但以理書7:15-28

7:15 至於我─但以理，我的靈在我裡面愁煩，我腦中的異象使我驚惶。

7:16 我就近一位侍立者，問他這一切的真情。他就告訴我，將那事的講解給我說明。

7:17 這四個大獸就是四王將要在世上興起。

7:18 然而，至高者的聖民，必要得國享受，直到永永遠遠。

7:19 那時我願知道第四獸的真情，牠為何與那三獸的真情大不相同，甚是可怕，有鐵牙銅爪，吞吃嚼碎，所剩下的用腳踐踏；

7:20 頭有十角和那另長的一角，在這角前有三角被牠打落。這角有眼，有說誇大話的口，形狀強橫，過於牠的同類。

7:21 我觀看，見這角與聖民爭戰，勝了他們。

7:22 直到亙古常在者來給至高者的聖民伸冤，聖民得國的時候就到了。

7:23 那侍立者這樣說：第四獸就是世上必有的第四國，與一切國大不相同，必吞吃全地，並且踐踏嚼碎。

7:24 至於那十角，就是從這國中必興起的十王，後來又興起一王，與先前的不同；他必制伏三王。

7:25 他必向至高者說誇大的話，必折磨至高者的聖民，必想改變節期和律法。聖民必交付他手一載、二載、半載。

7:26 然而，審判者必坐著行審判；他的權柄必被奪去，毀壞，滅絕，一直到底。

7:27 國度、權柄，和天下諸國的大權必賜給至高者的聖民。他的國是永遠的；一切掌權的都必事奉他，順從他。

7:28 那事至此完畢。至於我─但以理，心中甚是驚惶，臉色也改變了，卻將那事存記在心。

15 "As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 'These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. '

19 "Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 "Thus he said:'As for the fourth beast,

there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,

which shall be different from all the kingdoms,

and it shall devour the whole earth,

and trample it down, and break it to pieces.

24 As for the ten horns,

out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,

and another shall arise after them;

he shall be different from the former ones,

and shall put down three kings.

25 He shall speak words against the Most High,

and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,

and shall think to change the times and the law;

and they shall be given into his hand

for a time, times, and half a time.

26 But the court shall sit in judgment,

and his dominion shall be taken away,

to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

27 And the kingdom and the dominion

and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven

shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;

 his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,

and all dominions shall serve and obey him. '

28 "Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart."

************

    這段經文是上面異象的解釋，告訴但以理雖然有四個強國要肆虐以色列民，也就是上帝的聖民，但是最後的勝利是屬乎上帝，祂要毀掉這一切的強權，要為祂的聖民建立一個永遠不動搖的榮耀國度！

    因此，就以色列人，甚至是基督徒而言，我們要深信：上帝的國必定實現，上帝的公義必定彰顯！我們必定在基督裡享受永生的福樂，一直到永遠！因為上帝才是全宇宙真正的主宰，惟有祂的全能永不衰退！惡者目前雖然囂張，但這只是一時的，是無法和永恆的上帝可以匹配的！

    而這永恆的上帝獨愛我們這群按祂形像造的，蒙祂揀選獲得祂鍾愛的聖民，祂必愛護與保守我們到永遠，目前的苦難與不安只是一時的，祂的計畫是一步一步實現出來了，我們憑著信心等候，最後勝利是屬乎耶和華上帝和我們這些屬祂的聖民！

但以理書7章

       但以理書7:1-14  , 

      但以理書7:15-28 ,  但以理書7:27  ,

但以理書7:1-14

7:1 巴比倫王伯沙撒元年，但以理在床上做夢，見了腦中的異象，就記錄這夢，述說其中的大意。

7:2 但以理說：我夜裡見異象，看見天的四風陡起，颳在大海之上。

7:3 有四個大獸從海中上來，形狀各有不同：

7:4 頭一個像獅子，有鷹的翅膀；我正觀看的時候，獸的翅膀被拔去，獸從地上得立起來，用兩腳站立，像人一樣，又得了人心。

7:5 又有一獸如熊，就是第二獸，旁跨而坐，口齒內啣著三根肋骨。有吩咐這獸的說：起來吞吃多肉。

7:6 此後我觀看，又有一獸如豹，背上有鳥的四個翅膀；這獸有四個頭，又得了權柄。

7:7 其後我在夜間的異象中觀看，見第四獸甚是可怕，極其強壯，大有力量，有大鐵牙，吞吃嚼碎，所剩下的用腳踐踏。這獸與前三獸大不相同，頭有十角。

7:8 我正觀看這些角，見其中又長起一個小角；先前的角中有三角在這角前，連根被牠拔出來。這角有眼，像人的眼，有口說誇大的話。

7:9 我觀看，見有寶座設立，上頭坐著亙古常在者。他的衣服潔白如雪，頭髮如純淨的羊毛。寶座乃火焰，其輪乃烈火。

7:10 從他面前有火，像河發出；事奉他的有千千，在他面前侍立的有萬萬；他坐著要行審判，案卷都展開了。

7:11 那時我觀看，見那獸因小角說誇大話的聲音被殺，身體損壞，扔在火中焚燒。

7:12 其餘的獸，權柄都被奪去，生命卻仍存留，直到所定的時候和日期。

7:13 我在夜間的異象中觀看，見有一位像人子的，駕著天雲而來，被領到亙古常在者面前，

7:14 得了權柄、榮耀、國度，使各方、各國、各族的人都事奉他。他的權柄是永遠的，不能廢去；他的國必不敗壞。

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles 'wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh. ' 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 "As I looked,

 thrones were placed,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat;

 his clothing was white as snow,

and the hair of his head like pure wool;

his throne was fiery flames;

 its wheels were burning fire.

10 A stream of fire issued

and came out from before him;

 a thousand thousands served him,

 and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;

the court sat in judgment,

and the books were opened.

11 "I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 "I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

14 And to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

 his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed.

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    為了明白異象的來龍去脈，我們不得不要一下子看到14節，讓我們知道上帝真正的作為為何！許多人只將眼目放在過程，事情就看不清楚，甚至瞎猜胡猜，說出奇奇怪怪的話。也因此我們要用具是的眼光來閱讀啟示文學，才不至於見樹不見林，找不到出路！

    而這段的文字讓我們看見基督的國度，就是上帝所應許永遠的國，正如文中所敘述的：「見有一位像人子的，駕著天雲而來，被領到亙古常在者面前，得了權柄、榮耀、國度，使各方、各國、各族的人都事奉他。他的權柄是永遠的，不能廢去；他的國必不敗壞。」

    雖然這好像是以基督徒的觀點來看這異象，但是在猶太人或以色列人的心中，其實也有如此的盼望，尤其是被滅國之後，他們盼望國家能重建，民族能復興，在他們的信仰中佔有重要的席次。只是他們不能接受彌賽亞是被釘十字架的耶穌，又因基督信仰多為外邦人所接受，以致不認同耶穌就是彌賽亞，他們還在等待「真正」的彌賽亞！

    但是對於基督徒，我們確實相信主耶穌是基督、是彌賽亞，因為他確實為我們死在十字架上，也確實復活，並且升天，現在坐在上帝的右邊，將來還要再臨，使祂永遠的國實現！我們要與祂同在榮耀之地，一同做王，到千千萬萬年，永無窮盡！

但以理書6:25-28

6:25 那時，大利烏王傳旨，曉諭住在全地各方、各國、各族的人說：「願你們大享平安！

6:26 現在我降旨曉諭我所統轄的全國人民，要在但以理的上帝面前，戰兢恐懼。因為他是永遠長存的活上帝，他的國永不敗壞；他的權柄永存無極！

6:27 他護庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神蹟奇事，救了但以理脫離獅子的口。」

6:28 如此，這但以理，當大利烏王在位的時候和波斯王古列在位的時候，大享亨通。

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.  I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,      

for he is the living God,

enduring forever;

his kingdom shall never be destroyed,

and his dominion shall be to the end.

  He delivers and rescues;

he works signs and wonders

in heaven and on earth,

he who has saved Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

  So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

***********

    大利烏王從但以理的身上看見上帝的作為，心裡對上帝崇敬，就發布下列的詔書：「要在但以理的上帝面前，戰兢恐懼。因為他是永遠長存的活上帝，他的國永不敗壞；他的權柄永存無極！他護庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神蹟奇事，救了但以理脫離獅子的口。」

    可見上帝同在的見證是我們傳福音的利器！而上帝真的樂意拯救與幫助祂的兒女。願意用祂的救恩來豐富我們的生命，救我們脫離各樣困苦的環境，使我們的生命充滿祂同在的榮耀！

    這是基督徒的生命特別之處，我們不再是自己一人面對人生，是上帝與我們同在，使人從我們看見基督的榮美！

但以理書6:19-24

6:19 次日黎明，王就起來，急忙往獅子坑那裡去。

6:20 臨近坑邊，哀聲呼叫但以理，對但以理說：「永生上帝的僕人但以理啊，你所常事奉的上帝能救你脫離獅子嗎？」

6:21 但以理對王說：「願王萬歲！

6:22 我的上帝差遣使者，封住獅子的口，叫獅子不傷我；因我在上帝面前無辜，我在王面前也沒有行過虧損的事。」

6:23 王就甚喜樂，吩咐人將但以理從坑裡繫上來。於是但以理從坑裡被繫上來，身上毫無傷損，因為信靠他的上帝。

6:24 王下令，人就把那些控告但以理的人，連他們的妻子兒女都帶來，扔在獅子坑中。他們還沒有到坑底，獅子就抓住（原文是勝了）他們，咬碎他們的骨頭。

Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.  As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”  Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!  My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”  Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.  And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

************

    但以理被扔入獅子坑中，一夜過去卻毫髮無傷。這件事讓波斯王很安慰，因為上帝派遣使者封住獅子的口，以至於但以理的生命的以保存。對王來說，他沒有失去一位好的大臣。

    於是王用自己的權威下令，就把那些控告但以理的人，連他們的妻子兒女都帶來，扔在獅子坑中。他們的結局就是：還沒有到坑底，獅子就抓住他們，咬碎他們的骨頭。

    事實上上帝也不一定要搭救但以理，就像羅馬時代許多基督徒在競技場中喪生在獅子口下，上帝並未搭救。但是上帝選擇搭救但以理，這是要讓被擄的猶太人獲得激勵。因為他們雖然處於異族的統治下，但上帝仍然掌權。

    故此，我們不要為眼前的事感到灰心失望，上帝的勝利是必然的，而且是永遠的，現在的只是過程中而已，不要害怕，勇敢向前眺望吧！