(合用 可用 隨便用)
譯本是參照 AFV (A Faithful Version) 2009
1. And I stood on the sand of the sea; and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority. 3. And I saw one of his heads as if it were slain to death, but his deadly wound was healed; and the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4. And they worshiped the dragon, who gave his authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who has the power to make war against him?” 5. And a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies was given to him; and authority was given to him to continue for forty-two months. 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7. And he was given power to make war against the saints, and to overcome them; and he was given authority over every tribe and language and nation. 8. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10. If anyone gathers into captivity, he shall go into captivity. If anyone kills with the sword, he must be killed with the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. (A Faithful Version)
1. 此時我被帶海邊站在沙上,一獸從海上來,七頭十角,角上戴著王冠,七頭上有褻瀆的名。
2. 形像看似像豹,腳如熊,口像獅。那龍將能力、王位以及無盡的權限都授予牠。
3. 我看見這獸的一個頭,似乎被傷致死,卻醫好了。地上的人都感到驚訝,自願跟隨那獸。
4. 便起而去崇拜那龍,龍將權柄給獸,這些人就崇拜獸。都說:誰像獸誰就有能力,去發起對抗。
5. 持續在三年半中,口中不停地說誇大和褻瀆話的口。
6. 說的話是用以羞辱神,污衊祂的名,抵毀祂的會幕,以及那些在天的人。
7. 這獸被賦予挑戰的能力,與聖徒對峙,得勝。他被賦予了統治各部落、語言和國家的權力。
8. 凡住在地上、名字從創世以來,沒有記在被殺羔羊那份生命冊上的人,都要拜他。
9. 凡有耳的,就應當記住這一點:。
10. 當看到有許多人一起被囚,是因為被虜的緣故(因為堅持)。如果被消失,是因為被利器做成(因為見證好消息),這些事情正好展示出聖徒的忍耐和信心。
這描述似乎是接著古蛇被打敗而來,是第二次,不在天上因為再沒有牠的位置,轉移在地頑抗,圖一個反勝的機會。
這回是一獸,大魔頭被打敗派了個小弟來,不是從天上是從沒海上來。七頭當中,有一個似曾受傷卻又修復,它似乎是表明一種頑固,雖然敗了卻不知錯,稍為好點就固態復燃,這樣的心態。既天上沒有位置,就到地面爭取。這獸被授以能力,是攪破壞而不是去建造,這種專為破壞而破壞,對人其實沒有好處,卻又具備很大的吸引,受許多人仰慕。為什麼?
原因也許是正中人性的私慾(這點保羅常強調)。有事實擺在前,人人都幻想做一位能者,受人拜服。很多人不願意平淡,被人輕看(因為被教導「成功」才是有用的人)?二者都有人選擇,只是更多去選擇前者。要達目的不擇手段,是因為無能。正因為無能(勝不過正直),就要用盡各種不當的手段,假大空有之,偷雞摸狗去掩飾。又或不擇手段去偷呃拐騙,把良心置之不理。
就以今日的政治紛亂作例:有二處在國韓國和台灣的國家家預算,被大幅減少民政反國防開支,目的是癱瘓政府的行政,破壞國家的安全,作為將來指責的借口,當中並沒有合適的理由,為何這樣刪減的原國,用的是誰有權誰大的方式。這樣不合理的現象不就是這獸展現吸引人的方式?然而,很多別有用心的人,目的不是和諧共處,是私慾得以滿足,獸展示出來的貪念,是打不死的,因為這是人性當中沒有了光所致。光本是存在,被慾念給掩埋而矣。

Leave a comment