Before Doomsday

As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. 

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come.For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pains.“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. 

You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. 

But the person who endures to the end will be saved.And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.“So when you see the abomination of desolation – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ...Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. (Matthew24:3-15,20 NET)

For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. 

But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. (Matthew24:21-24,26-27 NET)

Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.“Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken .Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.(Matthew24:28-31 NET)

So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.“But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven – except the Father alone. For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. (Matthew24:33-37 NET)

For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man....“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.(Matthew24:38-39,42-44 NET)

末日前 Before the Last Day

耶稣在橄榄山上坐着，门徒暗暗地来说：“请告诉我们，什么时候有这些事？你降临和世界的末了有什么预兆呢？” 耶稣回答说：“你们要谨慎，免得有人迷惑你们。 因为将来有好些人冒我的名来，说：‘我是基督’，并且要迷惑许多人。 

你们也要听见打仗和打仗的风声，总不要惊慌；因为这些事是必须有的，只是末期还没有到。 民要攻打民，国要攻打国；多处必有饥荒、地震。 这都是灾难（灾难：原文是生产之难）的起头。 那时，人要把你们陷在患难里，也要杀害你们；你们又要为我的名被万民恨恶。 那时，必有许多人跌倒，也要彼此陷害，彼此恨恶； 且有好些假先知起来，迷惑多人。 

只因不法的事增多，许多人的爱心才渐渐冷淡了。 惟有忍耐到底的，必然得救。 这天国的福音要传遍天下，对万民作见证，然后末期才来到。”“你们看见先知但以理所说的‘那行毁坏可憎的’站在圣地（读这经的人须要会意）。 ...你们应当祈求，叫你们逃走的时候，不遇见冬天或是安息日。 (马太福音24:3-15,20 和合本)

因为那时必有大灾难，从世界的起头直到如今，没有这样的灾难，后来也必没有。 若不减少那日子，凡有血气的总没有一个得救的；只是为选民，那日子必减少了。 那时，若有人对你们说：‘基督在这里’，或说：‘基督在那里’，你们不要信！ 因为假基督、假先知将要起来，显大神迹、大奇事，倘若能行，连选民也就迷惑了。 

若有人对你们说：‘看哪，基督在旷野里’，你们不要出去！或说：‘看哪，基督在内屋中’，你们不要信！ 闪电从东边发出，直照到西边。人子降临也要这样。 (马太福音24:21-24,26-27 和合本)

尸首在哪里，鹰也必聚在那里。”“那些日子的灾难一过去，日头就变黑了，月亮也不放光，众星要从天上坠落，天势都要震动。那时，人子的兆头要显在天上，地上的万族都要哀哭。他们要看见人子，有能力，有大荣耀，驾着天上的云降临。 他要差遣使者，用号筒的大声，将他的选民，从四方（方：原文是风），从天这边到天那边，都招聚了来。”(马太福音24:28-31 和合本)

这样，你们看见这一切的事，也该知道人子近了，正在门口了。 我实在告诉你们，这世代还没有过去，这些事都要成就。 天地要废去，我的话却不能废去。”“但那日子，那时辰，没有人知道，连天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟独父知道。 挪亚的日子怎样，人子降临也要怎样。 (马太福音24:33-37 和合本)

当洪水以前的日子，人照常吃喝嫁娶，直到挪亚进方舟的那日； 不知不觉洪水来了，把他们全都冲去。人子降临也要这样。 ...所以，你们要警醒，因为不知道你们的主是哪一天来到。 家主若知道几更天有贼来，就必警醒，不容人挖透房屋；这是你们所知道的。 所以，你们也要预备，因为你们想不到的时候，人子就来了。”(马太福音24:38-39,42-44 和合本)

人类的希望 Hope of Human

中东和平协议已经存在多年，不是新的事。圣经里说末日的和平协议，有其他条件，包括对方敌基督进入圣殿，所以说静观其变。——黄牧师

除了身体的健康之外，人的思维角度决定人的喜怒哀乐。当我们只看好的，不看不好的，我们就会感觉美好。当我们只看自己拥有的，不看没有的，我们就会感恩。当我们只看容易的，不看困难的，我们就会放松。当我们承受太多委屈，我们会感觉压力，当我们得到谅解（或释放），我们会感觉轻松。

听说末日前会有七年大灾难，大灾难前中东国家会有战争，他们会签署和平协议，就好像现在一样，所以我感觉末日好像越来越近了，希望大家珍惜当下，趁早信耶稣，不然以后就没有机会了。

我们基督徒讲末日不是要吓唬人，而是要让人知道人类还是有希望的，真正的快乐从那里开始，因为这个世界实在太糟糕了，只要我们选择耶稣而不是魔鬼/撒旦，我们就可以得到永生的盼望。

千禧年国度会在末日后来临，到时你们的孩子就可以和耶稣在那里作王一千年。过了一千年后上帝会把魔鬼释放出来，再次迷惑人类，看看谁是属于祂的，因为虽然人见过耶稣，还是不承认祂。

地球会毁灭不是因为神不爱我们，而是神太爱我们，要给我们更好的世界。现在的世界不再适合人居住，因为有太多的罪恶和龌龊。将来人的身体不再是肉体了，而是荣耀的身体，不会生病，也不会疼痛了。

虽然人的始祖犯了罪，上帝却为我们预备了救恩，在地球毁灭以后给我们一个全新的世界，叫做新天新地，在那里不再有痛苦，只有永远的快乐，只要我们认罪悔改并相信祂。

好消息/福音 Gospel/Good news

我们若说自己无罪，便是自欺，真理不在我们心里了。 我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。 我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，他的道也不在我们心里了。(约翰一书1:8-10 和合本)

If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John1:8-10 NET)

我们一生的年日是七十岁，若是强壮可到八十岁；但其中所矜夸的不过是劳苦愁烦，转眼成空，我们便如飞而去。(诗篇90:10 和合本) Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. (Psalms90:10 HCSB)

神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。 因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。 (约翰福音3:16-17 和合本) “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.(John3:16 HCSB)

儿女既同有血肉之体，他也照样亲自成了血肉之体，特要藉着死败坏那掌死权的，就是魔鬼， 并要释放那些一生因怕死而为奴仆的人。 (希伯来书2:14-15 和合本) Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the Devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. (Hebrews2:14-15 HCSB)

罪的工价乃是死；惟有神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生。但现今，你们既从罪里得了释放，作了神的奴仆，就有成圣的果子，那结局就是永生。 (罗马书6:22-23和合本)But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification — and the end is eternal life! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans6:22-23 HCSB)

信耶稣的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。 光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光，倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。 凡作恶的便恨光，并不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备。 但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠神而行。”(约翰福音3:18-21 和合本) Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.“This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”(John3:18-21 HCSB)

世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀； 如今却蒙神的恩典，因基督耶稣的救赎，就白白地称义。 神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭着耶稣的血，藉着人的信，要显明神的义；因为他用忍耐的心宽容人先时所犯的罪， 好在今时显明他的义，使人知道他自己为义，也称信耶稣的人为义。 (罗马书3:23-26 和合本) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. (Romans3:23-25 HCSB)

除他以外，别无拯救；因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名，我们可以靠着得救。” (使徒行传4:12 和合本)There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” (Acts4:12 HCSB)

灾难中的安慰 Console in Disaster

当我们面对全球的新冠肺炎肆虐，必然会盼望：上帝啊！你要止息这场瘟疫，你要医冶这民，你要医治这地……我们在患难之中寻求主，我们在夜间不住地举手祷告。

但是，我们看到的是，患病的人数，依然每天不断攀升；我们无法想象，如果未来确诊人数继续以不可思议的速度增长，那将会是什么景况？我们的心不免烦乱不安，正如诗人亚萨一样。

上帝啊，你的拯救在哪里呢？你似乎没有听我们的祷告？我们的内心充满了巨大压力。

在全球疫情中，我们的心忍不住颤栗：上帝这回可真是发怒了，要借着瘟疫审判全世界？当上帝发怒时，是否就表示将止住他的慈悲吗？

我们要想超越苦难所带来的忧郁，就要思想上帝的大能，思想上帝在过去对他儿女和历史中的作为，这将给我们带来极大的安慰。当我们遇到的困境就好像以色列人出埃及：前有红海，后有追兵，在看不见出路时，需要从历史中认识上帝的拯救。

当我们的眼光转而专注在上帝时，就可以从上帝救恩的角度来解读历史，因而获得信心与安慰，思想超越自我的狭隘，被上帝所引导。当我们管理我们的思想，从上帝的角度来看事物时，会发现原来上帝在每一件事上都已经工作了，并且有奇妙的恩典为我们预备。最大的安慰：在灾难中，上帝仍然与我们同在。

但是，处在灾难中，除了祷告外，上帝还要我们做什么呢？

在任何艰难时刻，都需要有非常多的基督徒好像好撒玛利亚人一般，把食物、爱心、安慰，带给教会和社区中需要的人们。可能一通安慰鼓励的电话，你就能帮助一个灵魂不再把眼光专注在自己的困难上，而注目在上帝的身上。

此外，在新冠病毒大流行期间，还有什么可能是上帝的心意？最近美国麦克拉夫林及联盟（McLaughlin and Associates）民调公司进行了一次全国性的独家民意测验，显示有44.3%的人——几乎是每2人中就有1人认为，这是唤醒美国人要回归上帝的信仰的一个警讯，或许这将导致美国再一次的大觉醒运动。

4月10日陈恩藩牧师（Francis Chan）在直播中也说，这将是一个“悔改的强有力时刻”；这可能是万物终结的开始，上帝正在做我们一生中从未见过的事情，就好像领我们进入了一个新的季节。

如果这些都是对的，我们不要惧怕，应当悔改，亲近上帝，明白他的心意，求他带领我们走在他的旨意里。唯有注目上帝，我们才能站在属灵的高处，认识上帝的作为。如此，我们将不会被环境所影响，行出上帝要我们做的事。愿那赐永远安慰并美好盼望的上帝，常与我们同在。

——以上的内容来自《海外校园》【OC福音】http://ocfuyin.org 

原题：灾难中的安慰——读《诗篇》77篇（作者：王传义）