启七9 ……我观看，看哪，有大批的群众，没有人能数得过来，是从各邦国、各支派、各民族、各方言来的，站在宝座前和羔羊面前，身穿白袍，手拿棕树枝。

　　　　15 所以他们在神宝座前，昼夜在祂殿中事奉祂；坐宝座的要用帐幕覆庇他们。

　　在启示录七章九至十七节，我们看见大批的群众，是耶稣的见证。按照七章的记载，这“大批的群众”乃是全体蒙神救赎的人，是从“各邦国、各支派、各民族、各方言”赎来的（9）。十四节说，“这些人是从大患难中出来的”，可见他们全都经过患难。这指明没有一个时候，没有一个地方，召会不遭遇患难。世界总是逼迫召会的（约十六33），召会无论在哪里，总要遭受相当的逼迫。这大批的群众又是从患难中得胜地出来的，因为他们都手拿棕树枝，这表征他们胜过了患难（启七9）。最后，在永世里，神要用祂的帐幕覆庇他们〔15〕。……这就是蒙神救赎之人的定命。何等美妙！还有，羔羊要在生命水的泉那里，永远牧养他们（启示录生命读经，三四页）。

　　Rev. 7:9 …I saw, and behold, there was a great multitude which no one could number, out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches in their hands.

　　15 Because of this they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits upon the throne will tabernacle over them.

　　In Revelation 7:9-17 we see the testimony of Jesus as the great multitude. According to the record of chapter 7, this great multitude is the whole Body of God’s redeemed ones, having been redeemed “out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (v. 9). All of them have passed through tribulation. This indicates that at no time nor at any place is there a church that has not passed through tribulation. The world always persecutes the churches (John 16:33). Wherever the church is, there will always be a certain amount of persecution. That the whole Body of the redeemed ones will pass through tribulation is indicated by Revelation 7:14, which says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.” This great multitude has come out of tribulation in a victorious way, for they all hold palm branches, which signify their victory over tribulation (v. 9). Eventually, in eternity, they will be overshadowed by God as the tabernacle [v. 15]…This is the destiny of God’s redeemed ones. How wonderful! Furthermore, they will also be shepherded by the Lamb at the springs of waters of life for eternity (v. 17). (Life-study of Revelation, p. 28)

　　启示录七章九至十七节的大批群众，包含历世代从各邦国救赎出来的人，他们的数目数算不尽并且组成召会。他们站在宝座前，指明他们已被提到诸天之上神的面前。因此，这些经文所记载的，乃是一般的描述从信徒被提到他们在永世里享受的情景。

　　十四节说，“这些人是从大患难中出来的。”……这大患难乃是泛指患难。所有神的赎民都经历过某些灾难、苦楚、逼迫和艰苦。没有任何基督徒能避免这些事。在我们的灵里，我们基督徒是享受的人；但在肉身一面，我们是受苦的人。然而，有一天我们要得胜地从大患难出来，站在羔羊面前。圣徒手中的棕树枝表征他们胜过患难，这些患难是他们为主的缘故所受的；棕树枝也是因水滋润而满足的标记（出十五27）。在永世里，那坐在宝座上，具体化身在基督里的（约一14），要用祂自己覆庇他们。不仅如此，他们必不再饥、不再渴，因为宝座中的羔羊要牧养他们，领他们到生命水的泉（李文集一九七五至一九七六年第一册，四九九页）。

　　我们在时间里的事奉是为着永世作准备的。……时间好像一个学校，是我们受属灵的训练和教育的地方；我们在时间里受了属灵的训练和教育，使我们在永世里能真正合乎神的用处。

　　马太二十五章告诉我们，当主回来的时候，祂对那些忠心的仆人说，“你在不多的事上既是忠信的，我要把许多事派你管理。”（21）今天你如果能学得好，等到主来的时候，祂要托你作更大更多的事情。今天是我们学的时候，等主来的时候才是我们正式事奉的时候。……启示录二十二章告诉我们，在永远里还是要事奉神（3）。今天主把我们安排在神的众儿女中间，目的是要我们和神的众儿女一同学习事奉。我们再说，我们今天在时间里的事奉，是为着永世里的事奉作准备的（倪柝声文集第二辑第十七册，二三○至二三一页）。

　　参读：耶稣的见证，第九至十一章。

　　The great multitude in Revelation 7:9-17 consists of the redeemed ones from the nations throughout all generations, who are innumerable and who constitute the church. Their standing before the throne indicates that they have been raptured to the heavens, to the presence of God. Thus, the record in these verses describes in a general way the scene from the time of the rapture of the believers to their enjoyment in eternity.

　　Verse 14 says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.”…The great tribulation here is tribulation in a general sense. All of God’s redeemed people have passed through certain tribulations, sufferings, persecutions, and afflictions. No Christian can avoid these things. In our spirit, we Christians are a people of enjoyment, but on the physical side, we are a suffering people. However, one day we shall come triumphantly out of the great tribulation and stand before the Lamb. The palm branches in the hands of the saints signify their victory over tribulation, which they have undergone for the Lord’s sake, and they are also a sign of satisfaction gained through being watered (Exo. 15:27). In eternity the One who sits on the throne will tabernacle over them, overshadowing them with Himself as the One who is embodied in Christ (John 1:14). Moreover, they will not hunger or thirst anymore, for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of waters of life. (CWWL, 1975-1976, vol. 1, “The Testimony of Jesus,” pp. 366-367)

　　Our service in time is to prepare us for eternity…Time is like a school; it is a place where we receive spiritual training and education. Our spiritual training and education in time will make us useful to God in eternity.

　　According to Matthew 25, when the Lord comes back, He will say to the faithful slaves, “You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things” (v. 21). If we learn our lesson well, the Lord will entrust us with greater works when He comes back. Today is the time for us to learn; our proper service does not begin until the Lord comes back…Revelation 22 tells us that we will serve God in eternity (v. 3). God places us among His children today in order for us to serve together with all of them. I say again: Our service in time today is a preparation for our service in eternity. (CWWN, vol. 37, “General Messages,” p. 181)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1975-1976, vol. 1, “The Testimony of Jesus,” chs. 9—11