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英語原文
This chapter contains another representation of those things that had been revealed before concerning the wickedness and ruin of antichrist. This antichrist had been before represented as a beast, and is now described as a great whore. And here, I. The apostle is invited to see this vile woman, Re 17:1,2. II. He tells us what an appearance she made, Re 17:3-6. III. The mystery of it is explained to him, Re 17:7-12. And, IV. Her ruin foretold, Re 17:13-18, etc.
1-6
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
繁體中文
巴比倫傾覆（主後 95 年）
¹ 拿著七碗的七位天使中，有一位來對我說：「你到這裡來，我將坐在眾水上的大淫婦所要受的刑罰指給你看。 ² 地上的君王與她行淫，住在地上的人喝醉了她淫亂的酒。」 ³ 我被聖靈感動，天使帶我到曠野去，我就看見一個女人騎在硃紅色的獸上；那獸有七頭十角，遍體有褻瀆的名號。 ⁴ 那女人穿著紫色和硃紅色的衣服，用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾；手拿金杯，杯中盛滿了可憎之物，就是她淫亂的污穢。 ⁵ 在她額上有名寫著說：「奧祕哉！大巴比倫，作世上的淫婦和一切可憎之物的母。」 ⁶ 我又看見那女人喝醉了聖徒的血和為耶穌作見證之人的血。我看見了，就大大的希奇。
此處我們有一個新的異象，就其內容而言並不算新，因為它與末了三碗之下所發生的事同時；但就描述的方式而言則是新的。請留意：1. 對使徒所發的邀請，要他觀看此處所要描繪的景象：你到這裡來，我將……大淫婦所要受的刑罰指給你看（啟 17:1）。這是極其臭名昭著的名字。淫婦（在本處）是指一個已經出嫁、卻對丈夫不忠的女人，她離棄了幼年時的配偶，違背了神的約。她作了地上君王的娼妓，使他們因她淫亂的酒而沉醉。2. 她的外貌：花枝招展、奢華耀眼，正如這類人物一般：她穿著紫色和硃紅色的衣服，用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾（啟 17:4）。這裡有世俗尊榮與財富、排場與驕傲的一切引誘，迎合屬肉體屬世俗的心思。3. 她主要的居所與所在——在那有七頭十角的獸上；也就是說，是羅馬，那座建在七座山上的城，因偶像崇拜、暴政與褻瀆而臭名昭著。4. 她的名號——寫在她的額上。無恥的妓女本有張掛招牌、寫上自己名字的習俗，好叫人都知道她們是甚麼人。此處請留意：（1）她是按其居住之地被命名——大巴比倫。但為免我們把它當作字面上所稱的古巴比倫，這裡告訴我們這名字裡有奧祕；它是另一座類似古巴比倫的大城。（2）她是按其臭名昭著的行徑與作風被命名；她不僅是淫婦，更是淫婦之母，養育淫婦，並撫育、訓練他們行偶像崇拜以及各樣淫亂與邪惡——是一切虛假宗教與污穢行徑的源頭與乳母。5. 她的食物：她以聖徒和耶穌殉道者之血使自己飽足。她飲他們的血如此貪婪，以致自己喝得酩酊大醉；這對她如此甘甜，以至於她永遠不知何為足夠：她飽足，卻永不滿足。
英語原文
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
¹ And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
² With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
³ So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
⁴ And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
⁵ And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
⁶ And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a view of what was here to be represented: Come hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great whore, etc., Re 17:1. This is a name of great infamy. A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her husband's bed, has forsaken the guide of her youth, and broken the covenant of God. She had been a prostitute to the kings of the earth, whom she had intoxicated with the wine of her fornication. 2. The appearance she made: it was gay and gaudy, like such sort of creatures: She was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, Re 17:4. Here were all the allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. 3. Her principal seat and residence—upon the beast that had seven heads and ten horns; that is to say, Rome, the city on seven hills, infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and blasphemy. 4. Her name, which was written on her forehead. It was the custom of impudent harlots to hang out signs, with their names, that all might know what they were. Now in this observe, (1.) She is named from her place of residence—Babylon the great. But, that we might not take it for the old Babylon literally so called, we are told there is a mystery in the name; it is some other great city resembling the old Babylon. (2.) She is named from her infamous way and practice; not only a harlot, but a mother of harlots, breeding up harlots, and nursing and training them up to idolatry, and all sorts of lewdness and wickedness—the parent and nurse of all false religion and filthy conversation. 5. Her diet: she satiated herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She drank their blood with such greediness that she intoxicated herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she could not tell when she had had enough of it: she was satiated, but never satisfied.
7-13
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
繁體中文
巴比倫的傾覆（公元95年）
⁷ 天使對我說，你為甚麼希奇呢。我要將這女人，和馱著她的那七頭十角獸的奧祕告訴你。
⁸ 你所看見的獸，先前有，如今沒有。將要從無底坑裏上來，又要歸到沉淪。凡住在地上名字從創世以來沒有記在生命冊上的，見先前有，如今沒有，以後再有的獸，就必希奇。
⁹ 智慧的心在此可以思想。那七頭就是女人所坐的七座山。
¹⁰ 又是七位王。五位已經傾倒了，一位還在，另一位還沒有來到。他來的時候，必須暫時存留。
¹¹ 那先前有，如今沒有的獸，就是第八位。他也和那七位同列，並且歸到沉淪。
¹² 你所看見的那十角，就是十王。他們還沒有得國。但他們要一時之間，和獸同得權柄與王一樣。
¹³ 他們同心合意，將自己的能力權柄給那獸。
我們在此有這異象奧祕的解釋。使徒看見這婦人就希奇；天使便承擔向他解開這異象的工作，因為它是先前諸異象的鑰匙；他告訴使徒那馱著婦人的獸是甚麼意思，但解釋之後仍需進一步說明。1. 這獸「先前有，如今沒有，以後再有」；即它「先前是」拜偶像和逼迫的中心；「如今沒有」，即不再以古代異教的形式存在；「以後再有」，它實在是拜偶像和暴虐的中心，雖然種類和形式不同。它「從無底坑上來」（拜偶像和殘忍是地獄所產生的），又要回到那裏去，進入沉淪。2. 這獸有七頭，有雙重的含意。（1）「七座山」——羅馬所坐的七座山；（2）「七位王」——七種政體。羅馬曾受君王、執政官、護民官、十人委員、獨裁官、異教皇帝、以及基督教皇帝的統治。當這預言寫成之時，這些政體中有五種已經過去；一種當時尚在，即異教皇帝；另一種，即基督教皇帝，還未來到（啟17:10）。這獸——教皇制——成為第八位統治者，又重新設立拜偶像。3. 這獸有十角；據說是「十王」，「他們還沒有得國」——「還沒有」，即如某些人所說，要等羅馬帝國分裂之後才興起；或如另一些人說，要等到敵基督掌權接近末了之時才興起，因此只與她「一時之間」作王，但那時卻要在那利益上非常同心、非常熱心，完全獻身其中——甚至因對教皇制一種無法解釋的偏愛，而放棄自己的特權和收入（這些對君王原是極寶貴的東西）。
英語原文
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
⁷ And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
⁸ The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
⁹ And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
¹² And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
¹³ These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to need further explanation. 1. This beast was, and is not, and yet is; that is, it was a seat of idolatry and persecution; and is not, that is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan; and yet it is, it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It ascends out of the bottomless pit (idolatry and cruelty are the issue and product of hell), and it shall return thither and go into perdition. 2. This beast has seven heads, which have a double signification. (1.) Seven mountains—the seven hills on which Rome stands; and (2.) Seven kings—seven sorts of government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, dictators, emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come, Re 17:10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry again. 3. This beast had ten horns; which are said to be ten kings which have as yet received no kingdoms; as yet, that is, as some, shall not rise up till the Roman empire be broken in pieces; or, as others, shall not rise up till near the end of antichrist's reign, and so shall reign but as it were one hour with her, but shall for that time be very unanimous and very zealous in that interest, and entirely devoted to it, divesting themselves of their prerogatives and revenues (things so dear to princes), out of an unaccountable fondness for the papacy.
14-18
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
繁體中文
巴比倫的傾覆（公元95年）
¹⁴ 他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主，萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召被選有忠心的。
¹⁵ 天使又對我說，你所看見那淫婦坐的眾水，就是多民多人多國多方。
¹⁶ 你所看見的那十角，必恨這淫婦，使她冷落赤身。又要喫她的肉，用火將她燒盡。
¹⁷ 因為神使諸王同心合意，遵行他的旨意，把自己的國給那獸，直等到神的話都應驗了。
¹⁸ 你所看見的那女人，就是管轄地上眾王的大城。
我們在此對巴比倫的傾覆有所記述，更詳盡的描述則在下一章。
一、在此展開了獸和他的從者、與羔羊和他的從者之間的爭戰。從肉眼看，獸和他的軍隊似乎比羔羊和他的軍隊更強大：人會以為一支由羔羊率領的軍隊不能在「那大紅龍」面前站立。但是，
二、在此羔羊贏得了勝利：「羔羊必勝過他們」。基督必掌權，直到一切仇敵「服在他腳下」；他必定會遇到許多仇敵和極大的反對，但他也必定會得勝。
三、在此有勝利緣由的說明；這是根據：1. 羔羊的屬性：「他是萬王之王，萬主之主」。他無論按本性或按職任，都對萬有擁有至高的統治和權柄；地上和地獄的一切權勢都服在他的攔阻和控制之下。2. 他從者的屬性：「他們是蒙召、被選、有忠心的」。他們是奉差遣被召出來從事這爭戰；他們被選並受裝備，並要在其中忠心。這樣的軍隊，在這樣的元帥之下，至終必橫掃天下。
四、這勝利被公正地高舉。1. 是因向獸和淫婦臣服順服的人數極其眾多。她坐在（也就是說，統轄）眾水之上；而這些水就是這麼多的群眾、國民、各方言的人；不但如此，她不但統轄列國，更統轄君王，他們都是她的進貢者和藩屬（啟17:15、18）。2. 是因神藉此表明他對大人物心思所有的有力影響。他們的心都在他手中，他隨己意轉動；因為：（1）這些君王「同心合意把自己的國給那獸」，乃是出於神，並為成就他的旨意；他們被司法上蒙蔽並剛硬，以致如此行。（2）後來他們的心轉而恨惡那淫婦，「使她冷落赤身，又要喫她的肉，用火將她燒盡」，這也是出於神；他們至終必看見自己的愚昧，並看見自己如何被教皇制所迷惑奴役，又出於公義的憤慨，不但要脫離羅馬，更要被用作神護理的工具去毀滅她。
英語原文
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
¹⁴ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
¹⁵ And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
¹⁶ And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
¹⁷ For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
¹⁸ And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter.
I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But,
II. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb: The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet; he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also be sure to gain the victory.
III. Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and this is taken, 1. From the character of the Lamb: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check and control. 2. From the character of his followers: They are called, and chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them.
IV. The victory is justly aggrandized. 1. By the vast multitude who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon (that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals, Re 17:15,18. 2. By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased; for, (1.) It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings agreed to give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened to do so. And, (2.) It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned against the whore, to hate her, and to make her desolate and naked, and to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments of God's providence in her destruction.
本章再次描繪先前已經啟示出來、關乎敵基督之邪惡與傾覆的事。這敵基督先前被描繪為一隻獸，如今則被描述為大淫婦。此處：一、使徒被邀請來觀看這淫亂的婦人（啟 17:1,2）。二、他記述這婦人的外貌如何（啟 17:3-6）。三、這奧祕向他解明了（啟 17:7-12）。四、她的傾覆被預先宣告（啟 17:13-18 等）。