牧者心聲
不過結局還沒有到
周曉暉牧師
2022 年 10 月 29 日 / 30 日
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間中就有人問我：教會何時再教導「末日」的信息？他們的提問大概是源自過去幾年出現的社運、疫病、和戰禍吧？執筆之際，國際陣營間的角力不斷，世界財經也瀕臨失序，如此時局，確會逼使人對信仰認真起來，盼能知道如何進退。
在耶穌騎驢進耶路撒冷後，門徒問他：「⋯⋯你的降臨和這世代的終結，有甚麼預兆呢？」（太二十四 3，新譯本）耶穌沒有告訴門徒祂何年何月何日再臨，卻提醒門徒要格外「小心」（4、6 節），這字詞在原文包含「看見」之意。耶穌要我們留神、看清楚，要「保持冷靜」，不要被迷惑！因為「許多人要假冒我的名而來」（5 節），自命救世者，帶來虛假的希望。
其實，初期教會已面對著動盪的局勢。文獻記載，當時有撒瑪利亞人攻擊猶太人，猶太人自己也彼此攻擊；而羅馬帝國亦忙於一面擴張，一面清剿革命勢力，其內部那些總督、省長、將軍、皇帝等不同派系的人，也在互相攻訐。民攻打民、國攻打國，其實時而有之，不足為怪。
我的少年時期正是風起雲湧的九十年代，幾年間世界發生了許多大事。對聖經一知半解的我，聽見那麼多的戰亂人禍，頓感末日是這麼遠那麼近，於是認真地等著基督再來。然而主的話卻如當頭棒喝：「不過結局還沒有到」（6 節下）！
那麼主何時再來？且聽宣信博士的一則軼事。當年他在紐約頗具名聲，就連《紐約時報》記者都緊盯著他，希望捕捉到新奇言論，好寫在報上議論一番。有一次他傳講基督再來的信息，會後有記者趨前問道：「宣信博士，你能否告訴我們，基督確實會在甚麼時候再來？」
宣信說：「只要答應我，你會在報道中逐字寫出我的回答，我就告訴你基督確實在何時回來。」記者立時同意。於是，宣信回答：「馬太福音二十四章 14 節記載『這天國的福音要傳遍天下，對萬民作見證，然後終結才來到』（和修版），基督會在那時候再來。」記者既承諾了，惟有把這回答逐字印在報紙上，令主再來的真理得以申明。
今天，雖然世事紛擾不輟，但主的吩咐始終適用：保持冷靜，不要被迷惑，不要花精神去追逐預兆；我們只管踏實地把福音從近至遠傳揚開去。我想，這是面對末日的最適切回應。
From time to time, people would ask me, "When will the church teach about 'the end times' again?" Their question has probably been triggered by what happened in the past few years: social movement, pandemic and war. At the time of writing, there are ongoing international conflicts. The world economy is on the verge of disarray. In times like these, people feel the pressing need to take faith seriously in the hope of knowing the way forward.
After entering Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, Jesus' disciples asked Him: "…what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3) Jesus did not tell the disciples the exact date of His second coming, but He reminded His disciples to "watch out" (v.4 and v.6). In the original language, this word also means "see." Jesus wants us to pay attention, to see clearly, not to be "alarmed" or deceived! This is because "For many will come in my name…" (v.5). They will claim to be the Savior, bringing false hope to the people.
As a matter of fact, the early church was faced with a lot of turbulence. According to literature, some Samarians at that time attacked the Jews, and the Jews also fought among themselves. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire was actively expanding while at the same time eliminating revolutionary elements. Internally, governors, provincial heads, generals, kings, etc. who belonged to different parties were pointing fingers at each other. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. These things happen every so often. No surprise.
My teenage years are in the tempestuous times of the nineties. Within a few years, a number of major incidents took place in the international arena. With limited knowledge of the Bible then and seeing the many wars and woes, I thought to myself: Well, the end of the world may just not be that faraway. So, I seriously waited for the return of Christ. But the word of the Lord woke me up: "But the end is still to come" (v.6b)!
When then will the Lord return? There is an anecdote about Dr A B Simpson. Back then, he was quite famous in New York. Even the journalists of The New York Times were watching him closely to see if they could capture anything novel for them to write about in the paper. Once he preached about the return of Christ. He was asked by a journalist afterward: "Dr Simpson, can you tell us when exactly Christ will return?"
Dr Simpson replied: "Just give me your word that you will put my reply in full and in its exact words in your article, and I will tell you when Christ returns." Immediately, the journalist agreed. Then, Dr Simpson replied: "Matthew 24:14 says 'And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.' That will be when Christ comes back." Since the reporter had made his promise, he put the reply, word for word, in the newspaper so that the truth about the Lord’s second coming was declared.
Today, even though the world is full of troubles, the command of the Lord still applies: Do not be alarmed; do not be deceived; do not spend energy chasing the signs. But put our effort into preaching the gospel at home and abroad. I think this is the most appropriate response to the end times.
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