯救他们的魂，使自己安逸。一个弟兄可能真的从那家搬到另一家，几周以后，他就知道光景还是一样。后来他就隐匿搬家的原因，以要寻找较好的召会生活作借口，迁到另一个地方的召会。……当他到了新地方并搬进那里的弟兄之家，他发现光景竟然比他离开的那地还要糟。这时，由于对召会生活失望，他可能决定完全离开召会。倘若他这样作，他就是拯救他的魂到极点了。借此我们看见取悦己就是拯救魂（李文集一九七八年第一册，一二九至一三○、一一二至一一三页）。

　　参读：国度的操练为着教会的建造，第五至六篇；倪柝声文集第二辑第二十四册，第一百一十一篇。

　　After speaking of denying the self, taking up the cross, and losing the soul, the Lord referred to the world, saying, “What shall a man be profited if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul-life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul-life?” (Matt. 16:26). People love the world simply because it gives amusement to their soul. They love good clothing, fine cars, and worldly amusements because they bring enjoyment to the soul. But for the Lord’s sake, for the gospel’s sake, and for His testimony’s sake, we need to be willing to lose the enjoyment of the soul in this age….The reason people love the world is that they want to maintain the enjoyment of the soul. Throughout the world there is the enjoyment of the soul. The reason people study to earn a degree is to have a better life, and a better life means more enjoyment. Others work to earn a promotion in their job so that they may have more money for more enjoyment of the soul. When the Lord Jesus came, He lost His soul; that is, He gave up all His soulish enjoyment. He lost the enjoyment of His soul in this age so that He might gain His soul in the coming age…. In the coming age the Lord Jesus will enjoy the whole earth. At that time He will invite us, His partners, to share in this enjoyment. We need to wait patiently for the coming enjoyment. If you keep the enjoyment in your soul today, you will lose the enjoyment to come….The choice is yours. If you prefer to have your enjoyment today, you are free to do so. But if you save your soul in this age, be assured that you will lose it when the Lord comes back. He will tell you that because you have enjoyed your soul so much, now is the time for you to lose it. Which do you choose—to lose your soul today and gain it tomorrow, or to gain it today and lose it tomorrow? If we could gain the whole world, it would still not be worthwhile to gain it at the cost of losing our soul.

　　Suppose the brothers living in a brothers’ house have seen the vision concerning Christ and the building of the church. They realize that the Lord desires to recover the church life for His economy. However, ...because of [a] discouraging situation, some of the brothers may consider moving out of the house. But if they move out, they will be saving their souls to have an easy way for themselves. One brother may actually move from that house to another house, where, after a few weeks, he learns that the situation is the same. Then he moves to a church in another part of the country….When he arrives in the new locality and moves into a brothers’ house there, he finds the situation even worse than the one he left. At this point, disappointed with the church life, he may decide to leave the church entirely. If he does this, he will be saving his soul to the uttermost. By this we see that to please the self is to save the soul. (CWWL, 1978, vol. 1, “The Exercise of the Kingdom for the Building of the Church,” pp. 105-106, 92)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1978, vol. 1, “The Exercise of the Kingdom for the Building of the Church,” chs. 5-6; CWWN, vol. 44, ch. 111

　　路十四26 人到我这里来，若不恨自己的父亲、母亲、妻子、儿女、弟兄、姊妹，甚至自己的魂生命，就不能作我的门徒。

　　　　34~35 盐本是好的，但若是连盐也失了味，可用什么叫它再咸？或用在田里，或堆在粪里，都不合式，只好扔在外面……。

　　我们也许认为主耶稣只教导我们要爱，但在路加十四章二十六节祂教导我们要恨。这不是宗教，这是神经纶里的事。……我们特别需要恨我们自己，就是我们自己的魂生命。

　　我们在自己里所爱的，主要的不是我们的灵或身体，乃是我们的魂。……事实上，一切形式的消遣、娱乐、享乐都是为着魂的享受。在二十六节，主清楚地说，我们若不恨自己的魂生命，就不能作祂的门徒（路加福音生命读经，三二三页）。

　　Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and moreover, even his own soul-life, he cannot be My disciple.

　　34-35 Therefore salt is good; but if even the salt becomes tasteless, with what will its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure pile; they will throw it out...

　　We may think that the Lord Jesus teaches us only to love. But in Luke 14:26 He teaches us to hate. This is not religion; this is a matter in God’s economy…. Especially we need to hate ourselves, even our own soul life.

　　What we love in ourselves is not mainly our spirit or body but our soul…. Actually, all forms of amusement, entertainment, and pleasures are for the enjoyment of the soul. In 14:26 the Lord clearly says that if we do not hate our own soul-life, we cannot be His disciples. (Life-study of Luke, pp. 281-282)

　　在路加十四章三十四、三十五节，主……说到盐。……盐在性质上是一种杀菌防腐的元素。对败坏的地，主耶稣的跟从者应当就是这样的元素，防止地完全败坏。……主指明盐可能会失去味道。主的跟从者失了味，意思就是他们失去了盐的功能。他们变得和属地的人一样，与不信的人毫无分别。……在基督里的信徒是地上的盐，为神所用，以消杀地上的腐败。他们的味道，在于他们对属地事物的舍弃。他们舍弃地上的事物越多，味道就越强。他们不愿舍弃今生一切的事物，就会失去味道。若是这样，用在田里就不合式，田表征召会是神的耕地（林前三9），带进要来的国度（启十一15）；堆在粪里也不合式，粪堆表征火坑，宇宙中的污秽之地（二一8，二二15）。

　　他们要从神的国里被扔出去，特别是在千年国时，要从国度的荣耀里被扔出去。他们已经得救，免去了永远的沉沦，但他们没有舍弃属地的事物，失去了他们在神国里的功用；因此他们不适合于要来的国度，需要被撇在一旁受管教。

　　因为我们的父知道祂的儿女也许会顽皮，没有忠信地享受基督，所以祂将祂完全救恩的一部分当作奖励和赏赐，……鼓励我们，警告我们，提醒我们，今天要保守自己享受基督，并且在这享受里行事为人。不然，我们就要受管教。这不是说，我们会灭亡，我们会失丧。我们既已永远得救，就永不会灭亡。但是有些父的儿女来世需要受管教。那些来世遭受父管教的儿女，不会不再是祂的儿女。……新约里清楚地教导，神对祂儿女时代的管教这件事。

　　我们已经看见，田表征神的耕地，就是召会，召会将带进要来的国度。粪堆乃是宇宙中最污秽之地，表征火坑，火湖。当然，没有一个得救的人适合于这样的地方。但是主耶稣回来以后，你适合于什么地方？你当然不适合于火坑，粪堆，因为主的血已经洗净你，你已经得救了。那么你适合于国度么？你的良心可能不许可你说你适合于国度。倘若这是你的光景，你就不适合于火坑，也不适合于国度。这就是说，你适合于第三个地方，管教的地方（路加福音生命读经，三二五至三二六、三二八至三二九页）。

　　参读：路加福音生命读经，第二十一、三十二至三十三、三十八至三十九、四十七至四十八篇；马太福音生命读经，第二十三、二十七至二十八篇。

　　In Luke 14:34 and 35 the Lord [speaks] of salt…. Salt by nature is an element that kills and eliminates the germs of corruption. To the corrupted earth, the followers of the Lord Jesus should be such an element keeping the earth from being fully corrupted. The Lord indicates that it is possible for salt to become tasteless. For the followers of the Lord to become tasteless means that they have lost their salting function. They have become the same as earthly people, with no distinction from the unbelievers. Believers in Christ are the salt of the earth used by God to kill and eliminate the earth’s corruption. Their taste depends upon their renouncing of earthly things. The more they renounce the things of the earth, the more powerful will be their taste. They will lose their taste by not being willing to renounce all the things of the present life. If this happens, they will be fit neither for the soil, signifying the church as God’s farm (1 Cor. 3:9) issuing in the coming kingdom (Rev. 11:15), nor for the manure pile, signifying hell, the dirty place in the universe (Rev. 21:8; 22:15). They will be thrown out from the kingdom of God, especially from the glory of the kingdom in the millennium. They have been saved from eternal perdition, but they did not renounce the earthly things and have lost their function in the kingdom of God. Thus, they are not fit for the coming kingdom, but need to be put aside for discipline.

　　Because our Father knows that His children may be “naughty” and not faithfully enjoy Christ, He has made part of His full salvation an incentive and a reward…to encourage us, warn us, and remind us to keep ourselves in the enjoyment of Christ today and to behave ourselves in this enjoyment. Otherwise, we shall be disciplined. This does not mean that we shall perish, that we shall be lost. Since we have been saved eternally, we shall never perish. Nevertheless, some of the Father’s children will need to suffer discipline during the coming age. Those children who suffer the Father’s discipline in the coming age will not cease to be His children….This matter of God’s dispensational discipline of His children is clearly taught in the New Testament.

　　We have seen that the soil signifies God’s farm, which is the church, and the church will issue in the coming kingdom. The manure pile, the dirtiest place in the universe, signifies hell, the lake of fire. To be sure, no saved person would be fit for such a place. But for what place will you be fit after the Lord Jesus comes back? You certainly will not be fit for hell, the manure pile, because the Lord’s blood has washed you and you have been saved. Will you, then, be fit for the kingdom? Your conscience may not allow you to say that you are fit for the kingdom. If this is your situation, you are fit neither for hell nor for the kingdom. This means that you are fit for a third place, a place of discipline. (Life-study of Luke, pp. 283-284, 286-287)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Luke, msgs. 21, 32-33, 38-39, 47-48; Life-study of Matthew, msgs. 23, 27-28

　　路十七32~34 你们要回想罗得的妻子。凡想要保全魂生命的，必丧失魂生命；凡丧失魂生命的，必使魂生命得以存活。我告诉你们，当那一夜，两个人在一个床上，要取去一个，撇下一个。

　　罗得的妻子变成一根盐柱，是因她留恋所多玛，回头观望；这指明她贪爱并宝贝神即将审判并彻底毁灭的邪恶世界。她虽被救出所多玛，却没有到达罗得所到的安全地方（创十九15~30）。她没有灭亡，也没有完全得救。她就像失了味的盐（路十四34~35），被撇在蒙羞之地。这对贪爱世界的信徒，是个严肃的警告。

　　如果我们爱主，接受罗得妻子之事例的警告，我们就不会在意物质的东西，也不会把我们的心摆在其上。我们不会贪恋物质的东西，而保全自己的魂，却会被基督这属天的气所充满，而被提上升（路加福音生命读经，三八七至三八八页）。

　　Luke 17:32-34 Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his soul-life will lose it, and whoever loses it will preserve it alive. I tell you, In that night there will be two on one bed; the one will be taken and the other will be left.

　　Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt because she took a lingering, backward look at Sodom. That look indicated that she loved and treasured the evil world which God was about to judge and utterly destroy. She was rescued from Sodom, but she did not reach the safe place that Lot reached (Gen. 19:15-30). She did not perish; neither was she fully saved. Like the salt which becomes tasteless (Luke 14:34-35), she was left in a place of suffering shame. This is a solemn warning to world-loving believers.

　　If we love the Lord and are warned by the case of Lot’s wife, we shall not care for material things or set our hearts on them. Instead of preserving our soul by loving material things, we shall be filled up with Christ as the heavenly air. Then we shall rise in rapture. (Life-study of Luke, pp. 336-337)

　　在路加十七章三十四至三十六节，……启示得胜信徒的被提。这事要隐密且突然地发生：在夜间，是对睡着的信徒；在白昼，是对在家里推磨的姊妹，并在田里作工的弟兄。他们蒙拣选是因为他们胜过了今世的麻醉影响。

　　在十四章二十五至三十五节，救主嘱咐我们要尽所能地出代价，使我们能跟从祂。在十六章一至十三节，祂嘱咐我们要胜过玛门，使我们能作忠信的管家，精明地事奉祂。在十七章二十二至三十七节……，祂嘱咐我们要胜过今世放纵自己之生活的麻醉影响，使我们可以被提进入祂巴路西亚 （同在，来临）的享受里。这些嘱咐都与信徒实际生活上的得胜有关。

　　在十七章三十四至三十六节主说“取去一个”，这是指得胜者的被提。他们不贪爱今生属世的东西，不保全自己的魂生命。这样被取去的人，要在大灾难 （太二四21）以前被提。大灾难是个厉害的试炼，要临到普天下的人（启三10）。这样的被提就是蒙保守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（10）。

　　路加十七章三十五节的“推磨”，和马太二十四章四十节的“在田里”，都表明为生活而工作。信徒虽不该沉迷于今生的需求，却需要为生活而工作。任何放弃正当谋生职业的想法，都是撒但诡计的另一极端。

　　我们在路加十七章三十四至三十六节看见，有些睡觉的人要在夜间被提，有些推磨的姊妹和耕种的弟兄要在白昼被提。在此我们看见，圣徒是在不同的时间，不同的地点被提。有些人要在夜间被提，有些人要在白昼被提，这要看他们住在地球上何处。也许远东的圣徒要在夜间被提，西方的圣徒要在白昼被提。

　　我们在这些经节中看见，不是所有睡觉、推磨或耕种的人都被提。这指明不是所有的信徒一次被提。主说，两个人在一个床上，要取去一个，撇下一个。两个人在同一处推磨，两个人在田里工作，也是一样。在各个事例中，被撇下的那一个，也许不知道被取去的那一个的下落。这是儆醒之信徒的被提（路加福音生命读经，三八九至三九一页）。

　　参读：圣洁没有瑕疵，第四章；启示录生命读经，第二十九篇。

　　In Luke 17:34 and 35 the rapture of the overcoming believers is revealed. It will occur secretly and unexpectedly, at night to some believers who are sleeping and in the daytime to some sisters grinding at home and to some brothers working in the field. They are chosen because they have overcome the stupefying effect of this age.

　　In 14:25-35 the Savior charges us to pay the price insofar as we are able that we may follow Him. In 16:1-13 He charges us to overcome mammon so that we may serve Him prudently as a faithful steward. Here in 17:22-37 He charges us to overcome the stupefying effect of self-indulgent living in this age so that we may be raptured into the enjoyment of His parousia (presence, coming). These charges are all related to overcoming in the believers’ practical living.

　　In both 17:34 and 35 the Lord says that “the one will be taken.” The Greek word for taken literally means “taken with.” This word denotes the rapture of the overcomers, who do not preserve their soul life by loving the worldly things of this age. Those who are taken in this way will be raptured before the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21), which will be a severe trial upon the whole inhabited earth (Rev. 3:10). To be thus raptured is to be kept out of the hour of trial which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth (Rev. 3:10).

　　The words “grinding” in Luke 17:35 and “in the field” in Matthew 24:40 signify working for a living. Although the believers should not be stupefied by the necessities of this life, they need to work for a living. Any thought of giving up proper work for a living is another extreme of Satan’s tactics.

　　In Luke 17:34-36 we see that some who are sleeping will be raptured in the night, and some sisters grinding and some brothers farming will be raptured in the day. Here we see that the rapture will involve saints who are in different places at different times. When the rapture takes place, some will be raptured in the night, and others will be raptured in the day, depending on where they live on earth. Perhaps the saints in the Far East will be raptured in the night, and the saints in the West will be raptured in the day.

　　In these verses we see that not all those who are sleeping, grinding, or farming will be raptured. This indicates that not all the believers will be raptured at once. The Lord says that two will be on one bed, and one will be taken and the other will be left. The same will be true of two grinding at the same place and of two laboring in the field. In each case, the one who is left may not know the whereabouts of the one who has been taken. This is the rapture of the watchful believers. (Life-study of Luke, pp. 338-339)

　　Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 34, “The Glorious Church,” ch. 4; Life-study of Revelation, msg. 29; CWWL, 1955, vol. 2, pp. 31-34

　　路二一34 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。

　　　　　36 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。

　　路加二十一章三十六节的“逃避”，是指在大灾难（太二四21） 以前被取去，被提（路十七34~36）。大灾难是个厉害的试炼，要临到普天下的人（启三10）。这样的被提就是蒙保守“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”（10）。此外，“这一切……事”〔路二一36〕是指一切大灾难的事。“站立在人子面前”，与启示录十四章一节的“站”相符，这指明在大灾难前，被提的得胜者要在天上的锡安山上，站立在救主面前（参十二5~6、14）（路加福音生命读经，四七五页）。

　　Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves lest perhaps your hearts be weighed down with debauchery and drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare.

　　36 But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man.

　　The word escape in Luke 21:36 signifies being taken, raptured, before the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21), which will be a severe trial upon the whole inhabited earth (Rev. 3:10; Luke 17:34-36)….“All these things” [in Luke 21:36] are the things of the great tribulation. To stand before the Son of Man corresponds to the standing of those in Revelation 14:1. It indicates that the raptured overcomers will stand before the Savior on Mount Zion in the heavens before the great tribulation (see Rev. 12:5-6, 14). (Life-study of Luke, p. 414)

　　在路加二十一章三十六节，人救主嘱咐我们要儆醒。我们要不被麻醉，就需要儆醒，而且需要常常祈求。这不是一般的祷告，乃是专一的祷告，使我们得胜，能逃避这一切要发生的事。……这样得胜是指有力量和能力逃避大灾难。我们不该被今天世界的潮流抓住，反而需要逃避这潮流。逃避的力量和能力，是来自儆醒和祈求。如果我们有专一的祷告，就会得胜，能逃避一切要发生的事。

　　逃避要发生的事，就是在大灾难之前被提，也是蒙保守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。因此，主在二十一章三十六节的话，乃是应验祂对非拉铁非召会的应许：“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。”（启三10）这里的“试炼”，无疑的是指大灾难。

　　主这应许，与路加二十一章三十六节的相同，指明那些遵守主忍耐之话的圣徒，要在大试炼前被提；这含示不遵守主忍耐之话的人，要留在那试炼中。

　　虽然三十四至三十六节没有“被提”这辞，但三十六节很强地指明被提。这节圣经消极地说到逃避这一切要发生的事，也积极地说到站立在人子面前。在三十六节所含示的时间里，人子在哪里？祂还在诸天的宝座上。那么，我们怎样能在那里站立在祂面前？我们站立在宝座上的人子面前，唯一的路乃是被提—被提到诸天之上。

　　我们会不会在大灾难以前被提，与宝座上的基督相遇，这不在于祂，乃在于我们儆醒，并专一的祷告。我们需要不断儆醒、祈求，使我们得胜，能逃避大灾难。我们需要祷告，使我们有力量和能力，逃避地上将要发生的事。

　　我们应当得胜，能逃避，蒙保守免去大灾难。……这就是被提，在天上的锡安山上，站立在人子面前。然后祂就要开始祂的巴路西亚，与我们同在。当祂离开宝座回到地上来，我们就要与祂同在。那真是令人兴奋！毫无疑问，那些在诸天里的锡安山上，站立在人子面前的人，必定在主里欣喜若狂（路加福音生命读经，四七五至四七六、四七八至四七九页）。

　　参读：正常的基督徒生活，第十二至十三章；新约总论，第一百八十二篇；使徒的教训，第八篇。

　　In Luke 21:36 the Man-Savior charges us to be watchful. Instead of being stupefied or drugged, we need to be vigilant. Furthermore, at every time we need to beseech. This is not to pray in a general way; it is to pray in a particular way that we may prevail to escape the things that are about to take place…. To prevail in this way is to have the strength and ability to escape the great tribulation. We should not be caught in the trend of today’s world. Instead, we need to escape this trend. The strength and ability to escape come from being watchful and from beseeching. If we pray in a particular way, we shall prevail to escape all the things that are about to take place.

　　To escape the things that are about to take place is to be raptured before the great tribulation. This is also to be kept out of the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole inhabited earth to try those who dwell on the earth. Hence, the Lord’s word in 21:36 is the fulfillment of the promise He gives to the church in Philadelphia: “Because you have kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial, which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10). “Trial” here undoubtedly denotes the great tribulation.

　　This promise of the Lord, like that in Luke 21:36, indicates that the saints who have kept the word of the Lord’s endurance will be raptured before the great trial. This implies that those who have not kept the word of His endurance will be left in the trial.

　　Although the word rapture is not found in 21:34-36, there is a strong indication of the rapture in verse 36. This verse speaks negatively of escaping all the things that are about to take place and positively of standing before the Son of Man. Where will the Son of Man be at the time implied in verse 36? He will still be on the throne in the heavens….The only way for us to stand before the Son of Man on the throne is for us to be raptured, to be taken away to the heavens.

　　Whether or not we shall be raptured before the great tribulation and be taken away to meet Christ on the throne does not depend on Him. It depends on our watchfulness and on our praying in a particular way. Constantly we need to be watchful and beseeching that we may prevail to escape the great tribulation.

　　We should prevail to escape, prevail to be kept away from the great tribulation….This is to be raptured to stand before the Son of Man on the heavenly Mount Zion. Then He will begin His parousia with us. When He leaves the throne to come back to earth, we shall be with Him. How exciting that will be! No doubt, those who stand before the Son of Man on Mount Zion in the heavens will be beside themselves with joy in the Lord. (Life-study of Luke, pp. 414-417)

　　Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 33, “The Normal Christian Life,” chs. 12-13; The Conclusion of the New Testament, msg. 182; CWWL, 1990, vol. 1, “The Apostles’ Teaching,” ch. 8

　　彼前一7~9 叫你们信心所受的试验，……经过火的试验……，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候，显为可得称赞、荣耀和尊贵的；你们虽然没有见过祂，却是爱祂，如今虽不得看见，却因信入祂而欢腾，有说不出来、满有荣光的喜乐，得着你们信心的结果，就是魂的救恩。

　　在彼前一章七节彼得说到我们被摆在试炼里〔6〕的原因。我们被摆在试炼里，因为我们的信心需要受试验。……“试验”原文意蒙称许的试验。显为可得称赞、荣耀、尊贵的，不是信心的本身，乃是信心所受的试炼、试验（正如学校对学生的功课举行考试，显为可称许的是考试，不是学生功课的本身）。当然，信心得称许是来自正确的信心。这里所强调的不是我们的信心，乃是借着苦难在试炼之下对我们信心的试验（彼得前书生命读经，五五页）。

　　1 Pet. 1:7-9 So that the proving of your faith, ...though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; whom having not seen, you love; into whom though not seeing Him at present, yet believing, you exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

　　First Peter 1:7 gives the reason we are put into trials [v. 6]. We are put into trials because our faith needs to be tested, proved. The Greek word rendered “proving” means testing for approval. It is the proving, the testing, of our faith, not our faith itself, that may be found unto praise. This may be compared to an examination in school related to a student’s study. It is not the student’s study itself that is found approved; rather, it is the examination that is found to be approved. Of course, the approval of our faith comes out of the proper faith. The emphasis here is not on our faith; the emphasis is on the proving of our faith by the trials through sufferings. (Life-study of 1 Peter, pp. 45-46)

　　彼前一章九节……按事实是联于七节。我们信心所受的试验，将来显为可得称赞、荣耀和尊贵的，使我们得着我们信心的结果，就是魂的救恩。……九节的救恩是完全的救恩，这救恩分三个阶段—起初的阶段、长进的阶段和完成的阶段。我们有三部分：灵、魂、体。我们的灵已经借着重生得救了（约三5~6）。我们的体要借着将来的改变形状而得救，而得赎（腓三21，罗八23）。我们的魂要在主显现、回来时得救，脱离苦难得以完满地享受主。为此我们必须在今世否认自己的魂，就是我们的魂生命连同其一切享乐，使我们来世在对主的享受里可以得着魂（太十37~39，十六24~27，路十七30~33，约十二25）。

　　主显现时，有些信徒经过祂的审判台要进去享受主的快乐（太二五21、23，二四45~46），有些要哀哭切齿地受苦（二五30，二四51）。进去享受主的快乐，就是我们魂的得救（来十39）。

　　最近一些弟兄对我说，“……其他地方的圣徒……很贫穷，他们遭遇许多苦难，包括遭受逼迫。这似乎不公平。他们受许多的苦，我们却在这国家享受美好的事物。”……我回答说，“……不要以为因为我们可以得着丰盛的物质东西，我们就没有苦难。许多美国人受心脏病、胃溃疡和精神病的苦。……无论我们在哪里，我们都会受苦，并受神的管教。”……我们无法逃避我们魂里的受苦。人活在地上就是受苦。今天这地不是给我们享受的。

　　年轻人也许期望完成他们的教育，找分好的工作，然后有非常愉快的婚姻生活。然而，他们需要领悟，在这地上没有乐园。我们必须等候主来，救我们脱离苦难的范围，进入安适的范围里。那将是我们魂的完全救恩。

　　我能见证，虽然我有一位好妻子，虽然我为众圣徒和众召会所爱，但我魂里不断地受许多的苦。没有人能帮助我逃避这苦楚。所以，我在等候主耶稣显现。祂回来的时候，我就要从这受苦的范围被救到享受的范围。在那范围里我们要完全享受三一神，和祂一切所是、所有、所成就、所达到并所得着的（彼得前书生命读经，六一、七四至七五页）。

　　参读：彼得前书生命读经，第六至七篇；神圣分赐的异象与新路实行的指引，第四篇。

　　First Peter 1:9 is the direct continuation of verse 7. The proving of our faith to be found unto praise, glory, and honor results in the obtaining of the end of our faith, that is, the salvation of our souls. The salvation in verse 9 is full salvation, the salvation which is in three stages—the initial stage, the progressing stage, and the completing stage. We are of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. Our spirit has been saved through regeneration (John 3:5-6). Our body will be saved, redeemed, through the coming transfiguration (Rom. 8:23; Phil. 3:21). Our soul will be saved from sufferings into the full enjoyment of the Lord at His unveiling, His coming back. For this we have to deny our soul, our soulish life, with all its pleasures in this age, that we may gain it in the enjoyment of the Lord in the coming age (Matt. 10:37-39; 16:24-27; Luke 17:30-33; John 12:25). At the Lord’s unveiling, some believers through His judgment seat will enter into the joy of the Lord (Matt. 25:21, 23; 24:45-46), and some will suffer in weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 25:30; 24:51). To enter into the Lord’s joy is the salvation of our souls (Heb. 10:39).

　　Recently some brothers said to me, “…The saints in other places are poor and they are suffering many things, including persecution. This does not seem fair. While they are suffering so much, we are here in this country enjoying good things.” I replied, “...Do not think that because we may have an abundance of material things we do not have sufferings. Many Americans suffer from heart disease, ulcers, and mental illness….Wherever we may be, we shall suffer and be subject to God’s discipline.” There is no way for us to avoid suffering in our soul. To live on earth as a human being is to suffer. The earth today is not for our enjoyment.

　　The young people may expect to finish their education, find a good job, and then have a very pleasant married life. They need to realize, however, that on this earth there is no paradise. We must wait for the Lord’s coming to be saved from the realm of suffering into a realm of comfort. That will be the full salvation of our soul.

　　I can testify that although I have a good wife and although I am loved by the saints and the churches, I continue to suffer a great deal in my soul. No one can help me to avoid this suffering. Therefore, I am waiting for the unveiling of the Lord Jesus. At the time of His coming back, I shall be rescued from this realm of suffering into a realm of enjoyment. In that realm we shall have the full enjoyment of the Triune God and of all that He is, has, and has accomplished, attained, and obtained. (Life-study of 1 Peter, pp. 50, 60-61)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of 1 Peter, msgs. 6-7; CWWL, 1990, vol. 3, “The Vision of the Divine Dispensing and Guidelines for the Practice of the New Way,” ch. 4

　　来十35 所以不可丢弃你们的胆量；这胆量是会得大赏赐的。

　　　　39 我们却不是退缩以致遭毁坏的人，乃是有信心以致得着魂的人。

　　得着魂是为着我们全人享受要来安息日的安息，也就是在要来的国度里，有分于基督的快乐和荣耀（来四9）。我们人有三部分，灵、魂和身体（帖前五23）。我们的魂与我们的灵不同。当我们相信主耶稣而得救时，我们的灵就为神的灵所重生（约三6）。但我们的身体必须等到主耶稣回来时，才能得赎、得救并且改变形状（罗八23~25，腓三21）。至于拯救或得着我们的魂，乃在于我们得救重生之后，在跟从主的事上，如何对付我们的魂。我们现今若肯为主的缘故丧失魂，就必得着魂（太十六25，路九24，十七33，约十二25，彼前一9），在主回来时（来十37），就要拯救或得着我们的魂（希伯来书生命读经，六二四页）。

　　Heb. 10:35 Do not cast away therefore your boldness, which has great reward.

　　39 But we are not of those who shrink back to ruin but of those who have faith to the gaining of the soul.

　　The gaining of the soul is for our whole being to enjoy the coming Sabbath rest, that is, to share in Christ’s joy and glory in the coming kingdom (Heb. 4:9). Our being is of three parts—spirit, soul, and body (1 Thes. 5:23), and our soul is different from our spirit. At the time when we believed in the Lord Jesus and were saved, our spirit was regenerated with the Spirit of God (John 3:6). But we must wait until the Lord Jesus comes back for our body to be redeemed, saved, and transfigured (Rom. 8:23-25; Phil. 3:21). As to the saving or gaining of our soul, it depends upon how we deal with it in following the Lord after we are saved and regenerated. If we lose it now for the Lord’s sake, we shall save it (Matt. 16:25; Luke 9:24; 17:33; John 12:25; 1 Pet. 1:9), and it shall be saved, or gained, at the Lord’s coming back (Heb. 10:37). (Life-study of Hebrews, pp. 520-521)

　　来世得着魂，乃是我们因着在今世跟从基督而受苦所得的大赏赐（来十35）。我们在今生若只顾魂的享受，追求精神的快乐，却不忠信地跟从基督，就要在来世，在我们的魂里受主的管教。我们今天若愿意为着主的缘故，失去魂的享受，到来世时，我们的全人，特别是我们的魂，就要完满地享受主。那将是我们今天受苦的赏赐。

　　主在四福音里多次告诉我们，若肯在今世为祂和福音的缘故丧失魂，在来世当祂回来时，我们就必得着魂（太十六25，路九24，十七33）。……我们这些人都有灵，但我们却是一个魂。人乃是魂。今世丧失魂的意思，就是今世为主和福音的缘故受苦。当我们受苦时，乃是整个人受苦。这意思是说，我们丧失我们的魂。凡在今生丰足舒适，享受物质生活的人，就是叫魂得着享受。不是太多的基督徒肯付代价，严格地跟从主，因为他们不愿意自己的魂受苦，只愿意今生多有享受，买豪华汽车，住大洋房，得到许多属世的东西，不愿意丧失自己的魂。

　　今世丧失魂，就是在属人的一面为主受苦。我们今天若跟从主，就必定会为祂的缘故受苦。因着你忠信正直地跟从耶稣基督，你的老师也许不给你高分数，你在职业上也许得不着升迁。许多这样的事，都与丧失我们的魂有关。……我们今天丧失魂，乃是来世得着魂的条件。来世得着魂，就是进去享受主的快乐，并与祂一同作王。根据马太二十五章的比喻，主对那些忠信的奴仆说，“进来享受你主人的快乐。”〔23〕进来享受主的快乐，就是在要来的国度里与主一同作王。今世是叫我们受苦的，来世才是给我们享受的。

　　得着魂等于得完全，而得完全等于得荣耀。得荣耀、达到完全、来世得着魂，都是指一件事，就是得赏赐。……赏赐乃是神救恩的目标。神救恩的……目标……乃是使我们与祂的长子一样一式。罗马八章二十九节说，我们是被预定“模成神儿子的形像，使祂儿子在许多弟兄中作长子”。这里我们看见，神的目标就是要把祂的众子，基督的众弟兄，模成祂长子的形像（希伯来书生命读经，六二四至六二七页）。

　　参读：希伯来书生命读经，第四十六篇；倪柝声文集第一辑第十七册，讲经记录，第十一至十三期。

　　To gain our soul in the coming age will be a great reward (Heb. 10:35) to our suffering for following Christ in this age. If we care for the enjoyment of our soul, the psychological pleasures, and do not follow Christ faithfully today, we shall suffer the Lord’s discipline in our soul in the coming age. If we are willing to lose the enjoyment of our soul for the Lord’s sake today, we shall have the full enjoyment of the Lord for our whole being, especially for our soul, in the coming age. That will be a reward to our suffering today.

　　In the Gospels the Lord tells us many times that if in this age we lose our soul for His sake and the gospel’s, at His coming back in the next age we shall gain it (Matt. 16:25; Luke 9:24; 17:33)…. As human beings, we have a spirit, but we are a soul. A human being is a soul. To lose our soul in this age means to suffer for the Lord’s sake and for the sake of the gospel. When we suffer, our whole being suffers. This means that we lose our soul. Those who are rich and comfortable today, enjoying their physical life, are having enjoyment for their soul. Not many Christians are willing to pay the price to follow the Lord strictly, because they do not want to suffer in their soul; they want to enjoy their life today, desiring luxurious cars, large houses, and many worldly things.

　　Losing our soul in this age is to suffer for the Lord’s sake in a human way. If we follow the Lord today, we shall certainly suffer for His sake. Because you are a faithful and straight follower of Jesus Christ, your teachers may not give you the higher grade, and you may not receive a promotion on your job. Many such things are related to losing our soul….This loss of our soul today is the condition of our gaining it in the next age. To gain our soul in the next age is to enter into the Lord’s joy and reigning. According to the parable in Matthew 25, the Lord said to the faithful servants, “Enter into the joy of your master” [v. 23]. To enter into the Lord’s joy is to enter into His reign in the coming kingdom. This age is for us to suffer; the next age is for our enjoyment.

　　The gaining of the soul equals perfection, and perfection equals glorification. To be glorified, to be perfected, and to gain our soul in the next age all refer to one thing—the reward….[The reward] is the goal of God’s salvation….The goal of God’s salvation is to make us the same as His Firstborn Son. Romans 8:29 says that we have been, “predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers”…. Here we see God’s goal—that His many sons, who are Christ’s many brothers, might be conformed to the image of His firstborn Son. (Life-study of Hebrews, pp. 521-523)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Hebrews, msg. 46; CWWN, vol. 17, issue nos. 6-8