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The volume now in the reader’s hands requires a few introductory words of explanation.
现在读者手中的这卷书需要一些介绍性的解释。
It contains little that is entirely new.
它所包含的内容几乎没有什么是全新的。
It consists of eight sermons, delivered on public occasions, at various intervals during my ministry, and afterwards published in the form of tracts.
它由八篇讲道组成，是在我事奉期间不同时期的公开场合所宣讲的，后来以单行本的形式出版。
Of these sermons, one or two have perhaps obtained a greater circulation than they deserved, while one or two, in my humble judgment of more real worth — have received comparatively little notice.
在这些讲道中，有一两篇可能获得了超过它们应得的更广泛传播，而另外一两篇，依我谦卑的判断具有更真实的价值——却相对少受关注。
They are now brought together in their present form, for the convenience of those who wish to have a manual of my views of prophecy, in a compact state.
它们现在以目前的形式汇集在一起，是为了方便那些希望拥有一本关于我预言观点的手册，以紧凑的形式呈现的人。
At the very outset I warn the reader of these pages that he will find here nothing deep or abstruse.
在一开始我就要警告这些篇章的读者，他不会在这里找到任何深奥或晦涩难懂的东西。
I have purposely avoided everything that can be called speculative or conjectural.
我特意避开了一切可以称为推测性或臆测性的内容。
I have strictly confined myself to a few great prophetical principles, which appear to me written as it were with a sunbeam.
我严格地将自己限制在几个伟大的预言原则上，这些原则在我看来就像是用阳光写成的一样明亮。
I have not attempted to expound such portions of God’s Word as Ezekiel’s temple, or the symbolic visions of Revelation.
我没有尝试去解释神话语中的某些部分，如以西结的圣殿，或启示录中的象征性异象。
I have not ventured to fix any dates.
我没有冒险去确定任何日期。
I have not tried to settle the precise order or manner in which predictions of things to come are to be fulfilled.
我没有试图确定将来事物的预言将以何种精确的顺序或方式得以应验。
There is nothing I dislike so much in prophetical inquiry, as dogmatism or positiveness.
在预言研究中，没有什么比武断或独断更让我厌恶的了。
Much of the discredit which has fallen on prophetical study has arisen from the fact that many students instead of expounding prophecy — have turned prophets themselves!
预言研究遭受的许多诋毁，是由于许多学者没有去解释预言——反而自己变成了先知！
If anyone asks me what my prophetical opinions are, I am quite ready to give him an answer.
如果有人问我的预言观点是什么，我完全准备好给他一个答复。
As cautious and doubtful as I feel on some points, there are certain great principles about which I have fully made up my mind.
尽管我在某些方面感到谨慎和疑惑，但有些伟大的原则是我已经完全下定决心的。
I have held by them firmly for many years, and have never had my opinion shaken about them.
我已经坚定地持守它们许多年了，我对它们的看法从未动摇过。
I have lived in the belief of them for more than a third of a century, and in the belief of them I hope to die.
我在对它们的信念中生活了超过三分之一个世纪，并且希望在对它们的信念中死去。
The older I grow, the more do I feel convinced of their truth, and the more satisfied am I that no other principles can explain the state of the Church and the world.
我年纪越大，就越确信它们的真实性，也越满意于没有其他原则能够解释教会和世界的状况。
One thing only I wish to premise, before making my statement.
在陈述之前，我只想先声明一件事。
The reader must distinctly understand that I do not put forth my prophetical views as articles of faith — but only as my private opinions.
读者必须清楚地理解，我提出我的预言观点不是作为信仰条款——而只是作为我的个人意见。
I do not say that nobody can be saved, who does not agree with me about prophecy.
我不是说任何不同意我预言观点的人都不能得救。
I am not infallible.
我不是无误的。
I am very sensible that holier and better men than myself, do not see these subjects with my eyes, and think me utterly mistaken.
我非常清楚地知道，比我更圣洁、更好的人，不会用我的眼光看待这些主题，并认为我完全错了。
I condemn nobody.
我不定任何人的罪。
I judge nobody.
我不论断任何人。
I only ask liberty to hold and state distinctly my own views.
我只要求自由去持守并清楚地陈述我自己的观点。
The day will decide who is right.
那日子将决定谁是对的。
It is the new heart, and faith in Christ’s blood — which are absolutely necessary to salvation.
得救绝对必需的是新心和对基督宝血的信心。
The man who knows these two things experimentally, may be wrong about prophecy — but he will not miss Heaven.
凭经验认识这两件事的人，可能在预言上是错的——但他不会错过天堂。
The following, then, are the chief articles of my prophetic creed:
那么，以下是我预言信条的主要条款：
- I believe that the world will never be completely converted to Christianity by any existing agency, before the end comes.
一、我相信在末了来到之前，世界永远不会通过任何现存的媒介完全归信基督教。
In spite of all that can be done by ministers, churches, schools, and missions — the wheat and the tares will grow together until the harvest; and when the end comes, it will find the earth in much the same state that it was when the flood came in the days of Noah.
尽管牧师、教会、学校和宣教可以做许多事——麦子和稗子将一起生长直到收割的时候；当末了来到时，地上的状况将与挪亚日子洪水来临时的状况大致相同。
(Matthew 13:24-30; 24:37-39.)
（马太福音13章24至30节；24章37至39节。）
- I believe that the wide-spread unbelief, indifference, formalism, and wickedness, which are to be seen throughout Christendom — are only what we are taught to expect in God’s Word.
二、我相信在整个基督教世界所看到的广泛存在的不信、冷漠、形式主义和邪恶——正是我们在神话语中被教导要预期的。
Troublous times, departures from the faith, evil men waxing worse and worse, love waxing cold — are things distinctly predicted.
动荡的时代、离弃信仰、恶人越来越坏、爱心渐渐冷淡——都是明确预言的事情。
So far from making me doubt the truth of Christianity, they help to confirm my faith.
这些非但不会让我怀疑基督教的真理，反而有助于坚固我的信心。
Melancholy and sorrowful as the sight is, if I did not see it — I would think the Bible was not true.
尽管这景象是忧郁和悲伤的，如果我看不到它——我会认为圣经不是真的。
(Matthew 24:12; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:1, 4, 13.)
（马太福音24章12节；提摩太前书4章1节，提摩太后书3章1节、4节、13节。）
- I believe that the grand purpose of the present dispensation is to gather out of the world an elect people — and not to convert all mankind.
三、我相信当前世代的伟大目的是从世界中召聚出一群选民——而不是要改变全人类。
It does not surprise me at all to hear that the heathen are not all converted when missionaries preach, and that believers are but a little flock in any congregation in my own land.
听到当宣教士传道时异教徒并非全都归信，以及在我本国的任何会众中信徒只是小群，这一点也不让我惊讶。
It is precisely the state of things which I expect to find.
这正是我所期望看到的事物状态。
The Gospel is to be preached “as a witness,” and then shall the end come.
福音要作为”见证”被传讲，然后末了才会来到。
This is the dispensation of election, and not of universal conversion.
这是拣选的世代，而不是普世归信的世代。
(Acts 15:14; Matthew 24. 14.)
（使徒行传15章14节；马太福音24章14节。）
- I believe that the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is the great event which will wind up the present dispensation, and for which we ought daily to long and pray.
四、我相信我们主耶稣基督的第二次降临是将结束当前世代的伟大事件，我们应当每日渴望并为此祷告。
“May Your kingdom come!” “Come, Lord Jesus!” should be our daily prayer.
“愿祢的国降临！””主耶稣啊，我愿祢来！”应当是我们每日的祷告。
We look backward, if we have faith, to Christ dying on the cross; and we ought to look forward no less, if we have hope, to Christ coming again.
如果我们有信心，我们回顾基督在十字架上受死；如果我们有盼望，我们同样应当向前瞻望基督的再来。
(John 14:3; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 3:12.)
（约翰福音14章3节；提摩太后书4章8节；彼得后书3章12节。）
- I believe that the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will be a real, literal, personal, bodily coming; and that as He went away in the clouds of Heaven with His body, before the eyes of men — so in like manner He will return.
五、我相信我们主耶稣基督的第二次降临将是一次真实的、字面的、位格性的、身体的降临；正如祂带着祂的身体在天上的云中离开，在人们眼前——祂也将以同样的方式回来。
(Acts 1:11.)
（使徒行传1章11节。）
- I believe that after our Lord Jesus Christ comes again, the earth shall be renewed, and the curse removed; the devil shall be bound, the godly shall be rewarded, the wicked shall be punished; and that before He comes, there shall be neither resurrection, judgment, nor millennium, and that not until after He comes, shall the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
六、我相信在我们主耶稣基督再来之后，地要被更新，咒诅要被除去；魔鬼要被捆绑，敬虔的人要得赏赐，恶人要受惩罚；在祂来之前，既不会有复活、审判，也不会有千禧年，直到祂来之后，地才会充满对主荣耀的认识。
(Acts 3:21; Isaiah 25:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Revelation 20:1, etc.)
（使徒行传3章21节；以赛亚书25章6至9节；帖撒罗尼迦前书4章14至18节；启示录20章1节等。）
- I believe that the Jews shall ultimately be gathered again as a separate nation, restored to their own land, and converted to the faith of Christ, after going through great tribulation.
七、我相信犹太人最终将作为一个独立的民族再次被召聚，恢复到他们自己的土地上，并在经历大患难之后归信基督的信仰。
(Jeremiah 30:10, 11; 31:10; Romans 11:25, 26; Daniel 12:1; Zech. 13. 8, 9.)
（耶利米书30章10至11节；31章10节；罗马书11章25至26节；但以理书12章1节；撒迦利亚书13章8至9节。）
- I believe that the literal sense of Old Testament prophecies has been far too much neglected by the Churches, and is far too much neglected at the present day, and that under the mistaken system of spiritualizing and accommodating Bible language, Christians have too often completely missed its meaning.
八、我相信旧约预言的字面意义一直以来被教会极大地忽视了，在当今也被极大地忽视，在错误的灵意化和迁就圣经语言的体系下，基督徒常常完全错失了它的意义。
(Luke 24:25, 26.)
（路加福音24章25至26节。）
- I do not believe that the preterist scheme of interpreting the Apocalypse, which regards the book as almost entirely fulfilled; or the futurist scheme, which regards it as almost entirely unfulfilled — are either of them to be implicitly followed.
九、我不相信将启示录视为几乎完全应验的过去派解释方案；或将其视为几乎完全未应验的将来派方案——这两者中任何一个都应被无条件地遵循。
The truth, I expect, will be found to lie between the two.
我预期真理将被发现处于两者之间。
- I believe that the Roman Catholic Church is the great predicted apostasy from the faith, and is Babylon and Antichrist; although I think it highly probable that a more complete development of Antichrist will yet be exhibited to the world.
十、我相信罗马天主教会就是那被预言的对信仰的大背道，就是巴比伦和敌基督；尽管我认为极有可能敌基督更完全的发展还将向世界展现。
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-11; 1 Timothy4:1-3.)
（帖撒罗尼迦后书2章3至11节；提摩太前书4章1至3节。）
- Finally, I believe that it is for the safety, happiness, and comfort of all true Christians, to expect as little as possible from Churches or Governments under the present dispensation — to hold themselves ready for tremendous convulsions and changes of all things established — and to expect their good things only from Christ’s second advent.
十一、最后，我相信为了所有真基督徒的安全、幸福和安慰，在当前的世代要尽可能少地期待从教会或政府得到什么——要预备好自己面对一切既定事物的巨大动荡和变化——并且只从基督的第二次降临期待他们的好处。
The student of prophecy will see at a glance that there are many subjects on which I abstain from giving an opinion.
预言的研究者一眼就能看出，有许多主题我避免给出意见。
About the precise time when the present dispensation will end;
关于当前世代何时准确结束；
about the manner in which the heathen will be converted;
关于异教徒将以何种方式归信；
about the mode in which the Jews will be restored to their own land;
关于犹太人将以何种模式恢复到他们自己的土地；
about the burning up of the earth;
关于地的焚烧；
about the first resurrection;
关于第一次复活；
about the rapture of the saints;
关于圣徒的被提；
about the distinction between the appearing and the coming of Christ;
关于基督的显现和降临之间的区别；
about the future siege of Jerusalem and the last tribulation of the Jews;
关于将来耶路撒冷的围困和犹太人的末后患难；
about the binding of Satan before the millennium begins;
关于撒但在千禧年开始前被捆绑；
about the duration of the millennium;
关于千禧年的持续时间；
about the loosing of Satan at the end of the thousand years;
关于撒但在一千年末了被释放；
about the destruction of Gog and Magog;
关于歌革和玛各的毁灭；
about the precise nature and position of the new Jerusalem —
关于新耶路撒冷的确切性质和位置——
about all these things, I purposely decline expressing any opinion.
关于所有这些事情，我故意拒绝表达任何意见。
I could say something about them all — but it would be little better than conjecture.
我可以对它们全都说些什么——但那只不过比臆测好一点。
I am thankful that others have more light about them than I have.
我感恩的是其他人在这些方面比我有更多的亮光。
For myself, I feel unable at present to speak positively.
就我自己而言，我觉得目前无法确切地说。
If I have learned anything in studying prophecy, I think I have learned the wisdom of not “making haste” to decide what is true.
如果我在研究预言中学到了什么，我想我学到了不要”急促”地决定什么是真的这一智慧。
I am well aware that the views I have laid down appear to many persons very gloomy and discouraging.
我很清楚我所阐明的观点在许多人看来非常阴郁和令人沮丧。
The only answer I make to that charge is this — Are they Scriptural?
我对这一指控的唯一回答是——它们符合圣经吗？
Are they in accordance with the lessons of history and experience?
它们与历史和经验的教训一致吗？
To my mind they certainly are.
在我看来它们确实是。
I see human failure and human corruption stamped on the conclusion of all dispensations preceding our own.
我看到人的失败和人的败坏在我们之前的所有世代的结局上打上了印记。
I see much in the present state of the world to make me expect that the present dispensation will not end better than those which have gone before.
我在世界的当前状态中看到许多事，使我预期当前的世代不会比之前的那些世代结束得更好。
In short, there seems an inherent tendency to decay in everything that man touches!
简而言之，人所触及的每一样事物似乎都有一种内在的衰败倾向！
There is no such thing as creature perfection.
没有受造物完全这样的事。
God is teaching that lesson by all His successive modes of dealing with mankind.
神正通过祂对人类的所有相继的处理方式来教导这个功课。
There will be no perfection until the Lord comes.
直到主来之前都不会有完全。
The Patriarchal, the Mosaic, and the Christian dispensations all tend to prove this.
族长的、摩西的和基督徒的世代都倾向于证明这一点。
Those words of Scripture shall yet be verified, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it to Him.”
圣经的那些话必将被验证：”我要将这国倾覆、倾覆、而又倾覆，这国也必不再有，直等到那应得的人来到，我就赐给祂。”
(Ezekiel 21:27.)
（以西结书21章27节。）
When the Lord Jesus comes back to earth, and the tabernacle of God is with men, then will there be perfection — but not until then.
当主耶稣回到地上，神的帐幕与人同在时，那时才会有完全——但在那之前不会。
God will have all the glory at last, and all the world shall confess that without God, man can do nothing.
神最终将得着一切荣耀，全世界都将承认没有神，人什么也不能做。
God shall be “all in all.”
神将成为”万有中的万有”。
(1 Corinthians 15:28.)
（哥林多前书15章28节。）
The one point on which I desire to fix the eyes of my own soul — is the second personal coming of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
我渴望将我自己灵魂的眼睛定睛于其上的唯一一点——就是我的主和救主耶稣基督的第二次位格性降临。
To that “blessed hope and glorious appearing,” I wish, by God’s help, to direct all who read this volume.
靠着神的帮助，我希望引导所有阅读这卷书的人到那”有福的盼望和荣耀的显现”。
God forbid that anyone should neglect present duties!
神禁止任何人忽视当前的本分！
To sit idly waiting for Christ, and not to attend to the business of our respective positions, is not Christianity — but fanaticism!
闲坐等待基督，而不处理我们各自职分的事务，不是基督教——而是狂热主义！
Let us only remember in all our daily employments, that we serve a Master who is coming again.
让我们只要在所有日常工作中记住，我们服事的是一位将要再来的主。
If I can only stir up one Christian to think more of that second coming, and to keep it more prominently before his mind — I feel that the volume will not have been published in vain.
如果我只能激励一个基督徒更多地思想那第二次降临，并将它更显著地放在他心中——我就觉得这卷书的出版没有白费。
If anyone asks me why I have chosen this particular period for the republication of these prophetical tracts, I think it is sufficient answer to point to the times in which we live.
如果有人问我为什么选择在这个特定时期重新出版这些预言单行本，我认为指出我们所生活的时代就是足够的答案。
I do not forget that we are poor judges of our own days, and are very apt to exaggerate their importance.
我没有忘记我们是自己时代的拙劣判断者，并且很容易夸大它们的重要性。
But I doubt much whether there ever was a time in the history of our country, when the horizon on all sides, both political and ecclesiastical — was so thoroughly black and lowering.
但我非常怀疑在我们国家的历史上是否曾有过这样的时刻，当四面八方的地平线，无论是政治上的还是教会上的——都如此彻底地黑暗和低沉。
In every direction, we see men’s hearts “failing for fear, and for looking for those things that seem coming on the earth.”
在每个方向，我们看到人心”因恐惧，又因那些似乎要临到地上的事而惊惶”。
Everything around us seems unscrewed, loosened, and out of joint!
我们周围的一切似乎都松动了、松脱了、脱节了！
The fountains of the great deep appear to be breaking up.
大深的泉源似乎正在裂开。
Ancient institutions are tottering, and ready to fall.
古老的制度正在摇摇欲坠，随时要倒塌。
Social and ecclesiastical systems are failing, and crumbling away.
社会和教会体系正在衰败，逐渐崩溃。
Church and State seem alike convulsed to their very foundations — and what the end of this convulsion may be, no man can tell.
教会和国家似乎都同样震动到它们的根基——这场震动的结局会是什么，无人能说。
Whether the last days of old England have really come — whether her political greatness is about to pass away — whether her Protestant Church is about to have her candlestick removed — whether in the coming crash of nations, England is to perish like Amalek, or at length to be saved, and escape “so as by fire,” — all these are points which I dare not attempt to settle: a very few years will decide them.
古老英格兰的末日是否真的来到——她的政治伟大是否即将消逝——她的新教教会是否即将被挪去灯台——在即将到来的列国崩溃中，英格兰是要像亚玛力一样灭亡，还是最终得救，并”像从火里经过一样”逃脱——所有这些都是我不敢尝试解决的问题：很短的几年就会决定它们。
But I am sure there never was a time when it was more imperatively needful to summon believers to “cease from man,” to stand on their watch-towers, and to build all their hopes on the second coming of the Lord!
但我确信从来没有一个时候比现在更迫切需要召唤信徒”不要倚靠人”，站在他们的守望台上，并将他们所有的盼望建立在主的第二次降临上！
Happy is he who has learned to expect little from Parliaments or Convocations, from Statesmen or from Bishops — and to look steadily for Christ’s appearing!
有福的是那学会了从议会或宗教会议、从政治家或从主教那里少有期待——而是坚定地仰望基督显现的人！
He is the man who will not be disappointed.
他就是那不会失望的人。
J. C. Ryle, Stradbroke Vicarage, August, 1867.
莱尔（J. C. Ryle），斯特拉德布鲁克牧区，1867年8月。
Table of Contents
目录
Preface
序言
Watch
警醒
Occupy Till I Come
我来之前你们要作生意
What Time Is It?
现在是什么时候？
Idolatry to be Destroyed at Christ’s Coming
基督降临时偶像崇拜要被毁灭
Scattered Israel to be Gathered
分散的以色列要被召聚
The Reading which is Blessed
蒙福的阅读
And So All Israel Shall Be Saved
这样全以色列都要得救
The Heirs of God
神的后嗣