耶利米書29:15-23

29:15 「你們說：『耶和華在巴比倫為我們興起先知』；
29:16 所以耶和華論到坐大衛寶座的王和住在這城裡的一切百姓，就是未曾與你們一同被擄的弟兄，
29:17 萬軍之耶和華如此說：『看哪，我必使刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫臨到他們，使他們像極壞的無花果，壞得不可吃。
29:18 我必用刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫追趕他們，使他們在天下萬國拋來拋去，在我所趕他們到的各國中，令人咒詛、驚駭、嗤笑、羞辱。
29:19 耶和華說：這是因為他們沒有聽從我的話，就是我從早起來差遣我僕人眾先知去說的，無奈他們不聽。這是耶和華說的。
29:20 所以你們一切被擄去的，就是我從耶路撒冷打發到巴比倫去的，當聽耶和華的話。』」
29:21 萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝論到哥賴雅的兒子亞哈，並瑪西雅的兒子西底家，如此說：「他們是託我名向你們說假預言的，我必將他們交在巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒的手中；他要在你們眼前殺害他們。
29:22 住巴比倫一切被擄的猶大人必藉這二人賭咒說：『願耶和華使你像巴比倫王在火中燒的西底家和亞哈一樣。』
29:23 這二人是在以色列中行了醜事，與鄰舍的妻行淫，又假託我名說我未曾吩咐他們的話。知道的是我，作見證的也是我。這是耶和華說的。」

¹⁵ Because you have said, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,”— ¹⁶Thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who live in this city, your kinsfolk who did not go out with you into exile: ¹⁷Thus says the Lord of hosts, I am going to let loose on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like rotten figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. ¹⁸I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of cursing, and horror, and hissing, and a derision among all the nations where I have driven them, ¹⁹because they did not heed my words, says the Lord, when I persistently sent to you my servants the prophets, but they would not listen, says the Lord. ²⁰But now, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon, hear the word of the Lord: ²¹Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: I am going to deliver them into the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, and he shall kill them before your eyes. ²²And on account of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” ²³because they have perpetrated outrage in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them; I am the one who knows and bears witness, says the Lord.

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    上帝透過耶利米讓猶大百姓知道，被擄的人是到上帝賜福與保守的人，不會因為他們被帶離家鄉而景況比較差，反倒是他們要好好聽上帝的話，上帝會保守他們，並且給他們歸回的盼望。雖然七十年是很久的時間，但是終會到來，上帝應許終會實現，只要他們耐心等候，如同平常一樣度日，不要著急。

    同樣，今日我們要相信主耶穌再來的應許，並且耐心等候，隨時以歡喜快樂的心來應接這日子，上帝的應許絕對不會落空，正如祂應許被擄歸回耶路撒冷，後來真的實現了！

    也因為如此，我們不要受到一些似是而非的話語影響，以為末世要面對上帝的審判是件非常可怕的事，以至於用恐懼感來擄掠地兄姐妹，讓弟兄姊妹以害怕恐懼的心來面對末世，受其控制！真不是真理，真理是讓人得自由，讓人充滿盼望與喜樂來面對耶穌基督的再來！因為耶穌基督在來之時，上帝國就實現了，我們與基督一同做王到永遠！末後的審判，不是讓我們這些屬基督的人下地獄，而是得永生！我們當為此歡呼，上帝的拯救永不落空！